Soul of Travel: Women's Wisdom and Mindful Travel

By Christine Winebrenner Irick, Lotus SojournsSociety & Culture Business Entrepreneurship Education Self-Improvement Places & Travel

Soul of Travel: Women's Wisdom and Mindful Travel episodes

February 26, 2025 Inclusivity and Community-Based Travel with Zoe Shapiro
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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Zoe Shapiro.
When Zoe moved to Italy for what she thought would be one year of remote work, she found herself drawn to a culture that prioritized pleasure and personality over professional credentials. She discovered a new way of experiencing life and found that she couldn’t leave. Her lifelong passion for travel had always driven her forward, never letting budget constraints or solo status hinder her adventures. She launched Stellavision to provide a unique platform that celebrates and connects smart, independent women who share her vision of immersive, culturally rich travel experiences, focusing particularly on introducing travelers to Italy's hidden gems and authentic cultural pulse.

Christine and Zoe discuss:
· The year-long adventure to Italy that became a lifelong journey
· Creating a welcoming and inclusive travel experience, especially creating size-inclusive travel
· The fun and freedom women can have when traveling in smaller groups
Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Zoe Shapiro.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.

LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app.
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Learn more about Stellavision Travel and connect with Zoe: stellavisiontravel.com
Connect with Zoe on Instagram!
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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!
Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman.
Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast.
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Zoe Shapiro (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo.
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1 hr 9 min
February 19, 2025 Weaving Mindful Travel, Wisdom & The Divine Feminine with Author Rebe Huntman
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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Rebe Huntman.
Rebe is a memoirist, essayist and poet who writes at the intersections of feminism, world religion and spirituality. Rebe holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from The Ohio State University and lives in Delaware, Ohio and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She is also the author of “My Mother in Havana: A Memoir of Magic and Miricle” released February 18, 2025. In her book she offers a window into the extraordinary world of Afro-Cuban gods and ghosts and the dances and rituals that call them forth. As she explores the memory of her own mother, interlacing it with her search for the sacred feminine, Reebe leads us into a world of séance and sacrifice, pilgrimage and sacred dance, which resurrect her mother and bring her face to face with a larger version of herself.
Christine and Rebe discuss:
· The draw of the pilgrimage quest and why that pull is so strong
· Connection and disconnection when we travel and what it’s like when you leave your camera behind
· Growing awareness of colonization and the deep complexities we witness when we travel
· Rebe’s new book, My Mother in Havana: A Memoir of Magic and Miracle
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.

LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
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Learn more and connect with Rebe: https://www.rebehuntman.com. Connect with Rebe on your favorite social media network! Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn
Ready to read My Mother in Havana: A Memoir of Magic & Miracle? Available for purchase on Amazon and Bookshop!
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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!
Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast.
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Rebe Huntman (Guest). Original music by Clark Adam
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1 hr 12 min
February 12, 2025 Women’s Wisdom through Travel & Life’s Transitions with Beth Kruger
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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Beth Kruger.
Beth curates wellness retreats and experiences for women over 40 that focus on the core pillars of a healthy lifestyle: nutritious food, movement, stress reduction, and relationships. Her transformative experiences support the transitions of midlife by normalizing and celebrating the aspects of living well, of aging with grace and purpose, and of gaining wisdom and confidence in a female body surrounded by a culture that is obsessed with the physical appearance of youth. Her retreats are curated for women in midlife, highlighting connections and community with other women, spa experiences, healthy meals, educational workshops, and daily movement as well as mindfulness experiences like a sound sanctuary, yoga nidra, and more. She is dedicated to working with women over 40 as they create their dream retreats, and she also is accepting one-on-one clients and small group cohorts.
Christine and Beth discuss:
· The confusion many women feel at different stages of life
· The lack of information available to help women navigate puberty, child-birthing years, and perimenopause
· How Beth and Christine became information-seekers and were moved to create spaces to share
· The long-term habits that lead to burnout – and how to avoid it

Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Beth Kruger.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.

LOVE these soulful conversations? Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
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Learn more about Women’s Room and connect with Beth: https://www.bethkruger.com/. Connect with Beth! Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook. Looking for a life-changing retreat for women over 40? Learn more!
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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!
Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman.
Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast.
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Beth Kruger (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo.
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1 hr 16 min
February 05, 2025 Rediscovering Self & Connection through Travel with Tania Carriere
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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Tania Carriere.
Tania Carriere is the founder and CEO of Advivum Inc., a leadership transformation company, and its subsidiary, Advivum Journeys, a global retreats company and industry leader in Transformational Travel Design. She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach, holds an MPA from Western University, and has been featured in Elle, Conde Nast Traveller, Psychologies Magazine, the Telegraph, and the Guardian. She is an Adjunct Faculty at the Modern Elder Academy and a regular contributor to several international blogs on personal leadership, midlife and travel.
As an Epiphany Designer and transformational travel retreat leader, she creates deeply engaging learning journeys that focus on personal vision, fulfillment, and life design, giving her participants a renewed sense of inspiration, balance, and direction.
Christine and Tania discuss:
· The importance of investing in ourselves
· How travel helps us to learn more about ourselves, our beliefs and our behaviors and can show us how we may want to make changes in our daily lives
· Tania’s TEDx talk, Navigating the Messy Middle and 5 lessons we can use to navigate change
· How travel is a great teacher in navigating change and getting comfortable with discomfort
Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Tania Carriere.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.

LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
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Learn more about Advivum Journeys and connect with Tania: www.advivumjourneys.ca.
Connect with Tania on your favorite social media network. Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn
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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!
Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman.
Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast.
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Tania Carriere (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo.
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1 hr 16 min
January 29, 2025 Food, Connection, and Cultural Bridge-Building with Aashi Vel
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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Aashi Vel.
Aashi Vel is the founder and CEO of Traveling Spoon, a company that is changing the future of travel by creating meaningful travel experiences. Traveling Spoon provides travelers with private, authentic food experiences, from homemade meals to cooking classes, with locals around the world. The company has been featured in the NY Times, TIME magazine and Forbes as the future of culinary tourism. Most importantly, the company has a meaningful impact, not only on travelers but also on their hosts that are enabled to become micro-entrepreneurs, earning an income doing what they love. An industrial designer and patent holder with a deep passion for problem-solving, Aashi has designed several award-winning products. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the Savannah College of Art & Design and received her MBA from UC Berkeley.
Christine and Aashi discuss:
· The power of food in connecting people, places, and cultures
· How she forms partnerships with community members to open their homes and share traditions and a meal
· Aashi’s work as an industrial designer and how it helps her work as CEO and founder of Traveling Spoon
Join Christine for this soulful conversation with Aashi Vel. Available Wednesday.
Special gratitude to our partner for this episode, Explorer X and their newly launched Hero Travel Fund! If you’ve been dreaming of an extraordinary journey, one that takes you beyond the ordinary and into the heart of new cultures and perspectives, but the financial barriers have been holding you back, then the HTF is for you. Apply by 2/28: https://www.explorer-x.com/hero.
Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Aashi Vel.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.

LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app.
🌎
Learn more about Traveling Spon at https://www.travelingspoon.com/.
Connect with Aashi on your favorite social media network! Instagram / LinkedIn.
Special gratitude to our partner for this episode, Explorer X and their newly launched Hero Travel Fund! If you’ve been dreaming of an extraordinary journey, one that takes you beyond the ordinary and into the heart of new cultures and perspectives, but the financial barriers have been holding you back, then the HTF is for you. Apply by 2/28: https://www.explorer-x.com/hero.

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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!
Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collec
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1 hr 10 min
January 22, 2025 The Power of Audio-Only Media and How to Be Well in Travel with Laura Fernandez
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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Laura Fernandez.
Laura Fernandez has played a pivotal role in the audio industry at SiriusXM Media, a media group renowned for providing advertisers with unparalleled access to a dynamic portfolio of audio content. This includes live and exclusive content on SiriusXM, immersive streaming experiences on Pandora and SoundCloud, and a vast array of podcast networks featuring celebrated creators and hosts. As the VP-Head of Industry for Travel, Laura excels in developing media solutions that connect travel brands with their target audiences through these platforms. She expertly aligns SiriusXM's offerings with the needs of travelers, ensuring effective brand engagement. Starting her journey with SiriusXM Media in 2011 as a Sales Executive, Laura was initially tasked with launching the Las Vegas market's advertising sales. Her career swiftly expanded as she built and led new verticals for Casinos, Tourism, and Travel from scratch, harnessing the company’s resources to fuel her entrepreneurial vision. Her deep passion for both music and travel brings an emotional depth to her work, emphasizing the transformative power of audio.
Christine and Laura discuss:
· The power of podcasting to reach intergenerational audiences
· Creating habits to maintain our health and wellness as we travel
· Women Leading Travel & Hospitality
Join Christine for this soulful conversation with Laura Fernandez.
Special gratitude to our partner for this month, Explorer X and their newly launched Hero Travel Fund! If you’ve been dreaming of an extraordinary journey, one that takes you beyond the ordinary and into the heart of new cultures and perspectives, but the financial barriers have been holding you back, then the HTF is for you. Apply by February 28th: https://www.explorer-x.com/hero.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.

Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts.
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Connect with Laura on your favorite social media network! Instagram / LinkedIn.
Discover your next favorite podcast at Sirius XM. Looking for information on audio advertising? Learn more at Sirius XM Media.
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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!
Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman.
Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast.
Credits. Christine Winebrenne
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1 hr 7 min
January 15, 2025 Conscious Travel Choices and Content Creation with Ketti Wilhelm
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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Ketti Wilhelm.
Ketti Wilhelm is the founder of Tilted Map – an award-winning travel blog and social media brand that shares actionable, realistic advice for how to make any kind of travel more sustainable. (It doesn't all have to be eco-lodges in the rainforest!) She's a dedicated sustainability advocate (with a Master's Degree in Sustainable Business & Energy from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy), an experienced writer (with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Montana), and an insatiable traveler, foodie and serial expat (having lived and worked in China, Italy, France, Spain and Nicaragua). She speaks fluent Italian, Spanish, and a bit of French, Portuguese and Mandarin. In addition to Tilted Map, her travel writing and photography have been published by many magazines, including Wanderlust, the UK’s most-read independent travel magazine, where she served as Sustainability Editor at Large. When not traveling, you can find her playing the Brazilian martial art of capoeira, or exploring the outdoors on a skis or a bike. She and her husband also lead group e-bike trips in rural parts of Italy that most foreigners never visit.
Christine and Ketti discuss:
· Sustainability in travel and how to make the conversation more accessible to greater audiences
· Greenwashing in content creation and brand partnerships and how to avoid it
· Carbon capture and shaping the tourism industry
· Hyper-local bike tours in Italy with Tilted Map
Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Ketti Wilhelm.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.

Special gratitude to our partner for this month, Explorer X and their newly launched Hero Travel Fund! If you’ve been dreaming of an extraordinary journey, one that takes you beyond the ordinary and into the heart of new cultures and perspectives, but the financial barriers have been holding you back, then the HTF is for you. Apply by February 28th: https://www.explorer-x.com/hero.
LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app.
🌎
Connect with Ketti on your favorite social media network! Instagram / LinkedIn / YouTube / Facebook
Learn more about the upcoming super-local Tilted Map bike trips in Italy at https://www.tiltedmap.com/biketrip/.
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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!
Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hear
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1 hr 23 min
January 08, 2025 The Intersection of Travel and Wellness with Robyn DeVoe
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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Robyn DeVoe.
Robyn caught the travel bug at a young age while exploring Europe with her parents and was officially hooked while studying ecotourism in Fiji and Australia. Her professional career in the travel industry over the last decade has taken her to places near and far, from soaring over Arches National Park in a Cessna to snorkeling with sea turtles in the Galápagos. Today, Robyn finds true fulfillment in being able to help her clients unlock the trip of their dreams and ultimately spreading appreciation and support for communities and environments around the world through responsible tourism. When Robyn is not crafting itineraries, you can find her wearing her health coaching hat, helping her clients live their best lives, while she does the same, recreating in the mountains around her home in Bozeman, Montana.
Christine and Robyn discuss:
· The intersection of travel and wellness
· Reframing travel by asking “why we travel” over “where we travel”
· Robyn’s work as a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach
· Being a Dream Weaver in travel and life
Special gratitude to our partner for this episode, Explorer X, and their newly launched Hero Travel Fund! Apply by February 28th: https://www.explorer-x.com/hero.
Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Robyn DeVoe.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.

LOVE these soulful conversations? Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
🌎
Visit Explorer X to learn more about the Hero Travel Fund or book your next custom journey. Connect with Robyn and learn about her wellness services at www.robyndevoewellness.com. Chat with Robyn on your favorite social media network! Instagram / Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn
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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!
Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman.
Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast.
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Robyn DeVoe(Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by
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1 hr 10 min
January 02, 2025 🔒 Soul of Travel BEYOND! Women's Wisdom: Defining Success On Your Own Terms
Subscriber-only episode
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In this premium subscriber-only episode, we hear from Iris Serbanescu, Lila Fox, and Amanda Riffee. We take a look at the ways that we define success, where those definitions come from, breaking down preconceived notions of success, and honoring our full self along the way.

As Michele Obama stated, “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” Our perception of success and whether we think we have reached it or not can be one of the things that hold us back from accomplishing all that we wish to in our lives.

Thank you for joining us in our BEYOND community...we cannot wait to share this journey with you!

33 min
January 01, 2025 New Year's Day Special with Christine & Carly: 2024 Reflection and 2025 Visioning
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In this SPECIAL NEW YEAR EPISODE of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine is joined by Carly Oduardo for a 2024 Reflection and 2025 Visioning!
Christine and Carly reflect on the growth of the podcast in 2024 and celebrate a few achievements, including:
✨ Placing #14 in the Top 100 Travel Podcasts by Feedspot
✨ Soul of Travel's Feature in Forbes!
✨ Nominations for Women in Podcasting and TBEX Travel Creator Awards
✨ 38,000+ lifetime downloads in 131 countries

Christine and Carly also discuss:
· The journey they have shared over the past 4 years in the Soulful Book Sojourn by Lotus Sojourns
· 2025 Travel Events where you can connect with SOT
· NEW Premium Subscriber Content! 🎉
· In-person Events hosted by SOT
· Advertising and Sponsor Opportunities for 2025
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.

LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app.
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Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here!
Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman.
Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast.
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo.
Support the show
1 hr 1 min