The School of Travels

In my interview today, I talk with Illeana Salvo, a new nomadic traveler with an incredible story of how she turned her love of languages at an early age into the chance to travel internationally, live in Japan, and then eventually become location independent through helping one of her online language students with a new project. From dealing with taxes when you're not really based in one country to how to handle the feeling that you're missing out on climbing the corporate ladder by being nomadic, Illeana and I discuss a number of issues that can come up for new digital nomads. I hope you enjoy Illeana's story and find it useful for questions you may have about leading this nomadic lifestyle.

Hello listeners and welcome back to the School of Travels podcast! Today we are going to travel from America to Europe to Asia to the Middle East and all the way back to Europe with my two special guests Josh and Kalie, a couple from The United States.    I first became familiar with Josh and Kalie when I came across their channel on their YouTube channel Expats Everywhere while preparing for my move to Portugal in 2020. Josh and Kaylie were only a couple of months ahead of me in the get your residency in Portugal game, but they were also doing it with a young child and a dog.   I wanted to bring Josh and Kaylie on to share their story of traveling right after university, living in four different countries, deciding to become parents, and then continuing to travel and maintain their love of travel right along with their young daughter in tow.   As you will learn, their daughter, despite only being two years old, has definitely inherited her parents' love for travel. So what's it like when you've been traveling for a while and then you add a child into the mix? Let's get into my interview with Josh and Kaylie and find out.

I introduced Akina Shu to you back in Episode 73 and she is back for Part 2 today to talk about being a digitial nomad in Japan. Akina Shu spent a year traveling around Japan working from different locations and we will talk about how she found accommodation, how coliving services typically work in Japan, and some of Akina's favorite places to work around the country. Have you ever dreamed of working remotely from Japan? Well, let's learn about how to do it right now. 

Today, Naman Mehrotra is going to share with us his experience growing up in 7 different countries and attending 11 schools across Asia, Africa, and Europe before eventually moving to the US. Naman and I discuss his personal experiences with moving around so much as a child, what it is like changing schools so often and also his current position at Safety Wing helping develop new products and strategies for travel insurance around the world. Naman has had quite a unique upbringing with so much travel at an early age, but I personally believe his experience may be one that becomes more common as more jobs become location independent - so knowing how to navigate so much change whether it's for yourself or your family is valuable advice before you get on the road.

Do you know what a co-living is? Have you ever stayed in one? I spent years living in sharehouses when I worked full-time in Tokyo, but as a location independent traveler I've never actually stayed in a coliving, so I was very interested to learn more about them – and better yet – discover what it's like to design and build one from scratch with my guest Kate Shifman.   Kate is a fellow American citizen residing in Portugal, although she is way ahead of the trend and has almost reached the 5-yr residency mark, which here in Portugal means that she can soon apply for her Portuguese citizenship.   In our discussion today, Kate and I talk about why she chose the surf town of Ericeira on Portugal's beautiful West coast to build her very first co-living space. We also discuss how she is implementing sustainability into all of her design and construction choices and the future events and collaboration with businesses in Ericeira she plans for her new space.  

This week, we are going on a grand adventure to the high mountains of Nepal. In 2015, I was fortunate enough to go trekking in Nepal to Everest Base Camp with Hari Bohara of Himalayan Trekking Alliance as my guide, and I am happy to say that I have finally been able to get him on the show this week to talk about what it's like to prepare for a long multi-day trek in Nepal. We will talk about how Hari became a guide, what you need to get ready to set off on your trek, what it's like to land at one of the world's most dangerous airports, and the day-to-day life of hiking at high altitude on your way to Everest Base Camp. Are you ready for an adventure? Then, tune in and let's go to Nepal with Hari.   

