Nomadtopia Radio: Digital Nomad and Expat Lifestyle: Recent Episodes
Amy Scott
Nomadtopia Radio features interviews with people all over the world who have created their ideal lifestyle through location independence, long-term travel, living abroad, and more. Guests run the gamut from serial expats to slow travelers, digital nomads, location-independent entrepreneurs escaping winter, families traveling overland (and homeschooling!), solo backpackers and road-trippers... you name it. Their stories highlight all the different ways to explore the world, live and work on your own terms, and have the freedom and flexibility to create the lifestyle that matters to YOU.
Join us to learn about the ins and outs of daily life on the road and back at home; nitty-gritty details of living and working anywhere in the world, like banking, technology, what to do with your stuff, and having a home base (or not); getting started and making it happen; and much, much more.
This podcast is hosted by veteran traveler, expat, digital nomad, and location-independent online entrepreneur Amy Scott, founder of Nomadtopia.com, where you can access resources, community, and inspiration for creating and savoring the life your nomadic soul craves.
There have been some big changes in my life since Jill Sessa interviewed me for Episode 200 at the end of 2022, so I'm back with some updates!
Tune in to learn what's been going on, why I'm feeling the need for more space in my life and work, and how I'm creating that space.
I share:
The big trip we're gearing up for
A major decision I've made about Nomadtopia(R)
A life-changing diagnosis I recently received (don't worry, I'm okay!)
And more
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Investing in real estate as a nomad might sound impossible. When you’re traveling all the time, how can you buy a property, fix it up, find renters, and manage it? As it turns out, there is a way, and it doesn’t involve renovations or interviewing potential tenants—or require you to be local to the property.
In today’s episode I’m chatting with Matt Bowles, longtime nomad and cofounder of Maverick Investor Group, which helps people purchase turnkey properties that already have tenants and property managers in place. He shares why these types of properties are such great investments especially if you’re living the nomad lifestyle as well as the benefits of working with a nontraditional brokerage like his and how such an investment can give you consistent passive residual income for years to come.
In this episode:
Why Matt wanted to build his own business and how he created more autonomy in his life to travel the world
How joining Remote Year brought him community as a nomad, and what influences the pace at which he travels from country to country
Why he loves visiting Africa and his recommendations for nomads interested in exploring the continent
Everything you need to know about turnkey properties, from what they are to why they’re advantageous
How Matt’s nontraditional brokerage approach works for buyers, and the income and tax benefits that come with owning rental property
How this type of real estate investing plays into housing injustice, and how to be a responsible landlord who provides value and a safe space to tenants and the community
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/203.
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https:www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Simply deciding where to travel as a nomad can be tricky. Every country has different entry and visa laws, and it’s easier to travel with some passports than others. Unfortunately, people who have to apply for a visa to go almost anywhere face an unnecessary and unfair barrier to seeing the world.
In today’s episode, my guest is Vangile Makwakwa, a South African, a nomad, and a money coach. We talk about discriminatory visa processes, her personal nomad style, her favorite countries she’s visited, and how to navigate money trauma when moving abroad.
In this episode:
The different home bases Vangile has had around the world depending on where she is in lifeWhy her podcast focuses primarily on helping Black women invest in real estate in African countries
How her South African passport influences where she goes and why she primarily goes to countries that are more welcoming to Black people
The discrimination of some Western countries’ visa processes, making it difficult for Black and Brown people to explore the world
Vangile’s work as a money coach, her focus on ancestral money trauma, and how our relationship with money connects to our nervous system
How moving to another country affects your finances
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/202.
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https:www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Finding a forever home certainly isn’t a priority for all nomads. While some are on an intentional search, others actively spurn the idea of home—or they end up finding it when they least expect it and a location they visit just suddenly clicks. As I always say, there’s no one way to approach the nomad journey.
In this episode, I’m chatting with Vanessa Jacquemin, an online business strategist who left her original home in the United States more than 20 years ago and recently found her forever home in Mexico. She shares her process for finding the right home for her, how becoming a mother shifted her point of view, and her advice for others wanting to embark on a nomadic journey.
In this episode:
- Vanessa’s history of traveling and living nomadically from age 21, and how she has now found her forever home in Mexico
- What Vanessa considered when looking for a forever home and how living multiple places helped influence her decision
- Her experience as a Black person living in Mexico
- Vanessa’s thoughts on the best way to set yourself up to be able to move abroad
- How becoming a mother shifted her perspective on what to look for in a place to call home
- The importance of making a change, even a small one, towards living your happiness
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/201.
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https:www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
As we enter a new year and the podcast hits 200 episodes, I’m reflecting on my own Nomadtopia journey. I invited my friend Jill Sessa back to interview me on my experiences as a nomad.
In this episode, we talk about how my Nomadtopia has changed since Jill last interviewed me in 2018. I share what’s new and upcoming in my work as well as how my lifestyle and my perspective on location independence has evolved over the years, especially since our twins were born in 2019. We also discuss some of the more challenging aspects of navigating life and family as a nomad.
In this episode:
- What location independence means to me
- How having kids makes being a nomad and planning adventures a different experience
- The effects of the pandemic on nomadic life (for me personally and in general)
- What my local community is like and how I’m approaching schooling for my kids
- How the future plans we’re considering are different from the way we’ve approached traveling and living abroad in the past
- How we settled into a groove of working and spending time with our kids, and how things shifted when they started school
- What’s new and exciting in the Nomadtopia Collective, and the importance of non-judgmental community for nomads
- What I’m learning about how to navigate being a nomad with aging parents
- Upcoming workshops I’ll be offering about handling important aspects of location independence
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/200
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https:www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
If you’re switching locations frequently and working constantly, it’s easy to get burned out on nomad life. What systems and boundaries have you put in place to create more balance?
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Kristin Wilson, author of Digital Nomads for Dummies. She shares how she ended up writing this book and the main steps she outlines for becoming a digital nomad. We talked about how to build a life that works for you, finding balance, and setting boundaries. Kristin also shared her perspective on why you should outsource your travel planning and destination research.
In this episode:
- Balancing the flow of staying in one place with regular travel
- How it was easier to handle the COVID pandemic as a nomad
- Kristin’s journey to write and publish Digital Nomads for Dummies, and the main steps it takes to become a nomad
- Kristin’s practices and advice for ensuring boundaries, time away from work, and rest
- Outsourcing travel planning and destination research
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/199
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https:www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Do you find it difficult to resist buying all the beautiful and interesting things you encounter on your travels? Today I'm sharing my experience—including the story of a bedspread I've been lugging around for years—and some tips for finding the right approach for you.
Check out my new video background that I mention in the episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjTsHXmpTqB/
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Learn more about the Nomadtopia Collective at https://www.nomadtopia.com/collective
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to Nomadtopia Radio on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
If you want to merge your interests with travel, whether on a personal or business level, then you’ll enjoy today’s episode.
I’m chatting with Stuart Every, an international producer of street festivals, who lives a nomadic lifestyle with three home bases around the world. He’s sharing how he built his global business, logistics that come with networking, hiring, and marketing, and how to find community when regularly moving around.
In this episode:
- Why Stuart chose to have three home bases and how he built up his global business
- How street theater artists are the original nomads
- How often Stuart travels in his nomadic business
- What it’s like navigating the nomad life when you’re older
- How to balance independence and need for community as a nomad
- The logistics of running a global business and managing a distributed team
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/197
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https:www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
The nomadic lifestyle tends to go in cycles. On the road for a few years, in a permanent location for a few years, back and forth as life brings different wants and needs. Complacency followed by a catalyst for change.
In today’s episode, I’m talking with Michael Boyink, who spent eight years on the road in an RV followed by four years living in a small town. He and his wife are now on the brink of their next big move. He shares what it was like living in an RV, how his kids managed it, and navigating the decisions that come with being a nomad.
In this episode:
- Michael’s journey in and out of nomad life over the past 10+ years
- How to navigate the up and down cycles that inevitably come with a nomadic lifestyle
- Why Michael and his wife decided on the Tulsa Remote Program
- How burnout contributed to their need for change
- How their kids reacted and adapted to this lifestyle
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/196
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https:www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
There are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to starting a family as a nomad. Your priorities change, you have to plan differently, you might miss some adventures. There’s no question that having a baby (or two, in my case!) changes your nomad experience.
In this episode, I’m chatting with Amanda Kingsmith, who currently lives in Mexico with her husband and new baby. She shares their experience planning for and shifting into this next phase, deciding when to stop traveling and where to give birth, and balancing their child’s needs with their nomadic lifestyle.
In this episode:
- What it’s like for Amanda being in a more stable chapter of her nomad life
- How and when she first become location independent
- Amanda’s primary income streams
- How and when Amanda and her husband decided to start a family
- How trying to get pregnant affects nomads’ choices
- How Amanda navigated where to give birth and where to live
- What she thought life would be like with a baby and how that experience has panned out so far
- How their kids will impact their lifestyle in the future
- What it has been like traveling with a baby
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/195
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https:www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
There are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to starting a family as a nomad. Your priorities change, you have to plan differently, you might miss some adventures. There’s no question that having a baby (or two, in my case!) changes your nomad experience.
In this episode, I’m chatting with Amanda Kingsmith, who currently lives in Mexico with her husband and new baby. She shares their experience planning for and shifting into this next phase, deciding when to stop traveling and where to give birth, and balancing their child’s needs with their nomadic lifestyle.
In this episode:
- What it’s like for Amanda being in a more stable chapter of her nomad life
- How and when she first become location independent
- Amanda’s primary income streams
- How and when Amanda and her husband decided to start a family
- How trying to get pregnant affects nomads’ choices
- How Amanda navigated where to give birth and where to live
- What she thought life would be like with a baby and how that experience has panned out so far
- How their kids will impact their lifestyle in the future
- What it has been like traveling with a baby
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/195
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https:www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Nomads can experience grief in many forms: grief for the places we’ve loved and left, grief for saying goodbye to the friends we meet during our travels, and of course grief for those we lose to death. Losing a loved one is always life changing, but it can be especially difficult for those of us living and traveling oceans away from home.
In this episode, I’m joined by Charlene Lam, a grief guide who came into this work after losing her mom while she was abroad. She explains how grief can be a unique experience for nomads, but also how grief feels different for everyone. Charlene also shares her advice for creating a plan in case a family member dies or has a medical emergency while you’re away.
In this episode:
- Why Charlene loves the unique combination of stability and flexibility in her nomad life
- How she created a career in grief work after losing her mother suddenly
- Navigating the emotional challenges that come with living far from your loved ones
- Why it’s important to have conversations about loss before it happens
- How to create a plan in case a loved one dies or needs medical care while you’re away
- How to stay connected with family from anywhere
- Creating a support network of people back home to help in case of emergencies
- How different people process grief, and respecting how you process grief
- Where to find help and resources if you’re experiencing grief
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/194
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https:www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Many people think about remote working and the digital nomad lifestyle as being something new, but it’s actually been around nearly as long as the internet itself. Those of us who’ve been here since the early days have evolved along with it, both in our careers and in our traveling lifestyles.
