Society & Culture Episodes

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...

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 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 ...

What was it really like to grow up as a Gen Xer in the 1980s? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I take you back to the days of latchkey kids, Saturday morning cartoons, cassette mixtapes, and big hair held together by way too much Aqua Net. But it wasn’t all neon and fun. I also share my own journey—navigating the shock of being adopted, my teenage rebellion, first loves, and the choices that shaped me during those years. From sneaking out and testing boundar...

On this special Christmas episode of Travel Time Stories join host Shannon and co-host Ann as they discuss all things Christmas. Christmas Past vs Present Traditions they grew up with and ones they share with their kids and grandkids, Holiday food; recipes, Gifts; Games, Family gatherings; Christmas spirit, Movies, Memories; Music, Holiday Travel; Christmas Markets

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...

In this heartfelt episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, host Shannon and co-host Ann engage with Deepak Chari, an engineer and certified biofeedback specialist, to explore the intersection of science and emotional healing. They discuss how emotions manifest in the body, the concept of voice biofeedback, and the impact of generational patterns on personal development. Deepak shares insights on how unresolved childhood experiences shape adult behavior and relationships, and introduces his Life Transformation Technology program designed to clear emotional blocks and ancestral imprints. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding one's emotional landscape and the potential for healing through awareness and technology. In this enlightening conversation, Deepak Chari shares transformative stories of healing and personal growth, emphasizing the impact of emotional well-being on relationships and life satisfaction. He introduces his Life Transformation Techn…

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.

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...

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 ...

What if a single handmade bed could spark a global movement? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, we sit down with Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), the nonprofit organization on a mission to ensure that “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town.” What started in a garage with one bunk bed has grown into more than 400 chapters across 47 states and 4 countries — delivering over 350,000 beds to children in need. In this powerful and inspiring conversa...

What if the very traits you’ve questioned about yourself are actually your greatest strengths? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, we sit down with Marita Tedder — author, speaker, and personality expert — to explore The Personalities and how understanding them can transform the way we see ourselves and others. Growing up alongside her mother, renowned author Florence Littauer, Marita has spent over 50 years helping people understand the why behind their behaviors. This co...

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 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 happens when a combat medic comes home — and her body and mind begin to collapse? In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with Brandi “Bee” Doyle — nurse practitioner, combat veteran, trauma survivor, and spiritual guide — to explore the journey from PTSD and autoimmune illness to deep, integrative healing. After serving in Afghanistan, Bee returned home expecting to resume normal life. Instead, she faced the unraveling of her physical and mental health. What foll...

What if the word “disability” isn’t something to avoid… but something to understand? In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with Jenna Udenberg — author, disability advocate, accessibility educator, and founder of Above & Beyond With U. Diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis at just seven years old, Jenna has spent her life navigating physical challenges while reshaping the conversation around disability, inclusion, and what true accessibility really means. As a 2020 Bush ...

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...

Brownies… for breakfast? It sounds too good to be true—but today’s guest says it’s not only possible… it might actually be better for you. In this fun, insightful, and surprisingly practical episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Lynne Bowman—aka the Glam Grandma—author of the bestselling cookbook Brownies for Breakfast: A Cookbook for Diabetics and Those Who Love Them. After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Lynne completely rethought the way she approached f...