In this episode, Amanda Freitag, well known for being a judge on Food Network’s “Chopped,” shares what unique item she collects during her travels around the world, her experiences as a chef, what restaurant was getting live frogs in a box in the morning and selling out before end of day, what she appreciates about Italian food that might surprise you, where she wants to travel to next, her suggestion for the best pizza in the US, and her favorite food cities in the US and what makes them so gre...
May 09, 2023•33 min•Season 3Ep. 26
Travel That Matters is back! The first episode of the brand-new Master Chef series features Marcus Samuelsson, an award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, philanthropist and food activist. Marcus shares with us what he eats at ballpark stadiums, where goes to buy his spices and sauces in LA, and the differences in food and culinary scenes across the continent of Africa. Marcus also shares why food lovers should consider Sweden as a top destination. Marcus goes on to recount some wonder...
Apr 25, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 25
From planes to plates, this special podcast season of Travel That Matters with Bruce Wallin, award-winning travel editor, takes you on a culinary adventure around the globe. This brand-new Master Chef series features some of the best chefs and food personalities in the world and the global ventures that shaped them all. You’ll hear what it takes to create stunning hand-made pasta from the distinguished chef Daniel Boulud , get an inside look into the sights, smells, and tastes from around the wo...
Apr 11, 2023•1 min
Philippe starts by sharing his favorite family destination, the little-known Rodrigues Island in the Indian Ocean. Part of Mauritius, Rodrigues is a rare find in today’s world, a place that has truly preserved its historic culture, beautiful land- and seascapes, and laid-back island lifestyle. Next, Philippe talks about a decision he and his wife made when their two sons were young. They created a family policy by which each of the boys could choose a vacation destination anywhere in the world w...
Jul 19, 2022•39 min•Ep. 24
New York Times travel columnist Elaine Glusac is an expert at something that has become increasingly essential for travelers: finding the best alternatives to the world’s most popular destinations. She joins Bruce to dive into the top spots for experiencing everything we love about over-touristed spots—minus the crowds. Elaine starts by giving us a behind-the-scenes look into the New York Times’ “52 Places” article, an annual feature that explores the newspaper’s picks for the year’s most compel...
Jun 28, 2022•39 min•Ep. 23
We might as well call this “The Big Book of Mexico” episode, because it’s filled with a lifetime of adventures, insider spots, and authentic luxury hotels throughout the country. Our guest is Zachary Rabinor, the founder and president of Journey Mexico, a unique luxury travel company that takes clients far beyond the country’s well-known beach destinations. Not that he doesn’t appreciate Mexico’s great beach resorts—he’s been living in Puerto Vallarta for almost 20 years, and he joins Bruce in p...
Jun 07, 2022•46 min•Season 2Ep. 22
CEO of Six Senses Hotels, Resorts & Spas and sustainability pioneer Neil Jacobs leads us on a journey to Oman, Israel, Brazil, India, and beyond, as he explores some of his company’s off-the-beaten-path properties—and how each is making sustainable tourism fun in its own unique way. Neil, who speaks six different languages, is an ideal guide for a global journey. He speaks with Bruce about how his ability to communicate in locations worldwide opens up new experiences and often leads to his m...
May 24, 2022•37 min•Season 2Ep. 21
As the vice president and global leader of luxury and lifestyle brands for Hyatt, Crystal Vinisse Thomas has her fingers on the pulse of all things trending in the travel industry. She’s also a trendsetter herself, with an energy, style, and creativity that have helped her become one of the youngest and most dynamic leaders in luxury travel (and prompted Bruce to dub her the “Punk Rocker of Luxury Travel”). In this episode, Crystal joins Bruce to discuss everything from how living abroad made he...
May 03, 2022•34 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Geoffrey Kent has likely done more to shape what modern luxury travel looks like than anyone else. Dating back to 1962—when he founded Abercrombie & Kent and started leading the first photographic safaris in Africa—he has been a pioneer of new destinations and new ways of traveling. Sixty years later, he’s still leading the way and discovering new places to explore. Geoffrey’s pioneering adventures began at the age of 16, when he had just been expelled from high school in Kenya. He soon set ...
Apr 19, 2022•34 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Space tourism is a hot topic in travel these days, but what exactly is space tourism? Jane Poynter, the co-founder and -CEO of Space Perspective, give us the low-down on the realities of space tourism today—and how the facts in this case might be even better than the fantasy. Poynter’s career in space tourism stems from her time as one of the original team members of Biosphere 2, an experiment in which she and seven colleagues lived in a man-made, hermetically sealed environment for two years to...
