The Wandering Wild Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with my aunt, Sarah, to talk openly about growing up Mormon, what it was like to question and eventually leave the church, and how those beliefs still show up in our lives today — even years later.

We explore family dynamics, identity, fear, freedom, guilt, community, and what it really means to rebuild your sense of self after leaving a high-control religion. This is an honest conversation about faith, autonomy, and self-discovery.

Whether you grew up Mormon, left a religion, or are still untangling inherited beliefs, this episode is for anyone who wants to learn more.

In this episode of Wandering Wild, Ashley sits down with traveler and podcaster Matt Mitzel, who has visited 65 countries and counting while living a full-time nomadic lifestyle with his partner.

Matt shares his journey from teaching English abroad in Spain, South Korea, and Turkey to spending the last two years traveling to one country per month, house-sitting around the world, and building a life rooted in curiosity, connection, and adventure.

We dive into:
• What it’s really like visiting 65+ countries as a long-term traveler
• The realities of digital nomad life and finding routine on the road
• How house sitting abroad has helped him travel affordably in 16 countries
• Culture shocks, challenges, and the mindset shifts travel creates
• What teaching English overseas is actually like
• The difference between slow travel, backpacking, and living abroad
• How world travel shifts your identity, worldview, and sense of home
• His most surprising destinations and the countries he loves most
• Why some people are simply wired for adventure

This episode is full of insight, vulnerability, and inspiration — perfect for anyone dreaming of long-term travel, becoming a digital nomad, or exploring more of the world.

Find Matt on social media:

Personal - https://www.instagram.com/mattmitzel?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Travel - https://www.instagram.com/makin_moves_with_matt_?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/makinmovespod?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Travel Agency: https://www.instagram.com/trustedtravelers?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Matt & Perlie - https://www.instagram.com/mattandperlie?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Keywords: travel podcast, world traveler, 65 countries, digital nomad life, teaching English abroad, solo travel stories, house sitting, backpacking, slow travel, global citizen, culture shock, expat life, long-term travel.

In this episode, I sit down with my little brother John to talk about his first-ever solo trip… an unforgettable adventure through Vietnam. Incredible food, hidden caves, the Ha Giang Loop, and the people who made his journey magical.

We talk about what it feels like to travel alone for the first time, the moments that made him fall in love with exploring the world, and how this trip sparked a travel bug he never expected. If you've been thinking about taking your own leap into solo travel, this episode is your sign.

Follow John on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john.bshaw?igsh=MnYzZnk3bHh5OWVn

In this episode, I sit down with my new friend Evy! Together we experienced Loy Krathong, Chiang Mai’s lantern festival, where we released wishes into rivers, filled the city with candles, and released lanterns into the sky! 

This experience was full of incredible beauty, but also a few things we didn’t expect… In this episode, we talk about our experiences during this Thailand cultural festival.

We also talk about the freedom to reinvent yourself again and again during solo travel, the importance of new and long-standing human connection, the impact of travel on our planet, and more!

I love Evy and everything she has to share with us! I know you will too!

In this episode, Bella (@bellaandherbackpack_) joins me for a wide-open conversation about life, solo travel, female friendships, finances, confidence, backpacks, and everything in between. We talk about how she got started traveling, the lessons she’s learned on the road, building meaningful connections, and what it really feels like to grow through new experiences.

Whether you’re a new traveler, planning your next adventure, or simply curious about what life on the move teaches you, this episode is full of stories, honesty, and insight.

Check out Bella’s group trips! @andherbackpacktours

Keywords: solo travel, solo female travel, backpacking, travel stories, travel advice, young women who travel, budget travel, female friendships, travel mindset, long-term travel

In this episode or Wandering Wild, I’m joined by my brother, John, and close friend, Roean, two professional scuba divers and first-time backpackers! We talk about diving with thresher sharks in Malapascua, Philippines, island hopping adventures, monkeys in Kanchanaburi, and what surprised them most about the backpacker lifestyle.

As we sit by a peaceful river in Nam Tok we swap stories of backpacking Southeast Asia, staying in hostels, and making connections on the road.

If you’re dreaming of your first backpacking trip, shark diving, or just love authentic travel stories from Thailand and the Philippines… this one’s for you!

A candid, unplanned episode recorded at a train station — sharing what’s been on my mind after weeks exploring Southeast Asia. Thoughts on slowing down, finding rhythm on the road, and my experience exploring Indonesia and Thailand!

I decided to take a pause within my solo travel so I spent one week living within a Buddhist monastery in Norther Thailand and practicing both Samatha and Vipassana meditation.

7 days in Northern Thailand with no electronics and no speaking…

Here I share my honest experience. I share my thoughts, feelings, and a few journal entries. 

My experience wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be… but I’m excited to share it with you here!

If you’re interested in solo-travel, religion, Thailand, Buddhism, or meditation… this episode is for you! 

I just spent 3 weeks working in a hostel on the beautiful island of Koh Tao. Although this place is incredible, not all of my experience here was… here’s my debrief. My struggles, my growth, and my decision to leave early. 

I learned a lot from Koh Tao and the memories I made with my friends there are ones I’ll cherish. But… sometimes I also felt like I was an unwilling participant in love island. Listen to the episode to see what I mean…

In this episode, I share the story of crossing the border from Panama into Costa Rica—a journey full of unexpected challenges, lessons, and the powerful sense of empowerment that came on the other side.

This experience sparked a bigger reflection on what it means to truly embrace the human journey. We dive into how the lows carve the space for the highs, how struggle makes victory that much sweeter, and how every moment—whether messy, hard, or blissful—is part of the gift of being alive.

I also talk about the feeling of coming through difficulties on top of the world, and why I’ve made the choice to welcome it all: the discomfort, the breakthroughs, the chaos, and the beauty. Because without the lows, the highs wouldn’t shine as bright.