Type 2 Travel

Rachel Covert is one of those people who makes financial independence actually feel accessible - not like some far-off dream that requires eating ramen for a decade.We're diving into something most of us struggle with: how do you actually save money for travel without hating your life in the process? Rachel retired at 36 with over $500k saved, then quickly realized being fully retired in your 30s was boring as hell - so she started helping other women build wealth without the deprivation.

I really wanted to pick Rachel's brain about this: Why do high-income earners still feel like they can't afford to travel? How do you save for big trips while still enjoying your life right now? And what's the deal with credit card points, anyway? We're talking about sinking funds, automated savings, the real cost of your DoorDash habit, and why group travel can actually save you money.

Trips Mentioned in This Episode:

• Morocco: April 10 - April 19, 2026

Links & Resources (Rachel)

• Learn more about Rachel: @rachel_talksmoney
• racheltalksmoney.com

Links & Resources (Laura)

• See upcoming trips: type2travel.com/group-trips
• Join the email list to get new trips before they go public: type2travel.com
• Follow Type 2 Travel on Instagram: @type2travelco
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @lolawhiskey
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @type2travelpodcast
• Join Lola Loves Travel, our Facebook community for women who travel: facebook.com/groups/lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

Krista Parks is one of those people who makes even the most skeptical travelers believe in energy healing—and that's no small feat. As an Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner, Reiki master, and our resident "hippie-dippie camp counselor" at Camp Lola Whiskey, she's helped countless people reconnect with their inner wisdom while navigating everything from relationship drama to travel anxiety.

We're diving into something I've been thinking about a lot lately—why does travel seem to crack us open in ways that everyday life just... doesn't? How do we distinguish between our intuition telling us to go somewhere versus our brain freaking out about all the "what ifs"?

We're getting into everything from astrocartography and letting the stars guide your travels to getting food poisoning in Morocco, plus the uncomfortable truth about why your body screams at you long before you finally listen. If you've ever made a major life decision while traveling or wondered why you feel more like "yourself" on trips than at home—this one's for you.

Trips Mentioned in This Episode:

• Camp Lola Whiskey 2026
• Morocco: April 10 - April 19, 2026
• Morocco: September 4 - 13, 2026

Links & Resources (Krista)

• Learn more about Krista: @_modern_tribe & @travelingshamama

Links & Resources (Laura)

• See upcoming trips: type2travel.com/group-trips
• Join the email list to get new trips before they go public: type2travel.com
• Follow Type 2 Travel on Instagram: @type2travelco
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @lolawhiskey
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @type2travelpodcast
• Join Lola Loves Travel, our Facebook community for women who travel: facebook.com/groups/lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

You know that feeling when you sign up for a trip with complete strangers and wonder if you've made a terrible mistake? And then 10 days later, you're ugly-crying at the airport because you don't want to say goodbye to your new best friends? That's exactly what happened in Morocco.

We're talking monkey attacks in cedar forests, heat exhaustion in 108-degree Sahara temperatures, getting pulled over by Moroccan police, and petting approximately 300 cats (we already knew that was going to happen).

Today I'm sitting down with three incredible women from that trip—Carrie, Teresa, and Danielle. These three came to Morocco not knowing each other at all, and they're leaving as lifelong friends with stories that'll make you either book a trip immediately or question every life choice that led you to considering group travel in the first place. Spoiler alert: it's probably both.

We're diving into the Moroccan wine stockpile strategy, the hammam bonding experience that got everyone very close very quickly, what it's like when your trip leader gets heat exhaustion in the desert, and how spending 10 days together in Morocco creates the kind of bonds that last long after you've unpacked your suitcase.

