That $499 tour deal you're eyeing? Someone in the supply chain isn't getting paid fairly.

In this episode, I sit down with Iris Serbanescu, founder of By Iris Representation and wmnsWORK, to unpack the truth about ethical travel and greenwashing in the tourism industry. With 13 years of experience across tech, luxury, and adventure sectors, Iris has seen both the best and worst of our industry.

We dive into how to identify truly ethical tour operators versus companies just using sustainability buzzwords for marketing. Iris breaks it down into two key questions: Where does your money actually go, and how does the company minimize harm to local communities and ecosystems?

The conversation covers the real economics of solo travel and why women travelers face a "single supplement" penalty on top of already making 75 cents on the dollar. We also discuss the sobering reality that while 60% of the travel industry is made up of women, less than 8% of executive positions are held by women.

But this isn't just about what's wrong—Iris is actively changing the industry through wmnsWORK, the first tourism-specific business accelerator for women and non-binary entrepreneurs in North America. She shares practical travel hacks from her years in the industry and explains why supporting small, locally-owned operators matters for sustainable tourism.

Whether you're planning your next trip or work in travel, this episode will help you become a smarter, more conscious traveler who understands that the cheapest option often comes at someone else's expense.

Casey Hanisko, a 25-year veteran of the adventure travel industry, joins Laura to talk about something keeping many travelers up at night: how do you keep exploring when the world feels uncertain? They discuss the difference between smart risk management and letting fear steal your passport, why travel matters more than ever, and how to navigate loved ones' concerns about your plans. Plus, questionable decisions that led to the best stories.