Meet Tatum & Matt — Curious Souls, Road Dwellers, Wild-Hearted Dreamers. Tatum is half of the creative spirit behind @wherespoppie, living life on the road with her partner, Matt, in their handmade mobile home. From snowy mountains to coastal campsites, they share more than just stunning views—they share stories of freedom, growth, and the beauty of choosing your own path. We had the great pleasure of interviewing them about their life on the road. Their world is one of fun, curiosity, and conscious connection—and we’re endlessly inspired to follow along. Let's dive in! When did you start traveling? Was it an instant love affair? What inspired your life on the road? We went on our first trip together within a month of dating. We borrowed a friend's car and left on a 10 hour drive to Banff, Canada at 3 am because we couldn’t sleep. We were so excited. We have been traveling together ever since, sneaking away whenever we had a few days. Tatum has been inspired by van life since she was a little girl always wanting to travel and Matt wanted to snowboard more. We were at a point in our careers where hitting the road felt like “now or never.” So we built our camper and hit the road! “It was now or never. So we built our camper and hit the road!" What relationship advice/ tips do you have for traveling couples? Before making any plans we take time to ourselves to come up with our top 3 individual goals (places we want to see or stay, how we want to feel, etc.) Then over a lil bevy we each share what we came up with, see where we overlap and fill in the gaps from there. We find that this process allows us to have a bit of structure so that our baseline will make us both happy but leaves plenty of room for spontaneity on the trip! What made you two decide on the name poppie for your camper? What was your favorite experience building it out? Well, it feels a bit like a child naming their teddy bear but our camper ‘popping up’ was the original inspiration. We are both from California, though, so the double meaning of the California Poppy felt aligned with the new home we had created for ourselves. We had zero experience for building it - we learned every step of the way - including welding the frame. It was extremely challenging, but we met so many incredible people along the way. I think our favorite memory was planning at a local eatery near our old house and using our French fries to imagine how we were going to make our bed system work. What place has surprised you the most—and why? (The hidden gem that wasn’t even on your radar.) Slovenia, hands down. We were visiting friends, had no expectations, but we ended up pinching ourselves the entire time we couldn’t believe the beauty. The water was unbelievably blue and there were endless swimming opportunities! Specifically, the Soča valley left us speechless. What does “feeling alive” look like to you on the road? (Moments that make it all worth it.) An excerpt from my journal describes this the best - “there are few things as beautiful as driving down a back road - in the passenger seat - your favorite song playing - it’s golden hour and you’re with your favorite people - scream singing” We find ourselves on a lot of backroads, with no service, but unbelievable views around every corner that we would have never imagined existed. When we wake up in the morning, look out the window and feel so small compared to the beauty around us - that’s when we feel the most alive. “there are few things as beautiful as driving down a back road - in the passenger seat - your favorite song playing - it’s golden hour and you’re with your favorite people - scream singing” What’s a travel moment that changed the way you see the world—or yourself? (A perspective shift that stuck.) We were visiting the Sequoias (the largest trees in the world!) reading a lot about how the wind patterns coming from the cities hundreds of miles away traps the air pollution in Kings Canyon. Which in turn is affecting the future of the trees and the ecosystems that exist among them in ways we don’t know of yet. It was such a direct reminder that protecting our public lands does not end when we are in them - our everyday actions (in cities and suburbs!!) do have an impact and imperfect action from everyone is critical. But what really got us thinking was - we essentially live off of our public lands and we have a deep love and therefore a deep care for them. Most people in our circle do too. We believe that people naturally care for and fight hard for what they love. By making the outdoors more accessible, removing any taboos, and increasing education, hopefully we can get people from all walks of life to fall in love with our lands too. We’re imperfect in our action here as well but hope to bring this into our future in a more prominent manner. What’s one ritual or habit you carry with you wherever you go? (A grounding practice amidst constant motion.) I love a journal. Right now I am working through ‘Pieces of You’ by Wilde House Paper and loving the return to my childhood self. But I always try to sit in the sun with a cup of coffee in the morning and write my thoughts out - sometimes I scroll Pinterest to get inspiration, others I use prompted journals, others the words just flow out easily. Matt - I always start the morning, relaxed, with a cup of coffee (or two). What was your last great read? In the process of reading Guardian of the Trees by Kinari Webb and loving it! Found it in a little free library and it was the exact source of hope for healing our planet we needed. What is next for you two — what do you have coming up this year and next? We are heading to a close friend's wedding in Portugal where we are going to try to work on a farm or two and hike the Rota Vicentina! Then who knows! We are usually operating on a week to week basis. Where can we follow you and your adventures? @wherespoppie on instagram is our lil travel journal where we share our adventures! Dream it, build it, live it — you can also pop over and say hi over on our website. Please complete the following sentence: Travel is… grounding, connecting, expanding the soul. It is critical for fueling motivation to protect our planet, finding joy in our day to day and encouraging empathy for those who are different from us. Join the journey with Tatum + Matt — Instagram | Website This story is part of the umanos Changemakers & Trailblazers Travel series, where people with adventurous lives break down the routines and rituals they have to live their best. Got a story to tell? Let us know! Email us at hey@heyumanos.com.
