Go Solo Live

There has been a huge awareness on the power of a positive mindset in the past few years. And rightfully so! When you have a positive mindset, you are able to see so much possibilities for yourself that you might have not seen before. You are capable of doing so much more because of the belief, trust, and confidence you have as a result of positive mindset. Today’s guest, Holly Worton, shares her experiences in shifting her mindset, and how it made a huge difference in her personal life, business, and travel. Holly shares how she lost her love for solo nature walks to getting back at it and even doing a 100-mile solo walk. She has grown leaps and bounds by using the power of her mind. Holly has built a business around mindset shifts and leads a group of women who want to go on nature walks. This episode marks the end of the Go Solo Live Podcast. For the past 2 years we have been bringing stories of solo female travelers, their transformation and self-discovery. We hope you enjoyed the laughter and connection.

Many women adhere very well to the roles that society has set out for them - mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend. Buried behind all these is a woman with her own dreams, her own passion, her own definition of who she is. A lot do not escape this cycle, but today’s guest shares her inspiring story of leaving everything behind to find who she really is. Ronda Taylor was married for 23 years, is a mother, grandmother, and was the primary caregiver to her mother who has Alzheimer’s. She had dreams of travel but has always let obstacles get in the way. At 53, she decided she was not going to live one more year unhappy and not fulfilling her own dreams. 39 days later, she was on a one-way plane to Costa Rica. She is now living in “The City of Eternal Spring” Medellín, Colombia, the city that captured her heart. She has recently checked off the #1 item in her bucket list, is leading a community of women travellers, writing a book, building her online business, creating a legacy, and living her dream every day.  

Living in the urban part of the country can be frenetic. And sometimes we just need some peace and quiet. It takes courage to shift lifestyles from being the busy blue collar to becoming a free digital nomad. Robyn Fountain made this brave switch as her work life and personal life are both constantly draining her. Having been in a toxic relationship, she was becoming more miserable and emotionally dysfunctional. She finally got the courage to say goodbye, go on the road and embrace the digital nomad lifestyle. Currently in Romania, she could not be more satisfied with the decision she made. She shares the challenges she faced and lessons she took with her on this journey She knows she is her best self now because she is free. Key Takeaways: Robyn reveals the circumstances that led her to embark on the journey to the digital nomad lifestyle. She shares the financial, housing and social aspects of being a digital nomad. She also gives things to consider when becoming a digital nomad and tips for when you becom

I always admire women in middle age who go out there and start seeing more of the world. It takes courage to remove the roadblocks and just do it. Today’s guest shares us her incredible journeys as a solo traveler, her views and philosophies on traveling and how she is living her life one trip at a time. Leigh Mcadams started traveling right out of university. Her first trip marks the beginning of a lifetime of travel. As her curiosity to see the world got bigger, her thirst to travel got bigger and bigger and she’s never satisfied. She has traveled to 54 countries and has experienced diverse cultures. When she is out there seeing places, she knows that she has found complete freedom in the world. She found her passion in blogging about her escapades, her niche being outdoors, nature and adventure. She has been writing for nine years now with over 1400 posts. She teaches women to learn how to set aside their fears and worries and try seeing the good the world with their own eyes. And as for her, she’ll never

When people travel, sometimes they let their worries get to them too much that they forget to enjoy their trips. They neglect to free their minds, trust their guts and just revel in the beauty of wandering. Today’s guest shares her experience in choosing her intuition and opening herself to the amazing chances traveling has presented to her. Esther Jacobs have always trusted what her inner voice says. She let intuition guide her in all of her trips, and it has led her to travel to over a hundred countries. In today’s episode, she shares how her instinct has opened her to new adventures.Traveling to the Caribbean, she found herself buying a ticket to Haiti. Having no prior plans, she followed her gut to wander the island, with no idea where to go and where to stay. Ensuing her decision was a series of astonishing situations and thrilling circumstances that would not have been possible if she didn’t open herself to taking risks. Esther has been living an unprecedented life, always having her intuition next to h

