Category

Travel & Adventure

Journalism, Memoir, Non Fiction, Travel & Adventure

Jul 13: A Hard Place to Leave: Stories from a Restless Life with Marcia DeSanctis

July 13, 2022

Travel journalist of the year reveals the push-pull tension between home and away

What did travel writers do when their wanderings were halted during COVID lockdown? Marcia DeSanctis sorted through a decade’s body of work to compile her new book  A Hard Place to Leave: Stories from a restless life.

We discuss some of Marcia’s adventures and insights into being a travel writer. Why the desert is her sweet spot. How she balances her introverted self with writing open honest personal stories – including the search for her way back after falling in love with another man. And, how Marcia finds stories that resonate while traveling the globe.

About Marcia DeSanctis

Marcia DeSanctis is a Contributing Writer at Travel + Leisure, and writes essays and stories for Vogue, Town & Country, Departures, BBC Travel, and many other publications. She received the 2021 Grand Solas Award for Travel Story of the Year, and has received 5 Lowell Thomas Awards for excellence in travel journalism, including one for Travel Journalist of the Year. She’s the New York Times bestselling author of 100 Places in France every Woman Should Go … and the book we talk about today, A Hard Place to Leave Place to Leave: Stories from a restless life. 

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History, Non Fiction, Travel & Adventure

DEC 01: Brad Ricca with True Raiders

December 1, 2021

The Untold Story of the 1909 Expedition to Find the Legendary Ark of the Covenant

When author Brad Ricca learned his favorite movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, might have been based on a real life expedition, he felt as though his “… face was melting off.” So maybe it was inevitable that one day he’d dig deeper into the story and write his own book about the true archaeological exploration.

We discuss some of the real life characters from the 1909 event, and how Brad researched the facts (and maybe a few conspiracies). How he chooses what to include and discard when storytelling for nonfiction. And how he managed to climb into the mindset of each character to share their point of view.

About Brad Ricca

The author of the Edgar Award-nominated Mrs. Sherlock Holmes, Olive the Lionheart, and Super Boys, Brad Ricca is also the winner of the Ohioana Book Award for Nonfiction. He won the St Lawrence Book Award for American Mastodon. And his latest book is True Raiders: The Untold Story of the 1909 Expedition to Find the Legendary Ark of the Covenant.

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Health & Wellness, Social Issues, Travel & Adventure

DEC 04: Christina Adams’ Camel Crazy and a Boy with Autism

December 4, 2019

It’s often said a mother will go to the ends of the earth for the health and well being of her children.  Today we are joined by a mother of an autistic son whose mission really did take her across the globe – from Bedouin camps in the Middle East to Amish farms in Pennsylvania to villages in India.  Christina Adams shares how camel’s milk helped her son, as well as what studies show regarding how it may be able to help with other common health issues, and the sustainability of raising camels as an alternative to cow’s milk or soy.  Her new book is Camel Crazy: A Quest for Miracles in the Mysterious World of Camels.

Christina is an award-winning journalist and author who speaks on writing, culture, autism, and camels.  Her work has been featured by National Public Radio, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Global Advances in Health and Medicine, and more.

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Conservation, Environment, Health & Wellness, Personal Development, Spirituality, Travel & Adventure

SEP 23: Susan Hand Shetterly’s The Seaweed Chronicles & Dan Millman’s The Life You Were Born to Live

September 22, 2019

Known as the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman returns to Conversations Live today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Life You Were Born to Live: A Guide to Finding Your Life Purpose.  The new revised edition includes key spiritual laws to overcome life’s hurdles, how to live in harmony with the nine-year cycles of your life, and more.

Dan is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor.  He has authored 17 books, and delivers keynotes, seminars, and workshops to people from all walks of life.

Next, nature writer Susan Hand Shetterly takes you on a journey from her native Maine, to Canada, Wales, Japan, the Philippines, and beyond, as she reveals the hidden world of nature’s most abundant resource.  Her latest book, Seaweed Chronicles: A World at the Water’s Edge comes out in August.

