Wander Lounge

Sandy Dorsey: Dismantling Cultural Stigmas

Uncover the complexities of conducting therapy across diverse cultural landscapes. This episode showcases Sandy Dorsey, a speech-language pathologist, global advocate, and the founder of Smiles for Speech. Sandy discusses her journey creating Smiles for Speech, an initiative aimed at providing speech and occupational therapy to children in underserved communities across Africa and the Caribbean. The episode delves into the importance of speech therapy, cultural responsiveness, and Sandy’s innovative approaches to overcoming language barriers and cultural stigmas associated with disabilities. Sandy also highlights her plans for future volunteer trips and how individuals can get involved with Smiles for Speech.
Connect With Sandy Dorsey:
@smilesforspeech
https://www.smilesforspeech.org/
Connect With Ariel Travis:
@wander_lounge
https://www.ariel-travis.com/

Anjali Mehta: Tackling Gender-Based Violence One Peak at a Time

This episode features Anjali Mehta an artist, athlete, TED Talk speaker, and a human rights lawyer turned co-founder of the nonprofit 'What is the Power of We?'. Anjali shares her life's quest for making the world a better place, which has taken her from practicing law internationally and working on asylum cases, to embarking on mountaineering expeditions across continents to combat gender-based violence. This discussion delves into the transformative power of travel, community, purpose-driven choices and emphasizes the importance of storytelling, women's rights and community support.
Connect with Anjali Mehta:
@theanjlife
@whatisthepowerofwe
Connect with Ariel Travis:
@wander_lounge
https://www.ariel-travis.com/

Dr. Shweta Hegde: A Doctor’s Odyssey

This episode provides insights into Dr. Shweta Hegde's remarkable journey from India to a prestigious children's hospital in the US, interweaving her experiences in travel and medicine. Through her adventures, passion for minimalistic living, and solo explorations in Kyrgyzstan, Shweta reflects on the empowerment gained from cultural diversity, nature, and life-changing travel. This conversation highlights Shweta's dedication to pursuing a medical career, showcasing a narrative of resilience, self-discovery, and embracing life's diverse opportunities.
* Connect with Dr. Shweta Hegde:
* @shweta_hegde_
* Connect with Ariel Travis:
* @wander_lounge
* https://www.ariel-travis.com/

Vanessa Karel: The Birth and Rise of Greether

In this episode, Vanessa Karel, the founder and CEO of travel startup Greether, discusses how she created her company to promote safe and authentic travel experiences for women around the world. While stranded in Morocco during the pandemic, she noticed a gap in the market and started Greether, a service that connects female travelers with verified local women for a more secure and personalized travel experience. Vanessa talks about Greether being recognized for gender empowerment and sustainable tourism, as well as the opportunities her platform offers to not only travelers, but also women living in tourist destinations who wish to become Greeters.
Use code ARIEL10 - to get $10 USD off on all first bookings w/ Greether
Vanessa Karel:
@greet.her
https://www.greether.com/
Ariel Travis:
@wander_lounge
https://www.ariel-travis.com/

Steph Stock: Navigating Identity While Traveling

In this episode Steph Stock, shares her journey from feeling reluctant about her Fulbright assignment in Goiânia, Brazil, which turned out to be a pivotal year in her life, to becoming a trauma-informed yoga instructor, fitness model, and content creator in LA. Steph also discusses the inception of her podcast 'Mixed With What,' addressing multiracial complexities in America, and shares insights on embracing mixed identity, navigating diverse cultures, and finding wellness through physical movement. Her travel experiences, including a formative trip to Brazil and time spent living in Australia, illustrate the profound personal growth and understanding attainable through travel.
Steph Stock:
@stephxstock
@mixedwithwhatpodcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mixed-with-what/id1691660768
Ariel Travis:
@wander_lounge
https://www.ariel-travis.com/

Jess Wolf: Journeys of Language Learning and Cultural Immersion

In this episode of Wander Lounge, the podcast that celebrates women in travel, the guest is speech language pathologist Jessica Wolf. A trilingual Atlanta native, Jess has lived in various countries including Brazil and Argentina. She talks about her diverse living experiences, including group living in Buenos Aires. Jess also emphasizes the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the occasional tough times that come with travel. This conversation emphasizes the joy of meeting new people, the rewards of being open to experiences, and the reality of ups and downs during travel. Filled with light-hearted banter, this conversation reminds us that friendship often transcends borders and time zones.
Ariel Travis:
@wander_lounge
https://www.ariel-travis.com/

Hanna Fidler : Creating Human Connection Through Dance, Yoga & Travel

This episode features Hanna Fidler, a dance and yoga teacher, who is also pursuing a master's degree in marriage and family therapy. From her experiences beginning with her first overseas trip to Mexico at 17, she shares how travel has shaped her on a deep personal level, especially the connections forged with different cultures and people. Hanna shares her belief on how travel is not just about visiting numerous places but about immersing in regions that resonate personally. She talks about her retreats, how they provide a safety net for beginner travelers and how the focus shifts based on the retreat's destination. They are often centered around yoga, self-healing, and experiencing the local culture.
Hanna Fidler:
@hannayogadance
@the_warrior_two
Ariel Travis:
@wander_lounge
www.ariel-travis.com

Jess Tamayo: A Multilingual CEO With A Passion For Travel

This episode of Wander Lounge features an inspiring conversation with Jessica Tamayo, a seasoned traveler and CEO. Jess shares her journey from being born in Brazil and raised in Colombia, to becoming a global citizen and entrepreneur. She discusses the importance of getting lost to find new experiences, the lessons learned from solo and group travels, and how her military family background influenced her travel preparedness. Jess also delves into her personal growth through travel, highlighting the importance of reflection, understanding one's place in the world, and the impact of travel on broadening perspectives. Additionally she talks about starting her company which focuses on connecting residents to critical resources and information, showcasing her commitment to making a meaningful impact.

Arielle DeHaw: Empowering Solo Travel Through the Carry On Coach

Episode 3 features a conversation with Arielle DeHaw, the creator of the Carry On Coach, a travel brand designed to support and inspire women in their travel journeys. This discussion covers Arielle's personal journey of quitting her corporate job to forge a path focused on her passion for travel and personal development. She shares experiences from her travels in countries like Colombia and Vietnam, highlighting the value of communicating with locals and the power of sustainable travel. This episode also covers her six-week coaching program, 'Six Weeks to Sayonara', designed to help women prepare for their solo travel experiences and tackle barriers around safety, confidence, and sustainable travel.
*The Carry On Coach is now called the Solo Travel School
Arielle DeHaw:
@solo.travel.school
https://solotravelschool.my.canva.site/
Ariel Travis:
@wander_lounge
https://www.ariel-travis.com/

Courtney: 8 Months Solo Traveling Through South America

This episode features an enriching conversation with Courtney Puckett, an adventurous woman who recounts her unique experiences traveling through South America for eight months on a rigorous budget of just $6,500. After exploring a variety of career paths, Puckett found her passion for nature and travel. With a degree in marketing, she shared how she was able to volunteer and work in diverse roles during her travel stint to sustain herself. This discussion covers her journey, the importance of trusting one's instincts when traveling, managing language barriers, a passion for yoga, and her empowering approach to volunteering to offset costs. Importantly, she debunks the common misconception about traveling, asserting that one does not need a lot of money to explore and enjoy the world.