Rachel: Retired Military Mama with Twins: Building a Freedom-First Travel Business

TT: @theunfilteredtraveler

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Episode Summary:

In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode of The No BS Travel Advisor Podcast, host Marcie Muensterman sits down with Rachel McDowell, a retired Army veteran, mom of twins, and the founder of The Unfiltered Traveler.

Rachel shares how she went from 24 years of military structure to building a travel business grounded in freedom, balance, and joy. She opens up about managing the transition from structured sales to endless options, setting boundaries, and redefining success as a travel advisor.

Together, Marcie and Rachel unpack what it means to run a travel business that supports your real life, not consumes it. They dive into Rachel’s women’s adventure groups (including her sold-out Machu Picchu trip!), working alongside her husband on big-game and fishing travel, and her family’s plans to relocate to Portugal for a slower lifestyle.

This episode is packed with real talk about motherhood, mindset, money, and the travel industry, showing advisors that finding what you love to sell is what creates freedom.

Top Takeaways:

Rachel balances motherhood, marriage, and entrepreneurship with systems and boundaries.
Transitioning from the military to travel gave her purpose and flexibility.
She believes success should feel good — not just look good on paper.
Narrowing your niche (like women’s adventure travel) can reignite passion and profit.
Her Machu Picchu group trip sold out quickly by focusing on community over commission.
Mindset shifts are essential for better client engagement and business longevity.
Setting clear boundaries makes you a stronger, happier advisor.
Working with family brings unique challenges but powerful results.
Moving abroad can align your business with your desired lifestyle.
“It’s okay if not every booking makes money — some build connection and loyalty.”

Keywords (SEO)

travel, adventure, women, military, family, business, coaching, Machu Picchu, community, work-life balance, mindset, client engagement, travel industry, travel advisor, travel agents, business strategies, lifestyle change, entrepreneurship, Portugal, family business, women travelers, group travel, travel tips, freedom lifestyle, travel coaching

Chapters / Time Stamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Rachel McDowell
02:44 – Balancing Family and Business
05:21 – From Military to Travel Industry
08:15 – Sales Lessons: Recruiting vs. Selling Travel
10:59 – Finding Her Niche: Adventure & Europe FIT
13:47 – Planning Women’s Adventure Trips
16:35 – Behind the Scenes of the Machu Picchu Trip
19:17 – Preparing Clients for Adventure Travel
22:06 – Building Community in Group Travel
24:47 – Shifting to True Work-Life Balance
27:23 – Lessons from the Travel Industry
30:53 – Mindset Shifts & Client Engagement
32:24 – Boundaries and Better Relationships
33:51 – Building Connection-Based Client Loyalty
35:44 – Creating a Supportive Client Network
37:19 – Navigating Business with Family
42:43 – The Decision to Move to Portugal
45:43 – Adjusting to a Slower, More Intentional Lifestyle
49:31 – Practical Tips for Travel Agents
55:58 – Rachel’s Unpopular Opinion on Profit and Passion

Episode Quote:

“Military taught me structure. Motherhood taught me flexibility. Travel gave me freedom.” — Rachel McDowell