March 5, 2025 • 32 mins
Today, I welcome my first guest to the podcast!
Laura Ericson is the founder of a group travel company that focuses on transformational and impact travel. Yet that’s not where she started. In her mid-thirties, she found herself divorced and unhappy in her career in higher education. She took the divorce as an opportunity to ask herself – what do I really want to do with my life?
As she started following her heart nudges to non-traditional travel destinations, she felt a new sense of purpose and authenticity start to emerge from within her.
Listen to hear her story and why she always tells people to do things scared!
Links mentioned:
- Laura’s website: www.lauraericson.com
- Laura’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/lolawhiskey and https://www.instagram.com/lauraericsongrouptrips/
- Laura’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelauraericson
- Dawn / The Unique Connector: https://www.uniqueconnector.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
All right. Welcome back to the Awakened Femme, and I'm really excited for this podcast episode
(00:07):
because when I think about the Awakened Femme, one element of who she is that comes to me
is this just bold badass person who she is on a self growth journey to know herself,
to face her fears, and to just grow and come out the other side more strong and more resilient.
I have a guest today that I am going to interview that for me fits that and even more,
(00:32):
and so I'm excited to introduce you all to Laura Erickson. Laura traded her 14 year career in
higher education in 2021 to start a group travel company, Laura Erickson Group Trips,
but she's not just a traveler. She's a cultural bridge builder who ventures beyond tourist hot
spots to shine light on misunderstood destinations like Kenya, India, and Colombia,
(00:55):
and of course Cuba. I shouldn't mention that, but I'll have to shout out Cuba.
Since taking the leap into entrepreneurship, Laura has guided over 220 solo travelers
through transformative journeys across eight countries. As a writer, content creator,
and impact focused travel curator, she designs experiences that don't just cross borders,
(01:15):
they break down barriers. Her mission is to help others discover the world's most fascinating places
through a lens of authenticity and intention while creating positive ripples in every community she
touches. So welcome, Laura. Welcome to the podcast. Thank you. Yes, and thank you for having the
distinguished honor of being my first ever guest. So, yeah, there's always a first for everything.
(01:40):
So let's get started. I love for you to share what got you into travel, because obviously from
your bio, that's not how you started. You started in higher education and you made a pretty big pivot
a few years ago. So I'd love for you to share about that. Yeah, I traveled a lot when I was younger.
I grew up with parents who traveled. And so, I mean, I was always part of my background. I had
(02:03):
spent a lot of time in Mexico as a kid. I learned Spanish at a young age, ended up with a Spanish
degree. So I mean, travel's kind of always been built into me. But I will say when I was in my
mid 20s to mid 30s, I was married in a long term relationship. And I found that when I look back,
I mean, we went to Mexico every single year, we did kind of like the typical resort vacation that
(02:28):
a lot of people do, especially in Wisconsin, because it's cold here, just this is the thing to do.
And we did it over and over and over and over. And so fast forward to when I was I think 34,
I got a divorce, and I asked myself, what do I want to do differently? I'm starting, I blew up
my life. I'm starting over, I have this opportunity to really do whatever I want. I think for a
(02:51):
moment, I felt sorry for myself and thought, you know, like, Oh, gosh, I'm starting over. This
sucks. I have to, you know, find a home and buy new things and all these things, you know,
but I realized also it was an opportunity, especially because I didn't have children. So I
was like, I'm single. I don't have kids. I really don't have anybody or anyone, anything holding me
(03:12):
back, aside from having dogs. And so I started traveling more for myself and going to places that
I felt, I felt drawn to, but also I noticed a pattern of the places I felt drawn to were also
places that intimidated and scared a lot of people. So I got a lot of people talking in my
(03:32):
ear, kind of I've listened to some of your Cuba podcast, I've gotten all that it's like, that's
not safe, it's dangerous, why would you want to go there? I got a lot of that from people,
especially because I wanted to go alone. And as a woman, a lot of people didn't think it was safe
to go to these places. Fast forward a couple of years, COVID happened. We all know how much
that sucked. And I was still working at a college that I worked at for 14 years, I was still traveling,
(03:57):
but I realized in the pandemic, how much travel meant to me. It wasn't just a nice city for me,
it was a necessity. Like, I felt completely lost without my ability to explore and like hop on a
plane and go somewhere. So once things opened up, travel became even more of a priority for me. And
(04:18):
I think it did for a lot of people. Once you know, something's taken away from you, you realize how
important it is to you. And I took a trip to Colombia. I was actually going to be going on a
group trip and they canceled it because of the pandemic. And I found a random girl on a Facebook
group to go on a trip with me. I just said, I want to go to Colombia. I have it all planned out. I
just want someone to come with me. So I'm not alone. And she was like, yeah, sure, I'll go. I have no
(04:42):
idea where that is, but I'll go. And I was like, okay, so we met in I think the Atlanta airport for
the first time, went 10 days together to Colombia. I did all the heavy lifting. She just came along.
And she was like, this was amazing, because I never would have thought to go to this place.
I never would have planned anything that you had planned. And it opened my eyes to a different
(05:02):
style of travel that I never would have done. And I went to Guadalajara alone. And so I was like,
all right, there's something to this, because that's how I feel. I obviously had the planning
skills, but I definitely didn't want to travel alone. And so that kind of is where the idea came
from for my business. I just I felt like I'd never in my life felt like I had a calling until that
moment. And so I at first was going to start my business part time and stay in my career and
(05:29):
kind of try to do both. And I realized really quickly, I was going to do a shitty job at both.
And so again, I kind of had that moment of like, screw it, you know, I'm at that point, I think
I was like 38. I was like, what do I have to lose? Yeah, I have to lose a job. But at some point,
like a job is a job, you can get another job. The risk of not doing it felt way, way higher than
(05:52):
the risk of keeping my job. I felt like I was going to look back on my life and regret not
taking that risk. And so I put in my I put in my 30 day notice, I think in October of 2021,
or September and by October of 2021, I was I mean, on Friday, I was working full time.
And on Monday, I was sitting at this desk, like, what the hell did I just do? And that makes it
(06:16):
sound like it was really simple. It wasn't. But yeah, that's kind of what brought me to not to
where I am now, but at least to how I started. Yeah, how you started. No, I love that. And what I
love about it's sort of woven through all of the things that you shared is like, you notice the fear,
but there was also a higher voice that seemed to be calling you, like just this higher poll.
(06:38):
And so how did you because I talked to a lot of people who have both of those things, but they're
just too afraid to listen to that. And they're there, you know, they stay where they are because
of the safety and security. So where do you think that the strength or the courage or whatever you
call it came from to actually listen to that poll that you had? It's like a question. I think it's
a combination of things. I think one, I've been through some really tough things in my life.
(07:02):
And so I think I have, I think the more you get through difficult things, the more resilient you
become, the more you realize how unimportant certain things are. And the more you probably
prioritize things. So I think that was an element of it, you know, after getting through a divorce
and like really starting over, you know, I kind of looked at it as like, well, I've already started
over once, you know, is it that big of a deal to start over again? And like I said, I think it was
(07:29):
really just like, I felt, trust me, I struggled. I had like a list of, you know, pros and cons.
