Explore & Expand

Welcome to Explore & Expand, with Carrie Wren and Kelly Howard. We are a little bit of soul and a whole lot of sass...and the occasional f-bomb. Join us for conversations about life through the lens of travel, and living life to the brim.

Meet Your Retreat Leaders: Our Origin Story! 06/17/2026

Meet Your Retreat Leaders: Our Origin Story! One of the questions our group travel participants ask us most is: how did you two meet? Buckle up, because in this episode, we spill the tea on the origins of our real life friendship. From meeting on the the sales floor at Pier One Imports and dancing on bars in our youth, to leading boutique travel experiences around the world, we share all the highs and lows of 25 years of deep friendship, and how it all relates to who we are as business partners and retreat leaders. As usual, we share much full belly laughter, as well as a tear or two. To learn more about our upcoming retreats, head over to our for all the juicy details. Check out our for lots of eye candy from our travels! (C) 2026 Explore and Expand /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/41680030

Not Your Average Travel Essentials Packing List 04/27/2026

Not Your Average Travel Essentials Packing List Ever wondered how seasoned travelers seem to have everything but the kitchen sink zipped into their carry-on, while the rest of us somehow seem to be overpacked and underprepared? We've been there! And, over our many years hosting retreats all over the world, we've finally nailed down the travel must-haves. In this episode, we unzip the mysteries of our "not your average" packing list, and spill (neatly, of course) all our travel essentials. From the hero items you think you don’t need—but absolutely do—to the delightful little lifesavers that earn their spot in your carry-on, we cover it all with a wink and a well-folded pair of socks. Expect clever hacks, a few “why didn’t I think of that?” moments, and just enough chaos to remind you that packing is an art, not a science. Tune in before your next adventure...your suitcase will thank you, we promise. to peek our Not Your Average Travel Essentials Packing List To learn more about our upcoming retreats, head over to our for all the juicy details. Check out our for lots of eye candy from our travels! (C) 2026 Explore and Expand /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/41033990

The Trip I Almost Missed 04/13/2026

The Trip I Almost Missed Have you ever wanted to go on a trip, but something held you back? We can relate. There are always reasons why "not" to take the trip of a lifetime: time, money, fear of the unknown. And yet every single time we've taken the trip, despite all those familiar reasons that could have held us back, we are so damn glad we did. Join us for as we reminisce about some of the most pivotal travel experiences of our lives... and why we almost missed them. Dear listener: we created just for you! Filled with journaling prompts, opportunities to reflect, and a guided meditation, we designed this workbook to support you in any decision-making threshold you might be navigating, travel-related or otherwise. Check it out, and let us know what you think! To learn more about our upcoming retreats, head over to our for all the juicy details. p.s Check out our for lots of eye candy from our travels! (C) 2026 Explore and Expand /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/40826890

Redefining Success + Why it Matters for You 01/27/2025

Redefining Success + Why it Matters for You At Explore & Expand Retreats, we’re redefining success—moving away from the pursuit of “more” and toward the fulfillment of “enough.” To us, successful growth looks like deeper relationships, more profound experiences, and a business rooted in authenticity and heart. Join us for a conversation about what this means for us, and why it matters for you. If you prefer a quick read, captures the essence of this episode. p.s. Have you checkout out our brand spankin' ? We love how it showcases are sweet and adventurous community! p.p.s. Let's connect on /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/35037700

Our 5 Biggest Travel Mistakes: What We Learned, So You Don't Have To! 12/05/2024

Our 5 Biggest Travel Mistakes: What We Learned, So You Don't Have To! Gather 'round everyone, it's story time! In this episode, hear some of our most cringe-worthy our travel foibles. We'll share the 5 most important lessons we've learned abroad, so that you don't have to make the same mistakes! -------------------------------- Curious about our travel philosophy, or what has folks travel with us year after year? Check out ! Want to join us on a future retreat? Our retreats often book up before we have an opportunity to open them up to the public, so hop onto our so you can step to the front of the line! Love to follow along with our travels via social? Find us on ! /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/34306305

