Speaking of Travel® With Marilyn Ball

Marilyn Ball
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Founded in 2013, Speaking of Travel is a media platform dedicated to meaningful, responsible travel storytelling. Through conversations with global explorers, conservation leaders, cultural visionaries, world-changers, musicians, historians, conservationists, industry leaders, and everyday adventurers, we explore how travel connects people, preserves culture, and protects the planet.  After a decade of global change, including a pandemic and climate-driven disruptions, Speaking of Travel continues to lead the conversation on travel as a force for good. Listen in, dream big, and let’s explore the world together. Because remember, life is short. Don't postpone joy! Subscribe now and let the journey change you. 🌍✈️

  1. The Maine Windjammer Way: Sailing, Storytelling, and Slowing Down

    Jun 7

    The Maine Windjammer Way: Sailing, Storytelling, and Slowing Down

    Some journeys change the way we see the world. On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we're setting sail along the coast of Maine with Justin Schaefer and Jocelyn Schmidt, owners and captains of the historic Schooner J. & E. Riggin. Together they've created an experience where the wind sets the pace and the sea shapes each day. And how the simple moments become the memories that stay with us long after the journey ends. As proud members of the Maine Windjammer Association, Justin and Jocelyn are helping preserve a treasured maritime tradition while inviting travelers to reconnect with a slower, more meaningful way of exploring the world. Sustainability is woven into every voyage, from traveling under sail to supporting local communities and celebrating the natural beauty of Maine's coast. And we also talk about one of the highlights guests never forget... the food. As the schooner's chef, Jocelyn crafts memorable meals inspired by locally sourced ingredients. Whether you've always dreamed of sailing the Maine coast or simply find yourself longing for a different rhythm of life, this episode is a reminder that some of the most meaningful adventures aren't measured by how far we travel, but rather by how deeply we connect with a place and with ourselves. "There's nothing quite like that moment when the wind fills the sails and everything else simply falls away." Join us and discover why sometimes the best way to move forward is to let the wind lead the way.  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

    45 min
  2. A Journey To St Helena Island And The Transformative Power Of Place With Ryan Enslin

    Jun 1

    A Journey To St Helena Island And The Transformative Power Of Place With Ryan Enslin

    What if time isn't something to chase, but something to experience? In a world that constantly urges us to move faster, do more, and keep up, this conversation with Ryan Enslin offers a different perspective. A gentler one. As a journalist and photographer from Johannesburg, South Africa, Ryan has learned that some places seem to exist outside the pace of modern life. One of those places is St Helena Island, a remote island in the South Atlantic that has profoundly shaped the way he thinks about time and presence. And what it means to truly pay attention. In this inspiring episode of Speaking of Travel, Ryan shares how travel can become much more than a journey to a destination. Together we explore the remarkable story of St Helena Island while reflecting on self-discovery, resilience, curiosity, and the importance of living with intention in a fast-moving world. Ryan's experiences remind us that meaningful travel isn't measured by the number of places we visit, but by our willingness to be present for the moments that change us. "When the distractions fall away, you begin to realize time isn't passing you by. You're finally present for it." If you've been searching for perspective or simply a conversation that nourishes the soul, this episode is a beautiful reminder that some places can change our relationship with time, not because the clock moves differently, but because we do. 💕 Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