And, you know, it's not like I made the decision in an instant. It took me, took me probably a
couple of weeks to actually like pull the trigger on it. And in the day that I sent that resignation
email, like I remember like my finger like hovering over the, I remember thinking, I'm like, this is
(07:52):
literally like one like mouse click, like we'll change my life forever. It's so insignificant
and yet significant at the same time. And I sat there for like, I don't know, probably an hour
before I actually sent the email, because I was just like, this is such a pivotal moment, I know
what's going to change my life forever. But I think I just, I've always kind of been a risk taker. I've
(08:14):
always, I've never really been one to play it super safe in my life. I think that's just my
personality. So I really looked at like, like I said, am I, am I going to risk, am I going to look
back and, you know, be 80 years old and say like, God, you know, like I wish I would have just taken
a chance and tried something different. So I think I also just had, I had such immense faith
(08:40):
that it was going to work out. I don't know why because it's logic did not play into that because
I had no, I did not have a great business plan. I didn't have like, I didn't have a social media
following. I didn't have any business experience, like all signs would have pointed to I was going
to fail, but I didn't think I would. I thought I know myself well enough to know if I take away
(09:05):
the comfort of having a job and a career and a salary and benefits and all of those things. If
I take that away from myself, then I have to figure this out. I know I, I know I will. That's
just who I am. So I kind of also looked at like if I had that backup plan, I probably would have
sat there like half-assing my business. So yeah, I'm not sure exactly what it was, but it was
(09:28):
I guess just belief. Yeah. No, and I love that. And I love how it just feels. One of the things I
talk about with my clients too, especially when it's like your spiritual path and something you're
meant to follow is you don't always know why it just shows up there and you don't know where it's
going to lead. It just takes an immense amount of trust to just know that you're being guided there
(09:49):
for a reason. And I could pick that apart from all the parts of your story too, that I was called to
this particular country or these types of countries for some reason. Like everything about what you
said feels very intentional to me. And so I love that you're just highlighting, you're here as proof
for other people who might be on the other side afraid to take a risk. Like no, you can take a
risk and you can follow your heart. And whether it works out or not so far it's worked out for you,
(10:14):
but it also sounds like you don't care if it doesn't because you gave it, you know, the old
college try too. And you're not going to live with regret for not going after it. Absolutely. Yeah.
So what were some of the things thinking through as you're going through that time of divorce?
And you mentioned kind of feeling sorry about yourself, which absolutely makes sense too.
(10:35):
Versus what did travel give you in terms of knowing yourself or like feeling more like yourself again?
For me, travel gives me such perspective. It doesn't matter where I go. It's, but especially
international travel and the type of travel I do where I'm going to somewhere, sometimes like third
world countries or places where a lot of people are less fortunate than we are. I think it's
(11:00):
humbling and it give for me, I just remember feeling like the world is so big and I'm so small.
And I think like everyone kind of needs that reality check sometimes that like my problems
aren't that important in the grand scheme of things and like it's going to be okay.
(11:22):
That's always what travel did for me is one, it like got me to be humbled, be grateful,
and also to like meet so many different people and just be reminded like there's so many other
people out there. Like there's so many people living different ways. There's so many people
going through different things. Like the world is huge and sometimes I think we get stuck in our
(11:43):
little bubbles when we stay home and we like hang out with our friends and our family and we're used
to our circle and our problems feel a lot bigger. And for me, when I travel, it just kind of opens
everything up and gives me this perspective and it still does. Every single time I travel, I am a
different person when I travel and I travel for a living. I travel every month pretty much, but
(12:05):
like there is a home version of me and there's a travel version of me. And I think that's what,
I think that's what a lot of people love about travel is like they get to like feel free to be
whoever they want to be or who they truly are. Yeah, and that was one of the things Cuba gave
to me. So I guess I forgot to mention the intro, but I went on Laura's trip to Cuba. So she's the
(12:26):
one who organized for all of us. So that's how we got connected. And I would agree that's one of
the things like I just felt the most free I've ever felt in my life. And I realized freedom is
not necessarily about like what job I'm in or you know, the outside construct is more about how you
feel on the inside. And so I love that you mentioned that to him. What are some of the things you've
(12:49):
seen from some of the other people that you've taken to because I know you talk a lot about
the people that you take on the trips that have transformative opportunities. So are there any
stories that stand out for you that you've enabled from some of your trips? Yeah, that I think has
been one of the more surprising parts of my business. You know, I will say when I first started,
(13:11):
there was probably a selfish component of I want to do this for me. I want to travel. I want to,
you know, make a living from this. Like there was a there's definitely a part of me that was doing
it for myself. I had it in my mind that I would be able to help other people. But I think that has
(13:31):
shifted so much since I started to now I really feel like I'm mostly doing this for other people
because it's actually a really hard job and I've done enough traveling and you know, I've been to
countries multiple times. So like at this point, I'm not getting the same thing out of it that
maybe I got at the beginning. But what I am getting out of it is seeing how much it impacts
other people's lives. And I know there's probably people out there who are like a vacation, is it
(13:55):
going to change your life? Well, for one, I don't call these vacations. As you know, going through
Cuba, like that's not my definition of a vacation. It's to me a immersive experience. It's an
adventure. It's a challenge. It is not the same as like sitting on a beach and relaxing. And so I
think my trips challenge people way more than maybe your average travel experience or vacation.
(14:22):
And with that, I think like there's so much more growth that happens because people are being
challenged. They're being put out of their comfort zone. They're asked to try things that they haven't
tried. They're maybe using a toilet they'd never used before. They're going without power or water.
There's a lot of different things that pop up in different countries where people are being
challenged or just the simple fact of traveling with strangers, people that you've never met before,
(14:46):
traveling without your friends and family and just trusting that it's going to be okay to find a
stranger on the internet and agree to go travel with her. All of those things, I think, open people up
to grow and expand maybe more than they would if they took their typical vacation with their friends
and family. But I've seen so many things. Like I've had a lot of divorced women on my trips.
(15:10):
So that alone, I think people are just kind of going through that transition phase and trying to
find themselves again and trying to figure out who they are and what they like and what they want.
And so I see so much growth in like 10 days with people. It's kind of miraculous to watch because
they'll see how they start and how they end or what happens after. And it's really, really powerful.
(15:31):
I just had a woman, not the same Cuba trip you were on, but same month that I took groups.
I had an older woman. She's like 63. She's been sticking in my mind so much lately as I talk about
like transformational travel because she was in an abusive marriage. She got out of it.
Divorced at 63, which I cannot even imagine being married like 30 years starting my life.
(15:54):
I mean, starting your life over at 34 is different than starting your life over at 63.
So started her life over. She said she was in her therapist's office and said she wanted to travel
and her therapist pointed her to me and she signed up for Cuba kind of on a whim and just like,
all right, I'll just go do this. And she, I could just see her opening up on this trip. And
(16:16):
at the end of that group also got tattoos. She got a tattoo of a bird cage with a bird being set free.
