The Maverick Show: Remote Entrepreneurship and World Travel

On this special episode the tables are turned and Chase Warrington interviews Matt Bowles on the About Abroad podcast.____________________________________Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.).Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________Matt starts off talking about spending his birthday in the Portuguese wine country and then about delivering the opening keynote at the Bansko Nomad Fest in Bulgaria. He then shares his backstory of losing his job, starting his own business, becoming location independent in 2007, and eventually becoming a full-time digital nomad with no base in 2013. Matt then talks about his experience doing a 12-month “Remote Year” program in 2016—traveling the world with a community of remote professionals and living in a different city each month across 4 continents. He then talks about why he is doing another Remote Year program, this time a 4-month all-Africa itinerary. Matt explains what he loves about West Africa, shares his experiences nomading in Africa, and reflects on the pros and cons of Remote Year. Next, he talks about founding his company, Maverick Investor Group, that helps people buy “turnkey” U.S. rental properties—fully renovated single-family homes with tenants and local property management in place. Matt talks about the best U.S. markets for buying rental properties and the process for how Maverick helps everyone (including foreign nationals) buy them from anywhere in the world.  Chase and Matt then talk about the future of work, the evolution of the digital nomad lifestyle, the value of location independence, and why Matt started The Maverick Show podcast. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AVAILABLE HERE.____________________________________See my Top 10 Apps For Digital NomadsSee my Top 10 Books For Digital NomadsSee my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and RecommendSee How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)____________________________________ENJOYING THE SHOW?Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally. You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Flora Mendoza joins Matt over a bottle of wine in Dakar, Senegal. ____________________________________Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.).Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________She reflects on what she loves most about Senegal after spending a month in Dakar and also shares her experiences traveling through Tunisia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Next, Flora talks about being half Mexican and half Basque, shares her experience growing up in Queens, NY, and reflects on her study abroad experience in Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. She then talks about her journey with music and acting which included studying opera in Italy, being a recurring extra on Saturday Night Live, and spending time with Michael K Williams. Next, Flora talks about her path to becoming a professional political consultant and pollster and explains how she turned that into a fully remote position and started traveling the world full-time. She explains why she prioritizes an understanding of the history and politics of her travel destinations and then talks about her trip to Palestine. Flora and Matt then reflect on the general importance of making distinctions between government policy vs. the individual citizens of a country, and how dominant groups in all societies have the option to side with oppressed groups. Flora then talks about moonlighting as a Jazz singer in Puerto Rico, attending Fidel Castro’s funeral in Cuba, and traveling through Colombia in two different decades. She offers tips on traveling with a relationship partner, solo female travel, and balancing work and travel in different time zones. Matt and Flora then reflect on the beauty of the Basque country. Finally, Flora shares what travel means to her and opens up about the real reason why she continues to nomad and live her life to the fullest. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AVAILABLE HERE.____________________________________See my Top 10 Apps For Digital NomadsSee my Top 10 Books For Digital NomadsSee my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and RecommendSee How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)____________________________________ENJOYING THE SHOW?Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally. You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

On this episode, Matt passes the mic and, instead of interviewing the guest himself, he publishes an episode of the “Flourish in the Foreign” podcast, where Christine Job interviews Jackie Omotalde. ____________________________________Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.).Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________Jackie begins by reflecting on her first study abroad experience in Germany at age 16, and then talks about attending Spellman College and explains the impact of HBCUs. Next, she discusses her professional trajectory that led her to live and work in Ethiopia. Jackie then shares her experience living in Indonesia on a Fulbright scholarship, as well as lessons from her time working in Silicon Valley. She also reflects on nomading as a Black woman, dating abroad, and traveling the world with her daughter. Jackie then discusses Black American vs. African identity dynamics, especially when living on the continent of Africa. She also talks about learning and speaking foreign languages, and how living abroad fits into her overall financial plan. Jackie then shares advice specifically for Black women that aspire to live abroad or who are already traveling the world. And, finally, she reflects on how her “slow-mad” travel style contributes to her wellness. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AVAILABLE HERE.____________________________________See my Top 10 Apps For Digital NomadsSee my Top 10 Books For Digital NomadsSee my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and RecommendSee How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)____________________________________ENJOYING THE SHOW?Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally. You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Digital nomad influencer Kristin Wilson returns to the Maverick Show for the fourth time.