Press/Media

Last updated on January 21, 2023

Shannon O’Donnell has traveled to more 60+ countries since she left to travel around the world in 2008. She has been featured as an expert on travel and volunteering in national and international print, radio, and television and was named a National Geographic Traveler of the Year.

She spends time in the United States each year to speak at Universities and conferences and she is a professional travel writer, trained public speaker, and author of the critically acclaimed book, The Volunteer Traveler’s Handbook.

Shannon is available for:

  • Interviews in any medium (print, video, or radio)
  • Speaking (view her list of topics here)
  • Webinars and interactive online interviews
  • Travel writing and photography

Interested in working with Shannon? 

Email her

Below are links and clips of past press and speaking experience.

About Shannon O'Donnell

Press Highlights

natgeo-travelers-of-the-year

Shannon’s photography, writing, and speaking have been featured in print and online publications all over the world. Highlights include:

  • Named a National Geographic Traveler of the Year
  • Speaker at Russia’s VII St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum in 2018
  • Speaker at National Geographic Live! at the Grosvenor Auditorium (link here)
  • Radio guest on NPR and the Australian Broadcasting Network
  • Appearances on Daytime TV, ABC and Fox news stations
  • Featured travel and volunteering expert by Washington Post, CNN, BBC, Forbes, Globe and Mail, Evening Standard, News.com.au, Daily Mail, Business Insider, Frommers, U.S. News and World Report, BuzzFeed.
  • About her book: “A great beginning guide for those just starting to think about volunteering internationally …” — Booklist Magazine

Print Press and Media

  • Selamta Magazine, story on Barcelona, September 2018.
  • Madam Eva Magazine, story on food and travel, August 2018.
  • National Geographic Traveler magazine, Traveler of the Year feature story, November 2013.
  • Delta Sky Magazine, wrote a piece on Ireland, 2014.
  • La Presse newspaper, interviewed for a piece about volunteering.
  • Money Magazine volunteering expert, December 2013.
  • Times of India expert interview on volunteer travel.
  • Interviewed by Cosmopolitan Italy on working remotely and traveling.
  • Four interviews and stories (print and online) with the University of Central Florida (here is one).
  • A contributing writer, To Nepal With Love guidebook.
  • Featured as a source of travel inspiration in Modern in Denver Magazine (print and online).
Shannon ODonnell Speaking
Shannon O’Donnell speaking at the Housing Works Bookstore in NYC.

Online Press and Media

Television Press and Media

Radio Press and Media

Speaking Highlights

  • Speaker about responsible tourism for college students as part of the University of Maine’s “Going Global Speaker Series,” 2019.
  • Moderator on a Sustainable Tourism panel at Berlin Travel Fest, 2019.
  • Speaker at the VII St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum, with two panels: Communicating Culture in Media, and the Female Face of Cinematography, 2018.
  • TravelCon speaker about Responsible Tourism as a Force for Good, 2018.
  • Annual speaker with middle school classrooms in conjunction with units on Into The Wild, social justice units, and world cultures studies, 2010 to 2018.
  • Central College in Iowa guest speaker to the freshman class, 2014.
  • National Geographic Live event in Washington, DC in 2014.
  • Shenandoah University keynote speaker at International Convocation, 2013.
  • University of Central Florida guest speaker about entrepreneurship and travel, 2013.
  • Speaker on SEO and Content at the TBEX 2012 Travel Blog Conference.
  • Meet Plan Go panelist for the Orlando, Florida event, 2011.
  • Presenter of various industry webinars and training sessions on Social Media and SEO; most recently a webinar on “How Better Storytelling Inspires Travel” for Travel Massive.

Speaking at National Geographic Live! 

Speaking at Shenandoah University

Photography Press and Media

Shannon ODonnell cosmo italy
  • Photography featured in Outside magazine, April 2013,
  • Ongoing relationship with Kuoni Travel brochures for Middle East images.
  • Featured in Trinity University Magazine.
  • Stowaway Magazine (print and online) for a piece on Semana Santa carpets in Guatemala.
  • Featured in University of Missouri Illuminations report.
  • Photography featured in the Schmap Sydney Guide.
  • TRAVELIFE magazine feature.

Writing, Interviews, and Podcasts

Contact

Email ( ShannonRODonnell <at> gmail.com ) is the easiest way to reach me. Or via phone: +1-727-386-9415