Ep. 29 - These 5 Places Changed Me Forever (Spiritual Experiences I Can’t Explain)

Ep. 33 - Six Ways to Fall Back in Love With Yourself - The Practices That Changed My Life

okay friend, this one is from my whole heart. 🤍 I've been in a season of deep reflection — building this brand, navigating motherhood, grieving my dad, healing my nervous system, learning what it actually feels like to be in lockstep with myself. and somewhere in the middle of it all, I realized that the through-line of every shift I've made comes back to one thing: my relationship with myself. so this week I'm sharing the 6 practices that have completely transformed how I love and meet myself in this human journey. these aren't theoretical — these are the daily, weekly, alarm-on-your-phone practices that have actually rewired the way I move through life: 🌿 getting clear on what actually brings you joy (and why your nervous system is begging you for it) 🎧 surrounding yourself with the right voices — the 3 podcasts that changed my self-love game 🙏🏼 building a gratitude practice rooted in science (the RAS explanation will blow your mind) ✨ learning your human design and meeting your energetic blueprint 🌑 the shadow work practice that lets you love even the version of you that you've been ashamed of 💛 the practice of being alone with your thoughts — and why your nervous system NEEDS it and I close with one of the most grounding mantras I've been practicing from A Course in Miracles: I am love. simple. but it's everything. if you've been feeling disconnected from yourself, if you've been moving through life on autopilot, if you've been wondering when it'll be your turn to feel good in your own skin — this episode is for you. Chapters * 00:00 — welcome back + last week's recap (travel is therapy) * 01:40 — why I've been so reflective lately + the journey since losing my dad * 03:20 — washing out the shoulds + embracing your individuality * 4:15 — the era of self brands + main character energy * 9:45— getting curious about yourself like you would a new love * 13:15 — Practice #1: get clear on what brings you joy * 15:45 — the science of joy + nervous system regulation * 18:32 — Practice #2: surround yourself with expanded voices (my 3 favorite podcasts) * 28:12 — Practice #3: the gratitude practice (and the RAS science behind it) * 34:38 — Practice #4: learn your human design * 39:05 — Practice #5: the shadow work practice * 44:30 — Practice #6: be alone with your thoughts * 47:05 — A Course in Miracles + ego vs. Holy Spirit * 48:50 — I am love — the practice that changes everything * 52:16 — outro 🤍 Show Notes: →Align Podcast with Jenna Zoe [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/align-with-jenna-zoe-the-human-design-podcast/id1637626050] →Expanded Podcast - To Be Magnetic [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/expanded-podcast-by-to-be-magnetic/id1419732648] →You Make Sense with Sarah Baldwin [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-make-sense/id1770199152] →Find Out Your Human Design [https://www.myhumandesign.com/] 🔗 Stay in my world:  → ⁠laurajanela.com⁠ [https://laurajanela.com/]  → ⁠free newsletter⁠ [https://laurajanela.com/newsletter/]  →⁠ Book Casa Oliva in Porto⁠ [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1593448040295131006?check_in=2026-06-17&check_out=2026-06-20&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=12373904-354a-44e4-aeeb-ad070299cb8b] 🇵🇹  → Follow ⁠@laurajanela ⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/laurajanela_]+ ⁠@latecheckout⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/latecheckout._/] → ⁠⁠Book a Travel Clarity Call with me⁠ [https://stan.store/laurajanela/p/the-travel-clarity-call-]

