What happens when you throw three adventurous travelers into Mexico City during Day of the Dead? Magic. Chaotic, unpredictable, sometimes frustrating magic. In this episode, Laura sits down with Stacey, Betsy, and Megan to relive their unforgettable journey through one of Mexico's most sacred celebrations. You'll hear about Megan's 45-minute battle with acrophobia in a hot air balloon, a shaman cleansing that revealed everyone's reproductive health secrets, and the epic traffic disaster that turned their welcome dinner into a midnight taco run. But this episode isn't just about the adventure—it's about why Laura is saying goodbye to this trip. The overtourism during Day of the Dead has reached a tipping point, conflicting with her core mission to take travelers off the beaten path and support destinations that genuinely need tourism. It's a conversation about responsible travel, cultural immersion, and knowing when to let go.

Remember that I Love Lucy episode where Lucy stomps grapes and everything descends into beautiful chaos? That was essentially our Georgia trip—except our version included shotgunning wine from roof tiles, topless sulfur bath bonding within hours of meeting, and consuming absurd quantities of khachapuri. In this episode, Laura reunites with travelers Mea, Melissa, and Erik to share the real stories behind their Georgia adventure. This isn't just another travel highlight reel. You'll hear about the wine harvest day that spiraled gloriously out of control, abandoned Soviet spa complexes begging to be explored, unforgettable carpool karaoke sessions, and why this group formed the deepest bond Laura has experienced across nearly 30 trips. Georgia remains a mystery to most Americans, but with 8,000 years of winemaking history and hospitality that feels like aggressive kindness, it's a destination that transforms everyone who visits.

What happens when you lead 14 women to one of the world's most challenging destinations without ever having visited it yourself? Dawn Mullarney—known as the Unique Connector—did exactly that when she brought a group to Cuba this past January, and she's doing it again next month. After spending over two decades in corporate leadership and nearly burning out (doctors suspected a stroke at 35), Dawn now works as a business strategist helping leaders who've built successful businesses but feel like they're drowning. She chose Cuba not for personal bucket-list reasons but for its transformative nature—the discomfort that forces growth, the community connection, the opportunities to give back. In this episode, Dawn and Laura discuss the reality of group travel leadership, why perfectionism is the enemy of transformation, and why busy entrepreneurs desperately need to prioritize travel even when—especially when—they insist they don't have time.

Kerry Breckle got divorced in her early 60s and decided to fall in love with life again. Before this transformation, Kerry was afraid of flying, uncomfortable being away from home for long, and spent her days reading books to pass the time instead of living her own adventures. She describes that version of herself as "just existing"—a feeling many of us recognize when we're unhappy. The Kerry you'll meet in this episode is radically different. She's the woman who jumped into a hot air balloon over ancient pyramids in Mexico and got her first tattoo at 63 in a foreign country. In this powerful conversation, Kerry and Laura discuss the messy reality of starting over: the fear, the doubt, navigating divorce while booking plane tickets to unfamiliar destinations with strangers. Kerry's core message is both simple and revolutionary: You have a choice. Are you going to be bitter or better?

When Laura started planning her Kenya group trip, she wanted it to mean more than just adventure. She wanted to leave something meaningful behind. That's when she encountered period poverty—and felt embarrassed she'd never considered it before. Globally, 500 million women and girls lack access to safe, reliable period products. Girls miss school every single month. Their futures shrink because of something as fundamental as menstruation. Abby Hay, founder of Nora Period Care and Soul Purpose Foundation, has made eliminating period poverty her mission. Just back from Malawi where Nora's products are ethically manufactured, Abby shares how responsible production transforms entire communities while getting safe period care into the hands of women who desperately need it. Laura's partnering with Nora to provide reusable period kits to 260 Kenyan girls—each kit lasts 10 years and costs just $10. That's a decade of period care for the price of lunch.

What happens when you put two Hollywood stunt doubles on a group trip to Morocco? They push your 4x4 out of the mud during a historic Sahara Desert flood, coordinate everyone like it's a stunt scene, and completely change how you think about fear. Meredith and Dorenda are two of Laura's favorite travel companions and some of the most badass women she knows. They literally get set on fire, thrown off buildings, and punched in the face for a living—yet when it comes to travel, they're among the calmest, most grounded people you'll encounter. Here's what's fascinating: people who do incredibly dangerous things professionally often have a completely different relationship with fear than the rest of us. They've spent entire careers assessing real risk versus perceived risk, and that skill translates beautifully to travel. Hear about ATVs in the Sahara, pregnant bellies on set, sandstorms, flash floods, and why Meredith would rather get set on fire than deal with airline customer service.

