The 50+ Nomad Club Podcast

Jo Barnes
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  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Where Adventure Never Retires! I’m Jo Barnes. British lifestyle entrepreneur, digital nomad of 15+ years, and founder of The 50+ Nomad Club. This podcast is for freedom seekers over 50 who want to live with more adventure, purpose, and freedom than ever before. Whether that means full-time travel, part-time adventures, or simply building more freedom into your everyday life, I’ll share the tools, stories, and encouragement you need to make it happen. Each week, you’ll hear practical strategies for building portable income, real talk about the ups and downs of life on the road, and inspiring stories from my own journey and from others who’ve dared to start over in their best years yet. From choosing your business model to packing light, from staying healthy on the move to finding purpose beyond work, you’ll get the clarity, confidence, and connection to design and live your dream lifestyle. Because adventure doesn’t have an age limit, and your next chapter can be your best one. club.the50plusnomad.com

  1. Sacred Business Stories w/ Jo Barnes

    JAN 28

    Sacred Business Stories w/ Jo Barnes

    Get full access to The 50+ Nomad Club at club.the50plusnomad.com/subscribe

    53 min
  2. The 4 Micro Hustles I’m Building This Year (And Why They Work So Well After 50)

    JAN 16

    The 4 Micro Hustles I’m Building This Year (And Why They Work So Well After 50)

    In this episode of The 50+ Nomad Podcast, I’m walking you through the four micro hustles I’m personally building this year, based on what I’m actually doing right now. After 15+ years online and building everything from newsletters to digital courses, coaching businesses and seven-figure e-commerce brands, I’ve become very intentional about how I work, especially at this stage of life. These are business models that travel well, don’t demand 24/7 intensity, and layer together to fund a freedom-filled, travel-led life after 50, without burning you out or trapping you behind a laptop. If you’re multi-passionate, starting over, or simply want income that supports your life instead of consuming it, this episode will help you see how micro hustles can connect rather than compete. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * What I really mean by micro hustles (and why they are proper businesses, not hobbies) * Why starting with subscribers, not products, is the smartest move after 50 * How to layer income slowly and intentionally instead of doing everything at once * Why small, focused digital products outperform big “life-changing” courses now * How cohorts, group coaching, and text-based support create momentum without burnout * Why physical products can be powerful if you don’t want to be the brand * How all four models work together under one clear audience and outcome Key Takeaway Start with one micro hustle, get it working, then add the next when the timing feels right. Don’t try to do everything at once! Time-Stamped Guide * 00:00 Welcome + recording from London * 00:02 Why I now choose businesses that travel well and don’t demand 24/7 intensity * 00:04 What I actually mean by a micro hustle (and what it isn’t) * 00:06 Why focus first, then diversify (and the quote I still remember years later) Micro Hustle #1: Newsletter & Subscribers * 00:06 Why everything starts with subscribers * 00:07 How Substack makes audience-building simpler * 00:08 Paid newsletters as early confidence and momentum * 00:09 How writing helps you clarify who your audience really is * 00:12 Subscribers first, products second Micro Hustle #2: Mini Products, Courses & Cohorts * 00:12 Why big transformational courses are losing effectiveness * 00:13 One problem, one solution, one clear outcome * 00:14 Examples of small, useful digital products that still sell * 00:16 Why cohorts work so well (and how they’ve evolved) * 00:18 How newsletters naturally lead into products and cohorts Micro Hustle #3: Group Coaching, Community & Text-Based Support * 00:19 Why group coaching beats one-to-one for energy and scale * 00:20 How simple paid coaching offers can work early on * 00:21 Text-based coaching via email, WhatsApp or voice notes * 00:22 Layering coaching after cohorts for ongoing support * 00:23 Why I’m using this model myself this year Micro Hustle #4: Physical Products & E-commerce * 00:24 Why I’m launching This Big World on Amazon * 00:24 The realities of Amazon FBA vs easier entry points like Etsy * 00:25 Print-on-demand as a lower-risk way to start * 00:26 Who This Big World is for and why I built it * 00:27 How the travel challenge cards work in real life * 00:29 Why physical products suit people who don’t want to be the brand Bringing It All Together * 00:30 How all four micro hustles connect under one umbrella * 00:31 Why this isn’t scattered, it’s layered * 00:31 Where to start if you’re just beginning * 00:32 Final thoughts on building income that adapts and travels Resources Mentioned in This Episode * My recent article: Why London Is the Greatest City on the Planet * The article I reference on creators building multiple streams of income * My Substack newsletter: The 50+ Nomad * This Big World travel challenge cards (Amazon launch) * Previous podcast episode on Etsy + print-on-demand jigsaw business Join the Conversation Which of the four micro hustles appeals to you most right now? Share where you’re starting, or what you’re layering next, and what one small step you’re committing to this week. And as always…Make it happen. Are you a fun-loving, spontaneous adventurer? If so, my new brand This Big World is designed for you! If you love saying yes to random adventures, my first product - ‘This Big Travel Challenge Cards’ - will spice up any trip (or any Tuesday, to be honest). 50 scratch-off adventure prompts that turn moments into memories you’ll remember forever! Order a dish you can’t pronounce. Explore streets starting with your initial. Find hidden spots that tourists miss. Whether you’re in Bangkok or your own backyard, each challenge takes 30 minutes to a few hours max. Perfect for adding spontaneous fun without derailing your plans. Grab a pack and scratch one off this weekend! Bonus: one pack also contains a $5,000 Golden Ticket travel credit voucher! Willy Wonka vibes. Very real prize! Get full access to The 50+ Nomad Club at club.the50plusnomad.com/subscribe

