Episodes
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...
Published 05/03/23
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...
Published 04/05/23
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...
Published 03/01/23
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...
Published 02/01/23
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...
Published 01/04/23
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...
Published 12/07/22
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 ...
Published 11/17/22
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...
Published 11/02/22
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...
Published 10/05/22
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...
Published 09/07/22
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, grief coach and founder of The Grief Gallery Charlene Lam, who came into this work after losing her mom while...
Published 08/03/22
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...
Published 07/06/22
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...
Published 06/01/22
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...
Published 05/05/22
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...
Published 04/06/22
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...
Published 03/02/22
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...
Published 02/02/22
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...
Published 01/05/22
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...
Published 12/01/21
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...
Published 11/03/21
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...
Published 10/06/21
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...
Published 09/01/21
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...
Published 08/04/21
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...
Published 07/07/21