In Episode 51 of the Nomad Summit Podcast, we sit down with Ilona Vinogradova – a former BBC journalist turned global traveler who challenges the very idea of what it means to be a digital nomad.

Ilona has spent years living without a permanent home, moving across countries while building a location-independent career. But she resists the label "digital nomad" entirely. For her, travel is not about collecting destinations or optimizing lifestyle – it is about shedding identities, going deeper, and connecting with people in a more meaningful way.

This conversation explores her concept of "vertical travel" – a powerful shift from surface-level experiences to deeper human connection across cultures, ages, and social backgrounds. Along the way, we also dive into belonging, curiosity, silence, and what it really means to live freely.

This is not a typical nomad conversation. It is a reflection on how we travel – and why.

Key Takeaways

• Why Ilona rejects the "digital nomad" label and sees identity itself as a limitation
• The difference between horizontal travel and vertical travel
• How to connect with people outside your usual social circles
• Why short-term connections while traveling can still be deeply meaningful
• How curiosity can unlock unexpected experiences and relationships
• The idea that "life is your work" – and what that means in practice
• How silence and meditation can change the way you experience the world
• Why travel can help you move beyond judgment and see common humanity

Relevant Links

• Ilona on Substack: https://ilonavinogradova.substack.com/
• Ilona on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ilonavinogradova
• Ilona's company, LovinFilms Pro: https://lovinfilms.com
• Nomad Summit: https://nomadsummit.com
• Episode produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk