Welcome to Inclusion Bites, your sanctuary for bold conversations that spark change. I'm Joanne Lockwood, your guide on this journey of exploration into the heart of inclusion, belonging, and societal transformation. Ever wondered what it truly takes to create a world where everyone not only belongs but thrives? You're not alone. Join me as we uncover the unseen, challenge the status quo, and share stories that resonate deep within. Ready to dive in? Whether you're sipping your morning coffee or winding down after a long day, let's connect, reflect, and inspire action together. Don't forget, you can be part of the conversation too. Reach out to jo.lockwood@seechangehappen.co.uk to share your insights or to join me on the show. So just your earbuds and settle in.

It's time to ignite the spark of inclusion with Inclusion Bites.

And today is episode 153 with the title, fearless connections, bold journeys. And I have the absolute honor and privilege to welcome Anna Van Atmel. Anna is the founder of Wandering Roots, hosting transformative adventure retreats worldwide and empowering women to design lives filled with authenticity, connection, and purpose. When I asked Anna to describe her superpower, she said that it is increasing risks to inspire fierce living and authentic connections. Hello, Anna. Welcome to the show.

Thank you for having me.

Pleasure.

So where whereabouts in the world are you? Did you say Michigan?

Yes. I'm in Michigan in the US. It's very cold here.

Yeah. I was talking to someone from Atlanta the other day, and they said it was almost snowing in Atlanta at this time. Yeah. I haven't heard

It's kind of been a weird year for everybody even where it's not supposed to be cold. So

Yeah. Weird. Yeah. It was very wet. Very wet and a lot of storms over there. So yeah. Yeah. The UK is not a not a happy place either.

No. But, you know, everybody, I've actually hosted a few retreats in the UK, Scotland, and then also Ireland, and we're going to Iceland too this year. But I'm like, it's just weather. We're so used to it. It makes all of us pretty resilient. So I'm I'm happy to to dwell here.

As the saying goes, it's not the wrong weather. It's just the wrong clothing.

Yes. No. I always say that. I always say there's no bad weather, just bad gear.

Yeah. Exactly.

Really well. I agree.

Yeah. You can be wrapped up and snuggly in a huge coat, and, you can be minus 10 outside. Yeah. So, Anna, what inspired you to leave? Yeah. You had a successful career. What inspired you to leave that and pursue this life of adventure where you create spaces for women?

Yeah. For the most part, it was a long journey. It was a couple years. I will give you the highlights, the cliff notes, if you will. But I, I got the opportunity in my old career in laboratory medicine to start a build a lab. I was the first employee and there were the owners and that was it. I I built the lab, bought the equipment, hired the staff, and it sort of planted the seed of being an entrepreneur with no financial risk, which is usually a hang up for most of us. And, it just made me think a little differently, but also I had to have neck surgery around the same time.

So I was in a neck brace for 4 months, and I couldn't do anything. Couldn't drive, had had to take a pause on work. It was the first time I probably paused ever in my life. I was 28. And, I had so much time to sit with my thoughts, and I was wildly unhappy. I had realized that I had achieved more financial and sort of career, like, climbing the ladder success than I ever thought possible, but I still wasn't jazzed about it. And I I just wanted I had this very wake up moment of I get one life. I've just felt my mortality for the first time.

You know, in your twenties, you think you're gonna like, that's just something that happens to old people. And, I was like, I don't wanna screw this up. I wanna squeeze every drop out of it. I wanna be jazzed about it, and, this is not it. And, that's pretty terrifying. And there was a lot of shame around that of not being great more grateful for what I had. I had attained a lifestyle that I really enjoyed and didn't really want to start over and let go of. So, yeah, I.