62 | How a Digital Nomad Built 1.6 Million Followers – and Seven Hotels

62 | How a Digital Nomad Built 1.6 Million Followers – and Seven Hotels

Jake Snow went from working at an Australian winery and playing Australian football to travelling full-time, building an audience of 1.6 million followers and developing boutique hotels across Bali and South Africa. In this episode, Jake joins Palle Bo from Mallorca to share how a chance meeting with his wife, Marie, on a beach in Thailand changed the course of both their lives. After quitting their jobs and travelling until their money ran out, they began sharing their journey online and slowly turned their creativity into a global business. Jake explains how one viral photograph helped him recognise the commercial potential of social media, why consistency mattered more than any single growth trick, and how their first digital product generated €20,000 on its opening day. The conversation also explores Jake's transition from travel creator to hospitality entrepreneur. After staying in hundreds of hotels around the world, Jake and Marie began designing properties of their own, combining hospitality, visual storytelling and social media marketing. Jake also shares the realities of managing remote teams across countries and cultures, including the challenge of getting bad news communicated clearly, maintaining quality from a distance and creating trust between teams with very different working styles. Key Takeaways * Jake and Marie met while backpacking in Thailand and changed their travel plans after only a few days together. * They travelled through around 50 countries in two to three years while building their social media following. * Their early growth came from studying which photographs and stories connected with people, then consistently improving their work. * Jake believes that long-term consistency was more important than finding a single social media trick. * Their first digital product, a collection of photography presets, generated €20,000 on its first day. * Staying in hundreds of hotels taught Jake how design, service, lighting and visual storytelling influence a property's success. * Jake and Marie built two boutique hotels and a spa in Bali before expanding into a larger hospitality development company. * Their company is developing five additional properties across Bali and Camps Bay in South Africa. * Remote work allows the company to attract experienced people who value flexibility, freedom and time with their families. * Working across cultures requires radical transparency, particularly when teams may be reluctant to share problems or bad news. Relevant Links * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-snow-35569718b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-snow-35569718b/] * Instagram Private: https://www.instagram.com/mariefeandjakesnow/ [https://www.instagram.com/mariefeandjakesnow/] * Instagram Company: https://www.instagram.com/ventoregroup [https://www.instagram.com/ventoregroup] * Jake Snow's company website: https://ventore.com [https://ventore.com/] * Elliot Grafton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliotgrafton/?hl=da [https://www.instagram.com/elliotgrafton/?hl=da] * Elliot Grafton's company website: https://www.eyre-films.com [https://www.eyre-films.com/] * Nomad Summit: https://nomadsummit.com [https://nomadsummit.com/] * Episode produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk [https://radioguru.co.uk/]

61 | The 30-Hour Nomad Workweek – Games, Tech, AI Art and Freedom

What happens when an early video game developer, AI artist, fractional CTO and digital nomad decides to redesign his life around creativity, exploration and freedom? In this in-person episode, Palle Bo meets Steve Tietze at his new office in Chiang Mai's Nimman neighbourhood. They begin by exploring why Chiang Mai remains one of the world's strongest digital nomad hubs – from its surrounding nature and affordable lifestyle to its unusually active community of entrepreneurs, artists and technology enthusiasts. Steve then takes us back to the early days of 3D video games, when portfolios were delivered on VHS tapes and floppy disks. He shares how he worked on the early development of Duke Nukem 3D, collaborated closely with the creators of Doom and co-founded Nihilistic Software, where a small team created Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption. Today, Steve combines several very different careers. He works remotely as a fractional CTO for two companies, while also creating surreal AI visuals, music videos and large-scale projection-mapping installations through Dreaming Computers. His work has appeared behind DJs at major venues, on an enormous pyramid at Burning Man, across iconic buildings in San Francisco and on 50-foot statues in Koh Samui. Steve also explains why he deliberately reduced his working week after years of working 60–80 hours. Living in Chiang Mai allows him to spend less, work around 30 hours a week and leave more time for friendships, creative projects and spontaneous scooter trips into the mountains. This is a conversation about technological reinvention, creative curiosity and building a nomad career that supports your life instead of consuming it. Key Takeaways * Chiang Mai's combination of nature, affordability and active communities continues to make it a powerful base for digital nomads. * Local meetups can provide friendships, professional connections and access to specialised knowledge that would be difficult to find elsewhere. * Steve entered the video game industry during the early days of 3D gaming and worked on projects connected to Duke Nukem 3D, Doom and Strife. * Combining artistic and engineering skills has allowed Steve to communicate across different teams and move between industries. * Location-independent work can make it possible to hold senior technical roles without being tied to a company headquarters. * Steve's AI artwork requires far more than writing a prompt – individual 15-second visuals could take a week of experimentation and refinement. * Sharing his work online led to collaborations with musicians, projection installations and opportunities around the world. * Reducing his cost of living allowed Steve to step away from 60–80-hour workweeks and design a healthier balance between work and exploration. * Creativity can help counterbalance the mental fatigue that comes from intensive engineering and programming work. * Steve's next goal is to develop his characters and visual worlds into a short science-fiction film. Relevant Links * Steve Tietze on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stietze/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stietze/] * Dreaming Computer's website: https://dreamingcomputers.com [https://dreamingcomputers.com/] * Demo Reel: https://youtu.be/b7STsZ181WY?si=_Ea3KX3wbmMZSdSc [https://youtu.be/b7STsZ181WY?si=_Ea3KX3wbmMZSdSc] * Steve's Instagram with art: https://www.instagram.com/dreamingcomputers [https://www.instagram.com/dreamingcomputers] * Music Video, No Mercy: https://youtu.be/dPPR5NSGxo4?si=cBgiUN5mHkIxU3Sk [https://youtu.be/dPPR5NSGxo4?si=cBgiUN5mHkIxU3Sk] * Nomad Summit: https://nomadsummit.com [https://nomadsummit.com/] * Episode produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk [https://radioguru.co.uk/]

