From Nonprofit Founder to Solo RVer: Joni Leigh’s Doing Hard Things | Community Spotlight

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hey guys, I just got finished editing the episode with Joni Leaf. You guys are gonna love it. But I wanted to give you a heads up. We had so many technical difficulties getting this one going, keeping it going, ending it, start to finish. We just had problems. Um and it actually started to become pretty funny. So I went ahead and left a lot of it in. Um because just listening to us try and figure it out almost became comical. Uh it was like watching an old three stooges episode. Um, so I hope you guys enjoy it. It's a little bit longer than our standard community spotlight, but um I hope it gets you guys laughing as hard as Joni and I were laughing while we were trying to figure it all out. Enjoy before anything else happens.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

Because like it's just like that's life, right? Like I know.

SPEAKER_00 1:19

Well, and like it it just threw up the thing that said recording quality is higher for for both of us. It said that I've got that we've got great recording quality, and I I don't know how it it thinks that because I don't either. It's nothing has been working. Nothing has been working. Right. And then we were we finally cost maybe we're high quality. I think that's what it is. Because we finally I was like, okay, I give up. I've used every internet that I have available to me. I'm just going to call like through my Riverside app on my phone. Last ditch effort, I'm just gonna try it this way. And so I linked in through that and it was working. And we get, I don't know, 10 minutes in, and then it just started torrential downpouring here for like 10 minutes, it just poured, and that's all you could hear. And I was like, that's that's fine, it's okay. This is this is gonna sound great. This is gonna sound wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 2:23

Well, that's kind of what I thought was gonna happen. I was gonna message you because the storms that went through your area the last couple days, we were supposed to get a tail end of that, but we did not, we got a slight rain this morning, but not really anything major. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:39

It's it's a doozy. Well, all right. Listen, lady, we're gonna do this. It's gonna be great. It's gonna go live tomorrow. I'm I'm gonna make it happen. I'm making it happen. Yeah, by golly, it's gonna, it's gonna be by golly. You can do this. By golly, you can do hard things. I can do it. I can. That's really funny because I said that when I was talking to Jennifer today. She was like, we could do it. I was like, we can do hard things.

SPEAKER_01 3:08

Yes, that's like my that is my ultimate saying on this whole RV adventure. Everything I'm like, I can do hard things, I just have to keep that's why I got a tattoo. I had to remember that every time.

SPEAKER_00 3:21

Yes, yes. Well, listen, we're gonna start. We're starting right now then. We're starting with hard things. Welcome to Learn to RV. I am Tasha. This is Community Spotlight, and I am here with Joni Lee. And you are in for a treat because I got to meet Joni at the creator, the content creator event at the Tampa RV show. And it was just the most beautiful moment of Kiss Met I've ever had in my life. Went, I was probably like one of the last people to go through the lunch line. And I came in and thought, I don't know where I'm going to sit, even though they had given us like little color tags that told us like you've got to find a table with this color balloon on it. And I still thought all the all the places that these tables are gonna be taken, like I'm gonna be sitting in the floor somewhere. And I walked in and I saw one table with one seat, and it was right next to you. And I sat down and I felt very awkward, and then I turned and and we said hello, and then it was just the most natural, beautiful conversation I had with anyone like that entire week of my life. And Rosewood and I went to Podfest like two days later, and you did you stay for any of the R V show, or were you just weren't you just there for like a day and then you were heading out somewhere else?

SPEAKER_01 4:50

I just came for that. I just came for that event, and I didn't know what was going on because I'm so new to all of this, and I didn't know if I wanted to create, like, I really didn't know where my place was, and so yeah, I found it kind of last minute, and there's a whole other backstory to it, but I booked it like last minute and found my neighbors who I knew like all of about five days in the RV place I was staying, and they watched my dog for me all day, and like I was like, you know, I'm gonna be gone like all day. They're like Mary's like, it's fine, it's fine, and um I made a lifelong friend with them, Mary and Harry, lifelong friends from that moment on. Like, yes, but I came there not really knowing what to expect. And I don't know if you know, but when you sat at the table, do you remember what I said to you? You said, I have a blue thing, I'm supposed to sit at a blue table. And I said, Well, it's not, but I love people that break rules, so sit down. So that was, I think, like the ice, like that was the icebreaker.

