The first weeks of a new year always feel like a fresh page 鈥� not blank, exactly, but open.
With Valentine鈥檚 Day in February, I鈥檝e been reflecting on what we choose to love. For me, it鈥檚 the journey 鈥� the conversations, the courage, the curiosity that keeps life expanding.
So far this year I have had two joyful firsts: pickleball in Sarasota and my first world premiere on Hollywood Boulevard 鈥� plus Manhattan meetings, podcast milestones, and the steady unfolding of new stories.
馃弳 1st Place 鈥� Podcast Host
I鈥檓 deeply honored to share that I won at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
Podcasting 鈥� through 鈥� has become one of my favorite spaces to connect. Long-form, thoughtful, human. To be recognized nationally in arts and entertainment journalism for something that feels so personal is incredibly meaningful.
Thank you for listening. Truly.
馃幀 Firsts
In Sarasota, I took my first-ever pickleball lesson 鈥� laughing through missed shots and wondering why I hadn鈥檛 tried it sooner. And then, on Hollywood Boulevard, I attended my first world premiere.
from Pixar and The Walt Disney Company at the historic El Capitan Theatre felt like stepping into classic cinema magic. The marquee lights. The velvet seats. The organ rising from the stage.
The 鈥淧ond Rules,鈥� King George tells Mabel stayed with me:
Rule #1: 鈥淒on鈥檛 be a stranger. It鈥檚 harder to be mad at someone if you know their name.鈥� Rule #2: 鈥淲hen you gotta eat, eat.鈥� Rule #3: 鈥淲e are all in this together.鈥�
It struck me how aligned that message is with travel, storytelling, even podcasting. We鈥檙e stronger when we leap together.
馃寧 On the Road
鈽�锔� Sarasota 鈥� Firsts & Florida Energy
At with Taylor Morrison, I took my first pickleball lesson, golfed while alligators calmly observed nearby (very Florida), and explored a vibrant community designed for connection. It felt active, welcoming, joyful.
馃椊 New York 鈥� IMM
From palm trees to Manhattan for TravMedia’s 2026 . IMM is where future stories begin 鈥� thoughtful meetings, new partnerships, ideas that will turn into coverage.
馃馃殺 Antarctica 馃惂
continues to ripple outward through interviews and features. The silence, the scale, the humility of that landscape still stays with me. Sharing those stories remains a privilege.
馃帣锔� Make Your Own Map 鈥� Now in 67 Countries
The podcast continues to grow in ways that feel both surreal and deeply grounding.
We鈥檙e now streaming in 67 countries.
In just the past week alone, three new countries joined the community:
Recent additions also include: Indonesia 馃嚠馃嚛 Croatia 馃嚟馃嚪 Serbia 馃嚪馃嚫 Hungary 馃嚟馃嚭 Brazil 馃嚙馃嚪
Every new country feels like another seat at the table 鈥� another reminder that courage, reinvention, and meaningful travel resonate across borders.
If you鈥檙e listening from one of these places, I see you. And I鈥檓 so glad you鈥檙e here.
馃帣锔� Recently on my Podcast
Sailing Tahiti aboard Star Breeze with Windstar Cruises and interviewing , about small-ship magic and turquoise lagoons.
Diving inside EPCOT and talking with about this bucket list opportunity where I saw my first hammerhead shark up close!
Sharing about in conversation with expert guide Terry Elliot from Churchill Wild.
More travel stories on : most recently in
馃摎 Brave-ish Book World
I鈥檓 heading to Tucson for a 鈥� four authors, shared stages, meaningful dialogue. I鈥檒l be there with , which continues to travel almost as much as I do.
And in Austin, I鈥檒l be at 鈥� where BRAVE-ish will be featured on the book-SHE-lf. I love seeing the book spark conversations and bringing me to new cities and conferences!
鉁嶏笍 By Me
Recent stories include: , with my scuba dive at EPCOT, and staying at , , with NCL Escape, and three new features with Bored Panda on , and .