In this episode, I’m joined by digital marketing consultant and digital nomad Luis Betancourt. We talk about how we first met in 2007 during the heyday of Couchsurfing and how Luis’s digital nomad lifestyle has changed since then. He shares how he and his wife have found their unique balance of home versus traveling and work versus play. Also, Luis shares his advice for utilizing online networking to grow your business.
In this episode:
- How Luis’s life as a nomad has evolved over the years
- How Luis became a digital nomad before it was a worldwide trend
- Falling in love with solo traveling, and then sharing his love of travel with his wife
- How the pandemic allowed him and his wife to become fully location independent
- Finding a balance between traveling the world and enjoying time at home
- How working remotely has changed since Luis first discovered it
- How to market yourself as a solopreneur or freelancer
- The power of virtual networking to grow your business and client base
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/193
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram https:www.instagram.com/nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
You never know when a new place might take your breath away. And sometimes, it’s the most unlikely destinations that produce the most profound impacts in our lives. As you’ll hear in today’s episode, even a spur-of-the-moment trip can create a lifelong passion for a place.
In this episode, I’m joined by the founder of Expat in Croatia, Sara Dyson. She shares her story of moving to and falling in love with Croatia, even though it wasn’t her first choice of destination. She explains some of the bureaucratic and logistical challenges of moving to a different country, and we also talk about the impact digital nomads and expats can have on a place and how to be sensitive to these issues.
In this episode:
- How Sara turned her childhood dreams of living in Europe into a reality
- How she decided to move to Croatia, even though it wasn’t her first choice
- Why Sara created Expat in Croatia, the resource she wishes she had when she first moved overseas
- Making the leap from employee to entrepreneur
- How Sara has fallen in love with Croatia and made it her home in the past ten years
- Who Croatia is a good fit for, and how most foreigners experience the country
- Types of visas and permits available to people who want to live in Croatia
- How to be sensitive to the impact digital nomads and expats have on a place’s economy and real estate market
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/192
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
To live—and really flourish—abroad, cultivating self-trust is critical in finding your footing in a new place. Living in another country can come with a range of difficulties, but that’s just part of the challenge. It’s not a balm to fix all your problems, but it does provide an opportunity for self-actualization.
In this episode, I am joined by Christine Job, a business strategist currently living in Spain. We talk about how taking a different path gives you the space to choose what you really want, accountability as a form of self-care, and how living abroad can be a pathway to wellness. You’ll get her insight into what it’s really like living abroad and facing challenges with language differences, a new sense of identity, and learning to surrender.
In this episode:
- What brought Christine to Spain and kept her there
- How self-care and betting on yourself doesn’t always look the way you’d expect
- The biggest benefits of living abroad and having an international experience
- How living abroad is a pathway to wellness
- How nomad living opens you to a sense of surrender
- How this kind of lifestyle shifts your sense of identity
- The language barriers of living abroad
- The biggest surprises of living in Spain
- How you can hold joy and grief at the same time
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/191.
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Working with your spouse poses a unique set of challenges. When you throw full-time RVing into the mix, it becomes an even bigger adventure. But as you’ll hear on today’s episode, there’s nothing quite so freeing as hitting the road with the person you love to live untethered by your location or work.
In this episode, I’m joined by wives and business partners Jennie and Meredyth Mustafa-Julock for a conversation about living and working together on the road. Jennie and Meredyth are sharing their story of giving up their big-city lifestyle for one of full-time RV travel. Plus, they’re sharing their advice for sharing responsibilities and working together in an RV.
In this episode:
- Why Jennie and Meredyth decided to become digital nomads
- How they adjusted to the RV lifestyle as two women who’d never camped before
- How the RV lifestyle allowed Jennie and Meredyth to become more minimalist
- How to do a “test drive” of the nomadic lifestyle to make sure it’s a good fit
- How Jennie and Meredyth prepared for and researched the nomadic lifestyle
- What you learn from working and living with your partner in a small space
- Jennie and Meredyth’s advice for couples who want to make a similar life change
- How to separate responsibilities while on the road and find your traveling flow
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/190.
Download your free guide, 10 Things You Need to Do before Becoming a Nomad: https://www.nomadtopia.com/guide
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
For many parents, reconciling that new role with our identity as adventurers and travelers can lead to a whole new kind of journey. It can take a while to find our travel legs as a parent and discover what “adventure” looks like for our family. But as I always say, there’s no “right” way to do any of this, and whatever works for you is perfect. In this episode, I’m joined by mother and business owner Ami Dehne for a conversation all about the realities of our Nomadtopia with young children. We explore what it’s been like to incorporate children into our lives and travels, and Ami shares her thoughts on finding adventure closer to home. Plus, we chat about creating businesses that allow us to live our lives to the fullest.
In this episode:
- Why traveling with kids, especially babies, is a major adjustment
- How to find adventure closer to home and adjust for your children
- Defining “Nomadtopia” for yourself and crafting a unique life for your family
- How to live, travel, and parent with intention
- How accepting your identity as a parent can open you up to new kinds of adventures
- Why you should focus on simplicity and consistency in your business
- How to build a business that lets you be location-independent
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/189.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Nomadtopia Radio is all about showing you that there’s more than one way to live a nomadic life. Even the most unlikely people can become full-time travelers or create their own unique version of a location-independent lifestyle.
In this episode, I’m joined by wife, mother, business owner, and full-time sailor Erin Carey. She shares her journey from suburban Australia to living on a yacht with her husband and three children. We talk about the realities of living on a boat at sea or in a marina, how she balances family and work, and her advice for anyone considering a similar courageous leap.
In this episode:
- How Erin and her family came to live on a yacht with no prior sailing experience
- The resources and research Erin turned to at the beginning of her journey
- How your daily life and community changes as you travel around the world
- How Erin creates balance between her family life and her business
- Why even full-time nomads should create routines that work for them
- How Erin runs her business from all over the world
- How entering a country on a boat is different from flying or driving
- How COVID-19 has affected Erin and her family
- What to consider before you and your family commit to a nomadic lifestyle
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/188.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Identity is often closely tied to our location: where we were born, where we grew up, where we live now. For those of us living nomadic lives, however, that sense of identity can feel out of reach. As we transition from place to place, we experience the grief of leaving our old selves behind and the excitement of stepping into a new world. But how can you find a sense of belonging when you don’t belong to any one place?
In this episode, I’m joined by third culture kid educator and author Megan Norton. She’s sharing her experience as an adult third culture kid, how her identity informs her work, and how those of us living highly mobile lives can find belonging wherever we are in the world.
In this episode:
- What a third culture kid is and how it affects people in adulthood
- How those of us living nomadic lives experience a similar blend of cultures and places
- The benefits and challenges that come with being a third culture kid
- How identity and diversity are shifting in our interconnected world
- Processing the grief and loss that comes with a nomadic or highly mobile lifestyle
- How to thrive in a nomadic lifestyle full of transition
- How “belonging” can mean different things to different people
- Using your multicultural experience as a strength in the professional world
- Building your own community as a nomad or third culture kid
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/187.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
When most of us think of real estate investing, we think of late-night phone calls from tenants, constant repairs, and huge price tags. But in reality, the barrier to entry in the real estate world is much lower than we think it is, and with the right systems in place, it can become a fantastic form of (mostly) passive income, even for full-time travelers.
In this episode, I was joined by nomadic real estate investor Sarah Weaver who shared how she started a career in real estate investment while traveling the globe.
In this episode:
- Buying your first property as a real estate investor
- How COVID-19 affected Sarah’s path
- The benefits of creating passive income as a nomad
- Common misconceptions about real estate investing
- How the nomadic lifestyle can actually help your finances
- How to manage your properties from anywhere in the world
- What to consider and look for when investing in rental properties
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/186.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Have you ever dreamed of moving to Europe? Many non-Europeans think it can’t be done, but there are a lot of visa options for living in Europe, and with the right research and planning it’s entirely possible to make your dream of moving to Europe a reality.
In this episode, I was joined by Cepee Tabibian, co-founder of She Hit Refresh and author of a book all about the visa options for Americans who want to move to Europe.
In this episode:
- Common misconceptions about moving to Europe
- How visas can affect and limit your European travel plans
- The best European countries for digital nomads
- How to navigate the Schengen zone as a non-European traveler
- Finding the right time to move to Europe and when to start the application process
- How to move to Europe on a visa with a partner or children
- Finding a European country that’s a good fit for you
- How to “hit refresh” on your life, even if it means taking an unconventional path
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/185.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Ever thought about your relationship with the places you visit and whether you’re doing more harm than good? Are you aware of the incredible privilege inherent in the lifestyles we live (or aspire to live) as nomads?
I invite you to listen in as I discuss this topic with guest Amanda Machado. This particular episode has more questions than answers, but they’re questions I think more of us need to be asking. They can help inform how we travel and where, the ways in which we can try to avoid inflicting harm on others and their communities, and lots more.
In this episode: How Amanda got into her work around privilege and travel
What people can do to break barriers of privilege
The steps you can take for genuine action vs. performative action
Inherent privileges that people don’t realize they have
How to take part in justice-oriented travel
Questions she sat with to examine and acknowledge her privilege
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/184.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever said, “That’s it, I’m moving to Canada.” I’ve heard this phrase a time or two before!
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent a fair amount of time thinking, daydreaming, and brainstorming about where in the world you’d like to live, get residency, and even a second passport. There are certain places that tend to come up regularly as an option for many people, but I’ll admit I’d always discounted Canada as being too complicated or something. Turns out, it might not be!
In this episode, I talk with Brandon Miller of My Second Passport and author of Second Passport: Your Guide To Have a Secure Alternative Home for You and Your Family, Just in Case…. all about what it takes to move to Canada.
In this episode:
- Barriers that stop people from moving to Canada
- Reasons to consider making Canada your home
- What you need to know about the Canadian immigration process
- Factors to consider for self-employed and digital workers
- How to navigate border patrol
- How the immigration system works
- What to know about taxes when moving to Canada
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/183.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
It’s been a year since our Grounded Nomads series about nomads who were scrambling to get home or to find a safe place to land as the world was shutting down. Here we are a year later, and I felt it was time for an update on what being a nomad during the pandemic has looked like. It’s different for everyone of course, but are people still creating and living their own Nomadtopia during the pandemic?
For nomads, this past year brought many disruptions. Some were grounded in one place, some are just starting their journey, while others have changed how they travel to different locations all while navigating travel restrictions.
The specifics are unique, but the determination to create and live our own version of Nomadtopia remains. In this episode, I’m sharing my own updated journey and how other nomads are shifting their plans as we navigate this unique time.
In this episode:
- The shifts nomads have made during the pandemic
- Some of the disruptions nomads have experienced
- An update on my own Nomadtopia
- How the pandemic has clarified my priorities
- Why now is a good time to take action toward your own Nomadtopia
- How the Nomadtopia Collective can support your location-independent lifestyle
- How to share your own Nomadtopia story
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/182.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
If you’ve stumbled upon this episode, you’re probably already part of a distanced family or you will be as your life as a nomad unfolds. Leaving behind your family can be one of the hardest parts of setting off on your nomadic journey.
