Can a mother–daughter road trip turn travel companions into true friends?

In this episode of My Daughter, My Friend, Adrienne and Alanna share their unforgettable journey from Helen, Georgia to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

🌟 Highlights you’ll hear:

→ Cool River Tubing thrills (and wipeouts!) on the Chattahoochee

→ A nostalgic stop at BabyLand General Hospital, home of the original Cabbage Patch Kids

→ Scenic—but nerve-wracking—drives through the Blue Ridge Mountains

Conquering fears on the Gatlinburg SkyBridge, with a little help from a mysterious “angel”

→ Honest talk about how moms and daughters can travel together and still like each other

🎧 Listen for travel tips, funny fails, and heartfelt reflections. Get all the details, photos, and resource links on our website: MyDaughterMyFriend.com

Can moms and daughters really be best friends—while living out of suitcases and driving a 2005 Honda Civic across the country twice?

Mom Adrienne Barker and daughter Alanna Anctil kick off their new podcast with a hilarious, heartwarming recap of their five-month cross-country adventure. They reveal how they planned their route with a 44-day countdown, balanced remote work with road time, and turned TrustedHousesitters stays and hotel/motel nights into a once-in-a-lifetime journey. From favorite stops like Helen, Georgia, to a motel owner who looked suspiciously like an alien, it’s a story of courage, connection, and car-bombing (the bug kind!) that proves laughter is the best travel companion.

Highlights / What you’ll hear:

→. Creative planning: mixing TrustedHousesitters homes with hotels and motels.

→ Working on the road from a Honda Civic — and keeping clients happy.

→ Surprising lessons from minimalist packing (yes, wearing the same outfit counts as strategy!).

→ Calming travel anxiety with Alanna’s quick wisdom.

→ Unforgettable encounters, from “Mr. Alien” to a Cabbage Patch BabyLand stop.

Fun Quotes:

“If someone was videotaping me, they’d say, ‘She wore that outfit every day’—but who cares? We didn’t smell like BO.” — Adrienne

“That motel guy looked like an alien when he opened the door.” — Alanna

“It’s okay to not be friends with your mom. Be friends with yourself.” — Alanna

Call to Action & Guest Invite: Loved this episode?

Like, subscribe, and leave a review so more moms and daughters can join the fun.

We’re also looking for moms and daughters to be guests and answer our big question: Can moms and daughters be friends?

Share your story or apply to join us by emailing adrienne@adriennebarker.com.

Thank you to Jeanette Arsenault for the honor and privilege of using My Daughter My Friend as our theme song.

Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and motivational speaker Jeanette Arsenault creates uplifting music that inspires change on mental health, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. Explore more at jeanettearsenault.ca.

In this episode of My Daughter, My Friend, Alanna and Adrienne go from road-trip stats to real talk about anxiety, independence, and protecting your peace.

They reminisce about their 120-day, 8,000-mile road trip—including 55 nights of house sitting, 46 nights in hotels, and 17 five-star reviews on TrustedHousesitters. They talk about how travel shaped their relationship, the funny moments, and the not-so-glamorous parts (like eating out for 98 days straight!).

Fast forward two years: Alanna now has her driver’s license, runs errands, finds hidden gem shops (hello, antique Annabelle doll), and is saving money on everyday things—like refilling water jugs instead of buying pricey brands. She also shares what it’s like preparing for her GED, visiting the college, and stepping back into a school environment after a tough high school experience that started during COVID.

The heart of this episode is Alanna’s honest reflection on anxiety, labels, friendships, and energy. She opens up about being diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, how other people’s labels used to get in her head, and why she stopped Googling every symptom. She talks about learning to trust herself, building a peaceful life, and realizing that being your own friend might be the most healing relationship of all.

Adrienne and Alanna also dive into:

• How the people you surround yourself with can drain or protect your energy
• Why some people can feel like “energy vampires”
• What kids and teens can do when the stress is coming from inside their family
• How organization, routines, and background noise help Alanna manage her mind

They wrap up with dreams for the future: college, new friends, night drives, and creating a life that feels peaceful, productive, and free.

• The recap of their 120-day, 8,000-mile mother–daughter road trip
• House sitting, hotel stays, and what constant travel really feels like
• Alanna getting her driver’s license and gaining independence
• Antique shops, Halloween vibes, and the Annabelle replica in a glass case
• How Alanna saves money running errands and being more self-sufficient
• Preparing for the GED and walking into a college after time away from school
• Living with anxiety in a world full of labels and “diagnoses” from other people
• Why Alanna stopped Googling every symptom and started trusting herself
• Being your own best friend when friendships feel complicated
• Setting boundaries with negative people and protecting your energy
• Creating routines, organization systems, and background noise to feel calmerYou can travel for months, rack up miles, and still carry emotional journeys that matter just as much as the physical ones.
• Independence doesn’t just look like driving a car—it can be running errands, making decisions, and saving money your own way.
• Labels like “anxiety” can feel heavier when they come from other people; trusting your own experience is powerful.
• You don’t always need a big circle of friends—sometimes learning to be your own friend is the most important step.
• The people you surround yourself with deeply affect your energy, mood, and mental health.
• It’s okay to want peace more than popularity. Boundaries are not selfish; they’re survival.
• Organization, routines, and little systems (like binders, schedules, and background noise) can be quiet forms of self-care.