SPEAKER_00 5:53

I was just so glad to have a chair. The lights were dimmed, there was a video getting ready to play. Yes. And I was just so late getting through the food line that I was like, is there even gonna be food left for me? Like, I just don't know what I'm getting myself into at this point. And it wasn't even like I need people to understand, like, yes, late is my is my foretape. Like, I'm always running late somewhere because I'm always thinking in my head, oh no, I can do this. Like, if someone needs something, yes, it's okay. I can make sure that I get that for you before I go do the thing that I have to do for myself. Um, and that's what happened that day. Someone asked me for something, and I was like, I absolutely can do that for you and still get to the lunch line on time. And I did not, I did not get to the lunch line on time. But that's okay because it really worked out in my favor. And I just felt so blessed. We had the most beautiful conversation, and then whenever lunch was over, I was so disappointed. I was like, no, I just made a friend. So, okay, so enough about me and my joyful lunch. I have I am just gonna ask you so many questions, but we're just gonna make it a good fun conversation. Awesome, Joni. You are a kick butt solo woman RVer. And so I applaud you. Yay, you're doing the thing. And you and I have talked about this. There are women who come up to you and say, I cannot believe that you're doing this. I could never do that. And your response to them is, yes, you can.

SPEAKER_01 7:41

You can do anything you put your mind to. You really can. If I can do it, anyone can do it. I didn't even like camping. If I can do this, anyone can do this. But really, it really is true though. I women, I feel like I think that when they look at everything that involves, and most of the time it's couples and each of them have their respected things that they're doing, right? Their tasks. Okay, I'm in charge of this, and I'm in charge of this. And it's funny because in talking to them, they will say, Well, if like I'm in charge of doing this and he's in charge of doing this, and he forgets something, he's asking me where it is. And I'm like, Well, that's not what I'm in charge of. And I said, Well, see, that's really easy for me because I just only blame myself.

SPEAKER_00 8:22

Like, uh there's only one person. There's one person with one checklist. Yes, it's my fault all the time. So how you know if you no, sorry, go ahead. You go, you go. I I was just gonna ask, how did you get the gumption about you? What led you to go? This is my path forward. This is this is what I'm doing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:49

How long do you have?

SPEAKER_00 8:51

Oh, girl, for you.

SPEAKER_01 8:53

So it really was not what's that? I said for you all day. Okay, okay. So I think that what happened was I had um a little bit of background. I had started a nonprofit about 15 years ago. Um, and I grew it from out of the back of my car. Um, it was feeding children to feeding thousands of kids every weekend for 14 years. And that was a I can do hard things moment, too, because I had no idea what I was doing, but it God put it on my heart, and I was like, okay, like if this is what I'm supposed to do and you want me to do it, then you better start bringing me all the resources. And he did. And I think that's the thing is that when we are in ourselves, we do fear it. It is fearful, but you really can do anything, it's endless possibilities. And so I retired and I was like, okay, what am I gonna do now? Because I didn't want to retire into retirement, I wanted to retire to something else. And I really have a passion for serving women and helping women, and I feel like I have a really backstory of a lot of trauma and a lot of things that have happened to me. And I hope that by telling my story through my podcast, that it's going to enable and help other women. That's what I really want to do. That's what my purpose is. So I found it very hysterical when God put on my heart that I was going to sell everything I own and get an RV and I was gonna travel by myself. And I thought that was hysterical. I was like, okay, well, you know, I have faith, I'll trust you, but how about this? How about I travel and have a driver and I stay in hotels? And it was like, no, you're going to do this in an RV, you're gonna do it this way. So I wrestled with this a lot with God, and it wasn't an easy decision because I I just don't, I did not like to camp. I have camped as a child, and I mean, I have a story. I probably this was like God's funny thing to me because um I have probably been living the RV life more longer than I anticipated because when I was a child, I remember I think I was in like middle school. We were at a church service one Sunday, and they announced that there was a mission trip to Dryden, Ontario. Who wants to go? It's a mission trip. They're gonna build, help prepare a church and and UVBS. I raised our hand for our family to go, and we had no camper. So I signed us up. And then after church, I said to my dad, I was like, Well, we gotta get a camper. So we bought an airstream and we went on the missions trip. Okay, hold on. So how old are you? I think it's kind of like remember when you wanted to go on that mission trip? Well, you're gonna go on another one.

