Marco Polo Stories • Page 2 of 6 • Helping people feel close to one another

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Can Marco Polo help people feel happier? Our new research suggests yes.

When you’re physically separated from the people who matter most to you, can the technology you use to communicate make you feel closer – and even help you feel happier? Marco Polo’s Co-founder and CEO, Vlada Bortnik, thought that it could. “Human connection is critical, particularly as physical distance becomes an increasing reality,” Vlada said. […]

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Showing up for each other: How Marco Polo users connect during the time of coronavirus

Marco Polo was built to be good for you. It was built for staying in touch with the people who matter most in your life. So in the spirit of helping others draw strength by drawing toward each other, we asked our Marco Polo community for stories about how the app helps them connect right […]

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At home in the world: One woman’s remote year

Mexico City, Mexico

How often do you get to say “Hi” from the Sahara Desert, atop a large mammal you’ve nicknamed Clarabelle? “She’s a good little camel,” Caro Griffin says, mock-casually. Because this camel Polo is epic. Caro shared it with us to illustrate the joys of working remotely – really remotely – while using Marco Polo to […]

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She found endurance in her back pocket

Long Beach, CA

Jennifer Michelle used to think running was a grind. But as the registered dietitian for a long-term acute care hospital, Jennifer saw patients every day who were suffering from osteoporosis and other debilitating physical conditions. She knew what well-being and longevity looked like, and she had the knowledge and tools to prioritize her own. So […]

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A lifeline from the NICU

Los Angeles, CA

At 34 weeks pregnant with twins, Sara went to the doctor for what she thought would be a routine prenatal check. Instead, she learned that one of her babies had a condition called intrauterine growth restriction. This meant he wasn’t developing at nearly a healthy enough rate. The following day, Sara gave birth via emergency […]

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Marco Polo through the ages: How families near and far stay in touch

Houston, TX

Kerry Byrne will never forget the day she walked away from her father. She was about to board a plane to Dubai, where her husband had just been transferred. Kerry’s baby son, Finn, now strapped to her chest, would grow and change exponentially during their sojourn. And her father would miss it. “It was one […]

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Let’s not call it dating: How Marco Polo paved the way for romance

Kansas City, MO

Carol Tran was really not interested in going out with Estian Reynolds. “She doesn’t even remember the first time we met,” Estian says with a wink. “Of course I remember,” Carol clarifies. “I mean, yes, I sort of forgot meeting you when you were my son’s scout leader, but I remember when we started working […]

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How a wellness coach healed herself and transformed her practice

Nashville, TN

Lydia Knight grew up in an impoverished home in which disorder – literal feast or famine – epitomized the family’s food environment. So the irony doesn’t escape her that after overcoming such extreme odds to build a successful health and wellness business, she found herself trapped in a cycle of food restriction, bingeing, and obsessive […]

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How these musical influencers stay in tune

Eugene, OR

Peter Hollens’ career is an inspiring case study in “Do what you love – the subscribers will follow.” Since appearing on NBC’s The Sing Off in 2010 and launching his YouTube channel in 2011, the pop vocalist, entrepreneur, and educator has harnessed his talent, marketing savvy, and collaborative proclivities, along with a deep and ever-evolving […]

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(Almost) home for the holidays

Fairbanks, AK

Amber Haney is preparing for a long holiday journey. She’s packing up her three kids and their two dogs – yes, the dogs are flying too – and will shepherd everyone from a family visit in Deatsville, Alabama to her home in Fairbanks, Alaska by way of Montgomery, Atlanta, and Seattle. Once in Fairbanks they’ll […]