What if the friend who transforms your entire life does not show up until your sixties?
Two women share a life changing friendship that leads to an 80 day trip at 81. In this inspiring episode of Call Me Friend, Daryn sits down with Ellie Hamby and Dr. Sandy Hazelip, the viral duo known as The Traveling Nanas, to explore how their friendship transformed grief into adventure and joy.
After losing their husbands, Ellie and Sandy found comfort, strength, and purpose in each other. What started as a simple connection turned into a life changing best friend bond that carried them across seven continents in 80 days at age 81. From the Drake Shake in Antarctica to the Trans Siberian KGB incident to escaping Syria as war began, their friendship is the heartbeat that pulled them through every wild chapter.
This episode is packed with friendship wisdom, emotional storytelling, and real talk about grief, courage, and saying yes to life. It is perfect for anyone looking for hope, connection, and proof that the right friendship can change your story forever.
What You Will Learn In This Episode
✅ How a late in life friendship helped two women heal after losing their husbands
✅ Why the right friend can pull you into joy, courage, and adventure again
✅ The simple moment that sparked their 80 day global journey at 81
✅ How trusting each other helped them navigate danger, fear, and big unknowns
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Timestamps
- (0:00) Sandy shares how the idea for the 80 day world trip began
- (1:07) Daryn introduces The Traveling Nanas and their powerful friendship
- (3:33) The moment Ellie and Sandy first crossed paths
- (5:29) How a missions workshop pulled them closer
- (8:10) Ellie loses her husband and Sandy reaches out
- (11:19) Who started their tradition of saying yes to adventure
- (13:04) The idea for Around the World in 80 Days at 80
- (14:39) Surviving the Drake Shake in Antarctica
- (17:00) Heading straight to the Arctic Circle
- (21:18) Becoming witnesses in a KGB investigation
- (24:58) Leaving Syria as war begins
- (27:03) Breaking down the money myth around world travel
- (29:02) Why second class travel helps them build deeper friendships
- (35:29) How they give each other space in their friendship
- (43:29) Sandy shares why Ellie changed her life
Key Takeaways
🔹 Friendship can restart your life at any age
They became close in their sixties, and that bond created a whole new chapter filled with purpose and joy.
🔹 You do not heal grief alone
Their friendship gave them strength to move through loss with hope instead of fear.
🔹 Different personalities can create the strongest bond
They fit together like puzzle pieces, giving each other room to grow.
🔹 Stay open to connection and the world gets bigger
Second class trains, mission trips, and saying yes to strangers brought them friendships across the globe.
Resources:
Ellie Hamby
Ellie is a humanitarian photographer and world traveler who spent years doing medical mission work in Zambia. Her bold spirit, curiosity, and love for people shaped the energy behind The Traveling Nanas. Ellie brings the big adventure vibe and a deep belief in the goodness of humanity.
Dr. Sandy Hazelip
Sandy is a physician, grandmother, and storyteller whose calm, thoughtful presence balances Ellie’s fearless side. After losing her husband, her friendship with Ellie helped her step out of her comfort zone. Sandy brings heart, grounding, and gentle wisdom to every journey they take.
Together they show how a strong friendship can rebuild your life, expand your world, and bring joy back into your story.
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