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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine shares The Responsibilities of the Heart: Reflections from WITS, IWTTF, ATTA Elevate and more!

In this solo episode, host Christine Winebrenner Irick invites you into a heartfelt reflection on the powerful lessons, connections, and conversations she experienced over the past few weeks while attending key travel industry events.

— Ruth Bader Ginsburg, quoted by Finnbar Cornwell of Google UK

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LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Support here: Buy Me a Coffee.

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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!

Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman.

Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and@souloftravelpodcast.

Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Christine Winebrenner Irick.

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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Avery Hale Smith.

Avery Hale Smith is the Chief Experience Officer at Backroads, where she brings a lifelong passion for travel, cultural connection and guest experience. Her global consciousness and love of outdoor adventure was inspired by her family’s extensive travels and time spent in nature throughout her childhood. Her passion for creating meaningful impact began early—at age 12, she founded a nonprofit focused on social advocacy, a commitment that was later recognized by the United Nations. Avery now forges new paths in travel at Backroads as Chief Experience Officer—a role for which she was recognized as one of the “Top 50 Women Chief Experience Officers of 2025” by Women We Admire. Avery Hale Smith looks forward to the future at Backroads, working alongside her father on a mission to open up a world of possibilities and experiences to as many people as possible through the joys of active travel.

Christine and Avery discuss:

• How travel has shaped her as a leader
• The ways in which travel is a reflection of our world
• Wellness beyond catchphrases and quick fixes
• Women’s Adventures and the 30’s-40’s trips launching this June at Backroads

Join Christine for this soulful conversation with Avery Hale Smith.

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LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Support here: Buy Me a Coffee.

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Learn more about Backroads and connect with Avery: https://backroads.com

Connect with Avery on your favorite social media network! Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn

Excited to check out the new Backroads travel experiences? Check out Backroads 30s & 40s and Women’s Adventures.

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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!

Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman.

Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast.

Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Avery Hale Smith (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo.

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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Eliza Pesuit.

Eliza Pesuit is the Founding CEO of Global Glimpse, a national nonprofit transforming travel into a force for education, impact, and global connection. Under her leadership, the organization has served over 10,000 high school students from diverse backgrounds, provided $20M in scholarships, and built a proven model that cultivates empathy, agency, and global perspective. Named a Top Woman in Travel & Hospitality (2024) and one of Causeartist’s 30 Nonprofit Leaders Who Will Impact the World, Eliza is redefining what it means to prepare the next generation of globally minded, purpose-driven leaders. She is now expanding Global Glimpse’s reach through Global Glimpse Journeys—a new line of custom travel programs for teams, leaders, and professional networks focused on connection, reflection, leadership, and impact.

Christine and Eliza discuss:

· The intersection of travel, education, and impact

· Global Glimpse’s important role for teens and young adults

· Shifting access to the formative lessons of travel to create a more just and equitable society

· Growth, momentum and trusting the process

· Creating a vision for the ways that travel and education can help us to envision a different future for the tourism industry

Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Eliza Pesuit.

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LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.

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Learn more and connect with Eliza: www.globalglimpse.org

Connect with Eliza on your favorite social media network! Instagram / Instagram / LinkedIn

Learn more about Global Glimpse Journeys!

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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!

Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman.

Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast.

Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Eliza Pesuit (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by

Support the show