The RISE Traveler: Unpacking Conversations of Sustainable Travel
Episodes
Empowering Women Through Travel with Carolyn Ray
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this inspiring episode of The RISE Traveler: Unpacking Conversations of Sustainable Travel, host Amy Hager sits down with Carolyn Ray, CEO of Journ...
Love, Loss, and the Hidden Stories Behind Immigration – with Michael Luongo
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this heartfelt episode of The RISE Traveler, host Amy Hager speaks with writer and academic Michael Luongo again to explore the moving true story b...
Rebuilding Through Tourism with Michael Luongo
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this powerful conversation, Amy Hager sits down with journalist and academic Michael Luongo to explore how tourism can become a tool for recovery, ...
From Brazil to Bazaar: Laëtitia Damonsing on Travel, Identity & Sustainable Fashion
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The RISE Traveler, we sit down with Montreal-based entrepreneur Laëtitia Damonsing to explore how her global experiences shaped he...
Community-Based Travel: Building Connections Beyond Borders with Janna “Jaz” Zinzi, CEO of Wander Womxn Travels
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of RISE Traveler, host Amy Hager sits down with Janna “Jaz” Zinzi founder of WanderWomxn Travels, to explore how travel can go bey...
Championing Inclusive Travel with Roni Weiss
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this powerful Season 6 premiere, host Amy Hager sits down with Roni Weiss, Executive Director of Travel Unity, to explore the intersection of diver...
Celebrating 5 Years of Purposeful Travel: The RISE Travel Institute Story
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special 5th anniversary episode of the RISE Traveler Podcast, we reflect on five powerful years of growth, learning, and impact at RISE Travel...
Natalie Amezua on Leading with Kindness and Connection When Traveling
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this inspiring episode of the RISE Podcast, host Amy Hager sits down with longtime RISE volunteer and educator Natalie Amezcua to explore the deep ...
From Camper Vans to Conscious Travel with Cathy Ji
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Amy chats with Cathy Ji, a longtime RISE volunteer and Senior Manager of Finance and Fundraising. Cathy shares her journey into ...
How experiential travel can create positive impact with Jodi Suckle
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Amy sits down with Jodi Suckle, Experiential Travel Manager at RISE Travel Institute, live from Guatemala. They explore what it means...
Kara King on Conscious Travel, Refugee Work, and Rewriting the Travel Narrative
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this powerful and inspiring conversation, host Amy Hagar reconnects with longtime RISE volunteer and content creator Kara King. From writing blog p...
A Journey of Connection with Kristin Barron
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Amy Hager talks with Kristen Barron, grant manager at RISE Travel Institute, about her journey from corporate life to sustainabl...
Embracing the unknown: A conversation with Barbara Zerbe on Travel and Growth
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The episode features a conversation with Barbara Zerbe (she/her), a volunteer who heads up our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion policy and implementa...
Mini-episode! A focus on Travel Education with Steve Hesse
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The RISE Travel podcast is packed with valuable insights, so we’ve pulled out some key highlights for our listeners. Alongside our full-length episo...
Focus on tourism and forced migration with Dr. Gada Mahrouse
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Rise Traveler podcast, Vincie Ho interviews Dr. Gada Mahrouse, an Associate Professor at Concordia University's Simone de ...
Sustainability and Accessibility of Tourism: what are the hidden costs with Dr. Freya Higgins-Desbiolles
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The RISE Traveler Podcast, Dr. Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, an Adjunct Associate Professor with Department of Recreation and Leisure S...
Bolivia, Cambodia, and Oklahoma: Dr. Bobbie Chew Bigby on Tourism and Environmental Justice
31 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The RISE Traveler Podcast, Dr. Bobbie Chew Bigby, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Waterloo, Canada, shares her ...
Mega Events and Their Hidden Costs: A Conversation with Christopher Gaffney
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Christopher Gaffney teaches at the Tisch Center for Hospitality at New York University. Just in time for the Olympics, RISE’s Founder and ...
Community-Based Tourism in Ghana with Mawutor Agbo
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this season of The RISE Traveler podcast, our guest host, Dr. Vincie Ho, Founder and Executive Director of The RISE Travel Institute, will be inter...
Examining the End of Tourism with Chris Christou
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this season of The RISE Traveler, Dr. Vincie Ho, Founder and Executive Director of The RISE Travel Institute, will be interviewing influential just...
Mira's Expedition into Conscious Travel
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mira Shah is on a personal journey, exploring sustainable travel across India, Australia, Kenya, and Colombia. This is one of the reasons why she opte...
Emerald Isles, Mindful Travels: Laura Kelly's Insights
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Kelly is a sustainability advocate with Brendan Vacations, a tour operator focused on Ireland and Scotland. In this interview with host Amy Hage...
