Stories of people and places near and far hosted by Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, and writer who’s worked with National Geographic, The New York Times, BBC Travel, and more. Each week, we sit down with travelers, journalists, creators, and people living and working in destinations around the world. Guided by Yulia’s years of working in the travel media industry, we meet the people living in the Middle Eastern deserts, culture writers in Hong Kong, street a ...
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Women in travel, do you know women make 85% of travel decisions, so why are we not seen in 85% of travel marketing? What is shown to us when it comes to the "traveling woman"? Two narratives: either we're having a life-changing transformation and devouring pasta OR we're getting kidnapped and in fear for our lives. It's never somewhere in between. As the founder of leading women's travel community, Wanderful, and creator of an incredible series of events, festivals, and activities for women ...
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Amplifying Latinx Voices in Tourism: Vanessa Fondeur of Latino World Travelers
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Welcome back women travelers, solo travelers, travel hobbyist and travel influencers!! Get your popcorn ready for another exciting episode of the "85 Percent Podcast." I'm your host, Beth Santos, and today we dive into the transformative power of travel with our inspiring guest, Vanessa Fondeur. Join us as we explore Vanessa's remarkable journey fr…
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Buying That One-Way Ticket with Author Alexa West
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Hey everyone, it's Beth Santos here and we are continuing to celebrate Women in Travel! In our latest episode of 85 Percent, we dive deep into an inspiring conversation with Alexa West, a best selling travel author who transformed her heartbreak into a thriving career. Through solo traveling, Alexa shares how she found purpose and stability through…
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Embracing My White Cane: Catarina Rivera's Journey to Disability Advocacy
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Welcome to another episode of 85 Percent. Today, we dive into the transformative journey of Catarina Rivera, a remarkable advocate for disability inclusion and accessibility and the creator behind the popular Instagram channel @BlindishLatina. A deaf-blind traveler, Catarina takes us on a solo trip to Montreal where a moment to herself creates a li…
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Bedouin Hospitality With Wadi Rum’s Ahmad Mara'yeh (Re-Release)
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Today, we travel to the heart of Wadi Rum Desert in Southern Jordan with Ahmad Mara'yeh, a Bedouin man and co-founder of Rum Planet Camp. In this episode, Ahmad shares why understanding the local culture and connecting with its community is as vital as experiencing its landscapes. We also touch on the impact of tourism on Wadi Rum and how Ahmad has…
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That First Flight: How One Trip Changed Stephanie Jones' Life
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This episode is a treat for your ears! I had the opportunity to speak with Stephanie Jones, the visionary Founder & CEO of the Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance, Inc. (CHEA), a pioneering organization dedicated to transforming the travel and tourism landscape through innovative, sustainable initiatives empowering BIPOC businesses, professionals a…
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No Luggage; No Problem: Gabby Beckford vs an Icelandic Volcano
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I'm thrilled to share with you the latest episode of 85 Percent, where we dive deep into the world of travel, empowerment, and incredible personal growth stories. In this episode, I chatted with the amazing Gabby Beckford, the award-winning travel entrepreneur behind Packs Light. 🌍✨Her audience is women who aspire to a life of adventure lived on th…
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A Multipotentialite on a Mission to Empower the African Diaspora (Re-Release)
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Today, we're speaking with Lindsay Gary, a Houston-based professor-scholar, multi-disciplinary artivist, and social entrepreneur on a mission to educate, connect, and empower the African diaspora in the US. In this episode, Lindsay talks about staying true to your purpose, finding time in our busy days to dedicate to what matters, and the value of …
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After the Falls: Nikki Vargas' Journey from Canceled Wedding to Best-Selling Author
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Welcome back to "85 Percent," the podcast where we celebrate the diverse experiences of women in travel! In today's episode, we delve into the captivating story of Nikki Vargas, a travel journalist who faced a life-altering decision at the awe-inspiring Iguazu Falls. Nikki's journey takes us through the complexities of calling off her first wedding…
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A Kenyan Photojournalist Returns Home with Khadija Farah (Re-Release)
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In today's episode, I speak to Khadija Farah, a travel and documentary photographer based in Nairobi, Kenya. Khadija’s work appears in the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Guardian and more. Khadija is a member of Inland Stories, an international cooperative of long-term documentary photographers. Her work is part of the 2020 Lit List by Au…
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Escaping Arranged Marriage in India with Vibha Chokhani (Re-Release)
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Growing up in Mumbai with her extended family, Vibha Chokhani was destined to live a traditional lifestyle. Women in her life were married young and spent their days as homemakers, yet this path never felt right to her. First woman in her family to get divorced, to get a master degree, and to live in a foreign country, Vibha has learned how to step…
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Season Finale: What Europe Gets About Rest (and the US Doesn’t)
