Have you ever dreamed of converting and living in a van? Well in this episode of While She's Away, I sit down with Fiorella, a content marketing specialist and full-time nomad who's traveled through 40 states and 35 national parks—all from her self-converted home on wheels. We dive into her journey from a spontaneous bus purchase to becoming a van conversion pro alongside her partner.

Fiorella shares the nitty-gritty of building out a van, budgeting for life on the road, and what day-to-day van life actually looks like. We also get into how she balances remote work while traveling, her best tips for keeping costs down, and what inspired her to take the leap into this lifestyle.

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to live on the road (or just need a little travel inspiration), this episode is full of firsthand stories and practical advice you won't want to miss!

Mentioned In the Episode:

• OnX Offroad
• RVShare
• iOverlander

Connect with Fiorella & I on Socials:

• Fiorella Instagram
• Fiorella Youtube
• While She's Away Instagram
• While She's Away Tiktok

In this episode of While She's Away, I'm yapping with Emmy, the creator of Emmy Goes Places, who went from full-time solo travel and wild party nights to settling down in Lisbon and stepping into her soft girl era. We get into what sparked that shift—how she went from hopping between countries and meeting unforgettable (sometimes chaotic) people to craving community, stability, and a different kind of adventure.

Emmy shares hilarious and eye-opening stories from her past travels, spills the tea on dating on the road, and talks about what it's been like building a home in Lisbon—especially navigating cultural differences with her Portuguese boyfriend (yes, I said boyfriend hehe). We also dive into the challenges of slowing down after years of non-stop movement and what it really means to create a sense of belonging in a new place. If you've ever wondered what it's like to trade constant adventure for a more rooted life (without losing the magic of travel), this one's for you!

Connect with Emmy & I on Socials:

• While She's Away Instagram
• While She's Away Tiktok
• Emmygoesplaces Tiktok
• Emmygoesplaces Instagram

Travel Resources:

Get 25% OFF Your TrustedHouseSitters Membership!

Get $10 OFF Your Worldpackers Membership

Resources to support Aseel and Palestine:

• Help Aseel Evacuate Gaza
• Donate to Provide Clean water and food to families in Gaza
• Contact Your Reps, Find a Protest & Take Action

In this episode of While She's Away, I'm getting personal and sharing what led me to finally settle down and create a home base after years of full-time travel. For the first time, I'm recording from my own room—a space that's all mine—and reflecting on the big shifts that brought me here!

Of course, this transition hasn't been without its challenges. But I've found a new appreciation for balance—loving travel while also embracing the stability of having a home base. Tune in to hear more about this journey and how I'm figuring out what it means to evolve and grow while staying true to my desire to LITERALLY BE EVERYWHERE.

Connect with me on Socials:

• While She's Away Instagram
• While She's Away Tiktok

What do you wanna hear on the pod?? Whether it's a guest you're dying to listen to or a topic you've been obsessed with lately, let me know! Drop your ideas here, and I'll make it happen ✨

Travel Resources:

Get 25% OFF Your TrustedHouseSitters Membership!

Get $10 OFF Your Worldpackers Membership

Resources to support Aseel and Palestine:

• Help Aseel Evacuate Gaza
• Donate to Provide Clean water and food to families in Gaza
• Contact Your Reps, Find a Protest & Take Action

In this episode of While She's Away, I'm sharing all about my recent adventure on the W trek in Torres del Paine, Patagonia. Over four unforgettable days, I tackled some of the world's most iconic landscapes, and I've got the tips to help you plan your own trek!

In part 1 of this mini-series covering the W trek, I'll cover my prep process—what to pack, how to book, and logistics hacks. Plus, I'll share the essentials like layering up, smart food choices, and must-have gear like hiking poles.

If you're dreaming of Patagonia, tune in for my advice and listener Q&A. And don't miss part 2, where I'll dive into my actual experience on the trek!

I'm also shouting out Calen Otto's eco-friendly group trip to Costa Rica as the creator highlight for this week!

Resources from this episode:

• Book Refugios here and here.
• Map of Torres Del Paine National Park
• Torres Del Paine Park Entrance Ticket
• What I packed

Connect with me on Socials:

• While She's Away Instagram
• While She's Away Tiktok

What do you wanna hear on the pod?? Whether it's a guest you're dying to listen to or a topic you've been obsessed with lately, let me know! Drop your ideas here, and I'll make it happen ✨

Looking for affordable travel insurance specifically made for digital nomads? Sign up for Nomad Insurance which is the first insurance product built specifically for nomads, by nomads!

Travel Resources:

Get 25% OFF Your TrustedHouseSitters Membership!

