Kindred Roads Podcast

Mary Goggin

congratulations! you finally found the community of adventurers, travelers, and change makers to validate your unconventional life plans… You’ve got a bucket list a mile long and have most likely already jumped out of an airplane (and maybe felt way too much joy doing it). Maybe you’re a travel filmmaker, scuba diver, mountain climber, surfer, or van lifer. Or maybe you’re a creator, entrepreneur, artist, or builder chasing a vision that doesn’t fit inside a traditional box. Or maybe you’re just dreaming of your next adventure, whether that’s sailing around Australia, competing on The Amazing Race, or finally choosing a life that feels aligned. Well, you’re in good company here. Our guests are right there with you, living fully, unapologetically, and with purpose.

  1. From Quitting Her 9 to 5 to Photographing Wimbledon’s Fashion Icon…

    8H AGO

    From Quitting Her 9 to 5 to Photographing Wimbledon’s Fashion Icon…

    What happens when you leave a stable 9 to 5 and decide to build a career around your passions instead? In this episode, Olivia Chenery, a London based events, hotel, fashion, and brand photographer, shares how she walked away from corporate life and built a photography career. What started as small shoots and saying yes to opportunities before she felt fully ready turned into photographing Morgan Riddle, a major influencer at Wimbledon, and working with brands and hotels across the UK and the world. Olivia talks about the fear of losing financial stability, the pressure of starting over, and the steps she took to turn photography into a full time career. She shares how she found her first clients, how she built her portfolio, and how she positioned herself in competitive industries like fashion, hotels, events, and brand photography in London. We also talk about her solo trip to Portugal and how traveling alone helped her grow creatively and personally. This episode is for anyone who feels stuck in a 9 to 5 but is scared to leave. It is about taking a creative risk, building something from scratch, and understanding what it actually takes to make photography a real career. Let’s dive in! Connect with Olivia: Website Tiktok Instagram Follow along on other platforms: Instagram Tiktok Youtube ~ KEYWORDS Olivia Chenery, London photographer, London fashion photographer, London events photographer, London hotel photographer, brand photographer London, how to become a photographer, leaving your 9 to 5 job, quit your corporate job for photography, creative career change, full time photographer journey, how to start a photography business, beginner photography tips, building a photography portfolio, finding your first photography clients, freelance photographer London, female photographer London, travel photography Portugal, solo travel Portugal, creative entrepreneurship, turning your passion into a career, how to grow as a photographer, photography business advice, starting over in your twenties, leaving a safe job for a creative career, photography industry insights

    51 min
  2. The Sailor Who Caught On Fire in the Middle of the Atlantic...

    JAN 15

    The Sailor Who Caught On Fire in the Middle of the Atlantic...

    Max Campbell is sailing around the world on a 50 year old Swan 37 named Elixir, a boat he rebuilt by hand and turned into a fully functioning home at sea. Over the past few years, he has sailed from the UK to New Zealand with an ever changing crew, navigating open ocean crossings, remote coastlines, and places that can only be reached by boat. In this episode, Max walks us through the moments that defined his journey. He shares the story of being caught on fire during a solo Atlantic crossing, then sailing alone for two more days with serious burns to reach land. He explains what daily life actually looks like at sea, how it feels to be disconnected for weeks at a time, and why that level of isolation can bring clarity rather than fear. We also dive into experiences that still feel hard to believe, such as being boarded off the coast of Venezuela, spending time in an immigration jail in southern Mexico, listening to firsthand stories from people who crossed the Darien Gap, and reaching South Pacific islands where boats are the only way in and trading supplies for food is still part of everyday life. This conversation is raw, eye opening, and deeply human, and it offers a rare look at what it really means to live at the edge of the world. Let’s dive in! Connect with Max and follow the journey below: Instagram Youtube Tiktok Website Patreon Sailing Crew About Elixir and the Crew Follow along on other platforms: Instagram Tiktok Youtube ~ KEYWORDS Max Campbell, Untide, un tide, Elixir sailboat, Swan 37, sailing around the world, circumnavigation, solo Atlantic crossing, Atlantic crossing fire, boat fire accident, ocean sailing crew, sailing New Zealand, South Pacific remote islands, being boarded at sea, Venezuela coast guard boarding, piracy at sea story, Mexico immigration jail, Tapachula detention center, Darien Gap stories, sailing content creator

    52 min
  3. She Traveled the World Alone as a Female for 20 Months… (And How You Can Too)

    12/22/2025

    She Traveled the World Alone as a Female for 20 Months… (And How You Can Too)

