Sophie Ibbotson is a Central Asia specialist who has worked in the region since 2008, focusing on economic development — in particular tourism development — and water security. Through her company Maximum Exposure, she is a consultant to national governments and to the World Bank, and is Uzbekistan’s Tourism Ambassador to the UK.
Sophie is the author of six guidebooks for Bradt Travel Guides, and has written for Lonely Planet, National Geographic Traveller, and Culture Trip, amongst many other publications.
She is also Chairman of the UK’s Royal Society for Asian Affairs, founded in 1901 as the Central Asia Society.
On this episode of the show, Sophie shares her one way ticket destination is to Samarkand in the early 1420s, when Ulugbek - a grandson of Amir Timur (Tamerlane) - was governor. Sophie points out that at this point, before he became the Timurid Emperor, Ulugbek had just finished constructing his madrassa and astronomical observatory, solidifying Samarkand as one of the great intellectual and cultural centers of the Islamic world.
In our conversation, Sophie also highlights:
We wind down the conversation with Sophie sharing her philosophy on travel which is: “If you have the opportunity, go”!
Follow Sophie on Instagram & X: @uzambassador
For more on Sophie, visit: www.uzbekistan.travel/en &
A multiple Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and producer, Peter Greenberg is America’s most recognized, honored and respected front-line travel news journalist. Known in the industry as “The Travel Detective,” he is the Travel Editor for CBS News, appearing on CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News, and Sunday Morning, among other broadcast platforms.
Greenberg produces and co-hosts an ongoing series of acclaimed public television specials, “The Royal Tour,” featuring personal, one-on-one journeys through countries with their heads of state. Along with such figures as the King of Jordan, Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Israel and Presidents of Mexico and Peru, and Tanzania.
The consummate insider on reporting the travel business as news, Greenberg also hosts the television show, “The Travel Detective with Peter Greenberg,” airing on Public Television. The series offers more than 50 half-hour episodes with cutting-edge travel information and insider tips you need to know before you ever leave home, plus in-depth reports on the good, bad, and yes, even ugly aspects of travel.
Greenberg also has launched a series of one hour specials called HIDDEN, revealing special destinations and unique experiences that you won’t find in the guidebooks or brochures. Destinations include Turkey, Poland, and Canary Islands, just to name a few.
On radio, he hosts the nationally syndicated “Eye on Travel,” broadcast each week from a different remote location worldwide, and is heard on hundreds of CBS radio stations across the U.S.
Greenberg is also author of The New York Times best- selling Travel Detective series. His most recent book, The Best Places for Everything, comes in the wake of such titles as Don’t Go There! and The Complete Travel Detective Bible.
He has also been a featured guest on CNN, NewsNation, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Rachael Ray Show,” and “The View.”
Travel Weekly named him one of the most influential people in travel, along with Bill Marriott and Richard Branson. In 2012, he was inducted into the U.S. Travel Association’s Hall of Leaders for his contributions to the travel industry. Among his other honors, Greenberg received a News & Documentary Emmy Award as part of the “Dateline” team for outstanding coverage of a breaking news story, “Miracle on the Hudson.”
Greenberg began his career in journalism as West Coast correspondent for Newsweek in Los Angeles and San Francisco. He won a national Emmy Award (Best Investigative Reporting) for his ABC “20/20” special on the final orphan flight out of Vietnam, “What Happened to the Children?” Greenberg also received an Emmy Award for “Miracle on the Hudson” for NBC Dateline.
Greenberg is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin, and an Excellence in Broadcasting Award from the Aviation Space Writers Association of America.
His website, PeterGreenberg.com, is one of the leading travel news resources for consumers and industry insiders alike. When he is not traveling the globe, Greenberg also serves as an active volunteer firefighter.
Our guest on episodes 109 and 287, Peter returns to the program where he confirms his one way ticket destination is still to Fire Island. After which he shares:
1.
· Why with very few exceptions, the best time to go anywhere is immediately after political insurrection, a civil war, or a natural disaster
· The state of the airlines today – who’s really running them, how if at all they’re preparing for another software glitch, etc.
· Overtourism and how destinations are handling it
· The many treasures of Egypt, including the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Grand Egyptian Museum aka “GEM” (plus he recounts exploring the inside of a pyramid that was only just discovered)
· Some of what makes Uganda and Rwanda so special
· Why every American needs to buy an atlas
· How the cruise industry is changing rapidly when it comes to technology and sustainability
· Why he’ll only travel to a place where he knows who’s in control
· Why he has a bone to pick with US State Department Travel Advisories
· Why the worst four-letter word that starts with “f” when it comes to travel is “fear”.
Mildred Kirschenbaum, a centenarian with a zest for life, is known for her viral life advice as a social media influencer, sharing her simple yet profound guidance for a fulfilling life.
Mildred came from humble beginnings, born to immigrant parents in Brooklyn, NY. She excelled in school but needed to work. By 19 she was married and began a family when her husband returned from the service after WWII. She held volunteer leadership positions in non-profit organizations. With a passion for travel, she started a travel agency and traveled the world.
Mildred wrote her first book, MILDRED'S MINDSET: WISDOM FROM A WOMAN CENTENARIAN, when she was 100 years old, to share her tips on longevity and living life to the fullest. Her positive attitude and love for socializing have endeared her to many, and her approach to life reflects her belief in enjoying every day. Mildred’s daughter, Gayle Kirschenbaum, has been instrumental in sharing her mother's wisdom with the world.
Mildred's remarkable journey and her unique perspective on life inspire and uplift readers of all ages.
On this episode, Mildred shares her one way ticket to the South of France which she describes as her logical answer (her illogical answer is to a place where there’s no cancer, no illness and where people can enjoy life).