Get $10 OFF Your Worldpackers Membership

Resources to support Aseel and Palestine:

• Help Aseel Evacuate Gaza
• Donate to Provide Clean water and food to families in Gaza
• Contact Your Reps, Find a Protest & Take Action

In this episode of While She's Away, I'm spilling all the tea on how much money you actually need to travel the world. 🤑✨ I'm breaking down all the different travel budgets, from backpacker life to a little more bougie. And I'm sharing my own experiences (plus real numbers) from my adventures through Southeast Asia, Europe, and South America.

I got you with the questions you need to ask yourself before planning your trip—like where you're going, when, how long, and what vibe you're after (budget queen, mid-range, or luxury). So tune in for tips on how to save coins on flights, stay, and eats, and let's make that travel budget actually work for you!

Mentioned in the episode:

• Earth Trekkers Article
• Blablacar
• TravelSpend
• Ep 46: How Quouch Makes Couchsurfing Safer for Queer Travelers

Connect with me on Socials:

• While She's Away Instagram
• While She's Away Tiktok

What do you wanna hear on the pod?? Whether it's a guest you're dying to listen to or a topic you've been obsessed with lately, let me know! Drop your ideas here, and I'll make it happen ✨

Looking for affordable travel insurance specifically made for digital nomads? Sign up for Nomad Insurance which is the first insurance product built specifically for nomads, by nomads!

Travel Resources:

Get 25% OFF Your TrustedHouseSitters Membership!

Get $10 OFF Your Worldpackers Membership

Resources to support Aseel and Palestine:

• Help Aseel Evacuate Gaza
• Donate to Provide Clean water and food to families in Gaza
• Contact Your Reps, Find a Protest & Take Action

In this episode of While She's Away, I'm chatting with Geleen, who used to work in neuroscience and healthcare consulting but now lives her best life as a digital nomad. Geleen has this super cool way of looking at travel as a hero's journey, where it's all about really getting to know yourself, planning trips with intention, and finding ways to bring those new experiences back into your everyday life.

We dive into the struggles of using travel just to escape, share some personal stories about growth and figuring ourselves out, and talk about why being vulnerable and reflecting on your experiences matters so much. Geleen even shares some of her resources, like a solo travel workbook, and gives tips on how she helps others find deeper meaning through their adventures. It's a conversation that'll totally make you rethink how you see travel and maybe inspire you to connect with yourself on a deeper level while you explore the world!

Creator Higlight: Newsletter: The Art of Full Living

Connect with Geleen & I on Socials:

• While She's Away Instagram
• While She's Away Tiktok
• Travel Not to Escape Podcast
• What's your play personality? Take her free quiz
• Want to make meaningful friendships around the world? Join Passport to Connection
• Travel Not to Escape Website
• Geleen Instagram

What do you wanna hear on the pod?? Whether it's a guest you're dying to listen to or a topic you've been obsessed with lately, let me know! Drop your ideas here, and I'll make it happen ✨

Looking for affordable travel insurance specifically made for digital nomads? Sign up for Nomad Insurance which is the first insurance product built specifically for nomads, by nomads!

Travel Resources:

Get 25% OFF Your TrustedHouseSitters Membership!

Get $10 OFF Your Worldpackers Membership

Resources to support Aseel and Palestine:

• Help Aseel Evacuate Gaza
• Donate to Provide Clean water and food to families in Gaza
• Contact Your Reps, Find a Protest & Take Action

This week I'm replaying one of our MOST listened to episodes all about....travel hacking!! In this episode, I basically get taught a 101 class on credit cards, points and miles, and travel hacking. This is nowhere near my area of expertise so I'm super excited to have this week's guest, Lindsay Mukaddam, sharing everything she knows!

Lindsay is a travel blogger and content creator based in Austin, TX focusing on solo travel for women. She encourages and educates women on how to discover their strength and independence through exploring the world. Lindsay hosts group trips around the world for members of the OGW community.

In this episode, we chat about:

• How Lindsay got started in travel hacking
• How to find your first travel credit card
• How to get the best redemption
• What is a shopping portal and how to use it
• How to get perks even if you don't have great credit
• Perks of using your credit card over your debt card
• Misconceptions around travel hacking

Connect with Lindsay & I on Socials:

• While She's Away Instagram
• While She's Away Tiktok
• One Girl Wandering Instagram
• One Girl Wandering Tiktok
• One Girl Wandering Pinterest
• One Girl Wandering Website

What do you wanna hear on the pod?? Whether it's a guest you're dying to listen to or a topic you've been obsessed with lately, let me know! Drop your ideas here, and I'll make it happen ✨

Looking for affordable travel insurance specifically made for digital nomads? Sign up for Nomad Insurance which is the first insurance product built specifically for nomads, by nomads!

Travel Resources:

Get 25% OFF Your TrustedHouseSitters Membership!

