Humans of Travel
Society & Culture
About
TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.
Episodes
- Carson Kressley on Adventure, Humor and Championing Travel Advisors
In this episode of Humans of Travel, host Chelsee Lowe speaks with Carson Kressley about his career in fashion and television, his lifelong passion for travel, and his advocacy for travel advisors. Kressley shares how curiosity and humor h…
- The Handoff Episode: Emma Weissmann Passes the Mic to Chelsee Lowe
In the "Handoff Episode" of Humans of Travel, Emma Weissmann transitions hosting duties to Chelsee Lowe, Senior Editor of TravelAge West. Lowe shares her journey from teaching to travel journalism, emphasizing patience and curiosity. Weiss…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: Sarah Little, Senior Vice President of Business Development for ASTA, on Becoming a Ship Godmother
Sarah Little, Senior Vice President of Business Development at ASTA, discusses her career and her experience serving as the godmother of the AmaWaterways ship AmaSophia. She also shares insights for travel advisors regarding the growth of…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: Travel Advisor Natalia Yepes on Preparing for (and Handling) a Crisis
Host Emma Weissmann speaks with travel advisor Natalia Yepes on the Humans in the Hot Seat podcast. Yepes shares how her flight attendant training helps her handle crises and advises other agents on business management during difficult sit…
- Melissa Krueger: The CEO of Classic Vacations on Career Growth, Company Culture and Classic’s Tech-Forward Next Chapter
Melissa Krueger, CEO of Classic Vacations, shares her 30+ year journey in the travel industry, focusing on leadership insights, building company culture, and Classic Vacations' technological advancements and recent acquisition by TBO. She…
- Archy Arushanyan: What Sets the Globus Family of Brands Apart From the Crowd (Sponsored)
Archy Arushanyan shares his career path, starting from Ukraine at 18 with limited resources to leadership roles in the travel industry, including his current position with the Globus Family of Brands. He discusses what differentiates Globu…
- Marc Kazlauskas: Meet Norwegian Cruise Line’s New President
In this episode of Humans of Travel, Marc Kazlauskas, the new president of Norwegian Cruise Line, shares his early experiences in the travel industry and his career path. He outlines his vision for Norwegian Cruise Line, focusing on enhanc…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: What to Know About the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards (Feat. Mindy Poder)
Emma Weissmann hosts Mindy Poder, Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West, to discuss the upcoming Trendsetter Awards. They cover nomination timelines, award categories like Upward Bound and Best Use of Social Media, and provide advice for creat…
- Andrea Wright: How a Near-Death Experience Brought Her Closer to the Travel Industry
Andrea Wright shares insights from her travel industry career, including her mother's impact and the launch of Outside Agents' luxury division. She also recounts a near-death experience and the subsequent support she received from the trav…
- Joshua Harrell: From QVC to Travel Marketeering, and the Importance of Failure in Business
Joshua Harrell, Chief Revenue Officer for WorldVia Travel Network, shares his entrepreneurial journey, including his time in various industries and the importance of learning from failure. He also explains travel marketeering and WorldVia'…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: Eric Bowman on TravelPulse's 40 Under 40 List
In this episode of Humans in the Hot Seat, host Emma Weissmann speaks with Eric Bowman, Editor-in-Chief of TravelPulse.com. Bowman details the creation of TravelPulse's 40 Under 40 list, the application and judging procedures, and provides…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: Travel Advisor Tom Ho on Starring in the Reality TV Show 'Extra Mile Club'
Host Emma Weissmann interviews luxury travel advisor Tom Ho about his experience on the reality TV show "1st Look Presents: Extra Mile Club." Ho shares insights into the audition, filming, and production of the show, where advisors compete…
- Why Travel Still Inspires Sir Richard Branson — and How He’s Redefining the Cruise Experience
In this episode of Humans of Travel, Richard Branson shares childhood travel stories, details his early entrepreneurial endeavors, and discusses business lessons learned throughout his life. He also reflects on founding the adults-only cru…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: Jordan Tourism Needs Our Help (Feat. Malia Asfour)
Emma Weissmann interviews Malia Asfour, managing director of the Jordan Tourism Board in North America, on the Humans of Travel podcast. They discuss the current challenges facing Jordan tourism due to regional conflict and how travel advi…
- How Stacey Ray Built a Global Community for Solo Women Travelers
Stacey Ray discusses founding Sisterhood Travels, a business for solo female travelers over 45, and shares her career journey, challenges, and strategies for building a thriving community. The episode also covers succession planning with h…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Kaitlyn Metzler (Best Group Booking Effort)
Humans in the Hot Seat, a Humans of Travel series, features travel advisor Kaitlyn Metzler nominated for Best Group Booking Effort at the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards. Metzler discusses her work with Travelmation.