SPEAKER_00 11:44

How how old were you when you I committed your family?

SPEAKER_01 11:48

I can't hear you, Han. Say that again.

SPEAKER_00 11:50

How old how old were you when you committed your family to going to Ontario? How old was you my question?

SPEAKER_01 11:58

I didn't hear what you said. Mm-hmm. Yes. When we went to Dryden, when we went to Dryden, Ontario, how old was I? I was probably in middle school. I was young, very young. And so my dad bought a family in the church that was still on an airstream, and we bought it. So we traveled. Wow. So it was that was from an early age, I guess, that I, you know, just a different season right now, but this same assignment. You know, I just listen and have faith and trust and like, you know. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 12:31

This is what I'm gonna try. Yes, you can. But I can't here's what I'm gonna try. That's the hard thing. So this is what I'm gonna try and do. Hold on. I'm gonna do, hey Joni, can you see this chat? Hold on. Uh can you see my chat? We may interview a chat. So well, I can hear you now, but like okay. Okay. Ask my question out loud. If this happens again, I'll ask my question out loud and then I'll type it. I'll like pause and I'll type it to you, and you can answer. And then I will just edit out the okay.

SPEAKER_01 13:08

If I don't start, yeah, if I don't start answering right away, that means I didn't hear it then. Yep. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Sounds great.

SPEAKER_00 13:16

We're gonna make this work. Like nothing's gonna stop us. I'm here. Okay, okay. So you're this precocious middle schooler saying, we're going. So you have always had it in you. Like that, that I'm taking it on. I'm taking on the road. We're we're going, has been in your, you didn't even know it, but it has been in your bones since you were itty bitty. So now you're an adult. What does what is camping solo look like for you? How does going campsite to campsite look for you as a solo RVer? What does that time get split up doing?

SPEAKER_01 13:55

Well, so I have been kind of in a transition phase. So the way I thought it was going to look is not how it looks at all because I'm not just out here vacationing, right? I am starting a podcast, I'm writing a book, I am building a brand, I am doing all the things. And so that's a lot of preparation, you know, from the podcast end. I mean, just even doing that one thing, it takes a lot of time. And I applaud you because there's so many hard things to overcome on the road. And I'm not just speaking of like, you know, your daily life stuff. But then when you try to do this on top of it, you have weather conditions, you have no internet connection, you have all the things that you have to like put a fireman hat on and fix, right? So I applaud you because I get it. So what I thought it was gonna look like, it did not, it has not looked like that at all, but that's okay, and I'm okay with that. I was in a season in Tennessee, and I really didn't know why I was there for so long. Now I do because it was a rest period, it was a healing period, it was a healing time for me to kind of put start getting everything all together. And then I traveled to Florida, and that was another season I needed to uh kind of have time to myself, and then I lost my dog, and then now it's another, another season that I'm in. So it doesn't look how I thought it would look, but it's it looks, it's it's great. It's great what it is.

SPEAKER_00 15:28

So it's not how you thought it would look, but it's what you need, it's unfolding how you need it to.

SPEAKER_01 15:33

You're you're frozen. You're I don't know where you are, but you're frozen. I don't know where you are. It's telling me that. Hold on a second.

SPEAKER_00 15:40

This is just the weirdest. I do not know what is going on with Riverside, but it is.

SPEAKER_01 15:46

This is what has been going on all day. I'm telling you. I'm I'm like, I was so frustrated this afternoon. I had to literally just go outside because I was so frustrated. You're frozen again. I just let me see if I can open the chat. Now, see, it's taking me back to some.

SPEAKER_00 16:02

This is so weird.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

I can't get to the chat. I don't know where that. Okay. Oh, there you are. Okay, wait, I'm back. I'm back. Okay. So that shows it. Wonderful. They're editing their they're updating their editing software.

SPEAKER_00 16:14

Yeah. Which will be great when it's all edited. When they're done editing, it'll be great. But in the meantime, the editing. Yes. We're we're gonna make it work. My question for you is um, and what I said was it's not going, it's gone. I'm gone already. Joni. Tell me about your podcast. There we go. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 16:38

Tell me about your podcast. So my my podcast is called Big Talk at the Table. It is a chance for mostly women. I mean, it's for anyone, but I would say mostly women. It's for women who kind of feel like they don't maybe have, they don't know where they're at in their life, and they might feel stuck, and they might feel like I'm kind of in my 40s or my 50s, my 60s, and you know, life has kind of happened, and I had a role and I had a title, and maybe I'm in retirement now, or maybe I don't know what else it is that I want to do. Your kids are maybe getting ready to finish school, or you're an empty nester, and you're just kind of like, What's next for me? Like, is this it? That's what big talk at the table is for. It is bringing together stories of people that I've met on the road, people who have found their sole purpose, who are living their life, and like who have things to offer other women in support and community.

