Is Fun on Your To-Do List Yet?

In this episode, we’re putting fun right where it belongs: on your actual to-do list, next to the bills and the errands. Because “after” never shows up. Your list is never done, so the fun you’re saving for later keeps getting pushed back.

In this episode:
✔ Why “someday” isn’t a destination
✔ The surprising truth about where retreat breakthroughs really happen.
✔ Why fun feels like cheating, and why joy that only happens by accident isn’t a plan
✔ For retreat leaders: why your guests are waiting for you to go first
✔ Your challenge this week: one fun thing, small, medium, or bucket list, with a real date next to it

Plus, a zip line adventure through the jungles of the Dominican Republic, and a shout-out to friend of the pod Karen Talavera, who puts what makes her feel fully alive at the top of her list.

RETREAT NEWS
Do you believe rest is something you have to earn? You’re not alone. A new survey found most Americans badly need a break, yet believe rest has to be earned first.
Read the story (Men’s Fitness):
https://www.mensfitness.com/news/americans-take-the-fewest-vacation-days-of-any-wealthy-nation-the-bigger-problem-is-we-think-we-have-to-earn-the-rest

RETREAT REVIEWS
Bunk One by Camp Social: summer camp nostalgia, elevated. A women’s retreat on a private ranch in the hills of San Diego, with campfires, stargazing, a Galentine’s Glow Party, and a letter to yourself mailed back six months later. Come solo, leave with a whole new circle.
https://campsocial.com/pages/bunk-one

FREE “SOMEDAY LIST” TEMPLATE
Ready to move your dreams out of the someday pile? Grab the free Someday List template:
https://canva.link/o4pwpjb405ai4xf
Or comment SOMEDAY on Instagram @bucketlistretreatstm and we’ll send it right to you.

FIND YOUR HAPPY AGAIN
Join us in the Dominican Republic this January for zip lines, jungle adventures, and a week designed to help you find your happy again.
https://bucketlistretreats.com/dominican-republic

No pen required. Everything you heard about is right here in the show notes. And while you’re down here, give the show a thumbs up or a like!

EXPLORE & CONNECT

Bucket List Retreats®:
https://bucketlistretreats.com

Podcast:
https://bucketlistretreats.com/podcast

Find Your Happy Again: Dominican Republic Women’s Retreat:
https://bucketlistretreats.com/dominican-republic

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3yNtFg49cUzO72L6wXNpGC

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistretreatstm/

Facebook:
https://facebook.com/bucketlistretreats

Facebook Community:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bucketlistretreatexperiences

Shop:
https://BucketListRetreats.etsy.com

Subscribe to Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast for new episodes every Friday at noon Mountain Standard Time. Share this conversation with one friend who could use a little encouragement to try something new.

If not now, when?

Your fun can’t wait for “after.” Put it on the list.

Your Retreat BFF

Have you ever said, “That’s just not me”—then tried something new and surprised yourself? Discover how going on a retreat can open the door to self-discovery, personal growth and interests you never knew you had.

In this episode of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast, I’m exploring why it’s not too late to become someone new. Stepping outside your routine can give you room to try solo travel, creative activities, new friendships or a little adventure—without needing to reinvent your entire life.

We talk about:
• Moving beyond familiar roles and old ideas about yourself.
• Trying something new, even when you’re a beginner.
• How retreat experiences can help you discover what you enjoy.
• Bringing new interests and habits home after a retreat.
• Enjoying a hobby without turning it into another job!

In Retreat News, we take a thoughtful look at BookRetreats.com’s State of Retreats 2026 Report, including interest in creative retreats and learning new skills. We also examine who was surveyed and what the findings can—and can’t—tell us.

In Retreat Reviews, we explore The Embodied Reset from 3B Movement in Provo, Utah, using The 5 B’s™ of Choosing a Retreat: Basics, Beauty, Benefits, Believability and Belonging. From Pilates and dance to creative workshops, we look at the experience advertised and the questions I’d ask before booking.