Apart from exploring her destination, with her signature humor and candid character, we also spotlight a few keys to living a long and zestful life, as featured in her book. They include: Attitude, learning new things, the need to foster a sense of community, and the importance of forgiveness.
We also cover travel – her philosophy on it, dressing for it, and changes in it – and more!
This is a delightful conversation which you’ll surely enjoy and be inspired by.
Tom Marchant is Co-Founder of award-winning, tailor-made luxury travel company Black Tomato. Described by Harper’s Bazaar as “having a finger on the pulse of travel that is incomparable” his experience shaping the business in the US and the UK has enabled a deep understanding of different markets and his innovative mindset has been lauded across the luxury sector, notably as a Game Changer in the 2021 Walpole Power List and for the past six years as a Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist.
Recognized as a leading authority in the travel industry, Black Tomato’s world-renowned approach to bespoke travel, alongside pioneering travel products, like Get Lost, Blink, Bring it Back and See You in the Moment reflect the company’s unique ability to uncover rare ways in which to experience destinations and address burgeoning client needs. Their discerning clientele are inspired by handcrafted experiences designed to reflect every passion, obsession and desire, with an acute prowess in the family market – Black Tomato’s center of gravity – with immersive collections including Field Trip and Take Me on a Story, driving the company’s exceptional success in this sector.
This creative ethos has led to Tom and the brand being consistently named best in class, including Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards 2023; a Travel + Leisure World’s Best Tour Operator 2023; and 2023 Travel Brand of the Year as the Challenger in the industry at the Travel Marketing Awards. And most recently, Black Tomato was awarded as a Master of Luxury, Travel – in the Robb Report Travel Masters Awards 2024.
An entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for travel was instilled in Tom from a young age, and it was channeling this that allowed Tom and co-founder James to identify a gap in the travel market for trips that were centered around experiences, and the pursuit of feeling, rather than destinations. With this in mind, in 2005, they founded Black Tomato, their aim being to create a business that reflected the needs and personalities of clients for whom the existing travel market had become moribund.
Their innovative travel products and services began with - groundbreaking at the time - diving tectonic plates in Iceland, and this philosophy has fueled consistent growth of the business and has led to collaborations with leading global brands. These include fashion and automotive powerhouses, and in 2023, a first of its kind partnership with EON Productions (producers of the James Bond franchise) to create trips centered around the iconic history of 007, with the launch of James Bond-inspired European travel itineraries.
Tom is regularly asked to provide commentary and thought pieces within the media and as a result he is regularly sought by brands, agencies and conference organizers (from the Financial Times Business of Luxury Summit to Bloomberg's Future of Luxury) to speak on the luxury and travel sectors. This has steered him to take a number of influential board positions at leading companies targeting UHNWs/HNWs.
Taking oversight of the creative direction, product innovation, customer experiences and business development strategies, he continues to work with his co-founder James on driving the successful growth of Black Tomato and he is now regarded as one of the leading voices and authorities within the luxury travel space.
Tom’s accolades and awards are numerous including:
· Named ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ by the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame
· Conde Nast Traveler - Named World's Best Travel Specialist in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
· Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
· Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2021, 2022, 2023
· The Guardian Future 500 List
· Winner of Pure’s ‘Contribution to Experiential Travel’ Award 2019
On this episode, Tom considers two one way ticket options. The first is to Belle Époque Paris, where his great-grandfather was a noted gallerist. The second is to Iceland where he'd embrace the landscape, culture, attitude, light and adventure of the island.
Apart from his one way ticket journeys, Tom covers the unique services that Black Tomato offers. We focus on: Get Lost, Bring it Back, Blink and the Journey into the World of James Bond. Tom also highlights where luxury travel is today and where it’s headed.
I just returned from a magical week on the rivers of Germany as a guest of Transcend Cruises. Our stops and excursions included: Koblenz, Cochem, Boppard, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Speyer, Wiesbaden, Wurzburg and Frankfurt. And I loved every second.
As for Transcend, it’s a charter-only river cruise line with a fleet of its own purpose-built vessels. The company offers truly customized river cruise journeys with tailor-made itineraries and experiences for any kind of group.
So for example, you can hold a destination wedding, or a corporate retreat, or celebrate a milestone birthday with family and friends, or really just about anything! On my sailing, the ship was chartered by the Porsche Club of North America with tailored experiences for car enthusiasts. And of course, there were plenty of cultural options to enjoy for the likes of yours truly.
The ship I was on was the Advance and was 5 stars all the way – from the suite to the dining to the staff. Frankly, I didn’t want to leave!
For more on Transcend, visit: https://www.transcend.cruises/ or tune in to episode 301 of The One Way Ticket Show where our guest was Matthew Shollar, Founder & Chief Visionary of Transcend Cruises.
While on board, I had the chance to sit down and chat with the ship’s Captain Rob Jager, Head Chef Mihai Tuca, and Transcend’s General Manager, Carmen Mladenovic. You can listen to each of those conversations here on The One Way Ticket Show.
On this episode, we’re featuring our conversation with Chef Mihai. We cover how he plans for a journey, how local cuisines impact menus on the ship, his favorite foods to prepare, what makes Transcend’s offering so unique, plus, it being the one way ticket show, of course I had to ask Chef Mihai where he’d go on his one way ticket journey of choice (if you’re new to the show, that’s the premise of the podcast).
Enjoy!
I just returned from a magical week on the rivers of Germany as a guest of Transcend Cruises. Our stops and excursions included: Koblenz, Cochem, Boppard, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Speyer, Wiesbaden, Wurzburg and Frankfurt. And I loved every second.
As for Transcend, it’s a charter-only river cruise line with a fleet of its own purpose-built vessels. The company offers truly customized river cruise journeys with tailor-made itineraries and experiences for any kind of group.