    Natalie Ng is a videographer and writer from Perth, Australia who spent 20 months traveling the world alone. She did not leave with everything figured out. She left with questions, curiosity, and a willingness to learn as she went. In this episode, Natalie talks honestly about what it was like to travel solo as a woman for the first time. She walks through the fears she had before leaving, how she approached safety on the road, and how she handled the concerns and expectations of family back home. She shares the practical ways she built confidence over time, learned to trust her instincts, and made decisions that kept her grounded while constantly moving. We also talk about the places that shaped her experience most, including time in Italy, the Balkans, Morocco, Nepal, and Southeast Asia. Natalie shares stories from trekking to Annapurna Base Camp, volunteering in Nepal, navigating different cultures as a solo woman, and learning when to slow down instead of rushing to the next place. This conversation is for women who want to travel alone but feel unsure about safety, judgment, or not knowing where to start. It is an honest look at long term solo female travel, what actually helps, what matters most, and why you do not need a perfect plan to begin. Let’s dive in! Connect with Natalie: Website Shop Her Prints Read Her Blogs Instagram . Follow along on other platforms: Instagram Tiktok Youtube ~ KEYWORDS solo female travel, traveling alone as a woman, how to travel solo as a woman, solo female traveler podcast, long term solo travel, traveling the world alone female, women who travel solo, solo travel tips for women, how to travel the world alone, female digital nomad travel, solo travel safety for women, budgeting for long term travel, solo travel confidence, women traveling the world alone, how to start solo traveling

    2h 24m
  4. The Air Force Colonel Who Became a NASA Astronaut and Commanded the International Space Station…

    12/05/2025

    The Air Force Colonel Who Became a NASA Astronaut and Commanded the International Space Station…

    Colonel Terry Virts is a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, test pilot, NASA astronaut, and former Commander of the International Space Station. He has flown 45 combat missions, piloted the Space Shuttle Endeavour, and spent more than 200 days in space, including three spacewalks. In this episode, Terry shares his extraordinary journey, from growing up with a dream of becoming an astronaut, to the moment he first looked out over Earth from the Cupola. We talk about the discipline of flying F-16s, the lessons of leadership learned in the Air Force Academy, and what life is really like on the ISS…from sleeping weightless to handling false alarms. He also opens up about filming the IMAX documentary, "A Beautiful Planet," narrated by Jennifer Lawrence, directing "One More Orbit" to set a world record flying around the globe, and how his love for storytelling and photography led to his art exhibit,"View From Above." Now, as a U.S. Senate candidate in Texas, Terry is focused on bringing ethics, service, and integrity back to public office. Lastly, he talks about the values that have guided every mission of his life, including courage, humility, and service before self, and why he still believes America’s best days are ahead. This episode is a look inside spaceflight, leadership, and what happens when you choose to serve beyond yourself. Connect with Terry: Website Instagram Launch Video (1M+ views) Buy His Book, How to Astronaut Watch His Documentary, One More Orbit See His Photography Exhibit, View From Above Support His Senate Campaign Follow along on other platforms: Instagram Tiktok Youtube ~ KEYWORDS Terry Virts interview, NASA astronaut, International Space Station, astronaut podcast, space travel stories, One More Orbit documentary, A Beautiful Planet IMAX, How to Astronaut book, astronaut photography, astronaut training, space shuttle Endeavour, fighter pilot stories, F16 pilot, spacewalk experience, view from above art, life in space, astronaut sleeping weightless, NASA leadership lessons, astronaut turned politician, Terry Virts Senate campaign

    52 min
  5. From Working for the National Park Service to Being Woken Up by a Bear

    11/18/2025

    From Working for the National Park Service to Being Woken Up by a Bear

    Julio Campis Díaz is a 24-year-old Puerto Rican ecologist and PhD student whose career took a dramatic turn the day he stepped into El Yunque National Rainforest. What began as a required research assignment led him from freshwater shrimp studies to working inside Great Smoky Mountains and Yosemite National Park. In this episode Julio shares how that moment reshaped his path, the mentors who guided him, and the field experiences that shaped his love for conservation. He talks about tracking rare owls, teaching visitors in national parks, witnessing shrimp migrations, and navigating close encounters with wildlife. We also discuss the challenges national parks face today and the importance of including native knowledge and strong community partnerships. In this episode • The unexpected moment in El Yunque that sent Julio from pre med to wildlife science • What it is really like to work as a ranger in Great Smoky Mountains and Yosemite • The wild encounters waking up to a bear, tracking a rare owl for hours, and seeing shrimp migrations that look unreal • How national parks are changing and why native knowledge is shaping better conservation • The surprising role kids have played in his passion for education and outreach • His current PhD work removing old dams to reopen migration routes for fish and shrimp • The long term dream that keeps him motivated leading El Yunque National Forest Connect with Julio: Instagram Support El Yunque National Park National Park Service Shrimp Migration Video . Follow along on other platforms: Instagram Tiktok Youtube ~ KEYWORDS national parks, wildlife stories, bear encounter, park ranger intern, national park service, Yosemite internship, Smoky Mountains wildlife, conservation careers, ecology student, wildlife biologist, fieldwork stories, outdoor jobs, nature podcast, environmental science, wildlife encounters, El Yunque rainforest, shrimp migration, PhD ecology, national park education, conservation inspiration, travel podcast, adventure podcast, park ranger

