Share

cover art for 15. Purpose, Entrepreneurship, and Travel Wellness with Youmie Jean Francois | Flex-n-Fly

Soul Wanderer

15. Purpose, Entrepreneurship, and Travel Wellness with Youmie Jean Francois | Flex-n-Fly

Ep. 15


In this episode I welcome my first guest, Youmie Jean Francois.


Youmie Jean Francois is a transformational speaker, a brand strategist, a money trauma expert, a private pilot, an author, and the proud Founder/CEO of Flex-N-Fly, The Flex Bags, and The Flex-N-Fly Foundation.


Throughout her career, she's dedicated herself to enhancing the well-being of travelers and helping small business owners scale. She speaks 4 languages fluently and splits her time between New York and Colombia.


Flex-N-Fly, her award-winning travel and wellness company, has become a beacon of innovation. They bring wellness studios to airports. Providing stretching, yoga, and relaxation classes to airports, aiming to ease the stress that often accompanies modern travel. They've been featured in Forbes, Travel & Leisure, TripAdvisor, BlackEnterprise, Macy's, Belk, Flying Solo, and More. Youmie's best-selling poetry book, The Sacrifice: When Transition Looks Like Chaos, is available now.



Timestamps:

01:14 Youmie's intro

02:58 Recent trip to Mexico

04:49 Why and how Flex-n-Fly began

07:41 What was needed to start a travel business

10:21 Scaling and starting multiple businesses

11:19 Starting the Flex-n-Fly foundation

17:44 Who Youmie's non-profit serves

20:26 The Flex-n-Fly Foundation's goal for 2025

22:48 Representation of women as pilots and travelers

24:27 Why Youmie's non-profit exists

26:46 An important business lesson

28:07 Business finances

33:36 Having a team and growing Flex-n-Fly

39:12 Detachment in life and business

43:40 Living in alignment

48:25 Worthiness

50:48 Setting boundaries and being tested

51:56 Youmie's most transformative travel experience

54:54 Traveling as a Haitian woman

56:48 A beautiful message about being yourself

58:35 Friendship breakups

01:02:30 Communicating needs

01:03:50 Wrapping up and where to find and connect with Youmie


_____

Resources:

The Law of Detachment

____

• Learn more about Youmie here

• Join the Flex-n-Fly Travel Challenge

•Donate to the Flex-n-Fly Foundation

•Youmie on LinkedIn

•Tune into Youmie's LinkedIn Live in Your Power Series

•Subscribe to Flex-n-Fly

•Find Youmie on Threads

___

Grab this guide to packing lighter

Work with Sequoia

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 1. 1. What Does Conscious Travel Mean?

    08:11||Ep. 1
    If you're a female traveler, especially a woman of color, who wants to travel with more intention this is the show for you!In this first episode, I break down what conscious travel is so that you can understand what it is, who it's for, and why it's important. This biweekly show is for the women who don't see themselves represented in the travel podcast space. This is also for women who want to or enjoy traveling solo and who like to hear travel lessons, stories, and tangible tips from other womenWork with Sequoia:JapanMexicoLearn more about Sequoia https://pueblayorkinc.com/aboutWebsite https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/Find out more about the women's dinner series https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-dinner-seriesSay hello on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
  • 2. 2. How Women Impact the Travel Industry

    16:10||Ep. 2
    This episode gives context to the travel industry and the impact of women in it. I also share more of my travel experience and having a mom who worked in hospitality. The economic power women have in travel Women working in the travel industrySolo travel statistics about women including the biggest reason for solo female travel and the biggest concernWhat's changing in the industry Learn more from Emily Anne Brant Articles referenced: https://www.unwto.org/gender-and-tourismhttps://www.solofemaletravelers.club/solo-female-travel-stats/Episode mentioned Episode 1 Defining Conscious Travel Work with Sequoia:JapanMexicoLearn more about Sequoia https://pueblayorkinc.com/aboutWebsite https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/Say hello on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
  • 3. 3. Why You Should Travel Solo

    26:24||Ep. 3
    In this episode, I share some reasons to travel solo and what that can bring for you. I also reflect on my solo travels.What to do if you've never traveled solo before to get comfortable with a solo tripThis report found that Americans are especially vacation-deprivedWhy you're the one to define solo travel A solo trip in college that almost escaped my memory How your mindset and attitude impact your travel experiencesWork with Sequoia:JapanMexicoLearn more about Sequoia https://pueblayorkinc.com/aboutWebsite https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/Say hello on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
  • 4. 4. Female Solo Travel in Japan

