Nerd on Tour Podcast

Muhammed Alard: From a Worthless Syrian Passport to Arab Nomad Fest

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:57:50 GMT

Full transcript and show notes: nerdontour.net

Muhammed Alard flew to Istanbul in 2014 to study, then the Syrian border closed behind him. A father arrested over a Facebook post, a fake passport sticker that worked, citizenship by lottery, a Ukrainian wife, Hoi An, crypto when PayPal says no, and Arab Nomad Fest in Taghazout, Morocco, from October 26, 2026.

About Muhammed Alard

Syrian-born nomad with a Turkish passport, founder of Arab Digital Nomads and Arab Nomad Fest. Self-taught video editor, first dollars on Upwork. Lives in Hoi An, Vietnam, building a visa database and app for MENA nomads.

Arab Digital Nomads: https://arabdigitalnomads.com/

Arab Nomad Fest: https://arabdigitalnomads.com/arab-nomad-fest/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arabdigitalnomad/

Nerd on Tour Recommends

Wise — for fast international money transfers. Try at https://nerdontour.net/wise

Revolut Personal — for the lowest exchange fees. Try at https://nerdontour.net/revolut

Revolut Business — to manage your global business finances. Get it at https://nerdontour.net/business

SafetyWing — for reliable nomad medical travel insurance. Go to https://nerdontour.net/safetywing scroll to the bottom, click the pink camera, and enter the code: NERDONTOUR for free 8 weeks of electronic theft coverage.

Riverside — all-in-one podcast recording platform I use to produce my podcast. Start it at https://nerdontour.net/riverside

Timestamps

00:00 Start.

01:09 Gulf childhood, road trips to Syria.

06:52 Damascus: temple, church, mosque.

08:17 Nerd on Tour recommends Wise and Revolut.

11:16 $4,000 stolen on his first solo trip.

17:59 Stuck in Turkey, father arrested by Assad.

21:22 Fake passport sticker, hitchhiking Austria.

27:37 Nerd on Tour recommends SafetyWing.

29:33 Becoming a Turkish citizen by lottery.

32:39 Hoi An: 50 kids a class, freelancing.

37:27 A Ukrainian wife, two wars, one family.

44:11 Erasmus friends and Cappadocia tours.

50:33 Le Cordon Bleu on half a scholarship.

55:17 Google, Upwork, first online dollars.

57:51 Chiang Mai, Bedouins, and Ibn Battuta.

63:16 Arab Nomad Fest in Taghazout, Morocco.

69:58 Why in-person beats AI.

76:05 Passports, Islamophobia, closed borders.

81:41 PayPal blocked, crypto sends money home.

88:07 Pickleball, slow mornings, find him online.

Listen on your preferred app

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nerdontour

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/46dwoqx

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ncVtvERp058pd7AkIf0wy

Let's connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerdontour/

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Buatong — climb like Spider-Man on Sticky Waterfall near Chiang Mai

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 07:56:34 GMT

A waterfall you climb up, not swim in. Barefoot on limestone that grips like spider web. No slipping, no shivering, no water shoes needed. Ninety minutes from Chiang Mai, Buatong turned my morning into the strangest climb of my Thailand stay.

Who is a digital nomad?

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:54:31 GMT

Digital nomad. The label is everywhere, yet nobody agrees on what it means. And that's the beauty of it. Anyone can step into this life. No permission needed. You control the pace, the place, the shape. Here's how I carve my own path.

SMS verification silliness in Thailand

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:17:56 GMT

Grab and Bolt work with any phone number. Lazada and SF Cinema wanted a Thai one. So I typed my expired Thai number from 2013 into the cinema form. It worked! Here is how I dodged SMS verification during two months in Chiang Mai.
Read more at: https://nerdontour.net/sms-verification-silliness-in-thailand/

Ryan Li — Self-Taught Polyglot and Privacy-First Nomad in Asia

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:22:02 GMT

Ryan Li has spent twenty years in Asia and calls himself an egg. White on the outside, yellow on the inside. In this episode, we talk about how a nineteen-year-old from Texas sold his car and talked his way into a job in Japan. Why he taught himself Japanese, Mandarin, and Khmer without ever studying properly, and what two decades of chasing greener grass actually taught him.

We also go deep on visas, tax residency, and the banking mess of living in a dozen countries, plus why he runs a degoogled phone and a security-focused laptop while building companies on two continents.

About Ryan Li
Ryan is an American from Texas who has lived in a dozen Asian countries since he was nineteen. He runs Ilfusion, a creative agency in Texas he co-founded in 2010, and Sovagent, his new AI startup. Before that he built VR and metaverse startups in Taiwan and a Web3 company in Singapore. He co-hosted the Egg Banana podcast from inside VR headsets during the pandemic and now runs Going Borderless.

What we cover

What an "egg" is and how a Texan car guy ended up more Asian at heart
Learning hiragana, katakana, and kanji from a book handed to him in an anime store
Selling his car at nineteen and answering a newspaper ad two weeks before his flight home
Building English lesson material from scratch with his own voice, years before language apps
Dozen countries, repeat stays, and why he would not recommend his own pattern
Visas, the 183-day rule, and the ten years it took him to understand any of it
Closing his US bank account on day one, and why Revolut and Wise changed everything
Becoming a business owner by accident and growing two agencies to thirty people each
Google Glass, VR, Web3, and a small mining farm in Singapore
GrapheneOS, Qubes OS, and taking malware apart just to see how it works
Why he thinks everyone should care about privacy, whether or not they have something to hide
Going vegetarian at sixteen, and the loss that made him grow up fast
Preventing burnout by running several projects instead of one
Briefing an AI before bed and reviewing the work in the morning

Timestamps

(00:00) - Create Your Own Opportunity
(00:27) - Show Intro and Guest Introduction
(02:48) - Exploring Identity: The Egg Concept
(05:10) - Learning Japanese, Chinese, and Other Languages
(09:38) - Cultural Connections: Bridging East and West
(11:59) - First Steps in Japan: A Journey Begins
(16:24) - Teaching English and Building Learning Materials
(22:33) - The Quest for the Perfect Place: Moving Through Asia
(29:40) - Navigating Bureaucracy in Asia
(34:25) - Visas, Tax Residency, and Banking Abroad
(40:15) - The Accidental Entrepreneur
(46:18) - Exploring New Technologies
(48:02) - Egg Banana: Podcasting in VR
(50:48) - The Rise of Remote Work and Creativity
(51:57) - Minimalist Tech Stack and Daily Devices
(54:04) - The Fascination with Technology and Security
(58:27) - The Importance of Personal Privacy and Control
(59:57) - Going Borderless: Exploring New Horizons
(01:01:25) - The Ideal Listener: Learning from Experiences
(01:02:25) - Overcoming Societal Norms and Pursuing Dreams
(01:08:37) - Self-Care and Combating Burnout
(01:10:40) - Vegetarianism and a Life-Changing Loss
(01:15:46) - Diversifying Projects to Prevent Burnout
(01:18:55) - The Future of Technology and Personal Data
(01:21:06) - Where to Follow Ryan Online
(01:22:13) - Closing and Podcast Outro

Ryan Li and his projects

LinkedIn — the only social network Ryan consistently uses.
X (Twitter) — account created for the Solvegent project.
EggBanana — Ryan's podcast with Marc and Edward, one "egg" and two "bananas". Talking about life in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and beyond.
Going Borderless — Ryan's newer podcast series on being born in one place and choosing to live in another. Side project, not a business.
Ilfusion — Texas-based digital marketing agency co-founded by Ryan run since 2010
Solvegent — Ryan's current AI project focused on securing agents on the Internet.

