Travel Time Stories: Real Journeys, Real Stories, Real Healing

Author Spotlight: poet Nicole Goodwin (GOODW.Y.N.), author of Warcrimes, on trauma, motherhood, love, and writing through war. 

Host Shannon Lamkin explores how a raw poetry collection becomes a tool for resilience and healing. Candid conversation about trauma poetry, creative process, and finding connection after conflict. Runtime 42:16. 

GOODW.Y.N.'s experiences as a soldier in Iraq didn't simply disappear when the deployment ended. In our conversation, we explore what happens when the physical war is over but another battle continues within—and how poetry became a place to confront experiences that weren't always easy to put into ordinary words.

We talk about trauma and the writing of Warcrimes, finding catharsis through poetry, and the complicated journey from war and hate toward love. GOODW.Y.N. shares how their experiences as a soldier, mother, writer, artist, and seeker have shaped both their work and their humanity.

We explore the extraordinary ability of poetry to give language to difficult emotions and create connection between people whose lives may look completely different.

GOODW.Y.N. is a 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry longlistee, a 2023 RWW Creative Nonfiction Fellow, and a 2018 Ragdale Alice Judson Hayes Fellowship recipient. Their writing has also appeared in The New York Times Motherlode.

📖 Featured Book: Warcrimes 

https://amzn.to/4xBr2Bj
✍️ Featured Author: GOODW.Y.N. (Nicole Goodwin)

@goodw.y.n9 or [email protected]

https://www.traveltimestories.com/

What if the problem… was never you?

In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Russell Van Brocklen, known as The Dyslexia Professor, to talk about what it really means to grow up with dyslexia—and how one shift in understanding can change everything.

For years, Russell believed the message so many struggling learners hear:
 You’re not smart enough.

But that story wasn’t true.

And it’s not true for the millions of children and adults navigating dyslexia today.

🎙️ In This Episode, We Talk About:

✨ What it’s like growing up with severe dyslexia
 ✨ The hidden impact of shame and self-doubt
 ✨ The turning point that changed everything
 ✨ Why “wait and see” can do more harm than good
 ✨ How structured, multisensory learning actually works
 ✨ Simple, practical steps parents can start using today

Dyslexia affects up to 1 in 5 learners—yet so many families are left without clear answers.

This conversation brings clarity, hope, and real tools that can make a difference right away.

💬 Tell us in the comments:
What’s something you struggled with growing up that you see differently now?

🔔 Subscribe for more real stories of healing, growth, and transformation.

Life is a journey… and every journey is worth telling.

✨ Until next time, keep traveling your story and keep making memories for life.

 #Dyslexia #LearningDifferences #ParentingTips #Education #ReadingHelp #Neurodivergent #SpecialEducation #Mindset #Healing #TravelTimeStories 

https://www.traveltimestories.com/

 📚 Welcome to the very first episode of The Author Spotlight Series!

Presented by Travel Time Stories with Shannon

Limited Series: Sept - Nov

Twenty authors. 

Twenty books. 

All genres. 

And twenty completely different minds waiting to be discovered. 

For our first Spotlight, Shannon and Ann sit down with poet Anthony Prieston, author of Whispers of Distress—an unapologetically dark, gothic and philosophical poetry anthology exploring love, suffering, decay, human nature and what Prieston calls the “wondrous horrors of life.” But this conversation goes beyond the pages. 

Anthony takes us inside his approach to poetry and the philosophy behind his writing as we explore why he writes, where poetry comes from, and whether a poem needs to be understood to have meaning. We talk about the strange relationship between beauty and suffering, the freedom of writing without limitations, and the ways two readers can encounter the same words and walk away with completely different experiences. And, of course, we step beyond the official author bio to discover a little more about the person behind the poetry. 

If you've ever wondered what happens inside the mind of a poet—or thought poetry wasn't for you—this conversation may make you look at it a little differently. 

📖 Featured Book: Whispers of Distress 

✍️ Featured Author: Anthony Prieston 

Turn the page, unlock the door, and step with us inside the mind of a storyteller. 

Every book has a story. But so does the person who wrote it. 