An award-winning author of nine books, Susan has also written for several magazines, including Down East, Yankee, and Audubon Magazine. She was a contributing writer for Maine Times for many years, writing essays and articles on wild lands and wildlife, and the people who work with them.

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Conservation, Environment, Lifestyle, Social Issues, Travel & Adventure, Women's Issues

MAR 18: Debra Gwartney’s I am a Stranger Here Myself & National Geographic’s 100 Dives of a Lifetime

March 8, 2019

Returning guest Debra Gwartney, like many women, struggles with the challenges presented when trying to find that authentic connection with where your roots are … or where you are trying to lay them down.  In I am a Stranger Here Myself, Debra weaves frontier history into a personal exploration of womanhood, place, and a sense of belonging.

Debra is a Pacific University Professor, journalist, and author who grew up in Idaho and now tries to find a sense of permanence on on the upper McKenzie River on the west slope of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon.  Listen to her original appearance on Conversations Live here.

National Geographic’s Carrie Miller was initially motivated to learn to dive by great white sharks … and her passion and discoveries have led her to raise awareness of the critical changes we need to make to ensure the future health of our oceans.  You’ll come away from National Geographic’s 100 Dives of a Lifetime knowing why she calls the ocean the heartbeat of our planet.

Carrie has been covering travel for National Geographic since 1998.  She is a two-time Lowell Thomas Award winner and acclaimed contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler magazine.

 

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Essays, Inspirational, Memoir, Non Fiction, Travel & Adventure, Writers on Writing

DEC 31: Anne Lamott on Almost Everything: Notes on Hope & Mary Ann Esposito’s Ciao Italia

December 22, 2018

She’s a writer’s-writer. A reader’s-writer. And with self-effacing humor, and ruthless honesty, Anne Lamott makes us think about what most of us don’t like to think about.

She’s known for writing and speaking about subjects that begin with Big Capital Letters. Today we’ll share her thoughts on Hate, Jealousy, Love, Hope, and preserving one’s Sanity.

A New York Times bestselling author and recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, Anne Lamott has been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. She’s taught at UC Davis, as well as at writing conferences across the country.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Freida Mock, made a documentary on her called Bird by Bird with Annie. Anne Lamott’s latest book of essays is Almost Everything: Notes on Hope.

We’ll end today’s show chatting with the host of Ciao Italia, the longest-running cooking show on television, Mary Ann Esposito.  Find out the secret to the show’s success, her thoughts regarding pairing food and wine, and a few of her all time favorites for those who like to put an Italian spin on Thanksgiving.  Her latest book, Ciao Italia: My Lifelong Food Adventures in Italy reads as both a cookbook and a love-letter to Italy.

Mary Ann’s 12 books have helped chefs and foodies understand authentic Italian ingredients and dishes.  She created and has hosted Ciao Italia on PBS since 1989.

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Essays, Inspirational, Memoir, Non Fiction, Travel & Adventure, Writers on Writing

Nov 19: Anne Lamott on Almost Everything: Notes on Hope & Mary Ann Esposito’s Ciao Italia

November 6, 2018

She’s a writer’s-writer. A reader’s-writer. And with self-effacing humor, and ruthless honesty, Anne Lamott makes us think about what most of us don’t like to think about.

She’s known for writing and speaking about subjects that begin with Big Capital Letters. Today we’ll share her thoughts on Hate, Jealousy, Love, Hope, and preserving one’s Sanity.

A New York Times bestselling author and recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, Anne Lamott has been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. She’s taught at UC Davis, as well as at writing conferences across the country.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Freida Mock, made a documentary on her called Bird by Bird with Annie. Anne Lamott’s latest book of essays is Almost Everything: Notes on Hope.

