The impact of walking 500 miles, especially El Camino de Santiago de Compostela,  is life-changing. How do I bring what I experienced while walking El Camino into my everyday life experience? After listening to fellow pilgrims' stories and lessons about their experience while walking the Camino, in this episode I share my own: what I gained, what I learned, and what ongoing transformation I experience because of it and get to tend to in my life as a contribution to others.  I am left with beauty and awe after reviewing my 46 days of travel. What a gift to be able to share it with you in this episode.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

Finn Vergalen is just 26 years old and has spent time along the Camino, not to think about the past, or figure out the future; but to be present in the moment. In this episode he talks about having the things that he thought he wanted, then taking the risk to leave and find out what he needs. He also shares how he tries to implement the ways of the Camino into his everyday life. From his journey, Finn has gone beyond “finding his purpose”, and instead has found clarity about the importance of self-perception, discipline, and gratitude. Listen to him share how walking the Camino is helping him walk into a new stage of his life.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

El Camino is a great 500 mile walk to experience peace and enjoy self-reflection. And along with that comes a journey of laughter, community, and self-discovery! Lisa Mitchelson began the Camino for the first reason - self-reflection - and ended up experiencing an abundance of the latter and the transformation that it brought her. Lisa lives in Kent, England and is a South African native. She works for an art foundation specializing in African art. In this episode, hear about her experiences with people along the Camino, and what this trip meant for her in this new phase of her life.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

From an injury to epiphany. Dustin is an Alaskan Native, German military officer. He studied in Germany and has lived there so long that I've dubbed him my favorite “Germanized-American”. From "security pins" (safety pins) to "mosquito screen" (regular screen in a window), he has his own vocabulary that I love highlighting. Riddled with the effects of COVID-19 for 6 months straight, Dustin was unable to live the life he had once known or wanted. Listen to how he overcomes his physical and mental obstacles to make it to the Camino and experience transformation while on The Way.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

Coming from Holland to Spain, this episode features a true global citizen: Rene de Neef. An uncomplicated person who loves the simple things in life; like skydiving in Dubai and seeing the New Year fireworks on a ship in Sydney, and walking the El Camino de Santiago. In this episode, Rene talks about what it took for him to get to this point in life. He has worked extra hard to support his family and his desires and does what he can to support others along the way. It's common for him to travel as freely as he lives, with no finalized plans and ready to make connections with other people. Listen to Rene share how he's set up his life so even when he's not in control, he experiences freedom and things still run smoothly.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

One of the best things about travel is the connections made with other people. And the best way to be at the center of it all is to work in hospitality. Elise and Leo are the proprietors of Villa Harriet, a hotel with a bed-and-breakfast feel, in Uhart-Cize, France. In this episode, we sit down and talk about their joint venture and its role in the community. With a combination of expertise in guest services and cuisine, the couple has been able to service many travelers who embark on El Camino. A lot of people told them they shouldn’t do it, here they talk about the lessons they’ve learned and how they complement each other as the visionary and the executioner.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Producer: Jonathan Murphy; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

For the first episode of season 5, Antonio shares his own words of wisdom while walking El Camino de Santiago de Compostela. He explains transformations, what they are, and how they work for us in life. Listen as Antonio talks about his experience looking for areas that live him and how belief and expression drive the processes of change. The most important message, however, is to get out of the box, and in this episode, he tells you exactly how to do that.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Producer: Jonathan Murphy; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

Jeffery Bowden is a 20-year Veteran of staff interpreter for the Department of State. He started out at the world’s only liberal arts university for the deaf, of the deaf, and about the deaf: Gallaudet University. Here he was immersed in the deaf community before journeying on to become an interpreter for the Department of State. Within a short period in his career, he was able to travel to 27 countries, getting better as an interpreter and as a traveler. Growing up traveling was not familiar to him, especially not internationally, but now he can share his journey as a seasoned traveler. Jeffery lets us in on what it took to become a confident traveler and how traveling has shaped his worldview. Here he explains how he broke out of his shell and grew to have many “encounters” during his travels that helped him find comfort in his own skin while being abroad.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Producer: Jonathan Murphy; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

Not everyone is blessed to grow up with knowledge of the beauty of travel. Sometimes it takes a little time and a lot of growth, but that’s only the beginning of the story for Janice Crowley. Janice served 27 years in the Air Force and during those years traveling abroad was not exactly at the forefront of her mind. Today she shares with us how it’s never too late to go do something. Janice shares her stories from Oktoberfest in Germany, the “Peepee Boy” in Brussels, horse burgers in Lithuania, and many more memories. We also hear about her picture books and how documenting the moment through pictures and journaling ensures that she remembers her point of view of the places she’s been. As Janice’s career develops, so does her desire to travel and awareness of the place that she occupies when traveling (even if she couldn’t point it out on the map). In this episode, Janice emphasizes the importance of sharing the value and beauty of travel.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Producer: Jonathan Murphy; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

