This week on Poncha Talk, I hiked and talked with my good friend Brandon Harpold (@brandonharpold), who brings a refreshing and philosophical lens to the remote lifestyle.

After getting laid off from his job as a human factors engineer, Brandon chose to take a very different path—he’s now building a life as a speaker, coach, and online philosopher. We explore what it means to live intentionally, build meaningful friendships as a nomad, and experiment boldly with life (including that one time he became a stripper—for one night only).

We also dig into how social media has shaped our attention spans and how Brandon uses short-form content to make big ideas more accessible in today’s fast-scroll world.

This episode is thoughtful, unexpected, and full of reminders not to take life too seriously.

Follow Brandon on Instagram: @brandonharpold
Follow the podcast: @ponchatalk

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro
0:55 – Brandon’s story: from engineer to coach to philosopher
12:05 – Nomad friendships through a philosophical lens
22:10 – How social media reshapes our attention span (and Brandon’s bite-size approach to big ideas)
27:45 – The one-night stripping story: curiosity, friends, and bold life experiments
41:04 – Embracing silliness and the role of play in adult life

In part two of my conversation with Kate, we shift focus to one of the most exciting parts of remote life: choosing your next destination. Kate shares how she started her podcast Hintern Horizont gibt’s WLAN, where she explores different nomad hotspots and remote work travel tips.

We dive into what makes a destination great for digital nomads, from community and Wi-Fi to lifestyle and affordability. Kate also shares her favorite places, beginner-friendly suggestions, and what’s currently on her travel bucket list.

If you're wondering where to go next (or first!) — this episode is for you.

🔗 Follow Poncha Talk:
📸 Instagram: @ponchatalk
🎵 TikTok: @ponchatalk

🎙️ Check out Kate’s podcast Hintern Horizont gibt’s WLAN:
https://www.instagram.com/hintermhorizontgibtswlan

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro
01:00 – How Kate launched her podcast Hintern Horizont gibt’s WLAN
06:05 – What makes a destination ideal for digital nomads
08:00 – Fuerteventura: Kate’s personal favorite and why it works so well
13:37 – Ericeira, Portugal: a great starting point for first-time nomads
16:40 – Buenos Aires, Argentina: perfect for a longer stay and city lovers
20:30 – Tips for balancing work and travel
23:30 – Long-term nomad life: choosing between new places and returning “home”

What happens when you get everything you thought you wanted — and still feel unfulfilled?
In this episode of Poncha Talk, we dive deep into what it really means to reinvent yourself. We explore the shift from climbing the corporate ladder to choosing a path that’s less traditional but far more aligned with your values.

We talk about the emotional weight of quitting a job others admire, how to deal with societal pressure when you live life differently, and what it takes to start over — from going back to school to taking a job that pays less but brings more meaning. You'll also hear about letting go of everything that ties you to your home base (job, apartment, relationship) and the moment when years of nomading lead to a desire for a semi-permanent home again.

🎧 Kate also hosts the podcast Hintern Horizont gibt's WLAN, where she shares her experiences and favorite nomad destinations:
https://www.instagram.com/hintermhorizontgibtswlan

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 Intro
1:43 Kate’s background in the corporate world
4:40 Quitting a perfectly “good” job
12:36 How to get into a remote career
15:40 Letting go of things to start a new life
18:40 Challenges of reinventing yourself
24:05 Friendships, relationships, and a home base as a nomad

🔗 Follow Poncha Talk:
📸 Instagram: @ponchatalk
🎵 TikTok: @ponchatalk