Some journeys don’t begin with a plan. Some just begin with a song, a street corner, a moment that simply says go.

In this episode of Speaking of Travel, Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, shares a life shaped by following the music and trusting where it leads. What stays with you isn’t just the story of the road. It's more the way he moves through the world.

From busking days to the guidance of Doc Watson and the deep roots of MerleFest, this conversation opens into something more personal. Ketch speaks to honoring tradition while letting it breathe. Listening closely and remembering that music isn’t ours to own, but ours to carry and hold with care.

There’s a steadiness in him. A generosity. A belief that art can hold people together in ways nothing else quite can.

And when he says, “When you go into the tent, magical things happen,” you feel what he means. It’s that shared space where people come as they are and leave a little more connected. Where something simple becomes meaningful because we experience it together.

This one lingers.

It reminds us the world feels better when we show up open and when we let the music lead.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

What if the way we travel could actually help restore the planet instead of slowly wearing it down? On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we explore how every choice we make, where we go, how we move, where we stay, and how we show up, creates a lasting impact. Travel today is no longer just about seeing the world. Each of us has a responsibility to care for it and protect it. And we must become more conscious of the footprint we leave behind.

Join me in welcoming back Richard Crawford (Ricky), creator of Leave No Trace TV, whose work sits at the intersection of adventure, conservation, and responsible travel.

Through his experiences around the world, Ricky shares what it really means to “leave no trace," not just as an outdoor ethic, but as a mindset and way of living. Together we talk about the difference between tourism that gives back and tourism that takes, how to recognize authentic sustainability, and why slowing down may be one of the most powerful ways to travel more intentionally.

We also dive into the real changes happening across the planet, from environmental shifts to the growing responsibility of travelers and storytellers alike.

If you’ve ever wondered how your travels can create something meaningful, this conversation is a great place to begin. It’s about moving through the world with awareness and realizing that every choice we make along the way carries weight.

A must listen! 🎧

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Today’s Speaking of Travel episode is a heartfelt reminder that the spirit of travel doesn’t fade, but rather deepens, shifting, growing, and finding new meaning with every chapter.

Cary Lowe and his wife Trish share the remarkable story of a life shaped by exploration, where each journey has strengthened their bond and expanded their connection to the world, as beautifully captured in his book On Two Legs and Three Wheels.

What began as a kindred love of adventure grew into something far more meaningful over time, a beautiful testament to what’s possible when you keep saying yes to life.

When Trish was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, their path shifted, but it never stopped. With resilience, creativity, and unwavering determination, they found new ways to keep moving forward, navigating the world with a mobility scooter and an open heart.

Cary also captures this journey in his book, offering an honest and uplifting look at the realities of traveling with a disability. filled with hard-earned wisdom, practical insights, and the kind of perspective that can change how you see what’s possible.

This conversation is an invitation to travel differently, to embrace what is, and to trust that joy is still out there waiting. Because no matter where you are in life, the journey is never over and the world is still calling.

Tune in! Only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Welcome to the island of Madagascar, a place that feels both distant and deeply connected to the rest of the world. Through the lens of food, culture, and community, guest Emmanuel Laroche invites us to look beyond familiar ingredients and discover the stories, people, and landscapes that shape them. Born in France and now based in New Jersey, he has spent years exploring the world through taste, reminding us that every dish carries a history, and every ingredient holds a human story.

In his newest book, A Taste of Madagascar, Emmanuel explores the island’s remarkable food traditions, the farmers who grow its ingredients, and the deep cultural connections that food creates.

From the fragrant vanilla fields to the everyday meals shared among families and farmers, this conversation reveals how food connects us across continents, cultures, and experiences. Emmanuel reflects on how working with local communities transformed his understanding of resilience, sustainability, and the responsibility we all share as global consumers.

As we talk about flavor, farming, and the future of food, we’re reminded that the simple act of gathering around a table can dissolve barriers and create space for compassion and understanding.

“When you know the story behind what’s on your plate, every bite becomes a connection.”

Join us for a heartfelt journey that reminds us that travel is how we open our hearts to the people, traditions, and wisdom we meet along the way.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

In a world that rarely pauses, this episode of Speaking of Travel is an invitation to breathe. To slow down. To remember that wonder still lives just outside our door and within our own hearts.

Meet Sue Wasserman, Travel and Tourism Director for Explore Burnsville, NC, a writer, nature photographer, devoted critter sitter, and a self-described general meanderer who knows how to pause for life’s most beautiful moments.

Sue’s life has been shaped by the rhythms and quiet wisdom of Southern Appalachia, the hush of forest trails, the courage of wildflowers blooming in unlikely places, the stillness that teaches us how to truly be present. Her story isn't about rushing toward a destination. It's about honoring the space between.

