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00:00:29.957Welcome to the Charging Station podcast.
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00:00:32.984It's your girl, tracy Massey, of Living my Empowered Life.
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00:00:35.329Hello, hello, hello.
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00:00:39.042Welcome back to this episode, season nine.
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00:00:43.027I've been doing this for eight years.
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00:00:50.006The charging station is officially eight years old, so how can I be on nine episodes?
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00:00:51.210Well, child, I don't know.
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00:00:55.865Excuse me, not nine, lord.
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00:00:57.009Then I hiccup in the middle of this.
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00:00:57.871This is just ratchet.
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00:01:01.923I didn't mean nine episodes, I meant nine seasons, but I don't know.
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00:01:03.945But we're here Anywho.
00:01:03.945 -->
00:01:06.087I meant nine seasons, but I don't know.
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00:01:06.567But we're here Anywho.
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00:01:08.170I am so happy to have you here.
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00:01:10.733If you're new here, welcome, welcome, welcome.
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00:01:11.472Come on in.
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00:01:12.734Have a seat on the couchy couch.
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00:01:17.941Make sure that you are following us, everybody.
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00:01:19.022Make sure you're following us on the socials.
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00:01:26.188You can find me at Instagram, facebook, youtube Threads and TikTok, all under Living my Empowered Life.
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00:01:31.328And if you are a returning listener, hey, boo, you know I love me some.
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00:01:32.840You welcome back Everybody.
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00:01:38.046Go ahead, grab your coffee, grab your tea, grab your water, grab your wine, whatever your beverage of choice is.
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00:01:39.403Just go ahead, grab that thing.
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00:01:41.501Have a seat on the couchy couchy couch, y'all.
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00:01:48.384This might be a quick, light episode because I want to give you some life updates.
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00:01:51.753I want to give you a little tea on tea part infinity.
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00:01:58.890I touched on a little bit in the last episode that I did with my sister, michelle, sister number two.
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00:02:01.444Make sure you go check out that episode.
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00:02:05.237Hopefully I can get both of my sisters on an episode.
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00:02:13.653They've already agreed to it, but we just want to make sure that we're all able to connect on the same day.
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00:02:23.546It's kind of quiet, that kind of thing, because there's a lot of planning and stuff going into podcasting that a lot of people don't know or understand.
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00:02:28.365So when you start talking about doing remote recording, yeah, that's a different beast.
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00:02:35.400So I just want to make sure that we got everything ready and to go for whenever we do record that episode.
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00:02:42.888But there will be another branches episode with both of my sisters and it'll be cool to get the perspective of both of them at the same time.
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00:02:44.908Like I already know what their perspectives is Perspectives are time.
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00:02:53.462Like I already know what their perspectives is perspectives are, yeah, I already know what their perspectives are, but we're going to let you in on what they are.
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00:02:57.531So, anywho, a couple of life updates.
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00:03:08.824Last time that we were on last episode, I briefly touched on a new venture that I have started, and it is called Graced and Grounded Journeys.
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00:03:21.274Graced and Grounded Journeys is my travel business, so I'm not doing travel in the traditional sense, where I'm not booking individual travel.
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00:03:23.224So I'm not doing personal travel for people.
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00:03:25.289I am curating, though.
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00:03:35.287I'm curating my own retreats, I'm curating my own events, and I'm also going to be gallivanting all over the place, and I'm excited about that.
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00:03:39.233I have been learning a ton of things.
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00:03:43.024Fun fact, I was in the travel industry a few years ago.
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00:03:54.830So back in 2015, 2016, I got into the travel business and loved the perks of it, did not necessarily like booking individual travel, and I'm going to tell you why y'all.
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00:04:09.424I'm going to tell you why People who don't travel don't seem to understand the process of booking travel, don't seem to understand the process of booking travel.
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00:04:14.719So I actually had people who wanted to get like first class flights and five-star resorts, all-inclusive resorts for 500 bucks.
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00:04:16.362Baby, those days are long gone.
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00:04:22.355You'd be lucky to find a first class flight for $500.
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00:04:26.963So after going back and forth with some of that, I was just like yeah, you know, this is not for me.
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00:04:33.964And I also feel like God's timing was perfect, because if I had kept going, I know it would have been successful.
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00:04:37.951But also COVID happened.
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00:04:45.230So the travel industry took a big, big, big, big hit, and that would have been me.
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00:04:48.341But I'm back at it now Again.
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00:04:53.033Like I said, I'm doing my own team and so far I'm loving it.
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00:04:57.644I've gotten certifications in Thailand.
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00:05:02.742If you've listened to me for a while or follow me on socials, you know my love for this country.
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00:05:04.346I love Thailand.
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00:05:09.214I visited once and just fell in love.
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00:05:17.586That was the most peace I have ever felt in my entire life and I was getting ready to move to Thailand and then COVID happened.
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00:05:29.642So I didn't get to do that, but it has always held a special place in my heart since my last visit and I have been dreaming of the day that I can get back there.
