How to Become a Digital Nomad - Lauren Razavi

If you could take off tomorrow and work from anywhere in the world, would you do it? Most of us would probably hesitate over that question, even the 20-something-year-olds like me who are relatively unencumbered, but it’s pretty safe to say that globetrotting with your laptop under your arm is the future of work and has been for a very long time.

I’ve been dabbling with the idea of becoming a digital nomad since I first read The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss in 2017, but the question remains how do you actually become a digital nomad in 2022? In this episode I sit down for a chat with digital nomad and author of Global Natives, Lauren Razavi. We talk about a bunch of practical and actionable tips for how to become a digital nomad, some of the history behind the movement, ethical implications of nomadism and Lauren’s mission to try and build a country on the internet.

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Season 3 Episode 2

00:00 Intro
00:00 What does it mean to be a digital nomad?
05:52 What’s the history of digital nomadism?
09:32 What are the pros and cons of being a nomad?
20:27 When did you first hear the term digital nomad?
23:17 Is being a digital nomad lonely?
28:31 The problem of wanting to travel when you’re renting
34:32 What is Safetywing?
52:22 What do you think about hiring across boarders?
01:06:15 Concerns and ethics of nomadism
01:22:12 Is building an internet country safe?
01:30:11 Takeaways

🔗 CONNECT WITH ALI

📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED

📙 SPONSORED BY SHORTFORM

📄SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

The podcast that delves into the minds of entrepreneurs, creators and other inspiring people to uncover their journey's towards finding joy and fulfilment at work and in life. My names Ali, and in each episode I chat to my guests about the philosophies, strategies and tools that've helped them along the path to living a life of happiness and meaning.

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[youknowme...]

A Valuable conversation with someone who is intelligently open-minded. If you are getting used to being a slave, you won't understand what she is talking about.

[electriquenikki]

This interview has been INCREDIBLE. It has made me realize actually how lonely I have been feeling working as solopreneur building my startup not working with anyone in person or remotely. I’ve realized I really don’t like working from home and I truly miss working together with people in person and with a team. This has given me so many resources and ideas of how to Re-establish/prioritize my social connections and has given me confirmation that I MUST change my location immediately and move to the city of my dreams while creating a schedule that allows frequent travel, THANK YOU SO MUCH. Will start by attending coworking spaces. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[ibansesat]

so funny to hear her love for Malaysia multiple times over the conversation :) that's always nice to hear

[vonsassy]

Loved this. Lauren Razavi explains things so well. As someone who's been "third culture" all my life and lived most of it outside of my passport country, I can't help feeling that the nomad life is in my blood.

[electriquenikki]

Yessss I love the segment around 10:00 mark when she shared about her growing up traveling experiences. Seeing the world as a global playground essentially, people who haven’t grown up traveling internationally, don’t understand how this really shifts the way you see the world. I was going from australia to the US every couple of years to visit family starting at the age of 2 and it really makes you feel as an international citizen and the world is your oyster 🎉

[rssoto]

as a digital nomad in Central America, I identified with this podcast so much. Having a home base is very important to keep the balance in my life.

[razabadass]

Thank you Lauren, Ali, Angus, Elizabeth and other people behind the scenes! Raza :)

[electriquenikki]

Omg omg 26:25 - 33:33 is SO good. Thank you for this segment, giving so many good tips on how to meet social connections that are entrepreneurial focused. And I love how it was covered about how to have a home base while frequently travel, this is something I’ve been trying to figure out. Thank YOU

[anglaispourreussir]

This is such a nugget of an interview, that invites to think beyond being a freewheeling digital nomad, but as well about what it really means to be a global citizen. Thank you for having done this and put all these topics on the table.

[Bilelogist]

She's intelligent and well spoken, plus, her cause is noble. Cheers

[living_water-]

As a Kenyan, I find that most nomads only want to interact with locals when they need them to be tour guides. I had to explain to one that I work and cannot go sightseeing on a Tuesday afternoon!
LOL.
Integration is important. Live like a local.

[Vishalaustria-hv]

Love the topics but I was a little disappointed since the title "how to become a digital nomad" was not adressed - do you maybe have a link or a recommendation on where to get started?

[ChukkieBY]

I went to sixth form with Lauren glad she’s doing amazing ❤️

[timothydanielsii]

Lots of interesting things to consider here. I never thought of an internet country! I think it's great to listen in on convos like this where people are thinking creatively for how to live and work in the digital age.

[PreparedlySimple]

But you're paying that person in London or NY or wherever more because of their cost of living. So you want to pay someone in India what someone in NY gets paid - that would be unfair because the person in India would be rich and the person in NY would be just getting by - it would be reverse issue. I do think you should pay decent wages and not cheapest you can get away with because of the country, but expecting to pay them the same is not going to happen (you have the same issues within the US as you do between countries - you have low cost of living areas getting paid way less than the big places like California, NYC, etc

[pablodavidlp]

Amazing job Ali. I love these Deep Dive conversations and the people that you bring. Keep up the good work!

[shoufen]

Oh, I like this guest🎉, interesting and informative 🎉

[truthalonetriumphs]

The whole conversation changed when the subject of paying London prices for food in Turkey came up. 😅 There was a lot of backtracking. Frankly, I don't think the gal is very practical.

[saradohse]

What an interesting conversation! As someone who recently started a YouTube Chanel because I am passionate about long term travel and (semi) nomadism as a means of cultural understanding and ultimately hopefully a more peaceful and less xenophobic world, I found the discussion about inequality and the work of plums and safety wing particularly interesting. Will have to rewatch this multiple times to unpack and think through all those ideas. This was my first deep dive episode and I am really impressed!

[witekzak]

This is one of the most inspiring visions I've ever heard