The Sustainable Voice® Podcast Presented by Big Five Tours and Expeditions

Ashish Sanghrajka
  • 5.0 (2)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Bringing you big successes from small places worldwide, The Sustainable Voice Presented by Big Five is hosted by Ashish Sanghrajka (President of Big Five Tours & Expeditions) and focuses on bringing awareness to sustainability, sustainable projects, and making the world a better place for the next generation. Ashish has boots-on-the-ground experience implementing and deploying several different sustainability-based projects around the world and wants to share that with you. Join us each episode as we journey around the world and dive into the unheard success stories of those trying to make it a better, safer, and more sustainable place for not only everyone in their community but the global community at large.

  1. FEB 27

    Tipping Cultures: Ethics, Economics & Expectations l Ep. 74 l The Sustainable Voice®

    Tipping is more than a transaction, it reflects culture, dignity, and human connection. In this episode of The Sustainable Voice®, host Ashish Sanghrajka sits down with special guest Cris Vera to explore the ethics, economics, and expectations behind global tipping culture. From Peru to the United States and Europe, they unpack how gratuities shape traveler behavior, influence livelihoods, and reveal deeper power dynamics in tourism.✨ Key Takeaways✅ Why tipping face-to-face preserves dignity and strengthens authentic cultural exchange.✅ How international travel has influenced tipping norms in Peru and beyond.✅ The subtle power imbalance between traveler and service professional — and how respect keeps it in check.✅ Why education and experience matter in guiding, and how gratuities impact local livelihoods.✅ The difference between entitlement and gratitude in modern travel culture.📌 Timestamps:00:00 – Viral episode reflections & public discourse03:20 – Anxiety around tipping and prepaid gratuities06:30 – The roots of tipping culture in Peru10:30 – Global tipping differences: U.S. vs. Europe14:30 – How tipping becomes normalized in tourism hubs18:15 – Power dynamics between guest and guide28:45 – Do guides rely on tips? The economic reality31:00 – Education, expertise, and professional respect👉 If you travel internationally, this conversation will shift how you think about generosity, responsibility, and cultural awareness.Engage with Us:👍 Like this video if you believe travel should honor local communities.🔔 Subscribe to The Sustainable Voice® for thoughtful conversations on sustainable tourism.💬 How do you approach tipping when you travel abroad?Connect with Us:Follow us on X: https://bit.ly/3TdnFigTag us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3OXkFnULike us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Te1Tv1Find us on Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3UNwKj8Visit our Website: https://bit.ly/42VuDf8

    59 min

  2. JAN 30

    Social Impact Bonds in Tourism Development l Ep. 73 l The Sustainable Voice®

    Recorded on location in Northern Kenya, this episode of The Sustainable Voice® captures a rare, intimate conversation about community-led conservation, trust, and what sustainable tourism looks like when it truly serves local people. Hosts Ashish Sanghrajka and special guests Boni and Solomon, leaders and team members behind Olentile, explore how cultural respect, long-term thinking, and shared responsibility are reshaping tourism from the ground up. This is a story about dignity, employment, transparency, and why sustainability begins with listening — not extracting. ✨ Key Takeaways ✅ Why community ownership is essential for long-term conservation success ✅ How employment, education, and pride replace dependency ✅ What trust looks like when tourism is built with communities, not around them ✅ The emotional impact of being welcomed as family, not visitors ✅ Why sustainable tourism must prioritize people before profit 📌 Timestamps 00:00 – Arrival in Northern Kenya & setting the context 02:10 – The origins of Olentile and community involvement 05:40 – Employment, training, and local leadership 09:30 – Conservation as a shared responsibility 13:15 – Transparency, trust, and long-term commitment 18:05 – Emotional moments: being welcomed as family 23:40 – Tourism’s role in preserving culture and dignity 29:10 – Looking ahead: legacy, continuity, and responsibility 👉 If you believe travel should leave places better than it found them, this episode will resonate deeply. Engage with Us: 👍 Like this video if community-led tourism matters to you 🔔 Subscribe to The Sustainable Voice® for global stories rooted in respect and impact 💬 What does responsible travel mean to you? Connect with Us: Follow us on X: https://bit.ly/3TdnFig Tag us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3OXkFnU Like us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Te1Tv1 Find us on Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3UNwKj8 Visit our Website: https://bit.ly/42VuDf8 #TheSustainableVoice #BigFivePodcast #GlobalVoices #AuthenticityMatters #CulturalConnections #SustainableTourism

    32 min

  3. JAN 2

    Resolutions for the New Year that Matter | Ep. 72 | The Sustainable Voice®

    The Sustainable Voice® returns with a reflective, honest conversation about what it really means to set goals that matter. Hosts Ashish Sanghrajka and Leigh Strinsky sit down at the close of the year to talk about pressure, panic, progress, and the power of small, intentional choices. From personal loss to professional milestones, this episode centers on redefining success in a way that brings peace, purpose, and lasting impact—both personally and globally.✨ Key Takeaways✅ Progress doesn’t come from doing everything—it comes from choosing a few meaningful priorities and honoring them.✅ Real resolutions are “hard turns”: intentional shifts in habits, mindset, and boundaries that move life forward.✅ Breaking big goals into manageable steps reduces anxiety and makes change sustainable.✅ Letting go of what you can’t control creates space for growth, clarity, and better decision-making.✅ Long-term success is not about winning or losing—it’s about staying in the game and expanding your horizon with purpose.📌 Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome back & end-of-year reflections03:45 – Defining meaningful accomplishments beyond traditional goals07:10 – Impact, legacy, and why results matter more than recognition10:30 – Why “resolutions” feel heavy—and what to focus on instead13:00 – Hard turns, small steps, and managing anxiety18:45 – Letting go of control, blame, and comparison24:30 – Community, support systems, and force multipliers26:40 – The infinite game: redefining success and long-term impact👉 This episode invites you to rethink success—not as pressure, but as alignment with what truly matters.Engage with Us:🔔 Subscribe to The Sustainable Voice® for thoughtful conversations on leadership, impact, and sustainable tourism💬 What’s one small “hard turn” you’re willing to make this year?Follow The Sustainable Voice®:X: https://bit.ly/3TdnFigInstagram: https://bit.ly/3OXkFnUFacebook: https://bit.ly/3Te1Tv1Find us on Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3UNwKj8Visit our Website: https://bit.ly/42VuDf8

