Type 2 Travel – Details, episodes & analysis

Join host Laura Ericson on "Type 2 Travel" - your weekly companion for authentic travel adventures. From hilarious language mix-ups to transformative cultural encounters, Laura and her diverse guests share real, unfiltered stories from the road. Whether you're a solo explorer seeking community, a conscious traveler navigating sustainable tourism, or simply dreaming of your next escape, this podcast delivers practical tips and heartfelt tales. Dive into local perspectives, troubleshoot travel SOS moments, and discover how travel shapes not just where we go, but who we become. Listen in as Laura guides you through the art of meaningful exploration, one story at a time.

Hey friends!

I’m so thrilled to welcome Angela Gentile to the show. She’s a speaker, storyteller, educator, podcast host of Empowered Millennials, and founder of the Single Childfree Community. Angela’s all about helping single and childfree people feel empowered, not shamed, for choosing to live life on their own terms.

I first discovered Angela when I was searching for childfree podcasts (shoutout to the algorithm for doing its thing). I knew immediately we had to connect. She said yes to my cold email, we vibed instantly on her show, and now—we’re about to meet IRL on my Cuba trip this winter. Even better? We’re also co-hosting a group trip to Morocco for other badass single, child-free women.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Brazil surprised me (and why you should go)
• What it’s like to be chased by a hippo
• Angela’s journey to choosing a childfree life and never looking back
• The story behind her viral TikTok and accidental global community
• The freedom of solo travel—and the emotional labor of doing life on one income
• Why being single and child-free doesn’t mean lonely or less-than—it can actually mean limitless

Angela brings so much fire and honesty to this conversation. Whether you’re child-free by choice, curious about it, or just want to hear two women talk about living life unapologetically-you’re gonna love this one.

More on Angela:

Angela Gentile is a speaker, educator, podcast host, and community builder known for her bold voice and unwavering commitment to helping single and childfree people feel seen, supported, and empowered. As the host of Empowered Millennials and founder of the Single Childfree Community, Angela creates transformative spaces for those living life outside traditional norms.

With humor, heart, and no-nonsense honesty, Angela challenges societal “shoulds” and champions authenticity—especially for women carving their own path. Whether she’s speaking on stage, going viral on TikTok, or organizing global meetups, she’s on a mission to make sure no one feels like they have to explain their life choices ever again.

Angela lives in Boston, loves a strong aisle seat, and will absolutely talk your ear off about her husky, travel mishaps, and the freedom that comes with choosing yourself.

Upcoming Trips Mentioned:

[Cuba: Dec–Jan] – Angela’s coming too!

[Morocco: Spring] – Hosted by me + Angela for single childfree women

Links & Resources (Angela)

• Learn more about Angela: theangelagentile.com
• Follow Angela on IG: @theangelagentile

Links & Resources (Laura)

• Follow my personal IG: @lolawhiskey
• Follow my business IG: @lauraericsongrouptrips
• Follow our podcast: @type2travelpodcast
• Learn more about upcoming trips: lauraericson.com
• Check out our podcast page:

This episode has been a long time coming, and I’m so glad you’re here for it. I’ve been wanting to dig into the topic of responsible travel for a while now, but honestly—it’s a tough one. There are so many layers: overtourism, greenwashing, consumerism, and global politics. Even as a professional traveler, I often feel overwhelmed trying to figure out how to do it “right.”

That’s why I’m so excited to share this conversation with Yulia Denisyuk. She’s not only an award-winning travel journalist and photographer, but she’s also someone I deeply admire. We met last fall in Okinawa, Japan during a press trip, and I was immediately drawn to her values and perspective. When I saw her speak again at a recent conference in New York, she brought the entire room to tears. She’s a powerful storyteller with a rare mix of vulnerability and strength.

In this episode, Yulia and I talk candidly about:

• What “responsible travel” actually means today
• How she went from serving in the U.S. military to becoming a globally recognized journalist
• The complexity of living in the U.S. as an immigrant—and how that affects how we see the world
• The often unseen impacts of mass tourism and why we need to think twice before booking that cruise or all-inclusive
• What it really means to travel humbly and with intention
• Who really benefits from tourism—and who often doesn’t

We also talk about what it’s like to work in media now (spoiler: it's not what it used to be), and why storytelling continues to be at the heart of what Yulia does—from journalism to photography to podcasting.

