Soul Wanderer : Mindful Travel for Women of Color

There’s something vulnerable about sharing a “before”. Before the experience, before I know how it all unfolds. That’s exactly why I wanted to record this short, but meaningful episode.

I’m heading to Spain to attend The Art of Pause, a women’s leadership retreat designed for deeper conversations, intentional slowness, and the kind of experiences that boutique properties and curated moments make possible.

In this episode I share:

• What drew me to The Art of Pause
• What excites me about this specific retreat experience
• How investing in myself will make me a better host for my own trips

This is the before. The after is coming.

Read the blog post about Spain https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/blog/spain-madrid-sevilla

Soul Wanderer is a podcast for mindful women of color who want to travel deeper, not just farther. Each episode blends solo travel inspiration, destination storytelling, and honest conversations about what it means to move through the world with purpose and intention.

From Japan to Portugal, Mexico to beyond, Soul Wanderer centers what mindful, conscious travel looks like for women of color navigating the world on their own terms.

New episodes every two weeks. Come wander.

Join the The Wander Letters

Visit Website: https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/

Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sequoia.armstrong/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this quick episode, I share some life and business updates as I continue my nomadic summer to Texas, Hawai'i and more.

Do you travel solo while partnered? Many do! I talk about what's next and what women's experiences are coming in 2027.

Join the waitlist for the Morocco Female Founders Trip happening Q3 2027 https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1013465/197424215967663128/share

There are 8 spots remaining for a women's group trip to Japan in March 2027 https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-group-trip-japan

Related Episode:

Ep.40 How One Tour Company in Morocco Creates Immersive Cultural Exchange: Food, Community, and Travel with Siham Lahmine

Soul Wanderer is a podcast for mindful women of color who want to travel deeper, not just farther. Each episode blends solo travel inspiration, destination storytelling, and honest conversations about what it means to move through the world with purpose and intention.

From Japan to Portugal, Mexico to beyond, Soul Wanderer centers what mindful, conscious travel looks like for women of color navigating the world on their own terms.

New episodes every two weeks. Come wander.

Join the The Wander Letters

Visit Website: https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/

Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sequoia.armstrong/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I talk about a more sensitive subject, should you visit a place or destination after they've experienced a natural disaster? After the recent hurricane that impacted Hawaii I felt compelled to go into:

•The importance of getting travel insurance

•Postponing or pivoting your trip

•Support local with intention. Supporting Native Hawaiian owned businesses in Hawai'i

•Connect with curiosity and respect wherever you choose to go. Are communities asking for visitors?

Recommended travel insurance through vetted partners:

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) offers travelers added flexibility, letting you cancel a trip for personal or non-covered reasons, and still recover a portion of your unused, prepaid, non-refundable payments or deposits.

Faye  

Arch Roam Right 

Episodes You Might Enjoy:

42.A Nomadic Summer: Hawai'i For a Bit

31. Creating Intention with Your Travel in 2026

Soul Wanderer is a podcast for mindful women of color who want to travel deeper, not just farther. Each episode blends solo travel inspiration, destination storytelling, and honest conversations about what it means to move through the world with purpose and intention.

From Japan to Portugal, Mexico to beyond, Soul Wanderer centers what mindful, conscious travel looks like for women of color navigating the world on their own terms.

New episodes every two weeks. Come wander.

Join the The Wander Letters

Visit Website: https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/

Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sequoia.armstrong/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I share:

•A life update on my nomadic summer, starting in Texas and now on Maui

•Announcing a new offer 'm building to help women to solo travel with confidence

•What it was like growing up with a mom who worked decades in Hawai'i's hotel industry, and the double-edged reality of tourism I saw firsthand

•A few honest thoughts on visiting Hawai'i more consciously, from supporting local businesses and getting off-the beaten path

Episode mentioned:

Ep.1 What Does Conscious Travel Mean?

Bon Voyage Besties Ep.70 How to Travel Japan Solo with Confidence: Expert Tips from Sequoia Armstrong

Soul Wanderer is a podcast for mindful women of color who want to travel deeper, not just farther. Each episode blends solo travel inspiration, destination storytelling, and honest conversations about what it means to move through the world with purpose and intention.

