Lila: The Podcast

Closing out season 1 on todays episode! Thank you so much for being here, I'll see you in season 2 with more incredible guests, inspiring stories, and real life $h*t. Wishing you many Lila moments until then <3 With love, Alexa Jo

On this episode I'll take you through the past few weeks I spent in Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, & Albania. I'll take you through my recs & anti-recs. You can find my full guide at lilabyalexajo.com Need some company, a belly laugh, or a hand to hold? Listen to Lila. The blog Instagram Don't forget to subscribe, leave a rating, review, and share with friends

This week I'm joined by my friend Sara McCabe! After studying abroad twice in her undergraduate degree, she decided to pursue her Masters Degree in York. We talk finding your passion, learning more about the world, immigrating to another country, and knowing when it’s time to come home. Now, she works as an advisor in the study abroad department at a university and sits down the the Lila Podcast t...

This week I’ve got my lil brother on the pod to do what he does best- analyze film! As a fun crossover, we’ve taken one of the staples of our childhood and combined it with my brothers interest in movies and everything that goes into making one good, or as we say, a ~cinematic masterpiece ahead of its time~ We talk about our relationship, growing up, and how a movie about surfing penguins really t...

This week I'm joined by my friend Jane Moore! We became friends at our first joba s teenagers, a boat company that brought us equal laughs and trauma. We bonded over the antics of working in the service industry and chatted shifts away on the slow days behind the bar. She joins me on the pod to talk about the last few years of her life affected by chronic pain, a major surgery at a young age, and...

This week on the pod I'm joined once again by my dear friend Clara. This time we're talking about something we both have been through and bonded over in the early years of our friendship: Eating disorders and body dysmorphia. It's all-encompassing. It takes over your life. And, unfortunately, we aren't the only ones who have struggled with this. We didn't feel like it was talked about much and cou...

This week I'm joined by Mckenna! Kenna and I met at a work-exchange in Hawaii and clicked right away. Nothing bonds a pair like snorkeling with sharks in the morning and scrubbing toilets together in the afternoon... From getting scuba certified in Thailand to Yoga-teacher certified in Costa Rica, Kenna is always dreaming about the next adventure. She constantly impresses and inspired me. Everyone...

This week I'm giving a life update as I move out of my house, quit my job, and pack up for the next adventures! Need some company, a belly laugh, or a hand to hold? Listen to Lila. The blog Instagram Don't forget to subscribe, leave a rating, review, and share with friends

In this episode I'm joined by my childhood friend Addie! Addie and I met when we were 10 years old when we became neighbors. We used to play fashion video games, watch Mary-Kate & Ashley movies like "New York Minute" and daydream about the lives we wanted to live. Fast forward 15 years. Addie comes on the podcast to talk about how she made her dream of going to fashion school in New York a rea...

This week I'm joined by my friends Agus & Ketut at Green Lion Sea turtle conservation in Nusa Penida, Indonesia. I spent two weeks at the project when I was backpacking through Southeast Asia and last year and had the opportunity to sit down with two of the coordinators to talk about what they do there and why. Save the turtles, yo! My blog post: Volunteering at a Sea Turtle conservation in Ba...

This week we're talking all things summer camp! Me, a person who never went to summer camp, but volunteered as a camp counselor for week and Clara who grew up going to camp and worked as a camp counselor for years talk all about the summer camp experience. Mine more treacherous, hers more magical.... make it to the end and we share a few of YOUR summer camp stories Need some company, a belly laugh...

This week I'm joined by my BFF Sarah! We have been best friends since we were 9 years old. Hanging tight through all the ebbs and flows, Sarah and I talk about maintain friendship over the years and managing long-distance friendship. We touch on being in toxic relationships, having tough conversations with friends, competition dance, silly teenage antics, what being a good friend looks like, and h...

This week I'm joined by my friend Lola to talk about her most recent backpacking trip to Europe! For the past 7 weeks she has been bouncing around Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, England, and Portugal. With plenty of stories - odd and awesome, Lola spills all her thoughts. Need some company, a belly laugh, or a hand to hold? Listen to Lila. The blog Instagram Don't forget to subscrib...