Today, I would like to introduce you to one of the rarest creatures you will find on the digital nomad scene—a Japanese digital nomad. Akina Shu is originally from Yokohama, Japan, and she has made it part of her mission to introduce the concept of digital nomadism to Japanese companies. Having an interest in learning English since university, Akina has also started her own podcast, Nomad University, which we have put a link to on theschooloftravels.com. Akina and I will discuss Japanese work culture and also what made her finally do that most unusual of things in a country obsessed with work: quit her job, leave the office, and get on the road. Within the first 3 months of her journey, Akina had already visited 5 continents. How did she do it? Let's get into her story right now to find out…     

Hello listeners and welcome back to the School of Travels podcast! Today, I am bringing you my 3rd interview related to cryptocurrency because I've got to be honest, I feel like it's becoming more important than ever, despite the entire industry being in a huge downturn at the moment. Now, you may ask yourself, what does cryptocurrency have to do with travel? Well, cryptocurrency is a form of money and we all need money to travel - and my guest in this week's episode, Anja Schuetz, is going to explain to you how we can use earn cryptocurrency to earn passive income and even as a way to find your next job.   If we have more money, we can have more freedom, travel, and well-being in general, so let's get right into Anja's story and hear the important message about the future of money and investing that she has to share. 

Hello listeners! Welcome back for another edition of the School of Travel podcast! Back in Episode 62, I shared my story of getting residency in Portugal during the pandemic and, this week, I thought you would enjoy another story of how to get residency in Mexico - a place much more familiar to those of you listening from Latin America and the United States.    My guest this week, Kris de Leon, has quite a story to share with you as he started dreaming of travel very early on growing up on the tiny island of Guam with his efforts to follow his dreams ultimately taking him around the world, not only becoming proficient in Japanese and working the Japanese corporate life but also landing an international transfer to London which allowed him to travel to new places almost every weekend.    Kris now considers himself a “hybrid nomad” and you will need to follow along with his story to find out just what he means by that and if it may be a future option for you. Finally, we discuss why Kris ultimately fell in love with Mexico City and how he ultimately ended up getting his residency in Mexico (and how you can too). Let's dive into Kris's story now.

Hello listeners – welcome back to The School of Travels podcast coming to you for the second and final episode from El Salvador! My guests this week took the Bitcoin experiment in El Salvador to the next level and decided to travel around the country for 45 days only using Bitcoin. This meant that they could only stay in hotels and eat in restaurants that accepted their bitcoin, even the gas for their rental car had to be paid for in bitcoin—all in a country that had only made Bitcoin its legal tender less than four months before they entered the country.    Riccardo Frega and Laura Nori, otherwise known in this podcast as Rikki and Laura, both come from Italy and met during the pandemic on the popular Clubhouse app, bonding over their shared love of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. When Laura suggested that Rikky take his show on the road to El Salvador to really see what it was like for the first country in the world to use Bitcoin as legal tender, they both had their tickets to El Salvador within a week.    Two months later, they are still here and spreading the message of how Bitcoin can change the economic lives of even those who have never had a bank account before. What is it like to only spend Bitcoin for 45 days and no longer have any access to cash or credit cards? How is El Salvador doing with the adoption of Bitcoin? We are about to find out…..

For those of you who may not be aware, El Salvador became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in September 2021 and I wanted to check out this first-of-its-kind financial experiment on a nationwide level with my own eyes.  As part of my stay, I had the pleasure of meeting former CNBC reporter and current Youtuber Uptin Saiidi, who spent one week here documenting what happens when a country adopts Bitcoin as a legal tender. As I traveled with Uptin around different parts of the country watching him film his upcoming documentary, I got to have a first-hand look at what it takes to make videos on the road and tell compelling stories that make complex economic and technological issues more relatable to an audience (what Uptin likes to cover most in his videos).    Before the pandemic, Uptin was based in Singapore working out of an office three days a week. However, as the world shut down during the pandemic, and field reporting moved to Zoom, Uptin decided to strike out on his own and start his own channel. Suddenly a guy who had previously announced in a CNBC video that being a digital nomad was probably not for him was now able to go wherever he wanted whenever he wanted. The only problem? Making money was now going to be solely reliant on how much Uptin wanted to hustle. Let's get on the road with Uptin and dive into his story now.     

When it comes to buying real estate abroad, there are many things to consider – is it even legal for me, as a foreigner to buy property there, can I get a mortgage from a local bank, how safe is it really? Are there decent schools for my children? Etc.    My guest today, Jon Sterling has leveraged his long career as a real estate agent and broker in the United States and the UK to create a network of international real estate contacts that can help you find the perfect foreign property to meet your needs. Jon and I discuss different reasons why it can beneficial to buy real estate abroad and also some of the things to watch out for.  I also put Jon on the spot and ask him for his recommendations for the best places around the world to invest right now and we talk about some of the places where it is possible to get a mortgage even as a foreigner. 

