Going Places Yulia Denisyuk

Welcome back to Season 10 of Going Places, everyone!
I'm your host Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel photographer, writer, storyteller, community builder, podcaster, filmmaker, educator, and entrepreneur working on stories from around the world for top global publications, traveling to places like Botswana and the Arctic Circle, and producing stories about people that live and work in those places that I’m excited about.
Going Places is my show that sparks a better understanding of people and places near and far. We hope to foster a space for real conversations to occur as we celebrate humanity in all its forms and hope to build bridges, rather than walls, with our work.
How does one move through the world in this moment in time? This will be the central question we will explore on the show this season. How do we stay engaged with the world that has so much injustice and pain in it? How can we, through our individual actions, improve the situation around us? How do we stay open to the joys of travel while recognizing how our political and societal structures impact, and often oppress others? 
These are all complex questions that I don’t have an answer to. But I am inviting a host of smart and kind people on the show to help me tackle them.
Thank you so much for listening and stay tuned for the first episode coming to you next week!
Get more information at: Going Places website
Join our Going Places newsletter to get updates on new episodes and Yulia's travel storytelling work. Subscribe at goingplacesmedia.com!
For more BTS of this podcast follow @goingplacesmedia on Instagram and check out our videos on YouTube!
Please head over to Apple Podcasts and SUBSCRIBE to the show. If you enjoy this conversation, please share it with others on social and don’t forget to tag us @goingplacesmedia!
And show us some love, if you have a minute, by rating Going Places or leaving us a review wherever you listen. You’ll be helping us to bend the arc of algorithms towards our community — thank you!
Going Places with Yulia Denisyuk is a show that sparks a better understanding of people and places near and far by fostering a space for real conversations to occur. Each week, we sit down with travelers, journalists, creators, and people living and working in destinations around the world. Hosted by Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, and writer who's worked with National Geographic, The New York Times, BBC Travel, and more. 
Learn more about our show at goingplacesmedia.com.

Welcome back to Going Places, everyone! This season on the show, we learned about Bedouin hospitality, heard from Ammani artists on Gaza, traveled to Italy in search of the world’s rarest silk, and more.
I hope you enjoyed the new show format - and if you did, please take a moment to leave us a rating or a review on Apple podcasts or Spotify. I appreciate it! 
This episode and the entire season of the show are brought to you by Visit Jordan. Be sure to visit myjordanjourney.com to learn more about Jordan. I loved partnering with this organization because, as you know, I love the country of Jordan so much, and I loved the opportunity to talk about it at length. 
Today is our last episode and we’re going on a short hiatus, but before we do, I want to leave you with final thoughts on whether or not travel can change the world. This episode will talk about and reflect upon my latest trip to Jordan in February 2024.
Get more information at: Going Places website
Join our Going Places newsletter to get updates on new episodes and Yulia's travel storytelling work. Subscribe at goingplacesmedia.com!
For more BTS of this podcast follow @goingplacesmedia on Instagram and check out our videos on YouTube!
Please head over to Apple Podcasts and SUBSCRIBE to the show. If you enjoy this conversation, please share it with others on social and don’t forget to tag us @goingplacesmedia!
And show us some love, if you have a minute, by rating Going Places or leaving us a review wherever you listen. You’ll be helping us to bend the arc of algorithms towards our community — thank you!
Going Places with Yulia Denisyuk is a show that sparks a better understanding of people and places near and far by fostering a space for real conversations to occur. Each week, we sit down with travelers, journalists, creators, and people living and working in destinations around the world. Hosted by Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, and writer who's worked with National Geographic, The New York Times, BBC Travel, and more. 
Learn more about our show at goingplacesmedia.com.
Our theme music this season, Abbad El Shams, is provided by Rawan Roshni, a Palestinian/Balkan singer based in Jordan.

