In this solo episode recorded in Hanoi, Eli reflects on 15 years of nomadic living, the highs, lows, and strange in-betweens. Prompted by questions generated by ChatGPT, he dives into how AI is reshaping his workflow, the evolution of Become Nomad , personal sacrifices, startup ecosystem insights from around the globe, and the odd $180 meal… that thankfully turned out to cost just $9.
Living as a nomad starts with a remote job, but it doesn’t end there. In this episode, Eli speaks with Anna Maria Kochanska about building a career on the move, turning remote work into real impact, and why Cape Verde might be your next favorite destination.
Nikita and Eli catch up and talk about the rituals they follow when arriving in new places, such as gathering around campfires, along with a range of other related topics.
It's always on our minds as we seek to make this lifestyle sustainable -- the financial aspect of location independent work. Because let's not sugar-coat it: building a career that lets you enjoy such freedom requires work. It requires asking some tough questions and finding your particular answers. Here, Eli touches on how to approach tackling uncertainty, intention setting, becoming world class, accounting for technological change, and a whole lot more of those tough questions.
What does it mean for a location to be "winning" for nomads? This is something Eli thinks a lot about -- as he plans his next flight and as he continues the work of his main project, StartupBlink. In this ep, we dive into what trends, factors, and overall values determine a location's nomadic potential. And, of course, we name a handful that fall into this category -- plus some predictions for locations that are on the rise. Check out StartupBlink for more detailed analysis: www.startupblink.com...
Our star listener Nikita Smelyanskiy is back! This time to ask Eli some deep questions about his nomadic journey. They chat about how Eli started moving around (at age 31!), his early approaches to making income, simplifying your lifestyle into "first-level principles," maintaining nomadic relationships, how this lifestyle impacts your larger perspective of life, and much more. Have some additional Q's you'd like us to tackle? Get in touch at dan@becomenomad.com!
We often talk about the values of nomadic freedom. But nomadic freedom also includes the freedom to stop being nomadic for a while. After all, there are many ways of living true to the nomadic spirit -- even when you're stationary. Here, Eli & Dan discuss Dan's recent less-nomadic exploits en route to bigger questions about the long-term nature of this lifestyle and transitioning in & out of various situations.
Today we have a special guest episode with our friend Nikita, a long-time listener of the show. He takes us through his unique approach to digital nomadism which started with some creative adventures in his home country -- perfect inspiration for anyone thinking about starting out. He and Eli move on to a grab bag of related nomadic questions about taking the plunge, finding your people, & living without fear. Have thoughts on their discussion? We love hearing from you! Reach out to dan@beco...
Let's dig in to some essential nomadic FAQs: How do you choose a place for new residency? How do you handle taxes while on the road? How does it all play with your origin country? In this quick "emergency pod," Eli outlines some advantages, considerations, & interesting countries worth exploring when thinking about residency & related logistics. (We're a little behind schedule but more make-up pods are coming your way soon!)
Don't come to this episode hungry! Eli & Dan discuss some of their favorite locales for food and try to get a bit deeper: How much can food play a role in our perception of a location? What's the best way to really experience a local flavor? And what's our strategy for staying healthy while still experiencing food culture? Furthermore, we'll plant some seeds: Our favorite locations & food experiences -- the cuisines that sit with us for years after the fact. Hopefully, they'll inspire yo...
Every few years we like to check in & ask: What digital tools are we most heavily leaning on? What are we using on a daily basis during our nomadic journeys? In this ep, Eli & Dan cover categories such as social life, learning, navigation, and fitness. Hopefully giving you some helpful tips... but very likely just demonstrating our own ignorance :) Let us know what vital new tools we've missed at eli@becomenomad.com or dan@becomenomad.com ....
It's our eternal question: Where next? Eli's constantly thinking of how to answer this question -- not just with places as answers... But with principles & concepts that always stand true. In this episode, he talks about some of his new and undiscussed principles to make sure the next destination is a place you connect with.
Derek from Wandering Earl is back! To share more of his endless insights from 20+ years on the road. He & Eli touch on the classic question faced by lifelong nomads: Where's the finish line? Or, more accurately, is there a finish line? And they discuss what it's like to stop and start nomading again. Plus a grabbag of other topics: Building community, running a tour company, connecting your location with your work, and a whole lot more. Please give our friend some love & go check out Wan...
It's definitely not the sexiest part of our nomadic adventures... but it may be the most vital. Still, banking's tricky because, more than most, it's not a one-size-fits-all topic. In this episode, Eli & Dan try to tackle the distinct financial "tiers" and the different opportunities nomads have -- all to eventually establish some universal truths & words of wisdom. If you're looking for a more practical episode -- one without any rose-tinted, Instagram-filtered glasses -- this one's for...
You pack your bags and hit the road with a certain expectation in your mind. You imagine what you might experience, how you might change, what you might see, and who you might meet. But after years on the road, once the honeymoon phase has worn off... What unexpected realities might the digital nomad lifestyle bring? In this episode, we look past the glamorization and excitement of this lifestyle. Let's talk about some of the hard personal truths & ongoing psychological battles that might em...
On this ep, Eli's joined by a special guest: James Clark, founder of the travel blog Nomadic Notes. They discuss the ups & downs of being on the nomadic journey for so long, how the landscape has changed since James hit the road in 2003, the importance of holding onto hobbies & interests, and a whole lot more. ... & if you have any thouhts of Qs, give us a shout at info@becomenomad.com!