馃摪 About Me
New interviews in and
Sharing on Dara Levan’s Podcast:
馃挋 Reader Highlights
from two brand-new friends I met on a Windstar cruise 鈥� and they both read BRAVE-ish.
Michael wrote: 鈥�The title, Brave-ish, is a little misleading. The title should have been Bravest鈥� this book challenged me to be a bit more brave myself.鈥�
Jana titled her review: 鈥淭he girl has spunk!鈥�
I鈥檓 not exactly sure what I expected when I started this book, but it ended up being much more than I bargained for. Lisa Niver takes us on her very personal journey through the trauma of abuse to the joys of solo travel. The life she has created for herself is nothing short of remarkable. For anyone who finds themselves in a position where life has other plans, Brave-ish is a rich inspiration. I cried with Lisa鈥檚 lows and celebrated and laughed at her accomplishments, of which she has many. You CAN turn your life around.
From trauma to travel, from pages to people 鈥� proof that courage can grow, bravery doesn鈥檛 have to be perfect, and none of us has to do it alone.
My heart is full.
馃挍
Grateful for the journey. Grateful for you. And excited for wherever the next boarding pass leads. 鉁堬笍
Learn more about my events: and
Want to travel more? I have a class on Udemy.
My students are in 12 countries so far: Australia, Canada, India, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, USA! Join us on the adventure of travel writing!
THANK YOU for watching , Make Your Own Map: Are YOU ready to be BRAVE? It has now been seen and heard in 67 countries on 7 continents.
Have you heard my recent podcast episodes?
my podcast, “: ” on听, , , ,听 , , , , &补尘辫;听
WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?
Here is the link to听my video channel on听 where I now have over 2.6 Million views on YouTube! (now at: 2,648,746).
I hope you will ! For more We Said Go Travel articles, TV segments, videos and social media:
Find me on social media with over 150,000 followers. Please follow听me on social @LisaNiver , , ,听,听听, and at听
Do you LOVE my book BRAVE-ish? PLEASE WRITE A REVIEW!! Click here to go directly to (now at 66 reviews. Help me get to 75) You can find my book on , , , , , , , and wherever you get your audiobooks!
People always ask me where is it best to buy my book. I recommend you go into or call your favorite local book store and ask them to order it for you and pick it up IN THE STORE! You never know what other treasures you will find. Any bookstore can order my book because my publisher is and it is distributed by My book is now in the library on Quark Ultramarine, Windstar StarBreeze, NCL Escape and in the store at Dubray bookstore on Grafton in Dublin, Ireland! Brave-ish is available all over the globe!
You can also find me now on !
Grateful for the journey. Grateful for you. And excited for wherever the next boarding pass leads. 鉁堬笍
Screenshot
Violets are blue, Life is short 鈥� Let鈥檚 see something new.
Being BRAVE-ish means booking the flight. Taking the trip. Calling the friend. Saying, 鈥淐ome with me.鈥�
It鈥檚 what 50 challenges before 50 taught me 鈥� don鈥檛 wait. Don鈥檛 overthink. Go.
Love looks like shared sunsets. Missed turns that become discoveries. Hand squeezes at takeoff. Group texts that turn into plane tickets.
Grateful for the friends, the family, the fellow adventurers who choose courage over comfort and memories over things.
Valentine鈥檚 Day may be over 鈥� but love of travel? That鈥檚 forever.
The writers described the experience as personally meaningful, saying it strengthened their connection to Judaism, influenced the stories they wanted to tell and helped build a new sense of community.
It鈥檚 not easy being an antizionist these days. Especially if you鈥檙e determined to live in accordance with your most important moral imperative: the denigration of the world鈥檚 only 91传媒 state.
Here was an artist with no personal stake in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, who understood the potential consequences of publicly taking a position, yet chose to publicly support Israel and what he believed was right.
This war over narrative won’t just be between Israel and Hamas. It will also be an internal war over the narrative as Israel鈥檚 election is getting closer.
The Torah offers a better model than avenging and avoiding. It offers a safe opportunity for parties to meet and peacefully explain their perspectives, which might have been misunderstood. They can offer apologies and, where necessary, make amends for harms caused.
