Are US Elections Shaping the Nomad Lifestyle in Bali?

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If you argued that the digital nomad lifestyle, expat life, and politics are too far of a stretch, you would be mistaken.

This week’s political earthquake was a testament to what many young men think about the woke political agenda. When I started writing this newsletter and interviewing my new interview guest, Marko Randelovic—a filmmaker and political scholar, I had no clue about what was about to happen that same day in the US.

Here is a taste of his amazing content:

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Donald J. Trump won a landslide victory after completely rejecting corporate media propaganda and the woke far-left. Perhaps the greatest political comeback of all time.

I might be wrong, but I believe that the reason Donald J. Trump won again is the exact same as why the number of digital nomads has doubled to 35 million in the last year, with 90% of them being men.

Many of them are simply pleased to be able to vote with their feet and send a middle finger to a society that regards their gender (toxic masculinity) and conservative views as a "threat to democracy" that should be censored.

So here’s what happened:

• Last Tuesday, Marko and I met in the digital nomad hub of Canggu and had an in-depth conversation covering a variety of topics: making money, the best places to live, and much more.

  It turns out Marko studied politics before transitioning into the creative arts and filmmaking. Given his background and the spotlight on this election week, we ended up delving into social issues and sharing our own political perspectives too.

• Additionally, I took to the streets for some fun, asking random people—locals and foreigners alike—their thoughts on the U.S. election.

  The challenge was to keep it friendly, making friends, not enemies and it turned out to be a blast!

If you’re interested in getting full access to Q&A sessions, personalized social media blueprints, and more, then unlock full access at the end of the newsletter and take your digital nomad journey to the next level!

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Lets start with the fun part of me asking random people on the beach of Bali

On election day, before anyone knew the results, I went for a run along Canggu Beach in Bali, striking up friendly conversations and casually asking people, “Trump or Harris?"

The idea was to do this all in good spirit, just to make friends, share a laugh, and keep things lighthearted.

So here we go:

So here are the key takeaways of my interview:

Marko is a British digital nomad who started his journey in Wuhan long before the pandemic, worked under a Chinese mafia boss, and found himself bouncing between the highs of Thailand’s beach parties and the lows of struggling to make ends meet as a web designer.

The struggles at the beginning:

His journey into the digital nomad lifestyle wasn't easy; he returned to the UK broke and jobless with a $2,000 debt to a friend.

Determined to make it work, he explored web design and graphic design as potential income sources.

Digital Nomad Lifestyle Mindset:

After experiencing freedom and the joy of travel in Thailand, we realized the “digital nomad” lifestyle is more of a tool than an end goal.

We agreed that a location-independent lifestyle requires finding purpose beyond just the freedom to travel.

Challenges of Digital Nomadism: 

We discussed the difficulties of finding real friendships and connections while constantly moving.

We spoke about the impact of loneliness, especially for solo male travelers, and the importance of building meaningful relationships instead of superficial connections.

Politics and Philosophy: 

The conversation takes a turn into political discussions about life in the West versus abroad, where we both expressed frustration with the current climate in the UK and the West, particularly around censorship and societal shifts.

Building Resilience with Uncertainty: 

A significant theme is how digital nomads face uncertainty daily, and Marco offers insights on viewing this uncertainty as a tool for personal growth.

We touched on “Merantau,” an Indonesian rite of passage that resonates with many nomads, where young men leave home to become independent and return with experience and wealth. The Power of Indonesia’s Merantau Ritual 

Advice for Aspiring Nomads: 

We also talked about practical tips on how digital nomads can thrive, including creating a “base camp” in familiar places like Bali, balancing their creative pursuits with sustainable income, and how skills like the confidence to talk to strangers are essential for meaningful connections on the road.

Marko’s journey illustrates the power of storytelling and resilience in the nomad lifestyle.

Watch the full interview here:

If you’re inspired to craft your own story, Marko’s filmmaking academy is a great place to start—sign up below today and bring your vision to life.

Thanks for tuning and see you next time!

Roman

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