Adventure Travel Podcast - Big World Made Small
Welcome to the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, where we go far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruises to explore the really cool places, people, and activities that adventurous travelers crave. If your idea of a great vacation is sitting on a beach at an all-inclusive resort, you’re in the wrong place. However, if you’re like me, and a beach resort vacation sounds like torture, stick around. You’ve found your tribe.
My name is Jason Elkins, and as an adventure travel marketing consultant and tour operator myself, I am on a mission to impact the lives of adventure travelers, the tour operators they hire, and the communities that host them, creating deeply meaningful experiences that make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
Are you ready to discover your next great adventure, whether that looks something like climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, SCUBA diving in the South Pacific, or hot air ballooning in Turkey? Then you’ll be happy to know that each episode of the Big World Made Small Podcast features a fascinating interview with an adventure travel expert that has agreed to share, with us, their own personal stories, favorite adventure destinations, and even some incredibly helpful tips and tricks they’ve learned while in the field. I trust that by the end of each episode you’ll feel like booking a ticket to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of these amazing places, and getting to know the incredible people that live there.
I’ll be your guide as we explore this amazing planet and its people on the Big World Made Small podcast. I am a former US Army paratrooper, third generation commercial hot air balloon pilot, paramotor pilot, advanced open water SCUBA diver, and ex-Montana fly fishing guide and lodge manager. I have managed boutique adventure tour operation businesses in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, off-shore in Belize, the Adirondacks in New York, and the desert of Arizona. I also spent nearly a decade with Orvis International Travel, leading a talented team of tour operation experts, putting together and hosting amazing fly fishing and adventure travel excursions around the world. I have tapped into my experience and network of travel pros to put together a weekly series of exclusive expert interviews that I am excited to share with you.
For the last couple of years I have lived a fully nomadic lifestyle, feeding my passion for exploration, creating amazing adventures, and meeting some of the most fascinating people along the way. I record every episode while traveling, so in a sense you’ll be joining me on my journey. Let’s discover some great adventures together and make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
And, don’t forget to take a quick trip over to our website at bigworldmadesmall.com and join our adventure travel community, where you’ll benefit from new episode announcements, exclusive adventure travel opportunities, and special access to the experts you’ve met on the show. You can also follow us on social media, using the links in the show notes below. And, if you’re getting value out of the show please help us grow by sharing it with your friends, family, and anyone else you know that wants to get far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruise ships, the next time they travel.
I’ll publish another episode soon. Until then, keep exploring. It’s the best way to make a big world feel just a bit smaller.
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/podcast
Adventure Travel Podcast - Big World Made Small
Adventure Travel with Eric Sheets - Latin Excursions
Eric Sheets
Founder / Director
Latin Excursions
In Spring 2004, then a corporate-world warrior, I decided to bring some colleagues to the Galapagos Islands for an adventure in Darwin’s archipelago. My Ecuadorian mother instilled in me a deep love and appreciation for the islands, so this adventure to the Galapagos was a chance to share my insider knowledge with fellow travellers. The success of that first trip left me yearning for more … and I set out on a path combining insider knowledge of places with the transformative power of travel. Latin Excursions was born. 15+ years later, we continue to have fun sharing our connections and insider knowledge of Latin America.
summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Eric Sheets, founder of Latin Excursions. They discuss Eric's unique upbringing, which involved living in various countries, and how these experiences shaped his passion for travel. Eric shares his transition from a banking career to the travel industry, the founding of Latin Excursions, and the importance of personal connections in travel. They also touch on family travel, the logistics of the travel industry, and the role of travel agents. Eric emphasizes the need for aspiring travel professionals to understand the realities of the industry and the importance of building relationships with clients.
takeaways
- He transitioned from banking to travel after realizing his passion for adventure.
- Eric emphasizes the importance of personal connections in the travel industry.
- Traveling with children can enhance their understanding of the world.
- He encourages parents to take their children on adventures.
- The travel industry is not as glamorous as it seems; it requires hard work.
- Logistics play a crucial role in successful travel planning.
- Travel agents should view specialists as partners, not competitors.
- Eric believes in the value of personalized travel experiences.
- He highlights the importance of being adaptable in the travel industry.
Learn more about Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Marketing and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers on our website.
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