this episode is for you.

Because I’m just gonna say it…

It’s not that hard. It’s really not.

In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I started my podcast—from the mindset shift to the actual tools I use—so you can stop overthinking it and just get started.

We’re talking about how podcasting in 2026 is easier than ever (thank you AI 🙌), and how you can record, edit, publish, and market your podcast… all on your own.

No fancy studio.
No big team.
No expensive setup.

Just you, your voice, and a message that’s ready to be shared.

💛 What We Talk About:

• Why starting a podcast feels overwhelming (and why it’s actually not)
• The simple equipment you really need (hint: it’s not much)
• The one platform I use to record, edit, AND host everything
• How AI can help you edit your episodes + write show notes in minutes
• Why you should batch your first 3–5 episodes before launching
• The biggest mistake that keeps people from ever publishing
• How to turn your podcast into a content machine (blogs, social posts, clips)
• Why your voice + your story matter (even if you’re just starting)

🎧 Key Takeaway

If there’s something on your heart to share…
you don’t need to wait until it’s perfect.

You just need to start.

You’ll get better with every episode.
You’ll find your rhythm.
And honestly? That first step is the hardest part.

Most podcasts don’t even make it past 7 episodes… so if you do, you’re already ahead.

✨ A Note From Me

There is so much space for your voice in this world.

The podcasting space is not too crowded.
It’s just waiting for you.

So if starting a podcast has been on your heart for 2026…
this is your sign.

Go for it!

 Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Connect With Tess

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn:@tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co

In this episode, Tess sits down with HerHouse host Gina, based in the stunning Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand, to talk about solo travel, healing, and what it really looks like to step into a new version of yourself through adventure.

✨ What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why solo travel can be one of the most transformative experiences of your life
• Gina’s story of backpacking solo at 40 (and why it changed everything)
• How travel helps you rebuild confidence after difficult life seasons
• The difference between “running away” vs. running towards something better
• What it’s really like to stay with locals (and why it creates deeper experiences)
• Hidden gems in New Zealand you won’t find on Google
• Why connection—not age—is what truly matters when traveling

🌿 A Peek Inside New Zealand with Gina

If New Zealand has been on your bucket list… this is your sign.

Gina shares what it’s like to live in a peaceful, nature-filled part of the North Island—and why getting off the beaten path is where the real magic happens.

And her biggest tip?

👉 Rent a car and give yourself the freedom to explore.

🌍 Connect with Gina

Instagram: @wanderlust_travel_coach

Podcast: Wanderlust: Solo Women Travel Unscripted

Website: Wanderlust Solo Travel Tours

TikTok: @wanderlustsolotravel

 Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Connect With Tess

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn:@tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co

And the more I build this business, the more I realize—
this journey feels so similar to solo traveling.

Like… almost identical in ways I didn’t expect.

The fear.
The uncertainty.
The figuring it out as you go.

The moments where you’re like, “what am I even doing?”

And then somehow… it all works out.

In this episode, I’m sharing some of the biggest lessons I’ve carried from solo traveling into building HerHouse—and honestly, into every area of my life.

Because the truth is…

Solo travel doesn’t just give you memories.
It changes how you move through the world.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why launching a business feels exactly like stepping on a plane alone
• How solo travel teaches you to move forward even when you’re scared
• The power of becoming someone who can “figure it out” no matter what
• Learning to trust your own decisions (without needing everyone else’s input)
• Staying open to divine serendipity and unexpected opportunities
• Why the best things in your life often come from saying yes before you feel ready

One of the biggest truths I’ve learned:

At the end of the day… this is your journey.

No one else can fully see what you see.
They can’t feel what you feel.

They don’t have the vision that’s been placed on your heart.

And that can feel really lonely sometimes…

But it’s also what makes it yours.

If you’re in a season where something is pulling on you…

Maybe it doesn’t make sense.
Maybe other people don’t understand it.
Maybe it feels a little scary.