What if saving for travel didn't require deprivation? Rachel Covert proved it's possible when she retired at 36 with over half a million dollars saved. But here's the plot twist: she found full retirement boring and pivoted to helping other women build wealth without giving up the things they love.

In this episode, Rachel and I tackle the paradox of high-income earners who still feel like they can't afford to travel. We discuss practical strategies like sinking funds, automated savings systems, and the surprising impact of small convenience spending habits. Rachel also breaks down credit card points strategy and explains why group travel can actually stretch your budget further.

If you're tired of feeling stuck between living your life now and saving for future adventures, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on building wealth while still experiencing the world.

Why does travel crack us open in ways that everyday life simply doesn't? Krista Parks, IFS practitioner and Reiki master, helps answer this question and so many more in our latest conversation.

As Camp Lola Whiskey's beloved "hippie-dippie camp counselor," Krista has guided countless travelers through everything from relationship struggles to pre-trip anxiety. In this episode, we explore the difference between intuition calling you to a destination and fear trying to keep you safe at home. We discuss astrocartography and letting the stars guide your travels, share stories about food poisoning in Morocco, and examine why your body often screams at you long before you finally listen.

If you've ever made a major life decision while traveling or felt more authentically yourself on the road than in your daily routine, this conversation will validate everything you've been feeling about the transformative power of travel.

Ever wondered what it's really like to travel with complete strangers? In this episode of Type 2 Travel, Laura reunites with three women from her recent Morocco group trip to share the unfiltered truth about traveling together for 10 days.

Carrie, Teresa, and Danielle came to Morocco not knowing each other at all. Ten days later, they were inseparable. From monkey encounters in cedar forests to hammam bonding experiences, from navigating 108-degree desert heat to getting pulled over by Moroccan police, these four women experienced it all together.

This conversation is packed with honest stories about what group travel really looks like—the good, the chaotic, and the moments that create lifelong friendships. If you've ever considered joining a group trip but felt nervous about traveling with strangers, this episode will either convince you to book immediately or at least make you laugh until you cry. Probably both.

What happens when you combine trail running with travel storytelling? You get Joe Baur—a writer who's discovered that the best way to understand a destination is often to run through it.

In this episode of Type 2 Travel, Laura sits down with the Cleveland-born, Berlin-based travel writer and host of Without a Path podcast. Joe's work has appeared in BBC Travel and National Geographic, but what sets him apart is how he uses running as a lens for cultural exploration.

From dressing up as ninjas on Japanese trails to pushing through pneumonia during an 8-day stage race in Nepal, Joe shares stories that can only come from moving through destinations on foot. They discuss the Japanese concept of ikigai, why country counting misses the point of travel, and which "off-limits" destinations are actually worth exploring. If you've ever wondered how to combine your passion with authentic travel, this conversation is for you.

Ever stare at a "book now" button and freeze? You're not alone. The same limiting beliefs that keep us from traveling are the ones that keep us stuck in every area of life.

In this episode of Type 2 Travel, Laura sits down with her mindset coach, Bonnie Surie, to explore the psychological barriers that stop us from doing what we actually want to do. Two years ago, what Laura thought would be a quick networking call turned into a two-hour session where Bonnie identified patterns nobody had ever recognized before.

They discuss why we need permission to live our lives, the elaborate stories we create to avoid risk, the difference between dreamers and doers, and what manifestation really means (hint: it's not just vision boards). Whether you're hesitating on booking a trip or making any big life decision, this conversation about discomfort, worthiness, and transformation will meet you exactly where you are.

What happens when a self-described "nice girl from Wisconsin" who dreamed about travel while reading encyclopedias finally starts saying yes to the world? You get Mel Ripp's transformation story.

In this episode of Type 2 Travel, Laura sits down with Mel to discuss how group travel completely changed her life. From her first Morocco trip in fall 2023 to now prioritizing adventures over home renovations, Mel's journey shows what's possible when you step outside your comfort zone.

They dive into the magic of traveling with strangers who become friends, embracing vulnerability in unexpected places (yes, including Moroccan highways), and how the confidence you gain abroad ripples into every part of your life back home. If you've ever wondered whether group travel is worth it or if you're too old to completely reinvent yourself, Mel's story will inspire you to book that trip you've been dreaming about.

What does divorce have to do with travel? Everything, when you're talking about reinvention, healing, and rediscovering who you are.

In this episode of Type 2 Travel, Laura sits down with Julie Danielson, founder of the Get Over Divorce Collective, for a full-circle conversation about transformation. Julie went through her own divorce at 37 with two young kids and now helps women navigate one of life's most difficult transitions.

