85 Percent: A Wanderful Podcast

Beth Santos
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Places & Travel

Women in travel, do you know women make 85% of travel decisions, so why are we not seen in 85% of travel marketing? What is shown to us when it comes to the "traveling woman"? Two narratives: either we're having a life-changing transformation and devouring pasta OR we're getting kidnapped and in fear for our lives. It's never somewhere in between. As the founder of leading women's travel community, Wanderful, and creator of an incredible series of events, festivals, and activities for women travelers worldwide, I KNOW there is more to women traveling than what — and who — is represented in the movies or seen on commercials. So, I'm going to talk about it with some of the most phenomenal influencers, CEOs and changemakers in travel and hospitality around the world. If you are a solo traveler or looking to get into the travel industry as a career, this podcast is for you! Come buckle up and be my audio travel companion. I'm Beth Santos and this is 85 Percent.

  1. Sep 10

    S3 E3: The Business of Being Seen with Danny Guerrero of The Culturist Group

    The Business of Being Seen: Danny Guerrero on Allyship, Data, and What Travel Keeps Getting Wrong This season has been all about our 2026 Bessie Award winners, and this episode is a special one: our very first Allyship Award recipient, Danny Guerrero. Danny is the founder and CEO of The Culturist Group, a multicultural and inclusive marketing agency working with brands like Brand USA and Visit California. Before starting his own company, he spent five years as VP of Strategy at MMGY Global, one of the biggest names in travel marketing, and over 20 years in the industry overall. We talk about how Danny's whole career led to this point — from drafting an "elaborate long email" to MMGY leadership in 2018 (before George Floyd, before BLM, before the industry reckoning of 2020) arguing that travel marketing was ignoring underrepresented audiences, to eventually finding his voice on a national stage with MMGY's Global Black Traveler Study. We get into the "pat on the head" feeling of being dismissed for years, the financial risk of leaving a stable role to start his own agency as a first-generation kid who put himself through school, and what The Culturist Group actually does — research, strategy, storytelling, and now MOSAEX, their new media platform for reaching "growth audiences" with precision. We also don't shy away from the moment we're in: DEI budgets are being slashed, the word itself has become politically radioactive, and yet Danny argues the economic case for representation has never been stronger. We talk about the regulatory tension that makes multicultural media targeting so hard, why he believes this shift "is not going away" no matter what it's called, and what it will actually take for the travel industry to stop reacting to crisis after crisis and start building toward the future he wants to see — one where communities feel safe, seen, and genuinely invested in their own tourism economies. Relevant links: The Culturist Group: culturistgroup.comMOSAEX: culturistgroup.com/mosaexDanny's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dannyguerrerombaMartinique Lewis / Black Travel Alliance (mentioned in-episode): blacktravelalliance.com ABOUT THE 85 PERCENT PODCAST 85% of travel decisions are made by women, yet women's voices and leadership are still underrepresented across the industry. Hosted by Wanderful founder Beth Santos, this show features candid conversations with the women shaping the future of travel, spotlighting the Bessie Award winners pushing the industry forward. ABOUT THE HOST Beth Santos is founder and CEO of Wanderful and author of Wander Woman. She's been named a changemaker by Business Insider and an inspiring person to follow by Condé Nast Traveller, and is godmother to the Azamara Onward cruise ship, a cafe owner, and a mom of three. Website: 85percentpodcast.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/santosbethInstagram: @maximumbeth

  2. Aug 27

    S3 E2: The Sun Is Bright Enough with Amanda Kessy and Asnath Kessy of Still Waters Safaris

