The Illusion of Control

What if the more tightly we try to control life, the less freedom we actually experience? In this episode, I reflect on Tracee Ellis Ross's solo travel docuseries through the lens of my own two years of backpacking across 50 countries. While our journeys looked very different, they reveal a shared human tendency: our desire to create certainty in an uncertain world. From overplanning and overpacking to embracing discomfort and learning to trust ourselves, this conversation explores how solo travel gently dismantles the illusion of control. Whether you travel with a backpack, a suitcase, or simply find yourself navigating an uncertain season of life, this episode is an invitation to loosen your grip, embrace the unexpected, and discover the growth that can't be planned. In this episode, you'll explore: Why our need for control often comes from anxiety, not preparation What backpacking and luxury travel each reveal about authenticity How discomfort builds resilience in ways comfort cannot Why solo travel helps us discover who we are beyond our roles and routines How learning to surrender can become one of life's greatest transformations