Travel Tales

Creator of the Travel Off Path blog and minimalism author and advocate Kashlee Kucheran shares her story.

Writer/comedian Amber Tozer returns three years after her last appearance with a whole new life- married and living in England!

The Bohemian Vagabond is in the house! Travel blogger/Influencer Jacki Ueng is in the house to talk solo female travel and all things food!

Entertainer Jesse Kazemek joins Mike on the Yellow Submarine (actually the MS Zaandam) to talk about being a successful Beatles tribute act on cruise ships around the world.

All aboard! Cruise Director Jude Day sits down to discuss what it takes to keep the party rolling on the high seas.

Canadian David Peck is a man who wears many hats: entrepreneur, philosopher, podcaster, and even magician! He works in developing nations around the world and has a great perspective and also great Travel Tales!

TV host Angela Sun (American Ninja Warrior, MTV, ESPN) stops by to talk about her Chinese/Taiwanese roots, her travels around the world, and her documentary film about ocean waste, “Plastic Paradise.”

Megan Snedden from the sites HeyWanderWoman and TheKindEffect stops by to share how travel helped her recover from tragedy and how she devotes her time to spreading random acts of kindness.

Recorded in Africa, Mike chats with five women from his tour group that spent a week in Uganda and Rwanda trekking to interact with mountain gorillas.

Mike Schmidt from the popular 40-Year-Old Boy podcast returns to spin Tales of his first-ever trip to Japan!

Friend, neighbor, producer, and content creator Diana Dixon stops by to tell her Tales of her Wisconsin upbringing and her trips around Europe, Iceland, Asia and beyond.

Host of Travel Channel’s Booze Traveler and longtime friend Jack Maxwell stops by to share Tales of drinking around the world, his cancer scare, and his new projects.

Travel host, producer, blogger, video producer: Kelley Ferro is a one-woman travel industry!

Travel host/producer Monica Ortega (MonicaGoes.com) reveals her journey from Michigan, through Nashville, to Hollywood, and following her dreams.

Soccer legend and Fox Sports broadcaster Alexi Lalas shares Tales of being an international pro athlete, attending multiple World Cups, and touring as a musician.

You may recognize Kinga from her work as a guest commentator on Travel Channel’s Park Secrets, The Wild Side with Kinga Philipps, and VH1’s 100 Greatest. She is perhaps best known as the host of the hit Syfy series Legend Quest and National Geographic’s America’s Lost Treasures.

Good friend and host of the Rock Solid Podcast Pat Francis returns to talk about the documentary he shot last year called UpLyft, where he and a friend traveled across America taking only Lyft ride share service.

Podcast favorite Jeannette Ceja is back to talk about her revamped website, Jet Set with Jeannette, and shares Tales of her many travels and personal growth over the past two years.

The woman behind the website trustedtravelgirl.com stops by to share her Tales of starting her blog, what travel means to her, and her bucket list destinations.

French adventurer Patrick Leipold has been a safari guide in Tanzania, he drove the entire Trans-Continental Highway from Patagonia to Alaska, and leads tour groups around America and elsewhere.

Comedy magician Jeff Peterson has ben performing on cruise ships worldwide for over 25 years and has been to over 100 countries.

Jessie Festa of the popular JessieOnAJourney.com website gives great tips on how to become a successful travel blogger and influencer. She also share some her favorite places and Tales.

Elisa Kotin of The World Traveled website joins us to share how travel transformed her life literally and figuratively. When she travels, she goes far off the grid: Africa, Asia, and more!

We have a real TV star in the house! Juliana Dever, one of the star’s of ABC’s Castle joins us to talk about her career, her love of travel, and we should join her on a trip to the country of Georgia!

Adrien Behn, host and creator of the Strangers Abroad Podcast, calls in to share what travel and storytelling mean to her.

Instagram star and travel blogger Michelle Halpern of Live Like It’s The Weekend talks about her journey from disgruntled fashion employee to web influencer.

Comedian/musician Rob Paravonian is back after five years to catch us up on his latest Travel Tales. The Brooklyn resident talks Afghanistan, Disney cruises, and an ever-changing New York City.

