The Wandering Wild Podcast

Sometimes the biggest changes in our lives don’t begin with certainty—they begin with a feeling. In this episode, I share the moments that completely changed my life simply because I chose to follow a quiet pull toward a place, a person, or an opportunity. From unexpectedly moving to a small island after a restaurant fire changed all of my plans, to discovering that some people enter our lives not...

What does it really mean to know yourself? In this episode, Ganeisha and I explore the relationship we have with ourselves, how spending time alone can change us, and why travel has become one of our greatest teachers. This conversation isn’t just about solo travel—it’s about the person you become when you spend enough time with yourself to truly listen. I hope this episode inspires you to spend a...

In this episode of Wandering Wild, I sit down with my friend Julie to talk about solo female travel, working holiday visas, moving abroad alone, and the emotional freedom that comes with starting over in a new country. From studying in Spain to volunteering in Costa Rica and rebuilding life in Australia, Julie shares how travel changed her relationship with herself, her future, and what she wants...

In this episode, Ashley shares an honest, in-the-moment reflection from a day when everything feels uncertain. After deciding to move out of work-for-accommodation and into her own room, the excitement of having privacy and stability quickly turned into anxiety around money, commitment, work shifts, homesickness, and the fear of getting stuck in the cycle of work, save, travel, go broke. This is a...

When I first got to Australia, I had no idea how finding a job actually worked — and honestly, no one really explains it. In this episode, I’m sharing how I got 3 jobs in 3 different places across Australia (Port Douglas, Sydney, and now an island), what worked, what didn’t, and what I wish I knew before I started. From walking into dozens of places and getting rejected, to trial shifts, certifica...

A few days ago, my workplace literally caught on fire... and within a week, my entire life changed. In this episode, I'm sharing the full story - from the moment the power went out, and we heard the explosion, to standing on the street and watching the building fill with smoke... to realizing I suddenly had no job, no income, and no real plan. What followed was a fast, unexpected pivot: Leavin...

It's been a few weeks... and honestly, I just needed to disappear for a minute. In this episode, I’m sitting on my dorm room floor in Sydney, getting my life back together and talking through everything that’s been happening lately — the burnout, the chaos, the growth, and the moments that somehow made it all worth it. I share what it actually looked like trying to balance two jobs, living in...

This episode of Wandering Wild is one of the most personal conversations I’ve shared on the podcast. Today I’m sitting down with my mom to talk about my sister Gracie, who passed away from a congenital heart defect (CHD). We share memories of her life, what it was like navigating the hospital as a family, and the experience of saying goodbye after five weeks that changed our lives forever. This ep...

What happens when a three-week vacation turns into 411 days of full-time travel across 28 countries and 4continents — and then suddenly… it ends? Find Adrian on Instagram: @Adrian. SJL In this episode of Wandering Wild , Ashley sits down with her friend Adrian to reflect on a year spent constantly in motion — and the unexpected challenge of coming home. Together, they talk about burnout, identity...

What does it actually mean to get to know yourself — without trends, social media, or outside noise? In this episode, I reflect on self-trust, intuition, patience on hard days, and the deep connection between humans and nature. After revisiting my earliest podcast episodes during a stressful week, I found clarity, grounding, and a reminder that some wisdom is only learned through experience — not...

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and mentor Lelah — an artist, traveler, business owner, mother, and one of the most grounded, expansive humans I know. We talk about living outside the blueprint, choosing adventure over convention, and what decades of travel, creativity, and courage can teach you about trusting yourself. Lelah shares stories from living in a van in her twenties, travelin...

This episode is a real, unfiltered life update. I’m spending my birthday in Sydney, Australia, feeling grateful, exhausted, homesick, inspired, overwhelmed, and hopeful… sometimes all at once. I talk about job hunting in a new country, money stress, burnout after months of backpacking, questioning my decisions, missing Southeast Asia, and learning how to truly have my own back when things feel har...