Apr 05, 2022•36 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Onboard a 20-passenger yacht off the coast of Española Island in the Galapagos, Bruce interviews local expert, conservationist, and CEO of the luxury expedition company Ecoventura, Santiago Dunn. In this special episode, Dunn discusses the treasures and adventures that make the Galapagos islands one of the world’s most sought-after destinations—and how to make your trip exceed even your wildest dreams. It’s no secret that the Galapagos is one of the top wildlife destinations in the world—but it’...
Mar 22, 2022•34 min•Season 2Ep. 17
This week, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund CEO Dr. Tara Stoinski joins Bruce to discuss the fascinating scientific and conservation work the organization does in the mountains of Rwanda, as well as the fund’s brand-new Ellen DeGeneres Campus—a facility that will not only change how we study and protect mountain gorillas but also enhance what is already one of the world’s epic travel experiences. Continuing the work of the legendary Fossey—who was murdered in Rwanda in the 1980s—Stoinski and her team of...
Mar 08, 2022•36 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Bruce Poon Tip is the founder of G Adventures, the world’s largest small-group travel company, which takes some 200,000 travelers annually on trips ranging from luxury yachting expeditions for boomers to hostel backpacking excursions for millennials. No matter how different each itinerary may look, they all revolve around the same core themes: cultural immersion, benefiting local communities, and creating a transformative experience for both traveler and host. Indeed, Poon Tip was talking about ...
Feb 22, 2022•37 min•Season 2Ep. 15
In honor of Super Bowl LVI this week, sports expert and New York Times best-selling author of Fans, Larry Olmsted, discusses the world’s ultimate sporting events and how they can provide some of the most insightful cultural experiences for travelers. In this episode, Olmsted shares his favorite (and least favorite) events, ranging from the Super Bowl, to the Kentucky Derby, the Women’s World Cup, the Rugby World Cup in South Africa, and more! His newest book Fans, takes an exciting deep-dive int...
Feb 08, 2022•31 min•Season 2Ep. 14
ROAR AFRICA founder, women’s rights activist, and conservationist Deborah Calmeyer shares how her fascinating childhood in Zimbabwe inspired an equally interesting career creating some of Africa’s greatest safaris. Calmeyer’s stories—which include tales about growing up with a lioness as a pet, designing safaris for clients like Robert Redford, and having a near-death experience with a pack of wild dogs—are colored with her love and passion for the unlimited treasures and life-changing experienc...
Jan 25, 2022•40 min•Season 2Ep. 13
In 1994 in Lillehammer, Norway, Tommy Moe became the first U.S. male skier to win two medals in the same Olympics—one Gold, the other Silver. But Moe is much more than just one of the greatest downhillers in history; he is also a fun-loving free-skiing enthusiast and a pioneer of heliskiing in his adopted home state of Alaska. As someone who has skied just about everywhere for fun and sport, he’s the perfect guide to lead us on a global adventure to the world’s top ski destinations for 2022. Moe...
Jan 11, 2022•30 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Travel That Matters is taking a short break for the holiday season! We’ll be returning January 11th, 2022 with all new episodes airing every other week. Until then, enjoy episodes from Season 1 and share your favorite inspiring, life changing, or maybe just little known special places you’ve discovered on your travels with Bruce at Bruce@curtco.com or @TravelWithBruce on Twitter. We’d love to feature some of your top destinations on the show in 2022. Happy holidays and we’ll see you down the roa...
Dec 07, 2021•2 min
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts President Radha Arora is one of the most influential people in travel. He’s also a true connoisseur of global cuisine, and in this episode, he speaks with Bruce about some of his favorite dining destinations and go-to spots worldwide. Arora begins by giving us an insider’s view on a place he practically considers home: Paris. Rather than the famed Michelin-star establishments, Arora’s first stop in Paris is Le Bon Georges. At this small bistro, with its chalkboard m...
Nov 16, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Journeys to remote destinations like Antarctica, the Arctic, and Papua New Guinea are already ultimate adventures. Add a private superyacht to the equation, and those adventures soar to a whole new level. Such trips are the specialty of EYOS Expeditions, whose CEO, Ben Lyons, speaks to Bruce about these incredible journeys, his own personal adventures, and his passion for the extreme regions EOS explores. The primary advantage to a yacht charter over, say, a standard cruise, is that you can expl...
Nov 02, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 10
For some travelers, visiting a destination isn’t just about what they can experience, but about the specific goals they set out to achieve while there. Bruce calls it Accomplishment Travel—a term he coined to describe the one-of-a-kind adventures of his friend and fellow journalist Jackie Caradonio. The daughter of a hotel general manager, Jackie grew up in hotels, but it was at childhood sports camps where she started developing a travel style all her own. Whether it was tennis, equestrian, or ...