SPEAKER_00 17:40

I love that.

SPEAKER_01 17:41

So it's a chance to talk really big talk at a table. And the table is, you know, our table is such a it's a metaphor so much because the table, if you think about it, is where everybody sits around to have family dinners, big dinners. And what happens at those? It's usually big talk. You're getting into beat big deep conversations. And so I'm really worried because you're gone now, but okay. Um it says it's still recording, so I'm just gonna keep talking. I'm not a small talk girl. I don't like small talk, I don't like going to big groups where I have to speed date women and really you don't find out much about them. And so it's really a chance to kind of have a one-on-one conversation with some amazing people that I meet and being able to kind of introduce them to everyone who's in my audience. I don't think you're here. This is the craziest, craziest thing. So I now have taken over uh the Learn to RB podcast. They literally have left the building and they left it all to me. So what do you guys want to talk about? Let's see, what would be the next question that Tasha would ask me? Tell me your funniest story on the road so far. And I would have to tell you that it has been um not funny, but it was my most probably I can do hard thing story, which was I drove from Florida to Georgia and I stopped at uh Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island. Beautiful place to stop. If you haven't been there and you're in the area, for sure go check it out. It's amazing. And from there, I kind of came back up into Georgia and I'm driving along, and um, all of a sudden I see this humongous bridge, right? And it's windy, it's Easter Sunday, and this is like I'm driving and I am like white knuckling the RV. And I don't know how tall the bridge is or anything about this bridge because it just kind of came up. And then I got halfway up the bridge and it said, uh, it said, do not stop, no stopping on the bridge. And I was like, I am not stopping, I just want to get over this thing. And after I made it over, I looked up the bridge and it is the tallest bridge in Georgia. So, and to me, it is taller than the Mackinac Bridge. I'm from Michigan, so I was like, if I can do that bridge, oh baby, I can do anything. So that was probably my most fearful moment, but yet I'm kind of glad I didn't know it was coming because then I was just in the moment and I just had to do it. And I just was like, I can do hard things and I did it, and so can you. I don't know. This is the craziest interview I've ever had. I know I'm still on. Do you want me to get off? I've been talking though. So I'm telling you, this is the most craziest interview I think I've ever had. But I have to tell you, this is fun technical stuff on the road that you get to deal with. And when you don't have a crew of like technical people who like who get to like help you do all the things, and you're the you're the fireman, you just gotta keep putting on your hat till you like figure it out, right? So we'll see what happens here in a minute. Okay, so hold on to I'm gonna see if she wants me to stay in. Do you want me to stay in? Oh the joys of R V life, huh? Podcast life, really, though. It's not RV life. Well, both. Uh let me see. You want me to ask myself another question? Let's see. I love I love beaches. I'm trying to get to all the beaches I can, and I love sunrises and sunsets. So I'm trying to chase as many of those as I possibly can. Let me see what else we want to talk about. So I just so you you have to listen to the whole thing that just happened because you like just disappeared. Okay. And I was like, I was like, okay, well, she's not here anymore. I'm like, so I've taken over the podcast, and I'm like, so like they left me in charge. So I was like, so what do you what question do you think? What do you want to know? And then I was like, well, let me think about a question she would ask me next. And then I was like interviewing myself. I think it's whatever's going on today in Riverside. I don't know. I mean, you know what? All my stuff is exactly the same.

SPEAKER_00 21:43

I say we continue on and I'll see what I can do in post. Um I think uh it's okay because it's the message that matters. It's the message that matters.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

So, Joni. I know. I hope people will listen. I hope people will listen because it's a it's a hot mess.

SPEAKER_00 22:06

This message is a hot mess. You're not echoing anymore. So I don't know what just happened, but just now you weren't echoing. I love that. So okay, I'm gonna go back a little bit because you know I feel like I need to reset. Um, so little precocious johnie was like, let's go to Ontario. Mom, dad, let's buy a camper. Um, and you guys got an airstream and you went. Did you guys do any like family camping after Ontario? Was that like a part of your childhood?

