Become Nomad Podcast - Digital Nomad Lifestyle, Travel and Remote Work

Episodes

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  BN 141: Uzbekistan's Silk Road: Samarkand, Bukhara & Beyond 15.10.2026 19m

  A week off, the Silk Road, and a country changing fast. In this episode of Become Nomad, I explore Uzbekistan and share why I think Central Asia deserves a place higher on your travel list. The journey takes us from Tashkent's Soviet grandeur and modern energy to the extraordinary architecture of Samarkand's Registan Square, the old streets of Bukhara, and Khiva's walled inner city. I explain why Bukhara was my favorite, why Tashkent deserves time of its own, and how even spectacular Silk Road sights can start to feel repetitive. There's also a detour into Tajikistan to explore the Seven Lakes: dramatic mountain scenery, bumpy cliffside roads, and a country that left me wanting to return for a longer stay. For those with more time, I discuss extending the adventure to Nukus, the Savitsky Museum, desert fortresses and the Aral Sea—with Turkmenistan as another possibility for the more adventurous. Along the way, I share practical observations on Uzbekistan's surprisingly good fast trains, booking ahead, and why autumn worked so well for my visit. I also reflect on what stayed with me beyond the architecture: heartfelt hospitality of the Uzbek people and great food.
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  BN 140: The State of Digital Nomadism in 2026 18.09.2026 35m

  Dan and Eli are back with another classic episode. This episode explores the state of the nomadic world and digital nomadism in 2026, focusing on topics such as: AI The general state of the digital nomad movement The current state of blogging and podcasting general trends in remote work An overview episode looking at where digital nomadism stands today and where it may be heading. Link to join our Telegram Community- https://t.me/+wst0iK7I5RMwNDE8
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  BN: 139 First Principles of Building a Business: Lessons from 15+ Years 30.07.2026 37m

  After more than 15 years of building and leading businesses, Eli David Rokah, CEO of StartupBlink, shares the timeless principles he wishes he had known from day one. A practical guide for founders and entrepreneurs at any stage.
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  BN 138: The Principles of a Happy Nomadic Life: 15 Years of Lessons 19.07.2026 27m

  After 15 years of living as a digital nomad, I share the core principles that have had the biggest impact on my happiness, productivity, relationships, and long-term sustainability on the road.
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  BN 137: Book Review: Vagabonding by Rolf Potts 06.04.2026 52m

  Recorded from the coast of Taiwan, Eli shares thoughts on the book Vagabonding by Rolf Potts. He walks walks through the passages he bookmarked and what still holds up: why long-term travel is cheaper than most people think, the cost of staying constantly connected, what you lose when travel becomes routine, and why the best quote in the book might be enough on its own. A book review for people already on the road, thinking about it, or just curious what holds up after two decades.
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  BN: 136 Anything You Want: A Book Review for Digital Nomads 27.01.2026 23m

  Join our Telegram community - https://bit.ly/BecomeNomad   In this episode, Eli shares reflections on Anything You Want by Derek Sivers. Speaking from Singapore, he explores how building a company can be an act of freedom: designed around happiness, purpose, and profitability. Through the lens of the digital nomad lifestyle, the episode touches on why solving real problems matters, how client obsession creates clarity, and what it means to build a business that supports life on the move. A thoughtful conversation for founders, freelancers, and nomads who want to build something meaningful without losing joy along the way.
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  BN 135: Koh Samet and Phitsanulok Adventures 03.12.2025 14m

  Join our Telegram community - https://bit.ly/BecomeNomad   In this episode we begin a new experiment with Eli sharing insights and experiences from his weeks of disconnection. We start with a great week that just ended in Koh Samet and Phitsanulok, with a small break in Pattaya. Learn about an island that is not overly touristic and still close to Bangkok, which city Pattaya really reminds Eli of, and why Phitsanulok is a place he keeps returning to.  
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  134: Different Countries, Different Mindsets 14.11.2025 47m

  Based on a listener request from our Telegram community -https://bit.ly/BecomeNomad  In this episode of Become Nomad, hosts Eli and Dan explore one of the most fascinating aspects of travel: understanding the national psyche. Drawing from their experiences in countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and the United States, they discuss how culture, pace, and mindset shape the way societies operate and what those differences can teach us about adapting as travelers.They also introduce two of their favorite mental models for interpreting culture: the Escalator Approach, a way to understand how societies move collectively toward progress, and the Uber Test, a quick lens for sensing how a country approaches service, efficiency, and social interaction. By the end of the conversation, Eli and Dan reflect on how these insights help them and their listeners see beyond surface impressions, recognizing the deeper mental patterns that define each place. Join them as they unpack what it truly means to understand a country not through its landmarks but through its mindset.
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  BN 133: Updates on Non Nomadic Lifestyle from Dan and Eli 08.10.2025 32m

  Join the conversation and connect with fellow listeners in our new Telegram community -https://bit.ly/BecomeNomad In this episode, Dan and Eli share their annual reflections on the nomadic and sometimes non-nomadic chapters of their lives. They talk about how their lifestyles are evolving, the questions they are asking themselves as life changes, and what being nomadic really means to them today.
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  BN 132: Long Term Nomadic Life with Wandering Earl 03.10.2025 44m

