In this episode of the Rise and Wander podcast, I’ll introduce the third series focusing on travel and its significant impact on my life. I share my childhood dreams of travel, the evolution of my travel experiences as a young mother, and my journey through family and solo travels. I emphasize the diverse forms and benefits of travel, from local road trips to international adventures. 

This season will cover topics such as gear recommendations, packing tips, budgeting, and the personal growth gained through travel. It’s my goal to inspire and guide listeners in their own travel journeys, encouraging exploration and adventure.

In episode 10 of the Rise and Wander podcast I’m wrapping up the season with final thoughts and lessons learned from the Mount Kilimanjaro hiking series. This episode highlights my transformative experience in Africa—hiking, going on safari, and relaxing in Zanzibar. Key takeaways include the importance of saying yes to life, tuning into intuition, testing gear, and accepting help. The episode also features a heartfelt letter from a trip participant who felt profoundly impacted by the connections and experiences gained on the trip. 

In this episode of the Rise and Wander podcast, I’m interviewing Jess, a participant of the Kilimanjaro trip. Jess shares her inspirations for joining the expedition, her extensive outdoor and hiking experiences, and details her rigorous training regime, which included high-altitude hikes, and weight and endurance training. We discuss the journey's challenges, notably the inclement weather and the group's camaraderie during the climb. Jess highlights how the experience has shifted her preference from solo hikes to group adventures and emphasizes the importance of preparation and realistic goal-setting for those aspiring to tackle similar challenges. She also shares memorable moments including snow on summit day, the bonding among the group, and the emotional experience of reaching the summit

In this episode I am sharing a recap of our Mt. Kilimanjaro summit day and our last day on the African high point. It’s an emotional one folks, from false summits to tears, difficulty to celebration, chaos on the way down to persevering through one of the most intense experiences of my life! Getting injured on the way down… The mountain will test everything you’ve got and boy did we get it. I also share about our celebration at the end of the trip.

In this episode I am going over my packing tips, what to expect when you get to Tanzania and recapping days 1 through 5 of the trek. I share about the music that came alive every morning at camp, the pouring rain we encountered, the Baranco Wall experience, glorious star gazing, and the day we finally saw the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I also share how I honored the life of my dear friend and 52 Hike Challenge community member, Erin, on this trek. 

In this episode I’m sharing a little bit about the Kilimanjaro crew and their stories. I’m about to get into a recap of the trip and it only felt right to introduce you to the participants so you had a little context.  

In this episode I am going over medical considerations of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. As you know, Mt. Kilimanjaro is up at 19,341 feet and there are some things you’ll need to consider so you can summit safely.

Learn about: 

• Vaccination considerations

• Medication available for altitude sickness and more

• Mountain illnesses

• Caring for yourself with vitamins and food

• Getting an assessment from your doctor

• Breathing and meditating 

• Self care

• Stretching and more!

Link to O2 Boost Supplement:

https://o2boost66.com/products/o2boost-oxygen-supplement

Join me for a conversation about the gear you’ll need to consider when climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. 

Learn about: 

• All the clothing items you’ll need to consider bringing

• Importance of a good rain jacket (waterproof vs water resistant) 

• Some of my favorite brands and clothing staples + actual models names of what I used

• Accessories to consider

• Footwear  

• Why you may want to invest into new gear 

• Staying clean on the trek and much more!

Links: 

Nikwax: How to Re-Waterproof your gear video 

Magma puffy

Mountain Hardwear Rain Jackets

Outdoor Research Echo hoodie 

REI Sahara Shade Hoodie

Outdoor Research Ferossi pants

Oboz Footwear

Duffel Bags

Nikwax

Multifunction Headwear

Join me for episode 3 of the Rise & Wander Podcast. In today’s episode I am covering the training you will need to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro or similar high points. 

Some things I’ll cover include: 

• Sample training plan

• Importance of recovery, stretching, and rest

• Breaking in your footwear and training with your pack 

• Snacks and eating when training 

• Training at altitude and why it’s important

• How I trained and more!

Join me for episode 2 of Rise and Wander season 2 on hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro!

In today’s episode I am discussing all things logistics. We will go over:

• Picking your climbing dates 

• Picking a guide 

• Question to ask your guide

• Airport and lodging considerations

• Adding on a safari

• Tipping

• How your route will affect your training plan

• Weather considerations

• Visas &  passports 

• And more!