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🎉  Benef and Trecia from the Rhythm and Roam Podcast discuss how their backgrounds, including military assignments abroad for Benef's family and Trecia's multicultural upbringing, shaped their approach to travel. 

🌎 They've since raised travel-loving adults and share the value of exposing children to diverse cultures, both through living abroad and dedicated travel, which fosters adaptability and a global perspective.

👍  They introduce their book's framework, ROAM, which helps travelers navigate discomfort and cultural clashes by focusing on recognizing misconceptions, observing differences, accepting potential clashes, and maximizing shared human similarities. 

✨ ACTIONABLE TIPS:

• Seek out opportunities where older children can travel as part of an activity like a band tour or specialized program to gain independence and global skills. 
• Identify your own preconceived notions about the destination; awareness of these biases helps you approach new cultures with grace.
• Include older kids in the planning process by having each child prepare a presentation or itinerary detailing location, cost, etc. 
• Do research on cultural expectations before you go, especially regarding dress codes or behavior in sensitive areas.
• To manage anxiety or cultural clashes, look for similarities like people wanting happiness, community, good food, and family time to build genuine connections.
• If you know certain situations are triggers, talk through coping mechanisms ahead of time. Use affirmations, journaling, or a pre-agreed-upon strategy to move through the experience.

Resources:

Rhythm and Roam Podcast website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube

Staying Sane travel book

Benefsheh Verell Instagram. Trecia Cooke Instagram

Passports.com Educational Group Trips

Join us in Osaka, Japan Oct 11-17! Onsen baths, sacred deer, jungle gyms, castles and more! Sign up today or join the Facebook group. 

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CONNECT WITH SUZY: We live in Spain, CO and soon Japan. 🌞 I help families financially plan for slow + long term travel! Need help with a spending plan? Saving for a gap year? Renting your home out? Book a FREE 30 MIN DISCOVERY CALL!

🚀 For general info purposes and not as investment, legal, or tax advice.

❤️ Follow + review!  📧 [email protected] 📲 All the links!

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🎉  Kate McAllister shares her extraordinary journey from a traditional educator in the United Kingdom to the founder of a worldschooling education center, The Hive, in the Dominican Republic. She sold everything to travel with her daughter, only to find her new homes in the Dominican Republic at the start of the pandemic.

🌎 Her educator background inspired her to create The Hive. The program's core philosophy is built on a self-regulation cycle for children and project-based learning with a social impact.

👍  The Hive offers a six-week changemaker program, summer marine biology camps and a year-round membership for families seeking a grounded home base.

✨ ACTIONABLE TIPS:

• Don't wait for perfect conditions to start your journey. "Do it scared, do it underprepared... just do it."
• Put down roots for an extended period to allow for deeper immersion in the local culture, strong community connections, and a sense of stability.
• Before expecting academic learning, help children develop self-awareness and nervous system regulation. 
• Notice how you feel and use tools like breathing or taking a walk before you react.
• Embrace a low cost, nature-rich lifestyle to both save money and enjoy your surroundings.
• Make your time with family and friends back home precious and intentional by scheduling long, focused visits. 

CONNECT WITH KATE: The Hive Adventure website, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Kate McAllister LinkedIn, email ([email protected])

Join us in Osaka, Japan Oct 11-17! Onsen baths, sacred deer, jungle gyms, castles and more! Sign up today or join the Facebook group. 

Preply connects you with language tutors from around the world at all times + prices! Start speaking TODAY! Book a trial lesson!

Sign up for the Wander Weekly Newsletter now!

Support the show

CONNECT WITH SUZY: We live in Spain, CO and soon Japan. 🌞 I help families financially plan for slow + long term travel! Need help with a spending plan? Saving for a gap year? Renting your home out? Book a FREE 30 MIN DISCOVERY CALL!

🚀 For general info purposes and not as investment, legal, or tax advice.

❤️ Follow + review!  📧 [email protected] 📲 All the links!

Send us a text! Q's? Text now!

🎉  Melissa Levi, a first-generation Canadian with Turkish roots, shares her family's unique journey to Cambodia. After meeting her husband in Cambodia and having twins in Canada, they moved around Southeast Asia and North America for two years before settling in Kampot, Cambodia.

🌎 Melissa discusses the community in Kampot, which is made up of welcoming locals and expats, as well as the unique, child-led, play-based education her twins receive at a local playhouse. She also shares how she funds her lifestyle by teaching English online with VIPKid.

👍 Melissa also details her experience as a worldschooling hub host in Kampot. The hub, a one-week meetup that runs monthly, focuses on adventure, nature activities, and hands-on workshops that connect with the local culture.

