Friends Along the Way is a podcast about solo travel and the people you meet when you're open to connection. Hosted by Bethany, each episode features stories from travelers who found community in unexpected ways.
Whether you're dreaming of your first solo trip or you're already a passport-stamped pro, this show is a reminder that even when we go alone, we're never truly alone.
So grab your coffee or your boarding pass, and let’s go on this adventure together.
🎧 Follow along on Instagram: @friendsalongthewaypod (https://instagram.com/friendsalongthewaypod)
From Marienplatz to Dachau: My Munich Travel Story, Oktoberfest & Bavaria Highlights
Join me as I travel from Austria to Munich, Germany — one of the most vibrant and historic cities in Europe. In this episode, I explore Marienplatz, Munich’s famous Old Town square, visit iconic beer halls, experience Oktoberfest for the very first time, and take in the fairy-tale beauty of Neuschwanstein Castle. I wrap up the episode with a powerful and emotional visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site.
If you're planning a trip to Germany, Bavaria, or Munich, this episode gives you real travel tips, cultural insights, fun facts, and a heartfelt look at one of Europe’s most meaningful historical sites.
What you’ll hear in this episode:🇩🇪 Marienplatz history & Munich travel tips🍺 Traditional Bavarian beer halls & my first German beer🎡 What Oktoberfest is really like as a first-timer🏰 Fun facts about Neuschwanstein Castle🕯️ My honest experience at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial🚍 Travel stories, friendships, and the moments that made Munich unforgettable
10 Dec 2025
From Innsbruck to Salzburg: Exploring Austria’s Alpine Cities & Hidden Gems
This week, I take you with me from Northern Italy across the Alps into Austria, where I explored Innsbruck’s fairytale mountains and Salzburg’s musical magic. From Red Bull history to Swarovski crystals, café culture, cooking classes, and a traditional festival I stumbled into—I’m sharing it all.
If you love slow travel, mountain views, and European charm, this episode is for you.
3 Dec 2025
Italy Travel Guide: Rome, Venice & Northern Italy — What I Learned on My Solo Trip
Discover what it’s really like to solo travel through Italy. In this episode, I share everything I learned while exploring Rome, Venice, and northern Italy—from getting lost on day one to visiting the Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, and the canals of Venice. I talk about the food that made me emotional, the friends I met along the way, wine tasting in the Veneto region, and even whitewater rafting in the mountains. If you’re planning an Italy trip or looking for honest Rome and Venice travel tips, this guide-style episode will inspire your own Italy itinerary.
26 Nov 2025
Thankful Around the World: What Every Country Taught Me
In this special episode of Friends Along the Way, I share the biggest lessons I’m thankful for from every country I’ve visited. From London opening my eyes to travel, to Paris feeling like a living painting, to Amsterdam giving me clarity about my values, each place taught me something different about the world — and about myself.
You’ll hear reflections from:London • Paris • Amsterdam • Montreal & Quebec City • Rome & Venice • Salzburg & Innsbruck • Munich • Liechtenstein • Lucerne • Mexico
Travel has built my confidence, expanded my horizons, and made my dreams bigger than I ever imagined. This episode is filled with gratitude, perspective, and the moments that shaped me as a solo traveler and as a person.
If you love solo travel, personal growth, and meaningful stories from around the world, this episode is for you.
19 Nov 2025
Living in India: How Natalie Built a Life Abroad She Loved
This week on Friends Along the Way, Bethany talks with Natalie, who lived in India and shares what life abroad is truly like — the travel, the community, and the perspective that comes from stepping into a new culture.For anyone thinking about moving overseas, this episode is a must-listen.
12 Nov 2025
From Germany to the USA | Michelle on Being a Foreign Exchange Student & Finding Perspective
Bethany reconnects with her friend Michelle, who moved from Germany to the U.S. at just 16 years old as a foreign exchange student. They talk about what it was like to experience a new culture, the differences between Europe and America, and how that year abroad shaped who she is today.
5 Nov 2025
Grace in Every Journey | Cristal on Friendship, Faith & Finding God Through Travel
Cristal joins Bethany to share how travel has deepened her faith and sense of gratitude. From her annual best-friend trips with her roommate Kiley to moments of awe in new places, she reflects on seeing God’s hand in every destination. This episode is a reminder to pause, take it in, and recognize the grace woven into every journey.