Worldwide and celestial traveler Sarah Haywood spreads some love with Tales from Burning Man, pursuing her art wherever it takes her, and life on the hemp front lines.

Alison Teal is neither Naked nor Afraid! Dubbed “The Female Indiana Jones”, the Hawaii native first gained notoriety by appearing on the Discovery TV show Naked and Afraid, and her survival instincts, great attitude, and world traveling experience led to more TV opportunities. She now hosts and produces her own travel series, while championing the…

She’s back! Five years after her first visit, travel host/producer and Croatia TV star Ashley Colburn returns to fill us in on all her travels around the world, and what it’s like being a new homeowner in Croatia!

Yogi, organic eater, actor, TV host, travel expert and creator of the lifestyle blog The Traveling Fig, Chelsea Gilson is in the house!

We are happy to welcome Nick Robinson to Travel Tales! Nick is a native of South Africa who has lived on the Algarve Coast of Portugal for nearly 20 years, runs a stand-up paddle boarding business, and is the creator of the website/podcast AlgarveAddicts.com.

Rock violinist Katei is of Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese descent, and grew up in Australia. He survived a massive Tokyo earthquake and went from Sydney street busker to performing worldwide.

Magician Joseph Reohm takes some time between cruise ship performances to share Tales of performing around the world.

Arnette Stricker is the creator of the travel blog, Round the World Girl. She shares her Tales of how a tragedy inspired her to take a 19-month trip around the world and send her life and career into a different direction.

Comedy magician Matt Disero sits down to share Tales of his many years on the road and at sea as a performer. A proud Canadian, he talks about his home country, performing at military bases around the world, visiting both the North and South Poles, and more.

Today’s guest is Daniel Pierson, the man behind travel site Bolt Collective. Bolt crafts custom group itineraries for its members, and Daniel shares what he’s learned traveling around the world and why he wanted to create a different kind of tour company.

We’re joined by Chad Uddstrom, the man behind the popular Instagram site @TheBroAbroad. Chad shares his Tales of how he went from just a regular hockey-loving kid from Pittsburgh to a celebrity in his adopted country of Paraguay. Also shares great South America travel tips.

Alex Person is a young man of many talents: photographer, shoe designer, digital marketer, but most of all, traveler! Growing up in Franklin, TN, Alex didn’t get too many opportunities to see the world. Man, has he ever made up for it!

Jen Ruiz was a lawyer by training, who decided to start her own travel blog, and JenOnAJetPlane.com was born! Jen checks in from her home in Naples, FL to share her Tales of how she got started, writing books, finding love on the road, and more!

Jason Cochran has been a travel authority and consumer expert for 20 years, starting in 1998 when, on a two-year round-the-world backpacking trip, he created one of the first regular travel blogs in the industry. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of Frommers.com and co-host of the weekly Frommer Travel Show, broadcast on WABC out of New York City.

Direct from Sydney, Australia! Phil Sylvester of World Nomads checks in to talk about travel insurance: why you need it, why you don’t, what is covers, and what were some of the strangest claims they’ve ever received. He also gives great Australia travel tips!

Rollie Peterkin was a wrestler through college, and took a cushy job on Wall St to start his career. But a chance encounter led him to Peru, where he became a professional MMA fighter.

Brandon Pearce of PearceOnEarth.com checks in from Mexico to share his story of raising a family of three daughters while traveling the world. Inspiring!

Bonus episode! While on a recent trip to Losinj, Croatia, I chatted with local doctor Anamarija Margan Sulc about the beautiful island’s history as a wellness and healing retreat.

In her 30+ years of working for Croatia Tourism, Nena Komarica has seen her native country go from rarely-visited part of communist Yugoslavia to one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Recorded live at the Bellevue Hotel on the island of Losinj, Croatia.

Prost! We call Hamburg, Germany to check in with travel blogger Christian Vollmert of VolleOnTour.com to find out what drives him and how he makes money to pay for his trips around the world.

With a name like AirMule, it’s got to be on the level, right? Turns out, yes it is! Jared Schwitzke talks about his air courier company that pays passengers to bring packages to China and back.

