Stories From The Road

Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi are the co-hosts of the RV Family Travel Atlas and Campground of the Week podcasts, which have been downloaded over 2 million times. They have appeared on television numerous times as spokesmen for Go RVing.   They are also the co-authors of Idiots Guide: RV Vacations, which is available wherever books are sold.    The Puglisis spend over 100 nights a year traveling in their Jayco Octane Toy Hauler with their three sons Max, Theo, and Wes—and Maggie the Camping Dog.   You can follow their adventures on Instagram.   Some highlights: 2:48 - Representing the Weekend Warriors 3:50 - Adventure and Mishaps in Canada 14:00 - How camping has benefited their sons 18:19 - Would RVFTA ever go full-time?? 25:35 - RV beginnings to RVFTA 32:35 - Managing RVFTA with work and travel 47:15 - Trailer Life cover 53:35 - Best food cities 1:00:27 - Favorite travel experiences

Kerensa Durr & Brandon Hatcher hit the road in January of 2014 and haven’t looked back. They spend their time finding regional foods, exploring cool places to dive, and meeting other RVers. After years of enjoying their freedom exploring the US in their RV, they wanted to help others learn the ropes of full-timing at RVtoFreedom.com and with their course Roadmap to Full-Time RVing. You can find them every day in their popular Facebook group RVtoFreedomGroup.com. Some episode highlights: 2:55 - What is RV to Freedom? 10:24 - Developing their curriculum.  15:55 - Seeing their students thrive. 18:50 - Why they RV. 27:35 - Differences between city life and RV Life 33:15 - RV Memories and the eclipse. 36:45 - Get out and RV! 41:23 - Kerensa and Brandon’s RV bucket list

The Nickersons: Corey, Jessie, Lily, and Leila, sold their home in 2017 and moved into a travel trailer full-time. Corey, a veteran and photographer, and Jessie, who used to run a spray-tan business out of their home, decided their family needed a change—traveling and exploring the country and connecting with people on the road. They want to show the world that their “someday” is possible right now. Follow their journey at instagram.com/findingoursomeday. Some episode highlights: 1:23 - Whats going on in Wyoming? 7:47 - Volunteering on the road 15:33 - The Nickerson’s Rig 22:33 - Family bonding while traveling 30:20 - Everglades outpost  35:05 - A memorable Mt. Rushmore experience 44:30 - Hindsight is 20/20 48:12 - RV tips

Looking to become debt-free and inspired by the tiny home movement, Crystal Seay downsized her family's life and hit the road in an RV. Their renovated 36-foot fifth wheel is their "tiny dream home,"  and now Crystal, her husband Paul, and two children travel the country chasing adventure, living simply, and paying off their debt. 3:50 - The Seay’s first six months of traveling. 5:02 - Crystal and the Tiny Home movement. 9:20 - Pros and Cons of downsizing their lives. 14:45 - RVing and becoming debt free. 20:45 - Saving and debt progress. 23:40 - Raising a family in an RV 28:20 - The Seay’s RV Community experiences 30:40 - Crystal’s stories from the road. 32:50 - RV buying advice.

  Brendan and Sam Binger are a couple in their twenties, traveling through America full-time in their RV. They work from the road while exploring all of the incredible sights, places, and experiences that the US has to offer.   Check out their Instagram account to say "hi" and follow along, or read about their journey on their website lifeamongpines.com.    A few things we covered: 2:18 - Work-Life balance on the road 4:30 - National Park goals 7:01 - What pushed them to go full time 9:50 - Support from friends and family 13:41 - A look insided Brendan and Sam's RV 19:45 - Why They boondock/ best boondocking spots 22:08 - Plants and Pets on the road 28:05 - Sam and Brendan’s Stories from the road