The tradition has always been bigger than any one person’s grip on it. What draws me is simple: I think these texts are a good part of why we are still here as a people. I want to know them and, in my own way, embrace them. Orthodox is where I turn.
One question alone matters these days: Does this fact strengthen my tribe, or is it bad for it? If bad, it must be suppressed, denied, explained away. The higher truth is the narrative that serves the cause, the quest of the righteous and true.
Hardship and joy are present at every step. There is no time when it will be all good, so focus on the good and carry on. There are always moments to savor and appreciate.
By explicitly linking Mamdani鈥檚 efforts to rising levels of antisemitism, Netanyahu was able to frame himself as a defender of Israel against growing international hostility.
Universities, hospitals, cultural and sporting institutions, technology companies and philanthropic foundations increasingly shape a country鈥檚 international influence.
A Portland, Oregon theater with a reputation for controversial marquees posted one for Christopher Nolan鈥檚 鈥淭he Odyssey鈥� that concerned many in the 91传媒 community.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.
Mapping the Year: Niver’s Feb 91传媒 2026
Lisa Ellen Niver
鉁� January + February 2026: Mapping the Year
The first weeks of a new year always feel like a fresh page 鈥� not blank, exactly, but open.
With Valentine鈥檚 Day in February, I鈥檝e been reflecting on what we choose to love. For me, it鈥檚 the journey 鈥� the conversations, the courage, the curiosity that keeps life expanding.
So far this year I have had two joyful firsts: pickleball in Sarasota and my first world premiere on Hollywood Boulevard 鈥� plus Manhattan meetings, podcast milestones, and the steady unfolding of new stories.
馃弳 1st Place 鈥� Podcast Host
I鈥檓 deeply honored to share that I won at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
Podcasting 鈥� through 鈥� has become one of my favorite spaces to connect. Long-form, thoughtful, human. To be recognized nationally in arts and entertainment journalism for something that feels so personal is incredibly meaningful.
Thank you for listening. Truly.
馃幀 Firsts
In Sarasota, I took my first-ever pickleball lesson 鈥� laughing through missed shots and wondering why I hadn鈥檛 tried it sooner. And then, on Hollywood Boulevard, I attended my first world premiere.
from Pixar and The Walt Disney Company at the historic El Capitan Theatre felt like stepping into classic cinema magic. The marquee lights. The velvet seats. The organ rising from the stage.
The 鈥淧ond Rules,鈥� King George tells Mabel stayed with me:
Rule #1: 鈥淒on鈥檛 be a stranger. It鈥檚 harder to be mad at someone if you know their name.鈥� Rule #2: 鈥淲hen you gotta eat, eat.鈥� Rule #3: 鈥淲e are all in this together.鈥�
It struck me how aligned that message is with travel, storytelling, even podcasting. We鈥檙e stronger when we leap together.
馃寧 On the Road
鈽�锔� Sarasota 鈥� Firsts & Florida Energy
At with Taylor Morrison, I took my first pickleball lesson, golfed while alligators calmly observed nearby (very Florida), and explored a vibrant community designed for connection. It felt active, welcoming, joyful.
馃椊 New York 鈥� IMM
From palm trees to Manhattan for TravMedia’s 2026 . IMM is where future stories begin 鈥� thoughtful meetings, new partnerships, ideas that will turn into coverage.
馃馃殺 Antarctica 馃惂
continues to ripple outward through interviews and features. The silence, the scale, the humility of that landscape still stays with me. Sharing those stories remains a privilege.
馃帣锔� Make Your Own Map 鈥� Now in 67 Countries
The podcast continues to grow in ways that feel both surreal and deeply grounding.
We鈥檙e now streaming in 67 countries.
