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"Having a bigger why is going to have a significant impact on your experience"
In this episode I share the reasons why a special event is a wonderful and intentional focus for a trip. I use upcoming examples with special events like the FIFA World Cup 2026, F1® races, and total solar eclipses. You'll learn:
- More about my own interest and experience with events like these
-The specific reasons why a special event creates intention before and during a trip
-How it can be strategic financially to plan a trip like this
-How it suits solo travelers as well as those traveling with partners, friends, or families
-When, where, and ideas for how to experience upcoming total solar eclipses
-How working with a travel advisor or consultant like me can help
Resources:
National Solar Observatory Upcoming total solar eclipses listed under "Maps for Upcoming Events"
FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Schedule
F1® 2026 Schedule
Work with me to plan your special event trip https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/contact
Join this DeGoogling challenge
Connect with me Instagram @pueblayorkinc
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This episode was inspired by a current client who felt challenged with how to organize her upcoming trip to Japan. I share how you can make a Japan itinerary :
•That's unique to your interests and travel style
•Avoids being generic and overtourism by going to the same 2-3 places
•Allows you to have deeper experiences while traveling
Episodes mentioned:
Ep. 27 Expanding My Travel Business with Purpose
Ep.7 Choose Quality Over Quantity
Get clarity with you Japan itinerary with this audit https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/itinerary-audit
Have your trip designed bySequoia https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/contact
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In this episode, I share why I'm expanding my business, how travel can be transformative, and why I want to bring that to more women.
Episode mentioned:
26 Matcha Crisis: Inside Japan’s Matcha Shortage
Resources:
The history of the colonization of Hawai'i
Reel I mention with words I removed by doing decolonizing work
https://www.instagram.com/p/DOJFrFzDnLV/
Join this travel community for WOC https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-travel-community
Work with Sequoia https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/contact
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"Japan doesn't use ceremonial grade"
In this episode, I address the worldwide matcha shortage. I
• What is matcha?
• Defining the crisis in terms of demand and supply
• Where did "ceremonial" grade match come from?
• What qualifies matcha as matcha
• How you can be more discerning as a buyer
• Tea regions, production and types in Japan including sencha, gyokuro, and hojicha
Relevant episodes:
Episode 5 Recommendations for First-Time Travelers to Japan
Episode 4 Female Solo Travel in Japan
Episode 18 Top Tips for High-Season Travel in Japan
Resouces:
Hojicha Co where I buy hojicha powder
Want to be carry-on only, grab this complimentary guide
Are you a WOC who wants a sacred space to connect, be supported, and make your travel dreams come true? Join our community https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-travel-community
Work with Sequoia https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/contact
Follow Puebla York on on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
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In this episode I share why I chose to spend two weeks this summer traveling solo in Oaxaca, Mexico and the reflections and lessons of this trip.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
What is water stress? https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/water-stress-global-problem-thats-getting-worse
Coolcation blog post https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/blog/why-taking-a-coolcation-is-a-conscious-travel-decision
Zapotec Travel https://zapotectravel.com/
Want to be part of #TeamCarryOn, grab this complimentary guide to packing lighter
Are you a WOC who wants a sacred space to connect, be supported, and make your travel dreams come true? Join us in Her Global Haven https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-travel-community
Work with Sequoia
Contact Sequoia
See my Oaxaca highlights https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18069858167068943/
DM me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
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In this episode, I briefly go over the challenges faces cities such as Barcelona and Mexico City. Both have had protests against tourism and while the situation is nuanced and complex is comes down to, especially in the case of Mexico City, a few things:
•Little governance or restriction for vacation rentals like AirBnB
•Pandemic era digital nomads or remote works choosing to live in Mexico which has less restrictions
•Higher rent in CDMX (Mexico City) due to American and European residents working remotely
•Increased numbers of visitors who often stay in the same neighborhoods
•Living without a visa, not learning Spanish, and/or connecting with the community
Learn more
Mexico City https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/world/americas/mexico-city-protests-rent-prices-tourists.html
Barcelona https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/06/15/new-demonstrations-in-spain-against-overtourism
Want to be carry-on only, grab this complimentary guide
Are you a WOC who wants a sacred space to connect, be supported, and make your travel dreams come true? Join this community https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-travel-community
Work with Sequoia
Contact Sequoia
Follow my travels https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
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In today's quick solo episode, I share:
•What Solo Summer means
•Why I'm traveling to Oaxaca, Mexico
Want to pack lighter? Grab this complimentary guide
Want to be in a travel community with like-minded WOC? Join our community https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-travel-community
Work with Sequoia
Contact Sequoia
Follow my travels https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
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In this episode, I share why, when, and where women might travel to in Mexico.
