In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Chloe Stead — 42 years old and currently living in a rustic tiny shack in the bush in Tasmania with her husband — but her journey to this simple life has been anything but ordinary. Since 2008, Chloe has been living a travelling, nomadic lifestyle. After leaving school at 18 to join the Navy and later working in health and safety in Perth, Australia, she reached a quiet breaking point while staying at the Whim Creek Hotel in 2006. A simple but powerful thought surfaced: There has to be more to life than this. Within a week, she sold her house, packed up a shipping container, took her dog, and began driving solo around Australia with just $500 AUD — despite being petrified of sleeping in a tent. That leap of faith set the course for the next chapter of her life. But Chloe's story is not just about adventure — it's about grief, reinvention, and learning to live on her own terms. After the sudden death of her partner Willy in 2013, everything stopped. In the depths of grief, Chloe stepped away from social media, let go of her old life, and slowly began again. Meditation, yoga retreats, and eventually walking the Camino de Santiago in 2014 became turning points. Carrying everything on her back, she discovered a deep love for minimalism, simplicity, and self-reliance. Over the years, Chloe has: Walked multiple Caminos including the Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo and Via de la PlataHitchhiked and walked along the beaches of UruguayTaken a 10,000km road trip with her dog DexterLived off less than $100 AUD per weekWorked seasonally to fund months of adventureCycled from Alaska to San Francisco (86 nights in a tent!)Walked the Wales Coast Path and the Portuguese CaminoChosen to stay off social media to be fully present on trail Now married, Chloe continues to design a life built around freedom, movement, and intentional simplicity. With big adventures planned for 2026 — including walking the South West Coast Path and the GR10 — she shares honestly about navigating partnership on trail, managing knee issues, strength training gains, and why getting to the start line is often the hardest part. This conversation is about: Letting go of possessions and expectationsLiving with uncertaintyProcessing grief through movementCreating "trail life" off-trailWhy you don't need technology to experience adventureTrusting that the universe conspires to keep you goingAnd why you should "give it a crack and get to the start line." Chloe's message is simple but powerful: Life is uncertain. Don't put things off. If there's something you want to do — take the plunge. *** New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries. Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Your support makes a difference. Thank you x *** Show notes Who is Chloe42 years old, currently living in Tasmania in a rustic tiny shack in the bush with her husband Living a travelling lifestyle since 2008What was the lead up to making changes in her lifeLeaving school at 18 and joining the Navy2006 living in Perth, Australia and having a job in health and safetyStarting to feel different when staying at the Whim Creek HotelThinking that there has to be more to life100 things to see and do in Australia before you die Selling her house within a week, filling up a shipping containerTaking her dog and starting to drive solo around Australia Being encouraged by a friend - to just do it! Not being in tune with herself Highlights from spending time on the road, driving around Australia Starting off with $500 AUD and getting a job Spending the trip just driving around Being petrified of staying in a tentPitching her tent and staying in it for the first timeMeeting a boy, Willy (which wasn't part of the plan!) Deciding to move to New Zealand (2009 - 2010)Backpacking around Europe for 3 monthsPlanning every day and having a very tight schedule Feeling disheartened with her experience Needing to do something spontaneous Backpacking around Cambodia for 3 weeks with no plan Seeing a flyer about yoga and meditationStruggling with mental health and things in life Doing a yoga retreat in Australia and doing a deep dive into meditation Starting to work in farming around Australia 2013 and the year of her 30th birthdayDeciding to go to South America to visit Machu Picchu Willys death and how it stopped everything Not knowing how to copeThe funeral and not wanting to live where she was living or work where she was working Getting rid of her phone and getting off social mediaStarting again and wanting to forget Needing to deal ...
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