May 1, 2025

The Greatest Journey: From Restaurant Owner to Travel Photographer

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In this episode of The Human Experience, I sit down with Ralph Velasco, a seasoned travel photographer and founder of small group travel experiences. Raised in suburban Chicago, Ralph takes us through his winding career path—from restaurants and real estate to his true calling behind the camera and on the road. We explore how travel can be a powerful vehicle for connection and self-discovery, and how storytelling brings those experiences to life. Whether you're a budding traveler or someone navigating life's turning points, this conversation offers a compelling look at resilience, reinvention, and the beauty of the journey.

In this episode of The Human Experience, I sit down with Ralph Velasco, a seasoned travel photographer and founder of small group travel experiences. Raised in suburban Chicago, Ralph takes us through his winding career path—from restaurants and real estate to his true calling behind the camera and on the road. We explore how travel can be a powerful vehicle for connection and self-discovery, and how storytelling brings those experiences to life. Whether you're a budding traveler or someone navigating life's turning points, this conversation offers a compelling look at resilience, reinvention, and the beauty of the journey.

📍Interview recorded in Rockford, Illinois

Key Takeaways:

Personal experiences with domestic violence and the power of storytelling
The significance of listening with intention
Ralph Velasco's journey from suburban Chicago to travel photography
Early influences and formative travel experiences
Career transitions from restaurant ownership to real estate and photography
The impact of the financial crisis on career decisions
The benefits of small group travel experiences
The appeal of travel for single women seeking community and security
The evolving nature of career paths and personal growth
Favorite travel destinations and considerations for group travel logistics

Ralph Velasco’s Bio:

Since 2008 (16+ years) Ralph Velasco has been a full-time travel photographer and international tour organizer, having created and led over 120 highly-rated international tours in well over 30 countries on 7 continents (plus over 100 domestic tours in the U.S.)

When not traveling, Ralph is based in Chicago. However, he's been location-independent for 11+ years and traditionally spends anywhere from 8 - 9 months on the road internationally scouting and leading his tours.

Ralph has authored several books on travel photography, and he just combined his most recent books into a 3-in-1 book bundle titled The Mindful & Intentional Traveler

(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DKTL61PL).

These books include:

1. How to Be a Mindful Traveler Using Your 5+ Senses

(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DFM2P87D)

2. Travel Activity Book for Adults: GRATITUDES Edition

(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D3MKB1TP)

3. 60 AFFIRMATIONS for Travel (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQPLBM6T)

He has a YouTube channel called The Continental DRIFTER® (https://youtube.com/continentaldrifter) and a related website (https://ContinentalDRIFTER.co) where everything about his business can be found, including tours, blog posts, his YouTube channel, podcasts, merchandise and more.

Ralph is often asked how people can learn to do what he does and so he created a self-guided online course called Tour Organizer Training: Get Paid to Travel. In this course made up of 7 Modules and 26 Lessons, he goes step-by-step through what’s involved in creating a tour business.

Ralph has spoken all over the world and in the U.S. at the Travel & Adventure Shows and the New York Times Travel Show, as well as at travel blogger conferences (in Spain, Sweden, Israel, and Ireland) and the IOETI digital marketing conference in Cairo, Egypt (see more at https://continentaldrifter.co/speaking/)

Finally, he created an iOS app called My Shot Lists for Travel more than 14 years ago, but it's no longer on the app store and instead he turned the information into a book called 52 Categories of a Shot List: Create Images that Tell a Story, also available on Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/52categories).

Connect with Ralph:

https://continentaldrifter.co

https://fb.com/thecontinentaldrifter

https://instagram.com/ralphvelasco

https://www.linkedin.com/company/continental-drifter

https://x.com/ralphvelasco

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