Beach Commute - Digital Nomad Experts

You would THINK that people would want to encourage you become a digital nomad and live your dreams of traveling the world...but in reality, you'll probably run into a lot of external pressure and conversations that make you question whether or not becoming a digital nomad is a good decision. Hint: Most of the time this pressure comes as a result of people within your family and social circle truly don't understand what the lifestyle is all about. With well over a decade of combined years as digital nomads, Jeff and Marisa have felt nearly every external pressure and had nearly every conversation with friends and family about what being a digital nomad is all about. Listen in to hear Jeff and Marisa debunk the top 5 reasons people want to stop living and how to tackle those difficult conversations. Make sure you get on our email list to get two free digital nomad job listings per week: beachcommute.com/email

Does it feel like you've been doing everything right, but still haven't landed the job? You're applying for every job you've seen on every job listing platform you can find, but you're still not getting any responses. With that much volume, you should be getting some sort of response, right? Not necessarily. There are a few tricks to the application process that aren't intuitive. Spoiler: It has nothing to do with volume. As a matter of fact, the opposite is probably true. In this episode, Marisa, a longtime career coach an co-founder of Beach Commute, explains the top three reasons that people aren't landing interviews and getting the remote travel job of their dreams. You will be surprised to find that these reasons aren't all that intuitive! If they were, people would be landing their dream jobs every week! If you're in the market for landing a remote job that lets you become a digital nomad, this is a must listen episode. Marisa provides practical and actionable steps to getting an interview and landing the job you're looking for. Announcement: If your dream is to land a remote travel job, but don't have the time or energy to do the legwork needed, Beach Commute is launching the Nomad Career Accelerator program for you! The Nomad Career Accelerator is a premium "done for you" program in which we do all the tedious work of applying, writing emails, communicating with hiring managers, etc. We are talking about giving you 15-20 hours of work per week back to you. We are accepting just a handful of applicants, so if you're interested make sure you apply here soon!

In this episode we dive into 10 rapid-fire questions that you submitted, answering completely off the cuff with no prep. Expect real-talk insights on digital nomad life, remote work realities, company culture red/green flags, packing regrets, and the skills that actually make your lifestyle sustainable.🏖️ The one thing people romanticize way too much about nomad destinations (and why company beats location every time)😎 Why the classic “working from the beach” stock photo fantasy is mostly misleading🚩 Subtle red flags that reveal a remote company isn’t built for long-term remote success✅ Quiet green flags that show a company truly trusts and supports remote workers🧳 The most common packing mistake new nomads keep making💻 Coworking spots that actually live up to the hype (and a few that surprised them)🌍 One underrated destination that turned out way better than expected🔄 The single most important skill for thriving as a nomad, and yes, you can build it⏳ What they’d do differently today to land a remote job faster in the current tough market

Cliché travel quotes are everywhere: on mugs, tattoos, and Instagram... but do they hold up? In this fun, philosophical episode, we react live to 15 popular ones, debating their truth for digital nomads, exploring themes of growth, humility, freedom, and why travel really changes you (or doesn't). From Tolkien to Twain, we unpack the deeper insights on life, wanderlust, and designing a fulfilling nomadic path:😂 Live reactions to clichés: Starting with "Not all those who wander are lost": true for curious explorers, but some nomads are totally lost (and that's okay).🌍 Travel as self-discovery: Quotes like "Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer" spark talks on growth, new perspectives, and ditching comfort zones.🧳 Nomad realities: Debating "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page": is travel essential, or can you "live" without it?😏 Humility & ego checks: "Travel makes one modest": How getting lost, cultural shocks, and seeing your tiny place in the world keeps you grounded.🔄 Freedom vs. routine: Quotes on adventure over stability, like "A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for": Tying into remote work and breaking free from 9-5 traps.💡 Growth through discomfort: "Travel far enough, you'll meet yourself": discussing personal evolution, facing fears, and why travel forces introspection.❓ Listener reflection: What quote resonates most? Share your take: does travel make you wiser, or is it overhyped?

