Go Solo Live

Kathy Pulkrabek’s first solo trip didn’t start off to be that great — she had no hotel, was lost in a foreign country, and she got food-poisoned — but when it ended, she gained a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Kathy still remembers the bonds and friendships she made on her first solo trip and how it wasn’t as scary as she thought. On the show, Kathy dives into why she loves traveling, some of her favorite websites where you can score excellent travel deals, and the lessons she learned on her very first solo trip. Key Takeaways: *What was Kathy’s first solo adventure like? *Kathy wasn’t really prepared for her first solo trip, to be completely honest. *In fact, Kathy’s first solo trip was a bit traumatizing and it started with her being food-poisoned for at least two days. *However, the trip took a turn for the better when Kathy met this tiny old Italian lady. *What kinds of lessons did Kathy learn on this solo trip? *After visiting Vietnam and living in Japan, what was the next major trip for Kathy? *Check ou

When Renée Rivard was going through her second divorce, something clicked inside her. She was living in San Diego at the time and she was just working to make a living. She decided it was time for her to move and get a different kind of scenery. As someone who loves nature and has always wanted to learn Spanish, she decided to move right into the rainforests of Panama. On the show, Renée shares her experience of living in a foreign country solo for the first time, caring for her parent, and how those profound experiences sparked a new business career.   Key Takeaways: *What kind of things has Renée learned about herself from her solo adventures? *Renée moved to Panama about 4 years ago. It was on her bucket list to speak Spanish fluently! *What kinds of challenges has Renée faced while traveling solo? *Renée had to move back home to care for her mother during her last years. How did Renée manage the transition from Panama to back home? *After Renée’s mother passed, what lead Renée to Australia? *If you’re gri

Velva Lee Heraty is a certified Jungian Depth-Psychotherapist and has an MSW degree from Loyola University of Chicago. Solo travel not only opened Velva Lee’s mind and transformed her, but she was able to find an entirely new career out of it. After a 20-year marriage, Velva Lee used solo travel to help heal her and find herself. Now, she takes solo trips with her favorite furry friend all over the United States.   Key Takeaways: *Who is Velva Lee? *Velva Lee has done a bunch of solo trips with her seven-lb. Shih Tzu! *What kinds of challenges has Velva Lee had when it comes to traveling with her pet? *How does Velva Lee plan effectively plan out her trips? *Velva Lee didn’t really start solo traveling until after her marriage ended. *Outward Bound had a program specifically for people going through midlife changes. Velva Lee had to take it. *After Velva Lee finished the Outward Bound program, she was ready to switch careers. *Velva Lee discusses some of the interesting travel partners she’s had throughout th

Ellen Saksen and her sister Kate Nichols were prolific business travelers. They travelled frequently, often solo, and they were very, very lonely. It was difficult finding and connected with amazing people, and doing it in a safe way, while out on the road so much. This is why they sat down and created the app Amelia. It is an app to help connect busy solo women travelers to like-minded people. Meet new people while on the road, see and explore the new country you’re in, and do it all in a safe way!    Key Takeaways: *When was Ellen’s first solo journey? *How did Ellen manage work plus travel? Did she have any challenges with that? *What were some of the perks of traveling for business? *It can be very easy to get lonely while traveling. How did Ellen manage it? *Being lonely while traveling is one of the reasons why Ellen created the Amelia App to help connect with other like-minded people. *Who are Ellen’s users? *What is Go Jane Go about? *The Amelia app is now live but it is still in beta. Go check it out

Amy embarked on her first solo trip when she was 28 years old. When she came back home nine months later, she was a different person with a new perspective on how she wanted to live her life. Never again did she want to go back to an office. So, she found creative ways to earn money while still retaining the freedom she had while she was traveling. Find out how she did it on this week’s episode!   Key Takeaways: *Why is Amy in Mexico right now? *How did Amy first get into solo travel? *A lot of people accidentally end up in solo travel, but sometimes they cancel their trips completely if a friend or loved one bails out. Why do some people just go and why do others stay? *When embarking on her first solo journey, what were some of the things Amy loved/learned about that trip? *After nine months of traveling, how firm were Amy’s plans? *What went into planning a trip like this? *When Amy came home after nine months, what were some of her feelings about being back ‘home’? *Amy actually met someone shortly before

