Busy Gallivanting

Closing Chapters, Choosing Momentum | A New Year Guide on Growth, Grief & Self-Trust

In this New Year reflection episode, Leslie looks back on a year shaped by growth, grief, and emotional transformation, and shares how those experiences reshaped her approach to creativity, career challenges, and relationships. Rather than rushing toward resolutions, she reflects on the lessons of intentional living, self-trust, and learning to offer herself more grace. This episode explores what it means to create more and consume less, step away from constant digital stimulation, and return to a more analog lifestyle rooted in mindfulness and quality. Leslie discusses how grief softened her expectations, how rejection became redirection, and why curiosity, creativity, and imperfection played a central role in her personal growth. Looking ahead to 2026, this conversation focuses on momentum without burnout, mindful consumption, spiritual growth, and living with intention—inviting listeners to reflect on their own goals, habits, and relationship with self-trust in the new year. 🕯️ Check out my candles and merch at busygallivantingpodcast.com/shop — designed to bring the cozy, intentional vibe of Busy Gallivanting into your everyday space. ✨ Use code BUSYGALLIVANTINGPODCAST for 10% off your first order at Local Eclectic — for unique, high-quality jewelry that fits wherever life takes you. 🎧 Related Episodes: • Nourish & Flourish: 2024 Reflections and 2025 Manifestations [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3xdDltNLKgRKpwxphw1Isz?si=8EcrVIksS2CmGuMd84sP3g] • ⁠Simply Divine: Finding Balance between Feminine and Masculine Energies [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6FcUdAS15qQK4ni234zsd7?si=1HJFle0wS2uWQQpIGKfrag] 📍 WHERE TO FIND LESLIE: 📸 Instagram: ⁠@busygallivantingpodcast⁠ [instagram.com/busygallivantingpodcast] | ⁠@lesliemaclang⁠ [instagram.com/lesliemaclang] 🎵 TikTok: ⁠@lesliemaclang⁠ [tiktok.com/@lesliemaclang] 📺 YouTube: Busy Gallivanting Podcast 📩 Email: ⁠busygallivantingpodcast@gmail.com⁠ 🌍 Website: ⁠busygallivantingpodcast.com⁠ [www.busygallivantingpodcast.com]

Yosemite Things to Do: Mariposa Grove, Tunnel View, Hidden Trails & the California Fast Food

In this episode of Busy Gallivanting, I’m joined by Kate as we explore Yosemite National Park — one of the most iconic, photographed, and awe-inspiring destinations in the U.S. We share our full experience from wandering among the ancient Giant Sequoias in Mariposa Grove to standing at Tunnel View, taking in the panoramic sweep of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall. We talk about the beauty of Yosemite’s dramatic cliffs, lush meadows, and powerful waterfalls, and what it feels like to hike through a place shaped by glaciers and time. We dive into what it actually takes to plan a Yosemite trip: navigating unpredictable weather, understanding trail conditions, and choosing the right gear when temperatures swing without notice. From the towering drop of Yosemite Falls — the tallest waterfall in the continental U.S. — to quiet moments on forested trails, we share the parts of Yosemite that surprised us, challenged us, and stayed with us long after we left the park. And, naturally, our adventure includes a joyful detour into California’s fast-food scene — proof that even the most nature-heavy trips can be paired with chaotic, delicious road snacks. If you’re planning a Yosemite itinerary, craving national park inspo, or simply want to immerse yourself in stories from the outdoors, this episode blends travel reflection, practical insight, and a whole lot of love for America’s national parks. 🎙️ Plus: how to prepare for Yosemite’s shifting weather, why Mariposa Grove is worth the hype, and the best way to approach popular viewpoints without the crowds. ✨ Featured in this episode: • Mariposa Grove and its ancient Giant Sequoias • Iconic Yosemite viewpoints — including Tunnel View • What to know before hiking in changing weather conditions • Yosemite Falls and why it’s a must-see • Planning tips for national parks and peak-season travel• How to prepare for varying trail difficulty and terrain • The surprising joy of California’s fast-food options• Nature, nostalgia, and reconnecting with the outdoors • How to make the most of a Yosemite trip with limited time 🕯️ Check out my candles and merch at busygallivantingpodcast.com/shop — designed to bring the cozy, intentional vibe of Busy Gallivanting into your everyday space. ✨ Use code BUSYGALLIVANTINGPODCAST for 10% off your first order at Local Eclectic — for unique, high-quality jewelry that fits wherever life takes you. 🎧 Related Episodes: • Maine Character Energy: Portland and Acadia National Park [https://open.spotify.com/episode/75b7W7LdKLE34875AI4oMg?si=rCLZ8T6tTaCH1RkWnsGb7Q] • To Airbnb or Not to Airbnb?: Unique Stays, Horror Stories, Hotels vs. Airbnb [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5GdgeP9EPGjD6MZWCMdTWZ?si=9416fcb3b2ea4ba6] 📍 WHERE TO FIND LESLIE: 📸 Instagram: @busygallivantingpodcast [instagram.com/busygallivantingpodcast] | @lesliemaclang [instagram.com/lesliemaclang] 🎵 TikTok: @lesliemaclang [tiktok.com/@lesliemaclang] 📺 YouTube: Busy Gallivanting Podcast 📩 Email: busygallivantingpodcast@gmail.com 🌍 Website: busygallivantingpodcast.com [www.busygallivantingpodcast.com]