Welcome back to Going Places! Today, we have a conversation with Amelia Bilbeisi, co-founder of Maida Olive Oil, known as Onsuri Olive Oil in North America. Amelia produces one of the world's most premium olive oils on a farm deep inside a Jordanian desert. Tasting this olive oil, designated ultra premium quality, a coveted grade only 5 percent of the world's olive oil producers meet, has opened my eyes and my palette to what quality olive oil should taste like. 
Olive oil is central to Jordanian culture, and today, Amelia and her team are well on their way to elevating its status worldwide. To get the taste of this incredible oil, head to onsurioliveoil.com. And be sure to use code GOINGPLACES, all caps, to get 10 percent off your purchase. Onsuri ships free to North America. 
This episode and the entire season is brought to you by Visit Jordan. Be sure to visit myjordanjourney.com to learn more about Jordan.
Get more information on the episode page.
What you’ll learn in this episode:Significance of olive oil in Jordanian cultureHow ONSURI became a top olive oil producerHow to tell if the extra virgin olive oil is of high qualityChallenges affecting olive oil production (e.g., climate change)Traditional vs. modern approaches in agricultureThe role of women in olive oil productionWhere olive trees come fromCultural significance of olive oil in the Middle EastSustainability practices on Amelia's farmONSURI's environmental sustainability efforts (it's carbon-negative)Amelia's journey to becoming an olive oil sommelierBenefits and versatility of extra virgin olive oil in cooking and bakingVarieties of olive oil offered by Onsuri and their recommended usesTours and visits to Onsuri Farm for travelers What it's like for Amelia to be a part of her father's dream
Featured on the show:To get a taste of this incredible oil, head to onsurioliveoil.com and use code GOINGPLACES to get 10% off your purchase. Onsuri ships free to North America!
Get more information at:
Join our Going Places newsletter to get updates on new episodes and Yulia's travel storytelling work. Subscribe at goingplacesmedia.com!
For more BTS of this podcast follow @goingplacesmedia on Instagram and check out our videos on YouTube!
Please head over to Apple Podcasts and SUBSCRIBE to the show. If you enjoy this conversation, please share it with others on social and don’t forget to tag us @goingplacesmedia!
And show us some love, if you have a minute, by rating Going Places or leaving us a review wherever you listen. You’ll be helping us to bend the arc of algorithms towards our community — thank you!
Going Places with Yulia Denisyuk is a show that sparks a better understanding of people and places near and far by fostering a space for real conversations to occur. Each week, we sit down with travelers, journalists, creators, and people living and working in destinations around the world. Hosted by Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel

Join us in this episode in conversation with Chicago-based travel journalist and photographer Karthika Gupta. Her work has been featured in Vogue, BBC Travel, USA Today, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodors, AFAR, Travel & Leisure, Robb Report, and more. Karthika is also the founder of Culturally Ours, a platform dedicated to promoting cultural understanding and celebrating global diversity.
In this episode, Karthika and I cover great distances. We travel to the flower markets of Mumbai,  the deserts of Jordan, and the sustainable farm run by one of the smallest tribal nations in California. Karthika shares with us the backstory to her latest work for Vogue magazine,  the motivation that enables her to keep pitching her beautiful stories and get published in places like Vogue, AFAR, and others, and how knowing people from places we visit can exponentially increase our understanding of the world.
We also discuss the misconceptions about traveling to the Middle East and why traveling with her two children is Karthika's favorite way of learning something new about herself and others. Discover the motivation behind her compelling stories and her insights on how connecting with locals can deepen our understanding of the world.
This episode and the entire season of the show is brought to you by Visit Jordan.  Be sure to visit myjordanjourney.com to learn more about this beautiful place.
Featured on the show:Read Karthika's Vogue Story, How One of the Smallest Tribal Nations in the U.S. Is Redefining Sustainable Living Follow Karthika on Instagram: @karthikaguptaKarthika's website: karthikagupta.comListen to Episode 07: You're Good Enough To Do This Work with Karthika Gupta
Get more information at: Learn more about our show at goingplacesmedia.com.

Join our Going Places newsletter to get updates on new episodes and Yulia's travel storytelling work. Subscribe at goingplacesmedia.com!
For more BTS of this podcast follow @goingplacesmedia on Instagram and check out our videos on YouTube!
Please head over to Apple Podcasts and SUBSCRIBE to the show. If you enjoy this conversation, please share it with others on social and don’t forget to tag us @goingplacesmedia!
And show us some love, if you have a minute, by rating Going Places or leaving us a review wherever you listen. You’ll be helping us to bend the arc of algorithms towards our community — thank you!
Going Places with Yulia Denisyuk is a show that sparks a better understanding of people and places near and far by fostering a space for real conversations to occur. Each week, we sit down with travelers, journalists, creators, and people living and working in destinations around the world. Hosted by Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, and writer who's worked with National Geographic, The New York Times,...

