Captain Heidi Norling on Her Path to National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

On this episode of Humans of Travel, Captain Heidi Norling shares how a childhood spent sailing with her father in the Stockholm archipelago sparked a lifelong fascination with navigation and the sea. A graduate of Sweden’s Kalmar Maritime Academy, Norling learned by doing, studying nautical Engli…

Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetters Derek and Amanda Phillips (Best Use of Social Media)

Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of Humans of Travel, is running a 10-part mini-series on the 2026 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognize some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. The Trendsetter Awards celebrate outstanding advisors across five uniqu…

Humans in the Hot Seat: TravelAge West Trendsetter Katy Caldwell-Cole (Saving the Day)

Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff of Humans of Travel, is running a 10-part mini-series on the 2026 TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards, which recognize some of the most forward-thinking and impactful travel advisors in the U.S. The Trendsetter Awards celebrate outstanding advisors across five uniqu…

Leigh Barnes Talks Meaningful Travel and Growing Intrepid's Brand Presence in the U.S.

Leigh Barnes is president of the Americas for Intrepid Travel, a small-group tour operator that’s been in business since 1989. Once known as a “social Jedi,” Barnes says he came to the travel industry at the right time and with the right digital skill set. He’s been with Intrepid more than 16 years…

Adam Duckworth on Building Travelmation, Motivating Advisors and the Joy of Good Popcorn

Adam Duckworth, founder and president of Travelmation, has been a Disney fan for as long as he can remember. His parents honeymooned at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World Resort, and Duckworth vacationed at the Florida theme park nearly every year in his youth. As an adult (and…

Carson Kressley on Adventure, Humor and Championing Travel Advisors

On this episode of Humans of Travel, new host Chelsee Lowe talks with fashion and lifestyle pro Carson Kressley, who is well known from the Emmy-winning television series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, as well as reality competition shows Dancing With the Stars and RuPaul’s Drag Race. Kressley dis…

The Handoff Episode: Emma Weissmann Passes the Mic to Chelsee Lowe

In this bittersweet episode of Humans of Travel, longtime host Emma Weissmann hands the mic to Chelsee Lowe, Senior Editor of TravelAge West. A former teacher, Lowe earned a Master of Education degree from UCLA and spent years in the classroom before dedicating her professional life to writing. Af…

Humans in the Hot Seat: Sarah Little, Senior Vice President of Business Development for ASTA, on Becoming a Ship Godmother

 Hey everyone, it's Emma Weissmann, the host of Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series from Humans of Travel. This Hot Seat episode features Sarah Little, senior vice president of business development for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). Little has spent most of her career at ASTA…

Humans in the Hot Seat: Travel Advisor Natalia Yepes on Preparing for (and Handling) a Crisis

 Hey everyone, it's Emma Weissmann, the host of Humans in the Hot Seat, a spinoff series from Humans of Travel. This Hot Seat episode features travel advisor Natalia Yepes, owner of Adventuresque Travel Boutique. As a former flight attendant for both American Airlines and United Airlines, Yepes is…

Melissa Krueger: The CEO of Classic Vacations on Career Growth, Company Culture and Classic’s Tech-Forward Next Chapter

Melissa Krueger, CEO of Classic Vacations, has dedicated 30+ years to the travel industry. Serendipitously, her very first job in travel was with a French hotel group, where she regularly worked with travel advisors. Krueger quickly recognized that personal connections were far more important than …