Bel shares personal travel experiences, highlighting the importance of self-worth, standing up for oneself, and navigating solo travel challenges. She shares restaurant incidents that show how society treats solo travelers and emphasizes the need to take up space and value yourself.

Follow Bel's adventures on:

Website: Wanderingebel.com

IG: Wandering_bel

Fear makes solo travel feel bigger and scarier than it is. These two stories from Seattle and Budapest show what really happens when you trust yourself, stay open, and keep moving.

Bel turns two seemingly ordinary trips into a reminder that travel can crack you open in the best way. One Uber ride leaves her feeling judged and more alone than ever. Another becomes the kind of unexpected encouragement that only a stranger who truly gets it can offer. From there, the episode moves through a spontaneous bar crawl in Budapest, a late-night underground club, and the random connections that make solo travel unforgettable. You’ll hear Bel break down:

• why solo travel can build intuition and confidence faster than almost anything else
• how one supportive conversation can completely change the emotional tone of a trip
• what happens when you stop overthinking and say yes to the random, last-minute experience
• why the fear around traveling alone is often louder than reality
• how strangers can sometimes give you the exact encouragement you didn’t know you needed

Bel also gets honest about the messy side of travel, including bad trips, chaotic logistics, and a few places where things went very wrong. But that’s the point—travel is not perfect, and it was never meant to be. The real question is whether you’ll let fear keep you from the stories, the people, and the perspective that only come from going anyway. Perfect for anyone craving a push to travel solo, trust their gut, or remember that the world is still full of good people. If you need a little courage to book the trip, this one is for you.

Follow Bel's adventures on:

Website: Wanderingebel.com

IG: Wandering_bel

Facebook: Wandering Bel Blog

Unlock the power of mountains, resilience, and self-discovery with Bethany, an endurance athlete and outdoor storyteller. She shares her journey from farm life in New York to conquering tough peaks, breaking barriers for women, and redefining strength. Discover how hiking helped her heal from chronic illnesses and societal stereotypes. Her support during an unsupported FKT on the Adirondacks’ 46 peaks shows vulnerability, trust, and resilience.

She challenges gender stereotypes in the outdoor world and discusses mental health, community, and the courage to ask for help. Bethany recounts traveling solo in India and mountain adventures with a new partner, highlighting how external and internal challenges mirror each other.

She emphasizes finding mentors, overcoming societal judgment of women outdoors, and embracing vulnerability. Whether you're an adventurer or seeking inner strength, this episode inspires boundary-pushing and personal growth through nature's healing power. Perfect for outdoor lovers, mental health advocates, and those redefining limits, it offers wisdom and practical insights into living and hiking purposefully stories of grit, grace, and freedom.

Find Bethany on Instagram @bethany.climes, discover her books at RuggedOutdoorsWoman.com, and follow her next FKTs to witness her ongoing journey.

Follow Wandering Bel on Instagram @wandering_bel and Wanderingbel.com

Most travel advice is based on fear, which might be limiting your experiences more than real danger. Bel discusses how true crime stories and fear-based attitudes skew our perception of safety and offers ways to regain the confidence to travel freely without paranoia. In this thought-provoking episode, Bel questions the common belief that solo travel is intrinsically dangerous, particularly for women.

She shares personal stories from Paris and Budapest, revealing how intuition and simple safety protocols can protect you better than fear-based precautions.

You’ll discover why statistical realities show most violent crimes happen between people who already know each other, not strangers lurking in the shadows—and how this knowledge can empower your adventures.We break down:

• The dangerous misinformation spread by true crime podcasts and how it fuels unnecessary fear
• Practical, non-extreme safety tips that actually work in real-world travel situations
• Why building trust with yourself is your best safety tool
• How societal conditioning keeps women and solo travelers small—and how to break free
• The importance of living in the moment, not under a cloud of fear

Living in paranoia robs you of the riches of travel—the joy of connecting with new people and places.

Bel urges you: don’t let fear be your travel companion. Instead, embrace the adventure, trust your instincts, and explore the world on your terms. This episode is essential listening for anyone tired of society’s fear tactics and ready to step into a bigger, freer life.Are you ready to challenge the narrative and travel fearlessly? Tune in now and start rewriting your story.

Website: Wanderingbel.com
Instagram: Wandering_bel

Facebook: Wandering Bel

Tap into your intuition and strengthen your connection to yourself in ways you hadn't thought possible. This episode demonstrates how developing inner trust through daily experiences and mindful listening can help you confront life's uncertainties with confidence. Whether you're feeling ignored, overwhelmed, or unsure, try simple but effective exercises to reconnect with your body and instincts without requiring long trips or complicated plans, and start making choices that genuinely reflect your true self.

Check out more on Wanderingbel.com or follow me on Instagram @wandering_bel

Many of us fear alone time, yet it is such an important part of discovering who we truly are. In this episode, Wandering Bel shares heartfelt stories of solo adventures that helped her face herself and invites you to do the same. If you’re seeking clarity, confidence, and inner peace, consider this your gentle reminder.

Bel shares journeys from city escapes to camping in West Virginia and snowy drives through Yellowstone, showing how traveling alone can reveal your true self, strengthen trust, and sharpen intuition—skills that are incredibly valuable today. She highlights simple yet powerful practices like taking nature breaks, talking kindly to oneself, and asking what genuinely matters most.

These practices help reclaim your identity and allow you to thrive. We talk about sitting with your emotions, facing doubts head-on, and increasing your self-awareness. Bel recounts moments from being detained to spotting a wolf, each experience prompting a deep reflection. Without understanding ourselves, we can feel lost and overwhelmed, but with self-knowledge, we gain clarity, strength, and freedom—gifts that no one can take away.

This episode is especially helpful for those feeling unsure or overwhelmed, whether you're a seasoned traveler or just starting your journey inward. Bel's sincere insights encourage us to listen closely to that quiet inner voice. Step outside, connect with nature, and start discovering who you truly are. Your journey to trusting yourself and feeling more alive begins right now.

Let's go on an adventure, shall we?

Welcome to the first episode of In Pursuit of Being (Wild and FWelcome to the very first episode of In Pursuit of Being (Wild and Free)! I'm excited to have you here. Get comfortable as I share a little about myself, tell you the story behind this podcast, and introduce you to my wonderful community, "Wandering Bel."

I’m sharing some of my early travel stories, but more importantly, I want to explore the true reason behind my passion: the transformative power of solo travel. Traveling alone isn't merely about checking places off a list; it’s a profound experience that helps you discover your real self when no one is around.

Whether you're an experienced traveler or just dreaming from your desk about your first solo adventure, this space is for you.

Links & Resources:

• Wandering Bel: Wanderingbel.com
• Let’s Connect on Instagram: @wandering_bel

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this please hit subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow wanderer.

Be Wild

Be Free

Welcome to the trailer for In the In Pursuit of Being (Wild and Free), A Solo Traveler Podcast. Let's go on an adventure, shall we?

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