Eli has spent years of nomadic working on both sides of the aisle. Looking back on his experiences, he shares the pros & cons, the rewards & tradeoffs, of both working solo and managing a team. Plus: He shares how starting a remote company wasn't a product of ambition or courage as much as a product of necessity. And he dives into how this change in work-life forced a change in nomadic values. Thoughts or questions? Please shoot us an email! At: info@becomenomad.com
You know about the Chiang Mai's and Medellin's of the world -- the established digital nomad hubs mentioned in every other blog post. But which places might become the next Chiang Mai? The next Medellin? In this episode, Eli & Dan scour the global map to identify a few dozen places on our BecomeNomad radar -- some have long been emerging, some have just piqued our interest, all worth at least considering as you plan your next plane ticket. ... And of course we missed something, but what did ...
Accommodations! We start with Eli looking back at the early days of finding a place to stay via travel guides & simple spontaneity... And then see how things have drastically changed in the past ten years. Have they changed for the worst? Is the convenience gained by the Airbnb's and Booking.com's worth the dilution of nomadic adventure? What matters the most when we look for accommodations? And what further changes can we expect as trends like coliving become the norm? All that & a whol...
We may not be doctors, but we do have a few useful principles for approaching personal health on a day-to-day basis. Because the nomadic life inherently complicates our ability to stabilize our routines. Meaning that something like health, which so fundamentally requires stability, is more vulnerable to frequent disruption. So how can we reduce that risruption? Even if just a bit? **One more thing!! If you're a BN fan, please fill out this quick 1-min Google form to help tailor future episodes t...
You arrive at a new location. Now: What do you do? And more pertinently: Why do you do it? The more Eli lives this lifestyle, the harder it can be to answer that second question as he moves to new places. In some ways, accumulated knowledge from years of nomading can actually obstruct his ability to access some core truths. So that's what this episode is about: Those core mindsets about finding your version of happiness in a new location. **Finally: This episode is sponsored by Nomad , one of th...
We're joined today by that Virtual Coworking Guy: Nathan Sudds! Eli found virtual coworking to be a productivity lifesaver during Covid times & continues to be a tool we rely on here at BecomeNomad. In this ep, Nathan shares his wisdom & personal success with some key nomadic hot topics -- prioritizing tasks, establishing routines, and even traveling as a couple (which he's now done with his wife for years). Plus: his take on building communities & a social life while on the move. .....
Last episode we looked back at 2022. In this one, we glimpse into the crystal ball to discuss 2023. Dan & Eli toss around some predictions, questions, and general ruminations on what 2023 might bring to the world of digital nomadism. And, of course, they also get personal -- wondering aloud what the year in store will have for each of them. On the docket: The state of nomadic globalization, the challenge of balancing internal values, and a bunch of bullet points in between. (Apologies for th...
What did you learn in 2022? For our first ep of the year, Eli & Dan look back on the last one & reflect on some unexpected lessons learned. While Eli spent most of his year letting work guide his locations, Dan spent most of his sitting pat in his temporary home of Berlin. Quite new situations for both, so what can they (and you!) take into the new(ish) year ahead? All that and more as we keep our monthly episode streak alive (and, characteristically, a few days late)...
Dan Andrews of Dynamite Jobs & the fantastic Tropical MBA Podcast joins us for a super special New Years episode to talk all things remote work: How to build a business that's location independent, connecting freelancers to business owners, & genuine community building. Plus a bunch more relevant tips + resources coming your way. Huge thanks to Dan for being generous with his time, wisdom, & expertise!...
Jesse Schoberg from Drop in Blog pops in to discuss a whole grab bag of topics with Eli: The magic of living in Thailand Inspiration for long-term nomading Evolving from freelance to agency to startup Nomadic luxuries ... And most prominently: How to develop a sustainable relationship with money -- one that helps you grow your lifestyle. Lots to learn on this one! And if you have any blog-writing aspirations, please check out Jesse's site (linked above)....
Are you trying to get rich? And if that's not your financial goal, what is? Should a nomadic life even be tied by financial goals? Here, Eli & Dan discuss their relationships with money. Citing the wisdom of Naval Ravikant (@naval on Twitter), they explore the friction between a minimalist lifestyle and the more maximalist demands of work life. What does it mean to succeed... And when your answer to this question changes, how can you put yourself in the best financial & psychological pos...
Five years ago we had an episode about Yom Kippur - the holiest Jewish holiday & the only one that Eli celebrates consistently. But regardless of religious roots, the core of Yom Kippur is that of a nomadic holiday. This day asks us to search within, look without, and examine our lives objectively & introspectively. In this episode, Eli updates and builds on his previous thoughts - with deeply honest assessments of his own journey.
7 years. Countless destinations. And now, 100 episodes! Against all odds, we've made it to triple digits (thanks, in large part, to you!). So what's kept BecomeNomad alive despite virtually zero promotion? What value does it still offer & will it continue to offer? And what does it mean for Eli, all these years later? This is more of an introspective episode. A benchmark, to see where we've been, what we've learned, and where we're going. A huge thanks to all the contributors who've helped u...
This is one of our biggest challenges as lifelong travelers: Entering into relationships. And also maintaining those relationships as we stay on the road. Seasoned digital nomad Aline Dahmen joins us to give her insights. Her Nomad Soulmates initiative is helping thousands of nomads connect and build relationships. How does one balance the attachment of these relationships with the desired freedom of this lifestyle? What constitutes a "successful" nomadic couple? Aline touches on these vital que...