For retreat leaders and planners, there’s a useful question here too: what do your guests get to try, discover and bring home?

Plus, I share a little about returning to podcasting after nine years and how I felt after my own recent retreat.

A bucket list is about experiences that make us feel fully alive—not only places to visit.

What’s one thing you’ve been calling “not me” that you’re curious to try? Tell me in the comments!

EPISODE RESOURCES

State of Retreats 2026 Report:
https://bookretreats.com/blog/the-state-of-retreats-report/

The Embodied Reset — 3B Movement:
https://www.3bmovement.com/embodied-reset

Additional retreat details:
https://myembodiedreset.com/

EXPLORE & CONNECT

Bucket List Retreats®:
https://bucketlistretreats.com

Podcast:
https://bucketlistretreats.com/podcast

Find Your Happy Again — Dominican Republic Women’s Retreat:
https://bucketlistretreats.com/dominican-republic

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Bucketlistretreats

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3yNtFg49cUzO72L6wXNpGC

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistretreatstm/

Facebook:
https://facebook.com/bucketlistretreats

Facebook Community:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bucketlistretreatexperiences

Shop Bucket List Retreats:
https://BucketListRetreats.etsy.com

New episodes every Friday at noon Mountain Standard Time. Subscribe on YouTube or follow wherever you listen, and share this conversation with a friend.

If not now, when?

What goes into planning a retreat beyond choosing a beautiful destination?

Welcome to Season 2 of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast! Kelly Morgan Merly takes you behind the scenes of retreat planning—from understanding your community to finding the right partners, shaping the itinerary, and making room for guests to enjoy the experience.

With three new retreats taking shape, Kelly shares an early look at Brazil and how her collaboration with Brazilian world traveler, guide, and interpreter Adriane Lobo is helping bring it to life. She also introduces a new resource for coaches, authors, wellness leaders, and creators who want help turning their own retreat ideas into real experiences.

In Retreat News, we explore the Wellness Tourism Association’s Six Principles for Responsible Retreats and compare them with Kelly’s 5 B’s™: Basics, Beauty, Benefits, Believability, and Belonging.

In Retreat Reviews, Anna Page’s England book retreat offers a clever example of planning around your community’s passions—including dates that let readers extend their trip after Romantasy BookCon or RARE London.

Plus, Kelly is getting ready to head to Colorado as a retreat attendee herself!

If you could bring people together around something you love, what would you want them to experience?

LINKS FROM THIS CONVERSATION

Explore our retreats and find our new creator page:
https://bucketlistretreats.com

Wellness Tourism Association — Six Principles for Responsible Retreats:
https://wellnesstourismassociation.org/six-principles-for-responsible-retreats/

Anna Page’s England book retreat:
https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/united-kingdom/united-kingdom-with-anna-page-jul-2027

Coffee Lovers thermal mug — browse our Etsy shop:
https://BucketListRetreats.etsy.com

Follow Kelly on Instagram for retreat updates and moments from Colorado:
https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistretreatstm/

Follow the show and share this conversation with someone who has a retreat idea—or loves discovering what makes an experience special.

A bucket list is about the experiences that make us feel fully alive.

If not now, when?

Five conversations. Five lessons. One invitation to stop postponing the experiences that make you feel fully alive.

In this season finale of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast, Kelly Morgan Merly revisits meaningful moments from conversations with Sheri Rosenthal, Karen Talavera, Frances Star Graham, Azaya Vega, and Cynthia Morgan.

Together, their stories explore retreat transparency, psychedelic research, Qigong, creativity, connection, and what it really means to choose adventure.

You’ll hear why the best conversations don’t always make us agree, how curiosity can challenge beliefs we’ve carried for years, why joy can be transformational, and how the experiences calling to us may be worth answering—even when we don’t feel completely ready.

This is also a celebration of 50 episodes, one full season, and everyone who listened, followed, shared, or quietly joined Kelly along the way.