    38:23||Ep. 4
    In this episode, I share why Japan is a great choice for female solo travel- whether it's your first time or you're an experienced solo traveler. I cover: SafetyTransportation is efficient and clean Solo dining is common Tipping isn't customary With a weaker yen, this means that foreign currencies like the US dollar, Euro, and the British pound are strong and it makes traveling in Japan more affordableEpisodes referenced:Episode 1 Defining Conscious Travel Episode 2 Women in Travel The language app that I recommend is Drops https://languagedrops.com/Expo 2025 Osaka https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/Work with Sequoia:JapanMexicoLearn more about Sequoia https://pueblayorkinc.com/aboutSay hello on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
  • 5. 5. Recommendations for First-time Travelers to Japan

    27:18||Ep. 5
    In this episode, I share tips if it's your first time traveling to Japan:FootwearHow to behave on public transportationUse of cash and contactless paymentsSolo diningWhy I recommend staying at a ryokan (Japanese Inn)Tipping culture -when and howKnowing the Japanese languageDo I need a visa?I also talk about my client's experience working with me on her first time trip to JapanEpisode that I reference:Episode 4 Female Solo Travel in JapanThe language app that I recommend is Drops https://languagedrops.com/Pack Lighter GuideIf you find it challenging to pack or tend to be an overpacker. I've created a free How to Pack Lighter guide and checklistGet your guide here https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/packing-list-downloadWork with Sequoia:JapanMexicoLearn more about Sequoia https://pueblayorkinc.com/aboutWebsite https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/Find out more about the women's dinner series https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-dinner-seriesSay hello on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
  • 6. 6. The Trip That Changed My Way of Travel

    37:22||Ep. 6
    In this episode, I share about a birthday trip with friends that began the shift of how I travel.-A 30th birthday trip to Mexico and Cuba and why we decided on these two places-What went into organizing this trip-How it differed from a previous trip I did with these same friends-Why I moved to Mexico after one visitWhat I refer to in this episode:Third Placeshttps://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/third-place-community-spaces/My travel bloghttps://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/blogTrinidad Postshttps://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/blog/trinidadpt1https://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/blog/trinidadpt2Cienfuegos Posthttps://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/blog/cienfuegosHavana Posthttps://www.sequoiaarmstrong.com/blog/havanaWork with Sequoia:JapanMexicoLearn more about Sequoia https://pueblayorkinc.com/aboutWebsite https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/Find out more about the women's dinner series https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-dinner-seriesSay hello on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/
  • 7. 7. Choose Quality Over Quantity

    19:37||Ep. 7
    In this episode, I share why I recommend choosing quality over quality when traveling.-How to choose quality over quantity-What questions to ask yourself-Environmental benefits-How this has guided me in other areas of my life-Cultural contrast around friendship-Heritage travelEpisodes and resources referencedEpisode 1 What Does Conscious Travel Mean?Episode 6 The Trip That Changed The Way I TravelThe size of US homes grew by more than 300% in 50 yearsPodcast I mentionYulia Denisyuk's podcastGoing Places Season Finale: What Europe Gets About Rest (and the US Doesn't)‎ Work with SequoiaMexico Japan Have an idea or question?DM me on Instagram
  • 8. 8. How I Began Traveling

    31:55||Ep. 8
    In this episode, I share how I became a lifelong traveler, my upbringing, education, visiting grandparents, and what I wanted to become as a child.-How Human Design has helped me-My first flight-The closeness I had to my Japanese grandparents, particularly my grandfather-Growing up bilingualEpisodes referenced:Episode 7 Choose Quality Over QuantityEpisode 2 How Women Impact The Travel IndustryResources:Find your Human Design chartErin Claire Jones InstagramFind out your Love Language Sustainable Aviation Fuel https://www.iata.org/en/programs/sustainability/sustainable-aviation-fuels/Work with SequoiaMexico Japan Have an idea or question?DM me on Instagram
  • 9. 9. How to Avoid Adding to Overtourism

    21:11||Ep. 9
    In this episode, I lay out ways to avoid contributing to overtourism in an area/city/country that is experiencing overtourism. As conscious travelers, we want to be mindful of overtourism and how we can help avoid it, instead of contributing to it. I go into:-When to visit-The importance of working with local experts or guides-Get off the beaten path and out into nature -How to know where to stay What I mentioned:Liz On Leave ExperiencesBlog post about why this year's fall foliage in Japan will be delayed Work with SequoiaMexico Japan Have an idea or question?DM me on Instagram