Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 28

Journey into the World of Wanderlust: Samantha Brown, Travel Goddess

It was my honor to interview the Travel Goddess, Samantha Brown. I first met her in person at the Travel and Adventure Show in 2016 and in 2023, I was a speaker at the same show!

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Find Samantha Brown’s Show, Places To Love, on her website and visit her on Instagram. In 2024, it will be 25 years that she has been sharing her travels. As she says, “girl with the best job in the world.”

Listen or watch our interview on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your favorite podcast platform

READ THE TRANSCRIPT BELOW

Lisa Niver:

Good morning. This is Lisa Niver from We Said Go Travel and I am beyond thrilled that today I am with none other than the travel goddess Samantha Brown. Hi, Samantha.

Samantha Brown:

Hey, Lisa. How are you?

Lisa Niver:

Oh, my gosh, I’m so excited to get to talk to you. I have been watching you at the travel show for years, and years and years and I am so excited. I even wore this map in your honor that I got to also speak at the travel show this year. I thought oh, my gosh I’m speaking at the same show as the goddess.

Samantha Brown and Places to Love at The Travel and Adventure Show 2023

Lisa Niver speaking at the Travel and Adventure Show 2023

Samantha Brown:

That’s wonderful. It’s nice to see you again.

2023 Women’s Travel Fest Samantha Brown at Women’s Travel Fest 2023

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Lisa Niver:

Oh, thank you. So, I know that you’ve been such a generous speaker and you have just inspired so many women. I spoke with Alex after the Women’s Travel Fest where you were the keynote speaker. And she was saying how for many people it was their longtime dream come true to be able to be there and hear you speak. That you really inspire so many women to get out on the road.

Samantha Brown and Lisa Niver at Women’s Travel Fest 2023

Samantha Brown:

Yeah, that’s probably what I am most proud of, and most shocked by in my career. I never thought I would be someone who people look up to. And I guess that’s why I do have the best job in the world is that I get told, on almost a daily basis, what my work has meant to someone else and that is phenomenally validating. So, not only do I have this amazing job, but the people that I have been able to be a part of their community in terms of whether they watch me on TV, or now they’re on social media or whatever it is. It’s just something I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be that person and I never take it for granted.

Lisa Niver:

I think that’s so beautiful. And as you said just now, and as it says on your Twitter bio, “girl with the best job in the world,” can you tell people a little bit about how did this happen? When you were little were you drawing on maps? Did you always want to be on TV? How did it happen?

Samantha Brown:

I went to college at Syracuse University for musical theater, and that’s what I wanted to be. I wanted to be an actress and I wanted to move to New York City, and so, at Syracuse I studied acting, singing, and dancing. And when you are in musical theater you are considered a triple threat, because you can do all three. And then I moved to New York City and I wasn’t threatening at all.

In fact, I was really bland compared to the unbelievable talent that is out there. Actually, I saw that you had Pauline Frommer as a guest and she was also in musical theater as well. I remember seeing her at the auditions, I knew she was a lot more successful than I was in theater, but you should ask her about that. So, we share that in common.

So, I just kept auditioning, and I got this strange job on the Travel Channel. I had to audition for it, to be their host for a new show called Great Vacation Homes. And my first reaction was what’s a host? Why am I auditioning for this? But I thought, okay, I’ll just get a reel because I wanted to go to Los Angeles to make it in sitcoms. So, that was my plan and I am so glad it did not work out. The Travel Channel really hit it off, I loved my time there, I had amazing experiences and I had a job I never thought I would have.

Lisa Niver:

That’s so inspiring. Because for a lot of us, when things don’t go how we planned, there’s often a feelings of being a failure or a mistake, but you’re saying it was the best thing.

Samantha Brown:

Absolutely. And it wasn’t like I turned my back on acting and musical theater. Because one of the things you learn in acting is that you never judge your own character. It’s all about understanding what your motivation is, and your motivation is always in another person. Your motivation in acting is always to get more from another person or affect the other person. It’s never you, that makes it too self-centered, so that’s something that you are taught in acting and I absolutely take that little chunk and I bring that with me.

That’s how I kind of got my start as a travel host because, for me, the show was never about me it was always about the other person. How do I get to know them? How do I get to be a part of their culture? What is it? What tactics can I use so this person understands I’m a kind person who they would want to spend time with. That little jewel is my guiding star. Even today, even though the name of my show is Samantha Brown’s Places to Love, the show is not about me.

Lisa Niver:

That’s really great advice for people, for a TV host, or as a human being, or a friend or in line at the DMV that there is something about the interaction about really learning something about someone else.

Samantha Brown:

Yes, it’s always the other person.

Lisa Niver:

That’s really impressive. I’ve heard you speak so many places when you were here in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theater for the Japanese National Tourism Organization or at the travel show and you always share such really useful tips. Can you talk about your ritual when you’re traveling?

Samantha Brown:

If I am in a place for more than three days, which is more than likely if I’m traveling and we’re shooting Places to Love, I will create a ritual. And that means I do one thing, the same thing, the same time every single day. And for me, it’s usually a coffee shop that I’m going to begin my day at. It’s right around the corner from my hotel, but not my hotel, but still a local experience where I can feel the ebb and flow of a location better. And I love that, because it just gives me a break. One thing about traveling, or my pet peeve of travel, is that it requires incessant thinking, right? When you’re traveling it’s always what am I doing next? Do I have the tickets? How are we going to get there? Is it going to rain? When are my flights? My flight leaves in three days. You never stop, and you want your brain to stop.

When you create a ritual, you just become more calm, you’re just more in the moment and that brain stops, and I love that. I love doing that. I’ve talked to people, who say we do that all the time. At the end of the day, we go to the same bar, and have the same drink and get to know the waiter. You create your own community in the short amount of time that you’re there, and it does wonders to really enrich your trip. I think as Americans, and I understand that different countries are watching this right now, but Americans we’re very productive, unfortunately so.

We see vacations as places as a second location to be productive that’s different from our work schedule. We check things off the list. We’ve got to do five different things today because, man, we’re never coming back here. And I get that. I get that pressure we put on ourselves to see and do it all, but this is a reminder every single day just to keep those challenges in check and enjoy life a little bit more.

Lisa Niver:

What you’re saying is so important. Get out of your hotel, see the local culture. Can you tell people a little bit about when you were in Madison, and you were a judge about mustard?

Samantha Brown:

I love mustard, by the way. I love all kinds of mustard, I collect it if I go to places, and in  France you have to collect the mustard. There is the Mustard Museum, it’s just outside of Madison, Wisconsin. The man who founded it is an adorable man who loved mustard as much as a lot of us do. He started collecting it and now you can experience mustards from all over the world. Mustard companies from all over the world send him their mustard, so you can experience mustard from Uzbekistan, and then he has from France, to Argentina. Some is spicy, some is more sweet, but every year he has a mustard contest. I got to be a judge and it was wonderful. I like the peppery stuff.

Lisa Niver:

I was in Destin, Florida, and I was a judge at the lionfish competition. Maybe, next year you will be a judge with the lionfish, because we’re helping the planet by eating the lionfish.

Samantha Brown:

And it’s good eating.

Lisa Niver:

I love to eat lionfish.

Samantha Brown:

Lionfish in a taco!! I totally agree, eat the invasive lionfish, definitely.

Lisa Niver:

I agree. I heard you also learned a sport from an Olympian in Madison.

Samantha Brown:

Yes. Becca Hamilton who is on the women’s curling team and she is, I believe, a world champion. They didn’t win the Olympics. That was her brother.

Her brother is a famous male competitor. They’re a duo and so the Madison Curling Club is where they were brought up This is where these two Olympians were reared, but she was fantastic. And I was telling her, I remember when they launched this sport in the Olympics about ten years ago and everyone was thinking what in the world is this sport? But we loved it.

I love the fact that you learn about the people who curl and they’re like insurance adjusters by day and they have this Olympic career on the side. It was so refreshing that they’re just like us. But of course they train a lot and it’s a hard sport, but it’s great. It’s a really fun sport and the way that Midwestern towns and cities really embrace this sport and make it more of a social thing. If you’re in a town that has a curling club go visit it, you’ll have a great time.

