Design Her Travel: Tips & Inspiring Stories for Women and Solo Travelers

Love the show? Help shape what’s next—take this quick listener survey. Delta is using AI to price tickets in real time. Are you getting a deal… or getting played? Delta has started using artificial intelligence to personalize airfare pricing, and it could change how you book flights forever. But is this new tech a money-saver or just a smarter way for airlines to charge more? In this episode, host...

Ever wondered what it’s really like to travel across the U.S. by train? In this episode, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at Amtrak’s Empire Builder, one of the most scenic and underrated train routes in North America. Host Kim Anderson shares her personal experience riding the Empire Builder from Seattle to Chicago with her young son, and walks you through everything you need to know about pla...

 AI is changing how we travel—and raising big questions about who gets left behind. In this episode, host Kim Anderson sits down with Ross Borden,  the founder of Matador Network to explore how artificial intelligence is turning the travel world upside down. From simplifying trip planning to disrupting the creator economy, this conversation dives deep into the promise—and the peril—of a new era. Y...

What happens when you say yes to the unknown with just $2,000 and a surfboard? Spoiler: It might change your life and your idea of freedom, forever. In this week's Travel Talk episode, host Kim Anderson takes you along on her personal journey through New Zealand’s South Island, where she learned the true meaning of freedom, travel, and trusting herself. Armed with only $2,000, a surfboard, an...

If you’ve been eyeing van life content but are still wondering how people really do it, this one’s for you. For the last five years, Fiorella and her husband have lived full-time on the road in not one but two self-converted vehicles. They’ve road-tripped through 40+ states, explored more than 30 national parks, and turned a fire investigation truck into a fully off-grid home on wheels. Fiorella a...

Would you hop into a white van with six strangers while hitchhiking solo across Australia? If you've ever wondered what hitchhiking is really like as a solo female traveler, this episode is for you.  This week’s Travel Talk was inspired by host Kim Anderson’s recent conversation with Ana Lucas, aka The Sustainable Backpacker (Episode #190) . Ana is a solo female traveler who’s currently hitch...

Think hitchhiking across 25 countries as a woman is dangerous? Think again. Meet Ana Lucas, also known as The Sustainable Backpacker , a solo female traveler currently hitchhiking from Portugal to Australia.  That’s 25 countries, 40,000 kilometers, and an epic journey that defies the media narrative about the dangers of traveling alone as a woman.  In this episode, host Kim Anderson learns how Ana...

Tired of the crowds? Let’s talk about how to travel to hidden cities that’ll make you feel like a local. In this week’s Travel Talk episode, host Kim Anderson shares why exploring hidden cities—also known as secondary cities—might just be the travel upgrade you didn’t know you needed. Inspired by her conversation with Jake and Michelle Schomp ( Episode #188 ), Kim digs into why skipping the big-na...

Thinking about taking your kids on the road and giving them a global education? You’ll want to hear this. In this week’s episode, host Kim Anderson chats with Jake and Michelle Schomp, a nomadic family of five who’ve traveled the world for 10 years. Their three kids have experienced public school in Mexico, homeschooling, and worldschooling.  Today, the focus is on Boundless Life—a structured worl...

Planning an international trip and wondering how to get money abroad without paying extra fees or getting stuck with the worst exchange rates? You’re not alone.  In this Travel Talk episode, host Kim Anderson breaks down exactly how to handle your travel money like a pro, so you can spend more time exploring and less time stressing about ATMs, cash, and cards. From the smartest ways to get foreign...

Ever dreamed of a European summer with your kids but immediately felt overwhelmed by the planning? Traveling Europe with kids sounds dreamy, but pulling it off without stress? That’s the real adventure. In this episode, host Kim Anderson chats with Kristin Karstensdotter, co-owner of LivTours, a travel company based in Italy that’s all about meaningful, personalized experiences. Kristin’s built he...

What if your family’s education plan included camel rides in the Sahara and math lessons in the mountains of Nepal?   This episode will have you rethinking everything. In this episode of the Best Of series, host Kim Anderson sits down with Jenny Lynn, the powerhouse behind the popular Travelynn Family travel blog. Jenny, her husband Jason, and their two kids have carved out a wildly inspiring life...