Feelings Aren’t Facts | Anxiety, Perfectionism, Cultural Expectations, and Self-Compassion

In this episode of Busy Gallivanting, I’m joined by Lauren Wallace, a licensed mental health counselor who shares insights on how culture, identity, and family expectations shape the way we experience our emotions. We explore the unique challenges faced by the Asian diaspora, the roles eldest daughters often take on, and how patterns of perfectionism and people-pleasing can lead to anxiety. Lauren dives into the power of therapy, the transformative impact of naming emotions, and why practicing self-compassion is both challenging and essential. We talk about setting boundaries, navigating shame, and cultivating connection — both with ourselves and others — as a foundation for healing. Whether you’ve struggled with anxiety, perfectionism, or cultural pressure, this conversation offers guidance on approaching emotions with curiosity, gentleness, and intentionality. 🎙️ Plus: why “feelings aren’t facts,” how small moments in therapy can shift perspective, and how self-compassion can become a quiet superpower. ✨ Featured in this episode:• Understanding the influence of culture on mental health• Anxiety, perfectionism, and eldest daughter expectations• People-pleasing, boundaries, and healthier relationships• Transformative moments in therapy and emotional clarity• The slow, non-linear journey toward self-compassion• Navigating shame, vulnerability, and connection• Cultural nuances in conflict patterns and relationships• Learning to show up as your most authentic self 🕯️ Check out my candles and merch at ⁠busygallivantingpodcast.com/shop⁠ — designed to bring the cozy, intentional vibe of Busy Gallivanting into your everyday space. ✨ Use code BUSYGALLIVANTINGPODCAST for 10% off your first order at ⁠Local Eclectic⁠ — for unique, high-quality jewelry that fits wherever life takes you. 🎧 Related Episodes:• ⁠Busy Becoming | Rebuilding, Experimenting, and Embracing Imperfection (https://open.spotify.com/episode/… [https://open.spotify.com/episode/%E2%80%A6]) 📍 WHERE TO FIND LAUREN:📸 Instagram: @laurenwallacelmhc [https://www.instagram.com/laurenwallacelmhc/] 📆 Book with Lauren here [https://care.headway.co/providers/lauren-wallace?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnCq9xl-4EslD5qOuyRl_-fOPM0Y_sreiXGLfsV_oPdFtwiXWmfUuj74YvUD0_aem_AbftyeC2NMhw3jwWYdhaoA] * Lauren is currently accepting new clients and accepts insurance, private pay, and can work on a sliding scale if needed! 📍 WHERE TO FIND LESLIE:📸 Instagram: ⁠@busygallivantingpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/busygallivantingpodcast]⁠ | ⁠@lesliemaclang⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/lesliemaclang]🎵 TikTok: ⁠@lesliemaclang⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@lesliemaclang]📺 YouTube: Busy Gallivanting Podcast📩 Email: ⁠busygallivantingpodcast@gmail.com⁠🌍 Website: ⁠busygallivantingpodcast.com⁠ [busygallivantingpodcast.com]

