Speaking of Travel®

Author Charlie Birney, Chief Listening Officer at his company, Podville Media in Washington, DC, wrote his new book The Tao of Podcasting: An Interpretation of the Tao Te Ching, as a meditation on the purpose of podcasting.

Charlie shares how the book serves as a guide to growth and transformation that can be directly applicable to podcasting.

Written in lovely verse and illustrated by Charlie's own delightful sketches, The Tao of Podcasting shows how podcast production creates memorable stories by remembering the ancient art of listening, deepening the silence before the sound, combining stillness and fluidity, developing auditory wisdom, engaged listening, and talking forward, and reigniting your passion for podcasting

In addition to writing this creative gem, Charlie co-founded Podville Media and produces a wide range of audio and video for a diverse range of clients. He also shares what he calls "Internal Facing Podcasts" which are podcasts not so much looking for growth and monetization, but instead trying to increase communication inside an organization.

And some big news. Charlie is preparing to start podcasting again! His new venture will be called "The Philosophy of Podcasting." Stay tuned!

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

Sustainable Chef William Dissen, owner of The Market Place Restaurant in Asheville, NC, shares how his passion for building sustainable food systems, his love of hospitality, and serving in the American Chef Corps for the US State Department, has taken him around the world to promote American food culture and sustainability practices.

The Market Place Restaurant, Asheville’s original farm-to-table fixture since 1979, and widely acclaimed for its Appalachian cuisine and community-driven menus, was distinguished with a James Beard Awards “Outstanding Restaurant” nomination in 2024. It’s considered one of the best farm-to-table restaurants in America. 

Chef Dissen shares how he came to write his debut cookbook, “Thoughtful Cooking: Recipes Rooted In the New South," and how he takes readers on a transformative culinary journey, carefully organized by the four seasons of Appalachia’s most sought after ingredients. 

And just like a restaurant continues to grow, airports are investing in redevelopment plans and new technology to ensure they are prepared to process huge numbers of passengers.

Also on Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, VP of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares the important role of community airports and how this region is becoming a red-hot aviation market. And find out some tips on how to become a more savvy, and prepared, traveler when navigating an airport today. 

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.

There are many reasons to study abroad. At UNC Asheville, Laura Dobson, Director of the Study Abroad program, along with Study Aboard faculty member Anne Slatton, and Study Abroad students, Emma and Adrien, shares the importance, and benefits, of study abroad opportunities.

Discover how UNCA diversifies participation in the Study Abroad program by making sure students realize there is a right study abroad opportunity for their needs and how providing scholarships, careful advising, and other types of resources and support help students have a great experience that fits their needs.

And find out how the benefits of a study aboard experience will boost language skills by living in another country, develop new views of the world, and meet people from different places around the globe, all while getting the best education possible.

Study abroad provides one of the most impactful and rewarding learning opportunities of a student's academic career. Experiencing the world, gaining new perspectives, making new friends, and challenging a way of thinking while earning credits towards a degree will also enhance job prospects after graduation.

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.

Charlie Thomas is an artist and environmentalist based on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. With a strong connection to the ocean and all its inhabitants, Charlie shares how his passion is creating a life of stewardship, leadership, and traveling.

Charlie spent his summer holidays on Great Barrier Island and has worked full-time in wildlife conservation since leaving high school when he was only 16. He has visited, or lived on, some of the most remote (and important) islands in the world, including the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and New Zealand subantarctic islands. 

​During 2020, Charlie spent nine months on Kure, one of the most isolated atolls in the world, in an effort to restore the island by helping its seabirds and marine wildlife, eradicate invasive weed species, and clear marine debris.

And he shares his recent expedition with the  Antarctic Heritage Trust's Inspiring Explorers Expeditions™ in South Georgia as part of the Trust’s visual arts outreach team where he uses watercolor to illustrate South Georgia's incredible wildlife and landscapes.

Charlie works in education and teaches young people about the importance of being guardians for our native species and spaces. His passion for nature, particularly birds, has led him to create art in all forms highlighting how we can help take better care of the planet.

Visit  www.charliesbirds.com to learn more about Charlie and how he connects people of all ages and backgrounds to the natural wonders in their own backyards and in places they've never heard of before.

A very special episode on Speaking of Travel! 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.

Author and travel professional Nina Zapala shares why she is dedicated to helping people create a personalized, transformative roadmap for self-discovery. Her trailblazing personality paradigm encourages self-awareness through spiritually focused typing.

Nina's typology is the keystone of her debut book, “Unpack Your Personality: Let Your Inner Guide Be Your Travel Guide.”

Andy McNeill, CEO of American Meetings, Inc., shares how hospitality and travel can come together to build lifelong business relationships. He has helped thousands of organizations build stronger relationships through shared human experiences and explains how the history of hospitality is now the cornerstone of today’s travel experience and why it has lasted so long.

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.