Trips Mentioned in This Episode:

• Morocco: April 10 - April 19, 2026
• Morocco: September 4 - 13, 2026

Connect with the Morocco Crew:

• Carrie: @doggystylezmobile
• Teresa: @tlkalina
• Danielle: @yeahdani

Links & Resources (Laura)

• See upcoming trips: type2travel.com/group-trips
• Join the email list to get new trips before they go public: type2travel.com
• Follow Type 2 Travel on Instagram: @type2travelco
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @lolawhiskey
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @type2travelpodcast
• Join Lola Loves Travel, our Facebook community for women who travel: facebook.com/groups/lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

Joe Baur is one of those travel writers who just gets it - someone who understands the best stories aren't found in guidebooks, and that sometimes the most rewarding travel experiences come from the places other people might skip entirely.

We met in Okinawa on a press trip, and within about five minutes I knew he was exactly the kind of person I wanted on this podcast. Joe is Cleveland-born, Berlin-based, and has built his career around getting off the beaten path - both literally and figuratively. He's the host of Without a Path podcast and the author of Talking Tico, with his work appearing everywhere from BBC Travel to National Geographic.

But what makes Joe different is how he combines authentic storytelling with his passion for trail running. He's not just writing about places - he's pounding the pavement, hitting the trails, and discovering stories that you can only find when you slow down and move through a destination on foot.

We're diving into how running becomes a lens for storytelling, what he discovered about Japanese culture that you can't find in guidebooks, and why sometimes the best way to understand a place is to literally run through it. From battling pneumonia at 35 kilometers into an ultra marathon in Nepal to dressing up as ninjas on Japanese trails, Joe shares what happens when you combine physical adventure with deep cultural exploration.

In This Episode:

• Why trail running opens up destinations most tourists never see
• The Ninja Trail Run experience in Japan
• Getting pneumonia during an 8-day stage race in Nepal
• How the Japanese concept of ikigai influences Joe's running practice
• The reality of being an American living in Berlin right now
• Why country counting is BS
• The types of travelers who give us hope for authentic travel
• Pakistan, Uganda, and other "off-limits" destinations on Joe's running bucket list
• Practical advice for combining your passion with travel

Trips Mentioned in This Episode:

Cuba: Dec 27, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026

India: Feb 25 - March 7, 2026

Kenya: March 25 - April 4, 2026

Morocco: April 10 - April 19, 2026

Links & Resources (Joe)

• Instagram/TikTok: @BaurJoe
• YouTube: youtube.com/JoeBaur
• Substack: Without a Path
• Burning River Running Company
• Podcast: Without a Path

Links & Resources (Laura)

• See upcoming trips: type2travel.com/group-trips
• Join the email list to get new trips before they go public: type2travel.com
• Follow Type 2 Travel on Instagram: @type2travelco
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @lolawhiskey
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @type2travelpodcast
• Join Lola Loves Travel, our Facebook community for women who travel: facebook.com/groups/lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you're listening.

Bonnie Surie is someone who's helped me immensely in getting the courage to start this podcast and persevere through the challenges of entrepreneurship, relationships, and pretty much everything else. She's become so much more than a coach - she's someone who's always in my corner.

Two years ago, I was a struggling entrepreneur who felt stuck and overwhelmed. I heard Bonnie's name at a networking event, and something about it just stuck with me. What I thought would be a quick 30-minute networking call turned into two hours where Bonnie saw patterns in my life and business that nobody had ever recognized before - and I've been in therapy my entire adult life.

Today we're diving into something that comes up for people constantly before, during, and after they take a trip: limiting beliefs, fear of taking risks, the need for permission, and questions of worthiness. While Bonnie doesn't work specifically in travel, her expertise in mindset and breaking through psychological barriers is exactly what so many of us need to hear when we're staring at that "book now" button but can't quite click it.

We're talking about why we create elaborate stories about why we can't do the things we actually want to do, the difference between dreamers and doers, what it really means to manifest versus taking action, and why discomfort is actually the gateway to transformation.

