The Power Of Travel To Transform Lives Where The Silk Road Still Whispers

The Power Of Travel To Transform Lives Where The Silk Road Still Whispers

Author: Marilyn Ball August 24, 2025 Duration: 44:59
Meet Abdylla Geldiyev, founder of Undiscovered Frontiers Travel and a true testament to courage and perseverance. Born and raised in the vast Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan, Abdylla’s story is one of relentless determination to overcome barriers and forge a path to share the magic wonders of his homeland and other lesser-known destinations with the world. Together we explore Turkmenistan’s dazzling and little-known treasures to the warmth of Turkmen hospitality. Abdylla breaks myths abo...

For over a decade, Speaking of Travel® With Marilyn Ball has been a space for thoughtful conversation about how we move through the world. Host Marilyn Ball sits down with a remarkable range of voices-from historians and conservation leaders to musicians and everyday adventurers-to explore travel as a force for connection and understanding. These aren't simple destination guides; they're deep dives into the stories that shape places and the people dedicated to preserving them. In each episode, you'll hear firsthand accounts that reveal how journeys, both big and small, can bridge cultural divides and inspire a greater sense of stewardship for our planet. This podcast delves into the personal journals and shared experiences that remind us why exploration matters, especially after a period of profound global change. Tune in for authentic narratives that go far beyond the itinerary, focusing on the meaningful encounters and responsible practices that define transformative travel. Marilyn’s genuine curiosity fosters conversations that feel like listening in on a chat between old friends, all centered on how our travels impact the world and ourselves.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Speaking of Travel® With Marilyn Ball
Podcast Episodes
Connecting Cultures Across The Middle East With Rihab Abouzaki [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:20
In a time shaped by rapid change and constant headlines, this conversation invites us to pause, to listen, and to look beyond perception into lived experience. My guest, Rihab Abouzaki, is an advertising strategist and D…
Travel, Stories, And The Threads That Bring Us Together With Yoon Kim [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:05
Sometimes it’s not one big moment that shapes us, but a series of experiences that quietly stay, like traveling far from home at a young age, listening to stories passed down at the kitchen table, beginning to understand…
Ketch Secor Of Old Crow Medicine Show Is Pure Soul [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:03
Some journeys don’t begin with a plan. Some just begin with a song, a street corner, a moment that simply says go. In this episode of Speaking of Travel, Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, shares a life shaped by fol…
Leave No Trace TV Shows Us How To Travel With Purpose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:04
What if the way we travel could actually help restore the planet instead of slowly wearing it down? On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we explore how every choice we make, where we go, how we move, where we stay, and…
Meandering With Meaning Restores Wonder In A Hurried World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:58
In a world that rarely pauses, this episode of Speaking of Travel is an invitation to breathe. To slow down. To remember that wonder still lives just outside our door and within our own hearts. Meet Sue Wasserman, Travel…
Redemption Beneath The Earth And The Healing of Hidden River Cave [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:29
What if the greatest stories on Earth aren’t written in the sky but carved in stone beneath our feet? On this illuminating episode of Speaking of Travel, we shine a light on the extraordinary underground ecosystems that…