Will Work For Food

A community of kin: it’s something that we need, we crave, and that our survival depends on. If you’re not sure what that is or how to build it, rest easy. You’re in good hands! In this episode Calen sits down with Sophie Lucido Johnson, the multi-talented author of Kin: The Future of Family. Amidst skyrocketing isolation and anxiety, our guest presents an antidote: consciously creating kin, a warm network of support that holds us while also allowing us to do the holding. This concept scraps the failed promises of the nuclear family and paves the way for a better future. Sophie also shares her wisdom on anti-aging culture, why hanging out with kids is good for us (even when it’s hard), and what valuable lessons humans can learn from birds. Tune in to learn how to better navigate complex relationships, reject the notion that aging is wrong, and be held as we grieve the little dreams that died along the path that landed us right where we are. SHOWNOTES - Watch the video interview: https://www.patreon.com

Nothing has impacted Ariel Travis more than the one thing so many of us fear: International travel. Journey back in time and you won’t find this professional pediatric medical speech-language pathologist in clean scrubs. The true beginning of her career started in a rugged fashion; she joined the Peace Corps just two weeks fresh out of collage before living and working in Mozambique, Brazil, China, and the Dominican Republic for the next seven years. When she finally returned to the US she realized that her unruly adventures gave her the confidence, flexibility, and compassion to thrive in her day-to-day work environment. In this episode Ariel dispels myths about traveling as a young person, inspires nervous listeners to book their first trip, and teaches how to decrease baseline travel anxieties by planning ahead and tuning into our bodies. As someone who has explored over 29 countries, Ariel gives nuanced advice on how much planning allows for safety AND travel magic during our journeys. Join this inte

Walk in just about any clothing store and you’ll find a few things to be true: a “fat tax” is imposed, clothing can’t be mended to accommodate changing bodies, and fast fashion drives the bottom dollar. Scroll through Rae Hill’s website and you’ll see the opposite: garments that can be altered, that are made to last, and break binaries.This business model is rare, but it’s the driving force behind Origami Customs. In this episode Rae, the founder, shares about starting their business from a suitcase, lugging their sewing machine from one flight to another. We learn how travel impacted their gender identity and how they break down binaries even in LGBTQ+ spaces. We also discuss: - What “fat tax” is and how Origami Customs does it differently - How the fashion industry based their standard sizes off small bodies (and how that impacts our mental health today) - How scarcity mindset pushes us to support fast fashion and disposability culture - How to do Black Friday differently, even if you’re not ready

There’s one transition we’ll all experience but hardly talk about: Death. Whether out of fear or taboo, so much of our culture and communities shy away from the topic. Still, it lingers in the back of our mind and flutters in our subconscious.  On the topic of dying and deathwork we interview Scott Kirschenbaum, known for his stunning documentaries where he captures some of life's most intense and raw moments. His work with Ethan Sisser was no different; after learning of a young man with brain cancer, Scott agreed to filming his final weeks — and moments — of life. After spending fourteen days at his bedside, Scott’s relationship with death was transformed.  “If you love something, start grieving for it. If you love someone, start grieving for them.” In this episode we discuss: * What it means to die in community * How reciprocity can be created in all aspects of life, including death * What the practice of “cracking your heart open” looks like in real time * “Slow death” and why it matters * Reflection

Seated in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica is Finca Ganadito, an eco-living space committed to regenerative agriculture and increasing biodiversity. But their work doesn’t stop with the birds and soil — it extends to the seas, with impressive efforts to protect sea turtles. Rob "Tortugo" — known locally as the “sea turtle man” — is a key player in these green efforts. With a background in biology, he’ll lead us through sea turtle fact and folklore in an exploration of sea turtle evolution, their complicated dance with the climate crisis, and mysterious “lost years.” With 80% of sea turtles lost in the last 40 years, this important conversation shares the reasons behind their decline and what you can do to protect sea turtles from anywhere in the world. Tune in to hear: - Incredible sea turtle facts - Why sea turtles are reptiles - Are sea turtles endangered? - The inspiration behind Finca Ganadito - Why only 1 out of 1,000 sea turtle eggs survive SHOWNOTES - 2026 Unruly Finca Ganadito trip: https://www.w

