Me and the Magic · Amanda Bauner: Solo Travel Expert, Podcaster, and Blogger

Finding Inspiration in Women's History While Traveling Solo and with Small Groups

·1 hr·3 clips

Standing alone in a Paris train station, she realized this was exactly where she was supposed to be.

Amanda opens with a February welcome and a quick check-in on what she has been enjoying at Epcot. Festival of the Arts comes up first. The Disney on Broadway concerts get a special mention, and she says she plans to go once more before the festival ends. She also notices the Flower and Garden Festival starting to bloom into view. For her, Epcot is at its most beautiful during that season. The episode notes that the festival starts March 4th and runs through June 1st this year. A recent Me and the Magic meetup at Epcot is part of the conversation too. Amanda says she plans more of these gatherings and wants to keep seeing people in person. That community thread stays alive through the rest of the show. After the sponsor break, the conversation shifts into travel advice grounded in real experience. Ireland comes forward as a strong destination for a first solo trip. Dublin, in particular, is described as easy to enter and easy to navigate. The airport is simple to use. A cab ride into the city center is straightforward. Staying in the city center makes it easier to get around and see more. The guest says three and a half days in Dublin still left plenty unseen. Day trips from Dublin are also part of the appeal. The conversation highlights that some trips build in generous free time, which lets travelers have solo experiences while still knowing other people are nearby. Driving, meanwhile, gets treated with caution and a little humor. Safety is framed through common sense rather than fear. The episode then wanders into family history when the guest talks about an ancestry.com DNA test and the shifting mix of Irish, English, Welsh, and Scottish results. Amanda reacts with playful surprise. That exchange keeps the tone warm and loose. The episode closes by returning to group trips, shared travel bonds, and the excitement of seeing familiar faces travel together again. Amanda points listeners to the events page for the 2026 and 2027 group trips and the option to request a quote through MEI Travel or an existing advisor. She ends with a reminder to take good care of yourself and keep dreaming about the next travels.

As heard by us

Solo travel feels most concrete when the discussion ties Dublin to easy logistics and room to wander.

Amanda keeps the discussion centered on solo travel and community, with a short Epcot update easing into practical notes on Ireland, especially Dublin.

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Why you'd press play

If you want Dublin framed as an easy first solo trip, this keeps things grounded.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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