And I like literally started crying when she showed it to me because to me it's like, that's
that's why I do this. It's for people to have those moments where they feel like, okay, like,
I can do this. I am going to be okay. Like I can do tough shit. I can live by myself.
(16:38):
I can travel by myself. I can start my life over at any age. Like that I think is what
travel does for people. And I can't always explain like why or how I just can see it time and time
again. No, that's amazing. And I know you had to use that quote with me when I had to use an outdoor
outhouse that was built out of wood. And it was in square shape with just a curtain flapper. So
(17:02):
that's one of the things I think I learned is you learn bathroom habits of all of your
travel is very quickly and you just have to go with it. People get real comfortable. That's
the other thing though is like when you put a group of strangers together in close quarters for a
week, 10 days, however long, and you're going through these experiences together and you're
(17:25):
going through challenges together and you're having funny moments together, you're having
emotional moments together. Like you really bond with people in a different way than I think you
do when you're just traveling with your friends. I just see people form these like lifelong
relationships and they happen so quickly. Like there's people I feel like I got to know better
in 10 days than my friends that I've known for five years. And I think it's just because people are
(17:49):
just so much more vulnerable and open when they're traveling. Yeah. And the reason our group came
together too was because Dawn, she's the unique connector. And so she saw it as an opportunity
to bring people together, which is exactly what you're saying too. And so I think you're exactly
right where you can go to a one hour networking thing and you can maybe meet a couple people and
(18:11):
get five minutes of time in or you can go to a group trip where it's already pre-selected. It's
like pre-filtered to have people who are like you because if they're not like you, they're not going
to at least be on a trip like that. And so you already know there's some element of something
there. So yeah, that was definitely one of the things that I took out of it too was always,
(18:31):
you're always with someone who wants to know more about you. And that's the reason people are there
too is to get to know other people while they're traveling. Yeah. It's, you definitely have, I
mean, not everyone on my trips are always coming alone. Sometimes they come with a friend or a
sibling or spouse, but I always say the ones who do come alone who come on their own with nobody
(18:51):
else. They don't know anybody. Those are the people who get the most out of my trips because
they're more open. They're more, it's no different than if you, you know, I just hosted a dating
night the other night. Like if you come with a friend, are you going to like stick by your friend
and maybe not meet as many people versus coming alone and just standing there vulnerable and
terrified and being like, okay, well, I guess I got to talk to somebody. I just think the people
(19:14):
who come alone, they have no choice but to jump in headfirst and get to know people.
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, I love that. What are some, do you have any funny stories that you want to
share? Just because I know you mentioned, you're like, it looks great from Instagram, but my job
isn't always, isn't always poses and dates. Oh my gosh, I have so many funny stories. I don't know
(19:36):
how many of them are appropriate to share, but I have a lot of bathrooms. I have a lot of bathroom
stories. Just talking about that recently, I'm like, I'm going to have to do like a recap of all
the things that have gone down on group trips because yeah, adults don't shit their pants in
real life the way they do when they travel. And I am always there for it. So I've had some, definitely
(20:00):
some interesting encounters, got to know people really, really well and people get to know each
other really well when they start sharing their bathroom habits. What else has happened?
And I mean, I've had, I've had just so many, myself so many moments of like weird random
things happen when I'm traveling. And sometimes that happens more when I'm on my own or doing
(20:24):
my scouting trips versus with a group because with a group I'm more working and have my professional
hat on versus when I'm scouting. But I know like when I was in Columbia, I was walking by myself,
which I probably shouldn't have been doing. It was in Bogota, it was at night. And some people
stopped me and they're like, do you, what are you doing by yourself out here? And I was like,
(20:44):
I'm just going to go walk to dinner. And they're like, yeah, no. And then they're like, do you want
to come inside? We're having a party. And I was like, yeah, that seems like a good idea. Sure.
I kind of like, I kind of like looked inside and I was like, yeah, let's do this. So that's the same
person who quit their job. That's kind of my personality. So I'm just like, yeah, like, this
seems, this seems safe. Like we did a little check and I was like, this seems safe. So I go inside
(21:09):
and like they take me up these stairs and they open the door and it's a Colombian Quinceanera.
There's like 60 Colombian people in a room having a party. And they were like, look what we found
outside in American. And like, they brought me in, they had like a band, everyone was dancing,
like the grandma made me food, the dad poured me whiskey. And I ended up like partying with them
all night. And then went back to my hotel and my friend was like, have you like, were you having
(21:34):
dinner that whole time? And I'm like, no, I didn't even get to dinner. Like I ended up at someone's
Quinceanera. And she's like, what? I have a lot of those kinds of stories where I just,
I do kind of what seems like stupid things, but they, you know, I obviously have a good
judge of character. And I feel like that's the fun of travel is taking chances and trusting that
(21:54):
people are inherently good. Yeah, no, and that's perfect too. I love that. Because I also, it just
tears down so many like you shouldn't walk by yourself at night, you shouldn't like everyone
always thinks something bad is going to happen, the worst is going to happen. But really, like,
no, that's really the, you know, the rare versus the norm. And so I love that you're willing to just
(22:16):
like, yeah, face, face all those fears and all the ways that they come up. Yeah, so what were, and
were there any, and we've talked about other people doing hard things on the trip, like, were there
any, any things that come up for you that were really hard for you to do in the beginning that
you, I don't know, eating things or going places? Not really. Like, I'm pretty adventurous and open
(22:40):
minded. So I will try anything once for the most part, I'm never going to like put something on
an itinerary that I'm not willing to do or haven't done myself. So, but I am afraid of heights. I
always have been particularly when it comes to jumping from heights. It's less about like, look,
I mean, I don't love like looking down over a ledge or something. But if it involves me jumping off
(23:02):
with something, I'm pretty scared. So I mean, I've done a ton of hot air balloon at this point.
And so like a lot of people are afraid of that. So me trying to coach them through that can be a
challenge. But I also think it's helpful for me to tell people like, I'm afraid of heights, and I
do it all the time. And I'm still here, you know, so I think it's helpful for me to be vulnerable
with people and share that like this has scared me to at some point, but like it's going to be okay.
