#003: Sailing, Tiny Homes & Backpacks: How to Survive and Thrive as a Digital Nomad Anywhere (with Suzanne Wentley)

In this episode of The Nomad Podcast, host Joshua Snitgen interviews Suzanne Wentley, an 11-year digital nomad veteran who has lived and worked across five continents. Suzanne shares her journey from a burned-out communications director to a published author, transformational coach, and adventurer who has traveled by sailboat, self-built tiny home, vintage RV, and backpack.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How to build resilience through travel (that lasts beyond the honeymoon phase)
• The unexpected journey from sailboat living to tiny homes to solo backpacking
• Practical ways to develop self-reliance for sustainable nomad life
• Why adapting matters more than perfection when traveling long-term
• How to turn fear into opportunity when making major life transitions

Episode Highlights

[00:00] Introduction to Suzanne's 11-year nomad journey and current life in Da Nang

[02:17] How Da Nang became the first place Suzanne returned to in a decade of travel

[03:30] The evolution of digital nomadism since Suzanne began her journey

[05:15] Setting yourself up for success before transitioning to nomad life

[07:18] Suzanne's transition from newspaper work to location-independent income

[09:57] Living and working from a sailboat in the Caribbean

[11:25] The importance of experimenting with different lifestyles and career paths

[13:42] Building self-reliance and healthy habits as a foundation for nomad life

[15:05] Addressing common fears about transitioning to location independence

[19:22] The importance of avoiding comparison and embracing your unique path

[22:38] Suzanne's work as a transformational coach for clients seeking major life changes

[25:42] The process of writing a memoir about her nomad experiences

Key Quotes

"It's not survival of the fittest. It's survival of the most adaptable."

"This lifestyle is all about freedom. And to be free is to be free within yourself. So you might act like everything's perfect on the outside, but inside they're just crying."

"I'm a big proponent of doing the work before you go. Don't think that, 'Oh wow, I'm moving to Europe, I'm going to walk 10,000 steps every day, now I'll be healthy.' It doesn't quite work that easily."

Resources & Links

🌴 Suzanne's Website (TheLoveLightProject.com)

🌴 Suzanne's Book "One-Way Ticket"

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Resources [FREE & PAID]

🌴 FREE GUIDE: 5 Critical Decisions Before Going Nomadic (Avoid the common mistakes that send many nomads home within months)

🌴 THE FIRST 30 DAYS NOMAD KIT: A comprehensive week-by-week action plan for your transition to nomad life. Includes checklists, troubleshooting guides, and practical tips for your first 30 days as a digital nomad.

🌴 NOMAD CONCIERGE: Skip the trial-and-error phase with direct WhatsApp access to Joshua for 60 days. Personalized guidance when you need it most (🚨 Limited to 5 people per month).

🌴 JOIN OUR FREE NOMAD COMMUNITY: Connect with fellow nomads and get your questions answered.

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