Nomadtopia Radio

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 wh

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

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 bes

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 w

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

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

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 Beco

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

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 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 imp

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 Fin

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 l

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 w

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 resea

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

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

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 th

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, inspir

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 g