Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 33
March 19, 2023
Travel is for EVERYONE! Lisa Niver on Travel Goals Podcast
Thank you Pip for inviting me on your podcast, Travel Goals Podcast for Travel through the ages – why adventure isn’t just for young people! Travel is for EVERYONE!Do you want to have more adventures but don’t know where to begin, travel expert, author and YouTuber Lisa Niver is here to help! In this episode, Lisa discusses how you can make your travel dreams come true and have adventures through the ages, no matter your age or travel experience.
Adventure travel has long been advertised with pictures of bright-eyed and wrinkle-free young travellers sporting heaving backpacks and tie-dye trousers, staying in $3-a-night hostels.
But that’s not the full picture, plenty of people travel throughout the decades and while their travel style might change, their love of the road never falters. Whether you’re fresh out of university, a nine to fiver, or about to enter retirement, adventure should be for everyone.
If you’re considering broadening your travel horizons, setting out on your first travel trip, or wondering how to make friends on the road, then Lisa has some great advice for you.
Lisa is an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries and six continents. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she worked on cruise ships for seven years and backpacked for three years in Asia.
She has a huge YouTube and TikTok following and is the founder of the website WeSaidGoTravel which is read in 235 countries and was named #3 on Rise Global’s top 1,000 Travel Blogs.
Tune in and get ready to be inspired!
Listen on SPOTIFY
Lisa, Robin and Portia in Sky Lagoon, Iceland, June 21, 2022I met podcast host, Portia Jones, in Iceland! See us in Action as Travel Journalists in these videos below and articles, Roaming Around Reykjavik, and Feeling Icelandic at Sky Lagoon IcelandListen on iHeart Radio
Alyssa, Robin, Lisa, Pip and Crai at FlyOver Iceland, June 20, 2022View this post on InstagramA post shared by Lisa Niver
(@lisaniver)
Thank you again to Pip for inviting me on your podcast, Travel Goals Podcast for Travel through the ages – why adventure isn’t just for young people!!New episode: Travel through the ages – why adventure isn't just for young people.
— travelgoalspodcast (@travelgoalspod) March 17, 2023
Do you want to have more adventures but don't know where to begin? Travel expert @LisaNiver is here to help you make your travel dreams come true! Download now: https://t.co/EedwDezP9e pic.twitter.com/3i74Nmnbbj
The post Travel is for EVERYONE! Lisa Niver on Travel Goals Podcast appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
March 18, 2023
Women’s Travel Fest 2023: Get your Virtual Ticket NOW!
Your VIRTUAL PASS to Women’s Travel Fest 2023 is AVAILABLE! CLICK HERE
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Meet the 2023
Speakers
The Women’s Travel Fest | March 3-5, 2023
Founder, Travel Fashion Girl
Alexandra JimenezAlex is the founder of Travel Fashion Girl. For over 10 years, it has helped women travel carryon only in a stylish and efficient way. TFG empowers female travelers with the confidence to live fearlessly, embrace style, and collect moments, not things.
Alex is also a frequent guest on podcasts and a conference speaker and was recently the closing keynote speaker at the Women’s Travel Fest in March 2020.
She has been featured in national news outlets; including the New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Oprah, the New York Post, the Daily Mail, Reader’s Digest, Forbes, USA Today, and live on the Fox & Friends Morning Show.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Founder, Solight
Alice Min Soo ChunAs a little girl growing up in Seoul, Korea and then upstate New York, Alice spent many days learning how a simple fold can become structured. Origami forms were taught to her by her mother, who also taught Alice how to sew her own clothes.
Always creative, fascinated by design, structure and forms, Alice studied architecture at Penn State where she obtained her undergraduate degree and went on to earn her Masters in Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania.
With emerging trends in material technology resulting in smarter, lighter, faster, sustainable fabrication, Alice started to sew solar panels to fabric as early experiments for harnessing solar energy with softer, malleable material. She became focused on solar technology and finding ways to create clean energy solutions upon learning her son Quinn was diagnosed with asthma.
While teaching as a Professor in Architecture and Material Technology at Columbia University, Alice created early prototypes of solar lights with her students. Fueled by her passion for helping the underserved, Alice invented the world’s only self-inflatable, portable origami solar light, eliminating the need for a mouth nozzle. This ensured a healthy, sanitary method to inflate. Alice named this invention the SolarPuff
and conducted three years of field testing in Haiti.
In 2015 she launched Solight Design and initiated a KickStarter program with unprecedented results. She went on to win numerous awards including the US Patent Award for Humanity and her products have been exhibited at MOMA, the Modern Museum of Art in New York City.
Dear Alyne
Alyne TamirDear Alyne is a personality with over 3.6+ Million followers across all social media platforms.
She has traveled to over 90+ countries, making content ranging from world travel, social issues, lesser known countries to human rights, vegetarianism and much more!
She enjoys running “Dear Alyne Retreats”, week-long camps dedicated to nurturing the talents of aspiring female creators and entrepreneurs.
Dear Alyne has also worked and collaborated with amazing brands like: The United Nations, Microsoft, Facebook, Etihad, and Coca-Cola!
Website | Instagram | Facebook
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In Search of Traveler
Ashley McCurdyAfter losing her job, Ashley McCurdy got rid of her expensive Southern California apartment to travel the world and live in hotels (usually Marriott) full-time and vlog about her experiences on her YouTube channel, In Search of Traveler.
Ashley caught the internet’s attention in 2020 by staying 103 nights at Marriott properties for $4356, which includes properties like the Ritz Carlton in Cancun & W in Midtown Atlanta.
Join Ashley as she takes a walk down memory lane and shares the strategies she used over the past two years which have allowed her to travel, eat, explore, and live in hotels full-time for $500/week.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Ashley Gets Around
Ashley Peterson
Ashley Peterson is a full time traveler and content creator who’s visited over 90 countries on 6 contients. She is the face behind Ashley Gets Around, a popular Instagram about her travels and travel hacking. She is a huge AVgeek who flies about 200,000 miles per year. She owns and runs the only woman owned subscription service for business class flight deals. Ashley is passionate about helping women travel more luxuriously for less.
Ashley is also the co-founder of a boutique tour company, Wild Air Travel, which does bespoke small tours to some of Ashley’s favorite
She has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, the Today Show, Washington Post, and Miami Herald.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Unruly Traveler
Calen OttoCalen Ann Otto is a queer, anti-speciesist travel blogger who explores the big wide world on a very small budget. After completing a solo trip across the USA at the age of 19 with only $300 and a bike, Calen discovered that there are so many alternative ways to travel that cost less.
Inspired by their love of meeting strangers and sharing their incredible stories, Calen created the Unruly Travel blog. There they share photos, videos, articles, and podcast episodes from their unique travels in hopes to inspire others to get out and grow.
Calen has been to 5 continents, 35 states, 20 National Parks, and more than 20 countries as a vegan and is passionate about doing the least amount of harm wherever they go. They wrote and published ‘The Art Of Unruly Travel On A Budget’ travel guide book to make travel more accessible to all.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Journeywoman CEO
Carolyn Ray
An entrepreneur for over 30 years, Carolyn is the CEO of JourneyWoman, the world’s first solo travel publication for women, established in 1994. With a global audience of over 60,000 subscribers, JourneyWoman empowers women to live the life of their dreams (as she is) by sharing first-hand travel tips and also provides women with the world’s largest directory of women-friendly trips.
She is the incoming Chair for the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) in Canada, and a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association and the Travel Media Association of Canada. Trained as a CTI Co-active Coach, she actively mentors emerging leaders and supports female entrepreneurs as a SheEO Activator and is ranked as one of Canada’s top 100 female entrepreneurs on the PROFIT/ Chatelaine W100 list.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
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Heart of Travel
Chelsea GlassChelsea was born and raised in California and first began studying Spanish at the age of 19 while living in Guatemala and working in the tourism industry for three years before returning to California to continue her academic career.
After more than a decade immersed in the language, along with her post-graduate studies in Spanish at CSU Sacramento, Chelsea is a fluent Spanish speaker and experienced language instructor. From 2012 to 2016, Chelsea worked in both tourism and language education (Spanish and ESL) while pursuing her M.A. in Spanish before moving back full time to Guatemala in 2017 to start Heart of Travel with business partner Ana Castillo. Her own experience learning Spanish helps us provide you with the best tips and tricks to master the language.
Chelsea is passionate about responsible and sustainable travel practices and believes in the power of travel to improve local economies and break down barriers. Through travel and Spanish language education, Chelsea and her team hope to share a more comprehensive insight into Latin America and to change the often negative narrative regarding Latin America and immigration. When she’s not working, Chelsea is happy being a mom, partner, animal lover, reader, writer, and gardener!
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Host, The Thought Card
Danielle DesirDanielle Desir Corbett is a podcast marketing coach passionate about helping podcasters strategically grow their audiences and monetize through affiliate marketing, brand deals, and sponsorships.
Podcasting since 2018, Danielle is also the host of The Thought Card, a 4x grant-funded affordable luxury travel and personal finance podcast empowering financially savvy travelers to travel more, build wealth, and live on their terms.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Pack Light Global
Dawn Booker
Dawn Booker is a fearless traveler and culture curator who inspires women of color over 40 to “pack light” and to see the world. Many women create amazing lives and careers that are on point in every way. However, on the path to creating these happy families, marriages and careers women often set aside their “inner explorer” to affirm and honor the many commitments to others. Realizing this in her own life, in her mid-40s Dawn moved to Paris to pursue an MA in Global Communications at the American University in Paris and returned to North Carolina transformed and committed to a life that honors her desire to see the world.
Through her global experiential travel business, Pack Light Global, Dawn hopes to inspire and connect women of color who would love to travel internationally. “I share my favorite destinations, what I have discovered about myself through travel and reveal practical tips and advice that will help you make that first trip, or the next trip to a dream destination, fearlessly.”
So yes, life is short, but it is also wide so Travel fearless and Pack light.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Wanderstay Houston
Deidre MathisDeidre Mathis is a hotelier, author, and world traveler. She is the Founder of Wanderstay Hospitality Group, a hybrid hospitality brand. The first location, Wanderstay Houston Hostel, opened summer of 2018 in Houston, TX, and offers themed private and shared accommodations. The 2nd location, a boutique hotel, will open in early 2023. Mathis is the first Black woman to own a hostel in the United States. Mathis is also the Director of the Wander Abroad Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization that provides passports and short-term study abroad programs to college students.
