Shows
True Travel TalkCalifornia: Palm Springs - Passion 4 Pinot & Desert Indulgence14. Sometimes the best way to experience Palm Springs is with great friends, a full tasting glass, and a little desert sparkle. Jill is joined by friends Todd Davis and Shari Young for a sun-soaked weekend in Palm Springs - complete with wine festivals, art sightings, and a few unexpected detours (including showing up at the wrong dinner venue).
From blind Pinot tastings and VIP terraces at Pasion 4 Pinot to brunch under the palms, Marilyn Monroe photo ops, and sunset views at The Edge at The Ritz-Carlton, this trip blends classic Palm Springs nostalgia with modern culinary creativity.
2026-02-2247 minTrue Travel TalkCalifornia: Healdsburg - From Honey Tasting to Michelin Moments13. Sometimes the best way to experience Healdsburg is to slow down, wander, and follow your tastebuds. In this episode, Jill and colleague Jen sneak in a wine country getaway into a work trip - exploring downtown Healdsburg, the rolling Dry Creek Valley, and a few unexpected local gems along the way.
From a bucket-list dinner at three-Michelin-star SingleThread to honey tastings at La Ruche, olive oil flights at Trattore Farms, and spontaneous sips of bubbly Barbera at Portalupi Wine, this trip is Healdsburg at its best: luxurious yet approachable, full of flavor, and endlessly surprising.
T...
2026-02-1545 minTrue Travel TalkGermany Christmas Markets - Part 2: Why Winter Is Europe’s Most Magical Season12.2 In Part Two, Jill and Deanna continue their conversation, reflecting on a festive trip through Germany’s Christmas Markets with lessons learned, favorite moments, and practical tips.
From Augsburg and Ulm to Würzburg and Frankfurt, this two-part conversation focuses on the feel of winter travel: navigating cold weather, moving at a multigenerational pace, and leaning into the magic (and mishaps) that come with traveling together.
Travel & Experience Highlights:
Augsburg WeinNachtMart
Ulm Christmas Market & Medieval Market (Neu-Ulm)
Würzburg Christmas Market
Frankfurt Christmas Markets & City Beach Market
Feller Distillery (Black Forest)
White sausage breakfast in Ulm...
2026-01-0631 minTrue Travel TalkGermany Christmas Markets - Part 1: Winter Travel & Multigenerational Memories12.1 There’s something special about winter travel – especially when it’s shared across generations. In Part One of this two-part episode, Jill is joined by her longtime friend Deanna Vogelsong to reflect on a festive trip through Germany’s Christmas Markets with husbands, a “third grandmother,” and a 19-year-old son in tow.
From Augsburg and Ulm to Würzburg and Frankfurt, this conversation focuses on the feel of winter travel: navigating cold weather, moving at a multigenerational pace, and leaning into the magic (and mishaps) that come with traveling together. This episode is about presence, flexibility, and why imperfect...
2025-12-301h 01True Travel TalkTanzania - Changed Perspectives, Deep Connection & Breathtaking Scenery11. Connecting with people from different cultures is one of the best things about traveling. That cultural connection played a starring role in our recent trip to Tanzania. Join Jill and her guest, Josie Russell (a high school senior at the time of the trip), to reflect on their life-changing philanthropic journey to Tanzania. In this heartfelt conversation, they share stories from visiting Maasai villages, playing soccer with local students, witnessing wildlife in the Serengeti, and confronting uncomfortable truths that expanded their worldview.
Travel & Experience Highlights:
TAASA Luxury Lodges & Camps
Global Partners For Development
Killi Seasons
Hoopoe Safari
Pastoral Wo...
2025-12-1645 minTrue Travel TalkPeru: Cusco – Keeping it local with Pisco, Artisans, Food and Historic Architecture10. Looking to escape the big city? Head to Cusco, Peru. In this episode, Jill and her friend and neighbor, Amy, share another chapter of their Peru adventure – from a tipsy train arrival to an almost-disastrous departure.
They cover Cusco’s hidden gems and lessons learned, including the Santo Domingo Convent, the iconic 12-Angle Stone, and the vibrant San Pedro Market, along with their honest take on where to stay. Plus, hear about their Pisco tasting, dinner at the renowned Cicciolina restaurant, and favorite local bites.
Warm hospitality, stunning architecture, unforgettable culture – tune in to hear why Cus...
2025-12-0739 minTrue Travel TalkFrance: Loire Valley - A Road Trip with a Winemaker9. Sometimes the best trips aren’t planned around big landmarks – they unfold through shared stories, good meals, and the people you travel with. In this episode, Jill joins California winemaker and friend Bill Williamson for a three-day road trip through France’s Loire Valley, filled with unforgettable winery visits, river views, perfect meals, and plenty of laughter.
From a goat-filled gas station to tastings with local winemakers and dinners overlooking the Loire, this is travel at its best: slow, joyful, and rooted in friendship.
Travel & Experience Highlights
Day One: Sancerre → Blois
Sancerre for Savi...