In just the past week alone, three new countries joined the community:
67 鈥� Iraq 馃嚠馃嚩 (Feb 25, 2026) 66 鈥� Ecuador 馃嚜馃嚚 (Feb 24, 2026) 65 鈥� Lithuania 馃嚤馃嚬 (Feb 18, 2026)
Recent additions also include: Indonesia 馃嚠馃嚛 Croatia 馃嚟馃嚪 Serbia 馃嚪馃嚫 Hungary 馃嚟馃嚭 Brazil 馃嚙馃嚪
Every new country feels like another seat at the table 鈥� another reminder that courage, reinvention, and meaningful travel resonate across borders.
If you鈥檙e listening from one of these places, I see you. And I鈥檓 so glad you鈥檙e here.
馃帣锔� Recently on my Podcast
馃摎 Brave-ish Book World
I鈥檓 heading to Tucson for a 鈥� four authors, shared stages, meaningful dialogue. I鈥檒l be there with , which continues to travel almost as much as I do.
And in Austin, I鈥檒l be at 鈥� where BRAVE-ish will be featured on the book-SHE-lf. I love seeing the book spark conversations and bringing me to new cities and conferences!
鉁嶏笍 By Me
Recent stories include: , with my scuba dive at EPCOT, and staying at , , with NCL Escape, and three new features with Bored Panda on , and .
馃摪 About Me
New interviews in and
Sharing on Dara Levan’s Podcast:
馃挋 Reader Highlights
from two brand-new friends I met on a Windstar cruise 鈥� and they both read BRAVE-ish.
Michael wrote: 鈥�The title, Brave-ish, is a little misleading. The title should have been Bravest鈥� this book challenged me to be a bit more brave myself.鈥�
Jana titled her review: 鈥淭he girl has spunk!鈥�
From trauma to travel, from pages to people 鈥� proof that courage can grow, bravery doesn鈥檛 have to be perfect, and none of us has to do it alone.
My heart is full.
馃挍
Grateful for the journey. Grateful for you. And excited for wherever the next boarding pass leads. 鉁堬笍
Learn more about my events: and
Want to travel more? I have a class on Udemy.
My students are in 12 countries so far: Australia, Canada, India, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, USA! Join us on the adventure of travel writing!
THANK YOU for watching , Make Your Own Map: Are YOU ready to be BRAVE? It has now been seen and heard in 67 countries on 7 continents.
Have you heard my recent podcast episodes?
my podcast, “: ” on听, , , ,听 , , , , &补尘辫;听
WHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?
Here is the link to听my video channel on听 where I now have over 2.6 Million views on YouTube! (now at: 2,648,746).
I hope you will ! For more We Said Go Travel articles, TV segments, videos and social media:
Find me on social media with over 150,000 followers. Please follow听me on social @LisaNiver , , ,听,听听, and at听
Do you LOVE my book BRAVE-ish? PLEASE WRITE A REVIEW!! Click here to go directly to (now at 66 reviews. Help me get to 75) You can find my book on , , , , , , , and wherever you get your audiobooks!
People always ask me where is it best to buy my book. I recommend you go into or call your favorite local book store and ask them to order it for you and pick it up IN THE STORE! You never know what other treasures you will find. Any bookstore can order my book because my publisher is and it is distributed by My book is now in the library on Quark Ultramarine, Windstar StarBreeze, NCL Escape and in the store at Dubray bookstore on Grafton in Dublin, Ireland! Brave-ish is available all over the globe!
You can also find me now on !
Grateful for the journey. Grateful for you. And excited for wherever the next boarding pass leads. 鉁堬笍
Violets are blue, Life is short 鈥� Let鈥檚 see something new.
Being BRAVE-ish means booking the flight. Taking the trip. Calling the friend. Saying, 鈥淐ome with me.鈥�
It鈥檚 what 50 challenges before 50 taught me 鈥� don鈥檛 wait. Don鈥檛 overthink. Go.
Love looks like shared sunsets. Missed turns that become discoveries. Hand squeezes at takeoff. Group texts that turn into plane tickets.
Grateful for the friends, the family, the fellow adventurers who choose courage over comfort and memories over things.
Valentine鈥檚 Day may be over 鈥� but love of travel? That鈥檚 forever.
The world is wide. I鈥檓 still saying yes.
Who鈥檚 coming? 鉁堬笍馃寧馃挍
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