No to Normal

It’s an “Ask Me Anything” episode and all the questions I got were about TrustedHousesitters and what it’s like to be a traveling pet sitter! From booking your first stay to dealing with potential trip cancellations in a foreign country, I’m sharing my advice as a full-time traveling pet sitter. Ready to start your own travel pet sitting adventure?? Use my referral link to get 25% off any TrustedH...

”Yeah, I’d love to travel buuut I can’t afford that. I’m in a relationship. I can’t leave my pets behind…” Stop right there! Those are excuses and they’re holding you back from living your dream life. Today’s guest, Lauren Messner, is proof that not only can you get paid to live and work in some of the most beautiful places in the world, but you don’t have to do it alone! Since leaving her corpora...

We all have that idea that would be fun “someday.” We throw it out as a joke over a glass of wine with friends or on a road trip. We laugh and say, “wouldn’t it be fun to launch that *insert random business idea here*?” Well, Funk It Coffee and Thrift is one of those ideas that actually went from dream to reality! Markie Russell is on the show today to chat about how she and her best friend actual...

Taking the leap to quit your job and try something new is always scary and it’s easy to keep putting it off, but sometimes the universe steps in and makes the decision for you. That’s what happened in the case of today’s guest, Josephine Wong. When she was laid off from her graphic design job a couple of years ago, she took it as a sign to finally go after some of her bucket list dreams. She took...

Our society loves celebrating a big life milestone. Engagements, weddings, babies; these are the things that prompt parties (and gifts). But what if that’s not the path you’re on? When is it your chance to feel celebrated? Any. Time. You. Want. In this episode, we’re digging deep into: Why certain milestones get celebrated over others (and why that needs to change) How to identify moments in your...

Just because your first plan didn’t work out doesn’t mean you’re not meant for something incredible. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the thing that really clicks. And that’s a story that today’s guest, Jamie Kowalik, knows all too well. Jamie is the founder of Glo Creative Design Studio (and the designer behind the No to Normal website!) Before scaling her studio to a multi-6 figure busines...

Normally I’m the one asking the questions, but today I’m answering them! I was recently a guest on the Travel Creator Podcast and I loved our conversation there so much that I wanted to share it here too.   In this episode: How I knew it was finally time to quit my 9-5 even though I was scared What my “North Star” is and how I use it to keep moving forward and build a life I genuinely love What it...

Burnt out from trying to keep up with the algorithm? Editing new videos every day, engaging in the DMs, showing up on stories… It’s A LOT. But what if I told you that there’s an easier (and more profitable!) way to connect with your audience? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Laura Haley ( @travelcontentwriting ) to chat about the one strategy that most travel creators overlook: newsletters! We co...

Surprise! I’m popping into your feed on a Thursday with a quick bonus episode to announce that Cannonball, my brand-new course, is officially OPEN! 🎉 In this short and sweet episode, I’m breaking down what’s inside the course, who it was made for, and why now’s the perfect time to join as a founding member. If you’ve been stuck in overthinking mode and dreaming of a life that feels more you — thi...

You already have a personal brand - even if you’ve never thought about it that way. It’s not about being an influencer or having a perfectly curated aesthetic. Your personal brand is how you show up in the world, how you’re perceived, and how you connect with others. Today, I'm joined by Krista Marie - personal branding strategist, photographer, and podcast host - to break down what it really mean...

”It’s not the right time” is one of the most common excuses we tell ourselves about why we’re not taking action toward our dream. We assume that the timing will be better down the road, and we convince ourselves that we’re actually being responsible by waiting! Spoiler: It’s not responsible. It’s self-sabotage. In this episode, we’re debunking the “right time” myth and how you can stop falling int...

You don’t have to be a textbook people pleaser to end up living a life that’s not actually yours. Maybe you’re stuck in a job you hate, a relationship that feels off, or just going through the motions because change feels too hard. Today’s guest, Kat Amey, hit her 30s and realized she was deeply unfulfilled—so she decided to rewrite the script. Now, she helps other women stop people pleasing and s...