Travel pro Angel Castellanos shares his story of how he built his brand, gives travel tips, and tells us where the hot places to go in 2018.

Mike calls time on a 2017 full of changes and looks ahead to 2018. Thank you, Listeners!

Engineer-turned-Author Bassam Tarazi was at a crossroads in his life, when he decided to join with two friends and take part in the Mongol Rally road race across Europe. The monthlong journey gave him renewed focus and inspired a new book as well.

Author and Life Coach Katrina McGhee stops by to talk about the trip that changed her career direction and reset her goals in life.

Krystal Kelly is a California girl determined to see the world on the back of a horse. She’s a certified horse trainer, riding coach, polo player and endurance rider who’s lived in over a dozen countries and now resides in England. And did we mention she’s also a yoga instructor and drove the Mongol rally…

Traveling through Europe in late September, I met up with my longtime friend Jenee in the Algarve coast of Portugal. An LA native and former comedian, she now makes her home in Phoenix and travels the world by renting her home out on Air BnB. Recorded in Albufeira, Portugal.

How did a nice Texas gal end up running a small hotel on a Greek Island? Good question! That’s just what I asked Lou Ann Loveday when I stayed at her lovely hotel, La Selini, on the island of Paros, Greece. Hear Lou Ann’s Tales of making her way to Europe by way of Canada,…

While riding the Rocky Mountaineer train in April, I spoke with my fellow brand amabassadors about the RM experience from their varied backgrounds.

Apple executive, travel lover, and rock music uberfan Frank Biernat sat down for a rooftop interview on the Venice Beach boardwalk to discuss growing up in a changing Germany, his current life in Switzerland, and what America looks like from the outside.

Returning guest Pilar Alessandra shares her Tales of teaching screenwriting in Colombia, China, South Africa, and more!

Valerie and Jessi had enough of the rat race in San Francisco, so they took off in a used truck pulling a 15-ft teardrop camper and hit the road for good, touring around the US and Canada.

Performance artist/teacher Eric Trules, host of the “E-Travels with E. Trules” podcast, shares his Tales of embarking on an alternative lifestyle in the 60’s, and what the adventurous life has taught him

Author, TV host, and Philanthropist Leon Logothetis shares Tales of how he went from a soul-crushing job to traveling the world solely on the kindness of strangers.

One of the founders of LokalTravel.com, Eytan Elterman talks about culturally-enriching, sustainable travel that benefits local populations. And his former life as a hip-hop DJ in Buenos Aires!

All aboard Rocky Mountaineer – Canada’s one-of-a-kind luxury train! Mike is a 2017 Brand Ambassador for the train, and on a recent trip he interviewed RM Training and Development Specialist Heather Glasgow, Executive Chef Jean-Pierre Guerin, and Train Host, Terrea.

The man behind the website travelwithmeaning.com shares Tales of what travel means to him, and what it could do for the world.

Konrad Waliszewski stops by to discuss the inspiration behind creating his travel app TripScout, and living and working abroad in Egypt, Asia and beyond.

Newlyweds Margaret and John lost their jobs just before their honeymoon, forcing the couple to reevaluate what travel means in their lives.

Friends Kari and Kelly started the Workationing podcast and website to promote their digital nomad lifestyle.

Performance artist Kristina Wong shares her Travel Tales of making her first trip to Africa and becoming Uganda’s most unlikely rap star.

With little sailing experience and buying a boat in Turkey sight unseen, Jason Windebank and his brother set out on a 3-year journey to sail around the world.

TV Host Rachel Reenstra returns to talk about her recent trips to Costa Rica and Thailand, and her new projects focusing on her love of animals.

Author Lisa Dickey joins us to talk about her new book, Bears in the Streets, chronicling three of her journeys to a changing Russia in 1995, 2005, and 2015.

Alice Kandell is an author and photographer whose collection of Tibetan artifacts now graces the Smithsonian.

Real estate agent Caroline Cagle took a break for 3 months to study meditation in Rishikesh, India. She also talks about her high school years as an exchange student in Belgium.

