Chapter 2

Chef Edoardo Baldi: Food, Family, Heritage & the Meaning of Hospitality

What can food teach us about culture, connection, and living a meaningful life? Recorded inside Baldi Restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, this episode of Travel With Meaning features acclaimed chef and restaurateur Edoardo Baldi. Born in Seravezza and raised in Forte dei Marmi on the Tuscan coast, Chef Edo's earliest memories are rooted in family, food, and community. From trips to the local market with his mother to learning recipes from his mother and grandmothers, those formative experiences shaped not only his love of cooking but also his understanding that food is one of the most powerful ways we connect with others. At the age of ten, his family moved to Los Angeles, bringing with them the traditions, flavors, and hospitality of Italy. Today, Chef Edo is known for creating authentic Italian dining experiences that celebrate simplicity, seasonality, and the joy of gathering around a table. In this conversation, we explore his journey from Tuscany to Los Angeles, the influence of family on his career, the importance of preserving cultural traditions, and why hospitality is ultimately an act of generosity and love. We also discuss travel, identity, and how the places we come from continue to shape who we become. Topics discussed include: • Growing up in Tuscany and moving to Los Angeles • Family traditions and Italian culture • The connection between food and community • Hospitality as a way of life • Simplicity and authenticity in Italian cuisine • Travel, heritage, and personal identity Whether you're passionate about food, travel, culture, or meaningful conversations, this episode is a reminder that some of life's greatest connections are made around a shared meal. Enjoy my conversation with Chef Edoardo Baldi.

The Journey Behind Parks Project | Keith Eshelman

Welcome to another episode of the Travel With Meaning Podcast. This episode was recorded live in front of an audience at The Kinn in Venice Beach as part of their weekly Startup Café series, featuring conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Our guest is Keith Eshelman, Founder and CEO of Parks Project, the purpose-driven outdoor lifestyle and apparel brand that has given back nearly $3 million to support our national parks. Prior to launching Parks Project, Keith built his career with brands including TOMS, Quiksilver, and Puma. As a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and adventurer, Keith recognized a growing need to support and protect our public lands after a meaningful trip with his daughter—a story he also shares in Parks Project's 10-Year Anniversary video. Click here to watch. [https://www.google.com/search?q=parks+project+ten+year+anniversary+video&sca_esv=f6b7f188eae7b463&sxsrf=ANbL-n4Ihk2EzLBxFxxSnaMogJxVhKEqFQ%3A1780449071126&ei=L38favG_B9auur8Pw5iN4Qc&biw=1200&bih=745&ved=0ahUKEwixk7PT8emUAxVWl-4BHUNMI3wQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=parks+project+ten+year+anniversary+video&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiKHBhcmtzIHByb2plY3QgdGVuIHllYXIgYW5uaXZlcnNhcnkgdmlkZW8yBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUjdDFDyAVjOCnABeACQAQCYAZYBoAHMBaoBAzIuNLgBA8gBAPgBAZgCB6AC7AXCAg4QABiABBiKBRiGAxiwA8ICCxAAGIAEGKIEGLADwgIIEAAY7wUYsAPCAgUQIRirAsICBRAhGJ8FmAMAiAYBkAYHkgcDMy40oAfiIrIHAzIuNLgH6gXCBwUwLjYuMcgHD4AIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:3b8ee2d8,vid:0eZyP1kbw3w,st:0] In this conversation, Keith shares his founder story behind Parks Project, which organically began in a small apartment just across the street from where our episode was recorded. We discuss restoration projects, and conservation efforts that Parks Project and its community have supported over the years. Keith also shares some powerful lessons for entrepreneurs and dreamers alike, including the importance of confidence, taking risks, and not accepting "no" as the final answer. We hear about several of the meaningful travel experiences that have shaped his perspective and influenced both his personal journey and professional path. We also dive into the launch of Parks Project Trips, [https://www.parksproject.us/pages/parks-project-trips] something Keith has envisioned for quite some time. He shares why now feels like the right moment to bring people together through intimate, shared experiences in nature and create deeper connections with both the outdoors and one another. Full transparency: TWM is helping curate unique adventures alongside the Parks Project team. This fall we'll be visiting Sequoia National Park and Joshua Tree National Park, staying at the incredibly cool AutoCamp [https://autocamp.com/location/sequoia/]properties. If either of these iconic parks has been on your bucket list—or if you're simply looking to connect with a community of like-minded adventurers—these trips offer a special opportunity to experience nature in a meaningful way. To learn more about Parks Project Trips and upcoming adventures, visit parksproject.us [http://parksproject.us/]. Enjoy our conversation with Keith Eshelman, Founder and CEO of Parks Project.

The Magic of Mountain Yoga Festival

From the moment you arrive in St. Anton, something shifts. In this episode of Travel With Meaning, Mike shares conversations from the Mountain Yoga Festival in Austria — where nature, community, and presence come together in a way that's hard to explain but easy to feel. Through voices of locals, teachers, and travelers, this episode explores the deeper side of travel: belonging, slowing down, and reconnecting with what actually matters. Sometimes the most meaningful destinations aren't about what you see — but what you feel. 00:00 – Arriving in St. Anton and feeling it instantly 03:15 – How the Mountain Yoga Festival began 07:45 – Why nature + community create belonging 11:00 – Travel, identity, and coming home to yourself 15:30 – The connection between nature, yoga, and presence 20:00 – Why Austria feels different

Chapter 2

Welcome to Chapter 2 of the Travel With Meaning podcast. This isn't a full episode — it's the beginning of what's ahead. A real conversation about where we've been, the heartache and human moments we've been navigating, and the search for meaning through it all. This year, we're taking a more intentional approach to travel, storytelling, and connection — with extraordinary adventures and incredible conversations on the horizon. Thanks for being here for the next chapter.

One Bite Changed Everything with Lawrence Longo

Mike sits down with Lawrence Longo, a serial food and hospitality entrepreneur whose journey from hidden menu curator to restaurant empire builder has reshaped how people connect through food. Lawrence shares how his early obsession with experience over ego led him from launching Off the Menu — a community built around secret dishes and insider dining — to reviving Irv's Burgers, expanding Prince St. Pizza nationwide, and building a hospitality group that's redefining what "premium fast food" really means. They dive into the lessons learned from scaling beloved brands without losing their soul, the role of storytelling and community in hospitality, and what travel and culture have taught Lawrence about simplicity, obsession, and belonging. This episode isn't just about food — it's about the universal language of connection, the places that shape us, and the people who keep showing up for what feels real. Chapters: 00:00 – From hidden menus to hospitality visionary 05:00 – The story behind Off the Menu and food as connection 10:00 – Reviving Irv's Burgers and honoring old-school soul 15:00 – Expanding Prince St. Pizza without losing authenticity 20:00 – Scaling restaurants while keeping local roots 25:00 – Simplicity, obsession, and the power of hospitality 30:00 – Partner alignment and trusting local voices 35:00 – The community mindset behind every concept 40:00 – The travel that shaped a hospitality entrepreneur 45:00 – What it really means to build brands people love