What if travel could become even more meaningful simply by bringing more of yourself into it?

In this wide-ranging and heartfelt conversation, Jackie sits down with trail runner, storyteller, and adventure-driven creative Alex Sanchez, whom she met on a magical trail-running Day of Adventure in Patagonia during the Adventure Travel World Summit. What started as a chance encounter on a bus turned into a conversation about purpose, community, and the uncommon ways we can build deeper meaning into our travels.

Alex shares how an immersive internship in the Dominican Republic transformed her understanding of connection and set her on a path toward community-centered travel, while she and Jackie explore the power of intention in travel, designing trips around what you love, and why the unplanned moments often matter most. They also dive into Alex’s experience running the Leadville 100, a 100-mile ultramarathon through the Colorado mountains, where she reflects on the emotional depth of the race, the support of her closest friends, and the profound realization that our limits are far more flexible than we think.

Whether you're a seasoned traveler, a runner, or you’re craving more connection in your adventures, Alex reminds us to chase the things that light you up—and to bring your people along for the ride.

Resources:

Find Alex online: https://www.alexsanchezcreates.com

Follow Alex on Instagram: @alexlogansanchez

Please follow the show, leave a 5-star review if you love it, and share with your travel buddies!

Don't miss Jackie's behind-the-scenes communications—hop on our email list at TravelingJackie.com

Massive thanks to Osprey.com and ObozFootwear.com for sponsoring and supporting our show!

Produced by NOVA

What if the key to rediscovering joy, connection, and hope in humanity was as simple as slowing down?

Join Jackie as she sits down with adventurer, filmmaker, and lifelong bike advocate Ryan Van Duzer, whose life on two wheels has become a mission to inspire connection, sustainability, and joy through travel. From his early vow at age eight to never own a car to his incredible ride home from the Peace Corps in Honduras, Ryan's story is a testament to how slow travel can open hearts and minds.

In this conversation, Ryan shares lessons from decades of pedaling across the Americas—from small-town generosity and backyard deer in West Virginia to challenging stereotypes on a recent ride through the Deep South. He and Jackie dive into the power of human connection, the importance of being an ambassador for kindness, and how seeing the world up close reminds us that people everywhere have more in common than we think.

Ryan also discusses his work in bicycle advocacy, raising funds for organizations like People for Bikes, Community Cycles, and Bikepacking Roots to help kids and underrepresented riders discover the freedom of cycling. His message? You don't have to travel far to experience the magic of slow travel—just hop on a bike, explore your own backyard, and rediscover the beauty of moving through the world at human speed.

Resources:

• Ryan Van Duzer on YouTube
• Follow Ryan on Instagram: @duzer
• Please follow the show, leave a 5-star review if you love it, and share with your travel buddies!
• Don't miss Jackie's behind-the-scenes communications—hop on our email list at TravelingJackie.com

Massive thanks to Osprey.com and ObozFootwear.com for sponsoring and supporting our show!

Produced by NOVA

What does it mean to truly belong to Rapa Nui? In this second and final part of Jackie’s immersive Easter Island experience, she sits down with local guide Tokerau to uncover the living culture behind the island’s iconic statues. From ancestry and family stories to the protected laws that keep multinational corporations off the island, this episode reveals how Rapa Nui’s people continue to preserve their identity in one of the most remote communities on Earth.

Tokerau shares personal reflections on what it means to be Rapa Nui—how bloodline defines belonging, how Chilean colonization reshaped life here, and how local efforts continue to protect land, language, and autonomy. Along the way, listeners will hear about the island’s volcanic origins, the ancient Rongorongo script, and the deep linguistic connections between Polynesian cultures like Hawai‘i and Aotearoa.

Through humor, humility, and heartfelt pride, Tokerau reminds us that while the Moai statues may be what bring people to the island, it’s the living culture—the songs, the stories, the language, and the people—that keep its spirit alive.

If Part 1 (Episode 195) explored the Moai and the mysteries of the island’s past, Part 2 celebrates the resilience, respect, and pride of the Rapa Nui people today.

Resources:

• EcoChile Travel – Custom trip operator for Chile & Argentina (includes Easter Island itineraries). Mention “Traveling Jackie” or “JUMP” for 5% off your trip.
• Rapa Nui National Park – Official visitor site and conservation info.
• Rano Raraku Quarry – Learn about the birthplace of the moai.
• Ahu Akivi – See the seven moai aligned with the stars.
• Please follow the show, leave a 5-star review if you love it, and share with your travel buddies
• Don’t miss Jackie’s behind-the-scenes communications - hop on our email list at TravelingJackie.com

Massive thanks to Osprey.com and ObozFootwear.com for sponsoring and supporting our show!

