Episode 252 - Christine Winebrenner Irick, Soul of Travel Podcast
In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine shares a soulful celebration of Season 6 and 250+ episodes of the Soul of Travel Podcast.
In this special Season 6 Celebration Episode, join Christine and the following treasured guests for a heartfelt and soulful — and often vulnerable — conversation about what we have accomplished together so far, what the podcast requires in order to continue, and where we are headed in 2026 and beyond.
Thank You To Our Episode Guests
Amanda & Asnath Kessy, Founders | Still Waters Safaris
Becki Rupp, Adventure Coach, Founder | Trailblazer Wellness
Carly Oduardo, Content Marketing Consultant | ConVerGente.io
Hilary Matson, MBA, Founder | Yugen Earthside
Mary Ellen Mansfield, Small Business and Nonprofit Accountant | Natural Accountant LLC
Siham Lahmine, Luxury Culinary & Heritage Specialist, Founder | Morocco Travel Organizer
Suzanne Rommelfanger, Tourism & Sustainable & Adventure Travel Leader
Vincie Ho, Social Change Leader, Founder and Executive Director | RISE Travel Institute
Since Season 1 of Soul of Travel Podcast, this community has been a space for women+ who seek solace and inspiration in community! This special episode features insights and celebrations from host Christine Winebrenner Irick, followed by guest contributions from the recording of our 250+ Episode Celebration.
We are thrilled to see where this community will lead next, and look forward to returning for Season 7 of the podcast in 2026 as we continue to be a force for amplifying voices and expanding impact!
Our Buzzsprout Stats
46,857+ lifetime downloads!
154 Countries!
3,278 Cities!
Top Cities are:
Quito, Provincia de Pichincha - 2 % - 1,140
Denver, Colorado - 2 % - 1,098
Seattle, Washington - 2 % - 1,062
Kalispell, Montana - 2 % - 1,004
Toronto, Ontario - 1 % - 853
Top Countries are:
🇺🇸 United States 61 % 28,595
🇨🇦 Canada 7 % 3,674
🇬🇧 United Kingdom 6 % 3,100
🇦🇺 Australia 3 %1,409
🇪🇨 Ecuador 2 % 1,349
🇸🇬 Singapore 1 % 859
🇲🇽 Mexico 1 % 638
🇳🇱 Netherlands 1 % 572
🇫🇷 France 0 % 427
🇩🇪 Germany 0 % 414
Connect with the Soul of Travel Podcast Community
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Book Sojourn Reimagined
More than a book club, the Book Sojourn is a space for women+ to dig deep into personal and professional growth in a sacred space. We are seeking partners for hosting and facilitating conversations for 2026 book sojourn gatherings. Contact Christine at souloftravelpodcast@gmail.com to learn more.
Quarterly Soul of Travel Virtual Gatherings
Come as you are, and leave transformed!
Bookmark our Events page: https://www.souloftravelpodcast.com/events
January 20, 2026 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am Mountain (Denver, CO, USA)
April 21, 2026 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am Mountain (Denver, CO, USA)
July 21, 2026 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am Mountain (Denver, CO, USA)
November 10, 2026 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am Mountain (Denver, CO, USA)
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A Note from Christine
As I met with past guests and podcast listeners to celebrate during virtual gatherings this week, I was reminded that this is so much more than a podcast. It is a space for connection, for shared wisdom and it is a movement.
Over the past 5 years, Soul of Travel has…
Asked travelers to consider meaning and impact over mileage and country counts.
Inspired women to reclaim travel as a pathway to their power.
Encouraged the travel industry to ask: what impact are we creating?
Brought storytelling to the table as a catalyst for global change.
Shared how slow, intentional travel becomes an act of resistance.
Built a community with aligned values where mindful travel is our compass.
The Soul of Travel is found in the moment the world pauses long enough to listen – to each other, to the Earth and to the deeper calling behind why we travel.
It is the energy we draw from that inspires work we do and carries us forward as we shepherd a small light that together creates the brighter future we dream of bringing into existence.