✨ ACTIONABLE TIPS:

• Travel hack: Take advantage of travel credit card points to fund flights and use layovers as an opportunity to spend a few extra days in a new city.
• Embrace language learning: Encourage children's natural curiosity to guide their language learning and education.
• Prioritize community: When choosing a location, look for a welcoming environment which can provide a strong sense of belonging and enrich your family's experience.
• Work remotely: Earning in a high-value currency while living in a lower cost of living country allows for more flexibility. 
• Seek out child-Led education: Let kids explore their interests in hands-on activities with lots of time outdoors. 
• Don’t stress the small stuff: “When in doubt, leave it out” which applies to both packing and planning!

Resources:

• VIPKid: Teach English online. Melissa's referral code is MELIS1259
• Pineapple Playhouse in Kampot, Cambodia
• Worldschool Siem Reap in Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Shanti Shanti Kampot: Kampot’s worldschooling hub, yoga and food
• Whatsapp: +855 88 572 9523
• Facebook, Instagram, Email: [email protected]

Join us in Osaka, Japan Oct 11-17! Onsen baths, sacred deer, jungle gyms, castles and more! Sign up today or join the Facebook group. 

Preply connects you with language tutors from around the world at all times + prices! Start speaking TODAY! Book a trial lesson!

Sign up for the Wander Weekly Newsletter now!

Support the show

CONNECT WITH SUZY: We live in Spain, CO and soon Japan. 🌞 I help families financially plan for slow + long term travel! Need help with a spending plan? Saving for a gap year? Renting your home out? Book a FREE 30 MIN DISCOVERY CALL!

🚀 For general info purposes and not as investment, legal, or tax advice.

❤️ Follow + review!  📧 [email protected] 📲 All the links!

Send us a text! Q's? Text now!

🎉 Susie Chau, founder of Carpe Diem Traveler, shares her personal journey from a corporate career to helping families achieve their travel dreams. She reflects on a life-changing year-long sabbatical with her husband across seven continents. This  inspired her to pivot her career and help others realize that long-term travel is financially attainable by "swapping" existing expenses.

🌎 Susie announces her new company, Roam Collective, which is launching a five-week summer program in 2026 in a surprise location (tune in to find out where!!).

👍 The episode outlines how travel can be financially attainable and emphasizes the importance of intentionality, community, and courage to slow down and reconnect with your family.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How you can swap your regular living expenses for travel costs to make long-term travel financially possible.
• The importance of prioritizing intentionality and personal interests over a packed itinerary.
• Why traveling with young children is a worthwhile investment, even if they don’t remember it later.
• The value of slow travel in slowing down your brain and reconnecting with family.
• How a curated community and a well-planned program can make long-term travel stress-free and more enriching.
• The importance of giving yourself patience and grace, especially when starting a new lifestyle.

Mentioned in the show:

• Roam Collective Summer Camp
• Carpe Diem Traveler
• New Modern Mom
• Ilo Retreats
• The Everywhere Classroom by Andi Almond
• Retire Often by Jillian Johnsrud

Join us in Osaka, Japan Oct 11-17! Onsen baths, sacred deer, jungle gyms, castles and more! Sign up today or join the Facebook group. 

Preply connects you with language tutors from around the world at all times + prices! Start speaking TODAY! Book a trial lesson!

Sign up for the Wander Weekly Newsletter now!

Support the show

CONNECT WITH SUZY: We live in Spain, CO and soon Japan. 🌞 I help families financially plan for slow + long term travel! Need help with a spending plan? Saving for a gap year? Renting your home out? Book a FREE 30 MIN DISCOVERY CALL!

🚀 For general info purposes and not as investment, legal, or tax advice.

❤️ Follow + review!  📧 [email protected] 📲 All the links!

Send us a text! Q's? Text now!

🎉  Suzy highlights the actionable tips from this month’s guests, personal travel updates, favorite Substacks and a warm welcome to the new listeners from around the world!

🌎 This month’s Deep Dive is the Wander Financial Framework, a six-step blueprint to plan and fund travel. This will take time and dedication! As a Certified Financial Educator, I can help!

✨ THE WANDER FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK:

•  💭 Step 1: Dream and define your ‘why’.
•  💰 Step 2: Create a Realistic Budget by estimating travel expenses (and adding a buffer). 
•  🔍 Step 3: Assess Your Current Financials and assets and savings. 
•  💸 Step 4: Look at Current and Projected Income from earned, passive and portfolio sources. 
•  🗺️  Step 5: Create a Financial Plan based on gaps in travel budget and savings/income.
•  🚀 Step 6: Put the Plan into Place to increase savings and income!

Mentioned in the show:

• Please support the show!
  • Trusted Housesitters, Rakuten, Home Exchange, Rover, Wise
• Substack Links:
  • Suzy May Wander
  • The Flow by Connie Siew Peters
  • The “Why” Matters
  • Rebel Parent by Amy Ruth Curtis
  • Worldschooling Quest
• Side Hustle podcast
• Retire Often
• FinCon
• COL episode 6 + episode 15

Join us in Osaka, Japan Oct 11-17! Onsen baths, sacred deer, jungle gyms, castles and more! Sign up today or join the Facebook group. 