A bucket list isn’t just about the places you go. It’s about the experiences that make you feel fully alive.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Practice along with Kelly’s Qigong playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwgz6bIR5gjYaVpDdaQ3epyUFVSurEYmX&si=rkueBCBXgk0qPUy9

Watch the complete featured conversations:

Sheri Rosenthal — Launching with Retreat Royalty:
https://youtu.be/-kCPolBjyvM

Karen Talavera — A Real Conversation About Psychedelics:
https://youtu.be/gpxPG7UM-94

Frances Star Graham — Qigong and the Retreat Experience:
https://youtu.be/apUD2z9LVBs

Azaya Vega — Choosing Adventure and Building a Retreat in Paradise:
https://youtu.be/gwBRf9VoLOM

Cynthia Morgan — Inside an Italian Art Retreat:
https://youtu.be/sy4mSu8UYSQ

Learn more about Sheri Rosenthal’s Plan, Fill & Profit Retreat Blueprint:
https://www.sherirosenthal.com/plan-fill-profit-retreat-blueprint/

FOLLOW BUCKET LIST RETREATS

Website and upcoming retreats:
https://bucketlistretreats.com

Find Your Happy Again Women’s Retreat:
https://bucketlistretreats.com/dominican-republic

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistretreatstm/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@Bucketlistretreats

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3yNtFg49cUzO72L6wXNpGC

The #PictureTheJoy Photo Contest ends September 30. Visit our Instagram page for entry details and your chance to win a $100 cAbi gift certificate.

If one of these conversations speaks to you, follow the show, subscribe on YouTube, and share this episode with someone who may be ready to choose her next adventure.

#BucketListRetreats #WomensRetreat #TransformationalTravel

Have you ever found an incredible retreat, trip or experience—and immediately started searching for someone to go with you?

One friend can’t get the time off. Another can’t fit it into her budget. Someone else says, “Maybe next year.” Suddenly, your bucket-list experience depends on somebody else’s calendar, comfort zone and willingness to say yes.

In this episode of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast, Kelly Morgan Merly asks: Should you go on a retreat alone?

Kelly shares how she attended a Bali retreat solo, was paired with a roommate and met Nicole—the travel bestie who would later explore the world with her. She also explains why arriving alone can give you more freedom to meet the group, enjoy the experience your own way and stop waiting for someone else to be ready.

You’ll also hear:

• What a thoughtful retreat leader should do to welcome solo guests
• Questions to ask before booking a retreat by yourself
• Why shared activities make conversation feel natural
• How attending alone can create a completely different experience
• The practical question to ask before another opportunity passes you by

RETREAT NEWS

GLP-1 retreats are now a thing. Kelly looks at the expensive new wellness programs offering nutrition guidance, strength training, cooking education and medical support for guests taking medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.

New York Post: “On a GLP-1? There’s a Vacation for That”
https://nypost.com/2026/08/06/health/on-a-glp-1-theres-a-vacation-for-that/

RETREAT REVIEW

Kelly reviews Hilton Head Health using the 5 B’s™ of Choosing a Retreat: Basics, Beauty, Benefits, Believability and Belonging. The setting and programming look impressive—but should a guest paying an extra $700 for specialized group programming be told she is the only person enrolled?

https://www.hhhealth.com/

PICTURE THE JOY PHOTO CONTEST

Share a photo and short story from a retreat, trip or everyday moment that brought you joy. Use #PictureTheJoy, tag two friends, and follow and tag @bucketlistretreatstm and @heartstocabi.

The contest runs through September 30. Chris Beagle of cAbi is sponsoring a $100 cAbi gift certificate for the winner, selected October 1. Find the official contest post on Instagram for complete details.

Follow Bucket List Retreats:
https://instagram.com/bucketlistretreatstm

Follow Chris Beagle of cAbi:
https://instagram.com/heartstocabi

EXPLORE BUCKET LIST RETREATS

Website:
https://bucketlistretreats.com

Podcast:
https://bucketlistretreats.com/podcast

Find Your Happy Again Women’s Retreat—Dominican Republic, January 17–24, 2027:
https://bucketlistretreats.com/dominican-republic

Facebook:
https://facebook.com/bucketlistretreats

A bucket list isn’t just about the places you go. It’s about the experiences that make you feel fully alive.