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00:05:39.550So now that I'm certified, I'm a certified Thailand expert and now I get to take a group of 10 back with me.
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00:05:44.524So let me tell you about Grace and Grounded Journeys before I go into this Thailand trip.
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00:06:00.932So at the time, depending on when you listen to this podcast episode, we are in the planning stages right now, so I'm going to give you a little glimpse into what I'm doing with the planning, what the trip is going to consist of, where we're going to go, how you can register.
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00:06:11.244So if you're listening after this, after we go, I'm sorry you missed this one.
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00:06:13.853There may be others, but make sure you're following me so you'll know when there's another retreat.
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00:06:26.942I'm going to try to do one of these annually and my thought process process is to have other trips later, like locally, so to speak quotation marks and when I say local I'm meaning within the United States.
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00:06:29.596So international trip is the first one.
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00:06:31.302So let me tell you about Grace and Grounding Journeys.
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00:06:39.129Grace and Grounding Journeys is your new favorite way to travel with purpose, rest, with intention and heal in community.
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00:06:51.992So I started Grace and Grounding Journeys out of my love for travel and my love for seeing people get breakthroughs, and I knew, I know what travel does for me.
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00:07:00.934It is a great way for me to just disconnect from the world, silence the noise and connect with myself, connect, reconnect with God.
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00:07:09.543I get so many downloads and ideas in all of these things when I'm traveling because I'm rested.
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00:07:10.786It's a different.
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00:07:15.884I don't know about you, but for me, being away from home does something different.
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00:07:21.322For me, I can even go to a local hotel and have a staycation for my self-care weekends.
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00:07:25.940I can have a staycation and just be refreshed because I'm away from my house.
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00:07:31.221Now, I'm not saying that my house is chaotic, but y'all know what I mean, especially for women.
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00:07:34.430We always tend to find something that needs to be done in the house.
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00:07:43.588So if I'm away from the house, I'm not thinking about what needs to be done, what I didn't get to do, the pile of clothes that need to be folded, the pile of clothes that need to be washed, the dishes that need to be washed.
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00:07:44.810I'm not thinking about all that.
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00:07:50.415And God forbid not God forbid, but God bless you all who are mothers and wives.
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00:07:51.497Now you got to think about the kids.
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00:07:57.591Did I pick up little Johnny and little Elizabeth from their afterschool activities?
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00:07:58.805Does my husband need to eat?
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00:08:11.867I don't have those responsibilities, but I still have a life and all of those things can be heavy on you and you don't have a moment to just sit, be still and think.
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00:08:13.149Sit, be still and just be.
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00:08:16.220And so traveling for me does that.
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00:08:18.766It gives me the opportunity to just be.
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00:08:28.353Now, I do take trips, sometimes that are for adventure, and I do take trips sometimes that are just for planning purpose refreshing.
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00:08:37.573So Grace and Grounded Journeys was born out of that, and I'm a firm believer that you don't have to pause your healing to travel.
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00:08:44.053Matter of fact, I have a t-shirt that says grief has no time limit, but my travel rewards do.
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00:08:47.379I'm going to use the travel rewards up, okay.
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00:08:51.126I have another t-shirt that says my healing has a passport.
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00:08:56.769I'm going to use this passport and I'm going to get my healing as I am traveling.
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00:09:00.380So that's kind of where Grace and Grounded Journeys came from.
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00:09:15.461So the heart behind it is I created Grace and Grounded Journeys for women like us who are navigating grief, who are navigating growth, or they just want space to breathe and be like I said before.
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00:09:17.628And what we're going to do?
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00:09:21.038I'm creating intimate group getaways.
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00:09:23.404I'm doing faith-based healing retreats.
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00:09:34.945It's not going to be what y'all may think is spooky stuff no, but I'm creating a space where it's sacred for you to reclaim your rest.
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00:09:35.525I'm excited.
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00:09:45.451I can't even talk, but I'm creating a safe space for you to gain and build community, for you to rest and reclaim your joy.
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00:09:48.347So that's what Grace and Grounded Journeys.
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00:09:52.485My hope is for Grace and Grounded Journeys to do so.
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00:09:58.048G&g for short, g&g is for the woman who needs a break without guilt.
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00:10:04.610You know, we deal with the mom guilt, we deal with the wife guilt, we deal with the guilt of just breaking away from everything.
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00:10:11.212We're creating a space for you not to feel guilty about you getting away and traveling.
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00:10:19.734This GNG is for the woman who is ready to rest, release and reconnect.
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00:10:25.893You need to release all of those things that have been holding you down all of this time.
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00:10:38.989Reconnect with self, because one thing about us as women we put everything and everyone ahead of ourselves, and then we wonder why we're burned out.
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00:10:42.947We're wondering why we're snippy, wondering why we're snippy.
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00:10:55.025And baby, when you add in perimenopause and menopause, the emotions, the hormones and everything is going to go flying every which way, it's going to turn you every which way but loose.