I hope that as you listen, you feel it. That you feel something beyond a travel podcast, the strength that comes from amplifying the voices of women and feel the wave created by our shared vision, passion and dreams.
“I hope that as you listen, you feel it, that you feel something beyond a travel podcast, the strength that comes from amplifying the voices of women. And you feel the wave created by our shared vision, passion, and dreams.”
Soul of Travel Episode 252 At a Glance
In this conversation, Christine shares:
· Celebrations for the 50,000+ downloads and 250+ episodes of the Soul of Travel Podcast (!!)
· Upcoming Soul of Travel projects, including quarterly meetups!
· Soul of Travel Podcast Merch & CommuniTees
· Ways to support the Soul of Travel podcast production going forward, including sponsorship and partnership opportunities
· The importance of rest and the podcast’s upcoming brief hiatus
Join Christine now for this soulful celebration.
LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation Buy Me a Coffee.
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goal #3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Sustainable Development Goal #4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Sustainable Development Goal #5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Sustainable Development Goal #16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
About the Soul Of Travel Podcast
Soul of Travel honors the passion and dedication of people making a positive impact in the tourism industry. In each episode, you’ll hear the stories of women who are industry professionals, seasoned travelers, and community leaders. Our expert guests represent social impact organizations, adventure-based community organizations, travel photography and videography, and entrepreneurs who know that travel is an opportunity for personal awareness and a vehicle for global change.
Join us to become a more educated and intentional traveler as you learn about new destinations, sustainable and regenerative travel, and community-based tourism. Industry professionals and those curious about a career in travel will also find value and purpose in our conversations.
We are thought leaders, action-takers, and heart-centered change-makers who inspire and create community. Join host Christine Winebrenner Irick for these soulful conversations with our global community of travelers exploring the heart, the mind, and the globe.
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Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). GUEST NAME (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo.
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Partner with Christine for the 2026 Soulful Book Sojourn
Lotus Sojourns offers transformational travel experiences for women, as well as being a hub for a global community of women. We offer a virtual book club, the Soulful Book Sojourn, to inspire travel, create cultural awareness, and offer personal growth experiences from the comfort of your home (or wherever you may be lucky enough to be!).
Book Sojourns offer you the opportunity to have many of the same types of experiences you would have on a Sojourn and create a space for personal awareness and transformation. Learn more about the Soulful Book Sojourn here.
We are seeking partners and hosts for 2026!
Contact Christine to discuss partnering for a Soulful Book Sojourn.
WE WON A BESSIE AWARD! The Bessie Awards recognize the achievements of women and gender-diverse people making an impact in the travel industry. To view the complete list of 2022’s winners, visit bessieawards.org.
Soul of Travel Episode 252 Transcript
Women’s travel, transformational travel, sustainable travel, women leaders in travel, social entrepreneurship
Christine: Hey listeners, this is your host, Christine, and here we are today celebrating 250 episodes and the end of season six of the podcast. It hardly seems like that much time has passed or that that many conversations have been had. But when I look back at the website and scroll through all of the guest blogs for each episode, I am reminded of so many beautiful connections, important insights, and powerful moments that have shaped soul of travel into what it is today.
And as I met with past guests and podcast listeners to celebrate during our virtual gatherings this week. I was reminded that this is so much more than a podcast. It is a space for connection, for shared wisdom is a movement. Thinking more about the greater space of the podcast, I was reflecting on the conversations we've had and over the past five years, soul of Travel has asked travelers to consider meaning and impact.
Over mileage and country counts. Inspired women to reclaim travel as a pathway to their power. Encourage the travel industry to ask what impact are we creating? Brought storytelling to the table as a catalyst for global change. Shared how slow and intentional travel becomes an act of resistance and built a community with aligned values.
We're mindful. Travel is our compass. The soul of travel is found in the moment The world pauses long enough to listen, listen to each other, to the earth, and to the deeper calling behind why we travel. It is this energy that we draw from. That inspires the work we do and carries us forward as we shepherd a small light that together creates the brighter future we dream of bringing into existence.