(23:26):
Paragliding though, they had to run me off that mountain because luckily, the guy was like attached
to me like tandem, but they started, he started running before I was ready. And somebody has a
video of me literally screaming like, I'm not ready. And then he literally just ran the opera
mountain. And then I was like, well, here we are. But yeah, like having those experiences like helps
(23:47):
me encourage other people to do it because like, my motto is kind of do it scared, like just because
you're scared doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. Or just because you're scared, that doesn't mean
it's dangerous. So I do all that I do all kinds of things scared, I go to new countries scared,
like last year, I'm taking my first group to India in a couple of weeks. But last year when I went
(24:08):
to India, I was very unprepared for the trip, somebody asked me to come two weeks before. So
imagine like, planning to go to India, like two weeks before, you know, like, all of a sudden,
one day I'm like, Oh, I guess two weeks from now, I'm going to spend 12 days in India. And not only
that, but I didn't have a me to prepare me. So I didn't have somebody saying this is what it's
going to be like. And here's what you need to pack and you need to have these vaccinations. And
(24:31):
there was none of that. It was basically just like, here's the dates. Here's the airport,
like, we'll see you there. And I was like, Okay, that sounds like a good idea. Let's do that with
people I don't even know, like literally a guy from India on the internet. I was like, Yep, let's
let's do this. That was my experience. And what people don't realize with my scouting trips is
a lot of times it is that it's me going to a foreign country with a stranger I've never met,
(24:55):
someone maybe I've had a call with or just emailed back and forth. And I'm just trusting that when
I get there, everything is going to be what we agreed to. Sometimes it involves giving money to
people I've never met before. I've yet to not have that workout for me, luckily, but the it has made
me realize the value in what I do for people because I've been in that position where someone
(25:17):
does not prepare me. And I understand how anxiety inducing that is to, you're going to a very foreign
country and you don't know what to prepare and someone isn't giving you any information and you
don't know what you're going to be doing and you don't know how to dress. There's just so many
like questions. I actually wrote a blog about it last year, because I was like, This is such a good
practice for me to be back in that position again, where I can feel how other people feel.
(25:40):
And it made me realize like, Okay, I do serve a purpose for people like I do at least calm. I can't
calm every fear, but I can at least inform people and educate them enough that I can eliminate a lot
of the things that we can control and plan for. So yeah, I definitely get get my own, I have my
own fears when I travel for the most part. Usually it's more like, also like meeting new people
(26:04):
when it I'm signing up to go on a group trip somewhere. And I don't know who I'm going to be
traveling with. I understand how that can feel when you're like, am I going to like these people?
Like, is this going to suck? Like, am I stuck with them? I mean, usually I always end up meeting
at least a handful of people that I love that I stay friends with. So it always works out. But I
do get the fear of like, not knowing who's going to be on the other side when you get there and
(26:30):
having to have me to make friends when you as an adult, that's hard.
Yes, it is. And I will attest that you do prepare people very well. And part of the
preparation is to remind people to expect the unexpected to like just be willing to go with
the flow. That was another thing that I think just sets appropriate expectations for what we might
(26:50):
what we might expect. So the other thing I was going to call out to is just this idea of discomfort
and doing it scared because I feel like knowing where I came from being this sort of type A
perfectionist high achiever, a lot of my people are that too. And so we didn't grow up
feeling discomfort. And so I think just that idea of feeling discomfort really turns us off from
(27:14):
doing a whole lot of things. And so that's something I've had to learn the last few years. And so
that's why I just I love and I even watch it with my kids too. I'm like, no, like, it's going to be
uncomfortable, just do it anyway and walk yourself through it. And I feel like learning how to
feel discomfort and not let it stop you is such a major life skill. Like, you might not really
(27:34):
think about it that way. But so many people just don't want to feel uncomfortable. And so
you're just opening that up for so many people through travel. And I know everyone has their own
entryway of doing that for other people. And you do it through travel, which I think is brilliant.
So I just wanted to call that out.
Yeah, I think, you know, for me, it's been interesting too, because like I grew up a people
(27:56):
pleaser, like I am a people pleaser to a T it's something I have to work really hard at with
my job, because I basically work in hospitality. And so it's it's our job to make people happy. But
in my job, I've realized over the last three years, I can't always make people happy, and I can't
always make them comfortable. And I've learned that part of the discomfort is is part of the
(28:18):
experience in the process. And so preparing people for the discomfort is part of it and just letting
them know, like, there's going to be times where you might not be comfortable, or you might be put
in a situation that you don't necessarily love, or you might be scared for a moment, but it's going
to be okay. Like I think there's a difference between being just like, uncomfortable and unsafe.
(28:39):
I'm never going to put people in a scenario where I think like their safety is in jeopardy. But I
don't mind at this point, putting people in a position where maybe they're a little uncomfortable,
because I do think that that is where people learn and grow the most. Because I do think a lot of
people stay in their bubbles, they stay safe. And they stay stuck, because they don't want to get
(29:00):
out of it, they're afraid of what's on the other side. And so it's easier to just kind of stay
where you are. And sometimes with travel, we don't have a choice, like, sometimes the power's out,
and you can't have a hot shower. And not that I want that for people, but I'm kind of like, the
way I look at it, like, okay, this sucks, I would love to take a shower too. But also, like, are we
(29:21):
going to be okay? And are we grateful that this is in our life every day, and that we get to go
home and turn on hot water whenever we want, and have a normal toilet seat and have power?
Like, that's all I think when I know I'm very used to it. But like, that's what I think in those
situations is just like, the gratitude I have that this isn't my day to day scenario, and the
(29:41):
appreciation for these people who have no choice but to live through that. Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, absolutely. Any, when you think about, like, just anything, is there anything you've ever wanted
to say about you travel or transformation or anything that no one's ever asked you or just to
kind of put some, put a final, final thought out here for today?
(30:04):
Something nobody ever asked you, I don't know. That's a really good question. No, but I think just
just to kind of like, on a closing note is just to encourage people to do something a little bit
outside of their comfort zone. Even, you know, sometimes a trip to Cuba is too much for somebody.
Like, that's way too out of their comfort zone. So I encourage people to like, work your way up to
(30:29):
that. If like, what, what's something that scares you a little bit? Is it dining alone in a restaurant?
Is it driving an hour from your house and like having a day or a weekend in a place that's foreign
to you, even though it's like still in your state? Like, take those baby steps and challenge yourself
to get a little bit more comfortable in different types of social situations or, or scenarios and
(30:55):
then work your way up to it. Or you can just take the big leap too, because nothing, nothing like
changes you that quickly, as quickly as if you just kind of like say, screw it, I'm just going to do it.
I'm just going to put myself out there. I'm going to put myself in this scenario. I'm going to go for
it all at once. But it doesn't always have to be this big giant, drastic, huge thing. You know, it
(31:17):
can be baby steps leading up to that. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's a really great point and reminder for
people too. All right. Where can people follow you, learn more about you, your trips?
My website is lauraerickson.com, no K in Ericsson. I always have to say that. Instagram,
Lola Whiskey and Laura Ericsson group trips and Facebook, I think, can just find me under my name.
(31:40):
Laura Ericsson. Sounds good. And I have to ask, where'd Lola Whiskey come from?
So random. It was so long before I ever had a business. I used to teach ESL. And I had a
student from China. All my students called, all my Asian students called me Lola, because they
couldn't pronounce Laura. And I was at a bar called Whiskey Dix. And he couldn't, his English wasn't
(32:03):
proficient enough to tell people that he had seen me at this bar. And so he just kept going,
like, Lola Whiskey, Lola Whiskey. And everyone was like, what were you doing with Ming? Were you
drinking whiskey with him? And I was like, no. But all my friends started calling me Lola Whiskey.
This is like 20 years ago. And the name just stuck. Like, my godson called me Auntie Lola.