    33 min
  3. How to Make Your First $1,700 From an Audience of Just 500 (and turn it into job quitting income)

    JAN 10

    How to Make Your First $1,700 From an Audience of Just 500 (and turn it into job quitting income)

    Do you want to make 2026 the year your Substack takes off? Then Dereks upcoming cohort is the perfect next step for you! Over 6 live sessions he’ll break down the steps he’s taken to not only grow his writing business, but to turn it into a money machine! He’ll walk you through how to write articles that grow subscribers, post notes that get noticed and turn your publication into a subscriber magnet. All with live coaching and plug and play templates so you’re not starting from a blank screen! If this conversation lit a fire and you’re ready to stop guessing and start growing, it starts Monday! (12th). Click below for more details. The Substack Growth Map You may think that building a writing business means being naturally gifted, starting early, or somehow outsmarting the algorithm. Derek Hughes is proof that belief is a myth! In this episode, Derek shares how he started writing online with no audience, no background as a writer, and no real plan beyond getting his thoughts out of his head. Three years later, that experiment has grown into a successful writing business that’s allowed him to step back from full-time work. He tells us about the early months of writing to almost no one, the moment he nearly quit, the shock of losing income overnight when platforms changed, and why building and owning an email list became the foundation of everything that followed. This episode is about backing yourself before there’s evidence, staying in the game when nothing seems to be working, and trusting that consistent effort compounds in ways you can’t see at the start. If you’ve ever wondered whether your ideas, your experience, or your voice are enough, this conversation will leave you feeling fired up to get started (or keep going) and far more confident about what’s possible. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * Why most writers quit right before things start working * How focusing on inputs (not likes or views) changed everything for Derek * What actually made his writing “irresistible” — and it’s not talent * The reality of platform risk (Medium, Google, Substack) and how to protect yourself * Why your email list is your greatest business asset * How Derek made his first £1,700 from a simple digital product with just 500 subscribers * Why cohorts and live teaching are becoming more powerful than static courses * Why experience, age, and lived perspective are advantages, not obstacles Key Takeaway “If you focus on the inputs you can control and stay consistent long enough, something is going to happen.” - Derek Hughes Resources Mentioned * The Irresistible Writer on Substack * Derek’s Substack Growth cohort (starting 12 January) * Email marketing platform Kit (formerly ConvertKit) * Writing influences: Nicolas Cole, Tim Denning Join the Conversation Are you putting the work and feeling like you’re posting to the void? What needs to happen for you to keep going and push through?? If you’re building a writing business (or any business or side hustle for that matter), this episode is a powerful reminder that tenacity and consistency are the name of the game! Harness your self belief, stay consistent and prepare yourself to stay in the game longer than you feel comfortable. Keep swinging my friend, eventually something will land! Share your biggest takeaway or question from this conversation and whether it’s given you what you need to keep showing up, trust the process, and build something that lasts, and be sure to sign up to Derek’s cohort program starting on Monday 12th. Make 2026 the year you do! Get full access to The 50+ Nomad Club at club.the50plusnomad.com/subscribe