    Only 10% of safari companies worldwide are led by women — and just 15% are Black-owned. Sisters Amanda and Asnath Kessy are rewriting that story. In this episode, Beth sits down with the co-founders of Still Waters Safaris, a woman-owned, family-led luxury safari company in Arusha, Tanzania, and winners of Travel Startup of the Year at the 2026 Bessie Awards. They share the story of growing up watching their father run tours in a male-dominated industry, the leap of faith it took for Amanda to leave a banking career to build Still Waters from just two clients, and the pushback — and unwavering family support — that shaped them along the way. They dig into what makes their tours different, why investing in women transforms local economies, and what it will take to get more women into the safari industry. It's a conversation about family, resilience, and the belief that "the sun is big enough to shine on everybody." RELEVANT LINKSStill Waters Safaris Website: stillwaterssafaris.co.tzInstagram: @stillwatersafarisFacebook: facebook.com/stillwaterssafarisLinkedIn: Still Waters Safaris If you were moved by what you heard in this week's episode of "85 Percent," I invite you to leave an honest review of how this episode impacted you. Also, share this podcast with your travel buddy! ABOUT THE 85 PERCENT PODCAST85% of travel decisions are made by women, yet women's voices and leadership are still underrepresented across the industry. Hosted by Wanderful founder Beth Santos, this show features candid conversations with the women shaping the future of travel, spotlighting the Bessie Award winners pushing the industry forward. ABOUT THE HOSTBeth Santos is founder and CEO of Wanderful and author of Wander Woman. She's been named a changemaker by Business Insider and an inspiring person to follow by Condé Nast Traveller, and is godmother to the Azamara Onward cruise ship, a cafe owner, and a mom of three. Website: 85percentpodcast.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/santosbethInstagram: @maximumbethABOUT WANDERFULWanderful is a global community for women who travel, connecting members through meetups, an online community, and events like WITS and the Bessie Awards. Website: https://sheswanderful.com

  3. Aug 7

    Season 3, Episode 1: My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams with Anela Malik

    Season 3 celebrates our 2026 Bessie Award winners, starting with Creator of the Year winner Anela Malik, who built a full ecosystem out of a hobby Instagram account she started almost by accident. Beth and Anela talk about turning a creator career into an entrepreneurial one: the financial instability of the early years, why she crowdfunded Our Block instead of waiting on a brand, the pay gap she's faced as a Black creator, and what travel companies get wrong when they treat creators as marketing instead of business partners. Enter to win: we're giving away a copy of Anela's book, American Soul: The Black History of Food in the United States. Subscribe to our email list at 85percentpodcast.com to enter. Anela Malik is the 2026 Wanderful Bessie Award winner for Creator of the Year, honored for combining creativity with advocacy to challenge the status quo in travel. She built Unfiltered & Fed into a platform reaching nearly 400,000 people through food, travel, culture, and identity. She authored American Soul: The Black History of Food in the United States (National Geographic, 2025), a two-time NAACP Image Awards nominee, and launched Our Block, a crowdfunded series spotlighting Black-owned businesses nationwide. She's also a former U.S. diplomat, now leading small-group trips through the Middle East and North Africa. Connect with Anela Malik Website: anelamalik.comNewsletter (Unfiltered & Fed): unfilteredandfed.comInstagram: @theanelamalikTikTok: @theanelamalikYouTube: @theanelamalikOur Block: ourblockshow.comBook: American Soul: The Black History of Food in the United States (National Geographic, 2025) Chapters 00:05 — Welcome to Season 3 + how to enter the giveaway01:44 — Introducing our Creator of the Year: Anela Malik03:44 — What Creator of the Year means at Wanderful06:39 — How Anela became a creator by accident09:42 — Learning entrepreneurship with no safety net12:04 — The moment content creation became a real career15:08 — From platform to published author: American Soul18:02 — Crowdfunding Our Block: telling stories no one wanted to fund23:07 — What the travel industry keeps getting wrong26:42 — Being evaluated as a business, not just an influencer30:03 — Creators and companies doing group travel right33:37 — Where to find Anela and how to work with her35:14 — Outro + one more reminder about the giveaway