Like people, the name stuck around. And then I started a business and I was like, I don't really
(32:26):
want to change my Instagram handles. So we're just going to leave it. So yeah, unrelated, but
yeah, still there. I love it. No, it just, it speaks to you, though, it just, you're like a little
kind of like, you don't care, like you're just doing your thing and you're just being you. So
all right, well, thank you. I appreciate you being on here. Thanks so much.
All right. Welcome back to the Awakened Femme, and I'm really excited for this podcast episode
(00:07):
because when I think about the Awakened Femme, one element of who she is that comes to me
is this just bold badass person who she is on a self growth journey to know herself,
to face her fears, and to just grow and come out the other side more strong and more resilient.
I have a guest today that I am going to interview that for me fits that and even more,
(00:32):
and so I'm excited to introduce you all to Laura Erickson. Laura traded her 14 year career in
higher education in 2021 to start a group travel company, Laura Erickson Group Trips,
but she's not just a traveler. She's a cultural bridge builder who ventures beyond tourist hot
spots to shine light on misunderstood destinations like Kenya, India, and Colombia,
(00:55):
and of course Cuba. I shouldn't mention that, but I'll have to shout out Cuba.
Since taking the leap into entrepreneurship, Laura has guided over 220 solo travelers
through transformative journeys across eight countries. As a writer, content creator,
and impact focused travel curator, she designs experiences that don't just cross borders,
(01:15):
they break down barriers. Her mission is to help others discover the world's most fascinating places
through a lens of authenticity and intention while creating positive ripples in every community she
touches. So welcome, Laura. Welcome to the podcast. Thank you. Yes, and thank you for having the
distinguished honor of being my first ever guest. So, yeah, there's always a first for everything.
(01:40):
So let's get started. I love for you to share what got you into travel, because obviously from
your bio, that's not how you started. You started in higher education and you made a pretty big pivot
a few years ago. So I'd love for you to share about that. Yeah, I traveled a lot when I was younger.
I grew up with parents who traveled. And so, I mean, I was always part of my background. I had
(02:03):
spent a lot of time in Mexico as a kid. I learned Spanish at a young age, ended up with a Spanish
degree. So I mean, travel's kind of always been built into me. But I will say when I was in my
mid 20s to mid 30s, I was married in a long term relationship. And I found that when I look back,
I mean, we went to Mexico every single year, we did kind of like the typical resort vacation that
(02:28):
a lot of people do, especially in Wisconsin, because it's cold here, just this is the thing to do.
And we did it over and over and over and over. And so fast forward to when I was I think 34,
I got a divorce, and I asked myself, what do I want to do differently? I'm starting, I blew up
my life. I'm starting over, I have this opportunity to really do whatever I want. I think for a
(02:51):
moment, I felt sorry for myself and thought, you know, like, Oh, gosh, I'm starting over. This
sucks. I have to, you know, find a home and buy new things and all these things, you know,
but I realized also it was an opportunity, especially because I didn't have children. So I
was like, I'm single. I don't have kids. I really don't have anybody or anyone, anything holding me
(03:12):
back, aside from having dogs. And so I started traveling more for myself and going to places that
I felt, I felt drawn to, but also I noticed a pattern of the places I felt drawn to were also
places that intimidated and scared a lot of people. So I got a lot of people talking in my
(03:32):
ear, kind of I've listened to some of your Cuba podcast, I've gotten all that it's like, that's
not safe, it's dangerous, why would you want to go there? I got a lot of that from people,
especially because I wanted to go alone. And as a woman, a lot of people didn't think it was safe
to go to these places. Fast forward a couple of years, COVID happened. We all know how much
that sucked. And I was still working at a college that I worked at for 14 years, I was still traveling,
(03:57):
but I realized in the pandemic, how much travel meant to me. It wasn't just a nice city for me,
it was a necessity. Like, I felt completely lost without my ability to explore and like hop on a
plane and go somewhere. So once things opened up, travel became even more of a priority for me. And
(04:18):
I think it did for a lot of people. Once you know, something's taken away from you, you realize how
important it is to you. And I took a trip to Colombia. I was actually going to be going on a
group trip and they canceled it because of the pandemic. And I found a random girl on a Facebook
group to go on a trip with me. I just said, I want to go to Colombia. I have it all planned out. I
just want someone to come with me. So I'm not alone. And she was like, yeah, sure, I'll go. I have no
(04:42):
idea where that is, but I'll go. And I was like, okay, so we met in I think the Atlanta airport for
the first time, went 10 days together to Colombia. I did all the heavy lifting. She just came along.
And she was like, this was amazing, because I never would have thought to go to this place.
I never would have planned anything that you had planned. And it opened my eyes to a different
(05:02):
style of travel that I never would have done. And I went to Guadalajara alone. And so I was like,
all right, there's something to this, because that's how I feel. I obviously had the planning
skills, but I definitely didn't want to travel alone. And so that kind of is where the idea came
from for my business. I just I felt like I'd never in my life felt like I had a calling until that
moment. And so I at first was going to start my business part time and stay in my career and
(05:29):
kind of try to do both. And I realized really quickly, I was going to do a shitty job at both.
And so again, I kind of had that moment of like, screw it, you know, I'm at that point, I think
I was like 38. I was like, what do I have to lose? Yeah, I have to lose a job. But at some point,
like a job is a job, you can get another job. The risk of not doing it felt way, way higher than
(05:52):
the risk of keeping my job. I felt like I was going to look back on my life and regret not
taking that risk. And so I put in my I put in my 30 day notice, I think in October of 2021,
or September and by October of 2021, I was I mean, on Friday, I was working full time.
And on Monday, I was sitting at this desk, like, what the hell did I just do? And that makes it
(06:16):
sound like it was really simple. It wasn't. But yeah, that's kind of what brought me to not to
where I am now, but at least to how I started. Yeah, how you started. No, I love that. And what I
love about it's sort of woven through all of the things that you shared is like, you notice the fear,
but there was also a higher voice that seemed to be calling you, like just this higher poll.
(06:38):
And so how did you because I talked to a lot of people who have both of those things, but they're
just too afraid to listen to that. And they're there, you know, they stay where they are because
of the safety and security. So where do you think that the strength or the courage or whatever you
call it came from to actually listen to that poll that you had? It's like a question. I think it's
a combination of things. I think one, I've been through some really tough things in my life.
(07:02):
And so I think I have, I think the more you get through difficult things, the more resilient you
become, the more you realize how unimportant certain things are. And the more you probably
prioritize things. So I think that was an element of it, you know, after getting through a divorce
and like really starting over, you know, I kind of looked at it as like, well, I've already started
over once, you know, is it that big of a deal to start over again? And like I said, I think it was
(07:29):
really just like, I felt, trust me, I struggled. I had like a list of, you know, pros and cons.
