The No BS Travel Advisor™️

• Elena: Single Mama by Choice, Wellness Travel Agent by Design

  Ananda Spa - https://www.anandaspa.com/Score Mentorship - https://www.score.org/Qwoted - https://www.qwoted.com/Studio Roam Travel Website - https://studioroamtravel.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/studioroamtravel _____________________________________________________________ 🎧 PODCAST11 Exclusive OfferUse code PODCAST11 at checkout to get 11% off all 4 Signature Courses: First Class Community Facebook Group Course Propose to Close From Closed to Home Commission with a Comma Start leveling up today! _____________________________________________________________ Summary In the last episode of Season 2 of The No BS Travel Advisor Podcast, host Marcie Muensterman sits down with Elena Rodriguez, founder of Studio Roam (formerly Atlas & Aura), a new travel advisor, single mom by choice, and sustainability-driven entrepreneur who’s rewriting what success looks like in the travel industry. Elena opens up about her journey from the fashion world to full-time travel advising, navigating motherhood, building systems from scratch, and choosing purpose over perfection. She shares how yoga, meditation, and manifestation keep her grounded while running both a corporate job and her own travel business, and why she believes sustainability and wellness must be part of every client’s itinerary. Marcie and Elena dive into everything from charging fees and setting boundaries to manifesting the business you want, while keeping it real about burnout, motherhood, and building a village. This episode is packed with practical, heart-centered advice for any travel advisor ready to align their business with who they really are. _____________________________________________________________ 💡 Takeaways Elena’s story is proof that you can build a powerful travel business even in the middle of life’s chaos. She became a single mom by choice, balancing motherhood, a corporate job, and her new travel agency, Studio Roam. Her fashion industry background taught her the art of precision, detail, and brand storytelling, skills she now applies to travel design. Elena believes sustainability and wellness aren’t just buzzwords, they’re guiding values that shape how clients experience the world. She’s learned to set boundaries early, charge confidently, and prioritize aligned clients over “freebie” requests. Through manifestation and action, she’s proving that mindset isn’t fluff, it’s fuel. Her journey represents the next generation of travel advisors: authentic, strategic, and rooted in service. _____________________________________________________________ 🕒 Chapters Time 00:00 Intro: Resilience, Self-Trust, and Starting Fresh 02:45 Meet Elena Rodriguez — Founder of Studio Roam 05:30 Becoming a Single Mom by Choice 08:40 From Fashion to Travel: The Transferable Skills 12:10 Balancing Motherhood, Work, and Entrepreneurship 16:20 Boundaries & Burnout: Lessons from a Ghosting Client 20:15 Charging Fees and Building Confidence Early 25:30 Sustainability and Wellness in Family Travel 31:00 The Power of Manifestation + Action 36:10 Coaching and Mentorship: Why Guidance Matters 40:40 The Future of Studio Roam: Freedom, Beauty, and Balance 44:00 Elena’s Unpopular Opinion: Manifestation Isn’t Woo-Woo, It’s Work 48:30 3 Free Things Every Travel Advisor Should Do Right Now 52:00 Closing: Owning Your Story and Standing in Your Power Keywords travel advisor, single mom, motherhood, resilience, manifestation, sustainable travel, work-life balance, travel business, wellness travel, yoga, meditation, fashion industry, boundaries, charging fees, client experience, travel consulting, mentorship, luxury travel, wellness retreats, sustainability, family travel, entrepreneurship, manifestation, new advisor, business mindset

  --------  

  1:15:52

  --------

  1:15:52
• Rachel: Retired Military Mama with Twins: Building a Freedom-First Travel Business

