Travel has a way of waking us up and inviting us to slow down, breathe more deeply, and reconnect with what truly makes us feel alive. In this episode of Speaking of Travel, we welcome Nancy De Losa, Co-Founder of A’qto Italian Cycling Tours, whose work beautifully blends cycling, culture, community, and mindful travel across Italy.

Nancy shares how exploring Italy by bike becomes far more than a physical experience. Moving through landscapes at a human pace encourages presence, clarity, and a powerful mind-body connection, while the gentle rhythm of the journey naturally reduces stress and opens space for reflection, joy, and personal growth. Riding becomes a form of meditation and a chance to feel each moment rather than rush through it.

Beyond the ride, travelers discover the deeper wellness woven into everyday Italian life, like gathering in the piazza, sharing long meals and local wines, enjoying aperitivo, and connecting with people and place in meaningful ways. These simple rituals remind us that wellbeing is not only about activity, but about finding balance in movement and rest, nourishment and connection, adventure and presence.

This heartfelt conversation explores how slowing down, traveling with intention, and embracing the Italian way of living can transform a trip into a journey that helps us feel grounded, renewed, and more fully ourselves.

A must listen. Especially for all you Italy dreamers!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

What if listening deeply could carry us across centuries?

In this Speaking of Travel episode, cellist Louise Dubin invites us into a world where travel, music, and historical discovery intertwine, reminding us that the most meaningful journeys reconnect us with voices nearly forgotten. Performing across solo, chamber, orchestral, and Broadway stages, including Radio City, Louise brings audiences beyond the concert hall, uncovering hidden musical treasures and restoring them to life with remarkable care and passion.

Her recordings, including The Franchomme Project and Passages, grew from years of research and travel, especially in France, where she followed the footsteps of 19th-century composers whose works had slipped from the repertoire. Through her work, Louise shows us that curiosity is a devotion, honoring the artists who came before us and ensuring their music continues to breathe.

“Travel teaches us to listen differently. When we step into the places where music was created, the notes begin to feel less like history and more like conversation.”

In our conversation, Louise reflects on falling in love with the cello, the responsibility of recording works never before heard, and the discoveries that shaped her journey abroad. Together, we explore how music becomes a living conversation across time, memory, and human connection.

This is a story about listening with the heart and remembering that every rediscovered note brings the past beautifully into the present.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Some people take trips. Evlyn Mondo built an entirely new life through travel.

Her journey from science labs and academic classrooms in Quebec to leading a luxury villa in Barbados is a story of reinvention guided by courage, intuition, and heart. As CEO and Managing Director of Villa Casablanca at Sandy Lane, Evlyn is redefining what luxury truly means by shifting the focus from opulence to connection, sustainability, and experiences that stay with people long after they return home.

Drawing from her perspective as both traveler and host, Evlyn curates stays that feel deeply personal and emotionally meaningful. She shares how thoughtful details, cultural immersion, private chef experiences, and eco-conscious practices come together to create space for guests to slow down, celebrate life’s milestones, and reconnect with themselves and each other.

“Luxury isn’t about excess,” Evlyn says. “It’s about presence and creating space for people to reconnect with themselves, with each other, and with the place they’re in.”

Her story goes beyond hospitality. Evlyn shares stories about identity, bravery, leadership, and the choice to design a life aligned with purpose. She reminds us that reinvention isn’t about losing who we were, but expanding into who we’re meant to become.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.