After two weeks off, we’re back — and today’s conversation is exactly about coming back. Author and former boxer Mark Connor joins us to talk about loss, caring for parents, Irish and Native influences, and how to keep love, family, and life at the center even when the world is pulling apart.

In this episode, Cara and James sit down with Mark Connor, author of It’s About Time, a memoir-meets-spiritual-reflection wrapped around poetry and guarded (literally) by angels. Mark shares how he navigated seasons of grief, long pauses in his writing, caring for his parents, and staying rooted in Catholic faith while honoring Indigenous and Irish connections.

We talk about:

• How boxing and jazz taught him about rhythm in life and writing
• What to do when you hit 2 years of writer’s block
• Why he says God is not a tyrant, but “love, family, and life”
• Holding space for different spiritual traditions without losing your own
• How to keep creating when money/life/time say “not now”

📚 Get Mark’s book It’s About Time here: [Amazon link] or [Lulu link]

🌐 Visit Mark’s site: https://boxersandwritersmagazine.com/books

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: youtu.be/cTrek5Keb7o

Connect with us:

• Website & blog: https://kerouacscuising.com

• IG & FB: @KerouacsCruising

• Email us: [email protected]

• Support the show / travel content: ko-fi.com/kerouacscruising

If this episode encouraged you, the kindest thing you can do is rate, review, and share — it helps us reach more travelers, writers, and spiritual nomads like you. 🧡

A thunderstorm rolls in, the road turns to slush, and Yosemite’s drama cranks to 11. We pull over, wait it out, and keep going—dogs panting, windshield fogging, laughter on loop. Come along as we thread Tioga Pass, hunt for Tunnel View, daydream about the sequoias, and find the magic in the messy middle. 🎧 Watch the companion video: youtu.be/Wl2GJBzWWfg

• Where we are: Yosemite National Park via Tioga Pass (Lee Vining side)
• Weather curveball: Thunder, lightning, hail/sleet “mush,” low visibility, rockfall, and big temperature swings (high 30s–40s°F).
• The plan: Explore Yosemite Valley on a rainy day; opt for a short, paved, dog-friendly walk with views of Half Dome & Yosemite Falls.
• Reality checks:
  • James is 5 days post-foot injury (tetanus shot contemplation 😅).
  • Campsite is ~3 hours from Mariposa Grove; sequoias go on the “next trip” list.
  • Dogs = adorable, steamy windows.
• Highlights:
  • Watching waterfalls kick back on after the storm.
  • Three tunnels (!!) on the way toward the Valley (friend memory unlocked).
  • That “is that…a payphone?!” bit.
  • The way rainy days thin the crowds and amplify the mood.
• Dog tips: Bring towels, extra water, and plan paved, low-impact routes in bad weather.
• Safety note: Pull over during lightning/hail, watch for rockfall, and mind those no-guardrail edges.
• Watch the visuals: https://youtu.be/Wl2GJBzWWfg

Key takeaways (bullets):

• Rainy days can be the best national park days—crowds clear, waterfalls reappear, and the drama is unreal.
• Plans change; the park isn’t going anywhere. Save big hikes (like Mariposa Grove) for a future trip if conditions or health say so.
• Long drives to/from dispersed camp are worth it when the starlink/solar/views hit right.
• Safety > schedule. Pull over, breathe, and wait out the storm.

Stress isn’t the story—self-love is. Today we sit down with Cheyenne Moore—author of Self Love 101: How to Look in the Mirror and host of Safe Space with Cheyenne—to talk about the messy, honest middle of healing. We reframe anxiety and depression as parts of you asking to be seen, name the inner critic (Stanford, we see you), and get practical about boundaries, people-pleasing, grief, and being authentic online without performative “positivity.”

In this episode:

• Why your anxiety isn’t the enemy (and how to hear what it’s asking for)
• “Beginner-friendly” self-love tools that actually fit real life
• Grieving the Old Self & integrating the New You (Cheyenne’s next book + journal)
• Masculine emotions, parenting, and modeling nervous-system safety
• The trap of spiritual perfectionism + what honest progress looks like
• Using your voice without fixing, forcing, or faking it

About Cheyenne Moore

Cheyenne is the author of Self Love 101: How to Look in the Mirror and the upcoming Grieving the Old Self 101: How to Integrate the New You. She hosts Safe Space with Cheyenne, a podcast designed to elevate voices, stories, and beginner-friendly tools for real-life healing.