Having traveled to over 46 countries on all 7 continents, she fell in love with the instant community and cultural diversity boutique accommodations provided. She wanted to bring that same experience stateside, and thus the concept of Wanderstay was born.
She included many of her travel experiences in her book, “Wanderlust: For the Young, Broke Professional.”
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Author
Diana EdenAfter a career as a dancer and actress, Diana Eden spent 30 years in Hollywood, costume designing prime time television series, soap operas, movies for TV, and feature films, Eden received three Emmy nominations for her work.
Following “retirement” at 68, Eden continued designing films, teaching, and writing her memoir “Stars in Their Underwear” which covers her interaction with some of Broadway and Hollywood’s biggest stars. When not doing all these things, she is traveling! She has been published on Journeywoman.com, CostumeDesignersGuild.com, Pivotdancer.com, The Huffington Post and The International Womens Writers Guild’s magazine Network. (possible cut? Trips she has taken since turning 80 in May 2020 include an African safari, a Moroccan Food Adventure Tour, and destinations Iceland, USVI, and France, with Bora Bora and Italy on the calendar for later this year.)
Website | Instagram | Facebook
The Nomadic Network
Erica HackmanErica Virvo is a purposeful traveler and connector, who loves the thrill of living in countries people have rarely heard of. She’s spent 5 years studying and working in obscure countries in the Middle East, Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa. While she loves visiting the frequented tourist spots like everyone else, the memories Erica has treasured the most are the everyday experiences she participated in with friends she’s found along the way. Through these connections and ordinary activities, Erica gained a deeper appreciation for the world and people in it.
Erica has a BFA in Interior Design. However, she has never worked as an Interior Designer and has completely built her career (and life) out of her immersive travel experiences.
Erica has been on the Nomadic Matt team since she moved back to the US in 2013, a budget travel website with over 1 million monthly visitors that teaches people how to bring their travel aspirations to life by exploring the world on a budget. Her tips have been featured publications including Levo League, the Positive Psychology Podcast, and Forbes.
She believes that strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet. Combining this motto with tips and tricks she’s uncovered along the way, Erica’s greatest passion is helping others shape their trips into authentic travel experiences that they can use to create the life that they love.
Travelpreneur
Erica JamesErica James is a Travel Agent, Podcast Host, Blogger and YouTuber from Nashville, TN. As a Travelpreneur, Erica helps real people, with real jobs and real budgets travel the world without quitting their day job by providing expert travel planning, tips, reviews, and expert interviews!
Packs Light
Gabby BeckfordGabby Beckford is an award-winning travel influencer and solo travel expert at @packslight. With more than 800,000+ followers across her platform and features in the New York Times, CNN Travel, and Travel+Leisure, Gabby is on a mission to make the incredible accessible through travel, for young, women of color.
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CEO, Girls LOVE Travel (GLT)
Haley WoodsAs a passionate travel-loving nomad, Haley founded GLT in Dec 2015 to foster friendships with fellow travelers all over the world!
Since then, it has become recognized as the largest and most engaging womxn-identifying travel community on Facebook – amassing over 1.2 million members residing in 150+ countries worldwide, and often referred to as “the Google search engine for the womxn traveler.”
Despite its explosive growth, Haley’s commitment to the community mission of Girls LOVE Travel has remained the same: to encourage members to get offline and explore the world fearlessly.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Jen on a Jet Plane
Jen RuizJen Ruiz is a lawyer turned full-time travel blogger and author. She is a 5-time Amazon bestselling author, 3-time TEDx speaker, and 2-time award-winning travel journalist.
She has been featured by The Washington Post, Forbes, and ABC News and is the solo female traveler behind Jen on a Jet Plane.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Travel Writer & Editor
Jenna ScatenaJenna Scatena is an award-winning travel journalist whose work explores the intersection of place and culture.
Her stories have appeared in The Atlantic, AFAR, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, BBC Travel, San Francisco Chronicle, Marie Claire, O the Oprah magazine, and Vogue. Her essays have been anthologized in The Best Women’s Travel Writing Vol. 9 and Vol. 11 and An Innocent Abroad (Lonely Planet), and have won multiple Solas Travel Writing Awards and one Lowell Thomas Award from the SATW Foundation.
Previously she served as an editor at Sunset and San Francisco magazines. Jenna received her B.A. In nonfiction writing from Ithaca College and is based in Istanbul and San Francisco. She regularly teaches travel writing workshops online and in Turkey. jennascatena.com
Founder, Women’s Travel Fest
Kelly LewisKelly Lewis is the founder of Go! Girl Guides (travel guidebooks for women) the annually sold-out Women’s Travel Fest conference, and Damesly, a boutique tour operator for women.
She has been called a “pioneer” in women’s travel by National Geographic and a “woman changing the face of travel” by Adventure.com. She’s a dreamer, an optimist and a go-getter, passionate about seeing the world and helping other women to do the same.
The Travel PM
Kendra AbneyKendra Abney is the Founder & CEO of The Travel PM. As a project manager and long-time traveler, Kendra is an expert in putting together the perfect plan for clients traveling for personal or business reasons.
The Travel PM offers customized Perfect City Plans, downloadable and in-print travel tools, researched destinations, and more. Contact Kendra with The Travel PM to learn more about travel planning for your next trip.
Website | Facebook I Instagram
Passport 2 Pretty
Kenecia LashaeKenecia Lashae is a global citizen and entrepreneur born in Fort Worth, Texas. Upon graduating from Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, with a B.A in Business Marketing, Kenecia landed in New York City, where her dreams of becoming a professional makeup artist came to life. Her passion for beauty comes at a close second to her love of travel. To date Kenecia has visited 44 countries and 6 continents.
Passport 2 Pretty, a digital platform, was created from Kenecia’s expertise in beauty and passion for travel. It was in Rishikesh, India where Kenecia earned her 200 hour yoga and meditation teacher training certification from World Peace Yoga School.
Kenecia’s world travels serve as inspiration for her role as a travel influencer, speaker, wellness warrior, writer, self-love advocate and future wealthy auntie.
Climber, Motivational Speaker
Lei WangLei is the first Asian woman to complete the Explorer’s Grand Slam and a sought-after international motivational speaker and executive coach.
She helps business leaders accelerate their careers to exciting new heights with ease and grace, lead their organizations to make a bigger impact, and connect deeper with the community they serve.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
President, TTC Tour Brands
Melissa DaSilva
Melissa DaSilva is President of the TTC Tour Brands for North America with an industry career spanning more than 30 years. For DaSilva, travel is both a personal passion and professional pursuit. An avid and lifelong traveler Melissa has been to more than fifty countries and has lived in both the US and the UK.
Her contagious enthusiasm comes from a deeply held belief she shares with TTC; travel helps broaden perspectives through the connectivity of shared experiences of adventure, exploration, learning and laughter showing how we are all more alike than different.
Adventurely
Mita CarrimanMita Carriman is Founder & CEO of Adventurely (backed by Backstage Capital & Google for Startups): a company on a mission to connect digital nomads to each other & their new local communities with thoughtfulness around sustainability & local impact in mind.
Originally an Entertainment & IP attorney from New York City- Mita spent 5 years traveling the world as a full time digital nomad while working remotely across 20 countries, 26 cities & 60+ Airbnb’s. It was through her experiences as a digital nomad that she was left compelled with inspiration as an Entrepreneur to build products & services to serve the digital nomad space.
Mita firmly believes that the future of work is inextricably tied to the future of travel and she is a remote work advocate.
She was named 1 of 16 women inspiring international travel in 2021 by Buzzfeed & a top 10 digital nomad to follow in 2022 by the Tourism Board of Dominica. She also has grown digital nomad communities in Barbados (during their launch of the world’s first digital nomad visa) and Playa Del Carmen Mexico.
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Editor, Fodor’s Travel
Nikki VargasOriginally from Colombia, Nikki is a Senior Editor at Fodor’s Travel, a published author, the Founding Editor of Unearth Women, and a freelance journalist.
As a published author, Nikki is represented by the literary division of the Paradigm Talent Agency.
Her first book, Wanderess, is an exhaustive women’s travel resource combining the wisdom and expertise of leading women in the travel space. Wanderess was published by the Clarkson Potter imprint of Penguin Random House in February 2022.
Nikki’s second book is a candid travel memoir called Call You When I Land, which will be published by the Hanover Square Presss imprint of Harper Collins in November 2023. Nikki’s work has been covered by The New York Times, Good Morning America, CNN, Vogue Spain, and The Washington Post; while her bylines have appeared in Cosmopolitan, Zagat, VICE, Food & Wine, and more.
As a public speaker, Nikki has spoken at the Women’s Travel Fest, Women in Travel Summit, Latino Travel Fest, the Travel + Adventure Show, IMM North America, and the former New York Times Travel Show.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
The Professional Hobo
Nora DunnNora Dunn (aka The Professional Hobo) has been a digital nomad since 2006 and is considered an OG travel blogger and digital nomad.
She combines her expertise as a former financial planner, with 17 years of travel lifestyle experience, to help people travel long-term while working remotely.
Her travel adventures range from the sublime to the absurd to downright terrifying. Ask her about the kangaroo.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Editorial Director | The Frommer Travel Show
Pauline FrommerPauline Frommer is the Co-President of Frommer Media LLC with her father, and travel legend, Arthur Frommer, founder of the Frommer’s guidebooks. Together they publish the Frommer’s guides, as well as Frommers.com, which gets 12 million page views per month.
Pauline is also host of the Frommer’s Travel Show, a podcast that was named one of the 13 best for travel by the New York Times. She is an award winning travel writer and editor; her most current book is the best selling Frommer’s New York City 2023.
You may recognize her face as Pauline created weekly travel segments for CNN’s Headline News for three years; she’s also made appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The NBC Evening News, CNN, MSNBC, FOX, NPR’s Marketplace, and every local news station you can name. She’s mother to two very well-traveled daughters, and married to Columbia University professor Mahlon Stewart.
