Peace. This is Clarke Illmatical—journalist, director, and host of Homeboy and The Pyramids. In this episode, I reflect on my journey—eight years living abroad in total, across Brazil, China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Tanzania, Mexico, and Guatemala. As I wrap up my travel memoir, I take time to celebrate those years and reflect on the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Contact: @homeboypyramids Homeboy’s Travel Origins * What pushed me to leave the U.S. and build a life abroad. * The transition from corporate life to international living. * Key cultural influences, including how films like City of God and The Beach shaped my imagination about the world, freedom, and escape. Countries I’ve lived in * My experience living in Brazil, China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Tanzania, Mexico, and Guatemala. * How each country shaped me differently. * The difference between visiting a place and actually building a life there. * Which countries made me feel most accepted and comfortable as a so-called Black man. Culture shock and adjustment * The hardest parts of adjusting to new countries. * Responding to the common claim that locals in some countries “don’t know any better,” and why that phrase can oversimplify people and excuse bad behavior. Expat communities in real life * The different types of expat communities I’ve encountered abroad. * The positives and negatives of expat circles. * Difficulties of integrating into those spaces. Digital nomad reality check * My honest thoughts on the digital nomad lifestyle and why can promote bad travel habits. * Whether it’s better to start with a stationary position abroad before jumping into the digital nomad lifestyle. Friendship, romance, and temporary relationships * How to build meaningful friendships when traveling. * The host’s own struggle with making lasting connections abroad. * Navigating expat friendships, romantic relationships, and dating in foreign countries. * Learning to appreciate temporary relationships without forcing everything to become permanent. The Passport Bro conversation * Thoughts on the Passport Bro movement and how it has affected Black travelers. * Whether it has created opportunity, stigma, misunderstanding, or all three. * The racial dimension: how Black men are perceived, policed, or judged while traveling. Beliefs that changed * A belief I had before traveling that changed completely after living abroad. * A belief that stayed the same no matter where I went. The biggest surprises * Which country surprised me the most, and why. * Locations that helped me grow the most as a traveler and as a person. The most transformative moments * The most transformative experience from eight years of travel. * Whether growth came from one defining moment or from a long, gradual process. * Moments when something “clicked” internally. What keeps travel alive * What still excites me about travel after all these years. Advice to my younger self * What I would tell myself before my first international move. * Advice for a younger Black traveler who wants to explore the world seriously. The future for Black men in travel * Reasons for optimism for Black men in the global travel space. Get full access to HOMEBOY AND THE PYRAMIDS - BLACK MEN TRAVEL GUIDE at www.homeboyandthepyramids.com/subscribe