Ep. 32 - Why One Trip Can Do More Than Months of Therapy

okay friend — this one. this one. 🤍 if I had to pick ONE episode that holds the whole thesis of why I built this brand, why I left my corporate career, why I keep showing up to talk about travel like it's a sacred practice — it would be this one. because here's my hot take: one trip can do more for your nervous system than months of therapy can do for your mind. and I'm not just saying it — I'm going to prove it to you in this episode. we're getting into the 4 ways travel actually IS therapy: 🧠 how travel forces your nervous system to recalibrate — and builds self-trust at a speed nothing else can match ✨ how travel turns you into your own expander — the version of you that only shows up in a new country and never wants to be forgotten again 🪞 how travel surfaces "parts" of you that have been on autopilot at home — the conversations, the aha moments, the existential downloads that hit different at altitude 🌀 how travel leads to real-time integration — why people end relationships, quit jobs, and finally have the conversations they've been avoiding after a trip I also share the line I used to throw at people in my 20s when they asked why I was spending every dollar on plane tickets: "I'm investing in my soul." 15 years and 46 countries later — turns out that bitch had it right. 🤍 if you've ever been told you travel too much, or that you should be "more responsible" with your money, or you've felt the soft pull of a trip you can't quite explain — pour yourself something slow and press play. this is for you. ⏱️ Chapters:00:00 — Welcome back (life update + why this episode is the thesis of my brand) 03:50 — the privilege + magic we forget about travel 08:00 — my hot take: one trip > months of therapy 10:46 — Way #1: travel + your nervous system (the self-trust muscle) 14:00 — Way #2: travel makes you your own expander 19:50 — Way #3: travel surfaces "parts" of you (internal family systems explained) 25:13 — Way #4: real-time integration (why people quit jobs and end relationships after trips) 27:59 — the "investing in my soul" story 30:15 — the 3-step framework to design your next trip differently 32:23 — what's coming next 🤍 🔗 Stay in my world: → laurajanela.com [https://laurajanela.com/] → free newsletter [https://laurajanela.com/newsletter/] → Book Casa Oliva in Porto [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1593448040295131006?check_in=2026-06-17&check_out=2026-06-20&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=12373904-354a-44e4-aeeb-ad070299cb8b] 🇵🇹 → Follow @laurajanela [https://www.instagram.com/laurajanela_]+ @latecheckout [https://www.instagram.com/latecheckout._/] → ⁠Book a Travel Clarity Call with me [https://stan.store/laurajanela/p/the-travel-clarity-call-]

Ep. 31 - You're Not Stuck. You're On Autopilot. (And You Can Turn It Off.)

"You can turn off cruise control at any given moment." Last week, Brian shared what it means to be in the driver's seat of your career — and this week, I'm taking that exact consciousness and expanding it into every other corner of your life. Because here's the truth: most of us are on autopilot in at least one area — and we don't even realize it. In this solo episode, I'm walking you through the awareness shift that changed everything for me in my 20s — when I realized I was responsible for the life I was building, that intuition is louder than logic when you slow down enough to hear it, and that every "ping" you keep brushing under the rug might actually be a divine nudge toward your bigness. We get into: → how to turn potential energy into kinetic energy (a.k.a. how to actually move on the thing you've been thinking about)→ why intuitive hits aren't fleeting thoughts — and what they actually are→ the SUV analogy that explains exactly what stepping into your bigness feels like→ why the people, places, and patterns falling away might be the proof you're growing→ how to recognize when your nervous system is begging you to "settle" instead of expand→ the manifestation tool I've been using since age 18 (and how my approach has evolved)→ the one practice I credit with cracking me open more than anything else (it's not what you'd think) This one's for the woman who feels the pull but hasn't taken the step yet. The one with the idea she keeps brushing aside. The one who knows there's more — and is finally ready to stop playing small. You are in the driver's seat. This is your sign to take the wheel. 🚗 🎧 listen wherever you get your podcasts. 💌 subscribe to the Late Checkout newsletter [https://laurajanela.com/newsletter/] for weekly notes on intentional travel, wellness, and conscious living. — mentioned in this episode:→ episode 30 with Brian (homecoming + working abroad)→ to be magnetic [https://login.tobemagnetic.com/a/2147524106/XJ2JizUv] (the manifestation work I swear by — not sponsored, just love it) use code LAURA6202 for 15% off. IG Handles: Late Checkout [https://www.instagram.com/latecheckout._/] Laura Janela [https://www.instagram.com/laurajanela_]