SPEAKER_01 22:39

Yes. Yes, it was. So we did family camp, which I liked. We camped every year in a church campground. And so it was not just our church, but it was like multiple churches came. I loved that. And I went to camp, not in a camper, but I went to camp too. And then as I grew older, I think what happened honestly was having kids and camping is not as fun as just camping on your own. Right? It's a lot of work. And I think that to me, it was like I was working and I was looking for a vacay, you know, like I wanted a relaxing weekend. And like when the kids were really young, that wasn't relaxing for me. Like you're cooking and you're doing this and you're doing that. And I'm like, oh my goodness. And so making sure everybody got their life vests on. Yes, yes. I think I need one on right now. But like, I feel like that's kind of maybe when I fell out of love with camping. Like, and I don't know if I was ever in love with it, but I liked it at least, you know? And I liked the adventure. I did like that a lot. But and I loved the community. That was one thing I remember even back when I got my parents to go on that first one, that first missionary trip. It was about community. And like, that's what I loved. And I love that now. I really do. I every place I have gone, I will tell you RV life and RV living has the most amazing community of people that I have ever met.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

Yeah, it really does. Now that you're on the road and you are starting your podcast, I know that I am jumping around a lot and I blame. I I just I, you know, electronics. So you are you are starting your podcast and it comes out May 11th. First episode. Yes, right? May 11th. Yes. Yes. Big talk at the big talk at the table.

SPEAKER_01 24:39

Big talk at the table. Big talking table.

SPEAKER_00 24:42

I'm an RV. Listen. Uh I've even maybe I got a table in here. Maybe it's gonna have to be a big table to hold all of the like weight of the conversation, you know? Like, you can't just have some wimpy table holding some of that conversation up. Um, okay, so big talk at the table with Joni Lee. So is it gonna be like a rotating list of people coming in every week, or are you gonna have like standard guests that will come in?

SPEAKER_01 25:19

I'm gonna have um I'm gonna have rotating guests. Um, my thing is that I want it to be, I want to interview, like, I've met some amazing people on the road. I've also met some amazing people just in my life that I want to share with everyone, you know, and their stories and our conversations that we've had. And, you know, like their courage. I mean, I'm not the only one that has courage, you know, right. Everybody has it too. And so when I find somebody that is doing something that I feel is like extraordinary, I want to highlight that because I think it would help other people to know that you have it in you too. You just gotta look for it. It's there.

SPEAKER_00 26:02

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that. That's been my favorite part about podcasting, has been being able to share other people's stories. I know that, you know, specifically I'm on learn to RV. And so there's a lot of like, let us tell you about water filters and why they're important. Um, but my heart is really being able to show people that, you know, this lifestyle is available. If this is something that you want to do, it's achievable. It's not um something that has to be put off, it's not something that has to be scary or something that you have to wait for. And I love your heart for women, um, and kind of reaching out and ministering to women. Um I I think for me and my personal experiences, um it was always that as a woman I had a very designated place to be in life and a very designated role to fill. And so this um urge to go and this urge to explore was often tampered by other people in my life who were like, that's crazy, you're setting your family up for failure, you're you know, what are you doing to your children? What are you doing to your marriage? But it wasn't until we actually hit the road that I feel like Matt and I hit a rhythm, if you will, is actually true to who we are. Um and it's you know, I'm so proud of that moment, but I'm also so sad that it took so long to get there. And I wish that I had been, I guess, brave enough and had had that courage to step into that onness sooner. And so I love the idea of being able to share stories to let people know, like if that's where your heart is, wherever your heart is bleeding you, whatever that call is on your heart, there is a value in listening to that call and not letting someone else tell you if that call is right or not.

SPEAKER_01 28:36

Absolutely, because not everybody has the same call, right? Yes, and or at the same time. I know you say I wish it would have happened sooner, but I do have to tell you that I mean I'm later in life doing this, but I also felt that I'm at a time in my life where I'm still I can still do things by myself. I can still go, I can and I wanted to do it while I could experience RV life for what it was and like what it is. And like it gives me stories. I mean, I'm able to be out, I'm able to adventure, I'm able to explore. It's met I've met so many wonderful people, and the places that I have been have been incredible already, and the conversations, you know, yeah, and that's what I was looking for. Um that's what I was looking for for sure, but the way that I thought it was gonna happen didn't happen the way that I thought it was gonna happen, but that's okay.

