Become Nomad - Digital Nomad Lifestyle and Long Term Travel

7 years. Countless destinations. And now, 100 episodes! Against all odds, we've made it to triple digits (thanks, in large part, to you!). So what's kept BecomeNomad alive despite virtually zero promotion? What value does it still offer & will it continue to offer? And what does it mean for Eli, all these years later? This is more of an introspective episode. A benchmark, to see where we've been, what we've learned, and where we're going. A huge thanks to all the contributors who've helped us get here! Many are named in the pod, but a particular shoutout to Bojan Ristovic & his magical audio team, and again our late friend & website developer Vuk Milićević.  

This is one of our biggest challenges as lifelong travelers: Entering into relationships. And also maintaining those relationships as we stay on the road. Seasoned digital nomad Aline Dahmen joins us to give her insights. Her Nomad Soulmates initiative is helping thousands of nomads connect and build relationships. How does one balance the attachment of these relationships with the desired freedom of this lifestyle? What constitutes a "successful" nomadic couple? Aline touches on these vital questions and much, much more.

This is a story of dedication, perseverance, and community. Matthias Zeitler of Coworking Bansko joins us to discuss how he accomplished his dream of creating a haven for digital nomads. What he and his team have built is magical, the ultimate DN inspiration. But beyond that, we cover what it truly takes to build a community and what goes into rebranding an entire small city -- a small city that, for many westerners, isn't even on their radar.

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

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

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

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

How do you choose your next destination? Next adventure? Even your next activity? Do you plan ahead to ensure your schedule contains that which you care about? Or do you go with the flow and allow for the moment to dictate your experience?   In this episode, Eli & Dan address what really guides their nomadic choices. And they see if they can strike a balance between the planning mindset & the carpe diem mindset.   And hey, have some thoughts? Shoot an email to eli@becomenomad.com & dan@becomenomad.com -- one of us will be in touch asap!

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

We've talked before about the concept of disconnection as a means of staying grounded and enjoying our surroundings. Not just binging Netflix, but really engaging in some fulfilling pastime. One of Eli's favorite practices is taking a "Week of Disconnection" every few months (see episode 65!), but here he examines the topic from a daily perspective. Ultimately, all these discussions on disconnection come back to one key question: "How do I become more in the world and less in myself?"