Support the podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and share it with a fellow nomad. Drop me a comment on nerdontour.net: I read every single one and reply. And subscribe to Nomad Tuesday for travel stories, podcasts, and recommendations delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.

Dima Pashutskii — From Stationary Sysadmin to Nomad Software Engineer

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:47:43 GMT

Check the full transcript and show notes at: https://nerdontour.net/dima-pashutskii-from-stationary-sysadmin-to-nomad-software-engineer/

Dima Pashutskii spent his twenties answering support calls, watching logs, and wearing a suit in a Moscow bank. Then he got fired, learned to code, and left. In this episode, recorded on Skype from Bali in July 2020, we talk about the months it took him to land a first client on Upwork, the two-day job he did for five dollars, and why that review was worth more than the money.

We also get into location-based pay, the twenty-hour week he tracks honestly instead of a forty-hour week he would only half work, and his argument against originality: nobody opens an original coffee shop, so stop waiting for an original idea. Plus Taiwan as the most underrated country in the region, and eating vegetarian across Asia with a purple cow app.

About Dima Pashutskii
Dima is a Russian software engineer turned indie maker. He went from technical support to server administration before teaching himself to code, then left Russia in 2018 with his wife Nika for four years of nomading around Southeast Asia. They settled in the Netherlands in 2022. He quit his job in 2024 and now builds his own products, including Influesque and Search to Play, and posts on YouTube about freedom, money, and intentional living.

What we cover

The odd jobs, from construction sites to McDonald's, that he does not regret
Three or four months of Upwork applications before a single client replied
Two days of work for five dollars, and why the review mattered more
Location-based pay at Toptal and Facebook
Twenty tracked hours a week versus forty half-worked ones
Travel months and settle-down months, and finding your own ratio
Building side projects without waiting for an original idea

Timestamps

(00:00) - Start.
(00:36) - Why a Skype recording from 2020 is finally seeing daylight.
(03:01) - Hello from Canggu: Dima checks in from the Bali hub.
(03:40) - St Petersburg and Moscow: two cities, one long-distance relationship.
(04:28) - Fired on a Friday; moved to Moscow the same day.
(05:57) - Gatchina, Karelia, and why Peter the Great built a European city.
(08:09) - Moscow's rush as a career accelerator, mental health tax included.
(10:16) - McDonald's, construction sites, and Dima's stint as a children's clown.
(12:01) - The case for doing manual work before you do knowledge work.
(14:26) - Lisbon for three months: the Schengen ninety-day ceiling as a travel plan.
(16:02) - Learning to code from a Russian site teaching SICP in JavaScript.
(19:35) - Upwork: sixty applications a month and four months of silence.
(20:15) - Two days of work for five dollars, and the review that made it worth it.
(21:36) - Fiverr, Toptal, and where the marketplace race to the bottom starts.
(23:03) - Location-based pay: your rate decided by your postcode, not your work.
(24:32) - Automattic versus Facebook on pay parity, six years before everyone else argued about it.
(26:08) - Off the platform: direct contract, hourly billing, twenty tracked hours a week.
(27:53) - Learning Story and 100DaysOfCode: building in public before it had a name.
(31:52) - One community for all your learning, instead of a community per course site.
(35:14) - Nobody opens an original coffee shop: the case against waiting for an original idea.
(36:58) - Indie Hackers, MakerLog, and the pull of owning your own products.
(37:23) - Digital Nomad Journey: writing the visa and banking guide he needed when he started.
(40:51) - Sixteen cities: Hua Hin by accident, Chiang Mai by reputation.
(41:36) - Taiwan is underrated: bullet trains, west coast cities, and the friendliest people in Asia.
(44:17) - Singapore for a week, Penang for months: choosing a base.
(45:26) - Travel months and settle-down months: slowmadding before it had a hashtag.
(48:41) - Going vegetarian on the road, and where HappyCow stops helping.
(52:15) - The pizza fallback, and why nothing actually changed when he quit meat.
(54:16) - Yoga in the room, meditation without an app, and cities with no pavements to run on.
(56:31) - Wrap up.

Dima Pashutskii and his projects

Blog — freedom, travel, money, and intentional living
YouTube — his main creative outlet since 2018
Now page — what he is working on today
Influesque — YouTube influencer marketing platform, his current focus
Search to Play — Letterboxd for video games
Arcade Hub — Apple Arcade games database
Taco Digest — newsletters turned into a personal email digest
GitHub — his code
X — the account he nomaded under as @guar47

Listen to all Nerd on Tour Podcast episodes on your preferred app
Podcast Website: https://nerdontour.net/podcast/?utm_campaign=PodPlatforms&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_source=ShowNotes&utm_content=Organic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nerdontour
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/46dwoqx
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ncVtvERp058pd7AkIf0wy?si=hqKFLI6yT5Wt8WFF7AbApA
Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/dltrbnoy
Other Podcast Apps: https://podnews.net/podcast/i9n39
RSS: https://feeds.transistor.fm/nerd-on-tour-podcast
Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZvspP4gu3fdAD4Nx2OQBkJi9za-qEj5G

Let's connect
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@nerdontour
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X: https://x.com/nerdontour
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Telegram: https://t.me/nerdontourFeed
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BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/nerdontour.bsky.social

Support Nerd on Tour Podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and share it with a fellow nomad. Drop me a comment on nerdontour.net: I read each one and reply.