I talk about my experiences and recommendations, including:
-Why I chose Mexico for my travel business
-Why I feel connected to the country
-Where to go and why I love pueblos mágicos
-Times of year to visit and the beauty of slow travel
-How to travel more consciously while in Mexico
Episode Referenced
Episode 17: Women's Safety, Travel, and Understanding Men with Alison Armstrong
Episodes That May Also Interest You
Episode 7: Choose Quality Over Quantity
Episode 3: Why You Should Travel Solo
Join this travel community for mindful women of color
Work with Sequoia
Follow my travels on Instagram
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, I have a conversation with my mother about her travel experience throughout her life and our mother-daughter trips:
We speak about:
•Her first trip outside of her home country
•What she doesn't enjoy about flying
• How slow travel makes her feel
• Where she enjoys traveling to
• Her travel dreams
Want to pack lighter? Grab this complimentary guide
Work with Sequoia https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/contact
Follow my travels https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
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I guested on Keila Aldea's podcast, She Can Heal, earlier this year, where I talked about my story and how the travel business came. Keila and I get more in-depth about solo travel for women.
Join the waitlist for an online travel community for mindful women of color that launches late May. For WOC who want to learn, connect, and transform their travel in the next year.
https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/join-community
Want to pack lighter? Grab this complimentary guide
Work with Sequoia
Follow my travels https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
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In this episode, I get more personal and share my experiences with romance while traveling. The episode topic is inspired by and is a reaction to episode 17 with Alison Armstrong.
“Yeah, so just be aware of chemistry everywhere, but especially when you're traveling, because there's the enticement of the difference." Alison Armstrong
Episode referenced:
Episode 17: Women's Safety, Travel, and Understanding Men with Alison Armstrong
Resources:
Alison Armstrong Chemistry and Connection on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/alisonarmstrongvideos (Scroll down for all 6)
The mental health benefits of travel
https://www.abundancetherapycenter.com/blog/the-mental-health-benefits-of-traveling
Travel community launching soon:
Join the waitlist for an online travel community for mindful women of color that launches late May. For WOC who want to learn, connect, and transform your travel in the next year.
https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/join-community
Work with Sequoia
Say hello on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this brief episode, I share my top tips for planning a trip to Japan during high season. Spring is incredibly popular, but this will apply to any holidays in Japan as well.
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Episodes you might also enjoy:
Episode 4 Female Solo Travel in Japan
Episode 5 Recommendations for First-Time Travelers To Japan
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Want to pack lighter? Grab this complimentary guide
If you're planning a trip to Japan, you may consider getting a JR Rail pass for train travels
Work with Sequoia https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/contact
Say hello on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
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In this episode, I have an insightful conversation with Alison Armstrong about women's safety as it relates to travel, and how understanding men can impact this.
Alison Armstrong’s exploration of human behavior began in 1991, with her decision to study men: “To find out how I was bringing out the worst in them. And hopefully, how to bring out the best.” Her success in understanding men naturally led to studying women’s behavior and making vital connections between the two.
As her work evolved over decades, Alison now illuminates human characteristics that precede and express themselves regardless of gender, age, and upbringing. She distinguishes normal human instincts that compel both men and women to behave in ways that contradict and undermine our own purposes, goals, values, needs, and relationships.