Have you ever felt restless enough that you just want to disconnect for a while? Our guest for today’s episode has been in the same situation. Too much that she finally found her freedom in solo traveling. I welcome in our show Lisa M, AKA the Hot Flash Packer. Intrigued by the name? A flashpacker means a backpacker who has that extra “flash”, who has more budget and can stay in better places when traveling. Lisa has been feeling restless with her job. When she read about people quitting their jobs to travel, she sold her car, sold her house, bought a backpack and set her course. She has now traveled to 87 countries on all 7 continents. Some of her trips are planned, most of her trips were not. She recalls how life-changing it was to be in a country without a plan, not speaking the language, not having reservations on accommodations and not having an itinerary. Still, she had a cathartic experience with the best strangers she met. All of her trips have stories that she has taken with her. She has been bit by

Today we have another Mother’s Day themed episode with Kathy Buechel. Kathy shares her goal of developing the spirit of travel in her two sons, just as her grandparents passed it on to her.   Her grandparents used to travel all across the United States and overseas, always bringing home pictures from their trips. Kathy recalls seeing these photographs and thinking about what it feels like to see these sights in real life. Being ardent about traveling herself, she made sure that she will pass this passion to her sons.   She remembers thinking of what she could share to her two boys that has a special place in her heart. She wanted to bond with them and show one of her passions, for them to realize that the world is full of things to see. Because what else could be a better bonding moment than to make memories in beautiful places with the people you love?   Key Takeaways:   Kathy was mainly influenced by her grandparents to travel when she was young. She shares about instilling the spirit of travel to her two

Welcome to this very special mother’s day episode with my travel mentor and grandmother, Sandy Duffy. Whenever people ask me who I look up to on solo travel, I always say it’s my grandmother, but I never really got the chance to tell them why. My grandmother is a trailblazer, a woman who has wanderlust in her spirit. My grandmother has always wanted to see more of the world, a desire she and my grandfather does not share. She then started doing things my grandfather was not interested in doing. Both of them took time to do their own thing, and never needed to ask permission. But they were both very supportive of each other. Her first trip was a girl’s trip with her friends to Australia and New Zealand in 2001. Her travels made her experience marvelous people, phenomenal cuisine and amazing sights. Coming across new cultures has fueled her yearning for more travel.   Her trip to the Grand Canyon was such an inspiration and makes her want to travel even more. Sharing the trip with her 75-year old friend, who to

Penny Chappell has been traveling her entire life. She grew up in a family that constantly changed states. They were always eager to move and explore. There were always unplanned road trips, which are some of her fondest childhood memories. The spirit of travel never left her even after having children. This this spirit of adventure she got from her parents, she also passed on to her daughters. She didn’t have the finances and opportunity for her big travel back then, but that didn’t stop her from exploring and traveling with her kids. After her kids have moved out at age 57, she had the opportunity to pull the trigger and start traveling solo. In her new job, she was nonchalantly told that she can work anywhere, and she jumped on the opportunity to work from anywhere. Moving to France for three months while working a full-time job, she shares her absolutely memorable experience seeing breathtaking places, meeting amazing people, and feeding her hunger for travel. France has been a completely unforgettable tr

Tam Warner Minton is a solo traveler, adventurer, and scuba diver and she is super passionate about saving our oceans! Tam went on her first solo trip in 2012 and has been addicted ever since. As she says on the show, you’re never truly alone when you’re out solo traveling. There is always something to do and you’re always meeting wonderful people while on you’re on your trips. So many of Tam’s friends are still scared to travel solo, but there is really no reason to be.   Key Takeaways: *Where was Tam in her life when she decided to solo travel? *Tam’s children were scared for her. *How did Tam’s husband take the news that she was going to go to Mozambique? *Unfortunately, Tam knows so many women who don’t want to travel alone. *Tam joined a group to help her see Mozambique and she was the oldest person there. *What were some of Tam’s biggest takeaways when she came home from that trip? *When you travel solo, you’re never actually alone. *Where are some of Tam’s favorite places to go diving? *Tam discusses w