Trips Mentioned in This Episode:

Cuba: Dec 27, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026

CDMX: Oct 26 - Nov 3, 2025

Morocco: April 10 - April 19, 2026

Links & Resources (Bonnie)

• Learn more about Bonnie: thefreelymejourney.com
• IG: @thefreelymejourney

Links & Resources (Laura)

• See upcoming trips: type2travel.com/group-trips
• Join the email list to get new trips before they go public: type2travel.com
• Follow Type 2 Travel on Instagram: @type2travelco
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @lolawhiskey
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @type2travelpodcast
• Join Lola Loves Travel, our Facebook community for women who travel: facebook.com/groups/lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

Mel Ripp is living proof that travel doesn't just take you places - it fundamentally changes who you are.

In this episode, we're talking about the kind of transformation that turns a "nice girl from Wisconsin" who dreamed about faraway places while reading encyclopedias into someone who casually drops "when I was in Cuba last month" into everyday conversation. Mel joined her first group trip to Morocco in fall 2023, and I've had a front-row seat watching her completely come out of her shell through travel.

What I find so fascinating about Mel's journey is how she went from being terrified of traveling with strangers to prioritizing travel over bathroom renovations (her words, not mine). We're diving into the magic of group trip dynamics, what it's like to shit on the side of a Moroccan highway with complete grace, and how stepping outside your comfort zone changes everything about how you show up back home in Door County, Wisconsin.

Credit card recommendations:

Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve

Capital One Venture

Trips Mentioned in This Episode:

• Mexico City: Oct 26 - Nov 3, 2025
• Cuba: Jan 4 - 11, 2026
• Kenya: March 25 - April 4, 2026
• Morocco: April 10 - April 19, 2026

Links & Resources (Mel):

• Learn more about Mel: workwithpeapod.com
• LinkedIn: @melissaripp
• IG: @peapodmel

Links & Resources (Laura):

• See upcoming trips: type2travel.com/group-trips
• Join the email list to get new trips before they go public: type2travel.com
• Follow Type 2 Travel on Instagram: @type2travelco
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @lolawhiskey
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @type2travelpodcast
• Join Lola Loves Travel, our Facebook community for women who travel: facebook.com/groups/lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

Julie Danielson is the kind of person who reminds you that it's never too late to completely reinvent your life - and that sometimes the scariest decisions lead to the most transformative chapters.

We're diving into navigating divorce and rediscovering who you are on the other side. Julie went through her own divorce at 37 with two young kids, and she's now the founder of the Get Over Divorce Collective, helping women transform one of life's most difficult transitions into an opportunity for growth.

I was on Julie's podcast almost two years ago sharing my own divorce story, so this conversation feels like a full circle moment. We're talking about how travel can be a catalyst for healing, why your comfort zone will shrink if you don't intentionally stretch it, and the difference between destructive escapism and soul-healing exploration.

Links & Resources (Julie)

• Learn more about Julie: getoverdivorce.com
• Facebook group: Thriving Community: Women Supporting Women Through Divorce
• Get Over Divorce podcast

Links & Resources (Laura)

• See upcoming trips: type2travel.com/group-trips
• Join the email list to get new trips before they go public: type2travel.com
• Follow Type 2 Travel on Instagram: @type2travelco
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @lolawhiskey
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @type2travelpodcast
• Join Lola Loves Travel, our Facebook community for women who travel: facebook.com/groups/lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

Andrés Asevis is one of those rare people who can show you the soul of a place while being completely honest about its realities. He's a published author, a painter, a singer, and an incredibly knowledgeable guide - but more than that, he's just an absolute joy to be around.

My travelers fall in love with him because he's fun, crazy intelligent, and has this way of making you feel like you're exploring Cuba with a friend rather than just following a guide around. What makes this conversation especially meaningful is that after years of dreaming and waiting, Andrés has finally gotten his Spanish citizenship and is about to embark on the biggest adventure of his life - leaving Cuba for the first time.

We're talking about what it's like to live in Cuba versus visit it, the reality of Cuban daily life beyond what tourists see, and what it means to chase your dreams across an ocean. This is a story about resilience, creativity, and the courage it takes to start over in a completely new country at 38 years old.

