Digital Nomad Nation - Inspiring Stories From the Location Independent Lifestyle

What if real freedom isn't about adding more to your life but about what you're brave enough to subtract? Host Ryan is making a bold move, sharing why he's hitting a temporary pause to go deeper instead of wider with his work. You'll hear about his time learning Spanish, connecting with the expat community in Mérida, and why this ancient city keeps pulling him back. Ryan reveals where he's headed next, a Southeast Asian country he's somehow missed for years despite spending months in th...

What if the secret to staying abroad longer isn't about finding cheaper flights or stretching your budget but about finding the right people to live with? Host Ryan Mellon talks with Laurens Borrey about what happens when you prioritize community over profit in the hospitality business. You'll hear how Laurens and his co-founders met while volunteering at a hostel and accidentally discovered a gap in the market that traditional hostels and Airbnbs weren't filling. Laurens started CO404 afte...

How do you actually connect with a place instead of just passing through it? Host Ryan Mellon just landed in a Mexican city most Americans have never heard of, and he's about to show you why sometimes the best places to live and work remotely are hiding in plain sight. Ryan shares what happened the moment he stepped off that plane and why this under-the-radar destination might be exactly what you're looking for if you're tired of the typical tourist traps. As someone who's spent e...

Grab Your FREE Guide - 7 Steps To Launch Your Digital Nomad Journey - https://www.thedigitalnomadcoach.com/ What if surviving a 12+ hour flight wasn't about suffering through it but actually enjoying it? While everyone else is cramped in middle seats, fighting for armrest space, and arriving exhausted, Ryan's consistently scoring entire rows to himself in economy and when he's not doing that, he's in business class. His secret? It's knowing exactly when to change seats, which credit car...

What if living around the world for two decades could actually cost you less than staying in one place? Back in 2006, when "digital nomad" wasn't in anyone's vocabulary, today’s guest sold everything and hit the road with nothing but a dream to understand how people actually live in different corners of the world. Ryan sits down with this OG nomad Nora Dunn also known as the Professional Hobo. After traveling to over 50 countries and spending nearly 20 years on the move, she's sharing t...

What if the hardest part of becoming a digital nomad isn't finding work or booking flights but knowing which countries actually want you there? Ryan sits down with Archie, an "accidental digital nomad" who's been exploring Europe for three years with his girlfriend. After surviving a nightmare bed bug situation in Spain, Archie learned the hard way what to look for in an Airbnb. His girlfriend's insider knowledge from working at Airbnb reveals the tricks that can save you from similar d...

What if your monthly expenses could drop below $2,000 and your office view changed from tropical island to pristine beach every few weeks? Ryan welcomes Liz Shipton, a former Silicon Valley tech worker who traded her high-paying job and California rent for life on a 43-foot sailboat. Liz shares how she and her partner sailed from Santa Cruz to the Caribbean while she built a thriving career as a self-published fiction author. You'll hear about the real costs of boat life, the truth abou...

What if your morning commute could be replaced by a sunrise on a mountain, a beach walk all while building a thriving online business? Ryan sits down with Rens Van Daalen, a Dutch entrepreneur who traded traditional life for the open road. After years of backpacking broke and burnt out, Rens figured out how to earn online while living in his van and now he's helping others do the same. From teaching Affinity Photo to building the Van Life Network, a thriving community connecting nomads ...

Download Your Free Guide - 7 Ways to Become a Digital Nomad https://www.thedigitalnomadcoach.com/freeguide-copy You’d love to live abroad, but it seems too complicated? Ryan sits down with Cepee Tabibian explore the often-overlooked visa options that make Europe more accessible than most Americans realize. You’ll hear how a little-known Dutch program (The Dutch American Friendship Treaty) can open doors for freelancers and solopreneurs who want more than just a 90-day tourist stay. You’ll...

What if getting caught in a storm and confronting your deepest insecurities became the very experiences that changed how you see freedom, health, and success? Ali shares how travel forced her to face fears she’d been carrying for years and how that shifted everything about the way she works, connects, and dreams. You’ll hear how a near-death moment in the Philippines reframed her priorities, why an underrated city in Vietnam might be the next great digital nomad hub, and how friendships...

Have you been told it's impossible to bring your dog along on a nomadic adventure? When wanderlust strikes, the thought of leaving behind your furry best friend can kill those travel dreams before they even start. Ryan is joined by Lora Pope, who was living in Mexico when a tiny pug puppy literally showed up on her friend's doorstep. One look into those big eyes and she knew her travel plans were about to get a lot more interesting. Since then, she's taken Puglo to four c...

Why Do Most Digital Nomad Relationships Crash and Burn Before They Even Start? Ryan Mellon sits down with podcast manager and seasoned nomad Marvin Athey, who’s spent the last 7 years dating across Bali, Da Nang, Eastern Europe, and everywhere in between. Together, they unpack why so many digital nomad relationships flame out fast and what it actually takes to make one work. Marvin drops hard-earned insights about the “intensity trap” that all-too-common pattern where whirlwind trips and roma...

What if simple changes to your resume are the only thing standing between you and your dream remote job? Guest Lauren Peikert was ready to give up. After months of sending perfectly crafted applications, she was getting nothing. With solid marketing skills and years of startup experience, she couldn’t understand why no one was biting. Turns out, no one was even seeing her resume. Applicant tracking systems, not humans, were silently rejecting her before she ever had a chance. But once she cra...