    48 min
  4. Why You’re Still Playing Small, And What To Do About It in 2026

    JAN 6

    Why You’re Still Playing Small, And What To Do About It in 2026

    Is there a chance you’re still living according to a moment that maybe happened years ago? A comment, a failure, an email, or a criticism that stuck with you longer than it should have. In this New Year episode of The 50+ Nomad Podcast, I’m sharing a very personal story about something I didn’t realise was still shaping my behaviour. A confidence knock from nearly a decade ago that’s sneakily stopped me from fully backing myself and the work I create. I talk openly about launching my new travel challenge cards, having a proper wobble, and the realisation that I’ve become excellent at creating… but hesitant when it comes to standing behind what I make and asking for the sale. This episode is about the fears we disguise as preferences, burnout, or “that’s just not my thing anymore”, and how easy it is to let old stories dictate how big we play today. I also talk about why “playing small doesn’t serve the world” — a line from Marianne Williamson’s poem — and what needs to happen if 2026 is going to be different. I promise I don’t go too woo-woo on you. This is a practical, grounded conversation about awareness and action. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * How a single moment from years ago can quietly shape your confidence today * Why perfectionism and “I don’t like selling” are often fear in disguise * The difference between creating and truly standing behind your work * Why community-building is a superpower, and what happens when you stop using it * The five-step framework I’m using to move through fear instead of dancing around it * How to take uncomfortable action without leaping off a cliff Key Takeaway “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?Actually, who are you not to be?You are a child of God.Your playing small does not serve the world.There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.As we are liberated from our own fear,Our presence automatically liberates others.” — Marianne Williamson Time-Stamped Guide * 00:00 Welcome to 2026 + why this episode matters * 01:05 Playing small, Marianne Williamson, and permission to shine * 03:10 The real question for this year: what are we going to do about fear? * 04:00 Launching the travel challenge cards and the wobble that followed * 06:24 When the gremlins arrive: fear of selling and being seen * 07:31 A pattern revealed: creating but never fully backing myself * 09:00 Looking back to when I used to just do the thing * 10:21 Teaching in public, pressure, and the email that changed everything * 12:29 The confidence knock I never fully moved past * 14:49 Introducing the idea of your “10-year hangover” * 16:49 Step 1: Naming the real fear beneath the story * 18:33 Step 2: Tracing fear back to where it started * 20:01 Step 3: Separating identity from the situation * 21:37 Step 4: One uncomfortable action this week * 23:22 Step 5: Expect discomfort and do it anyway * 25:00 Drawing a line under the old story * 26:09 Monthly Freedom Challenge Resources Mentioned * Marianne Williamson — Our Deepest Fear poem (referenced throughout the episode) * Amy Porterfield — “Share your scars, not your wounds” * Brené Brown — On doing the uncomfortable inner work and separating identity from outcomes * The 50+ Nomad Club — Monthly Freedom Challenge and private community * This Big World Travel Challenge Cards — 50 scratch-off travel prompts + free 12-month Club membership bonus Join the Conversation I’d love you to reflect on this: * What’s your 10-year hangover — or 5-year, or last-month hangover? * What’s the one thing fear has been keeping you from? * What uncomfortable action are you committing to this week? Share your thoughts in the comments, I’m reading, responding & cheering you on. Get full access to The 50+ Nomad Club at club.the50plusnomad.com/subscribe

