Ep 7: Laura Grier

Welcome to the 110th episode of the Travel with Meaning podcast. In this distinctive feature, we delve into the tale of a culinary fascination with a dish we encountered in Austria back in 2022. Our journey led us over 6,000 miles to the world's oldest festival dedicated to this particular delicacy.

Enter Knödel, the Austrian dish that transcends its once-perceived simplicity, especially in the town of St. Johann. Here, at the Knödelfest, these dumplings are anything but basic.

For over four decades, enthusiasts from all walks of life have converged, regardless of the weather, to partake in a day of revelry involving beer and a myriad of Knödel varieties, solidifying St. Johann as the global epicenter of Knödel celebration.

Our very own Mike Schibel nurtured his fascination for Knödel and embarked on a pilgrimage to the Austrian Alps to immerse himself in the firsthand experience of Knödelfest. What unfolded on a rainy day in late September could easily be deemed one of the most remarkable food festivals ever attended.

Tune in to hear Mike's captivating adventure, offering a glimpse into the world of Knödelfest and the unique culinary journey it entails.

All this and more awaits you on this special edition of the Travel with Meaning podcast. Enjoy the journey!

In the latest edition of the TWM podcast, Episode 109 unfolds a captivating conversation with the intriguing and unconventional Matt Meltzer, a distinguished travel journalist.

Matt delves into his early travel recollections, sharing how one of his adventures as a teenager fueled his decision to enlist in the military. Alongside anecdotes of the unique characters he has encountered on his journeys, Matt's passion for exploring less-traveled destinations makes his genuine travel narratives both enthralling and enlightening for us all.

Renowned for his zeal in discovering off-the-beaten-path locales, Matt's tales, coupled with his authentic connection with people, offer valuable insights and entertainment. Injecting a dose of playfulness into his escapades, Matt is famously known for traveling with a Muppet companion, doubling as his twin, and has even spearheaded a campaign for a tourism board with Matty the Muppet. Give muppet a follow on Instagram @mattymeltzer 

The interestingly hilarious story of Matt's love for Buffalo and the Buffalo Bills is worth listening to the episode just for this tale alone. 

This episode was recorded in front live audience, as part of the Andeana Hats pop-up event at the Water Gardens in Santa Monica, CA.

As always, we would greatly appreciate your support in liking and sharing this episode on social media, tagging @Travelwithmeaning. Feel free to leave us a positive review on your preferred podcast platform.

See you on the open road!

Episode 108 of the Travel With Meaning podcast features a conversation with Bruce Wallin, a travel journalist who has experienced his share of meaningful adventures.

As editorial director for Robb Report for 15 years covering luxury travel to co-founding Trip magazine in the nineties, and today as the host of the award-winning #travelthatmatters podcast.

In our conversation, Bruce shares his thoughts on wellness travel, and what sparked his desire to enter travel publishing + journalism and his most meaningful adventure.

Bruce sums up what travel means to him simply as “fun” and we couldn’t agree more. 

Enjoy our conversation with  Bruce. 

#Travelwithmeaning #Travelstories #Travel

Episode 107 is a special conversation recorded in front of a live audience at the infamous Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, CA. 

This podcast features one of our favorite past guests, Ruben Rojas an artist, author, podcast host, a new dad, and Founder of Live Through Love. 

It had been five years since we sat down with Ruben in front of a live audience and wow how his life, career, and travels evolved since 2018. Click here to listen to the past episode's conversation.

In this exciting episode, Ruben shares his adventures, projects, and connections he's had over the past few years that shaped a new lens of meaning in his life. 

We learn about how Ruben's project with the city he calls home, Santa Monica, and the mural painted in Brighton Beach, England as part of a sister city initiative came to be.

The live recording of this episode with Ruben could not have been possible without the support of the Fairmont Miramar, Santa Monica, and our partners for the evening - Bombay Sapphire, Arvin Goods, and Eagle Creek. 

Show highlights:

12:20 Ruben shares about an incredible partnership he's formed with the NFL. As a former football player himself, this partnership is a dream come true to spread LOVE through a CHOOSE LOVE campaign. 

21:37 Experience of leaving his hometown of Santa Monica and coming back with a new appreciation. 

23:27: Santa Monica and Brighton, England sister city project.

24:40: How has his life changed as a traveler with a two-year-old son.

28:40: How does he live through love when he travels.

29:50: Ruben's most meaningful travel experience.

