My Solo Road (mysoloroad)

Giddi was one of the first women I ever followed in the van life world. Her husband, daughter and herself were among the OG people living off grid in this way while sharing it online a few years ago. She ALSO was the first person I ever saw talk about mental health so openly. She gave me advice which then gave me courage to speak out on my own experiences. If you have found my journey inspiring, this is the woman who inspired me. She now runs multiple businesses after settling down a bit in Utah. Follow her on instagram @earthtogiddi 

It's just you and me this week! No guests but I sit down to address my recent relationship status update, tell you all about Pearl's story and how I adopted her, AND I address the lovely hate comments on a recent Instagram post. WOOHOO!

Today we are joined by one of the most positive and uplifting couples I know, Sam & Kelly! They have been such great friends over the past few years and I can’t wait for you to hear all about their journey from being a couple in high school to living in a van with their dog sunny! We get into how van life has impacted their long-term relationship, prioritizing hobbies for joy (whether you’re in a van or not), and what they are manifesting for the future. They are two people that you can’t help but feel good around and it definitely translates in this episode!

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/van-life-partners/

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://www.youtube.com/@DivineOnTheRoad

https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May!)

Connect with Sam & Kelly:

https://www.youtube.com/@SamandKelly

https://www.instagram.com/samandkellysvan/

Can't figure out how to make money from anywhere? Brie from ChasingTheWildGoose joins us this week to go over every possible remote job we can come up with. Whether you want to stay home or hit the road, we share how you can turn your job into a remote position OR start doing something new that you may be more passionate about. ALSO: Join my new Facebook Group "Earning a Remote Income | Van Life" to brainstorm with other people or give your ideas to others!

Today Lauren from “The Animal Pad'' is giving us a peek into her world of animal rescue! The passion that this woman has for animal rescue pours out of her, as you’ll see in this episode! She shares with us some first hand stories about dog rescues in Baja, Mexico, her experience with compassion fatigue, the red flags you need to look out for if you’re going to buy from a breeder or a rescue (she spills the tea on this since she just rescued 111 dogs from a breeder!), and how you can help. Animal rescue is an intense yet very rewarding operation and we shined the light on both! 

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/baja-mexico-animal-rescue/Connect with The Animal Pad:

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://www.youtube.com/@DivineOnTheRoad

https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May)

Connect with The Animal Pad:

https://theanimalpad.org/

https://www.instagram.com/theanimalpad/

https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/2210452 (Donate through PayPal!)

Venmo: @theanimalpad

Alexa has quickly become one of my best friends.. After losing her father and realizing that she talks about living the dream, she decided to finally start living hers. We talk about moving through grief, white privilege, and what her dreams look like now.

What if you could do van life without ever having to find remote work? This week Kristin (@wheretheroadforks_) tells us how she asked her boss to go remote and got a YES. We talk religion, ex boyfriends, and good ole solo female van life per usual.

Claire Thomas recently hit the road in a 4x4 Sprinter with her partner, Jared. Over the years, she has created a powerful community by sharing all about her health (both mental & physical), fitness and overall wellness. She opens up about what got her on this journey and how much she enjoys helping others now. We talk van life, relationships, health and much more! Follow her @clairepthomas & support her (and yourself) by checking out some of her guides!

She was in the military, the police force and a certified bad b*tch (okay, this one is still true) before moving into her Promaster with her pup, Cleo. Followers have deemed her the Beyonce of Van Life because she's an undeniable queen. Listen as she talks about moving onto the road as a Black female & during a pandemic. 

Quin from @everchanginghorizon joins me to talk about his evolution of life on the road. From a van that could barely make it down the road to a beautiful Sprinter van (with many in-between), seeing the world is what kept him going. He evolved as a photographer, progressed as a storyteller, and grew the attention of a large audience along the way to follow his adventures. 

Are you interested in becoming a content creator but don’t know where to start? In this week’s episode, Jo Johnson Overby joins me to talk all about her journey of becoming a content creator and going from being a wedding photographer to retiring her husband! We also get into how it’s been renovating her dream home (which I’m obsessed with), becoming a mom, and why you should follow your gut and go down the path that feels right to you!