In this episode, my guest is Helen Ellis, founder of DistanceFamilies.com and author of Being a Distance Grandparent. Helen discusses some of the common challenges and emotions for distance families (as well as the benefits!), why it’s so important for each generation to understand the others’ perspectives, and lots more.
In this episode:
- Helen’s journey as a long-distance parent and grandparent
- Why she did her thesis on distance grandparenting
- The fear people have around this topic
- What a rich encounter is and some of the different ways to create them
- How to address the guilt that happens with distance
- The 3 H’s of progressive acceptance
- How to set the stage for a successful distance family experience
- The benefits of this family dynamic
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/181.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Do you have your legal ducks in a row for your nomadic lifestyle? As an online entrepreneur, freelancer, or even an employee living a nomad life, you need to know about the legal concerns that come along with being a digital nomad.
In this episode, my guest is Layne Lyons JD, U.S. lawyer, business protector for women entrepreneurs, and creator of The Legal UMBRELLA Method™. Layne explains legal issues you need to know about including trademarking, domicile, tourist visas, and other laws you should be aware of when traveling in foreign countries.
In this episode:
- Layne’s experience of being nomadic for the past 19 years
- Mistakes to avoid as an online entrepreneur
- What domicile is and what you need to know about it
- What you need to know about contracts and domicile
- How to navigate trademarks globally
- The best practices for trademarking
- What you need to know about working on a tourist visa
- The importance of knowing the laws in the countries you visit
For full show notes, resources, and links go to www.nomadtopia.com/180
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Are you a parent that is dreaming about going nomadic with your family? Or are you a current nomad that is thinking about starting a family? If these relate to you then you might be wondering HOW you can become a digital nomad family.
In this episode, I was joined by Julia Jerg and we both shared our experiences of having children abroad. We also explore the topics of balancing work and family while traveling, what childcare looks like for nomads, and much more.
In this episode:
Julia’s trajectory of taking on jobs while nomading to freelancing to building and scaling her own business
Her family’s typical nomad travel schedule pre-pandemic
How to get residency through your child’s birth in various countries
Why Julia ended up choosing to give birth in the Canary Islands
Her story of finding a way to give birth on the island
Why you have to focus on mindset for your birthing process
How her lifestyle empowered her to do a home birth
Why you have to take control over your life and go after your desires
How she knew she was ready to hit the road again after having a baby
How Julia handles childcare while nomading
Top digital nomad family hubs and why they’re helpful
For full show notes, resources, and links go to http://www.nomadtopia.com/179.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Should you eliminate the word “goal” from your vocabulary? This idea may sound a little outlandish or may come as a surprise to you but as you’ll learn from my guest in this episode, it could be a gamechanger in your goal-setting practices.
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Erin Elizabeth Wells. I met Erin through a mutual online connection and I resonated so much with what I was learning in her course that I knew I had to invite her to share her incredible insights with you.
In this episode:
- How Erin got into organizing by helping a professor
- The realization that led her to sell her organizing business and get into productivity
- The unique challenges of organizing and goal setting for digital nomads
- Her unconventional take on goal setting and why she doesn’t use the word “goal”
- Why SMART goals can be unhelpful
- How to approach deadlines with action
- Her intentional approach to seasonal planning
- One of the biggest problems people create with productivity
- The false narratives of what success looks like
For full show notes, resources, and links go to http://www.nomadtopia.com/178.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
As a current or aspiring nomad, you have probably thought about or tried to learn a new language. If so, this is for you! In this episode, my guest is Ray Blakney, a serial expat and co-founder of an online language school.
Ray grew up as a TCK (third-culture kid) which has significantly shaped his worldview and how he approaches life. During our conversation he walks us through his experiences living abroad, joining the Peace Corps, and starting his company Live Lingua.
In this episode:
- The TV commercial that changed his life
- How nomads can approach languages when traveling
- How you know it’s time to take your language learning to the next level
- How to replicate the experience of living in another country for learning a new language
- His 3 tips on approaching language learning
For full show notes, resources, and links go to http://www.nomadtopia.com/177.
Ready to get more ideas, inspiration, and strategies for location-independent living? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms so you’ll get updated anytime a new episode is released!
Let’s connect! Get to know me better over on Instagram @nomadamy or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nomadtopia/.
Nomadtopia Radio is not going away! Tune in for some updates on the podcast, the Facebook group, the Collective, and my own personal Nomadtopia. Go to www.nomadtopia.com/radio for more information and resources, and stay tuned for much more to come.
Since 2010, Heather has lived and traveled all over the world while running two businesses (one of them a polar expedition company!). She joined me from her home base in rural Sweden to talk about getting over what other people think, building resilience, what it means to have “no Plan B” and why it matters, and more.
Get a free chapter of Heather's book, No Plan B, at www.HeatherThorkelson.com/NoPlanB
To join the conversation, connect with other current and aspiring nomads, and access additional resources for building and living your Nomadtopia, go to www.nomadtopia.com/radio.
Not every grounded nomad has been willing or able to stay put, sign a longer-term lease somewhere, or otherwise take a break from their nomadic lifestyle to wait out the pandemic. Eager to get back to their low-cost lifestyle as housesitters, Eden and her husband were able to take on a last-minute sit in Hawaii after their extended sit in Egypt this summer was canceled. In this episode we talk about how six months of travel plans unraveled due to the pandemic, why and how they got back to housesitting, their experience with the mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival in Hawaii, and lots more.
To join the conversation, connect with other current and aspiring nomads, and access additional resources for building and living your Nomadtopia, go to www.nomadtopia.com/radio and get links to the Nomadtopia Facebook group, the Nomadtopia Collective, and more.
After retiring early, Laura and her husband decided to leave the US and find a country where they would feel welcome to be themselves as a mixed-race couple (which hadn’t always been their experience back home). They’re now enjoying life in Mexico and Laura joined me to share her experience at home and abroad, how and why she’s speaking up about racial injustice, and lots more.
To join the conversation, connect with other current and aspiring nomads, and access additional resources for building and living your Nomadtopia, go to www.nomadtopia.com/radio.
Tune in for a brief update on the Grounded Nomads series and the latest from Nomadtopia.
To join the conversation, connect with other current and aspiring nomads, and access additional resources for building and living your Nomadtopia, go to www.nomadtopia.com/radio and get links to the Nomadtopia Facebook group, the Nomadtopia Collective, and more.
Naomi is a full-time housesitter who has made some big shifts in her lifestyle as a result of the pandemic. (Spoiler alert: she's decided to settle down in Sydney, Australia, for the next year!) We talked about how she made that decision and weighed its financial impact, mourning the loss of her identity as a nomad and feeling excited about new possibilities, her goals and plans during this time, and lots more.
To join the conversation, connect with other current and aspiring nomads, and access additional resources for building and living your Nomadtopia, go to www.nomadtopia.com/radio and get links to the Nomadtopia Facebook group, the Nomadtopia Collective, and more.
Catch up with yours truly, the founder of Nomadtopia! How has becoming a mom of twins and living through the pandemic shifted my perspective on my own Nomadtopia—and lots more? Find out in this episode with the fabulous Jill Sessa returning to interview me once again.
To join the conversation, connect with other current and aspiring nomads, and access additional resources for building and living your Nomadtopia, go to www.nomadtopia.com/radio and get links to the Nomadtopia Facebook group, the Nomadtopia Collective, and more.
Sam and her partner are full-time housesitters who had to scramble to find a place to stay when their next sit was canceled due to the pandemic. We cover a lot of ground in this episode including where they ended up, the importance of backup plans, the future of housesitting (in general and for them personally), and how new/aspiring housesitters can take advantage of the current situation to get housesitting experience. There’s a lot that’s relevant to all of us, so give it a listen even if you’re not interested in housesitting!
See www.nomadtopia.com/groundednomads for more episodes + resources and join the Nomadtopia Collective to be part of the conversation & connect with a welcoming community who knows what you're going through.
Sam and I started out talking about how his Nomadtopia was affected by the pandemic… and quickly found ourselves fumbling through a conversation about black lives matter, freedom, white privilege, the privilege of the nomadic lifestyle, and so much more.
This episode is part of the #podcastersforjustice campaign created by the #WoCPodcasters network.
We are podcasters united to condemn the tragic murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and many many others at the hands of police. This is a continuation of the systemic racism pervasive in the United States since its inception and we are committed to standing against racism in all its forms. We believe that to be silent is to be complicit. We believe that Black lives matter. We believe that Black lives are more important than property. We believe that we have a responsibility to use our platforms to speak out against this injustice whenever and wherever we are witness to it. In creating digital media we have built audiences that return week after week to hear our voices and we will use our voices to speak against anti-blackness and police brutality, and we encourage our audiences to be educated and engaged, and to take action. See www.nomadtopia.com/gnsamkern for resources and more.
Sarah has been living in a rural lakeside town in Guatemala, writing for the local paper and teaching yoga. When all her in-person work dried up overnight, she had to think quickly and learn how to bring her business online. In this episode we talk about what she's discovered in the process, the unexpected benefits of doing something she'd been resisting and of the pandemic in general, and lots more.
Norm and his girlfriend were back in the U.S. for a visit and as the pandemic escalated they made the quick decision to leave the country again. Norm shares how he's keeping himself busy and, for the first time on Grounded Nomads, we spend much of the episode talking about the future of travel—practically and emotionally, for ourselves and in general.
Seven years in Shanghai came to an abrupt end when Shannon and her husband left for a few weeks of travel in February—and couldn't return. Tune in to find out where they ended up, what it was like to pack up their apartment via video chat, the pros and cons of their current situation, and lots more.
Gustav was in Bali in March when a news report caused him to quickly decide to leave the country that same day. Now home in Sweden, he joined me to talk about having to choose one place to be, mindfulness in daily life and during lockdown, the unexpected upsides, and lots more.
A born-again nomad after a fire forced her out of her apartment in December, Erica cut her time in Mexico short to head back to Canada in mid-March. In this episode we talk about finding places to stay during a pandemic, why she feels like she may not be cut out to be a nomad, and lots more.
Their travels on hold and their bus parked in the driveway, Brittany and her family are staying in a rental house in Canada. Listen in as we talk about why she's loving sedentary house-life, the transition to motherhood, exploring what's next, and lots more.
A short trip to Mexico has turned into an indefinite one for Beck, who's originally from New Zealand and based in Toronto. In this episode of Grounded Nomads we talked about why the current uncertainty feels different than the normal uncertainty nomads experience, the need to make life feel more exciting/interesting, and exploring other aspects of our identity now that that central piece—travel—isn't available to us.
Julie usually lives in Chile but went home to the United States to take care of her mother temporarily in early February. She's still there. Tune in as we talk about the challenges of a short-term visit that's unexpectedly turned into an indefinite one, dealing with lost income, deciding when/if to return to Chile, and lots more.
I recorded a special episode to let you know about some changes I’m making with the podcast, and what you can expect in the coming months. In short, I'm moving back to a weekly format for now, with a special series of episodes that will feature conversations with nomads, expats, and other location-independent professionals and travelers about how the current global pandemic is affecting their lives, their plans—and even their sense of identity. The first episode will be recorded live in the Nomadtopia Collective on April 8th. Join us!