Packing 101: Our Tried and True Must Haves (and Mistakes!) 08/01/2024

Packing 101: Our Tried and True Must Haves (and Mistakes!) In this episode, we teach you our best tips and tricks for packing for every situation. Included in this episode: how to pack minimally while still prioritizing personal comfort what we pack with us no matter where in the world we're traveling what we leave at home no matter where we're traveling packing mistakes we've made so that you don't have to Tune in, and let us know your packing must have's and foibles. -------------------------------- Curious about our travel philosophy, or what has folks travel with us year after year? Check out ! Want to join us on a future retreat? Our retreats often book up before we have an opportunity to open them up to the public, so hop onto our so you can step to the front of the line! Love to follow along with our travels via social? Find us on ! /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/32390777

13. Italy: Our Top Travel Tips 10/16/2023

13. Italy: Our Top Travel Tips Welcome back, Explore & Expand podcast fam! We are back from our most recent retreat in Italy with an Ah-mazing group of participants, and have a few practical travel tips to share! From how to manuever public transit to our do's and don'ts for choosing a restaurant, we've got you covered. Curious about our travel philosophy, or what has folks travel with us year after year? Check out ! Want to join us on a future retreat? Our retreats often book up before we have an opportunity to open them up to the public, so hop onto our so you can step to the front of the line! Love to follow along with our travels via social? Find us on ! /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/28315676

12. Seduction of the Senses 12/27/2021

12. Seduction of the Senses In this episode, we share with you some of our all-time favorite, sensory related travel experiences. We continent hop our way from Latin America to Southeast Asia and back again, exploring our favorite sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and sensations along the way. Join us! /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/21600737

11. Bugs We Have Eaten 04/08/2021

11. Bugs We Have Eaten While last episode we share some of our all time favorite meals from around the world, in this episode we share about...bugs (and other unexpected treats) we have eaten! Join us for a fun, occasionally itchy, and surprisingly delicious episode of bug-inspired delicacies! We wanna know about the bugs you have eaten! Send us a note! info@exploreandexpandretreats.com Want to follow join us for soulful and sometimes silly conversations on Insta? Follow us: https://instagram.com/exploreandexpandretreats Thinking of joining us for a retreat? Find out where we’re headed next: www.exploreandexpandretreats.com /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/18614054

10. Delicious Dishes 03/11/2021

10. Delicious Dishes By popular request, today we tell tales about some of our very favorite meals and edible treats around the globe. From Italy to Morocco (and back to Italy again!), we share in vibrant detail, some of our most sensational flavor experiences from around the world. We get more and more excited (and caffeinated) as the episode unfolds; join us for allll the glorious details of some of our very favorite food stories! We’d love to hear: what are some of your favorite food memories? Send us a message at or @exploreandexpandretreats on Instagram. And, if you dig this podcast, we’d be grateful for your 5-star review! /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/18256082

10. Delicious Dishes 03/11/2021

9. 4 of the Most Inspiring Places on the Planet 12/17/2020

9. 4 of the Most Inspiring Places on the Planet Are you missing travel these days as much as we are? Join in as we share 4 of the most inspiring places we’ve ever visited, and wanderlust right along with us. You may walk away with some new places to visit, as well as a newfound appreciation for your own inspiring travel memories. As always, feel free to check us out on the ‘gram at @exploreandexpandretreats or online at /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/17226083

8. In Flight Entertainment 12/03/2020

8. In Flight Entertainment Join Carrie and Kelly for a candid convo on our best tips for plane travel. By the end, you just might find yourself ready for your next flight, or in our words, a “mini-retreat in the sky.” In the meanwhile, browse our upcoming bucket list retreats for intrepid travelers online at /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/16978691

7. Pop Your Comfort Zone Bubble 11/19/2020

7. Pop Your Comfort Zone Bubble What’s the difference between a comfort zone and a boundary? Why are we advocates of getting outside your comfort zone? And wtf does any of this have to do with travel? Kelly and Carrie discuss all of this and more, with a hefty dose of potty talk (literally, ya’ll), and share a powerful tool for determining your own boundaries around travel. We’d love to hear about your travel-related boundaries! Send us an email at or DM us on Instagram at @exploreandexpandretrats. /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/16861757