I hope that as you listen, you feel it, that you feel something beyond a travel podcast, the strength that comes from amplifying the voices of women. And you feel the wave created by our shared vision, passion, and dreams. As we end the season, we are taking a moment to pause, reflect, and redefine. You won't hear conversations this December and January, giving us time to take stock in the work we have done and determine how best to move forward.
These last few episodes have been incredible and the perfect note to end the season on. And if I'm a bit vulnerable and transparent, if I'm really honest, these could be the last episodes of the podcast. And while it breaks my heart to say this. It is a reality that I am facing, and since we are a community, I invite you to be here in this moment with me.
For the past few years, I have funded this podcast and its production. However, aspects in my life have changed and it no longer makes as much sense or is feasible for me to do so. So as you continue through the rest of this episode, hearing from me and those who have joined our virtual celebrations, I ask that you consider if this is a space that has impacted you, if it is important to continue to exist, to be a space that celebrates women innovating and leading in our industry.
If you find that it is, please decide if you can contribute. As an individual donor sponsor, advertiser, or partner in the podcast, I'll share more at the end of the episode. In my heart, I truly believe this is a space that continues and expands, and I would love to hear from you what you have found value in what you'd like to see in the future, and any ways you see where I and the podcast can add value and generate revenue in out of the box ways.
So, as I mentioned, we've been gathering together virtually, and I'm excited to share some of this with you. We're gonna begin by looking at our reach, , the web of stories that we weave around the world, the countries and cities that we are reaching, the downloads. This is coming from these live sessions, so I'm gonna share that information with you here
now.
Well, some of the things that I had wanted to share, are some of the statistics about the podcast just because I think, um, for Carly and I, it's really interesting to see where this is landing.
As I was talking about those threads, for me, I kind of vision that as a literal kind of tapestry and watching. Grow and move across the world, and I just noticed this week, normally for the past. I don't know, maybe six months to a year it has said that the podcast is listened to in 153 countries and now it says 154.
And I was like, what was the new country? And I was trying to figure it out. And it doesn't, it doesn't give me that particular data. But um, still if envisioning 154 countries that people are listening in that broad of an audience, to me that's just like. If creating community and empowering women is my goal, I feel like.
That really shows that we are creating community. Even if we're all sitting by ourselves listening, we feel a part of this bigger story. Um, also over 3000 cities. Um, which again, just to me seeing that reach and I will go through and kind of look and find the cities and I'm like, wow, there's places I haven't even heard of where someone is sitting and hearing.
The story of someone I'm speaking to. So that to me, I, I just love that, um, the top cities and this one just stays in the running. And I, I'm not sure exactly how, but keto is the most, where most listened to city for the podcast. Um, and then Denver, where I live is right behind that. Um, and then Seattle, a little town near where I grew up in Montana, and then Toronto, Ontario are the top.
Five cities. Um, and then the countries where we have the biggest reach is the us, which isn't that surprising. Um, Canada and UK and then right now Australia, Ecuador, and Singapore, um, I think Singapore is new to that top five countries list. So again, I'm like, Ooh, I wonder like what wave brought that to Singapore and to sit and watch.
Where we're moving I think is always interesting. Um, I had a goal of getting to 250 episodes, which we just reached last week. Um, that's very exciting. Um, and then the next goal is 50,000 downloads, just because that's a easy metric and we're really close. We have about 3000 downloads US per buzz sprout.
So. Metrics are kind of vague, but it's just a goal that we have. Um, and then looking at our audience, um, on Spotify, they track audience data a little better. Right now, their listeners are 90% female, which I think is not surprising. Um, the average age of listeners 50. Or 35 to 44, which is actually, so I thought surprising.
I thought that it would be skewing a little older than that. Um, so that's really interesting for me to see. Um, so yeah, that just gives us a little idea about who is kind of in this community. Um, Mary Ellen, I know you were kind of wondering where, where we are and who we are right now. It has been virtual.
