Sunshine on a Dime
By Shandra Back
This podcast is made in affiliation with WTBU Radio. Go to wtburadio.org for more.
Sunshine on a DimeApr 02, 2022
Coming Home with Amber Kavie
What's it like to come home after a long and transformative time away? Shandra sits down with traveler Amber Kavie to discuss the hard and confusing parts of returning and how the definition of 'home' can be constantly changing.
Make sure to check out Amber's socials:
Instagram: @amberkavie
TikTok: @travelingwithamber
And don't forget to check out our website/blog at sunshineonadime.com
Long Distance Relationships with @danandchiara
What's it like to date a traveler? In this episode Shandra sits down with content creators Dan and Chiara to break down misconceptions of being in a "fairytale" travel relationship. They discuss long distance struggles, advice and the hard decision of pursuing travel dreams at the risk of jeopardizing the relationship.
Make sure to check out their socials!
Insta: @danandchiara
TikTok: @journeywithchiara
And our website/blog: sunshineonadime.com
Planning Six Months in South America!
In this episode, Shandra brings listeners along with her as she plans her next solo trip to South America in January. In many senses, taking this time off is the opposite of what she should be doing right now and she sits down to explain why she made the decision anyways despite the fears and apprehensions.
A Date in Every Country with Loni James
Loni James uses dating apps to go on a date in every country. This episode Shandra sits down with her to recap these experiences and gain inspiration for her own future dates abroad.
Check out Loni's socials here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesloni/
Blog: https://lonijames.com/https://lonijames.com/
School Burnout
Today Shandra is rejoined with BU senior Hannah Baron. Last year Hannah took a gap year for herself and her mental health. With that came a lot of traveling and realizations.
Camping in Italy [video]
In this episode Shandra recaps her experience buying a tent and spending a month camping in Italy. She dips into it all... the good, the bad and the stinky...
Couchsurfing Through Israel [video]
In this episode, Shandra recaps her experience couch surfing through Israel for a month straight. This means spending ZERO dollars on accommodation! It does come with costs though...
Welcome to Season 4! [video]
After another summer of impromptu travel (surprise surprise) through Israel and Italy, Shandra returns to the podcast studio at Boston University to welcome in another season of Sunshine on a Dime. She recaps a bit of her crazy summer and gives a sneak peek into what kinds of things to expect with the new season ahead.
Slow Travel with @polyglotpetra
In this episode Shandra is joined with Petra Udomprasert, a travel blogger, language educator, and slow traveler. Together they sit down to redefine slow travel (spoiler: it has nothing to do with time) and look at the reasons for why being more culturally conscious is essential to our planet.
Lonely Travel with Gi Shieh
Traveling can get lonely sometimes. In this episode Shandra sits down with slow travel and slow fashion content creator Gi Shieh to chat about what loneliness can look like while abroad and why it’s not necessarily something to run from.
Here are some of the travel communities Gi mentions in the episode:
Digital Nomads, Solo Female Travelers
And the blog post she mentions here
Check out Gi's Socials Here:
Don't forget to check out our socials:
Teaching English Abroad with Mia Townsend
In this episode Shandra is joined by Mia Townsend, a traveling teacher and lover of cross-cultural connections. She explains how her life shifted after living abroad and how to create a career or even just a summer out of teaching English as a second language.
Check out Mia's socials:
Don't forget to check out our socials:
Road Tripping the U.S. with Alex Broggi
Check out Alex's socials:
TikTok
Don't forget to check out our socials:
Website
Blog
Twenties Travel Mindset with @bybellaleah
Is it possible to be a full-time student AND travel the world? In this episode Shandra sits down with college student and travel content creator @bybellaleah to discuss whether it really is possible to travel and stay dedicated to studies at the same time. In this episode the two of them discuss how to tangibly achieve this balancing act.
To follow Leah's adventures and travel content check out her socials:
Don't forget to check out our socials:
Turning Strangers into Friends
In this episode Shandra recaps a recent solo trip she took to New York. She reveals the surprising mentality she uses while making friends on trips and the natural discomforts that accompany this. Yet, despite these discomforts, she explains why approaching strangers is essential to every trip because you never know who may change your life.
Don't forget to check out our socials!
Travel Burnout
What happens when that initial excitement of travel wears off and the go-go-go lifestyle isn’t as exciting as it was at the beginning of a trip? In this episode Shandra explains what travel burnout is and why every day of your travels simply can’t be the best day ever. She reveals this in her own experiences and how you can tackle travel burnout too.
Don't forget to check out our socials!
How Dangerous Really Is Travel?
In this episode, Shandra is joined with Michael Huxley, founder of the travel website Bemused Backpacker. As someone with over 20 years of experience traveling, Mike has a lot to share about the different dangers of travel and how to best prepare for a trip. They tackle topics of media portrayals, the validity of travel advisories and work to answer the question: how dangerous really is travel?
