Rikimah Glymph is a world traveler, a wellness guru, and she puts together exceptional travel experiences. She shares how her work with people of all backgrounds helps identify challenges to think outside of their comfort zones. Rikimah has traveled alone to over 120 countries (72 of those countries with her son), and hosts wellness retreats and logistics conferences all over the world.

Rikimah challenges people to think outside of their comfort zones and helps create innovative solutions necessary for actionable change.

Also on Speaking of Travel, author, seasoned backpacker, and hiker Gary Sizer, shares his passion for travel and how his life was humbled, and changed forever, by walking the entire Appalachian Trail and ultimately writing his best-selling book, "Where's the Next Shelter?"

Gary describes how the spark leading to his love of the outdoors and travel from childhood and into the military created this passion. And find out how his international travel, including a recent trip to Montenegro, all tie into his lifelong love of adventure.

Come along for the hike of a lifetime. One step at a time.

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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.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Today I am living my dream of taking Speaking of Travel live with three amazing world- changing guests at the LEAF Global Arts Retreat.

LEAF Global Arts plays a significant role in fostering community and over the years has become an essential role of this community and provides opportunities for people to come together and celebrate their shared customs, beliefs, and values.

My guests on this special live show, Masankho Banda, Amanda Lucidon and Chase Pickering, are leaders and visionaries ready to stand up and make a difference.

Amanda is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and New York Times best-selling author. She served as an Official White House photographer responsible for documenting President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama from 2013 to 2017 and she is one of only a few female White House photographers in history.

Her two highly-recommended books, Chasing Light: Michelle Obama Through the Lens of a White House Photographer, featuring beautiful photographs of the First Lady, and Reach Higher, her book adapted for young readers, is a beautiful celebration, and powerful reminder, of the impact of a remarkable First Lady.

Today, Amanda is helping bring awareness to adverse childhood experiences with creativity, mindfulness, education, and collaboration to address trauma through her organization, Grounded.

Masankho is a multidisciplinary Performing Artist, InterPlay Leader, Spiritual Healer, and Peace Builder from Malawi, Central Africa. He’s been a part of LEAF for the past 20+ years as a performer, lecturer, and adviser.

Using performing arts, he motivates and inspires people of all ages to work together to bring about peace, social justice, and cultural understanding.

Chase is the great-great-grandson of Biltmore's founder George Vanderbilt. He serves as Vice President of the Biltmore House guest experience and operations. He’s also an incredible photographer!

In high school, Chase met Jane Goodall and formed a student group to work with her Roots and Shoots program. He later became a youth leadership fellow and board member with the Jane Goodall Institute.

Travel is not just a movement. It can act as a portal, much like a photographer. It has the ability to encapsulate a moment or memory to allow us to transcend space and time.

On this special live Speaking of Travel, discover life lessons from those who have had the honor to be connected with people they highly admire and how they use these lessons every day.

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.

There is always a proud sense of community that you find in small towns and communities in our country. And in the North Carolina Mountains, you can add to that something downright magical. Great people, incredible food, and Southern Hospitality to make you all feel like you’re home. People here love to roll out the welcome mat.

Meet Summer Stipe, Founder and Lead Planner​ of Juniper and Crafted by Juniper. Summer offers customized and personalized itineraries for people traveling to Western North Carolina and for locals looking to freshen up their date nights or adventures.

Summer shares why helping people build deeper connections with the people in their lives and to the places where they land, either temporarily or permanently, as well as supporting businesses who are recruiting candidates to the area, provides a rewarding, and proud business model.

And Tina Kinsey from the Asheville Regional Airport shares how the future could look for this fast-growing airport and what the summer season is shaping up to look like.

Tina invites you to sign up for the new quarterly e-newsletter, INSIGHT: AVL Forward, to access more information about the airport's growth with in-depth articles, photos and videos. The newsletter provides a look into airport strategy, challenges, problem-solving, and questions and engagement.

And so much more! 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.