Lisa Niver:

I haven’t tried curling, but when I was in Ireland I tried hurling, not the throwing up kind, but the sport kind.

Samantha Brown:

Yes.

Lisa Niver:

I know that when you were in Ireland you tried some unusual things that we haven’t all heard of like blokarting.

Samantha Brown:

I tried hurling as well.

Lisa Niver:

Oh, you did. How did it go?

Samantha Brown:

That’s a very dangerous sport. That’s like a cross between baseball and tennis and you’re whacking a ball.

Lisa Niver:

And lacrosse.

Samantha Brown:

For blokarting, it’s very different and it’s actually not a sport, it’s just a recreation. They have beautiful beaches in Ireland and it’s this wind-powered cart. So, in the same way we all dreamed of having our own little go-karts when we were young, this has a little sail and so you can go sailing across the sand. It’s phenomenal. It feels so great.

I’m actually someone who’s very scared of being on the water, especially in the ocean, but I love the wind on your sails. Who doesn’t love that feeling? It gives you that feeling of being out there maybe windsailing, but you’re on terra firma. I believe it was developed, created in Northern Ireland. If you ever go, absolutely try it out because it’s just fun.

Lisa Niver:

I have to do that. I’m recently back from Ireland. I did falconry at Ashford Castle.

Samantha Brown:

Well, now you can fly like a falcon by blokarting.

Lisa Niver:

I like that idea. I know you travel with a teacup and there was a special tea in Ireland with a twist?

Samantha Brown:

Oh, yes, I did. Where was that? That was Glenarm Castle on the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland. A beautiful castle, a Downton Abbey thing, and they’ve opened it up. The family still lives there and they’ve opened it up. They have a farm, and a dairy, and beautiful gardens and you can just enjoy. That’s a beautiful place. Actually, I experienced the high tea at a very upscale hotel in Adare, Adare Manor.

Lisa Niver:

They just had a big renovation.

Samantha Brown:

Yes, they did and it is like a six-star hotel. It is through the roof in terms of its luxury and beauty. And very few of us can afford this on a regular basis, but you can, as I always say, date the hotel, so I took it to high tea. It’s in this amazing room that is the second longest room in Ireland, second only to the library in Dublin.

Lisa Niver:

Wow, okay.

Samantha Brown:

They do wonderful cocktails and they put them in teacups so you’re a teetotaler!  I had a beautiful botanical gin and tonic with these beautiful pastries. It is one of these epic places for tea. Lisa, I think a lot of people enjoy tea in different places, very high-end, and this would be one of them, absolutely.

Lisa Niver:

I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say date your hotel before, but I love that.

Samantha Brown:

Yeah, just date it. If you can’t afford to stay there, take it on a date.

Lisa Niver:

That’s so funny. One of my favorite things about coming home from Ireland is preclearing at the airport that you come home domestic.

Samantha Brown:

I was just in Canada as well where they have that and there’s nothing better than that. And it’s so funny how it just takes all of the stress out of flying because you land and you’re now domestic. And I love preclearance airports. I think they’re a reason alone to go to a country and enjoy it. All of the airports in Ireland as well as Canada are preclearance airports.

Lisa Niver:

Were you filming something new in Canada or were on family holiday?

Samantha Brown:

I was there shooting an episode in Victoria in British Columbia. A beautiful little city on that gorgeous Vancouver Island. It’s the gateway to Vancouver Island as well as the rest of British Columbia. We were up there exploring its more sustainable methods in terms of what they’re doing to protect the wildlife, First Nations culture as well as great food. It’s just a beautiful place to be.

Lisa Niver:

I know when you travel one of the things you love to do is collect art and there’s beautiful art right behind you. Is that from one of your recent visits?

Samantha Brown:

Yes. Yes, that is Jenny Pickens, the artist, and she’s from Asheville, North Carolina, self-taught and I love her work. I met her as we were shooting an episode there and we focused on this really great shop called the Noir Collective. It is in a neighborhood that used to be considered the Black Wall Street of Asheville with many very successful businesses for Black Americans. It fell on some hard times because of rezoning, but this group of people is trying to bring it back. You can meet a lot of the local artists and see their work. And I love this piece because she’s sewing the world and it’s a woman who’s slowly mending or sewing the world together and it’s got a heart. So, I thought it is like my show Places to Love and she’s beautiful.

Lisa Niver:

That’s beautiful. I also really like when you put your season together that it’s a mix of domestic and international. We have so many great treasures of places to visit here in the United States.

Samantha Brown:

Yeah, I agree, and I always love to explore what I call the B-side cities. So, if you remember records, there’s the A-side and then there’s the B-side. And the A-side is the Rome, and the New York and the Paris. But then there are the B-sides and I think B-side cities just give you just as much as the A-side city, but it’s not as expensive, it’s not as busy, and it just gives you a better experience. So, with the United States that’s what we try to focus on, especially in these days where you’re hearing so much about just too many people being in the same place at the same time.

There’s plenty of room for all of us. We need to divert people to come this way and see this is a great place. So, we’ve done a lot of cities that people would never think of going to. And then when you find out all of the great art that’s there, food that’s there, activities, and you don’t have to spend 400 dollars on a hotel. People are really excited affordable travel.

Lisa Niver:

I think it’s great that you’re sharing all those places with people. And I saw on your social media about Big Sky, Montana. Was that for a recent filming, or we can watch that now, or does that come in the next season?

Samantha Brown:

We filmed that last year. That was a part of season six, so that’s running now. That’s a great place. Montana is a beautiful state no matter what time of year you go. Most people go to Montana in the summer, maybe it’s to get to Yellowstone, but winter, oh, my gosh it’s just magical. Not the cheapest place to go. Big Sky, Montana, is a resort and it’s 300 dollars a day for a lift ticket. But let me tell you as someone who grew up in New Hampshire, grew up skiing, the skiing is phenomenal and worth it. I skied in my jeans in ice-cold weather in New Hampshire and so to be up there out west where it’s just a lovely day, I think it’s an amazing place to be. I love Montana. I’m a big winter fan. I’m one of those rare people, Lisa, who love snow.

Lisa Niver:

I’ve seen a lot of different episodes and recently you were filming somewhere it was definitely not chilly. You were in Israel.

Samantha Brown:

I was, yes. And oh my goodness I still have dreams about it. It took me a week back home to really feel like I was back in the United States, because I just felt smitten. It’s like falling in love where you just can’t get your head out of the clouds. It was phenomenal. Clearly, I don’t have to explain what Jerusalem is and why you would want to go, but what I love about cities is that the whole world can seem like it hates each other, and when you go to a city that’s just not what’s happening. Everyone lives with each other. Cities are seen as these unfriendly dangerous places and a lot of the times it’s the exact opposite. So, it was wonderful discovering that for myself and I would love to go back. It was a trip of a lifetime, truly.

Lisa Niver:

I’m so glad you got to go there. I studied in Israel in high school and I spent a semester in college in Jerusalem.

Samantha Brown:

Oh, my gosh, I’m so envious. What a place. It’s magical, right. I see so many people like you, so it’s so youthful, there’s so many young people there. And it’s just there is an energy there that you just can’t help but get swept up into it. We met some phenomenal people and I’m really excited to share that episode. Because it’s just a special place and it really belongs to the world. I think that’s what people don’t understand is that Jerusalem is a city that belongs to the world.

And I feel that way about New York City, like we’re not really of the United States. I live in New York, I’ve lived here for 37 years, and it’s not the United States, it’s everyone’s and everyone comes here. And I felt the same way about Jerusalem. It’s like this is for everyone. There is no need to take sides. This is a place for everyone.

Lisa Niver:

I agree with you. I always can’t wait to get back again to Israel. I know people are going to want to know where do they see all of these incredible episodes? And when is season seven coming? So, tell us where is the best place to get all the updates?

