Personal Journals Episodes

Join your host and travel advisor Shannon from Texas. I n this very first episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I share the personal story that started it all—my adoption, my childhood filled with imagination, and the moment travel transformed from dream to reality. I also open up about becoming a travel advisor after a life-altering family event. From magic and wildlife to my love of the Ozarks, this is your backstage pass into who I am and how travel became my therapy and purpose.&nb...

In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I'm talking about my first-ever cruise aboard the Carnival Dream and the many “firsts” that came with it. I’ll share the excitement, the surprises, and a few unexpected lessons along the way. Plus, you’ll hear how the experience turned me into a lifelong cruiser and planted the seed for starting my travel business. ✨ Travel Tip: Packing smarter for your first cruise. 🚢 Ship: Carnival Dream 📍 Destinatio...

This episode is packed! I open up about the shocking truth behind my adoption story, and then take you on a wild ride through my second cruise with my best friend Ann—filled with unforgettable excursions and a dramatic dash to avoid getting stranded in Cozumel! ✨ Travel Tip: Is the drink package really worth it? 🚢 Ship: Norwegian Jewel 📍 Ports: Cozumel, Belize, Honduras From family secrets to fish pedicures and pier-runner panic, this is one story you do...

This week’s episode features one of my favorite people—Kristen Woods, my sister from another mister. We dive into everything from how we met and our unique bond, to our shared travels and deep conversations about faith, and embracing cultural diversity. ✨ Travel Tip from Kristen: What she wishes she knew before her first cruise. 🎤 Special Guest: Kristen Woods 💬 Hot Topics: TV shows, 23 & Me, spirituality, and more This is a heartfelt, real, and refre...

In this fun filled episode Shannon and Ann discuss their unforgettable 2012 girls' trip to New Orleans which is the trip that started their many travel adventures! You'll love this mix of laughter, mishaps, and travel wisdom.

Join me, Shannon, as we journey back to the late ’70s and ’80s for a nostalgic look at road trips—when paper maps, roller-skating rinks, and family adventures ruled the day. I’ll share memories of fried chicken picnics, arcade games, Meramec Caverns, and my girl’s trip with my mom. But this episode also takes a more personal turn. I open up about my early teen years in Adamsville—the friends who made me feel at home, the roller rink that became my happy place, and the 13th birt...

In this episode, I share why I started Travel Time Stories with Shannon and what makes it different. This isn’t just a travel podcast—it’s about real adventures, life lessons, and raw personal stories that connect us and remind us we’re not alone. In today’s episode, I’ll take you behind the mic to talk about: 🌍 Why I started Travel Time Stories with Shannon 💜 How travel became a huge part of my healing journey 📝 What makes this podcast different from al...

💜 Do you remember your first love? Was it sweet, silly, heartbreaking, or unforgettable? First loves leave more than memories — they shape how we see ourselves and how we love in the future. In this week’s episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I share my own story of first love, what it taught me, and how those early experiences still echo in our lives today. ✉️ Got a first love story of your own? Drop it in the comments or email me at lamkintravel@gmail.com I migh...

In this episode I will answer questions sent in by listeners...nothing is off limits. I also end the episode with discussing some important people from high school who influenced my life in a positive way and meant alot to me. 1. What is the best tip you can give regarding solo cruising? 2. Once you decide to face your fears and be truthful, create boundaries and or severe ties altogether with the toxic person in your life, how do you deal with the guilt that ...

In this raw and honest episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I share the beginning of my story with David — the man I’ve long called “the devil.” What started as charm and protection quickly became control, abuse, and the kind of toxic love that nearly destroyed me. This is the beginning of my descent into darkness, and I tell it exactly as I lived it — the good, the bad, and the ugly. But life, like travel, always has layers. Alongside the shadows, I also bring you ligh...

Pack your bags and join Shannon and Ann as they take you on a whirlwind weekend in Las Vegas! This surprise 50th birthday trip for Ann was filled with unforgettable moments - from staying at Treasure Island on the Strip, dining at Gordan Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen, and watching an incredible Prince tribute show to laughing through unexpected encounters and wild nightlife stories. They also hit the famous Cirque de Soleil Mystere show, took center stage (literally!) at Senior Frog'...

This week on Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I continue sharing the raw, unfiltered chapters of my life with David — the calm before the storm. After heartbreak and rebellion, I found myself drawn to someone older, magnetic, and dangerous. From runaway nights to secret phone calls and reckless bonfires, my world with David unfolded in ways I couldn’t have imagined. What began as protection and passion soon pulled me deeper into a life that felt both thrilling and terrif...