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Walking with Piotrek: KLCC Park

Piotrek Bodera — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:49:00 GMT

Wandering through KLCC Park, my second favorite spot in Kuala Lumpur after the Botanical Gardens! In the heart of the city, but sheltered from the noise by nature and skyscrapers. Whether you’re here to jog or just chill, this green oasis is a must. Next time you’re in Malaysia’s capital, skip the mall and come stretch your legs! #WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: Australia — wonderful destination but with spotty Internet

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 07:50:00 GMT

Sydney Royal Botanic Garden provides exactly what I came to Australia for. Lush greenery, peaceful trails, and views that remind me why nature is worth traveling halfway across the world.But here's the thing: Australia's Internet is spotty. Whether you're working remotely or just need reliable connectivity, prepare multiple backup options. Local eSIM, portable WiFi, and pre-downloaded maps saved me more than once.Beautiful destination. Just don't expect seamless connectivity everywhere.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: Why I don't like sugar

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:28:00 GMT

Lush paths, humid air, and another walk-and-talk detour into tea… and sugar. When I was a kid, tea meant lots of sugar (grandma-style). Somewhere along the way I realized good tea doesn’t need cubes, honey, or any sweeteners—just time, leaves, and a bit of curiosity.If you want a funny, smart watch that explains why sugar sneaks into everything, I genuinely recommend That Sugar Film.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: 3 reasons why I love Tenerife

Piotrek Bodera — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 06:28:00 GMT

Back in Puerto de la Cruz after two years, and honestly, it feels like coming home. This island keeps pulling me back for three reasons that make it perfect for the nomad life.First, the community. Reuniting with friends who feel like family, even after years apart. The warmth of Spanish culture mixed with an international crowd creates something special.Second, the nature. Atlantic breeze, dramatic skies, weekend hikes through forests and mountains. Whether beach or peak, there's always something new to discover.Third, the infrastructure. Blazing fast internet, probably thanks to those sea cables connecting Europe and the US. Plus everything needed for modern life, from supermarkets to specialized shops.Tenerife proves it's possible to have both adventure and comfort in one place.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Using Thai QR PromptPay Payments as a digital nomad

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:14:26 GMT

To pay by QR in Thailand, I used a Malaysian app. That took a local SIM, a KYC check, and two conversions. Absurd, and still the best option I found. Here's the setup and what actually worked.

Walking with Piotrek: Beach brings back childhood memories

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 06:30:00 GMT

Las Teresitas beach brought me back to childhood. Golden sand, calm waters, and palm trees created the perfect backdrop for reflection.Tenerife's diversity amazes me every time. From volcanic black sand beaches to this artificial paradise made with Sahara sand in the 1970s. Each shore tells a different story, offering a unique atmosphere.Sometimes the best moments happen when you simply walk, talk, and let memories surface naturally. This beach, close to Santa Cruz, reminded me why I love exploring every corner of this island.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

8 weeks in cozy Chiang Mai Thailand

Piotrek Bodera — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 01:49:08 GMT

Three nomads told me to go. So we booked two months in Chiang Mai, mid-June to mid-August, dodging the burning season. We enjoyed khao soi, a five-story gym, and cute cafés in this nomad haven.

Walking with Piotrek: Living abroad unique perspective

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 07:52:00 GMT

Sydney. One of those places where I've watched New Year's fireworks, lived as an expat, and gained perspectives that no book or documentary could ever teach me.Growing up in monocultural Poland, I was always curious. Traveling opened doors, but living abroad? That unlocked something entirely different. It showed me that every problem, every mundane situation, has multiple solutions. No single right answer.Australia was one of those destinations where curiosity turned into understanding. Where daily life with people from different backgrounds reshaped how I see the world. This perspective — it only comes from being there, day by day, solving problems, having conversations, experiencing how other cultures actually function.If you've never lived in another country, I highly recommend it. It keeps you open, mindful, and always discovering new ways to approach life.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Internet Connectivity in Malaysia for Digital Nomads

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 05:27:29 GMT

Read full article: https://nerdontour.net/internet-connectivity-in-malaysia-for-digital-nomads/

Bali and Bangkok top every nomad list. Yet Kuala Lumpur is my base, and reliable Internet is one reason. Here’s the prepaid eSIM I use, why I pay 30 MYR a year to keep my number, my only outage, and what Starlink means for nomads in Malaysia.

Chapters

(00:00) - Intro
(00:20) - Which Malaysian mobile operator is the best for nomads?
(01:04) - What Hotlink offers?
(02:09) - Wi-Fi for heavy workloads
(02:55) - Seamless switching between networks
(03:21) - Coverage is never ideal
(03:54) - The future of connectivity
(05:02) - Over to you

Offline mode for humans

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:37:03 GMT

I'm a nerd who grew up on Game Boys and LAN parties. Yet decades of gaming taught me that digital is an enabler, not a goal. Here's how I stay offline enough as a digital nomad, without quitting the screens that pay my bills. Read the full article at: https://nerdontour.net/offline-mode-for-humans/

What AI videos can't do?

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:53:47 GMT

Regular check-ins keep nomad friendships

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:25:41 GMT

Loneliness is the quiet tax of nomad life. We meet our best friends in colivings, then scatter across the globe. But I built a simple 3-hour weekly habit that keeps those bonds alive, no matter the distance. Why it works? Check the details at nerdontour.net

John Ho — Coliving Founder Building a Nomad Friendly District in Chiang Mai

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:38:06 GMT

John Ho grew up in Hong Kong, got culture shocked in California, married a Thai woman, and now runs two colivings in Chiang Mai. He also thinks he spent five years building digital nomad bubbles.

In this episode we talk about what culture actually does to a person. Why he still calls himself a Hongkonger, what Jackie Chan really represents, and how a Cantonese obsession with using every square meter shaped the first coliving he built. Then we get to the harder part. John admits the spaces he built made nomads comfortable and nothing else, and explains what he is doing about it.

We also cover the Network School shutdown in Malaysia, why he thinks it happened, and the win-win-win alternative he is testing in Chiang Mai. Plus loneliness, and his blunt question about it: everyone agrees community matters, but will you actually pay for it?

What we cover

Why culture is identity, and what Hongkonger still means after ten years away
Culture shock in California, Japanese after that, and third culture kids at home
Jackie Chan, the golden era, and kung fu as a pragmatic career move
No money no talk, and fitting thirty rooms into a space the architects said was too small
Traveling to people instead of landmarks
Meeting nomads in Chiang Mai before the word was common, and why he is not one
Cosmolocalism, and why a pop-up village refuses to be portable
Four September tracks: AI, solopreneurship, food, and a futures lab
The admission: five years of building comfortable bubbles was not enough
Membrane instead of bubble, and the visa and tax pathways Thailand still lacks
Kotohira, population seven thousand, learning to host nomads
Network School, Edge City Lanna, and what happens when you skip the neighbors
An AI agent and a bunker, and the loneliness nobody pays to fix
Wednesday runs, and how a community outgrows its founder

Timestamps

(00:00) - Start
(01:46) - No culture = no identity: growing up Cantonese in Hong Kong
(04:35) - A colony's side effect: learning there is more than one way to live
(07:32) - Culture shock in California, a second life in Japan, third culture kids at home
(11:53) - Jackie Chan, kung-fu economics, and the golden era of Hong Kong cinema
(16:47) - What Hongkonger still means to John after ten years away
(19:53) - No money, no talk: Cantonese culture, swearing, and why every square meter counts
(23:27) - From landmark tourism to people tourism: John goes where someone will host him
(28:59) - Chiang Mai before the label: meeting nomads when the word was still new
(32:09) - Nomading is something you do, not something you are
(33:53) - Cosmolocalism explained: a pop-up village that rooted in Chiang Mai
(39:48) - Four tracks for September 2026: AI for Chiang Mai, solopreneurship, nourishing food, and a futures lab
(45:26) - John realized he was building bubbles: the 2.0 mission for Alt_Coliving
(50:59) - Membrane, not bubble: visas, taxes, and the pathways Thailand still lacks
(52:45) - Kotohira, population 7,000: how a temple town learned to host nomads
(58:56) - "996" workweek, overcommitting, and the monthly stay that baffles the locals
(01:01:51) - Network School post-mortem: Forest City, Edge City Lanna, and skipping the neighbors
(01:07:22) - White Lotus economics: enclaves, Baikonur, and the win-win-win alternative
(01:12:07) - The counter narrative: an AI agent, a bunker, and nomad loneliness
(01:16:00) - Wednesday runs: how a community outgrows its founder, John
(01:19:54) - Manga, Rick and Morty, and why every nomad has a good story
(01:24:11) - Where to find John Ho online

