Impressionable Travel and the Birth of a Soul-Led Business

In this heartfelt and reflective episode of the Wand(HER)wild Podcast, Monica Virga Alborno, founder of Wand(HER)wild Family Retreats and the Wand(HER)wild community, opens up about the early travel experiences that shaped her identity and life’s direction. Amidst a spontaneous solo recording—caused by an unexpected round of stomach flu in her household—Monica shares the story of how her love of travel transformed into a lifelong passion and a soulful business rooted in purpose.

The episode begins with Monica candidly acknowledging the curveballs of motherhood, like rescheduling plans due to illness. Yet, through this pause, a fresh message emerges—one that brings her full circle to the heart of Wanderwild’s origin and the deeper meaning behind conscious travel and parenting.

The Power of the First Journey

Monica reflects on the powerful impact of one’s first impressionable travel experience. For her, it wasn’t just a passport stamp or a plane ticket—it was a full-body, soul-awakening initiation that forever changed her life. In 2009, as a young engineering student at Penn State, Monica boarded a plane to Kenya for a humanitarian engineering project. It was her first solo trip abroad, and she arrived without her luggage but with a heart full of determination.

She lived in a youth center for street children, working on a water filtration project she had designed herself. The days were filled with resourceful problem-solving, heart-expanding conversations, and the profound realization that engineering could be used for service. That trip lit a fire in Monica—one that would fuel her love for purposeful travel, her desire to serve, and eventually, her creation of Wand(HER)wild Family Retreats.

How Conscious Travel Shapes Conscious Parenting

Throughout the episode, Monica shares stories of volunteering in Southeast Asia, living on a remote Cambodian island, and eventually managing operations in Sub-Saharan Africa during her corporate career. These global experiences gave her deep insight into how travel can be more than just escape—it can be connection, humility, and a reminder of our shared humanity.

Monica discusses how these immersive and rugged travel experiences shaped not only her entrepreneurial and engineering mindset but also her values as a mother. Travel, for her, became a way to pause, bond, and slow down—a sacred contrast to the busyness of daily life.

This realization has deeply influenced how she crafts Wanderwild’s retreats, bringing together intentional parenting, immersion in nature, and mindful adventure. She shares her hope that through travel, children can learn presence, resilience, curiosity, and empathy.

Introducing Private Family Retreats

A major announcement in this episode is the launch of Wand(HER)wild newest offering: private family retreats. Monica introduces a customizable retreat model designed for groups of friends, multigenerational families, or families who want to travel together with ease and intention.

Unlike traditional vacations, these retreats are rooted in sustainable practices, luxurious comfort, and deep soul nourishment. Whether it’s a group of moms traveling with their kids, a family gathering with grandparents, or a circle of friends looking to reconnect, Wand(HER)wild curates the details—location, schedule, rituals—to ensure families can simply arrive, exhale, and connect.

Having traveled to over 80 countries and lived on four continents, Monica brings both logistical mastery and soulful intention to the planning process. Her love for adventure and conscious living is embedded in every experience she crafts.

Therapy, Travel, and Transformation

The conversation takes a tender turn as Monica shares the conclusion of her year-long journey in talk therapy, which she began after a traumatic hospitalization with her daughter. That chapter of fear and healing led her to revisit her first travel memories and how they marked a rite of passage into a life of exploration, courage, and purpose.

She encourages listeners to reflect on their own “firsts”—what was the first place that left an impression? What memories live in your senses? And how might these experiences be mirrored in the adventures you create for your own children?

A Call to Remember—and Reimagine

Monica leaves listeners with journal prompts and reflection questions, encouraging them to revisit the moment travel first shifted their worldview. She invites them to reclaim travel not just as escape, but as a sacred teacher. Whether that means a backyard camping trip, a weekend hike, or a future international journey, she reminds us that travel can be an anchor for transformation.

She also asks an important question: What do we want our children to receive from travel? For Monica, the answer includes bonding, wonder, confidence, service, and presence. Not all family adventures require passports—but all can be infused with intention.

Through this episode, Monica gently weaves together personal storytelling, practical wisdom, and a soulful call to live—and parent—with wonder.

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Want more real-talk episodes like this? Listen to The Wand(HER)wild Podcast and connect with our community over on Instagram @wandherwild or through our digital events at wandherwild.com/community and retreats at wanderwildfamilyretreats.com.