Hello listeners and welcome back to the School of Travels podcast. In my last episode interviewing a first time remote worker, Muj, I mentioned my friend Juliana Rabbi, a remote jobs coach who helps people find their first remote job in 90 days.    As I'm sure you are all aware, the pandemic has created an unprecedented number of remote job positions and it's now easier than ever to find 100% remote work. In my interview today with Juliana, we are going to first learn about her own experience with remote work and her tips and tricks for finding the best remote job for you. Spoiler alert: not all remote jobs are created equal.    As you will learn with Juliana's story, even though you may achieve your dream of going fully remote, it still may not be the best fit for you and it's important to consider what you're really looking for - whether it's travel, more time at home with your family, or simply more flexibility with your day to day schedule - from the beginning. I hope Juliana's energy inspires you to start your remote job search today. Let's get into her incredible story. 

Hello listeners – I'd first like to wish you all a very happy holidays wherever you are in the world!  I hope you've been able to spend some time with friends and family and do something special. I am lucky to currently be in Buenos Aires, Argentina where the summer has just started and I have been enjoying all the outdoor dining options that we have in the city. If anyone is looking for a great place to escape winter in the Northern Hemisphere, I've always found Argentina to be a great option.   I first met today's guest, Muj, on the Nomad Cruise in November 2019. What really struck me about Muj when I met him, besides the fact that he was charming and handsome, was that he actually wasn't a digital nomad YET he was on a Nomad cruise. What I later learned was that Muj had already been on a mission for over a year to surround himself with digital nomads in the vacation time that he had from his corporate job and see if digital nomad life was for him and if he could get inspired to finally take the plunge and become a digital nomad himself.    Little did we know that when the cruise ended, we were only a couple of months away from corporate office workers around the world being forced to work from home, and it was his experience during the pandemic that really convinced Muj to get serious about becoming fully remote.    What I really love about this conversation with Muj is how practical we get on the many things that can come up when you consider actually starting to work from the road including time differences, relationships, and how to find new community. Without further ado, here's Muj.

Today, I am super excited to finally bring you an interview with Peter Galante, my long-time friend and the founder of Innovative Language, a company that I've now had the pleasure of working with for over 5 years. Innovative Language produces online language learning content for 34 languages. If you've ever searched for how to learn a language on Youtube or Google, you've very likely come across one of Innovative Language's websites or Youtube channels known as Japanesepod101.com, FrenchPod101.com, Turkishpod101.com, etc. Not only has Peter managed to continue to grow his business over time and adapt during the pandemic, but he also continues to be a curious, generous soul traveling around Japan and satisfying his foodie heart in search of his next great meal in Japan. We will also share what inspired Peter to come to Japan in the first place, why we love Japan, and what makes it a great and also challenging place to start a business, along with some tools that remote companies can use to stay efficient.

My guest today, Carlos Gonçalves, has been in the office business center and coworking industry in Lisbon, Portugal for 17 years and is the CEO and founder of Avila Spaces, the most award-winning business space in Portugal. Over these 17 years, more than 1000 companies have chosen to work from Avila and allow their employees to work in this shared business space in both free desk and fixed desk plans. Carlos is an expert at adapting to the rapidly changing needs of his clients and by the easing of the pandemic restrictions in Portugal, he has found his space so busy that he is actually expanding to a second location for the very first time. Carlos and I talk about the future of work and the explosive growth of remote work and how it will continue to change the industry going forward.    There now seems to be a new normal for how to work online and Carlos gives us a great example, with Avila Spaces, of how to make new spaces comfortable and refreshing for people to work in. We may no longer go to the same physical space to work as our coworkers but that doesn't mean that we can't find great spaces to get our work done away from home. Join me for this interesting case study on the future of work with Carlos. 

