Interview with Doni Belau, Founder of Girl's Guide to the World

Guest Introduction: Doni Belau

Dr. Allen Lycka introduces Doni Belau, founder of Girl’s Guide to the World, a women-only tour company offering 60 unique trips to 40 different countries. With over 80 countries visited, Doni creates tours that blend cultural immersion, wellness, and adventure. Her extensive experience in the travel industry and her passion for empowering women make her tours transformational. When not leading trips, Doni splits her time between France, New Orleans, and sailing on her boat, Relish.

The Journey to Girl's Guide to the World

Doni shares her journey, from a career in politics and nonprofit work in South Africa to burnout and a desire to connect with her passion for France. Originally starting with Girls Guide to Paris in 2009 as an online guide, Doni expanded her company into a women-only tour business. Now, Girl’s Guide to the World offers trips to 40 countries, focusing on creating enriching experiences for small groups of women.

Favorite Travel Destinations

When asked about her favorite destination, Doni’s heart remains with France, but she is currently fascinated by Japan. She speaks about Japan's deep and intricate culture, highlighting its unique aspects such as onsen baths and incredible food. Dr. Lycka and Doni bond over their love for Japan, discussing the country's culture of peace, harmony, and punctuality.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Travel

The pandemic delayed trips to Asia, but Japan has reopened, and Doni’s company is running four exciting tours to Japan in the upcoming year. These include Art and Artisan, Soul of Japan, and a hidden gem trip to the Kyushu Peninsula, offering participants a chance to explore art, history, and Japan’s famous onsen baths.

Upcoming Trips and New Destinations

Doni shares her excitement for new trips in 2024. Some highlights include:

• Finland, where travelers will explore why it’s the happiest country in the world.
• India, with an Ayurvedic wellness tour and a local guide offering a cultural immersion experience, including a chai tea lesson in Agra.
• A wellness retreat to Maui and an exploration of Slovenia, one of Europe’s hidden gems.

Focus on Safety and Connection

Doni addresses the importance of safety for women travelers. She emphasizes that while solo travel can be daunting, her tours provide a safe and supportive environment, with experts and facilitators on the ground to ensure smooth experiences. She also encourages women not to let fear hold them back, as statistically, many countries considered unsafe are often safer than expected.

Creating Lifelong Connections Through Travel

One of the unique aspects of Doni’s tours is the emphasis on bonding. With small groups of 6 to 10 women, these trips foster deep connections between travelers. Many participants leave with lasting friendships, and the shared experiences make the trips more enriching.

BIO:

Doni Belau is the founder of Girls’ Guide to the World, a women-only tour company empowering women to explore 40 countries through 60 uniquely crafted tours. An adventurer at heart, Doni has traveled to over 80 countries, curating trips that range from cultural immersions to wellness retreats, all designed to inspire connection and create lasting memories.

With a background in TV production and humanitarian work, Doni blends personal growth with the joy of exploration in every journey she creates. Her 15+ years in the travel industry ensure each tour is a transformative experience.

When she’s not leading trips, Doni splits her time between France, New Orleans, and her sailboat, Relish—embracing life’s adventures wherever they take her.

Social Media:

Women's Solo Group Travelgirlsguidetotheworld.com

Doni Belau (@gg2theworld) • Instagram photos and videos

Girls' Guide to the World

BIO:

Kay Loughrey is a dynamic speaker, transformational health and weight loss coach, and registered dietitian nutritionist who tackles health from the inside out.

A trailblazer in public health, Kay has led groundbreaking initiatives at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, shaping national programs like the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and the WIC Food Supplement Program.

With a blend of scientific expertise and compassionate coaching, Kay empowers her clients to break free from inner obstacles, transform food-related shame into confidence, shed excess weight, and embrace a joyful, healthy lifestyle.

Social Media:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/SweetLifeWellness

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KayLoughrey

IG: https://www.instagram.com/sweet.life.wellness/

Surviving and Thriving After Tragedy with Sally Raymond

Host: Dr. Allen Lycka

Guest: Sally Raymond, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Introduction

Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes back Sally Raymond, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Sally's journey into advocacy and mental health began after the tragic suicide of her eldest son in 1992. Since then, she has dedicated her life to helping others through therapy, teaching, writing, and speaking on suicide prevention, wellness, spirituality, and mental health. In 2021, she published her book, The Son I Knew Too Late: A Guide to Help You Survive and Thrive, based on her experiences and her son's story.

Lessons from Personal Tragedy

Key Points:

• Sally reflects on the painful lessons learned from her son's life and death.
• As a newly licensed psychotherapist at the time, Sally realizes she missed critical signs of her son's pain due to a lack of awareness about developmental stages and core issues in each stage of a child's growth.
• Her experience led her to understand the importance of parents being aware of these stages to support their children's development effectively.

Early Signs and Missed Clues

Key Points:

• Sally shares that the first missed clue was at her son's birth when he cried excessively due to a broken collarbone that went undiagnosed, leading to a deep mistrust from the outset.
• This incident created a lifelong impact on her son's ability to trust and form bonds, which Sally believes contributed to his eventual suicide.

Overcoming Adversity in Childhood

Key Points:

• During the early years of her son's life, another critical incident occurred when he was molested as a toddler, severely affecting his development.
• Despite these traumas, Sally's son excelled academically, demonstrating his resilience and intelligence.
• Sally emphasizes the need for awareness and support systems for children who have experienced trauma.

The Impact on Sally's Other Son, Brett

Key Points:

• Sally's younger son, Brett, faced his own struggles, feeling overshadowed by his older brother's brilliance.
• Brett’s journey from struggling in school to excelling and working on major projects like the visual effects for The Lord of the Rings showcases resilience and self-responsibility.
• Brett’s story highlights the importance of learning how to learn, a skill he mastered on his own terms, which led to his success.

Turning Tragedy into Triumph

Key Points:

• After her son’s suicide, Sally chose to view her son as a teacher rather than a tragedy.
• She committed to understanding what went wrong and to making a difference in the lives of others by sharing her insights and experiences.
• Sally's work focuses not only on individual and family healing but also on improving societal structures to support mental health and resilience.

The Importance of Taking Responsibility

Key Points:

• Dr. Lycka and Sally discuss the importance of taking responsibility for one’s life and decisions, a critical factor in overcoming adversity and achieving success.
• Sally believes that by taking full responsibility, individuals can transform from being victims to achieving triumphs.

A Message of Hope

BIO:

Since 1991, Sally Raymond is a survivor of her eldest son’s suicide. Since 1992, has been a practicing Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT), a fashion/print model, a high school communication and leadership skills coach, and multiple-award winning, top Toastmaster. Sally has appeared in numerous interviews and published articles on suicide prevention, wellness, spirituality and mental health. In 2021, Sally published The Son I Knew Too Late: A Guide to Help You Survive and Thrive, a unique, story driven suicide prevention book dedicated to help everyone else at any age know what to do and not do to avoid the needless tragedy no one really survives.

Social Media:

Website: sallyaraymond.com

LinkedIn: sallie4th

Facebook: Sally A Raymond