In this deeply personal episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I continue my story with David—the man who became both my anchor and my undoing. From pool halls and jealousy, to an unforgettable trip to Memphis, and finally a night where love, trauma, and something unexplainable collided, this chapter of my journey is where light and darkness began their battle. Alongside my personal story, I share today’s travel tip about group travel and booking strategies that can save ...

In this week’s episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I open up about something we all carry but rarely talk about — stress. Not the kind that comes and goes, but the kind that lives in your chest, quietly stealing your peace and joy. I’m sharing my personal reflections on how stress became a silent killer in my own life, the stigma that kept me from seeking therapy sooner, and how finally asking for help changed everything. If you’ve ever felt like you had to hold it al...

Today’s episode is a little different. It’s a follow-up to my four-part series The Devil I Loved, where I shared my story—raw, real, and unfiltered—about my life with David.” If you’ve listened to those episodes, you know it wasn’t easy to tell. But it was necessary. And today, I want to talk more about what has happened since, how I’ve grown, and what I’ve learned from sharing my truth.

What happens when two best friends hit the road for 6,000 miles? In this episode of Travel Time Stories, host Shannon welcomes Tori and Taryn, the hosts of Healing When Traveling Treasures podcast. They share their incredible journey of friendship that spans over 45 years and their recent 6,000-mile road trip adventure across the United States. The conversation delves into the importance of family connections, healing experiences at a camp for cancer survivors, and the jo...

What happens after the storm? In this powerful episode, I share the raw and real process of rebuilding life after an abusive relationship. From navigating the emotional wreckage to rediscovering your identity, this is about moving beyond survival and learning to truly live again. Shannon shares her deeply personal journey of healing after escaping an abusive relationship. She reflects on the challenges of reclaiming her identity, the importance of support systems, and the...

Join hosts Shannon and Ann on Travel Time Stories with Shannon as they dive into the vibrant and unpredictable world of Southeast Asia with special guest Melissa Rodway. Melissa, author of 'The People You Meet: Luxury, Leeches, Love, and Lao-Lao' and host of Fly Travel Radio, shares captivating stories from her 2010 trip through Southeast Asia and China, blending backpacking with luxury travel. Discover the challenges, unforgettable characters, and profound life lessons she enc...

This episode is personal. In this solo chapter of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I open up about the season of my life when everything quietly began to change — not because the past disappeared, but because I slowly learned that something steady could exist alongside it. I share the story of meeting my husband Jeff after leaving an abusive relationship, returning to Houston, and trying to piece myself back together while still carrying fear, self-doubt, and unhealed trauma. ...

Join Shannon and co-host Ann on this episode of Travel Time Stories as they sit down with author and Marine Corps veteran Tony Scott. Tony shares his multifaceted journey from Cleveland, Ohio, to becoming an attorney, public speaker, and writer. Discover his insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, the importance of authenticity, and code-switching.

What happens when travel stops being an escape — and becomes a mirror? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Shannon and Ann sit down with Kristen Crabtree, author and transformation guide, to talk about freedom, identity, and the inner journeys that shape our lives. From 2016 to 2020, Kristen traveled full-time across the U.S. and Canada in an RV — seeking freedom, clarity, and a deeper understanding of herself. Along the way, she discovered a truth many of us learn the ...

Travel doesn’t have to be expensive or overwhelming to be meaningful. In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Shannon and Ann sit down with Linda King — Amazon best-selling author, travel blogger, travel coach, and creator of The Smart Travelista — to talk about traveling smarter, saving money, and building confidence through travel. With a background as both a banker and a travel agent, Linda shares practical insights on how to enjoy high-quality travel experiences without ov...

What if adventure didn’t have an expiration date? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Shannon and Ann sit down with Belinda Coker — lifelong traveler, solo hiker, and creator of Soul Treader — to explore what it means to keep choosing adventure across every season of life. Belinda began traveling in the 1980s, long before smartphones, social media, or easy online bookings. As a young woman, she worked on a solar power project in the remote mountains of Ladakh, northern Ind...

What does it really mean to live in alignment with yourself? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Shannon and Ann sit down with Kristen Swan — life and spiritual guide, journal creator, and workshop facilitator — for a thoughtful conversation about self-discovery, intentional living, and the significance of the inner journey shaped by personal stories, the impact of shame, and the importance of curiosity in healing Kristen shares her transition from business coaching to ...