The Workamper Show Podcast

Today, I am speaking with an experienced Workamper who traveled the country with her husband and six children for many years. During that time, they bought an RV roofing business and just purchased an established website to help teach others how to get started in the RV lifestyle.

Jennifer Schillaci has spent more than a decade raising a family on the road while building businesses that serve the RV community.

What began as a lifestyle she never imagined embracing has evolved into a career centered on helping fellow RVers travel with confidence.

In...

If you’ve been looking for a high-paying seasonal job that includes lodging and could lead to even more opportunities, you are going to like this episode.

Today I’m joined by Project Manager Trish Parker and Employment Specialist Jaedyn Kelly, who both work for Express Employment Professionals in Grand Forks, N.D.

They’re recruiting Workampers for assembly and paint positions with Arctic Cat in nearby Thief River Falls, Minn, where employees help build ATVs, side-by-sides and snowmobiles.

During our conversation, you’ll learn what the work involves, who makes a good fit for...

Finding steady Workamping jobs with competitive pay can sometimes be a challenge, especially for RV couples who want to earn enough to fund their travels.

Today, I am talking with Sharon Flynn, with Guard 1 Services, about an opportunity that offers year-round work in the oil and gas industry.

Best of all, couples earn $1,400 per week, but they need to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Many Workampers serve as gate guards for a month or two and use the money to finance the rest of their RV travels.

Sharon...

Today, I am speaking with a woman whose family just starting RVing a little over a year ago and now she manages a KOA campground in Michigan.

Brigette Patton discovered the Workamping lifestyle almost by accident and it completely changed the direction of her family’s life.

After her husband lost his job, they took a leap of faith, bought an RV that happened to be for sale in their front yard and landed their first Workamping job just days later.

That decision quickly opened doors from seasonal campground work to managing the Lu...

One of the biggest decisions aspiring Workampers make is choosing the right RV. Since it becomes your home and, for many people, your office, today’s episode addresses finding a coach designed for extended living that can make all the difference.

Today’s guest is Doug Miller, the director of sales for Fleetwood RV.

Doug has spent more than 25 years with the company and has helped to shape many of the features that today’s full-time RVers appreciate.

In this episode, Doug explains how Fleetwood designs motorhomes for people who live, travel and work o...

Whether you’re boondocking between jobs, staying in remote locations or simply preparing for unexpected power outages, the right generator can make all the difference.

This week, I am talking with Chris O’Connor, a representative from an RVMP, a company which manufactures and sells portable and permanently-installed generators for RV use.

He explains how RVMP has focused on making generators smaller and lighter without sacrificing power.

He also addresses why dual-fuel capability gives RVers more flexibility and how inverter technology delivers clean power that’s safe for today’s sensitive electronics.

Chris e...

Today I am interviewing a business owner from Maine about an incredible Workamping opportunity right outside the front door to one of America’s most scenic national parks.

Glenn Tucker is the owner of several tourism businesses in Bar Harbor, Maine, that serve visitors to Acadia National Park.

He explains why his company has relied on Workampers for 25 years. Glenn describes the wide variety of positions available, and how cross-training keeps every day interesting for Workampers.

He also shares what makes a great candidate, why customer service matters so much, and why recruiting fo...

Today, I am speaking with a woman who is on her second stint of Workamping in Alaska with her family and enjoying an amazing experience.

Jessie Watters is a full-time RVing mom of three who traded a traditional suburban lifestyle for a life of adventure, family travel and Workamping opportunities across the country.

Just over a year ago, Jessie and her husband packed up their family, hit the road and began a journey that has already taken them from Alaska to Arizona and back again.

In this episode, Jessie shares what it’s re...

Today I am speaking with a solo RVer who has been on the road for many years, but completed one year of traveling that really broke her open so much so that she wrote a book about the experience.

Kristy Halvorsen is a solo traveler whose journey has taken her across every state in the nation, nearly every Canadian province and into some of the most remote places in North America. She made an appearance earlier on this show in December 2022.

Kristy spent almost nine years living and traveling full time in a 28-foot Airstream...

Today I am joined by a Workamper who served as a camp host for many years, and wrote a book about his experiences.

Many people dream about Workamping, but few get to see what really happens behind the scenes. Today’s guest, Steven Erkman, pulls back the curtain in a fun and entertaining way through his book titled, “Not The Brochure.”

Steven and his girlfriend have spent years traveling full time across the United States and Workamping in campgrounds and RV resorts. Along the way, he collected dozens of stories that reveal the humorous, unpredictable and so...