Comedian, TV writer and host of the Monster Party podcast Matt Weinhold joins us to talk about a country he loves – Japan!

Return guest (Oct. 2013) Mehera Blum is back from Indonesia and India, where she searched for inspiration and skilled craftsmen to design her latest line of high-end handbags and accessories.

A little recap of an eventful year and a look ahead to 2017. Thanks for listening and happy holidays!

Our first simulcast is with return guest Murray Valeriano, who aired this episode on his most recent Road Stories podcast. Murray talks about his recent trips performing for the troops in the Pacific and Middle East.

Amy Whetsel’s skills as a costume designer carried her from small-town South Dakota, to Hollywood and around the world.

Actor/director/photographer Amy Rachlin stops by to tell Tales of her early MTV days, her time living in London, and hitting the road with Pearl Jam.

The founder of PubClub.com Kevin Wilkerson joins us in the studio to get the party started.

Longtime friend Mike Schmidt of the 40-year Old Boy podcast stops by to tell Tales of a recent trip to Kuwait as a guest of one of his fans.

Zoe Wild has devoted her life to helping those in need. She is a meditation teacher, grief counselor, and recently won a humanitarian award from President Obama for her work helping Syrian refugees in Europe. One of our most inspiring guests yet!

Mariana Cestellos sells rare gems on the high seas. As a sales rep for Gem Blue, she extols the virtues of Tanzanite aboard cruise lines. The Mexico City native sat down for a conversation aboard the Holland America Niuew Amsterdam in Alaska.

Writer-photographer Nick Jans knows Alaska. He knows it very well. He’s written 12 books and hundreds of magazine articles on the state, and also specializes in wildlife photography. Amzing tales from a man who’s led an amazing life.

World champion professional juggler Adam Kario joins us to talk about his Ohio upbringing, his Greek roots, and traveling the world as an entertainer.

Travel host/reporter Jeannette Ceja stops by to talk about getting her start in the travel business, what travel means to her, and the difficulties of finding good Mexican food around the world!

Comedy Magician Trigg Watson shares Tales of moving from Australia to the US at age 11, and what life is like performing everywhere from kids parties to an audience of Bahrani royalty.

Founder of charitable website kindtraveler.com, Jessica Blotter joins us to talk about her inspiration for her business, giving back to the community while traveling, and living the vegan lifestyle.

Not gonna beat around the bush folks- a guest canceled on me days before I left the US for a month. Therefore, I bring you an encore of one of our most popular episodes ever. Julie Andersen left her career as a successful PR exec to devote her life to shaving the endangered shark population….

For people who love to travel, the best thing about running an internet business is the ability to work from anywhere in the world. No one knows that better than Jordan Bishop. The founder of flight hacking website Yoreoyster.com and travel site HowITravel.co has been based out of Thailand and Hong Kong for the past…

Comedian / Author Amber Tozer talks about her travels through Southeast Asia, Europe and her toughest journey of all – from alcoholic to sober.

TV Host/Travel Blogger Justin Walter joins us to recall his days trekking through Patagonia, camping in the Australian outback, and his obsession with the Survivor TV show.

As the Director of Communications for Visit Park City, Linda Jager can answer any question you may have about visiting the picturesque Utah mountain town. We also chat about her experiences working for the USA Olympic team!

TV producer Jerry Whitworth talks about his road trips in classic cars, buffalo stampedes, & the ups & downs of traveling Route 66 in a rickety VW Bus.

Danny D’Oscar was born and raised in Cuba to a famous family of circus performers. He defected to Mexico in his 20’s then made his way to Las Vegas, where he performs regularly on the Strip. Recorded aboard the Emerald Princess cruise ship.

Sarah Dandashy, award winning concierge and creator of Askaconcierge.tv is here to answer everything you always wanted to know about hotels!

Writer Tess Rafferty returns to talk about her love of all things Italy.

All aboard the Emerald Princess cruise ship as Mike sits down with Australian piano man Henry Saxby to discuss the finer points of life on the high seas, and being forced to play Billy Joel tunes every night.