Do you ever feel limited by society’s expectations and stereotypes surrounding travel?

When Beth Santos started a travel blog, her goal was to challenge norms by exploring the diverse and shared experiences of women traveling the world. It has since morphed into Wanderful, an international community and social network with over 40,000 active members composed of women and non-binary people of all ages and backgrounds. Aside from this booming online community, Beth has also created WITS Travel Creator + Brand Summit, the Bessie Awards, and the first-ever outdoor women’s festival.

This episode is all about rethinking what it means to travel and how the narratives we tell (and believe) can exclude so many people. Beth and I get into how she reconnected with her Portuguese heritage and how that led to a life of travel and leadership. She shares her story of moving to São Tomé and Príncipe in her early 20s, the emotions around not speaking the language of her own family, and how she eventually turned those early experiences into a powerful global community.

We talk a lot about what it means to lead with vulnerability, how to build safe and inclusive spaces, and why the dominant solo female travel narrative is way too narrow. Beth also opens up about entrepreneurship, failure, and parenting as a founder.

What are some ways you can create a safe space for others? I'd love to hear some of your ideas and hope you will share by sending me an audio message.

*This is a previously released episode from the archives! Zero To Travel interviews are timeless, offering valuable insight whenever you listen.

Tune In To Learn:

Why "travel" isn’t about miles traveled, but the challenge to your assumptions
How Beth’s heritage and a two-year stint in São Tomé shaped her journey
Advice on using vulnerability to build authentic, enduring communities
How solo female travel is often framed as either romantic or frightening—and why that’s incomplete
Why women dominate travel decisions and how that shapes industry narratives
How Wanderful links women around the globe with real, local advice
How to hold space as a leader—even if "failure" occurs
Why the life of a traveling entrepreneur and motherhood aren’t mutually exclusive
The story behind Wanderfest—the first outdoor travel festival by and for women
Why breaking the rules empowers people to be themselves

Resources:

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Disrupting Travel and Building Community with Beth Santos