Each episode of Travel Time Stories invites you into meaningful conversations

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...

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...

Why do so many relationships fail—even when both people care? In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with internationally known relationship expert Anil Gupta (The Love Doctor) to uncover what’s really behind relationship struggles, emotional blocks, and the search for happiness. Anil’s journey is as powerful as his message. After facing one of the darkest moments of his life—contemplating suicide—he experienced a transformation that led him to help peopl...

What if your life had a soundtrack… and you could rewrite it? In this deeply personal episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with therapist and author Johnzelle Anderson to explore his powerful memoir, Mixtape: A Memoir—a story of survival, identity, and the journey from silence to voice. Told in “tracks” instead of chapters, Mixtape weaves together memories of growing up mixed race in 1990s Virginia, navigating childhood abuse, neglect, and racism, and searching for belongi...

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...

What happens when your life takes a turn you never saw coming? In this fascinating episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I sit down with Eric Robinson, a recently retired FBI Special Agent whose journey is anything but ordinary. Before spending 24 years in the FBI—working cases involving counterterrorism, crimes against children, gangs, drugs, and public corruption—Eric spent 12 years in Christian ministry, including pastoring a church. From the pulpit… to SWAT operations. From savi...

Paralyzed at 20… and yet, this is not a story about loss. It’s a story about what’s still possible. In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Ann sits down with Ken Kunken—whose life changed forever during a college football game at Cornell University. A single moment left him almost completely paralyzed from the shoulders down. But what came next… is what makes this story unforgettable. Ken went on to: ✔ Return to Cornell and complete his degree ✔ Earn mult...

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 if laughter could help save your life? In this powerful and surprisingly uplifting episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with comedian, author, and mental health advocate Dave Mowry to discuss bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, homelessness, recovery, and how stand-up comedy became a turning point in his healing journey. After losing everything to mental illness and enduring what he calls “14 lost years,” Dave discovered a comedy class designed for people living with ...

What if the problem… was never you? In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Russell Van Brocklen, known as The Dyslexia Professor, to talk about what it really means to grow up with dyslexia—and how one shift in understanding can change everything. For years, Russell believed the message so many struggling learners hear: You’re not smart enough. But that story wasn’t true. And it’s not true for the millions of children and adults navigating dyslexi...

What if your success was built on survival mode? In this deeply honest episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with trauma-informed therapist, emotional regulation coach, and self-trust expert Felicia Brown to talk about burnout, people-pleasing, nervous system survival, emotional exhaustion, and the pressure many women feel to constantly “hold it all together.” Before becoming a licensed professional counselor, Felicia spent 15 years in education while privately battling anx...