#004: Escaping the Western "Trap System" for Creative Freedom (with Teddy Reiss)

In this episode of The Nomad Podcast, host Joshua Snitgen interviews Teddy Reiss, a project coordinator and music producer who's been living as a digital nomad in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the past seven months. Teddy shares his journey from London to Thailand, how he convinced his employer to let him work remotely, and his strategy for turning his music production passion into a sustainable income source.

In this episode, you'll discover:

✅ How to transition a traditional office job to remote work

✅ Balancing creative pursuits with remote employment

✅ Strategies for monetizing music production while traveling

✅ Why escaping Western cultural pressures can lead to greater perspective

✅ The importance of language learning for deeper cultural connection

Episode Highlights:

[00:35] Introduction to Teddy's life as a digital nomad in Chiang Mai

[03:31] The process of convincing his employer to allow remote work

[08:09] Teddy's daily schedule balancing project coordination and music production

[16:04] Balancing passion projects with meaningful remote work

[19:13] Advice for turning creative pursuits into income sources while traveling

[22:40] Unexpected aspects of nomad life in Thailand

[25:28] Why everyone needs time away from Western culture to gain perspective

Notable Moments:

"You've got to love it enough to be obsessed with it... it's not even an option that I will eventually make money from my music because I spend so much time doing it."

"Everyone really does need some time to just get out of that environment for a sustained period of time so they can have a more open view of what life really is."

"The more that we travel and the more that we see other people's way of life, the more that we actually have a view of what life actually is."

Resources & Links:

🌴 Teddy's Instagram

🌴 Teddy's latest release: "Inspiration" (Apple Music | Spotify)

🌴 Connect with Joshua

🌴 Want to be a guest on The Nomad Podcast? Send an email to joshua@nomadlifeguide.com 

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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