John Ho and his projects

LinkedIn — where John is most active and easiest to reach.
Instagram — travel photos, coliving life, and the Hongkonger hashtag in his bio.
Alt_Coliving — his two Chiang Mai spaces, Alt_ChiangMai in the Old City and Alt_PingRiver in Wat Ket.
Cosmo Local CNX — the month-long pop-up village bringing global talent and Thai locals together in September.
The Extended Stay — the newsletter where John published his Network School piece.

Benjamin Lupton – open-source developer widens perspective through long-term travel and philosophy

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:59:00 GMT

The third episode of the Nerd on Tour Podcast is here! This time fellow digital nomad from Perth in Australia is my guest. Ben is cheerful yet contemplating developer and community builder. He dropped NDA work offers at Facebook and Google to stay true to the open-source movement. His travels include long-distance hitchhiking in Australia, truly befriending Balinese locals, and experiencing hippy culture in Berlin. Learn about him and his thought-provoking projects in this episode. Learn more at https://nerdontour.net/ben

Walking with Piotrek: Da Nang Beach

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 06:01:00 GMT

Waking up to the gentle rhythm of Da Nang’s waves, I’m reminded that nature doesn’t rush, yet everything unfolds just right. After getting sick in Semporna from pushing myself too hard, it feels grounding to take it slow—letting the ocean breeze do its quiet work. My new apartment here truly makes a difference: a space finally designed for both work and genuine rest. Sometimes, slowing down is the way forward. #WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Films as AI machinima

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Films shaped where I travel. But AI is changing how films are made. Is this the end of authentic storytelling? Or just the next step in filmmaking?

Walking with Piotrek: Touching the Grass

Piotrek Bodera — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 08:53:00 GMT

Sometimes the simplest act grounds us the most. Touching the grass. Feeling the earth beneath our feet. We're all part of nature. We come from it, and we'll return to it. That's the cycle of life. Walking in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney reminded me that taking care of ourselves means reconnecting with what we've always been. Not just digital nomads or content creators. But living beings, walking on living ground.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: What's my favorite tree?

Piotrek Bodera — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 07:44:00 GMT

Back in Kuala Lumpur’s Botanical Gardens, I’m sharing why my all-time favorite tree is the humble tea tree. I start the day with strong Sri Lankan black leaf tea, then switch to green, oolong, or hojicha as the hours roll by. Wherever you are, pour yourself a small tea ceremony today. #WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Dirk Delisse – Online Therapist for Ambitious Singles and Couples seeking Healthy Relationships

Piotrek Bodera — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 05:48:00 GMT

Fostering healthy relationships is Dirk Delisse's specialty. As an online therapist, he supports ambitious people who do have a partner, or have issues finding one. In this episode, Dirk addresses situationships, common in the digital nomad community, and the importance of spending quality time with aging parents. Furthermore, his entrepreneurial journey as an online therapist has its challenges. Listen to this podcast to hear more about Dirk's transformation since our last conversation two years ago.

https://nerdontour.net/dirk-delisse-online-therapist-for-ambitious-singles-and-couples-seeking-healthy-relationships

Anne Kuppens – passionate community-driven creator of Nine Coliving in Tenerife

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 12:06:00 GMT

Healthy thriving community is the most important quality for Anne Kuppens, the owner and creator of Nine Coliving in Tenerife. I had a privilege to experience it and befriend many nomads by staying for over a year at this magical place. In our conversation we talk about Anne's passion for traveling, Latin America, salsa, and how she built the coliving with the support and help of international friends. Episode show notes are at https://nerdontour.net/nine

eSIM & Wi-Fi — How to stay online in Thailand as a digital nomad

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 06:08:22 GMT

Wi-Fi is everywhere in Thailand. So I never bought a local eSIM. I roamed on a Malaysian plan for 11 USD and stayed online in cafes, the gym, our apartment. Here is what it cost me in speed, battery, and upload time.

Check the full article and the comparison table at: https://nerdontour.net/esim-wi-fi-how-to-stay-online-in-thailand-as-a-digital-nomad/

Walking with Piotrek: Find Peace in Any Green Space

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 05:57:00 GMT

Nature isn't just found in distant mountains or hidden forests… it's right here, waiting for you.Whether you're strolling through a city park, tending to your house garden, or simply sitting with the plants on your balcony. You can connect with the natural world anywhere. 🌱Today's reminder: 📱 Turn off your devices🫁 Take a deep breath⏰ Slow down your paceEvery so often, the most profound moments happen in the smallest green spaces. Your balcony herb garden can be just as healing as a forest walk. That neighborhood park can offer the same peace as a mountain trail.

Nature doesn't discriminate by location: it meets you wherever you are.

What's your favorite nearby spot to connect with nature? Share it in the comments!

#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: Walking Meditation After a Busy Week

Piotrek Bodera — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 07:34:00 GMT

After a busy week of rushing between tasks and worrying about the future, I found my reset at the Botanical Garden in Kuala Lumpur.My weekly walking meditation ritual. Just me, the waterfall, the birds, and the slowness of nature. Sometimes I don't need to push or invent. I just want to stroll and see what happens. Maybe a squirrel. Might be a lizard saying hello.Because we're all time travelers, constantly evaluating the past and anxious about Monday. But here, next to the water, I just breathe and empty my mind.If you have a chance, go out and enjoy the surrounding nature.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: Ba Na Hills

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:03:00 GMT

Thought I’d find just noisy rides and busy crowds in Ba Na Hills, but a quiet trail led me to something entirely different: real forest, mystical mist, and a serene Buddhist temple gently hidden from the rush. That unexpected calm was a perfect zen moment; I filmed a new Walking with Piotrek in this oasis—far from the tourist bustle, completely present. Sometimes the best places aren’t even on the map—they’re simply where you slow down. #WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Lorenzo Simonini – The Extra-national Sailing Slowmad (slow-moving nomad)

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 06:32:56 GMT

In this episode, we sit down with Lorenzo, a sailing slowmad who has traded the traditional corporate life for a life of adventure on the open seas. Recorded aboard his sailboat during a passage from Tenerife to Gibraltar, Lorenzo shares his fascinating journey from growing up in Verona, Italy, to becoming an electrical engineer in Silicon Valley. Eventually making the bold decision to live full-time on a sailboat with his family.

