Episode 185 - Ethical Content Series: Aubrie Canfield, Actuality Abroad
In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 5: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine shares a soulful replay of her conversation with Aubrie Canfield as part of our Ethical Content Series.
This week’s Soul of Travel Podcast guest is Aubrie Canfield, Founder and Managing Producer of Actuality Abroad, an educational travel organization that leads purpose-driven travel experiences with a focus on ethical collaborative documentary storytelling. Actuality Abroad teaches storytellers to seek the knowledge of local experts, leaders, and changemakers with the purpose of listening and learning from them, then documenting and sharing their work and wisdom. Aubrie also moonlights as an advertising producer, partnering with marketers and creatives on meaningful storytelling campaigns.
Co-Creating Stories with Local Changemakers
In the episode, Christine and Aubrie discuss the history of travel storytelling. Specifically, documentary storytelling has been defined as telling stories about others — reinforcing the very idea of “other” while extracting power rather than adding value.
Taking a radical stance against controlling and dictating how the narrative of a community is shared, as well as the contents of that narrative, has the potential to restore power and perspective.
Aubrie shares distinct ways of challenging the way we have told stories in the past. She suggests that people in positions as storyteller follow these guidlelines.
Ensure the control of the story is in the hands of the people whose story is being told.
Expand the context of what you are capturing and sharing that context with your audience.
Become aware of our biases and perspectives and how they inform the way we frame a story.
Understand that there is no such thing as “objective media.”
Adopt radical collaboration as the first step to creating a responsible story.
Practice free and informed consent - for example, when asking for a photo when someone may not have a background in social media.
And then? It comes down to taking responsibility for where and how each story lives after that story is published into the world.
“We are lucky to be able to be here, to get access to these stories, to be welcomed into these communities.”
Soul of Travel Episode 185 At a Glance
In this conversation, Christine and Aubrie Canfield discuss:
How to make travel and storytelling more meaningful and impactful
Traveling to consume versus traveling to connect
Distinguishing concepts of “your job” and “your work”
Finding and following what lights you up – while keeping the lights on
Types of storytelling projects within Actuality Abroad
Storytelling as co-creation and collaboration
Responsibly sharing photos, videos, and stories after traveling
Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Aubrie Canfield.
LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation on PayPal.
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goal #10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Sustainable Development Goal #11 Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Sustainable Development Goal #16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Sustainable Development Goal #17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode
To learn more about Actuality Abroad, visit the website at https://www.actualityabroad.org/ or check out the Instagram feed here.
Find your copies of You Are a Global Citizen by Damon Dominique, On the Noodle Road by Jen Jin-Liu, or How to Change the World by David Bornstein at your local independent bookstore or by visiting each author’s individual website.
Learn more about RISE Travel Institute’s Flagship Program and Short Courses at https://www.risetravelinstitute.org/.
Discover more about Solutions Journalism Without Borders and Dr. Anu Taranth’s month-long study abroad course in India.
About the Soul Of Travel Podcast
Soul of Travel honors the passion and dedication of people making a positive impact in the tourism industry. In each episode, you’ll hear the stories of women who are industry professionals, seasoned travelers, and community leaders. Our expert guests represent social impact organizations, adventure-based community organizations, travel photography and videography, and entrepreneurs who know that travel is an opportunity for personal awareness and a vehicle for global change.
Join us to become a more educated and intentional traveler as you learn about new destinations, sustainable and regenerative travel, and community-based tourism. Industry professionals and those curious about a career in travel will also find value and purpose in our conversations.
We are thought leaders, action-takers, and heart-centered change-makers who inspire and create community. Join host Christine Winebrenner Irick for these soulful conversations with our global community of travelers exploring the heart, the mind, and the globe.
Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts
Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app.
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). GUEST NAME (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo.
Learn more about Lotus Sojourns
Looking for ways to be a part of the community? Learn more here!
Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women.
Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @she.sojourns, and @souloftravelpodcast.
Become a supporter of Soul of Travel!
Join the 2024 Soulful Book Sojourn
Lotus Sojourns offers transformational travel experiences for women, as well as being a hub for a global community of women. We offer a virtual book club, the Soulful Book Sojourn, to inspire travel, create cultural awareness, and offer personal growth experiences from the comfort of your home (or wherever you may be lucky enough to be in 2024!). In this year-long journey, we will read a new book every other month, which will offer you the opportunity to have many of the same types of experiences you would have on a Sojourn and create a space for personal awareness and transformation. Learn more about the Soulful Book Sojourn here.
Like any personal practice, the Book Sojourn curates the opportunity for you to reconnect with yourself, with others, and with your dreams.
This online book club for women provides the opportunity to read books written by inspiring and empowering women, specially selected to create this impactful and soulful journey.
Join the Soulful Book Sojourn!
WE WON A BESSIE AWARD! The Bessie Awards recognize the achievements of women and gender-diverse people making an impact in the travel industry. To view the complete list of 2022’s winners, visit bessieawards.org.
Soul of Travel Episode 185 Transcript
Women’s travel, transformational travel, sustainable travel, women leaders in travel, social entrepreneurship
You can find me on Facebook at Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community, or follow me on Instagram either @lotussojourns or @souloftravelpodcast. Stay up to date by joining the Lotus Sojourns mailing list. I look forward to getting to know you and hopefully hearing your story.