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00:11:02.946So you need a space where you can just exhale and not have to worry about anybody calling your name and asking you for anything.
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00:11:13.192Gng is for the woman who craves community and a place that holds space, a community that will hold space for you and not pressure.
00:11:13.192 -->
00:11:24.948The community that I have been building over these years is small but mighty, and I see all of these women in my DMs.
00:11:24.948 -->
00:11:28.722I see all of these women when we are out and about doing things.
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00:11:31.589You all have so much in common.
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00:11:33.471This is my way.
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00:11:38.014Grace and Grounded Journeys is my way to bring this community together face-to-face.
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00:11:46.322Get it offline and everybody be face-to-face, and then you have that good girlfriend that you can call up when you need something.
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00:11:49.212Got your prayer partner, you got your workout partner.
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00:11:52.282We're really creating a community of support.
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00:11:54.947Accountability, whatever.
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00:12:07.004The mission of Grace and Grounded Journeys is a faith-based travel experience brand created and curated for women seeking intentional rest, healing and transformation.
00:12:07.908 -->
00:12:19.798One thing about Grace and Grounded Journeys is I'm incorporating coaching into these retreats, so I will be teaching my proven methods.
00:12:19.798 -->
00:12:22.783I will be teaching workshops while we're on these retreats.
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00:12:23.745Now, don't get me wrong.
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00:12:27.214We're not going to be sitting in a conference room all the ding-ding time.
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00:12:34.850I'm going to go over the agenda for the Soulful Escape to Thailand, which is happening October 22nd through 30th 2026.
00:12:34.850 -->
00:12:37.609I'm going to go over that itinerary for you.
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00:12:42.745This has been released to the public, but here's how you get on the list.
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00:12:44.167First, let me just back up.
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00:12:45.808I feel like I'm all over the place, but I'm trying to.
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00:12:48.111I'm not, I don't have any notes, I'm just winging it today.
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00:12:49.634So y'all just go with me.
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00:12:50.875All right, just flow with me.
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00:12:59.600So October 22nd through the 30th, 2026 is the Soulful Escape to Thailand.
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00:13:06.572During that time, I have intentionally built this itinerary, first of all for it to be an all-inclusive package.
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00:13:10.692We're taking care of everything.
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00:13:29.437You basically just show up and in this itinerary I have space for rest, I have space for me to teach and we have space for people to explore, because there is no way we're going to fly halfway around the world and not experience the beauty of Bangkok and the beauty of Phuket.
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00:13:31.241So we're going to Bangkok and Phuket.
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00:13:40.831We're spending four days in Bangkok and spending four days in Phuket, and in that time I will be teaching my workshop, one of my workshops.
00:13:41.192 -->
00:13:58.889Now let me tell you something this workshop that they're getting basically for free the women who are blessed enough to get a hold of me for eight whole days and have me teaching them and they get one-on-one.
00:13:58.889 -->
00:14:01.480First of all, my one-on-one is not available anymore.
00:14:01.480 -->
00:14:06.926I don't do one-on-one coaching anymore, at least not right now, at least until the Lord say otherwise.
00:14:06.926 -->
00:14:11.423But you're getting me one-on-one coaching and you're also getting a workshop.
00:14:11.423 -->
00:14:16.177Those two things alone you can't get for a few hundred dollars.
00:14:16.177 -->
00:14:18.562You cannot get them for a few hundred dollars.
00:14:18.562 -->
00:14:27.615The workshop itself let me back up my one-on-one coaching itself you have to commit to six months.
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00:14:31.206Six months worth of coaching.
00:14:31.206 -->
00:14:39.772At the time when I used to do it on the retainer, six-month retainer was $5,000.
00:14:39.772 -->
00:14:52.405But these ladies are getting five-star luxury flights, coaching, all of these things.
00:14:52.405 -->
00:14:55.904So that alone is a deal within itself.
00:14:55.904 -->
00:14:58.163But we're going to go back into this itinerary in just a little bit.
00:14:58.195 -->
00:15:01.741But let me continue to tell you about Grace to Grounded Journeys.
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00:15:14.167So if you are wanting a place to get intentional rest, healing and transformation, look out for the next retreat, depending on when you're listening to this podcast.
00:15:14.167 -->
00:15:21.451So, because I love to travel so much, I was like you know what T?
00:15:21.451 -->
00:15:23.797It might be time for you to get back into the travel space.
00:15:23.797 -->
00:15:34.746Because one thing about being a travel consultant, travel agent, whatever you want to call it, I call myself a travel consultant because I consult with you about what you want to do.
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00:15:41.745Well, when I did it for people, individual people the one thing about being a travel agent we get some good perks, y'all.
00:15:41.745 -->
00:15:46.155You get perks with hotels, you get perks with cruises.
00:15:46.155 -->
00:15:48.037You get perks with the.