Hello listeners! Welcome back for another edition of the School of Travel podcast! This week on the podcast I'm joined by Lorenzo Primiterra.    After growing up in a medium-sized Italian town and studying abroad during university, Lorenzo had his eyes opened to the possibilities of how travel could change his life and eventually made travel his primary focus while working on the road.   During the pandemic Lorenzo had time to refocus on the cryptocurrency industry and he found that cryptocurrency seemed like a better bet than ever for navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic and the excessive money printing of governments during that time.   We will talk about Lorenzo's journey to becoming a digital nomad as well as his new book, "Hey Mom, I Bought Bitcoin!" If you've always wondered about crypto, but never taken the time to look into it, then this is the episode for you!

Hello listeners! Thanks for joining me for another episode of The School of Travels podcast. Today, I'm speaking with James Ellsmoor, serial entrepreneur, writer, and the founder of Island Innovation, an organization that helps island communities become more sustainable and resilient by providing virtual events, workshops, public speaking opportunities, and digital marketing communications.    As part of his university studies, James started visiting remote island communities and began to see the links between them and the need to help them become more sustainable in this rapidly changing global environment. James and I discuss islands that you may not have considered visiting before, especially in the Caribbean and the Pacific, and what makes these islands so special.    If you've never spent much time visiting islands beyond stopping off on a cruise or as part of an all-inclusive tour, I hope this interview will help you see islands with a whole new set of travelers' eyes. 

Since the age of seven, Djuppe Debourse had dreamed of owning and living on his own sailboat. In 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, the right opportunity presented itself, so he took action, bought a boat, and achieved his dream!    Join me for this episode--recorded from Djuppe's boat in the Lisbon Marina--for the entertaining story of how Djuppe achieved his childhood dream, his plans for the future of his boat, and how he created his life and career as a builder.   If you're interested in sailing, adventure, or re-connecting with building and doing hands-on work, you'll love Djuppe's story! 

Since we're still in the early days of summer, I thought it would be a perfect time to introduce you to Ashley Clawson, an American girl who quit her job, got rid of most of her possessions, and set off on a journey by herself to hike every one of the National Parks in the lower-48 United States.   Ashley accomplished her goal in only 5 months in a way that I think is achievable for most of us that have been feeling like getting out on the road and more out into nature, by driving from park to park and choosing her favorite day hikes.   Ashley and I discussed how she planned her route, what she packed, what she ate, and where she slept as she made her way from one national park to the next. Ashley also shares her favorite national parks and parks that she considers “hidden gems” for you to take note of for your next big hiking adventure!   So, are you ready for a hike? Let me introduce you now to Ashley. 

In 2020, Sam and Ani realized their dream of opening their first environmentally regenerative coliving community in the Alentejo region of Portugal. They call it the Traditional Dream Factory, and they intend on building a new kind of co-living community here, where residents can realize their own dreams--whether it's growing vegetables, using the factory to hold events, making furniture, or even creating music in their studio.    If you have a dream Sam and Ani are ready to help you achieve it, while also asking you to help take care of their beautiful piece of land. I found Sam and Ani's ideas so inspiring that I just had to spend some time on their new farm and interview them more about their vision to create spaces where people can build businesses and communities while being conscious of their impact on the planet.

My guest today is Norm Bour, writer and blogger at travelyounger.com!   Norm left the U.S. permanently in February of 2019, at the age of 64, and started traveling to a different country every 6 weeks!    As Norm will tell you, he started international travel late in life, but once he was bit by the travel bug, he never looked back. Norm was living his travel life to the fullest until borders around the world started to close in March 2020.    Eventually, Norm and his girlfriend Kathleen found themselves as the only two passengers on a Delta flight from Ohio to Cancun, Mexico in March of 2020 when they decided to base themselves in the town of Puerto Morelos until the pandemic subsided.    When we talked Norm was still based in Puerto Morelos more than a year later and is now asking if it is time to start traveling again? Let's hear what Norm has to say!   

Today I'm excited to bring you my interview with Sarah Mikutel! Sarah is not only a podcast host herself, but also a certified clarity coach, helping people find more peace, joy, and focus in their daily lives! Sarah and I discuss her early travel experiences including working in England as a chambermaid when she was only 18 years-old as well as why and how she moved to Italy in 2010 to get dual citizenship through her Italian roots.    We also discuss two of the tools that Sarah has found most valuable in her quest to live a life without borders, Stoicism and the Enneagram. 