____________________________________Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.).Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________Kristin starts off by sharing her reflections on the digital nomad life after 15 years of world travel. She then talks about her newest passion and professional endeavor of becoming a DJ, and explains how she has integrated it into her nomad life by booking gigs around the world and playing at nomad conferences and parties. Kristin then reflects on her years of hosting the “Bad Ass Digital Nomads” podcast and growing the “Traveling with Kristin” YouTube channel to over 150,000 subscribers, with many viral videos getting well over a million views. She discusses strategies for growing your audience and shares different ways to monetize your content. Kristin then talks about her experience writing and publishing the “Digital Nomads for Dummies” book, and Matt reflects on how unique and valuable the book is for any nomad. Next, Kristin talks about her “Ready to Relocate” business and shares the various pivots and iterations of her relocation business over the years. She then reflects on “burnout”. Kristin shares stories of the multiple times she has burned out over the years, as well as the lessons and awareness she now uses to structure her lifestyle and create a healthy balance between stability and new experiences. And, finally, after 15 years of traveling, she reflects on what travel means to her today. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AVAILABLE HERE.____________________________________See my Top 10 Apps For Digital NomadsSee my Top 10 Books For Digital NomadsSee my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and RecommendSee How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)____________________________________ENJOYING THE SHOW?Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally. You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Youmie Jean Francois joins Matt in-person for this conversation in Dakar, Senegal.____________________________________Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.).Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________They start talking about their time together in Dakar and what they love about Senegal. Then, they discuss the “Stylish Minimalist Packing” workshop that they co-facilitated for other world travelers on the Remote Year program and give tips on how to travel the world with carry-on luggage only. Next, Youmie talks about her experience growing up in Haiti and moving to New York City at age 6. She reflects on coming up in the Bronx during the golden era of hip hop, becoming a professional dancer, and then eventually leaving the industry, becoming a location-independent entrepreneur, and starting to travel the world. Youmie tells the story of her first solo trip to Montreal, reflects on how she fell in love with world travel, and explains why she now loves Colombia so much. She then opens up about her own journey with mental health and wellness, and explains why it is such a central part of her life, her business, and her personal values. She shares advice on travel wellness for nomads, gives specific tips for entrepreneurs, and talks about the overall importance of prioritizing Black mental health and wellness. Youmie then shares her entrepreneurial journey founding Flex-n-Fly to bridge the gap between travel and wellness, talks about her products, The Flex|Bag and The Flex|Mat, and also shares resources on how to patronize more Black-owned businesses. Finally, she reflects on what travel means to her. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AVAILABLE HERE.____________________________________See my Top 10 Apps For Digital NomadsSee my Top 10 Books For Digital NomadsSee my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and RecommendSee How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)____________________________________ENJOYING THE SHOW?Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally. You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

In Part 2 of this interview, Sharon and Matt talk about their love for Chile.____________________________________Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.).Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________They discuss the Chilean poet and activist Pablo Neruda, the film Il Postino, the incredible street art in Valparaiso, and the unbelievable stargazing in the Atacoma Desert. Sharon then shares 3 separate experiences attending the “Day of the Dead” festivities in Mexico. Next, she discusses wine appreciation and traveling the world for world class wine tasting experiences. Sharon tells a story about a wine tasting experience that got interrupted during the 2019 uprising in Chile while she was there. She then reflects on the different work-travel programs she has patronized as well as the co-living spaces and hostel networks she has tried over the years, and gives recommendations and tips on which ones might be right for you. Next, Sharon tells the story of founding the “Overlap” App for digital nomads, explains its functionality and utility, and offers her future vision for the app. And, finally, she reflects on what travel means to her. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AVAILABLE HERE.____________________________________See my Top 10 Apps For Digital NomadsSee my Top 10 Books For Digital NomadsSee my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and RecommendSee How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)____________________________________ENJOYING THE SHOW?Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally. You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Sharon Rosenberg joins Matt over a bottle of wine in Dakar, Senegal as they reflect on their four months together in Africa.____________________________________Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.).Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________Sharon then talks about growing up in northern California, studying abroad in Cape Town, and eventually becoming a full time digital nomad. She reflects on the cultural lessons learned from attending her first wedding in India and her first wedding in Vietnam. Sharon also shares a story about doing a stopover in China and nearly winding up in immigration prison. She then talks about her career setbacks, pivots, and experience negotiating remote work arrangements with her employers. Next, Sharon talks about her first Remote Year trip that ended in Sofia, Bulgaria, and explains why Bulgaria is now her favorite European country. And, finally, Matt and Sharon talk about Italy and why they both love the gritty, authentic beauty of Palermo and Napoli. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AVAILABLE HERE.____________________________________See my Top 10 Apps For Digital NomadsSee my Top 10 Books For Digital NomadsSee my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and RecommendSee How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)____________________________________ENJOYING THE SHOW?Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally. You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Jessea Lu describes her experiences free diving with Killer Whales in Norway, Humpback Whales in Tonga, and Blue Whales in Sri Lanka.____________________________________Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.).Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________She also talks about her experience traveling to Antarctica through the Drake Passage and then free diving and interacting with animals there. Jessea explains the differences between scuba diving and free diving and why she prefers free diving. She also talks about why she continues to travel the world and what travel means to her today. And, finally, she opens up about finding her true passion later in life and shares life advice about not being afraid to pivot towards your true passion at any age. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AVAILABLE HERE.____________________________________See my Top 10 Apps For Digital NomadsSee my Top 10 Books For Digital NomadsSee my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and RecommendSee How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)____________________________________ENJOYING THE SHOW?Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally. You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Jessea Lu and Matt chat in person over a bottle of wine in Nairobi Kenya.____________________________________Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.).Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________Jessea begins by sharing her recent experience on Lamu Island, then reflects on her first trip to Africa, and also talks about her travel priorities around connecting with nature and wild animals. She then shares the upcoming horseback safari through Maasai Mara that she has booked in Kenya for next summer. Next, Jessea talks about her experience growing up in a mid-size city in China, and then attending college in Beijing and getting into hip-hop music. She then reflects on coming to the U.S. to do her PhD, why she started traveling the world, how she discovered scuba diving, and highlights from her first liveaboard trip. Jessea then talks about her move to Hawaii, how she discovered free diving and shares her path to becoming a competitive international free diver. She explains the mental techniques and benefits of becoming a great free diver, and then reflects on peak performance and shares how she becomes the #1 all-around female free diver in the world. And, finally, she talks about her experience as an underwater model and how modeling dresses at the bottom of the ocean surrounded by sharks was significantly more scary and difficult than international freediving competitions. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AVAILABLE HERE.____________________________________See my Top 10 Apps For Digital NomadsSee my Top 10 Books For Digital NomadsSee my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and RecommendSee How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)____________________________________ENJOYING THE SHOW?Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally. You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)

Eva Adongo joins Matt for this in-person interview in her home country of Kenya.____________________________________Subscribe to The Maverick Show’s Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.).Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________She starts off by talking about her favorite travel experiences and recommendations inside of Kenya. Matt and Eva then talk about their respective experiences hiking Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Next, Eva talks about growing up in Kenya, starting to travel, and reflects on her experiences in different countries on the continent—from Mozambique to Botswana to Zimbabwe, and how she used to bungee jump for free over Victoria Falls during her college days. She also reflects on the British colonial influence on the Kenyan education system, and the importance of independent intellectual inquiry. Eva then talks about her decision to move to Afghanistan, and reflects on the lessons and impact of living there for over two years. She also talks about her experiences living in Haiti and Myanmar and how that shaped her. Eva shares her favorite Caribbean islands, her encounters with racism in Southeast Asia, her reflections on “passport privilege”, and the dynamics of traveling to 100 countries on a Kenyan passport. She then talks about the founding of her YouTube Channel “Traveling with Eva Mtali”, how she uses it as a platform to educate and empower people to re-locate or travel the world, and why she especially focuses on supporting people from Kenya and other countries without a strong passport. Finally, Eva describes her experience attending Carnival in Rio de Janeiro and then reflects on why she continues to travel and what travel means to her today. FULL SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED AVAILABLE HERE.____________________________________See my Top 10 Apps For Digital NomadsSee my Top 10 Books For Digital NomadsSee my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual)Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and RecommendSee How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use)____________________________________ENJOYING THE SHOW?Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally. You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)