These Are Some of Our Favorite People, Places, & Things
These people have inspired, educated, or entertained us in our van-life journey. Because people come and go in this lifestyle, some of these people have left van life and moved on with their lives. But the podcasts, websites, and other things they have left behind are still leading people down the road. Many of the podcasts, for example, can be binged from start to finish. Or, as we have sometimes done, just cherry pick the topics that interest you.
Van-Life Podcasts
My Solo Road by Divine on the Road by Sydney. It’s billed as a solo female van-life podcast, and there is plenty of content aimed at that audience, but most of her podcasts are useful and interesting to anybody interested in van life. Shows on specific topics are in-depth and useful. Some of the most useful episodes we’ve listened to. And Sydney, while we do not know her, sounds like a very nice person. That’s important to us and we like that about her.
FNA Vanlife by Frankie & Alex. These two were our gateway drug into the world of van life. We were brand new to this thing called van life and we found FNA and listened to them everywhere we went.
Built to Go by Jeff Wagg. This is one of our favorite podcasts long term. He calls it a “magazine format” podcast. Without knowing Jeff, we would guess he had some broadcast experience in his background. His voice is made for radio. We always join him when he announces, “Tales From the Road,” in his overdramatic voice and we dance like robots to all of the music by Simon Wagg, aka Sirmooge. And, remember, ? > ! (Hook Waka Bang). Figure out what that means and let us know.
Van-Life Websites
Crazy Brave Adventure – Perry and Dan have been running around the United States and Canada since September of 2022 in their 2014 Ford Econoline E350 low-top, extended van – SteVan. They adventure for the sake of adventure, blogging, photographing, and sharing their travels along the way. See their Insta below.
Divine on the Road – Please do not look at photos of Sydney and assume this is another “van-life” website based on a pretty girl and fancy van. If you do that you’ll miss the real value of this website and do yourself a real disservice. This website (see My Solo Road podcast above) is chock full of useful information. One of my favorite parts is the detailed places she has spent the night in her van complete with coordinates and details about cell service, safety, bathrooms, and whether or not the space is dog friendly.
Gnomad
Van-Life Facebook/Instagram
Van-Life Products/Companies
Hilltop Vans – Owner Jeff Hill grew up traveling with his parents in a classic VW hippie bus. As an adult, Hill has crossed the county numerous times in his old self-built Chevy van, including travels with the woman who would become his wife as they lived on the road for nearly two years with their rescue pup. He’s turned those years, miles, and hours on the road, along with the passion for van life and living the nomad life, into a business. Now, he builds vans for others, whether they’re fancy Sprinters, Transits, or Promasters, or an old van like ours. We met him at the 2024 Van Nationals when we parked our Hippie Van near his Chevy. His shop is based in Plymouth, Mass., and we encourage you to check out his work.
Bluetti