So for example, you can hold a destination wedding, or a corporate retreat, or celebrate a milestone birthday with family and friends, or really just about anything! On my sailing, the ship was chartered by the Porsche Club of North America with tailored experiences for car enthusiasts. And of course, there were plenty of cultural options to enjoy for the likes of yours truly.
The ship I was on was the Advance and was 5 stars all the way – from the suite to the dining to the staff. Frankly, I didn’t want to leave!
For more on Transcend, visit: https://www.transcend.cruises/ or tune in to episode 301 of The One Way Ticket Show where our guest was Matthew Shollar, Founder & Chief Visionary of Transcend Cruises.
While on board, I had the chance to sit down and chat with the ship’s Captain Rob Jager, Head Chef Mihai Tuca, and Transcend’s General Manager, Carmen Mladenovic. You can listen to each of those conversations here on The One Way Ticket Show.
On this episode, we’re featuring our conversation with Captain Rob. We cover the highlights one sees on the larger and smaller rivers of Europe, the allure of river cruising, his philosophy on leadership, what makes Transcend’s offering so unique, plus, it being the one way ticket show, of course I had to ask Captain Rob where he’d go on his one way ticket journey of choice (if you’re new to the show, that’s the premise of the podcast).
Enjoy!
I just returned from a magical week on the rivers of Germany as a guest of Transcend Cruises. Our stops and excursions included: Koblenz, Cochem, Boppard, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, Speyer, Wiesbaden, Wurzburg and Frankfurt. And I loved every second.
As for Transcend, it’s a charter-only river cruise line with a fleet of its own purpose-built vessels. The company offers truly customized river cruise journeys with tailor-made itineraries and experiences for any kind of group.
So for example, you can hold a destination wedding, or a corporate retreat, or celebrate a milestone birthday with family and friends, or really just about anything! On my sailing, the ship was chartered by the Porsche Club of North America with tailored experiences for car enthusiasts. And of course, there were plenty of cultural options to enjoy for the likes of yours truly.
The ship I was on was the Advance and was 5 stars all the way – from the suite to the dining to the staff. Frankly, I didn’t want to leave!
For more on Transcend, visit: https://www.transcend.cruises/ or tune in to episode 301 of The One Way Ticket Show where our guest was Matthew Shollar, Founder & Chief Visionary of Transcend Cruises.
While on board, I had the chance to sit down and chat with the ship’s Captain Rob Jager, Head Chef Mihai Tuca, and Transcend’s General Manager, Carmen Mladenovic. You can listen to each of those conversations here on The One Way Ticket Show.
On this episode, we’re featuring our conversation with Carmen. We cover the enchanting stops we made on our journey, the allure of river cruising, what makes Transcend’s offering so unique, plus, it being the one way ticket show, of course I asked Carmen where she’d go on her one way ticket journey of choice (if you’re new to the show, that’s the premise of the podcast).
Enjoy!
Marcus Samuelsson is the renowned chef behind many restaurants worldwide including Red Rooster in Harlem (NYC) and Overtown (Miami); Hav & Mar in Chelsea (NYC); Metropolis at PAC-NYC; Marcus Bar & Grille in Atlanta and its Live! flagship at American Dream (NJ); and several MARCUS locations including the Bahamas, Montreal and most recently Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Samuelsson was the youngest person to receive a three-star review from The New York Times and was the guest chef for the Obama Administration’s first state dinner. He has won eight James Beard Foundation Awards and recently won a 2023 Emmy Award for the Short Form Program “My Mark.” Samuelsson hosted the critically acclaimed No Passport Required on PBS. Additionally, Samuelsson has won numerous competition shows including Top Chef Masters and Chopped All-Stars and appears regularly on those franchises as a Judge. He also recently appeared as an Iron Chef on Netflix’s Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. Samuelsson also hosted and produced the Seat at the Table on Audible and co-hosted This Moment podcast with Swedish rapper Timbuktu on ACAST.
A committed philanthropist, Samuelsson is co-chair of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), which focuses on helping underserved youth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Samuelsson converted his restaurants Red Rooster Harlem and Red Rooster Overtown into community kitchens in partnership with World Central Kitchen, serving well over 280k meals to those in need. In Newark, Samuelsson’s Marcus B&P partnered with Audible and World Central Kitchen to create Newark Working Kitchens, which has engaged 37 local restaurants to provide 1.5 million meals to those in need. Samuelsson also co-produces the annual Harlem EatUp! Festival, which celebrates the food, art, and culture of Harlem.
He is the author of several cookbooks, the New York Times bestselling memoir Yes, Chef: A Memoir and his latest book, The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food.
Follow Samuelsson on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter at @MarcusCooks and on TikTok at @Marcus_Cooks.
On this episode of The One Way Ticket Show, Samuelsson offers his one way ticket destination is a toss-up between Rio de Janeiro and space!
In the course of the conversation, Samuelsson shares:
1. The allure of both Rio and space
2. The role soccer great, Pelé, played in his life
3. The link between memory and food and how that’s carried out in his work
4. How he draws on his Ethiopian and Swedish heritages
5. What Harlem means to him
6. His community and charity work
7. Inspiration for his unique sartorial sense
8. Why his happy space is to go into a small restaurant in Japan and watch the chefs go to work.
Kenneth Meshoe was born in Pretoria and is the fourth of seven children.
He completed his Matric Certificate in 1972. In 1975 he graduated from the University of the North with a Secondary Teachers Diploma. In 1976, he married Lydia and they have three children, Olga, Esther and Joshua.