SPEAKER_00 29:30

Yeah. Because it was the way that you needed it to happen, so it came around anyway.

SPEAKER_01 29:36

It's also right, and it's the season. I mean, this is the season for this in my life, and I'm okay with that. And yeah, you know, it wouldn't have worked out earlier. Yes, I had the same thing happen to me. I had a lot of people, you know, it's almost like if you want to do something like this, you're better off not telling anybody, right? Honestly. You're better off just doing it, just keep it yourself. When you start telling everybody, everybody starts putting their own conditions on it for you. Yes, you know, yes, and so you're better off just like doing the research, don't tell anybody, and then just go do it. Yeah. So if they're gonna think you're crazy, you'll already be doing it and you'll be crazy. So yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 30:16

Be better to be like already in motion and be crazy than be standing.

SPEAKER_01 30:22

Yeah, so the other thing too is I think that we wait for the perfect conditions, right? We wait until I mean that's not just an RV living or or kidding the road. I mean, I'm in so many groups and I see so many people say, like, I'm waiting for the perfect time. Like, what what? You know, and there is no perfect time.

SPEAKER_00 30:40

There isn't. There really isn't. No. And and if there was, how would you know? There's no way to know when that perfect time would be. We are not orchestrators of time. So no, no. Let's talk about it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:57

No, I was just gonna say something. I think Go ahead. I was just gonna say that I think one thing that surprised me about RV life that I um, you know, coming into this, I thought for sure, like, this is gonna teach me about travel. That's honestly like I was like, okay, like I'm gonna learn so much about travel. And I'm gonna be honest with you, it has taught me more about myself than travel.

SPEAKER_00 31:25

I think for me, and Jen and I were talking about this a little bit earlier today, um, we were talking about friendship on the road. And um I had mentioned that how valuable I think it is to make friends with people who are outside of you and your standards. That if we all were friends with uh people who looked exactly like us, thought exactly like us, there would be no value in that. We would just be having our own thoughts and our own conversations come back to us, you know, tenfold. And what good is that in there? I think that we are on this earth to learn from one another and to help each other grow and um and to see the beauty in that and to experience that. And um, and so for me in the travel, one of the things that has really been beautiful has been um in getting to go to the different places, in getting to see the different things and meet the different people. I have learned more about myself through those people and places than I would have if I had stayed still. In the way that those things have touched me, and the way that I even just in the way that like I physically felt my body react to things, I learned so much about myself, um, what I could do, what I couldn't do, um, just pushing myself to new limits. And that I I wanted to go out and I wanted to see the world, and I wanted to, you know, there were so many places in this country, and there are still so many places in this country that I haven't been. But that has been the the kind of most beautiful surprise has been how much exploring of myself there has been, and not just of I think the places that we've been of this travel.

SPEAKER_01 33:31

And I would agree, and I think that one of the things that I found to be like the most like rewarding has been how I have literally been taken out of an environment that I was in and a community that I was engrossed in and plucked by myself into somewhere the where I know nobody, um, and how it's giving me time, number one, to heal, to to do some like work on myself, and then number two, to really have time to really figure out like who I am, and like, oh yeah, I don't I don't like that. Like, no, I don't like that. Yep. Or yes, I do like that. I'm really gonna go do that again. I like that.

SPEAKER_00 34:17

Yeah, absolutely. Before all of our technical situations, you were talking about the table. Do you want to share a little bit about why being at the table is so important to you for your podcast and for kind of the conversations that you're going to be having?

SPEAKER_01 34:34

So, one thing I want to say is it sounds like it's like you even mentioned like a heavy table because we're we are going to be talking about a lot of like really meaningful stuff, but I'm gonna tell you we're gonna have a lot of fun too, because I like to laugh and I like to have a good time. So but I think that I think that the reason I came up with the name of it is because in my life in the nonprofit world, I had to be at so many events and so many things and so much small talk. And it's fine because that's what it is, right? You only have a limited amount of time and you're in a group with so many people and you have to kind of mingle and meet and like, you know, and so you're like speed dating with people, right? And you don't really get to know them. So I've done small talk for 14 years, and I didn't I don't like that. I would rather sit one-on-one with somebody and have like a really good conversation with them and learn about them and walk away feeling like enlightened, growth, something. And so I tend to keep, you know, I like to I like to meet people, but I like to do one-on-one or I like to zoom or I like to talk like this rather than text. And so that's what the table is. The table really is it's non-threatening, it's open to anybody. It's like remember when you were in school and you'd go through the cafeteria line. Remember that like pit in your stomach? If you didn't have somebody that you knew you were gonna sit with at at lunch, you literally had your pizza and a pit in your stomach. Yes, and you didn't want to be that girl that had nowhere to sit or go sit by yourself.

