Citizens of the World: A Stoic Podcast for Curious Travelers

Let’s talk about upgrading your weekends. I learned about this concept from Laura Vanderkam, the time management expert you heard on the episode on how to Stretch Time so You Can be More Productive and Pursue What You Love.Laura says that having a great weekend requires some planning, even for free spirits who are up for anything. Because a little structure can actually allow us to be more free, and avoid that disappointment that can come on Sunday night when we think, “There was so much I wanted to do and I didn't do any of it.”In this mini-episode, Laura shares how we can make more of our weekends in a few simple steps. We recorded this pre-covid, so you might get wistful when you hear us talk about restaurants and festivals. But surely there are fun things that you can be enjoying while we’re still in the pandemic. And if you’re listening to this in the future, then I hope you enjoy your dinner out this weekend and savor your freedom and good company. postcardacademy.cosarahmikutel.comDo you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Most of us still can't travel right now thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. So this should be the perfect time to plan for future travel and adventures abroad. For some, this means creating an online business that allows them to work from anywhere. But...a lot of us are having a hard time focussing. There's a lot happening in the world right now. Plus, many of us are natural dreamers and/or are a little too research obsessed (rather than action-oriented).The goal of today's episode is to help you find your focus so you can do work now and spend more time enjoying your life later.I’m speaking with my friend Emily Prokop, podcast editor, host of the Story Behind, and co-host of the Hate to Weight podcast. Emily and I have a lot in common, including being recovering research-obsessed perfectionists. That doesn’t mean we’re natural planners. We definitely fall in the daydreamer category. But we have big goals we want to accomplish, and we want to help you achieve yours, too. Today, Emily and I are sharing our favorite routines and resources to make you a more productive podcaster. We recorded this a few months ago, but the tools and tips we share are timeless. Enjoy.Show notesDo you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Are you feeling the need for some community right now? Some levity? Some fun? I have created a Facebook Group for us called Live Abroad and Love It (our first party is in a few days — details below).I have made some incredible friendships through this podcast and I want to meet more of you.This group is for serious travelers. The kind who would pack up and move to a new country for a few months or maybe forever.Whether you are a current or aspiring expat, nomad, and/or location independent entrepreneur, the Live Abroad and Love It Facebook Group is a place for us to connect and inspire each other to live our location independent travel dreams. We can share stories of the new cities in which we’re living. Share online business advice to help other location independent entrepreneurs. Ask logistical questions on how to make a move abroad happen. I’d really love this to be an inclusive place where we can lift each other up and help each other live a more freedom-filled life.I know social media can be annoying and a lot of us are trying to get away from it. But as many of us are still locked down during the pandemic, and a number of you have said your craving some human connection, so I’m going to host some online events — and perhaps even in-person retreats when we can travel again. Join the first online partyThe first online event is this Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, which is 7 p.m. London Time. We will be doing online vision boards, also known as dream boards. I’ve never done one myself, but they are supposed to be fun and visual ways to set goals for yourself. If you would like to join this virtual party, go to postcardacademy.co/party and I’ll send you the information. Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Today I’m speaking with Crystal Davis, the Borderless Coach and founder of High Income Digital Nomad. Crystal’s mission is to help people build thriving and enjoyable businesses that let them travel and work remotely. We get into the nuts and bolts of how to get up and running with a profitable online business right now. We discuss: why conventional wisdom regarding online business keeps people in a long slog, and what you should do instead to earn the income you want; what kind of offer you should create;how to find clients;who you should sell to and who you shouldn’t target;the three daily activities you need to do to make money; and more.This isn’t the usual business advice you hear, and I think you’re going to love Crystal’s fresh, and effective, perspective. I’m such a fan of Crystal’s work that I joined her group program, High Income Digital Nomad, which teaches you how to build a business and sell without feeling totally cringe. If you want to have a business, you need to master selling.  Check out HIDN if you're ready to start building your dream location independent life. Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Let’s move to Mexico, shall we? Specifically Playa del Carmen. Great restaurants, bars, beach clubs, and easy access to nature and ancient UNESCO sites. But the best part, is we’ll get to hang out with my friend Cristal, Dyer, also known as the Tofu Traveler, and one of my all-time favorite travel partners.On today’s episode, Cristal shares everything we need to know to have an epic holiday in Playa del Carmen. We might like it so much, we decide to move there, and she gives us great tips for that, too. ***I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams. Ready to start your podcast right now? Check out Podcast Launch Academy. Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best. This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up viaaudibletrial.com/postcard This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insurance Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