Is there an ethical way to do religion? That’s one of the many topics we explore in the newest podcast episode with Ann Russo, LCSW, founder and clinical director of AMR Therapy. As a queer phycologist with a MA in Theology, Ann speaks to what religious trauma is, how it affects the body and brain, and how to navigate and heal from religious trauma. From growing up in a secret queer household in the 80’s and 90’s to entering religion herself, Ann shares personal stories that inform the way she’s able to help others today. Religious trauma can look differently for everyone, and today’s episode is a reminder that you’re not alone. Tune in for venerability, science-backed explanations, and a path forward. “Studies show that queer folks have higher rates of mental illness, suicide, and drug abuse. Some church folks like to say it’s because you’re queer. No — it’s because of the level of rejection.” SHOWNOTES - Connect with Ann: https://www.annrusso.org/ - Join Patreon: patreon.com/unrulytravel
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Have you ever wanted to transform your life? Sure, we can tweak a habit here and there from our usual comfortable perch. But sometimes we feel a rumble from down deep in our bellies; adventure and change is calling, but we’re too scared to answer. What can happen when we do? Here today to answer that question is Jonny Wright, hitchhiker extraordinaire and fan of irreversible decisions. After traveling the globe, traversing 22 countries through over 17,000 miles of hitchhiking, Jonny knows what it means to make a single big decision that changes everything. After a big breakup, move, and pandemic, Jonny knew that he needed a big change — to shake things up so much that they could never settle back to normal — but didn’t know where to start. Now armed with hard-earned wisdom from the road, he teaches us how to pinpoint the changes that we need to make and the direction we need to go when we can’t seem to figure out where to begin. Additionally, Jonny shares: - Why hitchhiking is a risk he’s willing to ta

To celebrate queer joy, blossoming, and vibrant life I invite you to join us for a special Unruly Podcast episode. It weaves together the illuminating stories of 6 different people, now in their mid 20’s and 30’s, who grew up in rural spaces as queer youth.  There they found refuge in nature, belonging in the outdoors, and community in the unlikeliest of places. You'll find yourself laughing and crying right along with us as we dive into bubbling river rapids, contemplate forbidden crushes in the heat of summer church camp, and explore all the spaces in-between in an episode that defies time and gender norms. This conversation is a glimpse into the tender coming-of-age moments for queer youth and the hilarity, struggle, and metamorphosis that brings us to adulthood. SHOWNOTES - Join the Unruly Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/unrulytravel
 - Quouch App (queer CouchSurfing): quouch-app.com 
- Queer group trip updates: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/757985/151947543497934231/share - ‘Rewild Me’ b

Here today to tell us how we can *actually* protect trans people is Charlie Alexander, one half of the life-saving duo at TNET. In this episode you'll learn how to protect trans people right now, after the election, and how to support trans rights in general. At the end of the episode we answer FAQ's from parents of trans youth like, 'Does my trans kid need to go to therapy?' and share the facts about puberty blockers. Get step-by-step instructions on: - How to be a safe person for trans kids to come out to (what to say & do) - What to do if you mess up someone's "coming out" moment - What not to say to trans people - What to do if you mess up someone's pronouns - How to protect trans kids in schools as a teacher or parent SHOWNOTES - Join the Unruly Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/unrulytravel - Quouch App (queer CouchSurfing): https://quouch-app.com - Win a trip to BERLIN: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIwBL_eNApD/?img_index=1 - TNET: https://www.tnet.store - Trans Love Project: https://www.youtube.

Looking to move abroad as an American with a family? In this episode Ashley Renne Nswonu holds nothing back — we’re exploring how to move abroad with a 9-5 job, the best live abroad for a year programs, alternative schooling, and more. Before living abroad as a family Ashley worried about how her kids would adapt in a new country; Would they be able to handle the stress of travel and new environments? Turns out that they exceeded her expectations, thriving in life abroad and teaching her (and us!) valuable lessons in resiliency along the way.  Tune in to hear: - Ashley’s experience with the Boundless Life move abroad program - How to utilize resources you already have to move aboard - The perks of a screen-free childhood - How to inspire creativity and wonder in children in a overwhelming world - Why sustainable living can be done anywhere and by anyone, regardless of income - How the internet ruined human communication and what to do about it SHOWNOTES - The Art of Unruly Travel on A Budget: https://wan

Feeling angry in 2025? Join the club. (No, seriously, we have some important things to discuss!) In this episode we sit down with Kallie Klug to discuss all things anger: what it really is, what it does in the body, and what the hell to do with it once it’s here. So many of us shy away from anger and even couple it with shame. Why? Suppressed anger can express itself as stomach issues, jaw and shoulder pain, and irritating chronic symptoms. In this episode Kallie teaches us how to have conversation with tension in our body, process full body rage and interpersonal rage, and tune into safety in difficult times — necessary skills for improving physical and mental health. With studies showing that the prefrontal cortex shuts down during conflict, knowing how to take space and listen to your body is so important for effective communication and community building. This episode is for anyone who wants to improve their life by learning somatic exercises for anger, with specific tips for travelers and activists.