Johannes is the founder of Nomad Cruise. Originally from Germany, he has been a nomad for the past nine years and is now based in Mallorca, Spain.
In This Episode * How his lifestyle has shifted over time * The importance of community * How Nomad Cruise came to be and who it’s for * Traveling with a purpose * Why Mallorca is a good base for nomads * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/159 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
Pascale didn't set out to be a nomad; she started freelancing simply because she couldn't survive in a corporate environment. But she also loved to travel and once she realized she could do her work from anywhere, she moved to Spain, and she has been nomadic on and off in the years since. Now a business coach, she joined me from her hometown, Montreal, where she was packing up and getting ready to head to Bali for the first time.
In This Episode * Starting a location-independent business that's sustainable and fulfilling * Mind-set of a nomadic entrepreneur * Creating your own personal culture * Shifting one's location and lifestyle as needed * Letting go of attachments * Being part of a nomadic couple * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/158 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
Norm had never been very interested in international travel, but in 2016 a short trip to Europe changed his life completely, inspiring him to leave the U.S. permanently and travel continuously. He joined me from Bangkok, Thailand, to share his story and what life has been like since early 2019 when he hit the road with his girlfriend at age 64.
In This Episode * Reacting to a "midlife" crisis * How millennials have inspired his approach to travel * Deciding to leave the U.S. and travel continuously * The places that he's enjoyed the most so far * Dealing with language barriers * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/157 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
After realizing that she wasn't really cut out for a regular job and feeling eager to spend more time abroad, Lena went independent with her work as an intercultural educator and hit the road with her partner. They tend to move slowly, spending months at a time in each place, which allows them to experience daily life in the local culture and also feel grounded enough to work effectively.
In This Episode * How she envisioned and created her version of Nomadtopia * The benefits and challenges of traveling full-time with a partner * What she likes and dislikes about this lifestyle * The nomad bubble and how/why to break out of it * Her honest take on Puerto Rico as a destination for digital nomads * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/156 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
Ciara and her husband have moved five times in the last eight years, following his job postings around the world—and adding two kids to their family along the way. In that time she's experimented with different ways to make money remotely, learned how to quickly get set up in each new location, and navigated the shifts in identity that come with becoming a nomad and a mother.
In This Episode * Using research to improve your pitches for jobs and freelance work * Transitioning from nomadic couple to family * Essentials for toddlers and babies abroad * Taking responsibility for your life choices * The shifts in identity that come with becoming a nomad and a mother * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/155 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
Over many years of working for herself and traveling the world, Marianne Cantwell, founder of Free Range Humans, has created a balance that works for her. She’s recently significantly streamlined her business and is now setting up a new home base in New York City. She joined me to talk about her business evolution, balancing home and travel, creating a life and career that works for you, and more.
In This Episode * Creating a nest in London * How her business has evolved and why * Balancing home and travel * Logistics of multiple bases * Creating a lifestyle and career that fits you * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/154 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
Jessica and Will left the U.S. with their school-age children in 2014 and spent time living in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the South of France before switching to living in an RV and exploring Europe. They join me to talk about how they’ve made this lifestyle work, including handling medical care, making decisions as a family, and lots more. In This Episode * How they handle medical care * Including kids in lifestyle decisions * Shifting from living in one place abroad to full-time RV travel * The key dynamics they’ve fostered in their family to make it all work * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/153 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
After her marriage ended, Lisa wasn’t prepared to give up on her dream of living abroad as a family and taking her work with her. She started exploring other ways to make it happen, and eventually she and her five-year-old son headed to Maui for a three-month adventure. Tune in as we talk about the logistics she needed to sort out, what she learned from the experience, and lots more.
In This Episode * Fulfilling her dream to live and work abroad, albeit short-term * Why she chose to spend three months in Maui with her son * Figuring out schooling, housing, and other logistics * Negotiating travel with a co-parent * What she learned from the experience * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/152 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
Location-independent work and rental property back home eased the way for Julie and her husband to move to Chile in 2017, where they’ve enjoyed settling into the local community in a seaside resort town. The adventure hasn’t been without its challenges, though! Tune in as Julie and I talk about preparing to make this move, sorting out logistics, finding long-term accommodations during high season, and lots more.
In This Episode * Renting out their duplex in Milwaukee * Steps she took to move to Chile * Logistical challenges she discovered along the way * Getting clarity on what her Nomadtopia looks like * Finding long-term accommodations during high season * Why it’s important to plan for your “retirement” years * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/151 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
Brandon and his family have been traveling the world for 10 years now, and have recently set up home bases in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and Bali, Indonesia. In this episode we talk about how they’ve created the life they wanted, how finding meaning guides his decisions, their interest-led approach to educating their daughters, and lots more.
In This Episode * Building a one-hour-a-week business * Creating the life they wanted as a family * Choosing how to spend his time and energy * The challenges of location independence for families * Balancing exploration/adventure with community/stability * Having a baby abroad * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/150 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
Having spent much of the past six years being fully nomadic, Tommo and Megsy are now more focused on the freedom of location independence to have a home base, travel when they want, and avoid winter. In this episode we talk about their challenges finding income streams that worked for them, food as inspiration to travel, and lots more.
In This Episode * Getting started as nomads * Challenges of finding location-independent income streams that work for them * Food as inspiration as travel * Their “rules” for staying healthy while trying local food * Settling down in Portugal * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/149 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
After a few years of full-time travel, Marek found a home base in Lisbon, Portugal. He enjoys connecting with the local community when he’s settling into a bit of a routine at home, and also spends a lot of time on the road in support of his travel blog.
In This Episode * Building (travel) blog-based income * Getting over the fear of travel * Dealing with travel burnout * Creating local community * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/148 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
Since 2017, Jayme and John (and their two dogs) have been living in a 1996 Chevy Express van, which they built out themselves for full-time living. They enjoy spending time in rural areas of the U.S. where the dogs can roam free and they can spend time on work or personal projects.
In This Episode * Tools for finding campsites and getting online * Tips on building out a van for full-time living * Making changes to create the life they wanted * What they wish they’d known before they started * Domiciles, insurance, and other logistics * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/147 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle (www.nomadtopia.com/collective).
An intuitive hit that she was supposed to spend a year on the road led Carrie—a coach who was already location independent—to head off on a nomadic adventure full of powerful and memorable experiences, insights, and challenges. She joined me just after the year had officially ended, as she was reflecting on her trip and exploring what’s next.
In This Episode * How and why she set out on a one-year road trip * Dealing with her “logistical hell triangle” as she prepared to leave * How improv skills can enrich one’s travel experience * Connecting with people while traveling * Figuring out what’s next after a big adventure * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/146 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle, at www.nomadtopia.com/collective.
Elizabeth and her husband spent about three years on the road, building a software company as they traveled. They've now moved to Austin, Texas, to give the company a U.S. headquarters, and Elizabeth has also started a new business selling ergonomic furniture. In this episode, we talk about hiring remote workers and tips for finding remote work, how a business that sells physical products can be location independent, the benefits and challenges of settling down, and lots more.
See www.nomadtopia.com/145 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle, at www.nomadtopia.com/collective.
David is a financial planner and an on-again, off-again expat. In this episode, he joins me to share lots of financial tips and considerations for nomads, expats, and location-independent people of all stripes (plus his experience traveling with his pet ferret!).
In This Episode * Traveling with a ferret * What is financial planning? * Unique financial considerations and challenges for nomads and expats * Financial benefits of location independence * Finance tips for new and experienced nomads/expats * Defining financial independence * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/144 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle, at www.nomadtopia.com/collective.
Re-entry (returning home after extended travel, especially abroad) can be one of the hardest parts of a location-independent lifestyle. Dr. Cate Brubaker—re-entry coach, consultant, and part-time nomad—joins me to talk all about why re-entry is so tough and what we can do to make it easier, no matter how long we’ve been gone or how long we’re staying put.
In This Episode * Balancing her nomadic ways with her husband’s location-dependent life * What re-entry is and what makes it so tough * Dealing with re-entry if you’ve already returned * Preparing for re-entry in the future * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/143 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle, at www.nomadtopia.com/collective.
Kelly took her local, in-person bookkeeping business online, expanding her reach and giving her the ability to work from anywhere. Thanks to her work and some research and planning, Kelly and her husband were able to spend three months in Mexico last winter. She joined me to talk about what it took to make it happen, what she learned along the way, and what’s changed as a result of their winter abroad.
In This Episode * Making it possible to spend three months in Mexico * Sorting out tech and logistics for the trip * Tools and strategies for dealing with limited internet access * What’s changed as a result of their experience * How she took her in-person business online * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/142 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle, at www.nomadtopia.com/collective.
Elizabeth intentionally created a business that fits the lifestyle she wants to live. As a location-independent lawyer for small businesses, she manages a remote team and takes lots of road trips—and she actually understands this nomad stuff!
In This Episode * Where to set up your business if you’re traveling within the U.S. or abroad * U.S. state taxes when traveling domestically * Structuring contracts when your clients are in different locations * Legal concerns with partnerships and in-person events * Business liability insurance * Signing contracts online, terms and conditions, etc. * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/141 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join the Nomadtopia Collective, your home for a global location-independent lifestyle, at www.nomadtopia.com/collective.
After spending several years doing virtual assistant work online while traveling, Hannah Dixon began her own business training and placing virtual assistants. In this episode, Hannah gives us the inside scoop on working successfully as a nomad along with her tips for taking care of mental health and happiness while on the road.
In This Episode
- What does a virtual assistant do?
- How to become a virtual assistant
- Keeping clients happy while you travel
- Figuring out if this type of work is right for you
- Dealing with depression and loneliness on the road
- Making sure your lifestyle works for you
- And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/140 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join aspiring and current nomads, expats, and more in the Nomadtopia Collective—an online community making location independence easier, less lonely, and more sustainable—at www.nomadtopia.com/collective.
Anna and her husband met at a nomad meetup in Medellín, Colombia, and they’re now expecting a nomad baby! In this episode, we talk about Anna’s perspective on relationships, the reality of nomad life, embracing one’s wild feminine nature, and so much more.
In This Episode * Making a nomad (or any) relationship work * The value of solo travel for women * Dealing with instability of nomadic life * Female success vs male success * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/139 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join the Nomadtopia Collective—an online community making location independence easier, less lonely, and more sustainable—at www.nomadtopia.com/collective.
After getting married and working for a few years, Michelle and her husband joined the Peace Corps and served together for two years in rural Jamaica. They then tested out location independence while slowly building a freelance web services business, keeping expenses low through house sitting, work exchanges, and other unconventional accommodations. This budget-friendly approach continues to sustain and enrich their long-term travel lifestyle.
In This Episode * Living intentionally * Learning empathy through travel * What to look for in a work exchange * Creating local experiences * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/138 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. Join the Nomadtopia Collective—an online community making location independence easier, less lonely, and more sustainable—at www.nomadtopia.com/collective.
After working remotely for years in his corporate job as a project manager, Doug got laid off. He was lucky to already be building a side hustle with Amazon affiliate sites, which he was able to make his full-time gig. In this episode, we talk about the transition to working for himself, all about affiliate sites, some of his favorite productivity hacks, and lots more.
