Stories 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...

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...

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 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...

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...

In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I open up about one of the most difficult journeys of my life: surviving a narcissistic relationship. I share what these toxic relationships look like, how to recognize the signs, and why setting boundaries is not only important but life-saving. You’ll also hear a deeply personal story of survival that blends the supernatural with faith, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, the light is stronger than the darkness. A...

💜 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...

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...

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 deeply emotional episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I share the final chapter of my story with David - a story of love that turned dark, of abuse that nearly cost me everything, and of the moment light broke through the shadows. What began as young love became a journey through fear, control, and survival. This is the story of how I lost myself, found my strength, and learned that even in the darkest moments, there is always a way back to the light. If you or ...

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...

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...