Kerouacs Cruising | Where Off-Grid Living Meets Soulful Awakening

From a sketchy canal in Nevada to a dreamy lakeside spot in Oregon, this leg of our journey had biting flies, blown-up Starlink, surprise mice, and a whole lot of dog hair . We’re towing our 26-foot trailer with three dogs, chasing cooler temps, and trying to keep our truck alive while we inch toward Idaho and grandbaby smoochies. You’ll also see our sweet girl Jewels all throughout this episode—t...

If “networking” makes you want to run for the hills, this episode will feel like a deep breath. We’re joined by Nick Shelton —veteran, strategist, stand-up comic, and author of An Introvert’s Guide to World Domination —to talk about navigating the world as an introvert without wearing a mask. We dig into authenticity vs. performance, simple step-by-step social systems (yes, including where to stan...

After our short pause, we're back on the road—and Yosemite greeted us with rain, hail, fog, and a full-on August snowstorm. In today’s adventure episode, we recap our wild entrance into Yosemite Valley, the unprepared tourists scrambling for ponchos, James trying (and failing) to get a tetanus shot, and the breathtaking moment the storm lifted and revealed the valley walls and waterfalls in all th...

After two weeks off, we’re back — and today’s conversation is exactly about coming back. Author and former boxer Mark Connor joins us to talk about loss, caring for parents, Irish and Native influences, and how to keep love, family, and life at the center even when the world is pulling apart. In this episode, Cara and James sit down with Mark Connor , author of It’s About Time , a memoir-meets-spi...

A thunderstorm rolls in, the road turns to slush, and Yosemite’s drama cranks to 11. We pull over, wait it out, and keep going—dogs panting, windshield fogging, laughter on loop. Come along as we thread Tioga Pass, hunt for Tunnel View, daydream about the sequoias, and find the magic in the messy middle. 🎧 Watch the companion video: youtu.be/Wl2GJBzWWfg Where we are: Yosemite National Park via Ti...

Stress isn’t the story—self-love is. Today we sit down with Cheyenne Moore —author of Self Love 101: How to Look in the Mirror and host of Safe Space with Cheyenne —to talk about the messy, honest middle of healing. We reframe anxiety and depression as parts of you asking to be seen , name the inner critic (Stanford, we see you), and get practical about boundaries, people-pleasing, grief, and bein...

On our way to Yosemite, we managed to wedge the trailer in a too-tight turn… again. Here’s the simple “disconnect & pivot” move we’ve now used twice to recover safely on downhill grades—plus how we chose a high-elevation boondock near Lee Vining with great Starlink and solar, what to know about Yosemite’s timed entry, and a rainstorm/rattlesnake morning for the books. We wrap with a quick tour...

Voice Movement Therapy practitioner, writer, singer, and creative polymath Kaatje Jones joins us to explore healing through the embodied voice, working with land/ancestors, and building an authentic, multi-hyphenate life. We talk Sedona vortexes, Santa Fe quiet magic, sessions that look like… chicken noises 🐔, and gentle ways to begin again. Timestamps/Chapters: 00:00 – Why an eclectic, multi-hyp...

Sometimes the road gives you sunsets and smooth miles. Other times it hands you three hours on a Nevada highway, a monsoon storm that shakes your camper, and a rattlesnake at your door. This week on Kerouacs Cruising , we share the unpredictable beauty and challenges of chasing Yosemite. On this episode of Kerouacs Cruising , we’re reminded that road life is never boring. What started as an early...

Tired of being told “you’re fine” when you know something deeper is happening in your body? Natural health practitioner and author Elle Provencher joins us to unpack menopause, candida, cholesterol, detox, energy medicine, and how to step boldly into your power as a true “Menopausal Glamazon.” For decades, Elle Provencher has been blending naturopathy, nutrition, energy work, and humor to help peo...

After eight years of blood, sweat, and sunsets, we locked the door to our Northern Arizona homestead for the last time. In this episode, we share the bittersweet goodbye to our off-grid home, the excitement of heading toward Yosemite, and the chaos of Vegas—including James’ screwdriver mishap. Saying goodbye to a place you’ve built with your own hands is never easy. For us, leaving our 20-acre off...

What happens when you hit 50 and realize the “hustle” no longer fits? Wonderful Morrison shares how she quit everything , moved across the country to be with family, re-examined people-pleasing and identity, and rebuilt a more soul-led life. We discuss pattern disruptors (moving, nature, and rodeos!), nervous system regulation, minimalism, and how curiosity and quantum thinking can open new possib...