SPEAKER_00 36:15

We moved so much. I am so familiar with that feeling.

SPEAKER_01 36:20

Yeah. And so it really opening up the table for anyone to join. Anyone is welcome. And you know, I think that that's what we need more in the society. I think we need women uplifting women instead of meeting to tear each other down and gossip. And, you know, I mean, think about the world that we could live in. I mean, we are women are powerful, man. If you got us like all like directed the right way, but it's really what it's about is that I don't want any woman to think that they're out there, that they're not worthy, that they're not enough, that they don't belong. You know, we are social media puts out so much of FOMO. Everybody has it, you know. And I really want people to understand like that's not real life at all. And, you know, I want the podcast to be a community. So I started a community called The Hive. And the reason I started that is because bees are such fascinating, and they're just amazing. And a bee knows its purpose when it's born. A bee knows a bee is a queen, she's a queen. If she's a worker, if you're a worker bee, you're the worker bee. And so I feel like boy, if we knew what our sole purpose was when we were born, how our life would be like so just amazing. But God made it so that we don't always know that. And we have to go through trials and things, and that makes us grow and that makes us almost kind of develop into what our sole purpose is and the hive of the community, and that's what I want. I want women, I want anyone like uplifting each other. Let's celebrate wins together, let's like high-five each other on the little things that you know. Hey, we got the podcast working. Woo-hoo! Like, I mean, it's what it is, the little thing, right? I mean, how exciting that we're gonna fit we're gonna get to finish this, right? So I'm excited about that.

SPEAKER_00 38:14

Oh, heaven's to better.

SPEAKER_01 38:16

And I really hope that we can inspire and you know, let people know they're not alone, everybody's going through stuff, and nobody's life is perfect on social media, and we're just here to kind of figure our way through this thing called life. And I want to do it with a bunch of awesome women. That's what I want to do.

SPEAKER_00 38:35

Well, I love that idea of just being able to welcome every woman that you meet and just invite her to bring her chair up to the table. Um, and that it's not, you know, the way that you are approaching it is that it's not a chair that is even already pre-selected for her. She gets to bring the chair that is hers, that is made for her, that is fits right for her. That, you know, she she brings her own chair, she brings herself to the table and gets to be herself at that table. And that is really beautiful too, um, just when you're creating that community. So I am so excited for your podcast to start. I was excited when I sat down next to you and you started talking to me about your vision. And um, I just cannot wait to listen. So I know that we're starting to run long. I'm gonna ask you three questions, kind of fast questions to get through. One that has absolutely nothing to do with what you're getting ready to do, and then two that actually do have something to do with your podcast and what you're getting ready to do. But so far on your travels, where has been your favorite place that you have visited?

SPEAKER_01 39:54

So you're gonna have to watch the video back because I have a funny story in there.

SPEAKER_00 40:00

Did you tell this whenever I got to do that?

SPEAKER_01 40:01

Is that my favorite place? Yes, I told a story, but it wasn't my favorite place. It was my scariest moment, and I did tell it because I interviewed myself, but um, it was my scary moment. But my favorite place so far. You know, that's really hard to answer that because I have to tell you, I have liked every place that I have gone for a different reason, and it's been a different part of my journey, and I can look back and see why I was where I was, but really over the winter, I was down in Punta Gorda, Florida, and I got to winter at Southern Sands. If you go there, it's an amazing place. It is definitely like it's a 55 and older community. I had not planned on going there. I did love it though, and that the only reason one of my favorite highlights of it is that I met my neighbors next door, Mary and Harry, and they have become instant friends. Like I've known them forever. I'm going on a cruise with them in a month. That's awesome. Like, so look where you guys go back to me. We are going out of Philadelphia because they live in Delaware. So I'm gonna get to go to their house and I'm gonna get to experience Delaware and kind of check it out. And then we're leaving out of Philly and we're going to Bermuda and then down to Charleston and then back for seven days. So that's it. But you know what? The one thing was that I want to tell you is so you know, you're asking, but Mary said something to me after we left, and she said, You came into my life at a time where I didn't even know that I needed a friend. She said, I just like didn't even, I didn't know how much you have impacted my life. And that like made me tear up and cry because like I was just looking at it from my perspective, you know, and we don't always think about the other person, right? And so it's just that was that was probably, I mean, for sure that's my favorite place so far, but I've I've had some amazing places that I've been to, and I can't wait to keep checking them out.