00:15:48.037 -->
00:15:48.638You get perks with cruises.
00:15:48.638 -->
00:15:53.000You get perks with the well, maybe not the railway, you used to get perks with the railways.
00:15:53.000 -->
00:15:56.062You get perks for river cruises.
00:15:56.202 -->
00:16:09.552You get perks for these things called fam trips familiarization trips where you actually go to a resort and you pretty much stay there for pennies on the dollar.
00:16:09.552 -->
00:16:19.599But with fam trips you're working because you have to tour wherever you are.
00:16:19.599 -->
00:16:22.888So say, you go to a resort in Jamaica I'm just going to use Jamaica because that's another one of my favorite places.
00:16:22.888 -->
00:16:41.404You go to a resort in Jamaica I'm not going to name a resort because you know we're not giving away free ad space but you're on this resort, you fly in, you meet with, say, the head of sales or marketing or whomever they have you touring with.
00:16:41.404 -->
00:16:50.340You have to experience everything about that resort from top to bottom all of the service, all of the food, all of the amenities.
00:16:50.340 -->
00:16:54.327And you are actually working the time that you're there.
00:16:54.327 -->
00:17:15.428And what you do is you write a review or you do things like what I'm doing right now you put it on your podcast and you advertise what that resort offers and you provide that resort to your clients to sell.
00:17:15.428 -->
00:17:19.557So fam trips can be fun, but they are a lot of work.
00:17:20.380 -->
00:17:23.365You get things like inspections on cruise ships.
00:17:23.365 -->
00:17:41.507You can go on a particular cruise and do an inspection where you are going from the top to the bottom of the ship and, again, experiencing everything that the cruise ship has to offer, from the entertainment to the food to the cabins.
00:17:41.507 -->
00:17:46.330All of those things, the activities you experience, all of those things.
00:17:46.330 -->
00:17:52.768You may not be cruising with them, but you're inspecting the ship and so you can go back and provide.
00:17:52.768 -->
00:17:57.326You can be knowledgeable about the product that you're selling to your clients.
00:17:58.795 -->
00:17:59.738So a lot of perks.
00:17:59.738 -->
00:18:03.655The only perks we don't get is with the airlines, because y'all know the airlines chair.
00:18:03.655 -->
00:18:09.064They used to give travel agents travel consultings good rates, but not anymore.
00:18:09.064 -->
00:18:10.285Gone are those days.
00:18:10.285 -->
00:18:22.301But you can get a lot of perks with being a travel consultant and you can do like I'm doing Create your own groups, create your own trips, things like that.
00:18:22.301 -->
00:18:24.709You can go on the trips with your group.
00:18:24.749 -->
00:18:30.021So, like the group that we have going to Thailand, the group doesn't happen if I don't go.
00:18:30.021 -->
00:18:41.659So I have to go and at the same time I'm working because I'm providing a service for the people that are coming, but I'm also looking at the hotels that we're staying in.
00:18:41.659 -->
00:18:45.606I'm looking at the actual attractions, the tours that we're going to take.
00:18:45.606 -->
00:18:54.240So I'm taking in all of that information so I can present that to people who may be interested in traveling to Thailand.
00:18:54.240 -->
00:19:01.536So I love traveling and for me, 2025 has been the busiest travel year.
00:19:01.696 -->
00:19:07.409Actually, 2025 feels like Tracy of old, where I used to stay gone.
00:19:07.409 -->
00:19:19.070It was nothing for me to get in the car and be in the mountains for a weekend, or I would go down to Atlanta for the weekend.
00:19:19.070 -->
00:19:21.063I was going somewhere, I was on a flight.
00:19:21.063 -->
00:19:35.545It was nothing for me to do that, and I'm loving the fact that 2025 has rebirthed that within me and 2026 is about to take it up a whole nother level, because when I tell you I'm going to be outside, I'm going to be outside.
00:19:35.545 -->
00:19:37.381The only thing that's holding me back is this PTO.
00:19:37.381 -->
00:19:41.965So I got to figure out my paid time off, because I do have a nine to five y'all.
00:19:41.965 -->
00:19:44.661I got to think about the nine to five.
00:19:44.661 -->
00:19:46.615The nine to five put the food on the table.
00:19:46.615 -->
00:19:47.618It pays the bills.
00:19:47.618 -->
00:19:50.244It allows me to keep doing this podcasting thing.
00:19:50.244 -->
00:19:54.099So I got to figure out the PTO, but I will be outside, okay.
00:19:55.782 -->
00:20:22.862But I realized in 2025, you know, I spent a lot of money on hotel rooms and rental cars and things like that and I was like girl, if I had my travel agent certification back, I can do this for a fraction of the cost and also still get points in my travel rewards.
00:20:22.862 -->
00:20:26.647So I was like, huh, let me do some research.
00:20:26.647 -->
00:20:30.278And so I was able to find a host agency.
00:20:30.278 -->
00:20:34.207And there may be people online who say you don't need a host agency.
