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The TravelMama Podcast

The TravelMama Podcast

By Anna Von

Single mom and world traveler Anna Von shares her experiences on traveling solo with a toddler, aspirational single parenting, and how to survive outside the system. If you’re interested in solo female travel tips, immigrating out of the west, entrepreneurship, abuse and codependency recovery, tuning in, turning on, and dropping out, then this is the show for you. Get support and inspiration through interviews with people who live on the fringe of parenting, entrepreneurship and the mainstream.
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#1. Spiritual Adviser - London

The TravelMama PodcastApr 23, 2020

00:00
01:22:44
#25. Gai Ma - Co- Founder Inanitah - Ometepe Nicaragua

#25. Gai Ma - Co- Founder Inanitah - Ometepe Nicaragua

Hey Fam,  

I'm happy to bring you this interview with Gaia Ma, the co-founder of Inanitah and Fire Season, on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua. Ometepe is a really sweet little space in the world - a volcanic island filled with people who are on board to keep things clean and local in the world. They drink the water from the volcano, everyone is growing their own food and using compost toilets and there are no hotels or plastic bottles in sight.  

Nestled in the mountains is Inanitah, an intentional community and workshop space. Gaia is a renowned workshop host, yogi and facilitator. I have taken module 1 of her three part Tantra course, 'The Tantric way', when I lived at Inanitah and it changed my life. They also have a hyper local kitchen and some badass cacao ceremony Friday dance parties.  

We talked about what is happening in the world from the perspective of someone who is decidedly outside of the system. Food security and a collective need to go in were heavy in the chat.  Would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the talk. It sat with me in my heart for a long time after.  

For more on Gaia and her projects, click here:  https://www.gaiagasm.com/

Abrazos,

Anna Von

Oct 26, 202037:36
#24. The Future of YouTube - Studio 71 with Matt Baker

#24. The Future of YouTube - Studio 71 with Matt Baker

Hey Fam,  

I had a great conversation with my very good and dear old friend Matt Barker who is the senior talent developer at Studio 71, one of the biggest reppers of Youtubers out there. Ever thought of starting a channel? He comes with the goods on what to take into consideration, what works and what's the future of online content creation. We also talked about Facebook and Instagram and all that good stuff.  

If you have any questions for myself or Matt, please leave them below and I'll get them answered ASAP.  

Abrazos, 

Anna Von

Oct 26, 202049:43
#23. Psychic & BitCoin Astrologist

#23. Psychic & BitCoin Astrologist

Hey Fam, 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Aura Wright this weekend - it was one of the best conversations I've had in all this Covid-19 mess that's been happening. She is an Astrologer and Psychic and predicts the Bitcoin market. Her insight is invaluable.  

Anyone who is interested in knowing more, please check out her site: www.aurawright.media and if you want to sign up, you can use this code for a discount:  R10  

Please enjoy! 

Abrazos, Anna Von

Oct 26, 202050:16
#22. Evolutionary Astrologist

#22. Evolutionary Astrologist

Hey Fam,  

I had the pleasure of speaking with Lila Rasa Brown this week about where we are at from an evolutionary perspective in astrology.  The astrology of the east is one of the oldest formats to explain the universe - our karma - why we are here and how we can do better in this life moving towards the future.  Lila puts it all in such great terms. Would love to know your thoughts on her talk below.,  

If you want to book a full reading with her for your own evolutionary astrology - please click here:  www.lilarasa.com  

Abrazos,  Anna Von

Oct 26, 202023:35
#21. Immigration to Mexico - Post Covid

#21. Immigration to Mexico - Post Covid

Hey Fam,  

Maria and I had a great chat about what it takes to immigrate to Mexico - who are the "ideal" candidates now, and what immigration will look like in the "new normal". If you ever wanted to know what the requirements are for temporary and permanent residency, then grab a pen and paper for this one.  If you have any further questions, you can contact Maria and her team below!  

For More Info http://immigratetomexico.com/  

Abrazos  Anna

Oct 26, 202033:12
#20. The Role of Media Post Covid 19 - Where Are We Going Next?

#20. The Role of Media Post Covid 19 - Where Are We Going Next?

Hey Fam, 

I had the pleasure of interviewing my good friend and colleague - Hanifa Sekandi last week and we got into it about the role of media going forward after Covid-19 and #BlackLivesMatter.   

Hanifa is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the lifestyle website, The Things I Wish I Knew. She's a singer/songwriter, a poet and writer. She's also very intuitive, well spoken and funny.    

