Slow Travel Diaries

Can a few simple words change what you do next? In this episode, I explore the surprising connection between World Cup chants and personal mantras. The science behind why repetition works, and the two phrases I come back to whenever I need to push through resistance. Find me on Instagram @KaphrynLee Sign up to my monthly newsletter at SlowTravelDiaries.com

In this second episode of my six-part series, DETAILS, I’m talking about consistency. The part where the routine exists, you know what to do, but you just don't feel like doing it. I share what I'm working towards right now, and a few small reframes from Tim Ferriss and Rich Roll that have changed how I think about showing up. Share your morning routine with me on Instagram @KaphrynLee You...

After a long break, I’m back with the first episode of a new six-part series called Details . In this episode, I share the daily routine I’ve been building since settling in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and the small rituals helping me feel grounded in this chapter. Find me on Instagram @KaphrynLee Sign up for my newsletter at SlowTravelDiaries.com

Thinking back on Tel Aviv. A city that surprised me, felt easy to settle into, and showed me a completely different side of the region than I expected. Sign up for my newsletter at SlowTravelDiaries.com Reach out to me on Instagram at @KaphrynLee

In part one of this short series, I’m reflecting on my time in Beirut, Lebanon, and Jerusalem, and sharing what stayed with me years later — the beauty, the history, and what travel there taught me. Don't forget to sign up for my monthly newsletter at SlowTravelDiaries.com TAP HERE to sign up now :)

After two years away, I’m back in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. In this episode, I talk about returning with more perspective, what this place gave me then, and why it feels meaningful to be here again now. Don't forget to join my free monthly newsletter! Head to SlowTravelDiaries.com to sign up now!

In this episode, I’m taking you through the Mexico City neighborhoods I’ve been exploring — Roma Norte, Condesa, Polanco, and Del Valle — sharing what they actually feel like day to day, where I’ve been eating, and how I spend my weekends here. And at the end, I share something I didn’t expect to say this soon — I’ve decided to leave Mexico City. I talk about why, what I learned about myself in th...

Coming back to Mexico, I’m not the same person I was five years ago. In this episode, I unpack what it really means to return to a place as a different version of yourself. How identity shapes belonging, and the hard question underneath it all: Does this city support who I’m becoming? Sign up for my monthly newsletter, where I share personal stories and things to do in every new place I travel to:...

After a month in Mexico City, I’m sharing my honest first impressions. We talk about what daily life actually feels like here — how people interact, how neighborhoods function — and why settling has been harder than I expected after two years of slow traveling through Europe. Sign up for my newsletter at SlowTravelDiaries.com

Slow Travel Diaries is evolving beyond places and into the routines, mindset tools, and inner work that support change. This trailer shares where the podcast is headed—and my continued journey from life abroad. Sign up for my newsletter at SlowTravelDiaries.com

Guilt is a quiet part of slow travel that doesn’t get talked about enough. And then there’s the question: “You’re doing what?!” If you’ve ever told friends or family you’re thinking about slow traveling (or already doing it), you’ve probably been met with confusion, concern, or a lot of questions. It’s not easy to explain in one neat sentence. So today, we’re breaking it down. Love to hear your st...

Already feeling behind? Same. Today, I talk about the pressure that comes with the start of a new year—and how I’m reframing what January means to me. Plus, a re-air of one of the most played episodes from 2025: "Slow Travel Tips: Travel Smarter, Pack Lighter." To sign up for my newsletter, go to SlowTravelDiaries.com to get monthly stories, guides, and lessons from my slow travels aroun...

Happy New Year! As I reflect on the year behind us and think about what’s next, I wanted to start the year with an episode that invites a little pause and perspective. Today, I’m resharing one of the most listened-to Slow Travel Diaries episodes of the year—a Q&A on slow travel, loneliness, starting over, and finding your rhythm when life keeps changing. Sign up for my monthly newsletter at Sl...

In this episode, I reflect on my three-month stay in Porto, Portugal. I revisit how I felt early on, and what ended up holding true. If you’re looking for specific travel recommendations on Porto, I share those in my monthly newsletter at SlowTravelDiaries.com In this episode, I talk about: The pressure to get oriented quickly in a new city How routines helped me feel settled, and where they start...

This is the first episode of a new series I’m calling Afterthoughts —a space to reflect on what’s stuck with me after guest episodes, what I’ve looked up since, or what I’m now curious to try. It’s also where I’ll share other thoughts that don’t quite fit into city-specific episodes—like what this lifestyle is teaching me, and what I’m still figuring out along the way. Feel free to email your revi...

I used to think house sitting was only for backpackers. Then I talked to Bianca Rappaport. A slow traveler like myself who has turned house sitting into a sustainable and intentional lifestyle across 20+ countries. The money she has saved will surprise you, but what it has allowed her to do is even more meaningful than you might expect. This conversation changed how I think about travel, and it mi...

An honest look at how travel can help you reconnect with yourself when life feels heavy or unclear. What we get into: Why routines keep you from hearing what you really want How distance and quiet can bring buried truths to the surface My own turning points over seven years of slow travel Cheryl's experience of healing through grief and identity shifts A gentle, grounded episode for anyone wan...

Halfway through my stay in Porto, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes living here so special. In this episode, I share my favorite finds, weekend trip ideas, and what I’d do more of (or less of) to make the most of my time here. > Get my monthly newsletter at SlowTravelDiaries.com or just TAP HERE.

In this episode, I bring you along to the coworking space I joined here in Porto, called Vertical. I’ve been here a few weeks and finally found the courage to ask a few people what it’s really like to live here. It turned into such an interesting mix of stories and perspectives — the kind you only get when you actually sit down and talk to people who’ve made this city part of their lives. Get a mo...

In this episode, I share how we spent our anniversary weekend exploring Portugal’s so-called “Venice.” We tried ovos moles , the city’s famous egg-yolk pastry, and wandered its colorful canals. We escaped to Costa Nova, the beach town lined with candy-striped houses and wild Atlantic waves. And as promised, ⁠ TAP here⁠ to get the inside scoop delivered monthly to your inbox.

Ever wonder what it’s like to trade stability for a life of slow travel? In this episode, I chat with Jenn, who did exactly that. We talk about choices, challenges, and the surprising upsides of designing life differently — including what it’s been like navigating the world as part of an interracial couple. Get extra slow travel stories, tips, and behind-the-scenes notes once a month. TAP HERE.

Today, we’re diving into my very first impressions of Portugal’s second-largest city, Porto. The doubts I had when I arrived, and the small moments that started to shift my perspective. Unlock extra travel insights and behind-the-scenes notes in my monthly newsletter — head to SlowTravelDiaries.com or just TAP HERE. Today, we’ll chat about: The emotions that hit in your first days somewhere new Wh...

I lived in a small seaside town in Montenegro for a month. A place that looks like a dream on postcards — but living there turned out to be a different story. Join me in today’s episode where I share what daily life was really like, the little routines that stuck, and how the bigger cities in Montenegro compare. Learn more about the details of my stay in my monthly newsletter! Sign up HERE or go t...

Making friends while traveling sounds easy—until you’re actually out there doing it. In this episode, I share how I first became a digital nomad, why connection gets harder over time, and what I’m planning to try during my next 3 months in Porto. If you’ve ever felt the quiet struggle of finding your people abroad, this one’s for you. Sign up for my monthly newsletter about my slow travel journey...

When you slow travel, not every day is a highlight reel. In this episode, I share what those “boring days” really feel like — and why they matter more than you think. Sign up to my monthly newsletter at SlowTravelDiaries.com or just TAP HERE.