SPEAKER_00 41:57

For everyone who wants to catch you on May 11th, where are they gonna be able to sit down and grab a spot at the table with Joni?

SPEAKER_01 42:07

So I have a YouTube channel, it's called Joni Lee Official. Okay, they can join there, they can go to my website, jonielee.com, they can access everything there as far as like the YouTube. It'll also be uploaded to Spotify or anywhere that they listen to podcasts at. And so, with the Lord willing and I do it all right, listen, uh, you are doing great.

SPEAKER_00 42:31

The fact that you were able to self-interview yourself today shows that this is already old hat to you.

SPEAKER_01 42:41

Like, you're gonna do great. No, it's um, you know, it's just the you know, you're starting starting something new, and it's always that, you know, how's it gonna go? And well, you know what, it's just gonna go and we'll make it work.

SPEAKER_00 42:55

But I know that I was just gonna tell you that podcasts that last past their 10th episode are in the top 20th percent of all podcasts that have ever been released because so many drop-offs. So you just have to make it to number 11. 11. Oh, that's my favorite number too, so I will.

SPEAKER_01 43:18

And that ties in to May 11th. Yes. Well, I love it. It might have been planned, it might have been planned that way. It's my mom's birthday that day, also. I love that. That is incredible.

SPEAKER_00 43:33

So there's you'll hear a little bit of that story on the podcast. Good. I'm really excited to hear all about it. Is there anything that you want to share? Because I know that we have had just a real heck of a time today, but we've not talked about anything I thought we were going to talk about. So is there anything that you wanted to talk about today that we didn't get a chance to talk about that you'd like to? touch on before we sign off.

SPEAKER_01 44:03

We talked about everything I think I wanted to talk about. I guess the only the one thing I just wanted to kind of like reiterate again is that to the women that are listening to this podcast and they're thinking like I could never drive that RV. I could never do that. I could never do small steps. Just do something small. Maybe drive the RV in the parking lot and just get used to like driving it because you can do it. You just need to take things small and like and work into it. But your confidence will catch up to you. You just have to take that first step.

SPEAKER_00 44:40

I love that confidence will catch up to you. That's such a good one. Such a good one. It does. Well Joni I just I think you're the bee's knees. I think that you are fantastic. Well I think you are too I'm so happy that we were able to make this happen in whatever little disjointed way it wanted to happen today. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast and thank you for being a part of our community and joining us around the campfire. It's been a pleasure speaking with you this evening and I cannot wait to see all of the amazing things that you are going to do through just all of the work that you've got ahead of you. It's I know it's going to be beautiful. It's going to be great. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 45:31

And I have enjoyed being with you guys and you know being able to share thank you for sharing my story and thinking that my story is worth sharing because that's what I want to do for other women. So I applaud you and I want to thank you for what you do for the R V world because hey like you know everybody needs to know about black tanks and stuff that's really not that exciting.

SPEAKER_00 45:54

You know it's they need to know about it before it becomes exciting.

SPEAKER_01 46:00

Yes. Yes that is very true. Very very true. Sometimes you know it's not fun talking about those things but it's definitely needed. So thank you for being in the community and sharing that with everybody because it's much needed.

SPEAKER_00 46:17

Absolutely thank you so much. Well from all of us at Learn to RV the podcast we thank you for joining us today. Get over to Joni's channel and like and share and subscribe and get her podcast out. Big talk at the table with Joni fleet May 11th is the day so you want to get there ahead of time so that you don't miss any of the notifications and get into the hive so that you can catch all the buzz and not ever miss any of it. We love Joni and I know that you're going to love her too. So catch you guys around the campfire next week