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The Roaming Nanny
Retha CharetteRetha is all about women supporting women and has been from a young age because of her membership in the Girl Scouts. In 2020 she’ll be celebrating 30 years in the organization!
She has been traveling consistently for over 6 years and in February of 2019 left her full-time job as a Nanny to be a Travel Writer, Adventure Guide, and Travel Nanny (just to name a few things she does.)
Retha loves sharing her passion for travel and discovery with others and is always looking for new and exciting places to explore.
Some of her favorite adventures so far include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, learning to scuba dive in Cozumel, Mexico, and camping in Antarctica.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Host, Samantha Brown’s Places to Love
Samantha BrownSamantha 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.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
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Investor. Speaker. Author. Entrepreneur.
Sarah WeaverSarah Weaver is an author, speaker, coach, real estate investor, and business owner. Sarah runs three businesses that serve both real estate investors and real estate agents.
She travels the country coaching real estate agents and hosting intimate retreats for investors. Talk about a dream life.
Invested Adventures hosts epic events for real estate investors all over the world. Sarah is taking 18 investors to hike Patagonia and 12 investors on an African Safari 2023. Arya Design Services helps investors analyze, furnish and launch their furnished rentals nationwide. The Sarah Weaver Mentorship Program serves investors looking to grow their portfolios no matter where they live.
Sarah owns 19 units in four states. This includes nine furnished rentals—all of which she self-manages from afar. Did we mention that Sarah is always traveling? She has traveled to 47 countries on six continents and has been fully nomadic since January 2019.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Global Beauty Expert
Stephanie FlorA Makeup Artist Discovering Beauty Through a Global Lens
Well versed in the language of beauty. She is endlessly curious about color, texture, and what lies beneath the surface. Flor’s mission is to understand other traditions, while remaining steeped in her Latina roots. She’s traveled to over 35 countries in her quest to diversify the conversation. She is working on q documentary series is inspired by New York’s diverse cultures coming together, and their mission of sharing their beauty culture with the world.
Stephanie has been featured in Forbes, Oprah, Yahoo, Refinery 29, Marie Claire,Vogue, Instyle, and more. She has been named, Latina magazine’s “Young & Inspiring: Ones to Watch” list. Beauty Vanguard and Marie Claire featured her as “Making Her Mark”.
Points & Miles
Stephanie ZitoStephanie Zito, founder of wanderingforgood, is a professional travel hacker and part time humanitarian on a mission to help travelers access the globe through hotel, airline, and credit card points.
Stephanie is the author of the award travel books Upgrade Unlocked: The Unconventional Guide to Luxury Travel on a budget, The Honeymoon Hack, and the forthcoming Go Girl: Travel Hacking Guide for Girls, and also is co-owner and managing editor of the Travel Hacking Cartel, a points and miles service.
Stephanie has been collecting miles since high school, and took her first international airline mileage trip in 1994 to Europe. Stephanie has since traveled to more than 125 countries and all seven continents using points and miles.
Founder, Mejo
Timathea WorkmanTimathea has traveled extensively around the globe leading tours to study everything from classic art in Europe to Grey whales in Baja, trekking through the Moroccan Sahara by camel to watch the sun rise over the red sand dunes, hiking across blue glaciers in Antarctica between penguin rookeries, visiting remote islands in French Polynesia to learn bee keeping and dive with sharks, conducting interviews on creativity and censorship with contemporary authors in China, studying the wildlife of Patagonia, and working with A-list actors on a film crew at historic sites in Jordan.
She has led small group tours walking between villages on the Coastal Path in Cornwall, exploring islands in the Adriatic, Ionian, and Aegean Seas, learning to cook homemade ravioli on the Amalfi Coast, visiting iconic Harry Potter sites, and sharing her favorite cafés and museums around the world. When she is not traveling she teaches writing and life skills to teenagers and works as a freelance writer, editor, photographer, and bookmaker in Los Angeles. She is the creator of Mejo, the unique travel memoir journals. She also rescues pigeons.
Timathea loves sharing her joy of unplugged travel with others to help them get the most out of their experience and see the world with new eyes. She has fun inspiring women to find the often overlooked everyday details along the route and tap into the inner journey that is sparked by new surroundings.
Travel Reporter | Travel with Vikkie
Victoria M. WalkerVictoria M. Walker is a travel reporter and the founder of the “Travel With Vikkie” newsletter.
Victoria has been seen and heard as a travel expert on NPR, MSNBC, Newsy, and FOX 5 in Washington, among others. She contributes to AFAR Magazine as Special Correspondent covering the U.S. South, The New York Times Real Estate “Build” section, and Upgraded Points. She was formerly the Senior Travel Reporter at The Points Guy.
In February 2022, Victoria reignited an international conversation around pay transparency after a tweet about her salary went viral. She’s been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, GMA and others.
Victoria previously served as a multimedia journalism lecturer at Howard University, where she taught Multimedia Storytelling, Intro to Media Production and Digital Media Literacy. She also held an adjunct position at Marymount Manhattan College.
Victoria started her career as a video editor at The Washington Post and was part of the team that won the Society for Features Journalism’s Diversity in Digital Features award in 2019 for the “Green Book” project.
A proud native of Hampton, Virginia, Victoria now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her four-year-old pug, Migo. She is represented by Michael Longclaws at Javelin.
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Your VIRTUAL PASS to Women’s Travel Fest 2023 is AVAILABLE! CLICK HERE
The post Women’s Travel Fest 2023: Get your Virtual Ticket NOW! appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
March 15, 2023
Travels With Darley talking about SEASON TEN!
Thank you to Travels with Darley for joining me on my podcast!
Lisa and Darley at the NYC Travel and Adventure Show Feb 18, 2023Recognized in Forbes for her “PBS Travel Empire,” Darley Newman is the creator and host of Emmy Award-winning series “Travels with Darley” and “Equitrekking” broadcast on PBS, Amazon Prime, Ovation TV JOURNY, Wondrium and networks in over 85 nations. Having led production teams in over 25 nations and 26 states, her filmmaking adventures include traversing one of the world’s largest salt pans in Africa, free diving in South Korea, swimming with sharks in Dubai and biking the WWI ‘red zone’ in northeast France. Her series takes viewers to remote and stunning locations to reveal fascinating global cultures, adventure and cuisine, and inspire viewers to break out of their comfort zone to learn more about the world. She’s received six Daytime Emmy Award nominations, for hosting, writing, producing and best series, and has been honored with two Telly awards and the North American Travel Journalist Award. She recently completed her 10th season and 59th half hour of “Travels with Darley.”
Check out Season 10 of Travels With Darley:Travels with Darley Season 10 Promo from Darley Newman on Vimeo.
Travels with Darley 10th Season Special Edition T-Shirt https://www.darleycnewman.com/shop
Follow Darley on Instagram // Twitter // LinkedIn // TikTok // Facebook
Darley Newman and Lisa Niver at The Mar Vista Sept 16, 2019Lisa Niver:
Good morning. This is Lisa Niver from We Say Go Travel and I’m so honored to be here today with Darley Newman. Hi Darley.
Darley Newman:
Hi Lisa. Good to see you again.
Lisa Niver:
In a short amount of time we’ve been so lucky to be together in real life in Los Angeles, in New York. Who knows where we’re going to meet up next besides here on the internet.
Darley Newman:
Maybe Türkiye?
Lisa Niver:
I hope to go with you there. Congratulations first of all on 10 seasons with your PBS show. That’s really incredible.
Darley Newman:
Thank you. We’ve done a lot of episodes now. 59 half hours. I’ve written a lot of scripts.
Lisa Niver:
It’s really impressive. Congratulations just to even get started at all — let alone to get to 59 episodes. I know that you’ve done a lot of different things with video, with production, with travel. Tell people a little about how you got on this path because I’m sure you have people come up to you all the time and say you have my dream job.
Darley Newman:
Oh my gosh. Totally. You know, it is a dream job. It’s a lot of work but I love it. I figure if I’m going to be working every day anyway I might as well work on something I love and get to travel. That’s really why I started the series. I caught the travel bug early and I wanted to try and see the world and thought if I have to be in an office every day how am I going to go out there and see the world. I don’t want to wait until I retire. I want to do it now.
So, I came up with the idea for my first series on PBS which was Equitrekking and did 35 half hours of and went horseback riding all around the world and learned so much doing that series and really felt like the theme of what I was doing is similar to what I’m doing now with traveling with locals and getting those insights from people who live in the destinations.
That’s what I do with Travels with Darley and now we’ve been everywhere from Los Angeles to Little Rock Arkansas and Türkiye and Istanbul and France and a lot of different places but through that local perspective on what it is like to really live there and be there and also the history and culture and, of course, the food because food is so important in life in general.
Lisa Niver:
You really have covered so many places but say a little bit more about how you first caught the travel bug. Did someone in your family take you on an adventure or did a teacher inspire you? Did you get the bug in school or you read a book, how’d it happen?
Darley Newman:
So, I’ve always been really curious about things in general and always asking why, but I was able to take a trip in high school. I actually went with my friend’s family on a European cruise and it was amazing. It was a smaller cruise ship. It was luxurious. We went to France. We went to Italy. We went to Greece, and I’d never been to Europe before and I was in ninth grade and it was really life changing. The food was amazing and the architecture, the history, and I thought wow, I’m just seeing Europe for the first time.
I had been to Mexico and Caribbean but hadn’t been to Europe before and I thought there’s a whole world out there that I would love to experience and see. I mean, not even just in Europe. I went on to go to Asia and other places but I really caught the travel bug then. I had a couple trips with my family to do different adventures but getting to go to Italy and try Neapolitan pizza in Naples for the first time and seeing all the ruins in Greece, I was like wow this is something I really need to experience and I’m enjoying learning so much more about other cultures as I get to these places.
That’s how I got started. It was being invited on a trip and saying can I go. Yes. Okay. Wonderful.
Lisa Niver:
Well, you know what’s funny is that’s actually a lot of how I also got started. I went on a cruise in the Mediterranean with my family and saw a lot of similar things. Of course, I went on to work on the ship and you went on horseback…so, were you horseback riding as a child, is that how you got started with Equitrekking?