    28 min

  5. 12/12/2025

    Ep14: Why You’ll Never Trust Yourself If You Keep Starting Over

    Fear doesn’t always stop you from starting. Very often, it shows up after you’ve built the thing, launched it, and made it real. In this episode, I unpack a pattern I’ve lived with for years: loving an idea, taking action on it, creating something meaningful… and then suddenly doubting it the moment it’s visible and open to judgement. From my first six-figure launch back in 2011, to our Amazon business, to courses I know are valuable but haven’t fully promoted, right through to launching This Big World travel challenge cards, this episode explores what’s really going on when the urge to pivot or start over appears. You may think it’s your perfectionism talking, but really it’s about exposure, self-trust, and learning to stay with something long enough to let the market, not fear, give you the answer. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether you picked the wrong idea, this episode will help you pause before you tear everything down and ask a more useful question: do you actually need a new direction, or do you just need to stay put long enough to see what this one becomes? What You’ll Learn in This Episode * Why constantly starting over quietly erodes self-trust * How “bright shiny object syndrome” is often fear dressed up as strategy * Why doubt tends to show up right at the finish line * The difference between backing potential and backing yourself * When quitting is clarity — and when it’s avoidance * How long you really need to commit before deciding something doesn’t work * Why confidence only comes after evidence, not before * The 5 rules I’m using to stop starting over Key Takeaway If you keep starting over, you never collect the evidence you need to trust yourself. Time-Stamped Guide * 00:00 – Why fear often shows up after you start * 01:12 – The pattern: creating confidently, then doubting once it’s live * 02:07 – The Social Networking Academy launch ($117k in 7 days) and what followed * 03:48 – The Amazon business I nearly sabotaged * 04:48 – Courses, journals, and the “not quite ready” trap * 05:33 – Launching This Big World and the doubts arriving on cue * 06:38 – What my GPT coach “Goggins” helped me see about fear and exposure * 08:08 – Rule #1: Why doubt at the finish line isn’t feedback * 09:19 – Rule #2: Let the world evaluate first * 10:34 – Rule #3: Fulfilment vs funding * 12:49 – Rule #4: When quitting is avoidance * 14:09 – Rule #5: How long to commit before judging results * 16:08 – Why bright shiny objects feel safer than backing yourself * 17:53 – “Back yourself” — the Sainsbury’s story * 19:31 – The uncomfortable middle most people leave * 20:43 – Why fear often means you’re closer than you think * 21:07 – $5,000 Dream Holiday giveaway + This Big World launch Resources Mentioned * This Big World — $5,000 Dream Holiday Giveaway - Buy a pack of the travel challenge cards and be in with a chance to win a $5,000 dream holiday — one Willy Wonka–style golden ticket hidden in the first shipment. * The 50+ Nomad on Substack - Weekly reflections, side-hustle ideas, and honest conversations about funding freedom after 50. Join the Conversation Have you ever started over because doubt crept in just as something became real?Are you in that uncomfortable ‘exposed’ place right now? Share your biggest takeaway from this episode, and what you’re committing to stay with a little longer. Loved this episode? The biggest compliment you could give me, would be to share it, restack it or send it to someone else who would love it! Thank you so much! 🙏 🎉 Win a $5,000 Dream Holiday as Part of my Brand New Ecom Launch! 🎉 As I said on the podcast, I’m launching a new brand called This Big World, a collection of travel-inspired products designed to add more fun, curiosity, and adventure to life on the road. The first release is The Travel Challenge Scratch-Off Deck. 50 playful prompts to help you see the world with fresh eyes, meet new people, and say “yes” to more spontaneous moments. To celebrate the launch, I’m giving away a $5,000 Dream Holiday! ✨ Join the Early-Bird Insiders List ✨ As a member of my Substack community, you’re getting first access, before I open this to the public. Join the Insiders List now to be one of the first to grab your deck and secure your chance to win the $5,000 Dream Holiday. Because life’s too short to travel small! 🌍 Get full access to The 50+ Nomad Club at club.the50plusnomad.com/subscribe

    22 min

  6. 12/05/2025

    Ep13: The Best Place to Start Creating Online in 2026 (Especially If You’re Over 50)

