Dream Big Have Adventures

If you’ve ever thought about starting a podcast but felt completely overwhelmed by the tech, the editing, the setup… this episode is for you. Because I’m just gonna say it… It’s not that hard. It’s really not. In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I started my podcast—from the mindset shift to the actual tools I use—so you can stop overthinking it and just get started. We’re talking...

What if the thing you’ve been craving… isn’t just a vacation—but a complete reset? In this episode, Tess sits down with HerHouse host Gina, based in the stunning Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand, to talk about solo travel, healing, and what it really looks like to step into a new version of yourself through adventure. ✨ What You’ll Hear in This Episode Why solo travel can be one of the most tr...

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately… And the more I build this business, the more I realize— this journey feels so similar to solo traveling. Like… almost identical in ways I didn’t expect. The fear. The uncertainty. The figuring it out as you go. The moments where you’re like, “what am I even doing?” And then somehow… it all works out. In this episode, I’m sharing some of the biggest lessons I’ve c...

Let’s be real for a second… The digital nomad lifestyle has kind of become the dream , right? Working from your laptop, traveling the world, waking up in a new country whenever you want… it sounds amazing. And it is amazing—but there’s also so much more to it that people don’t talk about. In this episode, I’m sitting down with Courtney—one of our incredible HerHouse members—who is actually living...

What if the most strategic move you could make after graduation… isn’t sending out résumés? What if it’s booking a one-way ticket? In this episode, Tess shares why solo travel after college isn’t irresponsible, reckless, or “falling behind” — it might actually be the most powerful investment you can make in your future career, confidence, and character. If you’re standing at the edge of graduation...

Let’s be honest — building a startup is romanticized. But what’s it actually like to build a tech company while working a full-time job… and raising a baby? In this deeply personal episode, Tess pulls back the curtain on what it’s really been like to build HerHouse — from late-night breakdowns during the MVP phase to navigating postpartum brain fog, software sales quotas, and the constant mental l...

What’s it really like to stay with a local in Hawaii? In this episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures , Tess interviews Loke, a longtime Honolulu resident and one of the original HerHouse hosts. From secret waterfall hikes to local plate lunches, Loke shares what makes staying with a local completely different from booking a hotel. If you’re planning a solo trip to Hawaii... or dreaming about one......

What if the most powerful part of solo travel isn’t the destination... but the people you stay with? In this episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures , Tess shares why staying with locals completely changes the solo travel experience — from saving thousands of dollars to being invited into barbecues, beach days, holidays, and real life. If you’ve only ever stayed in hotels, Airbnbs, or hostels, this...

What does it actually take to build an app when you don’t know how to code… don’t have a team… and don’t have $100,000 sitting in the bank? In this episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures , Tess shares the full, unfiltered story of building HerHouse — from a no-code MVP to app store approval, viral Facebook growth, pregnancy, burnout, failed Kickstarter, and finally rebuilding the platform with a pr...

Is there really a global community of women who open their homes to solo travelers? In this episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures , Tess introduces you to one of those women — Terri Reynolds, a HerHouse host based in South Wales, UK. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s actually like to stay with another woman abroad — this conversation pulls back the curtain. Terri shares what makes her location spe...

What does it take to sell everything you own, buy a one-way ticket to Australia, and rebuild your life from scratch? In this very first episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures , Tess shares the deeply personal story behind HerHouse — from growing up in the rodeo world in Colorado, to experiencing trauma, to solo backpacking across Australia… and ultimately building a tech startup for women travelers...