    1h 6m
  6. How She Unexpectedly Became a Writer for National Geographic…

    11/11/2025

    How She Unexpectedly Became a Writer for National Geographic…

    Jamie Edwards didn’t plan to become a travel writer, and she definitely didn’t plan on writing for National Geographic. But after moving from New York to Tokyo, her world opened up in ways she couldn’t have imagined. What began as a small blog turned into a thriving platform called I Am Lost and Found, and eventually, a dream project as a contributing author for National Geographic’s Traveler’s Atlas. In this episode, Jamie shares her story of becoming one of the few travel writers to contribute to National Geographic’s newest global book, how she balances writing with motherhood, and what it felt like to stand in Antarctica with her 78-year-old stepfather as whales surfaced beside their kayaks. From the Arctic to the streets of Bhutan, Jamie’s adventures are a reminder that it’s never too late to reinvent your life or pursue the stories that light you up. Let’s dive in! Connect with Jamie: Order The Traveler’s Atlas of the World by National Geographic, featuring Jamie’s work Website Instagram Her Travel Coaching Service Quark Expeditions Linkedin . . Follow along on other platforms: Instagram Tiktok Youtube ~ Keywords Jamie Edwards interview, National Geographic writer, how to write for National Geographic, National Geographic contributing author, travel writer career, how to become a travel writer, pitch National Geographic, National Geographic book opportunity, Travelers Atlas National Geographic, I Am Lost and Found blog, Instagram DM to book deal, Antarctica travel stories, Arctic Svalbard trip, polar bears in Svalbard, humpback whales Antarctica, Quark Expeditions review, polar plunge experience, travel coaching explained, living in Tokyo with kids, Bhutan Tigers Nest story, Uganda gorilla trekking, starting a travel blog, switch careers to travel writing, women in travel writing, inspirational travel podcast

    53 min
  7. The Man Who Climbed the Highest Volcano on Every Continent…

    10/30/2025

    The Man Who Climbed the Highest Volcano on Every Continent…

    Ricardo Kaljouw is a Dutch mountaineer, author, and Royal Dutch Navy veteran whose life has been built around pushing beyond limits. He has visited 117 countries, climbed 75 high-altitude peaks, and stood on 45 volcanoes around the world. He’s one of only about fifty people on earth to complete the Volcanic Seven Summits, a rare challenge that involves climbing the highest volcano on each of the seven continents. In addition, he was the first Dutch climber to reach the top of Mount Sidley, Antarctica’s most remote volcano. His journey has taken him from the icy ridges of Mount Giluwe in Papua New Guinea to the lava slopes of Ojos del Salado in Chile, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and Mount Elbrus in Russia. Each climb tested his endurance, his focus, and his faith in himself. In this episode, Ricardo takes us inside the decade of storms, setbacks, and silent triumphs that defined his pursuit. We talk about surviving avalanches, snow blindness, and isolation in some of the harshest environments on Earth. He shares how his military training shaped his resilience, the love story behind a summit proposal in Mexico, and his next mission, the Volcanic Grand Slam, a world-first expedition to climb the highest volcano in twenty-five volcanic countries across all seven continents. Ricardo also opens up about his book A Million Steps on Lava, what standing on the edge of an active crater does to your sense of fear, and why adventure, to him, is as much about stillness as it is about summits. Let's dive in! Connect with Ricardo: Instagram Order his book, A Million Steps on Lava . Join My Costa Rica Trip Feb 2026 With Worldpackers! We’ll surf, explore the rainforest, do salsa dancing, and have beach bonfires together! Accommodation, meals, activities, and transport within the trip are all included and organized for you, so you just show up and get ready for the best week ever! Join the WhatsApp Group Here To Find Out More Details: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DwPFDBmTU526n5zvEYVKnk?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaebo8Fv82ChKcXgtFErcNPtY-4Zf4w0eLIZAK4hWO_suxUK8Iyweod2dt47pA_aem_V3IWwrcbgnXjuA_jHJq9oQ . Follow along on other platforms: Instagram Youtube ~ KEYWORDS mountaineering, volcano climbing, volcanic seven summits, adventure travel, antarctica expedition, climbing stories, extreme sports, explorers podcast, travel podcast, dutch climber, mount sidley, survival stories, volcanic grand slam, adventure inspiration, world travel

    1h 22m
4.6
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

congratulations! you finally found the community of adventurers, travelers, and change makers to validate your unconventional life plans… You’ve got a bucket list a mile long and have most likely already jumped out of an airplane (and maybe felt way too much joy doing it). Maybe you’re a travel filmmaker, scuba diver, mountain climber, surfer, or van lifer. Or maybe you’re a creator, entrepreneur, artist, or builder chasing a vision that doesn’t fit inside a traditional box. Or maybe you’re just dreaming of your next adventure, whether that’s sailing around Australia, competing on The Amazing Race, or finally choosing a life that feels aligned. Well, you’re in good company here. Our guests are right there with you, living fully, unapologetically, and with purpose.

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