Shannon Stowell, CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, helps us define “adventure,” shares how he found his way to the travel industry, and reflects on why getting support early in his CEO journey 21 years ago helped him grow into the role.

Episode takeaways

Adventure is personal and possible at any risk level.

Leading with your values attracts the right people, partners, and opportunities.

About the Adventure Travel Trade Association

Established in 1990, the Adventure Travel Trade Association is the largest global network of adventure travel leaders. The community is made up of ~30,000 individual guides, tour operators, lodges, travel advisors, tourism boards, destination marketing and management organizations, outdoor educators, gear companies and travel media who share a belief and commitment to sustainable tourism. The connections and creativity of this vibrant community come together both virtually and in person to create and deliver the solutions that propel our businesses and our communities toward a responsible and profitable future.

If you are in the travel industry, there is still time to join the ATTA community in Puerto Natales, Chile for Adventure Travel World Summit 2025. Here's the link to learn more.

Get tools to guide your next chapter: Subscribe to Anne's Choose Adventure Letter for book launch updates and free downloadable resources from All Who Wander.

Keep the Conversation Going

We’d love to hear how this podcast episode inspired you. Share your favorite quotes, moments of clarity, or what you’re choosing next. Use the hashtag #AllWhoWanderPodcast #ChooseAdventure and tag @hiptravelmama on social media so we can celebrate your journey with you. Here’s to choosing adventure together!

Episode 2: Beyond the Boardroom – Erik Blachford on Adventure, Change, and Resilience

In this episode, I sit down with Erik Blachford—early Expedia founder and CEO, board member, advisor and investor to talk about navigating change, taking risks, and getting outside your comfort zone.

Erik shares stories from the early days of building Expedia, his passion for building ventures and outdoor adventures, and his passion for helping leaders and the moment he got a quiet nudge to make a pivot in his career that changed everything.

One of my favorite takeaways? “Have all the plans you want—but know they’re written in sand. Don’t get upset when the tide comes in.”

If you’re in a season of uncertainty, this conversation is a reminder to stay curious, stay connected, and be patient with the process, especially in difficult times.

Erik Blachford has led companies through M&A, sat on public and venture-backed boards like Zillow, Peloton, Hipcamp and Glassdoor, and invested in startups across travel, marketplaces, and consumer tech and helps leaders, early-stage founders, think through go-to-market, scale, and staying focused under pressure.

Get tools to guide your next chapter: Subscribe to Anne's Choose Adventure Letter for book launch updates and free downloadable resources from All Who Wander.

Keep the Conversation Going

We’d love to hear how this podcast episode inspired you. Share your favorite quotes, moments of clarity, or what you’re choosing next. Use the hashtag #AllWhoWanderPodcast #ChooseAdventure and tag @hiptravelmama on social media so we can celebrate your journey with you. Here’s to choosing adventure together!

The book is here! 🎉 In this special episode of All Who Wander, journalist Kavita Varma White interviews Anne to share the story behind the book launch of All Who Wander: A Guide for Finding Your Path in Seasons of Change and what it really means to choose adventure, especially when life feels uncertain.

Whether you’re starting out, starting over, or somewhere in the messy middle, this is your invitation to choose adventure over fear.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
📖 Grab your copy of All Who Wander on Amazon or Barnes & Noble online.

#AllWhoWanderBook #ChooseAdventure #PodcastLaunch #NewEpisode

Get tools to guide your next chapter: Subscribe to Anne's Choose Adventure Letter for book launch updates and free downloadable resources from All Who Wander.

Keep the Conversation Going

We’d love to hear how this podcast episode inspired you. Share your favorite quotes, moments of clarity, or what you’re choosing next. Use the hashtag #AllWhoWanderPodcast #ChooseAdventure and tag @hiptravelmama on social media so we can celebrate your journey with you. Here’s to choosing adventure together!