In This Episode * How Amazon affiliate sites work and tips for getting started * Building a side hustle while working full-time * Slow travel while working remotely * Getting laid off and moving forward * Favorite productivity hacks: bullet journals, time blocking, etc. * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/137 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, and more. You can also join the Nomadtopia Collective, an online community making location independence easier, less lonely, and more sustainable at www.nomadtopia.com/collective.
Identical twins Coleman and Kennedy use their expertise in fitness, productivity, and behavior change to help business travelers stay healthy on the road. In this episode, we talk about the unique challenges of full-time travel, establishing location-independent exercise routines, and lots more.
In This Episode * How health, fitness, and productivity are related * Sticking to an exercise routine no matter where you go * Creating habits and routines * Basic exercises you can do on the road * Eating vs dining * And lots more
See www.nomadtopia.com/136 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Join the Nomadtopia Collective, an online community making location independence easier, less lonely, and more sustainable at www.nomadtopia.com/collective.
Jill Sessa returns in her role as interviewer to turn the tables and get me to share more of my own Nomadtopia!
In This Episode * “Settling down” in Mexico City * Why I focus on location independence, not being nomadic * Creating the Nomadtopia Collective * How I balance life, travel, and two businesses * Lessons learned from 13 years as a freelance editor * Tips for a successful Nomadtopia * And lots more
See www.nomadtopia.com/135 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
After an unintentional two-week break, I’m back to share what’s been going on and what’s next for Nomadtopia Radio. Tune in for all the latest.
In This Episode * Why I skipped putting out episodes the last two weeks * My future plans for the podcast * My new focus * What the Nomadtopia Collective is all about and who it’s for * And more
See www.nomadtopia.com/134 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Marilyn and Matthew travel the world by teaching English online with VIPKID. They prefer to spend more time in one place rather than traveling constantly, and they love the flexibility that their location-independent work gives them to do just that.
In This Episode * Teaching English online * Deciding where to go * Getting residency in the Czech Republic * Hard lessons about taxes for expats/freelancers * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/133 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Cara went from clinical psychologist in a country town in Australia, to yoga teacher, living at a surf camp in Morocco and working as a coach supporting others to follow their dreams. Tune in as we talk about the ideal mindset for nomads, how to handle people who don’t support your dreams and lifestyle, getting a good night’s sleep, life in Morocco, and more.
In This Episode * Getting tired of traveling * Managing cultural differences * The mindset of a confident nomad * Why people might not support you—and what to do about it * Tips for getting a good night’s sleep on the road * Living and traveling in Morocco
See www.nomadtopia.com/132 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
It can take a while to find our rhythm with this lifestyle and figure out what really works for us, but Dan feels like he’s finally found his sweet spot. In this episode, he shares why he likes having a home base, his take on community and friendships, and lots more.
In This Episode * Choosing to set up a home base * Services, communities, and tools for a location-independent life * Playing the points or miles “game” * Maintaining friendships and creating community when you’re moving all the time * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/131 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Andrea’s work as a business coach and strategist allowed her to spend the last 20 months traveling around Latin America. Eventually, she felt it was time for a change, and she’s recently headed back to her home country, New Zealand, to continue the adventure. Tune in to hear all about how this decision came about, her tips for volunteering in animal shelters on the road, budgeting for your business, and tons more.
In This Episode * The value of test runs of working from anywhere * What she wishes she’d known before starting out * Tips for volunteering in animal shelters while traveling * Deciding to return to New Zealand * Tips for anyone at a crossroads * How business planning (and budgeting) can help you reach your goals * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/130 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
In 2017, 40-somethings Fara and Bob quit their jobs to travel the world. After seven months on the road, they’ve learned a lot about housesitting, budgeting, their interests, and even their relationship. Tune in to hear all about their experience so far.
In This Episode * Getting used to a more flexible schedule * Setting budget expectations and staying on budget (or not) * Lessons learned in their early days as housesitters * Getting a short-term car lease in France * Hobbies on the road (especially knitting, crocheting, and photography) * Adjusting to spending so much time together * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/129 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron. Don't forget to check out the Nomadtopia Collective at www.nomadtopia.com/collective, and get your tickets for 7in7 at www.7in7.co/nomadtopia.
Jennifer fell into housesitting more than 10 years ago and has been doing it ever since. She works as a freelance writer and editor, which allows her to travel and take on housesitting gigs around the U.S. and internationally.
In This Episode * Getting started as a housesitter * Word of mouth vs online housesitting portals * Considerations for housesitting abroad * Dealing with a housesit getting cancelled at the last minute * Her “commandments” for housesitting * Her approach to traveling light * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/128 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
After college, Susan started working seasonal jobs—at a ski shop in Colorado, as office manager for a sea kayaking company in Alaska—and she was hooked. Several years later, after teaching English abroad, she started her freelance writing career. In this episode, we talk about the pros and cons of seasonal jobs, tips for making a living as a writer, and lots more.
In This Episode * What is seasonal work? * Pros and cons of seasonal jobs * How she got into freelance writing * The realities of travel blogging * Tips for building a career as a freelance writer * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/127 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
A few weeks ago, I did a Facebook Live broadcast all about how I keep in touch from anywhere. In case you missed it, here’s the audio version! You can also check out the video replay on the Nomadtopia Facebook page.
In This Episode * The apps and tools I use to keep in touch anywhere in the world * Tips for creating your own communications plan * How you can get support and answers to all your communications questions * And more
See www.nomadtopia.com/126 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Originally from Australia, freelance writer Viv is now based in London with her English partner. We talked about choosing to have a home base, managing Airbnb rentals, how we get clients, and lots more.
In This Episode * Choosing to have a home base * Being an Airbnb host * Our struggles to find subcontractors * Tips for getting clients as a freelancer * Creating a platform for digital nomad women’s voices and concerns * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/125 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Tui has been location independent for a year now, mostly working in indigenous issues related to the United Nations. She’s also the co-founder of Native XP, the global indigenous tourism platform. Her Nomadtopia allows her to balance home and travel while focusing on her passions.
In This Episode * Creating the life she wants * Fostering a love for travel in her kids * Dealing with stereotypes * Getting into global environmental work * Responsible tourism * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/124 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
When Aline first heard about "digital nomads" a few years ago, in her early 20s, it felt like a great fit for her. She started freelancing and has been working while she travels ever since. But there were certainly challenges along the way, including trying to find a partner to share the adventure (she even built an app to help solve this problem!). Tune in as we share our experiences finding love on the road and lots more.
In This Episode * Deciding to be a nomad in your early 20s * Getting started without a lot of work experience * Dealing with lack of support from parents and others * Dating and making friends as a nomad * Tips for nomads in Bali * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/123 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
The way we each live our Nomadtopia often changes over time, so I’ve asked Anna back on the show—almost three and a half years after she first joined me in September 2014—to share where she is now. We talked about how things have gone and what’s changed in her Nomadtopia—and why—in the last few years.
In This Episode * Creating freedom with a brick-and-mortar business * Balancing work and play * Setting goals and making it happen * Travel planning (or not) for any length of trip * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/122 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Just a quick episode this week to share the latest news in my life and announce an exciting new offering here at Nomadtopia.
In This Episode * Where we’re planning to spend the next year and why * Getting to know a new city * Dealing with all our stuff * The latest offering from Nomadtopia * And more
See www.nomadtopia.com/121 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Hayden is currently on an open-ended journey around Europe on his motorcycle, Gloria. He has no plans, and never makes any. He works 1–2 days a week, lives on 500 euros a month, and saves three times that. We talked about planning vs winging it, the most helpful mindset for this type of travel, embracing the low points, and so much more.
In This Episode * Planning vs winging it * Must-haves for motorcycle travel * Envelope-style budgeting systems * The most helpful mindset for this type of lifestyle * Embracing the low points * Tips for planning and saving for extended travel * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/120 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Tal has been location independent for almost 10 years. He recently completed a 10-year, 100 life-goals journey around the world, tackling financial, physical, and spiritual dreams. We talked about passive income (is it real?), habit hacks, and lots more.
In This Episode * Making and achieving his 100 life goals * How he reached financial freedom (and how he defines that) * His primary income streams * Hacks and resources for establishing and sticking to habits * Learning and growing from a crisis * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/119 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Originally from Finland, Zaina has made a career as a traveling belly dancer, working in numerous countries around the Arab world and beyond. She’s now based in Thailand and still gets on a plane to belly dance in other countries on a regular basis.
In This Episode * Falling in love with bellydance * Going from full-time traveler to being based in Thailand * Cultural appropriation vs appreciation * Challenges and benefits of solo female travel in the Arab world * Getting started with Middle East travel * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/118 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
In her corporate career, Grace was an expat in three different countries, most recently Ireland. She’s now transitioned to running her own location-independent business so she could create more flexibility and better balance time with loved ones and exploring new places. She specialized in US expat tax during her corporate career, and she now works with US expats and digital nomads as an independent tax consultant.
In This Episode * Pros and cons of moving abroad with a job/company * Tips for finding work abroad * How and why she transitioned from corporate job to independent consultant * Balancing work, travel, and relationships * Top three things American expats and nomads need to know about US taxes * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/117 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
In 2013, Katrina left a well-paying corporate job to take a yearlong career break that ended up lasting 20 months. She returned to the corporate world to be able to finish paying off her debt (and completed her coach training at the same time), and is on the cusp of quitting her job once again to live her Nomadtopia as a location-independent life coach.
In This Episode * Making a plan to quit her job * Balancing debt, savings, and travel (or other goals) * Transitioning back to “normal” life after extended travel * Staying motivated to tackle big goals * Dealing when life gets messy * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/116 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
When Monique decided to embrace all of who she is—businesswoman, mother, and traveler—everything clicked into place. A couple years ago, she and her husband moved to Mexico with their two young sons, determined to create life on their own terms. Now they’re loving life in Albania, where they continue to balance work, family, and travel.
In This Episode * What life is like in Albania * All Monique’s different income streams * Building a business and creating stable, predictable income * Preparing for successful location independence * Balancing work, travel, and family * Dealing with naysayers and critics * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/115 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Since quitting her corporate job in 2013, Anna has created a portfolio career that allows her to make money, enjoy her skills and passions, and travel frequently from her base in London.
In This Episode * Nomadtopia as the “ideal” and the current reality * Exploring different income streams * Juggling a “portfolio” career * Scheduling your ideal week and managing time zones * Trying to find balance * Redefining success for ourselves and figuring out what you want * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/114 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
In 2013, Eden and her husband moved to Belize, fulfilling a dream to live abroad. After a year there and a year in Nicaragua, they fell into housesitting, which now allows them to travel the world full-time.
In This Episode * Making the necessary changes to move abroad * Falling into housesitting * Challenges for “older” nomads * Packing light and why it’s hard for some people * Shopping on the road * Pros and cons of housesitting * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/113 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
A passionate traveler who was eager to give back, Ann created a workation-style company that includes a social impact component. She now splits her time between the different locations where they run programs in South America and Asia.