In 1983, Kenneth went to Shekinah Bible Institute in Kingsport, Tennessee in the US, where he did the first year of his Theological Diploma. He later returned to Kingsport in January 1987 to complete his 2nd year Diploma.
In 1988, Kenneth and Lydia started a non-denominational, praying church in Vosloorus, Gauteng, called Hope of Glory Tabernacle that is involved in running a number of community projects in the area. The church strongly advocates the power of prayer and actively mobilises Christians to pray for the nation of South Africa. Kenneth and Lydia are both international speakers, who travel extensively, speaking at conferences in many parts of world.
In December 1993, they started a political party based on biblical principles called the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), and Kenneth became it’s first President and has remained thus to date. He also has also served as a Member of Parliament for the ACDP since 1994.
In 2006, Kenneth completed a one-year programme in Economics and Public Finance with the Department of Economics at the University of South Africa.
In 2008, Kenneth Meshoe completed his Advanced Diploma in Economic Policy (ADEP) with the University of the Western Cape.
Notable Achievements
Between 1994 and 1996, Kenneth was the only Evangelical Christian represented in the Constitutional Assembly’s Management Committee. The Committee was made up of around six to eight Members of Parliament. The rest of its contingent (12 in all) were officials.
The Committee was tasked with the organisation and management of the overall Constitution-making process. One of its major responsibilities was to ensure that the Constitutional Assembly worked according to an agreed schedule in order to meet its two-year target in which to complete the drafting of our new South African Constitution by 8 May 1996. This was achieved.
During the Constitution-making process, the ANC had made it very clear that it wished to see South Africa declared a secular state, which aimed to separate Church and State. Kenneth Meshoe, however, championed a backlash against this, both in Theme Committee 1 (Character of the State) that dealt with this particular clause and by raising his concerns over the implications such a status with as many Christians who would listen. As a result, in 1995, a protest march under the banner of the “Christian Voice’ was organised which saw Christians in their thousands march to Parliament against the proposed secular state clause as well as other concerning clauses in the draft Constitution, including the right to life and anti-discrimination clauses on the grounds of sexual orientation, all of which undermined our Biblical values.
As a result, the Constitution today states that South Africa is a Constitutional Democracy, and churches can, to this day, fellowship in state-owned school classrooms and halls, civic centres and can still pitch a tent in which to meet or hold crusades on state-owned land.
In addition, faith-based political parties are able to exist and work to defend their the values and principles of their faith in all levels of government and religious leaders are able to serve as Members of Parliament. Also notable is that South Africa is the only African country to have a Christian Party serving in its Parliament.
“The ACDP would like to see a Constitution that is the supreme law of the land, a Constitution that protects not only the rights of individuals but also those of unborn children. The ACDP wishes to see a Constitution that will be legitimate, enduring and that upholds biblical, family and traditional values.” Rev KRJ Meshoe, MP - Constitutional Assembly, 24 January 1995.
Kenneth and the ACDP continues to be a voice for Christians at Parliament and other levels of government where attacks on our faith often creep in. One such example is that of proposals made to remove Christian Holy Days such as Easter and Christmas as official public holidays, as had been done with Ascension Day. The overwhelming majority of South Africans claim to be Christian and such a move was unthinkable. Kenneth arranged protest marches aptly branded “Hands Off Christmas and Good Friday!” His call was then reiterated in the ACDP’s submission which he handed over to the then Minister of Home Affairs, Ms Naledi Pandor. Through continued awareness campaigns and protests, sufficient pressure was placed on government to ensure the matter went no further.
In 2012, Kenneth organised a protest march in defence of Israel after the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, gazetted General Notice 370 or 2012 that required Israel to label its products as originating from “Occupied Palestinian Territories”.
In June 2013, Kenneth established a non-profit organisation called DEISI International, with a mandate to challenge the ignorance of many about the true facts regarding the right of Israel to exist within safe and secure borders, and to dispel the lie that Israel is an apartheid state. DEISI is an acronym for Defend, Embrace, Invest, Support Israel.
In 2020, after South Africans were placed under a severe, prolonged lockdowns and had many of their Constitutional freedoms undermined as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenneth was extremely concerned, particularly given its potential threat to our economy and job security. He was also outraged that churches were not allowed to meet in person, except under excessively strict regulations, and that mandatory vaccination was being introduced by some universities and businesses.
Kenneth was at the forefront of fighting for our right to ‘choose’ whether or not to be vaccinated. He did not want to see anyone being forced to do so, as “even God gives us the choice of whether or not to choose salvation,” he said.
Through the ACDP, he was able to be a voice for workers who had been given an ultimatum by their employers to ‘get vaccinated or lose your job’. He encouraged them to stand their ground and not be pressurised into violating the dictates of their consciences. Some lost their jobs as a result but Kenneth remained resolute and ensured that the ACDP fought for them at the CCMA, a fight that saw a number of these unfair dismissals rightly overturned.
Kenneth led also a similar campaign at various universities that were refusing access to students who chose not to be vaccinated.
Awards
On the 18th December 1994, Kenneth Meshoe was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Humane Letters, abbreviated L.H.D.), by Bethel Christian College in Riverside, California, USA, and was also appointed to serve as an Associate Member on the Board of Regents of Bethel College.
In 1998, Kenneth was awarded the ‘International Leadership Award’ for outstanding leadership in the church and nation by the Australian Federation of Festival of Light Community Standards Organisation at the New South Wales Parliament House.
He was awarded a second Honorary Doctorate (L.H.D.) in 2007 by Logos Graduate School, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
In November 2013, the international organisation, Stand With Us, in Michigan, USA, presented Kenneth Meshoe with the ‘Star of David’ award.
In 2014, Kenneth was honoured with the ‘Jerusalem Award 2014’ conferred on him by the World Zionist Organisation.