In the meantime, if you want to follow Hanifa, please check her out here:   

Facebook: @thethingsiwishiknew   Instagram: @thethinksiwishiknew   www.thethingsiwishiknew.com

Oct 26, 202001:21:42
#19. Psychotherapist & Clinical Social Worker - Mental Health Month

#19. Psychotherapist & Clinical Social Worker - Mental Health Month

Hey Fam,  

I had an opportunity to sit down with Juseth Giron, a Guatemalan American psychotherapist and addictions counsellor living in Reno, Nevada. Her insights on how to cope during this pandemic emotionally and how to be supportive of others, especially when you don't relate to their experience, was amazing!  If you would like to book a consult with her or speak with her direct, her contact is: @jusethgironLCSW on social media.  www.linktr.ee/JusethGiron  

What difficulties have you faced with friends and family? How are you coping going forward?  

Abrazos,  Anna Von

Oct 26, 202001:10:38
#18. Intuition & Narcissist Recovery Counsellor - Mental Health Month

#18. Intuition & Narcissist Recovery Counsellor - Mental Health Month

Hey Fam,  

I am so excited to bring you this great interview with Emma Zeck, a writer, photographer, artist and abuse survivor turned narcissist recovery counsellor. I found her on Instagram after I had already done the lions share of my own toxic family system abuse recovery work, and the way she is able to sum out very subtle and difficult to explain abuse concepts in beautiful, positive and supportive ways, really struck me as empowering.   In this episode, we talk about subtler forms of gas-lighting, the importance of finding the right therapist and Emma lists what to look out for if you think you are being psychologically abused and what you can do to start to recover.  

You can follow her and also book a call with her through Instagram: @emmazeck_ or her website:  www.emmazeck.com  

Have you experienced psychological abuse? Please leave your thoughts below.  

Abrazos,  Anna Von

Oct 26, 202045:10
#17. Psychotherapist & Relationship Expert - Mental Health Month

#17. Psychotherapist & Relationship Expert - Mental Health Month

Hey Fam,  

Allison Villa is a psychotherapist and a relationship expert living in Toronto, Canada. I was so excited to chat with her about Covid-19 and how it's affecting people stuck in their homes with their kids and their partners and what we can expect now that our collective cage is being opened.  She also gave me some tips on how to survive the sentence we have been serving together.  

She was a total inspiration. Great to chat!

Abrazos, Anna Von

Oct 26, 202001:01:11
#16. Global Mental Health Lead - Expedia Group - Mental Health Month

#16. Global Mental Health Lead - Expedia Group - Mental Health Month

Hey Fam, 

Welcome to Mental Health month! 

This is the best time to talk about mental health since it's been the most affected by this global crisis.  And just in time for a month dedicated to it!  Laura and I met on YouTube, yup, you heard that here first! We have a similar story about leaving the corporate grind and moving on to health and wellness. In all this Covid-19 mess, mental health leaders like Laura are suddenly in high demand. We may have spared our bodies, but at what cost to our minds/emotions?   This i s the first in a series of videos dedicated to the topic of Mental Health and Wellbeing.  

Would love to hear from you in the comments below.  

Abrazos,  Anna Von

Oct 26, 202001:06:31
#15. Mom and Business Owner in Ometepe - Nicaragua

#15. Mom and Business Owner in Ometepe - Nicaragua

Hi Fam,  

So great to catch up with Monica, who is a mom and business owner living on the island of Ometepe in Nicaragua. Like Mexico, Nicaragua has not closed it's airports or borders and has only given a strong suggestion to people to practice social distancing, and wash their hands.   

I lived on Ometepe on and off between 2014 and 2015 and it holds a special place in my heart. They have a lot of food and water security and are plastic free and community minded. If we were not in Mexico, we would be there as it's the first place that comes to mind when I think of where I would want to exist if the apocalypse really does come.  

Monica has a son about a year younger than Luna and we met when Luna was 1 and she was pregnant and I traveled back to the island for the first time since birthing her. We stayed for a month and it was pure magic. Meeting another mama there was the cherry on the cake. We have stayed in touch ever since and I'm really happy to see how happy and relaxed she is in all this. The island and the people on it will forever hold a special place in my heart. If you are looking to make really radical changes in your life: turning in, turning on and dropping off the grid - consider a month- six month stay on Ometepe.   

Also, it's worth noting that Monica does laughter workshops. And that is probably the coolest job ever.  