This isn’t a lighthearted episode, but it is a real and necessary one. If you’ve ever felt conflicted about your impact as a traveler, or unsure how to align your travel choices with your values, this conversation is for you.

Thanks for being here. I’m so glad we’re having these kinds of conversations on the podcast.

— Laura

More About Yulia Denisyuk

Yulia is an award-winning travel photographer, journalist, filmmaker, and podcast host. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, The New York Times, Time, Condé Nast Traveler, BBC Travel, and more. She’s the founder of Going Places, an independent journalism initiative, and teaches through her platform Travel Media Lab. She’s also based in Chicago with her pup, Leo.

Links & Resources (Yulia)

• Learn more about Yulia's work: yulia-denisyuk.com
• Explore her independent journalism initiative: goingplaces.com
• Explore her storytelling platform: travelmedialab.co
• Follow Yulia on IG: @goingplacesmedia

Links & Resources (Laura)

• Follow my personal IG: @lolawhiskey
• Follow my business IG: @lauraericsongrouptrips
• Follow our podcast: @type2travelpodcast
• Learn more about upcoming trips: lauraericson.com
• Check out our podcast page:

Hey friends! I’m so excited to welcome you to the very first episode of my new podcast, Type 2 Travel. If you’ve ever been curious about what it’s like to build a business around travel, why I’ve chosen to live a child-free life filled with global adventure, or what the heck "type two fun" even means... this one’s for you.

In this episode, I’m joined by my marketing manager (and podcast co-pilot!) Lauren, who flips the script and interviews me about how all of this started—my business, my travel style, my favorite mosquito-infested memories, and what it’s like to plan group trips for adventurous strangers.

We talk about:

• The very real difference between solo travel and group travel (and why I love both... kinda)
• Why I’m obsessed with culturally immersive travel and saying no to tourist traps
• How a random trip to Colombia with a total stranger turned into a full-time business
• The not-so-glamorous truth behind running group trips
• Why I picked the name Type 2 Travel—and what it has to do with suffering, joy, and stories worth telling

Plus, we chat about how this show will work moving forward, including:

• Updates from wherever I’ve just landed
• Candid convos with fellow travelers + friends
• Honest behind-the-scenes stories about what it’s really like to build a travel biz from scratch

Whether you’re travel-curious, a group trip alum, or just someone who’s tired of waiting on flaky friends to finally commit to that dream trip—this pod is for you.

Thanks for being here from day one.

• Follow my personal IG: @lolawhiskey
• Follow my business IG: @lauraericsongrouptrips
• Follow our podcast: @type2travelpodcast
• Learn more about upcoming trips: lauraericson.com
• Check out our podcast page: lauraericson.com/podcast
• Join my Facebook group: @lolalovestravel

In this episode, I'm talking with someone who proves that adventure doesn't have an expiration date. I met Kim Kephart last year at a travel conference in Spain, and we connected instantly because she's just refreshingly real about the messy, beautiful side of creating your own path.

Kim is a solo travel writer, hiker, and military spouse who's basically the poster child for writing your own story. She's lived across Europe and Asia, built a travel blog and career while navigating the unique challenges of military life, and is passionate about showing women that it's never too late to choose adventure over convention. Through her blog, Kimberly Kephart Travels, she helps women build confidence through travel, especially those who feel like they've somehow missed the right window for bold choices.

We're diving into her journey from following someone else's timeline to creating her own path, why the best time to start your adventure might be right now, and how she's carved out independence while moving countries every few years. Plus, we're talking about that invisible permission we think we need (spoiler: we don't) and why the grass isn't always greener - even when you're living in Europe.

Kimberly Kephart is a travel writer, solo hiker, and unconventional military spouse who's contributed to Stars and Stripes Europe and Military Families Magazine. After years of moving across Europe and Asia with her husband's military career, she learned to carve out her own path through solo travel and hiking. She shares her adventures and hard-won wisdom on her blog, Kimberly Kephart Travels, showing others they can do it too - even when they have no idea what they're doing yet.

