How Storytelling Changes Travel with Lola Akinmade

I have another amazing episode for you! If you didn't get an opportunity to listen to the inspiration words of Nour Brahimi, my second guest, click here right after you listen to this episode.

In this episode, I am speaking with Lola Akinmade. Lola was born in Nigeria, educated in the United States and is based in Sweden. She was named one of eight 2022 Hasselblad Heroines and the 2018 Travel Photographer of the Year Bill Muster Award recipient. The great Lola started her career behind the camera covering a popular reality TV series. Now she's a master storyteller – someone who can leave a room absolutely stunned in silence just from the words that come out of her mouth.

She's a powerful speaker, a talented writer, a social entrepreneur, a painter – and so much more.

She also has a lot to say about how we're representing women in the world, how we should make travel better for all of us, and how the stories we tell ourselves and the grace we give ourselves plays an enormous role in making that all work.

Join me and Lola as we discuss:

• Storyteller

• Photography

• Oil Painting

• Life's Work

• Bestselling Book

• Tourists

• Live Video Shopping

• Start Up Companies

• Marketing

Honorable Mentions

00:03:34 Expedition Impossible Full Trailer

00:10:35 The art of connecting with strangers. Be Open. Be Intrepid.

00:15:19 Author Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström introduces IN EVERY MIRROR SHE’S BLACK

00:23:45 Local Purse - Summit pitch at Phocuswright Conference 2021

00:27:39 Visual Storyteller and Bestselling Author, Lola Akinmade Åkerström at Skift Global Forum East 2022

Follow Lola in these spaces:

Website: https://www.lolaakinmade.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LolaAkinmade

Instagram: https://instagram.com/LolaAkinmade

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lolaakinmade/

Books by Lola: In Every Mirror She's Black; Everything Is Not Enough; Lagom: The Swedish Secret of Living Well

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This podcast is hosted by Beth Santos. Beth has been recognized in Business Insider as one of 17 changemakers transforming the hospitality industry, in Conde Nast Traveller as one of 12 inspiring people to follow for International Women’s Day, in TimeOut as one of 10 people shaping the future of Boston, as well as a BostInno 50 on Fire, a Chicago Scholars 35 Under 35 Young Leader Making an Impact, a Zell Fellow (a prestigious fellowship for entrepreneurs pursuing their MBA), and an alumna of the Babson WIN Lab. She was recognized by the Obama Administration as one of the top 100 travel bloggers in the US. In 2022, she was named Godmother of the Azamara Onward.

She is a dynamic keynote speaker, an entrepreneurship and marketing consultant for the travel + tourism industry, and a supportive coach who thrives on helping people build lasting, impactful communities.

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If you would love to connect with Beth, join her in these following spaces:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

 

Have you been moved by what you heard in this week's episode of "85%"?  Beth invites you to leave an honest review of how this episode impacted you. Also, share this podcast with your travel buddy!

The 85% Podcast intro, outro and transition music is named Nothing Just Happens by lemonmusicstudio and was found on Pixabay. Additional music and sound effects for this episode came from Soundstripe and/or Epidemic Sounds or is cited in the show notes. Crackers In Soup is the writer, audio editor and producer for this episode.