We’ll end today’s show chatting with the host of Ciao Italia, the longest-running cooking show on television, Mary Ann Esposito.  Find out the secret to the show’s success, her thoughts regarding pairing food and wine, and a few of her all time favorites for those who like to put an Italian spin on Thanksgiving.  Her latest book, Ciao Italia: My Lifelong Food Adventures in Italy reads as both a cookbook and a love-letter to Italy.

Mary Ann’s 12 books have helped chefs and foodies understand authentic Italian ingredients and dishes.  She created and has hosted Ciao Italia on PBS since 1989.

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Environment, Travel & Adventure

OCT 22: National Geographic’s Cara Santa Maria & #1 NYT Bestseller Karen Kingsbury

October 7, 2018

Unleash your inner scientist!  Today’s show is going to be filled with fun facts like how chameleons change color, the science behind addiction, and how the polar jet stream works.  National Geographic’s Almanac 2019 also reviews top travel trends, new explorations and recent discoveries.  National Geographic Explorer correspondent Cara Santa Maria joins Vicki today to discuss all that and more!

Cara is an award-winning science journalist and creator and host of the popular science podcast Talk Nerdy.  She is also a correspondent on Netflix’s Bill Nye Saves the World.

Karen Kingsbury has a huge following with more than 50 books in print, and several in movie format. She’s a #1 New York Times bestselling author and describes herself as “an Evangelist wrapped up as a novelist”.

How did she go from LA Times sports-writer to true-crime author to “Queen of Christian Fiction”? What significant turning points in her life led to spiritually-guided storytelling success? And why did she create a new, standalone book based on two of the Baxter-series’ characters?

Join us to find out and get a sneak preview of When We Were Young, a story of troubling issues around social media obsession ( … as usual with Karen’s books, you might want a box of tissues handy!).

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Conservation, Environment, Health & Wellness, Personal Development, Spirituality, Travel & Adventure

AUG 20: Dan Millman’s The Life You were Born to Live & Susan Hand Shetterly

August 11, 2018

Spiritualist Dan Millman returns to Conversations Live today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Life You Were Born to Live: A Guide to Finding Your Life Purpose.  This revised edition includes key spiritual laws to overcome life’s hurdles, how to live in harmony with the nine-year cycles of your life, and more.

Dan is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor.  He has authored 17 books, and delivers keynotes, seminars, and workshops to people from all walks of life.

Next, nature writer Susan Hand Shetterly takes us on a journey from her native Maine, to Canada, Wales, Japan, the Philippines, and beyond, as she reveals the hidden world of one of nature’s most abundant resources.  Her latest book, Seaweed Chronicles: A World at the Water’s Edge comes out in August.

An award-winning author of nine books, Susan has also written for several magazines, including Down East, Yankee, and Audubon Magazine. She was a contributing writer for Maine Times for many years, writing essays and articles on wild lands and wildlife, and the people who work with them.

 

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Fiction, Travel & Adventure, Writers on Writing

APR 23: Georgeanne Brennan’s Windows on Provence & Robert Dugoni’s The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

April 12, 2018

Bonjour!  Whether you’re a dreamer, have a trip planned, or just love all things France, Georgeanne Brennan brings you along on her journey in Windows on Provence: Musings on the Food, Wine, and Culture of the South of France.  You’ll get an insider’s look at the unique markets, landscapes, and even literature of the region.

Georgeanne  is the winner of a James Beard award and an International
Association of Culinary Professionals award. An accomplished author of 30 cookbooks, she is also a  culinary journalist and entrepreneur.

New York Times and Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller Robert Dugoni joins us next to discuss his latest book, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, a deeply personal story about family, friendship, and finding your place in the world.

A longtime Seattle resident, Robert is the critically acclaimed author of The Tracy Crosswhite series and the David Sloane series. His works have sold millions of copies around the world and garnered multiple awards.  He will be appearing in person at a book launch event on April 25th in Burien.

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