Meet the Experts:
Matt Kepnes | Founder, Writer & Travel Blogger, Nomadic Matt
Matt runs the award-winning travel site nomadicmatt.com, which helps people travel the world on a budget. He's the author of the NYT best-seller How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and the travel memoir Ten Years a Nomad. His writings and advice have been featured in The New York Times, CNN, Forbes, The Guardian, The Financial Times, BBC, Time, and countless other publications. You can follow him on Instagram at @nomadicmatt. When he’s not on the road, he lives in NYC.
Nikki Padilla Rivera | Director of Brand, Atlas Obscura Adventures
Nikki started her career in travel as a NYC tour guide, as a means to correct all of the tourists who were doing NYC 'wrong'. Over a decade later she specializes on creating immersive experiences that enhance the local community and empowering tour guides to see their work as a means for positive change.
Courtney Christine | Talent Manager & Influencer Partnerships, Vox Media
Courtney got her start in the media business almost 10 years ago as the assistant to the CRO of Thrillist Media Group. From there she helped create the talent team at Group Nine Media which was acquired by Vox in 2022. She currently manages celebrity and influencer talent across all branded content campaigns for New York Magazine, Eater and The Cut, among other beloved Vox brands.
Matt runs the award-winning travel site nomadicmatt.com, which helps people travel the world on a budget. He's the author of the NYT best-seller How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and the travel memoir Ten Years a Nomad. His writings and advice have been featured in The New York Times, CNN, Forbes, The Guardian, The Financial Times, BBC, Time, and countless other publications. You can follow him on Instagram at @nomadicmatt. When he’s not on the road, he lives in NYC.
Nikki Padilla Rivera | Director of Brand, Atlas Obscura Adventures
Nikki started her career in travel as a NYC tour guide, as a means to correct all of the tourists who were doing NYC 'wrong'. Over a decade later she specializes on creating immersive experiences that enhance the local community and empowering tour guides to see their work as a means for positive change.
Courtney Christine | Talent Manager & Influencer Partnerships, Vox Media
Courtney got her start in the media business almost 10 years ago as the assistant to the CRO of Thrillist Media Group. From there she helped create the talent team at Group Nine Media which was acquired by Vox in 2022. She currently manages celebrity and influencer talent across all branded content campaigns for New York Magazine, Eater and The Cut, among other beloved Vox brands.