That’s okay.

You don’t need everyone to understand it.

You just need to trust it.

A few reminders I want you to walk away with:

You can do things scared.

You can figure things out as you go.
You can make your own decisions.
You can trust what’s on your heart.

And when you stay open…
life will meet you in ways you never expected.

 Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Connect With Tess

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn:@tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co

The digital nomad lifestyle has kind of become the dream, right?

Working from your laptop, traveling the world, waking up in a new country whenever you want… it sounds amazing. And it is amazing—but there’s also so much more to it that people don’t talk about.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Courtney—one of our incredible HerHouse members—who is actually living this lifestyle. She’s built a freelance career in social media and marketing that allows her to work remotely while traveling the world.

But what I love about this conversation is that it’s not just the highlight reel. We talk about what it really looks like.

Because spoiler alert: it didn’t happen overnight.

Courtney started with a side hustle… tested things out… learned along the way… and slowly built a life that gives her both freedom and sustainability.

And if you’ve ever wondered:
“Could I actually do this too?”

This episode is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Courtney went from teaching abroad to building a fully remote freelance career
• Why most digital nomads actually start with a side hustle first
• The reality of working while traveling (and why routines matter more than you think)
• The biggest challenges of the digital nomad lifestyle (that no one talks about)
• How to find freelance clients + remote work opportunities
• Budget-friendly travel hacks that actually make this lifestyle sustainable
• Why staying longer in one place can completely change your experience

 Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Connect With Tess

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn:@tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co

Connect With Courtney

Instagram: : @journeywith.court
TikTok:@wanderwith.court

What if it’s booking a one-way ticket?

In this episode, Tess shares why solo travel after college isn’t irresponsible, reckless, or “falling behind” — it might actually be the most powerful investment you can make in your future career, confidence, and character.

If you’re standing at the edge of graduation wondering whether to jump straight into corporate life or take time to explore the world first, this conversation is for you.

In This Episode, We Cover:

✨ Why your post-college season is once-in-a-lifetime
✨ How solo travel can actually make you more employable
✨ Turning a working holiday visa into a résumé builder
✨ Why travel expands your worldview (and breaks echo chambers)
✨ The power of investing in your personal growth early
✨ Building lifelong friendships around the world
✨ How solo travel helps during life transitions
✨ What to do when family and friends don’t understand your desire to go

Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Connect With Tess

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn: @tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co

But what’s it actually like to build a tech company while working a full-time job… and raising a baby?

In this deeply personal episode, Tess pulls back the curtain on what it’s really been like to build HerHouse — from late-night breakdowns during the MVP phase to navigating postpartum brain fog, software sales quotas, and the constant mental load of entrepreneurship.

This isn’t the highlight reel.
This is behind the scenes.

In This Episode, Tess Shares:

• Why building the first MVP was the hardest thing she’s ever done
• What it’s like funding a startup yourself while holding a full-time job
• The emotional toll of learning tech from scratch
• Why no one truly understands the founder journey
• How becoming a mom completely shifted her work rhythm
• What burnout actually felt like in 2025
• Why health and boundaries became non-negotiable
• The difference between the “startup dream” and daily reality

The Hardest Season

Before becoming a mom, Tess worked remotely at a law firm by day and built the HerHouse MVP by night.

She describes it as:

• A giant puzzle constantly running in her mind
• Sleepless nights
• Tech overwhelm
• Tears of frustration
• And also… one of the most invigorating seasons of her life

Later came a career shift into software sales — with higher pressure, quotas, and less mental margin.

Then motherhood entered the picture.

Pregnancy, postpartum, and sleep deprivation slowed everything down. For months, she could only keep HerHouse afloat — not grow it.

Progress didn’t resume until her son started sleeping through the night.

And everything changed.

What Keeps Her Going

Even in the hard seasons, the HerHouse community makes it worth it.

Women connecting.
Hosting each other.
Planning trips.
Building global friendships.

