Travel Time Stories with Shannon: Real Journeys, Real Stories, Real Healing

Are you traveling to find yourself… or to escape yourself?  In this thought-provoking episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with clinical psychologist Bryan Gastelle to explore the deeper psychology behind why we travel—and what we’re really searching for when we do. Because let’s be honest… Sometimes travel isn’t just about adventure. It’s about stress, burnout, overwhelm… and...

Why do toxic relationships feel so hard to leave?  Why is sexuality still so difficult to talk about honestly?  And why do humans continue repeating emotional patterns they know are hurting them?  In this deep, unfiltered conversation, Shannon and Ann sit down with transformational coach and author Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards to discuss toxic relationships, emotional addiction, sexuality, shame, vuln...

You don’t always recognize abuse when you’re in it.  In this deeply emotional and eye-opening episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Mia Hanks, author of the award-winning memoir Bride-Made, to talk about her 29-year marriage to a covert narcissist—and the long, painful journey to understanding what she had been living through.  Narcissistic abuse doesn’t always look the way...

What does it mean to truly witness the world?  In this episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with veteran broadcast journalist Barry Maughan, whose life and career were shaped by decades of reporting across the African continent.  Barry shares the extraordinary story of traveling the length of Africa with his wife in a Volkswagen Kombi bus, journeying from Egypt to South Africa and visiting...

What if your life didn’t begin here… and doesn’t end here either?  In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Donna Hartley—international speaker, past-life reader, and survivor who has crossed over six times and returned with a completely different understanding of life, purpose, and the soul.  Donna’s experiences challenge everything we t...

What happens when your life changes in an instant?  In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with trauma and traumatic brain injury survivor Nicholas Ruchlewicz to talk about the motorcycle accident that changed everything—and the unexpected path that followed.  Nicholas shares what it was like to go from living a normal life to navigating the physical, emotional, and mental ch...

What happens when you leave everything behind… without a plan?  In this deeply reflective episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Chip Scholz to explore a journey that wasn’t just about moving across the country—it was about letting go of control, navigating uncertainty, and discovering what truly matters.  With two adults, two kids, two dogs, and five cats packed into a 19-f...

What would it take for you to walk away from a successful life… and start over in another country? In this episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and transformational attorney Wani Manly, whose life changed dramatically when she made a bold decision: sell everything, leave Miami, and move to Paris alone — with no plan, no French, and no safety net.  Afte...

What if the word “disability” isn’t something to avoid… but something to understand?  In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with Jenna Udenberg — author, disability advocate, accessibility educator, and founder of Above & Beyond With U. Diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis at just seven years old, Jenna has spent her life navigating physical challenges while reshaping the c...

What happens when a combat medic comes home — and her body and mind begin to collapse?  In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with Brandi “Bee” Doyle — nurse practitioner, combat veteran, trauma survivor, and spiritual guide — to explore the journey from PTSD and autoimmune illness to deep, integrative healing.  After serving in Afghanistan, Bee returned home expecting to re...

What do you do when the “perfect life” you built suddenly falls apart?  In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with transformational speaker and Journey to Purpose founder Anna Quigley to talk about what happens when life implodes — and how travel can become the doorway to clarity.  When Anna’s carefully constructed life unraveled in a short period of time, she made an unexpe...

What happens when your cruise almost doesn’t happen? In this episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with their sister and best friend Kristen to break down her recent Virgin Voyages sailing — starting with the travel chaos that nearly kept her from ever boarding the ship.  From stressful flight delays on the way to Miami… to the first impression stepping onboard… to the now-famou...

Midlife has a way of asking hard questions.  Who are you when the roles you built your life around begin to shift?  Who are you after divorce?  What happens when “home” no longer feels like home? In this episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with Tracy Smith, author of The Purpose of Getting Lost, to talk about rebuilding identity after divorce and navigating a midlife reset with honesty and...

What happens when you travel to more than 120 countries together… and stay married?  In this episode of Travel Time Stories, we sit down with John and Ann Cinnamon — a couple who have traveled to all seven continents, all 50 U.S. states, and more than 120 countries around the world.  Their documentary, Journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway, aired on PBS stations nationwide, and their newest book,...

 What if the very traits you’ve questioned about yourself are actually your greatest strengths?  In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, we sit down with Marita Tedder — author, speaker, and personality expert — to explore The Personalities and how understanding them can transform the way we see ourselves and others.  Growing up alongside her mother, renowned author Florence Littauer,...

What if a single handmade bed could spark a global movement?  In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, we sit down with Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), the nonprofit organization on a mission to ensure that “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town.”  What started in a garage with one bunk bed has grown into more than 400 chapters across 47 states and 4 countrie...

What does it really mean to live in alignment with yourself? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon , Shannon and Ann sit down with Kristen Swan — life and spiritual guide, journal creator, and workshop facilitator — for a thoughtful conversation about self-discovery, intentional living, and the significance of the inner journey shaped by personal stories, the impact of shame, and the...

What if adventure didn’t have an expiration date?  In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Shannon and Ann sit down with Belinda Coker — lifelong traveler, solo hiker, and creator of Soul Treader — to explore what it means to keep choosing adventure across every season of life.  Belinda began traveling in the 1980s, long before smartphones, social media, or easy online bookings. As a...

Travel doesn’t have to be expensive or overwhelming to be meaningful.  In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Shannon and Ann sit down with Linda King — Amazon best-selling author, travel blogger, travel coach, and creator of The Smart Travelista — to talk about traveling smarter, saving money, and building confidence through travel.  With a background as both a banker and a travel a...

What happens when travel stops being an escape — and becomes a mirror? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Shannon and Ann sit down with Kristen Crabtree, author and transformation guide, to talk about freedom, identity, and the inner journeys that shape our lives.  From 2016 to 2020, Kristen traveled full-time across the U.S. and Canada in an RV — seeking freedom, clarity, and a...

What happens when you follow curiosity — on the road and on the page?  In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Shannon and Ann sit down with author Teri M. Brown to talk about adventure, storytelling, and the courage it takes to dream big — even when the road is long.  Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat and now calling the North Carolina coast home, Teri has lived a life shap...

⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussions of grief and loss. Please take care of yourself while listening.  Grief doesn’t come with a timeline — and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Shannon and Ann sit down with Lisa Rites, certified grief educator and author, for an honest, compassionate conversation about the many forms grief ca...

Welcome back to Travel Time Stories with Shannon! Today, Shannon and Ann sit down with Kimberly Haley-Coleman, founder of  @GlobeAware a nonprofit dedicated to culturally respectful, community-driven volunteer travel programs around the world.  💬 In this episode:  — How Globe Aware began  — The difference between ethical volunteer travel vs. “voluntourism”  — Powerful stories from families, commu...

Join Shannon and co-host Ann on this episode of Travel Time Stories as they sit down with author and Marine Corps veteran Tony Scott. Tony shares his multifaceted journey from Cleveland, Ohio, to becoming an attorney, public speaker, and writer. Discover his insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, the importance of authenticity, and code-switching.  Tony opens up about his writing process, his s...

What really happens when you travel during a government shutdown? In this episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon , I’m joined by my best friend and co-host Ann as we share our real-life experiences flying during a government shutdown — long TSA lines, delayed flights, packed airports, unexpected kindness, and moments that tested our patience (and humanity). We don’t just talk about the chaos...