If not now, when?

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

Code: CWUBOKVNIVOILNWY

Nothing is wrong. Life is good. So why do you still feel a little…blah?

Sometimes we don’t need a whole new life—we just need something in our life to look forward to.

Kelly had spent months anticipating a September RV adventure through the western United States. Then fires, smoke, gas prices and RV repairs pushed the trip off the calendar. Nothing was terribly wrong, but the excitement she had been carrying disappeared with it.

Then one unexpected invitation to a four-day retreat changed her mood almost immediately.

In this episode, Kelly explores why anticipation may be part of the experience itself, why the things we say matter can remain stuck in “someday,” and the difference between escaping your life and choosing an experience that makes you excited to return home and keep that feeling alive.

Also in this episode:

• Retreat News: “Sweat-jetting”—the 2026 travel trend built around running, cycling, yoga retreats and other physical experiences.
• Retreat Review: Run Weekends’ European Sleeper Train Multi-Hop—four countries, four half marathons, sleeper trains, local food and European spas.
• The #PictureTheJoy Photo Contest celebrating one year of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast.

This episode is released on September 11, 2026, the 25th anniversary of 9/11. We pause at the beginning to remember the lives lost, the families who carry that loss, and the courage and humanity witnessed that day and in the days that followed.

PICTURE THE JOY PHOTO CONTEST

Share a photo and short story from a trip, retreat or everyday moment that brought you joy. Use #PictureTheJoy, tag two friends, and follow and tag @bucketlistretreatstm and @heartstocabi.

The contest runs through September 30. Chris Beagle of cAbi is sponsoring a $100 cAbi gift certificate for the winner, selected October 1. Find the official contest post on Instagram for complete details.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

Vogue: “Sweat-jetting” Is the Hottest New Travel Trend
https://www.vogue.com/article/sweatjetting-travel-trend

Paywall Skipper
https://paywallskipper.com

Run Weekends: European Sleeper Train Multi-Hop
https://www.runweekends.com/europemultihop

Follow Bucket List Retreats on Instagram
https://instagram.com/bucketlistretreatstm

Follow Chris Beagle of cAbi
https://instagram.com/heartstocabi

EXPLORE BUCKET LIST RETREATS

Website
https://bucketlistretreats.com

Podcast
https://bucketlistretreats.com/podcast

Find Your Happy Again Women’s Retreat—Dominican Republic, January 2027
https://bucketlistretreats.com/dominican-republic

Facebook
https://facebook.com/bucketlistretreats

A bucket list isn’t just about the places you go. It’s about the experiences that make you feel fully alive.

If not now, when?

Why do so many of us feel lonely when we’re more connected than ever?

In this episode of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast, Kelly Morgan Merly explores the power of shared experiences—and why meaningful connection, shared laughter, adventure and simply doing something together can give us what scrolling never will.

Research suggests that even a simple experience can feel more powerful when we share it with someone else. It can begin with a walk, a class, lunch with a friend or one small invitation.

In this episode:

• Why being connected isn’t the same as feeling connected
• How shared experiences can make joyful moments feel even better
• Why doing something together helps conversation and connection grow naturally
• How retreats create belonging among women who arrive as strangers
• Why a meaningful connection doesn’t have to last forever to be real
• The unexpected advantage of attending a retreat alone
• Simple ways to create more shared experiences in everyday life
• Why your bucket list should include feelings, people and experiences—not only destinations

Plus, Kelly shares exciting news about attending a four-day Colorado retreat, explores Lonely Planet’s seven best wellness retreats in the United States and reviews The Provence Retreat using the 5 B’s of Choosing a Retreat: Basics, Beauty, Benefits, Believability and Belonging.

Because a bucket list isn’t just about the places you go. It’s about the experiences that make you feel fully alive—and the people who help make those experiences unforgettable.