El Pital, Chocolate Paradise: https://www.elpitalometepe.com/ 

If you have any comments,  Please leve em below - would love to hear from ya'll :) 

Abrazos, Anna Von

Oct 23, 202001:09:35
#12. Illustrator Online - Mexico

#12. Illustrator Online - Mexico

Hey Fam,  

It was only a matter of time before I checked in with my good friend Chepe, who is still working as an illustrator online in Mexico City. He has been my link to the country since this began since the cases are there (still none where I live) and as a Chilango (person from CDMX) he has been through H1N1 and the recent earthquake, so he has a sense of where we are that is new to me.  

As usual, please leave your comments below :D

Abrazos, 

Anna Von

Oct 23, 202001:05:12
#10. Indonesian Pilates Teacher - Bali

#10. Indonesian Pilates Teacher - Bali

Hey Fam!

I had a late night call with Dania - it was around midnight there in Bali and she was back at the Inna Grand with her family for Nyepi. For those of you who don't know Nyepi is Balinese new year and it's a day of inaction - no lights, TV, movement, no buying anything etc - you stay in your home and meditate. For those who are not Balinese (like my friend Dania), you book into a hotel and eat at a buffet in the basement and play in the pool all day. We were with her and her family last year and would love to be together this year.  

We chatted about the vibe in Bali and what her take was on the effects of coronavirus.   

More interviews coming all the time. Feel free to leave you thoughts etc below.

Oct 23, 202032:17
#14. Digital Service and Social Media Promotion FOR FREE - Jess Casey - Bali

#14. Digital Service and Social Media Promotion FOR FREE - Jess Casey - Bali

Hey Fam, 

I had a great chance to catch up with my friend Jess Casey who is from Montreal Canada but has been living in Bali, Indonesia for year. She met her British husband there and they decided to stay in Bali during Covid-19 because it's their home and they can give back. I'd like to note that Jess was the catalyst on our 2018 trip to Bali who got me really questioning and then got me feeling empowered to finally leave Guatemala and start a better life for me and my daughter. And I am forever in her debt for that support.   

Her company is also offeringq help providing digital services and promociones for local businesses and island wide initiatives for FREE. She is also helping with graphic design and social media services to Balinese and indonesian business owners who want to start or grow and online business in these trying times. It's all free - if you know any businesses that need some help, you can reach out to her direct on her Instagram: www.insgram.com/jessica_casey_  

We got into it on our own cultural stuff here for sure. We are both struggling not to judge, which I think comes naturally to Canadians, but also where are we drawing the line with foreigners abroad (our people). I have been having a hard time with the line between compassion and walking away in all this and it was great to chat about it openly with a friend.   Would love to hear your comments below.   

Abrazos,  Anna Von

Oct 02, 202001:02:11
#13. Singer/Song Writer - Moscow

#13. Singer/Song Writer - Moscow

Hey Fam,  

Cedric immigrated from Rwanda to Canada in 2001. We originally met at a giant after hours club called Stereo in Montreal - I was the bartender there on Fridays during University and we met on the dance floor. Years later, we both moved to Toronto and developed a deeper friendship while I was managing DJs and he was working as a vocalist. Eventually I retired from the nightclub business and Cedric went on to travel the world as a lead vocalist in Azari & III - a well known electronic band.   

After disbanding in 2013 Cedric moved to Moscow and has been there ever since working with various musicians as a vocalist and singer/songwriter. It was great to catch up with him in this crazy time we are experiencing in the world and interesting to see how positive we both are about the future. When you have seen some shit, nothing fazes you it turns out. Attitude of gratitude is the look. I hope I get to hug this guy in real life again soon. It was an honor to get this time to catch up.  

Here's his latest single/video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAj3Yz1r8pw

Oct 02, 202001:23:59
#11. Digital Marketer - Colombia

#11. Digital Marketer - Colombia

Hi Fam,

Diana is my assistant at TravelMama Anna Von and if you have written to the Facebook page or to the Instagram then you may have spoken with her before. She has several clients like me and has managed to keep all her clients in this. She lives in a town outside of Bogota, Colombia and has been in quarantine for weeks.  

It was great to catch up and see her take on what's going on in her country and for her personally.  More interviews to come!.

Please leave your comments and feedback below ;)

Abrazos, 

Anna Von

Oct 01, 202026:54
#9. Freelance Graphic Designer - Paris

#9. Freelance Graphic Designer - Paris

Hi Fam, 

We continue with this interview series I'm doing on Covid-19 here chatting with my friends from around the world on how they are coping in their various countries during Covid-19..  