Ep. 30 - Why We Left Zürich, How to Become an Expat, and Porto AirBnB

Okay guys, welcome back to Late Checkout — and welcome back to Brian. 🇨🇭 If you caught the last episode [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3W9KpjKSLQqI1pmcwQjWx4?si=GcY5A6idQ2C57assbRS2rQ] (episode 5) he was on (spoiler: it aired the literal day we got the offer to move back to the States — the universe is WILD), this is officially Part 2. And honestly, we could talk about Switzerland for dayyyss, so Part 3 is already loading. In this one, we're pulling back the curtain on the decision that changed everything — why, after six years of building a whole life in Zürich, we said okay, it's time to come back. We're talking: – the real motives behind leaving (spoiler: one of them was me seeing this brand through)– how Brian willed this move into existence (a masterclass for anyone feeling stuck in corporate)– having our second baby in Switzerland and the 5-star hospital experience I still dream about (those omelettes, the Ayurvedic massage, the lake view — I'm not kidding)– the chaos of packing up a whole life while postpartum with a newborn and a toddler– buying our Airbnb in Porto (say hi to Casa Oliva [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1593448040295131006?check_in=2026-06-17&check_out=2026-06-20&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=f81bb7f4-d7f3-4f8c-9935-d5d6ba803cb2] 🇵🇹) and every plot twist along the way– the reverse culture shock of landing back in New Jersey with two kids, a dog, and a completely different version of us than the one that left in 2018– the one thing I miss the most about living in Europe (and how I'm soothing the wound) If you're someone sitting on a corporate job dreaming of an expat life, a parent mid-transition, or just someone who loves a behind-the-scenes relocation saga — this one is for you. Take it all with you, put it in your back pocket, and let it be your expander. Pour yourself something slow. Let's get into it. Tchau Tchau,xx Laura ⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Part 2 setup (and why this aired the day everything changed)05:30 – The real reasons we left Switzerland14:00 – Having baby #2 in Zürich (and the hospital that served)22:00 – Brian on willing your career into existence34:00 – The bittersweet slow goodbye42:00 – Buying the Porto Airbnb (Casa Oliva)56:00 – Landing in NJ with two kids and a dog1:05:00 – What I miss most about Europe1:12:00 – Ciao ciao 🔗 Stay in my world:→ @laurajanela [https://www.instagram.com/laurajanela_/]→ Newsletter [https://laurajanela.com/newsletter/] + Travel Pocket Guides [https://laurajanela.com/travel-guides/]→ Book Casa Oliva in Porto [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1593448040295131006?check_in=2026-06-17&check_out=2026-06-20&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=f81bb7f4-d7f3-4f8c-9935-d5d6ba803cb2]

Ep. 29 - These 5 Places Changed Me Forever (Spiritual Experiences I Can’t Explain)

In this episode, I’m sharing 5 places around the world that deeply moved me — not just beautiful destinations, but places where I had experiences that felt spiritual, grounding, and transformative in ways I didn’t expect. Travel has been more than just seeing new places for me. It has been healing, eye-opening, emotional, and at times completely life changing. In this episode, I talk about the destinations that left a lasting impact on me, what I experienced in each place, and why some places just feel different when you visit them. This episode is for anyone who feels like travel is more than vacations and photos — it’s connection, growth, healing, and sometimes even spiritual experiences. I’d love to know if you’ve ever traveled somewhere that changed you or moved you in a way you can’t fully explain. TIME STAMPS: 0:00 - Intro, How traveling has moved me from a deep place13:00 - what makes you go inward and go deep?14:49 - FIRST STOP: KENYA21:27 - SECOND STOP: BRAZIL27:30 - THIRD STOP: EGYPT33:00 - FOURTH STOP: IBIZA40:55 - LAST STOP: CAMBODIA Some links from the episode: * Skyscanner [https://skyscanner.pxf.io/laurajanela]- where I've explored flight deals for the last 10 years * Memphis Tours [https://www.viator.com/tours/Cairo/Tour-to-Pyramids-and-The-Egyptian-Museum/d782-106218P1?pid=P00295457&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=cairo-tours]- this is the exact tour we used in Cairo * Build Your Own Retreat [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0aVfk37MnicAwNAXrPuuW5?si=c0feda825c6a469f]- Guided episode to building your own mini or major retreat * For my fully detailed Ibiza Retreat Itinerary DM me RETREAT on IG - @latecheckout._ [https://www.instagram.com/latecheckout._/] Other Travel Episodes You'd Like (Spotify): 1. Four Ways Travel & Wellness are Symbiotic + Winter Getaways [https://open.spotify.com/episode/64PNX1eY8v5sQyPaZqH7ft?si=7d135ae8228f4df1] 2. WTH are We Still Doing in Switzerland? w. Brian Janela [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3W9KpjKSLQqI1pmcwQjWx4?si=6fe9d504f3164d55] 3. Not Your Average Summer Travel Recap [https://open.spotify.com/episode/46v3gFXEdq4yF9UKK9HjqF?si=094c81bb87cd40b1] Other Travel Episodes You'd Like (Apple): * ⁠Four Ways Travel & Wellness are Symbiotic + Winter Getaways⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-7-4-ways-travel-wellness-are-symbiotic-and-winter/id1772444904?i=1000680793271] * ⁠WTH are We Still Doing in Switzerland? w. Brian Janela⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-5-wth-are-we-still-doing-in-switzerland-with-brian-janela/id1772444904?i=1000679193349] * ⁠Not Your Average Summer Travel Recap⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-2-not-your-average-summer-travel-recap-and/id1772444904?i=1000676767938] Want to learn more about Late Checkout? * Join the email list for a monthly newsletter [https://laurajanela.com/podcast/] with more links, tips and insider updates. * Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/latecheckout._] * Watch episodes in video format on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL53aTjmiumR0yDgSDi-pWfHRVsxp9fAQs] * Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3ndRLYgqGaeNE4vvlV5fTp] * Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/late-checkout/id1772444904]