An anti-diet dietitian sounds like an oxymoron, but when it comes to true health, nutrition, and healing it's exactly what the world needs. Enter: Taylor Wolfram. After becoming disenchanted with standard Western ways of helping clients, Taylor Wolfram set out to create her own weight neutral, anti-diet practice that considers how body politics affect us all, human or beyond. Though we usually connect food with just fullness and hunger, Taylor explains how food impacts our focus, mood stability, brain function, motivation, and nervous system regulation. In this episode we not only discuss the impacts of restricting food, but ways to heal your relationship with it and your body. We dive into the difference of subjectively vs objectively being with your body, unpack why an unnourished brain can't do the deeper healing work, and untangle veganism vs a plant-based, health-focused diet. “If you don’t currently feel connected to your body or like you can trust your body, know that you can get there. We are

Looking for the best things to do in Asheville, North Carolina? Asheville is back open for tourists after Hurricane Helene, so it's time to share the best vegan food and restaurants, queer-owned businesses, and outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, white water rafting, and rock hunting. In this episode we’re joined by Gabbie Grey, a local bike enthusiast from Second Gear who teamed up with us to create the ultimate self-guided bike tour around west Asheville. Our goal is to bring you the top things to do in Asheville post Helene that you won’t find on the first few pages of Google, making your tip unforgettable in this weird yet wonderful city. - ASHEVILLE UPDATES blogpost: https://wanderwoman.online/index.php/2025/01/07/what-to-do-in-asheville-north-carolina-post-hurricane-helene/ - Second Gear's website: https://secondgearwnc.com - No Taste Like Home Tours: https://wanderwoman.online/index.php/2024/11/01/foraging-wild-food-tours-no-taste-like-home-asheville-north-carolina/ - How To Plan An Epic Trip

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is quite an undertaking on its own. But what about thru-hiking with a baby? That’s exactly what today’s guests did — this remarkable family traversed roughly 1,500 miles in 3 months with a 9 month old in tow. In this episode we’ll cover hardships on and off the trail: deadly bee stings, navigating relationship turbulence, and facing adversity in the outdoors as a family. Tune in for tools to mend relationships in challenging situations, green flags to look out for in an adventure partner, and how to know when it’s time to call it quits on epic pursuits. Costa Rica 2025 details: buff.ly/4fpQTTc Join me in Peru! 2025 details: https://buff.ly/4gfiHdW Calen's Unruly Budget Travel Guide: https://wanderwoman.online/index.php/unrulystore/The-Art-of-Unruly-Travel-on-a-Budget-Printed-Copy-p390907964 You Carry The Tent, I'll Carry The Baby: https://animaltreks.com/product/you-carry-the-tent-ill-carry-the-baby/ Jack McClure's Blog: https://animaltreks.com/ Epic Trips website: www.worl

Renee King-Sonnen earned her title as “Rowdy Girl” through grit, determination, and hard-earned transformation. Formally a “rhinestone cowgirl,” this Texan is the first documented cattle farmer gone vegan. Now managing 147 acres that countless of animals call sanctuary, Renee and Tommy at Rowdy Girl Sanctuary are changing the ranching industry from the inside out. Listen in for comedy, inspiration, and motivation to dare to push back against supposedly set-in-stone cultural norms. Costa Rica 2025 details: buff.ly/4fpQTTc Calen's Unruly Budget Travel Guide: https://wanderwoman.online/index.php/unrulystore/The-Art-of-Unruly-Travel-on-a-Budget-Printed-Copy-p390907964 Calen's Vegan resources: https://wanderwoman.online/index.php/unruly-veganism/ Rowdy Girl Sanctuary: https://rowdygirlsanctuary.org/ Epic Trips website: www.worldpackers.com/epic - Unruly Travel & Living Blog: unrulytravel.com - Unruly email newsletter: buff.ly/4a1bPwT
 - Join the Unruly Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/unrulytravel
 - Dona