And, you know, it's not like I made the decision in an instant. It took me, took me probably a
couple of weeks to actually like pull the trigger on it. And in the day that I sent that resignation
email, like I remember like my finger like hovering over the, I remember thinking, I'm like, this is
(07:52):
literally like one like mouse click, like we'll change my life forever. It's so insignificant
and yet significant at the same time. And I sat there for like, I don't know, probably an hour
before I actually sent the email, because I was just like, this is such a pivotal moment, I know
what's going to change my life forever. But I think I just, I've always kind of been a risk taker. I've
(08:14):
always, I've never really been one to play it super safe in my life. I think that's just my
personality. So I really looked at like, like I said, am I, am I going to risk, am I going to look
back and, you know, be 80 years old and say like, God, you know, like I wish I would have just taken
a chance and tried something different. So I think I also just had, I had such immense faith
(08:40):
that it was going to work out. I don't know why because it's logic did not play into that because
I had no, I did not have a great business plan. I didn't have like, I didn't have a social media
following. I didn't have any business experience, like all signs would have pointed to I was going
to fail, but I didn't think I would. I thought I know myself well enough to know if I take away
(09:05):
the comfort of having a job and a career and a salary and benefits and all of those things. If
I take that away from myself, then I have to figure this out. I know I, I know I will. That's
just who I am. So I kind of also looked at like if I had that backup plan, I probably would have
sat there like half-assing my business. So yeah, I'm not sure exactly what it was, but it was
(09:28):
I guess just belief. Yeah. No, and I love that. And I love how it just feels. One of the things I
talk about with my clients too, especially when it's like your spiritual path and something you're
meant to follow is you don't always know why it just shows up there and you don't know where it's
going to lead. It just takes an immense amount of trust to just know that you're being guided there
(09:49):
for a reason. And I could pick that apart from all the parts of your story too, that I was called to
this particular country or these types of countries for some reason. Like everything about what you
said feels very intentional to me. And so I love that you're just highlighting, you're here as proof
for other people who might be on the other side afraid to take a risk. Like no, you can take a
risk and you can follow your heart. And whether it works out or not so far it's worked out for you,
(10:14):
but it also sounds like you don't care if it doesn't because you gave it, you know, the old
college try too. And you're not going to live with regret for not going after it. Absolutely. Yeah.
So what were some of the things thinking through as you're going through that time of divorce?
And you mentioned kind of feeling sorry about yourself, which absolutely makes sense too.
(10:35):
Versus what did travel give you in terms of knowing yourself or like feeling more like yourself again?
For me, travel gives me such perspective. It doesn't matter where I go. It's, but especially
international travel and the type of travel I do where I'm going to somewhere, sometimes like third
world countries or places where a lot of people are less fortunate than we are. I think it's
(11:00):
humbling and it give for me, I just remember feeling like the world is so big and I'm so small.
And I think like everyone kind of needs that reality check sometimes that like my problems
aren't that important in the grand scheme of things and like it's going to be okay.
(11:22):
That's always what travel did for me is one, it like got me to be humbled, be grateful,
and also to like meet so many different people and just be reminded like there's so many other
people out there. Like there's so many people living different ways. There's so many people
going through different things. Like the world is huge and sometimes I think we get stuck in our
(11:43):
little bubbles when we stay home and we like hang out with our friends and our family and we're used
to our circle and our problems feel a lot bigger. And for me, when I travel, it just kind of opens
everything up and gives me this perspective and it still does. Every single time I travel, I am a
different person when I travel and I travel for a living. I travel every month pretty much, but
(12:05):
like there is a home version of me and there's a travel version of me. And I think that's what,
I think that's what a lot of people love about travel is like they get to like feel free to be
whoever they want to be or who they truly are. Yeah, and that was one of the things Cuba gave
to me. So I guess I forgot to mention the intro, but I went on Laura's trip to Cuba. So she's the
(12:26):
one who organized for all of us. So that's how we got connected. And I would agree that's one of
the things like I just felt the most free I've ever felt in my life. And I realized freedom is
not necessarily about like what job I'm in or you know, the outside construct is more about how you
feel on the inside. And so I love that you mentioned that to him. What are some of the things you've
(12:49):
seen from some of the other people that you've taken to because I know you talk a lot about
the people that you take on the trips that have transformative opportunities. So are there any
stories that stand out for you that you've enabled from some of your trips? Yeah, that I think has
been one of the more surprising parts of my business. You know, I will say when I first started,
(13:11):
there was probably a selfish component of I want to do this for me. I want to travel. I want to,
you know, make a living from this. Like there was a there's definitely a part of me that was doing
it for myself. I had it in my mind that I would be able to help other people. But I think that has
(13:31):
shifted so much since I started to now I really feel like I'm mostly doing this for other people
because it's actually a really hard job and I've done enough traveling and you know, I've been to
countries multiple times. So like at this point, I'm not getting the same thing out of it that
maybe I got at the beginning. But what I am getting out of it is seeing how much it impacts
other people's lives. And I know there's probably people out there who are like a vacation, is it
(13:55):
going to change your life? Well, for one, I don't call these vacations. As you know, going through
Cuba, like that's not my definition of a vacation. It's to me a immersive experience. It's an
adventure. It's a challenge. It is not the same as like sitting on a beach and relaxing. And so I
think my trips challenge people way more than maybe your average travel experience or vacation.
(14:22):
And with that, I think like there's so much more growth that happens because people are being
challenged. They're being put out of their comfort zone. They're asked to try things that they haven't
tried. They're maybe using a toilet they'd never used before. They're going without power or water.
There's a lot of different things that pop up in different countries where people are being
challenged or just the simple fact of traveling with strangers, people that you've never met before,
(14:46):
traveling without your friends and family and just trusting that it's going to be okay to find a
stranger on the internet and agree to go travel with her. All of those things, I think, open people up
to grow and expand maybe more than they would if they took their typical vacation with their friends
and family. But I've seen so many things. Like I've had a lot of divorced women on my trips.
(15:10):
So that alone, I think people are just kind of going through that transition phase and trying to
find themselves again and trying to figure out who they are and what they like and what they want.
And so I see so much growth in like 10 days with people. It's kind of miraculous to watch because
they'll see how they start and how they end or what happens after. And it's really, really powerful.
(15:31):
I just had a woman, not the same Cuba trip you were on, but same month that I took groups.
I had an older woman. She's like 63. She's been sticking in my mind so much lately as I talk about
like transformational travel because she was in an abusive marriage. She got out of it.
Divorced at 63, which I cannot even imagine being married like 30 years starting my life.
(15:54):
I mean, starting your life over at 34 is different than starting your life over at 63.
So started her life over. She said she was in her therapist's office and said she wanted to travel
and her therapist pointed her to me and she signed up for Cuba kind of on a whim and just like,
all right, I'll just go do this. And she, I could just see her opening up on this trip. And
(16:16):
at the end of that group also got tattoos. She got a tattoo of a bird cage with a bird being set free.
And I like literally started crying when she showed it to me because to me it's like, that's
that's why I do this. It's for people to have those moments where they feel like, okay, like,
I can do this. I am going to be okay. Like I can do tough shit. I can live by myself.