Anthony Prieston on socials @whispersofdistress 

Buy his book on Amazon (Whispers of Distress): https://amzn.to/4gg2asT 

Travel Time Stories: The Author Spotlight Series #whispersofdistress #AAprieston #traveltimestorieswithshannon #authorcommunity #bookcommunity #authorspotlight #indieauthors #authorssupportingauthors #newauthors #bookrecommendations #newpodcastseries #newepisode #tunein 

https://www.traveltimestories.com/

What if laughter could help save your life?

In this powerful and surprisingly uplifting episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with comedian, author, and mental health advocate Dave Mowry to discuss bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, homelessness, recovery, and how stand-up comedy became a turning point in his healing journey.

After losing everything to mental illness and enduring what he calls “14 lost years,” Dave discovered a comedy class designed for people living with mental illness—and it changed everything.

Today, he uses humor, storytelling, and honesty to help others find hope, connection, and healing one joke at a time.

🎙️ In This Episode:

🖤 Living with bipolar disorder and severe anxiety
 🎤 How stand-up comedy became part of recovery
 🌧️ Hospitalization, homelessness & rebuilding life
 😂 Finding humor in painful experiences
 🌿 Mental health stigma & human connection
 ❤️ Why healing is still possible

Dave is also the bestselling author of the OMG That’s Me! mental health book series and Healing with Humor: Mental Illness to Mental Health: One Laugh, One Joke, One Inspiring Story at a Time. He teaches stand-up comedy classes for people living with mental illness to help them reclaim their voices and stories.

⚠️ This episode discusses mental illness, hospitalization, and homelessness.

💬 COMMENT BELOW:
 Do you think humor can be part of healing?

🔔 Subscribe for more real stories of resilience, healing, and transformation.

✨ Until next time, keep traveling your story and keep making memories for life.

Dave's Website: https://davemowry.wpcomstaging.com/

https://www.traveltimestories.com/

What happens when travel becomes more than a vacation?

In this inspiring episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Eleanor A., founder of Elevate Your Escapes, to talk about meaningful travel, cultural connection, emotional transformation, and what exploring more than 70 countries has taught her about life.

This conversation goes beyond travel tips and bucket lists.

It’s about:
 ✨ Traveling with intention
 ✨ Finding beauty in slower experiences
 ✨ The emotional impact of seeing the world
 ✨ Why meaningful travel changes us
 ✨ And how the journeys we take often become journeys inward too

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or someone dreaming of your next adventure, this episode will leave you thinking differently about why we travel in the first place.

🎙️ In This Episode:

✈️ The difference between luxury travel and elevated travel
 🌍 Emotional experiences from 70+ countries
 🧳 Travel as self-discovery vs escape
 🍷 Honest travel opinions & trends
 🌿 Slow travel, culture & connection
 💼 Building a travel business around meaningful experiences

 💬 COMMENT BELOW:
 What destination changed you emotionally? 

Eleanor A. contact Info:

 Elevate Your Escapes: http://www.elevateyourescapes.com/

Facebook & Instagram: @elevateyourescapes

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about travel, healing, transformation, and the stories that shape us.

✨ Until next time, keep traveling your story and keep making memories for life.

#podmatch #travel #elevatedtravel #luxurytraveladvisor #luxurytravel #elevateyourescape #traveling #traveltimestorieswithshannon #realjourneysrealstories #keepmakingmemoriesforlife #traveltimestories #luxurytravelexperience

https://www.traveltimestories.com/

Paralyzed at 20… and yet, this is not a story about loss. 

It’s a story about what’s still possible. 

In this powerful episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, Ann sits down with Ken Kunken—whose life changed forever during a college football game at Cornell University. A single moment left him almost completely paralyzed from the shoulders down. 

But what came next… is what makes this story unforgettable. 

Ken went on to: 

✔ Return to Cornell and complete his degree 

✔ Earn multiple advanced degrees in education and psychology 

✔ Become a nationally certified rehabilitation counselor 

✔ Build a 40+ year career as a Nassau County Assistant District Attorney 

✔ Raise a family and become a father to triplets 

This conversation isn’t just about resilience—it’s about redefining what’s possible when life doesn’t go as planned. 

