When Life Feels Empty: Choosing Travel That Heals Instead of Just Distracts with Zach Smith

The Uncharted Way Podcast: Break The Cycles. Reclaim Your Power.

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Feeling stuck in a cycle of restless travel or overwhelmed by the same old vacation routines? Maybe you’re burned out on “bucket list” trips that leave you scrolling through photos but not feeling any more alive. If you’re craving more—from your adventures, from your life, from your freaking self—this one’s for you.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Zach Smith of anywhere.com—a guy who’s made it his mission to help travelers scrap the cookie-cutter itineraries, ditch the mass-market noise, and actually connect. We get honest about why checking boxes and chasing Instagram-perfect destinations leaves you empty, and how true growth (and real connection) only happens when you stop following someone else’s map and chart your own.

If you’re done with “vending machine travel,” tired of letting fear and convenience dictate your life, or just ready to feel awake again, Zach’s story and wisdom will shake something loose. We go deep—values, trust, fear, making mistakes, and what it really means to show up to life with intention, not just a photo op.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why chasing the “perfect” trip can leave you feeling even more stuck—and how to travel for real transformation instead
• How to break the mass-tourism cycle and actually connect with yourself, your values, and the cultures you visit
• The hidden cost of convenience: why “cheap and easy” isn’t always worth it when it comes to life-changing experiences
• Powerful ways to push past fear, drop into the present, and let uncertainty be the best thing that’s ever happened to you
• How to raise your emotional intelligence (and your kids’) through travel that prioritizes meaning over mere sightseeing
• Stories and honest lessons from Zach’s own journey—from Eugene, Oregon to Oaxaca, and the art of creating your real life, not copying someone else’s

✨ Key Takeaway

You don’t need another checklist, you need the courage to live (and travel) on your own terms—even when it means facing the unknown and trusting yourself to create connection wherever you go.

📌 Resources & Links

• anywhere.com – Zach Smith’s company
• Connect with Zach on LinkedIn
• The Uncharted Way – All Episodes
• Sari Cowsert on Instagram
• Find Your Freedom with Sari

Look, when you’re tired of living the same story on repeat—whether you’re shopping for vacations or big life decisions—let this episode be a wake-up call. Stop numbing out. Get honest. Chart your own way. The magic, the connection, the real juice of life? It’s waiting for you, just off the tourist path.

You’re not alone, friend—and you’re more than free to choose something wildly better.