Besides fulfilling the need to understand “Why” people behave as they do, Alison offers practical,partnership-based alternatives. Through her seminars, books, online programs, and media contributions, she has been giving millions of people access to more fulfilling lives, loving relationships, stronger families andproductive organizations.
Alison is a sought-after speaker and thought leader amongst people who desire to live empowered lives. Her philosophy and approach are referenced and taught by other authors, speakers, business consultants, and therapists.
Timestamps:
5:10 What if men are responding to women?
6:56 Connection related to safety and travel
8:35 Emasculating men
14:13 What happens when it stops
16:20 Teaching women and writing The Queen's Code
23:15 Distinguishing safety between men and women
27:27 Safety through connectivity vs. productivity
31:31 Ways to act while traveling
33:44 Men don't realize their strength
36:10 Survival and hormones
38:32 Our part in safety
40:02 Receptivity, holding boundaries, and flight-fight-freeze responses
44:56 Testerone vs. Estrogen and how it affects the brain
48:50 Spectrum of diffused awareness and single-focused
52:00 Reframing machismo
54:35 Beware of chemistry
Resources:
Free Sample of Understanding Women
Thrive Your Life -- FREE
https://www.alisonarmstrong.com/products/thrive-life.html Add product to cart, choose "FOR ME" at checkout, and enter promo code Sequoia2025. Expires April 30th.
Chemistry and Connection on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/alisonarmstrongvideos (Scroll down for all 6)
Connect with Alison:
___
Contact Sequoia
Connect with/ Sequoia on Instagram
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In this episode, I share how you can think about future travel this year with intention, including:
• The value of creating a vision board and what's on mine for 2025
• Special occasion trips with a type of trip I enjoy
• The impact you have
• Reiterating points of conscious travel
• Planning a trip around festivities such as Lunar New Year
Episodes referenced:
15. Purpose, Entrepreneurship, and Travel Wellness with Youmie Jean Francois
9. How to Avoid Adding to Overtourism
If you'd like to help me with market research for a women's travel community, you can fill it out here (deadline March 9, 2025)
Pack lighter for your travel by grabbing this complimentary guide
If you're planning a trip to Japan, you may consider getting a JR Rail pass for train travels
Work with Sequoia
Do you have an idea for the podcast or something to share?
DM on Instagram to tell me 😊
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The start of Season 2 features Youmie Jean Francois.
Youmie Jean Francois is a transformational speaker, a brand strategist, a money trauma expert, a private pilot, an author, and the proud Founder/CEO of Flex-N-Fly, The Flex Bags, and The Flex-N-Fly Foundation.
Throughout her career, she's dedicated herself to enhancing the well-being of travelers and helping small business owners scale. She speaks 4 languages fluently and splits her time between New York and Colombia.
Flex-N-Fly, her award-winning travel and wellness company, has become a beacon of innovation. They bring wellness studios to airports. Providing stretching, yoga, and relaxation classes to airports, aiming to ease the stress that often accompanies modern travel. They've been featured in Forbes, Travel & Leisure, TripAdvisor, BlackEnterprise, Macy's, Belk, Flying Solo, and More. Youmie's best-selling poetry book, The Sacrifice: When Transition Looks Like Chaos, is available now.
Timestamps:
01:14 Youmie's intro
02:58 Recent trip to Mexico
04:49 Why and how Flex-n-Fly began
07:41 What was needed to start a travel business
10:21 Scaling and starting multiple businesses
11:19 Starting the Flex-n-Fly foundation
17:44 Who Youmie's non-profit serves
20:26 The Flex-n-Fly Foundation's goal for 2025
22:48 Representation of women as pilots and travelers
24:27 Why Youmie's non-profit exists
26:46 An important business lesson
28:07 Business finances
33:36 Having a team and growing Flex-n-Fly
39:12 Detachment in life and business
43:40 Living in alignment
48:25 Worthiness
50:48 Setting boundaries and being tested
51:56 Youmie's most transformative travel experience
54:54 Traveling as a Haitian woman
56:48 A beautiful message about being yourself
58:35 Friendship breakups
01:02:30 Communicating needs
01:03:50 Wrapping up and where to find and connect with Youmie
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Resources:
____
• Learn more about Youmie here
• Join the Flex-n-Fly Travel Challenge
•Donate to the Flex-n-Fly Foundation
•Youmie on LinkedIn
•Tune into Youmie's LinkedIn Live in Your Power Series
•Subscribe to Flex-n-Fly
•Find Youmie on Threads
___
Grab this guide to packing lighter
Work with Sequoia
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In this episode, I share recent life updates including travel, what's to come for my business in 2025, and ways you can mindfully plan for your travels in 2025.