Oct 19, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 9
There are countless reasons to love travel, but for many people, the magic of a great hotel experience drives their passion. Marriott International’s Senior Vice President of Luxury Brands, Chris Gabaldon, joins Bruce Wallin to talk about some of the more than 130 new Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and other hotels that his company will be opening in the coming months and years—but also about his personal love for hotels and travel. Gabaldon points out that many historic hotels, such as the St. Regis ...
Oct 05, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Few hotels combine exclusivity, luxury, and sustainability like the Brando does. In the first of our miniseries focusing on the best hotels and resorts in the world, we take a closer look at this remarkable private island property set on the Teti'aroa atoll near Tahiti. The vision for the resort began with Teti'aroa’s owner—and French Polynesia’s most famous resident—Marlon Brando. After falling in love with French Polynesian culture, Brando bought his own piece of paradise in 1967. After years ...
Sep 21, 2021•21 min
Bruce speaks with adventurer, conservationist, and Journeys by Design founder Will Jones about the best safari destinations for different types of travelers. From first timers to seasoned vets of the Sub-Saharan circuit, Jones has led clients like Ralph Lauren and other high-profile people on countless adventures that combine conservation, cultural immersion, and high-adrenaline action. With his new Off-Google trips, he is starting to take those clients deeper—and on more meaningful journeys—tha...
Sep 07, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 7
We are all dreaming of the next place we want to travel, and for many, Italy is at the top of their list. But is it time to reconsider our relationship with the world’s most beloved destination? On this episode of Travel That Matters, travel journalist and Italy expert Maria Shollenbarger shares her secrets on how to experience the very best of the country in a more meaningful, sustainable, and insiderly way. Maria was an editor at large at Condé Nast Traveler and a senior editor at Travel &...
Aug 24, 2021•36 min•Ep. 6
No one knows your family like Sue Hills does. A longtime director on the TV show Who Do You Think You Are? , Hills is the founder of the genealogical travel company Ancestral Footsteps. While DNA testing and genealogical tours have become popular in recent years, Ancestral Footsteps takes you several steps further, diving deep into your family history and leading you on a personal, highly customized adventure to discover your specific origin story. In this episode of Travel that Matters, host Br...
Aug 10, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Preferred Hotels & Resorts CEO Lindsey Ueberroth has visited more than 100 countries, and she oversees a company with 700-plus hotels worldwide. So where does she want to go next? Not surprisingly, Ueberroth has a long list of places she’d like to visit—and that she recommends for fellow travelers—as the world reopens. With her lifelong experience—she grew up with parents in the travel industry—and her leadership position in the luxury space, Ueberroth has a unique perspective on how we migh...
Jul 27, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Extraordinary Adventure Club Founder Calum Morrison joins Travel that Matters to talk about the truly transformational travel experiences he curates for his clients. The former British Royal Marine and his team of life coaches, trainers, survival experts, and other specialists create highly personalized journeys of self-discovery for their clients—but the clients have no idea where they’re going. After an initial retreat in a secret wilderness location, the EAC team assesses the individual’s nee...
Jul 13, 2021•34 min•Ep. 3
Emmy-award winning filmmakers, conservationists, and luxury-safari pioneers Dereck and Beverly Joubert speak with Bruce about their incredible adventures, their efforts to document and preserve African wildlife, and how to get the very best out of a safari experience. The Jouberts’ safari company, Great Plains Conservation, manages some of Africa’s most exclusive camps—in locations from Botswana’s Okavango Delta to the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe and the Chyulu Hills of Kenya. Part of the environm...
Jun 29, 2021•29 min•Ep. 2
Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch joins Bruce to talk about international luxury travel in the post-pandemic world. Virtuoso is a leading name in luxury travel with a network of nearly 20,000 advisors worldwide. As people were stuck at home, many of those travel advisors—a term Upchurch much prefers to ‘travel agents’—pivoted to help their clients plan big-ticket trips in the distant future. But as borders open, Upchurch says Virtuoso is seeing unprecedented demand for this summer and beyond. Now th...
Jun 15, 2021•33 min•Ep. 1
Explore the world’s most extraordinary travel experiences with award-winning editor, writer, and luxury travel expert Bruce Wallin (National Geographic, Departures, and longtime editorial director at Robb Report). Each episode will inspire you with fascinating stories about unique, life-shaping journeys—and connect you to the remarkable people who make them possible. Gain insider access to extravagant hotels, impactful adventures, and secret hideaways, and discover the magic of travel at its ver...
Jun 08, 2021•2 min