Samantha Brown:

On my website, and you can follow me on social media. Of course, I’m on Instagram, and Facebook and I’m even on TikTok now. Samanthabrowntravels is my handle for most of those. The show airs in the United States on TV in a place called PBS, which are our public television stations. But you can also stream the episodes free directly from my own website, which is samantha-brown.com. Season seven, which we are working on now, begins in January. So, we still have a lot of shooting to do as well as editing, but it will be launched in January of 2024.

Lisa Niver:

Oh, my goodness that’s so exciting. I really appreciate with your busy production schedule that you took this time to talk to me. I really have been so inspired myself by you. Honestly it was such an honor to speak at the same show as you, the travel goddess, thank you.

Samantha Brown:

Thank you Lisa. And thank you for wearing your map shirt for me. I feel very special.

Lisa Niver:

Thank you so much for sharing your tips and your wisdom. And I know everybody can’t wait to catch up if they haven’t seen all six seasons already, and to see Israel and all the upcoming new cities that you highlight in season seven. Thank you so much.

Samantha Brown:

Lisa, it’s been a pleasure.                                           

Coming next season: ISRAEL

@samanthabrowntravels

In Jerusalem for the very first tine! Shootint Places to Love Season 7 #travel #placestolove #samanthabrown #jerusalem

♬ original sound – Samantha Brown

I love these tips to make travel BETTER: PLACES TO LOVE: HOW TO MAKE TRAVEL COUNT

Did you miss our latest “Places to Love” Season 6 episode, where we got to adventure in Madison, WI? Check our episode page to watch and learn more about all the fun we had and the wonderful locals we met!https://t.co/8WDnlGs82i#samanthabrown #placestolove pic.twitter.com/WflICtbLLH

— Samantha Brown (@SamanthaBrown) January 23, 2023

Samantha Brown is a two time Emmy Award winning Television personality and travel expert.

Over the last 20 years, Samantha has traveled around the world visiting over 250 cities in 75 countries and 45 U.S. states creating over 200 hours of engaging and informative television programming along the way.

Samantha started her TV career at the Travel Channel where over 15 years created many iconic travel series, including Great Hotels, Passport to Europe, Great Weekends and Samantha Brown’s Asia.

In 2018, Samantha moved from Travel Channel to PBS and her new show there, “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love” quickly became the highest rated travel program on public television. In 2019 she earned two Emmy awards (Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program and Outstanding Host for a Lifestyle, Children’s or Special Class Program) and has been nominated again every year since.

In Places to Love, she finds the destinations, experiences and most importantly, the people who make you feel like you belong to a place, and not just a consumer passing through.

Samantha’s fun-loving style has made her a revered and engaging television personality whose approach is less expert, less host and more a person you would want to travel with. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and 9 year old twins.

More interviews and talks with Samantha Brown

Women’s Travel Fest Keynote Speaker 2023Samantha Brown in PRINT in the Jewish Journal 2023NYC 2023 Launch party for Season 6 of Places to Love2019 interview: Places to Love Season 2Japanese National Tourism Organization Key Note Speaker 2018Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show 2016: Travel SpeakerWomen’s Travel Fest 2014 Keynote Speaker Lisa Niver and Samantha Brown March 2018 at the Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show

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I loved Samantha Brown’s talk in 2016 at the Los Angeles Travel Show! You can read my notes in the instagram comments! “Be on a mission to connect with the culture…How do you belong when you travel? Be part of a new story….travel is an investment in your life!!” She ate ants, eyeballs and guinea pigs!!

LISTEN on APPLE PODCAST: MAKE YOUR OWN MAPLisa’s book: Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty

The post Journey into the World of Wanderlust: Samantha Brown, Travel Goddess appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Forbes Best New Nonfiction Books: BRAVE-ish

Thank you Holly Corbett and Forbes for including BRAVE-ish in your Best New Nonfiction Books By Women Authors Labor Day 2023 Reads.

Labor Day celebrates the contributions of American workers with a day off. If you’re looking to relax today, why not do so with a good book? The best books have the power to inspire new perspectives and potentially even launch a cultural trend. Such was the case with Elizabeth’s Gilbert’s famous memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, which sparked women from around the globe to go on “their own Eat, Pray, Love journeys,” and use travel as a vehicle of self discovery.

Women’s stories matter. “For too long, the dreams of women have been demeaned and dismissed,’ writes Elizabeth Lesser, cofounder of the Omega Institute, in her book, Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are The Storytellers, The Human Story Changes. “Now those dreams may save us. Our dreams can be a bridge from an old world into a new one.”

If you’re looking for books that center women’s stories and experiences, here is a shortlist to get you started.

Brave-ish , by Lisa Niver

An award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries on six continents, Lisa Niver courageously opens up about her experience with intimate partner violence and divorce and the struggles she faced leading up to her 50th birthday. In a youth-obsessed culture where ageism has been called the “last acceptable bias,” she confronts her fears of being alone, supporting herself through travel, and starting over again in midlife. Upon her divorce, Niver embarked on 50 challenges she would take before she turned 50 to help her build her courage and get comfortable venturing outside of her comfort zone. Her story illustrates that we can blaze our own path, if we are brave enough to begin with small steps.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON FORBES

The post Forbes Best New Nonfiction Books: BRAVE-ish appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

BRAVE-ish on KFI AM 640

Thank you to Dr. Wendy Walsh for interviewing me on your show! I loved talking about relationships and my book, BRAVE-ish! Listen to our interview on iHeart Radio or KFI AM 640 or read the transcript below:

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

Did you ever read that book? Wild? By the woman who went on the P C T all by herself while she was solving her psychological problems or Eat, Pray, Love, whenshe ate her way around the world and prayed and came back with a love. I’m sure you did. Well, my guest on the show has written a very similar book. Her name is Lisa Niver. She’s named a number three travel influencer this year. And she talks travel on K T L A in Los Angeles, plus her YouTube channel. She’s all over social media. Her new book is called Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty. So what I didn’t know about Lisa Niver is that all her travel blogging began after breakup. It all had to do with relationships.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

I mean, she ate sushi for the very first time despite having already traveled to Asia a bunch of times. That she sat on the bottom of an ocean in Mexico and learned how to identify different species of sharks, especially the aggressive ones. She raced BMWs in the rain in California. She zoomed on a Lamborghini in Vegas, On a border crossing between Tanzania and Kenya, she fixed a toilet for people who’d never done a bucket flush. She took the plunge to skydive as her 50th challenge! Welcome Lisa Niver. You look fearless.

Lisa Niver:

Thank you. I’m so honored to be here with you.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

So why did you decide to write this creative memoir?

Lisa Niver:

I’d say one of the main reasons I worked on this book was I remember when I was getting divorced. I felt like such a failure and I felt really alone. And I’ve spoken with a lot of other women and men who also felt like failures. And in actual fact, as you probably tell your listeners, for me, it would’ve been a failure to stay in that marriage.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

Exactly. You know, this week in my psychology class I was teaching students about various cognitive biases we have. And one of them is called the sunk cost bias. And that is the more time and the more money you’ve invested in something, the more likely you are gonna stick to it, even if it’s awful because we have this bias to staying loyal. Right. So you gotta know when to hold them and know when to fold them.

Lisa Niver:

Yes. And so I folded them and then I was so upset and I was so sad. And I ended up working on my eyes. I had a vision problem. And then I started the 50 challenges before I was 50. And doing the 50 challenges eventually became this book.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

And you did ’em alone,

Lisa Niver:

The challenges? Yes.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

What are some of the biggest challenges and how did you overcome your fears?

Lisa Niver:

I’d say one of the biggest things that happened was I had an undiagnosed or misdiagnosed eye problems since I was a child. And everyone told me I was clumsy, which I believed, but that actually wasn’t true.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

You weren’t seeing stuff? Oh my goodness.

Lisa Niver:

That was definitely a problem.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

This book, it’s not just a travel log and an exciting adventure story. It’s a story of recovery after divorce and you share a lot of personal struggles after this divorce. Was it difficult to open up? I mean, I’m an open book. I’ve been an extrovert. I process externally. I have a very high shame tolerance. I’m not a normal person. How was it for you opening up about this really personal stuff?