  Website | www.theunfilteredtraveler.com TT: @theunfilteredtraveler _____________________________________________________________ 🎧 PODCAST11 Exclusive OfferUse code PODCAST11 at checkout to get 11% off all 4 Signature Courses: First Class Community Facebook Group Course Propose to Close From Closed to Home Commission with a Comma Start leveling up today! _____________________________________________________________ Episode Summary: In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode of The No BS Travel Advisor Podcast, host Marcie Muensterman sits down with Rachel McDowell, a retired Army veteran, mom of twins, and the founder of The Unfiltered Traveler. Rachel shares how she went from 24 years of military structure to building a travel business grounded in freedom, balance, and joy. She opens up about managing the transition from structured sales to endless options, setting boundaries, and redefining success as a travel advisor. Together, Marcie and Rachel unpack what it means to run a travel business that supports your real life, not consumes it. They dive into Rachel’s women’s adventure groups (including her sold-out Machu Picchu trip!), working alongside her husband on big-game and fishing travel, and her family’s plans to relocate to Portugal for a slower lifestyle. This episode is packed with real talk about motherhood, mindset, money, and the travel industry, showing advisors that finding what you love to sell is what creates freedom. Top Takeaways: Rachel balances motherhood, marriage, and entrepreneurship with systems and boundaries. Transitioning from the military to travel gave her purpose and flexibility. She believes success should feel good — not just look good on paper. Narrowing your niche (like women’s adventure travel) can reignite passion and profit. Her Machu Picchu group trip sold out quickly by focusing on community over commission. Mindset shifts are essential for better client engagement and business longevity. Setting clear boundaries makes you a stronger, happier advisor. Working with family brings unique challenges but powerful results. Moving abroad can align your business with your desired lifestyle. “It’s okay if not every booking makes money — some build connection and loyalty.” Keywords (SEO) travel, adventure, women, military, family, business, coaching, Machu Picchu, community, work-life balance, mindset, client engagement, travel industry, travel advisor, travel agents, business strategies, lifestyle change, entrepreneurship, Portugal, family business, women travelers, group travel, travel tips, freedom lifestyle, travel coaching Chapters / Time Stamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Rachel McDowell02:44 – Balancing Family and Business05:21 – From Military to Travel Industry08:15 – Sales Lessons: Recruiting vs. Selling Travel10:59 – Finding Her Niche: Adventure & Europe FIT13:47 – Planning Women’s Adventure Trips16:35 – Behind the Scenes of the Machu Picchu Trip19:17 – Preparing Clients for Adventure Travel22:06 – Building Community in Group Travel24:47 – Shifting to True Work-Life Balance27:23 – Lessons from the Travel Industry30:53 – Mindset Shifts & Client Engagement32:24 – Boundaries and Better Relationships33:51 – Building Connection-Based Client Loyalty35:44 – Creating a Supportive Client Network37:19 – Navigating Business with Family42:43 – The Decision to Move to Portugal45:43 – Adjusting to a Slower, More Intentional Lifestyle49:31 – Practical Tips for Travel Agents55:58 – Rachel’s Unpopular Opinion on Profit and Passion Featured Topics: Military discipline meets entrepreneurship Parenting twins while running a travel business Women’s group travel: how to plan, sell, and lead ADHD, anxiety, and systems that work Family business dynamics in travel The reality of work-life balance for travel advisors How Portugal represents the next evolution of freedom Episode Quote: “Military taught me structure. Motherhood taught me flexibility. Travel gave me freedom.” — Rachel McDowell

  --------  

  1:05:27

  --------

  1:05:27
• April: Becoming the Main Character in Your Business and Your Clients’ Vacations

  _____________________________________________________________ 🎧 PODCAST11 Exclusive OfferUse code PODCAST11 at checkout to get 11% off all 4 Signature Courses: First Class Community Facebook Group Course Propose to Close From Closed to Home Commission with a Comma Start leveling up today! _____________________________________________________________ What does it really take to build a profitable travel business when your plate is already overflowing? In this episode, I sit down with April Peter, founder of The Vacay Way LLC, who hit $ 600,000 in sales in her very first year as a travel advisor, all while being a full-time RN, homeschooling her daughter, caring for her mom, and managing ADHD and anxiety. April shares the messy, real, and powerful story of how she went from struggling with imposter syndrome to becoming a confident CEO. From charging fees and setting calendar boundaries to leveraging TikTok to attract luxury clients, April proves that you can design a travel business that works for your life, not the other way around. Whether you’re new to travel or stuck in hustle-mode, this conversation will light a fire under your ass. Website: https://thevacayway.com/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thevacaycollective Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thevacayway Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevacayway/ Mexperts: https://www.exploremoremexico.com/a/2147513843/dELvGckf What you’ll learn in this episode: How April grew to $600K+ in sales in under 15 months Why her first booking ($13K honeymoon) changed everything The systems and boundaries that keep her sane with 3 “full-time jobs” How TikTok became her #1 luxury client magnet The three things every advisor should do today: charge a fee, control your calendar, and say no 0:00 – Intro: Meet April, The Vacay Way LLC2:15 – Life behind the business: nursing, caregiving, homeschooling, ADHD6:40 – From nurse to travel advisor: how it all started10:05 – Defining luxury travel & main character vacations14:20 – Overcoming imposter syndrome & building confidence19:50 – The $14K booking that changed everything25:10 – Implementing systems, fees & appointment-only consults30:45 – Why TikTok became her #1 luxury client magnet36:00 – Boundaries, calendars, and saying no40:30 – April’s advice: charge fees, own your time, and stop being 24/745:00 – What’s next: $1M sales & main character energy in business

