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I was born and raised in Pacific Palisades, California one of the most stunning places in the world. Nestled between Malibu and Santa Monica, I knew I grew up in a special place, but truly didn’t appreciate it until years later. I was always interested in seeing what else is out there.

I was introduced to travel at an early age. One of my oldest memories is getting a postcard from my Grandparents from Egypt. I must have been five, but seeing the image of a camel in the desert with the pyramids (not to be cliche) with a note from my Grandma stayed with me. When we visited them I would be mesmerized by all their travel pictures.

My family loved to travel and go on adventures. We would take winter ski trips and a yearly summer pilgrimage to our lake cabin in Northern Minnesota. We even drove our station wagon one Summer from California. I was eight years old and I will never forget that trip. We stopped at every National Park, Monument and random museum along the way. My most vivid memory of that trip was my brother Dave trying to push me out the back of the Station Wagon in Yellowstone. Lucky we were stopped at the ranger station. LOL!

After a few years attending the University of Arizona, I was ready for something new. I spent a semester abroad in London, exploring Europe, Scandinavia, and North Africa, stepping way outside my comfort zone, trying new things, and loving the adventure. I made lifelong friends and had experiences that created bonds to this day. I also learned to love and appreciate being a solo traveler at times, being ok to do my own thing as much as I enjoyed traveling with friends. My mind and heart were blown wide open from the semester abroad, sending me on a new trajectory deciding to transfer to Emerson College in Boston. I continued to explore new cities and meet new people. After earning a degree in Broadcast Journalism I returned back home to LA to figure out my next chapter.

As life took its twists and turns I settled into my career in the entertainment industry as a talent agent/manager, which I did for almost a decade. After a crossroads in my career and searching for a deeper meaning in my life I bought a one-way ticket to Australia. Without a plan or knowing anyone I spent a year on the road, meeting interesting people, seeing incredible places, and having memorably inspiring conversations. Coming back to LA inspired and alive, again after my travels, I even started consulting for a travel brand I met on the road.

 

My passion for traveling, storytelling, and community building led me to launch, Travel With Meaning in 2017. I created Travel Talk Live to bring travelers together to recreate the feelings I experienced on the road, building an authentic community to inspire and encourage others to travel. In Spring of 2019, I launched the Travel With Meaning Podcast to continue to grow our community. If you're a fan of travel, great stories, and awesome people I think you'll like the Podcast. You can give it a listen here. Don't forget to leave a rating. Thanks in advance : )

I currently reside in Santa Monica with my partner Nicole, our dog Barbara Walters (Babs), and our cat Mija. I love being outdoors, driving down roads I've never been on, surfing, hiking, camping, and chasing sunsets. I also love a nice boutique hotel, great customer service, a wonderful meal, (I'm a breakfast anytime person), bathtub, (outside is a bonus), and a really good chocolate chip cookie.

I feel beyond lucky, dare I say GRATEFUL AF to have conversations with really cool accomplished people about travel. This is what Travel With Meaning is all about: to encourage, inspire and support the future of travel + hospitality and for all of us to have and share extraordinary adventures.

The journey is just beginning, I hope to see you on the open road!

If you're still reading, reach out. I'd love to connect!

mike@TravelWithMeaning.com