- Mentorship, Leadership and Travel Protection: Lessons from Travel Insured’s Barbra Merwin (Sponsored Content)
Barbra Merwin shares her extensive experience in the insurance industry, focusing on the benefits of travel insurance for peace of mind and strengthening advisor-client relationships. She also discusses mentorship and Travel Insured Intern…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Mallory Wheeler (Upward Bound, Rockstar Advisor Under 40)
This episode features Mallory Wheeler of Kingdom Luxe Travel, a finalist in the Upward Bound, Rockstar Advisor category for the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards. The podcast is a spinoff of Humans of Travel, focusing on forward-think…
- GTC’s Vanessa McGovern, From Cruise Ship Art Auctioneer to Luxury Travel Strategist
Vanessa McGovern shares her journey in the travel industry, starting as an art auctioneer on cruise ships and progressing to her current role as senior vice president at Global Travel Collection (GTC). She reflects on co-founding Gifted Tr…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Beci Mahnken (Best Targeted Marketing Idea)
This episode of Humans in the Hot Seat features Beci Mahnken of MEI-Travel, a finalist in the Best Targeted Marketing Idea category for the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards. Mahnken shares insights into her approach to targeted marke…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Katie Brown (Best Use of Social Media)
Katie Brown, a finalist for the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Award for Best Use of Social Media, discusses her approach with Travelmation on the Humans in the Hot Seat podcast. The series highlights impactful travel advisors.
- Steve Smotrys on Career Curves, Expedition Cruising and a Pandemic-Era Love Story
Steve Smotrys shares his extensive cruise industry experience, passion for expedition cruising, and how he met his wife during the pandemic. He also discusses the evolution of HX Expeditions and encourages travel advisors to consider selli…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Jackie Waechter (Saving the Day)
This episode of Humans in the Hot Seat features Jackie Waechter of Blissful Vacations, a finalist for the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards in the Saving the Day category. The mini-series highlights forward-thinking travel advisors.
- Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Autumn Trussell-Murray (Saving the Day)
This episode features Autumn Trussell-Murray, nominated in the Saving the Day category for the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards. She shares insights into her work with Abundant Travel - Dream Vacations.
- Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Jamie Rumpf (Best Use of Social Media)
This episode of Humans in the Hot Seat features Jamie Rumpf, a finalist for the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Award in the Best Use of Social Media category. Rumpf, from Love of the Magic Vacations, shares insights into her approach.
- Carrying the Outrigger Legacy Forward: Anne Marie Brown’s Leap Into Luxury Travel Advising
Anne Marie Brown, from the family behind Outrigger Hotels, shares insights from her hospitality career and the founding of her luxury travel agency, Alpenglow Travel. The episode also touches on her personal passion for poetry.
- Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Lisa McCarl (Best Group Booking Effort)
This episode of Humans in the Hot Seat features Lisa McCarl of McCarl Travel, a finalist in the Best Group Booking Effort category for the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards. McCarl discusses her work and the stories behind her nominat…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Sam Johnson (Upward Bound, Rockstar Advisor Under 40)
This episode of Humans in the Hot Seat features Sam Johnson of Prescription Travel, a finalist for the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Award in the Upward Bound: Rockstar Advisor Under 40 category. He shares insights into his work as a tra…
- Stephanie Brooks on Modern-Day Touring and Her Decades-Long Career With Globus (Sponsored)
Stephanie Brooks, vice president of product and operations for the Globus family of brands, speaks with Ken Shapiro about her career in tourism, her experiences with Globus, and the modern appeal of escorted tours. She shares insights into…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Jennifer Buck (Best Targeted Marketing Idea)
This episode of Humans in the Hot Seat features Jennifer Buck of Love Travel Collection, a finalist for the 2025 TravelAge West Trendsetter Award in the Best Targeted Marketing Idea category. She shares insights into her approach to travel…
- Virtuoso’s Matthew Upchurch on the Evolution of Luxury Travel and the Future of Travel Advising (Part 2)
Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso, discusses the evolution of travel advising, the impact of online travel agencies and mobile technology, and the future of the industry with host Emma Weissmann.
- Virtuoso’s Matthew Upchurch on the Evolution of Luxury Travel and the Future of Travel Advising (Part 1)
Matthew Upchurch, Chairman and CEO of Virtuoso, shares insights on the evolution of luxury travel over the past 40 years, the origins of Virtuoso as a travel advisor collective, and his changing perception of travel advisors.