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Today on the show, we're exploring the idea of rest (including cognitive rest), how the US culture sees it differently from Europeans, and what the relationship is between rest and creativity. And stick around in the end for a special announcement. Featured on the show: Read the CNBC report on US attitudes toward vacation Read the Financial Times a…
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Hope Is Something You Create with Palestinian Peacemaker Aziz Abu Sarah
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Aziz Abu Sarah is a peace builder, cultural educator, entrepreneur, author and international speaker. He’s also a Palestinian man who lost his brother to the Israeli soldiers and who is currently working with his Israeli partner, Maoz Inon, to imagine a new vision for both Palestinians and Israelis. If there is only one episode you will tune in to …
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Writing a Book in the Age of AI with Wanderful’s CEO Beth Santos
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Beth Santos is a passionate entrepreneur and community builder who many women in the travel industry will recognize as the CEO and founder of Wanderful, an international collective of travelers and travel content creators on a mission to make travel better for all women. Beth is the author of WANDER WOMAN: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice…
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Hong Kong’s Disappearing Traditions with Author Lindsay Varty
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Villain hitters. Fortune tellers. Bamboo cage makers. Meet the people keeping Hong Kong's traditions alive. Lindsay Varty is an author and former professional rugby player from Hong Kong who writes about Cantonese culture and history in an attempt to generate a greater love and understanding of her home for herself and her readers. So today on the …
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Get ready for an exciting new season of the 85 Percent podcast! In Season 2, we're kicking things up a notch by deep-diving into the favorite travel stories that were defining moments for some of our industry's most remarkable women, featuring guests like award-winning author Nikki Vargas and Gen Z expert Gabby Beckford. Plus, we'll be sharing YOUR…
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Why Jordan Is Yulia's Favorite Place (Re-Release)
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Today on the show, I’m sharing with you an episode that first came out last September, in which the table is turned on me and I am, for once, in the guest seat, as my friend and podcast producer Noelia Sanchez interviews me about Jordan, one of my favorite places on Earth. What you’ll learn in this episode: The origin story of my relationship with …
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Lebanon’s Joie de Vivre with TourLeb’s Nada Raphael: Part 2
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Today on the show: Part 2 of our conversation with Nada Raphael, a journalist, storyteller, and traveler based in Beirut, who, together with her partner Joelle Sfeir has co-founded Tourleb, a socially responsible tour operator that aims to promote local, women-owned and family operated businesses while changing the narrative about Lebanon. This is …
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Beyond the Headlines in Lebanon with TourLeb’s Nada Raphael: Part 1
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Nada Raphael is a Lebanese journalist, storyteller, and traveler, who, together with her partner Joelle Sfeir has co-founded Tourleb, a socially responsible tour operator that aims to promote local, women-owned and family operated businesses while changing the narrative about Lebanon. Get ready to travel to Lebanon with Nada and me and dismantle so…
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Unpacking Intersectional Travel with Journalist Imani Bashir
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Imani Bashir is a world-traveling storyteller, mother, and advocate who's lived in five countries across four continents, including Egypt, Poland, and Malaysia. Her work focuses on culturally immersive social media content highlighting various atrocities and initiatives to support marginalized communities worldwide. Get ready to be immersed in this…
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CNTraveler: In Jordan, a Community Disrupted Awaits Travel’s Return
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Today, I’m sharing a story I wrote for Conde Nast Traveler called In Jordan, a Community Disrupted Awaits Travel’s Return. I traveled to Jordan this February amid the ongoing war on Gaza by the Israeli government. This story was the outcome of this trip. Featured on the show: Read Yulia's CN Traveler story, In Jordan, a Community Disrupted Awaits T…
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Traveling to Kurdistan with ATTA’s CEO Shannon Stowell
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If I could summarize this conversation with one phrase, it would be something Shannon said: “When people meet each other they find out that the other is not so other.” Shannon Stowell is the CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, an organization for travel industry partners that believes travel can be a powerful force for good in the world.…
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Palestine, Orientalism, and Solidary Movements with Matt Bowles
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Welcome back to Going Places! Matt Bowles is a veteran location-independent entrepreneur and host of The Maverick Show. I recently sat down with Matt to do a two-part series for his show. Matt has been doing activism work in solidarity with the Palestinian movement for the past 25 years, and in this conversation, we cover how he and I first became …
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On Dating & Building a Content Empire with Journalist Jen Ruiz
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Welcome back to Going Places! We’re speaking to Jen Ruiz, a lawyer turned full-time travel writer, blogger, and content creator. Jen is a 5-time Amazon bestselling author, 3x TEDx speaker, and 4-time award-winning journalist. She is also the solo female traveler behind Jen on a Jet Plane, with an audience of over 350,000 social media followers. In …