In September 2015, Israel Today Nigeria, in conjunction with the Embassy of Israel in Abuja, gave Kenneth the “Jerusalem Ambassador” award.
On this episode of The One Way Ticket Show, Reverend Meshoe (affectionately known as The Rev) shares his one way ticket to a peaceful and prosperous South Africa that is a very close friend of Israel.
Given South Africa’s national and provincial elections on May 29th, 2024, The Rev provides an assessment of South Africa today, and weighs in on the country’s poorly performing economy, high employment and crime and regular power cuts. He shares why people are looking for answers outside of the ANC which has ruled South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994.
He also highlights how South Africa can learn from Israel’s water management, science and technological advancements and economic development to create a successful South Africa. Moreover, he shares why it's factually incorrect to call Israel an apartheid state and how those that do, trivialise the pain and suffering South Africans experienced during those dark years.
And when asked what Nelson Mandela would make of South Africa today, The Rev responded: “A heart break which might lead to a heart attack. He would faint.”
Sasha Zabar, son of iconic New Yorker Eli Zabar, is the culinary dreamer and founder of Glace, the Upper East Side ice cream and sweet shop.
Sasha spent his childhood working at his father’s various businesses, including Eli’s Market and Eli’s Bread and then went on to attend the Nolan School of Hotel Administration at Cornell. His unshakable foundation in food, family, and business drew him back to Manhattan’s rich culinary scene, working stints at acclaimed restaurants like Daniel, Jean-Georges and The Mark between semesters.
Following graduation, he worked with his father and twin brother Oliver to open Broome Street Bakery and Devon on the Lower East Side, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, he re-entered the family business full-time. Sasha helped rebuild the brand’s digital strategy by creating new websites and bringing in new technology, eventually increasing the market’s home shopping orders to hundreds per day. Sasha then went on to open Noglu, a gluten-free bakery in NYC.
In June 2023, Sasha opened Glace, a French-inspired ice cream concept. When the cold weather arrived, Sasha pivoted to offer the now viral S’Mores Hot Chocolate, which led the shop to have lines around the block, more than 100k Instagram followers, features on The Today Show, The New York Times, Bloomberg and even a collaboration with Britney Spears.
Sasha is excited to continue to innovate the offerings at Glace and expand the brand to a national and even global audience.
On this episode, we explore Sasha's one way ticket to Edo period Japan, inspired by his love for one of his favorite books, Shogun, by James Clavell.
In the conversation we also cover Sasha’s passion for food, his grandfather as a role model, and his father’s work in expanding the American palate.
Of course, we also talk about Glace, including: The Proustian nature of ice cream, bringing flavors to life, Glace’s wildly popular hot chocolate, the shop’s tantalizing summer menu, and Glace’s ice cream truck soon slated to open at Rockefeller Center next to the rink!
General David H. Petraeus is a retired United States Army general and a prominent commentator on contemporary security issues, military developments and global affairs, widely respected as a leading warrior intellectual.
The General graduated with distinction from the US Military Academy and earned a PhD from Princeton University. He served in the US Army for thirty-seven years, concluding his time in uniform with six consecutive commands as general officer, five of which were in combat, including command of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. He then served as the director of the CIA.
The General has held academic appointments at six universities and is a senior fellow and lecturer at Yale University. He is currently a partner in a major investment firm and chairs that firm’s Global Institute.
The General is also a brilliant author. His latest book, Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine released at the end of 2023 and is a must read. He co-wrote it with noted biographer and historian Andrew Roberts. It’s published by Harper, an imprint of Harper Collins. You can pick up a copy wherever you like to buy your books.
On this episode, General Petraeus discusses:
As for the General’s very creative answer to where he’d go if given a one way ticket, please listen to our interview with him on episode 268 from August 2022.
An international figure in architecture and urban design, the architect Daniel Libeskind is renowned for his ability to evoke cultural memory and is informed by a deep commitment to music, philosophy, and literature. Mr. Libeskind aims to create architecture that is resonant, original, and sustainable. Born in Lód’z, Poland, in 1946, Mr. Libeskind immigrated to the United States as a teenager and with his family, settled in the Bronx. After studying music in New York and Israel on an American-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship, he developed into a musical virtuoso, before eventually leaving music to study architecture. He received his professional degree in architecture from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in 1970 and a postgraduate degree in the history and theory of architecture from the School of Comparative Studies at Essex University in England in 1972.
Daniel Libeskind established his architectural studio in Berlin, Germany, in 1989 after winning the competition to build the Jewish Museum in Berlin. In February 2003, Studio Libeskind moved its headquarters from Berlin to New York City when Daniel Libeskind was selected as the master planner for the World Trade Center redevelopment. Daniel Libeskind’s practice is involved in designing and realizing a diverse array of urban, cultural and commercial projects internationally. The Studio has completed buildings that range from museums and concert halls to convention centers, university buildings, hotels, shopping centers and residential towers.
As Principal Design Architect for Studio Libeskind, Mr. Libeskind speaks widely on the art of architecture in universities and professional summits. His architecture and ideas have been the subject of many articles and exhibitions, influencing the field of architecture and the development of cities and culture. His new book Edge of Order, detailing his creative process, was published in 2018. Mr. Libeskind lives in New York City with his wife and business partner, Nina Libeskind. The Studio Libeskind office headquarters are in New York City.
On this episode, Mr. Libeskind reveals his one way ticket destination to the Garden of Eden before there was a Tree of Knowledge and before Adam gave Eve the apple. He shares why, what he would do there, whom he would take there, what he would take with him, and what if anything he would want to build in this perfect state of nature.