"I don’t know what I want" is one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves. More often than not, you do know—you’re just afraid to say it out loud. Maybe it feels unrealistic, maybe you’re scared of failing, or maybe you’re worried about what people will think. Good news: we’re going to tackle those fears together! In this episode: Why ignoring your dream doesn’t make it go away (it just makes you un...

Our National Parks are in danger, plain and simple. After mass layoffs in February, the National Park Service is now facing staffing issues that are going to have a direct impact on everything from park cleanliness and camping availability to visitor safety and emergency response times. Because of this news, I thought it was important to draw attention to the amazing programs that the NPS provides...

Did you know that Americans spend an average of 40 minutes per day dreaming about someplace they’d rather be? That’s almost 5 hours a week that people are thinking about their escape from their day-to-day life! In this episode, I’m giving you a list of ways to make that escape sooner rather than later, even if you haven’t been saving up for a trip. From couchsurfing and housesitting, to volunteeri...

It’s the TikTok Shop follow-up episode you’ve been waiting for! After having Amanda Pacropis on the podcast for episode 47 to talk about how she earns 5-figures a month as a TikTok Shop Affiliate, I gave myself a little challenge to see what would happen if I posted 3+ times per day. Could I actually earn money as a new TikTok Shop Affiliate? Does posting consistently really matter? And most impor...

Do you ever feel like your own internal dialogue is your biggest obstacle? Sure, there are challenges in life that are objectively hard, but that extra layer of self-doubt can make those tough goals feel impossible. Today’s guest, A.J. Aldana, knows this struggle all too well. In this episode, A.J. shares how he overcame his biggest insecurities and pushed past limiting beliefs to accomplish somet...

Do you ever feel like the goal you've been working on for weeks, months, or even years just isn’t paying off? You’ve got this vision in your head of what it could be, but progress feels painfully slow, and you’re starting to wonder if it’s even worth it. Take a breath. You’re not alone. Progress is happening—even if you can’t see it yet. You’re planting seeds that will grow if you give them time....

It’s that time of year again when everyone starts talking about all the ways they’re going to be successful, productive, and better than ever in the new year. But how often have you excitedly set a big new year’s resolution, only to get bored with it by January 20? You’re not alone! In this episode, we’re talking about why New Year’s resolutions often fail, and what you can do instead to have an a...

Have you ever felt like the holiday season is more about checking boxes than actually feeling festive? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, I’m talking with the owner of Hannah’s Enchantments about how to create your own joyful rituals, so that you can actually enjoy and remember this time of year! Whether you're in a warm climate and missing that "winter magic" or just need a fresh way to make t...

Have you been curious about TikTok Shop but don’t know where to start? Well, buckle up for a wild ride because today’s guest, Amanda Pacropis, is spilling all the secrets! Amanda left her 9-5 in pharmaceutical advertising earlier this year, and is now consistently earning 5-figures a month thanks to the TikTok Shop Affiliate program. In today’s episode, Amanda shares her best advice for how to: Pi...

How many times have you waited to hit publish on something because “it’s not ready yet”? Or how much time have you spent researching HOW to do something, instead of actually doing it? You, my friend, have fallen into the “perfection” trap (no judgement: I know this trap well). While it may seem like you’re just trying to get everything perfect, you’re actually just procrastinating! You’re using th...

Let’s be honest: putting your thing out into the world is SCARY! Whether you’re an artist or a coach or a small business owner, it can always be uncomfortable talking about your product or service. You might start asking yourself “what if no one buys?” Or “what if people thing I’m being annoying?” Or, worst yet, “what if no one is paying attention at all and I just hear crickets every time I post?...

Ah, the digital nomad life. Work from beautiful locations all over the world and have total freedom over your schedule every day. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, today’s guest has made that dream a reality but it took a while to get there. Emily Gillespie, a digital strategist and content creator, spent years working on her side hustle in the evenings and weekends while she worked her 9-5. She f...

Content creators, influencers, and solo-travelers alike all know the struggle of trying to film content in public. “Are people judging me? Do I look super cringey?” These are common (and totally valid!) thoughts, but you can’t let fear of judgement keep you from creating the content you want. In this episode, I’m sharing the 6 best tips for tackling the discomfort that comes with public content cr...