This week I'm kickin' it solo to talk about, you guessed it, solo travel. This one is for the solo-travel curious who want to know more about this world of backpacking and adventuring on your own, how I got into it, and address some of the main reservations/concerns people have. Check out the blog for more advice and solo-travel stories! Need some company, a belly laugh, or a hand to hold? Listen...

This week I'm joined by my friend Sara Isaac on the Big Island of Hawaii! Sara is a free spirit who moved to the island after heartbreak a few years ago. She shares stories of odd work exchanges she agreed to, bad living situations, and what it was like to immigrate from Iraq to Michigan as a kid. Sara adopts the "work to live, don't live to work" mentality and spends a lot of her time pouring int...

A few years ago my dad wrote a book for his kids; a guide to life. "What I Meant To Say" is full of life's greatest lessons and all the things my dad wanted to teach us. Today he hop son the pod to tell you all about it Need some company, a belly laugh, or a hand to hold? Listen to Lila. The blog Instagram Don't forget to subscribe, leave a rating, review, and share with friends

Adventures in Vietnam from North to South with my best travel buddy, Minke! You know her, you love her....here's our antics

This week I'm joined by my Hānai (chosen family in Hawaiian) uncle Shaheer Faltas! This name might sound familiar to you if you listened to last weeks episode with his wife, Maria Faltas. Shaheer took a chance by hiring me for a work-exchange in Hawaii helping manage their vacation rentals back in 2022 in exchange for a room in their home. He has so much wisdom and I'm constantly learning and grow...

Today I'm joined by my friend Maria Faltas on the Big Island of Hawaii! WARNING: This episode may make you want to laugh, cry, hug your dad, apply to law school, move to an island, do a work-exchange, make art, swim in the ocean, etc. Maria and I met when she hosted me for a work-exchange position a few years ago. Maria is a practicing lawyer in Hawaii, and she's one of the most free-spirits you'l...

Today I'm joined by my friend Caylin on the Big Island of Hawaii! Caylin has found herself a young entrepreneur at the age of 22, exploring her creativity and passions down a few different avenues. From launching her own family photography business on the island as a teen, to blowing up on TikTok and dabbling in influencing, to exploring the life of pageants, to dressing up as a princess for birth...

Happy May 29th...It's Alexa's 25th birthday! To celebrate, Alexa and Clara, talk about how their lives look very different at the same age. Alexa, in the depths of a quarter-life crisis, and Clara, far out of hers, discuss how 25 looks different, not only from the early 20s, but from other 25 year olds. Feeling lost and feeling secure, ups and downs, spiraling and coping, these two best friends sp...

Today I'm joined by my friend Fiona to talk about grief and parent loss. Fiona's dad passed away from Lewy body dementia when she was 19 years old. She candidly shares her story, how she copes, how others supported her in that time, and straight up just getting through it. Thank you for sharing today Fiona, I know this will reach someone who needs it. Lila: The Podcast Solo travel, mental health,...

Alexa shares her journey with mental health, being diagnosed with mental illness, and the importance of bringing awareness to the cause. Lila: The Podcast Solo travel, mental health, & the cool people I've met along the way Lila /ˈLĒLÄ/ (LEE-LUH) NOUN A feeling of wholehearted contentedness upon the recognition that every happenstance in one’s life thus far has led to this very moment, in this...

This week I'm joined by my friend Becca to celebrate the two year anniversary since I launched the brand Lila by Alexa Jo. Becca and I met when we were randomly assigned as roommates for study abroad in Italy. We became instant friends and has always been such a big supporter. I'm so excited for you all to meet Becca and to hear some of our community's Lila moments. Lila: The Podcast Solo travel,...

Today I'm joined by my friend Kelly on the Big Island of Hawaii! Kelly is an inspiration to many and joins us today to tell her life story (short version). She inspires me everyday and is one of the people I met way before even starting the podcast that I KNEW I wanted to someday interview. After falling into addiction in her teens and recovery by 19, Kelly now sponsors others going through addict...