Adventure Travel Podcast - Big World Made Small
Welcome to the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, where we go far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruises to explore the really cool places, people, and activities that adventurous travelers crave. If your idea of a great vacation is sitting on a beach at an all-inclusive resort, you’re in the wrong place. However, if you’re like me, and a beach resort vacation sounds like torture, stick around. You’ve found your tribe.
My name is Jason Elkins, and as an adventure travel marketing consultant and tour operator myself, I am on a mission to impact the lives of adventure travelers, the tour operators they hire, and the communities that host them, creating deeply meaningful experiences that make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
Are you ready to discover your next great adventure, whether that looks something like climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, SCUBA diving in the South Pacific, or hot air ballooning in Turkey? Then you’ll be happy to know that each episode of the Big World Made Small Podcast features a fascinating interview with an adventure travel expert that has agreed to share, with us, their own personal stories, favorite adventure destinations, and even some incredibly helpful tips and tricks they’ve learned while in the field. I trust that by the end of each episode you’ll feel like booking a ticket to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of these amazing places, and getting to know the incredible people that live there.
I’ll be your guide as we explore this amazing planet and its people on the Big World Made Small podcast. I am a former US Army paratrooper, third generation commercial hot air balloon pilot, paramotor pilot, advanced open water SCUBA diver, and ex-Montana fly fishing guide and lodge manager. I have managed boutique adventure tour operation businesses in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, off-shore in Belize, the Adirondacks in New York, and the desert of Arizona. I also spent nearly a decade with Orvis International Travel, leading a talented team of tour operation experts, putting together and hosting amazing fly fishing and adventure travel excursions around the world. I have tapped into my experience and network of travel pros to put together a weekly series of exclusive expert interviews that I am excited to share with you.
For the last couple of years I have lived a fully nomadic lifestyle, feeding my passion for exploration, creating amazing adventures, and meeting some of the most fascinating people along the way. I record every episode while traveling, so in a sense you’ll be joining me on my journey. Let’s discover some great adventures together and make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
And, don’t forget to take a quick trip over to our website at bigworldmadesmall.com and join our adventure travel community, where you’ll benefit from new episode announcements, exclusive adventure travel opportunities, and special access to the experts you’ve met on the show. You can also follow us on social media, using the links in the show notes below. And, if you’re getting value out of the show please help us grow by sharing it with your friends, family, and anyone else you know that wants to get far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruise ships, the next time they travel.
I’ll publish another episode soon. Until then, keep exploring. It’s the best way to make a big world feel just a bit smaller.
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/podcast
Adventure Travel Podcast - Big World Made Small
Adventure Travel with Al Ste-Marie - Unsold Antarctica
Guest Bio
Al Ste-Marie is the founder of Unsold Antarctica, a travel company that specializes in connecting adventurous travelers with last-minute, discounted voyages to the White Continent. With a background in hospitality, Al brings a deep understanding of customer service and traveler psychology to the world of expedition travel. His work helps make Antarctica more accessible to curious explorers, families, and first-time adventurers who might not have realized this dream trip was within reach.
Show Summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Al about his journey into the polar travel industry and the story behind Unsold Antarctica. He explains how offering discounted, last-minute trips has opened up Antarctic travel to a broader audience, breaking down the perception that the experience is out of reach for most people.
Al also shares how his background in hospitality has shaped the way he approaches customer care and the importance of working with knowledgeable travel agents. From the surprising warmth of Antarctica’s summer season to the thrill of the polar plunge, the conversation explores what makes an Antarctic expedition so memorable. Along the way, Al touches on the power of multi-generational travel and the unique bonds formed between people who share this once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Key Takeaways
- ✓ Unsold Antarctica provides discounted, last-minute travel opportunities to the Antarctic region
- ✓ Visiting Antarctica can be more budget-friendly than many travelers expect
- ✓ A background in hospitality enhances how companies serve and understand their clients
- ✓ Understanding customer psychology is essential in crafting exceptional travel experiences
- ✓ Travel agents offer valuable expertise and personalized guidance for complex trips
- ✓ Antarctica is surprisingly mild during its summer months
- ✓ Multi-generational travel is a growing trend on Antarctic expeditions
- ✓ Shared experiences in remote locations build strong connections among travelers
- ✓ The polar plunge remains a fan-favorite activity among adventurous guests
- ✓ Partnering with a travel agent can elevate the entire journey
Learn more about Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Marketing and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers on our website.
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