This is something that I just had an aha moment, um, with. I was interviewing Kate Williams last week from 1% for the Planet, and she was talking a little bit about a moment in her. Career path when she was trying to decide if she wanted to continue with engaging people to get them outdoors or with helping to conserve the outdoors.
So we had somewhere to go and I was like, oh my gosh, I love that distinction of those being two different paths. And in that moment I kind of was thinking about how. Soul of Travel has maybe been trying to be two paths and that where the uniqueness of Soul of Travel is actually the, the guests and the community around travel.
And a lot of people want this to be a travel podcast, which it just isn't. And so really trying to kind of. Clearly define that path and then create , a space to gather, which is on my radar for next year, , I'm in a plan, quarterly gatherings.
Um, and so that, that's something that I'm really looking forward to. To doing, 'cause a lot of people have asked for that. When we have gathered together in person, it's always really incredible. And so I'd like to create some virtual spaces for that as well. I mentioned next year, I want to kind of create some new community spaces. I'm looking at, um, launching a new version of the, um, Lotus Sojourns book Club, and Lotus Sojourns is my women's travel company. Um. I wanna again, kind of tap into this, this community of soul of travel a little bit more and ask what they would need out of this space.
And I know a lot of really interesting coaches and business educators and community creators, um, also community leaders within this community. And I'm thinking about partnering up with them to host a book. Each quarter or each month or each six months? , or every other month.
'cause I love book club. Carly has done it with me for like four years. Of the five years we've done it this year, kind of ebbed and flowed. Um, when it's going, it's. Remarkable. Um, but I think I just, I would love to partner with some other community leaders to keep the energy alive in that, um. We've done really great books that are, you know, personal development, professional development, , inspiration about nature.
Um, one that I'm reading right now, it's literally sitting on my desk, is awe. Um, and it is the science of everyday wonder and how it transforms your life and thinking about it in the context of creating travel experiences and creating containers for connection. A lot of. Like what he was talking about is the connection between awe and being connected.
Um, so that was one of the inspirations to kind of think about that differently. Um, we are looking for new ways to think about partnerships and sponsorships because the way that people understand. And really, we've kind of , drawn a hard line that we might have to like. Fundraise, create some content, stop fundraise, create some content, and stop. Which isn't how I want to do it at all because I have this list of like 200 women I'd like to interview.
But um, also it's just the reality of things. Um, I started this as a part of my travel company business five years ago when I started it, but that's not what it looks like today. So we're just trying to get creative about that. Carly and I have also been , brainstorming about some of the offerings that we have. Created as one-off offerings for different brands and organizations and how to create them into actual offers. Um, and these are all kind of storytelling series. And one of them that we've done was for a brand where we did a series of traveler interviews and a founder interview.
Um, and we did video and audio so that they could tell. Kind of their brand and experience story and put that on their website and social media. So it wasn't something we used at the podcast, but they're using it for storytelling. And then I ran a series of interviews for women in Travel, CIC, and they used those interviews to promote their I-W-T-T-F event in Lu London, which is the International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum.
And that series of interviews was spectacular. I kind of got to tap into, um, a new. Group of leaders that maybe I wouldn't have had had access to or been headed in that direction yet. Um, but that has opened up a whole nother kind of arm of that web. Um, so that's was a really fun project. There's so many incredible women's travel events or, um, events that I think could use that storytelling as a way to engage future.
Um, participants. Um, and then the other idea I had is for a specific trip, like if a tour operator is launching a trip in a new destination or just a new style of trip, we could do a series of interviews. If they're aligned, we can share 'em on the podcast. If not, they can be for them as well. And we could interview again, like returning guests or trip hosts, destination experts, and create a storytelling campaign for them.
, I hope
you enjoyed hearing all of the corners of the world, that Soul of travel is touching, and that you are excited about these storytelling opportunities that can be a part of your business to create conversation, tell a richer story of your business. If you want to know more, just reach out. I'm happy to connect and discuss how we can creatively partner.
Next up you'll hear from one of our community supporters, Suzanne Radelfinger, whom I work with at Rise Travel Institute. I love hearing how the podcast has expanded her community and circle of women. She mentions the pause of the podcast, and again, I want to acknowledge how important this break from the podcast is not only to reflect and regroup, but to heal personally.