  4. Jun 26 ·  Bonus

    Special Edition: The Radical Joy of Queer Travel with Lindsey Danis

    What does it mean to travel as your full self when the world isn't always built with you in mind? In this special edition episode, I'm joined by journalist and author Lindsey Danis to celebrate the release of their debut book, (Out) On The Road: The Radical Joy of Queer Travel (Ig Publishing) — and we get into all of it. Lindsey is a queer writer whose work has appeared in AFAR, Fodor's, Condé Nast Traveler, Longreads, Eater, and more, and this book is the kind of thing the travel world has genuinely needed. We talk about what it took to write it, what they learned from years of reporting on LGBTQ+ travel around the world, and why queer joy on the road is, in itself, a radical act. Chapter List: 00:00 Introduction to the Conversation 02:26 Celebrating the Launch of 'Out on the Road' 05:06 Exploring the Book's Unique Approach 10:47 Understanding the Queer Travel Experience 15:12 The Radical Joy of Queer Travel 20:30 Navigating Personal Identity While Traveling 25:07 Personal Stories and Their Impact 29:12 Empowerment Through Travel 32:19 The Emotional Journey of Writing a Book This podcast is hosted by Beth Santos, founder and CEO of Wanderful and author of Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World, Solo. Beth has been recognized in Business Insider as one of 17 changemakers transforming the hospitality industry, and in Conde Nast Traveller as one of 12 inspiring people to follow. She's also the godmother to the Azamara Onward cruise ship, a cafe owner and a mom of three. 💼🚺♀️👩🏾👵🏼👩🏽‍🦱✈️🚢🧳 If you would love to connect with Beth, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook

  5. 10/30/2024

    Season 2 Wrap: Our Greatest Takeaways and Travel Stories

    Welcome back women travelers, solo travelers, travel hobbyists and travel influencers to the final episode of Season 2 of "85 Percent," where we wrap up this season by sharing the captivating trails blazed by women in the travel industry. From Gabby Beckford's transformative hike in Iceland to Stephanie Jones' unexpected spiritual journey to a warmer-than-anticipated Antarctica, we'll unveil how travel sparks growth in the most unexpected ways. Hear Catarina Rivera's empowering solo adventure in Montreal, Alexa West's perspective on navigating travel fears with safety in mind, and Nikki Vargas' poignant revelation at Iguazu Falls. We're also celebrating the impact of the Bessie Awards and women's influence in travel decisions. Join us as we explore these personal narratives, challenge perceptions of travel, and honor the voices shaping the industry. So, grab a coffee, settle in, and let's embark on this journey together down memory lane to recap season 2! Honorable Mentions Wander Woman - Travel Book Wanderful Community B & H Photo Digital 85 Percent: A Wanderful Podcast 💼🚺♀️ 👵🏼👩🏽‍🦱✈️🚢🧳 This podcast is hosted by Beth Santos, founder and CEO of Wanderful and author of Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World, Solo. Beth has been recognized in Business Insider as one of 17 changemakers transforming the hospitality industry, and in Conde Nast Traveller as one of 12 inspiring people to follow. She's also the godmother to the Azamara Onward cruise ship, a cafe owner and a mom of three. 💼🚺♀️👩🏾👵🏼👩🏽‍🦱✈️🚢🧳 If you would love to connect with Beth, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Twitter Have you been moved by what you heard in this week's episode of "85 Percent"?  I invite you to leave an honest review of how this episode impacted you. Also, share this podcast with your travel buddy! The 85 Percent Podcast intro, outro and transition music is named Nothing Just Happens by lemonmusicstudio and was found on Pixabay. Additional music and sound effects for this episode came from Soundstripe and/or Epidemic Sounds or is cited in the show notes. Crackers In Soup is the writer, audio editor and producer for this episode.

    Season 2 Wrap: Our Greatest Takeaways and Travel Stories

  6. 10/23/2024

    Women's Expeditions: How a trip to Saudi Arabia changed how I look a feminism with Intrepid Travel's Zina Bencheikh