In This Episode * Why she started her company Venture with Impact * Tips for finding volunteer and social-impact work opportunities * How Venture with Impact runs their programs * Proposing remote work to your employer * How she handles visas in different countries * Making friends and creating community * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/112 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Kalli and Jacob started traveling full time in 2008 and have been or lived on all seven continents. Their son was born in Mexico City several years ago, and in 2017 they moved to Cape Town, South Africa, with a plan to live there for the next two years.
In This Episode * Taking a cruise to Antarctica * Having a baby in Mexico City * Why San Miguel de Allende is starting to attract younger nomads and families * Choosing to settle down * Their varied income streams * And much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/111 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
The way we each live our Nomadtopia often changes over time, so I’ve asked Paul back on the show—three years after he first joined me in September 2014—to share where he is now. We talked about how things have gone and what’s changed in his Nomadtopia—and why—in the last few years.
In This Episode * The draw of a deeper cultural experience (and the lure of something new) * How he ended up in Bulgaria * Location independent vs digital nomad (and why we both prefer the former) * What it’s like traveling with his 45-pound dog, Sheila * Analog solutions for international phone calls * Ending a relationship with someone who wants different things * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/110 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Freelance writer Nancy took location independence to a whole new level when she joined Remote Year, a program that takes a group of remote workers to 12 cities in 12 months. She’s now gearing up to travel on her own, with a plan to spend half the year at home in Portland, Oregon, and half the year on the road.
In This Episode * Setting up your personal home for renters * Preparing for part-time travel * Her experience with Remote Year * Advice for others considering Remote Year * Her favorite place in Portland * Her must-have tools * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/109 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Derek has been a nomad for several years, and is now traveling with his partner, Heidi, and their 10-month-old son, Axel. He’s parlayed his experience as a professional adventurer into various entrepreneurial ventures, and this past summer realized that just three years after quitting grad school, he was actually living the “perfect day” he’d envisioned for himself. Now, he’s exploring a whole world of possibilities for what’s next.
In This Episode * All our different income streams * Finding your ideal location and lifestyle * Delegating and planning to make our dreams a reality * Skills that help us prepare for success in a fast-changing world * Transitioning from child-free nomad to nomadic parent * Derek’s must-have tools * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/108 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Boom has been living in Chiang Mai for almost a year and has fully embraced the “DN” (digital nomad) lifestyle. She joined me to talk about creating courses online, breaking through mental blocks, and life in Thailand.
In This Episode * How and why she creates courses on Udemy * Being an expert and imposter syndrome * Finding your comfort level in the gray areas nomads occupy * Why she loves living in Chiang Mai * Her must-have tools * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/107 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Beck is a Kiwi nomad currently based in Bangkok, Thailand. She is the founder of NomadFly and runs several other online businesses as well. In this episode we talk about the “survival mode” that many nomads find themselves in, breaking through income thresholds, the changes and choices that helped her make money, and so much more.
In This Episode * The different ways Beck makes money * How she uses just two tools for virtually everything * Money mindset for nomads * Why “six-figure” talk can trigger us (and what to do about it) * The APEC Business Travel Card: Are you eligible? How does it work? * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/106 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
After starting and running numerous businesses, KeeKee built her consulting business to cater to a location-independent lifestyle. She’s based in San Diego but travels frequently and chooses to live on vacation no matter where she finds herself on the map.
In This Episode * Building relationships online and off * What it means to “live on vacation” * What she wishes she’d known before she started * The essential mind-set that prepares you for this lifestyle * How to create a business you love * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/105 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Gabriella and Vernon sold it all and moved their family to Mazatlán, Mexico, in October 2016. They have spent the last ten months growing closer as a family, raising three third-culture kids who are now 4, 5, and 6 years old, building their location-independent businesses, and simply living life on their own terms.
In This Episode * Why they decided to move to Mazatlán * Doing a reconnaissance trip to scope things out * Preparing to move abroad as a family * Challenges of living in Mexico * Safety in Mexico (and the rest of the world!) * Must-have tools for a location-independent life * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/104 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Kit and Nick have been working while traveling the world for nine years. They don’t have a home base, and they move around a lot more than some other long-term nomads (like me!). They also co-founded the 7in7 conference for nomads, and joined me to talk about everything from how much we spend each month to travel hacking and other insights from nine years on the road.
In This Episode * How they came up with the idea for the 7in7 conference for nomads * Finding the “secret nomads” * How much we spend on our lifestyle * Travel planning and travel hacking as a nomad * Why Kit and Nick don’t have a home base * Living intentionally * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/103 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
With freedom as her core value, Emily has made intentional choices to create a location-independent life that works for her (and her partner who chooses not to be location independent). We talked about budgeting for the lifestyle, exploring a city via Airbnb, and lots more.
In This Episode * How she created location-independent income streams * Choosing to go freelance * Making intentional choices to create freedom in our lives * Managing money as a freelancer/nomad (and why we’re both huge fans of YNAB) * Using Airbnb to explore neighborhoods in a new city * Tips for having a relationship with someone who doesn’t want to be location independent * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/102 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
After several years abroad, Naomi and her family moved back to the States, where she wasn’t at all prepared for the challenges of repatriation. Learning about the idea that her experience had shaped her into a “triangle” helped her make sense of it all, and it led Naomi to create what is now a thriving community of people living global lives. Tune in as we talk about what it means to be a triangle, differing experiences of being an expat (and why she’d like to remove that word from our vocabulary completely), and so much more.
In This Episode * Setting up a location-independent real estate business * What it means to be a “triangle” * Challenge and privilege of the word “expat” * Why a sense of belonging is important (and how to find it) * How to handle the challenges of repatriation * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/101 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
I never thought I’d end up doing 100 episodes of Nomadtopia Radio! To celebrate this milestone, I asked a few nomad friends to join me, and we recorded this episode live on video on August 7, 2017. Tune in as we talk about our nomad lives, our favorite tools, and so much more. You can check out the video replay at www.nomadtopia.com/100live.
In This Episode * How we find good internet access (and manage if we don’t) * How we make money/support our lifestyle * Our favorite tools * The “best” places to go * Some of our favorite books * Tips for borrowing and highlighting Kindle books * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/100 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
After falling in love with overland travel on the Pan-American Highway, Dan went home to save money for his next adventure: two years overland through 30 countries in Africa. He’s about halfway through his trip and joined me from Cameroon to talk money, logistics, and more.
In This Episode * Cultivating the mind-set to save money for travel * Costs of overland travel vs backpacking * Deciding where to go and getting visas * Tools and community for overland travel * Do you need a lot of driving experience to travel overland? * Biggest misconceptions about overland travel * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/99 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio by becoming a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
I'm hosting a LIVE video broadcast for our 100th episode! Join me and special nomad guests on August 7, 2017, as we celebrate, chat about our lives, answer questions, and more. Register at www.nomadtopia.com/100live.
The way we each live our Nomadtopia often changes over time, so I’ve asked Valerie back on the show—two and a half years after she first joined me in February 2015—to share where she is now. We talked about how things have gone and what’s changed in her Nomadtopia—and why—in the last few years.
In This Episode * Choosing to have a home base * Creating a home * Finding or building community * Getting sick on the road * Knowing when it’s time to make a change * Ignoring the shoulds of this lifestyle * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/98 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more. Support Nomadtopia Radio as a patron! More info at www.nomadtopia.com/patron.
Elizabeth intentionally created a business that fits the lifestyle she wants to live. As a location-independent lawyer for small businesses, she manages a remote team and takes lots of road trips.
In This Episode * Where to set up your business if you’re traveling within the U.S. or abroad * U.S. state taxes when traveling domestically * Structuring contracts when your clients are in different locations * Legal concerns with partnerships and in-person events * Business liability insurance * Signing contracts online, terms and conditions, etc. * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/97 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more.
Since he decided he wanted the freedom to travel wherever, whenever, Luke has taken advantage of Working Holiday visas in a number of countries, learned how to talk to pretty much anyone, figured out what it takes to work from anywhere, and lots more.
In This Episode:
- How Luke ran his first business into the ground
- Traveling on Working Holiday visas
- How travel made Luke more extroverted
- Luke’s tips for meeting/talking to people
- Biggest challenges in his Nomadtopia
- Resources that helped him create his Nomadtopia
- And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/96 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more.
Naomi describes herself as a “nomad who likes to nest”—and housesitting is the perfect way to get the best of both worlds. She joins me from her current sit in Sydney, Australia, to talk about her Nomadtopia as a full-time housesitter.
In This Episode * How Naomi became a triple citizen * Considerations when traveling with multiple passports * Logistics/requirements of citizenship (taxes, voting, etc.) * How/when she books housesitting gigs * Dealing with/avoiding crappy Internet when housesitting * Naomi’s top tips for successful housesitting * And so much more
See www.nomadtopia.com/95 for show notes plus other interviews, resources, community, and more.
While living in Colorado, Marianne and her husband came up with the idea to move to Costa Rica. About five years later, with their young son in tow, they finally made it happen. Tune in as we talk about making a change on a long timeline and lots more.
Jessica learned the hard way that taking your business on the road isn't always as easy as it sounds. After experiencing some challenges on her first adventure abroad, she made some changes and set everything up to run smoothly—and her business and lifestyle have thrived ever since.
Robert Taylor is a screenprinter from South Africa. He and his wife are educating their four-year-old on the road as they travel, perfect their craft, and teach others a skill that they can actually use anywhere in the world.
After saving money while working as a lawyer for five years, Jodi Ettenberg quit her job in 2008. The plan was to travel the world for a year, but nine years later, she has yet to return to the practice of law. What started as full-time travel, then a nomadic lifestyle while making her living on the road, has morphed into a home base in Oaxaca, Mexico, while she continues to work in food and storytelling.
Nomadtopia Radio is back! Tune in for a short update from Amy on her travels since last July, plus the inside scoop on what’s next for the podcast.
As she prepares to take a break from the podcast, Amy shares her travel plans, tips on some of the logistics of traveling to the U.S. (or anywhere, really), what's next for Nomadtopia Radio, and more.
Britany and her husband recently sold almost everything they own (including their home) and quit the highest-paying jobs either one of them has ever had. When we talked, they were just about to embark on an open-ended journey around the Western half of the United States in their travel trailer with their two dogs.
Lifelong entrepreneur Bobby lives primarily in Latvia these days, and he travels frequently to get the "boots on the ground" experience necessary for his work offering offshore corporate and trust services. He also advises location-independent entrepreneurs on how to properly structure their businesses to minimize taxes and take advantage of global opportunities such as second residency and citizenship options, all of which we talk about in great detail on this episode.
American writer Mel and Italian filmmaker Armando met while she was living in the Czech Republic and he in Bulgaria. A couple years later, a few spontaneous decisions found them living and traveling together in a VW T4 Westfalia, and they’ve now been on the road since 2012.
Billy and Akaisha retired at age 38 in 1991—long before Skype, email, and online bill pay!—and have been traveling the world for the past 25 years. They typically set up housekeeping in a foreign location for a while and then hit the road again for more exploring. Sometimes they house sit, or rent apartments or live out of an apart/hotel for months at a time. Over the years they have survived financial crashes, bear markets, and the Great Recession, and actually have more money today than they did when they first retired.
