Stories Episodes

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

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...

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 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 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 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 happens when your life changes in an instant? In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with trauma and traumatic brain injury survivor Nicholas Ruchlewicz to talk about the motorcycle accident that changed everything—and the unexpected path that followed. Nicholas shares what it was like to go from living a normal life to navigating the physical, emotional, and mental challenges of a traumatic brain injury. From identity loss and mental health struggles to finding ...

What if your life didn’t begin here… and doesn’t end here either? In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Donna Hartley—international speaker, past-life reader, and survivor who has crossed over six times and returned with a completely different understanding of life, purpose, and the soul. Donna’s experiences challenge everything we think we know about life and death. After facing multiple near-death experiences, she began to un...

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...

You don’t always recognize abuse when you’re in it. In this deeply emotional and eye-opening episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Mia Hanks, author of the award-winning memoir Bride-Made, to talk about her 29-year marriage to a covert narcissist—and the long, painful journey to understanding what she had been living through. Narcissistic abuse doesn’t always look the way we expect. It can be quiet. Subtle. Confusing. It can make you question your reality, your wort...

Why do toxic relationships feel so hard to leave? Why is sexuality still so difficult to talk about honestly? And why do humans continue repeating emotional patterns they know are hurting them? In this deep, unfiltered conversation, Shannon and Ann sit down with transformational coach and author Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards to discuss toxic relationships, emotional addiction, sexuality, shame, vulnerability, healing, and the psychology behind human connection. Inspired by his book The Ve...

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...