29 Oct 2025
#12 Sara V
In this episode of Friends Along the Way, Bethany sits down with her friend Sara, a fellow traveler whose adventures span from studying abroad in Spain to exploring hidden corners of Europe. The two share stories of almost crossing paths overseas, reflecting on how travel changes your perspective, builds lifelong friendships, and reminds you just how connected the world really is.
Whether you’ve studied abroad, backpacked across Europe, or dream of your next solo trip, this episode dives into the magic of travel serendipity, personal growth, and those moments that make you say, “it’s a small world after all.”
22 Oct 2025
#11 Travel Stories: Canada
My trip to Canada was more than just sightseeing — it’s where Friends Along the Way was born. From Cafe Olympico to meeting two new friends who felt like old ones, this episode is all about how travel sparks connection and creativity in the most unexpected places.
15 Oct 2025
#10 Gabby
In this episode, Gabby opens up about her time living in Mexico and how that experience changed her perspective on what truly matters. After returning to the U.S., she found herself missing the slower, simpler pace of life she once had — a life rooted in community and peace instead of the daily grind. We talk about the cultural contrasts between Mexico and the U.S., what small-town living taught her, and her plans to head back to the place that feels most like home.
8 Oct 2025
#9 Megan B
Meet Megan: high-energy, funny, and fearlessly herself. She once worked at Tommy Bahama in Hawaii just for fun, got proposed to in Italy, and never holds back what she’s really thinking. This episode is full of laughter, honesty, and stories that’ll remind you how good it feels to live boldly.
1 Oct 2025
#8 Odalys
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Odalys, whose passion for languages and cultures shines through in everything she does. We talk about what sparked her love for learning multiple languages, the ways it’s shaped her perspective, and her dream of one day living abroad. Odalys shares how being curious and open to new experiences has led her to grow, explore, and connect with people in meaningful ways. If you’ve ever thought about learning a new language, traveling, or stepping outside your comfort zone, this conversation will leave you inspired to take that next step.
24 Sept 2025
#7 Britney
In this episode, I’m joined by my first-ever EF travel buddy, Briteny! We dive into the magic of group travel, her best tips for keeping your skin fresh on the road, and the exciting trips she’s got on the horizon. From our first adventure together to the journeys still to come, this one’s full of laughs, stories, and travel inspo.
17 Sept 2025
#6 Travel Stories: London, Paris, & Amsterdam
✨ In this episode of Friends Along the Way, I share the story of my very first solo trip abroad—an unforgettable adventure with EF Ultimate Break. From the buzz of London, to the romance of Paris, to the charm of Amsterdam, I talk about what it was really like to explore these iconic cities for the first time. You’ll hear about the highs, the differences between the US and these cities, and even some fun facts I picked up along the way.
If you’ve ever thought about traveling solo or joining a group trip, this one’s for you. 🌍✈️
10 Sept 2025
#5 Stephanie
In this episode, Bethany sits down with her friend Stephanie, whose travel journey began when she moved to Jordan at just 21 years old. A spicy Italian with a love for culture and connection, Stephanie shares how living abroad opened her eyes to new perspectives and set her on a lifelong path of exploration. From learning to adapt in a new country to carrying those lessons into future adventures, her story is all about courage, curiosity, and embracing the unknown.
3 Sept 2025
#4 Reyna
In this episode, Reyna opens up about how solo travel became a turning point in her life. From learning to trust herself in unfamiliar places to finding deep connections with strangers who became friends, her story is full of inspiration, laughter, and the reminder that the world feels a little less big when we’re open to it.
27 Aug 2025
#3 Melissa
In this episode, Melissa reflects on a lifetime of travel, from starting her adventures at a young age to visiting 40 countries. She shares how she turned work trips into personal explorations and kept the promises she made to herself to see the world.
20 Aug 2025
#2 Farouk
In this episode, Farouk shares his inspiring journey from growing up in Nigeria to building a new life in Montreal. We talk about resilience, identity, and the connections he’s made along the way.
13 Aug 2025
#1 Bethany
In this first episode of Friends Along the Way, I share my own travel story from family vacations in Wisconsin to solo adventures around the globe, and how those experiences shaped my confidence, independence, and love for meeting people wherever I go. It’s a chance to get to know me and the heart behind this podcast.
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