Roaming Realities, Traveler Tales: Unpacked (Prose and Passports)

In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Durchslag, a former anti-human trafficking activist turned spiritual healer, passionate solo hiker, and author of While I Walk: Solo Adventuring In the Vast, Beautiful World. Rachel takes us through her incredible transformation—from the bustling streets of Chicago to the serene mountains of Asheville. We dive into how her journey from activism to healing has shaped her identity, highlighting the pivotal role the Camino de Santiago played in her path to self-discovery.

Rachel and I explore the unexpected truths solo hiking reveals about oneself and the grounding force nature can have in both travel and life. We talk about how embracing solitude opens up space for deeper self-awareness and reflection, while also learning to ask for help—both on the trail and in life.

As we get into the challenges women face when traveling alone, Rachel shares practical tips for staying safe, including how technology can be a helpful tool for solo travelers. She also emphasizes the importance of traveling with intention, which can truly enhance the experience. Throughout the conversation, we celebrate the resilience and strength that travel challenges can bring and the valuable lessons hidden in every adventure, no matter how messy or unexpected.

To wrap things up, we share a few light-hearted stories about the unpredictability of travel and how, in the end, every experience offers something to learn.

Chapters

00:00: From Activism to Adventure: A Journey of Transformation

04:31: The Camino de Santiago: A Spiritual Awakening

07:31: Lessons from the Trail: Growth and Connection

10:44: Hiking as a Teacher: Discovering Inner Strength

13:40: Grounding in Nature: Redefining Home

16:25: The Power of Solitude: Embracing Alone Time

19:16: Navigating Challenges: Resilience on the Trail

22:13: The Role of Ego: Learning to Let Go

25:11: Traveling with Intention: Finding Balance

27:53: Safety and Empowerment: Solo Female Travel

30:35: Reclaiming Joy: Overcoming Fear and Vulnerability

33:34: The Gift of Challenges: Embracing Change

36:28: Technology and Gear: Essential Tools for Adventure

39:20: Body Awareness: Listening to Your Physical Self

42:18: Navigating Risk: Trusting Your Intuition

45:21: The Scandalous Stories of Travel: A Passport's Tale

01:10:47: Unpacking Travel Stories and Experiences

01:10:48: Exploring New Destinations and Cultures

In this episode, I sit down with Erin Kelly, a Texas native, passionate health coach, and self-proclaimed food critic. Erin also opens up about how health challenges, such as being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s—an autoimmune disease, impacted her ability to travel and how resilience in self-advocating for her health played a huge role in getting back on the road. 

Erin’s stories remind us that traveling intentionally, embracing challenges, and being mindful of what we experience along the way can make all the difference in creating a life rich with connection, learning, and adventure—and that "traveling is a great privilege."

Chapters:

00:00 The Journey Back to Travel and Exploration

10:29 The Influence of Upbringing on Travel Perspectives

13:28 Navigating Travel as a Female

18:02 Overcoming Fears and Embracing Adventure

21:04 Health Challenges and Travel Limitations

27:32 Rediscovering Travel Through Support

34:12 The Importance of Food and Hospitality

38:51 Intentional Travel vs. Vacation

48:01 Traveling with Partners: Balancing Experiences

01:08:17 Travel, Scotch, and Personal Growth

01:14:28 Unpacking Travel Stories and Experiences

01:14:30 Exploring New Destinations and Cultures

Heather Jasper is a travel writer based in Cusco, Peru. Originally from the US, she’s lived in France, Morocco, Türkiye, and Bangladesh before moving to Peru in 2019. Her articles about South America have been published in BBC Travel, Matador Network, Lonely Planet and many more. She is the author of Peru’s Best, the first travel guide app for Peru.

Heather Jasper is passionate about interviewing residents of the countries she visits and sharing their stories. She’s traveled through 30 countries, 19 of those solo and has lived in 6 countries and 4 US states, though she is more interested in visiting more regions of Peru than more countries at this time.

In this conversation, Heather Jasper shares her extensive travel experiences, insights on solo travel, and the importance of language in connecting with cultures.

She discusses her journey with mental health, the challenges of managing it while traveling, and the strategies she employs to maintain her well-being.

