Hear how a life-changing journey sparked a new chapter filled with whale sharks, northern lights and wild landscapes. Lauren Gay joins Matt for a wide-ranging conversation about the experiences that shaped her into the Outdoorsy Diva. She shares how chasing waterfalls with her son helped ignite her passion for outdoor recreation, how a pivotal trip to the Azores gave her a new vision for her life, and how she went on to pursue extraordinary experiences around the world. Lauren tells stories of swimming with whale sharks in Mexico, encountering incredible wildlife in the Galápagos, exploring the landscapes of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, dog mushing through Arctic Norway, witnessing the northern lights after a decade of trying, watching a whale breach in Alaska, and experiencing a profound sense of connection while visiting Zimbabwe.
From the Azores to the Arctic: Lauren Gay on Solo Travel, Reinvention & Epic Outdoor Adventures (Ep 408)
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Lauren Gay
Lauren Gay is a premier voice for amplifying Black voices in adventure travel and relatable outdoor recreation via her online brand and blog, Outdoorsy Diva. She is an adventure travel content creator, award winning podcaster, published photographer, speaker, consultant, YouTube travel show host, and on-air TV travel expert. As a travel writer and content creator, she has worked with over 100 brands and is passionate about inspiring and empowering black women to step out of their comfort zones for new experiences in travel, adventure and embracing nature as therapy. Lauren is a dedicated long time advocate for racial diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation and adventure travel and is a founding member of the Black Travel Alliance.
What You'll Learn
- How Lauren transformed a difficult chapter of her life into a journey of solo travel, reinvention and adventure.
- What it’s like to swim with whale sharks, explore the Galápagos, dog mush in the Arctic and witness the northern lights.
- How outdoor adventures with her son sparked a lifelong passion for nature and eventually helped shape the Outdoorsy Diva.
Links From the Episode
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CHECK OUT LAUREN’S WEBSITE OUTDOORSY DIVA
CONTACT AND FOLLOW LAUREN
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Lauren: Tampa (Florida)
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
WINES CONSUMED DURING THE INTERVIEW
TRAVEL SHOW MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Kellee Edwards
- Whitney Houston (Song: I wanna Dance With Somebody)
TV CHANNEL MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
INSTITUTIONS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
TRAVEL COMPANIES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
WATERFALLS IN ALABAMA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN FLORIDA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Clearwater
- Columbia Restaurant
- Hillsborough River State Park
- Madame Fortune Dessert + HiFi Parlour
- Salvador Dalà Museum
- Sarasota
- Walt Disney World Resort
- Ybor City
PLACES IN NORWAY MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN WASHINGTON DC MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[1:03] Introducing Lauren Gay
[3:30] Spending time with Samantha Brown
[7:22] Tampa Bay
[10:06] Growing up in Dallas Texas
[11:28] Going to Camp in North Carolina at Age 14
[13:38] Attending FAMU for College
[17:40] Chasing Waterfalls in Alabama
[19:59] Raising Her Son with Outdoor Recreation and Adventure
[21:16] Learning Kayaking with Her Son
[22:13] Swimming with Whale Sharks
[24:59] Bonding with Her Son Through Travel and Adventure
[26:40] Finding Her Independent Identity After Her Son Grew Up
[28:32] Her First Solo Trip to The Azores
[34:14] Galapagos Islands
[39:58] Kazakhstan
[43:26] Dog Mushing in the Arctic
[46:21] Seeing the Northern Lights in Norway
[49:36] Whale Watching in Alaska
[51:29] Uzbekistan
[52:23] Zimbabwe
[53:28] Follow and Connect with Lauren
