The Chris the Freelancer Podcast

Julian Goldie is a freelance copywriter and level 2 seller on Fiverr. He’s also the founder of King Passive, a website to help freelancers succeed on Fiverr and make passive income.

After meeting in Chiang Mai, Chris and Julian re-unite in Medellin after almost a year of travelling the world.

Talking Points

[01:09] Coworking spaces in Medellin

[03:13] Cost of living in Medellin

[04:29] The Language barrier in Medellin

[07:50] Medellin for digital nomads

[11:15] Julian’s experiences in Playa del Carmen and Bali

[15:30] Chiang Mai Withdrawals and cost of living in Medellin (cont’d)

[20:35] Julian’s journey to making money online and what he does now

[26:35] Making money with Fiverr

[31:19] Getting started on UpWork and how it compares to providing services on Fiverr

[35:40] Our corporate experiences before becoming digital nomads and what motivates to travel

[38:55] Our conversation returns to Thailand and living in Chiang Mai

[42:01] Hitting goals as a nomad and what’s next for both of us

Links Mentioned

* Tinkko Coworking Space

* La Casa Redondo (Coworking Space)

* CoworkingC and Coco Coworking Space in Las Palmas

* Pimsleur Spanish Training Program

* Duolingo and Rosetta Stone

* Selina CoWork Medellin

* Dojo Coworking Space in Bali

* Nomad Cruise

* Medellin Destination Report

* Fiverr and UpWork

* Julian’s Website – King Passive

* Stephanie DanForth (Interview on Fiverr and UpWork)

* Julian Goldie’s Fiverr Account

Johnny FD is a location independent entrepreneur who has lived in Thailand for over 5 years before deciding to give up his apartment and travel the world as a true ‘nomad’.

Well-known in the drop-shipping community, Johnny started out building and selling Shopify stores and nowadays, shares his experiences with nomadic life and online business through his blog JohnnyFD.com and his podcast, the ’Travel Like a Boss Podcast’.

Stay tuned as we discuss what it’s like to retire at 35 and what Johnny has planned post-retirement.

Be sure to check out Johnny’s latest course on how to create online passive income from a blog, brand, or audience!

Talking Points

[01:46] A little word about how the new season of the CTF Podcast will play out and how Johnny runs his own podcast

[04:55] How Johnny met Sam Marks, successful e-cig entrepreneur and now co-host of the ‘Invest Like a Boss’ podcast

[07:50] Announcing retirement at age 35, achieving financial freedom and finding motivation post-retirement

[10:39] How more money does not necessarily mean more happiness

[13:08] Making the decision to retire from eCommerce and continuing with blogging and podcasting

[17:43] An introduction to Johnny’s latest course, Income Boss and what motivated him to ‘come out of retirement’

[21:42] Leaving Chiang Mai to travel to places like Bali, Ukraine and Gran Canaria.

[24:30] Feeling the need for a home base as you become more nomadic

[26:04] Redefining the definition of word ‘retirement’

[28:50] Johnny’s plan to travel less and spend more time in the US, Gran Canaria and Chiang Mai

[31:08] Why Johnny and I love Gran Canaria as a digital nomad destination

[32:41] The negative side to living in Bali and why Chiang Mai is such a good alternative

[38:46] Australia for digital nomads – two big problems which hold Australia back

Links Mentioned

* The Travel Like a Boss Podcast

* The Invest Like a Boss Podcast

* Sam Marks’ Speech at Nomad Summit

* Johnny’s Latest Course – Income Boss

* Nomad Summit

* My review video for Las Palmas

* Johnny’s Blog – Johnny FD.com

Johnny FD is a location independent entrepreneur who has lived in Thailand for over 5 years before deciding to give up his apartment and travel the world as a true ‘nomad’.

Well-known in the drop-shipping community, Johnny started out building and selling Shopify stores and nowadays, shares his experiences with nomadic life and online business through his blog JohnnyFD.com and his podcast, the ’Travel Like a Boss Podcast’.

Stay tuned as we discuss what it’s like to retire at 35 and what Johnny has planned post-retirement.

Be sure to check out Johnny’s latest course on how to create online passive income from a blog, brand, or audience!

Talking Points

[01:46] A little word about how the new season of the CTF Podcast will play out and how Johnny runs his own podcast

[04:55] How Johnny met Sam Marks, successful e-cig entrepreneur and now co-host of the ‘Invest Like a Boss’ podcast

[07:50] Announcing retirement at age 35, achieving financial freedom and finding motivation post-retirement

[10:39] How more money does not necessarily mean more happiness

[13:08] Making the decision to retire from eCommerce and continuing with blogging and podcasting

[17:43] An introduction to Johnny’s latest course, Income Boss and what motivated him to ‘come out of retirement’

[21:42] Leaving Chiang Mai to travel to places like Bali, Ukraine and Gran Canaria.

