You Don't Get Extra Time if You Give it Away: Peru with Heather Greenwood Davis

Some conversations stay with you. This is one of them. In this episode of Untethered Childhood, host Jordan Neri sits down with Heather Greenwood Davis, a travel journalist, on-air personality, and mother of two who left a law career behind to build a life around storytelling and travel. In 2011, Heather, her husband Ish, and their two sons spent an entire year traveling the world together — 29 countries, six continents, 365 days. National Geographic named them their 2012 Travelers of the Year.

In this episode, we hear about what that time taught her kids and what it taught her as a mother.

About Our Guest:

Heather Greenwood Davis is a force — she's been kicking doors wide open. She was the first Black woman to hold a travel column at both of Canada's national newspapers, The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. For over 20 years, she's told travel stories that encourage parents to raise global citizens without sacrificing their own dreams.

Her work has appeared in National Geographic (where she's been a contributing editor and columnist), Travel+Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and AFAR. She's appeared on and hosted travel segments on Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, CTV's The Social, and CHCH Morning Live. She's won multiple gold awards for her writing, was named the Family Travel Association's Person of the Year, and was a finalist for Global Travel Writer of the Year.

Heather's approach to travel and parenting comes down to this: we each get a life, and living yours fully isn't something to apologize for. She believes the world is kind and that the best thing you can do for your kids is show them — by example — what it looks like to be fulfilled.

What We Cover:

• How Heather left a law career to return to journalism and travel writing and why creating that space changed everything
• Peru as the family test drive before the year-long trip — what surprised them and what they learned about their kids
• Why Heather believes the best trips leave breathing room instead of packing every minute
• Raising global citizens at home, even before you book a flight
• The truth about motherhood no one says out loud: being fulfilled as a person makes you a better parent

Destination: Peru

• Lima
• Ollantaytambo
• Machu Picchu
• Cusco
• Miraflores
• Recommended tour company: G Adventures (partners with National Geographic) — gadventures.com
• Hotel recommendation: SUMAQ Machu Picchu Hotel — family owned, incredible personal service, right at the bus stop to Machu Picchu — sumaqhotelperu.com

Resources:

• Heather Greenwood Davis: heathergreenwooddavis.com
• Instagram: @byheathergd
• TV: CTV's The Social, CHCH Morning Live
• Publications: National Geographic, AFAR, Travel+Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, The Globe and Mail
• G Adventures family tours: gadventures.com

Untethered Childhood:

• Instagram: @untethered_childhood
• Email us your topic ideas: hello@untetheredchildhoodpod.com