Including:
• Looking into your Astrocartography chart to figure out why you're drawn to a place or what place is best for you
• Human Design type and authority to help inform you while you think about where to next
Resources:
Look up your Astrocartography birth chart
Astro Twins at Astrostyle
Human Design Find your design type
Episode referenced:
5. Recommendations for First-Time Travelers to Japan
10. When to Start Planning a Trip to Japan
Pack lighter for your travel by grabbing this complimentary guide
If you're planning a trip to Japan, you may consider getting a JR Rail pass for train travels
Work with Sequoia
Do you have an idea for the podcast or something to share?
DM on Instagram to tell me 😊
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, I share some tips and takeaways from my recent visit to Japan :
• IC cards will help make transportation easier in Japan. What are they and how do they work?
• Experiencing over-tourism in Kyoto and what a local friend hopes for
• Visitors to Japan are diverse both in where they're visiting from and age range
• What getting off the beaten path means for you
Episode referenced:
5. Recommendations for First-Time Travelers to Japan
Pack lighter for your travel by grabbing this guide!
If you're planning a trip to Japan, you may consider getting a JR Rail pass
Work with Sequoia
Did you like something in this episode?
DM on Instagram to tell me 😊
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In this episode, I wanted to share suggestions for how you can plan a future mother-daughter trip based on numerous trips with my mom.
I cover these topics:
• What to book first and why
•The value and importance of space and time to yourself
• What to keep in mind for a better and more meaningful travel experience for you both
Want to pack light for your mother-daughter trip? Grab this guide!
If you're planning a trip to Japan, you may consider getting a JR Rail pass
Work with Sequoia
Did you like something in this episode?
DM on Instagram to tell me 😊
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, I discuss a concern that solo travelers have about spending during solo trips and how you can be mindful of where and how you spend.
The topics I cover are:
•Using time to your advantage
•Aligning spending to your values
•An effective way to create change in your finances and the world
•Have a dedicated account for travel
•Using debit and credit cards
•Travel hacking
•Accommodation suggestions that can help you save
Episode referenced:
Episode 3 Why You Should Travel Solo
Resources:
Find a sustainable bank near you BankGreen
Points and Miles Doc Instagram
My referral link for Atmos Financial
Get $10, Give $10
Have you wanted to be #teamcarryon and pack lighter? Grab this guide!
If you're planning a trip to Japan, you might consider getting a JR Rail pass
Work with Sequoia
Did you like something in this episode?
DM on Instagram to tell me 😊
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, I answer an important question: when do you start planning a trip to Japan? I share my work process with past and future clients and more of what it's like to work with me.
I share these aspects of planning your trip to Japan:
• What to keep in mind when planning
• The ideal time frame for planning a trip
• How many nights for a trip
• Holidays and peak seasons to consider
• Flight first vs places first?
• Cherry blossom season
Episodes I reference:
Episode 4 Female Solo Travel in Japan
Episode 5 Recommendations for First-Time Travelers To Japan
Resources:
This blog post is about why fall foliage this year is delayed
Have you wanted to be #teamcarryon and pack lighter? Grab this guide!
If you're planning a trip to Japan, you might consider getting a JR Rail pass
Read about me
Work together
Did you like something in this episode?
DM on Instagram to tell me 😊
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