Learn how to make travel choices that support local communities, avoid harm, and meaningfully give back around the world. In Part 2 of this conversation, Priyanka Surio shares her framework for thinking about travel as a form of activism and breaks down the difference between sustainable and regenerative travel. She outlines an 8-part model built around four sustainable mindsets and four world-changing forces that can help travelers make more intentional decisions about where they go, how they spend time, and who benefits from their presence. Drawing on examples from places like Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Comuna 13 in Medellín, Priyanka examines how tourism can either extract from or support local communities, and offers a more conscious approach to cross-cultural travel and global exploration. She also reflects on her own activism journey—including being arrested at Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, DC—and how these experiences shaped her belief that travel can be a tool for solidarity and collective impact. This episode explores how to align your travel lifestyle with your values and contribute meaningfully to the places you visit.
383: Travel as Activism: Priyanka Surio’s Framework for Sustainable and Regenerative Travel
Episode Summary
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About the Guest

Priyanka Surio
Priyanka Surio is a sustainable and regenerative travel expert, 2 time published author, and full time nomad with no base. She holds a masters degree in Public Health and has built a 16 year career focused on health, social care, climate action, and economic empowerment. Born in Florida to immigrant parents from India and Hungary, her childhood experiences with racism and poverty turned her into a lifelong activist, and she views travel as a mechanism for activism to safeguard and advocate for a better world. In her books, she breaks down a sustainable travel formula and scorecard to help any traveler begin to intentionally design and assess how they can be more sustainable and regenerative on their travels. She has now traveled to all 50 U.S. States and almost 90 countries on all 7 continents.
What You'll Learn
- How to apply Priyanka’s four sustainable mindsets and four world-changing forces to make more intentional travel decisions
- How tourism can either extract from or support local communities, with real examples from places like Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Medellín
- How to think about travel as a form of activism and align your travel lifestyle with your values to create meaningful impact
Links From the Episode
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BUY PRIYANKA’S BOOKS
- Sustainable Nomad: Field Guide
- Third Culture Kids of the World: Exploring Sustainable Travel Mindsets
CONTACT AND FOLLOW PRIYANKA
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
- Priyanka: Los Angeles, California
PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Accra (Ghana)
- Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
- Bangladesh
- Costa Rica
- Hawaii
- Johannesburg
- Kuala Lumpur
- Lafayette Square
- Medellin
- Morocco
- Osa Peninsula
- Pakistan
- Rio de Janeiro
- Rome
- San Juan (Puerto Rico)
- Vietnam
- Vizag (India)
- Washington D.C.
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[1:41] The Extractive and Unsustainable Aspects of Travel and Tourism
[7:00] Defining ‘Sustainable’ and ‘Regenerative’ Travel
[7:51] 4 Sustainable Travel Mindsets and 4 World Changing Forces
[9:27] Mindset #1: Finding Truth
[12:04] Mindset #2: Open Mindedness
[13:11] Mindset #3: Resilience
[16:58] Mindset #4: Giving Back
[21:40] Four World Changing Forces
[22:43] Force #1: Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
[28:15] Force #2: Promoting Cultural Awareness
[32:53] Force #3: Protecting Wildlife and BioDiversity
[36:24] Force #4: Fueling Local Economies
[42:32] Priyanka’s Activist Journey
[49:22] Encountering Police Brutality at Black Lives Matter Protests in DC
[52:41] Merging Travel and Activism
[1:02:20] Contact and Follow Priyanka