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Cat Jones loves trains, avoids planes, and lived car-free until this year. Yet her company, Byway, has sent over 25,000 people on holidays across the UK and Europe.

Introducing The Gold Standard for Hosting Any Event with Brilliant Style Guru Colin Cowie from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast BUY THE BOOK! The Gold Standard by Colin Cowie https://amzn.to/4hSLdEd Event planner extraordinaire Colin Cowie is here to discuss his book "The Gold Standard: Giving Customers What They Didn’t Know They Wanted." Oprah and Colin have a fun going down memory lane to discuss the countless parties they’ve thrown together including one of their all-time favorites, Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball. They look back on the year-long planning of the historic event that honored the lives of the Black women who paved the way for Oprah’s life and millions of others. They also reminisce about what it was like throwing parties for Oprah’s friends like Sidney Poitier, Quincy Jones and Gayle King. Gayle joins the conversation to talk about her 50th and 70th birthday parties planned by Colin Cowie. Oprah and Colin Cowie both believe when having any type of celebration “love is in the details” which is why his book The Gold Standard is perfect for anyone looking for advice or tips on hosting a party your guests will never forget. 00:00:00 - Welcome Colin Cowie, author of “The Gold Standard” 00:03:15 - Love is in the details 00:04:50 - How do you want people to feel 00:07:30 - The most extravagant thing Oprah has ever done 00:12:20 - Oprah’s never thrown a party for herself 00:13:28 - Gayle King joins 00:14:30 - Post party depression 00:17:20 - Planning the Legend’s who paved the way party 00:19:50 - Gayle’s surprise 70th 00:24:40 - Advice for hosting your own event 00:29:45 - What Oprah’s learned from Colin 00:31:00 - What a well-lived life looks like Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/oprah/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Taking another look at ski and boot rental in time for an Alpine winter.    Music: © Barney and Izzi Hardy

Noel Josephides of Sunvil talks about his long career in travel and tells us how the Hollywood blockbuster could spell trouble for the region. It must now be the destinations' responsibility to control mass tourism.   Music: Barney and Izzi Hardy

It has its challenges, particularly if you're a woman, says Anna Bowkis.    Music: Barney & Izzi Hardy

Freelance public relations consultant, Paddy Daly, took the plunge and moved his family and his business to the other side of the English Channel. Music: © Barney & Izzi Hardy

We're re-running this popular episode about Harry Mitsidis, who has travelled to every country in the world...at least twice.  He's the founder of a website called NomadMania. Music: © Barney & Izzi Hardy

The quaint medieval community of Lacock might seem familiar.    Music: © Barney & Izzi Hardy

Alice Gully of Aardvark Safaris takes a journey back in time to São Tomé and Príncipe.   Music: © Barney & Izzi Hardy

This week we're in Val d'Isère in the French Alps, exploring the complicated subject of ski and boot rental. Music © Barney & Izzi Hardy

Dick's Tea Bar in Val d'Isère once captured the imagination of generations of visitors.  Music: © Barney & Izzi Hardy

Minty Clinch, who died this month, was a good friend of ours for more years than we can remember. She was a fine writer and witty to the very end. We have decided to re-release an interview we did with her five years ago. The episode is about her adventures on horseback to some of the wildest corners of the world. To Minty's many friends: we hope you enjoy listening. Music: © Barney & Izzi Hardy

We're giving this episode another airing. It's what might best be described as a rather long bike ride. Music: © Barney & Izzi Hardy

One of the first tour operators to give away the company to their staff. Music: © Barney & Izzi Hardy

Because this means so much to us, we've repeated the episode! The Somerset town of Frome has seen many battles in its history, from the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685 to a campaign to win Packsaddle Community Fields in 2025. Music: © Barney & Izzi Hardy  Support the show