Bucket List Retreats - The Podcast

You've built a beautiful life... but have you been putting yourself last? You don't have to be burned out, overwhelmed, or at a breaking point to benefit from a retreat. In this episode of Bucket List Retreats – The Podcast , Kelly explores five subtle signs that it may be time to step away—not to escape your life, but to reconnect with it. If you've been saying, "After this project..." or "After...

🇺🇸 Happy Birthday, USA! 🇺🇸 This Fourth of July, we're asking a different kind of question... What does freedom really mean to you? Is it a passport full of stamps? A career you love? Time with family? The courage to start over? Or maybe it's finally giving yourself permission to slow down. In this special Independence Day episode of Bucket List Retreats – The Podcast , Kelly shares personal storie...

Have you ever returned from a retreat and thought, "Why did that feel so different from a vacation?" In this episode of Bucket List Retreats, we're exploring one of the most overlooked reasons retreats can feel so powerful: the opportunity to stop making decisions. Many of us spend our days managing careers, families, finances, relationships, schedules, and endless responsibilities. The mental loa...

What happens when you realize you don't need a vacation—you need space? In this episode of Bucket List Retreats, Karen Talavera shares her experience taking a solo retreat to Cancun and the surprising lessons she learned about solitude, self-discovery, and the blissful retreat experience many people are searching for. We explore the difference between a vacation and a retreat, why intentional time...

She packed her bag, booked her flight, and went — alone. No agenda. No itinerary. No one to answer to. And what happened next? She came back more herself than she'd been in years. Welcome back to Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast! I'm your host Kelly Morgan Merly, and today I am SO excited to welcome back the one and only Karen Talavera — The Accidental Seeker — for a conversation that honestly ha...

Unlocking the Muse: The Rise of the Creative Intensive Published May 29 •S1 E1035 Are you ready to stop dreaming and start doing? This is the bucket list podcast and travel podcast hosted by Kelly Morgan Merly — your go-to retreat podcast for women who travel with purpose. Exploring it all in Retreat News & Reviews! This is not just a retreat podcast. This is your permission slip. Join Kelly i...

Off-grid bookings are up 25% — and your clients are leading the charge. We unpack exactly why the demand for rugged, tech-free, elemental retreat experiences is skyrocketing in 2026, and more importantly, how to deliver them safely and beautifully . Join Kelly on the next Dominican Republic Experience  -  ⁠Find Your Inner Happy Again Womens Retreat ⁠ — this is the episode that protects your guests...

Women make up two-thirds of wellness travelers globally — and the industry is finally catching up. In this episode of Bucket List Retreats-ThePodcast , host Kelly Morgan-Merly explores the rise of life-stage specific wellness travel, from fertility retreats to menopause immersions. We take a look inside Canyon Ranch's groundbreaking $500M Austin development and its Women's Wellness Collective, rev...

In Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast, Kelly Morgan Merly explores the rise of star bathing, cosmic wellness, astro-tourism, and the growing movement toward stargazing retreats built around awe, darkness, stillness, and the healing power of looking up. From burnout to the emotional science of awe, we dive into why more travelers, retreat leaders, and wellness spaces are creating wellness retreat ex...

Most retreats are beautiful… but that’s not what makes them unforgettable. In this episode of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast , we’re diving into what truly creates a retreat experience that stays with someone long after they’ve returned home. Because while stunning locations and curated itineraries set the scene…it’s the feeling, the intention, and the space you hold that create real transforma...

Pack your sheet masks — we're Seoul searching! 🇰🇷✨ This week, Kelly Morgan Merly takes you inside the world's skincare capital for the ultimate 2026 travel trend: the Glow-cation. Escapes that pairs glass-skin treatments with ancient mountain temple stays. From influencer-led beauty retreats to FREE government-funded skin analysis at Beauty Play — yes, FREE — we've got options for every budget. "...

What if the most powerful thing you could do… is nothing? In this episode of Bucket List Retreats-The Podcast , we’re flipping the script on productivity, travel, and even personal growth. Because the real luxury in 2026 isn’t doing more—it’s knowing when to step back . If you’ve ever come back from a vacation needing another vacation… this episode is for you. This is about building the “architect...

