In this episode of Wisdom & Wanderlust, Michael and Robyn chat with Jake Haupert, co-founder of Explorer X and the Transformational Travel Council. Jake talks about how he met Michael and how they bonded over their shared philosophy of travel. He defines transformational travel and how to keep travel both enjoyable and life-changing at the same time. Listen as he shares the best practices of implementing change once travelers return home from these amazing experiences. "It really comes down to those encounters and those moments where you connect with another human being. The relationship, the bond that comes from that, the walls that break down between you and within you, that does create that ripple effect of change. It can be small. It can be big, but it puts you on that path of learning and growth." - Jake Haupert [29:17]   What You Will Learn: [00:01] Intro [06:13] How Jake end up in the travel industry [11:50] How Jake and Michael met [15:37] The journey to help people answer their call and developing Transformational Travel Council (TCC) [23:20] How Jake defines transformation and keeps transformational travel approachable for all levels and styles of travelers [29:58] The balance between crafting the experience and leaving space for the organic and spontaneous moments [30:32] What it means to follow your path and travel with heart [37:33] Depth over distance [40:16] Being mindful vs being intentional in traveling and day-to-day living [43:32] The story behind the “Travel Better, Live Better” slogan and why it’s hard to implement changes back home [50:56] What are some things Jake and Michael have done to make changes [59:11] What Jake and Michael have learned in the past 10 years with their work [1:02:31] Rapid fire questions [1:08:07] Where to contact Jake and Michael [1:09:25] Outro Resources:  The International Ecotourism Society Transformational Travel Council The Transformational Travel Journal Explorer X