Darley Newman:
I actually started horseback riding at summer camp. One of the things I loved going to camps as a kid is you could try so many different things. I was doing archery and karate and theatre and painting and pottery, but horseback riding was an activity that I just really gravitated towards and being able to learn at a young age. I was six years old. I was one of the youngest campers there and in the mountains of North Carolina, and just really fell in love with being outside on a horse. I’m sure the mountain air and the beautiful scenery didn’t hurt.
I mean, there’s something just special about exploring on a horse and being with horses in general and they have such a different demeaner. Everyone says that horses really reveal a lot about you when you interact with them and I think that’s been really true, and I’ve seen that more and more as I’ve gotten those experiences because I do horseback riding adventures now with Travels with Darley as well and I’ve done a lot of stuff on the ground like ground work with horses and also riding and it’s just such an amazing experience.
Lisa Niver:
Wow. That is all incredible. I’m curious since you started so young– people always ask me what could possibly still be on your bucket list. I know that you still have a lot on your bucket list, because the more places you go the more places you see. Where are some of the adventures you really want to still tackle?
Darley Newman:
I definitely want to do more travel within Asia. I haven’t been to Thailand yet. I got to go to Cambodia, which was an amazing trip but Thailand would be on my list not only because I love to eat Thai food and I’d love to go over to Thailand and try some more authentic Thai cuisine but because I hear such great and fascinating things about Thailand. That’s definitely on my list. More of Asia in general. I would love to venture throughout South America a bit more. I’ve done Uruguay but getting over to Argentina I think would be really fascinating and of course they’ve got a great horse culture there, wonderful outdoor scenery.
I think just experiencing more of these different things. Antarctica might be on my list but it’s not as high. A lot of people are going to Antarctica right now and doing these expedition cruises which is a bucket list item for so many people. I think I would like to do that but I have a lot of other places that are a bit higher ranking right now. So, hopefully I can juggle my schedule to get to all of them or at least figure out some film trips to these spots.
Lisa Niver:
Well, it’s so amazing. how do you pick? I know season 10 has amazing things. Like you were in a sidecar and sometimes you were in costume and you flew in the treetops. How do you figure what’s going in the next season? Are you already working on season 11 or how does that work?
Darley Newman:
I am. I’m always looking for something distinctive in the destinations now. It started really a couple of years ago when I did this year where I did some really extreme adventure activities. I did the world’s highest commercial bungee. I swam with sharks in Dubai. I did the world’s highest commercial climbing wall in Reno, Nevada. I feel like the adventures started to seek me out because then people heard I was doing these adventures and then they would say… You can do a zipline roller coaster in the eastern townships of Quebec which is what I just did on this recent season which was really fun actually and also cycling through the trees.
There’s also a lot of unique things out there if you start to look in different locations. I definitely look for those when I’m planning a new season and then I always intertwine. I’m looking for more exotic foods and interesting foods now too that have a story behind them. I feel like anything that has a good story can be fodder for a great travel adventure and a lot of those places are open to the public and accessible. Those are places I look to profile because as you know people want to watch and go to those places, whether they’re looking at your podcast or hearing about it on my show. It’s something that they can go and recreate, and I think that’s what makes it really cool.
Lisa Niver:
Yes. I agree with you. I love that you were in costume in Quebec and the cycle car. I think it does make such good television moments and I like that you’re looking for stuff people can go and do because sometimes people say to me I saw what you did. Can I do it too.…Have you done the Edge Walk at the CN Tower in Toronto?
Darley Newman:
I haven’t been there yet. No.
Lisa Niver:
Unfortunately, the day I was there it was raining but they still go in the rain. It’s only cancelled for lightning. I like what you said about adventure searches you out because when I was just in New York at the conference with you –someone said to me– have you done the City Climb? So, I did the skyscraper climb in New York. I don’t know if you’ve done it yet.
Darley Newman:
No. Is that over The Edge?
Lisa Niver:
YES! The Edge in Hudson Yards. We should have gone together. That would have been so fun.
Darley Newman:
We should have. That would have been awesome.
Lisa Niver:
Next time I come we’ll do an adventure.
Darley Newman:
I love it. I love it.
Lisa Niver:
I agree with you it’s important to find adventure. What do you say to people who see your adventures and say I could never do that. Like what would your advice be to people who want to take a bigger step to being a bit more brave?
Darley Newman:
Well, of course everything is personal. Something that I do, someone else may not do and vice versa but I think it’s important to sometimes get out of your comfort zone whether that’s going on a trip to France to try to learn the language and that might be a true adventure. Or going to take a cooking class somewhere. Those are all things that are so personal but I think stepping out of your comfort zone every once in a while is really good for you because it’s amazing how much it teaches you about yourself and about other people in the world.
I was surprised at how emotional I got when I did the bungee, even during it. It was really an emotional experience and I thought it would just be scary and adventurous and I’d be filled with adrenalin, but it really made me emotional…well, probably because my life flashed before my eyes that I was like why am I doing this.
Lisa Niver:
Oh my gosh. It was the first time you ever did a bungee jump?
Darley Newman:
This was my first-time bungee jumping.
Lisa Niver:
And you did the highest one!
Darley Newman:
It’s in the Guinness Book of World Records and you go off of the Macau Tower. So, it is an actual tower with concrete and a city beneath you. So, it’s not like you’re in New Zealand and there’s water beneath you. You’re going with your arms out. You go face first and it’s pretty intense. It’s super intense. I don’t know if I could do it again. I’m just going to be honest. I did it. It was intense. My adrenalin was — I can’t even tell you. The whole rest of the day I was jacked up. I was like what are we doing next? What are we doing next?
Lisa Niver:
I think that’s good for people to hear because I think that there’s a perception that you’re not afraid of anything and you just do everything and that’s not true for any of us, and you know, I still get lost. I still get confused. Sometimes I have a flight delay. Everybody has the same kind of drama with travel. We don’t have secret super powers.
Darley Newman:
No. It’s all about your perspective on things. I did know that was relatively safe. It’s pretty safe to do that, the bungee. I wasn’t so worried that I was really going to die, but when you’re doing the jump and you’re very focused on this because I want to follow the instructions properly so I don’t hurt myself.
Lisa Niver:
That’s another good point for people listening or watching that we are not doing stuff unattended. We are going to places that have a safety rating. At City Climb, the two cables can hold two rhinoceros and I said I’m pretty sure I weigh less than one rhinoceros, so I’ll be okay. It’s not like somebody has got a piece of twine and we’re jumping off of buildings. These are things which we feel are good risks.
Lisa Niver:
They are good risks.
Darley Newman:
Again, it is something that when you’re in a location and you can do that adventure and it’s not really in that many other places or it’s really nowhere else– then it does make it special. That’s why I say yes to a lot of those things because I think when else am I going to be here and get this opportunity and I made it to this place far far away from my homeland. Let’s just dive in. Yeah. Let’s do it.
Lisa Niver:
When you’re out and about is everything planned in advance? Are you seeing what you find with locals? What’s your style?
Darley Newman:
When I’m filming for the show, Travels with Darley, I’m doing a lot of stuff that’s planned but a lot of stuff does come up that’s just not planned because that’s the nature of travel. That’s the nature of weather changing and somebody getting sick that you’re with. In Hong Kong, I ended up at the Hong Kong medicinal doctor buying herbs with my location fixer guy who was sick and he wanted to go to that doctor. So, I got that whole experience of what is it like to go to the Chinese doctor, and he actually checked me out and prescribed some herbs for me to help me sleep better when I’m traveling and I thought wow, and we filmed it and we put it in the show. So, that was totally unplanned.
A lot of the food stuff can be unplanned too. I was just in Mexico at the International Folk Art Market and I’m saw this sign in the distance for the New Mexico state cookie, the official state cookie of New Mexico. Of course, we have to do that. We have to have the New Mexico state cookie and the family who started the business was there. The whole family was there. It was a great opportunity to meet them and hear the story and we filmed that too. A lot of stuff is definitely planned. A lot comes up. It’s just fun and interesting when you’re in a new location and you can see it and experience it.
Lisa Niver:
And what’s the New Mexico state cookie like?
Darley Newman:
It’s called the Bisco chito and in different parts of the state they actually say it and pronounce it differently but it’s almost like a shortbread cookie, but they do all of these different iterations of it. So, you can get one that’s like a spicy jalapeno and a cheesy one and all these different ingredients that go into it but it’s a recipe that’s pretty old in New Mexico. It comes over originally from the Spanish who came over that way. So, there’s a lot of history behind it and a lot of fun fodder around the legends attached to it and all that stuff, and meeting the family who got it into legislation and legislated as New Mexico’s official state cookie. These people are dedicated to that cookie. So, no better place to try it.
Lisa Niver:
What an incredible moment. In New Mexico, didn’t you also do some pottery?
Darley Newman:
I actually did pottery in this season in Cappadocia in Türkiye and that was…I was out with the Einstein of pottery. That’s another one where I knew I was going to do a pottery segment in Avanos and go to Cappadocia which is known for its pottery but I didn’t know that I would get to have him on camera because we didn’t know his availability. So, sometimes you’re just lucky and it works out. With today’s schedules it’s hard to sometimes get people that you want to be there.
I was lucky to have him, and his name is Jay Gallop and he’s really well known throughout the world and has this awesome studio there and has workshops and classes. He’s trained a lot of female potters and pottery was traditionally male oriented in Türkiye. Now a lot of women are doing it because they’ve come to Avanos and learned the craft there. I thought that was a neat story and that’s how he met his wife. She was there trying to learn pottery. They ended up getting married, having kids, and she helps with the family business.
I got a little bit of a lesson with him even though I’m not great at pottery. I hadn’t done it since I was a child at my summer camp experience.
Lisa Niver:
Wow. I also do pottery. I saw that picture and I thought I really want to do that. It’s something so special to take mud and make art. I’m so glad you got to do that.
Darley Newman:
It was really interesting Lisa. I think you would like it because also the clay there is really special. It has a mix of volcanic soil and they get different soil from the mountains and they mix it and when they add the water he held it up to my ear and I could hear it almost crackling. It was almost like pop rocks in the mud. It has a different consistency. So, it’s pretty interesting to be able to work with it. That’s one of the reasons why the pottery there is so unique and special.
