We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katie Wyant. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katie below.

Alright, Katie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

First, let me start where the real story began.

For over a decade, I struggled with infertility. It was a long and very painful chapter filled with hope, heartbreak, and waiting for something that never came. Seven years ago, I finally had to close that chapter of my life. Even though I made peace with it, I was left with a deep question: If I’m not going to be a mom, then who am I now?

For a while, I felt completely lost. My life had been centered around something that was no longer possible, and I didn’t know what to do with that emptiness. Then, one random day in an airport, I met a woman who changed everything. She was flying to Thailand for a solo yoga retreat, and I remember being so inspired by her bravery and positivity. She probably has no idea what an impact she made, but that short conversation planted a seed in me.

That day, I realized I didn’t need the “traditional” path to feel fulfilled. For so long, I thought happiness had to come from becoming a mom, because that’s what I had built my whole life around. But sitting there in that airport, listening to this woman talk about flying across the world just for herself, it hit me. I had spent years waiting for something outside of my control, when maybe what I really needed was to start living again.

So I did.

Travel became my way to heal and to piece myself back together. Each trip gave me something I didn’t even know I was missing—confidence, freedom, excitement, purpose! I started feeling like me again, not the version of me who was just “waiting,” but the one who was finally living.

It showed me that even when life doesn’t go the way you planned, it can still be beautiful. You can still chase your dreams, laugh with strangers, and create a life that feels full, even if it looks completely different from what you imagined.
That’s what led me to start my business helping women who’ve faced heartbreak, loss, or simply feel stuck to find their spark again through travel. Because your story doesn’t end with infertility, divorce, or whatever disappointment it may be, it’s just the beginning of a new one.

The logic behind Kate’s Crossing was simple: travel changed my life, so I knew it could change others, too. I wanted to give women the same chance I had. To step away from the story we tell ourselves, to see the world, and see themselves in a new way.

What excited me most wasn’t just helping someone plan a trip. It was helping them find that spark again. Watching women go from feeling stuck or lost to feeling brave and alive is the best feeling in the world. It’s proof that travel isn’t just about the places we go—it’s about who we become along the way.

That’s when I knew Kate’s Crossing wasn’t just an idea. It was my purpose.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Kate, the woman behind Kate’s Crossing Blog. I was born and raised in a small Montana town with just one stoplight and more cows than people. Growing up that way gave me a down-to-earth perspective that’s shaped everything I do.

I went to college, became a registered nurse, and worked in the ER for almost 20 years. I followed the traditional path: go to college, get married, and try to have babies. But life had other plans. After a long battle with infertility, I closed that chapter about seven years ago. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced, but it also pushed me to fall in love with my life again through travel.

That’s how Kate’s Crossing Blog was born. From the start, I created it to help women like me—women who felt stuck, hurting, or unsure what comes next—use travel to rebuild confidence and joy.

I focus on once-in-a-lifetime experiences, bucket-list adventures, and helping women step outside their comfort zones. For so many years, I lived in fear—fear of the future, fear of never becoming a mom, fear of what came next. But travel taught me how to face those fears head-on. Now, I want nothing more than to help other women do the same. Whether it’s hiking an epic mountain, diving with sharks, or simply booking that first solo trip, there’s something powerful about realizing you can do hard things and come out stronger.

Through my blog and newsletter, I share real stories, simple tips, and step-by-step guides that make planning feel easy instead of overwhelming. I also create done-for-you itineraries that are as simple to follow as copy and paste, perfect for anyone just getting started. And if someone wants something one-of-a-kind, I design custom itineraries that meet them right where they are on their journey.

What sets me apart is that I don’t pretend to have it all figured out. I’m a woman who’s been knocked down a few times, found her way back, and wants to help others do the same. My years as a nurse taught me how to stay calm under pressure, solve problems quickly, and care deeply about people. I bring that same mix of heart and clear thinking to every trip I plan.

At the end of the day, I’m not just helping women plan trips. I’m helping them remember who they are, face their fears, and believe that their story isn’t over—it’s just getting started.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A big lesson I had to unlearn was that not everyone is going to understand you when your life takes a completely different turn from what’s considered “normal.”

For a long time, I cared too much about what other people thought. When I couldn’t have kids, and everyone my age was starting families, I suddenly felt like the odd one out — the third wheel in life. It was lonely and uncomfortable, and I tried hard to fit into a mold that just wasn’t mine anymore.

Then, when I started a travel blog and began exploring the world, it got even harder for people to relate to me. While most of my friends were talking about the cute things their kids did or milestones, I was talking about scuba diving in Belize or hiking in Switzerland. Some people just didn’t get it, and some even judged me for it. For a while, that really hurt.

But eventually, I realized that it’s okay if people don’t understand. Everyone sees life through their own story, and I was finally starting to rewrite my own. I learned to get comfortable walking my path alone, at least until I found others walking a similar one.

Once I joined blogging communities and started going to travel conferences and masterminds, I finally found my people. It felt good to be around others who didn’t just understand my choices, but they celebrated them.

Now, honestly, I prefer not fitting in. I feel my most authentic self when I’m not trying to follow the crowd. The truth is, when you stop needing everyone to understand you, you finally give yourself permission to just be you. And that’s where real freedom lives.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Right now, Kate’s Crossing Blog is still my side hustle, but it’s one I’m pouring my whole heart into. My goal is to turn it into my full-time business, and honestly, I’d say I’m about halfway there.

I started the blog a little over two years ago, right when Google’s Helpful Content Update hit and threw the blogging world into chaos. Then came the wave of AI changes that made visibility even harder. Honestly, it was the worst possible time to start a blog, but I did it anyway because I believed in what I was building.

For the first six months, I tried to figure it all out on my own. I had no clue what I was doing, made every mistake you can imagine, and felt like I was shouting into the void. The turning point came when I finally decided to invest in myself. I joined a blogging course and community, and that changed everything. Blogging can be such a lonely world if you try to go it alone. Once I surrounded myself with people who actually got it and had guidance to steer me through the ups and downs, things finally started to click.

Since then, the momentum has really started picking up. I’m seeing more readers, more subscribers, and more women reaching out to say my story encouraged them to take their first trip or chase their dreams. Messages like that make every late night worth it.

I still work full-time as an ER nurse, but every spare minute goes into Kate’s Crossing. It’s truly a labor of love, but one that feels aligned with where I’m headed. My husband and I have this crazy dream of retiring early in the next five years, buying a sailboat, and sailing around the world. Sometimes we laugh and say, “Are we actually doing this?” But deep down, we know life’s too short to keep waiting for “someday.”

That dream keeps me going. Every blog post I write, every itinerary I design, every woman I connect with brings me one step closer to turning Kate’s Crossing into not just my business, but the next chapter of our big, adventure-filled life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.katescrossingblog.com
• Instagram: @kates.crossing
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kates-crossing-blog

Image Credits

Katie Wyant