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about the destination.

It’s the ultimate adventure!

The highs.
The breakdowns.
The growth.
The rebuilding.
The becoming.

 Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Connect With Tess

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn:@tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co

In this episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures, Tess interviews Loke, a longtime Honolulu resident and one of the original HerHouse hosts. From secret waterfall hikes to local plate lunches, Loke shares what makes staying with a local completely different from booking a hotel.

If you’re planning a solo trip to Hawaii... or dreaming about one... this episode is full of insider insight you won’t find in a guidebook.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• What it’s like hosting solo women travelers in Honolulu
• How natural disasters unexpectedly shaped Loke’s hosting experiences
• Why community is the best part of travel
• The difference between being a “tourist” vs. a “visitor”
• The best Hawaiian islands to visit (and why)
• How to travel between islands
• Local food you have to try in Hawaii

Local Tips from Honolulu

Loke shares:

• A secret waterfall hike near Honolulu (you’ll have to visit her to learn it 😉)
• Why the Big Island is her favorite outer island
• What makes Hilo one of her “happy places”
• Why Kauai is called the Garden Island
• What to expect on Molokai (hint: serenity, not nightlife)

What to Eat in Hawaii

If you want the real local experience, don’t skip:

• Plate lunch (rice, mac salad, and your protein of choice)
• Loco Moco — rice, hamburger patty, egg, and gravy
• Fresh tropical fruit from farmers markets
• Pineapple smoothies served inside a pineapple

Loke also shares her personal go-to Mediterranean spot in Honolulu and why farmers markets on the Big Island are next level.

Why Staying With a Local Changes Everything

Beyond beaches and hikes, the magic is in connection.

When you stay with a host:

• You get local recommendations you won’t find online
• You meet their friends
• You discover hidden spots responsibly
• You experience Hawaii through real community

As Loke says: “I would love to host you… come for a few days, stay longer, and visit other islands.”

 Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Connect With Tess

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn:@tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co

In this episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures, Tess shares why staying with locals completely changes the solo travel experience — from saving thousands of dollars to being invited into barbecues, beach days, holidays, and real life.

If you’ve only ever stayed in hotels, Airbnbs, or hostels, this episode will open your eyes to a different way to explore the world.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How staying with locals can dramatically lower your travel costs
• Why accommodation is the biggest budget drain in solo travel
• How local hosts help you skip tourist traps
• What it’s like to be invited into holidays and family gatherings abroad
• Why immediate community changes everything when you land in a new city
• How to “live like a local” instead of traveling like a tourist

The Power of Local Connection

When you stay with locals, you don’t just visit a place — you experience it.

Tess shares stories of:

• Being invited to a Mother’s Day barbecue in Florida
• Spending holidays like Thanksgiving with new friends
• Playing beach volleyball with locals
• Learning Australian slang (and why PB&J shocked everyone)
• Seeing daily life through the eyes of families around the world

These are the kinds of experiences you simply don’t get from a hotel room.

Staying with locals means:

• Built-in community
• Cultural immersion
• Organic networking
• Real friendships
• And unforgettable memories

Why This Matters for Solo Women Travelers

Solo travel can feel lonely — especially when you first land somewhere new.

But when you stay with a local host:

• You’re welcomed in.
• You’re introduced to their circle.
• You feel safer and more grounded.
• You see what real life looks like beyond the tourist attractions.

And yes — it can save you hundreds (or even thousands) in accommodation costs.

 Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Connect With Tess

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn:@tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co

In this episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures, Tess shares the full, unfiltered story of building HerHouse — from a no-code MVP to app store approval, viral Facebook growth, pregnancy, burnout, failed Kickstarter, and finally rebuilding the platform with a professional team.

If you’ve ever felt called to build something bigger than you

— this episode will hit home.

This isn’t the polished highlight reel.