Lisa Niver:
Well, I can certainly see why you’ve had so many episodes and so many Emmy awards because you just exude the excitement about the place, and I know I really want to go and I know everyone else wants to go. Can people travel with you? Do you lead groups or how do they find you?
Darley Newman:
You can’t travel with me yet though I’ve done some special things where people have won the opportunity to come on some of our filming adventures. I might do some stuff coming up, so stay tuned about that! But, for right now, I’m mostly traveling and connecting with people on social media. I’m doing a lot of live streams as I travel, which I think is fun. So, on Facebook and I also work with Smithsonian Associates and I livestream out about destinations. I just did one from Bordeaux over the summer. In Colorado, I did one.
So, I’m on location going live and sharing it out on different platforms and people follow along and get to interact and that’s where you really never know what’s going to happen because not only can the technology fail but you’re just out in the world. We were walking through Bordeaux down the promenade down by the water and we’re just literally on a live stream. I was there with one of my friends who’s French and we go live. So, we had it planned out, but you can’t really plan everything for that either. That was definitely an adventure.
Lisa Niver:
Tell us more about what’s happening with Smithsonian. You’re doing lectures?
Darley Newman:
I do. I’ve been doing a series where I do a deep dive into different locations. I just did one on Bordeaux and I’m on for an hour and a half teaching about the place and sharing my tips for what you want to do while you’re there, insider information, and I bring on live guests who are experts…they’re tour guides or they have knowledge of the history.
When I did one in Quebec, I actually brought on the guide that I used in Quebec City. When I got dressed up, because you can take his tour and he does these different festivals and he’ll bring a costume for you, so you can be historically accurate when you’re walking around and it was really fun. I mean, I have to say I looked a bit ridiculous.
Lisa Niver:
No. You didn’t look ridiculous. I saw a picture. I thought you looked super cute.
Darley Newman:
I enjoyed the experience. I said I’ll wear that outfit while I walk around, and I was walking around Quebec City and it was so funny because we were standing out anyway because we were filming this. So, we have our cameras going but this woman was yelling at me from Petit Champlain which is one of the famous shopping streets and she called out my name and I looked over and it was a girlfriend from college I haven’t seen in 20 years, and she recognized me and she was there with her family on vacation. So, it was fun to reconnect, but she never would have seen me if I hadn’t been in costume or filming but I feel like if you’re going to be in a costume people might say hi to you.
Lisa Niver:
It’s really impressive. So, you’ve been to 85 nations. Is that right?
Darley Newman:
My show has been broadcast in 85 nations.
I’ve been to a lot of destinations and I’ve been to a lot of the USA. I do a lot of the US if you watch both series. I just did Delaware as a state. I’ve done North Dakota, Alaska. I’ve done New Mexico a couple of times. So, I’ve been to a lot of US destinations and I’m trying to hit as many of those as possible because I think sometimes people overlook what’s right here. Especially we learned that during the pandemic. I think everyone started to travel more in their own areas or close to home. I think it’s important to do and I’m looking forward to continuing to get to new states that I may have been to before myself but then to film them. I think it’s great to share that content and information with other people.
Lisa Niver:
I’m ready to go travel with you. We should do a show together. One time when Darley and I were together in Los Angeles we showed up wearing the exact same outfit, so we’ll add the picture because that was so funny, but tell everybody — if they want more which of course they do –where can they watch your show and how can they get connected with you?
Darley Newman:
You can watch Travels with Darley on your local PBS station. It’s on Create TV which is a PBS lifestyle channel. It’s also on Ovation TV’s journey which puts it onto the apps. Through their own apps, Samsung TV, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire. And then I’m also on social media doing a lot of lives and content through @DarleyNewman and Facebook at Travels with Darley.
Lisa Niver:
Can you give us a hint of where you’re going or is it a secret?
Darley Newman:
I’m going back to Alabama. I had done two episodes on the Civil Rights trail there two years ago and I’m going back to focus in on food. When I was there, I got to eat some of the world’s best barbeque in Selma, Alabama but I’m going back to cover food throughout the state and do some other adventure activities. Then I’m going to Louisiana and I’m going to be doing a lot along the east coast right from my home area of New York and beyond, so it should be an interesting season.
Lisa Niver:
Oh my gosh, that’s so exciting. So, one thing I’m putting on your bucket list is to do a cooking class in Thailand because I think that you would love it and also just to say the most giant thank you. It was so great to see you recently in New York, and I hope everyone will watch your show everywhere and follow you on social media. So, thank you Darley Newman from Travels with Darley — we’re sending you good thoughts to go to Thailand and thank you so much.
Darley Newman:
Thank you Lisa. I appreciate it.
Lisa, Darley, Angel and David celebrating TRAVELS with DARLEY in Los Angeles, Sept 16, 2019
PODCAST LINKS
Amazon Music/Podcast
Apple Music/Podcast
Audible Podcast
https://www.audible.com/pd/B0BYKCT15F
iHeart Radio/Podcast
The post Travels With Darley talking about SEASON TEN! appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
March 8, 2023
Make Your Own Map Interview: Lisa Genova, Empathy Warrior, Author and Neuroscientist
Thank you to Lisa Genova, Empathy Warrior, Author and Neuroscientist, for joining me on my podcast!Lisa’s mission: “My purpose in my writing is to humanize and to engender empathy and compassion for people who have neurological issues.“
Ask yourself like Lisa does: “what would I do if I didn’t have to care about money or what anyone thought?“
Enjoy our interview on your favorite PODCAST platform or the transcript below:
Lisa Niver:
This is Lisa Niver from We Said Go Travel. And I am so honored and delighted and excited to have the most incredible author, neuroscientist, Mom, yogi here with me today, Lisa Genova. Thank you for being here.
Lisa Genova:
Lisa, thank you so much. I love your energy and your generosity. It’s so fun to know you.
Lisa Niver:
Thank you. First of all, you have a PhD from Harvard in neuroscience. People know you write about neuroscience and you bring these incredible realistic characters into our lives. So, one of the questions I personally have for you, and I’ve loved your books forever, is what came first? Were you always a writer and then you were a neuroscientist? How did this evolve that you’re at the top of excellence in both of these amazing hard challenging fields?
Lisa Genova:
Oh, my goodness, thank you. I had zero desire or inkling to write most of my life. I was a geeky, nerdy scientist always and very laser focused on that and driven since I was 18. I decided I wanted to be a neuroscientist when I was young, when I was 18, right away in college, and studied that. It was called biopsychology back then. It’s now a neuroscience major as an undergraduate, but that didn’t exist yet because I’m that old. I got a job as a lab tech in a neuroscience lab at Mass General Hospital in Boston right out of college working on the molecular basis of drug addiction.
I went on to get my PhD and I studied that at Harvard and I was a fellow at the NIH. And then I still had no idea I was going to be a writer, but my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and right about that time that I got my degree. And as the neuroscientist in my very big Italian family, I was not her caregiver. She had nine children, so we had lots of people to help with caring for her. But I could learn about Alzheimer’s and pass that education on to my family to help us be better caregivers. And everything I read, it was helpful. I read the neuroscience and that was interesting to me, not helpful to my family, but I read about the disease management and how to be a caregiver.
I knew the worlds of Alzheimer’s and yet what was missing from it was the perspective of the person who has it. At the time everything was written by a scientist, a clinician, a caregiver or social worker and not from the perspective of someone who has the disease. And what I recognized in myself was I felt a lot of sympathy for my grandmother, and a lot of sympathy for us who loved her and we were losing her right in front of us. So, I felt bad for her and bad for us and sympathy is a disconnect–she’s otherized. So, I felt bad for her, but I didn’t feel empathy. I didn’t know how to feel with her. I was very uncomfortable around my grandmother’s Alzheimer’s.
I loved her so much and it was really heartbreaking to watch her lose access to her entire life’s history and not know who we were. And I remember thinking, well, fiction is a place where you get to walk in someone else’s shoes, and feel empathy for someone else’s experience and at the time that kind of story didn’t exist about Alzheimer’s. And I thought, maybe someday I’ll write it. And I don’t know how to write. That will be when I’m retired some day and the very fast pace of my professional life has slowed down. My first child was born in 2000 and I quit my job. I didn’t intend to quit right away, I thought I’ll take six months to a year off.
And then my marriage started to unravel, and I didn’t go back to work, and I was trying to fix my marriage. I had been with my first husband since I was in college, and I was 33 at the time when we got divorced. It was upsetting for me to get divorced. My life had been on a very linear, check all the boxes, I’m doing all the things “right” and now I have this sort of upheaval on what I had framed as a failure. And I was heartbroken and upset and really afraid of an uncertain future. But the fear, luckily, turned into a curiosity and I started asking myself good questions, — what’s my future going to look like? What if I could do anything I wanted?
At first, I thought I’ll just go back to work. But then I thought, what if I could do anything I wanted? and I didn’t have to care about what anyone thought of me? And the answer, the thing that just kept bubbling up was you want to write the book.
Lisa Niver:
Wow.
Lisa Genova:
I tried like hell to talk myself out of it, because I don’t know how to write, I’m a neuroscientist, I don’t write fiction. This is not a safe, stable choice for you right now, girl, you are a divorced, unemployed single Mom. But it was the answer every time I asked myself what would I do if I didn’t have to care about money or what anyone thought? And it was I want to write this book. So, against all sort of reason and sort of you know the logical thing, because it was wildly illogical, I dropped my daughter off at preschool and began doing the research for the book that would become Still Alice.
Lisa Niver:
Oh, my goodness, I’m so glad you shared that with us. Because your books have helped, inspired and educated so many families about so many terrifying, confusing diseases. But I think that for all the people like me who get divorced and feel like complete failures and think what am I going to do now? And what a brilliant question to ask, what would I do if I didn’t care what anyone else thought?
Lisa Genova:
I felt so much shame and fear and that question was really liberating. I still ask myself that on a regular basis, am I living the life I really want to live? And if not, why? Sometimes there’s practical reasons that you can’t, but are there baby steps? My whole life changed because of that. I didn’t have any writing background, and I became a student again. I read lots of books on craft.
