Jim Menge

Jim Menge is a travel raconteur, author, and speaker whose work celebrates the humor, heart, and hidden meaning found in every journey. A former global executive turned storyteller, Jim has traveled across six continents—walking the Camino de Santiago, crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2, and chasing meaning from the Atacama Desert to Kyoto’s quiet temples.

His writing blends wit, wisdom, and wanderlust in equal measure. In his business memoir, Never Travel in a Straight Line, he explores how travel mirrors leadership, creativity, and the pursuit of purpose. In his acclaimed ODE poetry series—beginning with Ode of the Traveler and Ode of the Travel Lover—he reveals the soulful, romantic, and sometimes cranky side of the traveler’s spirit.

When he’s not writing, Jim speaks to audiences around the world about purpose, value, and the art of living—and traveling—without a straight line.