Susi Kaeufer is a digital nomad, mindset coach, and visibility strategist for female entrepreneurs and nomads. Growing up in Germany, Susi never liked the idea of a desk job. However, everyone else around her did not know or understand what it was like to have a different kind of lifestyle, and they actively discouraged her from traveling solo indefinitely. They’d often say, “You need a job!” Well, through meeting other location-independent professionals, Susi was inspired to start her own business and live her life on her own terms!   Key Takeaways: *Where did Susi grow up? *It was tough for Susi. She wanted to travel and not be in an office, but everyone around her told her that she “needed a job.” *How did Susi get started on her solo journey? *Susi shares how she researched for her solo travel trip and prepared her family for the inevitable. *Susi temporarily worked in Australia and … it was awesome! *How did Susi begin to plan her location independent business? *How did Susi build her network while she w

Brianne Miers is a Boston-based travel blogger who believes in sustainable travel (support local). She has been to more than 50 countries and loves traveling off the beaten path to discover and experience completely different cultures. Brianne also recently got back from a trip to Copenhagen and Iceland! On this week’s show, Brianne shares some of her worldly experiences, tips on how to practice sustainable travel, and some of her top favorite destinations to go to.   Key Takeaways: *Brianne discusses what the Women In Travel Summit is all about and who should go to the event. *Brianne just came back from a recent trip from Iceland and Copenhagen. *When did Brianne get bit by the travel bug? *Brianne’s first solo trip was when she traveled to Atlanta. You can start small and in your own backyard! *Brianne is a big supporter of sustainable travel. *What are some of the best ways people can practice sustainable travel? *What are some of Brianne’s favorite food times? *Brianne shares some of her favorite destina

Lisa Lubin quit her job to travel the world back in 2006 for what was supposed to be only a year. Well, after over a decade later, Lisa is still going strong and travels at least once a month for work as a travel and food journalist. When Lisa first tried solo travel, she actually hated it. On the show, she reveals what made solo travel enjoyable for her and she shares her tips and tricks on what saved her the most money as she explored Latin America and Australia.   Key Takeaways: *Lisa is currently in Chicago! What recommendations does she have for those who are visiting? *What is Lisa’s blog, LL World Tour, about? *Why did Lisa not love solo travel in the beginning? *When Lisa quit her job, what was her strategy to find alternative work while she traveled? *The slower you travel through one destination to the other, the cheaper it’s going to be. *What would Lisa do differently, knowing what she knows now? *When Lisa embarked on her travel journey, where did she go to first? *Lisa shares some of her biggest

Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, also known as JetSetSarah, is a Miami-based Caribbean travel expert, an award-winning travel journalist, and a self-described “Carivangelist,” where she passionately shares the beautiful and amazing things the Caribbean has to offer. On the show, Sarah shares her shopping tips, what kinds of items you can find in the Caribbean, and what solo travel personally means to her.   Key Takeaways: *How did Sarah become a jet-setter? *Sarah loves to go shopping while she’s traveling! She is a big advocate for shopping local and supporting local producers. *Sarah shares her shopping tips and things she personally likes to look for. *What are some of the best ways you bargain for your items? *What currency should you buy your items in? *How much should you budget for? *Should you buy your items with a credit card? *Sarah recommends a couple of awesome Caribbean travel destinations for the solo woman. *Sarah also recommends some of her favorite all-inclusive resorts where you go to get pampered! *

Terra Lyles is a travel agent and delivers her customers a stress-free travel experience. Terra was a nurse before she got into a terrible accident. As a single mom of three, she had no idea that traveling solo was possible for her, but by taking a chance, she has been able to support her family through travel. On the show, Terra discusses some of the ins and outs of being a travel agent, the benefits of working with a travel agent (even when you’re going solo), and so much more!   Key Takeaways: *How did Terra get started as a travel agent? *Terra was in a horrible car accident that prevented her from being able to work as a nurse. On top of this, she was a single mom of three children. *Prior to becoming a travel agent, Terra did not know that international travel was possible for her. *Should you use a travel agent to help you plan your solo trip? *What are some of the benefits of working with a travel agent? *Because of working in travel, Terra is able to go to amazing destinations at a discount. Where do