    43 min
  3. The Quiet Magic Of The NC Arboretum With Drake Fowler

    May 21

    The Quiet Magic Of The NC Arboretum With Drake Fowler

    Some places do not ask for your attention. They change you quietly. You arrive carrying noise, deadlines, distractions and the weight of everyday life. And then somewhere between the trees, the silence, the air itself, something begins to soften. You remember there is another way to live in the world. More connected. More awake. More human. This episode of Speaking of Travel lives inside that feeling. What unfolds here is more than a discussion about nature or stewardship. It is a reflection on presence, on caring deeply for the land and for one another, and on the quiet power of creating spaces where people can reconnect to something larger than themselves. Drake Fowler, Executive Director of The North Carolina Arboretum, brings a rare kind of humanity to this conversation... thoughtful, grounded, compassionate, and deeply aware of the relationship between the natural world and the human spirit. You can hear the sincerity in his story and feel the intention behind the work being done. At the heart of this episode is a sacred connection and understanding that nature is not separate from us, but essential to who we are as human beings. Through stories, reflections, and insight, we explore the ways wild spaces can restore us and reconnect us to ourselves and to each other. This conversation is filled with authenticity and quiet wisdom and reminds us that places created with intention and care can become sanctuaries where people feel seen and are welcomed.  Through education, conservation, and community connection, the NC Arboretum is a place where nature and humanity meet in meaningful ways. This is a beautiful and heartfelt conversation that will leave you inspired and comforted.  And perhaps seeing the world a little differently. ❤️ Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

    49 min
  4. Bassoonist Frank Morelli And The Journey Of A Life Well Played

    May 12

    Bassoonist Frank Morelli And The Journey Of A Life Well Played

    Some conversations stay with you because of what a person has accomplished. Others stay with you because of who that person became along the way. Internationally acclaimed bassoonist Frank Morelli is both. His story is about far more than music. It’s about what happens when a lifetime of dedication shapes not only an artist, but a human being. There’s something deeply moving about a person who spends a lifetime devoted to music and still meets the world with humility and a genuine sense of wonder. In this heartfelt episode of Speaking of Travel, Frank reflects on the deeper journey behind a life in music and the ways it shaped not only his career, but his understanding of purpose and gratitude. For more than 60 years, Frank’s path has carried him around the world, from concert halls and international performances to decades spent mentoring and encouraging young musicians. Yet what stands out most is not simply his remarkable career, but the kindness and sincerity he brings to every part of his life. There is a gentleness in Frank that immediately puts people at ease. Even after years of recognition and accomplishment, he remains deeply grateful for the experiences music has given him. His love for teaching shines throughout this episode, along with his belief that music can open hearts and create connection in ways few things can. This conversation moves beyond performance and into something far more human. It becomes a reflection on what happens when someone continues evolving through every season of life. “The longer I’ve lived with music, the less it feels like performance and the more it feels like gratitude.” Frank Morelli continues to inspire not only through his artistry, but through the quiet grace and humanity he brings to the world around him. 💕 Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

    48 min
  5. The Asheville Regional Airport Reflects The Heart Of Western North Carolina

    May 8

    The Asheville Regional Airport Reflects The Heart Of Western North Carolina

    There’s something deeper unfolding at the Asheville Regional Airport and you can feel it the moment you step into this conversation with Angi Daus, VP of Air Service and Corporate Communications. This isn’t surface-level support. It’s a lived commitment to Western North Carolina, shaped through real relationships and a genuine presence in the community that shows up in how they collaborate and how they listen. And how they continue to grow alongside the people and businesses around them. As the airport continues through a major expansion and transformation, Angi shares how every step forward is being approached with intention. It’s not simply about building for today’s demand. They're creating an airport experience that reflects the future of the region while staying connected to the people who make this community so special. What really stays with you is how much they care about their partners and the steady focus on creating opportunity that reaches beyond the airport itself and into the lives of the people who call this place home. As Angi shares, “This community is at the heart of everything we do. When we grow, we’re growing together. And that’s what matters most.” This episode of Speaking of Travel opens the door to something bigger than travel. This is about connection that feels real and leadership that stays grounded. It’s about what becomes possible when people show up for each other in a meaningful way. ❤️ A must listen!  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