Lisa Niver:

It was horrible. I would write, I would write about it and I would feel so sad and I would cry. It was very cathartic. And then I, when I thought I was for sure gonna throw up, I would lie on the floor

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

Lisa Niver:

I wouldn’t really throw up. And then I would get back at my desk and keep typing.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

I kind of felt like that last night with all the champagne, but I had to stand up instead of lie on the floor. It’s a long story. So just give us a quick little laundry list of some of the things you did that were particularly scary. I mentioned a few, but there might be others.

Lisa Niver:

You mentioned a few. I I’ve done a lot of scuba diving challenges, like you said, with the sharks. One of the things I tried was beach tennis. For someone that doesn’t see very well, starting tennis as an adult was very frustrating.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

How does the ball bounce on the beach?

Lisa Niver:

First I took tennis lessons on a regular court. But then when I was in Aruba, they had beach tennis. It’s more, it’s like a cross between ping pong and tennis. It’s fun. But hard.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

So you’ve done these 50 challenges. You wrote the book. Was it worth it? How has your life changed?

Lisa Niver:

That is such a good question. My life is so different. Even when I was doing the 50 challenges, every time I had a new idea, first I said no. I refused. There was a lot of crying and refusing. And, and now when something happens, like I went with a friend to the CN Tower in Toronto. I realized you can go to the top and walk around.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

With a glass floor.

Lisa Niver:

My friend said the idea of it made her wanna throw up. And not only did I do it, I did it in the rain.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

I did it one time with my kids because we wanted to see the CN Tower. It used to be the tallest freestanding structure in the world, but who knows who beat it now. You take this elevator up forever and ever and ever. And you get to this tower and there’s a freaking glass floor you step out on and there’s nothing. So I actually have vertigo. So what happens when you have vertigo is there are no thoughts. Your muscles just freeze. You can’t move. It’s the weirdest thing. You can’t get past it. It’s not even any sense of fear. It’s like everything just freezes. So I stayed on that little kind of platform near the edge and my kids walked on the glass. That’s the only I could do. ‘beause I couldn’t step out. My muscles were just frozen.

Lisa Niver:

This is the one where you are in a suit with a tethered harness.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

Oh, you did it on the outside?

Lisa Niver:

Yes.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

My lord. No, I didn’t even anticipate that you did the outside CN tower

Lisa Niver:

In the rain. It was so fun.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

Lisa. Oh my goodness. Okay, when we come back, I wanna get into the nitty gritty because also in this travel you had a few little sex exploits. You worked at a Club Med. I want to know what happened at Club Bed for Lisa Niver when we come back.

Lisa Niver:

Author ,travel writer, Lisa Niver. Her new book is coming out on September 19th is called Brave-ish,One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless.After 50. You did 50 Crazy Challenges –Swimming with sharks –Hanging from the CN Tower all over the world. And that’s why you have so much great travel material to share. You originally left California for Colorado to work at a Club Med. Tell me about that.

Lisa Niver:

Club Med was so much fun, but a little overwhelming for me. At first, there was a lot of club bed happening. ,

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

It was a ski one, not a beach one, So club bed happens in the ski resorts

Lisa Niver:

Club bed happened when I was there everywhere. I remember once being at a staff meeting and the chief of the village saying, there’s a lot of single women coming next week and I want them to be happy.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

So they kind of tell people to put out,

Lisa Niver:

Yes they did. I kept thinking, Dorothy, we’re not in Kansas anymore. Because I had been an elementary school teacher and that was not what we talked about at staff meetings.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

I’m afraid to ask you this question, Lisa, but there you got the nickname Spin!

Lisa Niver:

What happened to me is at Club Met everyone had a roommate. And so if you wanted to make out, you had to find a place to go. One of the ski instructors and I actually made out in the laundry room. I learned by the next day that you could do something alone in a locked room, but pretty fast everyone would know. So at lunch, one of the other ski instructors who I didn’t know, I was new, we used to eat with the kids. I was skiing with the kids. And he came and he put a quarter

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

Children, what your teachers do at night?

Lisa Niver:

Put a quarter next to my plate and he said, in case you wanna go for a spin with me later.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

What?

Lisa Niver:

Because that would turn on the laundry machine. because I was sitting on the laundry machine.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

On the spin cycle!

Lisa Niver:

And so for the rest of that season, everyone called me Spin.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

Oh my, oh my. Well let me ask you this though. When you were growing up, were you in a conservative house? A liberal house? Was this a sexual awakening for you? All this travel stuff? She’s nodding yes. You can’t radio nod on radio!!

Lisa Niver:

I grew up very myself, conservative. I did not date much in high school. I went to all girls school. I think some of it had to do with my eye issues. I didn’t always get all the social queuing. And I got confused. I remember somebody asked me at a party, do you wanna go on a walk? Because It’s hot in here. And it was hot and I did want to go for a walk, but then he wanted to kiss me. And I thought, why did that happen? In college, I did date, but not so much. And then when I was at Club Med, it was basically a buffet.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

You were learning about yourself after your divorce. You’re 50 years old. That’s a time when women’s hormones are going down. What was your experience?

Lisa Niver:

I was back at the buffet and I met men everywhere. I slept with a guy I met on the plane, someone from salsa class. I was traveling and I was having so much fun again. And I felt like I could be myself and I was out in the world. That drew a lot of people to me.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

The research on cougars and menopause is that depending on your environment, it can impact your hormones. So in other words, if you are in an old stayed conservative relationship doing the same kinds of sexual acts on a regular basis, your hormones are gonna decline. But if all of a sudden, as you use the term you’re at a buffet, hormones charge up again. And so I like to use the saying, if you don’t use it, you lose it. So it’s about using it.

Lisa Niver:

Yes. And I had so much fun. It was great. I met someone on almost every adventurous trip I went on. I was collecting new memories.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

So let me ask you about this. I was never one who was good at hooking up. I did a lot of hookups, but I didn’t like it because I always thought they would be a stepping stone to a relationship. And when the relationship didn’t happen, I had all kinds of attachment anxiety. Now we do know that women are more likely to fall in love during sex than men are because their bodies emit so much oxytocin, the big bonding hormone. Did you have that problem that you were falling in love?

Lisa Niver:

I think after working on the cruise ship and people came for seven days and left, that when I was meeting people on adventures, I knew it was finite. I think when you’re home and you meet someone at the corner bar, you think you’ll see them again. But when you’ve flown from Los Angeles to Dublin and you meet someone from Canada, you don’t think, wow, this is definitely happening.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

Well, some women do. Oh, and they pine away. And send emails forever and say, when are you coming to visit? So you’re able to let go when it is over. What’s up for you with your relationship life? What is your plan?

Lisa Niver:

Well, I was actually just talking to someone this morning. I asked him to set me up with one of his friends. So we’ll see what happens. I’ll keep you posted.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

Are you looking for long-term monogamy now?

Lisa Niver:

I definitely am not part of the whole polygamous, ethical, non-monogamous thing in Los Angeles. If I’m going to date someone, I’m only going to date one person.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

Hear that gentleman Lisa Niver. You can look her up. The book is called Brave-Ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless after 50. Lisa, where do they find the book?

Lisa Niver:

You can find the book everywhere. But the best thing is call your local bookstore and ask them to order it and pick it up in the store. You never know what treasures you’ll find in the store, but Barnes and Noble Bookshop, Walmart, Target, all have my book. It’s everywhere.

Dr. Wendy Walsh:

Thanks for being with us.