00:20:34.207 -->
00:20:35.497That may be true For me.
00:20:35.497 -->
00:20:38.424I needed a host agency because I knew what I wanted to do.
00:20:38.424 -->
00:20:44.883I wanted to have mentors, I wanted to have access to education, things like that.
00:20:44.883 -->
00:20:47.166So I found a host agency.
00:20:47.166 -->
00:20:49.509That has been fabulous.
00:20:49.509 -->
00:20:53.318Fabulous, the education that they give us.
00:20:53.318 -->
00:20:59.789We have contacts in different arenas of the industry.
00:20:59.789 -->
00:21:00.576It's just been.
00:21:00.576 -->
00:21:02.640I don't have anything negative to say about them.
00:21:02.640 -->
00:21:06.566So I've been doing a lot of learning.
00:21:06.566 -->
00:21:12.301It has been fun and 2025 has been my.
00:21:12.321 -->
00:21:14.849I thought 2025 was going to be my travel year.
00:21:14.849 -->
00:21:17.717No, I think 2026 and beyond is about to be my travel year.
00:21:17.717 -->
00:21:26.580But I'm happy that I'm able to pair two of my loves into one thing, because it was driving me nuts trying to figure out how can I put all of my loves into one thing.
00:21:26.580 -->
00:21:44.903Because it was driving me nuts trying to figure out how can I put all of my passions into one package and then not look crazy, because you listen to the internet gurus and things like that, the coaches and everything, and some of them do have great skill and knowledge about a lot of things.
00:21:44.903 -->
00:21:53.385But at the end of the day, I had to choose what was right for me and now that I've done that, I feel free.
00:21:53.385 -->
00:22:05.980I don't feel bound into this little box of being the grief coach, because I'm going to be honest with y'all Coaching people through grief is hard because you run into two things.
00:22:06.000 -->
00:22:21.528You run into people who want a quick fix and get upset when it's not fixed quickly, or you have people who don't do the work, and that's two of my biggest pet peeves, even though you see me thriving through grief y'all.
00:22:21.528 -->
00:22:30.809I've been doing this for years, decades, decades 20 years since my daughter passed away.
00:22:30.809 -->
00:22:33.924We can go 30 years since my mother passed away.
00:22:33.924 -->
00:22:39.505So I've been doing this for a long time and also I continue to do the work.
00:22:39.505 -->
00:22:43.865It's not like I wake up one day and like, oh yeah, my grief is gone.
00:22:43.865 -->
00:22:55.174No, let April 16th roll around, I'm gonna be in the whole wave of it, but now I have the tools to adjust and maneuver and thrive through it.
00:22:55.174 -->
00:23:01.208So when people see the finished product, they don't understand the work it took to get there.
00:23:05.821 -->
00:23:10.470It's like working out In order to get to and keep the physique that you want.
00:23:10.470 -->
00:23:11.938You got to work out every day.
00:23:11.938 -->
00:23:17.777You have to move your body some kind of way every day, and grief is the same way.
00:23:17.777 -->
00:23:26.569In order for you to combat grief and kick it in as high parts, as I say, you have to do some kind of work every single day.
00:23:26.569 -->
00:23:39.884So now that I'm able to step outside of just grief coaching which is important, don't get me wrong, I still do it, but I do it in a way that I want to do it.
00:23:39.884 -->
00:23:43.276I do it in a way that fuels me instead of drains me.
00:23:43.276 -->
00:23:44.398Ha, there we go.
00:23:44.398 -->
00:24:01.522I grief coach in a way that fuels me instead of draining me, and so now I get to pair my love for travel with helping people get the breakthrough that they deserve, that they desire and that they deserve.
00:24:03.357 -->
00:24:09.885So a couple of things that I'm working on with Graced and Grounded Journeys, of course, the Soulful Escape to Thailand 2026.
00:24:09.885 -->
00:24:12.083That's my big priority right now.
00:24:12.083 -->
00:24:15.023But I'm also working on a blog.
00:24:15.023 -->
00:24:24.295I got this really cute, nice little fancy camera that takes really great video and really great pictures.
00:24:24.295 -->
00:24:26.176That takes really great video and really great pictures.
00:24:26.176 -->
00:24:43.511And so, with my travels, I'm going to be doing blogs about my travels and I'm going to come from a perspective of this is what I do, how I combat my grief while I'm traveling or showing you different cultures, things like that.
00:24:43.511 -->
00:24:47.276So anything that y'all know.
00:24:47.276 -->
00:24:53.538If you've been following me for a minute, you know that I share a lot of things, so I'm going to be sharing with you my actual journey in this next phase of my life.
00:24:55.742 -->
00:24:58.729I'm also going to be creating group retreats.
00:24:58.729 -->
00:25:11.055I think our first well, our first retreat, I know, is going to be international, but I'm also wanting to do some local retreats, and when I say local, again, that's within the United States.