In the conversation, Mr. Libeskind also reflects on the role of an architect and the social responsibility he has. Plus, he showcases some of his completed work including his affordable housing projects in NYC, Maggie’s Center at the Royal Free Hospital in London, and the Dresden Museum of Military History. He also shares projects now underway (he’s working in 14 different countries at the moment!) such as the Einstein House at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, a museum in the Atacama Desert in Chile and more. Additionally, he offers what the ideal memorial would look like to mark the horrific October 7th attack in Israel. And, we covered what he thinks about each time he walks through Ground Zero (for which he created the master plan).
We wind down the conversation with Mr. Libeskind highlighting what role music has played in his life (he was a virtuoso) and just how much music and architecture both rely on precision.
For more than five years, Zach Griff has been a Senior Reporter at The Points Guy. His contributions range from news about the airline industry to travel and product reviews to deep dives into loyalty programs.
Zach is also pursuing his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
An avid traveler for over a decade now, Zach first redeemed miles for a last-minute, business-class ticket to the Middle East. He’s since been to 58 countries and counting — and can’t wait to keep writing about his travel experiences.
On this episode of The One Way Ticket Show, Zach shares his one way ticket “up in the air”!
Zach also highlights:
Simon Cockerell is from the south-west of England. He moved to Beijing in 2000, becoming Koryo Tour’s General Manager two years later. Having traveled to North Korea 182 times, he has probably been to the country more than any other westerner. Simon is a respected speaker on the DPRK and appears regularly in international media. Simon’s tireless work, alongside Koryo’s partners in Pyongyang, has been essential in opening up new territories within the DPRK to tourists.
You can follow Simon’s adventures on his Instagram account: @simonkoryo.
On this episode, Simon shares his one way ticket to a future utopian post-scarcity society. He offers why and what it will look like, including how travel may be impacted.
Plus, Simon talks all about venturing to North Korea – from who goes and why, the “dos and don’ts” once you’re there, his favorite spots, and what would surprise most people about the country.
The DPRK has been closed to tourists since January 2020 and since September 1, 2017, the U.S. government has banned people traveling with a U.S. passport to the country. Like many, Simon is waiting for travelers to be able to visit North Korea once again.
Meanwhile, Koryo Tours orchestrates some tremendous tours to off-the-beaten-path destinations (Turkmenistan, anyone?) which Simon also spotlights in our conversation.
Matthew’s passion for all things travel began in his childhood. He brings 25 years of entrepreneurial leadership experience in the luxury travel marketing, sales, and hospitality business development arena to Transcend Cruises. Matthew co-founded and served as CEO of e-Cruise, an online industry wide marketing and retention program, and created and led Chosen Voyage, a niche cruise charter company that has operated numerous full-ship programs with luxury ocean and river cruise lines.
Matthew subsequently served as a senior VP at INTRAV, a leading specialist cruise and tour operator, and has developed travel programs for clients including Starwood UK, Cunard Line, and Cuisinart. He has also launched cross-marketing programs between luxury cruise lines and retail partners such as Tourneau and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Matthew is a principal at Reception Hotels and Resorts, where he completed development of a 160-room EVEN Hotel, the first adaptive reuse project for the wellness-driven brand, in a historic department store in downtown Pittsburgh.
Matthew is founder and chief visionary of the company. He is Transcend’s lead evangelist, and will oversee all sales, partnerships, ship design, and fleet development efforts.
On this episode of the show, Matthew shares his one way ticket to a state where we all live together in harmony. Plus, he highlights Transcend, the new charter-only river cruise line with a fleet of its own purpose-built vessels. Matthew spotlights how the company is changing the face of cruising by offering truly customized river cruise experiences for groups, whether a corporate event, family gathering, wedding celebration, and more. Further, he talks about looking at river cruising through the lens of sustainability.
As Matthew lives in Pittsburgh, PA, we wind down the conversation with why everyone in earshot needs to visit the Steel City.
Originally from the suburbs of Toronto, Canada, Scott Shelley is a Physics Laboratory Instructor at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. He moved to the US in 1997.
Scott has spent the last thirty years attempting to systematically visit every country in the world, while simultaneously minimizing the cost of flights. He believes that planning trips is half the fun. To date, he has visited 192 of the 193 United Nations Member States.
He lives in an old house with his extremely patient and understanding wife Julie (who quietly worries but never objects when he chooses a dangerous location to visit) and their three cats: Kit, Glow, and Noodle.
Apart from planning his global journeys, Scott enjoys seeing live music and collecting music memorabilia.
On this episode of the show, Scott shares his one way ticket to, in his words “rainy, kind of dank, Manchester England in the early 1980s” to enjoy the music scene then and there.
During the course of the conversation, Scott also shares:
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Mark your calendars for Saturday December 2nd, 2023. That’s when the Lifetime Channel will be releasing an original holiday movie, Ladies of the ‘80s: A Divas Christmas. It stars Loni Anderson, Morgan Fairchild, Donna Mills, Nicolette Sheridan and Linda Gray, our featured guest on this episode of The One Way Ticket Show.
In an acting and directing career spanning well over 50 years, Linda is perhaps best known for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing, the long-suffering wife of JR Ewing on the mega hit TV series Dallas, which premiered 45 years ago.
During our conversation, Linda shares her one way ticket to curiosity and all of its many facets.
Plus, she highlights how she approaches developing a character and what she loves about playing other people; takes us behind the scenes of Dallas; reflects on the 1980s; recalls working as the leg model for the poster for the 1967 film The Graduate, and the excitement on set working with acting veterans in Ladies of the ‘80s: A Divas Christmas.
For Linda's full bio, visit: lindagrayofficial.com
In Karen’s own words:
“I was 17 years old, traveling alone, when I boarded a plane to Europe. Living in a different culture I experienced the world in new and surprising ways and discovered myself. My love of travel was born. I didn’t return to the US for three years.