Adela is a Spanish-born strategic branding and innovation consultant with over 15 years of experience in fashion, marketing, and entrepreneurship. She has worked with brands going from retail giants to aspiring designers or tech start-ups helping them build brands and products that attract interest.   After over 10 years working for international fashion labels, she traded her apartment in Dubai for a suitcase and now works 100% remotely while traveling the world.   Adela and I first met in 2019 in Bansko, Bulgaria and her passion and zest for life made an immediate impression on me. When I saw she had published her first book, I knew we had to talk on the show about her journey from corporate life to nomad life!

Welcome back to The School of Travels podcast! Today I'm excited to share my interview with Gonçalo Hall, the founder of the Digital Nomad Village in Punta do Sol on the island of Madeira, Portugal.   Frequently named Europe's best island in tourism surveys, Madeira is now home to a growing community of digital nomads from around the world!   I was able to visit Madeira in February of 2021, just a few weeks after the Digital Nomad Village opened, and interviewed Gonçalo to find out all about the backstory and future of the Digital Nomad Village. Only 90 minutes from Lisbon and a 6.5 hour direct flight from Boston, Madeira is set up to be an incredible nomad and remote work hub in the future!

After building a life together at home Pam Smit and Jan Fokko-Stuut started to consider taking their careers on the road, despite having very different attitudes about what full time travel would look like.   Pam grew up traveling, but Jan hadn't and was more uncertain about what a life of the road would look like. Throw in their 7 year-old dog Watson and there were definitely compromises to be made while adjusting the nomad lifestyle.   Join us for a very realistic look at the reality of adjusting to life on the road as a couple and balancing travel, work, and taking care of a pet!

This week on the School of Travels, I'm excited to talk with Sylvia Weinheimer! In 2020, just before Christmas, Sylvia was spontaneously asked if she wanted to cross the Atlantic on a 16 day sailing trip with a group of people she'd never met in person. As a truly free-spirited nomad she said yes, took the leap of faith, and joined the adventure! This is a special two-part interview in one episode as we get to hear from Sylvia before and after the sailing trip across the Atlantic! She shares her journey to become a digital nomad, why travel is such an important part of her healing journey, what the preparations for the sailing trip were like, her reflections after the trip and a lot more!

Justus Zeemann is a skilled photographer, who has captured a large part of the German market on Udemy, and he dives deep into how to make courses that people really need.  We talk about how Justus transitioned from life in the office to living almost completely off of passive income as a digital nomad. Justus also introduces me to the fascinating world of LARP, and if you've never heard LARP you're going to want to stay tuned, because it is fascinating! 

In this time of limited travel around the world, Surya Sanchez, my guest this week, found himself in a unique position with not one but three different passports! From a young age, Surya dreamed of traveling for a year to New Zealand on a working holiday visa. At the time, Surya left without a job, but through trial and error he was able to make a career for himself that allowed him to continue traveling as a digital nomad. He now works as a digital consultant helping others to automate their lives. Surya has also discovered the power of dancing as a way to connect with others on the road. Join us in this entertaining episode of The School of Travels podcast!

Have you ever commuted to work in the middle of winter and dreamed of trading in the desk and escaping to a warm paradise forever? Daniel Timms had that dream for four years before finally deciding to pack up his life and start traveling. Almost five years later, he is still on the road and started making money to support himself in a most unexpected way—teaching math online. Through trial and error and being inspired by different people he met along the way, Daniel has learned how to leverage his hobbies and turn them into a stream of income that allows him to set his own hours and work from wherever he likes. Join us at The School of Travels for Daniel's inspiring story.

Are you in the need of a laugh right about now? Been dreaming of traveling and getting some more fresh air? Then have I got the perfect gift for you this holiday season! Jools and Christy are quite possibly the best-equipped couple for RV life on paper that you have ever come across—he has an engineering background and she is an emergency medical doctor—yet when it came to selling their house in the middle of a pandemic and starting RV life, they started out pretty much clueless as to how anything worked in this kind of lifestyle. Having now been on the road for three months with their dog Tigger, they have learned so much that RV life is becoming as easy as pulling into the next campground and firing up the grill. Join us for all the tips, tricks, and lessons that Jools and Christy have learned along the way, which just might inspire you to try RV life for yourself one day!     