YOUR LITTLE ASSIGNMENT:

Think of someone you keep saying you “should” make plans with. Send her this episode and replace “we should” with a date on the calendar.

#PICTURETHEJOY PHOTO CONTEST

We’re celebrating one year of Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast throughout September!

Share a photo and the story of a moment, adventure or meaningful experience that brought you joy. Use #PictureTheJoy and follow and tag both @bucketlistretreatstm and @heartstocabi so we can find your entry.

One participant will receive a $100 cAbi gift certificate, generously sponsored by Chris Beagle of cAbi. Kelly and Chris will select the winner on October 1.

FOLLOW & EXPLORE:

Bucket List Retreats:
https://bucketlistretreats.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistretreatstm/

Hearts to cAbi:
https://www.instagram.com/heartstocabi/

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Lonely Planet—The 7 Best Wellness Retreats in the United States:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/wellness-retreats-usa

The Provence Retreat:
https://theprovenceretreat.com/pages/itinerary

WHO Commission on Social Connection:
https://www.who.int/groups/commission-on-social-connection

Shared Experiences Are Amplified study:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25274583/

What shared experience still makes you smile every time you remember it? Tell us in the comments!

If not now, when?

#SharedExperiences #Lonliness

Can astrology and Human Design reveal your life purpose—or help you recognize the clues that have been there all along?

Lace up your running shoes, grab the dog’s leash, or pour another cup of coffee, because today we’re taking a fun, slightly “woo,” and surprisingly meaningful look at astrology, Human Design, and finding your purpose.

After having my charts read, one phrase stopped me in my tracks: Left Angle Cross of Healing.

Was I always meant to create Bucket List Retreats?

I’m not saying the stars designed my business plan—and I certainly don’t recommend letting Aries Kelly make every major decision without sleeping on it first! But my charts gave me new language for something I’ve felt for more than 20 years.

In this episode, we explore:

✨ The patterns that may be pointing toward your purpose
✨ What people repeatedly come to you for—and why it matters
✨ The difference between chasing a calling and recognizing one
✨ What my astrology and Human Design revealed
✨ How a gathering around my kitchen table may have been my first Bucket List Retreat

Plus, in Retreat News, we’re talking about the $364 billion wellness retreat industry—and the burnout fueling its growth.

Then, during Retreat Reviews, we apply the 5 B’s™ of Choosing a Retreat—Basics, Beauty, Benefits, Believability, and Belonging—to Wild Grounded Retreats, a nature-based women’s wellness retreat in Ontario.

This isn’t about letting astrology tell you who you are. It’s about noticing the patterns, dreams, experiences, and repeated requests that may already be showing you.

What do people keep coming to you for?

Come tell me on Instagram. I read every message and comment!

🎉 FIRST-ANNIVERSARY PHOTO CONTEST

Share a photo of a moment when you chose joy using #PictureTheJoy for your chance to win a $100 cAbi gift certificate from Chris Beagle!

The contest runs September 1–30, 2026. Visit Instagram for complete details:

Bucket List Retreats:
https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistretreatstm/

Chris Beagle of cAbi:
https://www.instagram.com/hearstocabi/

LINKS FROM TODAY’S EPISODE

Forbes: Wellness Retreats Are a $364 Billion Industry—Burnout Is Why
https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahhernholm/2026/07/21/wellness-retreats-are-a-364-billion-industry-burnout-is-why/

Wild Grounded Retreats:
https://www.wildgroundedretreats.ca/

CONNECT WITH BUCKET LIST RETREATS

Website:
https://bucketlistretreats.com/

Listen or watch:
https://bucketlistretreats.com/podcast

Find Your Happy Again Women’s Retreat:
https://bucketlistretreats.com/dominican-republic

Follow Bucket List Retreats: The Podcast on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts—and share this episode with someone searching for the clues to their own purpose.

A bucket list isn’t just about places to go. It’s about the experiences that help you reconnect with yourself and feel fully alive.

If not now, when?