Episode 106 of the podcast features a conversation with Co-Founder and CEO of Unbound Merino,Dan Demsky.  An intrepid business leader, and serial entrepreneur, Dan started Unbound Merino as a way to offer travelers freedom through simplicity. In just five years, Dan has transformed the company from a small crowdfunding campaign to an international brand worn by travelers, entrepreneurs, and minimalists across the globe. With a wealth of knowledge and experience in the startup space, Dan has appeared on BNN Bloomberg and has been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Globe and Mail, VICE, and more. He is also a board member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization Toronto and a regular contributor to Learn with Shopify. When he isn’t traveling, Dan enjoys live music, good food, and spending time with his pug, Walter

Highlights of this episode:

Dan shares his first big trip to Japan which was a gift from his brother and had a drastic effect on him. 3:47-4:21

Dan shares a big tradition he and his best friends share when going to see their favorite band in the world Phish. No matter where they are in the world, when this happens, Dan is present to how good his life is in that moment. 9:37-12:12

Dan also shares travel advice 14:31-15:10

For more information on Dan and Unbound Merino visit ww.unboundmerino.com

This episode was sponsored UnCruise, the leading small-ship adventure company. If you're looking for a memorable and meaningful adventure in pristine nature with unique activties, gourmet meals, and so much more, visitwww.uncruise.com

Episode 105 is a two-part series with Amy and Nick Thomson, podcasters and creators of What The Pho Travel Podcast (WTP). 

Amy is a former BBC Radio producer and current podcast production business founder. Nick Thomson is a podcast producer at Manchester United Football Club Together they are, What The Pho Travel Podcast. They travel around the globe making a travel podcast to entertain, inspire and teach you about the world. 

In part two of Episode 105 we learn about Nick and Amy the travelers. Who are they as individual travelers, as a couple, and where did the idea for WTP podcast come from?  

We’re big fans of Nick and Amy and hope you will be as well after listening to episode 105.  Enjoy!

If you like what you’ve heard, please live a rating, comment, and share with your friends.

Episode 105 is a two-part series with Amy and Nick Thomson, podcasters and creators of "What The Pho"  (WTP) Travel Podcast. 

Amy is a former BBC Radio producer and current podcast production business founder. Nick Thomson is a podcast producer at Manchester United Football Club. Together they are, What The Pho Travel Podcast. They travel around the globe making a travel podcast to entertain, inspire and teach you about the world. 

In part one of episode 105 we hear about Amy and Nick meeting Mike from WTM on an adventure in Austria as part of the Untold Stories Series with Austria Tourism. This trip was an absolute dream itinerary.  Nick, Amy, and Mike retell the stories from their Austrian adventure and why they think Austria is an underrated wellness mecca. 

It’s pretty clear in this episode there was an instant appreciation and friendship between Nick, Amy, and Mike, the rest is podcast history and a fun episode to enjoy!

On this episode of the Travel With Meaning podcast, we meet Christine Peterson, a freelance writer based in southeast Wyoming. TWM podcast host Mike Schibel met Christine on a trip to Ganglers Lodge in Northern Manitoba. This conversation shares the unique adventure of Gangelers Lodge and Christine's lens as a journalist covering wildlife, the environment, hunting, fishing, outdoor recreation, and public lands. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, High Country News, Outside, Outdoor Life, and many other publications. When she's not writing, she's wandering the West with her husband, 6-year-old daughter, and two yellow Labradors (one greying, the other very much a puppy).  Give Christine a follow on Instagram @ she.will.roam

As Always we appreciate the support.  Please like, and share this episode to help spread meaningful and memorable travel stories.

BIG thank you to our episode sponsor UnCruise, the small boat adventure company (www.uncruise.com)

In episode 103 of the podcast, we talk with Jen Ruiz, AKA Jen On A Jet Plane. Jen is a truly unique professional who transformed her life and career through incredible travel experiences.  Jen is a lawyer turned full-time travel blogger and author. She is a 5-time Amazon bestselling author, 3-time TEDx speaker and multi-award-winning travel journalist. She has been featured by The Washington Post, Forbes, and ABC News and is the solo female traveler behind Jen on a Jet Plane.

In our conversation, Jen shares with us her reasons to leave the law career behind, and what is her inspiration for her travels.  For more information on Jen visit www.jenonajetplane.com

Please give Travel With Meaning a follow on social 

@TravelWith Meaning 

If you liked this episode please leave a comment and share it with your community. 

In the latest episode of the Travel With Meaning podcast, host Mike Schibel speaks with Lillian Rafson, the CEO and founder of Pack Up + Go. Originally from Pittsburgh, Lillian shares how her passion for travel after a carefree Summer backpacking around a region she knew nothing about led her to start her own company that plans surprise trips for its customers. 

Pack Up + Go, encourages spontaneity, exploration, and adventure among American travelers. She launched the bootstrapped business at 23 years old and has grown it to 25+ team members and $7 million+ in annual revenue. Lillian has been honored as a member of the Pittsburgh 30 Under 30 and 40 Under 40, a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow, a Travel & Leisure A-List Travel Planner, and a Top Woman in Hospitality. Outside of Pack Up + Go, Lillian is a business coach, focusing on helping entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses!

Show Notes:

15:22 This could be one of the most ambitious ideas for a passionate traveler about starting a new job. 

26:24: Where did the idea for surprise travel come from? Where was Lillian and who were where the other travelers that got Lillian thinking about the idea?

30:57: Who was the first guests to try Pack Up + Go and how did the brand go viral? 

As always thanks for listening.  If you like the episode, please leave a rating and share it with your friends. 

For more information on Pack Up+Go www.packupgo.com