Since then I’ve traveled to more than 90 countries. I climbed Kilimanjaro, conquered my fear of falling to go on an elephant trek in Thailand, spent time in Berlin shortly after the wall came down, stayed with a Japanese family who taught me to make sushi and made friends across the globe.
In pursuit of my passion for travel I’ve lost and gained friends and lovers and made a radical career change. Travel is my addiction, and I don’t want treatment
I studied ceramics in college and graduate school but abandoned that career and switched to marketing so that employers would pay for my travel. In my new career as a marketing strategist and researcher I’ve traveled the world conducting thousands of meetings, focus groups and interviews. My skills as an interviewer have persuaded total strangers to talk candidly about the most intimate of subjects, personal bankruptcy, illness, and religion. When traveling for pleasure, those same skills helped me to draw out people’s stories. I’ve learned about their lives, as well as local customs and fashions and what makes them laugh. These conversations often led to invitations for dinner and personal tours.
“Travel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust” is a compilation of stories that explore how travel can change a life. Like my readers, I am an ordinary person. Through travel I’ve learned courage and risk taking and succeeded at things I didn’t know I could do.
Each story can be read and enjoyed independently. My hope is that they will tickle the travel bug in readers and encourage them to set off on their own adventures.
I live in New York City.”
On this episode of The One Way Ticket show, Karen shares her one way ticket to see what New York City was like from the 1920s onwards. Plus, she also shares her second book, "Wanderlust: Extraordinary People, Quirky Places, and Curious Cuisine". Throughout the conversation, we talk travel, travel, and more travel!
Michelle Lawton is a food and wine lover and founder of joyfulplate, a food and beverage research and branding consultancy. She is a happy home cook to her “Irishman” (aka her partner, Michael) in New York City, where she enjoys brainstorming on bike rides in Central Park and the kitchen -- her happy places.
Michelle holds an Advanced Wine Certificate from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and shares her wine, food, and travel experiences on Instagram @joyfulplate and joyfulplate.com/inspiration.
Michelle is passionate about community, volunteering with the West Side Campaign Against Hunger in New York City for 15 years and with Les Dames d’Escoffier NY, a nonprofit supporting aspiring professional women in food and beverage hospitality.
Our guest on episode 39, Michelle returned to The One Way Ticket Show, where she shared a new one way ticket – to a place of protected health and joy. She also shares her book, Moderating a Love Affair with Food: 10 Tips to Mindful Eating and Drinking.
On this special episode of The One Way Ticket Show, Host Steven Shalowitz sat down with Yahya Mahamid following the barbaric invasion of Israel by Hamas terrorists on Saturday 7 October 2023. The interview is from Steven’s conversation with Yahya on the Jewish National Fund USA podcast, IsraelCast.
Yahya Mahamid is an Arab-Israeli speaker, educator, and activist. He serves as a mentor in various programs and works to empower and integrate youth from Israel’s Arab minority. Mahamid was raised in the city of Um Al Fahm and grew up with a negative image of Israel and the Jewish people, but personal interactions with Israelis challenged and changed his perceptions. Notably, he volunteered as a combat infantry soldier in the Israel Defense Forces and has since dedicated his life to educating others about antisemitism and misinformation about Israel.
During the conversation, Yahya shares his remarkable life’s journey and debunks myths about Israel.
On this special episode of The One Way Ticket Show, Host Steven Shalowitz sat down with Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, following the barbaric invasion of Israel by Hamas terrorists on Saturday 7 October 2023. The interview is from Steven’s conversation with her on the Jewish National Fund USA podcast, IsraelCast.
Fleur serves as Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem in charge of foreign relations, international economic development, and tourism. She is a co-founder of the UAE-Israel Business Council, an association of Emirati and Israeli business and government leaders fostering bilateral trade, innovation, and cooperation. Fleur was born in London, grew up in Gibraltar, and immigrated to Israel in 2001.
During the conversation, Fleur discusses the current environment in Jerusalem, organizing support from the international community, and the special resilience of the Jewish people. She also discusses how Hamas is ISIS and how this a clear battle between good and evil.
On this special episode of The One Way Ticket Show, Host Steven Shalowitz sat down with Dr. Jonathan Schanzer to provide perspective on the barbaric invasion of Israel by Hamas terrorists on Saturday 7 October 2023.
The interview is from Steven’s conversation with Dr. Schanzer on the Jewish National Fund USA podcast, IsraelCast.
Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at FDD, where he oversees the work of the organization’s experts and scholars. He is also on the leadership team of FDD’s Center on Economic and Financial Power, a project on the use of financial and economic power as a tool of statecraft.
Jonathan previously worked as a terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he played an integral role in the designation of numerous terrorist financiers. He has held previous think tank research positions at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and the Middle East Forum.
Jonathan has written hundreds of articles on the Middle East, along with more than a dozen monographs and chapters for edited volumes. His new book, Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War (FDD Press 2021), challenges and corrects some of the wildly inaccurate news reported during the conflict. It is the first book published on the war. His three other books have made unique contributions to the field. State of Failure: Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Unmaking of the Palestinian State (Palgrave Macmillan 2013) argues the main roadblock to Palestinian statehood is the Palestinian Authority’s political dysfunction and mismanagement. Hamas vs. Fatah: The Struggle for Palestine (Palgrave Macmillan 2008) is still the only book on the market that analyzes the ongoing Palestinian civil war. Al-Qaeda’s Armies: Middle East Affiliate Groups and the Next Generation of Terror (Washington Institute for Near East Policy 2004) was the first to explore the al-Qaeda franchises of the Middle East.
