Roam Alone
Roam Alone is a podcast about solo travel — the courage, transformation, and unexpected connections that happen when people explore the world on their own.Each episode features inspiring stories from travelers who discovered confidence, healing, and adventure through traveling alone. From first-time solo trips to long-distance walking journeys across Europe, guests share how solo travel changed their lives.Roam Alone explores everything from solo hiking and travel after major life changes to traveling alone later in life and finding community on the road. Whether you're dreaming about your first solo trip or already love traveling independently, these conversations will inspire yo...
From San Francisco to Michigan: The Solo Bike Ride that Connected Taylor’s Family
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In this episode, we sit down with Taylor Nichols — career actor and host of the podcast Bike Talk — fresh off an almost-3,500-mile solo bike ride from his daughters' home in San Francisco to his childhood home in East Lansing, Michigan, where his 101-year-old father was waiting.
This was Taylor's first solo trip of any kind. He talks candidly about being uncomfortable with the thought of two months on the road alone and how quickly that concern gave way to something else entirely: a deep, surprising love for his own company. We t...
From Solo Vacation to Solo Relocation: Portugal, Here I Come!
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This episode is different — it's just me. No guest, no interview. Just Theresa, opening up about the biggest solo adventure of her life: moving from the US to Porto, Portugal.
This isn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. It's the result of years of hard work, hard choices, and a slow, honest evolution — from working four jobs just to stay afloat in Louisville, Kentucky, to researching visas for Costa Rica, then France, and finally landing on Portugal. Theresa walks through the financial breaking point that changed everything, the conversation with her son that made the...
Solo Van Life: Kristy's Coddiwompling Journey
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What would you do if you knew you couldn’t get it wrong?
That’s the question that drives Kristy Halvorsen, author of Perfect Unfolding, and today’s guest on Roam Alone.
In this episode, Theresa sits down with Kristy Halvorsen — author of the new book Perfect Unfolding — to talk about the nine years she's spent living on the road in her Airstream, affectionately named Coddi (short for "coddiwompling," the art of traveling purposefully without a fixed destination).
Kristy shares what it means to trust that the road — and l...
Long-term Solo Travel: 4 Years, 36 Countries & A Date in Every One
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What does it look like to leave everything behind and travel the world solo — not for two weeks, but for four years straight? In this episode of Roam Alone, host Theresa Stephens sits down with Loni James, a fearless long-term solo traveler who has explored 36 countries since setting off on her journey after the loss of her mother to Alzheimer's disease.
Loni's story is equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring — a testament to the healing power of travel, the unexpected joy of vulnerability, and the freedom that comes from designing a lif...
From Addiction Recovery to a 100-Mile Solo Hike: How Jenni Found Confidence on the Trail
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What happens when the safety net you've relied on your entire life suddenly disappears?
In this inspiring episode of Roam Alone, Jenni shares her remarkable journey from addiction recovery, financial hardship, and self-doubt to becoming a confident solo backpacker and hiker.
Although she has been sober for more than 20 years, Jenni admits that she spent much of her adult life depending on her mother for support, especially financially. After her mother's death, Jenni inherited money but soon found herself facing bankruptcy and a difficult reality: she had never learned...
Solo Budget Travel: Safety Tips, Destinations & How to Make Travel Your Career
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What if travel wasn’t just a vacation — but your career?
In this episode of Roam Alone, host Theresa Stephens talks with Michelle, a professional travel writer who has explored 35+ countries and built a life centered around global adventure. Michelle shares how she transformed her passion for travel into sustainable work, along with practical advice for solo budget travelers looking to see more of the world without overspending.
Whether you’re planning your first solo trip or dreaming of long-term travel, this episode delive...
Midlife Reinvention: Moving Alone to Costa Rica
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What happens when the life you built no longer feels like the life you want?
In this episode of Roam Alone, Theresa sits down with Jen Rulon, who made a bold decision at age 50: she left her marriage, her career, and the United States to start over alone in Costa Rica.
Jen opens up about the fear that came with such a massive transition — and how stepping into the unknown ultimately allowed her to rediscover herself.
Today, Jen is thriving. She has built a successful bu...
Starting Over at 55: How Solo Travel Helped Diane Rebuild Her Life After Divorce
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In this episode of Roam Alone, Theresa speaks with Diane about navigating one of life’s biggest transitions and choosing solo travel as a path toward personal renewal.
After divorce, selling her business, and entering an empty-nest chapter, Diane set out alone to reconnect with herself — volunteering at resorts around the world and rebuilding confidence, purpose, and identity along the way.
We discuss:
Why major life transitions often spark solo travel Traveling alone after divorce How volunteering abroad makes long-term travel affordable Letting go of other people’s expectations ...Freedom and Reinvention: A Solo Traveler’s Journey from Van Life to an Art Residency in Greece
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Is home a place — or a feeling we carry with us?
In this episode of Roam Alone, Theresa welcomes Kelly Peeler, a woman who redefined independence by living nomadically in a van for six years before planting new roots on Milos, Greece.
Kelly’s story challenges traditional ideas about stability, success, and what it means to belong somewhere.
Together, they discuss:
Choosing solo travel as a way of life Building confidence through long-term travel The emotional evolution of nomadic living Creating spaces where women...Why Women Over 50 Are Traveling Solo More Than Ever
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Solo travel is booming — and one group is leading the movement: women over 50.