Originally from Spain, Carlos Peñalba is a passionate traveler and photographer who quit his job in New York to backpack through Asia for a year. It turned into an 18-month journey, during which he was also launching a new freelance career. After leaving Asia and as he tried to figure out what was next for him, Carlos wrote a memoir about his adventure, The Year I Became a Nomad: A Journey through Asia on a Quest for Freedom, Love and Happiness.
A former social worker, Nicole is a business strategist + coach who helps entrepreneurs make money doing work they love and create multiple income streams through her program the Authentic Affiliate Academy. She lives in New Jersey full time but travels regularly and takes one-month international trips to experience new countries and escape winter.
After 4+ years living in Argentina, developing location-independent skills, and taking a few trial runs, Louise is back on the nomad train. This year will be full of new (and old) countries, as well as the first time nomading with her partner. They only have tentative plans/ideas of where they’re going through winter. After that they’re not sure; they may even pick a base to stay for a while (but not Buenos Aires!).
Before she made the switch to digital entrepreneurship, Michelle had a long commute, was stressed out, had family problems that prohibited her from leaving her job, and felt rootless. Then, she began blogging about personal finance and was introduced to the idea of digital entrepreneurship and lifestyle design, fell in love with the idea, and never looked back. Now she is growing a digital business helping people who are working on quitting their 9-to-5 but can't quit yet. And although Michelle loves to travel and live abroad, right now her goal is to get further connected to her community in Denver.
Barry and Simone started their location-independent life by accident in 2012. They now split their time moving between Scotland (where they met) and Australia (where she is from) each year, by spending a few months in different locations each time. While they travel, Barry runs several businesses and Simone sometimes works with him, sometimes teaches English, and sometimes temps as an executive assistant.
After starting her most recent business while living in a van, Rebecca has created a flexible lifestyle that allows her to balance rock-climbing trips, running retreats, and other adventures with time at home.
Ebonie is an author, a coach, and an entrepreneur. She’s currently settled in Brighton, England, but incorporates a lot of travel into her location-independent business and lifestyle. Tune in to learn about the 1% that’s not location independent and much more.
Emily set herself up as a location-independent freelance writer so she’d be ready to go anywhere her husband's job might take them, and they’re currently living in Maputo, Mozambique, with their two-year-old daughter (and another baby on the way!). Although she considers herself a digital nomad by circumstance, not by choice, Emily loves living overseas and working remotely.
Amy and her husband made the transition from living the typical life in suburbia to organic farmers in New Hampshire to now location-independent entrepreneurs. They are currently on a two-plus-year road trip across the US and Canada with a focus on discovering great real food spots and natural beauty, connecting with their online community, and more.
Jeremy and his wife, Winnie, achieved financial independence and retired in their thirties so they could travel and start a family. With their one-year-old son they now travel slowly, eating their way around the world.
Amy has found a way to make her love for travel a lifestyle by running a travel blog and a travel planning service while keeping a full-time remote job. She has been to more than 22 countries, mostly traveling solo, and is considering setting up a base in Hawaii.
Erin sold everything she owned and left the UK in 2010 to travel the world with her partner, Simon. They mix living in one place for a few months with faster periods of travel and have travelled to more than 30 countries with just their carry-on backpacks while running a popular travel blog, Never Ending Voyage, and creating iPhone apps like Trail Wallet.
After years of squeezing every minute of travel possible into her vacation time, Melissa loves being her own boss and working from anywhere, which means she doesn’t have to ask for permission or time off to continue exploring. You’ll find her enjoying her home base, Portland, Oregon, when she’s not roaming the globe.
After trying out a number of different living arrangements, including Berlin and living in a van in the U.S., and setting everything up so she could live and work anywhere, Nicole and her partner ended up in the tiny island nation of Malta, where she’s loving life and running her location-independent web design business.
Tommy started his adventure abroad teaching English in South Korea. Eventually he landed in Medellin, Colombia, which is now his home base for further travels while he runs a content marketing agency and helps freelancers transition from side income to a full-time living.
After starting a successful online business (and getting burned out and losing sight of their bigger goals along the way), Nick and Gen decided to try out a more nomadic lifestyle. They discovered that it allowed for more inspiration and creativity (and time off), so they sold everything and now run two full-time businesses together while traveling full-time.
Since having their daughter in 2013 (and with a second child on the way), Hannah and her husband, Chris, have seen their travel lifestyle change to involve longer spells living in one new place rather than constantly traveling like many nomads do. They occasionally return to their flat in the UK for a few months at a time, and spend other periods focused on travel and living overseas.
Since he became a nomad in early 2011, Eli has been changing locations every two months. He almost always chooses to go to new places rather than ones he’s been to before, and over the years he has created a set of “rules” to guide his lifestyle that allow him to work on his businesses, connect with locals, and explore his surroundings.
Since she was a teenager, Caz has made travel a priority in her life. As a solo traveler, then with her husband, Craig, and now with two young daughters, the travels have continued—and along the way, she and Craig have built one of the world’s most successful travel blogs. Their most recent adventure was an 18-month road trip around their home country of Australia, and they’re already gearing up for their next road trip in the U.S. in late 2016.
Jasper travels the world while renting out his apartment in Amsterdam on Airbnb. He spends most of his time between Asia, the US, and South America. He typically stays put for a month or two in a city to focus on work, alternating that with a few weeks of scuba diving.
A honeymoon in Thailand led Lewis and his wife, Jenny, to quit their jobs to start traveling, which turned into more than three years on the road. They have recently returned to the UK, where Lewis has taken on a six-month contract job, and they’re finding that just as travel gives you a better perspective on your home country, being home gives you a better perspective on your travel!
Shannon and her husband currently live in Shanghai, China, where she is a freelance writer and he teaches English and business skills. They enjoy being serial expats, settling down somewhere but being able to travel and try new places after a while. This allows them to balance the needs/career of one partner who is more location independent and one who really needs/wants to do his job in person.
Aglaée and her husband have been digital nomads on and off since 2010, both before and after their son was born. She is also a registered dietitian whose work has been greatly influenced by her travels. In 2015 her family spent time in rural Québec and Costa Rica, with more adventures planned for the coming year.
James is currently based in St. Louis, Missouri, but from July 2014 to July 2015 he was on a road trip around the US. He stopped perpetual travel to focus more closely on building his business. While he can work from anywhere, James has found that he doesn’t have to be on the road all the time in order to be location independent, and he’s created a lifestyle that offers him both the security of having a place of his own and the flexibility to travel when he wants.
As the host of Nomadtopia Radio, I’m busy interviewing lots of other nomads and don’t often have the chance to share more of my own background and experiences. So to celebrate Episode 60 of the podcast and the first of 2016, I invited my friend Jill Sessa (whom I interviewed in December 2014) to come on the show to turn the tables and interview me. Jill did a fantastic job digging into the back story of how my own Nomadtopia came into being back in 2004, my early days as a freelancer, meeting my husband in Argentina, how we travel together, what I've learned from the pressure I sometimes feel to fit a certain image as a nomad, and so much more.
After spending most of her adult life outside her native New Zealand, Vicky moved back in 2014 and is now enjoying a nomadic lifestyle living in a bus and traveling around the country. Along the way she realized she didn’t want to continue her coaching business, and that thanks to her simplified lifestyle she doesn’t need to work right now, giving her even more freedom.
Now a web developer and digital marketing strategist, Tamala first started exploring the world of online business as a side hustle in the late ’90s, and she’s been location independent since 2010. All along, she’s been motivated by a deep desire for freedom, and in 2015 that led to her first international adventure in Costa Rica. When we talked she was back in the States, regrouping and figuring out what’s next.
Yasmine has lived in eight countries and describes herself as “a typical third culture kid trying to find my place.” She’s on a mission to visit every country, and is currently traveling to connect with friends she’s met all over the world. As she travels, she continues to work helping small business owners develop systems to scale their businesses, and she enjoys developing a daily routine to work and live like locals do wherever she goes.
DJ/music producer and entrepreneur Marc Freccero spent 10 months visiting 10 major cities in the U.S. and produced a song about each city that was his personal reflection of that city's ambience, culture, musical influence, and vibe. Not only that, he did the whole journey on a lean budget and while living out of his van. Stay tuned to the end to hear a clip from “GPS,” the bonus track Marc created once the trip was over.
Mollie negotiated with her employer to work remotely so she could continue furthering her own professional development while also supporting her husband as he does the same (he's a pro baseball player and spends six months a year on the road). They keep a home base in Nashville, Tennessee, and Mollie has found that no matter the city, the team, or the time zone, being a digital nomad has enabled her to thrive professionally and personally.
Danny has been a nomad since 2011 and has been based in Thailand for almost a year. He enjoys finding ways to hack everything from sleep to email, and while he travels he writes books, records podcasts, creates video courses, and is launching a digital magazine to help people live the life of their dreams.
In 2013, Shawn rented out her house, got rid of most of her stuff, and shifted to an online business model. Ever since, she has been wandering the world while running her coaching business. She’s passionate about the work she does, and she’s passionate about exploring new places, so she takes an intuitive approach to deciding when to move and when to stop.
After spending nearly a year in Southeast Asia, Curtiss and Ashley’s Nomadtopia is emerging as a nice blend of his web design business, her savvy with Airbnb, and their combined forces living in exotic locations for a few months at a time. At the tail end of a two-month stay back in the States, they joined me to talk about how they make the lifestyle work for them.
Annette is a freelance journalist from Ireland who lived in France for many years and has been living a nomadic lifestyle since January 2013. She spends most of her time in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia, staying in small hotels and homestays, with friends, or cat-sitting. She writes mainly about environmental and human rights issues, as well as health and well-being.
After spending time in the Peace Corps in Africa, and living a “regular” life back home for several years, Katherine set off to travel and do more volunteering in Europe, then taught herself the tech skills that now allow her to work online and be location independent. When we spoke she was wrapping up another extended stay in Europe while working as a contractor for a U.S. company.
When Brittany met her husband, Bruno, in Mozambique several years ago, they quickly found a way to weave together their different travel backgrounds and experiences to create their own version of Nomadtopia: (very) slow overland travel in a homemade campervan. I caught up with Brittany while they were taking a break in France after extended travels in Africa and the Middle East.
Betsy and Warren left the US in 2010 at the age of 40 after saving and downsizing for two years to make their dream come true. These days, when they aren’t traveling the world you can find them writing their next book in a small, whitewashed village in Spain.
Since she quit her job on Wall Street a few years ago, Laura’s been splitting her time between New York and Southeast Asia, and is also starting to scope out a third location to use as a base.
When a friend invited Emily to travel with her in Paris for a month, Emily decided to take it to the next level. A location-independent lifestyle had been on Emily’s mind for years, and she took this invitation as a sign to finally take the plunge. She joined me from Paris where her nomadic adventure is off to a magnifique start.
Nomadtopia Radio is going on hiatus! Find out why, when we'll be back, and what you can do in the meantime to stay inspired and keep moving toward your Nomadtopia.
City life with two young kids left Dan and Danielle wondering when they’d be able to slow down and catch their breath. Eventually, they took matters into their own hands and intentionally chose to slow down by selling everything and leaving Australia in 2011. They have been enjoying a relaxed, fulfilling lifestyle in Costa Rica ever since, and have their sights set on new horizons for the future.
