Girls Tripped

Eliza Freed & Jillian Kugler
  • 5.0 (5)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL

Eliza has trusted in the healing magic of a girls’ trip ever since she climbed into a car headed for Mardi Gras—in a blizzard. Jersey born and bred, she spent four glorious years at Rutgers University, then wrote her debut novel about it. Ten books later (plus a script in the works), she’s still packing a bag and chasing the next adventure. Jillian’s résumé reads like a road trip: Bama to Vail, bartender to banker. She’s the field hockey mom you pray ends up on your sideline. She reads books the way she reads people—quickly and accurately—and gives the kind of advice you don’t ignore. Credit that to four kids, two dogs, two cats, and a life lived out loud. She’s never been afraid to level up—and she’s definitely not holding back. They’ve been tripping together since high school—and they’re just getting started. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 2D AGO

    Emergency Breakthrough

    Two girls in matching cheerleading uniforms became lifelong friends after one late-night phone call and an unexpected loyalty test. Some friendships arrive quietly and shape your entire life before you even realize it. As Eliza and Jillian fly home from Paris, they look back at the moment their friendship began, the versions of themselves they used to be, and the women they’re still becoming. A conversation about loyalty, history, reinvention, and the people who make us brave enough to book the trip. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min

  2. MAY 13

    Who the Hell are We Living For?

    This week on Girls Tripped, we’re digging into what it really means to let go—of expectations, old definitions of success, and the voices (hi, Mom 👋) that still live rent-free in our heads. From career paths we were supposed to want, to the guilt of choosing ourselves, we’re asking: Are we living our lives… or the ones we inherited? Between honest conversations about motherhood, ambition, and identity (plus a little pre-Paris anxiety), we’re figuring out what’s actually worth holding onto—and what needs to go. Because at some point, you have to ask: Who are you, without everyone else’s expectations? And more importantly… What would you do if you finally let them go? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  3. MAY 6

    Fear is loud. Regret is louder.

    This week on Girls Tripped, Eliza and Jillian take on fear, regret, and the quiet ways both can shape a life. From life-altering health scares to everyday overthinking, they unpack what fear really looks like—and why the things we don’t do tend to stay with us the longest. Is fear just a moment… while regret lingers? And how often are our biggest “what ifs” the result of playing it safe? As they prepare for Paris, the conversation turns to risk, opportunity, and what it actually means to stop waiting and start living. Because at some point, you either face the fear… or carry the regret. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min

  4. APR 29

    Long-term Love

    This week on Girls Tripped, Eliza and Jillian take an honest look at love, marriage, and what it really means to stay. From whirlwind beginnings to long marriages that ended not in betrayal—but in change—they explore the tension between commitment and self. Is longevity something we chase at the expense of honesty? Can two people grow together, or do some relationships simply outgrow themselves? Plus, as they prepare for Paris, they ask: what does romance even look like now? Is it passion—or partnership? And what happens when temptation shows up at a café table in the most romantic city in the world? This episode is messy, funny, deeply reflective—and a reminder that the most important relationship you’ll ever have… is the one you have with yourself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  5. Let Them Struggle, Too

    APR 22

    Let Them Struggle, Too

    We grew up figuring things out on our own—so why is it so hard to let our kids do the same? In this episode, we’re talking about what it really means to “give them the world”… and whether we’ve gone too far. We explore the tension between protecting and preparing, the guilt that comes with stepping back, and the question of whether struggle is something to avoid—or something they actually need. As usual, we don’t approach it the same way. One of us wants to step in. The other knows we probably shouldn’t. Neither of us is totally sure where the line is. And then Paris steps in—where the generational divide shows up in real time. Because while we’re ready to sit with a glass of wine… they’re chasing golden hour and 400 photos. Because maybe the real question is: Can we love them enough to let things be hard? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  6. Friendship in Midlife

    APR 4

    Friendship in Midlife

    Friendship in your 20s is easy. Friendship in midlife? That’s something else entirely. In this episode, we’re talking about what makes female friendship deeper, more intentional—and sometimes more complicated—as life gets harder and more real. We get into loyalty, loss, long marriages, divorce, and the moments that show you exactly who’s in your corner. We’ve both lived very different experiences, but somehow ended up with a friendship that holds all of it. And then there’s travel—because nothing reveals a friendship faster than a trip together. Especially in a city like Paris. Because maybe the real question is: Are the best friendships the easiest ones… or the ones that have been tested? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  7. Are we stable or bored?

    APR 3

    Are we stable or bored?

    A stable life looks good from the outside. But does it always feel good on the inside? In this episode, we’re asking what it really means to feel alive—and whether stability sometimes comes at the cost of that feeling. We talk about long marriages, unexpected life changes, and the moments that shake you awake whether you’re ready or not. One of us has built a life rooted in consistency. The other has had stability taken away—and sees it very differently. And in Paris, the question becomes real: do you stick to the plan… or follow what feels alive in the moment? Because maybe the real question is: Can you have a life that feels both safe… and fully alive? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min
  8. Control vs Surrender

    APR 2

    Control vs Surrender

    We all like to think we’re “good planners.” But at what point does planning become control… and control become fear? In our very first episode, we’re unpacking the tension between holding it all together and letting things unfold. We talk about what it means to feel in control, why it’s so hard to let go, and whether surrender is actually freedom—or just another form of chaos. Not surprisingly, we don’t see it the same way. One of us finds comfort in structure. The other is learning what happens when you loosen your grip. And then there’s Paris—where every plan is tested. Do you map out every moment… or get lost on purpose? Because maybe the real question is: Is control keeping us safe… or keeping us stuck? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  9. Here We Are

    TRAILER

    Here We Are

    What happens when you’ve built a full life—and still feel like something’s shifting? Girlstripped: We Stumble Through Life But Travel Well is a podcast about midlife, friendship, and the quiet (and not-so-quiet) questions that come when you realize you’re not done becoming. Hosted by two women with very different paths—one rooted in long-term marriage and stability, the other shaped by divorce, reinvention, and unexpected challenges—we explore what it means to navigate this stage of life with honesty, humor, and a little bit of courage. Each episode tackles the conversations we’re all having (or avoiding): control vs. surrender, stability vs. aliveness, evolving friendships, parenting a new generation, and figuring out who we are now that so much has changed. And woven through it all is travel—currently Paris—not as a guidebook, but as a backdrop. A place where routines fall away, perspectives shift, and we get a glimpse of who we are outside of our everyday lives. This isn’t a podcast about having answers. It’s about asking better questions. Because maybe midlife isn’t about starting over—it’s about finally paying attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Eliza has trusted in the healing magic of a girls’ trip ever since she climbed into a car headed for Mardi Gras—in a blizzard. Jersey born and bred, she spent four glorious years at Rutgers University, then wrote her debut novel about it. Ten books later (plus a script in the works), she’s still packing a bag and chasing the next adventure. Jillian’s résumé reads like a road trip: Bama to Vail, bartender to banker. She’s the field hockey mom you pray ends up on your sideline. She reads books the way she reads people—quickly and accurately—and gives the kind of advice you don’t ignore. Credit that to four kids, two dogs, two cats, and a life lived out loud. She’s never been afraid to level up—and she’s definitely not holding back. They’ve been tripping together since high school—and they’re just getting started. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Eliza Freed & Jillian Kugler
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Eliza Freed & Jillian Kugler
  • Show Website
    Girls Tripped

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