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/becoming-a-content-creator/

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May)

Connect with Jo:

https://jojohnsonoverby.com/about

https://www.tiktok.com/@jojohnsonoverby

https://www.instagram.com/jojohnsonoverby/

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2081565

Christian Schaffer lived and traveled in her Nissan Xterra while saving up enough money to buy and convert a Promaster. She is another solo woman traveling full-time and has so much knowledge to share about working with brands and creating an online business. We talk safety, social media and so much more!

Are you interested in solo female van life but aren’t sure that you could do it on your own? In this week’s episode, I’m joined by my good friend and solo female traveler, Quin Gable! We discuss her life before she moved into her van, advice + safety tips for single women on the road, her new van build, and training your cats for the road! We also dive deep into mental health, including social media's impact on it, her mental health journey in the van, and how to deal with burnout on the road!

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/van-life-burnout-quin-gable/

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May)

Connect with Quin:

https://www.instagram.com/quingable/

https://www.tiktok.com/@quingable

It's been awhile since I just sat down & chatted with you about mental health, anxiety & all things my brain. I wanted to share everything that has been going on with me lately, what I have done to drastically decrease my *social* anxiety (general anxiety will always be there, whaddup) and why I have fallen in love with therapy. ALSO how does van life help my mental health?! Let's talk!

Although I love my overall van build, there are definitely a few things I wish I could change! There are also a few things that I wouldn't change no matter what. This week I share my top conversion regrets and my top must-do's!

You asked and I delivered, my parents are back for a life update! Since I was home for a few days I thought it was the perfect time to catch up with them here on the podcast. We dive into my parents' thoughts on the engagement & wedding planning, the family dogs (Daisy & RIP Delilah), Henry's experience using my dad's ice bath right before this recording, and an abundance of Disney hacks & tips since we are a *Disney family* and it’s the most magical place to be! 

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/a-disney-family/

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://www.youtube.com/@DivineOnTheRoad

https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May!)

From van life to cabin life, my guests today are giving us the inside view of what it’s like to do both! Jaz and Crystal, also known as @vanwives, are with me today to talk all about off-grid living and content creation! They have been building an off-grid cabin for the past year and documenting it all along the way. We talk about short form vs long form content, tips on starting a YouTube channel, and what it’s been like building a cabin in a Canadian winter. Do they freeze in the outhouse? Do they regret their decision? Listen to this week’s episode to find out!

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/remote-off-grid-cabin-living/

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://www.youtube.com/@DivineOnTheRoad

https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May!)

Connect with Jaz & Crystal:

https://www.youtube.com/@vanwives

https://www.instagram.com/vanwives/

Every last detail about van life in one episode! Pour your glass of wine, get out a pen & let me share everything I know about van life to help you get on the road. You asked the questions; I brought the answers.

You want to travel Mexico in a van but you're not sure if it's safe or what you may need to know? I break down everything this week so you can prepare for it all. Safety, camping, what to bring and lots more discussed all about my time in Baja!

From traveling to Alaska in her van to getting her pilot’s license, my badass friend Melody Burdette is here with us to talk all about it! We’re diving into her top tips on integrating hobbies into your life, why she decided to get her pilot’s license in only 4 weeks, and her adventures in Alaska (seeing the northern lights AND orcas). So if you’re looking for inspiration from the queen of hobbies, this episode is it!

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/becoming-a-pilot-in-alaska/

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://www.youtube.com/@DivineOnTheRoad

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May!)

Connect with Melody:

https://www.instagram.com/melskyburd/

After last week's episode, two people approached me to express their feelings about the conversation.. They were not good feelings. One took the mature approach with an open discussion while the other.. not so much. I'll admit when I'm wrong so this week I correct where I made mistakes and I'll also share my perspective on having a productive versus hateful conversation when it comes to sensitive topics.