    I recorded this episode this morning from a little hotel room in London after just getting back from Morocco last week. I’m still buzzing from the adventure and thinking a lot about what it means to build a freedom-funding business in our 50s, 60s and beyond. And today I’m sharing why I’ve gone all in on Substack, and why I genuinely believe it’s the most powerful, ease-filled platform for 50+ nomads & solopreneurs who want to write, share, build community, and grow portable income without playing the exhausting social media game. This episode takes you through my own journey from Facebook’s golden era in 2010, through blogging, SEO crashes, algorithm changes, and finally landing somewhere that feels creative, calm, and fun again. Substack reminds me of the internet before everything became so noisy. A place where depth wins over speed, community matters more than virality, and your audience is actually yours. If you’ve been overwhelmed, stuck, or wondering how to start building something real later in life, this conversation will give you both the encouragement and the strategy to take your next step. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * Why Substack feels like the glory days of Facebook in 2010 * How you can build an engaged email list without funnels, tech, or burnout * Why organic reach is still alive on Substack (and how your posts can go viral weeks later) * The seven reasons I’m committing fully to Substack in 2026 * The big mistake I made with my blog, and how Substack prevents you from making it * Why this platform is perfect for 50+ creators who value connection over performance * How Substack helps you build something real, sustainable, purpose-driven & freedom funding! Key Takeaway You don’t need to chase algorithms, trends or 20-year-olds with editing teams.Substack gives you a home. A place to write, share your stories, build community, and grow portable income at a pace that fits your life. Start now, stay consistent, and in time you’ll have a solid, engaged audience you own, rather than one controlled by someone else’s platform. Time-Stamped Guide 00:00 Recording from London + returning from Morocco01:00 Why I’m choosing Substack as my primary platform02:00 Flashback to Facebook in 2010 and the power of organic reach05:00 How social media has shifted - noise, competition, burnout07:00 Why most people can’t (and shouldn’t) try to be everywhere09:00 The moment Substack clicked for me11:00 What changed after 6 months of showing up consistently12:00 Why Substack feels like a true creative home14:00 How Substack protects you from the “algorithm rug-pull”16:00 The painful lesson from my blog collapse19:00 The 7 reasons I’m going all-in on Substack23:00 Why it’s perfect for 50+ nomads & solopreneurs25:00 Final encouragement: start small, stay consistent, build something real Resources Mentioned ● Morocco. The Most Terrifying Place on Earth? – A wild, surprising, eye-opening journey● Substack for Beginners Course – Learn the platform step by step● The 50+ Nomad on Substack – Come join the community! Join the Conversation Are you on Substack already, or thinking about it? Share your publication link, your thoughts on the platform, or the kind of writing you’d love to create. I genuinely want to meet you and cheer you on. Adventure never retires, and neither does your voice. 😊 Loved this episode? The biggest compliment you could give me, would be to share it, restack it or send it to someone else who would love it! Thank you so much! 🙏 🎉 Win a $5,000 Dream Holiday as Part of my Brand New Ecom Launch! 🎉 By the way, I’m launching a new brand called This Big World, a collection of travel-inspired products designed to add more fun, curiosity, and adventure to life on the road. The first release is The Travel Challenge Scratch-Off Deck. 50 playful prompts to help you see the world with fresh eyes, meet new people, and say “yes” to more spontaneous moments. (My sister and I have already had a blast testing a few through Italy!) To celebrate the launch, I’m giving away a $5,000 Dream Holiday! ✨ Join the Early-Bird Insiders List ✨ As a member of my Substack community, you’re getting first access, before I open this to the public. Join the Insiders List now to be one of the first to grab your deck and secure your chance to win the $5,000 Dream Holiday. Because life’s too short to travel small! 🌍 Get full access to The 50+ Nomad Club at club.the50plusnomad.com/subscribe