From Japan to Portugal, Mexico to beyond, Soul Wanderer centers what mindful, conscious travel looks like for women of color navigating the world on their own terms.

New episodes every two weeks. Come wander.

Join the The Wander Letters

Visit Website: https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/

Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sequoia.armstrong/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm unpacking what major sports events like the 2030 FIFA World Cup and Formula 1 mean for conscious travelers, and why Spain, Portugal, and Morocco should already be on your radar.

I dig deeper into:

• Why major sports events like the World Cup and F1 matter to conscious travelers
• What's already changing in these countries with sports events like these
• Why now is the window to visit before things shift
• How to travel host cities and beyond in a way that supports local communities
• The conscious travel choices that make all the difference- why, when, where to stay, and how to spend
• What to keep in mind before you start planning

Episodes referenced:

40. How One Tour Company in Morocco Creates Immersive Cultural Exchange: Food, Community, and Travel with Siham Lahmine

38. One of My Favorite Solo Trips

29. Why a Special Event is an Intentional Focus for a Trip 

Soul Wanderer is a podcast for mindful women of color who want to travel deeper, not just farther. Each episode blends solo travel inspiration, destination storytelling, and honest conversations about what it means to move through the world with purpose and intention.

From Japan to Portugal, Mexico to beyond, Soul Wanderer centers what mindful, conscious travel looks like for women of color navigating the world on their own terms.

New episodes every two weeks. Come wander.

Join the The Wander Letters

Visit Website: https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/

Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sequoia.armstrong/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Siham Lahmine, the founder Morocco Travel Organizer, the first woman‑owned luxury culinary and heritage specialist in Morocco. We discuss Siham's community-driven, tailor-made luxury tours across Morocco that emphasizes slow travel, culinary heritage preservation, safety tips for solo female travelers, and connecting visitors with local families and lesser-known destinations beyond Marrakech.

Siham Lahmine is one of Morocco's most distinguished culinary experts and a true pioneer in the world of luxury heritage travel. With a decade of experience leading immersive culinary adventures across Morocco, she has cultivated an extraordinary depth of knowledge in Fassi cuisine and the rich, diverse food traditions that define Moroccan culture from region to region. As the first Moroccan woman to found a travel company rooted in culinary and luxury heritage tourism, Siham has carved a singular path in an industry that had yet to see such a bold, culturally grounded vision. Her company, Morocco Travel Organizer, is not simply a travel service, it is a living invitation to experience Morocco from the inside out, through its flavors, its rituals, and its centuries-old culinary soul. 

Siham takes her travelers far beyond the postcard version of Morocco. She guides them through the winding, aromatic lanes of historic medina food souks, unlocking stories, secrets, and recipes that most visitors never encounter. Every journey she curates is a carefully crafted blend of authenticity and luxury, designed to awaken the senses while honoring Morocco's deeply rooted traditions.

1:10 Meet Siham Lamine

4:18 How Long to Stay and Getting Off-the-Beaten-Path

7:50 Community-Driven Travel and Planning Your Morocco Trip

10:50 Safety Tips for Female Travelers

15:05 Key Darija Words and Navigating the Souks

18:43 Culinary Heritage and Cooking with Local Families

22:58 The Impact on Community and Women's Empowerment

28:47 Morocco's Diverse Cities and Slowing Down to Travel Well

42:13 Siham's Days Off and Personal Passions

52:35 Where to Connect with Siham

Find out more about Siham and Morocco Travel Organizer https://moroccotravelorganizer.com/

Get the guide to avoid 7 costly Morocco travel mistakes scroll down towards bottom of the homepage above ⬆️

Soul Wanderer is a podcast for mindful women of color who want to travel deeper, not just farther. Each episode blends solo travel inspiration, destination storytelling, and honest conversations about what it means to move through the world with purpose and intention.

From Japan to Portugal, Mexico to beyond, Soul Wanderer centers what mindful, conscious travel looks like for women of color navigating the world on their own terms.