  --------  

  1:26:01

  --------

  1:26:01
• Business Besties: Building a Brand, Attracting Luxury Clients, and Redefining Success

  Website: https://mirandaleachcollective.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/mirandaleachcollective/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mirandaleachcollective _____________________________________________________________ 🎧 PODCAST11 Exclusive OfferUse code PODCAST11 at checkout to get 11% off all 4 Signature Courses: First Class Community Facebook Group Course Propose to Close From Closed to Home Commission with a Comma Start leveling up today! _____________________________________________________________ Summary In this episode of the No BS Travel Advisor podcast, Marcie Muensterman and Miranda Leach share their “business bestie love story” of collaboration, growth, and real talk. From surviving MLM life to redefining success as entrepreneurs, they dig into the lessons learned through branding, marketing, and mindset. We didn’t meet through some perfectly polished mastermind, but we were introduced by someone who knew us both. We met in the messy middle of my big pivot from MLM to solo entrepreneur. My business was pivoting hard; I needed a website that finally reflected me, and I was exhausted from months of looking for a web designer. Gratefully, we had a mutual friend who knew we would click! Miranda came in as my designer, then became my coach, and eventually my friend. But let’s be clear: it wasn’t all a match made in friendship heaven from the jump. There’s a 20-year age difference between us, two totally different life stages, and plenty of moments where we’ve had to set boundaries, say the hard stuff, and rebuild our trust. That’s precisely why our friendship and business partnership work, because it’s built on honesty, grit, and zero bullshit. Now, almost 3 years later, we’re sitting upstairs in her retro-fabulous East Tennessee home office during a girls' weekend, talking about the real cost of growing a business: the hours, the money, the tears, the mindset shifts, the money issues, and the small wins that change everything. We also answer YOUR questions from the community about scarcity mindset, luxury clients, selfies, marketing with limited time, and what success actually looks like. Whether you’re a travel advisor, coach, or entrepreneur, this episode will help you see the business journey differently and give you the tools to show up as the CEO of your own story. What we cover: Using the Main Character Magic Bot™ to find your aligned client (and why you can’t shortcut the process). How Miranda went from scarcity spirals to tripling her income through mindset shifts. Marketing strategies for travel advisors when you only have one hour a week. Why your face > logo and how selfies create connection. Booking luxury travel clients when your circle isn’t luxury. Redefining success when your income dips below your old corporate paycheck. Gratitude, resourcefulness, and why business requires both. This episode is for any travel advisor, entrepreneur, or service-based business owner who’s asking: How do I attract luxury clients if my circle isn’t luxury? What do I do when my income isn’t what it used to be from my last job or career? How do I stop hiding behind logos and actually show up with my face? What’s the ROI on tiny investments like the Main Character Magic Bot™? How do I market if I only have one hour a week? How do I keep going when the scarcity brain kicks in? We go all the way in on resourcefulness, gratitude practices, selfies, how to amplify your day to day life in luxurious ways without spending tons of money, branding, Facebook groups, and what success really looks like when you build your business from scratch. Chapters 00:00 Introduction + backstory: MLM to meeting Miranda 02:32 Building a business together: the messy beginning 05:29 Navigating challenges + building trust with a 20-year age gap 08:18 Business dynamics and communication 11:06 Why clarity + confidence matter in growth 13:56 Miranda’s coaching philosophy (Confidence • Clarity • Conversion) 16:26 Personal branding and marketing strategies 19:26 Authenticity > aesthetics in branding 21:56 Creating connection through personality 25:00 Visibility and consistency: why your face beats your logo 27:27 Overcoming obstacles in business growth 39:46 Aligning freebies with business goals 44:28 Understanding the emotional investment in business 51:05 Overcoming scarcity mindset (Miranda’s bank app story) 56:31 The power of affirmations and journaling 01:01:43 Gratitude as a tool for abundance 01:08:00 Romanticizing everyday moments 01:14:35 Marketing when you only have one hour a week 01:19:44 Maximizing ROI on time + content 01:24:00 Building trust through authenticity 01:27:43 Budget-conscious marketing resources 01:31:58 Attracting luxury clients when your circle isn’t luxury 01:43:57 Overcoming self-doubt in content creation (yes, selfies) 01:50:27 Redefining success beyond financial income What You’ll Learn Why luxury clients buy from travel advisors who market to them directly, not to Aunt Nancy. The power of gratitude and abundance practices to break scarcity brain. How to market consistently with a one-hour-a-week system. Why your personal brand beats any logo or Canva graphic. How to shift from “am I worthy of this?” to “I built this, and I’m owning it.” Keywords (SEO) travel advisor business, travel agent marketing, how to get luxury travel clients, personal branding tips for travel advisors, Main Character Magic Bot, Facebook group growth, business mindset, money mindset, online business coach, resourcefulness in business, consistency in marketing, selfies for personal brand, confidence clarity conversion framework.