[24:30] Feeling the need for a home base as you become more nomadic

[26:04] Redefining the definition of word ‘retirement’

[28:50] Johnny’s plan to travel less and spend more time in the US, Gran Canaria and Chiang Mai

[31:08] Why Johnny and I love Gran Canaria as a digital nomad destination

[32:41] The negative side to living in Bali and why Chiang Mai is such a good alternative

[38:46] Australia for digital nomads – two big problems which hold Australia back

Links Mentioned

* The Travel Like a Boss Podcast

* The Invest Like a Boss Podcast

* Sam Marks’ Speech at Nomad Summit

* Johnny’s Latest Course – Income Boss

* Nomad Summit

* My review video for Las Palmas

* Johnny’s Blog – Johnny FD.com

After one month as Digital Nomads in Ho Chi Minh City, Denise and I discuss our experience in the city and recap the first season of the Chris the Freelancer podcast.

To read my full evaluation of our time in Ho Chi Minh City including Cost of Living and Coworking reports, check out my blog post.

Talking Points

[1:46] Cost of Living for short-term nomads in Saigon and our experience renting in District 1

[4:31] Vietnamese cuisine and eating out

[9:58] Getting around in Ho Chi Minh City with Uber and Grab vs hiring a moped

[15:58] Coworking in Saigon including Dreamplex, WORK Saigon and Nest by AIA

[20:01] My search for the digital nomad community in Saigon, a discussion on the digital nomad mentality and the reason why I’m so passionate about the movement

[28:01] Final words on Saigon

[30:32] Closing words on the Chris the Freelancer podcast and a goodbye for now

Links Mentioned

* Nomadlist.com

* Living in Saigon Vlog

* Chiang Mai Digital Nomads Facebook Group

* Dreamplex, WORK Saigon and Nest by AIA

* Alex’s YouTube Channel

* Kokois Cafe

Next Steps

* Sign up for the Chris the Freelancer Mailing List

* Check out ‘How I Learned to Code’

* Stay in touch on Social Media:  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

A Few of My Podcast Recommendations

* Travel Like a Boss

* Smart Passive Income

* Tropical MBA

After one month as Digital Nomads in Ho Chi Minh City, Denise and I discuss our experience in the city and recap the first season of the Chris the Freelancer podcast.

To read my full evaluation of our time in Ho Chi Minh City including Cost of Living and Coworking reports, check out my blog post.

Talking Points

[1:46] Cost of Living for short-term nomads in Saigon and our experience renting in District 1

[4:31] Vietnamese cuisine and eating out

[9:58] Getting around in Ho Chi Minh City with Uber and Grab vs hiring a moped

[15:58] Coworking in Saigon including Dreamplex, WORK Saigon and Nest by AIA

[20:01] My search for the digital nomad community in Saigon, a discussion on the digital nomad mentality and the reason why I’m so passionate about the movement

[28:01] Final words on Saigon

[30:32] Closing words on the Chris the Freelancer podcast and a goodbye for now

Links Mentioned

* Nomadlist.com

* Living in Saigon Vlog

* Chiang Mai Digital Nomads Facebook Group

* Dreamplex, WORK Saigon and Nest by AIA

* Alex’s YouTube Channel

* Kokois Cafe

Next Steps

* Sign up for the Chris the Freelancer Mailing List

* Check out ‘How I Learned to Code’

* Stay in touch on Social Media:  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

A Few of My Podcast Recommendations

* Travel Like a Boss

* Smart Passive Income

* Tropical MBA

Gabriel is a talented young man from the UK that I met at Beachub in Koh Phangan. There he works with his brother/co-founder on an early-stage startup called Moju, a platform for companies to find Instagram influencers.

I met Gabriel early on during my visit to Koh Phangan but it wasn’t until I overheard a meeting with a prospective client that I decided to ask him on the show.

Talking Points

[1:25] An introduction to Gabriel and his startup Moju, a platform for finding Instagram influencers

[3:29] How Gabriel and his co-founder have sourced prospective clients to help gather feedback in the early stages of the business

[5:15] A little on Gabriel’s background as a developer and entrepreneur

[8:15] Why he decided to work on his startup from Koh Phangan in Thailand

[11:08] Travel, living abroad and the story behind Moju

[14:54] How Gabriel learned the skills to start his own business and the challenges and benefits of living and working remotely

[18:54] The future for Moju and it’s founders

Links Mentioned

* Beachub

* River City Labs

* Startup Weekends

* The Lean Startup

* Amazon Web Services

* Gabriel’s Startup – Moju

Gabriel is a talented young man from the UK that I met at Beachub in Koh Phangan. There he works with his brother/co-founder on an early-stage startup called Moju, a platform for companies to find Instagram influencers.

I met Gabriel early on during my visit to Koh Phangan but it wasn’t until I overheard a meeting with a prospective client that I decided to ask him on the show.

