Mitch Bach sat down with João Perre Viana, the founder of Walking Mentorship, to talk one thing we tour operators are all familiar with: walking.

But not many of us design week-long trips where all you do is walk. Sometimes alone. Sometimes in a group. That's it. Beyond some shared meals and moments, there isn't much of a plan. Each group takes on a different spirit, but it's all guided by a mentor who along the way tries to facilitate and gently foster personal transformation. What that looks like is up to the individual guest.

This conversation veered away from the nitty-gritty of business, and towards diving into the importance and magic of what we do as experience creators.

For more show notes, visit tourpreneur.com. And be sure to join nearly 20,000 tour operators in our Facebook group!

1. Introduction to Walking Mentorship [00:00:09]

Joao’s background and origins in Portugal
Is Walking Mentorship a tour company?

2. Joao’s Personal Journey and Spark for Walking Mentorship [00:01:16]

The first Camino de Santiago in 1993
The impact of the walk and self-discovery
Realization of a calling to this work

3. Founding and Early Development of Walking Mentorship [00:04:23]

Corporate career delay and returning to the idea
Email to “fools, friends, and family,” and pilot programs
Early feedback and attempts to give up on the idea

4. The Nature of Walking Journeys as Transformational Experiences [00:07:14]

Layers of experience: curiosity, physicality, purpose, self-understanding, spirituality, culture
Doors in a room analogy for guiding participant journeys

5. Participant Freedom, Responsibility, and Structure [00:12:06]

Emphasis on total freedom and responsibility
Rare participant withdrawal and the ethos behind the program

6. Difference Between Typical Travel and Mentorship Walking Journeys [00:13:10]

Critique of traditional, structured, checklist-driven tours
Deprogramming guests and creating space for transformation

7. Risk, Challenge, and Your Personal “Everest” [00:17:26]

Meaning of risk (internal vs. external threats)
The “wolves” participants face within themselves
Ensuring physical and psychological safety

8. Common Motivations and Unique Outcomes [00:19:55]

The universal quest or search among participants
Every individual’s unique journey and needs
“There is no replay” principle

9. The Mentorship Structure and Methodology [00:22:20]

Mentor’s responsibilities and boundaries
Preparing participants for returning home
Structured support with eventual independence

10. Designing for Difficulty and Personal Growth [00:26:53]

Backpack packing as a life metaphor
Balancing physical challenge with adaptability
Reading the group and tailoring the journey

11. Practical Aspects and Device Usage [00:32:22]

Approach to phone/device use on programs
Fostering mindful interaction with technology

12. Lessons for Day Tour Operators and Short-Form Experiences [00:35:16]

Applying listening, eye contact, and personalization even to short tours
Offering small but impactful experiences

13. The Art of Listening and Asking Questions [00:40:04]

Listening as a crucial guiding skill
Asking questions through stories
Techniques for prompting deep reflection

14. Walking Mentorship Methodology: “Survival Kit” [00:44:40]

Four stages: Slowing Down, Reconnecting, Gaining Perspective, Taking Action
Toolbox of facilitation methods and adapting to the moment

15. Working with Corporate Groups [00:51:36]

Parallels between corporate groups worldwide
Depth of impact in team environments
Equalizing power structures and fostering trust

16. Empathy, Conflict, and the Power of Walking Side-by-Side [01:00:08]

Walking as an equalizer, building empathy beyond verbal communication
Practical examples with diverse and conflicting groups

17. Broader Mission and the Potential of the Travel Industry [01:06:15]

The urgency of empathy-building travel experiences in a divided world
Tourism’s unique opportunity and challenge

18. Reflections on Personal Growth and Lifelong Learning [01:03:16, resumes at 01:11:30]

Lifelong curiosity, humility, and self-improvement
Giving individuals autonomy and intention

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