Who in the Hello Am I (Now we)

  • Travel invites the unexpected and I’ve learned more from misadventures than any travel/tour company could teach. This podcast is what happens when the best laid plans go to shat, and you learn lean into the unknown—with one body, two inner critics, and an open mic. May the Goddess’ Helps Us All

  • “Unstructured leisure” is a myth. I don’t willy nilly—I engineer. I spent years trying to turn our stories into a book: research binders, timelines, color-coded chapters. Chaos, of course, destroyed most of it.

    That's how you ended up listening to them instead. I always have backups. Just in case.

  • I thrive where plans die. This podcast wasn’t supposed to happen. But the world doesn’t care about your outlines—it cares if you're awake. I’ve dragged Heather through 30+ countries with no script, no polish, and no apologies. Some of our best stories started as disasters. Best part… We’re not dead yet!

  • Compass wants structure. Chaos speaks in fire. I’m just trying to sleep. Why “13”? Because when you combine logic, chaos, and lived experience, you don’t get a clean trio—you get something unpredictable, honest, and human. This podcast is the product of three voices, one mouth telling the same story, differently.

Heather ~ Body/Transport/Human

Middle age woman kneeling opening royal tomb Pyramids Cairo Egypt smiling happy enjoying life holding black leather bag and bottle water linen pants peach stripes and a black no sleeve coverup

Hi, Ahoy (Czech), Szia (Hungarian)! Nice to informally meet you all. I’m Heather—or, as the hosts of this flying circus like to call me—the Body, the Transport, the one carrying these voices into the world.

My first taste of travel came in my teens, a family trip to Montreal followed by a graduation cruise with my mom. I wasn’t just bitten by the travel bug—I was completely INFECTED. My small world in the tiniest state in the U.S. suddenly cracked open into a vast universe of cultures, stories, and unexpected possibilities.

I could no longer accept the idea that borders—lines men scratched onto maps—could limit where I belonged. This is OUR world, and I intend to experience it, not just pass through it.

Over the decades, that passion has shaped everything I do. Travel became both my career and compass, guiding me to help others see beyond the brochure into the authentic heart of a place. History kept pulling me deeper, showing me the messy truths behind the polished timelines. Law and structure trained me to question boundaries & to navigate the systems that try to define us.

As for life itself—raising a daughter to adult-hood, loving a very patient husband, and walking through different cultures—taught me the power of perspective.

Through it all, two voices never stopped:

Compass crying that her plans are being burned by Chaos & a need for order.

Chaos screaming her wild stories & dancing around the mini-fires like she is at a Pagan Beltane Rite.

For years, I tried to keep them quiet, tucked away in journals and late-night thoughts. But they grew louder, insisting they deserved to be heard & since we live in a democracy, majority rules.

Compass voting Yay, Chaos screaming F*** YEAH WITCH. I cried HELL NO!

Outvoted in my own mind (I tried dictatorship, they gave me a splitting headache!), so now unleashed, I introduce you to the menaces of my existence.

Compass ~ The Planner

Cartoon woman with glasses, brown hair in a bun, smiling, holding a stack of books and some papers. Impression of historian, professional & paralegal a pointed direction

Hello, Hola (Spanish), and Kalimara (Greek)! My given name is Compass. I am the voice of the planned direction, structure, & legal boundaries. I never leave home without contingency plans, backup copies, and—yes— hidden bail money for Chaos. Honestly, I am rarely a menace.

I live for antique maps, the smell of libraries, workings of town halls, and the awe of ancient sites. Travel has always been my field—I’ve spent decades in the industry; guiding, selling journeys, shaping itineraries & negotiating contracts. I even began journaling travel stories and historical notes. Each destination and aspect have stories that deserve to be preserved, and I’ve tried writing them down myself. After about fifty pages, Chaos got bored and used the journal for kindling. Sometimes… I just can’t with her!

Still, I remain to keep order, hold the plan, and make sure we don’t completely derail—though with Chaos involved, derailment is always around the next corner.

Chaos ~ The Shocker/Wildcard

Cartoon character resembling a devil with a dark mustache, and a serious expression, wearing a black suit with a red cape and a red tie. Impression of mischief, wild child and the unpredictable the chaos

Hey hey, Salaam (Arabic), and Guten Tag (German)! If you haven’t figured it out, I’m Chaos. Honestly, a perfectly fitting name—thank you, Transport. I’m the one their talking about, menace, wildcard, shocker, unpredictable, doesn’t matter I will take them ALL.

