#11 | The Ethics of Tourism Under the Taliban

#14 | How to Be a More Thoughtful Traveler

Thoughtful travel can sound like a fancy buzzword, but it does not have to be complicated or hard to achieve. In this episode of the Solo Female Travelers Podcast, Meg sits down with Amanda Kendle, travel writer, podcaster, and host of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, for an honest conversation about what it actually means to travel with more intention. Amanda shares how her love of travel began with a six-month campervan trip through Europe as a child, how moving to Japan in her twenties helped shift her anxiety and open up her world, and how one simple comment about not riding elephants in Bali changed the way she thinks about ethical travel. Meg also reflects on her own travel evolution, from early backpacking trips and checklist-style planning to the ways Solo Female Travelers now approaches social impact, animal welfare, child photography, locally owned businesses, and helping travelers prepare more intentionally before they go. Together, they talk about moving beyond top 10 lists, planning trips around your actual interests, making space for spontaneity, being a guest in someone else’s home, and why thoughtful travel does not mean perfect travel. They also reflect on how travel does not really end when you get home, but continues in the way you carry those experiences forward. We hope this episode inspires you to pause when planning your next trip, stay open-minded, and remember that even small, thoughtful choices can make a difference along the way. Connect with Amanda: Podcast: Not a Ballerina [https://www.notaballerina.com/podcast] Instagram: @amandakendle [https://www.instagram.com/amandakendle] www.solofemaletravelers.club

#13 | Planning a Trip to Antarctica

Antarctica is one of the most remote places on Earth, but visiting it isn't as simple as booking a cruise. From choosing the right expedition to understanding the rules that protect this fragile environment, there's a lot to know before you go. In this episode of the Solo Female Travelers Podcast, Mar sits down with expedition guide and Antarctica expert Lori Gross, who has spent nearly 20 years guiding travelers across the White Continent. Together, they talk about what it's really like to visit Antarctica, how to choose the right expedition, the differences between ships and itineraries, what to expect throughout the season, and why flexibility is one of the most important things you can pack. They also discuss responsible tourism, wildlife etiquette, IAATO, biosecurity, social media, and how every traveler can help protect one of the last truly wild places on the planet. If Antarctica is on your bucket list, this episode is packed with practical advice, insider tips, and everything you wish you knew before planning the trip of a lifetime. -- Connect with Lori: Website: The Antartic Experience [https://antarcticexperience.com] Facebook Page: The Antarctic Experience [https://www.facebook.com/theantarcticexperience] Facebook Group: The Antartic Experience [https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheAntarcticExperience] YouTube: @theantarcticexperience [https://www.youtube.com/@theantarcticexperience] Instagram: @theantarcticexperience [https://www.instagram.com/theantarcticexperience/] www.solofemaletravelers.club

#12 | Multisensory Travel

So much of travel is built around what we can see. We talk about sightseeing, bucket-list views, and must-see attractions. But what happens when you experience the world differently? In this episode of the Solo Female Travelers Podcast, Meg sits down with author, speaker, podcaster, and disability advocate Lois Strachan to talk about travel, independence, and what it means to truly be present in a place. After losing her sight in her early twenties, Lois continued pursuing her lifelong love of travel, visiting more than 20 countries and developing what she calls a different way of seeing the world. Through sound, touch, smell, conversation, and curiosity, she experiences destinations in ways many travelers rarely stop to consider. We talk about navigating new places as a blind traveler, accepting help without sacrificing independence, the role technology plays in making travel more accessible, and why curiosity is one of the most important qualities any traveler can have. Lois also shares practical advice for becoming more present while traveling and challenges us to think beyond photos, viewpoints, and social media checklists to create deeper, more meaningful travel experiences. Whether you're a frequent traveler or simply looking for a new perspective, this conversation is a powerful reminder that there are many different ways to experience the world. Connect with Lois:  Website: Lois Strachan [https://www.loisstrachan.com/] Podcast: A Different Way of Seeing Podcast [https://www.loisstrachan.com/podcast/] Facebook: @Loisstrachanspeaker [https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker/] Youtube: @LoisStrachan [https://www.youtube.com/@LoisStrachan] www.solofemaletravelers.club

#11 | The Ethics of Tourism Under the Taliban

In this episode of the Solo Female Travelers Podcast, Mar sits down with Fatima Haidari, Afghanistan’s first female tour guide, for a deeply personal conversation about courage, displacement, identity, and rebuilding a life after unimaginable loss. Fatima’s story is also part of our own. When she first left Afghanistan, she worked with Solo Female Travelers during those early, uncertain moments of starting over. This conversation feels especially meaningful because we get to reconnect with her a few years later, hear where life has taken her, and witness the strength, clarity, and purpose she continues to carry forward. Fatima shares what it was like growing up in rural Afghanistan, teaching herself to read by listening to lessons from outside a classroom, and the journey that eventually led her to become a tour guide, journalist, and women’s rights advocate. She also speaks about the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, escaping Afghanistan on an evacuation flight, and the difficult reality of rebuilding her life from scratch in Italy while navigating grief, culture shock, trauma, and the weight of leaving home behind. Together, Mar and Fatima talk about what life is like for women and girls in Afghanistan today, why Fatima continues to fight for education and women’s rights, and how her organization, Alefba, is helping girls keep learning despite the restrictions they face. The conversation also explores the growing popularity of tourism in Afghanistan and the complicated questions that come with it. Can travel support local communities? Where is the line between cultural exchange and normalizing oppression? And what responsibility do travelers and content creators have when sharing stories from places facing serious human rights challenges? This is an honest, thought-provoking conversation about resilience, survival, education, and the power of refusing to give up on a better future, for ourselves, for Afghanistan, and for women everywhere. Connect with Fatima: Instagram: @fatimahaidari [https://www.instagram.com/fatima.haidari786/] Support her school for girls in Afghanistan: Alefba [https://alefbaassociation.org/], instagram: @alefba_for_women [http://instagram.com/fatima.haidari786] YouTube: @fatimahaidari [http://www.youtube.com/@fatimahaidari] www.solofemaletravelers.club

#10 | Greece Beyond Mykonos and Santorini

When most people think about traveling to Greece, they picture Santorini sunsets, Mykonos beach clubs, and crowded whitewashed streets packed with tourists. But what if some of the best Greek islands are actually the ones you've never heard of? In this episode of the Solo Female Travelers Podcast, Mar sits down with Stella, our Greece tour host and a travel industry expert who has spent more than 25 years working across the Greek islands as a wedding planner, tour leader, cruise director, and travel specialist. Together, they talk about what tourism is really like in Greece today, the impact cruise ships have on small island communities, and why some of the most memorable experiences happen away from the country's most famous destinations. Stella shares her favorite alternative islands, including Folegandros, Sifnos, and Milos, and explains why they're perfect for travelers looking for beautiful beaches, charming villages, incredible food, and a slower pace of life without the crowds of Santorini and Mykonos. We also chat about island hopping, ferry travel, Greek hospitality, local food, why dinner starts surprisingly late, and why Greece might be even better outside of peak summer season. If you're planning a trip to Greece, dreaming of island hopping, or simply looking for a more authentic experience beyond the Instagram hotspots, this episode is full of practical tips and local insights from someone who knows these islands inside and out. www.solofemaletravelers.club