ETHAN WILDER
Ethan Wilder: Voyager, Visionary, and the Guiding Voice of Travel Asks
From sun-drenched California beaches to the far-flung corners of the globe, Ethan Wilder’s journey to becoming the Editor-in-Chief of Travel Asks is a tale of wanderlust, perseverance, and the transformative power of exploration.
Early Years and Education: Born in 1985 to a fishing guide father and a high school teacher mother, Ethan’s childhood in San Diego was steeped in curiosity about the natural world and diverse cultures. Family vacations weren’t just trips; they were expeditions, sparking a lifelong passion for discovery.
Ethan’s academic path led him to Chapman University’s prestigious School of Communication. There, he honed his storytelling skills and developed a keen eye for the narratives hidden in everyday life. Graduating summa cum laude in 2007 with a double major in Journalism and International Studies, Ethan was primed to make his mark on the world of travel writing.
Career Trajectory: Fresh out of college, Ethan cut his teeth as a cub reporter for various San Francisco area papers. But the confines of local news couldn’t contain his global ambitions. In 2009, he took a leap of faith, bootstrapping a solo backpacking trip across Southeast Asia armed with only a notebook and a secondhand DSLR camera.
This six-month odyssey became the foundation of his first feature article, “Monsoon Diaries: Lessons in Love, Life, and Laughter from the Heart of Asia,” published in 2011 to critical acclaim. The success catapulted Ethan into the upper echelons of travel journalism, leading to contributing editor roles at several of the well known travelogues.
In 2015, Ethan joined Travel Asks as a senior writer, quickly climbing the ranks to become Editor-in-Chief by 2018. Under his leadership, the platform has grown from a modest travel blog to an authority on immersive, responsible tourism.
Ethan’s passport reads like a world atlas. He’s meditated with monks in Bhutan, tracked gorillas in Uganda, and sailed the Galapagos Islands. But it’s the human connections he’s made along the way that truly define his journeys.
Some of his most transformative experiences include:
- Living with a Maasai tribe in Kenya for a month, learning their customs and participating in daily life
- Completing the grueling Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain, an experience that inspired his second featured article, “The Way Forward: Finding Purpose on the Pilgrim’s Path”
- Participating in the Rickshaw Run, a 3,000 km charity race across India in a seven-horsepower auto-rickshaw
- Volunteering at a sea turtle conservation project in Costa Rica, which sparked his passion for eco-tourism
Personal Life: Ethan met his wife, Emma, an accomplished artist, during a dive trip in the Florida Keys. They married in 2013 in a ceremony that blended traditions from six different cultures, a testament to their global mindset. Their children, Zoe (born 2015) and Max (born 2017), are already budding world travelers, having visited 20 countries before their 5th birthdays.
The Wilder family home in Berkeley, California, is a vibrant tapestry of global influences. Their garden boasts plants from five continents, and their dining room hosts weekly “International Nights” where friends gather to share meals inspired by Ethan and Emma’s travels.
Hobbies and Interests: When not traversing the globe, Ethan is an avid:
- Surfer: He rides waves from California to Bali, using surfing as a lens to explore coastal cultures
- Photographer: His travel photography has been exhibited in galleries from New York to Tokyo
- Language learner: He speaks fluent Spanish and French, conversational Mandarin and Arabic, and is currently tackling Swahili
- Culinary explorer: Ethan has taken cooking classes in 15 different countries and has appeared on numerous cooking shows
- Meditation practitioner: He credits daily mindfulness practice for maintaining balance in his whirlwind life
Professional Philosophy: At Travel Asks, Ethan has pioneered a style of travel journalism that goes beyond mere destination reviews. His ethos of “Transformative Travel” encourages readers to seek experiences that challenge their perspectives and foster personal growth.
Under his guidance, Travel Asks has launched initiatives like the “Cultural Exchange Program,” which pairs readers with local hosts for authentic, immersive experiences, and the “Sustainable Tourism Pledge,” promoting environmentally and culturally responsible travel practices.
Ethan’s vision for Travel Asks is to create a global community of conscious travelers who see the world not just as a collection of destinations, but as an interconnected tapestry of stories, each one waiting to be discovered, respected, and shared.
In Ethan’s words: “Every journey is an opportunity for transformation. At Travel Asks, we don’t just inform—we inspire. We believe that thoughtful travel has the power to bridge cultures, challenge preconceptions, and ultimately, change the world. So pack your bags, open your mind, and let’s explore this beautiful, complex world together.”