Travel’s Evolution with Mario Bauduin - from Room Blocks to Dynamic Pricing

Travel’s Evolution with Mario Bauduin - from Room Blocks to Dynamic Pricing

This week, we’re flipping things around: I’m the guest—on the Tickets to Travel: The Business of Travel Experiences podcast with host and longtime industry friend, Mario Bauduin. We go way back (think Expedia’s earliest days and the wild west of online hotel contracting). In this episode, we cover a lot of ground: * Why early hotel distribution looked more like Wall Street trading * The Vegas.com ticketing evolution and what hotels still do better than show producers * Dynamic pricing, bots, and the chaos of trying to buy Beyoncé tickets * Why “event travel” is the next big thing—and how artists, cities, and tourism boards can get smarter about it * Whether Vegas is too expensive, and what international trends are doing to local demand If you’ve ever booked a hotel, bought a concert ticket, or wondered how all this works behind the scenes—this one’s for you. 👏 Congrats to Mario and Tickets to Travel for recently passing 10K Spotify followers. Thrilled to be part of this milestone episode.

Let Them… and Let Me Meet Mel Robbins Already

In this episode of Learn Chat Share, Daniel and Ashleigh dive into Mel Robbins’ bestselling book Let Them, exploring the powerful, sometimes messy journey of letting go of control, reclaiming personal agency, and raising resilient humans. From parenting teens to facing tough work dynamics and learning to navigate judgment, they bring honest reflections, laugh-out-loud moments, and even a little fangirling over Mel herself. It’s not a polished book report—it’s real conversation. Because we all learn differently, and sometimes, the best way to absorb a new idea is by talking it through—even if it’s clunky, emotional, or contradictory at times. Join us as we unpack how Let Them challenges ego, promotes self-respect, and reminds us that growth is a lifelong practice. Whether you’re a parent, a leader, or just someone figuring it out in real time, this one’s for you. And yes, we’re manifesting a future episode with Mel.

From the Brink to Breakthrough: A Raw Story of Addiction, Recovery & Healing

In this deeply honest episode of Learn Chat Share,Daniel reconnects with longtime friend Jim Durbin, now a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor, to unpack his decade-long battle with addiction—and the hard-won path to recovery.  Together, they explore the messy, layered reality behind addiction: early trauma, shame, ego, family dynamics, relapse, and what it really takes to help someone turn things around. Whether you’re someone struggling or someone who loves someone who is, this conversation is raw, real, and full ofcompassion. Topics include: → How emotional emptiness often precedes addiction → The role of shame, trauma, and internalized beliefs → Codependency and enabling behaviors → Why interventions must come from love—not control → How systems (families, friendships) support or sabotagerecovery → The power of boundaries, therapy, and community healing Resources Mentioned in This Episode Whether you’re facing addiction personally or supportingsomeone else, here are some free or accessible resources to help: For Individuals Struggling with Addiction • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) [https://www.aa.org] – Find meetings near you or online • Narcotics Anonymous (NA) [https://www.na.org] – For recovery from drug addiction • Cocaine Anonymous (CA) [https://ca.org] – Support for substance use recovery • Sexaholics Anonymous (SA) [https://www.sa.org] – For sexual addiction recovery • SAMHSA National Helpline [https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline] – 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – Free, 24/7 treatment info • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline [https://988lifeline.org] – Call/text 988 for emotional distress support   Las Vegas Area • Las Vegas Central Office of AA [https://www.lvcentraloffice.org] – Meetings nearly every hour in the Vegas Valley   For Families, Friends & Interveners • Al-Anon Family Groups [https://al-anon.org] – Support for loved ones of people with alcohol use disorder • Codependents Anonymous (CoDA) [https://coda.org] – Recovery for those caught in codependent cycles   Referenced Books & Concepts • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk • Feelings Buried Alive Never Die by Karol Truman • Internal Family Systems (IFS) by Dr. Richard Schwartz You’re not alone. Recovery is possible. Help is out there—and it starts with a single brave step.

Chaos, Cars, & Celebs

It’s a jam-packed episode as Daniel and Ashleigh sprint through the headlines—from the new 25% tariff on imported cars to Lady Gaga’s surprise tour drop. They unpack celebrity headlines (Ben & Jen drama, anyone?), government communication fails, and a devastating earthquake in Asia—while reflecting on how overwhelming today’s information overload can be. Also in this episode: 🚗 Why your “foreign” car might be more American than you think 💃 The behind-the-scenes brilliance of Gaga’s tour machine 📸 Ben Affleck, co-parenting optics, and the price of public scrutiny 🌍 Global tragedy, tech missteps, and the anxious generation 📚 Book picks: Seth Godin’s This is Strategy & B2.0 It’s real talk, fast takes, and a little Pedro Pascal thirsting to round it all out.

Sports, Career Curveballs, and Bad Bunny

This week, Daniel and Ashleigh serve up a Friday episode packed with real talk, big laughs, and unexpected twists. From the Golden Knights’ hat trick and the $6 billion Celtics deal to Bad Bunny’s headline-grabbing Calvin Klein campaign, we hit the latest in sports and pop culture. But it’s not just headlines—Daniel opens up about launching his new event production company and navigating the emotional rollercoaster of career reinvention. Ashleigh brings the honesty too, sharing parenting moments, job hunt frustrations, and her passion for helping people through life transitions. Other highlights: • Airline meltdowns and Heathrow’s chaos • Why corporate events need way more credit • Southwest’s marketing missteps (and what not to say) • The power of staying curious, even in hard times Whether you’re building something new or just trying to stay afloat, this one’s for you. You’re not alone—and you might even laugh through the mess.