Talking Points

[1:25] An introduction to Gabriel and his startup Moju, a platform for finding Instagram influencers

[3:29] How Gabriel and his co-founder have sourced prospective clients to help gather feedback in the early stages of the business

[5:15] A little on Gabriel’s background as a developer and entrepreneur

[8:15] Why he decided to work on his startup from Koh Phangan in Thailand

[11:08] Travel, living abroad and the story behind Moju

[14:54] How Gabriel learned the skills to start his own business and the challenges and benefits of living and working remotely

[18:54] The future for Moju and it’s founders

Links Mentioned

* Beachub

* River City Labs

* Startup Weekends

* The Lean Startup

* Amazon Web Services

* Gabriel’s Startup – Moju

Recorded on the island of Koh Phangan in Thailand’s south, today’s episode is a discussion on what it’s like to be a ‘tropical digital nomad’, living and working quite literally on the beach.

Guido and Marjet are really good friends of ours that we met during our time in Koh Lanta. An experienced developer and a translator, Guido and Marjet offer two very different perspectives on the location independent lifestyle and an important reality check for newbies.

Discussion Points

[1:31] Guido and Marjet attempt to ‘paint the picture’ of what it’s like to live and work on a tropical island

[5:58] How Guido convinced his employer (a large bank in the Netherlands) to allow him to work from Thailand (hint: it wasn’t hard) and why being a developer is probably the best career for working remotely.

[8:43] How Guido & Marjet easily became a part of the community of nomads on Koh Phangan and a comparison on Koh Phangan to other Thai DN hotspots, Koh Lanta and Chiang Mai.

[14:54] The beginnings of Guido & Marjet’s digital nomad journey and how Marjet transitioned from bartending to becoming a location independent translator.

[22:10] Guido and Marjet’s top tips for newbie digital nomads and the realities of living the digital nomad lifestyle

Links Mentioned

* Beachub

* KoHub

* Nomadlist.com

* The article on Pieter Levels that inspired my own DN journey

* My bali recommendations – Dojo and Hubud

* UpWork.com

* Fiverr.com

Recorded on the island of Koh Phangan in Thailand’s south, today’s episode is a discussion on what it’s like to be a ‘tropical digital nomad’, living and working quite literally on the beach.

Guido and Marjet are really good friends of ours that we met during our time in Koh Lanta. An experienced developer and a translator, Guido and Marjet offer two very different perspectives on the location independent lifestyle and an important reality check for newbies.

Discussion Points

[1:31] Guido and Marjet attempt to ‘paint the picture’ of what it’s like to live and work on a tropical island

[5:58] How Guido convinced his employer (a large bank in the Netherlands) to allow him to work from Thailand (hint: it wasn’t hard) and why being a developer is probably the best career for working remotely.

[8:43] How Guido & Marjet easily became a part of the community of nomads on Koh Phangan and a comparison on Koh Phangan to other Thai DN hotspots, Koh Lanta and Chiang Mai.

[14:54] The beginnings of Guido & Marjet’s digital nomad journey and how Marjet transitioned from bartending to becoming a location independent translator.

[22:10] Guido and Marjet’s top tips for newbie digital nomads and the realities of living the digital nomad lifestyle

Links Mentioned

* Beachub

* KoHub

* Nomadlist.com

* The article on Pieter Levels that inspired my own DN journey

* My bali recommendations – Dojo and Hubud

* UpWork.com

* Fiverr.com

To listen to the announcement, click play on the player below:

Otherwise, read on…

If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you’ll have noticed a very particular format. Each week, I’ve been interviewing a new digital nomad guest but now things are gonna change. To explain what I mean, I’ve got to tell you a short story about this podcast.

A few months back when I decided to launch this podcast, I had met a bunch of nomads so far on my journey who I felt had interesting stories to share. Stories that could inspire you to take action and experiences to learn from. From listening to other podcasts as a newbie, I was frustrated at how little time the guest and host would talk about the journey which lead them to location independence so in my own podcast, I decided to make the journey the centrepiece.

The reason I’m telling you all of this is because something needs to change. Ever since I started the podcast, I’ve become increasingly busier and my list of guests who fit my specific criteria has gotten smaller. The podcast takes me a long time to edit but at the same time, the audience growth has virtually been zero.

Honestly, I was considering shutting down the podcast all together but in the end, I simply couldn’t do it as I know that some of you guys probably get a bunch of value from it. So here’s what I’m going to do:

1. I’m opening up the format.

This doesn’t mean that the podcast won’t be about location independence anymore or that we won’t have digital nomads on the show. It just means that I need to be flexible with it. Instead of this particular format that I made up arbitrarily, I want to understand more about what you guys are after and make podcasts based off of that.

I’ve realised that I got the strategy wrong with podcasting. Unlike YouTube where I get instant feedback on each video with which I can use to improve each time, I don’t do any of that on my podcast. So here is my first call to action. Please, please. If you want me to keep making this podcast, go to the show notes and leave a comment letting me know what you want to hear. This will be something that I do on each episode from now on. Even if you wanna just say that you liked it or hated it. I appreciate any feedback you can provide me.

2. I want your feedback

So. Here’s the deal. If this podcast is going to work, I need it to be more interactive. If you like the show, please, please, leave a comment below. Coming up on the podcast we have some new episodes I recorded in Koh Phangan but after that, I’m open to your suggestions.

Thanks so much for your support. I will see you on the next episode of the Chris the Freelancer podcast.

Until next time,

Chris