Ever wondered why "smart" people (high IQ, degrees, etc) often feel unfulfilled? In this episode, we unpack the real measure of intelligence: designing a life you actually want to live. From ditching traditional success metrics to embracing emotional intelligence, adaptive skills, and your "zone of genius," we explore how rethinking smarts can lead to more freedom, fulfillment, and a lifestyle that makes you happy.🧠 Redefining intelligence: Why degrees and IQ don't equal smarts. It's about applying yourself, creativity, and designing a life true to you.😔 Why smart people often feel unfulfilled: Spending too much time in your head, ignoring your body, grinding without joy, and chasing the wrong ladders.🌟 The truest form of intelligence: Building a life you love, not just climbing corporate rungs for the wrong reasons.🤝 Multiple intelligences unpacked: From emotional (regulating stress) to adaptive (thriving without structure, key for nomads) and ethical (using power wisely).💡 Zone of genius: Tapping into what you're naturally great at, turning it into a remote career, and avoiding burnout by aligning work with your strengths.🔄 Adaptive intelligence for nomads: Functioning without routines, rebuilding after setbacks, and operating across cultures without melting down.❓ Challenge for listeners: Use ChatGPT to assess your intelligences—what's your strongest, and how can it shape your dream life?

2025 hit like an earthquake: extremes of highs and lows, massive personal growth, and forced reinvention. In this raw year-in-review, we reflect on the lessons from a challenging year as digital nomads: rethinking travel, slowing down, community, belonging, and what "freedom" actually means when the old patterns no longer fit.🌪️ 2025 in a nutshell: A year of extremes, intense personal shake-ups, and uncomfortable growth that ultimately transformed everything.✈️ Evolving relationship with travel: Slowing down, embracing beach-bum life (tank tops and sandals included), craving bases, and ditching the need to constantly bounce around new places.🌱 Personal growth unlocked: Jeff's dive into feeling emotions over overthinking, grounding practices, and solving problems from the body instead of the head.👥 Community, belonging & loneliness: The raw truth of isolation, learning to spot genuine connections, and putting people on the "chopping block" who don't meet you in the depths.🔥 Burning old ideas: Letting go of people-pleasing, head-heavy decision-making, and the myth that digital nomads must always be on the move to "qualify."🧠 Advice our past selves needed: Stop making decisions just to avoid disappointing others, say no unapologetically, and redesign life around what actually feels good.🔮 Looking to 2026: Building a life of 2–3 hour workdays, deep passions (like writing a book), meaningful community, and true time freedom.💡 Redefining digital nomad life: Dropping the pressure to travel constantly, embracing slower rhythms, and focusing on joy, belonging, and meaningful work over endless wanderlust.❓ Was your 2025 an earthquake too? Share your story—we'd love to hear what resonated.

Everyone thinks digital nomads are sipping coconuts on the beach all day… so let’s actually talk about what they do. In this episode, we break down a real, honest day-in-the-life of a digital nomad, from morning routines to work hours, productivity myths, and what the lifestyle actually looks like when Instagram isn’t watching.We talk about: 🕗 "Do digital nomads even work?” A brutally honest breakdown of how many hours we actually work☕ Morning routines that aren’t aesthetic (and why most nomads don’t start their day at sunrise yoga)💻 Where the work really happens — cafés, apartments, coworking spaces… and why beaches are mostly a lie⏰ Time zones: the silent killer of the digital nomad fantasy🧠 Why productivity looks different on the road (and how nomads structure their days to stay sane)🏖️ The biggest misconception non-nomads have about “working from anywhere”📅 What a normal weekday looks like vs. travel days (spoiler: they’re not the same thing)😬 The part of nomad life nobody brags about — routines, discipline, and invisible stress🌍 Why flexibility ≠ freedom (and how experienced nomads actually design their schedules)❓ Listener question that sparked this episode — and why it hits the core of the nomad mythLooking for help getting a job that lets you work from anywhere? Apply here for our program with hiring experts who help you land a remote job.

🧠 “Are you your job… or did your job eat you alive?” It's the identity crisis we don't talk about in the West. 🌍 Why travel exposes the lies you’ve told yourself about career success, and what happens when your old identity stops fitting.🏋️‍♂️ How losing structure makes some people lose themselves and how to rebuild without falling apart.💼 The subtle ways your career rewires your personality, and the moment you realize you don’t recognize who you became.✈️ How a nomadic life forces reinvention...clarity, confidence, and why freedom is the best (and scariest) mirror.😬 Why people cling to job titles like life rafts, and why you need to finally let go.🧩 How to rebuild a life that actually feels like yours again without burning everything down.Looking for help getting a remote job? Fill out this form to apply!