Rosemary Nickel’s first solo trip was to Cape Town, South Africa. As someone who usually travels with her family, Rosemary was amazed by how badly she needed a solo trip! On the show, Rosemary discusses what it was like to be in Africa for the very first time, and why it’s so important to bring your children on mini trips in your backyard to help show them new places and experiences.   Key Takeaways: *What was going on in Rosemary’s life when she decided to embark on her first solo trip ever? *Rosemary learned so much on that trip to Africa, and it has forever changed her way of traveling in the future. *Rosemary homeschools her children and everyone kept asking her if she ‘missed them.’ Her answer was no! She really needed that time off. *Shoutout to Rosemary’s amazing husband, Nile. *What did people think about Rosemary’s solo trip to Africa? What kind of feedback did she receive? *Rosemary didn’t experience much of a language barrier when she was in Africa. *What did Rosemary enjoy the most about Cape Town

Helen Suk moved to the UK shortly after she graduated university. What she told her mother was only supposed to be a summer trip, ended up being two years away from home. Helen was hooked with the travel bug ever since. On the show, Helen admits that traveling will not solve your problems. In fact, your problems will follow you. The good thing about travel is that it is a powerful tool that can change your perspective, and can even help heal you when you’re feeling lost.   Key Takeaways: *Why is Helen such a strong supporter of women’s solo travel? *Using travel to escape will do you no good. Your problems will follow you no matter where you go. *For Helen, travel was not the answer, but it was a tool. A very powerful and enlightening tool. *Helen told her mother she’d be spending just the summer in the UK. The reality was she didn’t come home until two years later. *As Helen has traveled the world, she has developed a deep respect for the world’s wide life. *What country or place has become a sanctuary for H

Charlene Burke is 53 years old and has plenty of experience getting in her car and going somewhere for a day or a weekend. In fact, Charlene prefers to drive than take a plane, because you’re able to experience much more while on the ground. On today’s show, Charlene discusses her personal philosophy, some of the travel dangers you should look out for, and the fun stories she’s collected along the way!   Key Takeaways: *What is Charlene’s personal philosophy? *When traveling, or even when going through life, be open and flexible. *Charlene shares an example of how ‘unintentional growth’ happens while on the road. *Charlene loves to drive, vs. flying. You get to experience much, much more when you drive. *The great thing about social media is that it opens so many doors to meet your new ‘friends,’ in the country or city that they live in. *How does Charlene usually plan out her trips? *How did Charlene tell her partner, now husband, that traveling was a huge part of her life? *Get a physical map, no, not your

Kimberly Ramsawak knew that a traditional job, with a cubicle, just wasn’t for her. Counting down the days, so she can take enough vacation to escape, just seemed counterintuitive. Kimberly had a very clear vision for herself, and she knew that life had to have travel integrated into it, which meant her job had to, also. Find out how Kimberly made her solo travel dreams happen, and still continues to make it happen with a husband and a child at home.   Key Takeaways: *How did Kimberly first get started in solo travel? *What were some of Kimberly’s highlights from her trip in Spain? *When Kimberly became an ‘adult,’ she did what most people did, she got a job. *Kimberly found out while she was in college that you could get a degree in tourism. She had no idea that this was a thing! *This sparked a whole new world for Kimberly. Finally, she was able to get out of her home town and travel the world for work. *When Kimberly was working for big organizations such as Macy’s, how did she create work/travel/life bala

Donna Cravotta took her first solo trip when she was 5 years old. This adventure at such a young age sparked a huge desire and passion in Donna to travel the world, and she did! When Donna had her son, her priorities shifted and her solo travels came to a halt. Now that her son is slightly older, Donna can not wait till he’s off to college so she can begin a new stage of her life and travel the world on her own time once again.   Key Takeaways: *For Donna growing up, travel was what ‘other people’ did. *Donna’s best friend moved away and she was depressed, so her mother found enough money to send Donna, aged 5 at the time, on a plane (alone!) to go visit her friend. *Donna traveled all over for work in her adult life, but then she had a child and being a jetsetter just wasn’t possible. *Donna shares a cute story of her days working and traveling around the world. *Jennifer discusses how sometimes you just have to accommodate your travel buddy. *Donna had a lot of stress managing a bad relationship, working lo