In this episode of Roam Alone, we explore why midlife and older women are becoming one of the fastest-growing groups of solo travelers in the world.
From financial independence to life transitions like empty nests and retirement, more women are choosing to explore the world on their own terms.
Travel studies show women now make up the majority of solo travelers, and women over 50 are driving one of the biggest shifts in travel culture.
...Adventure After 65: Solo Walking Across Europe
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In this episode of Roam Alone, we talk about solo hiking in Europe and starting solo travel after 65 with long-distance walker Paula Kreissler.
In this episode of Roam Alone, Paula shares how she discovered self-guided walking trips through The Natural Adventure and why the format—independent but supported—was the perfect way to begin solo travel. What started with Scotland’s iconic West Highland Way has grown into more than ten journeys across Western Europe, each ranging from 80 to more than 100 miles.
Paula talks about navigating washed-out trails...
From Backpacker to Mountain Guide: Turning Adventure Travel into a Career
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What happens when a six-month backpacking trip changes the entire trajectory of your life?
In Episode 9 of Roam Alone, I sit down with Donovan Pacholl, co-founder of Embark Exploration Co., the outfitter behind my very first summit: Mount Kilimanjaro.
Donovan shares how a backpacking journey through Europe and Africa evolved into a global trekking company that now leads adventurers up some of the world’s most iconic mountains. We revisit my experience climbing Kili with Embark, talk about what makes a trek beginner-friendly fo...
Traveling Alone to Concerts: Finding Your Community on the Road
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What if solo travel started with a concert ticket?
In Episode 8 of Roam Alone, I’m joined by Molly — the ultimate concert queen — who travels solo to cities across the country (and now internationally) to see her favorite artists live. I first met her at a Jon Batiste show, proof that live music and solo travel are powerful tools for connection.
Molly shares how traveling alone came about organically and how planning trips around concerts became her gateway into confident, independent travel. For her, attending concerts solo isn’t lonely —...
Why People Start Traveling Alone: One Traveler’s Story
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What happens when a shared dream outlives the person you planned it with?
In Episode 7 of Roam Alone, I’m joined by Anne—a traveler who embodies wanderlust in its truest form. After the death of a close friend, Anne made the brave decision to take the trip they had always dreamed of together: the Amalfi Coast. What began as a tribute became the start of a lifelong solo travel journey.
From a chance encounter with a stranger in Paris to practical safety strategies that help her navigate the worl...
Finding Strength Through Solo Travel After Cancer
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What do you do when the body you once trusted changes—but the desire to explore the world doesn’t?
In Episode 6 of Roam Alone, I sit down with Tracy, a traveler I first met as a tentmate while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in 2018. Back then, we bonded over thin air, heavy packs, and a shared love of going it alone. Years later, we planned to reunite for a trek to Everest Base Camp—until a cancer diagnosis changed everything.
After intensive radiation and chemotherapy, Tracy was left disabled. But instea...
Traveling Alone After Loss: How Solo Travel Helps You Heal
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In Part Two of my conversation with Mark Fryer, we explore how solo travel can become a powerful tool for healing after loss.
Mark shares what it was like traveling alone to Puerto Vallarta shortly after the death of his mother—an emotionally raw journey that included an unexpected and dangerous run-in with a drug cartel. Years later, following a divorce, he embarked on a solo trip through Southeast Asia, where travel shifted from escape to intentional healing.
From volunteering at Thailand’s El...
First Solo Trip: Leaving Home to Find Yourself
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What do you do when you know—deep down—that you don’t belong where you were born?
In Episode 4 of Roam Alone, Mark Fryer reflects on growing up in the south end of Louisville, Kentucky, where he often felt like an outcast in his working-class, Catholic upbringing. From an early age, Mark felt pulled toward the west, dreaming of a life beyond what he knew.
That pull became reality at 19, when he left home alone on a Greyhound bus bound for Denver. What followed was far more t...
The Confidence You Gain From Traveling Alone
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Solo travel isn’t just about seeing new places—it’s about meeting a stronger version of yourself.
In this episode, Rosemary Sims opens up about how traveling alone transformed her confidence and sense of independence during a pivotal career change. What began as a single trip turned into a deep trust in her own abilities—one that continues to shape her life long after the suitcase is unpacked.
We talk about the magic of Spain, the boldness of a flying dress shoot in Greece<...
Growing Up With Solo Travel: A Life of Independent Adventure
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In this episode of Roam Alone, we sit down with Kristen Thoburn, whose journey into solo travel began earlier than most—on mission trips with her parents at just five years old. By age twelve, Kristen was already traveling solo, laying the foundation for a lifetime of independence, resilience, and curiosity.
Kristen shares stories from destinations like Grenada and Venice, reflects on being the victim of a robbery abroad—and why it didn’t stop her from continuing to roam—and explains...
Becoming a Solo Traveler
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In the very first episode of Roam Alone, host Theresa Stephens shares the personal stories that ignited her passion for exploring the world on her own. From a spontaneous birthday weekend in Chicago to an unforgettable solo night at a Jon Batiste concert, Theresa reflects on the quiet confidence and unexpected connections that come from taking that first step alone.
She also opens up about one of her most transformative adventures—traveling to Africa solo to join a group trekking Mount Kilimanjaro. Through these moments, Theresa reveals ho...