Upcoming Trips Mentioned:

Georgia: October 3 - 12, 2025

Links & Resources (Kimberly)

• Instagram: @kimberlykepharttravels
• Facebook: @KimberlyKephartTravels
• Website: kimberlykepharttravels.com

Links & Resources (Laura)

• Follow my personal IG: @lolawhiskey
• Follow my business IG: @lauraericsongrouptrips
• Follow our podcast: @type2travelpodcast
• Learn more about upcoming trips: lauraericson.com
• Check out our podcast page: lauraericson.com/podcast
• Join my Facebook group: @lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

What happens when 30 adults decide to recreate summer camp magic with craft cocktails and zero adult supervision? You get epic storms, spontaneous tattoos, a pickle fountain malfunction, and the kind of weekend that makes you believe strangers can become family in 72 hours.

This week I'm sitting down with three brave souls who survived our inaugural Camp Lola Whiskey in the Wisconsin Dells - Troy from Milwaukee (who proved engineers can be the life of the party), Rachel from Michigan (who said yes to adventure with just two days' notice), and Megan from Texas (who got an old fashioned tattoo before catching her flight home because that's apparently what you do after Wisconsin camp).

We're breaking down everything from Chef Hannan's mind-blowing food that had people comparing camp to "a wedding in the woods," to the borderline tornado that turned into the weekend's most bonding moment, to the cow hunting game that nearly started a camp civil war. Plus we're talking about Troy's secret life as camp's unofficial intern, Rachel's musical chairs injury, and how a single tarot card survived a storm to become the perfect camp memento.

If you've ever wondered what happens when you combine Wisconsin hospitality, craft cocktails, adult games, and Mother Nature's wildest mood swings, this episode is your behind-the-scenes pass to the chaos.

Upcoming Trips Mentioned:

• Camp Lola Whiskey 2026

Camp Sponsors Mentioned:

• Siren Shrub
• Dancing Goat Distillery
• Beren's Old Fashioned Brandy
• Driftless Glen Distillery
• 45th Parallel Distillery
• Lazy Coconuts
• Olympia Granola
• Viiq Wellness

Links & Resources (Laura):

• Follow my personal IG: @lolawhiskey
• Follow my business IG: @lauraericsongrouptrips
• Follow our podcast: @type2travelpodcast
• Learn more about upcoming trips: lauraericson.com
• Check out our podcast page: lauraericson.com/podcast
• Join my Facebook group: @lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

Erin Fish is my travel insurance partner, and before you roll your eyes thinking this is just a boring sales pitch - hear me out. This is one of those partnerships that happened organically because Erin genuinely gives a shit about travelers and the world, not just profits.

Erin co-founded Wanderwell Travel Insurance, a certified B Corp that's legally required to consider their impact on travelers, employees, and the planet. While most travel insurance companies feel designed to collect your money and find creative ways to avoid paying claims, Wanderwell actually walks you through the process like humans instead of robots.

We're diving into why travel insurance isn't just another expense to grudgingly add to your trip budget, but actually one of the smartest investments you can make in your adventures. From the traveler stuck in a Thai hospital with dengue fever to someone whose entire European itinerary got derailed by a massive air traffic control meltdown - Erin's seen it all.

This conversation covers the real stuff: when you actually need coverage, the difference between travel insurance and your credit card "coverage," and why some claims involve people sleeping outside under desert stars (you'll have to listen for that story).

Upcoming Trips Mentioned:

• Morocco: April 10 - April 19, 2026
• Cuba: Dec 27, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026
• India: Feb 25 - March 7, 2026
• Kenya: March 25 - April 4, 2026

Links & Resources (Erin):

• Get travel insurance through Wanderwell
• Learn more about Wanderwell
• Follow Wanderwell on social: @go.wanderwell

Links & Resources (Laura):

• Follow my personal IG: @lolawhiskey
• Follow my business IG: @lauraericsongrouptrips
• Follow our podcast: @type2travelpodcast
• Learn more about upcoming trips: lauraericson.com
• Check out our podcast page: lauraericson.com/podcast
• Join my Facebook group: @lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

Casey Hanisko is one of those women in the travel industry who I genuinely look up to - the kind of leader who makes you think, "I want to be like her when I grow up."

We're diving into something that's keeping a lot of us up at night - how do you keep exploring the world when it feels like everything is falling apart? Casey has spent over 25 years building and leading teams in the adventure travel industry, and she's got the perspective we all need right now.