Triski is a friend of mine from Jakarta, Indonesia. She has been living in Paris for years, with her husband and normally works as a freelance graphic designer. Right now she is on contract with Max Mara and although they are not working, she is being paid her salary to stay home. In the past she did cool hipster tours of Paris and oodles of fun graphic design art stuff. She was instrumental in welcoming me to Indonesia on my first trip and the friendships I formed through her have lasted me a lifetime.   New Interview up daily! Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below, let's keep the conversation going!

Oct 01, 202032:26
#8. The Role of Media Post Covid-19 - Where are we going Next?
Jun 23, 202001:21:42
#7. Vaccines - Mental Health Month with a Nurse

#7. Vaccines - Mental Health Month with a Nurse

Hey Fam!, I had an amazing chat with Linda Alvaro, a Covid-19 mobile nurse and former pediatric nurse about vaccines. It was so nice to get my questions answered without any agenda for or against vaccinating. She also opened my eyes to how to get informed and ready to meet a doctor and advocate for my child. What are your feelings about vaccines? Feel free to tell me below. It's a hot debate right now and I would love to hear from you.
Abrazos,
Jun 23, 202058:53
#6. Psychotherapist & Clinical Social Worker
Jun 23, 202001:10:29
#5. Sexuality Coach - Moldova

#5. Sexuality Coach - Moldova

Today, we had a chat with my best friend, Beth.

Beth lives a nomadic life and generally moves every 3 months as countries in Eastern Europe dictate - she is originally from Australia and does go back to visit, as well as makes regular visits to Japan to see her brother. She has been traveling the world since 18 and we met in Guatemala before I got pregnant with Luna and have remained close ever since. She is a sexuality coach as well as an online dominatrix, and had only arrived in Moldova without her husband for a couple weeks when the country went on full lock down.

Apr 25, 202050:50
#4. Lactation Consultant and Midwifery Student - Guatemala

#4. Lactation Consultant and Midwifery Student - Guatemala

It was only a matter of time before I spoke with someone in Guatemala. My good friend Sylvia who is a mom of two, lactation consultant and midwifery student, talked with me about the swift shutdown internally as well as the borders after only 1 death and what it's like living with a curfew.

Apr 25, 202057:14
#3. DJ and English teacher - Osaka, Japan

#3. DJ and English teacher - Osaka, Japan

I had a great chat with my good friend Misty whom I know from Toronto - both on the bar scene (she is a kick-ass DJ and even played my mom's wedding) and from my volunteer life (she used to work in the shelter system in Canada). A few years ago she followed her heart, and took off to see Japan - while she was there, she met her now-husband, moved over to Osaka a few years ago and as they say, the rest is history.

It was so great to catch up with her and also to talk about our somewhat similar positions as Canadians who have immigrated to countries with low instances of Covid-19, almost the same population, and community-minded mentalities.

Apr 24, 202002:10:13
#2. Director of a Men's Shelter - Toronto

#2. Director of a Men's Shelter - Toronto

I have been chatting offline with Sebastian as he gets slammed at his job during Covid-19. He's the director of a men's homeless shelter in Toronto and had been working 21 days straight before I got this time to sit down and catch up. They have been moving men into hotel rooms, dealing with OD's, fighting, outbreaks, and chaos without ANY services to help and not enough PPE.

We had a great chat about mental health and the future. Please leave your comments below if you have any thoughts from our talk.

And thanks Sebastian, for your hard work on the front lines!

Apr 24, 202001:23:59
#1. Spiritual Adviser - London

#1. Spiritual Adviser - London

Hey Fam!

Much like a lot of these interviews, Felicia and I are friends from way back in Toronto. We are both ex-patriots of Canada, she has been living in London, England for close to a decade, and I've been everywhere, but mostly Latin America. We got a chance to catch up during Christmas break when she came down with some mutual friends from Toronto and our stories are similar in that we have both been through some very serious and trying times and both of us were stubborn to learn our lessons and we both feel happy and grateful and better for them. Felicia has taken this opportunity of quarantine to go full time into her passion and talent as a tarot reader (I got my cards read by her recently and she is really good) and she is doing them for donations right now. 20-30 pounds or equivalent in your currency if you are interested - hit her up on Instagram: @feliciakozak_astra_carte   We had such a lovely chat. 

It was nice to get weird with someone like me.

Apr 23, 202001:22:44