I provide the fun when the universe decides to throw rotten veggies our way; Batter Up! Fun is subjective, of course. For me, it’s shocking people with what I say, what I do, how I act. I have little shame, a voluntarily abandoned filter, and, yes, a immortality complex. If it makes you laugh or learn, so be it.

New, unique, uncomfortable—that’s where I thrive. That’s where people grow. When Compass tries to build walls of plans, I light them on fire to let the messy, raw, unforgettable stories through. Without me, you’d just get itineraries & sleep, for that stay home and watch Rick Steves. With me, you get the raw truth behind stories worth listening to.

Global Story ~ Travel is just the Beginning!!!

Two men smiling in a bar, with bottles of alcohol behind them and a TV screen showing a football game. Text overlay reads: "Agus n Victor our Waves bartenders... NCL Getaway 10-24-2022".
Two people smiling and hugging, one man wearing a cowboy hat and an orange shirt, and one woman with glasses and dark hair, wearing a white sleeveless top, in a room with wooden furniture and photos in the background.
A woman and a chef, both smiling and pointing at the camera, posing together in a commercial kitchen. The woman is wearing glasses, a white T-shirt, and striped pants. The chef is wearing a tall white chef's hat, a red and white striped shirt, and a black apron.
Four people sitting around a table at a celebration, with a cake and lit candles, smiling and enjoying the moment in a dimly lit restaurant.
A woman smiling in the foreground wearing sunglasses, with a man dressed in traditional European costume, holding a staff, standing against a colorful geometric patterned wall.
A group of people at a bar or restaurant, taking a selfie with some making rock on hand signs and others waving, with a blue-lit background and drinks on the counter.
Nine women tourists smiling with raised hands in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx in Egypt, wearing sunglasses and summer clothing under a cloudy sky.
Three people smiling and posing playfully in an indoor setting with wooden wall panels. One woman in a white blouse and red skirt is making a silly face, a man in a light blue shirt is standing behind her, and another woman in a pink top and white pants is leaning in with a joyful expression.
Four people posing together in a room with industrial pipes and a framed poster behind them. They are making rock and roll hand gestures. The group includes two men in yellow camouflage pants, one woman in beige pants, and a young man wearing a rainbow tutu and black shirt. The photo has a red mat with the caption 'Junk performers NCL Getaway'.
Four women taking a selfie outdoors in front of a pink and beige building, smiling and posing together.
The host happily posing with two Mexican soldiers in camouflage uniforms holding rifles, at a tourist location with a parasailing stand and cactus plants in the background.

Individually, we are Compass, Chaos, and Heather—who’s the Body, and the bridge carrying both voices into the world. Each of us has our own purpose and perspective. Compass brings structure, order, and a plan for every possible turn. Chaos thrives in the unpredictable, revels at the curveballs and reminds us that growth lives in discomfort. Heather is the transport, the lived experience, the human traveler who has spent decades weaving together cultures, history, and connection.

The result is CompassChaos13—a global travel podcast that turns plans, mishaps, and universal shat into stories that remind us why we travel. It’s more than entertainment; it’s a collective voice, a gathering place, a global kinship. Here, you’re not just a listener—you’re part of the story. You can vote on adventures, join the CC13 community, and help shape where the next stories will take place. That’s right members get to vote on the a Travel Destination for the show and more!

Our mission is simple: to remind you that perfect plans go to shit. Embrace the chaos—that’s where lessons are taught & stories are gained.

Wander with Us ~ Go Global

Chaos says “I’M DRIVING THE WHATEVER”, Compass is already got another direction and is working on a plan as Heather types this… If you want in on this crazy sideshow we LOVE to have YOU; Just remember when you particapte the way you want, you chose this wonderfully crazy family.

“Every Great Friendship Starts with a Brave Hello & a Story yearning to be Told” ~ CC13 Original

We understand that trust is difficult to earn, but easily broken. To begin to earn your trust, this sign up is free. We know your brave and we know you have a story; know what? OUR FAMILY WANTS TO HEAR IT!! Honest to Shat they do. As well as Heather, Compass and Chaos who is pratically begging for your stories (“I WANT EMBRASSING PEOPLE”) .. sorry for that… Let us earn your trust, then we will earn your mind & heart; IT’S FREE!

Connection of Trust