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Welcome back to Season 10 of Going Places, everyone! I'm your host Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel photographer, writer, storyteller, community builder, podcaster, filmmaker, educator, and entrepreneur working on stories from around the world for top global publications, traveling to places like Botswana and the Arctic Circle, and producing…
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Welcome back to Going Places, everyone! This season on the show, we learned about Bedouin hospitality, heard from Ammani artists on Gaza, traveled to Italy in search of the world’s rarest silk, and more. I hope you enjoyed the new show format - and if you did, please take a moment to leave us a rating or a review on Apple podcasts or Spotify. I app…
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In Jordan, Amelia Bilbeisi Produces The World’s Top Olive Oil
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Welcome back to Going Places! Today, we have a conversation with Amelia Bilbeisi, co-founder of Maida Olive Oil, known as Onsuri Olive Oil in North America. Amelia produces one of the world's most premium olive oils on a farm deep inside a Jordanian desert. Tasting this olive oil, designated ultra premium quality, a coveted grade only 5 percent of …
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Inside The Story of A 19-Member Tribal Nation With Journalist Karthika Gupta
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Join us in this episode in conversation with Chicago-based travel journalist and photographer Karthika Gupta. Her work has been featured in Vogue, BBC Travel, USA Today, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodors, AFAR, Travel & Leisure, Robb Report, and more. Karthika is also the founder of Culturally Ours, a platform dedicated to promoting cultural understandin…
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Call You When I Land with Author Nikki Vargas
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Welcome back to Going Places! Today, I'm thrilled to reconnect with Nikki Vargas, a senior editor at Fodor's Travel and the founder of Unearthed Women joins me to discuss her latest book, "Call You When I Land." In this travel memoir, Nikki shares her profound experiences navigating cultures, finding love, and discovering herself along the way. Thr…
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The Story of The World’s Rarest Silk with BBC Travel’s Eliot Stein
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Today, we'll learn about the story of the world's rarest silk with writer, editor, and now book author Eliot Stein. Eliot and I first got to know each other through our shared passion for the types of stories that reveal something about a place through the lens of tradition and unique cultural practices. Eliot has edited a few of my stories at BBC …
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Ancient Baking Culture In The Land of The World's Oldest Bread
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In this episode of "Going Places," I'm sharing a very special story I wrote for Conde Nast Traveler this summer called In the Land of the World's Oldest Bread, A Return to an Ancient Baking Culture. We'll journey together to the heart of Jordan, where baking is not just about sustenance but a profound cultural legacy. Join me as we explore how brea…
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Ammani Creators on Gaza, Their Art, and What Brings Them Hope Right Now
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In this episode of Going Places, a conversation with three remarkable Ammani creators: Sarah Shabbar, a journalist and editor at Jordan News Daily, an English Language media organization in Jordan; Hussein Alazaat, artist, calligrapher, and founder of Elharf Studio, a platform for arts and culture in Amman; and Rawan Roshni, a Palestinian Balkan si…
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Should You Travel To Jordan Right Now With Visit Jordan’s Janine Jervis
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In this episode of "Going Places," I'm thrilled to have Janine Jervis as our guest. Janine, who serves as the North American Communications Director for Visit Jordan, brings her extensive experience in the travel and tourism industry, spanning an impressive 17 years. In our conversation, we explore the transformative power of travel, emphasizing th…
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Our Show Return: Going Places With Yulia Denisyuk
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Welcome back to our show, everyone. It's been nearly three months since we've been on air. In these three months, a lot of things have happened, both in the world and in my own life, which caused me to go through an intense period of a lot of searching and rethinking the purpose of my work, the meaning behind it, and how what I do on the podcast an…
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Jen Ruiz holds many titles including lawyer, a TEDx speaker, #1 Amazon Bestseller, 2018 Reader's Favorite Award Winner and the 2023 Bessie award winner for the category "Most Impactful Piece of Writing”. Before her 30th birthday, Jen decided to take 12 trips in 12 months. She not only surpassed her goal completing 20 trips in 12 months, but within …
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On Airplane Mode with Kirstie Pike and Christine Diaz
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Kirstie and Christine are an award-winning multicultural LGBTQ+ couple using their platform and production company On Airplane Mode to inspire others to follow their passions all while celebrating who they are and who they love! They started their platform from the ground up to empower women and the LGBTQ+ community to have their voices heard. In u…
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A Vessel for Their Stories with Yulia Denisyuk
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Yulia Denisyuk is an award-winning travel photographer and writer who turned to travel journalism after serving in the US military and working as a Fortune 500. She’s written for The New York Times, National Geographic, TIME, Conde Nast Traveler, BBC Travel, and more, on unique assignments that have brought her to share a roof with nomads in Mongol…
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Respectful Tourism with Joelle Sfeir and Nada Raphael of Tourleb