Shara Johnson first started solo traveling as an adult when she was doing animal conservation trips to various countries in Africa. Some people might have some misconceptions about the continent and its safety, but Shara dispels those myths on today's episode! Also, on today's episode, Shara shares what solo travel has been able to do to someone who has always been shy her entire life.   Key Takeaways: *When did Shara first start solo traveling? *Shara has gone on two Wildlife Fund conservation trips. *What was it like traveling to parts of Africa to do these conservation trips? *Why has Shara fallen in love with Africa? *Shara can finally get her brain to relax and stop going miles per minute when she’s on a safari watch. *Lately, Shara has been studying the witchcraft culture in Africa and has even made a documentary about it. *How did Shara first become aware of the witchcraft presence in Africa? *Some people might have this perception that women who travel solo have very bold personalities. Well, for Shar

Megan Hamilton started solo traveling when she was in her mid-40s. She homeschools her two children and her husband is always traveling internationally for work. Prior to solo travel, she was constantly waiting for this phase of her life to be over so that she could finally do what she’s always wanted to do… until it hit her. Why wait! She can raise a family and travel, all she needs to do is make slight adjustments to her lifestyle to make this dream come true.   Key Takeaways: *Where was Megan in her life when she first began to solo travel? *Megan was waiting for her girls to grow up before she could really go fulfill her dreams. *When Megan and her husband traveled together, it was always a compromise. *How did Megan take her first baby step into solo travel? *When Megan was on her own, she felt empowered. She was finally able to relax without trying to adjust or compromise for the family. *What did Megan’s family and friends say when they heard she was going to be traveling alone? *Megan’s solo travel ha

Carol Guttery decided to structure her life a little bit differently when she turned 50. Her husband had just retired and she wanted to spend less time commuting to work and more time enjoying life with him. Traveling was something Carol always loved to do and she just didn’t get to do enough of it. So, she quit her job and worked on her ‘next step in life’ while being fully committed to traveling around the world. Find out more about Carol and her journey on this week’s show.   Key Takeaways: *What was going on in Carol’s life when she turned 50? *When Carol quit her job, she was finally able to see several conservation projects she was a part of in person/onsite. *When you go to a new country, spend time doing things you’re passionate about! Don’t like art? Don't go to museums. It’s okay! *There is a distinction between traveling solo and traveling alone. *What did Carol like the most about Singapore? *When is Carol’s next solo trip? *Icelandair is doing some really cool things right now with the way they’r

Paige Totaro is a travel blogger and travel group planner with two twin girls. When her children were 12 years old, she knew it was time for the entire family to take a year off and go traveling. How did she manage to do this without losing her mind? Find out on this week’s episode of Go Solo Live!   Key Takeaways: *Who is Paige and where is she currently located? *How did Paige get started solo traveling? *It took Paige a year of planning before she and her family could take a year off to travel. *Paige was very happy she did a family trip because everybody bonded together as a family. *What was Paige’s travel experience before she traveled with her family? *Paige took a writer’s workshop where she got to hike, think, and write with a group of ladies! *It’s not always practical to travel with the family. *What was it like to travel solo in Cuba? *How does Paige’s husband feel about her traveling solo? *What’s next for Paige? *What tips does Paige have for the moms who want to travel with the whole family? *P

Mary Cecchini is currently based in Portland, Oregon and hosts both international and domestic trips for groups of women of all ages. Mary was burned out in her corporate career and when her mother got sick, she had a real wake up call. She knew that no one was really going to care if she nailed that presentation today if she woke up dead tomorrow. There had to be more to life than this, and there was. When she started traveling solo, it led her down a path of self-discovery and even a new business venture! Her biggest ‘ah-ha’ moment while traveling solo is that there are so many non-traditional jobs out there and different ways to experience and live life. There is no such thing as the ‘wrong way’ of doing things.   Key Takeaways: *Through Mary’s business, she hosts small groups of women on trips located all over the world. *What inspired Mary to get started in this work? *What were some of Mary’s biggest discoveries and ‘ah-ha’ moments when she traveled solo? *What would happen if tomorrow was your last day