This episode dives into the uncomfortable truths beneath the Instagram gloss of digital nomad life...loneliness, decision fatigue, shallow connections, and the emotional cost of constant mobility. Jeff and Marisa crack open the paradox of “freedom” that often leaves people more disconnected, overstimulated, and rootless than they expected.The “Replace, Upgrade, Move On” Trap: How consumer culture trains nomads to treat cities, friendships, and even partners like disposable products.Perpetual First Dates: Why relationships rarely deepen when you're always leaving in four days.Menu Anxiety, But for Life: The paradox of choice - too many destinations, too many options, too many apps - leads to chronic dissatisfaction.Community Erosion: Every time you pack a bag, you lose a layer of belonging you didn’t realize you were building.Lonely in Paradise: Why having “everything you want” on paper can still feel emotionally empty on the road.Nomad Time Warp: The way constant movement stretches and distorts friendships - some intensify fast, some vanish instantly.Emotional Velcro Problems: No city or person feels quite right, because nothing sticks long enough to matter.The Secret Longing: The quiet craving for routine, depth, and people who actually know your history - not just your next itinerary.Identity Whiplash: Reinventing yourself in every new city sounds freeing… until you realize you’ve slipped away from yourself.Freedom Fatigue: The overlooked emotional weight of making every decision - where to live, how to socialize, who to trust, what comes next - alone.A message from our sponsor GigSky: Tired of paying high roaming fees on your phone when you travel abroad? 📱🛩️Try GigSky, with mobile data coverage in over 200+ regions — even on cruise ships!So you can get fast, reliable, high-speed internet on your phone while you travel (at a fraction of the cost!)Special holiday event: save up to 40% on most GigSky data plans…

One of our all-time favorite, and most listened to episodes for folks looking to start working from wherever in the world they want. What's the first job you think of when I ask "what's the most common digital nomad job?" Most people would think "Instagram influencer" or "Travel blogger." Right? Turns out this this is rarely accurate. Jeff and Marisa pulled the latest digital nomad statistics, job salaries, and first-hand data from their 1k+ digital nomad network to come up with the top seven most common jobs they see in the digital nomad community. They also provided salary ranges you can expect and experience needed for each. This is not the regurgitated list you will see circulating around the internet - this is what you will actually see in the wild! This is first-hand knowledge and advice on how to get out there and working and traveling ASAP. Want help getting a fully-remote job? Our Remote Job Fast Track program was designed by digital nomad career coaching experts specifically to get you hired with a company that lets you work from anywhere in the world. Apple Here!https://form.typeform.com/to/d6Vvtaa8

One of our all-time favorite, and most listened to episodes for current and digital nomads looking for their next destination. Contrary to many people's beliefs, becoming a digital nomad often makes your cost of living more affordable rather than more expensive. The reason being is that the majority of major digital nomad destinations have a relatively low cost of living. As a matter of fact, it's one of the biggest criteria when digital nomads choose their destinations. In this episode, Jeff, Marisa and Diego selected 9 awesome locations to live as a digital nomad. The criteria they used were: Cost of living under $2k per month, including rent. A digital nomad presence/community. Reasonably safe. Strong internet. Easy to navigate/travel to the destination. Need help finding a remote job that lets you become a digital nomad? We help people like you find legitimate remote jobs every day! Join our email list and get remote jobs sent directly to your inbox. https://beachcommute.com/email/

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Sasha Farley, a remote work expert and consultant, to break down what most managers, teams, and companies get totally wrong about productivity, focus, collaboration, and remote work.There is science and biology behind the traditional 9-5 doesn't make sense for your brain or body. In this episode you’ll learn:What do people still misunderstand about “productivity” with knowledge work and why your brain doesn't work like a manufacturing plant. Why many meetings are wildly inefficient and ineffective. How remote workers actually think, process, and createWhy bosses still get concerned about employees “doing laundry” and “chores” during the workday? The science behind burnout, context-switching, and Zoom fatigueWhy “just power through it” is terrible advice for your brainIt’s neuroscience… and wildly relevant for anyone who works online.You can find Sasha on her website: https://www.sashafarleyconsulting.com/And LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sashafarley/

This week Jeff and Marisa answer your most-asked questions about life as a digital nomad. From healthcare abroad to giving up your home base, they're breaking down the logistics that keep people from taking the leap. No fluff, just honest answers from people who've lived it.Here's what they covered:🌍 Digital immigrants vs. digital nomads — Are remote workers settling down abroad for good? The shift is happening.🏠 The home base dilemma — Keep paying rent back home or cut ties completely? There's no right answer, but there are patterns.💰 Is the American Dream actually dead? — The numbers are brutal. We talk about what's replacing it and why people are looking elsewhere.🏥 Healthcare abroad — The fear that stops most people. What it's really like, what it costs, and the stories you need to hear.😨 "What if something goes wrong?" — Real talk about the risks, the unknowns, and how to think about them differently.🛂 The post-national generation? — Tax residency, passport games, and whether digital nomads are creating a whole new identity.Want daily remote job alerts sent to your inbox? Sign up here: www.beachcommute.com/emailWant our support that can help you land a fully remote job faster?⚡️ Apply to Remote Job Fast Track here: www.beachcommute.com/apply