Do you love writing but find yourself never actually being able to sit down and actually write? Or if you do manage to sit down, you only write for 10 minutes? If so, this is The School of Travels podcast episode for you! David Nash Carson started traveling in 2016 without a clear idea of where it would take him, but there was one thing he made sure to do no matter where he found himself on the road—write as much as he possibly could. In fact, one of his stories actually led him to creating an Etsy business that now helps to fund his travel. In his very first podcast interview, David shares key insights he has learned about overcoming the resistance to writing and just getting your thoughts down on the page. If you've ever found yourself with a story to tell but can't seem to find the motivation to sit down and do it, you won't want to miss this episode.

When Kia Orion was growing up in upstate NY, the one thing he loved more than anything else in the world was hip hop music, but he had no idea how to make that career. He even moved to West Philly (home of the Fresh Prince himself) and couldn't figure out how to make it happen. After a series of retail and office jobs, Kia discovered the world of teaching online and, even though it wasn't his passion, he figured that he could live in southeast Asia much cheaper than in the US and make it happen while continuing to work on his music. Join Kia and I in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico for more about the creative process, moving to Asia, and making your own courses online. Kia even turns the tables and interviews me for part of this very special podcast!

When we last left the world of online dating here on the The School of Travels in Lesson 24, Kevin Ohashi gave us tips for setting up a successful profile and navigating the wild world of Tinder as a digital nomad. Today, copywriter Mary Grace Nguyen gives us the female perspective of online dating as someone based in one city trying to find a long-term partner. In this entertaining episode, Mary provides tips and tricks for writing a successful dating profile, how to stand out from all the other matches, how to keep things interesting long after the first few dates, and how Mary found long-term love on, yes, Tinder!

I have some big news, listeners! After all of the big changes in travel that we have seen this year, I have decided that it's time for a base again, and in the last month, I have decided to start the process of moving to Portugal and applying for a visa. As part of my research into Portugal, I spoke with James Cave from portugalist.com to learn more about traveling and living in this beautiful country and why you may want to consider it. James lived in Portugal as a child and has made regular visits back to the country after his parents returned to Portugal when he was 18. In this episode, James gives some great tips on the country as well as some hilarious housesitting episodes from his early days on the road. If you've ever considered visiting Portugal, you won't want to miss this episode!     

After working for many years in the English teaching industry in Japan, long-time friends Matthew Boynton and Dan Bellamy decided to take a chance and follow their passion for beer by opening their own brewery in Tokyo. Not only did they have to navigate the complicated small-business infrastructure and regulations in Japanese in their local community and learn the ins and out of running their first business, but they also faced a potentially even bigger threat: opening right at the beginning of a pandemic. So how did they do it? How did they go from teaching English to making beer? How is beer made? What is hop-diving? Why get into the beer industry in the first place? We get to the bottom of all of these questions in this on-location episode with a bonus behind-the-scenes tour of Sakamichi Brewing! If you're a beer enthusiast or always wondered what is involved in the beer-making industry, you won't want to miss this episode!

In this week's episode, I interview the youngest person that I've ever had on the School of Travels podcast, 20-Year-Old Alexandre Lebon. At the age of 20, Alex has already been to several countries, lived for a year in the US, and dropped out of university to pursue his dream of learning Japanese and making a life in Japan, while also starting his own new online business. How did Alex become so confident and hard-working at such a young age? How can more young people get the courage to pursue their dreams? Tune in to The School of Travels podcast to find out!

At the age of 12, Lenka saw Jamie Oliver's cooking show and made it her mission to become a chef and travel the world, but, growing up in Slovakia, she didn't have access to the top cooking schools or network of restaurants that many expensive culinary programs provide—but that didn't stop Lenka from moving to the Czech Republic at the age of 18, determined to develop her skills as a chef, and then working in Copenhagen for 9 years followed by talking her way into an internship at a Michelin-star restaurant in Tokyo and getting a visa to work in Japan. Lenka will be the first to tell you that being a chef and working in the restaurant industry is HARD work, early mornings, late nights, and often very high stress, but if are in love with food and making people happy through your culinary creations, as Lenka is, then there is no limit  to where  food can take you around the world! Join us for a delicious journey of becoming a chef—from  Slovakia all the way to Tokyo!