And I didn’t know any other writers, which turned out to be helpful, because I didn’t know what I didn’t know, and I didn’t know how hard it is, and I didn’t know how bleak that it can be and how difficult is to get published. And you know a bit about how hard that can be.
I didn’t know and so I was sort of blissfully unaware. And I would go into bookstores and libraries and look at all of the thousands of books and think all of those people wrote books, why can’t I? Why not me? It helped, getting out of my own way that was the hardest part of writing the book. It was giving myself permission to do it.
Lisa Niver:
Oh, my gosh that is exactly the way all people start in something new. But how incredible that your “I think I might give myself permission to do this” turned into a New York Times best seller and a movie where the actress won the 2015 Oscar.
Lisa Genova:
Yeah, it’s bananas. And Lisa, it didn’t start that way either though, because I wrote the book and then no one would publish it.
Lisa Niver:
Oh.
Lisa Genova:
There was no one to represent it. I sent out query letters to a hundred literary agents and I heard back no in a form letter, Dear author, no thank you, from most. I got three responses saying we’ll read the manuscript. One, I never heard back from and the other two thought that Alzheimer’s was just too scary and too depressing of a topic for fiction readers. They thought people would shy away from it and that it just wasn’t marketable, so I had really hit a dead end. It was stick the book in the drawer and go back to neuroscience, the bench or consulting or biotech. Or, and this was the summer of 2007, I self-published it. And I sold it out of the trunk of my car.
This is before Facebook, social media was MySpace and Shelfari. It was very limited, but I used that. I was giving myself one year, because I thought if I’m like those contestants for American Idol who are auditioning and can’t sing, but think they can sing, I’ve got to get my life going. I have to earn a living, if this doesn’t work I have to get going here. I was giving myself a year and in 10 months — word of mouth lead to a literary agent who took me on and she sold the book to Simon & Schuster. It ended up being this book that’s been translated into 37 languages and Julianne Moore has an Oscar. So, it’s such a fun story to tell. Your mouth is hanging open. I went from selling out of the trunk of my car, I was begging people to read it.
STILL ALICE
Lisa Niver:
Oh, my goodness. I think it’s so important that people hear that– obviously at this point where you have potential movie deals for three more books. There’s an Oscar from one of the movies. Your TED talk has been watched by eight million people. But it’s hard sometimes to remember that everybody starts at the beginning, and that a hundred agents really ignored you and I mean, gosh, would it be fun to write them all now. But don’t do that — that’s bitter, you’re not bitter.
Lisa Genova:
No, no, no. But it’s like that scene from Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts goes back to the store where the woman wouldn’t wait on her and she’s says–you work on commission, right?
I still hear that to this day, Lisa. There are people who will come up to me and say everyone tells me that your book is beautiful and it’s helped them, but I just can’t go near it yet. It’s too close and I can’t do it. It’s just too upsetting right now. And I understand that. There is that element of this book, this topic, this subject– it’s heavy, it’s hard for folks depending on where you are in the journey. If Alzheimer’s is in your life it can be hard to read this book. It takes courage.
Lisa Niver:
I agree with you, it can be hard. I know for myself we have a family member that had ALS and isn’t with us anymore, but Every Note Played was such a beautiful journey. Your characters when I was reading it, I feel like I know them, your character development is so brilliant and compelling.
Who first called you an empathy warrior? I love that.
Lisa Genova:
Oh, my gosh, I can’t remember where that started.
Lisa Niver:
I love that.
Lisa Genova:
I think it was in Australia on a book tour there. Someone introduced me for a talk and they come up with their own little spin on your bio. And I thought I love that. After Still Alice — when I was given permission to continue, because now I could feed my family, make a living doing this. I get to combine these two things that I care about now, right? I’m passionate about the brain, and brain health and how does the brain work to allow us to think and feel and remember and everything else.
And what about all of these people who live with neurological diseases and disorders and mental illness who because of something going wrong or working differently in their brains that they become otherized and stigmatized and people don’t know what’s going on with them? And that lack of familiarity, that lack of language to be able to talk about what that is, makes people feel afraid, right?
Lisa Niver:
I see.
Lisa Genova:
If you’ve got something going on with your brain and I don’t know what that is, I feel afraid of you and so that further, you know, stigmatizes and alienates folks. And feeling lonely and alienated on top of what’s difficult is such an unnecessary price to pay. My mission, my purpose in my writing is to humanize and to engender empathy and compassion for people who have neurological issues.
Lisa Niver:
Yes, you’re such a gifted storyteller. I remember reading Left Neglected, which was the book about traumatic brain injury, if anyone hasn’t read that one yet. I have intermittent left esotropia that was undiagnosed for a very long time, so I don’t have full left neglect, but I had a lot of missing pieces. And for me it was so interesting to read about someone else and see how they experience it.
How do you come up with these ideas and are the people drawn from your giant Italian family or where are you getting all this inspiration?
Lisa Genova:
Thank you. And before I answer you, you really just hit on something that is also magical, a magical sort of byproduct of all of this and now I’m very mindful of it– is that the books not only help educate with respect to the experience and compassion and empathy for people who have no knowledge of TBI or ALS or Alzheimer’s. As in, I don’t have that in my family and I might never read a book about, I’m certainly not going to read a nonfiction book about ALS, if that doesn’t affect my life, but I might read a novel and now I get that education.
But for people who do live it, the books, because I really do homework and I’m trying to tell the truth under these imagined circumstances, I can portray with dignity and respect, that they have a chance to feel seen and heard, right?
That on these pages, like you just said with respect to your experience, — that’s how I feel, that’s what happens to me. And there’s so much healing that can happen in that — to know that you’re not alone and to feel that you can point to this and say this is me, so I love being able to do that. How do I pick my topics– it depends.
Left Neglected, the book about the traumatic brain injury, came out of a curiosity. I didn’t know anyone with it prior to doing the research for that book. Oliver Sacks wrote a book called The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. He’s a neurologist. And these are true stories and they’re sort of like short stories of clinical vignettes of folks with really interesting brain stuff.
He wrote the book Awakenings, which became a movie with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. There was a three-page story about a guy with left neglect, and I thought what happens to him? He’s in a hospital in the story and I wondered does he go home? How do you live…how do you walk through a whole world if you’re only aware of half of it? What is this like to experience that?
The book on autism, Love Anthony, was inspired by my cousin, she’s like a sister to me, her son has very severe autism. So, instead of the Temple Grandin’s and a lot of people out there who have the high-functioning Asperger’s end of autism. I thought– what is the other end like– where folks are nonverbal and don’t like to be touched, and can’t make eye contact? What is that experience like and how is that felt?
ALS came out of Still Alice. Richard Glatzer was the co-writer of the script and the co-director of the Still Alice movie which was directed and written by Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer. Richard was diagnosed with ALS just a couple of months before he read the book, and agreed to be involved in the film and so he was on-set filming 12 hours a day. His ALS began in the motor neurons of his neck and head, so he couldn’t speak and he was drooling. And one of his arms, maybe his right, was completely paralyzed and he’s typing with one finger on an iPad. He’s a heroic man and a beautiful soul, good guy.
By the end of the filming, I asked him if I could write about ALS next and would he be the first to explain to me what it feels like? And he said yes and we corresponded through email right up until just before the Oscars. My last email from him he typed with his right big toe. It’s a combination of personal and someone I know or I am really curious.
Lisa Niver:
It’s amazing, amazing what you’ve done. And I know there is a new book on the horizon. Are you allowed to tell us what are you diving into next to help people have their personal experience revealed or have more empathy about?
Lisa Genova:
I’m writing, I’m about 200 pages into my next novel. It’s about a young woman with bipolar disorder. I chose bipolar because I had this notion, and I think I’m spot on, that this is something hiding in plain sight everywhere.
That this is a neurological issue, mental illness issue where there’s a lot of shame and a lot of stigma and so people are keeping it secret and not talking about it.
I’m really hopeful to tell a story that becomes a vehicle for conversation to normalize and humanize and talk about a subject so that our communities can be more empathetic and compassionate And we can collapse the distance between people who don’t have bipolar and people who do.
I hope that will help people who are going through it. It’s a really tough disorder to live with and it requires a lot of support from community to do well with it. Many people do great with it, but in the beginning when you’re trying to figure it out and you’re feeling alone in it, and like you have to hide it– it’s an unnecessary burden to deal with. I’m excited to put this one out there.
Lisa Niver:
Well, I can’t wait for that. But while people are waiting for that, in case anyone hasn’t read your nonfiction book, Remember, I think that Remember shares so much about how important it is to pay attention. And I love that you talk about forgetting is not evil.
Lisa Genova:
Thank you. That book came out of talking about Still Alice and Alzheimer’s for so many years that I found that most people, especially over the age of 40, have this really unhealthy relationship with their own memory. That, in these moments of forgetting that we all experience every day, just as a normal part of being human, people go into a tailspin and a panic. And there’s fear and anxiety and stress over, oh, my God, I must be losing my mind or my memory is terrible, or I might be getting Alzheimer’s. This is the first sign. And I recognize that people have this expectation that memory is supposed to be perfect.
Lisa Niver:
Right.
Lisa Genova:
And it’s just not. Our human brains aren’t designed to remember everything. And there are things that we’ll always fail at if we only rely on our brains, so things like a to-do list are perfectly okay. Or why you walk into a room and you don’t know why you’re in there and that’s normal. And here’s why that happens.
I wanted to give people a sort of owner’s manual. This is how memory works. This is what it needs. This is what it doesn’t need. This is why it forgets. Here’s how you can improve it and optimize it and keep it healthy. And here’s what you can let go of day-to-day and not worry about if you can’t — it’s not designed to remember to do things later, remember people’s names.
It doesn’t catalogue everything we encounter it only remembers what you pay attention to. So, just real super quick folks, if you are regularly forgetting where you put your glasses, your keys, your phone, where you parked your car. Oh, my God, what does that mean? Am I getting Alzheimer’s? I’m betting you didn’t pay attention to where you put them. Because if you don’t give it a moment’s attention, that’s a neurological input, you cannot create a memory of anything past this present moment unless you give it your attention. So, if we didn’t make a memory of it in the first place, you didn’t forget anything.
