bienvenidos!
I’m Jessica...
entrepreneur. business & creative executive. travel writer. mama of one. part-time superhero. world traveler.
animal lover. vegetarian. sports fanatic. hip-hop head. apple pie fiend. gym participant.
There's always a reason not to... Do It Anyway.
I’m a mother, entrepreneur, creative strategist and designer, and travel writer, but labels only tell part of the story. In March 2024, I left the United States because the life I had built — professionally respectable, externally impressive, internally misaligned — no longer fit. What started as a plan to pay off debt while traveling quickly became something far more disruptive and far more deliberate: a midlife pivot executed in real time.
I launched this platform as Gorjess Wanderlust to document the leap. At first, it was about the mechanics — budgets, borders, workouts, rebuilding my health, stabilizing my finances. Over time, the geography became secondary. The real work was interrogating the script I had followed for decades and deciding, consciously, what deserved to survive the demolition and what didn’t.
Midlife Sidequests reflects that evolution. This is not a vacation blog or a digital nomad fantasy. It is a living record of reinvention — the recalibrations, the uncomfortable clarity, the strategic blow-it-all-up moments that come when you stop mistaking endurance for alignment. Travel remains the backdrop, but authorship is the throughline.
My writing is direct, analytical, occasionally sarcastic, and allergic to curated enlightenment. I care more about truth than polish, momentum than perfection. I am not chasing escape; I am building a life I don’t need to escape from — and sharing what that actually requires.
If you are questioning your own blueprint, contemplating a pivot, or quietly wondering whether it is too late to rewrite the narrative, this space is for you. Expect global misadventures, reinvention, uncomfortable growth, honest conversations, and the reminder that it’s never too late to blow it all up and start over.
YouTube Series: Midlife Sidequests
Professional Writing: Islands Magazine
Professional Writing: PlanetWare
“Travel is not a reward for working, it’s an education for living.
Recent Podcast Appearance: BonVoyage Besties: The Power of Solo Travel - Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone
In this episode of Bon Voyage Besties, hosts Rachel and Rosa chat with creative strategist Jessica Hagmaier about the life-changing power of solo travel. They dive into overcoming fears, the growth found outside comfort zones, and why cultural experiences matter more than material things. It’s an honest look at the highs and lows of adventuring alone.
just a few
personal and
career highlights
Freelance Designer
Since starting my freelance design career in 2019, either directly or through business relationships, I’ve had the pleasure of working with dozens of companies, brands and individuals to bring their vision and goals to life.
Major Works: Nautica, Various NFL, MLS and Premier League Teams, Alivecor, Choice Hotels, XR Health, Harley Davidson, Mixhalo, ZUP Watersports, Gladiator Watersports, Texas Humane Legislation Network, Velocity Ammo, Buydeem and more.
Industries: Professional sports, major retail, technology, healthcare, non-profit sector, law firms and other professional services, major hotel brands and more.
Podcasts & Interviews
- Bon Voyage Besties: The Power of Solo Travel – Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone
- When is it time to go from side hustle to full time? Featured on The Self-Made Designer Podcast
- Scaling and Pivoting in Uncertain Times: Featured on The Call Me Crazy Podcast
- Investing in Jessica Hagmaier the Website Goddess: Featured on Investing In Yourself: The Digital Entrepreneur Podcast
- Real Talk with Jessica Hagmaier – Motherhood & Business: Featured on the Entrepreneur Talks Podcast Podcast
- How to Break the Rules in Order to be Successful: Featured on the Hype Girl Cat Podcast
Magazines & Writing
Islands Magazine & Planetware: Since leaving the US, I’ve contributed travel writing to several publications, including Islands Magazine and Planetware, crafting immersive stories that highlight unique destinations, local culture, and the experiences that make each place memorable.
Islands Magazine Archive
Planetware Archive
The fuSHion Magazine: Founder/Editor-in-Chief of an award winning print and digital magazine in publication for almost five years.
Interviews included: Wiz Khalifa, Bun B, Freddie Gibbs, Amar’e Stoudemire, DJ Ill Will, Joseph Addai, C Murder, Big Krit, DJ Mr. Rogers, Lil Flip, & Visanthe Shiancoe. (2007-2011)
Named Online Magazine of the Year
Southern Entertainment Awards – 2011
Ozone Magazine: Served as the Interim West Coast Editor-In-Chief for three months.
Interviews Included: Three Six Mafia, David Banner, One Block Radius, Colby O’Donis, Daz Dillinger, 2 Pistols. (2008)
I'm alway open to new collaborations with brands, podcasts and other creatives.
Whether you’re a brand looking to reach a vibrant, engaged audience or a fellow creator with a unique vision, I’d love to explore how we can work together to create something exceptional. While my blog primarily focuses on using travel as a means to enhance mental health and financial well-being, I’m eager to connect with brands and collaborators who are passionate about making an impact in their own way.
Every product featured on this site is something I use and love regularly, and I’m committed to working with and representing brands that align with my values and passions.
Interested in working together? letswork@gorjesswanderlust.com
“
“I don't value money...
I value the freedom it affords.”
Let's Connect:
Instagram:
@_thejesseffect
@midlifesidequests
Questions & Collaborations:
letswork@gorjesswanderlust.com