  --------  

  2:03:09

  --------

  2:03:09
• Megan Medlin: Leading a Legacy: Group Trips That Change Lives

  Websites: www.guidegirltravelco.com https://knightlytours.com/ https://www.southwestadventuretours.com/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/guidegirlmegann Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourtravelingwanders/ TitkTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@guidegirltravelco Mr. William’s PreK Pause credit: https://www.instagram.com/mrwilliamsprek/ Ranch and Rock Creek (pays 10% to agents direct): https://theranchatrockcreek.com/ _____________________________________________________________ 🎧 PODCAST11 Exclusive OfferUse code PODCAST11 at checkout to get 11% off all 4 Signature Courses: First Class Community Facebook Group Course Propose to Close From Closed to Home Commission with a Comma Start leveling up today! _____________________________________________________________ In this episode of The No BS Travel Advisor Podcast, Marcie sits down with Megan Whitley Medlin, founder of Guide Girl Travel Co., mom of four, and badass group trip leader. Megan shares her journey from embroidery shops and fitness studios to building a slow-but-mighty travel business while raising her kids and running an Airbnb. She opens up about the leap of faith it took to sign her first group trip contract, what it was like leading 11 women through Montana’s national parks, and how magical moose sightings turned into lifetime memories. Together, Marcie and Megan get real about: Why success isn’t measured by a million-dollar sales badge. How to set boundaries with clients (hello, calendar control!). Saying “no” as a free business strategy. Niching down to attract aligned clients. Why using DMCs can save your sanity and increase commissions. Megan’s story proves that you don’t have to hustle yourself into burnout to build a profitable, fulfilling travel business. Whether you’re a mom balancing sports schedules or a new advisor learning to say no, this episode will inspire you to slow down, set your own pace, and build a business that feels good. ✨ Key Phrases & Quotables “Say no — and say it often.” “You don’t have to sell millions to be successful.” “Two words: calendar control.” “I signed a contract and thought… this might just be me in Montana on a very expensive trip.” “Taking people into the wilderness and bringing them home in one piece — that’s leadership.” “Travel advisors don’t get raises. We give them to ourselves.” “Taking things slow is not only acceptable, it’s encouraged.” “You can’t do it like everyone else. You have to do it your way.” “Moose will fucking attack you. Please don’t try to pet them.” 🎧 Possible Episode Titles Moose, Moms & Montana: Megan’s Leap into Group Trips Slow Growth, Big Impact: Travel Biz on Your Terms Calendar Control & Saying No Like a Pro From Airbnb to National Parks: Building a Business That Fits Your Life You Don’t Need a Million-Dollar Sales Badge to Succeed Why “No” Might Be the Best Business Strategy You’ve Got Leading with Legacy: Group Trips That Change Lives Travel Biz Without Burnout: Megan’s Story Taking It Slow (and Still Winning in Travel) The Everyday Travel Advisor: Success Redefined 🔑 Keywords Travel advisor podcast, No BS Travel Advisor, group trips, national parks, Montana travel, moose sightings, DMCs, destination management company, niche travel, calendar control, travel business tips, travel advisor success, escorted trips, family travel advisor, work-life balance, entrepreneurship, travel industry coaching, Propose to Close, Commission with a Comma, Guide Girl Travel Co, slow growth business

  --------  

  1:14:25

  --------

  1:14:25

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About The No BS Travel Advisor™️