Produced by NOVA

What if the stone statues could actually see you? On Rapa Nui, the moai “came alive” only when coral-and-obsidian eyes were set in place—turning carved stone into guardians watching over their people. In this immersive audio tour, Jackie takes you across Easter Island’s windswept platforms, quarries, and coastal vistas to decode the moai: what they meant, how they were moved, and why most face inland. You’ll hear field recordings from the trail, learn why an official guide is essential for 90% of the National Park, and stand (sonically) before Ahu Akivi’s seven moai aligned with the spring equinox and Orion’s Belt. Plus, practical trip tips (plan on 3–4 nights) and a listener perk: 5% off a custom Chile/Argentina itinerary with Eco Chile when you mention JUMP. Don’t miss part two (Ep. 196) for Jackie’s most jaw-dropping find on the island.

Resources:

• Eco Chile Travel – Custom trip operator for Chile & Argentina (includes Easter Island itineraries)
• Mention “Traveling Jackie” or “JUMP” for 5% off your trip
• Rapa Nui National Park
• Ahu Akivi
• Anakena Beach
• Please follow the show, leave a 5-star review if you love it, and share with your travel buddies
• Don’t miss Jackie’s behind-the-scenes communications - hop on our email list at TravelingJackie.com

Massive thanks to Osprey.com and ObozFootwear.com for sponsoring and supporting our show!

Produced by NOVA

What if sticking out your thumb on the side of the road turned into one of the most life-changing experiences of your journey? After completing the Great Divide Trail, Jada set out to hitchhike 500 miles back to Montana—and along the way, she discovered the power of trust, the kindness of strangers, and the unexpected magic that happens when you leave room for it. In this continuation of her story, Jada shares unforgettable encounters with trail angels, surprising meals with strangers, and the lessons that only long-distance hiking can teach. From trail magic to her mantra of “live so hard, it hurts,” Part 2 of our conversation will inspire you to lean into life, embrace the unknown, and seek out your own adventure.

Resources:

• Follow Jada on Instagram: @whereisjadaa
• FarOut Guides
• Read Wild by Cheryl Strayed
• Please follow the show, leave a 5-star review if you love it, and share with your travel buddies
• Don’t miss Jackie’s behind-the-scenes communications - hop on our email list at TravelingJackie.com

Massive thanks to Osprey.com and ObozFootwear.com for sponsoring and supporting our show!

Produced by NOVA

What if the accident that nearly ended you became the spark that set your life on fire? A snowboarding crash left Jada “Flo” bedridden—until she turned recovery into an 800-mile trek across Arizona that launched her into the world of long-distance trails. In this episode, we trace her journey from deserts to the Canadian Rockies and the lessons she’s learned about resilience, simplicity, and giving yourself permission to pivot. Part two (Ep. 194) continues with trail angels, hitchhiking, and the kindness of strangers.

Resources:

• Follow Jada on Instagram: @whereisjadaa
• FarOut Guides
• Read Wild by Cheryl Strayed
• Please follow the show, leave a 5-star review if you love it, and share with your travel buddies
• Don’t miss Jackie’s behind-the-scenes communications - hop on our email list at TravelingJackie.com

Massive thanks to Osprey.com and ObozFootwear.com for sponsoring and supporting our show!

Produced by NOVA

What if the biggest party on two wheels was happening in the middle of Iowa every summer—and you were invited? Cyclist Eric Whalen joins Jackie to share the magic of RAGBRAI, the week-long ride across the state that’s equal parts endurance, community, and carnival. From pies and slip-n-slides to costumes and late-night music, Eric reveals how this ride became a father-son tradition and why it’s one of the most joyful cycling adventures in the country.

Resources:

• Learn more about RAGBRAI: Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa
• Check out Pork Belly Ventures for charter services and added comfort on the ride
• Join the conversation on the RAGBRAI Subreddit
• Follow Eric on Instagram: @whaylen
• Please follow the show, leave a 5-star review if you love it, and share with your travel buddies
• Don’t miss Jackie’s behind-the-scenes communications - hop on our email list at TravelingJackie.com
• Be part of the conversation! Watch the video version by subscribing to our YouTube channel today
• Massive thanks to Osprey.com and ObozFootwear.com for sponsoring and supporting our show!

Produced by NOVA