Welcome back to Going Places! Today, I'm thrilled to reconnect with Nikki Vargas, a senior editor at Fodor's Travel and the founder of Unearthed Women joins me to discuss her latest book, "Call You When I Land." In this travel memoir, Nikki shares her profound experiences navigating cultures, finding love, and discovering herself along the way. 
Throughout our conversation, Nikki sheds light on the transformative power of travel and its ability to shape our journeys and our careers. We discuss the role travelers play in supporting the communities they visit, echoing Nikki's commitment to championing women's voices worldwide. From her experiences founding Unearthed Women to her latest book project, Nikki's wisdom and passion for exploration shines through, offering listeners a fresh perspective on the intersection of travel, self-discovery, and advocacy.
"Call You When I Land" is out now and promises readers a captivating exploration of wanderlust, resilience, and pursuing one's dreams. Whether you're an avid traveler or simply curious about the world, Nikki's story will surely resonate. 
This episode and the entire season is brought to you by Visit Jordan. Be sure to visit myjordanjourney.com to learn more about Jordan.
What you’ll learn in this episode:Introduction and overview of Nikki's new book, "Call You When I Land."Excerpt reading and discussion of pivotal moments from the bookComparison of the writing process between Nikki's first book, "Wanderess," and her memoir, "Call You When I Land."Challenges and rewards of book writing compared to articlesOvercoming self-doubt and fears in the writing processPractical strategies for tackling a writing projectThe influence of Nikki's career as a travel journalist and editor on her book writingThe power of memoirs and travel narratives in inspiring transformationRecognizing the privilege of travel and finding accessible ways to exploreSupporting women in travel and amplifying their voices through conscious consumerismHighlighting stories of everyday women making a difference in their communities, like Manal Kahi's Eat Offbeat.Importance of authenticity in social media, particularly TikTokBalancing personal life milestones with professional endeavorsNikki's upcoming book project inspired by a trip to NorwayInvitation to join Nikki on her book tour and connect in person
Featured on the show:Order Nikki's travel memoir, CALL YOU WHEN I LANDNikki’s book Instagram: @callyouwhenilandNikki Vargas website: nikkivargas.comNikki’s Instagram: @niknakvargasNikki’s Twitter: @MsNikkiVargasCatch up with Nikki on her book tour. Follow Nikki on Tiktok: @authornikkivargasEat OffBeat: eatoffbeat.coma href="https://www.fodors.com/about-us#contact" rel="noopener...

Today, we'll learn about the story of the world's rarest silk with writer, editor, and now book author Eliot Stein. Eliot and I first got to know each other through our shared passion for the types of stories that reveal something about a place through the lens of tradition and unique cultural practices.
Eliot has edited a few of my stories at BBC Travel, where he currently serves as the deputy editor,  and where he started a column called Custom Made that highlights cultural custodians preserving vanishing customs. Eliot has recently completed a book inspired by this column that will be published this fall.
This conversation has given me a sense of joy and lightness that I haven't felt in a while. You're going to hear about our shared passion for telling stories about people preserving cultural traditions, like the last remaining sea silk seamstress in Sardinia and Japan's craft soy sauce brewer who still makes shoyu in a traditional way. We also discuss what the book writing process was like for Eliot and hear more about his upcoming book. If you want to learn more about Eliot and receive updates on his upcoming book, follow him on Instagram @Eliot.Stein.
This episode and the entire season is brought to you by Visit Jordan. Be sure to visit myjordanjourney.com to learn more about Jordan.
What you’ll learn in this episode:Discussion about the story "The Last Surviving Sea Silk Seamstress" for BBC TravelImportance of highlighting the person, tradition, and craft rather than the writerInsight into the process of building relationships and trust with subjects for storytellingImportance of traditions in shaping places and peopleRecognition of the depth beyond tourist attractionsDiscussion on changing reading habits and the impact on storytellingMultifaceted approaches to storytelling in the digital ageEliot's upcoming book "Custodians of Wonder"Eliot's background in travel journalism and its influence on the bookThe labor of love and intense commitment required to write a bookAdvice for aspiring authors: prioritize passion over monetary or personal gainsResources and opportunities for aspiring authors, such as the Writer's Digest conferenceStory behind a photo featuring traditional soy sauce production in JapanImportance of clear pitching guidelines for democratizing travel journalismHope in the power of travel journalism to foster empathy and understanding across cultures
Featured on the show:Follow Eliot on Instagram: @eliot.steinRead Eliot’s article on BBC Travel: The last surviving sea silk seamstressLearn about the Barrel-aged soy sauce, also available online at trf-ny.comPitch your book idea: writersdigestconference.comRead the BBC Travel author brief
Get more information at: Learn more about our show at goingplacesmedia.com.

Join our Going Places newsletter to get updates on new episodes and Yulia's travel storytelling work. Subscribe at a href="https://www.goingplacesmedia.com" rel="noopener noreferrer"...