Eamon & Bec have been traveling the world in their Sprinter van, Trinity while filming everything for their Youtube community. They share with us what it's like to van life in several countries, share a small space & a small business with your partner, and why they recently built out a second home on wheels. We even get to meet the infamous Bob! Follow them: @eamonandbec or watch their Youtube channel: Eamon & Bec

After a long hiatus, we’re back! This is one of those “sorry I didn’t text back” moments and we have a lot to catch up on. So in this solo episode, I’m getting back to oversharing all of the life updates you’ve been curious about from this past year. We’re diving into an update on Ella, Pearl, and Finn (and our foster dog Abigail!), how mine and Henry’s relationship is, my new van build, what I’ve been working on BTS, and of course, a mental health update. I am so grateful that you are here and we are officially back with a juicy new season full of friend interviews with different perspectives from van life to home life. So grab your wine, coffee, beer, drink of choice, and hang out with me for this update!

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/van-life-podcast-2/

Connect with Sydney:

 https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

 https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May!)

Christian is a wonderful friend of mine who is working full-time at REI while building out his second budget-friendly van. He's been on the road for over a year now while working a stationary job proving that remote income and van life don't have to go hand-in-hand right away. Christian is building is photography portfolio to become remote down the line but brings in money in the meantime with a more location dependent position. 

A little more light hearted this week with a classic Q&A. I answer questions about if I want kids, what it's like being quarantined with Lee, if I've ever dated a woman, & way more! We get to know each other real well on this one!

Today we are sitting down with my good friends Gene + Shay! They are a queer couple that started their van life journey in 2020 in their 1984 dodge campervan and two cats Bean + Sprout. We’re diving into what it’s like to have two cats on the road, queer van life including how Gene (they/them) navigates places as a non-binary individual, their timelines of coming out, and the lessons that they have learned on the road. They also remind us that things will test you on the road but it’s always worth it! 

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/queer-safety-on-the-road/

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May)

Connect with Gene + Shay:

https://www.geneandshay.com/

https://www.instagram.com/geneandshay

https://www.tiktok.com/@geneandshay

Where do people living in vans sleep and how do we never pay for parking? Let me share with you everything I know about camping for free in the most beautiful places AND how to park in a busy city where van life "isn't allowed". These are all my secrets and my favorite tools to sleeping on the road.

From sitting across a friend in a coffee shop to creating my own coffee collection, I want to tell you exactly how I made it happen. I also share how the whole journey went so perfectly.. Until sh*t completely hit the fan. There might even be some new ideas leaked in this episode + changes I'm already making to the coffee brand to make your experience perfect!

I can't be fake like overnight parking is on my mind right now. I'm a human going through some thangs. So that's what I'm choosing to share. I learned in therapy that trauma can be remembered in your body even better than it is in your mind. Also, white privilege on the road is super real. Lastly, hi hello I'm starting a coffee brand. Random episode? Yes. Helpful? Hopefully.

Destiny and Liz from @choosethepathyoutake join us this week to talk all about following your gut feelings + making an income on the road. They have been living on the road for 8 months so we dive into what that looks like as a BIPOC & LGBTQ+ couple with two dogs and their favorite thing about van life (+ not so favorite experiences). And they share many reminders that if van life is what you want to do, you CAN make it work! 

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/van-life-couple-advice/

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May)

Connect with Destiny + Liz:

https://www.choosethepathyoutake.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/choosethepathyoutake/

It feels so overwhelming to look at van life and wonder... HOW DO I GET THERE?! It seems like a far off dream, right? Well here are some actionable steps to take to get you there. Let's talk from house & 9-5 job to traveling the world in your converted van.

Are we secretly engaged? Do we live in vans for the clout? This week on Instagram I asked you guys to tell me assumptions that you had about myself, my relationship with Henry, the dogs, etc. Some of them were hilarious and some of them were ridiculous! We address all your juicy assumptions so listen now!

Building out a van at 19? Moving to Europe to live in a van with her dog and partner? Jumping off mountains? Our guest today, Abigail Martin, is here to talk about all of these things and more! We’re diving into why she decided to do something different and start van life at a younger age, how base jumping is both scary and meditative, and why she’s decided to leave Europe with her dog Archie and build out her third van! 

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/van-life-in-europe/

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://www.youtube.com/@DivineOnTheRoad

https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May!)

