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. 5d ago

    Experience Italy Through The Eyes Of Those Who Call It Home 🇮🇹

    Some places capture your imagination. Italy captures your heart. If you've ever dreamed of experiencing Italy beyond the guidebooks, this is the journey you've been waiting for. Join Becky and Marcello Simone of Viaggi Italiani, together with Anne Robichaud, your expert guide to the hidden treasures of Umbria, on an unforgettable 10-day Fall 2026 Small Group Art & Cultural Tour through the heart of Italy. Carefully designed for travelers who value authentic experiences, meaningful connections, and the joy of slowing down, this experience is an invitation to experience Italy as a welcomed guest.  You'll enjoy exclusive experiences that include private guided walks, cooking alongside local chefs, wine tastings at family-owned wineries, visits with artisans, hidden villages, Renaissance masterpieces, and extraordinary meals that celebrate the flavors and traditions of Italy. You'll even be part of the historic 800th anniversary commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi, a once-in-a-generation celebration filled with cultural and spiritual events.  Adding another extraordinary dimension to the journey is Jane Adams, President and CEO of Artemisia Gold, whose work restoring the forgotten masterpieces of Renaissance women artists has inspired an international movement. Throughout the tour, you'll discover the remarkable legacy of Plautilla Nelli, the first known woman painter of Florence, while helping support the preservation of these priceless works of art.  Becky, Marcello, Anne, and Jane share the stories behind this remarkable journey and why they created it. And find out what makes it so different from traditional tours and why 2026 is an extraordinary time to experience Italy. This isn't about rushing from one famous landmark to another. This amazing tour is about wandering medieval streets, sharing meals with new friends, discovering hidden artistic treasures, meeting the people who keep Italy's traditions alive, and returning home with memories that will stay with you forever. Space is intentionally limited to create an intimate, personalized experience and reservations are now open. If Italy has been calling your name... This is your invitation. Listen to the episode then reserve your place on this extraordinary Fall 2026 journey with Becky, Marcello, Anne, and Jane for the journey of a lifetime.  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

    Experience Italy Through The Eyes Of Those Who Call It Home 🇮🇹

  2. Jul 17

    It's Never Too Late To Write Your Next Chapter With Michael Cowan

    Michael Cowan has lived many lives. He's been an attorney, educator, businessman, musician, songwriter, and now, an author. His debut novel, John B. Peoples, is proof that some of life's most meaningful adventures begin long after we think we've settled into who we are. In this episode of Speaking of Travel, Michael shares what inspired him to finally write the novel that had been quietly waiting inside him, why France, and especially Paris and Marseille, became such important settings, and how travel has shaped both his storytelling and his perspective on life. Together we explore what it means to keep growing, embrace curiosity, redefine success, and discover new purpose through every season of life. Whether you're dreaming about your next journey, considering a new creative path, or wondering if it's ever too late to begin again, this conversation is a reminder that the best chapters are sometimes the ones we never saw coming. 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.

    It's Never Too Late To Write Your Next Chapter With Michael Cowan

  3. Jul 11

    Travel with Purpose: A Conversation With Jared Sternberg Of Gondwana Ecotours

    Travel has the power to change us. But what if it could also help change the world for the better? On this episode of Speaking of Travel, join Jared Sternberg, founder and CEO of Gondwana Ecotours, for a thoughtful conversation about what it really means to travel with purpose. Jared shares how an unexpected journey took him from law school and backpacking adventures to building an international ecotourism company, challenging the idea that travel is simply about seeing new places. Together we explore how every trip we take leaves an impact and why the communities we visit should benefit from our presence. Jared invites us to think differently about travel, not just as something we experience, but as something that can strengthen communities and inspire positive change. This episode is an invitation to look beyond the itinerary and consider a bigger question: What kind of traveler do we want to be? "Travel isn't just about where you go. It's about recognizing that your presence has an impact and choosing to leave people and places better because you were there." Join us for a conversation that may forever change the way you see the world and your place in it. Only on Speaking of Travel.  Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

    Travel with Purpose: A Conversation With Jared Sternberg Of Gondwana Ecotours

  4. Jul 5

    Singer-Songwriter Katie Cole From The World Stage To The Soul

    Some conversations feel like catching up with an old friend. And that's exactly what it was like welcoming Katie Cole back to Speaking of Travel.  Katie is not only a remarkable singer-songwriter, she's one of the kindest, most genuine people you'll ever meet. From her years touring with the Smashing Pumpkins to performing the iconic music of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit before audiences around the world, she's inspired countless people through both her extraordinary talent and her generous spirit. In this episode, Katie shares the deeply personal journey behind her upcoming album, FOREST, a collection of songs shaped by love, loss, healing, and discovering who we become after life changes us.  Her honesty is inspiring and her music stays with you long after the last note. Katie's story is a beautiful reminder that even through life's hardest seasons, hope is never far away. "Healing isn't about finding your way back to who you were. It's about learning to love the person you've become."  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.

    Singer-Songwriter Katie Cole From The World Stage To The Soul

  5. Jun 24

    The Journey Home To Yourself With Anthony Dyer

    The world teaches us how to move forward, but it rarely teaches us how to heal. But healing may be one of the most courageous adventures we ever undertake. On this deeply human episode of Speaking of Travel, meet Anthony Dyer, whose extraordinary journey from military service to healing is a powerful reminder that our most important journeys are often the ones no one else can see. Originally from Sylva, North Carolina, Anthony spent more than a decade flying high-risk missions around the world, where split-second decisions could mean the difference between life and death.  His extraordinary service earned him multiple honors, including the Air Force's prestigious Jolly Green Rescue Mission of the Year in 2018. But Anthony's most important journey began after the missions ended. Drawing from his memoir, Moon Child, Anthony shares the invisible challenges many veterans carry long after returning home, from trauma, PTSD, addiction, isolation, to the difficult process of rebuilding an identity beyond military service. Together we explore how true strength isn't found in carrying pain alone but in allowing ourselves to heal. Whether you're a veteran, someone navigating your own challenges, or simply seeking inspiration, Anthony's story is a powerful reminder that even after our darkest moments, there is always a path forward. Some stories change the way we see the world. Others change the way we see ourselves. This conversation with Anthony Dyer may do both. Tune in... Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

    The Journey Home To Yourself With Anthony Dyer

  6. Jun 16

    A Seat At The Table And A Window To The World With Cottage Cooking

    What happens when a love of food becomes a passport to the world? On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we're joined by Liisa Andreassen and John Godts, the husband-and-wife team behind Cottage Cooking, whose adventures have taken them across six continents and more than 40 countries. What began as a creative way to fund their travels has evolved into a meaningful journey centered on food, storytelling, cultural exchange, and human connection. John and Liisa have discovered that food is one of the world's most universal languages. In this conversation, we explore how travel has expanded their perspective and inspired them to create experiences that bring people together. We discuss the ways curiosity can lead us beyond our comfort zones and how some of life's most memorable moments happen when we slow down and truly connect around a table. At its heart, this conversation is about connection. It's about saying yes to new experiences and embracing the unfamiliar. Liisa and John show us how some of the most meaningful moments in life happen when we gather around a table and listen with an open heart.  And allow ourselves to be transformed by the journey. 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.

    A Seat At The Table And A Window To The World With Cottage Cooking

  7. 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.

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

  8. 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.

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