Jon and Nadia are full-time RVers and food lovers who have set out on a journey to design a lifestyle of adventure, discovery, and learning. Prior to setting out on their journey, Jonathan worked in sales, while Nadia was a former teacher and, eventually, a marketing professional. Knowing they yearned to travel while building businesses that enabled the lifestyle, they decided to commit fully to pursuing their passions and chasing their dreams. Today, you are bound to find Jon with a camera in-hand, and Nadia creating illustrations, presentations, and many other digital assets—while simultaneously enjoying a fine cheese and a glass of wine. To follow along on their adventures, visit them at roamingremodelers.com, or follow them on YouTube and Instagram. Some topics we covered: 2:23 - How the Roaming Remodelers plan their travels   7:30 - How their RV experience changed in the first year   12:36 - The RV community   26:30 - Switching from a travel trailer to a class C   30:01 - RVing with dogs   37

Kelly left suburbia back in 2015. With a house too big for her and her two tiny dogs, and a life that had felt stale years prior, she found herself totally free to live a nomadic life. An exclusive boondocker, she's loving the wide open spaces out west. Chasing the good weather is a requirement. Work is her primary daily routine, but exploring is a big part of this lifestyle and she hikes and explores nearby towns whenever possible. Follow Kelly on her blog, Facebook, and Instagram. A few things we covered: 2:20 - Why Kelly exclusively boondocks 7:09 - Safety on the road 15:03 - Best aspects of boondocking  20:05 - Kelly’s RV 29:35 - Opportunities on the road 34:14 - Camp Addict 38:00 - Kelly’s Banff story 48:35 - Madmax encounter

Scott Pellegrom has become one of the leading innovators for the next generation of drumming. Since performing live at the age of five, he has transformed from a natural born rhythmist to an international performer and clinician. While he's been a camping and RV enthusiast for a long time, he's recently moved into a Class B RV—allowing him to travel to tour dates and actually give drum lessons in the RV. Follow Scott's journey on Instagram. Some topics we discussed: 3:30 Scott’s RV story 10:00 Social media’s impact on travel and music 11:20 Class B RV renovations 18:10 Northern MI hidden gems 23:50 Brew tours 31:10 Third Coast Recording Company 33:20 Life as a nomadic musician.

David Lee, the RV Jedeye, got his nickname for his love of all things Star Wars (with the exception of Episodes 1-3) and his new-found love of RVing. As a solo traveler, he’s made a commitment to get out on the road twice a month—a true “Weekend Warrior.” The reason why he’s sharing his journey—to pay it forward. “I watched a lot of videos when I was thinking about getting my RV and renovating it, so I wanted to share and in a way say thanks to all those who came before me.” You can follow his travels on YouTube and Instagram. Some topics we covered: 2:35 - Where RV Jedeye has been traveling   3:17 - How he got his start   6:15 - RV renovation stories   8:45 - How Dave caught the RV bug   11:10 - Deciding “What type of RVer” you’re going to be.   15:48 - Long- and short-term RVing goals   19:56 - Experiences with both in-person and digital RV communities   32:25 - Personal growth through blogging   36:25 - RV cooking tips   46:36 - Advice on getting into RVing

This photography-focused family moved from the island life of the Caymans to a life on the road in the US. Cruising in an Airstream, these four love visiting capital cities and state parks. They (all of them!) talked to us about their upcoming trip to Alaska, getting their rig into those hard-to-reach places like Hawaii, and life as three women and a man (plus a cat) in a small, metal RV. You can keep up with All the Places 2 Go via their Instagram (where you’ll find their individual accounts as well), and on their blossoming YouTube page. Some episode highlights: 6:31 – The stateliest capitals they’ve visited. 9:17 – Attacking the Alaskan frontier. 13:08 – Where this RV adventure started. 15:28 – Loving their Airstream. 16:47 – Living under the same (small-ish) roof. 23:26 – “People cross paths a lot.” 25:46 – Slow down. 30:25 – Getting onto PCH—and well beyond. 36:30 – Reservations, without reservations.