They explore how travel becomes a catalyst for healing after major life changes, why your comfort zone will actually shrink if you don't intentionally stretch it, and the important difference between running away from your problems and traveling toward yourself. Julie shares honest insights about rediscovering your identity when everything falls apart and why sometimes the scariest decisions lead to the most transformative chapters. This conversation isn't just about divorce—it's about having the courage to rebuild your life on your own terms.

What does it take to leave everything you know and start over in a new country at 38? For Andrés Asevis, it's the culmination of years of dreaming, waiting, and holding onto hope.

In this episode of Type 2 Travel, Laura sits down with one of Cuba's most beloved tour guides—a published author, painter, singer, and someone who has become like family to her travelers. Andrés shares the unfiltered reality of Cuban daily life beyond what tourists see, what it's like to guide people through your home country while dreaming of your own adventure, and how he's finally gotten his Spanish citizenship after years of waiting.

This conversation is about resilience, creativity, and the courage it takes to chase dreams across an ocean. Whether you've been to Cuba or are curious about what life is really like there, Andrés offers insights you won't find in guidebooks.

What does it actually take to make a living as a travel journalist in 2025? Steph Dyson has spent the past decade figuring it out.

In this episode of Type 2 Travel, Laura sits down with the travel writer and journalist behind Worldly Adventurer, a website that gets over a million visitors a year focusing on sustainable Latin American adventures. Having lived in Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia, Steph has built her career around deep, immersive travel rather than passport stamp collecting.

Fresh from a fam trip to the Brazilian Pantanal together, they discuss the reality of travel journalism today—from AI disruption to the overtourism dilemma. They share stories of jaguar sightings, cowboy culture, and getting demolished by mosquitoes, plus practical insights about balancing authentic storytelling with sustainable tourism. If you've ever wondered what it takes to turn travel into a career, this conversation offers the unfiltered truth.

What does it take to build your own adventure when your life is defined by someone else's career? Kim Kephart has spent years figuring it out.

In this episode of Type 2 Travel, Laura sits down with the solo travel writer, hiker, and military spouse who's become the poster child for writing your own story. After years of moving across Europe and Asia with her husband's military postings, Kim discovered how to carve out independence through solo travel and hiking.

They discuss moving from following someone else's timeline to creating your own path, why adventure doesn't have an expiration date, and how Kim helps women build confidence through travel—especially those who think they've missed their chance. Kim shares her hard-won wisdom about the invisible permission we seek, maintaining your identity through constant moves, and why the grass isn't always greener, even when you're living in Europe.

What happens when you combine Wisconsin hospitality, craft cocktails, adult games, and Mother Nature's wildest mood swings? You get Camp Lola Whiskey—and it's exactly as chaotic and magical as it sounds.

In this episode of Type 2 Travel, Laura sits down with three brave souls who survived the inaugural Camp Lola Whiskey in the Wisconsin Dells. Troy, Rachel, and Megan share stories of epic storms, spontaneous old fashioned tattoos, Chef Hannan's mind-blowing food, and the cow hunting game that nearly divided the camp.

They discuss what it's like when 30 strangers become family in 72 hours, the pickle fountain malfunction that became legend, and how a single tarot card survived a borderline tornado to become the perfect camp memento. If you've ever wondered whether adult summer camp is worth it or what really goes down when you gather adventurous people in the woods with craft cocktails, this episode gives you the unfiltered truth.

Travel insurance sounds boring until you're stuck in a Thai hospital with dengue fever or your entire European itinerary gets derailed by an air traffic control meltdown. Then it becomes the smartest investment you ever made.

In this episode of Type 2 Travel, Laura sits down with Erin Fish, co-founder of Wanderwell Travel Insurance—a certified B Corp that actually treats travelers like humans instead of claim numbers. They discuss the real stuff: when you actually need coverage, the massive difference between travel insurance and your credit card's "coverage," and why some claims involve sleeping under desert stars.

Erin shares stories from the front lines of travel mishaps and explains how Wanderwell is different from companies designed to collect premiums while finding creative ways to avoid paying claims. If you've ever wondered whether travel insurance is worth it or assumed your credit card has you covered, this conversation will change your perspective.

Casey Hanisko, a 25-year veteran of the adventure travel industry, joins Laura to talk about something keeping many travelers up at night: how do you keep exploring when the world feels uncertain? They discuss the difference between smart risk management and letting fear steal your passport, why travel matters more than ever, and how to navigate loved ones' concerns about your plans. Plus, questionable decisions that led to the best stories.

Laura's former sister-in-law Kari Chance joins her to relive their most ridiculous travel disasters—from Turkish bath confusion to airport bathroom chaos. They're talking about the mishaps that had them crying from laughter and why the best travel stories come from things going hilariously wrong. If you've ever turned a simple trip into a comedy of errors, this episode is for you.