From My Hostel Floor: Burnout, Growth, and Getting My Life Back Together

Julie: A New Country, A New Chapter

In this episode of Wandering Wild, I sit down with my friend Julie to talk about solo female travel, working holiday visas, moving abroad alone, and the emotional freedom that comes with starting over in a new country. From studying in Spain to volunteering in Costa Rica and rebuilding life in Australia, Julie shares how travel changed her relationship with herself, her future, and what she wants out of life. This conversation explores: Solo female travel Working holiday visas in Australia Making friends while traveling Fear, freedom, and uncertainty Travel as personal growth Building a life outside the “normal” path Why so many travelers struggle to stop moving A grounded conversation about adventure, identity, freedom, and learning to trust yourself along the way.

Choosing Freedom, Craving Stability

In this episode, Ashley shares an honest, in-the-moment reflection from a day when everything feels uncertain. After deciding to move out of work-for-accommodation and into her own room, the excitement of having privacy and stability quickly turned into anxiety around money, commitment, work shifts, homesickness, and the fear of getting stuck in the cycle of work, save, travel, go broke. This is a raw episode about the less romantic side of long-term travel: wanting freedom but craving stability, loving where you are but missing home, and learning to trust yourself when nothing has actually fallen apart yet — it just feels like it might.

How I got 3 jobs in Australia

When I first got to Australia, I had no idea how finding a job actually worked — and honestly, no one really explains it. In this episode, I’m sharing how I got 3 jobs in 3 different places across Australia (Port Douglas, Sydney, and now an island), what worked, what didn’t, and what I wish I knew before I started. From walking into dozens of places and getting rejected, to trial shifts, certifications, and finally landing something — this is the real, unfiltered process of figuring it out as a traveler. If you’re on a working holiday visa, thinking about coming to Australia, or just navigating uncertainty in your own life — this episode is for you. You’re not behind. You’re just in the middle of it.

My Workplace Burned Down... and It Changed Everything

A few days ago, my workplace literally caught on fire... and within a week, my entire life changed. In this episode, I'm sharing the full story - from the moment the power went out, and we heard the explosion, to standing on the street and watching the building fill with smoke... to realizing I suddenly had no job, no income, and no real plan. What followed was a fast, unexpected pivot: Leaving Sydney Taking a leap on a last-minute opportunity Landing on Magnetic Island Starting over (again) But this episode isn't just about the fire - it's about what happens when stability disappears overnight, how anxiety can build around work and identity, and what it feels like to be pushed into a new chapter before you feel ready. If you've ever felt like your life can change in an instant, or life you're being forced to trust something bigger than your plan... this one's for you.

From My Hostel Floor: Burnout, Growth, and Getting My Life Back Together

It's been a few weeks... and honestly, I just needed to disappear for a minute. In this episode, I’m sitting on my dorm room floor in Sydney, getting my life back together and talking through everything that’s been happening lately — the burnout, the chaos, the growth, and the moments that somehow made it all worth it. I share what it actually looked like trying to balance two jobs, living in a hostel, and pushing myself to a point where my nervous system just couldn’t keep up anymore. Why I stopped posting. Why I almost went home. And how I’m finally starting to feel like myself again. We also get into: • What it really feels like to live in a hostel long-term • The reality of working while traveling (and why it’s not always fun) • Friendships that feel like everything… and then end • Why dating while traveling just doesn’t work for me • Learning to slow down instead of making panic decisions This is a messy, honest life update — but also a reminder that you don’t have to have everything figured out to keep going. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, burnt out, or like you’re just trying to keep your head above water… this one’s for you.