What started as an experiment in downsizing became a lifetime of adventure. Kenny and Sabrina Phillips are full-time RVers, keeping up with Sabrina’s road-based work-life. They sat with us to talk about the luck of their Winnebago, developing a deeper relationship on the road, and how downsizing starts with throwing away your socks. You can keep up with Kenny and Sabrina via their YouTube channel or their Instagram. Episode highlights: 3:05 – Locum tenens and the start of an RV adventure. 11:11 – Their 28’ Winnebago. 14:07 – Getting rid of more stuff. 18:30 – “I don’t even know what to talk to you about.” 22:17 – Going fast now, but slowing down in year two. 26:22 – The success of Moving Forward Adventures. 30:28 – Throw away your socks. 33:25 – “The Poop-cano.” 38:48 – Things will go wrong, but you’ll sort it out.

RVs aren’t the only way to travel the country full-time. Larissa Runkle is opting even smaller, outfitting a camper van and alternating between national parks and events for her life on the road. She talked to us about the challenges she has faced building the van, how bare minimalism helps her focus, and her best advice for jumping into this with someone else along for the ride. You can keep up with Larissa via Instagram, or learn about some of her writing projects on her website. 2:34 – Way, way back to the beginning. 9:27 – Living on the road with like-minded people. 13:00 – Minimalism, simplicity, and focus. 16:00 – Building a customized camper van. 26:57 – Where she’s going. 30:53 – The experience that made her make the jump. 36:48 – The best advice for doing this with a friend.

Keith Sims—plus his wife and three boys—spend about half of every year on the road. He talks to us about how his wife talked him (a big man and retired football player) into getting an RV, using it to enrich his kids’ homeschooling experience, and being an African American in the RV community. You can keep up with Keith and his Soulful RV Family on Instagram (or any other social media). Some episode highlights: 3:38 – What got a 6’3”, 300 lbs. retired football player into an RV. 8:44 – The changes in his family since RVing. 11:28 – RVing as part of the African-American community. 13:38 – Being an ambassador to minority families to RV. 19:14 – Discovering NAARVA. 23:18 – Keith’s RV. 28:53 – Tailgating in a Class A as a retired football player. 36:25 – Keith’s stories from the road.

They don’t use the word “hippies,” but Craig and Bryanna—the parents behind Crazy Family Adventure—may fit the modern bill. Along with their four kids and two dogs, they travel the country, roaming freely, and taking in all the sights. They talked to us about traveling with kids and keeping them socialized, some of their favorite locations, and juggling entrepreneurship on the road. You can keep up with Crazy Family Adventure on their Instagram, blog, or look up their business Virtual Powerhouse. Some episode highlights: 5:07 – What started the adventure. 8:53 – How their family has evolved since they hit the road. 10:00 – Their current (and previous and future) RVs. 13:09 – Unschooling their children. 17:07 – The RV Community with kids. 25:20 – Some favorite memories from their favorite places. 33:21 – Unintended entrepreneurship. 39:51 – Their favorite moment from traveling so far. 46:18 – Advice for jumping into an RV and hitting the road.

Joe Hendricks is a photographer and photography coach, so the RV lifestyle suits him perfectly. After a long and winding road to getting out there in a brand new Airstream, Joe and his family have since moved back into a traditional home—but not for good. Joe sat with us to talk about photography, traveling with loved ones, bringing important life lessons back into the household, and why traveling will always be part of his life. You can keep up with Joe via his website, Instagram, or listen to his podcast, The Basics of Photography. Some episode highlights: 2:36 – What got Joe into an RV. 5:05 – Some of Joe’s favorite aspects of the RV life. 9:30 – Showing Mom America. 15:00 – The transition back to normal life. 16:39 – Keeping the traditions from the road, in a home. 18:41 – “The Photographer’s Mate.” 23:00 – One of his favorite stills he’s ever taken. 26:40 – His favorite stories from the road. 29:40 – Bucket list locations.

There’s something to be said for real solitude. That’s the approach Abigail Schilling takes on the road, full-timing in her 1966 Kit Companion trailer. She’s a serial entrepreneur, but very much embodies the “work to live” mentality in every job and business. She sat with us to talk about being a solo traveler, letting nature heal some health issues, and how her RV, “Pheribee,” does after all these years. You can keep up with Abigail via her Instagram, or check out her website and shop for some merch. Some episode highlights: 5:30 – Life as a solo camper. 6:41 – Making the jump into the RV lifestyle. 9:22 – Hitting the road with health issues. 13:10 – What the RV community means as a solo camper. 18:03 – Being a Project Manager on the road. 23:37 – The hurdles between client work and RV life. 29:12 – Her podcast, Two Girls Talking. 33:54 – Choosing a vintage RV. 36:51 – The School of Battery Monitoring. 43:39 – A couple of her favorite stories from the road.