Amy Hogan took her first solo trip when she was 34 years old, to Taiwan. It was a completely new experience for her, and she was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming and kind the locals were. The entire experience pushed new life into Amy, and it transformed her. Traveling made her realize that taking vacation once a year to experience the world was just not for her. So, she quit her job and started her own business as a breakthrough coach. Now, Amy is living the life she wants to live on her terms!   Key Takeaways: *Where was Amy in her life when she embarked on her most significant solo journey? *Amy was taking a bus in Taiwan and she got lost! *What kind of wacky things did Amy do while she was there visiting her sister? *What was Amy’s experience like when interacting with the locals? *Amy caught the adventure bug after her visit to Taiwan. *What empowered Amy to start her own business? *Amy had 4 weeks of vacation from her job, but she knew she wanted to travel much more than that. *When Amy traveled ov

We’re going to be doing something a little bit different on this episode as a way to celebrate the the Go Solo Live podcast anniversary! My dear friend, Sarah Reed, will be interviewing me on my show. You’ll find out why I started Transform Via Travel, the podcast, some of the lessons learned thus far, and so much more! Are you ready? Let’s get started!   Key Takeaways: *Jennifer is celebrating her 1-year podcast anniversary! *Why did Jennifer start Transform Via Travel? *Jennifer knew she didn’t want to be a travel agent. She knew her passion would die quickly if she got into that aspect of the industry. *Why did Jennifer start the Go Solo Live podcast? *A woman? Traveling by herself? Oh, she must be a loser. *What has Jennifer learned from the podcast so far? *Solo travel helps people get out of all the noise they’re buried in. *It’s amazing that so many people have been compromising so long, that they don’t even know what their favorite pizza is. *It’s so hard to turn the to-do list off, and people are get

Cindy Lane Ross has been traveling the world since she was 13 years old, and is looking forward to retirement at the ripe age of 38! Cindy and her husband are teaching fitness classes throughout the world and blogging about their adventures through their travel business, Stash Your Bag. Find out more about Cindy’s personal solo travels and how she always looks forward to some downtime, in this week’s episode!   Key Takeaways: *What’s Cindy’s favorite part of New Orleans? *Who is Cindy? She first got the travel bug when she was 13 years old! *Has Cindy noticed a difference between how she traveled as a kid vs. how she travels, a nearly adult? *When Cindy embarked to Central America, not once did she feel not safe. *Where can people go to get more informed on the countries they want to visit, especially if they have a safety concern? *Register yourself on the tourism board of every country you’re going into. *Cindy offers a quick Paris tip. Don’t throw away your train ticket! The police check! *Cindy says it mi

Some pretty traumatic things happened to Angie Conquer in 2016. She had hip replacement surgery, her father died, there were some health scares with her grandson, and even her daughters were going through some serious life events. So, when the law firm she had worked for over 16 years gave her an early retirement package, she couldn’t resist seizing the opportunity. Angie is married, but she still travels solo by herself as she writes in her travel blog about all the fun and interesting places she’s been!   Key Takeaways: *Why did Angie decide to go on a road trip to the Florida Keys? *A lot of traumatic things had happened to Angie that made her decide it was time to quit her job. *Angie admits that she’s really, really afraid of flying. *Angie has 5 children and is starting to become more and more of an empty nester. *What does Angie’s husband do and how does he fit into the whole ‘traveling solo’ picture? *Angie’s husband has been extremely supportive with Angie’s solo trips. *Where did Angie travel to whe

Debbie Ross was a single mom, and going crazy. She wanted to get away, and being in the travel industry, she searched for a women’s group tour that she could temporarily escape with. However, when she was searching in 2004, she could not find anyone hosting these types of trips in Canada. So, what did she do? She created her own company. 14 years later, Women’s Travel Network is still alive and well, and has brought women together who have formed lifelong friendships through their travels.   Key Takeaways: *How does Debbie define solo travel, and how did she get involved in this line of work? *The first trip Debbie hosted 14 years ago was in Tuscany, Italy. *What were some of the lessons Debbie learned by hosting something like this? *Debbie reminds everyone taking a journey with her that they’re part of a group, so it’s very important not to stray, unless you tell someone first. Not only is it a safety issue, but the entire group will be worried about a missing person. *What kinds of women typically join Deb