Today I am speaking with a woman from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about volunteering at a fish hatchery in Kentucky.

Marsha Hart is from Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in Jamestown, Ky.

The hatchery raises nearly a million trout each year and serves as a popular attraction for campers, anglers, school groups and families.

Marsha explains how Workampers help operate the visitor center, assist guests, care for educational animals and support special events throughout the year.

She also shares why this volunteer opportunity is ideal for couples, what...

In today’s episode, I’m visiting with the founder of Cliff Valley Astronomy and Canada’s only astro-tourism consultant.

Stéphane Picard is helping travelers rediscover something many of us have lost in modern life, which is a true connection to the night sky.

If you’ve ever parked your RV far from city lights and looked up in amazement at the stars overhead, you’re going to love this conversation.

Stéphane explains why dark sky tourism is growing so quickly and how RVers are uniquely positioned to enjoy it.

We also ta...

Today I am speaking with an RVer who redesigned his entire life after a brutal fall required him to learn to  walk, write, speak and even swallow all over again. But, it opened the door for him to become a Workamper for a family-owned RV dealership working as a service advisor.

Jim Bartleman thought he had life figured out. He was working as a service advisor in the automotive industry, planning for the future and preparing to eventually hit the road in an RV.

But, everything changed in an instant after a devastating accident left hi...

This week, I will be speaking with a couple who traded in a traditional lifestyle in Tennessee for life on the road and never looked back.

RB and Trish Lipker have been Workamping across the country since 2023. They have accepted jobs in Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, Nebraska and now Northern California.

For nearly two years, they have been working at Costanoa, which is an RV park and resort along the California coast.

RB and Trish share how they got started in Workamping after discovering the lifestyle online during COVID. They explain why they decided...

Today, I get to interview a woman who is a member of the Fireside RV Rental team to talk about how the company can help people considering the RV lifestyle, as well as assist Workampers in making money.

Stacy Maxon is the chief development officer at Fireside RV Rental, a company that helps RV owners earn income by renting out their units.

The firm also gives people contemplating the RV lifestyle a chance to experience it first without making a big purchase.
Stacy has a unique perspective because she has operated a franchise location...

This week, I am speaking with a couple who made the leap into full-time RV living after raising their family and deciding it was time for a new chapter.

Alan Sneed spent 30 years in the Department of Defense and the military, while his wife, Kim, built a career in school district communications and now works remotely in the architectural field.

In this conversation, Alan and Kim share how they transitioned into Workamping about a year after going full-time on the road and why the lifestyle appealed to them.

Alan explains how Workamping keeps...

Today I am speaking with a wine expert from Nova Scotia who has some great insight on places to visit and how wine can make your journey even more enjoyable.

Amy Savoury is a certified sommelier who shares how this coastal Canadian province has quietly become one of the most unique wine regions in North America.

She explains the fascinating history of wine in Nova Scotia, dating back to the early 1600s, and how today’s growers have adapted to a cool climate to produce wines you won’t find anywhere else.

She also...

Today, I am speaking with a Workamper who makes a living through traditional Workamping jobs as well as by installing RV roof protection products. She also offers a warning about the difference between W-2 income and 1099 independent contractors.

Jessica Peacock is a full-time RVer who has spent the past three years traveling across 21 states while combining Workamping with independent contract work in the RV industry.

Jessica shares how she and her fiancé found a unique way to stay on the road by installing lifetime RV roof protection systems. It is a job that allows them t...

If you’ve ever dreamed about spending a summer in the northwoods of Minnesota, surrounded by towering pines, crystal clear lakes with incredible fishing, today’s episode is for you.

I’m visiting with Ross and Lara Coyer, owners of Cabin O’ Pines Resort on Pelican Lake, located just 60 miles from the Canadian border.

This is a multi-generational, family-run resort with roots dating back to 1906. Today it has grown into a beautiful destination featuring cabins, yurts, campsites and even a newly acquired neighboring property, Grey Wolf Lodge.

Ross and Lara share what makes their re...

Today, I will be speaking with a lifelong carpenter who found a way to combine his special skills with adventure to create a completely new lifestyle.

Rick McClure discovered Workamping in a way that couldn’t have been more unexpected.

After retiring, Rick came across a post about a cabin-building opportunity just outside Glacier National Park.

He responded quickly, which led to a phone call and, within minutes, he had secured a position that turned into one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.

Rick shares how his skills as a...