    27 min

  7. 11/28/2025

    EP12: Don't Be Scared, Be Prepared with Erin Michelson - Nomad Life

    Stepping into solo travel can stir up a lot of ‘what ifs’, especially if you’re doing it later in life or heading somewhere unfamiliar. In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Erin Michelson — writer, adventurer, ethical-tour creator, and all-round powerhouse behind Nomad Life — to talk about what it really means to feel safe, confident and capable on the road. Erin has travelled to 130+ countries, lived as a nomad for over 15 years, worked in global banking, built an ethical AI company, volunteered around the world, been featured in National Geographic, and somehow still manages to be one of the warmest and most grounded humans you’ll ever meet. We covered her wild (and sometimes hair-raising) stories, the practical safety habits every traveller should learn, and why confidence comes from preparation, not bravado. If you’ve ever worried about travelling alone after 50, this conversation will feel like a deep breath and a permission slip. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * Why “don’t be scared — be prepared” is the mindset shift that changes everything * The early experiences that shaped Erin’s lifelong commitment to service and adventure * How she walked away from two high-status careers to build a freer life * Foundational safety skills every traveller should know * Why confidence is your strongest protection when you’re abroad * Practical ways to de-escalate, stay aware, and move through the world with ease * The surprising truth: many of us feel less safe at home than we do on the road * Why tours, guides and gentle landings aren’t weakness — they’re wisdom * Erin’s current passion: travel safety boot camps, ethical small-group adventures, and helping more women see the world * The one piece of encouragement she’d give to every woman over 50 dreaming of a freer life Key Takeaway Freedom grows when you feel steady in yourself, aware of what’s around you, confident in your instincts, and prepared for the moments that matter. With a little groundwork, the world reveals itself as far more welcoming than the stories online suggest. Time-Stamped Guide * 00:00 Welcome + Erin’s extraordinary background * 02:00 From global banking to a two-year volunteering journey * 06:00 Building (and walking away from) an ethical AI company * 11:00 Why service and philanthropy shape everything she does * 13:30 Funding a nomad life: consulting, books, writing, curated trips * 17:00 The truth about safety, confidence and travelling solo * 21:00 Gentle landings: why tours and guides can be smart * 25:00 Erin’s travel safety boot camp and real-world examples * 31:00 Foundational safety habits every traveller should learn * 37:00 How to avoid, de-escalate, survive and recover * 41:00 Guided tours, ethical travel, and her upcoming trips * 45:00 Quick-fire questions (Vietnam, Mozambique, Italy… and espresso makers) * 49:00 The bravest decision she’s made in recent years * 51:00 A message for women over 50 who feel “too late” to start Resources Mentioned in This Episode ● Erin’s Substack: Your Nomad Life● Travel Safety Boot Camp: Monthly training on awareness, confidence and staying safe● Curated Ethical Adventures: Bhutan, Cambodia & Laos● Erin’s Books: Her five-part series on global volunteering & adventure Join the Conversation Have you ever held yourself back from travelling because of fear? What small action could help you feel more confident on the road? Share your thoughts, your stories, and your questions, I’d love to hear what resonated most from this episode. Loved this episode? The biggest compliment you could give me, would be to share it, restack it or send it to someone else who would love it! Thank you so much! 🙏 🎉 Win a $5,000 Dream Holiday as Part of my Brand New Ecom Launch! 🎉 By the way, I’m launching a new brand called This Big World, a collection of travel-inspired products designed to add more fun, curiosity, and adventure to life on the road. The first release is The Travel Challenge Scratch-Off Deck. 50 playful prompts to help you see the world with fresh eyes, meet new people, and say “yes” to more spontaneous moments. (My sister and I have already had a blast testing a few through Italy!) To celebrate the launch, I’m giving away a $5,000 Dream Holiday! ✨ Join the Early-Bird Insiders List ✨ As a member of my Substack community, you’re getting first access, before I open this to the public. Join the Insiders List now to be one of the first to grab your deck and secure your chance to win the $5,000 Dream Holiday. Because life’s too short to travel small! 🌍 Get full access to The 50+ Nomad Club at club.the50plusnomad.com/subscribe

    55 min

  8. 11/21/2025

    EP11: Sailing the Pacific and Living a Life of Freedom & Fearlessness with Linda Jackson