Heather also highlights her passion for storytelling through travel writing and her creation of the 'Peru's Best' travel app, emphasizing the significance of sharing lesser-known destinations.

You can follow her on Instagram (@)HeatherJasperTravels and read her full anthology of work at HeatherJasper.com

In this episode, I sit down with Susan Heinrich from Midlife Globetrotter to explore how travel can be a transformative tool, especially for women navigating midlife.

Susan shares her early adventures in Nepal and reflects on her personal growth through solo travel. We discuss the importance of self-differentiation in relationships, prioritizing our own dreams, and how travel can be a powerful form of self-care.

Whether you’re seeking inspiration or practical tips, this episode encourages you to slow down, embrace adventure, and prioritize yourself on your journey.

"I needed to return to parts of myself."

"You deserve to take care of yourself just because you deserve it."

I loved recording this episode—so cozy up for an inspiring conversation on travel, self-care, and finding joy through new adventures!

You can follow Susan’s adventures on Instagram @midlife.globetrotter and at midlifeglobetrotter.com

Chapters: For those who want to choose their own adventure...

00:00 The Journey Begins

05:14 Reawakening an Adventurous Spirit

09:10 Navigating Midlife Changes and Self-Differentiation

12:56 Midlife Vertigo

17:08 A Transformative Trip to India

20:57 Cultural Insights and Personal Growth

24:59 Traveling at a Different Pace

28:56 The Benefits of Prioritizing Self-Care

33:10 Rethinking Selfishness and Personal Dreams

35:01 Travel as Therapy

38:21 The Catalyst of Travel

41:01 Building Confidence Through Travel

42:55 Travel Styles: Reflections on Life and Relationships

46:05 Packing Tips: The Two Carry-On Strategy

52:47 Evolving Relationship with Travel

59:49 Navigating Content Creation

01:09:57 Wine Pairings: Travel Destinations and Personal Favorites

In this first episode of Roaming Realities, Traveler Tales: Unpacked, host Kim, interviews Hillary who has been a full-time traveler for over two years. We dive into her incredible journey, starting from her first solo domestic trip to Charleston and her maiden international adventure to Ireland. Hillary opens up about her strategies for avoiding cultural misunderstandings and faux pas, emphasizing the importance of being open-minded, observant, and adaptable in new places. We explore the challenges of navigating healthcare and dealing with illnesses while on the road. She also shares invaluable budget travel tips, such as the perks of house-sitting, and the delicate balance between spontaneity and advance planning. We delve into the significance of prioritizing mental health and self-care amid the constant movement, and discuss how to maintain a sense of routine and normalcy. Hillary candidly talks about the temptation to do everything at a destination versus taking the time to truly savor the experience.

You can follow Hillary's travels on Instagram (@)queenoftheexitrow or on her travel blog, QueenoftheExitRow.com

In this episode of Roaming Realities, I chat with Trine, an inspiring traveler from Denmark who has turned her passion for exploration into a journey of self-discovery and healing. Trine opens up about her first travel experiences, how her adventures in New Zealand and Australia transformed her view of the world, and the impact these early trips had on her personal growth.

Together, we explore the tough realities of career burnout and the ways mental health challenges can creep in, especially for those of us who push ourselves in both work and life. Trine shares how travel—and a deep connection to nature—became an essential part of her self-care, helping her recover and find balance. Her story is full of practical advice for women facing similar struggles, and her experiences offer powerful insights into the healing power of nature and solo exploration.

As Trine continues to build her travel brand, she reflects on her hopes for the future and the many lessons she’s learned along the way. You can follow her adventures @travelsbytrine on Instagram.

Episode Chapters: 

00:00 -Introduction to Travel and Self-Discovery

12:28 - Life-Changing Adventures: New Zealand and Australia

22:33 - Career Challenges and Mental Health Awareness

33:13 - Navigating Stress and Burnout

39:14 - The Realities of Solo Travel

49:14 - Embracing Nature in Travel

57:12 - Building a Travel Brand and Personal Growth

01:09:36 - Unpacking Travel Stories and Experiences

01:09:37 - Exploring New Destinations and Cultures

In this episode, I sit down with Andreia as she takes us on a transformative journey from her small-town roots in Portugal to becoming a seasoned traveler who's explored over 40 countries. Andreia opens up about her early struggles with not fitting in and how an unexpected pivot from a law career led her to embrace a life of travel—a leap she now sees as life-changing.

