Does this woman have the best job in the world?
yes, yes she does
In this newsletter: you’re invited to an IG chat with Fodor’s Travel and Samantha Brown! With your paid subscriptions we’ve supported important non-profits, including the Lilith Fund, World Central Kitchen, Refugio Animal Holbox, Womankind, Girls Write Now, Women for Women, Heart of Dinner, and Black Mamas Matter. If you’ve found your way here but are not yet subscribed, let me help you with that:
As an editor of Fodor’s, my story originally appeared on Fodors.com.
Do you ever wonder what it takes to become a travel host? How about what it’s like to travel the world for television? You’re invited to join me and Fodor’s Travel on April 29th at 1 pm EST for a special Instagram Live Chat with the esteemed travel host, Samantha Brown.
Brown is a pioneer and one of the first women to break through the historically male-dominated travel hosting space. In an industry where women statistically make 80% of travel decisions, it can seem obvious to have a female travel host speak to the overwhelming majority of the travel consumer base. And yet, for far too long, we’ve seen travel shows spearheaded by straight white men whose overtly masculine adventure content seems exclusively catered to, well, other straight white men.
Today, you can find Brown—who originally hails from Dallas—hosting the popular PBS series, Places to Love, which is now on its fifth season. Whether she’s interviewing artisans in North Carolina, sipping Bourbon in Kentucky, or ice canoeing in Canada—Brown’s approachable and down-to-earth show leaves viewers with a list of curated experiences highlighting the food, culture, and adventure of a given destination.
Since Places to Love aired, Brown’s show has earned itself three Daytime Emmy nominations and, in 2019, won two Emmys for Outstanding Travel/Adventure Program and Outstanding Host. The importance of Brown’s career cannot be underestimated, as she has paved a way for a new generation of diverse women travel hosts—such as Kellee Edwards and Jo Franco. Sure, the travel hosting space has a long way to go before it’s truly equalized and diversified, but we are now seeing a crop of new faces that better reflect actual travelers.
Traveling the world for work has always held an allure, but to travel the world for work and television seems like the holy grail of careers. Because I am both an editor for Unearth Women and Fodor’s Travel, this Friday, I’ll be speaking with Samantha Brown about what it’s like to have the best job in the world, traveling as a woman, and her tried-and-tested tips for solo traveling. I’ll see you on Fodor’s Travel Instagram on April 29th at 1 pm EST for this exciting live chat!
A feminist Black Mirror, tuna salad, and a great read
After you’ve marked your calendars for this Friday’s Instagram live chat with me, Fodor’s Travel, and Samantha Brown, make sure to binge-watch Roar on Apple TV. Best I can describe it, Roar is an anthology of quirky women-centric stories that are like a feminist version of Black Mirror. After, make this quick tuna salad lunch from Alison Roman. If you’re not like my boyfriend (who apparently gags at the smell of tuna), this lunch is super flavorful and easy to whip together. Then, pick up a copy of In Every Mirror She’s Black by the inspiring Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström. Finally, wish our Intrepid Travel x Wanderess giveaway winners a BIG congrats as they’ve just snagged themselves FREE spots on a women’s expedition of their choice!
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