Buy Lisa’s book BRAVE-ish and Dr. Wendy’s book, The 30-day Love Detox

The post BRAVE-ish on KFI AM 640 appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

5 Tips To Be A Successful Author

Thank you to Yitzi Weiner for interviewing me for Authority Magazine. It was an honor to speak with him about writing and my book, BRAVE-ish. Author & Journalist Lisa Niver On The 5 Things You Need To Be A Successful Author & Writer

…Seeking assistance is vital. We all require support. Personally, I value editors who dive into the heart of a story and provide constructive feedback. A prime example is Noah, an exceptional editor at Huffington Post. While crafting an article about the movie “My Octopus Teacher,” I included a humorous anecdote about giving the film detention. Noah advised me that the story would be even more impactful without the humor, and he was right. This experience reinforced the significance of collaboration and how others can enhance our work.

I had the pleasure to talk with Lisa Niver. Lisa is an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries on six continents. This University of Pennsylvania graduate sailed across the seas for seven years with Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Renaissance Cruises and spent three years backpacking across Asia. Discover her articles in publications from AARP: The Magazine and AAA Explorer to WIRED and Wharton Magazine, as well as her site WeSaidGoTravel.

On her award-nominated global podcast, Make Your Own Map, Niver has interviewed Deepak Chopra, Olympic medalists, and numerous bestselling authors, and as a journalist has been invited to both the Oscars and the United Nations. For her print and digital stories as well as her television segments, she has been awarded three Southern California Journalism Awards and two National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards and been a finalist twenty-two times.

Named a #3 travel influencer for 2023, Niver talks travel on broadcast television at KTLA TV Los Angeles, her YouTube channel with over 2 million views, and in her memoir, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.

Yitzi: Lisa, it’s wonderful to see you. Before we jump in, our readers would love to hear your personal origin story. Could you share the story of how you grew up?

Lisa: Absolutely. First off, I want to express my gratitude for having this interview with me. It’s truly an honor. I’m really impressed by what you’ve accomplished with Authority Magazine. It’s absolutely incredible. So, speaking of my upbringing, one of the most standout memories for me was the opportunity to travel with my family. I distinctly remember going on a cruise with my parents and my sister when we were teenagers. It was a truly enchanting experience for me. History wasn’t something I had been particularly drawn to before that. However, during our travels around the Mediterranean, it felt like all the history books I’d ever read suddenly came to life. From that point on, I was completely captivated. You could say I had a strong case of wanderlust right from a very young age.

Yitzi: You’re now an accomplished writer. Can you share the story of how that started? How did you begin your journey as a writer and journalist?

Lisa: How did it start? Honestly, my journey into journalism was more of a natural progression than a stroke of luck. I was actually teaching at a school back then, handling science subjects. I had the privilege of teaching kids from kindergarten all the way up to sixth grade. Unlike the typical setup where students move on to different teachers every year, these kids expected to have me as their science teacher in the following years.

I remember, I was about to embark on a journey across Asia, and when I informed my students about this, they were genuinely sad about my departure. That’s when I made them a promise — to keep them updated with news from my travels. And so, every month, I put together a newsletter. I filled it with photos and anecdotes — whether it was me hanging out with elephants in Sri Lanka or savoring oranges with a hint of cinnamon in Morocco.

I wasn’t entirely sure if anyone actually cared about these updates, but I diligently continued. Upon my return, I began teaching at a different school. Interestingly, one of the parents told me how eagerly their children awaited my newsletters and how much they missed my presence. This was around the time when the concept of blogging was picking up momentum.

I took those newsletters I’d crafted during my travels and capitalized on the burgeoning blog movement. That’s when I launched my website — the starting point of my writing journey. It was all about encouraging people to embrace travel.

Yitzi: It’s been said that sometimes mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a humorous mistake when you first started your travel writing and the lesson you learned from it?

Lisa: Well, it’s actually about my attempts at learning new languages, which I admit I’m not naturally gifted at. So, while I was traveling in Nepal, we ended up in this really quaint town called Tansen. It wasn’t a place that saw many Western visitors.

The gentleman who managed the guest house where we were staying was sort of like the town’s unofficial mayor. He graciously took us to what could be best described as a makeshift restaurant — it was basically someone’s house where they sold food. Now, in Nepal, Momo is the quintessential dish, kind of resembling Chinese dumplings or potstickers — dough wrapped around a filling.

Being eager to embrace the local cuisine, we ordered Momo. At my request they taught me to say in Nepalese, “Could I please have chicken Momo?” Well, that triggered quite a few chuckles from our hosts — they found my effort endearing. Fast forward to the next evening, and we’re back for more Momo.

I thought I was saying the same phrase, but this time, everyone’s looking at me with rather serious expressions. No more amused laughter. This perplexes me, so I repeat my request, thinking maybe they misheard me. I’m nothing if not persistent when it comes to trying to communicate. However, eventually they realized I meant to say the word “chicken” which sounds remarkably similar to the word for “dog.”

It was a mistake and once we figured it out, we shared even more laughs! It was a comical blunder that taught me the importance of double-checking my vocabulary, especially when it involves potential cultural sensitivities.

Yitzi: So, what was the lesson you learned from that?

Lisa: The lesson I learned from that is twofold. Maybe I need to improve my language skills a bit more. Enthusiasm can really win people over, though. I kept smiling and, eventually, it all worked out.

I used to work on a cruise ship for quite a while, nearly seven years. This was in the days before cell phones. A friend who had worked with me in the Caribbean was traveling in Australia where I was on my next ship. We had made plans for her to come visit me. I remember lying in my bed that morning, thinking, “This plan is so dumb. It’s never going to work out. How will I even find her? Where should I look?” Then, right as I’m lying there thinking, “Dumb, dumb,” I hear a knock on my door. I think, “Huh, that’s strange.” I’m new here, I have not made any friends on this ship. Who could be knocking on my door?

I open the door, and there stands my friend. I’m just baffled. How in the world did this happen? I never told anyone her name or left any information with the guards at the ship’s port to expect her. Nobody here knows me. She says, “Well, I came on board, and I started describing you to the security team, the Nepalese Gurkhas.” (They were a regiment in the British forces that got decommissioned. They now do security on the cruise ship). They said, “Oh, The person who speaks Nepalese.” She chuckles and adds, “And I said, ‘Yeah, that one!’” I had spoken a grand total of six words, maybe just basic greetings like “hello,” “how are you,” “nice to see you,” and “thank you.” But those were six more words than anyone else on that entire ship knew. So, I became a bit of a legend to the security team as the girl who could speak Nepalese.

Yitzi: Alright, let’s dive into the topic of the book. Could you please share what it’s all about?

Lisa: Absolutely. My book is called “Brave-Ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless after Fifty.” My book begins with the end of my marriage. As my relationship imploded, I was really struggling and there were many tears shed. Like many people, I felt like a failure but it would have been a failure for me to stay in that marriage. To reinvent myself, I did fifty challenges before I turned fifty.

Yitzi: How do you envision your book making a social impact? How do you think it can make a difference?

Lisa: That’s a great question. When you’re writing a memoir and sharing personal experiences, the impact can be felt on different levels. For me, it’s been a multi-layered process.

Firstly, the act of delving into these dark periods of my life, and revealing some things that, honestly, I can’t believe I’ve mustered the courage to unveil to the world through writing, has been incredibly cathartic. At the outset, I was juggling various forms of therapy, striving to comprehend how I landed in such a situation and, importantly, how I could extricate myself from it. The journey, even when I faced moments of wanting to give up — abandoning the 50 challenges, quitting writing the book — always saw me picking myself up the next day. In hindsight, I’ve realized the term “rest” is more fitting, but I wasn’t quite that insightful then, so I stuck with “quit.”

Primarily, on a personal level, this was an introspective exercise, a way for me to scrutinize how I found myself in that predicament and to define what I aspired for in the future.

Yet, moving beyond that, there’s another layer. It’s about the potential of this story to be of assistance to someone else. I’ve encountered instances in conversations about the book where it has resonated with others. My hope is that its impact lies in helping people recognize that they needn’t remain trapped or isolated.

I vividly recall the sensation of failure that engulfed me, a sense of being utterly inadequate. I desire that those who engage with my story, whether or not they acknowledge it as their own, come to realize that even if they perceive themselves as failures, they still possess the capacity to begin anew.