In this episode of Wandering Wild , I sit down with my friend Natalie while we’re mid–road trip in Australia to talk about what it’s really like traveling solo, sleeping in your car, and learning to trust yourself along the way. We dive into the freedom of road tripping, the reality of loneliness, safety as a woman, choosing the right people, and why solo travel isn’t an escape from real life—it’s...

In this episode, I share what it’s been like road tripping Australia — camping, sleeping in cars, meeting people by chance, and choosing the road instead of the flight. What began as a spontaneous decision became a turning point. This episode explores: Road tripping Australia as a solo female traveler Transitioning from constant travel to wanting roots Trusting intuition and navigating uncertainty...

This New Year feels different. After feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and caught in my own head, I made one simple decision — to move. What followed was an unexpected road trip, sleeping in cars and tents, meeting people who were strangers just days ago, and feeling more alive than I ever. In this episode, I reflect on what it means to stop keeping our lives in our heads and start letting them exist in...

Not sure how to start traveling — or if you’re even “ready”? In this episode, I break it all down. I talk through: • Why travel is so transformative • How to ease into solo travel (without jumping straight into months abroad) • Group trips, work exchanges, and beginner-friendly options • Safety, intuition, and mindset shifts • The emotional ups and downs of travel • Practical tips I wish I knew wh...

In this solo episode, I talk about what it really means to feel “stuck” — and why it’s often not about being trapped, but about being undecided. I’m currently in Australia, living a life I once dreamed of, and yet finding myself feeling lonely, foggy, stressed, and unsure of my next move. I share how gratitude and discomfort can exist at the same time, how indecision creates the illusion of being...

In this episode, I sit down with my aunt, Sarah, to talk openly about growing up Mormon, what it was like to question and eventually leave the church, and how those beliefs still show up in our lives today — even years later. We explore family dynamics, identity, fear, freedom, guilt, community, and what it really means to rebuild your sense of self after leaving a high-control religion. This is a...

In this episode of Wandering Wild , Ashley sits down with traveler and podcaster Matt Mitzel , who has visited 65 countries and counting while living a full-time nomadic lifestyle with his partner. Matt shares his journey from teaching English abroad in Spain, South Korea, and Turkey to spending the last two years traveling to  one country per month , house-sitting around the world, and building a...

In this episode, I sit down with my little brother John to talk about his first-ever solo trip… an unforgettable adventure through Vietnam. Incredible food, hidden caves, the Ha Giang Loop, and the people who made his journey magical. We talk about what it feels like to travel alone for the first time, the moments that made him fall in love with exploring the world, and how this trip sparked a tra...

In this episode, I sit down with my new friend Evy! Together we experienced Loy Krathong, Chiang Mai’s lantern festival, where we released wishes into rivers, filled the city with candles, and released lanterns into the sky!  This experience was full of incredible beauty, but also a few things we didn’t expect… In this episode, we talk about our experiences during this Thailand cultural festival....

In this episode, Bella (@bellaandherbackpack_) joins me for a wide-open conversation about life, solo travel, female friendships, finances, confidence, backpacks, and everything in between. We talk about how she got started traveling, the lessons she’s learned on the road, building meaningful connections, and what it really feels like to grow through new experiences. Whether you’re a new traveler,...

In this episode or Wandering Wild, I’m joined by my brother, John, and close friend, Roean, two professional scuba divers and first-time backpackers! We talk about diving with thresher sharks in Malapascua, Philippines, island hopping adventures, monkeys in Kanchanaburi, and what surprised them most about the backpacker lifestyle. As we sit by a peaceful river in Nam Tok we swap stories of backpac...

A candid, unplanned episode recorded at a train station — sharing what’s been on my mind after weeks exploring Southeast Asia. Thoughts on slowing down, finding rhythm on the road, and my experience exploring Indonesia and Thailand!

I decided to take a pause within my solo travel so I spent one week living within a Buddhist monastery in Norther Thailand and practicing both Samatha and Vipassana meditation. 7 days in Northern Thailand with no electronics and no speaking… Here I share my honest experience. I share my thoughts, feelings, and a few journal entries.  My experience wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be… but I’m...