We dive deep into Lorenzo's career in the semiconductor industry, his experiences working across Italy, the U.S., and France, and how he transitioned from a high-pressure corporate job to a life of exploration and freedom. Lorenzo explains the challenges and rewards of living on a boat, how he and his wife manage their relationship and family life in such close quarters. He explains why they chose Malta and then Tenerife as their home bases while sailing around the world.

Whether you're curious about the nomadic lifestyle or looking for inspiration to make a major life change, this episode offers valuable insights into balancing career ambitions with personal freedom, all while navigating the complexities of life at sea.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with adventure, practical advice, and reflections on what it means to truly live life on your own terms.

Learn more at nerdontour.net

Mateusz Urbanowicz – Polish artist of “Your Name” anime & Tokyo Storefronts watercolor book on freelancing and animation

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 08:30:35 GMT

Mateusz Urbanowicz is a Polish artist living in Japan. And in this conversation, you'll learn all the details about he's wonderful journey from Poland to Japan and then to CoMix Wave Films. One of the big anime studios, renowned for “Your Name”. The anime that at a time was the second highest grossing anime ever, and Mateusz was painting the backgrounds for that production.

Furthermore, in this conversation, we cover publishing books and how this helped Mateusz to become a freelancer. In addition, we talked about his views on the Japanese visual industry. Please mind that we recorded this in 2020, so in the mids of the pandemic. Nevertheless, his journey as an artist is evergreen. That's why I think you will find it really intriguing regardless of when you are listening to this.

For notes, references, links and transcript go to https://nerdontour.net/mateusz-urbanowicz-polish-artist-of-your-name-anime-tokyo-storefronts-book-on-freelancing-and-animation/

Walking with Piotrek: Big City, Big Problems

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 07:49:00 GMT

Sydney brings me back every year for family reunions—my brother's been here a decade. The Opera House, Botanical Garden, that warm weather even when cloudy. But like New York or London, these big cities attract millions with vastly different outlooks, making culture clashes and dangerous incidents unavoidable. Recent events at Bondi Beach reminded me of this. Remote work changed everything for us digital nomads: we can work with global clients while choosing destinations that genuinely suit our needs—safer, calmer, maybe even still within Australia. Sydney's beautiful for visits, but living here? That's a choice we now have the freedom to make on our own terms.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Guillaume Lorain – Blogger that combines traveling solo and creating profitable websites

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 10:49:00 GMT

For the second episode of the Nerd on Tour Podcast, I invited Guillaume Lorain – a digital nomad from France. He's running a sustainable network of French blogs and provides web dev consulting. Microsoft branch in Paris was the place where Guillaume started, later on establishing his location-independent freelance gigs. That resulted in a great journey around the Australian coast and visits to South-East Asia. Learn more at https://nerdontour.net/lorain

Walking with Piotrek: Corona Forestal in Tenerife

Piotrek Bodera — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 07:32:00 GMT

Tenerife has plenty of stunning beaches. Yet, as I'm getting older, I start to appreciate being with trees even more.The pine forests of Corona Forestal create a unique microclimate. Milder temperatures, a fresh breeze, and this subtle sound you hear? It's not the ocean, it's the trees singing. A gentle green noise from the wind moving through the pines.This is why I love hiking here. Not just for mindful Shinrin-yoku, but to be with nature and with people. Walking together, discovering what this beautiful forest has for us. #WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Dirk Delisse – Licensed Online Therapist & Yoga Teacher practicing Flexible Living

Piotrek Bodera — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 22:00:00 GMT

Dirk Delisse is a peaceful human being that combines his love for punk rock, yoga, traveling, and helping other people. As a licensed online therapist for the Dutch healthcare system, he works remotely from sunny spots around the globe. Flexible Living is the way of life he practices and teaches in the online course, that's designed for people looking for their values. Listen to our cheerful conversation to learn more. https://nerdontour.net/dirk

Fajar Siddiq – From Pro Yo-Yo to Digital Nomad – Thoughtful Leader in the Maker Community

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 05:13:00 GMT

This is the very first deep conversation recorded for the Nerd on Tour Podcast. I couldn’t ask for a better guest than Fajar Siddiq. A known influencer in the Maker Community, who is always there for you to support, provide feedback, and help to get customers for your bootstrapped project. Fajar lives in culturally dense and diverse Singapore, and whenever possible he’s visiting nearby countries with his laptop and yo-yo. Let’s dig into the digital nomad topics with Fajar Siddiq! Learn more at https://nerdontour.net/fajar

Walking with Piotrek: How I Keep My Regular Workouts as a Digital Nomad

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:04:00 GMT

Staying consistent with workouts while moving from place to place is one of the trickiest parts of nomad life. You never know what gym — if any — will be waiting at the next destination.For two years, I've relied on Freeletics. It adapts to whatever equipment is available, my schedule, and my current fitness goal. After each session, it recalibrates based on my feedback. Too easy or too hard — it adjusts.Paired with Anytime Fitness, which has locations in most places I travel to, the whole setup becomes surprisingly seamless.I stopped overthinking it. I just show up, and my body rewards me for it.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠⁠nerdontour.net

Nerd on Tour Podcast Trailer

Piotrek Bodera — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 11:00:00 GMT

Hi! I'm Piotrek Bodera and this is Nerd on Tour Podcast for digital nomads. Since 2005 I've been working in tourism and web development around the globe. Here I combine the best bits of the Internet, long-term traveling, and decentralization.

Each episode unlocks wisdom through the power of thoughtful conversation

My guests are fascinating personalities – vagabonds, developers, artists, entrepreneurs, free spirits, technologists. Together, we explore unique ways of life that will expand your autonomy.

Listen to the Nerd on Tour Podcast for free in your preferred podcast app.

If you want more, go to nerdontour.net for show notes, compelling blog posts, and specialized digital nomad services.

Elaine & Kevin – mindful hosts of The Hatchery Place coliving in Kuala Lumpur

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 17:37:00 GMT

For the first time, I have two guests at once – Elaine Wong and Kevin Yeoh. They are the most generous hosts of The Hatchery Place. It's a very cozy coliving space, where I lived between October 2019 and September 2020. They transitioned from corporate careers to the world of arts and crafts, where Hatchery is a central place of their varied activities. Together, we talk about long-term traveling, authentic connections, and building a healthy coliving community. Learn more in this uplifting episode of the Nerd on Tour Podcast. Learn more at https://nerdontour.net/hatchery

Walking with Piotrek: back in KL after a trip to Japan

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 05:03:00 GMT

Back in the lush beauty of Kuala Lumpur’s botanical garden for the latest episode of “Walking with Piotrek”! I’ve been away exploring my favorite travel destination, Japan, where I finally visited Nagasaki and the breathtaking Nachi waterfall.