    Welcome back women travelers, solo travelers, travel hobbyists and travel influencers! This episode is sponsored by Intrepid Travel. Find your Only Intrepid moment! In this episode, I speak with Zina Bencheikh! Zina is a trailblazing executive from Intrepid Travel. Together, we delve into the transformative power of travel in empowering women and fostering cultural understanding. From Intrepid's innovative Women's Expeditions and the launch of Wanderful's Woman-Owned Map spotlighting women-owned businesses, to Zina's pioneering initiatives in Morocco and her evolving perspective on Saudi Arabia, this episode is packed with stories of inspiration and change. With women making 85% of travel decisions, the potential for societal impact is immense. So, sit back and explore how travel can be a catalyst for challenging biases, supporting local communities, and amplifying women's voices across the globe. Join us in discussing how each travel decision can contribute to a more equitable world. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and follow us for more inspiring stories of changemakers in the travel industry. Here are three key takeaways for you: Empowering Women in Travel: With women making 85% of travel decisions, reinvesting in women-owned businesses can drive substantial social and economic impact. Initiatives like Intrepid's Women's Expeditions and Wanderful's Woman-Owned Map are pivotal steps in this direction. Breaking Stereotypes: Travel allows us to challenge biases and explore cultures beyond perceptions. Zina's experiences in Saudi Arabia highlighted the changing dynamics for women, inspiring a fresh perspective on tourism in the region. Community and Growth: Travel nurtures empathy and connection while empowering local communities. Zina's leadership in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region underscores the role of travel in fostering opportunities and uplifting communities. Honorable Mentions Wander Woman - Travel Book  Wanderful Community B & H Photo Digital 85 Percent: A Wanderful Podcast Follow Intrepid Travel in these spaces: Website: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intrepidtravel/ 💼🚺♀️ 👵🏼👩🏽‍🦱✈️🚢🧳 This podcast is hosted by Beth Santos, founder and CEO of Wanderful and author of Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World, Solo. Beth has been recognized in Business Insider as one of 17 changemakers transforming the hospitality industry, and in Conde Nast Traveller as one of 12 inspiring people to follow. She's also the godmother to the Azamara Onward cruise ship, a cafe owner and a mom of three. 💼🚺♀️👩🏾👵🏼👩🏽‍🦱✈️🚢🧳 If you would love to connect with Beth, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Twitter Have you been moved by what you heard in this week's episode of "85 Percent"?  I invite you to leave an honest review of how this episode impacted you. Also, share this podcast with your travel buddy! The 85 Percent Podcast intro, outro and transition music is named Nothing Just Happens by lemonmusicstudio and was found on Pixabay. Additional music and sound effects for this episode came from Soundstripe and/or Epidemic Sounds or is cited in the show notes. Crackers In Soup is the writer, audio editor and producer for this episode.

    Women's Expeditions: How a trip to Saudi Arabia changed how I look a feminism with Intrepid Travel's Zina Bencheikh

  7. 10/16/2024

    Redefining Solo Female Travel with Kim Callender and Arabella Bowen of SoloTrvlr

    Welcome back women travelers, solo travelers, travel hobbyist and travel influencers!! In this episode, I speak with Kim Callender and Arabella Bowen, the co-founders of **SoloTrvlr**, a travel app designed to empower women by providing trusted, local advice for solo adventures. With backgrounds in tech and travel, they bring a wealth of experience to the platform. Arabella, formerly a leader at Fodor's Travel and AFAR, was inspired by her transformative solo journey through Southeast Asia. Kim, who previously worked at Google, founded SoloTrvlr to address the gap in solutions for solo women travelers. Together, they aim to make independent travel more accessible, confident, and bold for women worldwide. Join me as we journey through Arabella's adventures of adapting to the bustling streets of Hanoi, discovering the joy in simple moments, and how these experiences inspired a career advocating for women travelers. Meanwhile, Kim shares her first trip to Belize, detailing how unexpected challenges taught her adaptability and self-trust, eventually leading her to create a startup that champions women traveling independently. We also explore deeper topics like the role of solo travel in fostering cultural understanding and personal growth. Finally, I invite you to support our community in Lebanon right now and donate to Tourleb. They will use the funds to: Support their team members by continuing to pay them a small salary despite the lack of tourism right now; Support families by buying locally and redistributing necessary products to those in need; Help the NGOs, hospitals, and Red Cross (whom they trust) who are receiving displaced people; Evaluate case by case to support families, children, and rescuers as needed. Honorable Mentions Wander Woman - Travel Book  Wanderful Community B & H Photo Digital 85 Percent: A Wanderful Podcast Respectful Tourism with Joelle Sfeir and Nada Raphael of Tourleb TourLeb's PayPal: Paypal.me/aaychin Follow Solo Trvlr App in these spaces: Website: https://www.solotrvlr.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solotrvlrapp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solotrvlr/ 💼🚺♀️ 👵🏼👩🏽‍🦱✈️🚢🧳 This podcast is hosted by Beth Santos, founder and CEO of Wanderful and author of Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World, Solo. Beth has been recognized in Business Insider as one of 17 changemakers transforming the hospitality industry, and in Conde Nast Traveller as one of 12 inspiring people to follow. She's also the godmother to the Azamara Onward cruise ship, a cafe owner and a mom of three. 💼🚺♀️👩🏾👵🏼👩🏽‍🦱✈️🚢🧳 If you would love to connect with Beth, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Twitter Have you been moved by what you heard in this week's episode of "85 Percent"?  I invite you to leave an honest review of how this episode impacted you. Also, share this podcast with your travel buddy! The 85 Percent Podcast intro, outro and transition music is named Nothing Just Happens by lemonmusicstudio and was found on Pixabay. Additional music and sound effects for this episode came from Soundstripe and/or Epidemic Sounds or is cited in the show notes. Crackers In Soup is the writer, audio editor and producer for this episode.

