What if the most important lesson travel offers isn’t about geography, but about people?
In my latest podcast episode, I talked with Sucheta Rawal, a travel journalist, world-renowned keynote speaker on travel, and book author. She has visited over 130 countries and built her career on meaningful, responsible travel.
Sucheta didn’t begin her career in travel. She actually started out in finance.
Today, she writes for major global publications, speaks at international events, and leads small-group trips through her nonprofit, Go Eat Give. This organization focuses on cultural connection, sustainability, and supporting women-owned businesses around the world.
But what stood out to me wasn’t her resume. It was her unique perspective on travel.
🎧 Click on the above audio link to listen to our podcast interview on Substack, or find and listen to “The Gomes Guide Travel Podcast” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
🌎 From Investment Banking to Travel Journalism: How She Built a Career in Travel
Sucheta’s path into travel writing wasn’t linear.
She began by writing about restaurants and documenting her own trips while working full-time in finance. Slowly, side projects turned into paid assignments. Eventually, she transitioned into full-time travel storytelling.
Her advice for anyone dreaming of a career pivot?
“Go for it — but be consistent. It is going to take time to establish yourself… just follow your heart and be persistent about it.”
Travel journalism is competitive. Publications shut down. Editorial jobs are scarce. But if it’s your calling, she believes persistence is non-negotiable.
For anyone building a creative career, that’s real talk. (And something I really needed to hear!)
🫶 What Traveling to 130+ Countries Reveals About Human Connection
When you’ve traveled that extensively, your worldview shifts.
But not in the way you might expect.
“It’s not about the number of countries… it’s about connecting to people and understanding that we are practically the same everywhere in the world.”
She spoke about breaking bread with strangers and realizing that, despite differences in religion, politics, or dress, people want the same things:
A loving family.
A sense of purpose.
A roof over their heads.
Happiness.
It’s easy to form opinions based on headlines.
It’s much harder — and much more meaningful — to sit across from someone and share a meal.
♥️ Why Experiencing a Place in Person Changes You
One of my favorite moments in our conversation was when she described something a museum curator once told her:
When you physically walk through a space, the knowledge is absorbed differently.
You can read about a castle, scroll through photos, or watch videos.
But when you stand there?
You feel it.
“It’s only when you’re there that you feel the presence of it.”
That’s the power of travel. It’s embodied.
Transformative Travel Experiences: Silence, Spirituality, and Indigenous Wisdom
Sucheta shared two unforgettable experiences that reshaped her perspective.
🌸 A Five-Day Silent Spiritual Hike in Japan
She joined a Yamabushi retreat led by a 14th-generation mountain hermit, hiking sacred mountains in silence, eating only small bowls of miso soup; brushing, bathing, using a phone, and talking were forbidden.
“It was such an awakening for me… I’m stronger than I think I am.”
As someone who describes herself as a city girl, it pushed her far outside her comfort zone.
And that’s often where growth happens.
🌿 Conversations with Indigenous Communities
She also spoke about learning from indigenous elders in places like Tahiti — communities that have long understood sustainability, stewardship, and coexistence with nature.
Ancient wisdom that predates modern sustainability conversations.
“All this knowledge has been around for thousands of years… we’ve just numbed ourselves to it.”
In a time of overtourism and climate strain, those lessons feel more relevant than ever.
🎋What Responsible Travel Looks Like Today
When I asked her to define meaningful travel, her answer was simple and powerful:
“It’s leaving something, not taking with you.”
That can mean:
Supporting locally owned businesses
Choosing women-owned tour operators
Volunteering or bringing donations
Buying artisan goods instead of mass-produced souvenirs
Leaving no trace in nature
She also said something I loved:
Be “people sensitive,” not just price sensitive.
When you travel, you are a guest in someone else’s home. Act like it.
🫂 Inside Go Eat Give: Travel That Gives Back
Sucheta founded Go Eat Give in 2011 after readers began asking her how to travel more intentionally.
What started as a Facebook post — “I’m going to Morocco, who wants to come?” — turned into a nonprofit that organizes immersive trips around the world.
Their model:
Partner with local charities
Work with women-owned businesses
Keep the majority of tourism dollars in the community
Offer professionals meaningful experiences without sacrificing comfort
It’s not a gap year. It’s not bus-tour travel. It’s purpose-driven small group travel for people who want depth. Interested in learning more? Visit the Go Eat Give website.
🇮🇳 The Destination That Will Change You
When asked which destination everyone should experience at least once, she didn’t hesitate.
India.
“Once you go to India, you will look at your life differently.”
The diversity, the contrasts, the humility, the ancient culture — she believes it reshapes perspective in a profound way.
🧳 Three Words That Define Travel
At the end of our conversation, I asked her to describe what travel means in three words.
Her answer:
“Privilege. Growth opportunity. Connection to the world.”
That last one stayed with me: Connection to the world. Not just sightseeing. Not just checking boxes, but belonging to something bigger.
🌎 Final Thoughts: Travel Is a Privilege — Use It Well
This conversation reminded me that travel isn’t just about where we go.
It’s about how we show up.
Are we curious?
Are we respectful?
Are we supporting the communities we visit?
Are we open to being changed?
In a world that feels increasingly divided, travel remains one of the most powerful tools for empathy.
And if there’s one takeaway from this episode, it’s this:
Travel widely.
Travel thoughtfully.
And remember, he goal isn’t to collect countries. It’s to connect.
Meet Sucheta Rawal
With a mission to promote meaningful and sustainable travel, award-winning South Asian travel writer, columnist, author and speaker, Sucheta Rawal has contributed to over two dozen publications including CNN, TIME Magazine, NatGeo, Travel+Leisure, CondeNast, Fodor’s, and HuffPost. Sucheta is a three time TEDx speaker and author of five ‘Beato Goes To’ children’s books that educate kids about the diversity of the world. She has personally traveled to over 120 countries across seven continents and speaks about her experiences from her firsthand perspective. She also founded the non-profit, Go Eat Give, to raise awareness of different cultures through travel, food and community service.
You can follow Sucheta on Facebook and Instagram, and follow Go Eat Give on Facebook and YouTube. You can also learn more about her books here and purchase here.
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