Why does Auntie Rae call the open seas "home"? Discover how cruising became her ultimate form of freedom and self-reset.

Welcome back to "Not Your Average Hot Pants Wearing Auntie Travel & Adventures"! In this episode, Auntie Rae takes you deep into her lifelong love affair with cruising. Beyond the common misconceptions, she reveals why the structured yet liberating rhythm of the open seas feels like pure freedom, peace with room service, and the perfect balm for a soul tired of insomnia.

Join Auntie Rae as she shares her unique travel philosophy: from meticulously planning every detail with her "planner itch" to trusting her gut about which ports truly "whisper to her spirit." She’ll whisk you away to the whitewashed flirtations of Santorini and the cobblestone secrets of Tallinn, showing you how each destination, even if just a "sampler plate," expands her bravery and joy.

Discover how her upbringing, rooted in "Mama's order," shaped her appreciation for the consistency of life at sea. Hear the pivotal moment when the Cunard Queen Mary 2's invitation felt like an ancestral whisper, confirming her path to radical self-reintroduction after being "cut loose" from her old life. This episode is a testament to how stepping onto a ship can truly be a "resurrection" – the soft launch of a new, soulful chapter.

In this episode, you'll hear about:
- Auntie Rae's unapologetic reasons for loving cruises, defying common perceptions.
- How the predictability of ship life offers deep peace and consistency.
- Vivid sensory details from her favorite ports like Santorini and Tallinn.
- The profound spiritual connection that guided her to sail the Queen Mary 2.
- Her journey of self-rediscovery on the open seas: reintroducing her curiosity, courage, and calling.
- The genesis of her idea to build a storytelling and content creation brand.
- Why cruising became her therapy, her reset button, and her personal "resurrection."

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Welcome back to "Not Your Average Hot Pants Wearing Auntie Travel & Adventures"! In this pivotal first episode, Auntie Rae takes you deep into the heart of her own "breaking point." After years of loyalty to a corporate "Center of Exhaustion," she recounts the Tuesday morning when a 30-minute meeting invite shattered the illusion of stability and revealed a harsh truth: her role was eliminated.

Join Auntie Rae as she bravely confronts the raw anger and profound clarity that emerged from being 'cut loose' with less ceremony than a canceled meeting. Discover why this wasn't a pity party, but the powerful moment she realized her spirit was too rich for 'discount treatment' and vowed never again to shrink for someone else's comfort.

This episode isn't just about a job loss; it's about a defiant act of self-reclamation. Auntie Rae shares her unique philosophy on nature vs. nurture, owning her mosaic self, and how a lifetime of wanderlust—from a dusty childhood town to a life-changing trip to Germany and the discovery of cruising—culminated in this breakthrough moment. This is where the story truly shifts from just existing to fiercely living.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The raw truth of hitting a corporate breaking point and being 'gaslit' by leadership.
• Auntie Rae's unique perspective on being "Black, brilliant, and boundary-setting" in corporate America.
• The pivotal shift from a "slow bleed" to a powerful reclaiming of her purpose, passion, and peace.
• Her 'fictional memoir' approach to storytelling: "real enough to sting, creative enough to sing."
• The surprising origins of her lifelong wanderlust, from "Butte Cold" to the discovery of cruises as "freedom on water."
• The promise of a one-way ticket and the adventures that await a woman choosing to 'bounce' into her true destiny.

Welcome to "Not Your Average Hot Pants Wearing Auntie Travel & Adventures"! In this raw and honest Season 1 Prologue, Auntie Rae invites you into the moment her world shifted. She's not just talking about tired feet; she's revealing the spiritual and emotional depletion that crept into her bones after years of loyalty to a corporate job that gave her "breadcrumbs" in return.

Join Auntie Rae as she shares the untold story of hitting her breaking point: the quiet struggle of feeling "worn down, pulled thin, and just plain invisible" , navigating a "Center of Exhaustion" that constantly moved the goalpost. Hear her defiant vow to stop shrinking , stop sacrificing her joy , and the powerful moment she realized: "This ain’t failure. This is freedom with a side of clarity. I ain’t running—I’m reclaiming".

This isn't just a story about travel; it's about a woman unraveling and reclaiming herself one undone thread at a time , rediscovering the restless spirit she was born with. From packing up her dignity and favorite mug to finding freedom on the open seas, this Prologue is the powerful setup for an extraordinary journey.

What you'll discover in this episode:

• The unexpected truth about soul-deep exhaustion.
• A raw look at corporate burnout and the signs Auntie Rae almost ignored.
• The pivotal moment of clarity that sparked her escape.
• A glimpse into Auntie Rae's early life and the origins of her wanderlust.
• The philosophy behind her unique "fictional memoir" storytelling style.