Beth Whitman is just an awesome human doing awesome things! She’s a traveler, blogger, podcaster, and 95% vegan. Beth has made a name for herself as the women’s travel expert, having done several solo trips by herself, despite protests from her friends and family. On one adventure, Beth took a solo trip on a motorbike sponsored by BMW, and traveled from Seattle to Panama. On the show, Beth describes what her experience was like, and some of the weird, and kooky, fears she had while undertaking such a transformative trip!   Key Takeaways: *How did Beth get started with solo travel? *We have hostels all over the U.S., but we rarely ever talk about them! *Technology has only made solo travel easier. Beth was doing this ‘blind,’ over 20 years ago! *How does Beth balance the technology aspect while she’s traveling? She has a blog and a podcast, so does she ever disconnect? *Beth rode a motorbike from Seattle to Panama — 7,000 miles over 9 weeks! *Beth discusses some of her biggest takeaways while riding solo on a

Sherry Ott is a digital nomad and travel blogger. Sherry believes it’s absolutely necessary to break out of your routine and go traveling. It not only resets you, but it helps you discover some of your hidden talents that you didn’t know you had. One of Sherry's favorite experiences is the Camino de Santiago because as you’re walking through Spain, you have a lot of time to think and reflect on your life. It is a transformative experience, and the best part is any woman can safely do it solo.   Key Takeaways: *Where was Sherry in her life when she decided to take her first solo trip? *After ten years of traveling to different places, Sherry was starting to get bored with traveling so frequently. *How would somebody even begin to start their own travel blog? Sherry offers some words of advice. *You have to get comfortable promoting yourself. You have to pitch yourself and ask for money. *What’s it like to experience the Camino de Santiago and travel on foot to Spain? *Camino de Santiago is known as a journey f

Kimberly James grew up believing that ‘black people don’t travel’. At 24, she went to Europe with a friend, and instantly got bit by the travel bug. When she turned 25, she moved to Mexico, by herself, and hasn’t stopped traveling since. Kimberly is in her mid-40s now, and still hears the words, “Black people don’t travel,” from fellow African Americans. Well, after traveling to over 60 countries, Kimberly is living proof that’s not the case. If you want to travel, don’t let your race, or gender, hold you back.   Key Takeaways: *Kimberly first started traveling solo at the age of 25. *Kimberly went on a trip with a friend to Europe when she was 24, but she initially didn’t want to go. She thought, “Black people don’t travel.” *On that trip, she went to 6 countries in 3 weeks, and fell in love with traveling. *When she came back, she had her mind set on living in another country. She didn’t even know anyone who had lived, or even traveled, outside of the U.S., at that time. *So, what’s the deal with the whole

Carol Cain is a full-time travel blogger, but lives in New York City. She travels the world solo and writes about her adventures; often times they’ve been sponsored by companies. Oh, and by the way, she also has kids and a husband. Carol is proof you can get out there and travel, by yourself, even when you have a busy family to take care of. When Carol first traveled solo, at the young age of 17, she felt empowered. Carol has a serious travel bug, and doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.   Key Takeaways: *When was Carol’s very first solo journey? *Carol travelled to Italy at the age of 17, and it was very empowering to be on her own and make mistakes. *Growing up in a very strict Latino household, Carol was always afraid she wasn’t living up to the expectations of others. *Carol also had to overcome a cultural barrier. Latinas don’t typically travel solo. *Carol has a husband and kids, and still travels solo. So many times strangers were worried about who was taking care of her kids while she was in a f

Debra Asberry is the owner of Women Traveling Together, a company built on her own personal frustration when she could not find a travel partner to do a once-in-a-lifetime trip with her. Women Traveling Together cultivates an environment where solo women can experience new things without a travel buddy, in a safe and secure way. The company was started in 1997, and has created an experience where even the most inexperienced traveller can have a fun time without feeling pressured to keep up with the pros.   Key Takeaways: *What is Women Traveling Together about, and how did it get started? *Debra and Women Traveling Together will be hosting around 70 tours throughout 2017. *The company started because no one wanted to travel with Debra on a rafting trip 20 years ago. *Debra knew she couldn’t have been the only one who felt this way. She wanted to share her experiences with someone. *The mainstream tour operators, at the time, did not want anything to do with solo travellers. *You can talk to the other women in