Preply connects you with language tutors from around the world at all times + prices! Start speaking TODAY! Book a trial lesson!

Sign up for the Wander Weekly Newsletter now!

Support the show

CONNECT WITH SUZY: We live in Spain, CO and soon Japan. 🌞 I help families financially plan for slow + long term travel! Need help with a spending plan? Saving for a gap year? Renting your home out? Book a FREE 30 MIN DISCOVERY CALL!

🚀 For general info purposes and not as investment, legal, or tax advice.

❤️ Follow + review!  📧 [email protected] 📲 All the links!

Send us a text! Q's? Text now!

🎉  Erin Riska, her two boys, husband and two cats turned pandemic job loss into over five years of full time nomadic living! She transformed from never leaving her own homestate until she was an adult to now living between Europe, Mexico and the US, all while working for herself and homeschooling her tweens.

🌎 She shared the origin of RoamBase during a surf camp in the Canary Islands to now the eleven week homeschool co-op in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, centered around the important holidays and historical events of the area. 

👍 We dive into their homeschooling journey, which began as a necessity during the pandemic and has become a preferred lifestyle by mixing structured academics like math and literacy with child-led, interest-based learning.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

• How the mindset of adaptability can transform what seems like a crisis into an opportunity for new adventures
• The evolution of strict homeschooling to unschooling to curriculum-led focus in the core subjects (and how you can think through this for your family!)
• Why the challenges of saying ‘bye’ to friends led to RoamBase!
• Top tricks to save money long term (and it’s not always even in the ‘low-cost’ countries!)
• Tips for traveling with your beloved pets (particularly cats and small dogs)!
• How to smooth out sibling fighting that is inevitable when spending so much time together!

Mentioned in the show:

• RoamBase Facebook group, Instagram 
• Erin Riska's LinkedIn
• French winter ski hub

Join us in Osaka, Japan Oct 11-17! Onsen baths, sacred deer, jungle gyms, castles and more! Sign up today or join the Facebook group. 

Preply connects you with language tutors from around the world at all times + prices! Start speaking TODAY! Book a trial lesson!

Sign up for the Wander Weekly Newsletter now!

Support the show

CONNECT WITH SUZY: We live in Spain, CO and soon Japan. 🌞 I help families financially plan for slow + long term travel! Need help with a spending plan? Saving for a gap year? Renting your home out? Book a FREE 30 MIN DISCOVERY CALL!

🚀 For general info purposes and not as investment, legal, or tax advice.

❤️ Follow + review!  📧 [email protected] 📲 All the links!

Send us a text! Q's? Text now!

🎉  Travis Perry is a father of eight, ranging in age from 21 to 1, and a long-time homeschooling parent who has incorporated intentional family and couple travel as a tool for education and personal growth. 

🌎 He shares more about the costs and logistics of slow family travel to Costa Rica and road trips around the US (in a 15 person transit van!) and how to create immersive learning experiences along the way!

👍 Whatever size your family is, you’ll take away actionable advice on how to prioritize your relationship with your partner, the importance of identifying key family values and embracing challenges!

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

• How travel can be a conscious investment in your family’s mental health, learning and relationships
• The importance of intentional trips with just older kids to build independence 
• Why quarterly getaways with your partner can renew your bond and re-energize your business and schooling efforts at home
• That it’s ok to ask for help and learn from others in the same situation as you!

Mentioned in the show:

• Travis Perry website, book, couples retreat Feb 13-20, 2026

Join us in Osaka, Japan Oct 11-17! Onsen baths, sacred deer, jungle gyms, castles and more! Sign up today or join the Facebook group. 

Preply connects you with language tutors from around the world at all times + prices! Start speaking TODAY! Book a trial lesson!

Sign up for the Wander Weekly Newsletter now!

Support the show

CONNECT WITH SUZY: We live in Spain, CO and soon Japan. 🌞 I help families financially plan for slow + long term travel! Need help with a spending plan? Saving for a gap year? Renting your home out? Book a FREE 30 MIN DISCOVERY CALL!

🚀 For general info purposes and not as investment, legal, or tax advice.

❤️ Follow + review!  📧 [email protected] 📲 All the links!

Send us a text! Q's? Text now!

🎉  Danielle Vanderhei embraced a nomadic life through sailing as a family. She shares the joys and challenges of boat life, how they’re incorporating learning for their son and the financial aspects of maintaining a sailing lifestyle. 

🌎 She shares her plans to create a Water World Micro Expeditions Hub in Panama focusing on sustainability, water and marine education. And her favorite spots to sail!

