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 Ami Jones - TerraFauna Journeys
Ami Jones
CEO & Founder
TerraFauna Journeys
Ami Jones is a seasoned travel professional, passionate conservationist, and respected leader in sustainable tourism with over 15 years of experience designing and guiding meaningful journeys across the globe. Her path began in 2008 in Placencia, Belize—an early spark that ignited a lifelong commitment to using travel as a force for good.
Since then, Ami has held key roles in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors spanning student travel, wellness, educational tourism, and conservation. She has led innovative sustainability initiatives—including the development of pioneering low-impact travel models—and helped shape strategies that prioritize environmental stewardship and community empowerment. Her work has taken her from the Arctic tundra to the Brazilian Amazon, always rooted in deep partnerships with local people and places.
In 2025, Ami founded TerraFauna Journeys to bring that mission to life. With a bold vision to inspire conservation, one journey at a time, she leads the company committed to reconnecting travelers with the natural world—while directly supporting the people and ecosystems that make each destination extraordinary.
Her belief is simple but powerful: when done thoughtfully, travel can change lives and help protect our planet for future generations.
summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Ami Jones, CEO and founder of TerraFauna Journeys, a conservation-focused travel company. They discuss Ami's background, her family's influence on her passion for conservation, and the importance of meaningful travel experiences. The conversation delves into the impact of tourism on local communities and the environment, the misconceptions surrounding travel destinations, and the mission of TerraFauna to inspire conservation through travel. Ami emphasizes the need for ethical tourism practices and the importance of listening to both travelers and local communities to create impactful experiences. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to engage with TerraFauna and contribute to conservation efforts.
takeaways
- TerraFauna Journeys aims to inspire conservation through travel.
- Ami's childhood experiences with National Geographic sparked her curiosity about the planet.
- Conservation perspectives can vary greatly based on cultural backgrounds.
- Travel experiences shape our understanding of the world and its challenges.
- Mass tourism can serve as a gateway to more meaningful travel experiences.
- Cultural misconceptions often arise from a lack of firsthand experience.
- Ethical tourism requires listening to local communities and understanding their needs.
- Luxury travel is being redefined to mean access to unique experiences.
- Community engagement is crucial for successful conservation efforts.
- Travel can be a powerful tool for personal growth and global understanding.
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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