🎙️ In This Episode, We Talk About: 

✨ The moment everything changed 

✨ Rebuilding a life after paralysis 

✨ Finding purpose through adversity 

✨ Breaking through mental and physical limits 

✨ Creating a meaningful life on your own terms 

Ken’s story is a reminder that even when life takes everything you thought you had… it can still give you something greater. 

📘 Learn more about Ken’s book: I Dream of Things That Never Were: The Ken Kunken Story https://kenkunken.com/ 

💬 If this episode moved you, let us know in the comments: What part of Ken’s story impacted you the most? 

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more real stories of resilience, healing, and transformation. Visit our website https://www.traveltimestories.com to learn more about joining our community, our private FB page The Story Circle, and our group travel events. 

#podmatch #traveltimestorieswithshannon #overcomingobstacles #healingjourney #quadraplegic #livingwithdisabilities #disabilityempowerment #authors #resilience

https://www.traveltimestories.com/

What happens when your life takes a turn you never saw coming? 

In this fascinating episode of Travel Time Stories with Shannon, I sit down with Eric Robinson, a recently retired FBI Special Agent whose journey is anything but ordinary. 

Before spending 24 years in the FBI—working cases involving counterterrorism, crimes against children, gangs, drugs, and public corruption—Eric spent 12 years in Christian ministry, including pastoring a church. From the pulpit… to SWAT operations. From saving souls… to chasing criminals. 

This conversation dives into what it really looks like to step into a completely different calling—and what Eric discovered along the way. 

🎙️ In This Episode, We Talk About: 

✨ What led him from ministry to the FBI 

✨ What it’s like entering the world of federal law enforcement 

✨ The emotional and mental realities of working high-stakes cases 

✨ Surprising, humorous, and unexpected moments from his career 

✨ How faith and law enforcement intersect 

✨ The story behind his upcoming book Irreverend 

Eric’s journey challenges the idea that we only have one path in life—and shows what can happen when we follow where we’re being led, even when it doesn’t make sense. 

📘 Coming Soon: Irreverend: From Saving Souls to Chasing Sinners in the FBI 

Find Eric at: https://www.preachertobreacher.com/

 https://www.instagram.com/_eric_robinson/ 

💬 Let us know in the comments: Do you believe people have one calling in life… or many? 

🔔 Subscribe for more real stories of transformation, purpose, and unexpected journeys. Visit our website: https://www.traveltimestories.com to learn more about joining out community, our private FB group The Story Circle, and our group travel events. 

 Life is a journey… and every journey is worth telling. 

#FBI #truestory #lifechange #Purpose #faithjourney #lawenforcementlife #Inspiration #careerchange #realstories #traveltimestorieswithshannon 

https://www.traveltimestories.com/

🚢 What if your next trip changed more than your location? 

Travel Time Stories is leaving the microphone behind and taking our community to SEA! 🌴 Everyone who books becomes part of something that will always be remembered as the first and be Founding Members of the TTS travel community.

Join Shannon & Ann for our FIRST Story at Sea aboard the Crown Princess®, sailing the Southern Caribbean March 14–21, 2027. This isn't just about taking a cruise. It's about bringing together the people who have listened to the stories, shared their own stories, traveled with us, laughed with us, and become part of the Travel Time Stories community. 

Come for the Caribbean. Come for the adventure. But most of all, come for the CONNECTION. 

💜 Meet new people and make new friends 

🎙️ Connect with fellow TTS listeners and past guests 

🌴 Explore six incredible Caribbean destinations 

😂 Share meals, laughter, stories, and unforgettable moments 

🚢 And become part of our very FIRST Travel Time Stories group adventure! 

CRUISE DETAILS: 

📅 March 14–21, 2027 

🚢 Crown Princess® 

📍 Roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico 

🌴 Southern Caribbean 

💰 Inside Cabin: $1,474 per cabin* 

💰 Balcony Cabin: $2,594 per cabin* 

🔐 Deposit: $250 per person 

⏰ Deposit Deadline: AUGUST 31, 2026 

💳 Final Payment: December 14, 2026 *Cabin pricing based on double occupancy. ⚠️ This is a LIMITED group experience, and we need SEVEN cabins booked by August 31 to make our first Story at Sea happen! 

