Ep 48: Davis Smith

Ep 48: Davis Smith

Author: Mike Schibel, Travel With Meaning August 6, 2020 Duration: 56:18

Davis Smith grew up throughout Latin America and has since dedicated his life to helping those in need there and around the world. He's a passionate social entrepreneur and adventurer. Davis is currently the founder and CEO of Cotopaxi, an outdoor gear and active lifestyle brand – with a social mission at its core. The brand creates innovative products and experiences that fund sustainable poverty alleviation. Cotopaxi is the first company to incorporate from inception as a Benefit Corporation and raise venture capital. Davis is a lover of cultures, languages and adventure. He has camped in the Sahara, floated down the Amazon, explored North Korea, backpacked through South America, and most recently co-led the first successful crossing from Cuba to Florida via kayak. Davis holds an MBA from the Wharton School and an MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Fellow of the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies and an alumnus of the Spanish international program. He also holds a BA in International Studies from Brigham Young University.


Mike Schibel sits down with a fascinating array of guests on Travel With Meaning, but the destination is rarely the main point. Instead, this podcast explores the profound personal shifts that happen when we step outside our familiar surroundings. Each conversation delves into a specific journey-whether it’s a life-altering pilgrimage, a chaotic business trip that sparked a new idea, or a simple vacation that unexpectedly clarified a career path. You’ll hear from artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, and seasoned travel experts, but the focus remains on the transformative moment, the insight gained, or the connection made that reverberated long after the suitcase was put away. Schibel, founder of Travel With Meaning, guides these discussions with a genuine curiosity, allowing his guests to unpack not just their itineraries but the emotional and professional baggage they carried with them. The stories reveal how travel acts as a catalyst, reshaping identities, forging unexpected creative directions, and offering a new lens on one’s place in the world. Listening feels like being part of an intimate, thoughtful dialogue where the map of a life is redrawn by the roads taken. This isn't about recommendations or tips; it's about the lasting imprint of a place on a person. The podcast consistently uncovers how the world, in all its diverse complexity, has a way of teaching us exactly what we need to learn, often when we least expect it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Travel With Meaning
Podcast Episodes
Episode 103: Jen Ruiz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:39
In episode 103 of the podcast, we talk with Jen Ruiz, AKA Jen On A Jet Plane. Jen is a truly unique professional who transformed her life and career through incredible travel experiences. Jen is a lawyer turned full-time…
Episode 102: Lillian Rafson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:03
In the latest episode of the Travel With Meaning podcast, host Mike Schibel speaks with Lillian Rafson, the CEO and founder of Pack Up + Go. Originally from Pittsburgh, Lillian shares how her passion for travel after a c…
Episode 101: Katalina Mayorga [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:06
In this episode, we're joined by a woman who's blazing a trail in the travel industry and never intended to start a travel company. As the Colombian-American founder and CEO of El Camino Travel, Katalina Mayorga has been…
EPISODE 100: Linda Schibel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:53
Welcome to episode 100 of the Travel with Meaning podcast! We're excited to celebrate this milestone by sharing a very special episode with our listeners. In this episode, we're joined by my travel inspiration, my mom, L…
Episode 99: Solocast  - 2022 Recap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:26
Hello Travelers! What a year 2022 has been! TWM is beyond grateful for all of you and your support of the podcast and for sharing meaningful travel stories. This episode is a recap of travels, unique experiences, and ins…
Episode 98B: Owen Conflenti [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:53
Episode 98B - This is part two of the conversation recorded at the Westin Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. If you haven't listened to 98A with Steve French from the Westin make sure you do so. In this episode, we ta…
Episode 97: Jason Zone Fisher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:56
Episode 97 features a conversation with TV host Jason Zone Fisher. A passionate traveler who turned his love for sports, curiosity for adventure, and why not mentality into a thriving on-camera career. After winning a dr…
Episode 96: Lauren Gay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:57
Episode 96 features a conversation with Lauren Gay AKA Outdoorsy Diva, an extraordinary traveler who carved out her own path and inspired countless people along the way. Lauren is the creator of Misadventures of an Outdo…
Episode 95: Stephanie Daniel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:07
Hello travelers, in episode 95 we talk with Stephanie Daniel, the CEO, and Co-Founder of a unique new travel app, Legend. Stephanie does not come from a traditional travel industry background, but as we've found from tal…