Meet Luna Esparza — Explorer, Storyteller, Pilot, Adventure Seeker. Meet Luna—an adventure-seeking fierce female and one of the few women in the skies. As a female pilot (only about 6% of pilots in the U.S. are women), she defies limits daily, chasing horizons and rewriting the rules of who gets to fly. Fearless, focused, and full of fire—she’s the real deal and always up for travel and adventure. Let's dive in! What made you get into aviation? Would you rather fly yourself or drive yourself to your next adventure? Luna: I grew up next to an airport, which also happened to be right by my elementary school. As a kid, I spent most of my recesses under a tree, lost in daydreams while watching planes fly overhead. I wasn’t interested in playing with the other kids—I was captivated by the sky. I used to wonder where all those planes were going and how they could possibly stay up there. It always left me curious about aviation, but it wasn’t till years later that the curiosity came back. When I was 16, I often visited a cemetery to see my cousin. In that cemetery, there’s a shrine dedicated to Amelia Earhart. One day, while wandering near it, a man approached me and asked, “Do you like planes?” I said yes. He smiled and told me he wanted to show me something. Inside these large pillars near the shrine were old photographs, newsletters, and stories of Amelia Earhart and other inspiring women in aviation. Then he asked me a question that changed everything: “Could you ever see yourself becoming a pilot?” That simple question sparked something deep in me. I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but it planted a seed. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I truly understood I could be a pilot. And aviation was something I not only admired but wanted to pursue for myself. I’d love to say I’d choose flying to my next adventure—but I’d be lying. There’s something incredibly calming about hitting the road and driving to far-off places. It’s my kind of peace. “That simple question sparked something deep in me...I didn’t realize it at the time, but it planted a seed.” Tell us about your life growing up? Where did you grow up…how did it shape you? Luna: I grew up in Los Angeles as one of seven kids—the middle child. That experience shaped me in a big way. I learned how to play both the younger sibling and the older one, which taught me how to lead when needed and follow when necessary. Both of my parents were entrepreneurs, and I think their independence left a mark on me. The idea of working for yourself and having the freedom to shape your own days really stuck. As I got older, I knew I wanted to carve out that same path for myself—first as a photographer and artist, and now as a pilot but also having the ability to lead and follow has helped me navigate life a lot easier. When did you start traveling? Was it an instant love affair? What inspired your life on the road? Luna: I started traveling when I was 20, after moving to San Francisco. At first, it was tough—I was just a clueless kid trying to figure out how to live on my own. But then I started renting cars and exploring nearby areas, and it slowly became second nature to venture further and further from the city. By the time I was 22, I was camping, visiting national parks, and checking out new cities. That spark eventually turned into a full-blown love for travel. I started exploring different states, then other countries. I got hooked—still am, honestly. Haha. What place has surprised you the most—and why? (The hidden gem that wasn’t even on your radar.) Luna: Turkey completely blew me away! I got invited on a whim by a friend and went in with zero expectations since I wasn’t really involved in planning. But once I arrived, I was so taken aback by the culture, the people, the architecture—everything. Cappadocia especially is a hidden gem… it still feels like a dream I haven’t fully woken up from! What does “feeling alive” look like to you on the road? (Moments that make it worth it.) Luna: Feeling alive on the road means the wind in my hair, the sun gently warming my skin, music playing in the background, with the beautiful sense that the universe placed me exactly where I need to be. “Feeling alive on the road means the wind in my hair, the sun gently warming my skin, music playing in the background, with the beautiful sense that the universe placed me exactly where I need to be.” What’s a travel moment that changed the way you see the world—or yourself? (A perspective shift that stuck.) Luna: When I was 24, I went on a missionary trip to Argentina and Chile. We road-tripped through Argentina, delivering clothes, food, toys, and more to schools, rehab centers, and churches. One school in particular changed me. The students lived there because their families couldn’t afford to care for them at home—yet they were so joyful, so full of light, and deeply grateful for our visit. That moment shifted something in me. I realized that so much of the life we’re born into comes down to luck. But how we choose to see, love, and appreciate our lives—that’s a choice. Where do you go (or what do you do) when you need to reconnect with yourself? (A personal sanctuary, no matter the location.) Luna: When I need to reconnect, I retreat into nature—usually to Joshua Tree or the ocean. Both the desert and the sea offer me deep perspective. They remind me that I’m bound by nothing… and that I can always begin again. What’s one ritual or habit you carry with you wherever you go? (A grounding practice amidst constant motion.) Luna: Gratitude. I wake up naming 3 things I am grateful for and that’s how I start my day, it shifts my mindset so much. What was your last great read? Luna: Nonviolent Communication. Such a great book! What is next for you — what do you have coming up this year and next? Luna: Well, knowing me I’ll never stop learning so once I am doing getting all my licenses to become an airline pilot, I want to learn how to sail next! Where can we follow you and your adventures? Luna: I have an Instagram where I usually post my adventures, experiences and thoughts! It is @womaninmotion Please complete the following sentence: Travel is… needed to understand the language of the world. This story is part of the umanos Changemakers & Trailblazers Travel series, where people with adventurous lives break down the routines and rituals they have to live their best. Got a story to tell? Let us know! Email us at hey@heyumanos.com.
