Speaking of Travel‪®‬ Marilyn Ball

Did you know middle school students who explored nature and took part in outdoor activities like climbing, canoeing, skiing and hiking, displayed improvements in social skills, resilience, and creativity?

Situated on the banks of the French Broad River in Asheville, NC, is a school that provides middle-schoolers with an educational experience that is academically rigorous, outdoor-centric, and ventures far beyond the classroom.

French Broad River Academy (FBRA) is a middle school (6-8 grade), founded in 2012, with strong academics, experiential education, and international travel. 

Co-Founder and Executive Director, Will Yeiser, along with Tricia Chan, Girls Program Director, and 8th graders Riley and Noah, share how the two single-gender campuses, one for girls and one for boys, combines a carefully-crafted academic curriculum with relevant, purposeful learning experiences beyond the campus to become confident, compassionate leaders.
The team explains how the community and culture inside of FBRA is set up to challenge and engage students to explore their own strengths and weaknesses. And how they learn to take calculated risks and push their limits in a safe and supportive environment.

 A must listen 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.

Speaking of Travel continues the LEAF Global Arts Series with LEAF Co-Executive Director Erinn Hartley. Erinn shares how her unique LEAF journey began and how she arrived where she is today within the organization.
LEAF Global Arts plays a significant role in fostering a sense of community and cultural identity and Erinn shares how over the years LEAF Global Arts has provided opportunities for people to come together and celebrate their shared customs, beliefs, and values.

LEAF Global Arts is an integral part of community life, promoting cultural cohesion, social interaction, and a sense of belonging. Their mission comes to life as an agent for positive social impact in many ways and places. There are cultural exchanges, residencies, programs, workshops, mentoring, Easel Rider Mobile Art Lab, Learning Journeys, Signature Events, Immersive Experiences, and Partnerships.

Also, discover what is happening at the LEAF Global Arts space in downtown Asheville, NC, and how all their programs, retreats, and festivals, play an integral part of community life, promoting cultural cohesion, social interaction, and a sense of belonging.

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2024!
LEAF Retreat: May 9-12
LEAF Global Arts Festival: October 17-20

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Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Poet Glenis Redmond has learned to receive beauty without hesitation. Being diagnosed with cancer and amid COVID, she came up with the idea to visit South Carolina's State Parks with her grandson as a life-affirming way for them both to share this poetic journey.

Her new book, “The Song of Everything: A Poet's Exploration of South Carolina State Parks,” is a pocket-sized collection of poems exploring the enduring connection between the natural world and our internal landscape.

In sharing these Park experiences, Glenis explains to her grandson (and us) that goodness and well-being exist worldwide, especially in nature. "There, we can find our truest nature—our highest nature," said Glenis. You will cherish her treasured moments as she shares them with us here.

Glenis has spent almost three decades touring the country as a poet and teaching artist. She explains why poetry is the mouth that speaks when all other mouths are silent, and she invites everyone to rediscover the wonders of the world around us, the stories they have to tell, and the lessons they have to teach us.

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Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Afro-Latino Travels with Kim Haas is the groundbreaking television series dedicated to uncovering the vibrant Afro-Latino culture across Latin America. Host, founder, and executive producer, Kim Haas, shares how her series allow viewers to discover a smaller group within the Black community. Kim explains how showcasing  Afro-Latino communities throughout Latin America, with their rich and diverse legacy of creating vibrant cultures in the Americas, honors the people and shows their vast contributions. 
Also, Frank Grindrod, author, public speaker, and veteran, is a seasoned wilderness survival expert known for leadership training with teams in the wild and founder of Earthwork Programs. Frank shares why learning Earth skills is a transformative process for all ages and explains how outdoor team building helps build confidence and cooperation while providing space to get to know the natural world around them.

A must listen. 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.

The Speaking of Travel And Leave No Trace TV series continues with host Richard Crawford, our ambassador to the bigger world. Ricky shares where to watch Season One of Leave No Trace TV and gives an update on Season Two and when the first episodes will be coming out. 

Also, Ricky highlights inspiring stories from around the world where good things are happening in and around sustainable and eco-tourism. 

Richard shares how travel and seeing the world inspires him, what keeps him moving, and the profound impact travel can have on a person. 

And it’s no secret that self-reflection comes when you interact with diverse cultures and people with individual beliefs that might be different than ours. Discover why Richard wants to constantly go on new adventures and some reasons why he continues exploring new places.
The idea of changing the world can be daunting. It's easy and understandable to think, "I’m only one person; what can I really do?” Find out what Ricky will them.

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Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Author Charlie Birney, Chief Listening Officer at his company, Podville Media in Washington, DC, wrote his new book The Tao of Podcasting: An Interpretation of the Tao Te Ching, as a meditation on the purpose of podcasting.

Charlie shares how the book serves as a guide to growth and transformation that can be directly applicable to podcasting.

Written in lovely verse and illustrated by Charlie's own delightful sketches, The Tao of Podcasting shows how podcast production creates memorable stories by remembering the ancient art of listening, deepening the silence before the sound, combining stillness and fluidity, developing auditory wisdom, engaged listening, and talking forward, and reigniting your passion for podcasting

In addition to writing this creative gem, Charlie co-founded Podville Media and produces a wide range of audio and video for a diverse range of clients. He also shares what he calls "Internal Facing Podcasts" which are podcasts not so much looking for growth and monetization, but instead trying to increase communication inside an organization.
And some big news. Charlie is preparing to start podcasting again! His new venture will be called "The Philosophy of Podcasting." Stay tuned!
Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.