60 | Built Different: No-Code, AI, and the New Nomad Entrepreneur

In this episode of the Nomad Summit Podcast, Palle Bo sits down with Jimena Serfaty – also known as Jimmy – an Argentine entrepreneur, systems specialist, and location-independent founder based in London. Jimmy has been travelling for 16 years and living location independently since 2020. She runs Jimmy & Co., where she helps coaches, service providers, and small business owners clean up the messy backend of their businesses – from client onboarding and workflows to automation, tools, follow-ups, and admin. She also recently launched HolaDear, a digital postcard app for people who live away from the people they love. Built with no-code and AI tools, HolaDear went from idea to working product in just a few weeks, despite Jimmy not being a developer. In this conversation, Jimmy shares how she built the app, why she wanted to bring back the emotional feeling of sending postcards, and what AI tools like Lovable and Claude made possible for her as a non-technical founder. We also talk about systems, undercharging, cultural money beliefs, growing up in Argentina, imposter syndrome, and what it means to build a business across borders. Plus, Jimmy shares why she refuses to "pick one thing" – even while running a consultancy, building an app, launching a Spanish-language travel podcast, writing a book, and still travelling the world. This is a conversation about freedom, systems, no-code tools, AI, pricing, travel, and building a career that does not fit neatly into one box. Key Takeaways * Location independence is not just about travel – it is also about building systems that let your business run while you are not always available. * Many founders become the "manual glue" in their own businesses, remembering every process, approving every small task, and slowing down growth. * Simple automation can make a huge difference, especially around onboarding, payment confirmations, follow-ups, reminders, and client experience. * Not everything should be automated. Jimmy explains why some client communication still needs a human touch. * Fixing a messy tool stack can save real money. In one example, Jimmy helped a client save more than $500 per month by cutting unused tools and subscriptions. * HolaDear was created as a more meaningful way for travellers and people living abroad to stay connected with family. * No-code and AI tools are making it possible for non-technical founders to test product ideas much faster than before. * Building with AI still requires clear thinking, good prompting, testing, and knowing what problem you are actually trying to solve. * Growing up with the mindset of "at least you have a job" can make pricing and self-worth difficult when building your own business. * Undercharging is often tied to culture, confidence, imposter syndrome, and old beliefs about what people will pay for. * Being multipassionate does not have to mean being scattered – but it does require energy, systems, and a willingness to build life differently. Relevant Links * Jimmy & Co. Website: https://jimmyand.co/ [https://jimmyand.co/] * Jimmy & Co. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmyandco_/ [https://www.instagram.com/jimmyandco_/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimenaserfaty [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimenaserfaty] * HolaDear Website: https://holadear.app/ [https://holadear.app/] * Extraordinary Travel Festival: https://extraordinarytravelfest.com [https://extraordinarytravelfest.com/] * Nomad Summit: https://nomadsummit.com [https://nomadsummit.com/] * Episode produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk [https://radioguru.co.uk/]