Get $10 OFF Your Worldpackers Membership

Resources to support Aseel and Palestine:

• Help Aseel Evacuate Gaza
• Donate to Provide Clean water and food to families in Gaza
• Contact Your Reps, Find a Protest & Take Action

In today's episode, we've got the amazing Calen Otto back with us to dive into the super cool world of vegan travel. Calen, a queer, anti-speciesist travel blogger and author of The Art of Unruly Travel on a Budget, is here to share their experiences and give us some really practical tips on how to keep up with a vegan lifestyle while traveling and exploring different cultures.

We'll be talking about how cultural practices and ethics can sometimes collide, the role of plant-based foods in different places, and how to explain your dietary choices without making it awkward. Calen's stories—from wild adventures in Ecuador to finding surprising vegan eats in meat-heavy countries like Colombia—show how important it is to stay true to your values, even when you're stepping into totally new environments.

So, grab your headphones and get comfy because we're about to have an enlightening convo that shows you don't have to give up your ethics to explore the world!

What do you wanna hear on the pod?? Whether it's a guest you're dying to listen to or a topic you've been obsessed with lately, let me know! Drop your ideas here, and I'll make it happen ✨

Creator Highlight: The Travel Creator

Looking for affordable travel insurance specifically made for digital nomads? Sign up for Nomad Insurance which is the first insurance product built specifically for nomads, by nomads!

Connect with Me and Calen on Social Media:

• While She's Away Instagram
• While She's Away Tiktok
• Calen Instagram
• Calen's Blog: Vegan Section
• The Unruly Podcast
• Happy Cow

Travel Resources:

Get 25% OFF Your TrustedHouseSitters Membership!

Get $10 OFF Your Worldpackers Membership

Resources to support Aseel and Palestine:

• Help Aseel Evacuate Gaza
• Donate to Provide Clean water and food to families in Gaza
• Contact Your Reps, Find a Protest & Take Action

Upwork and Fiverr can be great starting points for new freelancers, but they're often OVERRUN with people all bidding for the same jobs. It can leave you feeling frustrated and stuck, wondering why you're not making progress. But don't worry! In this episode, I'm sharing four alternative platforms you can start using today to find freelance clients—no need to pay for bids on Upwork!

Where to Find Freelance Clients:

1. TheHiveIndex.com
2. Harlow
3. Freelance Opportunities
4. PodJobs.Net

Bonus Platform (bc ily): Ilovecreatives.com

If you find a freelance client using any of these platforms please send me a DM on Instagram @whileshesawaypod and I'd love to shout you out on the podcast!

Creator Highlight: Eternally Evolving Podcast

Looking for affordable travel insurance specifically made for digital nomads? Sign up for Nomad Insurance which is the first insurance product built specifically for nomads, by nomads!

Connect with Me on Social Media:

• While She's Away Instagram
• While She's Away Tiktok

Travel Resources:

Get 25% OFF Your TrustedHouseSitters Membership!

Get $10 OFF Your Worldpackers Membership

Resources to support Aseel and Palestine:

• Help Aseel Evacuate Gaza
• Donate to Provide Clean water and food to families in Gaza
• Contact Your Reps, Find a Protest & Take Action

In this episode of the While She's Away podcast, I'm sitting down with the amazing Nienke Nina to dive into the ins and outs of freelancing, online business, and digital nomad life. Nienke Nina talks about her journey and why LinkedIn, setting boundaries, and having a solid support system have been key to her business success.

We chat about how to engage with clients effectively, from setting clear contracts to doing regular reviews. She also shares some of her marketing tips, the power of authenticity, and what it takes to build a sustainable freelance business. I also touch on the importance of community, share some personal travel experiences, and give a shout-out to tools like SafetyWing for affordable travel insurance. Tune in for some actionable advice on setting boundaries and finding balance while chasing freedom and flexibility in freelancing!

Looking for affordable travel insurance specifically made for digital nomads? Sign up for Nomad Insurance which is the first insurance product built specifically for nomads, by nomads!

Want to harness the freedom that comes with freelancing? Join my 90-minute workshop is now LIVE and is designed to help you get your first paid client as a podcast manager. This bite-sized yet impactful session will set you up for success without needing hours of courses. Plus, there's a Q&A session a few weeks post-launch for any burning questions you have.

Connect with Me and Nienke Nina on Social Media:

• Start Digital
• Nienka Nina LinkedIn
• Aligned Expression Podcast
• While She's Away Instagram
• While She's Away Tiktok

Travel Resources:

Get 25% OFF Your TrustedHouseSitters Membership!

Get $10 OFF Your Worldpackers Membership

Resources to support Aseel and Palestine:

• Help Aseel Evacuate Gaza
• Donate to Provide Clean water and food to families in Gaza
• Contact Your Reps, Find a Protest & Take Action