In this pod I talk to Nathan James Thomas, a veteran Kiwi traveller, writer, and publisher who left Aotearoa New Zealand more than a decade ago and built a life on the move before eventually putting down roots in Poland in 2022.

Nathan left NZ in 2014, bound first for China. What began as an OE gradually evolved into something more permanent. Over the next 10 years he lived the life of a digital nomad, working across China, Spain, Hungary, Albania, Georgia, & Poland, supporting himself as a writer and editor.

In our conversation we talk about what life as a digital nomad looks like beyond Instagram curation, the emotional and practical costs of life as a modern Bedouin, and the inflection point when the itch to move kicks in.

Nathan's the owner of Exisle Publishing and the founder of a travel publication - Intrepid Times - focused on narrative, long-form storytelling. I loved hearing about the origination stories of both commercial threads to Nathan's life, his description of Kiwis as enthusiastic travellers, how travel writing is changing, what relying on AI can result in for travellers (spoiler alert - certifiably mad recommendations and hallucinatory destinations), and why curiosity for modern travellers matters more than ever.

Our conversation about the origination of the term 'carbon miles' and travel-shaming also saw Nathan kindly providing links to a relevant story he penned for Intrepid Times, found here.

I so enjoyed this conversation. Nathan is thoughtful, candid, and unromantic about both the rewards and realities of a life spent on the road, and on questions of Kiwi identity and place.

On behalf of the team here at OFNZ, thank you so much for listening.

My huge thanks to the Kiwi Flees for candid conversations, and to my sound-meister Robbie at Matrix Digital (Wgtn) for his commitment to the craft and making himself available at the weirdest of hours to record these conversations from abroad. Thank you too, to Team Kea for promoting the pod.

If you're a Kiwi Flee or know someone who should be, please get in touch at: kiwiflees@onlyfromnz.co.nz

Please subscribe, leave a review, and join me in a fortnight for our next episode.

In this pod I talk to Hannah Seay, one seriously gritty, determined, & adventurous Kiwi who has just returned to Aotearoa New Zealand after spending the past 14 years working in one of the world's most demanding service roles - super yachting.

Coming originally from Taupo and with a background in hospitality that started with washing dishes as a 12 year-old before eventually working in high-end resorts including Huka Lodge, Hannah left NZ aged 19, bound for France & determined to work on super yachts.

In the pod we discuss how she got her first super yacht role, the long days and longer nights on the job, some of the perceptions and bigger misperceptions of the industry, and why Kiwis seem to do so well in it.

While I feel Hannah views her 14 years at sea positively, she also shares some of the more disturbing experiences she faced. This includes being sexually harassed and her adeptness at using soft skills to navigate intimidating & frightening situations with no land in sight. Listeners are advised that the pod includes stories of sexual harassment which some people may find distressing.

Hannah has packed a lot into her life - from skinning rabbits for kitchen prep to Silver Service for billionaires, to seeing some of the world's most iconic sights and to ultimately becoming a super-yacht Chief Stewardess for the past eight years and a Chief Build Stewardess for three multi-million dollar super-yacht builds.

Having experienced the good and the un-good of the industry, Hannah has also been a champion for other young women joining the fold of the super yacht workforce; something we also explore.

As a former sea-dog (on trawlers not super yachts!), I loved talking to Hannah about life at sea and appreciate hugely her willingness to speak openly about the great, the good, the bad, and yes the ugly too in our conversation.

For those of you interested in reading my Kiwi Flees OpEd published in Stuff, you'll find the link to the story here: Kiwi brain drain? Or our greatest export opportunity? In the event this is paywalled, I've also published a copy of the story on our website at ofnz.co.nz.

Thank you so much for listening.

My huge thanks to the Kiwi Flees for candid conversations, and to my sound-meister Robbie at Matrix Digital (Wgtn) for his commitment to the craft and making himself available at the weirdest of hours to record these conversations from abroad. Thank you too, to Team Kea for promoting the pod.

If you're a Kiwi Flee or know someone who should be, please get in touch at: kiwiflees@onlyfromnz.co.nz

Please subscribe, leave a review, and join me in a fortnight for our next episode.

In this pod I talk to the indomitable Kirsten Chambers-Taylor whose first offshore role was working for the English photojournalist, Juliet Peck. Juliet's husband, Rory (a freelance news cameraman), had been killed by Boris Yeltsin loyalists in Moscow the year before Kirsten arrived in London in 1994. A stint in France as a horse trainer & nanny was followed by Kirsten then taking a role as a Domestic Servant with the United States-based UK Consul General.

We discuss humble beginnings including a six-week, 'no-hope-of-extension' job at the British Consulate which turned into a stellar 24-year career which saw Kirsten serving seven Consuls General & five Prime Ministers. This culminated in Kirsten becoming Consul for Trade & Investment, then Regional Director for New England where she was charged with boosting trade & investment, supporting Ministers, and championing staff through the pandemic.

In 2026, Kirsten is on a mission through her new company - Taylored Pathways - to better connect her adopted home of New England with New Zealand. Kirsten shares plenty of insights about New England - where companies including Facebook, Android, Polaroid, & Gillette were born. She encourages Kiwi companies considering entering the US to not just focus on the usual suspects like California when thinking about how and where to start their export journey into America.

We talk about Kirsten's SUMO (Suck it Up & Move On) approach to life, the connections between working with horses & leadership, her role as President of the New England Kiwi Club, and how her company aims to help companies navigate US (& UK) market entry via a less travelled, more creative, and potentially less competitive route than the herd.

I loved this conversation. For me it again demonstrates just how adept Kiwis are at making the most of any situation while confirming that our expatriate population remains connected and is willing and able to help fellow Kiwis.

If you're looking for help with US or UK market entry or connections, or to find out more about about Taylored Pathways, Kirsten can be reached at (+1) 617 483 3245, hello@tayloredpathways.com, or check out tayloredpathways.com for details.

Thank you so much for listening.

My huge thanks to the Kiwi Flees for candid conversations, and to my sound-meister Robbie at Matrix Digital (Wgtn) for his commitment to the craft and making himself available at the weirdest of hours to record these conversations from abroad. Thank you too, to Team Kea for promoting the pod.

If you're a Kiwi Flee or know someone who should be, please get in touch at: kiwiflees@onlyfromnz.co.nz

Please subscribe, leave a review, and join me in a fortnight for our next episode.