If you’ve been eyeing van life content but are still wondering how people really do it, this one’s for you.

For the past five years, Fiorella Yriberry and her husband have been living full-time in their self-converted vehicles—yes, plural. They’ve road-tripped through 40+ states, explored more than 30 national parks, and turned a fire investigation truck into a fully off-grid home on wheels. Fiorella also works remotely as a content marketing specialist for RVshare, giving her a front-row seat to both sides of the mobile lifestyle.

In this episode, host Kim Anderson sits down with Fiorella to talk about all the practical, unexpected, and magical parts of van life. Whether you’re van-life curious, ready to convert your own vehicle, or just love hearing how people design unconventional live, they’ve got stories and insight for you.

You’ll hear what it really takes to live on the road full-time, how to decide what kind of vehicle and layout might work best for your lifestyle, and what they’ve learned the hard way over two conversions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to choose a vehicle and avoid the biggest first-timer mistakes
• Which features they now consider non-negotiable after years of living on the road
• How to find those off-the-beaten-path places that make van life truly magical

If you're dreaming of a more flexible life or just want to know if you could ever make this work, this episode is for you.

RESOURCES:

• Connect with Fiorella on Instagram & YouTube
• Want to try van life before committing to the lifestyle? Check out RV Share
• Fiorella's favorite boondocking spot: Flaming Gorge, Utah
• Find the best dry camping / off radar locations with Onyx Offroad

⚡️ROUND BOOK: Nowhere for Very Long: The Unexpected Road to an Unconventional Life by Brianna Madia

WANT MORE stories about Overlanding or Epic Road Adventures? Check out these epsiodes:

1. Extreme Adventure: Motorbiking the Pan-American Highway and Canoeing the Darien Gap w/ Charlie Reynolds #142
2. What It’s Really Like to Overland Solo as a Woman Across Africa & the Middle East w/ Charline Ribotta #103
3. Roadmap to Happiness: Overlanding & Unschooling Around the World while Living a Global Mission w/ Brittney Highland of Hourless Life #41

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Would you hop into a white van with six strangers while hitchhiking solo across Australia?

If you've ever wondered what hitchhiking is really like as a solo female traveler, this episode is for you.

This week’s Travel Talk was inspired by host Kim Anderson’s recent conversation with Ana Lucas, aka The Sustainable Backpacker (Episode #190). Ana is a solo female traveler who’s currently hitchhiking all the way from Portugal to Australia. That's over 40,000 km, across 25 countries!

That conversation brought back a memory of Kim's first time hitchhiking in Australia, and a moment that tested intuition, courage, and trust in the kindness of strangers.

You’ll hear about one surprising ride that shaped the journey in unexpected ways… and what it taught about listening to your gut, staying open, and finding connection where you least expect it.

In a world that often focuses on what can go wrong, this episode explores the surprising and uplifting moments when things turn out even better than you ever imagined.

In this episode, you’ll explore:

• What it’s really like to hitchhike as a solo female traveler
• Why trusting your instincts is everything on the road
• Sometimes life requires you to literally fight for your dreams

If you’ve ever wondered if the world is still full of kind, generous humans, or just needed a sign to follow that dream tugging at your heart - this is it.

Hit play and send this one to a friend who’s always down for the adventure!

WANT MORE solo female travelers chasing wild adventures? CHECK OUT these episodes:

• The Art of Solo Travel: Navigating the World as a Full Time Content Creator w/ Savanna Crowell #49
• Traveling Syria: A Solo Female Traveler’s Unfiltered Journey #146
• How to Handle Foreign Privilege and Unwanted Attention Abroad - Solo Female Travel Tips | TRAVEL TALK #122

Support the show

More Travel with Less Money—Download Your FREE GUIDE & Start Exploring!

Let's connect on Instagram! @DesignHerTravel

Get $20 when you Sign-Up for Buzzsprout

Please Note: I may earn a small commission when purchasing through these links. It doesn't cost you anything extra but does help support the show.

Think hitchhiking across 25 countries as a woman is dangerous? Think again.

Meet Ana Lucas, also known as The Sustainable Backpacker, a solo female traveler currently hitchhiking from Portugal to Australia.

That’s 25 countries, 40,000 kilometers, and an epic journey that defies the media narrative about the dangers of traveling alone as a woman.

In this episode, host Kim Anderson learns how Ana's her open-hearted approach to slow, sustainable travel has not only brought her across continents, but into contact with the kindness of strangers, the depth of her own courage, and a version of the world that’s very different from the one we often see on the news.

If you’ve ever dreamed of taking a big leap, challenging the status quo, or just seeing what happens when you trust humanity and follow your gut, Ana’s story will light a fire in you.

From her mindset and practical tips for hitchhiking to the quiet moments of clarity she’s had on the road, this conversation is filled with wisdom, vulnerability, and inspiration.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• What it’s really like to hitchhike solo as a woman across 25 countries
• The safety tools Ana swears by and how to tune into your intuition
• The key to meaningful long-term travel.

This episode is for anyone who’s craving a deeper kind of journey, questioning the fear-based narratives we’re often sold, or secretly dreaming about that one wild adventure they can’t stop thinking about.

RESOURCES:

• Connect with Anna on Instagram & YouTube
• ⚡️ ROUND BOOK: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

EPISODE DETAILS:

05:44 - A journey isn’t just about getting somewhere

11:23 - If you’re interested in long-term travel

13:56 - One of the most important ways to stay safe

28:31 - Bravery is as simple as

29:35 - If there’s an idea in your head and heart

WANT MORE Stories from Solo Female Travelers?

Try these episodes:

• How to Handle Foreign Privilege and Unwanted Attention Abroad - Solo Female Travel Tips #122
• Traveling Syria: A Solo Female Traveler’s Unfiltered Journey #146
• Wander Woman: Empowering Women to Travel Solo - The Ins & Outs of Solo Female Travel #10

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Support the show

More Travel with Less Money—Download Your FREE GUIDE & Start Exploring!

Let's connect on Instagram! @DesignHerTravel

Get $20 when you Sign-Up for Buzzsprout

Please Note: I may earn a small commission when purchasing through these links. It doesn't cost you anything extra but does help support the show.