Isabel Calkins Mata Isabel Calkins Mata is a storyteller, producer, and creative director. She previously worked on the marketing teams of L'Oreal's Urban Decay Cosmetics and Maybelline New York. Isabel has also held editorial roles at CNNMoney, Her Campus Media, and Cosmopolitan. She now blends her branding and content direction experience as the founder and CEO of Rumination Storytellers, a creative marketing agency, while continuing to craft compelling editorial content. Originally from Rochester, New York, Isabel currently lives in Seattle with her husband, Richard, and their three cats.• Host of the mental health podcast Being Yourself Loudly• 7+ years of experience working as a writer and marketing specialist• Received a bachelor's degree in global liberal studies with a concentration in contemporary culture and creative production from New York University About Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is a top travel media brand with a mission to inform and inspire passionate travelers. Our expert team includes a network of hundreds of writers and photographers across the globe, all providing a local eye on the best places to stay, eat, and explore. We reach an audience that takes 76 million round trips annually, offering valuable travel tips, ideas and inspiration, and products you need to get you to your destination — whether it’s a small town or big city, beach or lake, national park or theme park, road trip, cruise, or long-haul flight, and everything in between. Learn more about us and our editorial process