New episodes every two weeks. Come wander.

Join the The Wander Letters

Visit Website: https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/

Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sequoia.armstrong/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I share what happened when I returned to Japan on a solo research trip. This time as a conscious traveler with a completely different intention.

I dig deeper into:

• Why I went back and what I was looking for
• The difference between visit before and after the shift of becoming a conscious traveler
• What the quiet, the pace, and the lower season did for my nervous system
• The conscious travel choices that changed what I experienced
• What Japan gives you when you finally stop rushing through it
• What I'd tell a woman of color considering a solo trip to Japan

Episodes Referenced:

38.One of My Favorite Solo Trips

33.Off the Beaten Path Travel in Japan

Find out more about this small women's group trip to Shikoku, Japan this November https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-group-trip-japan

Soul Wanderer is a podcast for mindful women of color who want to travel deeper, not just farther. Each episode blends solo travel inspiration, destination storytelling, and honest conversations about what it means to move through the world with purpose and intention.

From Japan to Portugal, Mexico to beyond, Soul Wanderer centers what mindful, conscious travel looks like for women of color navigating the world on their own terms.

New episodes every two weeks. Come wander.

Join the The Wander Letters

Visit Website: https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/

Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sequoia.armstrong/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I speak about one of my favorite solo trips. It's something I get asked from time-to-time and also an opportunity to share beyond the countries I specialize in for my travel consulting business.

I cover:

•The time off I had at one of the restaurants I worked in in New York City to be able to take this trip

•Why I chose the two countries I visited

•How I planned the trip from where to go, stay, and logistics

•Why I continue to enjoy solo travel

Episode referenced:

37.Experience Japan Through This Immersive Women's Group Trip 

1.What Does Conscious Travel Mean?

Learn more by reading these blogs:

Madrid and Sevilla

Sagres

Lisbon

Soul Wanderer is a podcast for mindful women of color who want to travel deeper, not just farther. Each episode blends solo travel inspiration, destination storytelling, and honest conversations about what it means to move through the world with purpose and intention.

From Japan to Portugal, Mexico to beyond, Soul Wanderer centers what mindful, conscious travel looks like for women of color navigating the world on their own terms.

New episodes every two weeks. Come wander.

Join the The Wander Letters

Visit Website: https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/

Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sequoia.armstrong/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this quick episode, I share why I'm leading a small women's group trip to Japan this November and why it'll allow you to know Japan at a deeper level.

•What I realized about in-person events and why I wanted a small group

• The timing of it

•Why this region

•Who its best for

Find out more details and reserve your spot here ➛ https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-group-trip-japan

Soul Wanderer is a podcast for mindful women of color who want to travel deeper, not just farther. Each episode blends solo travel inspiration, destination storytelling, and honest conversations about what it means to move through the world with purpose and intention.

From Japan to Portugal, Mexico to beyond, Soul Wanderer centers what mindful, conscious travel looks like for women of color navigating the world on their own terms.

New episodes every two weeks. Come wander.

Join the The Wander Letters

Visit Website: https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/

Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sequoia.armstrong/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I share why I chose Japan as one of two places I specialize in and go deeper into my personal connection to this country. This is a question I often get asked and I thought that answering it here and in depth would be insightful.

I dig into:

•Family, roots, and ancestry

•Having a bicultural and bilingual upbringing

•How I turned what was "me" into a unique business

•Where Japanese hospitality can start and what I hope for travelers who visit Japan

Episode referenced:

Ep. 35 Money, Freedom, and Solo Travel with Adriana Galvan

Find out more about this women's group trip to Japan https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-group-trip-japan

Soul Wanderer is a podcast for mindful women of color who want to travel deeper, not just farther. Each episode blends solo travel inspiration, destination storytelling, and honest conversations about what it means to move through the world with purpose and intention.

From Japan to Portugal, Mexico to beyond, Soul Wanderer centers what mindful, conscious travel looks like for women of color navigating the world on their own terms.

New episodes every two weeks. Come wander.

Join the The Wander Letters

Visit Website: https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/

Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sequoia.armstrong/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.