The Beyond Podcast

Beyond takes listeners into the world of luxury travel and beyond, hosted by Jack Ezon and Annie Fitzsimmons.

Beyond is a podcast that takes listeners into the world of luxury travel–and beyond–exploring the ideas, people, and trends shaping culture, lifestyle, fashion, art, and more. Hosted by Jack Ezon, co-founder of the $350 million travel company Embark Beyond, and Annie Fitzsimmons, luxury travel editor and National Geographic travel expert, the show brings two highly opinionated industry veterans together to discuss what no one else is talking about.

Across its first two seasons, guests have included leaders and tastemakers such as Robert Chavez(Chairman and CEO, Hermès Americas), Colin Cowie and Marcy Blum (celebrity event planners), Filippo Arnaboldi (CEO of Frette), Eli Zabar (food entrepreneur), and Massimiliano Righi (CEO, Ginori Americas).The hosts also release solo episodes highlighting hot hotels, destinations (2025 Hot Hotels & Destinations), and Embark’s quarterly trends reports, frequently cited across major media outlets.

Our interviews feature luminaries from across luxury lifestyle and culture, continuing the podcast’s reputation for fresh, insider perspectives. Words recently used to describe it: opinionated, current, snappy, balanced, honest. We’ll take it.

2026 Hot Hotels & Destinations

DECEMBER 2025

Jack and Annie give a recap of ILTM Cannes plus favorite hotel opening and destinations for 2026

The Big Fall Update, Just Us

NOVEMBER 2025

Jack and Annie check in after a buzzing trip to Milan (“Salone is the new Art Basel”) and break down why the city is on fire right now.

Surprise, Delight, Disrupt: Omer Acar on Hospitality

SEPTEMBER 2025

Omer Acar shares why he makes his bed every day (even in hotels), how luxury brands should surprise, delight, and disrupt, and the lessons he’s learne

Live from Botswana, All You Need to Know

SEPTEMBER 2025

Recorded live at Wilderness Mombo camp in the heart of Botswana, Annie Fitzsimmons and safari expert and Embark Safaris founder Justin Huff, share the

The Ultimate Editor of Food & Wine, with Eli Zabar

AUGUST 2025

Eli Zabar on How “being the ultimate editor” guides his curatorial instincts and more!

What’s Going On? Everyone Is Asking

AUGUST 2025

Jack and Annie talk about the Q3 Trends Report and key highlights, analyzing the current state of luxury travel as we enter Q3 which is typically the

Celebrity Event Planner Colin Cowie on Whatever it Takes

JULY 2025

Colin shares what it takes to deliver The Gold Standard in service, going beyond expectations to delight your guests or customers every time.

“Vacation Shouldn’t Feel Like Homework” with Mark Ellwood

JULY 2025

Top travel and lifestyle journalist Mark Ellwood joins to talk about what joy really looks like in travel today.

The Power of Relationships with Frette CEO Filippo Arnaboldi

JUNE 2025

We sit down with Filippo Arnaboldi, CEO of Frette, to explore the power of relationships, how to stay relevant in a changing world, his favorite hotel

The Art of Elevating Fun With Marcy Blum + Is The World Falling Apart?

JUNE 2025

We’re joined by the legendary Marcy Blum, who shares the hotel she’d happily live in forever and her secrets to working with some of the world’s bigge

Is February The Real Start of 2025?

FEBRUARY 2025

Where We've Been and Where We're Going (Personally and Professionally)

Hot Hotels and Destinations 2025

DECEMBER 2024

Jack and Annie talk about the hottest hotel openings and destinations for 2025, plus a recap of ILTM Cannes

Airplane Pet Peeves + Radical Mentor Cindy Novotny

NOVEMBER 2024

Jack and Annie Discuss Airplane Pet Peeves and Cindy provides the secrets to a successful career.

Hotel Pet Peeves + Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchirch

NOVEMBER 2024

CEO of Virtuoso and the greater purpose of enriching lives through human connection, his top advice for how to become a luxury travel advisor, and SOM