The visionary behind wanderlust and global connections is my guest on Speaking of Travel! Kiki Keating is no ordinary travel aficionado. She’s a master architect of adventure and connection, curating journeys that go beyond the surface and dive deep into culture, creativity, and meaning. As the founder of KikiNetwork, a boutique PR and travel firm, she has spent decades weaving her expertise in business, travel, and storytelling into unforgettable experiences for clients worldwide. With a foundation in business from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, Kiki’s career has always been a bo ..read more

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 ..read more

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 shar ..read more

Deanna Jannuzzi is an Initiated Priestess in the Lineage of the Alchemical Rose, a Somatic Practitioner, and Soul Awakening Coach. Deana facilitates retreats, rituals, and ceremonies around the world.  Weaving in Transcendental Breathwork, Sound Healing, Personal Sovereignty and Empowerment, Shadow Integration, Sexual Reclamation, Consent Culture, and more, Deanna emphasizes the importance of personal sovereignty and self-expression, helping individuals find their voice, align with their purpose, and cultivate connections that nourish the Soul.  Deanna shares how the beauty of trav ..read more

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, combini ..read more

Sustainable Chef William Dissen, owner of The Market Place Restaurant in Asheville, NC, shares how his passion for building sustainable food systems, his love of hospitality, and serving in the American Chef Corps for the US State Department, has taken him around the world to promote American food culture and sustainability practices. The Market Place Restaurant, Asheville’s original farm-to-table fixture since 1979, and widely acclaimed for its Appalachian cuisine and community-driven menus, was distinguished with a James Beard Awards “Outstanding Restaurant” nomination in 2024. It’s conside ..read more

Charlie Thomas is an artist and environmentalist based on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. With a strong connection to the ocean and all its inhabitants, Charlie shares how his passion is creating a life of stewardship, leadership, and traveling. Charlie spent his summer holidays on Great Barrier Island and has worked full-time in wildlife conservation since leaving high school when he was only 16. He has visited, or lived on, some of the most remote (and important) islands in the world, including the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and New Zealand subantarctic islands.  ​During 2020, Charlie ..read more

LoAnn Halden (she/her) is the VP of Communications for the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, IGLTA. Their mission is to provide information and resources for LGBTQ+ travelers and expand LGBTQ+ tourism globally. IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, was founded in 1983 and is the world's leading network of LGBTQ+-welcoming tourism businesses. They provide free travel resources and information while continuously working to promote equality and safety within LGBTQ+ tourism worldwide. IGLTA’s members include LGBTQ+-friendly accommodations, transport, destinations, service pro ..read more

Omi Salevea of the McDowell County Tourism Development Authority in the Blue Ridge Mountains, shares why outdoor recreation is important in preserving natural landscapes and for protecting culture and heritage. And why it's good for your body too! One of my favorite places to get outdoors is in Old Fort, a small town not far from Asheville in McDowell County, NC. It's a mountain town in the way the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains surround this beautiful place.  And there’s a rich history dating back to before the Revolutionary War and so many incredible things to do ..read more

Enock Glidden is an accomplished outdoorsman and is found adventuring every season of the year. Born with Spina Bifida, Enock has learned to do things differently than others and shares how attitude is everything. Also on Speaking of Travel, discover why collaboration and meaningful relationships provide a framework for inspiration. Guest Mark Collins, Partnerships Manager for RomanticAsheville.com, builds strategic partnerships and combines responsibility, sustainability and safety into one coherent voice to help foster conservation and inspiration for growing stronger as a community and as g ..read more