Nomads and Nimble Shadow

In this episode, we take on the wild beauty of British Columbia, where the scenery is stunning, the AirBnBs are questionable, and Mother Nature clearly has a sense of humor. From close encounters with a protective bear and her cubs to an elk cow guarding her calf, a flat tire, a barebones shelter, and dinner at a gas station, this leg of the journey delivered equal parts adventure, chaos, and come...

We catch up with an old colleague who shows us how retirement, road trips, Teslas, and AI can all collide in the best way. From a 10,000-mile cross-country journey using full self-driving to discovering quirky roadside stops with ChatGPT and Grok, his story is about embracing technology, staying curious, and finding freedom in the unexpected. Self-driven is about moving ever forward and finding yo...

In this episode, Kendra and Shawn recap their chaotic, funny, and sometimes sketchy journey through the Midwest, Canada, and back toward the Rockies. From visiting their daughter at a communal workaway farm to losing their truck Val near Mount Rushmore, meeting “Rusty,” surviving Midwest roadkill and construction, and enduring a bizarre late-night confrontation at a Budget Inn, the trip delivers p...

In this episode, we interview an adventurous retired couple who traded traditional life on land for full-time life aboard a sailboat. While they joined us from Greece and we recorded from Canada, we talked about what it really means to live on the ocean — from learning to sail, provisioning, weather, maintenance, close calls, medical concerns, and navigating around massive ships, to marriage, team...

Join us as we take listeners on a whimsical, nomadic trekacross the Midwest, navigating everything from a "catastrophic" water main break in historic Galena to a transmission-slipping scare in Chicago. Their journey blends deep dives into 19th-century architecture and dark legends of secret tunnels with humorous observations on "sarcastic" kitchenettes, "terrifying" r...

Follow us as we continue north from Sioux Falls to beautiful La Crosse, Wisconsin. We wander the almost empty streets of this historic town while the temperature falls from 80 degrees to 20 degrees in an hour. And what is that loud siren? Small trigger warning for sexual abuse discussion.

This episode brought to you by all the small country roads that somehow earned a highway label. We take the long way from Oregon counterclockwise through the USA to Canada. We discuss living on the road, people watching, and experiencing the small nuances brought to you by the backroads. We hope you enjoy our meandering.

We flew to the wrong island… and it turned into one of the best weeks of our lives. Seven days on a dive boat, exploring reefs, meeting amazing people, and making memories that hit different. This one’s loaded with videos and photos—throw it on your big screen and come along with us.

We sit down with some new friends and discuss what it takes to walk away from what you know and to follow the dream of living abroad. The impetus to departure, and the day-to-day lessons of being outside of the USA. A big thank you to Vanessa and Don for joining us and sharing their story.

We step out on a three-day road trip to explore La Fortuna. Our days were filled with white water rafting, chasing turquoise waterfalls, hiking in the wilderness, and stumbling across a culinary hidden gem on the side of a lonely country road. Hop in with us as we explore the volcanic beauty surrounding La Fortuna. This podcast has photos and videos throughout to help you follow along with the sig...

In this episode, we talk about the unexpected loss of my father and my trip back to the United States to face my responsibilities. We also reminisce about air travel and share stories of prior adventures. Thanks for listening!

Two podcasts in one. The first part entails our adventure and discovery of the medical system in Central America. Can two brave Americans pay less and get more in a developing country? I think you'll be surprised by what we have discovered. Part two focuses on our drive and experience of what the Caribbean side of Costa Rica has to offer. Which side is more appealing to you? This was a difficu...

Listen as we discuss the difficulties of enduring a three-day water fast. The science behind the why and the ups and downs while we're in it. Thanks for joining us. Send your comments, questions, and topics to: nomadsandnimbleshadow@gmail.com This episode has some photos embedded if you have the ability to watch them from your device.

What is Christmas to you? What makes you get in the Christmas Spirit? What are the traditions that can carry over to Central America? We share seasonal stories and listen to Emma reflect on what made her Christmas magical growing up.

In this episode, we explore the idea that meaningful memories often live just beyond our comfort zone. From traveling in developing countries and trying unfamiliar foods to staying in unexpected places and visiting destinations many friends and family would never imagine, we talk about how taking thoughtful risks can lead to unforgettable experiences. We share stories of a baboon challenging us fo...

The Cost of Caring Too Much Is it healthier to care less and live fancy-free, or safer to pre-plan and stress over everything that could go wrong? In this episode, we dive into K’s wildly chaotic day, complete with rabies worries and geckos dropping from the ceiling. We also revisit some heartbreaking—but unbelievable—animal stories from our years in law enforcement. It’s a conversation about worr...

We sit down with a longtime family friend who’s known us for years, and she shares her perspective on visiting Costa Rica for the first time. As the former spouse of a first responder, she opens up about the challenges of supporting someone balancing intense work demands with family life—and the sacrifices that come with both. Together, we talk about work philosophies, swap stories, and share some...

In this episode, we go over our recent wins and woes of adjusting to our new way of life. Central America is beautiful and offers a variety of fun challenges. We reflect on living in the jungle and how sometimes the jungle finds its way into your home. Thanks for joining us, and don't forget to send questions, comments, and topics to us at: nomadsandnimbleshadow@gmail.com

This episode was recorded at our Costa Rica home with two close married friends who were kind enough to spend their vacation with us. We discuss the difficulties of being married to a first responder, and when things start to balance out, you then bring a trained police dog into a home with three young children, one of whom is neurodivergent. Traveling stories, the anxiety of bartering, and my pol...

We arrived! This episode is brought to you from Central America. We discuss the differences of living abroad and the challenges of figuring it out along the way. Coffee talk, reflections, and negotiating PTSD flight/freeze in a crowded grocery store. Thanks for joining us! Please send questions/comments/topics to: nomadsandnimbleshadow@gmail.com

In this episode, we dive into all the ways travel inevitably goes sideways when you’re abroad—and how that’s often where the best memories are made. You don’t remember every uneventful mile of a road trip, but you do remember changing a tire in a muddy ditch during a thunderstorm… while being menaced by a muster of peacocks. (Yes, a muster —not a pack. They can also be referred to as a 'party....

This episode counts down to a pause in our life on the road and the transition to moving to Central America in the coming days. We discuss our anxiety of giving up our now everyday routine for the stresses of caring for a home in a new environment where English is not spoken by the locals. We share some more work stories, including pranks of the past and my fantasy of swimming through a pool of co...

In this engaging conversation, the hosts reflect on their recent travels, discussing the emotional and psychological impacts of transitioning from serene landscapes to bustling urban environments. They delve into personal experiences with PTSD, the challenges of navigating public transportation, and the joys of culinary exploration in Boston. The discussion also touches on the cultural differences...

email us In this retrospective episode, we reconnect with a long-time friend and former co-worker who shared the journey with both of us in law enforcement. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside him in several areas of police work—and even better, our professional paths have grown into a close family friendship. Our guest reflects on his career, the challenges and smoother m...

We sit down with my son and his girlfriend to catch up and recollect fun memories. We learn about sponge cities, the insight from a prior Jamba Juice employee, Halloween past and present, and how minesweeping at a beach seems cathartic. For this episode, we are in the Airstream in Petaluma. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to send us comments/questions/topics to our email at: nomadsandni...