00:25:11.055 -->
00:25:33.163I'm probably going to start in my native North Carolina, south Carolina, georgia areas, because I do realize that some people are not going to get on a plane but they want to break through through.
00:25:33.163 -->
00:25:35.634So I'm trying to think of ways to make it easier for people to get to wherever we are.
00:25:35.634 -->
00:25:49.538So I'm excited about it, I am looking forward to it, I'm looking forward to getting back to Thailand to experience that peace that I felt, and also I'm hoping and praying that the women that come along on this trip get the breakthrough that they're looking for.
00:25:49.538 -->
00:26:04.000I'm hoping that they get transformed, find peace, joy, all of that good stuff, because that is my goal, that is my intention, and I'm just really, really, really, really excited.
00:26:04.321 -->
00:26:12.324So if you have any questions about Grace and Grounded Journeys, I put the link in the show notes to sign up for the email list.
00:26:12.324 -->
00:26:20.221I'm going to be honest by the time you guys hear this podcast, it just may be sold out.
00:26:20.221 -->
00:26:23.846So don't get mad, please don't get mad at me, don't get mad, don't, please don't get mad at me.
00:26:23.846 -->
00:26:25.528But I will.
00:26:25.528 -->
00:26:27.931Will you signing up?
00:26:27.931 -->
00:26:37.845We'll put you on my email list for Grace and Grounded Journey so you will get information first Anytime you're on my email list.
00:26:37.845 -->
00:26:44.943You get the info first before I release it out to the public, because I understand our emails are like gold right now.
00:26:44.943 -->
00:26:54.163So I treat my email list like y'all, y'all the VIP, you the vips, you the very important people, so you always get the information first.
00:26:55.195 -->
00:27:00.000Those who are on my email list right now with Grace, the Grounded Journeys they got the itinerary first.
00:27:00.000 -->
00:27:02.202Oh, let me tell you about this itinerary.
00:27:02.202 -->
00:27:15.659Girl, hold on, hold on, hold on, because I want to get it right, I want to get it right, I want to get it right.
00:27:15.659 -->
00:27:19.826So, first, we are going to fly out from the US of A and we're flying into Bangkok.
00:27:19.826 -->
00:27:22.916So, like I said, we'll be there for four days in Bangkok.
00:27:22.916 -->
00:27:26.727While there, of course, we're going to be doing some touring.
00:27:26.727 -->
00:27:31.503And hold on, just a second, I'm trying to pull up the itinerary.
00:27:31.503 -->
00:27:35.961Itinerary is such a funny word, especially when you Southern.
00:27:35.961 -->
00:27:38.799Y'all hear how my Southern came out when I said itinerary.
00:27:38.799 -->
00:27:42.421Okay, here we go.
00:27:42.421 -->
00:27:45.101So this itinerary, y'all.
00:27:45.101 -->
00:27:49.948I put my heart and soul into this and I hope that it shows.
00:27:49.948 -->
00:27:51.260I hope that it shows.
00:27:51.895 -->
00:27:54.344So we're going to fly from the US to Bangkok.
00:27:54.344 -->
00:28:00.167Of course, when we land in Bangkok, we'll be greeted by our guide.
00:28:00.167 -->
00:28:12.564So we have an English-speaking guide who, of course, is a Thai native, and we will be escorted in our private transport from the airport to our hotel.
00:28:12.564 -->
00:28:14.428I'm not going to tell you where the hotel is.
00:28:14.428 -->
00:28:17.299Okay, you got to get on the wait list for that.
00:28:17.299 -->
00:28:18.942You got to get that info.
00:28:18.942 -->
00:28:38.326So once we get to the hotel, we will have time, you know, to get settled, get dressed for the evening, because there I will be hosting a welcome dinner welcoming everyone to Thailand and kind of going over the itinerary, what to expect on the trip, things like that.
00:28:38.326 -->
00:28:50.819Just reiterating, because I'm planning on doing a virtual meetup for everyone who's going to go on the trip, because I want people to feel comfortable when they book this.
00:28:50.819 -->
00:28:54.085So we'll have a welcome dinner.
00:28:54.746 -->
00:28:56.990I will say our hotel is five star.
00:28:56.990 -->
00:29:00.640It's in the heart of downtown Bangkok.
00:29:00.640 -->
00:29:11.108We got a view of the river, the main river that runs through the city, and our restaurant, where we're having our welcome dinner, is on the rooftop.
00:29:11.108 -->
00:29:12.921So it's going to be real cute and sexy.
00:29:12.921 -->
00:29:13.903It's going to be a vibe.
00:29:13.903 -->
00:29:16.844It's going to be such a good, good, good vibe.
00:29:16.844 -->
00:29:29.141So throughout the tours, throughout our stay there, we will have an English speaking local guide and all of our interest fees will be included in this tour.
00:29:31.183 -->
00:29:46.683So on our first day in Bangkok well, actually, let me back up after I welcome dinner, we will have the opportunity to do a tour.