Suzanne: thanks for sharing so many updates. Christine, I, it's exciting me to learn more about the statistics and kind of where your reach is and who's, you know, been following the podcast and how it's grown. And I'm glad you're taking a bit of a break. I think it's healthy, especially over the holidays and kind of a reset for next year.
But I do love that by you featuring different women, it's not just about the conversation, it's kind of highlighting women that you can then. Con, I've tried to connect with some of your podcast folks and follow their journey, learn more about their story, and just grow my own community, like fangirling about all these incredible women doing wonderful things in the space.
So, you know, you're sort of shining that, um, that light on them by every woman that you're featuring. So even if you can't catch the full conversation. Do that deeper dive. It's sort of amplifying who are these people and what are they doing? And you know, then continuing to sort of share, like, comment, you know, their stories as well.
So,
Christine: yeah. Thank you for sharing that. I mean, that's what I hope, and I see it happen sometimes, or somebody will say, you know, I listened to this episode. I was super inspired, reached out. Now we're collaborating on designing a trip in X, Y, Z, or you know, the different things like that. Which for me, that's.
Exactly What I want is I want that ripple. So if you know your business can work with, you know, an operator in Morocco and now you heard about this person and loved what they had to say about how they think about travel, and it just kind of extends out that way. So I appreciate that
Suzanne: and that's the beauty, like one of the silver linings of the pandemic is I used to only know the people that I knew pretty much in Boston.
That's where I'm based. And you know, I had a lot of connections in my local area, but now I feel like my global connections have been built and developed because I was attending every single webinar trying to connect with so many people on LinkedIn trying to figure out who's doing what in the space, how can I help you?
And you know, your podcast is part of that. You know, web of growing connections and supporting each other. I mean, it's, it feels like your friends with these women, even if you've never met them or even had a chance to work or partner with them, you know, and sort of that sort of, um, fondness for.
Again, just an online virtual community and you're part of that. So
Christine: yeah. Thank
Suzanne: you.
Christine: Again, thank you, Suzanne, for sharing how the podcast has supported you. Carly Eduardo, CEO of Conte, and my podcast producer digs a little deeper asking what we might consider as we evolve, what ways we can build on what is working best and how we can serve our community and add value to this space.
Carly: knowing all of the episodes, all of the guests, how can we support women who are building or working in travel like entrepreneurs?
I, the percentage is like. 90% of the people are business owners. They're small business owners. They've created something amazing, something that's values aligned to them. , you talked about it in the last episode, where so many people have left corporate jobs and are now in the travel space because of the community they offers and the impact it offers and the connection and all of that.
That's the big, like abstract ethereal world I feel like we could be playing in.
Christine: Yeah, it's kind of a support for how to get connected, how to. Maybe get the courage to start your own business and leave and like really take a stand on values aligned business.
This is. Yeah. Part of like that I was drafting a book on mindful travel, and it was not necessarily just about like taking a trip that's mindful, but running a business that's mindful. And part of that is the very first thing is understanding your personal values and how it translates into your professional environment.
The other thing that happened that was fun the other day, AI I was asking, I was like, oh, I just. I need a quick outline for this episode 'cause my brain isn't focusing right now.
And it's like, here's a great question you might ask. It was like, what's the soul of travel mean to you? And I was like, oh my God, that is a great question. Why have I never asked that? I was like, you know, it's like when you listen to a podcast and like I always, the first thing I always ask my guests is X, Y, Z.
And I was like, that's a great thing because it's tapping into that. Essence, and when you listen to next week's episode, it's talking about tapping into the this, which is this. Entity or this force or this energy that kind of propels you and doesn't always tell you what shape it wants to take, but it's moving you forward anyway.
And I'm like, that's the, this, that's the soul of travel. It's like this unnamed force that you are trying to align with to create something in the world, in your business and in your work. And um, yeah, so figuring out maybe how we can help other people tap into. The, this sounds perfectly able to put that into like a tagline of a workshop.