Japanese culture has fascinated me since childhood, and every trip there reminds me why it’s a must-visit: so convenient, welcoming, and endlessly inspiring. Highly recommend it to all fellow nomads!

For more digital nomad stories go to nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: I'm going to India!

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:34:00 GMT

Walking through the Botanical Garden in Kuala Lumpur, my mind is already somewhere else — India. A culture I've been quietly connected to for years through yoga, food, and a deep curiosity about their startup scene. But this time, I'm also going for a real Indian wedding. Multiple days. Multiple outfits. Bollywood didn't prepare me enough. #WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠⁠nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: Hoi An

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 06:08:00 GMT

Exploring Hoi An beyond its postcard-perfect corners, I wander off the main paths to uncover little slices of nature most visitors miss. There’s something special about finding green, peaceful pockets in places buzzing with tourists—it’s like having a secret, just for a moment. In this new episode, join me as I share why I seek out these hidden spots and what makes each discovery unforgettable.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Ramón Morcillo – Mapmelon co-founder is popularizing community colivings & nomading the globe

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 08:26:05 GMT

Piotrek Bodera sits down with Ramón Morcillo, co-founder of Mapmelon, for an inspiring conversation about the digital nomad lifestyle, the rise of co-livings, and building community on the road. Ramón shares his journey from Alicante and Madrid to becoming a full-time nomad, his experiences in places like Tenerife, Morocco, Southeast Asia, and Argentina, and how these adventures led to the creation of Mapmelon—a unique booking and community platform for colivings.

Discover how Ramón and his partner Sole balance work, travel, and entrepreneurship, the challenges and rewards of building a startup for nomads, and why community is at the heart of the co-living movement. We also dive into healthy habits for nomads, the importance of local culture, and the future of remote work visas and digital nomad destinations.

Follow Ramón on Instagram and check out mapmelon.com to find your next coliving adventure!

Beeper — messaging app for power users

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:15:55 GMT

Clear communication is everything to me as a nomad. WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, Slack, Signal, Discord, etc. Dozen apps, one me. Beeper bridges them all into one inbox, so I meet people where they already are. Here's why it earned a spot on my phone.

Walking with Piotrek: Travel Flow

Piotrek Bodera — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:13:00 GMT

Back at KLCC Park, under the twin beacons of Petronas, I slip into that sweet travel flow: turning booking puzzles, shifting plans, and family meet-ups into an effortless dance. Fifteen years of tour-managing chaos forged these skills—now they’re pure joy fueling my full-time nomad life. Walk with me and feel the rhythm of organized spontaneity. #WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: Reflections in Silesian Park

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 06:23:00 GMT

Back on my home turf, crunching gravel in Silesian Park. Each step is a portal to childhood Saturdays—bike races, rollerblading crazes, and lying down in lush grass. Those weekends wired my compass toward shade, birdsong, and slow breaths among my Tall Green Friends.Today’s walk is a reflection of that giant backyard for teaching me that nature time = mindful time.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Eirik Mo – Remote Full Stack Web Developer and Mighty Hiking Viking

Piotrek Bodera — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 14:13:00 GMT

One of the greatest people I met at Nine Coliving. Nature loving Norwegian, honestly sharing details of his journey. From being bullied at school and struggling with mental health to becoming a location independent software developer. Listen to how volunteering, meditation, and everyday learning help him to be a better human. We also dive into Web3, NFTs, protocols and why smart bulbs are essentials for a cozy light ambience.

https://nerdontour.net/eirik-mo-remote-full-stack-web3-developer-and-mighty-hiking-viking/

Walking with Piotrek: Friendships While Traveling

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 07:38:00 GMT

Years ago, I achieved my biggest dream of becoming a traveler. I experienced life in different countries and tasted new cuisines, yet this came with a heavy cost: my relationships.Working as a tour manager was unsustainable. I was always rushing, leaving no time for friends or my own health. It took hitting a wall to realize I needed a change.Shifting my career path allowed me to finally slow down. I can now prioritize reuniting with friends—whether in Japan, Tenerife, or back in Poland.Now, I make sure to stay connected and reach out, regardless of where I am. Even here, in the beautiful Kuala Lumpur Botanical Garden, I'm reminded of the value of these lasting friendships.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Gigi — Spiritual Pro Skater Pirate from New Caledonia

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 10:08:24 GMT

Check the full transcript and show notes at: https://nerdontour.net/gigi-spiritual-pro-skater-pirate-from-new-caledonia/

Gigi got hired on a superyacht after telling the captain he knew nothing about sailing. In this episode we talk about how a skater from New Caledonia ended up delivering yachts across Asia with one safety course and one good reference. Why a stranger's question in a Phuket bar changed his life, and what cutting fishing nets off a propeller at 3 a.m. taught him about work.
We also go through 37 hours in a force 9 storm off Western Australia with no harnesses, the reason he finally went back to school, and why he refuses every label, flag, and "where are you from?" thrown at him.

About Gigi
Gigi is a Pacific Islander from New Caledonia. A sponsored skater as a kid, he left home at sixteen, hated Paris, flew back alone, and wandered Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia with one bag. After an STCW course in Phuket he spent years as yacht crew on delivery passages, a 27 meter catamaran in Pattaya, and motorboats in Melbourne. We met in 2021 at an RYA sailing school in Tenerife, where he was working towards his Yachtmaster Offshore.

What we cover
- Why "where are you from?" is the worst question for someone who doesn't belong anywhere
- How an STCW course and one reference got him onto a superyacht
- 37 hours in a force 9 storm and arriving 40 centimeters from sinking
- Indra's net, Lao Tzu, Terence McKenna, and choosing freedom over labels