    57 min

  4. 12/12/2025

    Your Eyes My Story

    In this heartfelt episode of The Sustainable Voice®, host Ashish Sanghrajka sits down with his sister-in-law, artist Sheena Patel (@sheenapatelart), for an honest conversation about translating emotion into visual expression. From her studio in the cold while Ashish broadcasts from Luxor, Egypt, they explore how art becomes a bridge between our inner world and human connection. Sheena shares the story behind her most powerful piece, "Gali," created during one of her darkest periods, and why strangers break down crying when they see it. This conversation goes beyond art—it's about learning to truly listen, stepping into someone else's perspective, and finding light through self-reckoning.✨ Key Takeaways✅ Feeling comes before words—art becomes the language for what we can't articulate.✅ "Gali" makes strangers cry because it taps into universal human experience across all backgrounds.✅ The darkest periods create the most powerful work when you face your shadow self.✅ Stop planning your response and actually hear what someone is experiencing.✅ Cursive writing slows down thought and teaches intentional communication. 👉 Stop planning your response while others are speaking. Try seeing your next destination, conversation, or creative expression through someone else's eyes first.Engage with Us:👍 Like this video if you believe real connection starts with listening🔔 Subscribe to The Sustainable Voice® for conversations that challenge how you see the world💬 Tell us: When was the last time you truly listened without planning what to say next?Connect on Social Media:Follow us on X: https://bit.ly/3TdnFigTag us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3OXkFnULike us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Te1Tv1Find us on Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3UNwKj8Visit our Website: https://bit.ly/42VuDf8

    1h 5m

  5. 11/21/2025

    Paid to Protest

    In this revealing episode of The Sustainable Voice®, host Ashish Sanghrajka welcomes back Cris Vera for his third appearance to explore the uncomfortable reality of manufactured protests and paid dissent across the globe. This conversation breaks the myth that organized protests only happen in developing nations—from Peru's countryside to documented cases in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. Cris shares firsthand experiences from Peru while Ashish reflects on cases from Kenya to North America, exposing how communities are pressured through penalties, threats, or incentives to participate in movements they may not understand or believe in.

    56 min

  6. 11/07/2025

    Lungs of the Earth

    In this eye-opening episode of The Sustainable Voice®, host Ashish Sanghrajka welcomes sisters Inés and Gaby Orihuela to separate fact from fiction about the Amazon rainforest. Gaby, a field biologist and tropical conservation expert, teams up with Inés, who has dedicated 15 years to sustainable luxury tourism with Delfin Amazon Cruises, to reveal what the Amazon truly means for our planet and why protecting it matters now more than ever. 👉 Ready to experience the Amazon's life-changing power? Learn how conscious travel protects this incredible ecosystem. Engage with Us:👍 Like this video if you support sustainable tourism🔔 Subscribe to The Sustainable Voice® for authentic conversations about responsible travel💬 What surprised you most about the Amazon? Share your thoughts below Connect on Social Media:Follow us on X: https://bit.ly/3TdnFigTag us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3OXkFnULike us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3Te1Tv1Find us on Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3UNwKj8Visit our Website: https://bit.ly/42VuDf8 #TheSustainableVoice #BigFivePodcast #GlobalVoices #AuthenticityMatters #CulturalConnections #SustainableTourism #AmazonRainforest #EcoLuxuryTravel #BiodiversityConservation #ResponsibleTourism

    40 min

  7. 10/23/2025

    Mine Not Yours

    In this thought-provoking episode of The Sustainable Voice®, host Ashish Sanghrajka reconnects with his longtime friend and guide Cristian Vera to explore the complex realities of land protection, development, and Indigenous heritage in Peru. From discovering ancient pottery in backyards to witnessing the removal of squatters from protected lands, this conversation reveals the urgent challenges facing ancestral territories and the communities who've called them home for generations. Cristian, of Dominican descent with ancestors who experienced land displacement, brings a deeply personal perspective to this global issue.

    55 min

  8. 10/03/2025

    Generational Squared II

    In this heartfelt episode of The Sustainable Voice®, hosts Ashish Sanghrajka and Leigh Strinsky welcome Sterling and Lise-Marie Wertanzl to explore what makes second-generation family businesses thrive in luxury sustainable travel. From Lise-Marie's days as a lead singer on Crystal cruise ships to Sterling's leap from academia into the family business, this conversation reveals the trust, humor, and shared passion that fuel their success at Sterling Journeys.

    51 min
See All (73)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Bringing you big successes from small places worldwide, The Sustainable Voice Presented by Big Five is hosted by Ashish Sanghrajka (President of Big Five Tours & Expeditions) and focuses on bringing awareness to sustainability, sustainable projects, and making the world a better place for the next generation. Ashish has boots-on-the-ground experience implementing and deploying several different sustainability-based projects around the world and wants to share that with you. Join us each episode as we journey around the world and dive into the unheard success stories of those trying to make it a better, safer, and more sustainable place for not only everyone in their community but the global community at large.

Information

You Might Also Like