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Joelle Sfeir and Nada Raphael are co-founders of Tourleb, a socially responsible tour operator owned by women and based in Lebanon, and a finalist at 2023's Bessie Awards for Travel Startup of the Year. Although their company began by accident, they have been nothing but intentional in making sure they work within their values including giving back…
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Get full show notes and more information at: https://www.goingplacesmedia.com/ For more BTS of this podcast follow @travelmedialab Need support and accountability? Join our Facebook group! Please head over to Apple Podcasts and SUBSCRIBE to the show. If you enjoy this conversation, please share it with others on social and don’t forget to tag us @t…
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Identity, Belonging, & The Privilege of Travel With Journalist Emy Rodriguez
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Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on privilege, travel, and finding a sense of belonging with our guest, Emy Rodriguez, a freelance travel journalist from Arecibo, Puerto Rico. A proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Emy has dedicated himself to using his privilege as a travel writer to showcase and preserve underserved communities and t…
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The Essence of Bedouin Hospitality With Wadi Rum’s Ahmad Mara'yeh
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Welcome to a special milestone episode of the Travel Media Lab podcast, where we celebrate our 100th journey together! Today, we embark on a captivating adventure to the heart of Wadi Rum Desert in Southern Jordan with Ahmad Mara'yeh, a Bedouin and co-founder of Rum Planet Camp. Wadi Rum isn't just a picturesque landscape; it's a realm where nature…
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Stories That Matter With Editor Esme Benjamin
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In this episode of Travel Media Lab, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Esme Benjamin, an award-winning writer, editor, and podcaster based in the vibrant city of New York. Esme's work spans the realms of travel and well-being, gracing the pages of renowned publications like Elle Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, and many others. She wea…
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Welcome to season 9, everyone! I'm Yulia Denisyuk, your host, and I'm thrilled to welcome you to the new season of our podcast. This episode is extra special for two reasons. First, we get to talk about Jordan, a destination that I absolutely adore. If you know me, you'll know just how much I love this country, and I'll take any opportunity to expl…
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Welcome to Season 9 of our podcast! I'm Yulia Denisyuk, your host, an award-winning travel photographer, writer, and storyteller who's explored the world's most captivating places. In this season, we're embarking on a thrilling journey of discovery that goes beyond the ordinary. First and foremost, a heartfelt thank you to all our listeners. Your u…
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Robb Report: Inside Hotelito, A Luxe Hideaway on Mexico's Guerrero Coast
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Welcome to Travel Media Lab! I'm your host, Yulia Denisyuk, and in this episode, we're wrapping up our Summer Reading Series with a story set on Mexico's wild Guerrero coast. In this episode, we're traveling to Hotelito, a new beachfront property in Guerrero that's part of the Modern Utopian Society of Adventurers (MUSA). This story was just publis…
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AFAR: In Jordan, Skip the Bubble & Go Here Instead
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Welcome to Travel Media Lab! I'm your host, Yulia Denisyuk, and in this episode, we're continuing our Summer Reading Series where I share with you some of my favorite stories I've published to date. In this episode, we're traveling to one of my favorite places on earth, the desert of Wadi Rum in southern Jordan. This story was published in AFAR. If…
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Vogue: An Unexpected Cultural Hotspot in the Alps
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Welcome to Travel Media Lab! I'm your host, Yulia Denisyuk, and in this episode, we're continuing our Summer Reading Series where I share with you some of my favorite stories I've published to date. In this episode, we're traveling to Austria's westernmost state of Vorarlberg, an unexpected cultural hotspot in the Alps. This story was published in …
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BBC Travel: Mongolia’s epic celebration at -40C
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Welcome to Travel Media Lab! I'm your host, Yulia Denisyuk, and in this episode, we're continuing our Summer Reading Series where I share with you some of my favorite stories I've published to date. In this episode, I'm taking you to Mongolia, one of the last remaining remote places on Earth. But that is changing, fast. This story was published in …
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Do This If You're Feeling Sluggish This August
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Welcome to Travel Media Lab! I'm your host, Yulia Denisyuk, and in this episode, we're discussing what to do if you feel sluggish this August (how is it August already?!). Everybody in Europe seems to be on vacation in August and in the US, we slug on. On the episode today, we’re going to talk about how we can create time and space to recuperate an…
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AFAR: The Untold Story of Turkey's Iznik Tiles
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Welcome to Travel Media Lab! I'm your host, Yulia Denisyuk, and in this episode, we're continuing our Summer Reading Series where I share with you some of my favorite stories I've published to date. In this episode, I'm taking you to another place that's really special for me: Turkey. This story was published in AFAR Magazine a few years ago. If yo…
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Welcome to Travel Media Lab! I'm your host, Yulia Denisyuk, and in this episode, we're continuing our Summer Reading Series where I share with you some of my favorite stories I've published to date. In this episode, I'm taking you to one of my favorite places on earth: the desert of Wadi Rum in Southern Jordan. It was published in Conde Nast Travel…
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