Connect with Cheyenne

• Book: https://a.co/d/8ByyalI

• Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/5W7zl2R8XggkQbZGztDOY7

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@safespacewithcheyenne

• YouTube: Safe Space with Cheyenne

• Facebook: Safe Space with Cheyenne (Wichita, KS)• Book: Self Love 101 → https://a.co/d/8ByyalI

Mentions

• Our current Book Club pick: The Untethered Soul (Sundays) → https://bit.ly/KerouacBookClub

• Kerouac’s Cruising blog & socials → kerouacscruising.com | IG/FB @kerouaccruising

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Like/subscribe/review to help more listeners find the show. Share with a friend who’s ready to trade perfection for honest progress.

On our way to Yosemite, we managed to wedge the trailer in a too-tight turn… again. Here’s the simple “disconnect & pivot” move we’ve now used twice to recover safely on downhill grades—plus how we chose a high-elevation boondock near Lee Vining with great Starlink and solar, what to know about Yosemite’s timed entry, and a rainstorm/rattlesnake morning for the books. We wrap with a quick tour of Virginia Lakes and why we stayed put at 9,100’ instead of moving deeper into the trees.

• A repeatable way to get unstuck on a downhill slope (with tire-chock safety)
• Why satellite view isn’t enough (and what to do instead)
• Starlink + solar considerations in mountain terrain
• Yosemite entry timing (avoid the reservation window)
• Rattlesnake etiquette with dogs, and monsoon camping in the desert
• Virginia Lakes Road overview: dispersed + primitive options, views for days

• Book Club: bit.ly/KerouacBookClub
• Work with us / socials: @kerouaccruising

Voice Movement Therapy practitioner, writer, singer, and creative polymath Kaatje Jones joins us to explore healing through the embodied voice, working with land/ancestors, and building an authentic, multi-hyphenate life. We talk Sedona vortexes, Santa Fe quiet magic, sessions that look like… chicken noises 🐔, and gentle ways to begin again.

Timestamps/Chapters:

00:00 – Why an eclectic, multi-hyphenate path can fuel you (not drain you)

01:38 – What is Voice Movement Therapy (VMT)?

05:38 – From theater kid to healing with the voice

07:03 – What a first VMT session can look like

09:24 – Breath, humming, roaring, and meeting your body where it’s at

11:21 – Shame, silliness, and celebrating tears

12:26 – Inner child + parts work in VMT

14:20 – Science, woo, and the spectrum between

16:13 – Working with the land (Sedona, Santa Fe) & being guided by place

19:33 – Vortex tours, skeptics, and “something’s happening…”

21:35 – Rebrand: YouTube + Substack as a creative container

25:13 – Music: medicine songs, land-inspired pieces, and coming-out stories

27:33 – How to work with Kaatje (online/outdoors/ancestor work)

28:56 – Boundaries/energy hygiene for empaths who hold space

31:11 – How many clients/day? When work gives you energy

34:53 – For the “rat race” crowd: small experiments & beginner’s mind

37:24 – Routines vs. responsiveness: building days by feel

41:28 – Everyone’s a beginner somewhere (even the experts)

43:19 – Santa Fe meetup, Part 2 ✨

Links:

• Work with Kaatje: wildxpression.com (Wild Expression without the “e”)

• Kaatje’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WildXpression or Substack: search Wild Xpression

• Our Book Club: https://bit.ly/KerouacBookClub

• Get The Untethered Soul: https://amzn.to/48gkvST

Sometimes the road gives you sunsets and smooth miles. Other times it hands you three hours on a Nevada highway, a monsoon storm that shakes your camper, and a rattlesnake at your door. This week on Kerouacs Cruising, we share the unpredictable beauty and challenges of chasing Yosemite.

On this episode of Kerouacs Cruising, we’re reminded that road life is never boring. What started as an early drive to Yosemite turned into hours waiting on the highway after a tragic accident, followed by a desert monsoon that rocked our evening — and a sunrise made even wilder by a rattlesnake sighting at camp.

