Adventure Travel Podcast - Big World Made Small
Welcome to the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, where we go far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruises to explore the really cool places, people, and activities that adventurous travelers crave. If your idea of a great vacation is sitting on a beach at an all-inclusive resort, you’re in the wrong place. However, if you’re like me, and a beach resort vacation sounds like torture, stick around. You’ve found your tribe.
My name is Jason Elkins, and as an adventure travel marketing consultant and tour operator myself, I am on a mission to impact the lives of adventure travelers, the tour operators they hire, and the communities that host them, creating deeply meaningful experiences that make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
Are you ready to discover your next great adventure, whether that looks something like climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, SCUBA diving in the South Pacific, or hot air ballooning in Turkey? Then you’ll be happy to know that each episode of the Big World Made Small Podcast features a fascinating interview with an adventure travel expert that has agreed to share, with us, their own personal stories, favorite adventure destinations, and even some incredibly helpful tips and tricks they’ve learned while in the field. I trust that by the end of each episode you’ll feel like booking a ticket to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of these amazing places, and getting to know the incredible people that live there.
I’ll be your guide as we explore this amazing planet and its people on the Big World Made Small podcast. I am a former US Army paratrooper, third generation commercial hot air balloon pilot, paramotor pilot, advanced open water SCUBA diver, and ex-Montana fly fishing guide and lodge manager. I have managed boutique adventure tour operation businesses in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, off-shore in Belize, the Adirondacks in New York, and the desert of Arizona. I also spent nearly a decade with Orvis International Travel, leading a talented team of tour operation experts, putting together and hosting amazing fly fishing and adventure travel excursions around the world. I have tapped into my experience and network of travel pros to put together a weekly series of exclusive expert interviews that I am excited to share with you.
For the last couple of years I have lived a fully nomadic lifestyle, feeding my passion for exploration, creating amazing adventures, and meeting some of the most fascinating people along the way. I record every episode while traveling, so in a sense you’ll be joining me on my journey. Let’s discover some great adventures together and make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
And, don’t forget to take a quick trip over to our website at bigworldmadesmall.com and join our adventure travel community, where you’ll benefit from new episode announcements, exclusive adventure travel opportunities, and special access to the experts you’ve met on the show. You can also follow us on social media, using the links in the show notes below. And, if you’re getting value out of the show please help us grow by sharing it with your friends, family, and anyone else you know that wants to get far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruise ships, the next time they travel.
I’ll publish another episode soon. Until then, keep exploring. It’s the best way to make a big world feel just a bit smaller.
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/podcast
Adventure Travel Podcast - Big World Made Small
Adventure Travel with Karl Wilder - The Chef Tours
Karl Wilder
Founder & Director
The Chef Tours
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/karl-wilder/
Chef Karl Wilder is a culinary innovator whose career spans continents and cuisines. From his roots in New Orleans, where he reimagined Southern classics at The Country Club, to launching the acclaimed Empire Biscuit in New York City, Wilder has consistently pushed the boundaries of traditional cooking.
Previously, with both Eating Europe and Secret Food tours, he, along with PJ, set out to redefine what food tourism means. His passion for authentic, immersive food experiences led him to co-found The Chef Tours, offering intimate culinary journeys in cities like Paris, Seville, Istanbul and Berlin. In Berlin, his tours blend historical exploration with gourmet dining, reinventing food tourism.
Beyond the kitchen, Wilder is an advocate for food accessibility, having undertaken a project to live on a food stamp budget to raise awareness about food insecurity. He’s also an author, with his novel It’s Not Always Murder published in 2024, You Can Get A Man With A Gun published in 2025, both by Vintage Pulp Press.
Based in Berlin, Chef Karl Wilder continues to craft experiences that are as rich in story as they are in flavour, inviting travellers to taste the world through his unique lens. He is the proud human father of Milou, the company mascot.
Summary
In this episode, Jason Elkins reconnects with Karl Wilder, the director of The Chef Tours, to discuss the unique culinary experiences offered through personalized food tours. Karl shares insights into The Chef Tours model, emphasizing the importance of connection and storytelling in creating memorable experiences for guests. The conversation explores Karl's journey to becoming a chef, the cultural significance of food, and the role of tourism in fostering understanding between different communities. Karl also highlights the upcoming confidential tours in Mexico City, which promise exclusive culinary adventures that showcase the local culture.
takeaways
- The Chef Tours offers personalized culinary experiences with a maximum of six guests.
- The tours focus on storytelling and connecting guests with local chefs.
- Karl's journey to becoming a chef was influenced by his early cooking experiences and passion for food.
- Food can serve as a bridge to understanding different cultures and perspectives.
- Tourism can play a significant role in conflict resolution by fostering economic ties and human connections.
- The Chef Tours model differs from traditional tours by prioritizing personal connections over scripted experiences.
- Guests often leave feeling like they've made friends rather than just taking a tour.
- Karl emphasizes the importance of adapting tours to meet the needs of diverse guests.
- The upcoming confidential tours in Mexico City will showcase hidden culinary gems not found in typical tourist guides.
- Karl's experiences in various countries have shaped his understanding of food as a universal connector.
Learn more about Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Marketing and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers on our website.
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