Roam Alone – Details, episodes & analysis

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Roam Alone

Theresa Stephens

Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/12d. Total Eps: 20

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 your next adventure.

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🇨🇦 Canada - placesAndTravel
26/07/2026
#95

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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 73%

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From San Francisco to Michigan: The Solo Bike Ride that Connected Taylor’s Family

Season 1 · Episode 20

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 • Duration 25:36

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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 talk about the rhythm solo travel forces you into, the strangers-turned-friends he met on the road, and what it means to arrive somewhere not just physically changed, but differently oriented to being alone.

Whether you're a solo traveler, a cyclist, or someone who's ever wondered what you'd find in nearly two months of quiet, this conversation is a reminder that solitude isn't something to get through — it's something to seek.

In this episode:

· Why Taylor, a lifelong actor used to collaboration and company, decided to take on a solo trip for the first time

· The emotional arc from dreading alone time to craving it

· Memorable connections made with strangers along a 3,500-mile route

· Riding to see his 101-year-old father — what that reunion meant after 53 days on the road

· What solo endurance travel teaches you that no amount of company can

Connect with Taylor:
Check out his podcast, Bike Talk

Roam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens.

Instagram: @theresaannstephens

Facebook: /theresastephens

Facebook: /RoamAlone

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From Solo Vacation to Solo Relocation: Portugal, Here I Come!

Season 1 · Episode 19

Sunday, July 12, 2026 • Duration 37:58

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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 move real, and why Porto — with its walkability, affordability, and slower pace of life — became the answer she wasn't expecting.

If you've ever wondered what it actually looks like to relocate abroad solo — not just the dream part, but the visas, the doubt, the 2am "what am I doing" moments — this episode is for you.

What We Cover

Why this move isn't a spur-of-the-moment decision — the years-long path that led here
Working four jobs and still not making ends meet: the financial reality before the decision
Why Costa Rica and France were both considered — and why neither ended up being the answer
How a remote worker visa search led to Portugal (and specifically, Porto)
Portugal vs. France vs. the US: cost of living, safety, and pace of life
The moment it became real: selling the house, telling her son, telling coworkers
What she's most excited about (walking everywhere, learning Portuguese, weekend train trips)
What scares her (building community, unexpected expenses, language barriers)
How lessons from solo travel prepared her for a solo move

Connect & Follow Along

Follow the journey as Theresa documents the visa wait, apartment hunting in Porto, and the move itself in upcoming episodes of Roam Alone Portugal.

Roam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens.

Adventure After 65: Solo Walking Across Europe

Season 1 · Episode 10

Sunday, March 8, 2026 • Duration 37:24

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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, trusting her instincts when routes disappeared, and the empowering feeling of relying entirely on herself. But the biggest transformation didn’t happen on the trail—it happened when she returned home carrying a new sense of strength, confidence, and independence.

Her story is proof that adventure doesn’t have an expiration date—and sometimes the best journeys begin when you least expect them.

Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction to Paula
02:10 Discovering The Natural Adventure
09:46 First solo walk: The West Highland Way in Scotland
16:25 Paula’s many solo walks—and where she’s headed next

See for yourself! Check out The Natural Adventure: https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/

Roam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens.

Instagram: @theresaannstephens

Facebook: /theresastephens

Facebook: /RoamAlone

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From Backpacker to Mountain Guide: Turning Adventure Travel into a Career

Season 1 · Episode 9

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 • Duration 29:03

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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 for first-time solo travelers, and unpack one of the biggest fears holding people back: safety.

If you’ve ever wondered:

Is the world actually safe for solo travelers?
Are people inherently good?
What’s the best first “big” adventure if you’re going alone?

Donovan answers with the grounded confidence of someone who’s spent decades exploring remote corners of the globe.

Time Stamps:
00:00 – The backpacking trip that became a lifelong calling
16:30 – The best Embark trip for your first solo adventure
22:41 – Safety tips and why the world isn’t as scary as it seems

This episode is for anyone craving adventure — but waiting for reassurance.

Check out all of the treks YOU can join with Embark Exploration!!

Roam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens.

Instagram: @theresaannstephens

Facebook: /theresastephens

Facebook: /RoamAlone

Traveling Alone to Concerts: Finding Your Community on the Road

Season 1 · Episode 8

Thursday, February 12, 2026 • Duration 21:25

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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 — it’s one of the easiest ways to meet new people, build community, and create meaningful travel experiences.

If you’ve ever hesitated to travel solo or attend an event alone, this episode will inspire you to buy the ticket — and trust yourself to go.