Your brain is designed to keep you safe, comfortable, and efficient. But what if "safe" is actually keeping you stuck?In this episode, Jeff and Marisa dive into the neuroscience of why we get trapped in routines (even good ones), and how travel literally rewires your brain. Spoiler: it's not about escaping your problems, it's about building new neural pathways that make you more resilient, creative, and alive.Here's what we cover:🧠 Why your brain fights change: The biological reasons you stay in ruts, even when you want something different (hint: dopamine, efficiency, and survival mode).⚡️ Neuroplasticity 101: How new experiences create new brain pathways, keep you young, and build emotional resilience.🏃‍♂️ From running to rucking: Jeff's accidental discovery in Costa Rica that changed his entire exercise routine (and why he never would've tried it at home).🌍 All travel is not created equal: Why an all-inclusive resort won't rewire anything, and what kind of travel actually creates transformation.💃 Real examples from the road: How paddle, mezcal, zouk dancing, boxing, and pickleball became part of their identities simply because they were in the right place at the right time.🪜 Start small: You don't have to sell everything and move abroad tomorrow. Even turning right instead of left on your daily walk can start the rewiring process.Want daily remote job alerts sent to your inbox?Sign up here: www.beachcommute.com/emailWant our support that can help you land a fully remote job faster? ⚡️Apply to Remote Job Fast Track here: www.beachcommute.com/apply

This week Jeff and Marisa talked about the five big regrets of the dying. Morbid sounding? It's not...This is all about learning from people who had wished they had lived life another way. You can take these lessons and apply them to your life right now, before it's too late. Here are the things they talked about: 💫 “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself.”Too many of us follow blueprints built by others. Here’s how to start listening to your own voice instead of the world’s.💼 “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”The grind feels like a flex, until it’s not. We dig into what “enough” really looks like and how to create a life where you don't need to feel like you have to distract yourself with work accomplishments. 💬 “I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.”Unspoken feelings turn into resentment towards yourself and others. How honesty, even when it hurts you and others, leads to deeper connection and peace.🤝 “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”Life gets busy, but relationships are what it's all about. Simple ways to rekindle old bonds and keep your people close no matter where you are.😊 “I wish I had let myself be happier.”We talk about permission to feel okay with yourself, being present, and the little choices that build a lighter life.Want daily remote job alerts sent to your inbox? Sign up here: www.beachcommute.com/emailWant our support that can help you land a fully remote job faster? ⚡️Apply to Remote Job Fast Track here: www.beachcommute.com/apply

Have you ever lived/traveled to a place where you got the feels that something wasn't quite right? Have you ever landed somewhere and felt "Oh my god, this feels like a home I've never lived in before!"That's because your nervous system has a geography! It's not woo-woo, it's fact.There's some science to this! And it's based on your personality traits. Literally, there are aspects to your personality that can/do determine where you should be traveling. In this episode we talk about: 🌎 Where you thrive vs. where you wilt: the Big Five traits, what they are and where they're mapped across the world.🧠 City brain vs. mountain mind: how your stress circuits change depending on your environment.☀️ The sunlight effect: how latitude, daylight, and climate quietly steer your mood.🏖️ Introverts love mountains, extroverts love beaches: Where you should live if you're an extrovert, introvert, a bit neurotic, open to new experiences, etc. 💡 Oxygen vs. poison: the difference between feeling alive somewhere and just surviving there.Want daily remote job alerts sent to your inbox? Sign up here: www.beachcommute.com/emailWant our support that can help you land a fully remote job faster? ⚡️Apply to Remote Job Fast Track here: www.beachcommute.com/apply”

