Orange is Optimism: Kit Whistler

Kit Whistler is probably the sweetest rebel you’ll ever meet.

When she first hit the road in 2010, it was in response to the physical stagnation she felt as a college student-- which resulted in a year of farmwork and backpacking around the States, and led her to discover parts of herself, and the land around her, she is now deeply connected to.

Later on, when traditional “adult life” off the road didn’t work, she hit the road again in 2012, this time with the expressed ambition to do nothing. To practice being idle. And in creating that space, Kit began the inner work many of us are afraid to do-- confront our fears and move forward in growth, learning that optimism is the most rebellious act we can take on as humans and finding ways to share that in any way she could. Her journey as a writer, a philosopher, and an optimist are all wrapped up in her travels on the road, and in this episode she shares pieces of her internal and external experiences.

Hosted by Laura Hughes

Featuring Kit Whistler

Join the Women On The Road podcast community on Facebook

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The experience that first prompted Kit to travel in her camper,

Sunshine
How to get started working with local farmers while

traveling
Some of the benefits of WWOOFing and Kit’s experience
Kit shares what it was like to practice being idle for an entire year
What books have deepened Kit’s knowledge of and reflections on

idleness
Approachable ways to get started in meditation or stillness
Some approaches to overcoming fear and self-judgement in your every

day
Kit shares a surprising story about her first writing class in

college
Some insights on what it’s like for Kit to share with a broad

online community
What inspired “Orange is Optimism”, the book Kit and

J.R. created Why it’s crucial-- and radical-- to choose to be an

optimist

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Follow Kit on Instagram - @idletheorybus
Learn more about Kit’s book, Orange is Optimism
Kit sends out biweekly emails with her musings and lots of all around

fun. Get on the list at KitWhistler.com
IdleTheoryBus.com
Read Kit’s original Women On The Road interview-- the first one ever!
WWOOF
WWOOF USA
Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Piper
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
The saboteur - a term borrowed from CTI, the Coaches Training

Institute

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.

Episodes air bi-weekly on Fridays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Follow along with Laura Hughes on Instagram and learn more about her on her portfolio site or through her travel blog, The Vanna Project.

Music for this episode is by Alexander, Jason Shaw, Josh Woodward.

WOTR podcast logo designed by Dani Opal.