  Join the conversation and connect with fellow listeners in our new Telegram community -https://bit.ly/BecomeNomad In this episode, Eli catches up with longtime friend and digital nomad Derek Baron. They talk about what it really takes to keep the lifestyle going for over 20 years, from shifting travel patterns and new nomad hubs to the struggles of relationships and work on the road. Derek also shares why he's moved from blogging to newsletters and how shorter, more purposeful trips keep the journey meaningful.
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  BN 131: Week of Disconnection: A Nomad's Guide to Digital Detox 10.09.2025 42m

  Join the conversation and connect with fellow listeners in our new Telegram community -  https://bit.ly/BecomeNomad In this episode, Eli shares his personal journey of creating a "Week of Disconnection," a practice he has maintained since 2016. From his recent travels in Singapore and Vietnam, he reflects on the hidden costs of constant connectivity and how structured digital detox weeks have transformed his work, lifestyle, and wellbeing.
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  BN 130: The Rise of Danang: Southeast Asia's New Digital Nomad Capital 04.08.2025 48m

  In this episode Eli talks with James Clark, the legendary digital nomad behind Nomadic Notes. With over 20 years of experience, James shares his insights on how the digital nomad lifestyle has evolved since the pandemic, including the rise of digital nomad visas and the shift to career-driven travel. They also dive into the growing appeal of Southeast Asia, with Danang, Vietnam, now crowned as the new digital nomad capital of the region!
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  BN 129: The Grounded Nomad: Staying Disciplined On The Road 10.07.2025 48m

  Nikita is back to teach us everything he knows about staying disciplined while constantly on the move. Eli is mostly just hoping some of it can rub off on him so he can finally wake up and make it to important appointments on time. The talk includes finding freedom through structure, building rituals on the road, and how discipline can come from joy rather than force. Along the way: ice cream at 2am, spiritual treks in Portugal, and why Eli sometimes locks his phone in a bag just to stay focused. 
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  BN 128: ChatGPT Interviews Eli: 15 Years of Nomad Life 20.06.2025 34m

  In this solo episode recorded in Hanoi, Eli reflects on 15 years of nomadic living, the highs, lows, and strange in-betweens. Prompted by questions generated by ChatGPT, he dives into how AI is reshaping his workflow, the evolution of Become Nomad, personal sacrifices, startup ecosystem insights from around the globe, and the odd $180 meal… that thankfully turned out to cost just $9.
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  127: Tips of Working Remotely as a Digital Nomad 30.04.2025 50m

  Living as a nomad starts with a remote job, but it doesn't end there. In this episode, Eli speaks with Anna Maria Kochanska about building a career on the move, turning remote work into real impact, and why Cape Verde might be your next favorite destination. 
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  BN 126: Rituals in New Places We Travel To 31.03.2025 55m

  Nikita and Eli catch up and talk about the rituals they follow when arriving in new places, such as gathering around campfires, along with a range of other related topics.
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  BN 125: Building Your Career While Location Independent 22.01.2025 42m

  It's always on our minds as we seek to make this lifestyle sustainable -- the financial aspect of location independent work. Because let's not sugar-coat it: building a career that lets you enjoy such freedom requires work. It requires asking some tough questions and finding your particular answers. Here, Eli touches on how to approach tackling uncertainty, intention setting, becoming world class, accounting for technological change, and a whole lot more of those tough questions.
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  BN 124: "Winning" Cities & Countries for Nomads in 2025 06.12.2024 44m

  What does it mean for a location to be "winning" for nomads? This is something Eli thinks a lot about -- as he plans his next flight and as he continues the work of his main project, StartupBlink. In this ep, we dive into what trends, factors, and overall values determine a location's nomadic potential. And, of course, we name a handful that fall into this category -- plus some predictions for locations that are on the rise. Check out StartupBlink for more detailed analysis: www.startupblink.com
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  BN 123: Never Too Late To Start Digital Nomading, & Other Listener Q's (w/ Nikita Smelyanskiy) 14.10.2024 1h 6m

  Our star listener Nikita Smelyanskiy is back! This time to ask Eli some deep questions about his nomadic journey. They chat about how Eli started moving around (at age 31!), his early approaches to making income, simplifying your lifestyle into "first-level principles," maintaining nomadic relationships, how this lifestyle impacts your larger perspective of life, and much more. Have some additional Q's you'd like us to tackle? Get in touch at [email protected]!  
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  BN 122: Nomadic Burnout, Lifestyle Breaks, & Long-Term Outlook 13.09.2024 45m

  We often talk about the values of nomadic freedom. But nomadic freedom also includes the freedom to stop being nomadic for a while. After all, there are many ways of living true to the nomadic spirit -- even when you're stationary. Here, Eli & Dan discuss Dan's recent less-nomadic exploits en route to bigger questions about the long-term nature of this lifestyle and transitioning in & out of various situations.