Places & Travel Episodes

What do you do when the “perfect life” you built suddenly falls apart? In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with transformational speaker and Journey to Purpose founder Anna Quigley to talk about what happens when life implodes — and how travel can become the doorway to clarity. When Anna’s carefully constructed life unraveled in a short period of time, she made an unexpected decision. Instead of immediately job hunting or calling attorneys, she boarded a plane to I...

What would it take for you to walk away from a successful life… and start over in another country? In this episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and transformational attorney Wani Manly, whose life changed dramatically when she made a bold decision: sell everything, leave Miami, and move to Paris alone — with no plan, no French, and no safety net. After more than two decades advising Fortune 500 companies as a corporate lawyer, Wani chose rei...

What happens when you leave everything behind… without a plan? In this deeply reflective episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Chip Scholz to explore a journey that wasn’t just about moving across the country—it was about letting go of control, navigating uncertainty, and discovering what truly matters. With two adults, two kids, two dogs, and five cats packed into a 19-foot travel trailer, Chip and his family set out from Los Angeles to North Carolina with no jobs ...

What does it mean to truly witness the world? In this episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with veteran broadcast journalist Barry Maughan, whose life and career were shaped by decades of reporting across the African continent. Barry shares the extraordinary story of traveling the length of Africa with his wife in a Volkswagen Kombi bus, journeying from Egypt to South Africa and visiting fifteen countries along the way — an adventure that would forever shape his understanding of the...

Are you traveling to find yourself… or to escape yourself? In this thought-provoking episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with clinical psychologist Bryan Gastelle to explore the deeper psychology behind why we travel—and what we’re really searching for when we do. Because let’s be honest… Sometimes travel isn’t just about adventure. It’s about stress, burnout, overwhelm… and the desire to feel different. But here’s the truth: ✨ Wherever you go… you bring yourself wi...

What does it mean to walk through history… not as a tourist, but as a witness? In this deeply moving episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with author and historian Briana Gervat to explore her extraordinary 500-mile journey along the Western Front. In 2022, as the world began to emerge from the isolation of the pandemic, Briana set out alone—on foot—from the border of France and Switzerland to the North Sea in Belgium. Over 36 days, she crossed the mountains of the Vosg...

What happens when travel becomes more than a vacation? In this inspiring episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Eleanor A., founder of Elevate Your Escapes, to talk about meaningful travel, cultural connection, emotional transformation, and what exploring more than 70 countries has taught her about life. This conversation goes beyond travel tips and bucket lists. It’s about: ✨ Traveling with intention ✨ Finding beauty in slower experiences ✨ The emotio...

What happens when the life you built with someone you love suddenly changes forever? In this deeply moving episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Derrik Dyka, author of Good Grief Travel, to discuss grief, healing, loneliness, reinvention, and the unexpected ways travel helped him rebuild life after losing his wife of 24 years. Through journeys across Thailand, China, and beyond, Derrik discovered that healing often happens in the quietest moments—through conversations ...

At 72 years old, Rand Timmerman set out to hike the entire 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail with his younger brother, Ron. But they weren't simply climbing mountains. Both brothers were Vietnam combat veterans carrying experiences from the war that had followed them for decades. Rand was also walking a path of recovery from alcoholism, while Ron was grieving the loss of his wife. What began as an extraordinary physical challenge became something much deeper—a journey through grief, addiction r...