Today on the show: Part 2 of our conversation with Nada Raphael, a journalist, storyteller, and traveler based in Beirut, who, together with her partner Joelle Sfeir has co-founded Tourleb, a socially responsible tour operator that aims to promote local, women-owned and family operated businesses while changing the narrative about Lebanon.   This is Part 2 of our two-part episode. What you’ll learn in this episode: The origins of Lebanon's joie de vivre, creativity, and resilienceHow Beirut...

Nada Raphael is a Lebanese journalist, storyteller, and traveler, who, together with her partner Joelle Sfeir has co-founded Tourleb, a socially responsible tour operator that aims to promote local, women-owned and family operated businesses while changing the narrative about Lebanon.  Get ready to travel to Lebanon with Nada and me and dismantle some myths about it while we’re at it.  This is Part 1 of our two-part episode and next week, we’ll share Part 2 of our Lebanon conversation with...

Imani Bashir is a world-traveling storyteller, mother, and advocate who's lived in five countries across four continents, including Egypt, Poland, and Malaysia. Her work focuses on culturally immersive social media content highlighting various atrocities and initiatives to support marginalized communities worldwide. Get ready to be immersed in this important topic: how do we travel in a way that is generative (to use the term on everyone’s minds right now), and not destructive? Imani has...

Today, I’m sharing a story I wrote for Conde Nast Traveler called In Jordan, a Community Disrupted Awaits Travel’s Return. I traveled to Jordan this February amid the ongoing war on Gaza by the Israeli government. This story was the outcome of this trip.  Featured on the show:Read Yulia's CN Traveler story, In Jordan, a Community Disrupted Awaits Travel’s ReturnListen to Episode 113, Palestine, Orientalism, and Solidary Movements with Matt Bowles on Apple Podcasts or SpotifySubscribe to...

If I could summarize this conversation with one phrase, it would be something Shannon said: “When people meet each other they find out that the other is not so other.” Shannon Stowell is the CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, an organization for travel industry partners that believes travel can be a powerful force for good in the world. Shannon has spent over 30 years working in adventure travel, e-commerce, outdoor retail, and environmental science. Shannon and I met in person on...

Welcome back to Going Places! Matt Bowles is a veteran location-independent entrepreneur and host of The Maverick Show. I recently sat down with Matt to do a two-part series for his show. Matt has been doing activism work in solidarity with the Palestinian movement for the past 25 years, and in this conversation, we cover how he and I first became aware of the Palestinian struggle and movement, Orientalism, the asymmetry of power, the student encampments currently taking over the US and the...

Welcome back to Going Places! We’re speaking to Jen Ruiz, a lawyer turned full-time travel writer, blogger, and content creator. Jen is a 5-time Amazon bestselling author, 3x TEDx speaker, and 4-time award-winning journalist. She is also the solo female traveler behind Jen on a Jet Plane, with an audience of over 350,000 social media followers. In this conversation, Jen and I discuss dating while traveling, our strategies for finding a partner for life, why we don’t want to put all our eggs...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In this episode of "Going Places," I'm sharing a very special story I wrote for Conde Nast Traveler this summer called In the Land of the World's Oldest Bread, A Return to an Ancient Baking Culture. We'll journey together to the heart of Jordan, where baking is not just about sustenance but a profound cultural legacy. Join me as we explore how bread is intricately woven into the fabric of Jordan's community life, from traditional dishes gracing UNESCO's heritage list to the philosophy of Al...

In this episode of Going Places, a conversation with three remarkable Ammani creators: Sarah Shabbar, a journalist and editor at Jordan News Daily, an English Language media organization in Jordan; Hussein Alazaat, artist, calligrapher, and founder of Elharf Studio, a platform for arts and culture in Amman; and Rawan Roshni, a Palestinian Balkan singer whose captivating song, "Abbad El Shams," is the theme song for our podcast this season. The conversation you're about to hear today was...

In this episode of "Going Places," I'm thrilled to have Janine Jervis as our guest. Janine, who serves as the North American Communications Director for Visit Jordan, brings her extensive experience in the travel and tourism industry, spanning an impressive 17 years. In our conversation, we explore the transformative power of travel, emphasizing the importance of firsthand experiences in challenging stereotypes and broadening one's perspective.  Janine shares her initial perceptions of...

Welcome back to our show, everyone. It's been nearly three months since we've been on air. In these three months, a lot of things have happened, both in the world and in my own life, which caused me to go through an intense period of a lot of searching and rethinking the purpose of my work, the meaning behind it, and how what I do on the podcast and elsewhere can better address some of the stereotypes and misconceptions that plague the Middle East and other areas of the world that are feeling...

Get full show notes and more information at: https://www.goingplacesmedia.com/ For more BTS of this podcast follow @travelmedialab Need support and accountability? Join our Facebook group! 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 @travelmedialab! And show us some love, if you have a minute, by rating Travel Media Lab or leaving us a review wherever you listen. You’ll be...

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on privilege, travel, and finding a sense of belonging with our guest, Emy Rodriguez, a freelance travel journalist from Arecibo, Puerto Rico. A proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Emy has dedicated himself to using his privilege as a travel writer to showcase and preserve underserved communities and their incomparable voices. His writing has appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, Fodors, and many more magazines. Emy currently lives in Barcelona,...

Welcome to a special milestone episode of the Travel Media Lab podcast, where we celebrate our 100th journey together! Today, we embark on a captivating adventure to the heart of Wadi Rum Desert in Southern Jordan with Ahmad Mara'yeh, a Bedouin and co-founder of Rum Planet Camp. Wadi Rum isn't just a picturesque landscape; it's a realm where nature's grandeur converges with the warmth and authenticity of its people. Ahmad shares why understanding the local culture and connecting with its...

In this episode of Travel Media Lab, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Esme Benjamin, an award-winning writer, editor, and podcaster based in the vibrant city of New York. Esme's work spans the realms of travel and well-being, gracing the pages of renowned publications like Elle Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, and many others. She wears multiple hats as the current editor-in-chief of Full Time Travel and the host of the captivating podcast "The Trip That Changed Me." Our...

Welcome to season 9, everyone! I'm Yulia Denisyuk, your host, and I'm thrilled to welcome you to the new season of our podcast.  This episode is extra special for two reasons. First, we get to talk about Jordan, a destination that I absolutely adore. If you know me, you'll know just how much I love this country, and I'll take any opportunity to explore it in depth. We also discuss some of my favorite places in Jordan, debunk some common misconceptions about this destination, and provide...

Welcome to Season 9 of our podcast! I'm Yulia Denisyuk, your host, an award-winning travel photographer, writer, and storyteller who's explored the world's most captivating places. In this season, we're embarking on a thrilling journey of discovery that goes beyond the ordinary. First and foremost, a heartfelt thank you to all our listeners. Your unwavering support has made our podcast a success, with over 30,000 downloads and 12,000 dedicated fans. Your enthusiasm is what keeps us...

Welcome to Travel Media Lab! I'm your host, Yulia Denisyuk, and in this episode, we're wrapping up our Summer Reading Series with a story set on Mexico's wild Guerrero coast. In this episode, we're traveling to Hotelito, a new beachfront property in Guerrero that's part of the Modern Utopian Society of Adventurers (MUSA). This story was just published this week in Robb Report. If you enjoy this episode and the Summer Reading Series, please take a moment to share share share this episode with...