Timestamps

(00:00) - Start.
(00:34) - A backlog episode from pandemic Tenerife and our RYA sailing course.
(04:21) - Meet Gigi: the spiritual pro skater pirate from New Caledonia.
(05:02) - Why "where are you from?" is the worst first question.
(06:20) - New Caledonia: Le Caillou, the Loyalty Islands, and the biggest lagoon in the world.
(10:15) - Tribal life, never quite belonging, and running away at eleven.
(13:51) - No snakes, no spiders: rusa deer, the kagu, and a life lived from the sea.
(17:04) - Skateboarding as an escape from teachers, rules, and authority.
(21:05) - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, inline skates, and the flow of movement.
(24:14) - Almost pro, then Paris at sixteen: the move that broke him.
(27:57) - Selling Balinese art, sleeping on beaches, and backpacking across Asia.
(30:14) - French territory, not a French state: independence and a childhood memory.
(32:32) - First sailboats on sandbank motus and a dad who taught sailing.
(34:44) - A Phuket bar, a stranger's question, and the STCW course opens yacht jobs.
(39:49) - Free passage: delivering a brand new Beneteau yacht from Hong Kong to Phuket.
(44:02) - First night watch in the South China Sea: flares, tuna socks, and "pirates".
(47:09) - Thief on water, a rehab boat crew, and a hippie who hitchhiked 120 countries.
(50:31) - Fixing the furler with a fork, land sickness, and a job offer via strangers.
(54:56) - Staying innocent and gliding through life without expecting to get conned.
(56:43) - Yachtmaster in five weeks for a free spirit who hates classrooms.
(01:00:26) - The superyacht interview in flowery boardshorts and why references matter most.
(01:04:29) - Keys behind the beers: alone on a 27 meter catamaran with a broke owner.
(01:09:22) - Cutting fishing nets off the propeller at 3 a.m.: "That's my job."
(01:10:54) - Tattoos in yachting, a 48 hour powerboat license, and collecting sea time.
(01:13:51) - Perth to Bali on a tiny racing yacht and a force 9 storm off Exmouth.
(01:17:57) - Thirty-seven hours without harnesses and a life raft ready on deck.
(01:19:45) - Arriving 40 centimeters from sinking and the Mayday that almost happened.
(01:24:52) - The wake-up call: why he finally went back to sailing school.
(01:27:15) - Reading clouds like old sailors, and why the world becomes your oyster.
(01:30:02) - Indra's net, fractals, and coconuts.
(01:32:53) - Labels, language, and why the ocean is waving.
(01:37:14) - Flags, passports, and rejecting authority with Terence McKenna.
(01:42:41) - Law of attraction: all I want is freedom.
(01:45:33) - Gandhi's Gita, the Upanishads, and the internet as a mind in 3D.
(01:49:26) - Be like water: solitude, reclaiming your mind, and a message of love.
(01:55:02) - Thanks for listening.

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Bencomo Coliving owner on how to make nomad friends? Conversation with Ana Baute

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:23:30 GMT

Ana Baute runs Bencomo, a coliving in North Tenerife that feels like staying at a friend's house rather than a hostel. In this episode, we talk about how she turned a family home into a space for digital nomads, why loneliness is one of the biggest problems for long-term travelers, and what coliving actually means when done right.

We also go deep on Tenerife's mass tourism issue, why the North is very different from the South, and whether coliving can be part of the solution.

Get 10% off
Use the code "nerdontour" to get 10% off your next stay at Bencomo Coliving.

About Ana Baute
Ana is a certified local guide from Tenerife with roots in the Canary Islands and Ireland. She worked in advertising and cinematography before becoming a hiking guide, teaching about Guanche history and the island's unique Laurisilva forests. When the pandemic hit, she saw an opportunity: transform the family house into a coliving for digital nomads.

What we cover

How Bencomo became a real coliving — not just a hotel with a fancy name
The pandemic of loneliness and why coliving is relevant for nomads who spend months on the road
Community dinners, stargazing on Teide, and spontaneous arepa nights with strangers who become friends
Why Ana requires a minimum 15-day stay and targets nomads aged 25–45
North vs. South Tenerife: the real island versus the tourist resort strip
The mass tourism crisis — overcrowded hospitals, traffic jams, and Airbnbs pricing out locals
Digital nomads as a better kind of tourist: curious, respectful, and open to local culture
How to book Bencomo via Instagram, WhatsApp, or Mangobeds
Ana's routine for staying healthy while running a coliving: pole dance, running, hiking, and meditation

Timestamps

(00:00) - Teaser.
(00:26) - Intro & podcast welcome.
(01:09) - Meet Ana Baute: Canarian heart, Irish roots.
(02:33) - What came before Bencomo? From advertising to cinematography
(04:21) - Earning the local guide certificate: the hard way
(06:41) - Guiding teenagers, hiking with locals, and the Guanche culture
(08:39) - Tenerife's Laurisilva: the island's most magical forest
(09:41) - Tenerife as a small continent: layers of nature and biodiversity
(11:17) - How Ana discovered co-living — and decided to start her own
(13:10) - The pandemic of loneliness and why co-living matters
(15:04) - What makes a true co-living (not just a rebranded hotel)
(16:18) - Community dinners, Arepa nights, and stargazing at Teide
(18:19) - Guest activities: yoga, cycling, art nights, and dog walks
(20:23) - Family house turned co-living: one year of building the dream
(22:20) - The name "Bencomo" and why every room is named after the island
(26:42) - Building a reputation from scratch — October launch and early guests
(28:00) - Why podcasting beats Instagram for authentic storytelling
(29:18) - Who stays at Bencomo? 25–45, remote workers, full of diversity
(30:46) - Avoiding tourist traps: eat local, spend local
(32:11) - Canarian food: papas con mojo, gofio, rabbit, shark, and barraquito
(34:48) - Cooking together as a community — and a Lithuanian cake for Three Kings
(37:10) - Day-to-day life at Bencomo: work, sport, and spontaneous moments
(38:10) - Operational challenges: from fridge overflow to dodgy Wi-Fi — solved
(43:34) - Coffee break connections: how real friendships form at co-living
(45:01) - Memorable guests: an Argentine guitarist and a Lithuanian wine-and-draw night
(47:23) - North vs. South Tenerife: local life, black sand, and slower pace
(49:32) - The climate zones of Tenerife — from coast to volcano
(51:12) - Mass tourism crisis: overcrowded hospitals, traffic jams, and unaffordable housing
(54:36) - What Tenerife needs: fewer tourists, more quality
(58:12) - Is co-living part of the sustainable tourism solution?
(01:01:07) - Digital nomads vs. party tourists: a different mindset entirely
(01:04:20) - How to reach Ana: Instagram, WhatsApp, or bencomocoliving.com
(01:05:47) - Booking via Mangobeds and the drone video that shows it all
(01:07:21) - Ana's wellness routine: pole dance, hiking, running, and meditation
(01:09:26) - Ana's final message: you are welcome here
(01:10:43) - Outro & subscribe to Nomad Tuesday

Connect with Ana
Bencomo Coliving: bencomocoliving.com
Instagram: @bencomocoliving

Walking with Piotrek: Being Lost is Part of the Journey

Piotrek Bodera — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 07:43:00 GMT

Wandering through the flower section at Kuala Lumpur's Botanical Garden, surrounded by blooms that somehow always find their way toward the light.Being lost is something we all experience. Whether it's missing a turn in an unfamiliar city or feeling stuck in life's bigger questions. But here's what I've learned through years of traveling and getting turned around more times than I can count: it's only temporary.When you feel lost, when the path ahead seems unclear, don't force it. Take a rest. Have a proper meal. Let yourself breathe. Then look again with fresh eyes. You'll always find a way out, because being lost doesn't define you—it's just part of the journey.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: In Vienna with Marc

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:24:00 GMT

Schönbrunn’s baroque gardens are stunning, but today the real highlight is reuniting with my nomad friend Marc Wieland. After podcast chats in five other countries, we’ve just ticked off our sixth—Austria! Marc left Switzerland the moment he heard I’d be in Vienna, proving once again that distance means nothing when you value friendship. Grateful, we always find time for such walks!#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Dorota & Krzysztof Who Resurrected Their "RealPoland" Travel Business

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:42:47 GMT

Check the full transcript and show notes at: https://nerdontour.net/dorota-krzysztof-who-resurrected-their-realpoland-travel-business/

Krzysztof and Dorota spent years building a tour company in Warsaw, then watched COVID close the borders of nearly every country their guests come from. Just as people started booking again, war broke out next door. After three years of running tours for free at night, they shut the business down. Then an email from a past guest arrived at the exact moment they drove past the sign of her family's tiny hometown.

