Andrew Ellis Evans
Andrew Ellis Evans is an author and journalist whose explorations—from global travel to psychedelics and mental health—reveal new frontiers of healing and human understanding.
Travel Writer
•
Digital Nomad
•
Black Penguin
•
Travel Writer • Digital Nomad • Black Penguin •
More about Andrew
As National Geographic’s first influencer, Andrew airlifted the magazine into the digital age, with millions of readers following his journeys online, in real-time. He singlehandedly brought the magazine onto Twitter when he launched from National Geographic Society headquarters, on his Bus2Antarctica expedition, using public transportation to cross 9 states and 14 countries, tweeting all the way and amassing larger and larger crowds at each consecutive stop. His story was the first digital story ever published by National Geographic Traveler, later featured in National Geographic magazine.
-
Andrew’s early approach to social media pulled in a loyal band of armchair travelers who followed along on his quest to reach one of the remotest islands in the South Pacific, checking in daily on his 500-mile hike across Jordan and his epic bus ride on bumpy roads to Antarctica. The 12,000-mile journey formed the basis of his memoir, The Black Penguin. Named one of “Summer’s Best Travel Books” by The New York Times, Andrew’s story weaves a jaw-dropping tale across three continents while exploring his own story as a gay man from an orthodox Mormon family, forced to undergo conversion therapy—a practice now banned in many states.
A five-time Lowell Thomas Award winner from the Society of American Travel Writers, Andrew contributes frequently to National Geographic, BBC Travel, NBC, Chicago Tribune, and The Boston Globe. He has authored five books, and hosted the National Geographic series World’s Smartest Cities and Hidden Gems of Turkey. Andrew recently contributed the opening chapter for the queer travel anthology Edge of the World (2025).
Speaking Topics
Resilience
Exploration
Culture
Watch Andrew in action
Presentations
Navigating An Open World
Veteran travel writer Andrew Ellis Evans shares the remarkable power of travel to not only change ourlives—but how we live. With illuminating tales from his long career at National Geographic, Andrew highlights the importance of wandering—both at home and abroad. Discover how to apply Andrew's travel tips and experience on any journey to create more adventure in our everyday lives.
Cultivating a Global Mindset in a Post-Global Marketplace
Navigating today’s global marketplace requires more than data—it demands cultural insight. Andrew shows how forward-thinking businesses can build competitive, diverse teams that reflect the hyper-integrated world, adapt across languages and traditions, and recognize subtleties that technology alone can’t capture. This keynote reveals how global understanding drives long-term success in an ever-shifting international landscape.
"The real test of travel is not our glossy expectation of the exotic world. It's how we react to a place when we get there.”
– Andrew Ellis Evans