Lisa Niver:
I think it’s brilliant that you called it an owner’s manual. Because I do think you give so many quality explanations and tips about encoding memories and feelings and journals. But I also think it’s important that people have clear information about how we can help our brains with our choices every day.
What do we eat? Do we exercise? And like you said you’re a yogi, do we meditate? But can you talk for a minute? I think it’s really important that people hear from you about, that we think stress is the biggest issue, but that the lack of sleep is really, really a problem.
Lisa Genova:
I don’t know which one impacts you more– whether it’s reactivity to stress and can you be less reactive to stress, because we’re not going to be able to remove the stressful world from doing what it’s doing — it’s how we react to it. But sleep is big and it stresses people out, unfortunately, to hear this because a lot of people are not good at sleeping.
But the data’s super clear, it’s just really compelling, that human brains and human bodies need seven to nine hours of sleep. Because sleep is not a state of unconscious nothingness. We are very biologically busy while we sleep and we’re repairing and we’re restoring or consolidating memories. We’re cleaning metabolic debris that accumulated during the business of being awake.
A lot of important things are going on and if you don’t get the right phases and the right amount of sleep then you’re disrupting those processes. They’re interrupted and not completing and over time that can create some health issues and can create some memory problems.
So, knowing that, then people think– oh, my God I don’t sleep enough, I’m in trouble. Everything up until today is water under the bridge.
What can you do tonight to support a good night’s sleep? I did not get a good night’s sleep last night, but I’m not panicked. It’s just — new day, new night — what can I do?
This is a whole other episode, Lisa, but people can Google. Start with your room temperature — is it too hot? You want to be able to fall asleep. Write down your to-do list for tomorrow if thoughts are cranking and you can’t shut your brain off.
Are you exercising during the day? Because that helps you fall asleep at night. Get off your screens before bedtime. Your pineal gland thinks it’s daytime if you’re staring at this screen right up until the moment you want to fall asleep, because that light is telling your brain that it’s daytime. If we can get back in the rhythm of the planet, that would help us fall asleep.
There are things we can do that will help the people who are saying– I just can’t fall asleep and that’s the way it is. We need to get empowered. We have agency and influence here. Ask yourself what can you do to help support a better night’s sleep tonight and see if that works. It’s worth it.
Lisa Niver:
I agree with you. It could be its whole own episode and I would love to have the chance to talk to you again. I just wanted to talk briefly about the choices you make that can make a difference. And it’s important that if you ate more vegetables, and you turned your screens off earlier and you got a good night’s sleep, you might feel a whole lot better.
Lisa Genova:
Yes.
Lisa Niver:
And remember those simple steps.
Lisa Genova:
We live in a funny culture. Everybody wants the magic pill so they can destroy their brain and body and then just take the magic pill to fix it. We all want to live a long life, but we want to match our brain span to our lifespan, right?
We don’t want to live to be 80, but have Alzheimer’s at 80, so that is going to require some good living choices along the way. Because we know that the health of your brain and body has a combination of the genes you’ve inherited and how you live. We can’t do anything about the genes you inherited, but we can do a lot about the way you live.
So, if you can incorporate a healthy lifestyle on a day-to-day basis, it doesn’t feel like deprivation, it doesn’t feel hard. Once you get in the habits of yummy healthy food and daily exercise it feels good, you feel better, and then you’re setting yourself up for a healthy brain for a lifetime.
Lisa Niver:
That’s the perfect segue towards the end of our conversation about choices. Because the thing you started with, about how you came into being a writer was– what choices do I want to make with my life, what’s really going to fulfill me and make me happy? You said it much more eloquently. What was your question that you asked yourself about what you should do with your life?
Lisa Genova:
I love what you’re saying. Can we be intentional? It’s, if I could do anything I wanted what would I do? To this day for me still, it’s I want to write the next book, and that’s what I’m doing.
Lisa Niver:
That is so exciting and we can’t wait for the next book to come out. And several of your books are going to be movies soon. Can you talk about that or we’re not talking about that yet?
Lisa Genova:
From your lips to God’s ears.
We have three in development. And I am so glad I write books and I don’t make movies because it’s a lot of puzzle pieces and you’re not in control of a lot of them.
Every Note Played, Inside the O’Briens, and Left Neglected are all in development. And any one of them could pop soon, so hopefully we’re filming at least one before the end of this year.
Lisa Niver:
Oh, my goodness, it’s so exciting. Lisa, your books, I love them, it’s been my honor to write about them. I really appreciate all of your support in my writing career and I wish you so much incredible success with all of it. And thank you from all your readers, that don’t get this opportunity to speak to you directly but will be listening, that we love your books.
Lisa Genova:
Oh, Lisa, thank you so much. I am cheering you on as well and thank you for being such a support. It’s fun that we got connected.
Lisa Niver:
Thank you, thank you, thank you. And if people want to find you, what’s the best way to look for you on the Internet or social media? Where can they get updates about books?
Lisa Genova:
I’m on Instagram and Facebook, that’s really me — @authorLisaGenova, and my website is lisagenova.com.
https://www.instagram.com/authorlisagenova/
https://www.facebook.com/authorlisagenova/
Lisa Niver:
Perfect. And everybody who wants to learn more, don’t forget to watch her TED talk, which already has eight million views. Thank you so much and I can’t wait to buy your next book.
Lisa Genova:
Thank you, Lisa.
My interviews and articles about Lisa Genova:
Feminist Fiction Books to Curl Up With for the Holidays
https://msmagazine.com/2018/12/24/virtual-search-irl-empathy/
REMEMBER BOOK TOURThrive Global https://community.thriveglobal.com/surviving-covid-like-a-superhero/The post Make Your Own Map Interview: Lisa Genova, Empathy Warrior, Author and Neuroscientist appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
February 28, 2023
What do you LOVE? Niver’s News: Feb 2023
Feb News 2023 with Lisa Niver & We Said Go Travel:In February, do you think about WHAT DO YOU LOVE? I love Travel and I love speaking about TRAVEL! This month I spoke in Los Angeles at the Travel and Adventure Show–the 3rd of 4 cities where I am a speaker for America’s Favorite Travel shows!
Did you see me on TV with Bob DeCastro from GOOD DAY LA? Watch it here:
Click here to read more about the Travel and Adventure Show
When I spoke in Chicago, I explored with CityPass and went to amazing attractions including Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, SkyDeck on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower and The Ledge, The Bean, Art Institute of Chicago, 360CHICAGO and Cloud Bar on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building. I had dinner at Esquire by Cooper’s Hawk. SEE VIDEOS from my adventures below:
When I spoke in NYC, I climbed a skyscraper! It was AWESOME!! I highly recommend CityClimb!While I was in NYC, I also went to IMM North America which is TravMedia’s Leading Media Networking Event. I had so many exceptional meetings I had to make TWO VIDEOS: Part 1 and Part 2I loved the PLACES TO LOVE Season 6 party in NYC with Samantha Brown! Places to Love is about seeking the little-known spots and haunts where innovators and disruptors create a brand new travel experience. In the sixth season, Samantha explores the incredible Belfast and Antrim Coast, the breathtaking Inside Passage of Alaska, chilly Madison, Wisconsin, and much more…
Have you explored Go City? At my talk in Los Angeles, I gave away two GoCity Explorer Passes. I cannot wait to use mine!
Thank you FeedSpot! I am lucky number #13 on your Travel Lifestyle List!
Is it your DREAM to travel by private jet? What a party with Planet Nine!I am honored to be a speaker at FOUR Travel & Adventure Shows in 2023! I spoke in Los Angeles, Chicago and NYC in January and February! Please join me in DALLAS –April 1 and 2, 2023 at Dallas Market Hall.
“Discover endless vacation options from the top travel providers and destinations from around the globe. Meet one-on-one with thousands of travel experts who are on hand to help you find, personalize, and book your next trip. Uncover thousands of dollars in savings with exclusive travel deals and show-only specials. Receive expert advice and learn how to travel like an insider from dozens of educational seminars. Plus, meet Samantha Brown, Andrew McCarthy, Peter Greenberg, Pauline Frommer, Patricia Schultz, LISA NIVER and more!” Click here to buy tickets and get a special rate with my discount code GOTRAVEL23
WATCH my video podcast, “MAKE YOUR OWN MAP: Are YOU ready to be BRAVE?” on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Podcast, Google Podcasts, Audible, Anchor & iHeart Radio Wondering where to travel next? I loved my two trips to Ireland and meeting with Tourism Ireland at the Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills:Learn more about my adventures in Ireland in these two articles below:
Why did I go to Kilkenny Ireland and Beyond?
Sláinte mhaith: To good health and an unforgettable St. Patrick’s!
Thank you to the Jewish Journal for publishing my articles for thirteen years! See my articles from Jan 2023 here.WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?Here is the link to my video channel on YouTube where I have NEARLY TWO MILLION views on YouTube! (Exact count: 1,795,000 views)
Thank you for your support! Are you one of my 3,855 subscribers? I hope you will join me and subscribe! For more We Said Go Travel articles, TV segments, videos and social media: CLICK HERE
Find me on social media with over 150,000 followers. Please follow on TikTok: @LisaNiver, Twitter at @LisaNiver, Instagram @LisaNiver and on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com.
Spotify Video Podcast: “Make Your Own Map!”
Fortune Cookie SAID:It’s nice to be important but its more important to be nice.
Look for happiness and you will find it.
I LOVED speaking at the Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show Feb 18, 2023! More photos and video coming SOON!!!!!
Photos and video from my 38th friendship anniversary with Carl in Park City, Utah coming soon!!
The post What do you LOVE? Niver’s News: Feb 2023 appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
February 26, 2023
Niver In PRINT: Blog Bytes Jan 2023 Jewish Journal
Thank you to the Jewish Journal for publishing me online for over twelve years.
Since they resumed print publication in Fall 2021, I have been in the Blog Bytes section more than thirty times! Here are the two issues that I was in during Jan 2023: Jewish Journal Jan 6, 2023: p. 28—From my Happy Holidays Dec News:
At our house we lit the Chanukah candles and I love how every religion celebrates a festival of lights at this time. We all need HOPE especially when we feel we are alone in the DARKNESS. I hope your 2022 celebrations have brought joy, light and warmth to your heart.
