Michael Fabiano is a distinguished international opera singer. As a tenor, he regularly performs at leading opera houses worldwide. In 2014, Michael won both the Richard Tucker Award  and the Beverly Sills Artist Award, making him the first singer to win both prestigious honors in the same year.

His musical artistry is matched by his passionate commitment to arts education. Michael is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of ArtSmart - a non-profit that transforms the lives of youth in under-resourced communities across the US through tuition-free music lessons and mentorship by paid, professional artists.

While opera is his passion, Michael’s large focus is building a better future for Americans seeking greater upward mobility. It is his belief that the arts is one of the great unifiers and a catalyst for success in life.

Additionally, as an entrepreneur, Michael is a partner in Resonance, an operating system for creative organizations and businesses that streamlines everything from payroll to spreadsheets and email to employee communication.

He is an active private pilot, a life-long baseball umpire, and writes extensively in blogs and articles about the American educative experience.

On this episode Michael shares his one way ticket to Mars. Plus, in our sweeping conversation, he highlights why arts education is critical to a child’s development, and why college campuses should be marketplaces of ideas (which he believes they’re currently not). Michael also calls for a re-imagined opera experience, which includes cell phone use and food and drink enjoyed in the theatre itself.

Michael is just one of the exceptional individuals featured on the podcast where Host Steven Shalowitz explores with his guest where they would go if given a one way ticket, no coming back! Their destinations may be in the past, present, future, real, imaginary or state of mind. 

Steven's guests have included: Nobel Peace Prize Winner, President Jose Ramos-Horta; General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.); Legendary Talk Show Host, Dick Cavett; Law Professor, Alan Dershowitz; Fashion Expert, Tim Gunn; Broadcast Legend, Charles Osgood; International Rescue Committee President & CEO, David Miliband; Former United States Senator, Joseph I. Lieberman; Playwright, David Henry Hwang; Journalist-Humorist-Actor, Mo Rocca; SkyBridge Capital Founder & Co-Managing Partner, Anthony Scaramucci; Abercrombie & Kent Founder, Geoffrey Kent; Travel Expert, Pauline Frommer, as well as leading photographers, artists, chefs, writers, intellectuals, etc.

Annie Fitzsimmons is a travel creative and editor and has worked in the travel industry for more than 17 years, traveling to six continents and reporting–on destinations, people, culture, hotels, and restaurants, and more – through numerous content platforms.

Annie is currently writing and researching her book for National Geographic and Disney Publishing,  “Hotels of a Lifetime," to be published in 2024. 

Most recently, she worked as Luxury Travel + Advisor Editor for AFAR Media, also hosting AFAR Live and Live from AFAR. Prior to AFAR, she was an editor at Virtuoso - one of the industry's leading networks for travel advisors - and held many roles at National Geographic over nine years, as their first and only Urban Insider, traveling the world and reporting on cities, culture, and lifestyle as their major female brand voice. She was a founding member of their Editorial Council, as well as spokesperson and foreword writer for two NatGeo books, The World’s Best Cities and The World’s Most Romantic Destinations. 

Annie has been a keynote speaker and panelist on travel trends, media, and content at events around the world, including SXSW in Austin, World Travel Market in London, the International Tourism Conference in Latvia (sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Riga), the Hospitality World Congress in Barcelona, and ILTM Americas in Mexico. 

She is based in west London with her family, after living in her beloved NYC for more than a decade. She has been a licensed NYC tour guide since 2008. 

On this episode, Annie returns to the show to revisit her one way ticket to Switzerland, to update us on her book, and to share 10 more “if these walls could talk” hotels. They are:

1. Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, Côte d’Azur

2. Hotel Sacher, Vienna

3. Hotel d’Angleterre & Nimb Hotel, Copenhagen (tie)

4. Baur au Lac, Zurich

5. Carlton, Cannes

6. Reid’s Palace, Madeira 

7. Hotel Jerome, Aspen 

8. Hotel Eden Rock, St. Barts 

9. Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra

10. Belmond Venice-Simplon Orient Express, Train 

Annie is just one of the engaging personalities featured on The One Way Ticket Show, where Host Steven Shalowitz explores with his guests where they would go if given a one way ticket, no coming back. Their destinations may be in the past, present, future, real, imaginary or a state of mind.

Steven's guests have included: Nobel Peace Prize Winner, President Jose Ramos-Horta; Former CIA Director, General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.); Legendary Talk Show Host, Dick Cavett; Law Professor, Alan Dershowitz; Fashion Expert, Tim Gunn; Broadcast Icon, Charles Osgood; International Rescue Committee President & CEO, David Miliband; Former Senator, Joe Lieberman; CNN Chief International Correspondent, Clarissa Ward; Playwright, David Henry Hwang; Journalist-Humorist-Actor, Mo Rocca; "1000 Places to See Before You Die" Author, Patricia Schultz; SkyBridge Capital Founder & Co-Managing Partner, Anthony Scaramucci; Abercrombie & Kent Founder, Geoffrey Kent; Travel Expert, Pauline Frommer, as well as leading photographers, artists, chefs, writers, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, etc.