Places & Travel Episodes

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...

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that this episode contains discussions of sexual abuse and molestation.Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know need support, please refer to the resources listed in the show notes. On this week's episode, I will discuss cruising 101, offer a travel tip and share some more about myself. At 15:39 is when the trauma topic starts so feel free to stop at this point if it is uncomfortable to you. Website: https://rainn.org/resour...

In this episode of Travel Time Stories, I'm sharing our spooky-silly Halloween cruise aboard the Carnival Dream! It was my second time on this ship and the first time celebrating Halloween at sea—with costumes, casinos, and cruise director craziness! I also discuss my childhood move to Tennessee. ✨ Travel Tip: How to make your cruise more fun by joining theme nights and onboard events. 🎃 Special memories with my best friend Ann 📍 Ports: Costa Maya, Beliz...

Join me as I relive one of the most breathtaking trips of my life—an 8-day Alaskan cruise on the Celebrity Solstice. We were celebrating our anniversary, and the journey delivered everything from glaciers to wildlife. I also discuss life in a small southern town. ✨ Travel Tip: What to pack for Alaska (and what I wish I had packed!) 🚢 Ship: Celebrity Solstice 📍 Ports: Ketchikan, Skagway, Victoria BC, Dawes Glacier If Alaska’s on your bucket li...

On this week’s episode I talk about my experiences with spirits, demons, premonitions and gift's from God, offer a travel tip, and discuss my cruise on Carnival’s first mega ship Mardi Gras!

Get ready for a tropical escape — and an unexpected ending. In this episode of Travel Time Stories, I’m taking you aboard my Southern Caribbean cruise as we explore the ABC Islands: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. From jeep rides through salt flats, to blue cocktails under palm trees, and island hospitality that warms the soul — this was the perfect getaway… until things took a surprise turn. ✨ What’s inside this episode: Island highlights from Aruba, Bonaire & Cur...

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...

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'...

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...

In this episode of Travel Time Stories, hosts Shannon and Ann explore the concept of luxury travel intertwined with philanthropy through a conversation with Christopher Hill of Hands Up Holidays. Christopher shares his transformative journey from investment banking to creating travel experiences that allow guests to engage in meaningful volunteer work while enjoying high-end travel. The discussion covers the mutual benefits of philanthropy volunteering, the importance of fami...

On this episode of Travel Time Stories Shannon and her co-host Ann dive into their recent 14 day cruise on the Carnival Dream and tell all....giving honest reviews of each port, the pros and cons of the ship and sharing some of the shocking things they saw and experienced. This is Part 1...there was so much to discuss it had to be divided into two parts so make sure you tune in to both episodes so you don't miss anything. This part covers Embarkation Day; Port Review...

On this episode of Travel Time Stories Shannon and her co-host Ann dive into their recent 14 day cruise on the Carnival Dream and tell all....giving honest reviews of each port, the pros and cons of the ship and sharing some of the shocking things they saw and experienced. This is Part 2...there was so much to discuss it had to be divided into two parts so make sure you tune in to both episodes so you don't miss anything. This part covers Life Onboard, Shocking or Unexpec...

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...

What really happens when you travel during a government shutdown? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I’m joined by my best friend and co-host Ann as we share our real-life experiences flying during a government shutdown — long TSA lines, delayed flights, packed airports, unexpected kindness, and moments that tested our patience (and humanity). We don’t just talk about the chaos — we talk about the people behind the scenes. The TSA agents, gate attendants, jani...

Welcome back to Travel Time Stories with Shannon! Today, Shannon and Ann sit down with Kimberly Haley-Coleman, founder of @GlobeAware a nonprofit dedicated to culturally respectful, community-driven volunteer travel programs around the world. 💬 In this episode: — How Globe Aware began — The difference between ethical volunteer travel vs. “voluntourism” — Powerful stories from families, communities, and volunteers — What travelers can expect on their first Globe Aware trip — How...

What happens when you follow curiosity — on the road and on the page? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Shannon and Ann sit down with author Teri M. Brown to talk about adventure, storytelling, and the courage it takes to dream big — even when the road is long. Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat and now calling the North Carolina coast home, Teri has lived a life shaped by movement and curiosity. In 2020, she and her husband rode a tandem bicycle across the Unit...

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 happens when you travel to more than 120 countries together… and stay married? In this episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with John and Ann Cinnamon — a couple who have traveled to all seven continents, all 50 U.S. states, and more than 120 countries around the world. Their documentary, Journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway, aired on PBS stations nationwide, and their newest book, Travel Is No Vacation: A Love Story, shares the honest, unfiltered reality of what life on the r...

Midlife has a way of asking hard questions. Who are you when the roles you built your life around begin to shift? Who are you after divorce? What happens when “home” no longer feels like home? In this episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with Tracy Smith, author of The Purpose of Getting Lost, to talk about rebuilding identity after divorce and navigating a midlife reset with honesty and courage. After her life changed in ways she never expected, Tracy began traveling solo ...

What happens when your cruise almost doesn’t happen? In this episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with their sister and best friend Kristen to break down her recent Virgin Voyages sailing — starting with the travel chaos that nearly kept her from ever boarding the ship. From stressful flight delays on the way to Miami… to the first impression stepping onboard… to the now-famous balcony hammock — we’re diving into: 🚢 Boarding Day experience 🛏️ Cabin layout...