Connect with Abigail:

https://www.instagram.com/abigailhmartin/

https://www.tiktok.com/@abigailmartiin

Henry and Sydney share the entire story of their friendship since the day they met in San Diego, talk about how sweet the relationship between Finn & Ella really is, and go over the transitional time of Henry turning 30. He opens up about how NYC influenced his choices and why a scooter lead him to travel in a van full-time. Listen to a couple of best friends relive the last two years on the road together and how they've helped each other grow even when apart.

My parents join us this week to share their initial reaction to me wanting to live in a van. What would they tell another parent/guardian in their position? How do they think the child should approach the conversation? Find out how I was raised and how amazing my parents are in this episode!

The episode that we've all been waiting for and that made me MELT during the recording. Henry and I share how things went from a 2 year friendship to the relationship we have now. Who started the conversation, what was said and then a Q&A to answer YOUR questions.

Meet my one and only sibling, Kasey! She is 3 years older than me and living her very own version of happiness. With a son, husband and mortgage, her world looks very different than mine. So how were we raised completely the same but end up total opposites? Let's talk about it!

This week I answer 10 Unpopular questions such as the grossest thing I've done in the van, does my family approve of van life, and am I just running away from my real life problems? Here the time stamps for each question: 

07:34 - How did I tell my family and what was their reaction? 14:50 - Do I worry about my getting stuck / how is it in the snow? 16:31 - What's the grossest thing I've done? 18:16 - What would I tell someone nervous to take the leap? 21:08 - How do I stay warm in the winter with no heater? 24:24 - Worst city I've ever visited? 26:16 - Is it hard going against the standard culture of “you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing?”

29:00 - Not everyone is going to like you on social media, how do you deal? 33:00 - How do I know I'm not just running away from real life? 36:09 - What made me want to go vegan?

Nat & Abi from Let's Play Ride & Seek sit down with us to share what lead them to van life, if they've found community while traveling, how their dogs adjusted to the new lifestyle & how they hustle on the road for remote income! Check them out @letsplayrideandseek & @vanlifepride !

After Lee & I discussed our break up, I thought it would be helpful to hear from two people who have been together for 30 years, my sweet parents. They bring us through their journey together starting at a nightclub. We listen to how they've moved through difficult times, come to accept the other person's flaws and continue choosing each other every day. This is a *real* love story... imperfect & all. 

Henry is back for the life/relationship update you’ve all been asking about! We have been doing a lot of rescue missions with Team Finn and have grown a lot as a couple and individuals. We’re answering some of your questions like did we buy land and a house? How has being friends first impacted our relationship? What have we learned about each other since the last episode together? All of this is answered plus Henry's life update + our goals for the future!

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/podcast-van-life-relationships/

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May!)

Connect with Henry:

https://www.patreon.com/keepingfinn 

https://www.instagram.com/keepingfinn/ 

After backpacking, van living and sailing the world, Dylan Magaster joins us to share how traveling the world started for him with only a bag and a little money. He made a deal with his mom that if he couldn't make it work in 5 years, he would come back and live a "normal" life. Learn how having a deep passion for something can push you to your limits -like making 150 Youtube videos before making money- but ultimately, keep you going to achieve your goals and explore the world. Check out @DylanMagaster on Instagram and his Youtube channels FLORB & Dylan Magaster.

It's not all about big numbers or lots of "likes". It's about loving your mission so much that you want the whole damn world to hear it. When you're determined to share your message with the masses, you do care about growth. I can't promise you the results... That's on you. I can, however, tell you exactly what I did to get myself where I am today. I believe in you to do with that what you will.. We are all waiting to hear your voice.

Courtnie from @courtandnate shares with us this week how they built their van while living in it, got out of debt because of van life, raised a difficult puppy on the road and began building vans for others looking to start their dream of being travelers!

Meet my best friend, Teagan! We met in college and fell in best friendship love pretty quickly. We’ve helped each other through our hardest times and celebrated each other wins. But she works for a home loan company in Indiana with a house, fence and fiance. We’re polar opposite people but somehow find our way enjoying every minute of our time together. Listen to our story and get to know one of my favorite people.

A bear broke in, I crashed into a hotel, and my dog needed emergency surgery? This week I share my WILDEST stories from the road thus far. Van life may look like a dream but it can certainly turn ugly pretty quick... Let me tell how.

