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RV Podcast
RV Podcast
RVPodcast.com is the home of the longest-running weekly RV lifestyle podcast in the United States, hosted by Mike and Jennifer Wendland. New episodes drop twice a week. Every Monday, Mike delivers the RV Podcast News Edition, a solo, 25-minute rundown of the top stories in RV travel, campground news, manufacturer updates, fuel prices, and consumer protection issues affecting RVers right now. Every Wednesday, Mike and Jennifer co-host Stories from the Road, a conversation-driven episode featuring interviews with fellow RVers, listener questions, trip recaps, and real talk about life on the road. This is not influencer content. Mike is an 18-time Emmy Award-winning journalist with more than 30 years of reporting experience. He has covered kings, presidents, the Pope, wars, and consumer affairs. Jennifer has co-hosted and co-traveled for more than 15 years. Together, they have driven nearly half a million miles across all 48 contiguous states in every RV type imaginable, from pop-up campers to Class A motorhomes. They currently travel in a 35-foot Brinkley Model Z 3500 fifth wheel. The RV Podcast reaches more than 70,000 newsletter subscribers and is part of a media operation that includes RVLifestyle.com, RVCommunity.com, and a YouTube channel with 45 million-plus views.
Jan. 21, 2026

They planned a short RV adventure: It turned into a life-changing journey

They planned a short RV adventure: It turned into a life-changing journey
RV Podcast
They planned a short RV adventure: It turned into a life-changing journey

They planned a short RV adventure. It turned into a life-changing journey.

In this episode of The RV Podcast, we sit down with the Shinpaugh family, a family of four who hit the road in 2016 thinking they would travel for a few years. Instead, they quietly built a whole new life on wheels, homeschooling their kids, running their businesses remotely, and making the road their normal.

They share the real story behind going full-time as a family, including:

What surprised them most after their “temporary” RV trip never ended

How they balance work, school, and family life while traveling

The challenges no one talks about, and how those hard moments made them stronger

What it really takes to build a sustainable life on the road as a family

Then we shift gears and break down what just happened at the Florida RV SuperShow, our 14th time attending the biggest RV show in the country.

We cut through the hype and share our two biggest takeaways from the show, including:

  • Why Brinkley RV had the best display at the entire show, and why their low-pressure, owner-driven approach stood out
  • Why we came away encouraged that real quality still exists in today’s RV market
  • The motorhomes and towables that impressed us most, including Grand Design’s Lineage, lighter-weight Coleman fifth wheels, and the futuristic Lightship and Pebble trailers
  • We also answer your RV lifestyle questions and catch you up on our latest travels on the road.

This episode is packed with inspiration, industry insight, and real-world RV living, whether you’re dreaming, planning, or already rolling.

Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss our two weekly episodes:

Mondays, RV Podcast News Edition

Wednesdays, Stories from the Road and in-depth interviews

 

 

 

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[Tell Me More]

 

Linda Shinpaugh Profile Photo

CEO, The Shinpaughs

Hi! We're a FAMILY OF 4 who are choosing to MAKE MEMORIES NOW. We love to spend time together traveling and adventuring. We innocently SET OUT IN 2016 to travel the US in our 5th wheel and get a breath of fresh air. We figured we would travel for a few years, max. Well, we blew that out of the water!

Today we continue to MAKE AMAZING MEMORIES as a family on the road. We HOMESCHOOL, run our BUSINESSES, and get to WAKE UP where most people VACATION. Not every day goes as planned, but it's all of the hiccups and detours that have really made us stronger and given us some of the best memories.

We are currently traveling in a Prevost Motorhome which is quite an amazing piece of machinery. We will be sharing about life on the road and why we love it. We'll also show you what it's like to live in such a small space as a family.

What can you do right now to make an amazing memory with your family? Go do it! You’ll be glad you did.

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