On episode 112 we talk with Mickela Mallozzi the four-time Emmy® Award-winning Host and Executive Producer of Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, a travel series highlighting the diversity of dance which airs on PBS stations nationwide and on Amazon Prime globally.    A professional dancer and trained musician, Mickela decided to start a journey around the world, taking her camera with her to follow dance in the lives of everyday people wherever she went.  From re-discovering her family’s...

In episode 111, we sit down with Jeff Jenkins, the host of Never Say Never on Nat Geo and Disney+, a motivational speaker, and the creative mind behind @chubbydiaries, a platform inspiring individuals of all sizes to explore the globe. Jeff's journey began with his first flight to Japan in his early twenties, a pivotal moment that transformed his life forever. During our conversation, Jeff delves into the stories behind his Never Say Never episodes and recounts his pivotal "AHA moment" when...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In this episode, we're joined by a woman who's blazing a trail in the travel industry and never intended to start a travel company.  As the Colombian-American founder and CEO of El Camino Travel, Katalina Mayorga has been on a mission to change the way women travel, making it more accessible and inclusive. Katalina shares the two meaningful moments while in Guatemala  (19:00) that changed the course of her life. As a veteran of the travel industry, she has led El Camino to become one of the...

Welcome to episode 100 of the Travel with Meaning podcast! We're excited to celebrate this milestone by sharing a very special episode with our listeners. In this episode, we're joined by my travel inspiration, my mom, Linda Schibel. In this episode, we delve into mom’s earliest travel memories and explore where her wanderlust comes from. We also reminisce about our family trips to our cabin in northern Minnesota and a road trip we took together in Scotland. Additionally, we discuss her...

Hello Travelers! What a year 2022 has been!  TWM is beyond grateful for all of you and your support of the podcast and for sharing meaningful travel stories. This episode is a recap of travels, unique experiences, and inspiring conversations from this past year. Our most meaningful episode recorded this year was 98A and 98B with Owen Conflenti recorded at the Westin Hilton Head, absolutely one of our favorite podcast conversations ever!  We're very excited to officially announce the...

Episode 98B - This is part two of the conversation recorded at the Westin Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. If you haven't listened to 98A with Steve French from the Westin make sure you do so. In this episode, we talk with news anchor Owen Conflenti, who's been getting up at 2:30 am for seventeen years to deliver the morning news in Houston. Owen has amassed a large social media following of over one million followers on Tik Tok offering a fun approach to the sometimes heavy work of...

Episode 98 of the podcast is a special two-part conversation 98A and 98B recorded at the Westin Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.  Our guest for episode 98 is Houston news anchor/content creator Owen Conflenti. Owen also happens to be the college broadcasting partner of TWM podcast host Mike Schibel  We learn more about Owen and his meaningful travels in episode 98B.  In episode 98A Mike and Owen talk with Steve French, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Westin Hilton Head.  Steve...

Episode 97 features a conversation with TV host Jason Zone Fisher. A  passionate traveler who turned his love for sports, curiosity for adventure, and why not mentality into a thriving on-camera career.   After winning a dream opportunity with Gillette traveling to major sporting events and experiences with his best friend, Jason knew anything was possible.  Jason shared one of his most meaningful travel moments happened while on the road, with another major brand, Butterfinger .  He had two...

Episode 96 features a conversation with Lauren Gay AKA Outdoorsy Diva, an extraordinary traveler who carved out her own path and inspired countless people along the way. Lauren is the creator of Misadventures of an Outdoorsy Diva Blog,  host/producer of the award-winning Adventure Is A Lifestyle Podcast, published photographer, speaker, consultant, on-air TV travel expert, and adventure coach.  She is a monthly travel expert on CBS Great Day Live Tampa Bay. She is also a travel writer and...

Hello travelers, in episode 95 we talk with Stephanie Daniel, the CEO, and Co-Founder of a unique new travel app, Legend. Stephanie does not come from a traditional travel industry background, but as we've found from talking with countless guests travel has impacted all of our lives and careers. Stephanie is no different as travel shaped who she is and lead her to launch this innovative concept.  As Stephanie shared with us, she believes that travel and exploration lead to authentic...

In this episode, we talk with, Cara Federici, the Founder, and CEO of the Madison Melle Agency.  Cara has a long career in hospitality working with prestigious global brands. It's her savvy eye for design, forward-thinking innovation, and detail that has her agency positioned as a positive force in the new dawn of hospitality. A self-described city slicker, Cara shares with us where her love for hospitality, design, and travel comes from and the meaningful moments that have shaped her life...

Gathering the Travel With Meaning community of like-minded travelers together to hear meaningful stories from our special guests is what we missed most during the pandemic.  Episode 93 features not one but two incredible guests for the podcast recorded in front of an intimate audience at the Shay Hotel in Culver City, CA. This event was a collaboration with Wanderful and their LA Chapter. Our extraordinary guests Nailah Hayward and Rachel Firchau are two meaningful content creators and have...

In this episode, we talk about Scot's passion for travel and how it lead to launching the Travel Academy. An initiative with State Bags and Puzzle International to provide the opportunity of travel for young adults from disadvantaged neighborhoods.  Travel With Meaning podcast host, Mike Schibel was lucky enough to be a last-minute addition to the inaugural Travel Academy trip in California and even earned a special nickname. The Travel Academy California adventure was turned into a short...

Episode 91 was recorded in front of a live audience at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills and is brought to you by our partner, Los Cabos Tourism.    Our special guest, Danni Washington, is a Science Communicator, Author, and TV Host. Making her return to the TWM podcast, she shares her love for the Pacific Ocean + Los Cabos and even drops hints about the top secret NatGeo show she's hosting.   Danni, a Miami native of Jamaican descent, graduated from The University of Miami Rosenstiel...