We talk about:

• 🛻 The accident that shut down the Nevada highway and why road safety matters
• ⛈️ Experiencing a desert monsoon — rain, thunder, and beauty all rolled together
• 🐍 How Norman, our pup, saved the day by alerting us to a rattlesnake
• 🌄 The mix of chaos and serenity that makes this nomadic life unforgettable

It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

👉 Tune in to hear the full story and subscribe for more real-life road adventures.

Tired of being told “you’re fine” when you know something deeper is happening in your body? Natural health practitioner and author Elle Provencher joins us to unpack menopause, candida, cholesterol, detox, energy medicine, and how to step boldly into your power as a true “Menopausal Glamazon.”

For decades, Elle Provencher has been blending naturopathy, nutrition, energy work, and humor to help people take charge of their health. In this episode, she shares insights from her book The Magnificent Menopausal Glamazon: Unleashing Your Inner Superhero One Hot Flash at a Time and talks candidly about her own journey with menopause, candida, and cholesterol.

We explore:

• Why women are often dismissed by doctors — and how to advocate for yourself
• What candida really is (and why so many people struggle with it)
• How blood type eating impacts inflammation and energy
• The role of plastics, toxins, and everyday products in hormone health
• Practical detox tips with essential oils, foods, and mindset shifts
• The connection between frequency, energy medicine, and physical health
• Why menopause isn’t the end, but a powerful new beginning

Elle’s approach mixes science, natural medicine, and humor — reminding us that health and aging can be empowering, not limiting.

Timestamps

00:00 – Fired a doctor: why “eat less french fries” isn’t medical advice

02:22 – Elle’s background in naturopathy & energy work

07:00 – The candida story (and how to recognize it in yourself)

11:00 – Plastic in water bottles & rotisserie chicken reality check

14:40 – Essential oils for detox and menopause support

20:55 – Weight loss, hormones & finding balance

27:20 – Statins, cholesterol, and Elle’s personal journey

34:30 – The truth about salt, celery, and blood pressure

37:50 – Juicing, beets & everyday detox habits

38:20 – The Menopausal Glamazon book (humor + empowerment)

45:00 – Frequency, energy, and why your body is like a radio

50:00 – Breathing & grounding exercises to reduce stress

55:00 – Eat right for your blood type explained

01:00:00 – Closing thoughts + Elle’s contact info

Resources

• Elle’s book: The Magnificent Menopausal Glamazon (Coming Soon!)
• Contact Elle: 860-888-8613 | [email protected]

Connect

🌐 kerouaccruising.com

📸 FB & IG: @kerouaccruising

📩 Email: [email protected]

After eight years of blood, sweat, and sunsets, we locked the door to our Northern Arizona homestead for the last time. In this episode, we share the bittersweet goodbye to our off-grid home, the excitement of heading toward Yosemite, and the chaos of Vegas—including James’ screwdriver mishap.

Saying goodbye to a place you’ve built with your own hands is never easy. For us, leaving our 20-acre off-grid homestead in Northern Arizona came with tears, laughter, and fresh paint under our fingernails. But it also funded the next chapter: a road trip west, chasing long-awaited dreams in Yosemite.

We talk about:

• The whirlwind of fixing, painting, and selling our tiny home
• Why saying goodbye to a homestead is more than just a sale—it’s letting go of a life you built
• The nerves of towing into Yosemite’s high elevations with a tricky transmission
• Our candid struggles as a couple under pressure (hello, Vegas traffic + camper backing fiasco)
• James’ wild “screwdriver-through-the-foot” accident and what it taught us about slowing down

Join us as we transition from homebuilders to full-time travelers, and share the messy, beautiful reality behind the scenes.