I sat down with my friend Jarrod who is notoriously known as "The Van Guy on Youtube". He opens up about his mental health, anxiety (we stan), having cancer, and how he makes a full time income from Youtube. Also we have ads now! How professional. Shoutout to LOLA and BetterHelp for believing in ya girl.

My sister (who we met last week) returns with her best friend to drink several glasses of wine and hangout as family. If I could remember more of this episode, I would tell you. But that's all I know. 

The Coronavirus has affected us all in very different ways so this week I sat down with Katie (@soweboughtavan) to discuss how it's affected people living in vans and also influenced some negativity in the van life community. It's easy to point fingers and tell everyone what YOU think they should do. But the truth is, you don't know. We rant, we laugh, and talk a little sh*t.

I have always wondered if there were things I wasn't answering in the podcast or online in general.. So this week, I asked 5 of my followers to hop on the episode and interview me to ask me ANYTHING that I may not have shared yet. Meet a few of people who have been following my journey on the road and hear what they've always wanted to know. @amor.aventura / @vanlifemegan / @the.happy.hippy.life / @learnsomethingpod / @moniquellima_

Renee Roaming joins us this week to talk all things travel & business + share tons of advice for you all. She opens up about how she got started, what it was like moving to the US, how she manages working full time with her husband and what she would tell someone wishing they were in her shoes.

Can you believe it, WE’RE ENGAGED! I was completely surprised and we could not be happier! It really feels like one chapter closed and another opened and I’m romanticizing every moment of it. And since you’ve all been an integral part of our love story, we wanted to share everything with you as a newly engaged couple here on the podcast! From the timeline of our engagement, to how Henry picked the ring, and the weeks leading up to it, you’ll hear exactly how it happened and what’s next for our family. We also get into our parent’s engagements and how we are feeling about our new label!

Episode notes > https://divineontheroad.com/were-engaged-storytime/

Connect with Sydney:

https://divineontheroad.com/

https://www.instagram.com/divineontheroad/

https://www.tiktok.com/@divineontheroad

https://shopdivineontheroad.com/collections/coffee (Shop “Divine On The Road” coffee!)

https://bit.ly/sydneybali2023 (Join Sydney in Bali in May!) 

Connect with Henry:

https://www.patreon.com/keepingfinn 

https://www.instagram.com/keepingfinn/ 

How did I become a solo female traveler and end up living in a van? Let me share my journey to finding van life and what lead me to who I am today. From growing up in Indianapolis to hitting the road in my second van completely alone, I'm telling it all.

Traveling full time alone can get.. kinda lonely to say the least. But is that a bad feeling or something we should come to appreciate? This week I talk all about my perspective on loneliness, how I cope with it, and what I do for human connection when I need it.

How much was it for my van, van build, and my monthly budget on the road? When I was researching for van life, I couldn't find ANYTHING about what people are spending because no one talks about it. Well now, I am! PLEASE READ: Everyone is different, no budgets are the same, no two vans are the exact same. This is just my personal experience.

Earning a remote income in the van life world is a hot topic and there's a million ways to do it. This week Lee Asher joins us again to talk about making money on the road. With his influencer background and Sydney's experience with building a website, freelancing, and meeting so many others who work from the road, there is a ton of information to share on how you can do the same.

Toilets, showers, and laundry are a common concern when considering life in a van. This week I give you all of your options and my opinion on what's best for your budget and preferences! I even share how I go #2 in a van without a working toilet. FUN TIMES!

This is my experience with social anxiety. You know.. that feeling of wanting to crawl outside your body at the thought of having to make small talk with strangers? Yeah that feeling. This week I share about my experience, give my best advice, and brag on van life a little more because it made all the difference in healing my mental health.

Two best friends/solo women talk all about life on the road and what's it like. From safety and overnight parking to female friendships and community, Sydney and Katie go back & forth on exactly what it means to live the "van life" as a woman.

How do I make it work with a dog on the road? What happens when I have to go inside and she has to stay in the car? This week I dive into the logistics & impact traveling with a dog can bring. Also, we are joined by our first ever guest, The Asher House, who travels full time with 9 RESCUE DOGS in an RV for a completely different perspective...