(16:38):
I can travel by myself. I can start my life over at any age. Like that I think is what
travel does for people. And I can't always explain like why or how I just can see it time and time
again. No, that's amazing. And I know you had to use that quote with me when I had to use an outdoor
outhouse that was built out of wood. And it was in square shape with just a curtain flapper. So
(17:02):
that's one of the things I think I learned is you learn bathroom habits of all of your
travel is very quickly and you just have to go with it. People get real comfortable. That's
the other thing though is like when you put a group of strangers together in close quarters for a
week, 10 days, however long, and you're going through these experiences together and you're
(17:25):
going through challenges together and you're having funny moments together, you're having
emotional moments together. Like you really bond with people in a different way than I think you
do when you're just traveling with your friends. I just see people form these like lifelong
relationships and they happen so quickly. Like there's people I feel like I got to know better
in 10 days than my friends that I've known for five years. And I think it's just because people are
(17:49):
just so much more vulnerable and open when they're traveling. Yeah. And the reason our group came
together too was because Dawn, she's the unique connector. And so she saw it as an opportunity
to bring people together, which is exactly what you're saying too. And so I think you're exactly
right where you can go to a one hour networking thing and you can maybe meet a couple people and
(18:11):
get five minutes of time in or you can go to a group trip where it's already pre-selected. It's
like pre-filtered to have people who are like you because if they're not like you, they're not going
to at least be on a trip like that. And so you already know there's some element of something
there. So yeah, that was definitely one of the things that I took out of it too was always,
(18:31):
you're always with someone who wants to know more about you. And that's the reason people are there
too is to get to know other people while they're traveling. Yeah. It's, you definitely have, I
mean, not everyone on my trips are always coming alone. Sometimes they come with a friend or a
sibling or spouse, but I always say the ones who do come alone who come on their own with nobody
(18:51):
else. They don't know anybody. Those are the people who get the most out of my trips because
they're more open. They're more, it's no different than if you, you know, I just hosted a dating
night the other night. Like if you come with a friend, are you going to like stick by your friend
and maybe not meet as many people versus coming alone and just standing there vulnerable and
terrified and being like, okay, well, I guess I got to talk to somebody. I just think the people
(19:14):
who come alone, they have no choice but to jump in headfirst and get to know people.
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, I love that. What are some, do you have any funny stories that you want to
share? Just because I know you mentioned, you're like, it looks great from Instagram, but my job
isn't always, isn't always poses and dates. Oh my gosh, I have so many funny stories. I don't know
(19:36):
how many of them are appropriate to share, but I have a lot of bathrooms. I have a lot of bathroom
stories. Just talking about that recently, I'm like, I'm going to have to do like a recap of all
the things that have gone down on group trips because yeah, adults don't shit their pants in
real life the way they do when they travel. And I am always there for it. So I've had some, definitely
(20:00):
some interesting encounters, got to know people really, really well and people get to know each
other really well when they start sharing their bathroom habits. What else has happened?
And I mean, I've had, I've had just so many, myself so many moments of like weird random
things happen when I'm traveling. And sometimes that happens more when I'm on my own or doing
(20:24):
my scouting trips versus with a group because with a group I'm more working and have my professional
hat on versus when I'm scouting. But I know like when I was in Columbia, I was walking by myself,
which I probably shouldn't have been doing. It was in Bogota, it was at night. And some people
stopped me and they're like, do you, what are you doing by yourself out here? And I was like,
(20:44):
I'm just going to go walk to dinner. And they're like, yeah, no. And then they're like, do you want
to come inside? We're having a party. And I was like, yeah, that seems like a good idea. Sure.
I kind of like, I kind of like looked inside and I was like, yeah, let's do this. So that's the same
person who quit their job. That's kind of my personality. So I'm just like, yeah, like, this
seems, this seems safe. Like we did a little check and I was like, this seems safe. So I go inside
(21:09):
and like they take me up these stairs and they open the door and it's a Colombian Quinceanera.
There's like 60 Colombian people in a room having a party. And they were like, look what we found
outside in American. And like, they brought me in, they had like a band, everyone was dancing,
like the grandma made me food, the dad poured me whiskey. And I ended up like partying with them
all night. And then went back to my hotel and my friend was like, have you like, were you having
(21:34):
dinner that whole time? And I'm like, no, I didn't even get to dinner. Like I ended up at someone's
Quinceanera. And she's like, what? I have a lot of those kinds of stories where I just,
I do kind of what seems like stupid things, but they, you know, I obviously have a good
judge of character. And I feel like that's the fun of travel is taking chances and trusting that
(21:54):
people are inherently good. Yeah, no, and that's perfect too. I love that. Because I also, it just
tears down so many like you shouldn't walk by yourself at night, you shouldn't like everyone
always thinks something bad is going to happen, the worst is going to happen. But really, like,
no, that's really the, you know, the rare versus the norm. And so I love that you're willing to just
(22:16):
like, yeah, face, face all those fears and all the ways that they come up. Yeah, so what were, and
were there any, and we've talked about other people doing hard things on the trip, like, were there
any, any things that come up for you that were really hard for you to do in the beginning that
you, I don't know, eating things or going places? Not really. Like, I'm pretty adventurous and open
(22:40):
minded. So I will try anything once for the most part, I'm never going to like put something on
an itinerary that I'm not willing to do or haven't done myself. So, but I am afraid of heights. I
always have been particularly when it comes to jumping from heights. It's less about like, look,
I mean, I don't love like looking down over a ledge or something. But if it involves me jumping off
(23:02):
with something, I'm pretty scared. So I mean, I've done a ton of hot air balloon at this point.
And so like a lot of people are afraid of that. So me trying to coach them through that can be a
challenge. But I also think it's helpful for me to tell people like, I'm afraid of heights, and I
do it all the time. And I'm still here, you know, so I think it's helpful for me to be vulnerable
with people and share that like this has scared me to at some point, but like it's going to be okay.
(23:26):
Paragliding though, they had to run me off that mountain because luckily, the guy was like attached
to me like tandem, but they started, he started running before I was ready. And somebody has a
video of me literally screaming like, I'm not ready. And then he literally just ran the opera
mountain. And then I was like, well, here we are. But yeah, like having those experiences like helps
(23:47):
me encourage other people to do it because like, my motto is kind of do it scared, like just because
you're scared doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. Or just because you're scared, that doesn't mean
it's dangerous. So I do all that I do all kinds of things scared, I go to new countries scared,
like last year, I'm taking my first group to India in a couple of weeks. But last year when I went
(24:08):
to India, I was very unprepared for the trip, somebody asked me to come two weeks before. So
imagine like, planning to go to India, like two weeks before, you know, like, all of a sudden,
one day I'm like, Oh, I guess two weeks from now, I'm going to spend 12 days in India. And not only
that, but I didn't have a me to prepare me. So I didn't have somebody saying this is what it's
going to be like. And here's what you need to pack and you need to have these vaccinations. And
(24:31):
there was none of that. It was basically just like, here's the dates. Here's the airport,
like, we'll see you there. And I was like, Okay, that sounds like a good idea. Let's do that with
people I don't even know, like literally a guy from India on the internet. I was like, Yep, let's
let's do this. That was my experience. And what people don't realize with my scouting trips is
a lot of times it is that it's me going to a foreign country with a stranger I've never met,
(24:55):
someone maybe I've had a call with or just emailed back and forth. And I'm just trusting that when
I get there, everything is going to be what we agreed to. Sometimes it involves giving money to
people I've never met before. I've yet to not have that workout for me, luckily, but the it has made
me realize the value in what I do for people because I've been in that position where someone
(25:17):
does not prepare me. And I understand how anxiety inducing that is to, you're going to a very foreign
country and you don't know what to prepare and someone isn't giving you any information and you
don't know what you're going to be doing and you don't know how to dress. There's just so many
like questions. I actually wrote a blog about it last year, because I was like, This is such a good
practice for me to be back in that position again, where I can feel how other people feel.