Time Stamps
00:00 Meeting Molly at a Jon Batiste concert
04:43 How solo travel came about organically
07:02 Developing new friendships while attending concerts solo
09:20 First international solo trip to celebrate turning 50
13:00 Molly’s best solo travel safety tips

Roam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens.

Instagram: @theresaannstephens

Facebook: /theresastephens

Facebook: /RoamAlone

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Why People Start Traveling Alone: One Traveler’s Story

Season 1 · Episode 7

Sunday, February 1, 2026 • Duration 42:41

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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 world solo, Anne reminds us that travel can hold both loss and beauty at the same time.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to Anne and her intrepid wanderlust
02:10 Taking her first solo trip to the Amalfi Coast as a tribute to a friend
12:48 A powerful encounter with a stranger at a Paris restaurant
26:21 Anne’s solo travel safety tips, including the famous “don’t mess with me” face

Annie's Nuggets

Rick Steves' tours

Roam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens.

Instagram: @theresaannstephens

Facebook: /theresastephens

Facebook: /RoamAlone

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Finding Strength Through Solo Travel After Cancer

Season 1 · Episode 6

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 • Duration 39:29

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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 instead of retreating from the world, she reimagined how she could move through it. At the end of 2025, Tracy embarked on a two-week solo journey through Europe, navigating accessibility and uncertainty — but on her own terms.

This episode is about resilience, independence, and redefining what adventure looks like when everything changes.

Time Stamps

· 00:00 — Meeting Tracy on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro

· 06:35 — Running a New Orleans half marathon solo after plans fall apart

· 09:52 — Joining the Peace Corps and moving alone to a small town in Ukraine

· 18:00 — A cancer diagnosis that changes everything

· 28:00 — Traveling solo through Europe while newly disabled

Roam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens.

Instagram: @theresaannstephens

Facebook: /theresastephens

Facebook: /RoamAlone

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Traveling Alone After Loss: How Solo Travel Helps You Heal

Season 1 · Episode 5

Sunday, January 11, 2026 • Duration 44:32

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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 Elephant Nature Park to a two-day boat journey down the Mekong River and discovering the surprisingly cosmopolitan cities of Laos, Mark reflects on how slowing down and traveling alone helped him reconnect with himself. The episode closes with a powerful discussion of a 10-day Buddhist meditation retreat at Indriya in northern Thailand, and the stillness that comes from sitting with grief rather than running from it.

This episode of Roam Alone is a conversation about grief, resilience, solo travel, and the courage it takes to keep moving forward.

Time Stamps

00:00 Traveling to Puerto Vallarta after the loss of his mother
11:53 Post-divorce solo travel to Thailand & Elephant Nature Park
22:04 Two-day Mekong River boat trip and discovering Laos
34:40 A 10-day Buddhist retreat at Indriya

Elephant Nature Park

Indriya Retreat

Roam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens.

Instagram: @theresaannstephens

Facebook: /theresastephens

Facebook: /RoamAlone

First Solo Trip: Leaving Home to Find Yourself

Season 1 · Episode 4

Saturday, January 3, 2026 • Duration 42:33

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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 than a simple trip—it became a transformative hitchhiking journey across America, marked by harsh weather, chance encounters, and a mysterious “New Age” preacher who changed the course of the trip.

This is a story about trusting your inner compass, embracing uncertainty, and discovering who you are when you leave everything familiar behind.

Time Stamps

00:00 Growing up in the south end of Louisville feeling like an outcast

06:03 At age 10, planning a secret solo float down the Ohio River

12:49 A Greyhound bus west at 19 years old

20:19 A snowstorm forces a bold change in direction

28:08 Picked up by a “New Age” preacher for an epic cross-country ride

Roam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens.

Instagram: @theresaannstephens

Facebook: /theresastephens

Facebook: /RoamAlone

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The Confidence You Gain From Traveling Alone

Season 1 · Episode 3

Friday, December 26, 2025 • Duration 25:05

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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, and the powerful moment when you realize you can handle anything—anywhere. Rosemary also shares what it’s like to return home after solo travel with a renewed sense of self-sufficiency and clarity.

This conversation is about more than travel. It’s about becoming more self-sufficient, trusting your instincts, and realizing you’re capable of far more than you think.

Time Stamps

· 00:00 Meet Rosemary Sims

· 02:52 The first solo trip that changed everything

· 07:37 Spain and a sense of déjà vu

· 14:23 Greece: The iconic flying dress experience

· 16:43 Identity shifts while traveling abroad

· 20:27 Applying solo-travel confidence to real life

Links:

Greece's Flying Dress Photo Shoot

Roam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens.

Instagram: @theresaannstephens

Facebook: /theresastephens

Roam Alone – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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Roam Alone – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Buzzsprout1

Other18

Instagram1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Buzzsprout1

Other18

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