At the heart of our conversation is the gentle truth that creativity, healing, and self-discovery often begin the moment we give ourselves permission to pause.

Sue shares how embracing her creative spirit, sparked by a transformative studio tour experience, shifted something deep within her. What began as admiration became ownership. What once felt like admiration of others’ gifts became a claiming of her own.

She reminds us that nature doesn’t lecture. It simply models resilience, patience, and grace. Trails don’t hurry. Seasons don’t force. Wildflowers bloom when they’re ready.

And maybe we can too. Sue’s presence is a soft but powerful reminder that travel is certainly about going somewhere new, but it’s also about coming home to ourselves.

As she so beautifully says, “When I slow down enough to notice the light on a leaf or the way a trail curves out of sight, I remember that life invites me to pay attention and not rush."

This is a conversation about presence. About wonder. About saying yes to unexpected opportunities. About remembering what truly matters.

If you’ve been feeling hurried, scattered, or unsure of your next step, this episode is your permission slip to slow down and trust that the path is unfolding exactly as it should.

Tune in!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

What if the greatest stories on Earth aren’t written in the sky but carved in stone beneath our feet? On this illuminating episode of Speaking of Travel, we shine a light on the extraordinary underground ecosystems that hold the living history of our planet.

My guest is David Foster, President and CEO of the American Cave Conservation Association and steward of Hidden River Cave in Kentucky.

Once considered one of the most polluted caves in the United States, Hidden River Cave is now a powerful symbol of restoration and hope. More than 40 years of scientific effort, community collaboration, and unwavering commitment transformed a damaged ecosystem into a conservation success story.

Located within the watershed of Mammoth Cave International Biosphere Reserve, its recovery reminds us that protecting one place can ripple far beyond what we see.

In this heartfelt conversation, David shares why the ACCA chose to go where the problem was, what it truly takes to repair decades of environmental harm, and how working in spaces shaped over millions of years changes the way we think about time, patience, and responsibility.

“This is a happy cave today because people care. When you do good things for the world, karma rewards you. And we’re an organization that really cares.”

And maybe that’s the heart of it. When we care deeply enough, even the unseen parts of our world can heal. Sometimes the greatest journeys aren’t across oceans, but into the quiet places beneath our feet, reminding us that care, patience, and community can truly change the world.

Because in the end, protecting what’s hidden may be one of the most important journeys we ever take. 🧡

A must listen!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Travel has a way of waking us up and inviting us to slow down, breathe more deeply, and reconnect with what truly makes us feel alive. In this episode of Speaking of Travel, we welcome Nancy De Losa, Co-Founder of A’qto Italian Cycling Tours, whose work beautifully blends cycling, culture, community, and mindful travel across Italy.

Nancy shares how exploring Italy by bike becomes far more than a physical experience. Moving through landscapes at a human pace encourages presence, clarity, and a powerful mind-body connection, while the gentle rhythm of the journey naturally reduces stress and opens space for reflection, joy, and personal growth. Riding becomes a form of meditation and a chance to feel each moment rather than rush through it.

Beyond the ride, travelers discover the deeper wellness woven into everyday Italian life, like gathering in the piazza, sharing long meals and local wines, enjoying aperitivo, and connecting with people and place in meaningful ways. These simple rituals remind us that wellbeing is not only about activity, but about finding balance in movement and rest, nourishment and connection, adventure and presence.

This heartfelt conversation explores how slowing down, traveling with intention, and embracing the Italian way of living can transform a trip into a journey that helps us feel grounded, renewed, and more fully ourselves.

A must listen. Especially for all you Italy dreamers!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

What if listening deeply could carry us across centuries?

In this Speaking of Travel episode, cellist Louise Dubin invites us into a world where travel, music, and historical discovery intertwine, reminding us that the most meaningful journeys reconnect us with voices nearly forgotten. Performing across solo, chamber, orchestral, and Broadway stages, including Radio City, Louise brings audiences beyond the concert hall, uncovering hidden musical treasures and restoring them to life with remarkable care and passion.

Her recordings, including The Franchomme Project and Passages, grew from years of research and travel, especially in France, where she followed the footsteps of 19th-century composers whose works had slipped from the repertoire. Through her work, Louise shows us that curiosity is a devotion, honoring the artists who came before us and ensuring their music continues to breathe.

“Travel teaches us to listen differently. When we step into the places where music was created, the notes begin to feel less like history and more like conversation.”

In our conversation, Louise reflects on falling in love with the cello, the responsibility of recording works never before heard, and the discoveries that shaped her journey abroad. Together, we explore how music becomes a living conversation across time, memory, and human connection.

This is a story about listening with the heart and remembering that every rediscovered note brings the past beautifully into the present.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.