Meet Cara & James Kerouac

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cara & James Kerouac. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cara & James, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Honestly, we’re still overcoming it. Imposter syndrome is one of those sneaky shadows that shape-shifts with your growth. The more we step into our voice, the louder the inner critic sometimes becomes—but we’ve learned to stop giving it the final word.

We used to think imposter syndrome was just about self-doubt. But what we’ve realized is that it’s often the byproduct of perfectionism and old programming. We grew up in environments where our worth was performance-based. That conditioning taught us to downplay our strengths, doubt our intuition, and seek validation in all the wrong places.

The hardest part? That critical voice doesn’t always come from the outside. We’ve caught ourselves assuming others won’t value our work because we haven’t fully owned it yet. We’ll ignore a dozen messages from people telling us how our podcast helped them through something—only to fixate on one negative comment or even just silence. That’s imposter syndrome at work: twisting perception, filtering feedback through fear.

But the shift happens when we make the decision to speak anyway.

We launched Kerouacs Cruising not because we were the loudest or most qualified voices in the room, but because we were done hiding. Done waiting for permission to share the truth of our lived experiences. The podcast, the book, the blog—it all started as part of our healing. If it resonates with others, beautiful. But we create because we must, not because we’re seeking applause.

That mindset—this is for us first—has changed everything.

So we still feel it sometimes. The self-doubt. The wondering if we’re “enough.” But now, instead of letting it stop us, we use it as a reminder: we’re stretching. We’re showing up honestly. And that, in itself, is proof that we belong.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Kerouacs Cruising is more than a podcast—it’s a living, breathing invitation to explore healing, freedom, and the wild beauty of becoming. What started as a personal journey—just us, three dogs, and a dream to escape the hustle and reconnect with what really matters—has grown into a digital campfire where seekers, wanderers, and everyday people gather to feel seen.

We’re James and Cara Kerouac, best-selling authors, off-grid nomads, and creators of a podcast that blends raw storytelling with spiritual awakening. Through Kerouacs Cruising, we share conversations and experiences that move beyond surface-level “RVlife” content. We talk about what it means to truly live—how nature teaches presence, how trauma shapes identity, and how healing can happen in a desert wind, a hard conversation, or a quiet moment with your dog.

What makes our work special is its honesty. We don’t script or perform. We talk about the messy stuff—burnout, grief, identity, self-worth—not from a pedestal, but from the dirt, with the same questions and fears our listeners carry. It’s that shared humanity that creates real connection.

Right now, we’re focused on expanding our impact. We recently became international best-selling authors through “Together We Rise: The Wounded Healer’s Enlightened Journey to a Collective Ascension,” a collaborative book where we shared our transformation from burnout to soul-led living. We’ve also moved our podcast to YouTube to create deeper visual storytelling, and we’re in the process of rebuilding our website as a true hub for everything we’re doing—episodes, blogs, guest features, and, eventually, a member space for our growing community.

We don’t pretend to have it all figured out. But we believe in showing up anyway—in trusting that sharing our story might unlock something for someone else. And we’re honored that more and more people are tuning in, reaching out, and walking their own bold path alongside us.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the most impactful growth didn’t come from learning a business strategy or nailing down a content calendar. It came from doing the deeper work—getting honest about who we are and who we were taught to be, and learning how to lead from our true selves instead of our fears.

1. Self-Awareness & Healing
We believe the root of all lasting success is you. You can hustle your way into growth, sure—but eventually, you’ll hit a ceiling built from limiting beliefs or unhealed wounds. That ceiling won’t crack until you do the inner work. For us, healing became non-negotiable. The more we learned to stretch beyond old trauma and fear, the more aligned opportunities flowed in.
Advice: Be willing to face your patterns. That’s where real transformation begins.

2. Flexibility Over Control
No matter how carefully you plan, life will rewrite the script. Whether it’s a breakdown in the desert or a business pivot, we’ve learned to stay focused on why we’re doing what we do, not how it’s supposed to unfold. Flexibility brings peace—and sometimes, the detour is the real destination.
Advice: Let go of the “right way.” Clarity comes from motion, not perfection.

3. Leading from Intuition
We stopped chasing “shoulds” and started following our gut. From what episodes we publish to where we park our trailer, we’ve learned that when something feels off, it usually is. What works for others may not work for you—and that’s not failure, it’s feedback. Intuition is how you attract the people who really align with your message.
Advice: Tune in before you log on. Your soul knows the way—your job is to listen.

If you’re just getting started, don’t wait to feel ready—just start from where you are, and trust that growth will meet you there.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

Two books cracked us wide open at different points in our journey.

Limitless by Jim Kwik was the first time we felt seen as someone who didn’t fit the mold of “traditional success.” It showed us how much of what we believe about our capacity—our intelligence, our worth, our ability to learn—is shaped by limiting beliefs and outdated systems. Jim’s core message is that we aren’t broken—we’re just blocked. And once you learn how to identify those blocks, you can rewrite the story. That’s been true in every part of our life—from how we run our podcast, to how we recover from emotional burnout.

E² by Pam Grout was our rabbit hole into quantum possibility. It showed us how powerful our thoughts are—not in a fluffy, “think positive” way, but in a scientific, test-it-yourself kind of way. It was the first time we realized manifestation wasn’t magic—it was focus, energy, belief, and courage to act from a new story. Reading E² felt like coming home to a truth we’d always sensed but never had words for: we are more powerful than we were ever taught to believe.

Both books helped us shift from performing for approval to living in alignment. They reminded us that we are the observer and the creator—and that it’s never too late to change the narrative.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kerouacscruising.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KerouacsCruising
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KerouacsCruising
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerouacscruising
• Other: To purchase a copy of “Together We Rise: The Wounded Healer’s Enlightened Journey to a Collective Ascension”: https://amzn.to/44hvyaX