The Wandering Wild Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

This New Year feels different.

After feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and caught in my own head, I made one simple decision — to move. What followed was an unexpected road trip, sleeping in cars and tents, meeting people who were strangers just days ago, and feeling more alive than I ever.

In this episode, I reflect on what it means to stop keeping our lives in our heads and start letting them exist in the real world. I talk about indecision, fear, and the ways we talk ourselves out of connection, action, and becoming the person we say we want to be.

Instead of resolutions, I’m choosing a theme for this year: letting my thoughts, ideas, and instincts turn into real experiences. Real movement. Real connection. Real life.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, restless, or like you’re waiting for the “right time” to start — this episode is a reminder that so much can change when you finally take the first step.

Not sure how to start traveling — or if you’re even “ready”? In this episode, I break it all down.

I talk through:
• Why travel is so transformative
• How to ease into solo travel (without jumping straight into months abroad)
• Group trips, work exchanges, and beginner-friendly options
• Safety, intuition, and mindset shifts
• The emotional ups and downs of travel
• Practical tips I wish I knew when I started

This episode is a companion to the Travel 101 PDF, where everything we discuss is laid out clearly so you can come back to it anytime.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start… this might be it.

Travel 101: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fAweMIRc1mH9TR6aUgsC8rD6nglXmWbK/view?usp=drive_link

I decided to take a pause within my solo travel so I spent one week living within a Buddhist monastery in Norther Thailand and practicing both Samatha and Vipassana meditation.

7 days in Northern Thailand with no electronics and no speaking…

Here I share my honest experience. I share my thoughts, feelings, and a few journal entries. 

My experience wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be… but I’m excited to share it with you here!

If you’re interested in solo-travel, religion, Thailand, Buddhism, or meditation… this episode is for you! 

I just spent 3 weeks working in a hostel on the beautiful island of Koh Tao. Although this place is incredible, not all of my experience here was… here’s my debrief. My struggles, my growth, and my decision to leave early. 

I learned a lot from Koh Tao and the memories I made with my friends there are ones I’ll cherish. But… sometimes I also felt like I was an unwilling participant in love island. Listen to the episode to see what I mean…

In this episode, I share the story of crossing the border from Panama into Costa Rica—a journey full of unexpected challenges, lessons, and the powerful sense of empowerment that came on the other side.

This experience sparked a bigger reflection on what it means to truly embrace the human journey. We dive into how the lows carve the space for the highs, how struggle makes victory that much sweeter, and how every moment—whether messy, hard, or blissful—is part of the gift of being alive.

I also talk about the feeling of coming through difficulties on top of the world, and why I’ve made the choice to welcome it all: the discomfort, the breakthroughs, the chaos, and the beauty. Because without the lows, the highs wouldn’t shine as bright.

On the surface, Nusa Lembongan is all turquoise water, white sand, and laid-back island vibes. But for the hundreds of cats and dogs that call this island home, life hasn’t always been so easy. With no local vet, basic care and sterilisation were out of reach, until Donna stepped in.

In this episode, I sit down with Donna, founder of Paws of Lembongan, to hear how she built a volunteer-run organisation that’s changing the lives of animals across Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. We talk about the challenges of running an animal rescue on a remote island, the heartwarming stories that keep her going, and how travelers and listeners everywhere can be part of the solution.

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to live in paradise with purpose, this conversation will inspire you.

✨ Learn more or support Paws of Lembongan here:

• ​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pawsoflembongan?igsh=MmNlZzRtdDc5YXB0
• ​PayPal: @pawslembongan
• ​Go Get Funding: https://gogetfunding.com/paws-of-lembongan/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwMaEC5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp5Vc5XbvBmSETkA3pdg-5wF9AgVaq5hATY8IFM9tdKicAX06OncUX-nT-QjN_aem_vQnNyqRrwI4bMGnmWeMkHQ
• ​Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pawsoflembongan?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwMaEFpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp0aDFXCA5wa-jPJSCiNIgnyC9FqcAZSrnXduQu_Peb9U-USOLHwtNt_T94Sq_aem_KvaY6FXhHf3iNS2KPzIU4w

Travel isn’t just about stunning sunsets and epic adventures, it’s about the people you meet… and the goodbyes that follow. 

In this solo episode, I open up about the bittersweet reality of making friends on the road, only to part ways again and again. I share personal stories from my own travels, plus practical advice for making meaningful connections while traveling the world. 

You’ll also hear my best budget travel tips, packing hacks, and simple ways to meet people while traveling. Whether you’re planning your first solo trip or already living the digital nomad life, this episode will leave you inspired, prepared, and ready to embrace both the beauty and heartbreak of life on the road. 

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Ylva in Amed, Bali for a raw and reflective conversation about what it means to live untethered. At 24, Ylva is working remotely for an entrepreneur, growing her personal brand, and exploring life beyond the traditional idea of “home.”

We talk about the beauty and challenge of not knowing exactly where you belong, how she balances work and freedom, and why connection — not location — might be the real anchor. If you’ve ever felt in-between, or wondered if it’s okay to not have it all figured out, this one’s for you.

🎧 Tune in for a soulful, honest chat about travel, identity, creativity, and what it means to build a life that feels wild and true.

Ylva’s Amazing Content: https://www.instagram.com/ylvasands?igsh=MWg5b25nZ3NkOWpjMA==

Solo travel can be incredibly empowering, but it can also bring up fear, anxiety, and moments of loneliness that don’t get talked about enough. In this episode, I share some of my personal struggles and emotional ups and downs of navigating the world alone. These challenges don’t take away from the magic of solo travel, they’re part of what makes it meaningful. Because on the other side of fear, there’s growth, freedom, and moments that make it all worth it.

Hi I’m Ashley! I'm a 22yo female solo backpacker who is currently traveling the world! In this episode... I will introduce myself, share a bit of my story, let you know what you can expect from Wandering Wild, and the inspiration behind it! I can't wat to connect!