Tap into your, the this.
Carly: Another thing Kate said was, is there a, there, there like, I feel like that that is another one. It's perfect.
Christine: We
Carly: we're just not this finding the this and, and the there that's there,
Christine: I love this idea of tapping into the this, and I know we were joking a bit, but I think this is such an important part of the soul of travel is actually the soul in our work. So I look forward to exploring the ways we can support more folks on that journey. Up next past guest, friend, and tremendous supporter of the podcast, Becky Ru, founder and coach at Trailblazer Wellness Shares and celebrates the podcast.
She is joined by Siham Lamine, founder of Morocco Travel Organizer Morocco's first women-owned Luxury, culinary and heritage specialist and Soul of travel guest. Who reminds me to not only celebrate 250 episodes, but all the time and heart that is connected to that number. It reminds me of a LinkedIn post I read by another past guest, Beth Santos, founder and CEO of Wonderful who shared that we can easily celebrate reaching our goals.
But what happens when we don't reach it, when we don't win the award or the race? Is there something still there to celebrate? And she asks us to celebrate the effort. And I think that is something so important to carry forward, because much like in travel, the real prize isn't always the destination.
It's the journey and our effort along the way. So thank you to Sam for bringing that idea back to top of mind for me and for being a part of the conversation.
Becki: first, Christine, I just wanna say huge congratulations for getting to this point. It is absolutely incredible that you've done 250 episodes and I know the origin story, of course. And I mean, it's not like you are like, I'm gonna create this big, huge podcast, you know? Um. It just has grown so organically and incredibly, um, it's, it's just truly so impressive and the caliber of guests that you've had on and the quality of the conversations is just really, I feel like unmatched, especially in the travel space.
Christine: Thank you.
Sahim: Christine. hi. I just wannA add that you really like, need to take also a moment to pause and be proud of yourself. Honestly, I mean, all of these hours while saying 250 episodes seems like a number, but one episode that means so many hours, so many times, so many thinking, so many selection. It's not that easy.
This is one epo, one episode. So imagine for 250, a lot of what you have shared today in terms of thoughts like really resonates deeply, and like the moment you're gonna share that into emails like. Our role and maybe every woman role that would like that we're honored to be part of your podcast should spread the word and see how like to assist in anyways really, because what you're doing is great.
You've been supporting women. It's resonate the most. Maybe for me because I am from local. It's not like I am from another country and you have selected me without any bias, without anything. So honestly, thank you so much for that. And as I said, like I'm sharing it on my website. I'm proud like to be part of your podcast and anything that we can do or I can do personally, I'll do it for sure.
So really, thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.
Christine: I've been thinking about how to make the podcast and the content even more valuable, not only the stories as they exist now, but to create ways to bring similar threads together and help listeners.
Search for what they're looking for more easily and to share this collective wisdom with more listeners in a concise and helpful way. So we're beginning to put some of those tools and resources together. Speaking of ideas and what is new, I shared with the attendees of the virtual gathering about. The Soul of Travel and Lotus communities that I recently launched that you can find now on the website under podcast merch, down in the website footer.
So I'm gonna just move back over to the live session to share more about this with you.
And I, I love, actually, I have seen so many people in my community like connecting or sharing. I don't know if it's because they listened to the podcast, but in particular, like I really have seen like the web of people connected and interconnected to you and it's been really fun to watch and see and I'm like, yes, she is amazing.
Or someone will be like, I'm looking for someone in Morocco. I'm like, okay, here's someone I just interviewed. And I think that's really great too about the podcast is that. People can listen and really get to know who each of you are, because it's not just a marketing pitch, it's actually your story. Um, I know like for Hillary, we got to talk, you know, six months after you started your company, I think maybe less than six months.
And then we just had a conversation again this year and to see. To be able to kind of share with listeners like the growth and what you have learned and what you've implemented in your business. I also think that's really, really valuable. And um, I think, again, kind of unique to this space. Like a lot of times people just have a conversation and then you're like scrolling down their feed and I don't want that to be true.