00:29:46.683 -->
00:29:53.875Nope, nope, I changed that, nevermind, nevermind, nevermind, I changed that, nevermind.
00:29:53.875 -->
00:29:58.038So after our welcome dinner, you know you go back to your room if you want to.
00:29:58.038 -->
00:29:59.695You're probably gonna be jet lagged.
00:29:59.695 -->
00:30:03.838So you just get some rest or whatever, or you can explore the city a little bit.
00:30:03.838 -->
00:30:09.082But on the second day we get breakfast at our hotel.
00:30:09.082 -->
00:30:16.970So we get all breakfast meals and then we will move into the workshop.
00:30:16.970 -->
00:30:29.368So I'm doing a two-hour workshop and this first day is just laying the foundation for what we're going to work on workshop, and this first day is just laying the foundation for what we're going to work on.
00:30:29.368 -->
00:30:33.575And then that evening is when we're going to do a tour of the city.
00:30:33.615 -->
00:30:37.867So we're actually going to do a food tour of Bangkok, where we'll be chauffeured around in the traditional tuk-tuk.
00:30:37.867 -->
00:30:38.971So I'm excited about that.
00:30:38.971 -->
00:30:41.017If you've never been in a tuk-tuk, it's an adventure.
00:30:41.017 -->
00:30:43.021Tuk-tuk, tuk-tuk everywhere.
00:30:43.021 -->
00:30:47.633Okay, it's an adventure.
00:30:47.633 -->
00:30:48.076So it's an adventure.
00:30:48.076 -->
00:30:50.409We're going to do a food tour into Bangkok and visit one of the night markets, things like that.
00:30:51.530 -->
00:30:57.460Day three, we're going to go to the railway market.
00:30:57.460 -->
00:30:58.693This is the place.
00:30:58.693 -->
00:31:00.291I don't know if you've seen it online?
00:31:00.291 -->
00:31:01.657If you haven't, you can look it up.
00:31:01.657 -->
00:31:08.711This is the place where the train actually goes through the market, where you're going to be shopping, y'all.
00:31:08.711 -->
00:31:10.759I'm telling you, thailand has some primo shopping.
00:31:10.759 -->
00:31:26.103So the train goes through the actual marketplace and the vendors at the marketplace pull all of their products out of the way so the train can come through.
00:31:26.103 -->
00:31:27.404It's pretty amazing to see.
00:31:27.404 -->
00:31:35.364So we'll be doing that that morning and then, once we do the market, we'll go to the floating market.
00:31:35.364 -->
00:31:46.623So I don't know if you've seen this online, but the floating market is where you actually are on a boat and you're shopping on the river and you're visiting vendors and things like that.
00:31:46.623 -->
00:31:47.673So that's going to be pretty cool.
00:31:47.673 -->
00:31:51.531So after that, we go back to the hotel and then you have time to yourself for that evening.
00:31:52.093 -->
00:31:58.977The next day we're doing part two of the workshop, and this is the final day of the workshop and this is where they can.
00:31:58.977 -->
00:32:02.124This is where implementation is going to happen.
00:32:02.124 -->
00:32:17.496Implementation is going to happen, and so day two is where they're going to take what they did on day one and then use day two to actually make a plan, and then the rest of the trip you have time for the reflection of that.
00:32:17.496 -->
00:32:20.691So I told you it's going to be real quick and I'm just going to give y'all a little taste.
00:32:20.691 -->
00:32:22.433That's just what we're going to do in Bangkok.
00:32:22.433 -->
00:32:24.897But then I'm not going to tell you everything we're going to do in Phuket.
00:32:24.897 -->
00:32:33.123But I will say this, I will say this when we fly from Bangkok to Phuket, we're going to be landing at another five-star resort.
00:32:33.123 -->
00:32:36.451It's absolutely stunning where we're going to be.
00:32:36.451 -->
00:32:44.823But I will say one of the tours we have, we're going to be on a speedboat, a private speedboat.
00:32:44.823 -->
00:33:06.403I'm excited about that and I also have something special planned at the end of the retreat just to culminate and close out everything that we've done, transformations we've had and it's just a good way to release whatever we brought with us, whatever came up during the workshop.
00:33:06.403 -->
00:33:08.150So I'm super duper excited.
00:33:08.210 -->
00:33:18.385When I tell you I put my heart into this retreat, I must say, if I do say so myself, I'm proud of myself.
00:33:18.385 -->
00:33:19.835I'm proud of myself for this.
00:33:19.835 -->
00:33:23.075Baby, if you can't sell yourself that you're proud of yourself, I don't know what you're doing.
00:33:23.075 -->
00:33:25.558You're doing life wrong, baby, if you can't tell yourself that you're proud of yourself, I don't know what you're doing.
00:33:25.558 -->
00:33:26.039You're doing life wrong.
00:33:26.039 -->
00:33:30.948But yeah, I am looking forward to having this experience with 10 beautiful women.