    Redefining Solo Female Travel with Kim Callender and Arabella Bowen of SoloTrvlr

  8. 10/09/2024

    Amplifying Latinx Voices in Tourism: Vanessa Fondeur of Latino World Travelers

    Welcome back women travelers, solo travelers, travel hobbyist and travel influencers!! Get your popcorn ready for another exciting episode of the "85 Percent Podcast." I'm your host, Beth Santos, and today we dive into the transformative power of travel with our inspiring guest, Vanessa Fondeur. Join us as we explore Vanessa's remarkable journey from her Dominican roots to trailblazing travel inclusivity for the Latine community through her initiatives, "Latino World Travelers" and the "Latino Travel Fest." We'll also be hearing from Lisa Verbeck, founder of Verbeck Consulting, as she shares her insights on impactful tourism. Plus, we're inviting you, our listeners, to share your profound travel tales that altered your worldview. So hit subscribe, and let's embark on this journey of discovery and empowerment together! Honorable Mentions Wander Woman - Travel Book  Wanderful Community B & H Photo Digital Lisa Verbeck Follow Vanessa in these spaces: Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessafondeuradams/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinaworldtraveler/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinoworldtravelers/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinotravelfest/ 💼🚺♀️ 👵🏼👩🏽‍🦱✈️🚢🧳 This podcast is hosted by Beth Santos, founder and CEO of Wanderful and author of Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World, Solo. Beth has been recognized in Business Insider as one of 17 changemakers transforming the hospitality industry, and in Conde Nast Traveller as one of 12 inspiring people to follow. She's also the godmother to the Azamara Onward cruise ship, a cafe owner and a mom of three. 💼🚺♀️👩🏾👵🏼👩🏽‍🦱✈️🚢🧳 If you would love to connect with Beth, join her in these following spaces: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Twitter Have you been moved by what you heard in this week's episode of "85 Percent"?  I invite you to leave an honest review of how this episode impacted you. Also, share this podcast with your travel buddy! The 85 Percent Podcast intro, outro and transition music is named Nothing Just Happens by lemonmusicstudio and was found on Pixabay. Additional music and sound effects for this episode came from Soundstripe and/or Epidemic Sounds or is cited in the show notes. Crackers In Soup is the writer, audio editor and producer for this episode.

    Amplifying Latinx Voices in Tourism: Vanessa Fondeur of Latino World Travelers
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Women in travel, do you know women make 85% of travel decisions, so why are we not seen in 85% of travel marketing? What is shown to us when it comes to the "traveling woman"? Two narratives: either we're having a life-changing transformation and devouring pasta OR we're getting kidnapped and in fear for our lives. It's never somewhere in between. As the founder of leading women's travel community, Wanderful, and creator of an incredible series of events, festivals, and activities for women travelers worldwide, I KNOW there is more to women traveling than what — and who — is represented in the movies or seen on commercials. So, I'm going to talk about it with some of the most phenomenal influencers, CEOs and changemakers in travel and hospitality around the world. If you are a solo traveler or looking to get into the travel industry as a career, this podcast is for you! Come buckle up and be my audio travel companion. I'm Beth Santos and this is 85 Percent.

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