Like I. I watch every one of you and learn from you all of the time, and I, I can see the value and so I wanna continue to be able to. Cultivate that and, and keep carrying it forward in the best that I can. And also, I love what you said too, Sam, about like, I can't do it all, but I think if, if each of us can see what the value was for us and share that, that also helps not only to grow the podcast, but.
The visibility for every person, because most people don't drop in and just like listen to an episode unless they know you and they're just doing it for you. Right. But most people, once they land in a space, will start to dig through and see who else they know. One of the other projects that I just launched, um, again, as a way to kind of. Bring another revenue source, but to do something that's important to me, I brought back the t-shirts that I had done during, um, the pandemic. Um, I had a bunch of trips that I had canceled for Lotus Sojourns, and I was thinking about the loss of revenue for the women's, uh, organizations that I had created my trips around.
Um, and I, I didn't like that I wasn't going to be able to contribute in the economic way that I had. Had wanted to. And so I created shirts that had messages that in that moment I needed. Um, I was super wearing all of the shirts that said like, you know, better together and everything. I was like, this is the only way I'm surviving this moment somehow was this t-shirt.
Um, but I created a bunch of those and then recently I've been wearing my equality period t-shirt a lot. Um, again, just as like my way of like, this is my. Voice out into the world. So I just relaunched these shirts. They're on the podcast website and a percentage of each of them is going to these different organizations.
And then also, um, some of that will be contributing to this fund for producing the podcast moving forward. Um, no obligation, but if anything resonates with you, they're there. Um. I am really excited that one of the shirts will support Rise Travel Institute, which is a community partner for the podcast, um, for me.
Again, this is really important, is this community that we're creating. So we have several community partners. We have amplification allies that are aligned as well with telling the message of the podcast. We kind of constantly try to find ways that we can elevate each other. Um, women's work. Wonderful. Um, journey Woman.
There's all of these organizations that we have tried to partner with to amplify each other's work. Um, so that's where these are going. Um, the equality period Sure is supporting Fury Foundation, which one of our recent past guests, um, her, she started this, um, to support menstrual equity, um, around the world.
And she was a part of a think tank. And, um, that's not what the, the wording they would use, but a women's um. Community and accelerator program that I was a part of a few years ago and she's really grown her organization and so I wanted to continue to support her. Um, and then the she will Move Mountain Shirt is supporting Women for Women International.
And again, I feel like I moved it over to the podcast as opposed to my travel company. 'cause I feel like this is telling what the podcast wants to stand for. Um, that it's not just a podcast. Like, um, I had talked about. I throw things into chat GPT all the time when my brain is stuck, which is more often than I want it to be right now.
And it was like, this isn't a podcast, it's a movement. And I was like, darn straight it is chat GPT. But I was like, I wanna use that energy that, I mean, that's true. That's what I would like this to be. So, um, just trying to kind of think about how we can continue to create. Different ways of showing what this podcast means to us and means to me.
I want to quickly add a show note here. The organization I couldn't recall in the live session is Vital Voices, which is an organization that invests in women who are taking on the world's greatest challenges. And I was so honored to be a part of that accelerator program. And if it isn't on your radar, I highly recommend learning more about Vital Voices. Thank you for letting me give you that update. I also shared about our new quarterly gatherings that I will be hosting to tap into the collective wisdom of this community and to create a space for more connection and amplification of each other's work. And past guests and founder of Yugen, Hilary Matson shares how she believes these sessions will be valuable.
Hilary: I have like a few thoughts bobbling around in my head. First of all, thank you so much and I love this community and really appreciate being part of it. Um, I love the idea of quarterly chats. I know for me and probably for a lot of the women you speak with or people you speak with, that it's like a mostly alone solo journey.
So it's really nice to tap into like a broader community and remember that we're all pieces of this same big puzzle. And like in that same vein, I think it'd be so awesome if like part of the quarterly sessions had either a topic or like a space for people to come with like, this is what I'm struggling with, or this is a win.