00:33:30.948 -->
00:33:37.861I don't know who they are at the moment, but I'm pretty sure I will by the time y'all get this podcast episode.
00:33:37.861 -->
00:33:47.576I'm just saying, I'm just saying, but again, I'm putting the link in the show notes about the retreat you can check out Grace and Grounded Journeys.
00:33:47.576 -->
00:33:51.854Grace and Grounded Journeys does have its own Facebook and Instagram page.
00:33:51.854 -->
00:33:58.916It's Grace and Grounded Journeys on both, or you can just follow me on Live In my Empowered Life, because I do cross post on both.
00:34:00.721 -->
00:34:06.121But I just wanted to share that update because some of y'all got on me because I didn't go into detail.
00:34:06.121 -->
00:34:12.061I didn't go into detail on the last episode, but it wasn't that wasn't the time it was.
00:34:12.061 -->
00:34:17.621Last episode was the focus on my sister, so I just wanted to share Grace and Grounded Journeys with you.
00:34:17.621 -->
00:34:20.876I will be sharing more like even on socials.
00:34:20.876 -->
00:34:29.737My plan is to show a few of the behind the scenes things Y'all going to get whatever face I give you, because who putting on makeup every day?
00:34:30.157 -->
00:34:32.242Okay, who's doing that?
00:34:32.242 -->
00:34:33.925Not me, not me.
00:34:33.925 -->
00:34:37.760Unless I'm going into the office, you're not going to get a face full of makeup every day.
00:34:37.760 -->
00:34:56.184Matter of fact, if you could see me right now, my lashes are a little lacking because in a couple of weeks I'm going to be in a wedding and I'm just trying to keep all of my beauty services held off until it's time closer to the wedding, because I don't want to be looking crazy at my friend's wedding.
00:34:56.184 -->
00:35:02.179Right, I'm a bridesmaid, I got to be cute, but anyway, y'all, I just wanted to touch base right quick.
00:35:02.179 -->
00:35:09.961Let you in on what's happening on this end and thank you again for coming along with me on this journey.
00:35:10.951 -->
00:35:14.521I hope this encourages you to pivot.
00:35:14.521 -->
00:35:21.579I know pivot is the popular word now, but yeah, pivot and step out on faith.
00:35:21.579 -->
00:35:31.485Like, do what if you had, if you can remember that one thing that you wanted to do and didn't do it because of whatever circumstance?
00:35:31.485 -->
00:35:37.621If you could do that thing right now, even if it's just a taste of it, do it, do it.
00:35:37.621 -->
00:35:44.141Life is too short to not try new things, do it.
00:35:45.594 -->
00:35:49.780And if you want information on how to become a travel consultant, hit me up.
00:35:49.780 -->
00:35:56.079I will give you the name of the host agency that I'm with.
00:35:56.079 -->
00:35:57.717Again, I say that it's amazing.
00:35:57.717 -->
00:36:02.896There is a monthly fee, or you can pay it quarterly, but it's worth it.
00:36:02.896 -->
00:36:03.958It's worth it.
00:36:03.958 -->
00:36:07.896And the commission ain't bad either, y'all, I'm telling you, the commission is not bad.
00:36:07.896 -->
00:36:14.697The training is awesome and you get to see the inside scoop in this travel industry.
00:36:14.818 -->
00:36:17.362But yeah, anyway, I'm not going to hold you up.
00:36:17.362 -->
00:36:19.054This has been long enough as it is.
00:36:19.054 -->
00:36:20.559I feel like I've rambled through the whole thing.
00:36:20.559 -->
00:36:22.360But if you have questions, you know how to hit me up.
00:36:22.360 -->
00:36:23.541Hit me up, y'all.
00:36:23.541 -->
00:36:27.384I hope that this has inspired you in some kind of way.
00:36:27.384 -->
00:36:33.766Per usual, I hope it has inspired you and I hope that you'll come back next week for the next episode.
00:36:34.648 -->
00:36:36.992And if you think of something that you want us to talk about, let me know.
00:36:36.992 -->
00:36:38.373Oh, oh, oh.
00:36:38.373 -->
00:36:41.978And before I go, before I let you go, this is the last thing for real.
00:36:41.978 -->
00:36:47.791For real, if you are a woman and you have a business, hit me up.
00:36:47.791 -->
00:36:56.233I am going to start listing advertisers for the Charging Station podcast and I want to support women.
00:36:56.233 -->
00:37:07.021I want to support black women-owned businesses, and it won't be an astronomical fee, because I want to support your business.
00:37:07.021 -->
00:37:16.119So hit me up, let me know if you're interested and we can get something on the books for you, but in the meantime, please know that I love you.
00:37:16.119 -->
00:37:16.900God loves you.
00:37:16.900 -->
00:37:19.036It ain't nothing you can do about it.
00:37:19.036 -->
00:37:20.775Boo, until next time.
00:37:20.775 -->
00:37:21.637Bye.
