S2E13: Vulnerable Travel with Char Stoever, LGBT Diversity Trainer and Peace Corps Alum

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As travelers, we constantly put ourselves in vulnerable positions by exploring unfamiliar languages, cultures, social mores and even physical terrain. Char Stoever is an LGBT diversity trainer and Peace Corps alum assigned to Nicaragua who coined the term “vulnerable traveler.” Make sure to check out these places to visit in Ireland. She joins us to talk about how to view vulnerability as a learning tool and relationship builder instead of as a weakness. Opening up is never easy and does require care, particularly for members of marginalized groups. But, as Char discusses, the rewards often outweigh the risks and can lead to a more authentic travel experience. We also touch on self-care while traveling and avoiding the “1000 Things to See Before You Die” trap.

Listen to the episode on Podbean or iTunes.

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Meet Char Stoever, Vulnerable Traveler

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Char Stoever

This week’s episode features Char Stoever. Char is a Mexican-American bacon lover, travel writer, and diversity trainer with a passion for the intersection between social justice and technology. A graduate of Wellesley College, she is grateful to have attended a women’s college where women’s opinions, aspirations, and accomplishments were valued. In 2011, she studied abroad in France, and after graduating in 2012, she taught in public schools in Boston and San Antonio.

In 2016, she finished 27 months of service with the Peace Corps in Nicaragua, where she worked as an LGBT diversity trainer, social media manager, and fundraiser for gender empowerment camps.  She recently stepped down as  Wanderful’s social media coordinator and has written about travel, LGBTQ issues, mental health, and women’s empowerment for sites like Go Abroad and Travel Latina.
You can find out more about Char on her website and feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn.
Read more about Char after the jump.

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Traveling With Parents? We Want Your Stories, Tips, and Questions.

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Our relationship with our parents is a rich and varied landscape. Or an emotional minefield. Or a plateau of polite conversations with tense undercurrents. Or a valley of joy and fulfillment. Whatever scenario you happen to fall in, it’s safe to say that traveling with them brings all these dynamics as extra baggage to your trip. But your vacation doesn’t have to be a Freudian nightmare. We’re here to help!

For an upcoming episode, we’re talking about the emotional journeys you have when you vacation with your folks, and we want your thoughts. Are you planning a trip with your parents and wondering how to deal? Have you taken a trip with your parents and have ways to cope? Would you never take a trip with your parents? We want to hear it all!

Send us your questions, thoughts and stories at xxwilltravel@gmail.com by March 31, 2017. You can also comment on Facebook, tweet at us on Twitter, share on Instagram or post below. And if you’re interested in more calls for upcoming episodes, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

Don’t forge to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also follow us on Podbean. 

S2E12: Making a Film in Ghana with Samantha Bailey

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Picture courtesy of  Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed

Creator of the Brown Girls web series Samantha Bailey joins us to talk about her experience shooting her short film, Raina’s Not Here, in Ghana. We discuss the logistics of making a movie in a foreign country, why Accra should be on your bucket list, the economic barriers of traveling and the personal freedom she found in the African continent, among other fascinating topics. We left the interview wanting to be Samantha Bailey when we grew up and we’re sure you will too.

Listen to our latest episode here.

Binge-watch Brown Girls and You’re So Talented. You will not regret it.

Samantha mentions The Studio Accra as one of the big reasons why she chose Ghana. Check them out.

And if you’re ever in Accra, make sure to drink some Wisdom Power at Republic Bar & Grill.

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Meet Samantha Bailey, Writer and Filmmaker

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Writer and filmmaker Samantha Bailey

Filming a movie is daunting enough, but filming one abroad adds an extra layer of thrills and chills to the process. That’s why we’re so excited to showcase a lady who managed to accomplish just that on this week’s episode, Chicago writer and filmmaker Samantha Bailey.

Sam Bailey is the creator of the Gotham nominated web series: You’re So Talented. She is also the director and producer of the newly launched web series Brown Girls, which has received major buzz from outlets like Jezebel, Elle, and BET. Recently, Sam was included on NewCity’s Film 50 list. As a writer, she’s worked on live lit stages across the city including The Paper Machete, 2nd Story and Guts and Glory.

Last year, Samantha  flew to Ghana to shoot Raina’s Not Here, her upcoming short film. On Wednesday’s episode we talk about the logistics of directing a movie in a different country, the experience of traveling abroad for the first time, why you definitely want to visit Accra, among other topics.

Follow Sama on Twitter at @SamQBailey and check out all the updates of her wonderful web series You’re So Talented and Brown Girls on Facebook.

Learn more about Samantha after the jump.

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Listen to Our Latest Episode and Win!

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Our latest episode is about women’s health while traveling. As you can imagine, the word “vagina” comes up A LOT. But how many times exactly? That’s what we want to know, and there’s something in it for you.

Tune in to our latest episode, Women’s Health While Traveling, and send us your best guess of how many times we say vagina. It has to be the exact word – no nicknames, no euphemisms – and it has to be the combined sum of the number of times the word is said by all three of the conversation participants: Kathy, Ines, and our women’s health expert Christina Tanner.

You can submit your guesses to xxwilltravel[at]gmail[dot]com. You can also follow us and submit them via Twitter.  Or give us a like on Facebook and submit your answer as a comment on this post. We also accept submissions via mail. Email us for contact info. All guesses must be submitted by Tuesday, February 21st at 12:00 am CST. The first correct guess wins a mystery prize from the XX, Will Travel prize vault.

S2E11: Women’s Health While Traveling with Christina Tanner

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This amazing card is available from Penny Parker Paper.

Certified nurse midwife Christina Tanner joins us to talk about our vaginas, the “self-cleaning ovens” of the body, and helps us learn what to do on the road if your oven malfunctions. We cover menstruation, yeast infections, UTIs, birth control, traveling while pregnant, scary bathrooms & squat toilets, medications and SO MUCH MORE! We also find out what water, garlic and yogurt have in common. (Hint – it’s not just that they make a tasty veggie dip.)

Click the links to listen to the episode on iTunes or Podbean. Please share with your lady traveler friends, as well as your friends who don’t travel, so we can all increase our vagina IQs.

Podcast notes and TONS of women’s health resources are available after the jump.

DISCLAIMER: Ines and Kathy are very smart ladies, but they are not health care professionals. The content of the podcast and the information presented on this blog does not, nor does it intend to, provide medical advice. If you are in need of medical advice, please seek a qualified health care professional, not a podcast host. Links to any websites do not mean endorsement or affiliation.

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