6. All Prepped Up with No Place to Go 11/05/2020

6. All Prepped Up with No Place to Go Is your wanderlust on overdrive? We feel you! Find out how we’re channeling our suppressed travel desires in a travel-sparse Covid world. We promise actual recommendations and tips (!!!) for how to prepare for your next bucket list trip, even when you can’t actually travel. Wanna see what we’re up to on a day to day basis? Hop on over to Insta and let's connect! Thinking of joining us for a post-pandemic retreat? Sign up to find out where we’re headed next! /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/16688708

5. “I Can Do Hard & Scary Things” 10/01/2020

5. “I Can Do Hard & Scary Things” In this episode, Carrie and Kelly interview Susan Hughes, one of Explore & Expand’s previous retreat participants. Susan shares life lessons she has learned while traveling the globe, as well as her best advice for travelers who may be afraid of getting outside their comfort zones. Check out Susan’s yoga classes online at our friendly neighborhood-turned-global yoga studio, ! Have a show request, idea for a future retreat, or simply want to stay in touch? Visit us online at /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/16223861

4. It’s All in a Name 09/17/2020

4. It’s All in a Name Meet Travel Disaster and Problems McGee, a.k.a. Salty Mango and Cracked Young Coconut, a.k.a. Kelly and Carrie. In this episode we share the shenanigans that earned us our travel nicknames. Dear listener: we’d love to hear from you! Do you have a travel nickname? If so, what is it and how did you earn it? Want to follow join us for soulful and sometimes silly conversations on Insta? Follow us: Thinking of joining us for a retreat? Find out where we’re headed next: /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/16032860

3. Travel Traps: Why We Scout Locations 09/03/2020

3. Travel Traps: Why We Scout Locations Have you ever planned a bucket-list trip, spending inordinate amounts of time scouring travel guides and reviews, only to be met with a disappointment and underwhelm (and occasionally scathed taste buds)? This, dear traveler, is a phenomenon we refer to as a “travel trap.” Join us behind the scenes as we describe why we scout our locations ahead of time, on behalf of our fellow travelers. Hint: Instagram does not necessarily equal reality. Have you experienced a Travel Trap? We’d be happy to commiserate! Send us a note: Want to follow join us for soulful and sometimes silly conversations on Insta? Follow us: Thinking of joining us for a retreat? Find out where we’re headed next: Have you ever planned a bucket-list trip, spending inordinate amounts of time scouring travel guides and reviews, only to be met with a disappointment and underwhelm (and occasionally scathed taste buds)? This, dear traveler, is a phenomenon we refer to as a “travel trap.” Join us behind the scenes as we describe why we scout our locations ahead of time, on behalf of our fellow travelers. Hint: Instagram does not necessarily equal reality. Have you experienced a Travel Trap? We’d be happy to commiserate! Send us a note: Want to follow join us for soulful and sometimes silly conversations on Insta? Follow us: Thinking of joining us for a retreat? Find out where we’re headed next: /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/15485276

2. Jetlag & Tuk Tuks: The Unlikely Things We Miss About Travel 08/20/2020

2. Jetlag & Tuk Tuks: The Unlikely Things We Miss About Travel Two wanderlusting gals hell bent on travel wax poetic about the weird things we miss during quarantine. For Kelly, it’s exploring the intoxicating sights, sounds, and smells of a foreign city from the back of a tuk tuk. For Carrie, it’s the laser sharp experience of arriving halfway around the globe, just in time to greet a brand new day. We’d love to hear the weird and wacky things YOU miss most about travel! Send us a note: Want to follow join us for soulful and sometimes silly conversations on Insta? Follow us: Thinking of joining us for a retreat? Find out where we’re headed next: /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/15485219

1. Anxiety in a Bag: Are You a Carrie or a Kelly? 08/04/2020

1. Anxiety in a Bag: Are You a Carrie or a Kelly? In this episode, we explore our individual packing neuroses. Kelly makes lists of her lists months in advance, while Carrie piles shit on the floor and eventually puts it in a suitcase, moments before her Uber pulls up to take her to the airport. Join us as we giggle and chat about our packing styles, accentuated by an f-bomb or two. So: Are you a Carrie, or a Kelly? Drop us a line! Want to follow join us for soulful and sometimes silly conversations on Insta? Follow us: Thinking of joining us for a retreat? Find out where we’re headed next: /episode/index/show/exploreandexpandretreats/id/15485099

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