(25:40):
And it made me realize like, Okay, I do serve a purpose for people like I do at least calm. I can't
calm every fear, but I can at least inform people and educate them enough that I can eliminate a lot
of the things that we can control and plan for. So yeah, I definitely get get my own, I have my
own fears when I travel for the most part. Usually it's more like, also like meeting new people
(26:04):
when it I'm signing up to go on a group trip somewhere. And I don't know who I'm going to be
traveling with. I understand how that can feel when you're like, am I going to like these people?
Like, is this going to suck? Like, am I stuck with them? I mean, usually I always end up meeting
at least a handful of people that I love that I stay friends with. So it always works out. But I
do get the fear of like, not knowing who's going to be on the other side when you get there and
(26:30):
having to have me to make friends when you as an adult, that's hard.
Yes, it is. And I will attest that you do prepare people very well. And part of the
preparation is to remind people to expect the unexpected to like just be willing to go with
the flow. That was another thing that I think just sets appropriate expectations for what we might
(26:50):
what we might expect. So the other thing I was going to call out to is just this idea of discomfort
and doing it scared because I feel like knowing where I came from being this sort of type A
perfectionist high achiever, a lot of my people are that too. And so we didn't grow up
feeling discomfort. And so I think just that idea of feeling discomfort really turns us off from
(27:14):
doing a whole lot of things. And so that's something I've had to learn the last few years. And so
that's why I just I love and I even watch it with my kids too. I'm like, no, like, it's going to be
uncomfortable, just do it anyway and walk yourself through it. And I feel like learning how to
feel discomfort and not let it stop you is such a major life skill. Like, you might not really
(27:34):
think about it that way. But so many people just don't want to feel uncomfortable. And so
you're just opening that up for so many people through travel. And I know everyone has their own
entryway of doing that for other people. And you do it through travel, which I think is brilliant.
So I just wanted to call that out.
Yeah, I think, you know, for me, it's been interesting too, because like I grew up a people
(27:56):
pleaser, like I am a people pleaser to a T it's something I have to work really hard at with
my job, because I basically work in hospitality. And so it's it's our job to make people happy. But
in my job, I've realized over the last three years, I can't always make people happy, and I can't
always make them comfortable. And I've learned that part of the discomfort is is part of the
(28:18):
experience in the process. And so preparing people for the discomfort is part of it and just letting
them know, like, there's going to be times where you might not be comfortable, or you might be put
in a situation that you don't necessarily love, or you might be scared for a moment, but it's going
to be okay. Like I think there's a difference between being just like, uncomfortable and unsafe.
(28:39):
I'm never going to put people in a scenario where I think like their safety is in jeopardy. But I
don't mind at this point, putting people in a position where maybe they're a little uncomfortable,
because I do think that that is where people learn and grow the most. Because I do think a lot of
people stay in their bubbles, they stay safe. And they stay stuck, because they don't want to get
(29:00):
out of it, they're afraid of what's on the other side. And so it's easier to just kind of stay
where you are. And sometimes with travel, we don't have a choice, like, sometimes the power's out,
and you can't have a hot shower. And not that I want that for people, but I'm kind of like, the
way I look at it, like, okay, this sucks, I would love to take a shower too. But also, like, are we
(29:21):
going to be okay? And are we grateful that this is in our life every day, and that we get to go
home and turn on hot water whenever we want, and have a normal toilet seat and have power?
Like, that's all I think when I know I'm very used to it. But like, that's what I think in those
situations is just like, the gratitude I have that this isn't my day to day scenario, and the
(29:41):
appreciation for these people who have no choice but to live through that. Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, absolutely. Any, when you think about, like, just anything, is there anything you've ever wanted
to say about you travel or transformation or anything that no one's ever asked you or just to
kind of put some, put a final, final thought out here for today?
(30:04):
Something nobody ever asked you, I don't know. That's a really good question. No, but I think just
just to kind of like, on a closing note is just to encourage people to do something a little bit
outside of their comfort zone. Even, you know, sometimes a trip to Cuba is too much for somebody.
Like, that's way too out of their comfort zone. So I encourage people to like, work your way up to
(30:29):
that. If like, what, what's something that scares you a little bit? Is it dining alone in a restaurant?
Is it driving an hour from your house and like having a day or a weekend in a place that's foreign
to you, even though it's like still in your state? Like, take those baby steps and challenge yourself
to get a little bit more comfortable in different types of social situations or, or scenarios and
(30:55):
then work your way up to it. Or you can just take the big leap too, because nothing, nothing like
changes you that quickly, as quickly as if you just kind of like say, screw it, I'm just going to do it.
I'm just going to put myself out there. I'm going to put myself in this scenario. I'm going to go for
it all at once. But it doesn't always have to be this big giant, drastic, huge thing. You know, it
(31:17):
can be baby steps leading up to that. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's a really great point and reminder for
people too. All right. Where can people follow you, learn more about you, your trips?
My website is lauraerickson.com, no K in Ericsson. I always have to say that. Instagram,
Lola Whiskey and Laura Ericsson group trips and Facebook, I think, can just find me under my name.
(31:40):
Laura Ericsson. Sounds good. And I have to ask, where'd Lola Whiskey come from?
So random. It was so long before I ever had a business. I used to teach ESL. And I had a
student from China. All my students called, all my Asian students called me Lola, because they
couldn't pronounce Laura. And I was at a bar called Whiskey Dix. And he couldn't, his English wasn't
(32:03):
proficient enough to tell people that he had seen me at this bar. And so he just kept going,
like, Lola Whiskey, Lola Whiskey. And everyone was like, what were you doing with Ming? Were you
drinking whiskey with him? And I was like, no. But all my friends started calling me Lola Whiskey.
This is like 20 years ago. And the name just stuck. Like, my godson called me Auntie Lola.
Like people, the name stuck around. And then I started a business and I was like, I don't really
(32:26):
want to change my Instagram handles. So we're just going to leave it. So yeah, unrelated, but
yeah, still there. I love it. No, it just, it speaks to you, though, it just, you're like a little
kind of like, you don't care, like you're just doing your thing and you're just being you. So
all right, well, thank you. I appreciate you being on here. Thanks so much.
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