Heath Padgett—along with his wife, Alyssa—is one of the best known full-time RVers on the road today. Now, they put on the RV Entrepreneur Summit, write, vlog, and host a podcast, plus a number of other noteworthy activities. Heath sat with us to dish about getting to where they are today, being influential to new road warriors, and changing the future of RVing. You can buy Alyssa’s book, A Beginner's Guide to Living in an RV: Everything I Wish I Knew Before Full-Time RVing Across America, or keep up with Heath and Alyssa on their Instagram. https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Living-Everything-Full-Time/dp/1973321513/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522083397&sr=8-1&keywords=alyssa+padgett https://www.instagram.com/heathandalyssa/ 5:16 – Heath’s RV story. 11:18 – The intent behind their documentary. 13:32 – How a rough first trip on the road brought them closer together. 16:50 – What the folks in his small Texas town thought of his plan to RV. 18:43 – A background on and overview of the RV Entrepren

Ed and Liz Wilcox haven’t been on the road long, but they’re no strangers to the RV lifestyle—they lived stationary in their travel trailer full-time for over a year. Now, they’re RV entrepreneurs. They talk about the fateful day that led them to their motorhome, some struggles they’ve faced since, and how to keep it all in perspective. Download Liz’s book, “Tales from the Black Tank: A Collection of Hilariously Crappy Stories,” or keep up with them on their site The Virtual Campground. 8:52 – The vision for The Virtual Campground. 11:20 – Tales from the Black Tank. 21:43 – What drew them to the RV lifestyle. 27:42 – Some doubts and worries. 31:35 – From stationary RVing to moving. 32:51 – Their switch from a trailer to a motorhome. 36:51 – How they’ve grown since moving into the RV. 41:50 – The experience being entrepreneurs. 50:14 – Their advice for new RV entrepreneurs. 53:00 – A (bad) story from the road. 56:14 – A (nicer) story from the road. 1:00:18 – Advice for people on the fence.

Everyone has to start somewhere. Kevin and Maria Sipe have only been full-time RVing for several weeks. Yet they still have dozens of stories, amazing experiences, and plenty of happiness already. We talked to them about taking that giant leap into a life on the road, the steps they’re taking to reach financial freedom, and how they’re each taking to a new lifestyle. Follow along with Kevin and Maria via their blog, From Paris to Roam, their YouTube channel, and every other social media platform. 2:46 – The transition from a house to an RV. 4:28 – Work/life balance on the road. 6:49 – Where they see the blog going. 10:15 – What drew them to make the switch. 15:00 – Steps they’re taking to get out of debt. 17:17 – How their families took the news. 20:32 – Other big trips they have planned. 25:15 – Maintaining relationships on the road. 27:57 – Being in the midst of an RV renovation. 31:28 – Tips for being a new RVer. 33:26 – Their stories from the road.

Pete and Jordan are a pair of road-warrior entrepreneurs, and founders of Quarter for Your Crisis. QFYC helps others find purpose through both their work and their lives, creating community, conversation, and courses to guide you in your journey. We talked to them about finding the road and getting away from a corporate mindset. They broke down what a quarter-life crisis means to them, how it impacts other Millennials, and minimalism. Follow Pete and Jordan on Instagram or on their website. 6:56 – Overcoming uncertainties. 8:16 – How South America shifted their mindset. 11:22 – Quarter for Your Crisis and how it has evolved. 13:27 – Challenges and benefits of growing a business out of an RV. 22:11 – Their experiences with the RV overall. 24:22 – A little story about moochdocking. 25:36 – Some of their favorite stories about RVing. 33:09 – The RV community and what it means to them. 37:13 – A breakdown of their business. 43:47 – Where they see this whole adventure going.