Insights from Justine Shapiro, Host of Globe Trekker

With the launch of Globe Trekker on iBestTravel TV, we had the opportunity to engage with Justine Shapiro, who hosted the travel show for an impressive decade.

Current Life and Family

Like many, Justine Shapiro finds her travel plans currently on hold. Today, she enjoys quality time at her home in California, alongside her 19-year-old son, who is contemplating which language to study for college credit, and her 81-year-old mother.

“The rule is,” Justine mentions, “neither of them can come here to my studio without calling; I don’t go over there without calling. So, you know, I can go for a day or two and not see them. I feel really fortunate to be in this position.”

A Journey of Exploration

Justine boasts an impressive number of air miles, attributed to her time as the host of Globe Trekker, which ran for 17 seasons. She is also an accomplished actress and documentary filmmaker.

“I’ve spent 10 years of my life having the privilege and good fortune to work on that show,” Justine reflects on her journey with Globe Trekker. “It changed me completely.”

With travels spanning over 40 countries from Argentina to Vietnam, Justine comes from a well-traveled family. Originally from South Africa, she moved to Berkley, California, in 1970. Frequent visits to her relatives in South Africa and Israel shaped her global perspective.

“I guess in a way there was this sense that people lived all over the world and that they weren’t that different from me,” she shares.

Connecting Through Travel

This sense of a global community profoundly influenced her. While filming in Southwest China in 1995, Justine encountered places where tourism was still a new concept. “People looked at us because they had never seen white people before,” she recalls.

Justine often bridged connections through language learning. “I wanted [viewers] to see how effective it is to know five words in that language,” she explains. Two common phrases she utilized in China were Ni hao (“hello”) and xiexie (“thank you”).

Justine enjoys engaging with people. “That’s how I am in my life. If I see someone reading a book during a walk, I say, ‘What are you reading?'”

The Essence of Globe Trekker

Over its 20-year run, Globe Trekker established itself as a pioneering travel docu-series, pre-dating the influence of Anthony Bourdain. The show’s distinctiveness came from exploring lesser-known destinations and highlighting the people that made those places unique. “I just find it really remarkable to see a mask and then to see that mask take life,” she states.

Justine highlights the pre-production methods that underpinned the series’ authenticity: “We did what no travel show had done, which was we did recces,” a process involving location scouting well in advance of filming.

“From ’94 to ’99, we weren’t dealing with email. We were on our own. I mean, really on our own,” she says, noting the importance of independent adventures and interactions with diverse individuals in uncharted territories.

Conversing with Strangers

Justine recounts the challenges of cultivating intimate conversations with locals while under the gaze of a production crew. She inquired, “If people see this great big camera, will it make them feel self-conscious? I really wanted to go into people’s homes and private spaces.”

Her secret? Just two things: maintain eye contact and engage them about family. “Where do your parents, and your grandparents come from? That can reveal so much about someone.”

The Evolution of Travel

Reflecting on her extensive experience, Justine observes how travel has evolved over more than two decades. Today, many document their journeys through smartphones, often sharing images that, in her view, can be replicated online. “I see people taking pictures of Monet paintings. You can find a better picture online in a heartbeat,” she points out.

How can travelers enhance their experiences? Justine advises, “If people traveled with a focus on connecting with locals, there would truly be more peace in the world.”

Watch now at tv.ibesttravel.co.

This article was first published on May 15, 2020, and updated on May 18, 2020.