Jewish Journal Jan 13, 2023: p. 28
From my article, Meet me in PHILLY for LOVE and HISTORY:
“Philadelphia is a combination of two Greek words: love (phileo) and brother (adelphos) and known as the city of brotherly love. The city’s founder, William Penn, hoped it would become place where freedom would ring and it is the home of the Liberty Bell.”
THANK YOU TO THE JEWISH JOURNALSee my stories that were in
2021
the September print issuesthe October print issuesthe November print issuesthe December print issues2022
the January print issuesthe February print issuesthe WINTER Print Issues
2023
the Jan Print Issues
The post Niver In PRINT: Blog Bytes Jan 2023 Jewish Journal appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
Niver In PRINT: Blog Bytes 2023 Jewish Journal
Thank you to the Jewish Journal for publishing me online for over twelve years.
Since they resumed print publication in Fall 2021, I have been in the Blog Bytes section more than thirty times! Here are the two issues that I was in during Jan 2023: Jewish Journal Jan 6, 2023: p. 28—From my Happy Holidays Dec News:
At our house we lit the Chanukah candles and I love how every religion celebrates a festival of lights at this time. We all need HOPE especially when we feel we are alone in the DARKNESS. I hope your 2022 celebrations have brought joy, light and warmth to your heart.
Jewish Journal Jan 13, 2023: p. 28
From my article, Meet me in PHILLY for LOVE and HISTORY:
“Philadelphia is a combination of two Greek words: love (phileo) and brother (adelphos) and known as the city of brotherly love. The city’s founder, William Penn, hoped it would become place where freedom would ring and it is the home of the Liberty Bell.”
THANK YOU TO THE JEWISH JOURNALSee my stories that were in
2021
the September print issuesthe October print issuesthe November print issuesthe December print issues2022
the January print issuesthe February print issuesthe WINTER Print Issues
2023
the Jan Print Issues
The post Niver In PRINT: Blog Bytes 2023 Jewish Journal appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
February 6, 2023
Meet me in LOS ANGELES at the Travel and Adventure Show 2023
l will be speaking in LOS ANGELES at the Travel and Adventure Show!Meet me Saturday, February 18, 2023 in the Savvy Traveler Theater at 3:15pm for my talk: “Becoming Brave– Steps to Make Your Dream Vacation Happen”
I will be speaking LIVE at FOUR of America’s Favorite Travel Shows! Come see me at The Travel & Adventure Show 2023I spoke in CHICAGO –Jan 14-15 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention CenterNEW YORK CITY – January 28-29 at the Javits Convention Center NEXT:
LOS ANGELES— February 18-19 at the Los Angeles Convention CenterDALLAS–April 1-2 at the Dallas Market Hall
“Discover endless vacation options from the top travel providers and destinations from around the globe. Meet one-on-one with thousands of travel experts who are on hand to help you find, personalize, and book your next trip. Uncover thousands of dollars in savings with exclusive travel deals and show-only specials. Receive expert advice and learn how to travel like an insider from dozens of educational seminars. Plus, meet Samantha Brown, Andrew McCarthy, Peter Greenberg, Pauline Frommer, Patricia Schultz, LISA NIVER and more!”
Buy tickets at a special rate with my discount code GOTRAVEL23 or use these links for these cities: CHICAGO –NEW YORK CITY —LOS ANGELES–DALLAS
Watch my Spotify Video Podcast: Click here for Season 1 with guests: Deepak Chopra, Alka Joshi and Patricia Schultz.
Lisa Niver and BJ Korrus at the National Arts and Entertainment Journalism AwardsLearn more about my articles, videos and awards: LisaNiver.com My YouTube channel has nearly two million views. Sign up for my newsletter so you will be the first to know about when you can pre-order my memoir from Simon and Schuster!
LA DISCOUNT TICKETS: See you at my talk! We Said Go Travel is a media partner for the show!WHERE? Los Angeles Convention Center – Hall G&H 1201 S Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90015WHEN?
Saturday, February 18: 10am – 5pm
Sunday, February 19: 11am – 4pm
Thousands of Vacation Options, Up to Date Travel Information and Top Travel Celebrities – All Under One Roof The world of travel is ready for you! February 18th and 19th in at the LA Convention Center.The Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show is back and ready to give you the tools you need to make your travel decisions for 2023 and beyond.
Explore the hottest destinations and travel providers from around the world that are open for travel now, and meet the experts who are on-hand to:
Give you the most up to date information and new offeringsAnswer all of your travel related questions on where to go, what to do, how and when to get thereHelp you plan your itinerary based on your needsLearn the Latest Travel Tips and Advice, All Included with Your Ticket
The top names in travel are all ready to teach you how to travel like a pro on 3 on-the-show-floor theaters.
On the Travel Theater, you’ll receive advice from the top travel celebrities:
Rick Steves, Host & CEO, Rick Steves’ EuropePauline Frommer, Editorial Director of the Frommer’s Travel Guides and Publisher, Frommers.comPeter Greenberg, Emmy Award Winning Investigative Reporter, Producer and CBS News Travel Editor
The Travel & Adventure Show Series has connected over 2.1 million travel enthusiasts with over 4,500 unique travel brands in top cities around the U.S.
The post Meet me in LOS ANGELES at the Travel and Adventure Show 2023 appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
February 5, 2023
THANK YOU! Chicago Travel Show & PADI 2023
It was an honor to speak in CHICAGO Travel and Adventure Show at the Dive & Water Sports Pavilion this month on behalf of PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors)
My talk, “SCUBA Changed My LIFE: Diving Adventures AROUND the WORLD,” can be watched here:
Thank you to PADI and CityPASS for the giveaways for my talk! All of the winners are so excited for their upcoming adventures. We have a special discount code for YOU! You can use my CODE: CHICAGO10 for a one time discount on the PADI site for either an open water e-learning course or reactivate e-learning course.
SIGN UP TODAY! for your PADI e-learning class
I learned to dive in 1990 and fell madly in love with exploring the underwater world.See my articles and videos all about scuba: CLICK HEREWhat happened in Chicago?I will be speaking LIVE at America’s Favorite Travel Shows! Come see me at The Travel & Adventure Show 2023CHICAGO –Jan 14-15 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention CenterNEW YORK CITY – January 28-29 at the Javits Convention CenterLOS ANGELES— February 18-19 at the Los Angeles Convention CenterDALLAS–April 1-2 at the Dallas Market Hall “Discover endless vacation options from the top travel providers and destinations from around the globe. Meet one-on-one with thousands of travel experts who are on hand to help you find, personalize, and book your next trip. Uncover thousands of dollars in savings with exclusive travel deals and show-only specials. Receive expert advice and learn how to travel like an insider from dozens of educational seminars. Plus, meet Samantha Brown, Andrew McCarthy, Peter Greenberg, Pauline Frommer, Patricia Schultz, LISA NIVER and more!” Buy tickets at a special rate with my discount code GOTRAVEL23 or use these links for these cities: CHICAGO –NEW YORK CITY —LOS ANGELES–DALLAS
Lisa, Adrianne, Steve and Anthony at the PADI BOOTH at the Chicago Travel and Adventure Show Jan 14, 2023
Thank you to PADI and CityPASS for the giveaways!
The post THANK YOU! Chicago Travel Show & PADI 2023 appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
January 31, 2023
Speaking at FOUR Travel Shows: Niver’s News: Jan 2023
Jan News 2023 with Lisa Niver & We Said Go Travel:
I am honored to be a speaker at FOUR Travel & Adventure Shows in 2023! I spoke in Chicago and NYC in January! Please join me in LOS ANGELES— February 18-19 at Los Angeles Convention Center! and DALLAS –April 1 at Dallas Market Hall.
“Discover endless vacation options from the top travel providers and destinations from around the globe. Meet one-on-one with thousands of travel experts who are on hand to help you find, personalize, and book your next trip. Uncover thousands of dollars in savings with exclusive travel deals and show-only specials. Receive expert advice and learn how to travel like an insider from dozens of educational seminars. Plus, meet Samantha Brown, Andrew McCarthy, Peter Greenberg, Pauline Frommer, Patricia Schultz, LISA NIVER and more!” Click here to buy tickets and get a special rate with my discount code GOTRAVEL23
WATCH my video podcast, “MAKE YOUR OWN MAP: Are YOU ready to be BRAVE?” on ANCHOR or SPOTIFY
We Said Go Travel is read in 229 COUNTRIES!
Thank you to Dr. Bill for interviewing me on his Influencers Podcast.
Enjoy my interview with Patricia Schultz about WHY WE TRAVEL!Thank you to the Jewish Journal for publishing my articles for thirteen years!
Cher Calvin, Lisa Niver and Kimberly Cornell: Team KTLA!Thank you to the Los Angeles Press Club. From 2017 to 2022, in the Southern California Journalism Awards and National Arts And Entertainment Journalism Awards, I have won five times and been a finalist 20 times for my broadcast, print and digital stories.
Thank you Harvard Westlake School for the amazing alumni event: When Women Lead: What They Achieve, Why They Succeed, and How We Can Learn from Them–with Julia Boorstin, Nicole Brown, Kara Nortman & Laura Ross. A fascinating panel discussion about female leadership. Congrats to Julia on her new book!
Thank you to Prowly! I am #33 on their list of Top 100 Travel Journalists in the US!
WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?Here is the link to my video channel on YouTube where I have NEARLY TWO MILLION views on YouTube! (Exact count: 1,770,000 views)
Thank you for your support! Are you one of my 3,820 subscribers? I hope you will join me and subscribe! For more We Said Go Travel articles, TV segments, videos and social media: CLICK HERE
Find me on social media with over 150,000 followers. Please follow on TikTok: @LisaNiver, Twitter at @LisaNiver, Instagram @LisaNiver and on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com.
Spotify Video Podcast: “Make Your Own Map!”
Fortune Cookie SAID:Do it now! Today will be yesterday tomorrow.
Your efforts are budding-results will appear soon!
I love SCUBA Diving and I love traveling and I LOVED speaking about both at the Chicago Travel and Adventure Show on behalf of PADI!The post Speaking at FOUR Travel Shows: Niver’s News: Jan 2023 appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
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