59 | Stop Losing Money Across Borders – Smarter Payments for Digital Nomads

Moving money across borders is one of those things many digital nomads know is important – but still find confusing, frustrating, and sometimes painfully expensive. In this episode, Palle Bo sits down with Zoey Lee, co-founder of Glintz, to make sense of cross-border payments in normal human language. Zoey grew up in Taiwan, worked in fintech in Singapore, relocated to Canada, and has spent more than a decade building payment infrastructure across different countries. But even with that background, she kept running into the same problem many nomads face: earning in one currency, spending in another, saving somewhere else, and never being completely sure where the money disappears along the way. Zoey explains the hidden money tax many globally mobile people pay without noticing – including deposit fees, exchange-rate markups, withdrawal fees, and the difference between the fee you see and the actual amount you receive. We also get into Wise, Revolut, PayPal, Western Union, bank transfers, SWIFT, local payment rails, and why the cheapest option is not always obvious. Zoey breaks down the idea of "single rail" and "multi-rail" payments, why different routes work better for different transfers, and how smart routing could help nomads keep more of their own money. The conversation also covers the Vancouver kitchen table story that led to Glintz, Zoey's startup journey with her co-founder, fundraising in Silicon Valley, and why stablecoins like USDC may become part of the future of global payments. If you have ever wondered whether you are sending money the stupid way, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways * Moving money across borders is not just about exchange rates – the real question is how much money arrives after all fees. * Many providers show one clean number, but hidden costs can still appear through deposits, currency conversion, withdrawals, intermediary banks, or payment methods. * Wise and Revolut can be great options, but they are not always the best route for every transfer. * A "payment rail" is simply the route your money travels on – for example bank to bank, Wise to Wise, local transfer, SWIFT, or stablecoin. * A single-rail approach means relying on one provider or route. A multi-rail approach compares several routes and chooses the best one for that specific transfer. * For digital nomads, freelancers, and globally mobile people, the best payment method depends on amount, currency, speed, country, client setup, and how easy it is for both sides. * Stablecoins such as USDC may offer fast and cheap global transfers, but they also require both sender and receiver to understand the setup. * Glintz is building a smart routing platform that compares different providers and helps users see which route gives them the best received amount after fees. * The problem is not only for digital nomads – anyone earning in one country and spending in another can face the same money movement challenges. * Zoey's own startup came from lived experience: too many apps, too many accounts, too many currencies, and no simple way to know the best route. Relevant Links * Glintz: https://www.tryglintz.com [https://www.tryglintz.com/] * Zoey on Substack: https://zoeylee.substack.com [https://zoeylee.substack.com/] * Substack article – "Where Does Your Money Actually Go?": https://zoeylee.substack.com/p/where-does-your-money-actually-go [https://zoeylee.substack.com/p/where-does-your-money-actually-go] * Nomad Summit: https://nomadsummit.com [https://nomadsummit.com/] * Episode produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk [https://radioguru.co.uk/]

58 | Bigger Business, Smaller Team – AI, Freedom and the Turtle Nomad Life

What if growing your business does not have to mean building a bigger company? In this episode of the Nomad Summit Podcast, Palle Bo sits down with Gal Tzhayek – entrepreneur, speaker, software founder, and what he calls a "turtle-like nomad," currently traveling with his wife and three children. Gal has built, acquired, and scaled education businesses that reached more than 30,000 students and generated millions in revenue. But after growing one company to around 100 people, he realized something uncomfortable: the bigger the business became, the further he moved away from the work he actually loved. Today, Gal is focused on a different kind of growth – using AI, automation, systems, and smarter business design to create more impact with fewer moving parts. This conversation is especially relevant for digital nomads, freelancers, consultants, speakers, and remote founders who want to build meaningful businesses without accidentally creating a new office, a heavier life, and a job they no longer enjoy. Gal also shares how his company Speaka helps speakers find paid speaking opportunities around the world, why public speaking can be a great fit for location-independent professionals, and how AI agents can help match speakers with the right events and companies. We also talk about slow travel with a family, why not every business task should be automated, how to use AI without chasing every shiny new tool, and why deep expertise may become more valuable – not less – in the age of artificial intelligence. Key Takeaways * Growth is not always the same as freedom. A larger team can sometimes create more complexity, more management, and less personal flexibility. * Many entrepreneurs start businesses to do work they love, but end up spending most of their time managing people, processes, and internal problems. * For digital nomads and remote founders, the goal should not just be a remote business – it should be a business light enough to support the life they want. * AI and automation can reduce the need to hire, but only when used with proper systems, processes, and clear goals. * Gal warns against chasing "one prompt wonders." Instead, he suggests thinking about AI like hiring a person – define the role, train it, test it, and monitor the output. * The best tasks to automate are recurring tasks that do not require your unique expertise, taste, judgment, or "genius zone." * Deep domain expertise still matters. AI can help with surface-level work, but experienced humans still provide the insight, nuance, and strategic judgment that make projects succeed. * For freelancers and solopreneurs, Gal suggests thinking of yourself as a business made up of different roles – CEO, accountant, marketer, assistant, creator – then identifying which "employee" you dislike being the most and automating tasks from that role first. * Public speaking can be a strong nomad-friendly business model, especially when it leads to corporate work, consulting, products, or other paid opportunities beyond conference exposure. Relevant Links * Gal's speaker page: https://gal.speaka.io/en [https://gal.speaka.io/en] * Gal's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/galtzhayek/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/galtzhayek/] * Gal's company website: https://speaka.io [https://speaka.io/] * Nomad Summit: https://nomadsummit.com [https://nomadsummit.com/] * Episode produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk [https://radioguru.co.uk/]