Yitzi: Could you share one of the most interesting stories from your book? Our readers would love to hear it.

Lisa: Absolutely. I embarked on quite a few unconventional challenges, and what struck me was that what felt extraordinary to me often seemed quite ordinary to others. Let me recall a standout tale. There are so many, but this one comes to mind.

I remember when things took an intriguing turn during a particular venture. This happened in Park City, Utah, where the National Ability Center facilitates skiing experiences for individuals with diverse abilities. I had the privilege of skiing with a wounded warrior in a wheelchair and even met Miss USA wheelchair, who was on the wheelchair basketball team and was trying skiing for the first time. Then there was a remarkable young woman with spina bifida, now a Paralympian, with whom I hit the slopes.

Yet, among these stories, one incident remains etched in my memory. It was my encounter with Jennifer, who is blind. I observed closely as her instructor taught her how to navigate the slopes, while her husband was learning how to guide her effectively.

Oddly enough, on that very day, I was also assigned to cover another story at the Olympic ski park. During my Uber ride from the mountain to the ski park, the driver struck up a conversation about the Olympic Bobsled, and I found myself feeling quite apprehensive about the idea. Doubts crept in, and I questioned whether I should take the ride. The sheer speed and the perceived danger were daunting.

This is when my Uber driver, a former military personnel, turned to me and posed a simple yet impactful question. He said, “Let me make sure I’ve got this right. You spent the whole day skiing with someone who’s blind, but you’re hesitant to sit behind a professional Bobsled driver?” He reminded me that the Bobsled ride was a popular tourist attraction. In that moment, I realized the irony and chuckled at my own apprehension. It was clear that I should embrace the opportunity and take the ride down the track.

Yitzi: You must have gained a lot of insights from your writing experience. Could you please share with our readers five key factors that contribute to becoming a highly successful and effective writer?

Lisa: Certainly, here are five crucial elements for being an effective writer.

Firstly, cultivating curiosity is paramount. A genuine desire to explore and inquire is essential. Sometimes I receive feedback suggesting that my inquisitiveness shines through — whether it’s due to my background as an educator or my insatiable curiosity, I’m not entirely sure. Nonetheless, I find that this quality greatly enhances my storytelling.Another vital aspect is fostering creativity. Writers must view the world from unique perspectives, offering readers fresh angles. For instance, during a recent visit to Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton reserve, I grappled with decisions like the best vantage point for a photograph. This creativity extends to my writing as well — how can I present this information to captivate my audience? It’s about finding that intriguing angle.Next, the ability to establish connections is of utmost importance. Admittedly, there are instances when I’m unsure about the relevance of certain connections in my stories; they might seem unconventional. Let me recall a piece I crafted for Thrive Global, which featured Jen Sincero’s book, Deepak Chopra’s book, and even the movie “Sliding Doors.” Initially, I wasn’t convinced it would work, but I decided to take the leap. Surprisingly, this led to a serendipitous encounter with Deepak Chopra’s publicist, resulting in an interview opportunity. So, embracing unusual connections, even if they seem quirky, can yield unexpected outcomes.Embracing uniqueness is another crucial aspect. Don’t shy away from your distinct voice and perspective. There was a time when I doubted a connection I made, like when the opportunity to interview Deepak Chopra arose. I was genuinely taken aback, thinking, “Wait, is this really happening?” This occurrence was a testament to the power of being unapologetically unique and standing out from the crowd.Moreover, seeking assistance is vital. We all require support. Personally, I value editors who dive into the heart of a story and provide constructive feedback. A prime example is Noah, an exceptional editor at Huffington Post. While crafting an article about the movie “My Octopus Teacher,” I included a humorous anecdote about giving the film detention. Noah advised me that the story would be even more impactful without the humor, and he was right. This experience reinforced the significance of collaboration and how others can enhance our work.

One more bonus. The imperative of taking that initial step cannot be underestimated. While working on my book, I often faced creative blocks. At such times, I would remind myself that an editor can’t assist me if the page remains blank. Similarly, in the realm of video editing, my skills were initially lacking, but I’ve progressed significantly. Notably, my YouTube channel is nearing the impressive milestone of 2 million views, which serves as a testament to the rewards of starting and persevering.

Yitzi: Lisa, your impactful work, the platform you’ve built, and the compelling ideas you’re spreading have really garnered you significant influence. People genuinely value your words and take them seriously. If you had the opportunity to promote an idea or ignite a movement that could bring immense goodness to a vast number of people, what would that concept be? It’s fascinating how one’s idea can trigger unexpected inspiration.

Lisa: I’d say, for me, it’s all about encouraging folks to take that first step, much like we discussed in the context of my fifth point. What often holds individuals back is fear — the fear of not excelling at something or the fear of appearing foolish. My wish is that everyone would seize the chance. Personally, I’ve traveled the world with my hula-hoop for exercise — quite an unconventional choice, I must admit. Occasionally, I record videos of my hula-hooping escapades, although it’s not the easiest task since maneuvering a hula-hoop and filming oneself simultaneously is quite the challenge. Selfie videos and hula-hooping don’t exactly align. However, during a recent trip to Ireland, where I explored the stunning Wild Atlantic Way and ventured into Northern Ireland for the first time, something remarkable happened.

I was with a group of friends who found my hula-hooping utterly captivating. They spontaneously decided to film me, and everyone enthusiastically joined in. On another journey, I took things a step further and managed to hula hoop while flying a kite. I admit, it felt a tad silly, yet to my surprise, this quirky moment made its way onto TV. During a segment, they showcased me engaged in the dual feat of hula hooping and kite flying in the charming and captivating town of Loreto, Mexico. Who would have thought, right? The thing is, we often become overly concerned about the opinions of others — a sentiment I’ve encountered even in relation to my divorce. “What will people think?” they ask. Well, the truth is, people should believe that I deserve happiness and security, that I should be with someone who genuinely cares for me.

There’s a mantra I hold dear: “The ones who matter don’t mind, the ones who mind don’t matter.” My aspiration is for people to embrace the idea of experimenting with novel things, summoning a bit of courage, and ultimately discovering greater happiness in the process.

Yitzi: So, how can our readers learn more about your book and make a purchase?

Lisa: Oh, I really hope that people will buy a copy of my book. Right now, it’s available for pre-order in both paperback and digital formats. It will also be released as an audiobook.

The best approach, and I’ve been suggesting this to everyone, is to reach out to your favorite local bookstore. You can give them a call to order my book, “Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.” I truly believe in the significance of supporting local bookstores.

Of course, my book is also available through various other channels. You can find it at big retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Barnes and Noble and Target, as well as on platforms like iBooks. In essence, anywhere you typically browse for books online, you’ll come across my book, titled “Brave-Ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Embracing Fearlessness After 50.”

Website: https://lisaniver.com/braveish/

Yitzi: Lisa, considering you a friend has been an honor. I wish you ongoing success in this journey, and may you find the strength to keep inspiring people.

Lisa: Thank you deeply. Being a part of your interviews has truly meant a lot, and I find the community you’ve fostered to be absolutely remarkable.

The post 5 Tips To Be A Successful Author appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

BRAVE-ish on Too Jewish Radio

Thank you to Rabbi Sam Cohon for inviting me to join him on his radio program, TOO JEWISH! I loved talking about my book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty. Thank you KVOI AM 1030 in Tucson.

TO LISTEN: Click here or below

“Too Jewish” is a lively and fast-paced show that highlights everything interesting in contemporary Jewish life and features music, arts, culture, comedy, and inspiration. “Too Jewish” is a blend of information, irreverence, and exploration of all things Jewish in the 21st century.  “Too Jewish” makes Judaism accessible, interesting, and fun for listeners of all ages and backgrounds, and brings the best of Jewish experience vividly to life.  But on “Too Jewish”, Rabbi Cohon also challenges accepted pieties and has fun with anything boring or inauthentic in the way Jews live today in the United States, Israel, and everywhere else.