Curtin didn't initially plan for a life of travel. In fact, the most exciting and inspirational part of Curtin's story is that he doesn't plan at all. His first trip to China was determined by responding to a spam email he received in his inbox. His first trip to the UK was because he dropped out of school and wanted to focus on rugby, which then led him to take a job at a nuclear power plant and then get deported. After two weeks in Uganda, Curtin somehow found himself in a formal meeting with the Deputy Minister of Finance, and the stories just continue in hilarious fashion from there. Curtin is one of a kind and is a big advocate of allowing yourself the freedom to make your own rules in life and not feel that you “should” have to do anything. Life is going to happen anyway. It may as well be an adventure. Join us for the funniest podcast we've had yet on the School of Travels with Curtin!

In 2010, Johnny FD started documenting his experiences living in Thailand after being laid off from his job in California. Eventually, he started posting monthly income expense reports that detailed every source of his income and it was one of these reports that first led me to discover Johnny's blog. At that time, I found Johnny's story very inspiring because he was close to my age and didn't come from a wealthy background or have a huge amount of savings to start from. He was simply trying things out and seeing what worked and what didn't. Over the years, Johnny FD has become a major name in the digital nomad scene and has also built up a total of 14 different income streams. During this incredibly difficult time in the world when so many of us have lost our jobs, I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to ask Johnny how he built up his income streams and for advice on how to do it when you're first starting out. From blogging to podcasting to online course creation, different ways to invest in the stock market, and planning for retirement, Johnny and I cover a lot of ground in this episode. For those of you wondering how to find more financial security in these uncertain times, you won't want to miss this episode!

Have you ever thought about changing absolutely everything in your life and hitting the reset button? Two years ago, Ella Cook unplugged from the matrix, quit her comfortable life in Australia, left her fiancé, and sold all of her belongings to move to Bali. In this open and honest interview, Ella reveals how she has finally made peace with herself and found a rhythm personally and professionally that has given her the strong foundation that she always needed and even helped her to finally learn to surf! Join us in Bali and ride the waves with Ella in this episode of The School of Travels podcast.  

In this week's episode, I'm bringing you Part 2 of Exploring Off-the-Beaten-Path Japan where I am going to reveal my Top 10 Places in Japan beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. I have personally visited each one of these places over 10 years of living in Japan and can guarantee that they will provide you with unique experiences when you make that dream trip to Japan. From the town where John Lennon spent his summers with Yoko Ono (and Bill Gates also has a house) to a place where a monk will take you on a nighttime tour of a cemetery (and then leave you there to find your way out), we are going into the quirky and lesser known Japan in this episode! Join me for Part 2 of Off-the-Beaten Path Japan travel in this solo episode and get even more inspired to visit this incredible country one day soon!    

In this week's episode of the podcast, I join forces with my former guest from Lesson 4, Chiara Terzuolo, and finally talk about one of my passions that I had in mind when I first started the podcast–off-the-beaten-path travel in Japan. Chiara and I have 24 years of experience traveling in Japan between the two of us and are going to move beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima to discuss the places you've probably never heard of if you're only a casual Japan fan—from the delights of staying in a Japanese ryokan to a 1200 km hiking trail with 88 temples, being buried in a hot sand bath on the island of Kyushu, and scuba diving off of so islands so inaccessible that the only way there is to take a 24-hour boat ride (and is still technically part of Tokyo), we cover a lot of ground in Part 1 of our two-part series. For those of you who have ever dreamed of visiting Japan or would love to return to this incredible country to see more, you won't want to miss this episode!

Gina Bourne and Nina Mariana Pascha, best friends since their student days in Chiang Mai, Thailand, took their very first cycling trip in 2019 in New Zealand, after dreaming for the last 10 years about working and living in the country. What I love about Gina and Nina's story is how down to earth it is, and how they start at Point A without any training and learn to love the road and the journey along the way. After talking with them for an hour, I was ready to make my next big trip a cycling trip. You just might too! Join us for a story of adventure and discovery on the South Island of New Zealand. There will be noodles, there will be chocolate, there will be dance breaks!  

