The Power of the Pause: How One Woman Transformed Her Life Through Travel & Self-Care

In today’s heart-centered and joy-filled episode, Pearl is joined by her dear friend and travel partner-in-purpose, Sonia Rodriguez Thorn — a powerhouse higher-education leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for women’s empowerment who has now stepped into a new chapter helping women rediscover joy, renewal, and identity through the transformational power of travel.

With 30+ years serving in senior academic leadership — from Dean to Assistant Vice President to accreditation strategist — Sonia brings the same passion for student success into her second act as a Cruise Planners travel advisor, where she helps women intentionally pause, disconnect from noise, and reconnect with themselves.

This conversation flows deep into identity, entrepreneurship, cultural heritage, family influences, faith, and the soul-level value of creating space to just breathe.

You’ll hear stories from Sonia's multicultural upbringing, her entrepreneurial father, her wisdom-filled mother, and how both of them shaped her purpose today.

You'll also hear the fun, real, and hilarious truth about her flying dress shoot on a nude beach in St. Maarten — and why that moment changed her perspective on beauty and self-love forever.

And for the first time on the show, Pearl and Sonia reveal their upcoming leadership as co-chairs of the Divine Inspired Women Riverview Chapter, launching a new era of community, collaboration, and faith-aligned women supporting women.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

✨ Sonia's Childhood & Cultural Roots

• Growing up in Brooklyn and Long Island as a first-generation American
• A multicultural heritage spanning Pakistan, Ireland, Venezuela, Africa, and the indigenous people of Trinidad
• What her entrepreneurial father unknowingly taught her about business, grit, money, negotiation, and customer relationships
• Why selling lucite door-to-door as a teenager shaped her confidence today

✨ The Influence of Her Parents

• Her mother’s steady faith and presence
• Her parents’ insistence on excellence — “You can only bring home an A.”
• How these expectations shaped her leadership and resilience

✨ The Birth of Her Entrepreneurial Spirit

• How watching her father build multiple streams of income planted seeds for her post-retirement transition
• Why she appreciates those lessons much more now in her 50s than in her teens

✨ The Power of Travel as Self-Care

• How a single sentence from her mother — “Are you going to TikTok on that thing the whole vacation?” — changed her entire lifestyle
• Why her phone has been on silent for seven years
• Her adventures traveling across Europe, the Caribbean, and beyond
• The deeper purpose behind her work as a travel advisor:
   creating intentional pauses for women to reconnect with themselves

✨ The Flying Dress Moment

• The unforgettable story of her St. Maarten flying dress photoshoot
• Why learning the photoshoot was on a nude beach became a moment of personal liberation
• How seeing herself in that flowing dress renewed her confidence and joy

✨ Why Everyone Needs a Travel Advisor

Sonia breaks down the real value:

• Handling emergencies while you relax
• Rebooking flights + cruise changes while you sip a cocktail
• Access to deals, upgrad

Follow Pearl on
social media TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook: @Pearlchiarenza

Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.wsliving.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Remember to embrace your inner pearl, nourish yourself, and find balance in life. Stay
true to your authentic self and continue working on your personal growth.