We talk about what makes someone Polish, why Krzysztof travels to countries that officially don't exist, slow travel, AI trip planners that look perfect on screen, and why Poland is still one of the few places in Europe without crowds.

About Krzysztof and Dorota
Krzysztof and Dorota are a married couple from Warsaw and the team behind RealPoland Tours, an inbound tour operator focused on small group and private tours. Krzysztof is a licensed guide who helps travelers with Polish roots find their ancestors. Dorota designs the itineraries and translates children's books from Swedish into Polish. Together with their two boys, they explore Poland by caravan and run the business remotely, on their own terms.

What we cover
- What makes someone Polish: language, roots, or a last name
- Slow travel with kids vs. intense couple trips
- Surviving COVID and war next door as a small travel business
- The email from Miłomłyn that brought RealPoland back to life
- Why Poland is having its moment and still has no crowds
- AI trip planning, chatbot fatigue, and the human touch

Timestamps

(00:00) - Start.
(00:59) - How I met Krzysztof on a tour with Silesian miners.
(02:33) - What makes someone Polish: language, roots, or a last name?
(04:10) - Is Poland still seen as provincial?
(09:13) - How foreign visitors see Poland today.
(12:41) - The travel bug, family votes, and a Google Maps bucket list.
(19:06) - A US road trip without kids and why a week can feel like two months.
(22:52) - Krzysztof's obsession with countries that don't exist.
(27:02) - Living with history in Warsaw, and what Malaysia taught me.
(32:31) - War next door: does Poland still feel safe?
(36:01) - From guide and translator to tour operators.
(41:49) - 2014: the first small group tour and their first child.
(46:17) - Their own vibe, then New York, Melbourne, and COVID.
(51:05) - Closed borders, war, and shutting down.
(53:12) - The email that arrived in Miłomłyn.
(57:33) - Old guests return, pączki, and tracing Polish roots.
(01:02:13) - Why travelers without Polish roots now choose Poland.
(01:05:28) - No crowds, Żabka, fast trains, and good-value hotels.
(01:11:30) - Warsaw as a gateway from Asia, and who RealPoland is for.
(01:13:31) - AI trip planners: great on screen, nonsense on the road.
(01:17:49) - Chatbot fatigue and the human touch as a luxury.
(01:20:03) - Running a tour company like digital nomads.
(01:23:21) - Why their way of working beats a 9-to-5.
(01:25:17) - Where to find RealPoland and a free Polish course.

Krzysztof, Dorota and their projects

RealPoland Tours: https://realpolandtours.com/ — small group and private tours of Poland
Design your own tour: https://realpolandtours.com/private-tours/design-your-own-tour/ — tailor-made private trips
Heritage Tour: https://realpolandtours.com/private-tours/heritage-tour/ — for travelers with Polish roots
Learn Polish: https://realpolandtours.com/small-group-tours/learn-polish/ — Dorota's free Polish phrases course
RealPoland on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealPolandTravel/ — their most active channel

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Walking with Piotrek: Forest is a Natural Aircon

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:33:00 GMT

Just a few steps under the canopy and something shifts. The sharp heat softens. The air settles. And when a gentle breeze passes through, there's simply nothing better. No air conditioner in the world can replicate that feeling.

It takes a little practice to truly attune to it. But once you do, the forest stops being just a backdrop — it becomes the destination.

This is why I keep coming back. For the oxygen, yes. But mostly for the coolness that only trees can give.

#WalkingWithPiotrek

Walking with Piotrek: Sibuan Island

Piotrek Bodera — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 05:59:00 GMT

Walking with Piotrek on Sibuan Island felt like stepping into a painting, bare feet on powdery sand, the horizon painted with ominous dark clouds, yet sunlight pierced through in golden beams. Nature’s drama and beauty in perfect harmony.Sometimes the most magical moments happen when the sky can’t decide between storm and sunshine.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Why I switched from Gmail to Proton Mail to iCloud Mail?

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:04:06 GMT

I value privacy and was delighted to discover Proton Mail. Their solution sounded like a wonderful counterpoint to the dominance of Gmail and other ad-driven services. Once I read books about surveillance capitalism, I knew that I wanted to protect my data and experience what it means to use the end-to-end encrypted, open-source email provider called Proton. Although, after over a year of using it, I’m switching to Apple’s iCloud Mail.

How to find accommodation as a nomad?

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:56:45 GMT

Accommodation doesn't have to be nomad's biggest expense. After years on the road, I cut my lodging costs in half without downgrading. Rooms, colivings, apartments, direct rentals. Here's my unconventional approach to a place to stay.

Marc Wieland – Swiss location-independent web developer in his twenties roaming the globe

Piotrek Bodera — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 07:25:00 GMT

Passion for traveling, chatting with locals, and landscape photography is what inspires Marc to be nomadic. Thanks to his determination, he found a Swiss web agency, that allows him to work four days a week and from anywhere. Listen to Marc's full story about how he started, how he uses Tinder to find local friends, not hookups, and what is the most fun summer activity in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.

https://nerdontour.net/marc-wieland-swiss-location-independent-web-developer-in-his-twenties-roaming-the-globe/

Benjamin Lupton — Going Against the Grain: Unconventional Dating, Deep Culture Immersion, and the Art of Sustainable Living Abroad

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:00:36 GMT

Ben is a self-taught developer and restless thinker who chose the nomad path over a conventional Australian life of cars, houses, and boats. After a long-term relationship collapsed, he rebuilt himself from scratch — learning Bahasa Indonesia to escape Western cultural bubbles, ditching Tinder for a methodical courtship approach, and trading vague life goals for daily non-negotiable practices. Hear how he turned being a 'loser at home' into strong roots abroad.

Find transcript, notes and links at nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: Shoutout to Planet Wild from Rouen

Piotrek Bodera — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 06:26:00 GMT

Rouen’s gothic spires pierce Normandy’s autumn sky as I stroll around in the local park. Today’s walk also crosses borders — I’m backing Planet Wild’s new push to shield Romania’s virgin forests. Rewilding feels legendary; supporting it feels right. #WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net

Walking with Piotrek: Nomadic Sleep Quality

Piotrek Bodera — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:49:00 GMT

Strolling Warsaw's park, I talk about mastering 8-hour sleep hygiene amid global nomading. My first airport hotel layover between long-hauls? Game-changer for conquering jet lag and staying sharp. Throw in a clean diet, regular workouts, meditation, and yoga—it's my formula for peak rest, no matter the time zone.#WalkingWithPiotrek

For more digital nomad stories go to ⁠nerdontour.net