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

• Explore their transition from a lifestyle of travel to settling down and then back to RV and boat life. 
• Find out what worldschooling method is working best for their 6.5 year old son. 
• All the recommendations for a family who wants to start out in boat life!
• The importance of health and sustainability and how those interests will combine into a worldschool opportunity in Panama next year!

Mentioned in the show:

• Danielle Vanderhei's Facebook, Website, Instagram
• Kids4SAIL FB group
• Rebecca Wegman website

Join us in Osaka, Japan Oct 11-17! Onsen baths, sacred deer, jungle gyms, castles and more! Sign up today or join the Facebook group. 

Preply connects you with language tutors from around the world at all times + prices! Start speaking TODAY! Book a trial lesson!

Sign up for the Wander Weekly Newsletter now!

Support the show

CONNECT WITH SUZY: We live in Spain, CO and soon Japan. 🌞 I help families financially plan for slow + long term travel! Need help with a spending plan? Saving for a gap year? Renting your home out? Book a FREE 30 MIN DISCOVERY CALL!

🚀 For general info purposes and not as investment, legal, or tax advice.

❤️ Follow + review!  📧 [email protected] 📲 All the links!

Send us a text! Q's? Text now!

🎉  We deep dive in to all things accommodations and lodging! I highlight the benefits of slow travel and a variety of options, including long-term rentals, RV living, and innovative models like Couchsurfing, house and pet sitting, and home exchange.

👍 Whether you’re a newbie lodging booker or a long time pro, I share actionable advice on everything from vetting hosts and managing finances on the road to being a top-notch house sitter, proving that with strategic planning, extended family travel can be both financially sustainable and personally fulfilling.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

• Learn how slow travel can lead to significant savings on accommodation and transportation!
• Explore innovate, budget-friendly options like house and pet sitting and work exchange to secure free lodging and more authentic experiences.
• Do you need help standing out as a family on house and pet sits? I got you covered with all the tips to land great sits. 
• How to prioritize safety and logistics during your innovative stays!

Mentioned in the show:

• Check out prior episodes of Ginny, Daniela and Rachel’s links!
• Airbnb, Booking, VRBO, Furnished Finder, Couchsurfing, MindMyHouse, Workaway, WWOOF
• Use my Trusted House Sitters referral link for a 25% discount!
• People Like Us home swap sign up! Worldschoolers Community. 
• Home Exchange is fantastic! Use this link to sign up!

Join us in Osaka, Japan Oct 11-17! Onsen baths, sacred deer, jungle gyms, castles and more! Sign up today or join the Facebook group. 

Sign up for the Wander Weekly Newsletter now!

Support the show

CONNECT WITH SUZY: We live in Spain, CO and soon Japan. 🌞 I help families financially plan for slow + long term travel! Need help with a spending plan? Saving for a gap year? Renting your home out? Book a FREE 30 MIN DISCOVERY CALL!

🚀 For general info purposes and not as investment, legal, or tax advice.

❤️ Follow + review!  📧 [email protected] 📲 All the links!

Send us a text! Q's? Text now!

🎉 Rachel Carlson and her family have been traveling full-time for over seven years. Despite initial challenges and a period of loneliness, they found a solution by creating the World School Pop-Up Hub, a community-focused initiative that brings traveling families together for shared experiences. 

🌎 This move addressed their children's need for consistent peer interaction and allowed them to continue their travels while building lasting friendships across continents. 

👍 The world schooling experience has profoundly influenced Rachel's children as they launched into adulthood, choosing to pursue their passions and developing a strong sense of independence and problem-solving. 

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

• The evolution from homeownership to working online and starting a nomadic full time travel lifestyle with teens and tweens. 
• Opting for unschooling as the kids became more engaged in learning directly from their environments, such as exploring Roman ruins in Italy or understanding local culture through fishing.
• Overcoming the challenge of loneliness and lack of consistent community by creating the World School Pop-Up Hub to allow traveling families to connect with each other. 
• Their financial strategies before traveling and while living on the road including a focus on cutting accommodation and transit costs while not focusing on food and experience expenses. 

Mentioned in the show:

• Worldschool Popup Hub website, blog, upcoming pop up events, Facebook, Instagram

Join us in Osaka, Japan Oct 11-17! Onsen baths, sacred deer, jungle gyms, castles and more! Sign up today or join the Facebook group. 

Preply connects you with language tutors from around the world at all times + prices! Start speaking TODAY! Book a trial lesson!

Sign up for the Wander Weekly Newsletter now!

Support the show

CONNECT WITH SUZY: We live in Spain, CO and soon Japan. 🌞 I help families financially plan for slow + long term travel! Need help with a spending plan? Saving for a gap year? Renting your home out? Book a FREE 30 MIN DISCOVERY CALL!

🚀 For general info purposes and not as investment, legal, or tax advice.

❤️ Follow + review!  📧 [email protected] 📲 All the links!