2025-11-3040 minTrue Travel TalkUnpacked: What Works (and Doesn’t) When Traveling in 80s8. In this Unpacked episode, Jill sits down with family friend Donna, fondly named the third grandmother, to explore how travel evolves through every stage of life – from raising kids to retiring, from traveling as a couple to adventuring with grandkids in tow. From paragliding in Austria to a luxury ranch stay in Montana, Donna shares honest reflections on slowing down, staying curious, navigating limitations, and finding joy in letting others take the lead.
They also talk about what still feels thrilling at 82, why flexibility matters more than perfection, the art of sitting out of an activity without mi...
2025-11-2341 minTrue Travel TalkNew York City: Greenwich Village – A Walk Through History, Pop Culture, and Pizza7. Sometimes the best way to experience New York is to slow down, wander, and follow your curiosity. In this episode, Jill and friend/colleague Jen sneak in a cozy fall escape before a work trip – exploring Greenwich Village, the artists’ haven, and home to some of the best pizza slices on Earth.
From a 30-year Times Square hotel tradition to cappuccinos at a 1927 Village institution, a private tour with a local writer, and a full day of iconic movie spots, TV moments, and Swiftie trivia, this trip was New York at its best: layered, lived-in, and endlessly surp...
2025-11-1640 minTrue Travel TalkCalifornia Wine Country: Napa & Sonoma – A Friends’ Getaway Through the Vines6. Sometimes the best trips aren’t perfectly planned – they just flow. In this episode, Jill recounts with husband Paul about their escape with friends to California’s Wine Country for three unforgettable days of vineyards, great meals, and good company. From the family legacy of Sonoma’s Sangiacomo Vineyards to the artistic design of Three Sticks and the rebellious spirit of Tank Garage in Napa, this trip was a toast to friendship, flavor, and fun.
Because sometimes the best itineraries are the ones written in pencil – and poured in Pinot.
Travel & Experience Highlights:
Stay Napa Valley...
2025-11-0944 minTrue Travel TalkMichigan: Mackinac Island – A Last-Minute Mother-Son Adventure5. Ever have a parenting moment where you think, “Should we?” – and then you say yes anyway?
In this episode, Jill takes you along on a totally last-minute trip to Mackinac Island – just her, her mom, and her little guy, Graeme. One unexpected day off school turned into three, and suddenly they were on a ferry north, chasing one more perfect slice of summer.
From iconic fudge to horse-drawn carriage rides, sweeping porch views at The Grand, mini golf, and numerous trips down the waterslide, this trip is filled with charm, tradition, and joyful chaos. Sometimes the best...
2025-11-0235 minTrue Travel TalkUnpacked: Travel Through the Eyes of a Young Explorer4. In this Unpacked episode, Jill sits down with her 18-year-old son, Ian — a student at High Point University — to explore what travel looks like through the eyes of a young explorer. From trying sea urchin in Versailles to cheering for Liverpool FC, Ian shares how travel has shaped his independence, curiosity, and confidence. He also reflects on planning his first trip with friends on a budget (with a little mom mentorship along the way) and the lessons travel teaches beyond the guidebooks.
Travel & Experience Highlights:
Taste sea urchin at Gordon Ramsay’s Au Trianon, Waldorf Astoria Versai...
2025-10-2627 minTrue Travel TalkPeru: Machu Picchu — Hiking the Mountain & Hot Springs3. Join Jill and her friend (and travel instigator!) Kelly as they journey to one of the world’s most awe-inspiring destinations: Machu Picchu. From the bustling town of Aguas Calientes to the breathtaking hike up Machu Picchu Mountain, this episode captures the wonder, exhaustion, and pure joy of exploring the Lost City of the Incas.
Highlights:
Stay at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, nestled in lush tropical gardens filled with hummingbirds and orchids.
Enjoy cocktails with a view at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel at the entrance to the ruins.
Savor a well-earned lunch at Qu...
2025-10-1839 minTrue Travel TalkPeru: Lima -- Chocolate, Markets & Michelin Stars2. Join Jill and friend Amy (plus their travel mascot, Panda!) for their girls’ trip to Lima, Peru—full of flavor, color, and culture. From sipping Pisco Sours overlooking the Pacific to exploring local markets, tasting chocolate, and dining at one of the world’s best restaurants, this episode is a feast for the senses.
Highlights:
Stay at Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel with ocean views and cozy amenities.
Experience a coffee and chocolate tasting at El Cacaotal and Ciclos Café.
Visit Surquillo Market to sample Peru’s incredible fruits, seafood, and spices.
Enjoy lunch at Isolina—home-style...
2025-10-1740 minTrue Travel TalkGermany: Garmisch-Partenkirchen -- Beer, Mountains & Family Memories1. Travel to the Bavarian Alps with Jill and family as they explore the charming mountain town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. From fairy-tale castles and alpine adventures to cozy inns and lively beer halls, this episode is filled with stories, tips, and laughter from their unforgettable trip.
Highlights:
Stay at Garmischer Hof Hotel — a warm and welcoming base with alpine charm.
Tour Schloss Linderhof, King Ludwig II’s ornate palace set in the forest.
Enjoy a private car ride through the region with Black Forest Limousines.
Savor Bavarian specialties at local favorites — Friday dinner at Fischer’s Mohrenplatz, Saturday...
2025-10-1735 min