Become Nomad - Digital Nomad Lifestyle and Long Term Travel

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. Tho...

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 cons...

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 w...

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...

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 yo...

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...

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 ch...

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...

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, & exper...

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...

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...

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 hon...

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,...

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...

This is a story of dedication, perseverance, and community. Matthias Zeitler of Coworking Bansko joins us to discuss how he accomplished his dream of creating a haven for digital nomads. What he and his team have built is magical, the ultimate DN inspiration. But beyond that, we cover what it truly takes to build a community and what goes into rebranding an entire small city -- a small city that,...

This episode is in loving memory of our longtime team member, Vuk Milićević. The idea here is to dig to the core of the digital nomadic lifestyle and pinpoint precisely what makes it worth pursuing. When you're on the road for a long time, it's easy to get lost in logistics and trivialities. But when that happens, there are certain mindsets worth reminding yourself of. So: Stay curious, and enjoy...

In this episode, we discuss the  future  of nomadism. What changes have we seen over the past 5-10 years and which trends are likely to become mainstays? We explore this topic from a wide range of angles, from the practicalities of travel visas to the very way we identify where we come from. As always, expect a handful of answers... and a handful more questions :)

Choosing locations. It's one of the most exciting parts of a nomadic life... but what if you get it wrong? What if a place's reality doesn't match your hopes and dreams? That's what we're tackling today. Instead of what to look for, we're flipping the coin and examining what to avoid, what to be conscious of, and how to approach locations when things are suboptimal. ... Did we miss something? Let...

There's something special about traveling on your own... But there's also something special about moving in groups! Here, Eli & Dan discuss exactly what makes both approaches special. We tackle the psychological benefits of both experiences, as well as some of the possible negatives. Plus, we also ponder what the ideal balance is... if one even exists! ...Psst! Join our Slack for more BecomeNomad!

How do you choose your next destination? Next adventure? Even your next activity? Do you plan ahead to ensure your schedule contains that which you care about? Or do you go with the flow and allow for the moment to dictate your experience?   In this episode, Eli & Dan address what  really  guides their nomadic choices. And they see if they can strike a balance between the planning mindset & the ca...

It's safe to say the past two years have been... pretty unique  from the nomadic point of view. In some ways, the landscape has changed irreversibly; in others, it's returning back to form. Here, Dan & Eli reflect on 2021 -- with both a personal and big picture perspective. And they look ahead to discuss all the ups and downs that 2022 may have in store. Topics include: Up-and-coming hubs, emergin...

We've talked before about the concept of disconnection as a means of staying grounded and enjoying our surroundings. Not just binging Netflix, but really engaging in some fulfilling pastime. One of Eli's favorite practices is taking a "Week of Disconnection" every few months (see episode 65!), but here he examines the topic from a daily perspective. Ultimately, all these discussions on disconnecti...

A few years back, Eli spent an episode dissecting the intro of  The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. It's an incredible book, effortlessly taking a fresh approach to ideas that feel obvious... but maybe aren't. In this episode, Eli expands his reach -- focusing on some of the core concepts introduced throughout the book (not just in the first chapter). Some truly illuminating ideas here, ideal for anyone...

How do you know if your nomadic life is on the right track? Here, the answer to that question is a sort of metric system -- one that lets us organize the chaos of this lifestyle. For any location you're in, these pillars help you thoughtfully assess whether this location is actually giving you what you need. And, to that point, these pillars are also a vehicle for self-reflection -- a chance to qu...

When your environment keeps changing, it inevitably becomes more difficult to stay focused. The fluctuation and constant building of new routines is part of the digital nomad charm... But it's also one of our biggest challenges.   Here, Eli talks about his approach to building and keeping that focus in new locations -- including both practical tips & more general mindsets!