Today I am speaking with a woman who has been Workamping for one employer for many years, but decided she would like to spread her wings to a different part of the country.

Workamper Kim Spurlock is embracing a new chapter in life a few months before she turns 65.

A few years ago, she transitioned from a career in nursing into the Workamping lifestyle. She describes how that leap opened the door to new experiences she wasn’t expecting, such as managing a bait shop at a fishing camp in Arkansas.

In this ep...

If you have ever dreamed of Workamping in a beautiful outdoor setting with mountains, lakes and unlimited recreation nearby, today’s episode might be exactly what you are looking for.

Today, I am talking with John Mahin, with the Fernan Rod and Gun Club in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. It is a nonprofit shooting range located just minutes from the downtown district, but surrounded by nature.

This opportunity is a little different from many traditional Workamping jobs. There is no long list of required hours and no standing behind a counter all day.

Inst...

Today, I am interviewing the operations manager for a large network of RV resorts about Workamping opportunities available in many states. If you are looking for a Workamping opportunity with variety, flexibility and room to grow, this episode will be worth your time.

My guest today is James Curtis, with Travel Resorts of America. It is a company with 13 locations stretching from Florida to South Dakota.

James explains how the company is evolving, with many parks transitioning to the Red Rover brand while still honoring longtime memberships.

He also shares how Workampers are...

Today, I’m talking with the manager of a family campground in New Hampshire about Workamping opportunities available this summer.

Robert Charest is the manager of Friendly Beaver Campground in New Boston, N.H.

Friendly Beaver is a family-owned, family-focused campground that has been in Robert’s family for more than 45 years.

In fact, Robert actually grew up there, then stepped away into the tech world for a while before returning years ago to help run the business.

In this conversation, you’ll hear what it is like to operate a campgr...

Today, I am speaking with a woman who owns two campgrounds in Connecticut and is looking for Workampers this summer.

Lelah Campo owns Cozy Hills Campground in Bantam, Conn. She and her team also built a second park from scratch nearby called Sky Ridge Trails in Torrington. The two campgrounds are about seven miles apart, and both rely on Workampers as a key part of their success.

She needs Workampers to help with front desk, retail, housekeeping, maintenance and running activities. Cozy Hills even has a full restaurant where a Workamper couple runs the cafe.<...

Today, I am speaking with a woman who owns two campgrounds in Connecticut and is looking for Workampers this summer.

Lelah Campo owns Cozy Hills Campground in Bantam, Conn. She and her team also built a second park from scratch nearby called Sky Ridge Trails in Torrington. The two campgrounds are about seven miles apart, and both rely on Workampers as a key part of their success.

She needs Workampers to help with front desk, retail, housekeeping, maintenance and running activities. Cozy Hills even has a full restaurant where a Workamper couple runs the cafe.<...

Today, I am speaking with the founder of a rather unique RV manufacturer which specializes in creating double-hulled fiberglass travel trailers.

Scott Hubble, is the CEO of Awaken RV in Apple Creek, Ohio. He started the company as the result of what he called a midlife thought.

He reached a point where he realized he was not having as much fun as he used to, and Scott wanted to build something around a community-driven RV niche.

That search led him to the fiberglass trailer community, where he saw opportunity to create a new...

Today I am speaking with a woman who has become a trusted teacher of RV inspectors. Next month she is hosting a symposium in Oklahoma just for women.

Brenda Puckett is the founder of Queen Bee RV. Her business is focused on helping women to gain confidence, skills and peace-of-mind in the RV lifestyle.

Brenda is a certified RV inspector and instructor with the National RV Training Academy. She has spent years working directly with RV owners who feel unsure or intimidated by the technical side of RVing.

Along the way, she noticed...

Today I am speaking with a couple who has two RV parks in Missouri and is opening a third in Oklahoma this year. They are looking for Workampers to work at their parks and even remotely.

Kat and Dustin Ogden are the founders of OI Parks, a growing family-owned campground network based in the Midwest.

They entered the campground business after traveling full time with their family and falling in love with the campground lifestyle and the sense of community that comes with it.

Since then, they have purchased and redeveloped two long-established...

Today, I am speaking with a former property manager from South Carolina who decided life was too short to spend it working 24/7. So she and her husband sold everything, bought a travel trailer and hit the road in search of a slower, more fulfilling life.

Katherine Skiles dove into the Workamping lifestyle and has held a wide variety of roles in places like Arizona, California, Michigan, the Outer Banks and Texas.