Janet Solly is a 30-year army veteran who lived overseas for 24 years of her career. In this episode, she talks about her jobs in the embassy and as a diplomat. From Europe to Africa, to Asia, to South America, Janet has lived there and survived to tell the tale in this episode. Throughout her time overseas, she stood out as a tall, professional black woman, but that did not keep her from being the social butterfly she is. Hear her talk about her interactions with people who were taught to fear her and how they come to treat her kindly. She tells us how wrongly the media portrays America, the Middle East and other African countries. Janet spreads the message that no matter the difference in culture, there is just one world, and at the end of the day, everyone wants the same thing.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Producer: Jonathan Murphy; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

This episode’s guest is military veteran Lorenzo Easly IV. His mother had always wanted him to have a successful life and knew that the military was just one of the ways to get there. So, after graduating from college and starting a family, the desire to join the military ran strong in him. Listen as he talks about the goals he set for himself during his time in basic training and how he accomplished them. Lorenzo shares why joining the military was a dream come true for him. He also shares his story of why he had to leave the military and how he turned his life-changing situation into a testimony to share with others. With everything that was thrown at him, he thinks of life like traveling down the rapids in a canoe: there will be bumps, but you have to flow with it and in the end, it is smooth sailing.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Producer: Jonathan Murphy; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

Guests Jeffrey and April Dunlap have more to share in the second half of this 2-part episode. The Dunlap’s are professional American Sign Language interpreters who travel all over the world providing ASL services. Calling in from their cozy cabin on a cruise ship, the Dunlaps talk about everything from frequently visiting Thailand to their first time in South Africa. Hear the couple talk about how even their days off can involve their work as interpreters.They also talk about getting to explain the weather in America to people from various ethnic groups at a Deaf missions conference in South Africa. Jeffrey explains why he loves the airport, and the Dunlaps recall the highs and lows of airport emotion. You’ll hear more tidbits about their son as they talk more about showing kindness to everyone you encounter. You’ll hear how this Dunlap kindness sticks with each new friend they make while traveling.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Producer: Jonathan Murphy; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

This episode's guests are Jeffrey and April Dunlap. The Dunlap’s are professional American Sign Language interpreters who travel all over the world providing ASL services. After freelancing, they have settled into a semi-retired lifestyle working on cruise ships as interpreters. Jeffrey knew he wanted to do bigger things with his life. He achieved that by finding a job where he could travel the world with his wife while meeting new people and indulging in new cultures. Hear as the couple talks about wanting to be nice people that others want to be around. They don’t just talk about the places they’ve been, they talk about the culture they’ve been invited to take part in. The Dunlap’s also talk about how their attributes have carried over to their son and the adventures it has brought them all. Enjoy as Jeffry and April tell us about the importance of sharing in different cultures and being willing to try new things without judgment.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel Team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Producer: Jonathan Murphy; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

Although travel can involve "the unknown," our guest knows the benefit of educating yourself on culture. Burnie Roper served in the military for 35 years and is now the Superintendent of the Lackland Independent School District. In this episode he talks about his military days, learning to observe other cultures and connect with them by understanding and respecting their values. He discusses how he pushes his students to learn from the travel experience of one another and how he encourages them to value their perspective as military kids. You will also hear about his approach to traveling freely with no pre-written bucket list; only a desire to see as many places as possible.

Dr. Burnie Roper is clear that his military experience allowed him to see things he never would have had the chance to, and that's a type of freedom now travel experience worth having.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Producer: Jonathan Murphy; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford

The air force was robbed! In this episode army veteran and travel agent Corita Cooper tells us how her career took her out of Jackson, Mississippi, and into the world of travel. While it started with a short flight to South Carolina, her career led her to places like Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Greece. Corita discusses raising her first daughter in another country and its positive impact on her family. She also shares stories about food, culture, and her work abroad. Corita experienced and expressed freedom through work through travel for 20 years and continues to do so as a travel agent and a government employee working for the military. But to do this, she had to live her life on her own accord - living her own words of advice: to live life unapologetically.

Special thanks to the Freedom Now! Travel team: Host and Producer: Antonio Goodwin; Producer: Jonathan Murphy; Researcher: Catrina Murphy; Writer: Nyla Guilford