The Trip That Changed Me Podcast Nation

Today we are speaking with Bruce Wallin, an award winning editor, writer and producer and the host of the podcast, Travel That Matters, which was named one of the 10 Best Podcasts for 2022 by Men's Journal. Bruce has made a name for himself as a leader in travel journalism, a reputation that began when he and a group of friends launched their own publication called, Trip, in the 1990's. It was an incredible experience but eventually they ran out of funds. It was right around this time when Bruce and his former girlfriend decided to travel through Central America to enjoy what they imagined to be their last big adventure before settling down. It was a trip that gave Bruce a new travel ethos, that travel gets better the more effort you put into it. This episode outlines all of the ways effort paid off on that trip, from planning a very romantic proposal to discovering Mayan ruins off the beaten path. It's also worth mentioning that Esme and Bruce did a podcast swap! So after you finish this episode, head over to Travel That Matters where you can listen to Bruce interviewing Esme on a trip that changed her life. 

Check out Bruce on Instagram @brucewallintravel and his website, www.sweetwallmedia.com. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure! 

This week’s guest is TV writer Kristin Newman, who has spent the last 25 years working on shows like, How I Met Your Mother, That 70's Show and Only Murders in the Building. As a lifelong traveler, Kristin used the breaks between seasons to explore the world, often alone, as more and more of her friends settled down. Her memoir, What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding, details her years as a single woman traversing the globe and enjoying commitment-free romances along the way. In this episode, Kristin shares two very different trips to Argentina. The first, a two month stint in which she attempted to live like a local, fell in love, and decided to commit the next decade of her life to travel instead of marriage and babies. Eighteen years later, she returned to Argentina to shoot a TV show based on her memoir, this time with her parents, husband and child in tow. (Spoiler alert: She did eventually breed.) Join us as we discuss how to meet people as a solo traveler, the complexities of memoir writing, the weird feeling Kristin experienced while watching her life story acted out for the screen, and the ways travel lets you try on new identities and take a vacation from yourself.  

Check out Kristin on Instagram @theotherkristinnewman and her website, www.theotherkristinnewman.com. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure! 

Today's guest is the writer, Blythe Roberson, author of How to Date Men When You Hate Men. As you can tell from that title, Blythe is best known for her witty comedic voice and has contributed to publications like The New Yorker, New York Magazine, and GQ. Her latest book, America The Beautiful?, was inspired by a two-month road trip from Wisconsin to the West Coast and back again. The road trip aimed to examine the American obsession with freedom, travel, and the open road via 30 national parks. In this episode, Blythe talks about quitting her cushy job on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to pursue this adventure, her desire to write a book that didn’t conform to the healing journey narrative of most female-authored travel memoirs, and how humans can reconcile their need to be in nature with the environmental impact of our collective presence.

Check out Blythe on Instagram @blythelikehappy and her website, www.blytheroberson.com. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure! 

Today we are speaking with Meg Stafford, a clinical social worker, award-winning writer, and mother to two adventurous daughters. As a lifelong traveler, Meg has been on many expeditions with her kids over the years. One particularly meaningful trip would go on to inspire a memoir: Who Will Accompany You? My Mother Daughter Journeys Far From Home and Close to the Heart. When Kate's daughter opted to visit Nepal and Bhutan for a high school project researching the meaning of happiness, Meg decided to go with her. It was a mother-daughter trip that pushed Meg outside of her comfort zone. She found herself avoiding avalanches while climbing to Annapurna basecamp and dodging paint at the Holi Festival in Kathmandu. It also gave her the opportunity to examine what it means for a parent to love and to let go. 

Check out Meg on Instagram @megstafford2183 and her website, www.MegStafford.com. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure! 

Today's guest is Christine Winebrenner Irick, the entrepreneur behind the group travel company, Lotus Sojourns and the host of The Soul of Travel podcast, which features guests making a positive impact on the tourism industry. In this episode, Christine shares the story of her first big trip to Asia. In the midst of a period of rebirth, as her career and marriage were crumbling, Christine took inspiration from Alex Garland's book, The Beach, and set off for Thailand with one good friend and no solid plans. What unfolded was a perspective-shifting experience that would, in Christine's own words, "reveal who she would become." Fast forward to 2023 and Christine was recently named one of the most influential women in travel, an accolade that speaks to her work highlighting how sustainable tourism can support gender equality. After you've finished listening to this conversation, be sure to check out Christine's podcast, Soul Of Travel, where you'll find an interview with our very own host, Esme Benjamin. 
Check out Christine's website, www.lotussojourns.com and follow her on Instagram @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure! 

Today we are speaking with Yulia Denisyuk, who was overworked and unfulfilled at her well-paid job as a brand manager when she took a trip to Morocco – a place she had always fantasized about visiting. It was an eye-opening experience from start to finish and one that would set her on the path to a whole new life. One starlit night in the desert, Yulia made the decision to leave her job and pursue her dream of becoming a travel journalist. The rest is history. Eight years later, Yulia's work has been published in the New York Times, National Geographic, CNTraveler, and many more. She is also the founder of NOMAD + JULES, a small group travel company offering trips to the middle east, and Travel Media Lab, a platform and podcast helping aspiring travel writers get their big break. Join us as we discuss common misconceptions about Morocco, how to delve deeper and really get to know a place, and the power of looking for signs when you need confirmation you're on the right track. If you're harboring a dream but it never quite feels like the right time to make the leap, this episode is for you.
Check out Yulia's website to get 10% off all products, programs, and events at https://travelmedialab.co/esme and follow her on Instagram, @travelmedialab. Learn more about Full-Time Travel by visiting https://www.fulltimetravel.co/ and follow us on Instagram @full_time_travel. Be sure to rate, review, and follow so that you don’t miss out on travel tips, inspiration, and your potential next adventure!