“Brands want hype. We’ve built trust.” – Sam Blenkinsopp, Co-Founder of Trippin

If you're building a brand, trying to land partnerships, or figuring out how to grow without selling your soul; this is the episode for you.

On this episode of The Vanessa Podcast; the weekly show where we talk business, culture, and the real stories behind extraordinary people building their own lanes — Vanessa sits down with Sam Blenkinsopp (CEO) and Kesang Ball (Head of Innovation), co-founders of Trippin, the global travel discovery platform reimagining how we experience culture, creativity and community through travel.

Born out of a real-life frustration with the travel industry’s outdated and one-dimensional approach, Trippin was created to serve a new kind of traveller; one who values design, culture, underground scenes, and human connection.

🎙️ In this conversation, we talk about:

• How a chance meeting at a house party became the start of a global brand
• What building Trippin taught them about brand trust vs. hype
• The emotional cost of being responsible for a team’s salaries
• Why they walked away from the unicorn chase and redefined success on their own terms
• How to pitch to brands without a huge audience
• Their strategy for staying small, creative, and culturally relevant — even as the business grows
• Using AI and emerging tech to scale storytelling without losing soul
• The reality of founder burnout, pivoting with purpose, and building with integrity

This episode is for every creative, founder, or culture builder who wants to grow something meaningful without selling out.🎧 Full episode out now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube📱 Follow @thevanessapodcast | @vanessasanyauke | @trippin.world