I really wanted to pick Casey's brain about this: How do we navigate our fears about traveling when the news cycle feels relentless and the world seems more uncertain than ever? We're talking about the difference between smart risk management and letting fear hijack your passport, plus some seriously questionable decision-making that led to the best travel stories ever.

Upcoming Trips Mentioned:

Cuba: Dec 27, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026

India: Feb 25 - March 7, 2026

Kenya: March 25 - April 4, 2026

Morocco: April 10 - April 19, 2026

Links & Resources (Casey)

• Learn more about Casey: caseyhanisko.com
• LinkedIn: @caseyhanisko
• Leading Naturally newsletter
• RISE Travel Institute
• Adventure Travel Conservation Fund
• Casey's Blog Post: Scared to Travel Right Now?

Links & Resources (Laura)

• Follow my personal IG: @lolawhiskey
• Follow my business IG: @lauraericsongrouptrips
• Follow our podcast: @type2travelpodcast
• Learn more about upcoming trips: lauraericson.com
• Check out our podcast page: lauraericson.com/podcast
• Join my Facebook group: @lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

Today I'm sitting down with someone who's been my partner in questionable decision-making for many years - my former sister-in-law and current travel buddy, Kari Chance. We're diving into our most ridiculous travel mishaps, the kinds of stories that literally had us crying from laughter while recording.

Kari is living proof that I won my divorce by keeping my sister-in-law. By day she's a dental hygienist, but she's also a Laura Ericson Group Trips Turkey and Mexico City survivor. When Kari is involved, ordinary travel moments somehow transform into the kind of stories you'll be telling for years.

Fair warning: if you've ever wondered how two supposedly responsible adults can turn a simple trip into a comedy of errors, this is the episode for you. From Turkish bath confusion to airport bathroom disasters, we're sharing it all.

Kari Chance (aka "Auntie Kari" or "Uncle Kari" when she's wielding her mini chainsaw) is a dental hygienist from Wisconsin and Laura's former sister-in-law turned travel partner in crime. Known for her love of naps, cats, and creating armpit fart sounds at inappropriate moments, Kari proves that the best travel companions are the ones who aren't afraid to laugh at themselves - even when things go hilariously wrong.

Upcoming Trips Mentioned:

Cuba: Dec 27, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026

Mexico City: Oct 26 - Nov 3, 2025

Links & Resources (Kari)

• Instagram: @adventureswithauntiekari
• Facebook: @kari.lyn.56

Links & Resources (Laura)

• Follow my personal IG: @lolawhiskey
• Follow my business IG: @lauraericsongrouptrips
• Follow our podcast: @type2travelpodcast
• Learn more about upcoming trips: lauraericson.com
• Check out our podcast page: lauraericson.com/podcast
• Join my Facebook group: @lolalovestravel

Thanks for being here! As always, rate, review, share with a friend, and tag us if you’re listening.

Today I’m joined by Andrea Andree—leadership and embodiment coach, mom of two, and a traveler from my Cuba trip earlier this year. We dive into what it really looks like to prioritize solo travel as a parent, how to navigate fear (yours and other people’s), and how making space for your own joy actually makes you a better parent.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why Andrea said yes to a solo trip to Cuba—and left the mom guilt at home
• The myth of “once you’re a parent, adventure stops”
• How to handle loved ones projecting fear onto your travel plans
• Why it’s crucial to model boldness and curiosity for your kids
• How Andrea coaches parents to reconnect with their identities beyond parenting

There’s a pervasive story in our culture that once you become a parent, especially a mom, you’re no longer supposed to want big adventures—or if you do, you should feel guilty about them. Andrea is here to challenge that narrative. This conversation is for any parent who's ever felt pulled to explore more, reconnect with themselves, and model courage and joy for their kids.

And if you’re not a parent? It’s still a powerful reminder that you don’t need anyone’s permission to live a big, bold life.

Links & Resources

• Learn more about Andrea: https://andreaandree.com/
• Follow my personal IG: @lolawhiskey
• Follow my business IG: @lauraericsongrouptrips
• Follow our podcast: @type2travelpodcast
• Get on the waitlist for Camp Lola Whiskey 2026
• Learn more about upcoming trips: lauraericson.com
• Check out our podcast page: lauraericson.com/podcast
• Join my Facebook group: @lolalovestravel