    48 min
  6. Bryan Lewis Of Tenon Tours On Going Beyond the Destination

    May 1

    Bryan Lewis Of Tenon Tours On Going Beyond the Destination

    There’s a moment in travel, maybe you’ve felt it, when everything shifts. The view is stunning, but that’s not what stays with you. It’s the feeling. A quiet awakening that expands the world in front of you while something inside you expands, too. On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we step into that space where travel stops being about the plan and becomes a way of seeing and living. It becomes a way of loving the world with more courage and intention. Tenon Tours founder Bryan Lewis understands that shift in a deeply personal way. His story didn’t start with meaning but rather with movement. College trips filled with energy and spontaneity. Sun-soaked beaches and fast-paced adventure. Travel as escape. Travel as fun. Until it became something more. A transformative experience in France opened a deeper way of seeing. Then came a journey that changed everything... traveling to Russia to adopt two of his children. Not as a visitor, but as a father stepping into uncertainty, emotion, and connection that needed no translation. Those moments didn’t just shape his life, they shaped his purpose. What if travel could do more than show us the world? What if it could soften us and stretch us? What if it could challenge us in ways that bring us closer to each other and to ourselves? This conversation lives in that possibility. It’s about letting go of the checklist and choosing connection. It’s about releasing the need for perfection and embracing presence. It’s about stepping beyond certainty and staying open to curiosity. In Bryan's words, "The most powerful journeys aren’t measured. They’re felt in the moments that change how you see everything." Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

    43 min
  7. Indigenous Food, Modern Impact: A Conversation with Chef Nathan Davis

    Apr 24

    Indigenous Food, Modern Impact: A Conversation with Chef Nathan Davis

    On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we move beyond destinations and into something deeply human... food as a living expression of memory, identity, and belonging. Chef Nathan Davis shares his story shaped by the land, where hunting, fishing, and foraging were not choices, but teachings guiding him to understand food as relationship, responsibility, and respect. With formal training from Le Cordon Bleu, Nathan learned the language of technique. But it is his return to Indigenous foodways that gives his work meaning. His journey is one of integration, where tradition and innovation don’t compete, but inform one another. Through food, he is reclaiming culture, preserving knowledge, and creating space for stories that have always been there. Beyond the plate, his work with the American Indian College Fund reflects a deeper purpose expanding access to education and opportunity for Indigenous communities. Because when one person gains access, it doesn’t stop there. It becomes a ripple across generations. This conversation invites us to consider food not just as something we consume, but something that connects us to land, to history, and to each other. It reminds us that when we gather around a table with intention, we’re not just sharing a meal, we’re restoring relationship. As Nathan so beautifully says, “Food isn’t just what we eat. It’s who we are, where we come from, and how we remember.” Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

    49 min
  8. Connecting Cultures Across The Middle East With Rihab Abouzaki

    Apr 20

    Connecting Cultures Across The Middle East With Rihab Abouzaki

    In a time shaped by rapid change and constant headlines, this conversation invites us to pause, to listen, and to look beyond perception into lived experience. My guest, Rihab Abouzaki, is an advertising strategist and Director of This N That Communications. She works at the intersection of culture, business, and global storytelling. Moving between the United States and the Gulf region, she brings a perspective rooted not just in strategy, but in humanity. Together we explore the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), made up of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, a region often viewed from a distance, yet deeply layered and evolving. We talk about what daily life actually feels like right now. About safety, continuity, and the quiet resilience found in ordinary moments, with good people going to work, families gathering, and communities caring for one another even while living near uncertainty. We also step into the spirit of the UAE through places like Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Dubai Frame, and the Museum of the Future, spaces that reflect both imagination and identity, honoring tradition while leaning boldly into what’s next. This conversation moves beyond headlines into something more human. It’s about perception and reality, about connection in times of tension, and about the small, meaningful ways people continue to show up for one another.  It’s a reminder that travel can be more than movement and become an understanding, a bridge between worlds, and a way of seeing each other more clearly. A must listen!  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

    42 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Founded in 2013, Speaking of Travel is a media platform dedicated to meaningful, responsible travel storytelling. Through conversations with global explorers, conservation leaders, cultural visionaries, world-changers, musicians, historians, conservationists, industry leaders, and everyday adventurers, we explore how travel connects people, preserves culture, and protects the planet.  After a decade of global change, including a pandemic and climate-driven disruptions, Speaking of Travel continues to lead the conversation on travel as a force for good. Listen in, dream big, and let’s explore the world together. Because remember, life is short. Don't postpone joy! Subscribe now and let the journey change you. 🌍✈️

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