In this first Soulful Replay, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with wmnsWORK alum Tara Busch, creator of the Conscious Travel Collective.
wmnsWORK is a 6-month virtual, equity free accelerator program designed specifically to support women and non-binary tourism entrepreneurs during the most critical part of their business journey – the early stages. They provide educational resources, mentorship, a space to create meaningful community, and access to expert advice that will accelerate the growth of your business and save you time + money.
Their mission is to empower women and non-binary individuals to build and grow thriving tourism businesses with a team of supporters (the wmnsWORK community + contributors!) behind them. wmnsWORK believes this will have the positive ripple effect on equality in leadership and ownership that our industry so desperately needs.
Applications are now open for the February 2027 cohort! Learn more at wmnswork.com.
Words of Wisdom
“What I learned within this community, and what I have since embodied, is how to be my own authority, how to build relationships that are not transactional, but are cooperative and are lasting, and how to shape my business to work for me and my partners and my clients.”
– Tara Busch, Conscious Travel Collective
Tara Busch was raised in California, the only child to a fearless single mother who gave her lots of rope to explore in her backyard on her own. Tara started Conscious Travel Collective with a mission of doing right by the destination and giving travelers an authentic experience, and when she looked closely, what she was really doing was crafting opportunities for connection. She decided to create trips that take travelers to amazing places around the world and introduce them to the incredible people who embody the spirit of their home while facilitating opportunities for them to share their home and heritage with travelers in a way that honors its traditions and positively impacts the communities, the travelers, and the planet.
Tara’s Soulful Episode Introduction & Update
Hi, Soul of Travel listeners. This is Tara from Conscious Travel Collective. I am so excited to be here sharing my conversation with Christine from episode 159 as part of the wmnsWORK Takeover this month on the Soul of Travel podcast. My episode originally aired in January of 2024, and since then, I have been staying the course to design and promote travel that creates meaning through connection.
Through our local partners, the smaller folks out there on this great big playing field of travel and tourism, we really want to be able to shine a light on giving ways for travelers to connect authentically with locals in the destination. You know, travelers who are curious about getting off the beaten path, but maybe nervous about where to start.
Of course, a lot has changed in travel since Christine and I first spoke, and one of the things I think about a lot lately is how travelers find support.
AI has been a big part of this conversation. It's really interesting to see and observe, you know, how our colleagues are kind of handling and navigating this new tool that seems to hold so much potential. We're really of the mind here at Conscious Travel Collective that there's no greater comfort than a truly personalized support and expertise, and we're focused on learning how to better reach the travelers who agree and are also looking for this kind of individualization and personalization to bring their travel visions to life.
The last few years have felt different in other ways as well. I hear from so many people who are feeling anxious or fearful in the midst of a changing world. So many of us are fighting everyday battles as well that may be kind of hidden behind the scenes, and it gives me immeasurable satisfaction to be on the side of celebrating those things that unite humanity, that forge connection.
And in a small way, I see the work that we're doing as burning a candle for hope and love and peace and joy, and I need this kind of hope and inspiration too. So giving it allows me to receive it in return. This is something I also find very much being part of the wmnsWORK alumni. I'm so humbled to be included in the celebration of that community.
Some of the most inspiring women I know have been a part of this group, and I'm thrilled to continue supporting the wmnsWORK community. The participants in these cohorts just really are such incredible visionaries. Their creativity, leadership, tenacity, they're bringing a collective approach to entrepreneurship, and one that rejects narratives of competition and scarcity, and instead says, "We can lean on each other, we can be vulnerable, and we can grow together, reaching higher than we would on our own."
The spirit of celebrating for and with each other is so genuine, and honestly, it's given me a lot of courage in how I lead my own business rather than following an old playbook of leadership that just didn't fit me, that didn't feel right. Before this cohort, I had expected I would learn how to better mold myself to do what I thought was required to achieve.
But what I learned within this community, and what I have since embodied, is how to be my own authority, how to build relationships that are not transactional, but are cooperative and are lasting, and how to shape my business to work for me and my partners and my clients. And, you know, I still have ups and downs and worries and uncertainty, of course, and this community is just such an anchor.
It gives me a safe place to air what's on my mind, to hear a fresh perspective, and to, you know, nudge me to celebrate wins. When I'd rather just march on to the next thing, it's really beautiful to have people that say, "No, wait, stop. Give yourself, you know, a pat on the back. Celebrate. This is great. This is what you've been working hard for."
And that never fails to happen; we do that for each other and can receive that congratulations as well, which is such a good feeling. This community is able to reflect back to me the importance of showing up for each other, even in the smallest ways, the impact of reciprocity, that beautiful exchange of giving as well as receiving.
And thank you to everyone for being here to support the Soul of Travel Podcast and the beautiful work that Christine does on behalf of both of these communities, the wmnsWORK cohort and all of the wonderful women that are a part of it. I hope you enjoy the replay.
~ Tara Busch
Soul of Travel Episode 267 At a Glance
In this conversation, Christine and Tara discuss:
· Tara’s earliest travel experiences and hopping on a plane by herself at the age of six
· Crossing the Atlantic and becoming a part of what has become her extended family in France
· Deep connection and traveling in a way that aligns with travel values
· Creating companies aligned with the value of connection
Join Christine and Tara Busch now for this soulful conversation.
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Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goal #5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode
Ready to accelerate your tourism business? Learn more about the wmnsWORK tourism business accelerator and apply for the February 2027 cohort here.
Visit Conscious Travel Collective to discover private travel experiences for small groups seeking meaningful connection. Connect with Tara on your favorite social media network: Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn.
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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Soul of Travel Episode 267 Transcript
Women’s travel, transformational travel, sustainable travel, women leaders in travel, social entrepreneurship
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.