Check out Mike's Socials:
Don't forget to check out our socials!
What is Travel?
After coming back from a trip that changed the way she views travel, Shandra tries to define what travel is and why people do it. Spoiler…she can’t. But she does explain why it is important for everyone to figure that out for themselves and why these definitions are constantly changing.
Don't forget to check out our socials!
Sickness and Injury Abroad
In this episode, a coincidentally sniffly Shandra unpacks the inevitable: getting sick or injured while abroad. With much experience, and many stories, she explains how best to avoid it, mentally prepare, and tackle it when sickness or injury comes while abroad.
Couchsurfing
In this episode Shandra is joined by Alex, a friend she met while traveling who has a lot to say about Couchsurfing. Alex explains the benefits of the lifestyle, tips for success, safety precautions, and many stories to tell from his experience hosting as well as meeting strangers through the site. This is another episode not to be missed!
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @sunshinedimepodcast!
Travel Regret
In this episode Shandra introduces the idea of travel regret. She explains how it is possible to come home from a trip feeling fulfilled and free of potential regrets. She also teaches how to change thought patterns with some simple tricks. And finally, she reveals how it is possible to bend time and get ahead of regrets before they even happen.
Mental Health Abroad
On today’s episode Shandra interviews Jackie Paris, a licensed psychotherapist and world traveler. Jackie shares her extensive wisdom and breaks down the practice of maintaining a positive mental health while abroad, along with stories of her own adventures.
Budgeting: Before, During, and After
In this episode, Shandra breaks down a few tips and tricks about how to spend and save your money. She covers it all- before your trip, during your travels, and after you get home (where you hopefully have some money left!)
Becoming Fluent in a Language Abroad
On today’s episode, Shandra is joined by Anna, who gained fluency in Spanish through her study abroad experience in college. She now speaks it every day in her travels through Latin America. The two of them break down the process of learning any language, how essential it is to do it abroad, and crazy travel experiences along the way.
Life as a Travel Nomad
Hostel Hopping 101
In this episode, Shandra shares all of the secrets of hostel-hopping that she wished someone had told her before her first hostel experience. If you want to skip the trial-and-error of hostel-hopping, tune in to figure out how to navigate the world of hostels like a pro.
Travel Safety and Sensitivity
In this episode, Shandra interviews Shari, a friend she met abroad, about safety practices and cultural sensitivity while traveling. Together, they tackle subjects from scamming, strangers, theft and more while exchanging many stories to relate.
Why I Started Traveling
In our first episode back from a summer long hiatus, Shandra reveals where she recently traveled to, and what that trip meant for her. She also discusses the lead-up to becoming a young solo traveler, and why she chooses to prioritize travel as a full-time student. Stay tuned for lots more exciting content to come!
Travel After a Semester Abroad
In this episode, Shandra is joined by Hannah Baron, a fellow BU student. Hannah spent a month backpacking after studying abroad in Europe, and her whole perspective on travel and the Western-working mentality changed forever. Listen in to learn about how to travel during and after a semester abroad, and how one trip can change your whole outlook on college, career and beyond.
The One Thing You MUST Do Before Traveling With Friends
In this episode, Shandra reveals the most important thing that a traveler has to do before planning a trip with friends. She also explores some of the travel dynamics between partner and group travel.
Solo Travel: The Biggest Misconceptions
In this episode, Shandra explains some misunderstandings about solo travel and reveals some of the hidden perks that come along with traveling alone. She walks through her realizations during her first solo trip and relates this to a new mindset entering into future adventures. So listen in this week for a firsthand account of someone who never expected to love traveling the world on her own!
Sunshine on a Dime Podcast Trailer
For every reason that you say you can’t travel… Sunshine on a Dime will explain how and why you actually can. Embark with Shandra Back, a full-time college student and any-time traveler as she shares stories, interviews other travelers, and provides tips and resources to break down any barriers holding you back from buying that ticket. It doesn’t matter the budget, agenda, or whether or not you have a companion, listen in and get excited about all the adventure that awaits.
Pack Your Bags!
For episode 3, Shandra and her travel companion Deva break down the travel essentials (and non-essentials) that they learned from their first trip together. This episode is truly packed with stories, insights and many lessons learned, so listen in and get your bags ready!
Traveling for FREE with Work Exchanges
In this episode, Shandra is joined by full-time traveler Marine, who she met at her first work exchange. Together, they break down the ins and outs of work exchanges, along with some crazy Costa Rica stories and tips for living abroad.
Why You Actually CAN Travel
In SOAD's first ever episode, Shandra breaks down the three most common reasons why people say they can’t travel, and explains how and why it actually is possible for anyone.