As the year winds down, I’ve been reflecting on the miles covered and the lessons learned. It’s been a wild mix of high-octane projects and quiet moments in the wild. This year wasn't so much about checking boxes; it was about showing up fully to everything that was worth my “yes”—whether on a muddy trail or a red carpet.
Below are some highlights for which I’m thankful:
🌎 Working and exploring across 4 continents + 8 U.S. States
🚀 Covering launch preparations for NASA at Kennedy Space Center
🎵 Directing on new video content for Lady Gaga x YouTube
📹 Producing industry-changing events for clients like Anthropic, General Motors, Cognition, Intel, and HubSpot
📣 Delivering the opening keynote at Miami University’s Leadership Symposium on Why Women Deserve to Explore
🇧🇷 Working across three languages (English, Portuguese, and Spanish) in Brazil
⛑️ Earning my Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification
🎥 Hosting the red carpet coverage for the Explorers Club Annual Dinner
📺 Producing 90+ new videos for my @rachelroams channels, spanning Europe, South America, the South Pacific, Central America, and the U.S.
🎤 Emceeing, moderating, and speaking at events like TGA Show and She Leads
🏆 Receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award from Oakwood High School
❤️ Volunteering as a Refugee Champion for UN Refugee Agency, a mentor through both The Explorers Club and Miami University, a and a trail maintenance crew member for Trailkeepers of Oregon
🎙️ Joining 10+ new podcasts and publications to talk storytelling and adventure
🌴 Kite boarding, kayaking, and swimming with sea turtles in the South Pacific
🐴 Exploring by whitewater raft and horseback in Montana
🚤 Searching for gators by jet boat in Florida
🦋 Marveling as my four year-old embraces curiosity, adventure, and an appreciation for nature (*and* racks up more extensive travels than I’d experienced by the time I started college)
To everyone who has supported this journey — colleagues, clients, and community — I can’t thank you enough for the trust and continued inspiration.
I’m headed into the new year with a full heart and a committed compass, and I can’t wait to see where 2026 takes us.
See you out there.
Rachel