Upcoming Cuba Trips:

• Cuba: December 27, 2025 - January 3, 2026
• Cuba: January 4 - 11, 2026 (with Dawn + Mel)

Links & Resources (Andrés)

• Follow Andrés on Instagram: @andresasevis (bookstagram account with personal stories)

Links & Resources (Laura)

• See upcoming trips: type2travel.com/group-trips
• Join the email list to get new trips before they go public: type2travel.com
• Follow Type 2 Travel on Instagram: @type2travelco
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @lolawhiskey
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @type2travelpodcast
• Join Lola Loves Travel, our Facebook community for women who travel: facebook.com/groups/lolalovestravel

Cuba Travel Note: If you have unused medications (prescription or over-the-counter), consider bringing them on your next Cuba trip or sending them to Laura - they make an incredible difference in Cuban communities where pharmacies are often empty.

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you're listening.

Steph Dyson is a travel writer and journalist from the UK behind Worldly Adventurer, a website that gets over a million visitors a year and focuses on sustainable adventures in Latin America. Having lived in Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia over the past decade, Steph is basically the queen of off-the-beaten-path South American travel.

We recently got back from an incredible fam trip to the Brazilian Pantanal together with the Adventure Travel Trade Association, where we bonded over jaguar sightings, cowboy culture, and getting absolutely demolished by mosquitoes. What I love about Steph is that she understands travel isn't just about collecting passport stamps - it's about those deeper connections and stories that unfold when you really immerse yourself in a place.

We're diving into what it's really like to make a living as a travel journalist in 2025, the challenges of AI disrupting the industry, and how to balance promoting amazing destinations without contributing to overtourism. Plus all the juicy details from our Brazilian adventure and why you should never visit the Pantanal during wet season.

Trips Mentioned in This Episode:

• Brazil

Links & Resources (Steph)

• Learn more about Steph: worldlyadventurer.com
• Moon Chile Guidebook
• Instagram: @worldlyadventurer

Links & Resources (Laura)

• See upcoming trips: type2travel.com/group-trips
• Join the email list to get new trips before they go public: type2travel.com
• Follow Type 2 Travel on Instagram: @type2travelco
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @lolawhiskey
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @type2travelpodcast
• Join Lola Loves Travel, our Facebook community for women who travel: facebook.com/groups/lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

In this episode, I'm talking with someone who proves that adventure doesn't have an expiration date. I met Kim Kephart last year at a travel conference in Spain, and we connected instantly because she's just refreshingly real about the messy, beautiful side of creating your own path.

Kim is a solo travel writer, hiker, and military spouse who's basically the poster child for writing your own story. She's lived across Europe and Asia, built a travel blog and career while navigating the unique challenges of military life, and is passionate about showing women that it's never too late to choose adventure over convention. Through her blog, Kimberly Kephart Travels, she helps women build confidence through travel, especially those who feel like they've somehow missed the right window for bold choices.

We're diving into her journey from following someone else's timeline to creating her own path, why the best time to start your adventure might be right now, and how she's carved out independence while moving countries every few years. Plus, we're talking about that invisible permission we think we need (spoiler: we don't) and why the grass isn't always greener - even when you're living in Europe.

Kimberly Kephart is a travel writer, solo hiker, and unconventional military spouse who's contributed to Stars and Stripes Europe and Military Families Magazine. After years of moving across Europe and Asia with her husband's military career, she learned to carve out her own path through solo travel and hiking. She shares her adventures and hard-won wisdom on her blog, Kimberly Kephart Travels, showing others they can do it too - even when they have no idea what they're doing yet.

Trips Mentioned in This Episode:

Georgia: October 3 - 12, 2025

Links & Resources (Kimberly)

• Instagram: @kimberlykepharttravels
• Facebook: @KimberlyKephartTravels
• Website: kimberlykepharttravels.com

Links & Resources (Laura)

• See upcoming trips: type2travel.com/group-trips
• Join the email list to get new trips before they go public: type2travel.com
• Follow Type 2 Travel on Instagram: @type2travelco
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @lolawhiskey
• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @type2travelpodcast
• Join Lola Loves Travel, our Facebook community for women who travel: facebook.com/groups/lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.