Lisa Niver in Tucson, Arizona at Tanque Verde Dude Ranch

Since its Tucson debut August 4, 2002, “Too Jewish” has featured such prominent guests as legendary singer and recording artist Neil Sedaka, Kinky Friedman, Elie Wiesel, comedian Lily Tomlin, folksinger Peter Yarrow, NPR Supreme Court Expert Nina Totenberg, Eve Ensler, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, singer Matisyahu, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and many more!

Regular expert commentators of the “Too Jewish” maven section include Tom Price, an educator and former diplomat who offers unique insights into Jewish life around the world, and Guy Gelbart on Israel.  Comedy and musical selections drawn by Rabbi Cohon from the remarkable range of great Jewish material help make listening to “Too Jewish” an exciting and fun experience.

“The Too Jewish Radio Show with Rabbi Sam Cohon and Friends” is a weekly radio program produced in Tucson, Arizona, syndicated throughout Arizona and podcast on the web through iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/too-jewish/id391627329, and streamed at www.TooJewishRadio.com.  Too Jewish was named a top 10 Jewish podcast nationally by Moment Magazine in its July 2016 issue; you can see the article at http://www.momentmag.com/top-ten-jewish-podcasts/.

Too Jewish is a fast-moving, entertaining show that highlights everything interesting and new in the Jewish world, and features music, comedy, news, religion and special guests.  Past guests have included Ehud Barak, Elie Wiesel, Senator John McCain, Senator John Kyle, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Ambassador Michael Oren, Senator Martha McSally, Senator Russ Feingold, Neil Sedaka, Stephen Schwartz, Matisyahu, Robert Klein, Richard Lewis, Theodore Bikel, Ian Kinsler, Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, David Gregory, Anita Diamant, Mitch Albom, Jeremy Ben-Ami, Letty Pogrebin, Professor Deborah Lipstadt, Janos Wilder, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, Chancellor Arnold Eisen, Rabbi Avi Weiss, Kinky Friedman, Dee Dee French, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Susannah Heschel, Rabbi David Wolpe, Rabbi Aaron Pankin, Tovah Feldshuh, Ed Asner, Menachem Pressler, Ambassador Rabbi David Saperstein, Hadassah Lieberman, Joan Nathan, Noa, Joyce Carol Oates, Dr. David Ellenson, Lilly Tomlin, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, Mayim Bialik, Faye Kellerman, Rick Moranis, Robert Pinsky, Rabbi Marvin Hier, Neshama Carlebach, Rabbi Joe Black, Sam Glaser, AJ Jacobs, Dara Horn, Seth Rudetsky, Mark Helprin, Richard Elliott Friedman, Robert Alter, Tova Mirvis, Gary Shteyngart, Francine Klagsbrun,  Professor Ruth Wisse, Andrew Rehfeld, Shuly Rubin Schwartz and many others.

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Conquer Virtual Meetings: John Chen & BRAVE-ish

Thank you John Chen for inviting me to talk about my book, BRAVE-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty!

Watch on YouTube or Apple or your favorite podcast platform:

I loved talking travel, books and engaging meetings with John. Want to learn more? Buy his book, Engaging Virtual Meetings, and mine, BRAVE-ish!

Want to know why ALMONDS are not an emergency? read his book where you can also find out why a new rule is “ALWAYS WEAR PANTS!” I learned so much from reading his book! I look forward to hearing your favorite part of my memoir. Which of my 50 challenges are you ready to try?

WHO IS JOHN?

One of the top 3 Digital Event Strategists in the World (by the Professional Convention Management Association PCMA)

Where do virtual and hybrid conferences, like yours, go for engagement that will blow your attendees away?

Click on the buttons below to see how the author of Engaging Virtual Meetings, John Chen, can help you and your virtual or hybrid conference with Design, Production, Speaking, MC or Training

John is my ‘go-to’ person when I want to be sure that my online meetings, webinars and conferences are engaging!”  – Ed Cohen, Chief People Officer, SprintRay Inc.

A live virtual conference is a BIG risk, UNLESS you have the RIGHT TEAM.  John and his team is the RIGHT TEAM!”  – Bob Pike, CSP, CPAE, CPTD Fellow 

John Chen is a ROCK STAR VIRTUAL MC!  My attendees won’t attend virtual without John!”  – Julia Willmott, CMP  GSMCON, Government Social Media Hybrid Conference

How can John help your virtual and hybrid today?

You got over 200 people around the world in every time zone engaged! That’s incredible for our first major conference that moved from face-to-face to virtual. THANK YOU!”  – Charva Brown, Fortune 100 Company

To find out about John’s virtual and hybrid production, MC, speaking and training,

Meet John  Email John     Text John      Call John

What is the Genuine Story Behind Engaging Virtual Meetings?

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Mastering Book Promotion Strategies: Proven Insights from PR Experts (Part 3)

Thank you to the many book promotion professionals who shared tips for aspiring authors with me! In Part One, read about treating your book launch like a campaign with consistent social media and a newsletter. In Part Two, focus on realistic goals, being a great guest and research research research. Read below about how your community matters for the third article in this series.

Lisa Niver and Andrew McCarthy speaking at the Travel and Adventure Show

COMMUNITY MATTERS

Did you love all the tips in part one and two of this series? Well, buckle up because David Thalberg has more ideas for what you need to do for a successful book campaign!

His #1 tip for authors that will help build awareness for and sell their book is “four months prior to your publication date, start putting together your email list.  This is a list of your contacts:  business associates, college alumni, church members, community organizations, FAMILY. Once the book is available for PRE-SALE (PRE-ORDER), email these people. Tell them that you’ve written a book, and you hope they would consider pre-ordering the book. Once they’ve read it, ask them to leave an honest review on Amazon, GoodReads, and other book sites.” This is not a time to be shy. Ask everyone you know to pre-order your book. I had a promotion party and I ordered a cake with the cover of my book on it. My friend arranged to have my book cover on foam core signs and we all took photos together. It was so much fun to start the celebration and invite my friends and family to pre-order my book!

David’s Tip #2 is to ask everyone to visit your website or “splash page” for your book. I sent my book page out as the follow-up from my party.

From that page, you can have a sign up for your newsletter so that people can receive regular updates regarding your book, media, events and speaking appearances. He recommends you also ask them if they would be interested in inviting you to speak at a local organization (in person or via zoom), or if they know of others in their circle who may be interested in the subject matter found in the book. This is a great tip and one I need to focus on next because if you do not ask, you will not get!

I agree with him when he says, “remember all of those people you’ve helped out one way or another over the years who thanked you by saying: “If there’s ever anything I can do for you to repay the favor, please don’t hesitate to ask…”  Well, now is the time to cash in those chips and ASK!  You never know what may come of it—maybe your 2nd cousin is married to a book editor, or their neighbor runs a book club at their religious institution or club!”

I asked David for his #1 Reason to hire a publicist and his answer is TIME & STRATEGY. “A publicist lets the author focus on creating content and the dozens of other things they have in mind as an author. The publicist can reach out to the author’s contacts for them.  The publicist understands the current rules of book publicity (if you last published a book 10 years ago, the rules have certainly changed – particularly with social media!)  A good book publicist will be strategic in outreach. It’s not just about securing a media placement. It’s which media placement: a blog may have as much influence as a local TV morning show (the few that remain.) The book publicist can strategize with the author the best routes to take to secure the most promotion for their book which will have a direct lead toward sales.” 

In this three part series, I have spoken to many book publicity professionals and there is a link to their websites so you can see the work they have done for their paying clients. Pick carefully because “you need to have trust in your book publicist. Develop a good relationship with them for a long run, as media placements don’t happen overnight. Make sure when you interview them that they understand the mission of your book.”

Lastly, I want to share wisdom from my friend, Rachel Sales, who co-founded Pink Pangea as well as Enunciate. We met in Israel and she wrote about me in 2015. I reached out to her about a new article for my upcoming memoir and we reconnected. 