Timestamps

00:00 – Teaser & Intro

02:20 – Two weeks of chaos: rodeos, football, friends & painting

05:30 – The bittersweet last lock of the front door

07:00 – Yosemite dreams & fears about towing over the Sierras

12:00 – Vegas traffic nightmare + camper communication meltdown

15:00 – The screwdriver accident: James vs. his foot

22:00 – What’s next: Kristen Bentley interview + Yosemite adventures

Resources Mentioned

• Kristen Bentley's Interview - YouTube: https://youtu.be/Lr4KrVycjHk Where You Stream: https://kerouacscruising.alitu.com/episode/c8c62d7d-0e2f-4f0a-bf54-9f213125825f

Connect

Website: kerouaccruising.com

IG/FB: @kerouaccruising

Email: [email protected]

What happens when you hit 50 and realize the “hustle” no longer fits? Wonderful Morrison shares how she quit everything, moved across the country to be with family, re-examined people-pleasing and identity, and rebuilt a more soul-led life. We discuss pattern disruptors (moving, nature, and rodeos!), nervous system regulation, minimalism, and how curiosity and quantum thinking can open new possibilities. If you’re craving a midlife reset, this one’s a compass.

Key Takeaways

• Why a location change can be the pattern disruptor your life needs
• People-pleasing, identity, and the midlife rebirth (not “crisis”)
• Nature as medicine: presence, simplicity, and real resilience
• How to “let go” without losing your ambition
• Using story (not just “strategy”) to build a bold personal brand
• Curiosity over fear when exploring tech/AI and “quantum” ideas

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Wonderful’s midlife pivot: “I quit everything.”
• 05:17 – Slowing down without “retiring” your spirit
• 06:44 – Rodeo, horses & reawakening the body’s courage
• 07:36 – Pattern disruptors: moving, selling, simplifying
• 10:41 – Back to basics in a high-tech world
• 12:30 – “Shut the **** up” mornings & nervous-system calm
• 20:51 – Real world > swipe world: building resilience
• 24:27 – Nature changes what you notice (trash, access, stewardship)
• 31:45 – The identity shock of seeing your people-pleasing
• 35:00 – Keep learning: joy, health, and grit
• 47:27 – Minimalism, moving, and the “enough” question
• 50:01 – Tech + humanity: a gentler take on AI & the future
• 57:48 – Healing outside the office; questioning old programming
• 1:10:50 – Business pivot: from “nice” coaching to bold brand storytelling
• 1:14:54 – “What your consciousness can dream up, you can live.”
• 1:18:11 – Book talk: E-Squared & the fun of experimenting
• 1:27:45 – Getting clear on what you really want
• 1:33:18 – What’s next & where to find Wonderful

Resources Mentioned (Affiliate)

• E-Squared by Pam Grout: https://amzn.to/4pvy9ro
• Transitions (book) — mentioned conceptually: https://amzn.to/4nkJgSs

Connect

• All things Wonderful Morrison: https://bit.ly/WonderfulM
• Kerouac’s Cruising: kerouaccruising.com | IG/FB: @kerouaccruising | Email: [email protected]

If this episode sparked something, leave a rating/review and share it with a friend who’s navigating midlife change. Your support helps us reach more good humans. 💛

When your doctor shifts from saying “treatable” to “cured,” life feels different. In this week’s episode of Kerouac’s Cruising, James shares big news from his thyroid cancer journey, while we also tackle truck troubles, Flagstaff’s forest escapes, and a night sky meteor shower. Hope, healing, and adventure all collide here.

This episode of Kerouac’s Cruising is a blend of triumph and trial. James reflects on the incredible moment when his doctor used the word “cured” instead of “treatable,” offering a new sense of freedom in his thyroid cancer recovery. Meanwhile, we talk through our ongoing battle with transmission issues, why we’re still camped in the pines instead of heading home, and how the cooler 8,000-foot elevation is keeping us refreshed through Arizona’s unusual late summer heat.

We also share:

• 🌦 Why the monsoon season feels so strange this year
• 🚙 The messy, campsite-side reality of replacing a thermal bypass valve
• 🐕 Managing the dogs around cattle guards and forest water temptations
• 🌌 Stargazing highlights, including a summer meteor shower worth staying up for
• 🏈 James’s excitement about an upcoming Arizona Cardinals game

Come along as we balance life’s frustrations with gratitude for quiet forests, starry skies, and the healing news that changes everything.

👉 Read more on our blog at kerouacscruising.com

👉 Connect with us on Instagram & Facebook: @kerouacscruising

👉 Support the journey or reach out: [email protected]