- Humans in the Hot Seat: Why Eli Wagner Decided to Open a Physical Office for Her Agency
Eli Wagner, founder of Wagner Bespoke Travel, shares her reasons for opening a physical office, exploring the advantages and financial considerations of having employees in a shared workspace, contrasting with the trend of remote work in t…
- Behind the Scenes at Travel + Leisure With News Director Paul Brady
Paul Brady, News Director at Travel + Leisure, shares his journey into journalism and his experiences at the publication. The episode covers creating compelling travel stories and appealing to diverse travelers, offering a behind-the-scene…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: Meet TikTok Star (and Travel Advisor) Susie Flores
This episode of Humans in the Hot Seat features Susie Flores, a travel advisor and TikTok star with nearly 100,000 followers. Flores discusses her social media strategy, emphasizing authenticity, and offers advice to travel advisors on uti…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: All About Tourism Cares, With John Sutherland
John Sutherland, senior director of community impact at Tourism Cares, explains the organization's work in advancing social, environmental, and economic impact within the travel industry. The episode details their offerings, including a pr…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: Asia Lantz on Becoming the Go-To Travel Advisor in Her Community
Asia Lantz, owner of Travel With Asia, shares her unique approach to building a travel business by focusing on community engagement rather than online leads. She explains how activities like attending workout classes, hosting trivia, and w…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: Selling Space Tourism, With SpaceVIP's Roman Chiporukha
In this episode of Humans of Travel, Roman Chiporukha, founder of SpaceVIP, shares insights on the burgeoning space tourism industry, detailing his role in facilitating a $50 million sale for a private mission to the International Space St…
- Co-Founder Tom Marchant on Black Tomato's 20-Year Evolution
Tom Marchant, co-founder of Black Tomato, shares the 20-year evolution of the tour operator, focusing on personalized itineraries and the company's AI-powered "Feelings Engine". He also discusses the origin of the company's name and emergi…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: How Kristie Keller Became the No. 1 Seller in Her Host Agency
Kristie Keller, a travel advisor, shares how a meeting with Marcus Leskovar of Amadeus River Cruises led to her becoming the No. 1 seller in her host agency, OTN. She booked seven groups and offers advice for aspiring travel advisors.
- Humans in the Hot Seat: ASTA's Michael Schottey Unveils the 'Travel You Can Trust' Podcast
Emma Weissmann interviews Michael Schottey, VP at ASTA, about the new podcast 'Travel You Can Trust'. Schottey discusses the show's creation, listener expectations, and how to access new episodes.
- Humans in the Hot Seat: Travel Advisor Katie Brown on Sales Automation — With a Personal Touch
In this episode of Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of Humans of Travel, host Emma Weissmann speaks with travel advisor Katie Brown. Brown, who has booked over $6 million in travel, shares insights on blending automation with a personal t…
- Season 6 Premiere: Mindy Poder's Journey, From Intern to Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West
Mindy Poder, Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West, shares her journey over 14 years at the publication. She discusses her role overseeing content strategy and editorial mission, addresses common misconceptions about travel journalism, and rec…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: Host Agency Owner Angela Hughes’ Message for the Travel Industry
Angela Hughes shares insights from her viral open letter to the travel industry, emphasizing the financial and educational investment required for aspiring travel advisors. She clarifies the role of host agencies and outlines her three-par…
- Encore: Australian Explorer Greg Mortimer on Summiting Mount Everest and Founding Aurora Expeditions
Greg Mortimer, founder of Aurora Expeditions, shares experiences from his extensive career in exploration, including being part of the first Australian team to summit Mount Everest via the northeast ridge route without supplemental oxygen.…
- Encore: Veranda Adkins Advocates for Inclusivity Within the Travel Industry
Veranda Adkins, co-founder of the Association of Black Travel Professionals (ABTP) and a travel advisor, shares her experiences. She reflects on her career path from human resources to becoming a travel advisor and founding ABTP during the…
- Encore: 204 Cruises and Counting: Jason Leppert’s Story as a Cruise Industry Insider
Jason Leppert, Cruise Editor for TravelAge West, discusses his lifelong passion for cruising, detailing over 200 voyages and his career documenting the industry. He shares insights on cruise sustainability and addresses common criticisms o…
- Jen Halboth’s Career Journey, From Professional Sports to CEO of Riverside Luxury Cruises (Sponsored)
Jen Halboth, CEO of Riverside Luxury Cruises, shares her career journey from professional sports to the travel industry, including her time at Avalon Waterways and her transition to Riverside. She discusses leadership, industry trends, and…
- Humans in the Hot Seat: SmartFlyer's Erina Pindar on Building an Authentic Brand
In this episode of Humans of Travel, recorded at SmartFlyer's CORE conference, Erina Pindar, COO of SmartFlyer, shares insights on building an authentic brand. Host Emma Weissmann discusses how brands can maintain authenticity and avoid ap…
- Encore: Entrepreneur Alle Pierce on Storytelling, Authenticity and Creating Community Through Travel
This episode features Alle Pierce, founder of Gals Abroad Getaways, discussing her journey from broadcast journalism to travel entrepreneurship. She shares insights on storytelling, authenticity in social media, and the inspiration behind…