Jonathan testifies often before Congress and publishes widely in the American and international media. He has appeared on American television channels such as Fox News and CNN, and Arabic language television channels such as Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera.
A sought-after public speaker, Jonathan has traveled widely throughout the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories.
Jonathan has studied Middle East history in four countries. He earned his PhD from King’s College London, where he wrote his dissertation on the U.S. Congress and its efforts to combat terrorism in the 20th century. He speaks Arabic and Hebrew.
Born in Israel in 1942, Ory Slonim grew up amidst the ravages of the country’s War of Independence. Ory came from a seventh-generation family that lived in Hebron, grew up in Tel Aviv, married, and became a successful lawyer.
In 1986, Israeli President Haim Herzog appointed Ory as special counsel to the Defense Minister for issues of POWs & MIAs, from the civilian world, concentrating on families. Ory enlisted in the mission, gaining senior cooperation with the Mossad. For his work, he accepted a payment of one Israeli Shekel per year.
Over the next thirty-six years, Ory searched the world for young IDF soldiers, pilots and reservists who were captured in battles and never heard from again. His mission to find the missing boys saw him traveling to nations that did not recognize Israel, and meeting with terrorist representatives. In the capacity of knocking on doors worldwide, and on families of the POWs & MIAs, Ory became known as the “Door Knocker.”
In addition, Ory has tirelessly worked for Variety – the Children’s Charity, having served as President and Chairman of the organization in Israel and as International President between 2003 – 2005.
In 2011 Ory was honored by President Shimon Peres with the Israeli Presidential Medal of Distinction.
On this episode of The One Way Ticket Show, Ory shares his one way ticket to a future in a place where all soldiers, POWs & MIAs will be back home and where children in need will be okay.
During our conversation, Ory also shares what it’s like dealing with terrorists and non-state actors, the painful conversations he had with families of POW-MIAs, draws from Moliere who said how uncertainty is uglier than the worst certainty, and highlights the importance of giving.
For more, pick up a copy of Ory's book: "A Knock At The Door: The Story of My Secret Work with Israeli MIAs and POWs".
Matt Gutman is ABC News’ Chief National Correspondent based in Los Angeles. He reports for all ABC News broadcasts and platforms, including “World News Tonight with David Muir,” “20/20,” “Good Morning America” and “Nightline.” He has reported for ABC from 40 countries across the globe.
A multiple award-winning correspondent, Matt has covered the COVID-19 crisis, the protests in American streets following the death of George Floyd, the immigration crisis, and countless foreign and domestic terror attacks. Over the past half-decade, he has been one of the most frequently used correspondents on “20/20.” Matt’s tireless reporting helped “20/20” win an Emmy® for its documentary on the 2017 Las Vegas massacre and a Christopher Award for its reporting on the Thai cave rescue. He followed every step of that treacherous mission to save the 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand. Matt subsequently authored “The Boys in the Cave,” which chronicled the heroics of a motley crew of cave diving misfits, the US Airforce, and Thai Navy Seals who spearheaded the rescue.
Previously based in Miami, Matt won awards for his coverage of the Trayvon Martin Shooting and the BP Oil spill. From 2013-2018 he hosted the ABC Television Network’s Saturday morning show, “Sea Rescue,” which won the 2016 Emmy for “Outstanding Children’s Series.”
Before joining ABC News in 2008 where he started at ABC News Radio, Matt was a Jerusalem-based reporter for seven years, covering every major conflict in the Middle East.
Matt is married and a father of two. He is a graduate of Williams College in Massachusetts.
On this episode, Matt discusses his second book, “No Time to Panic: How I Curbed My Anxiety and Conquered a Lifetime of Panic Attacks”.
As an added bonus, Matt shares a new one way ticket – to the room in Tallahassee, Florida during the November 2000 election where the hanging chads were selected.
Joyce Pomeroy Schwartz is a curator, lecturer and public art consultant with a unique concentration in public art policy, modern and contemporary art for architecture and the landscape in the broader context of cultural, urban and environmental revitalization.
In 1968-1971 she founded “The Photographer’s Gallery,” the first gallery in New York City exhibiting photography as fine art.
She was Director of Commissions at Pace Gallery in New York from 1972-1982, implementing public sculpture projects with Pace artists.
In 1982 Joyce founded “Works of Art for Public Spaces, Ltd.”, dedicated to working with American and International artists creating major works of Art for Architecture. She is also one of the founding board members of ARTTABLE.
She recently established the Harold and Joyce Pomeroy Schwartz “Archives of Public Art” at the Fales Special Collections/NYU Bobst Library, of artists’ monographs, photographs and papers available for public art historical research. It now includes the archives of the Public Art fund and Creative Time.
In July 2023, Joyce released her book: “The Private Eye in Public Art”, published by Oro Editions.
On this episode of The One Way Ticket Show, Joyce shares her one way ticket to 25 years into the future to know what her two great-granddaughters are doing then.
During the course of our conversation, Joyce also reflects on:
· Her lifelong love of art – particularly Native American and African Art - stemming from her visits as a young girl in the late 1930s to the Brooklyn Museum, the Met and MOMA (which she used to ride to solo via the subway)
· Visiting the 1939 World’s Fair and the futuristic GM pavilion
· The general role art plays in questioning and opening ones mind
· The role of public art and how it moved beyond sticks & stones to the art of ideas and place-making
· How public art shapes a space rather than fills it and how it provides a common cultural cue
· How from the very start, Chicago got public art projects right
· Collaborating with groundbreaking artists including: Louise Nevelson, Tony Smith, David von Schlegell and Isamu Noguchi
· Creating the Irish Hunger Memorial in New York City
· Arshile Gorky’s lost (then found!) murals at Newark Airport
· Why artists are the only narcissists she’ll ever forgive.