When your doctor shifts from saying “treatable” to “cured,” life feels different. In this week’s episode of Kerouac’s Cruising , James shares big news from his thyroid cancer journey, while we also tackle truck troubles, Flagstaff’s forest escapes, and a night sky meteor shower. Hope, healing, and adventure all collide here. This episode of Kerouac’s Cruising is a blend of triumph and trial. James...

Jewels wasn’t just our dog—she’s the reason Kerouac’s Cruising exists. Her wild joy, desert miles, and need for open space pushed us out of the city and onto the road. Today, we share the hardest chapter: why we chose to say goodbye, how we knew it was time, and how she changed everything. In this episode The storm and the sunshine: Jewels’ separation anxiety, desert hikes, and endless swims How h...

What if your symptoms were signals—not malfunctions? Dr. Michelle LaMasa-Dawson (Director, Recall Healing USA; Co-Director, Recall Healing International) joins us to unpack how unresolved stress, family patterns, and life timelines can map to physical symptoms—and how awareness plus practical mind-body tools can support real change. In this conversation, we explore: identifying stress “conflicts,”...

We pulled into Paiute Reservoir (Utah) to an empty shoreline, glassy water, and a hard reset on gratitude. This is the life we once dreamed about—now we’re living it. In this episode: lakeside camping, wildfire scooper planes skimming water, camper-vs-tent comfort in the heat, and the honest truck fixes that keep us rolling. Full notes: North of Junction and near Marysvale, Utah , we scored a sere...

If you’ve dreamed of writing a book but feel like an imposter, this episode is your permission slip. EP House founder Kristin Hernquist Bentley breaks down how real books get made—idea to manuscript to publishing—why showing up daily beats chasing goals, and how writing becomes a healing, life-changing practice. We go deep on the author journey: overcoming author-imposter syndrome, choosing betwee...

Crystal-clear waters, free camping, and wide-open Wyoming skies 🌄—this week’s stop at Lake Cameahwait felt like a private oasis. But road life always brings challenges too, from overheated transmissions to tricky campsite searches. In this episode of Kerouacs Cruising , we share our camping wins, RV park review, and road trip lessons learned. We also revisit the fun of Red Lodge’s car show, recon...

What if your bloodwork says you’re “fine,” but your body tells a different story? In this episode of Kerouacs Cruising , Cara shares her raw health journey—hormone imbalances, adrenal fatigue, gut health struggles, and how functional medicine and self-love are helping her heal beyond surface-level “solutions.” Cara opens up about elimination diets, trauma’s impact on health, and finding a doctor w...

Red Lodge, Montana gave us everything—free camping at Willow Creek, authentic Philly cheesesteaks, and new friends with incredible road trip stories. But it wasn’t all smooth: our truck overheated again, and campground hunting tested our patience. In this episode, we share the joys, challenges, and lessons of living nomadically on the road. From birthday rock climbing in Post Falls to VW van-life...

At Lightning Creek, Idaho, we lived the dream—floating in the creek, cooking fireside meals, fixing our camper, and soaking in rare moments of family magic. In this episode of  Kerouacs Cruising , we share the highs and lows of off-grid living: unreliable Starlink, redneck fixes, and the deep gratitude that fuels our nomadic journey. From EFT tapping breakdowns to joyful creek days with our grandb...

Join us as we talk with Jade Beaty—author, healer, and courageous storyteller—about surviving toxic secrets, sexual healing, and breaking generational trauma. This episode explores: Complex trauma healing , rooted in family systems and difficult histories The healing power of embracing spiritual sexuality without shame How to reclaim personal identity when family and history feel hidden—or harmful...

When you’re living the dispersed camping life, you have to roll with the punches—and sometimes those punches come from the logging crew. In this episode, we share how our dream campsite near family got cut short when Idaho land managers asked us to pack up—fast. From soggy tear-downs to long drives and doggy mishaps, we cover the chaos, the stress, and the unexpected blessings that landed us back...

In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Kari England—an Akashic record keeper, intuitive healer, and co-author of Together We Rise : The Wounded Healer's Enlightened Journey to a Collective Ascension . From generational healing to quantum spirituality, Kari shares her powerful story of awakening, stepping out of the spiritual closet, and learning to trust the divine blueprint within. We ex...

Stranded on a mountain? In this raw and real episode of Kerouac’s Cruising , Cara and James take us along for the ride—literally—as they navigate the highs and lows of camper life from Idaho to Montana. From overheating engines on narrow mountain roads to breathtaking lake days and a magical Fourth of July spent on a private overlook, this leg of their journey is packed with lessons in surrender,...