When Ian Robinson set out to explore the world from his hometown of Reno, Nevada, he ended up taking jobs that required a lot of hard physical labor including picking fruit and working on a cattle ranch. Ian fell in love with travel and wanted to keep going after he also fell in love with a girl in Australia, but the short-term visas that he could get in other countries prevented him from having many options except these tough physical jobs. Though hard work and sheer determination, Ian transitioned to a life working online where suddenly he no longer had to worry about the weather or a limit to his paycheck, and his story seems incredibly relevant right now. As you will hear in the interview, Ian was actually the host of the very first podcast that I ever listened to, and, by chance, he was on the same Nomad Cruise with me back in November 2019, so I felt lucky to have the chance to speak with him. I hope you enjoy my interview with Ian and get inspired to make more or even 100% of your future income online.

Hello listeners! First of all, I hope that everyone is staying safe and close to their loved ones in these difficult and uncertain times. It has been hard to stay focused on our day-to-day lives with everything changing so fast and many of us not knowing if we can maintain the status quo and provide for our families. In light of the corona virus, this week I decided to record a solo episode for you and give you some tips about working from home from my two years of experience dealing with the challenges that can come from having a small, often distracting space to work from. I then give you my recommendations for the most exciting podcasts to listen to entertain you while spending more time at home. If you've never listened to podcasts much before, this is a great time to start! Finally, I wanted to introduce you to my “Corona Challenge”, which I explain in more detail in this podcast. Let's take the Corona Challenge together and turn our fear and anxiety into something motivating for all of us!  I really hope you enjoy this episode. Be well and take care out there.

When Matt Bowles lost his job at the age of 30, he decided that he didn't want to be dependent on anyone else ever again for deciding when he would get a paycheck, but he had no idea how to do it or where to even start…so he went to the bookstore and started sitting in those comfy chairs day after day and discovering the knowledge he needed to find. Seven years and 60+ countries later, this is his story. From hip hop to Middle East conflict resolution to hosting “The Maverick Show” podcast, Matt and I have a lot to cover in another fascinating conversation direct from the Nomad Cruise.

Ashley Ambirge grew up living in a trailer with her mother in Pennsylvania. By the time she was 21, she didn't have a single family member remaining to help her navigate her way through life. Most people would've taken the safest path through life just to feel some sense of stability, but that is not the kind of person Ashley is. Through a lot of trial and error when most people her age were still living with their parents, Ashley realized that she was going to have to write her own rules to get through life, and a middle class life that would allow to “finally live in a house with stairs” wasn't going to get her the financial and creative freedom necessary to thrive in our modern freelancer economy. Thus, The Middle Finger Project blog was born, which became a six-figure income after only a few short years and is now a one-woman internet empire. This week, Ashley has officially become a published author with “The Middle Finger Project”, which is now available wherever books are sold. Join me for a conversation with Ashley, who is here to help us trash our impostor syndrome and live the creative life we deserve on our own terms.   

Palle Bo has lived in the same town in Denmark for most of his life. He traveled when he could but was never really able to go on the epic adventure he'd always dreamed of. One day, he realized: ‘My kids have graduated college and it might just be possible to take my work with me on the road. Maybe my clients won't even know.' One day, he said his travel dreams out loud and suddenly found himself handing the keys to his apartment over to new owners. Thus, the Radio Vagabond Podcast was born and, almost four years later, Palle Bo is still going. Join us direct from the “Horizon” ship's game room on the Nomad Cruise X journey through the Middle East! What plans are you going to say out loud and make happen in 2020?

Alexandra Karam has wanted to open a place to provide great experiences for travelers since she was a little girl, but after studying hotel management, doing internships, and graduating from university, she still didn't feel any closer to knowing how to achieve her dream. After going on the road for seven months to India and Nepal, and staying in hostels in Europe and Asia, she returned to her native home of Mexico and realized that the community spirit and thoughtful design that made hostels in other places feel so alive to her were severely lacking in her home country—thus the Casa Pancha project was born and Alexandra, along with her sister Francesca, worked together and opened their first hostel in the heart of Mexico City in September 2019, with the goal to bring people together and provide unique experiences for all guests. I have to say, after staying here myself for Day of the Dead, that I have never felt so welcome and cosy in a hostel. When my week was over, I didn't want to leave. Whatever has been created here needs to be bottled up and reproduced around the world. Here is Alexandra and Francesca's story.