We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joelle Machia. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joelle below.
Alright, Joelle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
The mission of WanderersCompass.com is to inspire and empower individuals to explore the world through travel and find transformative experiences that open up new possibilities for personal growth. The blog is co-owned by Ryan and myself. What got us here is an interesting and unique story. Ryan’s life was deeply impacted by travel, and his journey to self-discovery began when I, an oncology nurse at the time, “adopted” him through the nonprofit Soldiers’ Angels. He was serving in Afghanistan, and over the next year, my husband and I sent him care packages often. Upon his return, he requested to meet us. This was over 18 years ago, and he is now part of our family.
After he got off active duty, he returned east, and we stayed in touch. He joined the Army Reserves and has now been in the service for 20 years. It was several years after he left active that I invited him on his first international trip to Europe. As a man who had struggled much of his life, Ryan spent his childhood dreaming of travel while watching Rick Steves on TV; after losing his dad at 8 years old, it helped him escape. He dreamed of seeing these places but never believed it would be possible for him. But everything changed after that first trip.
For the first time, Ryan saw the world beyond the challenges he had faced, and the experience ignited a newfound sense of hope and belief in himself. He returned from Europe a changed man, filled with purpose and a passion to share his newfound understanding of the world. Inspired by how travel had given him hope and confidence, Ryan suggested starting a travel blog to help others—especially disabled veterans like him—realize that travel was not only possible but life-changing.
At first, I, was skeptical about the idea, and didn’t share his vision, but Ryan persisted. Eventually, WanderersCompass.com was born, a platform dedicated to sharing travel tips, inspiring stories, and the transformative power of travel. Through his journey, Ryan discovered that travel isn’t just about visiting new places—it’s about finding new hope, new strength, and a renewed belief in oneself. Today, WanderersCompass.com serves as a testament to Ryan’s journey and the life-changing impact that travel can have on anyone, no matter their background or circumstances. Our goal at first was simple, with no plans of anything significant coming from it. Our mission years later is the same: to help others find the wonder and the transformative power of travel.
Joelle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Our journey into the travel world is one born from personal transformation, perseverance, and a deep desire to share the power of travel with others. Ryan’s story is at the heart of our blog. As a disabled veteran who spent much of his life struggling with self-doubt, he found his life irrevocably changed after his first international trip to Europe. Now, ten years after that first trip, Ryan has visited his 50th country and has been on six continents.
At Wanderers Compass, we focus on inspiring and empowering others, especially veterans, to realize that travel is not only possible but can become a beautiful reality. We provide practical travel advice, tips, and inspiring stories to help people break through barriers, both physical and mental, to embark on their own journeys. Our content includes accessible travel guides, personal stories, and resources that make the world more accessible. We also share ways to travel on a budget and how to overcome the challenges that come with traveling when you might feel limited by life circumstances. What sets us apart is our deep connection to the travel community of individuals who may feel like travel is out of their reach. Ryan’s story is one of resilience and growth, and our mission is to show others that travel can be a gateway to personal transformation, no matter the obstacles.
We’re not just offering travel tips; we’re offering hope, encouragement, and practical advice for people who may have felt excluded from the world of travel. We’re most proud of the way Wanderers Compass has allowed us to share our message with a community of like-minded individuals. It’s not just a blog—it’s a movement to show that no matter where you’ve been or what you’ve faced, there is always a way to explore the world and find a new purpose and joy. Our main goal is to inspire others to step out of their comfort zones and believe in the power of travel to change their lives. Whether you’re a disabled veteran or someone who’s faced challenges in your own life, we want you to know that travel is for you. You deserve to explore the world and discover new horizons—just like Ryan did.
There are only two of us on this team. It is a lot of work and commitment. Other than using short-term help for IT staff, we do it ourselves. That takes patience, dedication, work ethic, perseverance, and belief in our mission. It is to keep going when quitting seems so much easier. I am medically retired from nursing, so I have more time on my hands. Ryan is a single dad to a young son and is attending school full-time on his GI bill. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and he lives in rural Pennsylvania. Our reward is positive responses to our stories, posts, and photographs. It is the fantastic people we have met along our journey that keep us on track and motivated. For Ryan, it is also trying to give his young son a better future. Here is an article Ryan wrote for the blog that might help as well.
https://www.wandererscompass.com/travel-transformed-my-life-a-journey-of-growth-and-discovery/
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Our journey to launching WanderersCompass.com was one of determination and perseverance. After a year of hard work, we were ready to launch our blog—only for COVID-19 to hit and stop us in our tracks. The pandemic threw us into uncertainty, and we seriously considered dropping the idea altogether. However, instead of giving up, we decided to use that year to learn, adapt, and improve. We dove deep into everything we could—from refining our content and digital strategy to understanding the nuances of travel and building our brand. What we learned in that year of unexpected delay is the very reason for our success today. Had we launched on schedule, we don’t think we would be where we are now. That extra time gave us the foundation we needed, and the lessons learned during the pandemic were integral to shaping the blog into what it is today—stronger, more thoughtful, and better equipped to serve our community. Our resilience during that time became the key to our success.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
Our story began when I adopted Ryan through Soldiers’ Angels while he was serving in the military. As an oncology nurse, I have always been drawn to helping those in need. Through the organization, I had the opportunity to connect with soldiers like Ryan, offering support and encouragement during their deployment. Ryan was the first of eight I adopted over the years. At the time, Ryan was far from home, facing the challenges of war, and I became a source of care and comfort for him from across the globe. Our connection grew over time as we exchanged letters, shared stories, and built a bond founded on mutual respect and understanding. Little did we know that this relationship, initially formed through the Soldiers’ Angels program for our service members overseas, would evolve into something much more profound, eventually leading to Ryan becoming part of the family and the creation of Wanderers Compass. Ryan’s strength and resilience inspired me, and together, we began a journey that would change both our lives forever.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wandererscompass.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/wandererscompasstravelblog
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wandererscompasstravelblog
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/joelle-m-2876562b https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-slough-9162832a1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wandererscompasstravelblog3164
- Other: Joelle Machia’s Profile | Muck Rack muckrack.com/Joelle-machia-2https://muckrack.com/ryan-slough-1
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/people/joellemachia/
https://www.pinterest.com/wandererscompasstravelblog
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