English 
Updated on February 3rd, 2025
I have been lucky enough to have my stories featured on a number of other blogs, vlogs & podcasts. I have really enjoyed these collaborations & if you are keen to learn more about my story then please check these out.
If you have a channel of your own & are interested in working together on a project then I would love to hear from you. Just use the Contact button at the top of the page. I look forward to hearing from you.
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF TRAVELLING ALONE – A CONVERSATION WITH SUE COCKELL, SOLO TRAVELLER ON A MISSION TO HELP WOMEN IN THEIR MID-LIVES TO ENJOY THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF TRAVELLING ALONE
Listen on your chosen player Below – CLICK THE IMAGE TO PLAY:
Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend
The Transformative Power of Travelling Alone – a conversation with Sue Cockell, Solo Traveller on a mission to help women in their mid-lives to enjoy the transformative power of travelling alone
– December 11, 2024 Anni Townend
Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend is the podcast in which leaders share their life and leadership stories; the people, places and experiences that have shaped their values, beliefs, passion and purpose to encourage and inspire you to be even more confident and courageous in your own leadership.
If you are not already please do subscribe to the podcast, review and share it. Thank you!
About this Episode:
Today’s guest is Sue Cockell, Solo Traveller on a mission to help women in their mid-lives to enjoy the transformative power of travelling alone.
I had the joy of first meeting Sue when she was working at a pharmaceutical company where I was leading a leadership development programme. Sue was one of a small group of leaders with whom I worked over a period of time, supporting them in leading others. As a group we got to know each other well, and during that time, some ten years ago, Sue lost her beloved husband. I remember Sue getting into solo travel, and helping me to feel confident about my youngest daughter travelling solo aged 18.
In our conversation Sue offers valuable insights into:
The transformative power of travel
Solo travel for women in mid-life
Embracing the power of “Yes!”
Sue’s Three Key Encouragements to Leaders :
- It’s not what happens to you in life, but how you respond that makes you who you are.
- You grow the most outside your comfort zone. Embrace those opportunities to stretch it, even if it scares you.
- Your life experiences are what makes you unique, relatable & interesting. Never be afraid to share them as you never know where it may lead.
The best way to connect, follow and find out more about Sue:
About Sue Cockell:
If you have a deep desire to explore the world but feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of planning and preparation involved. Sue has designed a new course specifically for you: Find Your Way: Your Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Travel Journey. If you would like to learn more, then contact her now at sue@suewherewhywhat.com.
To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend go to my website, https://www.annitownend.com
A big thank you to Coco O’Brien for the wonderful intro and outro music, for the lovely design, and for the excellent editing, sound production and marketing of the podcast.
To contact me Anni Townend do email me on anni@annitownend.com visit my website www.annitownend.com, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on LinkedIn. I look forward to connecting with you, thank you for listening.
And here is week two of my Huffington Post article… Huffington Post Week 2
My first appearance in the Huffington Post! See here… Huffington Post My Choices
Woman’s WEEKLY!
So chuffed to see my story in print for the first time today in Womansweekly.co.uk! Hoping it inspires other women to travel solo later in life too. Check it out for yourself with the amazing Michaela Strachan on the cover.
“Travelling in your 40s and 50s is different to your 20s – you’re savvier! We think we discover ourselves when e’re quite young. I’d been part of a couple for 18 years and that became my identity. I didn’t know who I was on my own and I had to figure out how to do it alone.”
“I hope my story inspires other women to travel alone.”
FINDING FREEDOM THROUGH LOCKDOWN AND GRIEF – A TALK WITH SUSAN KREBO PODCAST
Sue Cockell is a world solo traveler and so much more. What a wonderful conversation talking about her husband, her grief, her travels, her ‘life list’ and her ‘coming home’.
A couple of quotes from Sue’s blog sums up our conversation beautifully:
“After 2 years in and out of lock down, I have found my ultimate freedom. That being on my own is enough for me. That I need to live in the present rather than dwelling in the past and don’t put too much pressure on future plans. After all, you never know when they will be taken from you.”
and
The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.
How not to feel lonely during Solo Travel. EPISODE 41 | Sue’s 15 Tips to combat loneliness in Solo Travel
In this episode of the Best Solo Female Travel podcast – Dream to Destination, I discuss one of the most common reasons women don’t take their first solo trip — They think they will be lonely. Here I give my 15 top tips on how to avoid it while travelling Solo. Thanks to Shelley for getting me involved!
Sue Rediscovered her love of travel 6 years ago and her blog is dedicated to inspiring All women over 40 to travel alone
Travel is Sue’s passion & has been since she set foot on African soil back in 1992. Over the last 6 years, she has been rediscovering the joys of solo travel & believes that it is not the destination but the journey which creates the best experiences. Sue started her blog, Sue Where? Why? What? to provide ideas & inspiration for all women over 40 to have the confidence to travel alone. You can also connect with Sue on GAFFL.
What is GAFFL?
GAFFL connects solo travelers with similar itineraries to explore destinations together. Whether you are backpacking in Asia, road tripping in Australia, or exploring national parks in the US, simply type the destination you are traveling to, find travelers who are going there at the same time as you, connect with them, plan trips, meet, and travel together.
This story was originally published on GAFFL, the app that helps you find a travel buddy.
THE INSPIRED NOMADS INTERVIEW – PANDEMIC EDITION WITH HEATHER MARKEL
Here is my interview with fellow longtime traveler Heather Markel. We have a lively discussion about being grounded during the pandemic. We chat about my last travel experience before the pandemic (to America!), & share tips for those of you beginning to travel again, to stay safe and comfortable, and, ladies, you will not want to miss the last few minutes of this interview for some very enlightening information that will change your life for the better!
Curls En Route Blog: Solo Traveling and Beyond With Sue Cockell
“I reached out to Sue, who was very welcoming and cooperative, for an interview opportunity. I sent her some questions and I personally enjoyed every bit of her answers. I’m pretty sure you’ll do too, especially if the life of adventure and solo traveling is a lifelong dream of yours. This female solo traveler is definitely someone you’d like to be when you grow up, or at least someone you’d look up to. But first, who is Sue Cockell, and what is her travel blog about?”
Best Solo Female Travel Blogs: An Utterly Subjective List (2020)
Not quite in baby boomer territory, Sue speaks to the 40+ woman who is setting out to conquer the world on her own terms. Despite the slightly younger age group, she speaks to all of us when she describes the power a woman can feel when traveling solo and the many opportunities that will come your way if you only let them. She and I share a basic philosophy: “Just say Yes instead of No!”
GREY GLOBETROTTERS BLOG INTERVIEW: TRAVEL CHAT WITH SUE FROM SUE WHERE? WHY? WHAT?
“In this travel blogger chat with Sue from Sue Where? Why? What? UK travel blogger Sue Cockell opens up about the tragedy that prompted her to venture into blogging about travel, plus all about what travel means to her. It’s been quite a journey for this mature travel blogger.”
MY THOUGHTS ON SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL – AN INTERVIEW WITH @MARPAGESTWL
“In April 2020 I was honoured to be asked to contribute to a video & share my opinions & advice on Solo Female Travel. Along with 26 amazing & inspirational women, I shared my thoughts & experience for the You Tube channel Solo Female Travelers. Here’s my full interview with @MarPagesTWL.”
TRUTH OR DARE ZOOM – SUE WHERE WHY WHAT, AFTER THE CALM & FELLOW TRAVEL VLOGGERS
“Here is my first foray into a bit of Zoom fun with some fellow Travel Vloggers. A huge thank you to “After The Calm” for coming up with idea & for getting us all together to play a game of ‘Truth or Dare’!”