Slow & Wild: Van Life, RV Living, and Choosing More Intentional Travel

In this episode of Busy Gallivanting, I’m joined by Fiorella Yriberry — the creator behind @growingslowandwild — to talk about what a slow and wild nomadic lifestyle really looks like. After five years of full-time RV living, she’s learned how van life can offer freedom, comfort, and a deep connection to nature, all while navigating remote work, community, and the emotional ups and downs of life on the road. We dive into how she and her husband went from college graduates to RV builders, what they learned from designing their own rolling tiny home, and why national parks, quiet campsites, and long drives have become the backdrop to some of their most meaningful travel experiences. If you’ve ever been curious about van life, building an RV, or embracing a more flexible way of traveling, this episode is full of practical insight and personal reflection. Fiorella also shares the real side of nomadic living — the loneliness, the freedom, the people you meet along the way — and offers tips for anyone considering renting an RV, trying a road trip, or setting up remote work from the wild. 🎙️ Plus: how community shapes life on the road, finding joy in simple moments, and why slowing down might be the most transformative travel tip of all. ✨ Featured in this episode:• What it’s really like to live as a full-time nomad• The journey from traditional life to RV living• How building an RV from scratch taught her the value of intentional design• Flexibility and planning for remote work while traveling• The emotional reality of van life — freedom, loneliness, and everything in between• National parks and nature-forward travel experiences• Why renting an RV is the best way to try van life before committing• How slowing down can transform even the simplest travel days 🕯️ Check out my candles and merch at ⁠busygallivantingpodcast.com/shop⁠ — designed to bring the cozy, intentional vibe of Busy Gallivanting into your everyday space. ✨ Use code BUSYGALLIVANTINGPODCAST for 10% off your first order at ⁠Local Eclectic⁠ — for unique, high-quality jewelry that fits wherever life takes you. 🎧 Related Episodes:• ⁠Maine Character Energy: Portland and Acadia National Park [https://open.spotify.com/episode/75b7W7LdKLE34875AI4oMg?si=795e93ca1d7f466c]• Pretty Girls Walk Like This: Costa Rica [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6R26AzHk7RqqXxMAf8NG0Z?si=bcaaa1bc294244d8⁠] 📍 WHERE TO FIND FIORELLA:📸 Instagram: ⁠@growingslowandwild🎵 TikTok: ⁠@growingslowandwild📺 YouTube: Growing Slow and Wild🌍 Website: Rent an RV at RVshare.com 📍 WHERE TO FIND LESLIE:📸 Instagram: ⁠@busygallivantingpodcast⁠ | ⁠@lesliemaclang⁠🎵 TikTok: ⁠@lesliemaclang⁠📺 YouTube: Busy Gallivanting Podcast📩 Email: ⁠busygallivantingpodcast@gmail.com⁠🌍 Website: ⁠busygallivantingpodcast.com⁠

Charming Charleston: Exploring the South’s Most Beautiful City Alone

In this episode of Busy Gallivanting, I’m sharing stories from my solo trip to Charleston, South Carolina — a city that completely surprised me. What started as a spontaneous getaway turned into an unexpected connection to the South: from wandering through pastel-lined streets and exploring centuries-old architecture to savoring the café and boutique culture that gives Charleston its quiet charm. Somewhere between reflection and curiosity, I found myself on a self-guided The Notebook tour, tracing scenes from the film without even meaning to — and realizing how travel often mirrors where we are in life. This trip became less about checking off sights and more about slowing down, listening, and being present in a place that felt both new and nostalgic. 🎙️ Plus: thoughts on embracing unplanned moments, solo travel as self-discovery, and finding beauty in cities that make you feel something. ✨ Featured in this episode:• Charleston’s historic architecture — where time and texture tell stories * Charleston Trolley Tour [https://www.trolleytours.com/charleston/trolley-museum-package] for the best way to get your bearings and receive admission to the Charleston Museum or a historic mansion * Joseph Manigault Home * Magnolia Plantation • Café and boutique culture — small corners that make solo travel feel grounding * True Lucia, My Sister's Clothing on King St * Baba's Café * Bad Bunnies Café * Harbinger Cafe • The accidental Notebook tour — rediscovering joy through spontaneity• Southern hospitality — navigating warmth, weight, and history• Mindful travel — letting go of control and trusting where the journey leads 🕯️ Check out my candles and merch at busygallivantingpodcast.com/shop [https://busygallivantingpodcast.com/shop] — designed to bring the cozy, intentional vibe of Busy Gallivanting into your everyday space. ✨ Use code BUSYGALLIVANTINGPODCAST for 10% off your first order at Local Eclectic [https://www.localeclectic.com] — for unique, high-quality jewelry that fits wherever life takes you. 🎧 Related Episodes: • Busy Being | Season 2 Finale⁠• Busy Becoming | Season 3 Premiere [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5aS04FjXKC0cmTEkSVlner?si=ccb9e52ce0bb4a93] 📍 WHERE TO FIND US: 📸 Instagram: @busygallivantingpodcast [https://instagram.com/busygallivantingpodcast] | @lesliemaclang [https://instagram.com/lesliemaclang] 🎵 TikTok: @lesliemaclang [tiktok.com/@lesliemaclang] 📺 YouTube: Busy Gallivanting Podcast 📩 Email: busygallivantingpodcast@gmail.com 🌍 Website: busygallivantingpodcast.com [https://busygallivantingpodcast.com]