Writing the World: Lily Ann's Journey as an Author and Traveler
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Author and travel expert Lily Ann Fouts is dedicated to advocating for sustainable and culturally sensitive travel experiences that benefit both trave...
Off the Beaten Path: The Dilemma of 'Secret' Destinations
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aurora Christy Oktavia, an Alumni of the RISE Travel Institute's Pilot Program, currently resides in Bali, Indonesia. She recently completed her ...
Leaving a Legacy of Peace: A Former Government Employee’s Vision for Sustainable Travel
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tracey Ford is the Founder of Local Insights, a social enterprise dedicated to connecting locals with tourists, offering them authentic personal encou...
Knowing Names, Building Bonds: Jabulile Ngwenya on Meaningful Travel
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jabulile Ngwenya is a travel coach and advocate for sustainable and responsible travel at Travel Africa with Jabu. With a vision to reshape perception...
Running a Sustainable Travel Business: Conscious Travel in Costa Rica
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As the owner of Travel with Ann Experiential, Ann Becker consults with nonprofits and small travel businesses with the goal of raising and including m...
Welcoming Foreigners, Supporting Locals: Conscious Travel in Rwanda and Beyond
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A leader in the field of sustainability in tourism, Lambert Hategekimana is General Manager at Rwanda Eco Company and Safari. Before his 10+ years in ...
Balancing Adventure and Ethical Travel: A Digital Nomad's Story
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Keri Pfeiffer, a digital nomad for almost seven years, works remotely as the Head of Account Management at WeTravel, an online payment platform for to...
Travel to Guatemala: A Deeper, Ethical Approach
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sofia Godoy is the Founder and Chief Operations Officer at Etnica, a social enterprise that connects locals to travelers that visit Guatemala and Mexi...
Unpacking the Many Sides of Bhutan
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thinley Choden is a social entrepreneur and consultant devoted to showing travelers the "real" Bhutan as the Co-Owner and CEO of Bhutan Tour...
Amplifying Afro-Latino Voices
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kim Hass is the President and Founder of Haas Media and the Executive Director of the public television series “Afro-Latinos with Kim Haas.” Her t...
Reconnecting with Nature: Sustainable Safari
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
James Mwenda, Founder of James Mwenda Expeditions, shares his expertise in sustainable safari adventures and provides some tips on how to make a safar...
Booking with Purpose: The Hotel That Helps Refugees
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gabriela Sonnleitner is the General Manager of the Magdas Hotel in Vienna, Austria. Austria's first hotel run as a social business, the Magdas pr...
Education as Activism
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Pat Champeau, Director of Graduate Programs at The Institute for Humane Education and Board Secretary at RISE Travel Institute, discusses the imp...
Building the Bridge to a More Equal World
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Amy sits down with Dr. Anu Taranath, Author of “Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World.” Dr. Taranath is also co-teachi...
Giving Tuesday Special with Tuition Grant Recipient Taylor Ruoff
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today on GivingTuesday 2021, we are raising funds for RISE Travel Institute. All donations made today will go toward tuition grants and travel scholar...
Strategic Thinking: Travel and Systemic Change
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hyungjoon Jin, a K-12 educator, and the Board Treasurer at RISE Travel Institute discusses his approach to making real, lasting systemic change in edu...
Love Without Borders: Art, Travel, and the Refugee Crisis
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kayra Martinez is a flight attendant and Founder and Director of the non-profit Love Without Borders for Refugees in Need, which supports refugees in ...
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Travel
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Catarina Rivera, Co-Founder of ExplorEquity (https://www.explorequity.com), which supports local communities by partnering with small businesses, comm...
Sustainable Tourism and Animal Welfare
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Turner discusses the intricacies of tourism and its effects on animal welfare, species protection, habitat protection, and beyond. Turner is Co...
A look at the RISE Travel Institute's Pilot Program
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We take a pause from The RISE Traveler: Unpacking Conversations of Sustainable Travel podcast to speak with Vincie Ho, Ph.D., Executive Director and F...
Reflections on Travel Education
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Hesse is a longtime traveler. He's backpacked and hitchhiked across multiple countries and traveled with students in his role as a universi...
Beyond the Bucket List: Positive Impact While Traveling Abroad
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Eliza Raymond, Co-founder of Good Travel and Senior Advisor for Curriculum Development at RISE Travel Institute, shares her expertise on volunteering ...
Regenerative Tourism and Transformational Travel
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, RISE Senior Advisor and Development Coordinator at Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Genevieve Huneault, shares her expertise...
A DEI Approach to Sustainability: Creating a more just and equitable future through travel
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The RISE Traveler, Amy sits down with Justine Abigail Yu, Senior Advisor at RISE Travel Institute. Justine advises RISE on its Dive...
Questions for Reflection: Exploring Our Impact on Travel Destinations
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Vincie Ho recounts some of her most sustainable travel experiences and opens up about her missteps from her travels in the past, as well as moment...