Legalese and logistics shouldn’t stop you from living and working anywhere. In this episode, we unpack the confusing stuff: work-from-anywhere policies vs. hire-from-anywhere roles, W-2 vs. 1099, employer-of-record (EOR), visas, and taxes. So you know what job listings actually mean and how to navigate them. No promises, no legal advice, just clear explanations and what to consider next.Highlights: 🧭 Why this feels overwhelming — The “legal stuff” that keeps people from even applying.🏷️ WFA vs. HFA (the #1 confusion) — Policy (where employees may work) vs. hiring scope (who they can legally employ).🌍 Time zones & trade-offs — Yes, Bali is dreamy… but 2 a.m. meetings are real, and a fair ask. 🧾 W-2 vs. 1099, explained — Security, benefits, flexibility, and real positives on both sides.🧩 What is an Employer of Record (EOR)? — The third-party workaround that lets companies hire globally (and pay you locally).📬 Where to find legit WFA jobs — The email list shout-out and why curated roles matter.🛂 Visas, simplified — Tourist stays vs. digital-nomad visas (and why you shouldn’t solve visas before you have the job).💰 Taxes, simplified — The high-level view, why it depends on you and the country, and when to speak to a pro.Want daily remote job alerts sent to your inbox? Sign up here: www.beachcommute.com/emailWant our support that can help you land a fully remote job faster? ⚡️Apply to Remote Job Fast Track here: www.beachcommute.com/apply”***Not legal/tax advice. Your situation is unique—consult a qualified professional for specifics.

Jeff and Marisa dive deep into hustle culture, the infamous “996” work schedule, and why overwork isn’t just toxic, it’s literally taking years off our lives. From Silicon Valley badge-of-honor busyness to nomads redefining success, this episode is a reality check on what really matters: health, freedom, and time.🔑 Episode Highlights:⏰ The 996 Schedule — What working 9am–9pm, 6 days a week does to your life.🚗 Stage, Car, Laptop, Repeat — Why glorifying nonstop grind is a dangerous illusion.🐴 “From the Horse’s Mouth” — A live job listing requiring 70+ hour weeks (and why that’s insane).🧳 Nomad Life as a Wake-Up Call — How travel revealed there’s another way to live.🏆 Titles vs. Time — Why chasing job titles is an identity trap.🧠 Overwork = Smoking? — The shocking stats showing how workaholism slashes your lifespan.❤️ Redefining Success — Building a life you love without burning out.🏖️ A New Badge of Honor — Why “I’m well-rested and fulfilled” should replace “I’m busy.”Perfect for anyone questioning hustle culture, corporate conditioning, or craving a healthier definition of success.Want daily remote job alerts sent to your inbox? Sign up here: www.beachcommute.com/emailWant our support that can help you land a fully remote job faster? ⚡️Apply to Remote Job Fast Track here: www.beachcommute.com/apply”

Every few months, another article comes out declaring that “digital nomad life is over.” Usually written by someone who hated it, moved back home, and now insists everyone else should too.In this episode, we’re calling B.S. and breaking down the 10 most common reasons people actually give up on nomad life—from loneliness to burnout to money stress. Some are valid. Some are myths. All of them are worth talking about. 🕒 Episode Highlights:🏢 The Latest “Nomad Life is Dead” ArticleWhy the media keeps pushing people back to the office.👯 Loneliness & Shallow FriendshipsWhy some nomads can’t find real connection, and how to avoid it.📶 Internet & Work ChallengesThe practical hurdles of trying to stay productive anywhere.🧠 Mental Health & BurnoutWhy nomad life won’t “fix” deeper issues, and what helps instead.🌞 Heat & HumidityYeah, some places are hot, and some are humid...it's not a reason to give up on the digital nomad lifestyle🤯 Distractions happenYou wouldn't believe the "reason" this person gave as a hardship of traveling as a digital nomad...🎧 Tune in for laughs, honesty, and practical tips to avoid the pitfalls that send nomads packing.If you want expert career coaching help getting hired for a fully-remote role, write "Get Hired" to hello@beachcommute.com

Not all “remote jobs" mean the same thing. Some let you log in from anywhere in the world, others tie you to a city or region, and many have hidden expectations around hours, objectives, or even eligibility.In this episode, we break down what remote really means, how to read between the lines in job postings, and which setups actually give you the freedom you’re looking for.🔎 11 different kinds of remote jobsWhat each model really implies for your day-to-day life.📑 The fine print in job postingsWhich details are negotiable—and which can lock you in.🏢 Company examples we likeReal-world cases of remote done right.🌍 Work from anywhere vs. Hire from anywhereWhy the difference matters more than you think.🎧 Tune in to make sure your next “remote job” truly fits the lifestyle you want.Want daily remote job alerts sent to your inbox? 📧Sign up here: www.beachcommute.com/emailWant support that can help you land a fully remote job faster? ⚡️Apply to Remote Job Fast Track here: www.beachcommute.com/apply