We dive into the cultural challenges she faced while living in Sweden, including what it was like to experience the pandemic there and her growing love for Swedish traditions. Andreia also shares highlights from her recent eight-month adventure through Asia, where Taiwan took her completely by surprise (spoiler: it might steal your heart too).

Along the way, we discuss the nitty-gritty of budgeting for long-term travel, the joys—and pitfalls—of ethical volunteering, and her eye-opening experiences with Japanese work culture. She also reminds us how prioritizing mental health can sometimes mean walking away from a job.

This episode is full of candid reflections and life lessons, including how solo travel fosters independence, why embracing uncertainty can lead to the most beautiful moments, and how love sometimes finds us in the most unexpected corners of the world.

You can follow Andreia on her Blog and Instagram @around.the.world.in.flip.flops

Noted websites to check out:

Volunteering: Worldpackers

Budgeting Tool: Acorns

Practical Financial Advice: I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi

Episode Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction and Background

01:01 - Growing Up in Portugal

04:54 - Pursuing a Career in Law

07:51 - Moving to Sweden: The Erasmus Plus Experience

13:03 - Cultural Challenges in Sweden

17:54 - Experiencing the Pandemic in Sweden

23:11 - Traveling in Asia: An Eight-Month Adventure

27:54 - Budgeting for Long-Term Travel

34:41 - Financial Literacy and Its Importance

41:31 - Unexpected Travel Discoveries

47:14 - Cultural Differences in Work Environments

54:13 - Navigating Relationships While Traveling

01:09:18 - Embracing Uncertainty in Travel and Life

01:11:57 - Unpacking Travel Stories and Experiences

01:11:58 - Exploring New Destinations and Cultures

In this final episode of Season 1, I sit down with Stephanie Huff, a Canadian author and nomadic traveler, to hear her inspiring journey of self-discovery through travel. She opens up about the motivations behind her memoir, With Love from Bali, and the challenges she’s faced while living a nomadic lifestyle.

Stephanie shares how her neurodivergent diagnosis has shaped her sense of identity, the importance of trusting your intuition on the road, and the complexities of defining “home” as a nomad. We also explore the spiritual energy of Bali, the realities of digital nomad life, and Stephanie’s invaluable advice for women considering solo travel.

I hope you enjoy this conversation, and if the spirit of Bali moves you, feel free to leave a comment or share your thoughts. Thank you for joining me throughout Season 1—what a journey it’s been! Stay tuned for Season 2, coming your way in 2025, with more stories, insights, and adventures.

In this episode, I speak with Remiah, a Canadian teacher and travel content creator living in the UAE. Together, we dive into Remiah's journey into solo travel, her experiences as an expat, and why diversity in travel is so important.

Remiah opens up about navigating safety as a Black female traveler, the excitement of her first solo trip to Paris, and the unexpected warmth she found in Italy. Our conversation also touches on travel finances, the differences in healthcare between the UAE and Canada, and how the discussion around mental health is growing in the UAE.

Ultimately, Remiah reflects on how her perspective on travel has evolved, highlighting the personal growth and connections she’s gained with each journey.

You can follow Remiah's journey on Instagram (@)remiahtravels

In this episode of Roaming Realities, I sit down with Jessica Coffield, Tarheel-raised and fellow Asheville local, to explore how transformative travel can be, especially for women.

We dive into the importance of building global connections through organizations like Sister Cities, the resilience of communities after disasters, and how travel experiences shape personal growth.

Jessica shares her thoughts on empowering women to travel solo and how local meetups can create a sense of community among travelers.

It’s a conversation that really highlights the beauty of human connection and the joy in sharing travel stories.

***If you would like to support recovery efforts in Western North Carolina as a result of the catastrophic flooding from Tropical Storm Helene, check out this article link from Blue Ridge Public Radio with a list of various local and national organizations that need aid in our recovery. This will be a long road to healing.