Swimming can be an amazing and fun sport, especially when you dive in the waters of a crystal clear sea, but if you are willing to spice it up a little, you should definitely not miss the opportunity to swim with dolphins. One of the best destinations where you can usually guarantee a close encounter is New Zealand’s Kaikoura. (more…)
First stop…Namibia with Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Since 1990, Dr. Marker has pioneered new ideas in cheetah conservation and has formed cooperative alliances on behalf of the cheetah that have never before been possible. She is recognized around the world as one of the leading experts on cheetahs, both in the wild and in captivity.
Then we’ll journey to the Mediterranean with travel author and TV host Rick Steves. Rick is on a mission: to help make European travel accessible and meaningful for Americans. Rick just returned from two Mediterranean Cruises and he joins us to talk about his newest guide book, Mediterranean Cruise Ports, and the art of travel.
Finally, Detroit is a city that has not been portrayed favorably in the media (except on World Footprints) so we were surprised to meet someone who left his Fortune 500 employer to move to Detroit for the purpose of showing the city in a different light. Philip Lauri is the Founder and Director of Detroit Lives! and he join us to share why Detroit is a vibrant place to live and discover.
Panthers once roamed the entire southeastern United States; from Florida to South Carolina and Louisiana. However, the panther was added to the Endangered Species List in 1967 and today the remaining population is isolated in South Florida. The Panther population has dramatically decreased but many efforts are being made to save this beautiful animal from extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is at the forefront of the Panther conservation efforts and Park Ranger Sandy Mickey from the Florida Panther & Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuges joins us today to talk about some of these initiatives.
Then, we enjoyed a chat with one of the IZOD Indycar series rising stars, Simona de Silvestro. Simona is one of a handful of female Indycar racers and she is one of the most prominent racecar drivers on the track. Simona hails from a country where auto racing is banned but she has made a name for herself as one of racing’s brightest young stars. She is the first woman in Atlantic Series history to have earned the most wins and pole positions, and the IZOD Indycar Rising Star Award. Note: We spoke to Simona only a few days before the tragic accident in Las Vegas that claimed the life of Indycar 500 winner Dan Wheldon.
Finally, we will talk to Father Robert Barron, the Francis Cardinal George Professor of Faith and Culture at Mundelein Seminary and a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, about his new PBS series Catholicism. This documentary illustrates the history and treasures of a global religion shared by more than one billion people around the world by exploring art, architecture, literature, music and all the riches of the Catholic tradition. Father Barron was joined on his two-year around the world journey by acclaimed filmmaker Mike Leonard, a veteran correspondent for NBC‘s Today show and producer.
To learn more about the Florida Panther visit: http://www.fws.gov/floridapanther or http://www.floridapanther.org
Today we travel to Namibia and beyond with animal conservationist and television personality Jack Hanna; we will discover Cuba through its people with Insight Cuba’s Tom Popper and Rebecca Rothney will share how people around the world are leaving positive footprints through Pack for a Purpose.
Jack Hanna, nicknamed “Jungle Jack” is one of the most notable animal experts in the U.S. Jack took some time away from his many filming schedule, David Letterman and other show appearances to talk to us about the successes and challenges in the world of animal conservation.
We are going to discover Cuba through its people with Tom Popper, President of Insight Cuba. Tom has traveled many times to Cuba and his company is one of a few that are licenses by the U.S. Treasury Department to provide tours to the beautiful island.
Our friend Rebecca Rothney will give us an update on how many travelers are leaving positive footprints when they Pack for a Purpose. Rebecca will also share how her foundation has grown since the O Magazine feature.
South Australian Mount Gambier has been a bit of a question mark thanks to local unusually colored lake. ‘Unusually colored’ meaning the water becomes so blue, visitors believe it is artificial.
South Australia is a lovely region which appeals to many wine enthusiasts along with outdoor fans and, interestingly enough, mystery seekers. One of the most significant tourist attractions is to be found in Mount Gambier, the largest city of the region. (more…)