And see what like learnings or help we could give each other because we're all at different phases and different stages of our businesses or projects. So I think that would be really cool and a good way to kind of like tap into the. I don't know, energy, like the knowledge bank of all of us.
Christine: Next up we hear from past guest and founder and executive director of Rise Travel Institute. Vince Ho and I am so proud to be able to support Vinci as a board member at Rise. And would also love to share that you can contribute to our end of the year fundraising efforts. There will be a link in the show notes or you can visit RISE's website or give Better and Find Rise Travel Institute there as well.
Vincie: I just wanted to say congratulations, Christine, you know, last year I had. Privilege to, to join this same call, uh, from your home and Yeah, it's just, time flies. It's been a year already and I am just, you know, I just feel very honored to, to see your podcast continue to grow and, um, yeah.
And whatever directions that you're headed, um, yeah. I'll always be your cheerleader. Mm-hmm. So, thank you.
Christine: Again, such a big fan of Vincent and her work at Rise and the admiration I think is mutual and much appreciated.
So thank you so much for, for being here, and thank you so much for being a part of the podcast.
Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for supporting each other, actually, most importantly, because that's what makes me really, really happy. Then, so thank you all. I appreciate you.
Christine: Okay. So that is
the end of the live gatherings that I wanted to share with you here today. Uh, we are going to wrap up our season wrap up episode. Just have a few last things to share with you first. I know I mentioned several times throughout this, but I wanna make sure it's. Really clear how you can find more information.
We do have our quarterly virtual gather dates. Um, those are already set. You can find the signup for the first one at www.souloftravelpodcast.com/events. That's where you'll find all of the upcoming events for the coming year. The dates are January 20th, April 21st. July 21st and November 10th. Those are all scheduled right now to be held from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Mountain time here where I'm based in Denver, Colorado in the us.
Um, if we find that that is conflicting and we can't get the number of attendees or people can't attend, I might adjust or add additional dates or times. Um, but right now that seems like the best time for the most of. People, um, in different time zones. So again, January 20th. Soul of Travel podcast.com/events.
Another opportunity I have for us to gather coming up, as I mentioned, is the revised and updated book club. I'm hoping to be refining that and announcing it. Soon, um, before the end of the year so that you can join us. So again, just be paying attention to Soul of Travel podcast.com/events. Also, if you are on our emailing list, you're gonna be able to see all of that and receive the invitations to join.
Um, as I mentioned earlier in this episode. We have a few different ways you're gonna be able to work with the podcast moving forward. That's gonna give us some of the economic opportunities that we need to be able to continue to produce the podcast. Those are the storytelling series options that we have to create a brand storytelling, an event storytelling, or a specific trip storytelling package.
You can email Soul of Travel podcast@gmail.com to find out more information about how to participate in those storytelling and marketing campaigns. Lastly, please don't forget that we are looking for financial support to move the podcast forward. So if you want to see Season seven and hear more of these great conversations, now is the time to really show up and support this community.
You can go to buy me a coffee.com/soul of Travel podcast. Or if you wanna reach out directly with another creative way to collaborate again, soul of Travel podcast@gmail.com is where you can reach me. I'll also share the link to the sponsor page and advertising opportunities in the show note. But just as a quick overview, you can know that each episode costs approximately $300 for us to produce.
Um, a mid-roll ad placement is currently available for $600, which covers the cost to produce the episode. As well as my time researching, preparing for, and conducting the interview, as well as meeting with you and your team and getting to understand your business, your goals, and your voice, and drafting and recording your custom storytelling advertisement.
I truly, truly appreciate your time in being here with me today and in being with me on this journey to share the stories of women making a positive impact in tourism. As we strive to make the industry more equitable and impactful. I look forward to continuing on this journey and hope to see you all in January at our first quarterly gathering and as we continue our storytelling in season seven.
Until then, enjoy your journey.
You can find me on Facebook at Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community, or follow me on Instagram either @lotussojourns or @souloftravelpodcast. Stay up to date by joining the Lotus Sojourns mailing list. I look forward to getting to know you and hopefully hearing your story.