She managed RV parks, sold memberships, and even helped build a membership organization from the ground up.

But, over time, she realized...

Today, I am speaking with a woman in her 20s who has been RVing on her own with her dog for several years and loves the Workamping lifestyle for the freedom it brings to her life.

Elana McManus is a solo Workamper who has spent the past three years traveling the country with her dog, Lily Mae.

Elana began her Workamping journey after leaving a corporate sales job and deciding she wanted more freedom, fewer commitments and a chance to explore while she was young enough to fully enjoy it.

In this episode...

Today, I get to talk with the organizer of one of the largest RV shows in America, which starts this week in Tampa, Fla.

Dave Kelly is the executive director of the Florida RV Trade Association and the organization behind one of the most talked-about RV events in the country, the Tampa RV SuperShow.

It opens today at the Tampa Fairgrounds and runs through Sunday. If you can’t make this one, there are five other shows planned around Florida this spring.

Dave has been involved with the SuperShow for nearly four decades, an...

During this week’s show, we are addressing an issue that has sometimes frustrated Workampers for the last several years, and that is limitations of the Workamper website. Fortunately, all that changed just a few weeks ago and we’ll show you what the enhanced website means for members.

Today, I am featuring Luke Duquette, who is one of the owners behind Workamper News and the newly rebuilt Workamper.com website.

Luke takes us behind-the-scenes of a massive multi-year effort to completely rebuild the Workamper website from the ground up.

This was not a si...

For this week’s show, we are going to dive into a topic uniquely suited for Christmas, and that’s unity. The goal is to inspire more people to engage in Workamping and outdoor recreation regardless of their backgrounds.

Today, I am joined by Earl B. Hunter Jr., the founder and president of The Unity Folks. It is an award-winning company focused on helping the outdoor and RV industries to invite and welcome people from all backgrounds.

Earl spent decades as a business executive, including time as one of the few Black executives in th...

For this week’s show, we are going to dive into a topic uniquely suited for Christmas, and that’s unity. The goal is to inspire more people to engage in Workamping and outdoor recreation regardless of their backgrounds.

Today, I am joined by Earl B. Hunter Jr., the founder and president of The Unity Folks. It is an award-winning company focused on helping the outdoor and RV industries to invite and welcome people from all backgrounds.

Earl spent decades as a business executive, including time as one of the few Black executives in the RV i...

Today, I am speaking with two sisters who have been RVing and Workamping together.  They are having a great time on their adventures, and documenting it for others to enjoy as well.

KC and Charlie Houston are sisters who decided to turn a shared sense of humor and curiosity into a full time RV and Workamping lifestyle.

KC has been living full time in her travel trailer for three years. In September, Charlie packed up a three-bedroom house, moved into the second bedroom of that trailer, and joined KC on the road.

Together, t...

Today, I am speaking with two sisters who have been RVing and Workamping together.  They are having a great time on their adventures, and documenting it for others to enjoy as well.

KC and Charlie Houston are sisters who decided to turn a shared sense of humor and curiosity into a full time RV and Workamping lifestyle.

KC has been living full time in her travel trailer for three years. In September, Charlie packed up a three-bedroom house, moved into the second bedroom of that trailer, and joined KC on the road.

Together, t...

Today, I am speaking with a rather new solo Workamper who followed her instincts, traded an apartment for an RV, and discovered a lifestyle that finally felt right for her.

Shellie Schaffer caught the travel bug about 10 years ago, but it became real three years ago when she realized she was miserable living in apartments and needed a change.

What started as a desire to be happier turned into a full-time RV lifestyle that she says she never wants to leave.

In this episode, Shellie talks about living full time in an RV...

Today, I am speaking with a rather new solo Workamper who followed her instincts, traded an apartment for an RV, and discovered a lifestyle that finally felt right for her.

Shellie Schaffer caught the travel bug about 10 years ago, but it became real three years ago when she realized she was miserable living in apartments and needed a change.

What started as a desire to be happier turned into a full-time RV lifestyle that she says she never wants to leave.

In this episode, Shellie talks about living full time in an RV...

This week, I am interviewing a couple who has been RVing for nearly five years, and they have some great advice on ways people and companies can help make the RV lifestyle more inviting to all people.

Vicky Childers and Lamont Landrum have been RVing for nearly five years after deciding they wanted to build a different kind of life together.

When they first started dating, both felt the pull to travel. Vicky was already working remotely and Lamont wanted to find a way to see more of the world.

They bought their...