Ever hesitated right before booking a trip or retreat—even when you really wanted to go? In this episode of Bucket List Retreats – The Podcast , Kelly Morgan-Merly explores the psychology of hesitation, why fear shows up before big decisions, and how saying yes can lead to powerful personal transformation. Through real retreat stories, including a life-changing trip to Bali and solo travel experie...

If you’re still thinking about that experience… there’s a reason. Some experiences stay with us long after they’re over. Not because of where we went or what we did—but because of how we felt while we were there. In this episode of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast , we explore why certain retreat experiences linger… and why they might not be memories at all—but messages. Because sometimes, it’s n...

We all say it in different ways: “That’s not for me.” But when it comes to retreats… is that really true? In this episode, we explore the fears, assumptions, and modern trends shaping how we travel — and why curiosity might be the key to discovering experiences you never thought you’d say yes to. Links we Promised: Join Kelly on the next Dominican Republic Experience  - https://bucketlistretreats....

Azaya Vega , co-owner of a Zaria Eco retreat in Samaná, Dominican Republic, joins Kelly Morgan Merly for a conversation that goes far beyond travel. Beginning with a grounding dedication and move into the story of how she and her husband shifted from a life that looked “complete” on paper to one rooted in adventure, connection, and deeper purpose. We talk about what it really takes to choose a dif...

Retreat Time Effect Why does time seem to slow down on retreat? Days feel fuller. Conversations go deeper. And somehow a single week can feel like a month of meaningful memories. In this episode of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast , Kelly Morgan Merly explores what she calls The Retreat Time Effect — the surprising shift in how we experience time when we step away from everyday routines. In this...

In uncertain times, leadership matters more than ever. In this episode of Bucket List Retreats – The Podcast , we explore what being guided actually gives you and why a well-led retreat experience feels so different from ordinary travel. When someone is thinking ahead, setting the structure, and guiding the tone of the experience, you’re free to relax, connect, and experience the journey more deep...

Not all locations land the same. Some places work on you quietly. Others crack something open. In this episode of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast , we explore why environment is everything — and why destination is more than just a pretty backdrop. From luxury villas to boutique hotels to retreat centers and Airbnbs, location is a pillar of retreat design, not an afterthought. If you’ve ever left...

In this Valentine’s Day episode of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast , we explore the emotional journey from the awkward first night of a retreat to the powerful connection of the last night. Why do so many people question if they belong when they first arrive? What shifts between uncertainty and deep connection? And why does that uncomfortable beginning often lead to the most meaningful transform...

There’s something about retreats that makes friendships form faster — and feel deeper — than they do in everyday life. You arrive as strangers and leave feeling genuinely connected. But why does that happen? In this episode of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast , we explore the magic behind retreat friendships. From shared intention and uninterrupted time to vulnerability, presence, and meaningful...

Why do retreats feel so good — almost magical — even before anything “big” happens? In this episode of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast , we explore one of the most overlooked reasons retreats are so powerful: you don’t have to decide a damn thing . From meals to schedules to what’s coming next, retreats remove the constant decision-making we carry every day — often without realizing it. And when...

In this episode of Bucket List Retreats – The Podcast , Kelly Morgan Merly sits down with longtime friend Karen Talavera, known as The Accidental Seeker , for a real, honest conversation about psychedelics. Together, they explore curiosity, consciousness, personal growth, and the seeking that often shows up on transformative journeys. This discussion touches on psychedelics in a thoughtful, ground...

Inside Egypt with Mohamed Hossny Egypt has a way of staying with you. In this episode, I sit down with Mohamed Hossny , Egyptian guide and friend, for a relaxed, heartfelt conversation about Egypt as it’s experienced from the inside. Not just the famous sites, but the quieter moments, the feelings travelers often struggle to put into words, and what it means to share your home with people who feel...

Do you wait until you’re completely burned out before going on retreat? Many people think they have to hit rock bottom before they can justify taking time for themselves — but that’s not true! In this episode of Bucket List Retreats – The Podcast , I explore why retreat can be preventative, not reactive, and how choosing it early can help you feel clearer, lighter, and more inspired. We cover: Ret...