RACHEL RECOMMENDS:

1. Engage people in your story. Take a step back and consider how people might relate to your book and invite them to share their stories with a specific campaign. For example, if your book is about bravery after 50, pose this question: what leap did you take after 50? Ask them to share a photo of themselves and post their story. Create a great campaign hashtag to build momentum and grow your audience. Once the campaign gains some momentum, pitch it to media outlets as well.

2. Develop your thought leadership, weighing in on relevant conversations in the media. When a news story breaks that you have special insight into based on your book’s subject, pitch your expertise either through contributed articles or commentary to journalists who are covering the story. 

3. See what other authors you love and respect have done to garner engagement for their writing. Track their social media and media features and adapt accordingly.

4. Engage other influencers. If you mention others in your book, get them involved in the promotion. Tag them and ask them to tag you so that you broaden your audience. Also, tap into other influencers in your network to share your book. Provide them with templated copy that they can adapt.

5. Don’t forget about low-hanging fruit! PR doesn’t just mean the New York Times… great PR can also include your community outlets. For example, send blurbs about your book to your college alumni magazine, your neighborhood listserv, your favorite Facebook group for women who love to travel, your religious institution’s weekly email, and more.

Hiring a PR professional ensures that your promotional work is strategic and consistent, and targets clear objectives and key results (OKRs). Through industry insights and competitive analysis, PR professionals will have an understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and what’s worth spending time on for small hits and big hits alike. PR professionals will also have relationships in the field that they can tap into to tell your story and be able to create a clear roadmap and timeline to ensure your book gets the spotlight it deserves.

Thank you to all of the awesome public relations professionals who shared their knowledge for this series. I am working hard to build a campaign for my new book! Tell us in the comments which tips you tried and who you hired!

READ MY NAVIGATING BOOK PROMOTION SERIES
PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE

Ready to PROMOTE your book? Take the great advice of all the Book PR professionals in my 3 articles. You can message them, hire them and pre-order my book too! It is a #1 HOT NEW RELEASE ON AMAZON for both paperback and digital!

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Countdown to Celebration: My Memoir Arrives Next Month!

Aug News 2023 with Lisa Niver & We Said Go Travel:YAY!! My book is coming!Thank you to Good Day DC! I loved talking about my book with Marissa Mitchell.

My book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, launches September 19, 2023! My memoir is available for pre-order as a paperback or digital e-book. YES! There will be an audio book!

Available in Paperback, Kindle and Audiobook! Learn more about my BOOK through these INTERVIEWS:How to be BRAVE-ish on Hotter Than EverSwellcast Talks Travel with Lisa NiverBRAVE-ish on WLS RADIO 890 with Colleen KellyThe Importance of Community and Networking for WritersCANVAS REBEL talks to LISA NIVER about writing Thank you for reading my August Articles:Loreto: Exploring the Aquatic Wonders On and Under WaterExploring the Enchantment of Loreto: A Magical Mexican PuebloMy Unforgettable “Firsts” in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida Wondering how to promote your book? Read my 3 part series: Navigating Book Promotion: Expert Tips from PR PrUnlocking Book Promotion Success: Insider Strategies from PR Experts (Part 2)You can now read my articles on MSN Microsoft Start FIND and FOLLOW We Said Go Travel on GOOGLE NEWS! THANK YOU for watching my podcast! It has now been seen and heard in 36 countries on 6 continents!

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New Season 3 PODCAST episodes:

Jews in Africa: the Abayudaya in Uganda  and Beta Israel in Ethiopia 

Ageless Ambition: Inspirational Leadership of Carolyn Ray, JourneyWoman

Empowering Humanity with The Good Road Hosts Craig and Earl

Heroes of the Holocaust: A Small Light

READ THE TRANSCRIPTS FROM MY PODCASTS: CLICK HERESOCIAL LINKS AND ARTICLES FROM MY PODCASTS: CLICK HEREWATCH my podcast, “MAKE YOUR OWN MAP: Are YOU ready to be BRAVE?” on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Podcast,  Google Podcasts, Audible, Anchor, Pandora & iHeart Radio

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My Podcast: “Make Your Own Map!”

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“Within the pages of a book, worlds unfold and dreams take flight.”

“May your book be a doorway to wonder and a passport to the extraordinary..”

BRAVE-ish, One Break-up, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty My book is available for pre-order !!

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Chemin a La Mer Serves New Orleans Culinary Classics with a Modern Twist

Velvety and decadent, the baked feta appetizer is served alongside crusty sourdough.BY ROBIN CATALANO

New Orleans has no shortage of high-end, celebrity chef–helmed restaurants. Some never quite live up to the hype, while others become instant classics. Chemin à la Mer, the latest from local culinary hero Donald Link, is one of the latter.

While on a press trip in February, I was invited to dinner at the restaurant, which opened in December 2021. Located on the fifth floor of the new, 34-story Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, Chemin à La Mer has the ambience of a luxe tropical club. From the glossy wood floors to the mixture of sculptural leather chairs and woven seating, the vintage-look flush-mount fixtures, and the curving marble bar, it’s both thoroughly modern and of another period. The profusion of live greenery and original wildlife art of Southern painter John Alexander gives the dining room a breezy elegance. But the best design feature is the wall of windows along the far side of the room, which gives every table in the house a view of the Mississippi River. Weather permitting, there’s also outdoor dining on a wraparound terrace.

Craft cocktails like the Tugboat pack a punch at Chemin a la Mer.

Over a two-decade-plus career, Link has become one of the Big Easy’s dining impresarios. Besides Herbsaint, his original and James Beard Award–winning eatery, his empire now includes Cochon, Cochon Butcher, Pêche, La Boulangerie, and Gianna, which opened in 2019. Chemin à la Mer is the first venture for Link outside of Link Restaurant Group, and his first hotel eatery. Here he again calls on the Cajun and Southern influences of his childhood, crafting a menu that features signature Louisiana ingredients and flavors prepared with the precision of classical French technique.

Given Link’s ability to transform steak into the stuff of foodie fantasy (I’m told the côte de boeuf, which serves two and is carved tableside, is especially decadent), it’s not surprising that there are lots of meat options on the menu. The kitchen crew has also included several takes on New Orleans favorites, such as gumbo, thickened with slow-roasted okra instead of the usual roux, and swimming with colossal jumbo shrimp.

Velvety and decadent, the baked feta appetizer is served alongside crusty sourdough.

When you give your restaurant a French moniker meaning “Pathway to the sea,” you’d better be ready to deliver. The oyster bar features Gulf Coast varieties, as well as selections from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Meanwhile, the pan-roasted Ōra King salmon, served alongside Beluga lentils and piled with fresh herbs, has already been the subject of more than one fawning article.

I’m a vegetarian who occasionally leans pescatarian, and I’ve never quite developed the taste for oysters—they’ve always been a bit too gelatinous for my palate. The oyster plate, featuring four different types from around North America, blew my expectations out of the proverbial water. My top pick: New Brunswick, delicate and mildly briny, with a hint of fruitiness.

I moved on to the gulf fish and shrimp ceviche, with hearty chunks of fish so fresh, it might as well have still been flapping around on the bottom of a boat. It was generously spiced with chile peppers, and rendered refreshing with a marinade of lime, cucumber, red onion, and mint.

It was challenging to make a decision appetizers. I ended up going with the flavorful seafood ceviche.

For my entrée, I went plant-based with the grit cake, a thick fried disk of the Southern staple. Deliciously creamy and cheesy, it was fantastic on its own. When combined with sauteed wild mushrooms and rapini in a tangy sherry vinaigrette, the dish was so flavorful and filling that I put down my fork in surrender. No kidding. I actually turned down dessert.

Chemin a la Mer’s grits cake is a creamy delight, especially when paired with earthy mushrooms and tangy greens.

Covetous, I watched as my companions topped off their meal with chocolate mousse bombs, while I nursed the rest of my cocktail—the Tug Boat, smoky mezcal blended with Rhum Agricole, Creole shrub, bitters, orgeat, lime, and coconut—and cursed myself for eating too much at lunch. If I have the chance for a do-over at Chemin à la Mer, I’ll make sure I save plenty of room for a sweet finish.

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