We’re living through a global pandemic. It's okay to have down days and to be upset about the way things are. None of us want to be locked up in our house or to lose our job.But if we wallow in that negativity for too long, that doesn't mean we're going to get extra days in our life, right? We're not going to get bonus months at the end of our life because we survived lock down. Author Ryan Holiday has a podcast called the Daily Stoic. Lately, he’s been talking about Alive Time versus Dead Time, something writer Robert Greene told him about. According to him, we can spend our time in one of two ways, passively (Dead Time), where we’re just zoning out and letting life happen to us, and actively (Alive Time), where we’re learning, trying new things, and consciously choosing how to spend our time.As the Stoics taught us, we can't control what's going on in the world, but we can control how we react to it. You’ll never get today again -- will you make it matter?*I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams. Ready to start your podcast right now? Check out Podcast Launch Academy. Ready to travel? Get your free guide to cheap airfare. Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best. This podcast is brought to you by Audible. Not a member yet? Postcard Academy listeners can get a FREE audiobook and a 30-day free trial if you sign up viaaudibletrial.com/postcard This podcast is also brought to you by World Nomads. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insurance  Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Most of us dream about all the great things we could achieve if only there were more hours in the day.    Well, what if I told you time was more abundant than you think, and that we can actually stretch it?    My guest today is going to tell us how.    Laura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books, including Juliet’s School of Possibilities, I Know How She Does It, and 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think.    Laura also speaks at conferences, including at TED; writes for publications like the New York Times; hosts the podcast Before Breakfast and co-hosts the podcast Best of Both Worlds.   Plus, she has five kids and blogs almost every day. So if Laura can find time to do all that and hang out with friends and get eight hours of sleep, then there is hope for us all.    Historically, I have not been the best at time management, but Laura’s work has had a tremendously positive effect on my productivity and I’m honored that she made time for this interview.    Get ready to have your mind blown as Laura talks us through different strategies we can use to take back our time so we can enjoy more freedom in our life to pursue what we love.    *** I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel. Did you know I host another show called Podcasting Step by Step? Check it out if you’ve been wanting to start a podcast. Every week, I break down ‘how to podcast’ with a little loving motivation to give you the skills and confidence you need to finally launch that show of your dreams. Ready to start your podcast right now? Check out Podcast Launch Academy.   Ready to travel? Get your free guide to cheap airfare.   Thank you so much for listening to this show. I know you’re busy and have many listening options, so it means a lot to me that you’re here. You are the best.   P.S. Need simple and flexible travel insurance? Get a cost estimate from World Nomads using their handy calculator at postcardacademy.co/insuranceDo you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

When you think of Ancient Greece, what do you think of?   Maybe philosophers wandering around ruins. But they weren’t ruins in 450 BC — nearly 2,500 years ago.   The temples were marble masterpieces painted vibrant colors. But the rest of the city was small, and even squalid.    Athens was never the richest or the strongest city, and yet it is the birthplace of theatre and philosophy and democracy. Schools and science. Imagine a world without these things.   We think of the ancient Greeks ruling for centuries, but really the golden age lasted for a few decades, a quiet period between wars.   Today it’s less quiet 4 million people live in Athens — about 40% of Greece’s population.    My friend Michelle and I recently took a trip to Athens to explore the new and the ancient, and in this episode, we’re sharing our favorite Athenian places and experiences.   This is one of the last trips I took before the COVID-19 coronavirus put us all in lock down. Michelle and I recorded this conversation right after our trip about a month ago, when we were still free to travel.Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.

Caitlin Hawekotte, an MBTI® Certified Practitioner, explores the transformative power of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator in this engaging discussion. She highlights how understanding personality types can enhance communication and compassion, especially during challenging times like lockdowns. Listeners learn how diverse personality traits influence perceptions and relationships, making travel and daily interactions smoother. Caitlin also shares insights from her upcoming podcast, 'Life with an ENFP,' focusing on personal growth and mentorship.

The COVID-19 coronavirus has upended most travel plans, at least in the short term. So what should you do?   On this episode, I’m bringing back Phil Sylvester from World Nomads, where I always buy my travel insurance, to talk about how to recoup your travel costs, why ‘cancel for any reason’ insurance might not be worth it, and other travel insurance queries.    And, I speak with my friend Toni Mazzaglia, whom you heard on my Florence episode and several others, about what it’s like living in lock down in Italy right now.   I'm your host, Sarah Mikutel. Thanks for listening!  Do you ever go blank or start rambling when someone puts you on the spot? I created a free Conversation Cheat Sheet with simple formulas you can use so you can respond with clarity, whether you’re in a meeting or just talking with friends.Download it at sarahmikutel.com/blanknomore and start feeling more confident in your conversations today.