It’s the real founder journey.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How a TED Talk sparked the decision to finally build HerHouse
• What “no-code” app development actually looks like
• The hardest part of building tech as a non-technical founder
• What went wrong with the first version of the app
• Why churn and poor tech nearly killed the business
• How motherhood changed Tess’s capacity as an entrepreneur
• Why she ran a Kickstarter (and what happened when it failed)
• How an investor partnership transformed the future of HerHouse
• What it feels like to build something before the world can see it

The Bigger Lesson

Sometimes building a business feels like pushing a massive boulder up a mountain.

But entrepreneurs see the mountain before anyone else does.

They hold the vision.
They keep pushing.
They rebuild when necessary.

And they trust that once critical mass is reached — the momentum becomes unstoppable.

If you’re a non-technical founder with a big idea, this episode is proof:

You don’t need to know how to code.
You just need to care deeply enough to figure it out.

 Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Connect With Tess

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn: @tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co

In this episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures, Tess introduces you to one of those women — Terri Reynolds, a HerHouse host based in South Wales, UK.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s actually like to stay with another woman abroad — this conversation pulls back the curtain.

Terri shares what makes her location special, how she supports first-time solo travelers, and why women-only hosting creates a completely different level of safety and connection.

This is what HerHouse looks like in real life.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What it’s like to stay with a HerHouse host in Wales
• Why local connection transforms solo travel
• The hidden gems Terri would show you in South Wales
• How HerHouse creates safety and peace of mind
• Why community matters when your friends and family “don’t get it”
• How hosting can be as simple as offering a spare room (or even a couch)

About Terri

Terri Reynolds is based in Newport, South Wales — just minutes from countryside, castles, seaside towns, and direct train access to London.

Professionally, Terri is and a certified travel coach through the Travel Coach Network.

She now helps women build confidence to take their first solo trip.

If you’re nervous about traveling alone — she’s someone you’d want in your corner.

Connect With Terri

Instagram: @terri_reynolds_coaching
TikTok: @terri_solo_backpacker
Podcast: Wanderlust Diaries

Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with our free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Connect With Tess

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn: @tess-millhollon
TikTok: @herhouse.co

In this very first episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures, Tess shares the deeply personal story behind HerHouse — from growing up in the rodeo world in Colorado, to experiencing trauma, to solo backpacking across Australia… and ultimately building a tech startup for women travelers.

If you’ve ever felt the pull toward adventure but didn’t feel safe going alone — this episode is for you.

This is the origin story of HerHouse — and the movement that’s just getting started.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How a one-way ticket to Melbourne changed Tess’s life forever
• The role healing and reinvention played in her solo travel journey
• Why safe accommodation is one of the biggest barriers for solo women travelers
• The powerful airport encounter that sparked the HerHouse idea
• Why women-only travel communities matter
• What it looks like to build a tech startup with no technical background
• The long-term vision for a global network of women hosting women

The Story Behind HerHouse

After selling her horse, truck, and trailer — and letting go of the only identity she had known — Tess boarded a plane to Australia on a working holiday visa with nothing but a backpack and belief.

What made that leap possible?

Women who opened their homes.

From Sally in Melbourne to Fran and Alan in Queensland, Tess experienced firsthand how transformative it is to land in a new country and already know someone cares about your safety and belonging.

But she also experienced the fear:

• Arriving in a new city at 4am with no connections
• Burning through money in hostels
• Navigating safety concerns as a solo woman

And she realized something:

There are good people everywhere.
But there wasn’t a dedicated, women-only space to connect them.

HerHouse was born from that gap.

Resources & Links Mentioned

✨ Start your solo travel journey with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop:
>>Access Now>>

🌍 Join HerHouse with a 7-day free trial:
>>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies:
>>Buy Now>>

Connect With Tess

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram: @tessmillhollon
@herhouse.co
TikTok: @herhouse.co

If this episode resonated with you, please follow the show and leave a review.

It helps more women discover the possibility of safe, supported solo adventure.