Past Travel Time Stories guests—we're calling you out, too! Come continue the conversations we started behind the microphone IN REAL LIFE. 

💜 Interested in joining us? Email: [email protected] or send us a DM @traveltimestorieswithshannon on social media or drop a YES in the comments. Be part of the beginning. Be part of the community. Be part of our FIRST STORY AT SEA. 🚢

💜 Until next time, keep traveling your story and keep making memories for life! #TravelTimeStories #FirstStoryAtSea #TTSCommunity #groupcruise #grouptravel #CruiseWithUs #caribbeancruise #SouthernCaribbean #crownprincess #PrincessCruises #cruisevacation #cruiselife #travelcommunity #traveltogether #girlswhotravel #Over50Travel #midlifetravel #makingmemories #travelfriends #TravelYourStory #travelpodcast 

https://www.traveltimestories.com/

Brownies… for breakfast? 

It sounds too good to be true—but today’s guest says it’s not only possible… it might actually be better for you. 

In this fun, insightful, and surprisingly practical episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with Lynne Bowman—aka the Glam Grandma—author of the bestselling cookbook Brownies for Breakfast: A Cookbook for Diabetics and Those Who Love Them. 

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Lynne completely rethought the way she approached food, health, and life—and what she discovered might surprise you. 

✨ In this episode, we talk about: 

• The truth about managing (and even reversing) type 2 diabetes 

• Why most people get food and nutrition completely wrong 

• How to enjoy what you eat without feeling restricted 

• Simple habits that actually make a difference 

• And yes… how brownies can fit into a healthy lifestyle But this conversation goes beyond food. 

As a true Glam Grandma, Lynne also shares: 

💄 Life advice we all wish we heard earlier 

💔 What we get wrong in our first marriages 

✨ How to reinvent yourself at any age 

❤️ What really matters in the end This episode is equal parts wisdom, laughter, and “wait… that actually makes sense.” 

💬 Tell us in the comments: Would you try brownies for breakfast? 

Find out more about Lynne: https://lynnebowman.com/ 

✨ Subscribe for more real stories, real conversations, and real-life wisdom. https://www.traveltimestories.com/ Please join our community The Story Circle: https://www.traveltimestories.com/join/ 

#podmatch #tunein #newpodcastepisode #traveltimestorieswithshannon #healthyeating #diabetesawareness #menopause #foodlover #grandmawisdom #glamgrandma #lynnebowman #healthyliving #cookbookauthor #lifestylechanges #elderlywisdom #elderlyhealthtips 

https://www.traveltimestories.com/

What if your life had a soundtrack… and you could rewrite it?

In this deeply personal episode of Travel Time Stories, Shannon and Ann sit down with therapist and author Johnzelle Anderson to explore his powerful memoir, Mixtape: A Memoir—a story of survival, identity, and the journey from silence to voice. Told in “tracks” instead of chapters, Mixtape weaves together memories of growing up mixed race in 1990s Virginia, navigating childhood abuse, neglect, and racism, and searching for belonging in a world that often made him feel like an outsider. But this isn’t just a story about pain. It’s about resilience. It’s about healing. It’s about learning that you can rewrite the narrative—even if you didn’t choose how it began. 

In this episode, we explore: 

🎧 The “sound and silence” of survival 

🧠 How trauma shapes identity and self-worth 

❤️ The importance of safe relationships and chosen family 

🌍 A life-changing journey to Ghana and reconnecting with roots 

✍️ Using storytelling as a tool for healing and transformation Johnzelle’s story is honest, lyrical, and deeply human—a reminder that even the hardest chapters can become part of something meaningful. 

✨ You may not choose your story… 

✨ But you can choose how you carry it. 

💬 Comment below: What would your life’s soundtrack sound like? 

🎧 Subscribe for more stories of travel, healing, and transformation. Become a Member of our Community, Join The Story Circle: https://www.traveltimestories.com/join/ 

Connect with Johnzelle at: https://www.johnzelle.co/  

#podmatch #tunein #newpodcastepisode #authors #traveltimestorieswithshannon #memoir #traumahealing #identityandbelonging #healingjourney #findingyourroots #therapyhelps 

https://www.traveltimestories.com/