After growing up a third-culture kid, serving in the U.S. Navy, and living and studying abroad in Spain, James is now based in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and encourages others to live a “borderless” life, especially through PT Theory and Flag Theory. Tune in to find out what it means to live a borderless life!
Gillian and her husband, Jason, have had a wide range of experiences since they first set off on a round-the-world trip in 2009. On their most recent adventure, their goal was to make enough money to continue to support their lifestyle, and after trying everything to make it work and not seeing the results they hoped for, they decided to head back to Canada, where Jason is looking for consulting positions. Gillian joined me to share the reality behind the lifestyle that not everybody is willing to talk about.
After leaving her corporate job to take a break and travel, Ellen discovered the possibilities of living and working from anywhere, and gradually went about creating her ideal lifestyle. She now keeps a base in Thailand while she pursues personal projects and travels internationally as a freelance management consultant.
Fabian longed to travel and have more work/life balance, so when his employer wouldn’t give him the scaled-back hours he asked for, he started his own company. He and his team are just wrapping up seven months on the road in South America, where they’ve been running the business and gathering stories about people reinventing work and education for their project Startup Diaries.
A life-changing experience in 2004 in the Brazilian Amazon inspired Lorna to create more freedom in her life. After years of teaching herself everything she needed to know to support herself online, she finally took the plunge into location independence in 2012 and has been traveling ever since.
Dustin didn’t let having a local business stop him from realizing his travel dreams. He took off on a one-year round-the-world trip and is still traveling five years later. Now he runs several businesses from the road (including that local one back home) and, after many years of nearly non-stop travel, he is planning to build a tiny house that will be his home base in Canada.
What started out as a six-month career break for Mish and Rob turned into a lifestyle. They typically spend a few months in each place they visit so they can live like locals, exploring the city while running their copywriting business and a location-dependent real estate business back in the UK.
Maya, her husband, and their teenage daughters left the U.S. ten years ago to spend a year in Mexico. They’ve been living and traveling abroad ever since; after stints in Argentina, Uruguay, Japan, and China, they have recently found themselves back in Mexico.
In addition to traveling to lots of other places, Louisa and her husband split their time between Eureka, California, and Guanajuato, Mexico. Their two homes allow them to be comfortable both together and apart, and enjoy the benefits of each place—more work, projects, and water in California, and hiking, hills, and Spanish in Mexico.
Inspired by Che Guevara’s adventures in The Motorcycle Diaries, Leon quit his job in London and set off on his first big adventure: traveling across the U.S. on $5/day. Since then he’s traveled around the world combining his wanderlust with philanthropy, and he’s developed TV shows and written books about his travels.
Longtime traveler and expat Kylie has relocated more than 15 times. Wanting to build more international experiences into their lives, her family jumped at the opportunity to move to Tonga in the South Pacific. Kylie, her husband, and their two school-age daughters have been enjoying life there for nearly a year, and are excited to see where their next adventure will take them.
Paul and Becky have made choices over the years that just happened to make their family of six location-independent, and eventually they realized they had the freedom to live and work anywhere in the world. They’ve already toured parts of Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa looking for a new home base, and are preparing to head overland through Central and South America as the search continues.
In 2006, Nora sold everything she owned in Canada (including a busy financial planning practice) to embrace her dreams of traveling and living around the world. She’s been on the road ever since, having lived in and traveled through over 50 countries and counting.
Victoria knew from an early age that she wanted to leave her native Russia and live and travel abroad. In 2013 she made that dream a reality, first by working as an au pair in France and Italy, and ending up as a remote worker for an Italian company.
Chris and his wife split their time between Spain, Panama, and Canada while running a global company with no physical office. He didn’t end up with this life because he’s “lucky”; it’s all about the deliberate choices he’s made.
Caroline has been traveling since she was three weeks old and has lived in 11 countries. Her daughter, who is just two, has already lived in four countries! Caroline’s location-independent business has allowed her to be a hands-on mom while she and her family follow their travel dreams.
An around-the-world trip in 2010 sparked a whole new way of living for Valerie Conners. She and her fiancé, Ayaz, have been location independent since early 2013, and have spent most of that time exploring their own backyard in the United States, as well as taking several jaunts abroad.
Getting laid off from his job led Ryan to reevaluate the way he lived and the way he worked. Eventually he created a location-independent livelihood and a pared-back, debt-free lifestyle in a tiny house, giving him the time and flexibility to travel and focus on what matters most to him.
Carina spent most of her life moving around but now lives in Denmark. Because she’s location independent, she and her family have the freedom to live life as they choose, with fewer rules and more time to spend together.
After seeing expats’ tax challenges first-hand when he moved abroad in 2010, Vincenzo started a new business helping expats with their taxes. He’s been an expat and nomad ever since, and in this episode we talk about his favorite festivals around the world, tax tips for American nomads, expats, and travelers, and much more.
Monika and John have had their share of adventures over the years, but eventually ended up feeling a little stuck living abroad in Australia. They decided to revamp their lives and have been on the road, traveling mostly by cruise ship, since March 2014.
After US immigration wouldn’t let his Australian wife back into the country, Ian Robinson had a big decision to make. He ended up leaving his growing biofuel business in Hawaii to join his wife in New Zealand, and they’ve been traveling and working online ever since.
James Clark started working for himself while living abroad in Europe, and he’s been location independent since 2003. His lifestyle has shifted over the years, but he’s still happy to be a nomad and has no intention of “settling down” anytime soon.
In 2013, Jill Sessa took off on what has turned into a 20,000-mile-plus road trip, first by bicycle, then cross country on a Vespa, and then moving into a tiny RV. A serial entrepreneur with a number of prior businesses, Jill now manages her website maintenance service while enjoying an ever-changing view from the “office” window.
Jay Malone decided to get his Master’s degree in Germany instead of at home in the US, and it led to a whole new business and lifestyle. He now splits his time between the two countries and helps others study abroad in Germany.
Ryan Biddulph quickly recognized that getting laid off from his job as a security guard had given him an opportunity to truly set himself free. First, he researched and got started making money online, and after a couple years he realized he could easily take his work on the road. Tune in to find out how Ryan, who’d never traveled outside the US until he and his fiancée took off to Bali, became a long-term traveler and successful online entrepreneur.
In 2006, Audrey and Dan left their traditional jobs and expat life in Prague for what was meant to be a 12-to-18-month creative and travel sabbatical. Through their blog, freelance work, sponsorship, speaking, consulting, and more they have turned their journey into a lifestyle and a business. After 6 years of being nomadic, they now have a base in Berlin, Germany, and continue to explore the world.
After Lydia Lee left a well-paying but unfulfilling cubicle job in Canada to launch small business startups, her itchy feet led her abroad. Now based in Bali, every day feels like an adventure, and she's cut her living expenses to 1/3 of what they were in Vancouver. In this episode we talked about riding scooters in Asia, why island life isn't boring, and so much more.
Business strategist Heather Thorkelson has built a location-independent business that gives her the freedom to stay in one place or to move on, and to switch things up based on what she needs at the time, whether it’s adventure or connection or time to unplug. Tune in to hear more about her inspiring approach to life, work, and building a business.
When I talked to Carlton Taylor, he and his wife, Varsha, were just wrapping up a three-month adventure in Ecuador. But it’s not something that came about overnight. It took planning, determination, and intentional action (not to mention a strategy to show his wife it was possible and bring her on board). Tune in to find out the steps they took to make it happen, what they’ve experienced in Ecuador, and what’s next.
In January 2014, Michelle Fetsch was feeling fed up and decided she needed a change. Two weeks later, she’d quit her job, packed up her apartment, and was on a plane to Bali. In this episode, we talk about how she made it happen so quickly, the rewards of taking big risks, her work with Women Enough, and more.
Lainie Liberti and her nine-year-old son, Miro, left the U.S. in 2009 for what was going to be a one-year adventure—and they’re still going! Continuing their slow travel through Central and South America, they allow inspiration to be their compass. Along the way they’ve taken a global approach to education, using the world as their classroom.
Betsy Wuebker says she and her husband, Pete, are “just your garden variety baby boomer pre-retirees”—but there are at least a few things that make them unique. They’ve been location independent since 2011, and two years ago, they sold everything and moved to Hawaii. In September 2014, they took off again, this time for a two-year round-the-world trip.
Gustav Andersson's wanderings began in 2011 as an experiment to explore how a modern nomadic life can best be geo-independent, sustainable, and eudaemonic (you'll have to listen to find out what that means!). Now, he's working full-time as a remote worker as he continues to travel the world.
Writer and coach Sasha Cagen’s life looks very different than it did five years ago. Tune in to find out how she went from co-founder of a Silicon Valley tech startup (and creator of the Quirkyalone movement) to leading tango adventures in Buenos Aires and writing a memoir called Wet.
Liz Scully has been location independent for several years, but she recently gave up having a central base. This has led to a different set of challenges, as she continues to discover all the ways the world isn't really set up for someone who has no permanent home, not to mention someone who doesn’t actually legally live anywhere! Tune in as Liz and I talk about everything from avoiding holiday madness to losing your luggage.
After years of taking trial runs and working to move her business completely online, writer Pernille Norregaard sold her apartment in Copenhagen, Denmark, and became a full-time nomad in January 2014. Tune in to find out where this dream started, what she’s learned along the way, and much more.
Paul Strobl has worn many hats over the years: backpacker, reality-show participant, English teacher, sales manager, business coach, expat, and more. Tune in to find out how these experiences have shaped his life and led him where he is today, enjoying life with his wife and dogs, no matter where they are in the world.
Lynan Saperstein's intuition and sense of her greater purpose has led her to places like Costa Rica, Peru, Italy, Croatia, England, NYC, and California, just in the last two years. Along the way, she's found a rhythm that works for her, her business has gone global, and she's gathered an international team and community to support her and her clients.
Whenever people tell me they can't (or don't know how to) live their Nomadtopia because they have kids, I tell them about Greg and Rachel Denning, who are slowly traveling overland from Alaska to Argentina (and beyond) with their six children, world-schooling as they go. Greg joined me from their current base in Costa Rica to talk about his family's adventures learning, exploring, playing, and making a positive difference in the world.
Sundae Bean lives in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with her husband and two young children. Her husband is on assignment there, but thanks to plenty of vacation time and Sundae’s location-independent business, the family is able to spend two or three months each year visiting their home countries (the U.S. and Switzerland) as well as other destinations around the world. Tune in to hear about living in Africa, raising third-culture kids, and more.
Rebecca Beaton was already an entrepreneur when she realized she could work from anywhere, so it was an unexpected bonus! A rather spontaneous decision to take a road trip while building her newest business taught her a lot, and it was the beginning of many more adventures, at home and abroad.
After running a local skin-care business in Portland, Oregon, Anna Long decided it was finally time to make her dreams of living and traveling abroad a reality. Eight months after she sold her business, and with her online work as a business strategist ramping up, Anna and her new husband, Shea, hit the road. After two months of traveling in Asia and working online, they went home to pick up their dog and drove south to Baja California, Mexico, where they spent five months. Now back in Portland, Anna joined me to talk about how the adventure unfolded and where she’s headed next.