Roam Alone

Theresa Stephens

Solo Travel. Shared Stories.

Episodes

  1. JAN 11

    Grief on the Road: Healing Through Solo Travel

    Send us a text 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

    45 min
  2. 12/18/2025

    Roam From the Start: How Solo Travel Shaped a Life and a Family

    Send us a text 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 how solo travel has actually strengthened her marriage to her husband, Nate. Together, they embrace independent travel while raising a son who’s catching the travel bug himself. This conversation explores how travel evolves through life stages—from childhood to marriage to dreaming about a future empty-nester / slo-mad lifestyle—and why roaming alone can be one of the most powerful tools for personal growth. Episode Breakdown 03:15 – Traveling on mission trips at age 505:54 – First solo mission trip at age 1214:17 – Lessons from Grenada17:58 – Venice, for better or worse28:58 – Tips for when travel goes wrong33:30 – Solo travel within marriage37:49 – Passing the travel mindset to the next generation42:36 – Travel dreams as empty nesters & the slo-mad lifeMentions in Episode 2: YWAM UofN Kona2006 UK Bomb Plot FoiledIsabella Thoburn CollegeRoam Alone is hosted by Theresa Stephens. Instagram: @theresaannstephens Facebook: /theresastephens Facebook: /RoamAlone

    46 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Solo Travel. Shared Stories.