    People say they want more freedom… but very few actually design a life that gives it to them. In this episode, I sit down with Linda Jackson — full-time sailor, digital nomad, and creator of Shellphone Chronicles — who, alongside her husband, lives aboard an incredible 77-foot aluminium yacht as they sail across the Pacific. Linda has been a digital nomad since long before remote work was “a thing,” running her consulting business from the middle of the ocean, weathering storms, navigating huge passages, and building a lifestyle that most of us secretly dream about but rarely believe is possible after 50. This conversation is warm, honest, and full of the kind of lived wisdom that only comes from spending years at sea and choosing freedom as a way of life. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * What life really looks like living full-time aboard a yacht * How Linda built a long-term consulting business from the ocean * The moment she and her husband bought an 80-foot aluminium boat everyone said they were “too old” for * What a 22-day, 4,000-mile ocean crossing actually feels like * The difference between land nomadism and sea nomadism — and why both require grit * How freedom and self-sufficiency take on a whole new meaning when your home floats * The biggest misconceptions people have about living remotely * Safety at sea: weather, pirates, and what really matters * Linda’s advice for anyone 50+ dreaming of a big lifestyle shift but unsure where to begin Key Takeaway Freedom isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you create. One brave decision, one new skill, and one honest self-assessment at a time. You don’t have to live on a yacht to live freely… but you do have to give yourself permission to try. Time-Stamped Guide * 00:00 Welcome back + introducing Linda Jackson * 00:55 Linda’s life at sea today + her journey through the Pacific * 03:00 Becoming a true OG digital nomad long before it was mainstream * 04:50 How she built and ran a consulting business from the ocean * 07:20 The transition from corporate/startup life to full-time freedom * 10:30 What it really takes to find clients, deliver work, and keep a remote business alive * 12:00 Life onboard with her husband — roles, teamwork, and trust * 14:45 Buying a 77-foot project boat everyone thought was too big, too hard, or too crazy * 17:00 The backstory of SV Duende and why they took on such a huge project * 20:00 Surviving their first hurricane in Florida * 21:45 What a “shakedown sail” is — and why theirs was a 4,000-mile voyage * 23:30 Crew, systems, and how advanced tech made a bigger boat easier * 26:00 The 22-day crossing to Tahiti — food, routines, and staying sane at sea * 31:00 The difference between arriving somewhere by air vs. by water * 33:00 Freedom, self-sufficiency, and what long-term travel teaches you * 36:00 Safety at sea — pirates, storms, and keeping a low profile * 40:00 Misconceptions about cost, skill, and the effort involved * 41:30 How similar boat life and land nomadism really are behind the scenes * 43:20 Linda’s advice for anyone 50+ wanting a big lifestyle change * 45:30 Life plans: Fiji, Vanuatu, the Solomons, and the seasons ahead * 47:30 Why Substack feels like the early days of Facebook * 48:30 Outro + where to follow Linda Resources Mentioned in This Episode ● Shellphone Chronicles on Substack — Linda’s beautifully written publication about life at sea● Erin Mickelson – Nomad Life on Substack● Benthall Adventures (Kelly) Join the Conversation Have a question for Linda about life at sea?Share it in the comments — we’d love to bring her back for a follow-up episode. Are you dreaming of your own version of freedom?Tell me one brave step you could take this week toward your dream lifestyle. Loved this episode? The biggest compliment you could give me, would be to share it, restack it or send it to someone else who would love it! Thank you so much! 🙏 🎉 Win a $5,000 Dream Holiday as Part of my Brand New Ecom Launch! 🎉 By the way, I’m launching a new brand called This Big World, a collection of travel-inspired products designed to add more fun, curiosity, and adventure to life on the road. The first release is The Travel Challenge Scratch-Off Deck. 50 playful prompts to help you see the world with fresh eyes, meet new people, and say “yes” to more spontaneous moments. (My sister and I have already had a blast testing a few through Italy!) To celebrate the launch, I’m giving away a $5,000 Dream Holiday! ✨ Join the Early-Bird Insiders List ✨ As a member of my Substack community, you’re getting first access, before I open this to the public. Join the Insiders List now to be one of the first to grab your deck and secure your chance to win the $5,000 Dream Holiday. Because life’s too short to travel small! 🌍 Get full access to The 50+ Nomad Club at club.the50plusnomad.com/subscribe

    49 min
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About

Where Adventure Never Retires! I’m Jo Barnes. British lifestyle entrepreneur, digital nomad of 15+ years, and founder of The 50+ Nomad Club. This podcast is for freedom seekers over 50 who want to live with more adventure, purpose, and freedom than ever before. Whether that means full-time travel, part-time adventures, or simply building more freedom into your everyday life, I’ll share the tools, stories, and encouragement you need to make it happen. Each week, you’ll hear practical strategies for building portable income, real talk about the ups and downs of life on the road, and inspiring stories from my own journey and from others who’ve dared to start over in their best years yet. From choosing your business model to packing light, from staying healthy on the move to finding purpose beyond work, you’ll get the clarity, confidence, and connection to design and live your dream lifestyle. Because adventure doesn’t have an age limit, and your next chapter can be your best one. club.the50plusnomad.com

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