What happens when deep loss fuels the dream of a lifetime? In this week's Best Of episode, host Kim Anderson shares Hudson and Emily’s unforgettable journey.  This incredible couple, high school sweethearts turned full-time travelers, set out to visit every country in the world—and they had already visited 187 countries when we first spoke! Their adventure was born from a deep, life-changing...

Planning a dark skies or aurora trip? Here’s what you actually need. In this week’s Travel Talk episode, host Kim Anderson shares five essentials for planning an unforgettable stargazing or Northern Lights trip — without overpacking or overthinking it.  Inspired by recent conversations with Outside Magazines Dark Skies columnist, Stephanie Vermillion ( Episode 172 ) and location astrologer, KJ Atl...

Ever wonder what happens when you actually design your life around your dream? In this Best Of episode, host Kim Anderson rewinds the conversation with Lucas Chesterton, founder of Indy Escapes, a travel company creating epic group adventures for solo travelers in dreamy destinations like Kenya, Uganda, Turkey, Croatia, the Maldives, and Bali. Lucas has explored over 120 countries, but his journey...

In this week's Travel Talk episode, host Kim Anderson shares a personal story sparked by a recent conversation that unlocked a powerful memory. It’s a moment from her travels that's hard to put into words—and even harder to forget. It was brief, unexpected, and unlike anything she’s experienced before... or since. This episode is all about those rare, strange, and beautiful travel moment...

You followed the rules. You checked all the boxes. So why does it still feel like you're living someone else’s dream? In this Best Of episode, host Kim Anderson revisits one of the most powerful and soul-stirring conversations from last summer with travel blogger and content creator Bea Mitiner of Bea Adventurous . Bea had it all: a high-powered corporate job, a successful marriage, and the k...

Looking for more joy in your everyday life?  In this short and inspiring episode, host Kim Anderson shares how the joy of travel begins way before you take off.  Whether you’re planning a big international adventure or a quick weekend getaway, this episode explores the emotional benefits of travel anticipation and why the lead-up to a trip might be just as magical as the trip itself. You’ll walk a...

What if the bravest thing you ever did wasn’t getting on a plane — but stepping onto a dance floor? In this episode of Design Her Travel, host Kim Anderson sits down with Jen Todling, a traveler, dancer, and memoirist who quite literally danced her way around the world and, in doing so, found her way back to herself. At 30, Jen made a bold choice: to combine intentional travel with her love of dan...

In this week's Travel Talk episode, host Kim Anderson shares the surprising items she never travels without - some might just change how you pack forever. Inspired by the lightning round question she asks every guest on Design Her Travel, Kim flips the mic and gives you a peek into her personal packing list as she preps for her next big adventure to Spain. You'll learn why these unexpect...

Think jet lag is just part of the travel game? Not anymore. In this episode, host Kim Anderson dives into the science of circadian rhythms, inflammation, and travel fatigue with human performance expert Andrew Herr—founder of FlyKitt, a revolutionary jet lag solution trusted by Olympians, pro sports teams, special ops, and now… you! Andrew shares how jet lag is not inevitable—and why it’s actually...

Not all superheroes wear capes… some pack camping gear, design itineraries, and keep it together in a rainstorm. In this week’s Travel Talk episode, host Kim Anderson shares a heartfelt tribute to the travel moms who make adventure possible, inspired by a special childhood camping trip with her mom and aunt. Following this week's conversation with Nicole Smith, the founder and CEO of Flytogra...

If you’ve ever looked back at your vacation photos and wondered where you were in them… this one's for you. In honor of Mother’s Day this week, we’re celebrating all the Moms out there as host Kim Anderson shares a heart-filled conversation with Nicole Smith, the founder and CEO of Flytographer—a global vacation photography company that’s transformed how families document their travels. With...

If you love stargazing and protecting the environment, the Dark Skies Program is your new best friend. Let’s dive in! In this week’s Travel Talk episode, host Kim Anderson shares all about the Dark Skies Program and how it’s helping to protect our night skies from light pollution. Inspired by recent conversations with Stephanie Vermillion ( Episode #172 ) and KJ Atlas ( Episode #170 ), Kim takes a...

What if your next bucket list trip revolved around the stars instead of the sights? If you’ve ever dreamed of chasing the northern lights or stargazing under the darkest skies in the world, this episode is for you. In this conversation, host Kim Anderson chats with Stephanie Vermillion, a travel journalist and photographer whose work spans National Geographic , Outside Magazine , Vogue , and Trave...