Is foraging legal? Is it bad for the environment? Is foraging innate or learned? These are the top questions being asked on Google around foraging, a regulating activity that our ancestors depended on to sustain life. Here today to answer our questions and go beyond the technicalities of foraging is Alan Muskat, the founder of the largest foraging education company in the world. In this episode Alan touches on the essence of foraging: feeling safe, feeling provided for, and feeling at home in the world. (And you thought it was just about food!) We also discuss how artificial scarcity pushes us to pay for food rather than collect it for free ourselves, why societal boxes are deadly, and how cities are actually some of the best places to practice foraging. Costa Rica 2025 details: tps://buff.ly/4fpQTTc Epic Trips website: https://www.worldpackers.com/epic Alan's website: https://alanmuskat.com/ No Taste Like Home: notastelikehome.org - Unruly Travel & Living Blog: unrulytravel.com - Unruly email newslet

I hope that this episode finds you as well as possible. Here's a recording of 'Yes, I’m Ok After Hurricane Helene Hit North Carolina. But Not Really.' read by Calen Otto right after Hurricane Helene devestated Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas in September 2024. This essay explores the intersections of Helene, wildness, climate change, anti-speciesism, and more. Hurricane Helene Essay: https://wanderwoman.online/index.php/2024/10/03/hurricane-helene-damage-pictures-first-hand-account-from-western-north-carolina/ Donate to mutual aid orgs in WNC: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/757985/emails/134269466110330501 Episode #24 on Hurricane Florence: https://soundcloud.com/unrulytravel-podcast/modern-love-story-pig-rescue-hurricane-florence-north-carolina Unruly Travel & Living Blog: wanderwoman.online
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Join Calen, Darya, and Gio (Jorge) for an enlightening conversation on living a vibrant life, walking with death, and even falling in love on a volcano. In this episode we learn how Gio was able to create a eco-minded business that *actually* does serious good for his local community in Guatemala by investing in green tourism, prioritizing local workers, and extending well-being to the beyond-human world. Listen in to learn how to get volunteer tourism right, how to hike volcano Acatenango in Guatemala, and what moving to another country and uprooting your life to pursue love is like. Free Guatemala Travel Guides: https://wanderwoman.online/index.php/tag/guatemala/ Casa Donya: https://www.instagram.com/casadonya.antigua/ Second Gear / Podcast Sponsor: secondgearwnc.com
*Let them know the Unruly Podcast sent you for 10% off! - Unruly Travel & Living Blog: wanderwoman.online
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Ken Ilgunas, author of 3 books including “Walden On Wheels,” has been called many things: a wanderer, pro-hitchhiker, journalist, and Alaskan back country ranger. Now, he’s taken on new titles like “husband” and “dad.” This leads us to ask: What happens to the most adventurous of our society when we enter a phase that calls for settling down, growing roots, and re-entering institutions? It’s a life transition that can feel tricky and hard to navigate. Luckily, Ken candidly shares what he’s learned while walking down this uncertain road that comes with no playbook. In this episode he takes us into the company of strangers by telling stories made of hitchhike magic, ex-cons, and religious hallucinations while thumbing his way thousands of miles across the US. He then pulls us behind the scenes of the writing process where he transforms these gritty life experiences into something worthy of being page-bound. Listen in as we ponder the sacredness of books; how writers risk damaging relationships in the name

Have you ever thought about adopting a plant-based diet? Or maybe you’re like me, an old timer vegan who still feels lost in the kitchen. *Enter Destiny DeJesus on stage left* Destiny, creator of Eat Yo Destiny, is here to show us how to eat in a way that helps our bodies thrive, the planet heal, and protects animals from harm. A tiny house livin' vegan in Texas, she highlights how to make plant-based eating affordable by sharing her best money saving tips for the grocery store and beyond. In this episode she reveals how to transition from eating animals to a plant-based diet (even if you travel often), her healthy and easy go-to meals, a fool-proof recipe for crispy tofu, the reality of buying and living in a tiny house, and why food pantries are for everyone. We answer questions from our listeners like, “Does going raw vegan really make your period cramps go away?”, “Have you ever accidentally eaten something that wasn’t vegan?," and most importantly, “How does Scotty like VDog?”