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Today’s PrideNomad™ Quiz:

In Today’s Email:

Subscriber Bonus: Hug Alert…

Travel Smart: The Cute Frenchman’s Rookie Mistake

Summit Talk: Why Next Week Can Be Your Game Changer

On The Channel: Where We’re Headed (NOT America)

Destinations: Spain Off the Beaten Track

Support our Sponsors: The Jungles of Costa Rica—Join us!

YOUR NEW SUBSCRIBER BONUS!

Let’s face it. Life can be stressful. Especially now with political pressure, economic uncertainties and all the craziness that we experience as we bounce around the planet.

So we thought you might need a hug. A moment of divine inspiration…encouragement…support. Your own personal cheerleader. It’s a 20-second read that will help you start your day with a smile.

TRAVEL SMART:

✈️ The Frenchman, the Visa, and the Truth About Travel Fear

Let’s talk about fear. Not the fear of coming out or the fear of going broke—though we’ve danced with both. I’m talking about that very specific fear that hits when you’re thinking of traveling somewhere new:

“What if I don’t speak the language? What if I get stuck? What if I just can’t… figure it out?”

Totally fair questions. we get asked this a lot.

And here’s the truth: after years of living around the world, the fear is real—but it’s also overrated.

In most tourist-friendly places, English gets you surprisingly far. And where it doesn’t? A smile, a few hand gestures, and learning how to say “hello,” “thank you,” and “that was delicious—more, please” will get you further than you’d expect.

Google Translate helps. But preparation helps more.

This is the part where I tell you not to be that person who points to a random spot on a map, buys a plane ticket, and thinks they’re starring in some TikTok-worthy gap year adventure. It might sound romantic, but reality bites—and sometimes bites hard.

Case in point:

Last week, I met a stunning young French tourist on a bus (yes, that kind of stunning—no, it didn’t go that way). He barely spoke English and was days away from overstaying his U.S. visa. His phone was locked. He couldn’t access his bank. No SIM. No plan. No clue.

He was trying to stay longer and “maybe find an Uber job” under the table.

Spoiler: That’s not legal. Especially not in the current U.S. climate (and in every country I’ve traveled to).

So what did I do?
I brought him home for dinner.

PrideNomad Mom was thrilled to practice her French, we fed him, helped him make a plan, and tried to get him reconnected. I never heard from him again—still hoping he’s okay—but that’s not the point.

The point is this: when you travel, someone will usually show up to help—without strings.

And when they don’t? That’s why this PrideNomad community exists. If you’re ever stuck abroad, email us. Remember that you’re part of a global network of amazing humans—and someone, somewhere, will step in.

But be smart.

Plan ahead.

Understand the local laws—especially around working.

Don’t assume you can pick up a job on a tourist visa. Many countries are strict, and getting deported is not a vibe.

Be bold, but not reckless.

Because here’s the beautiful truth: the universe does have your back—but she prefers when you meet her halfway.

That’s why we created the World Playground Summit, launching June 17th. Five days. 25+ speakers. No borders, no shame, just practical, life-changing wisdom to help you live free and well anywhere on this planet. It’s FREE for PrideNomad subscribers.

This isn’t just about travel.

It’s about freedom.

It’s about expanding your life beyond your ZIP code, your comfort zone, and whatever small story you’ve been sold about “how life is supposed to look.”

You deserve more.

🌈 Come explore with us.

The world needs to be your playground—now more than ever.

YOUR BLUEPRINT AWAITS:

🎉 THE WORLD PLAYGROUND SUMMIT

June 17–21, 2025 | 100% Online | Free to Attend

Five fierce days.
25 unapologetic queer trailblazers.

Not just surface-level travel tips or generic digital nomad fluff.
We're going deep. We're going real. We're going all in.

Here's just a taste of what we're unpacking for you:

✅ How to emotionally prepare for life beyond systems that never served you
Because freedom can feel like flight—or freefall. Learn how others ground themselves in the in-between.

✅ Proven strategies for building income on your own terms
Escape the grind without going broke. Speakers share how they fund their freedom without selling their soul.

✅ Candid conversations about queerness across cultures
Where are we safe? Where are we celebrated? What do we need to know before we land somewhere new?

✅ Insights on building real connection while living borderlessly
Chosen family doesn't have to be left behind. Learn how to build it wherever you go.

✅ Personal practices for emotional sovereignty and authentic power
Because freedom is more than a plane ticket—it's an inner state. And yes, you can train for it.

Let's be clear:

This summit isn't for everyone.

If you're still waiting for the world to maybe, possibly, eventually get its act together...
Keep waiting.

This isn't for you.

But if you're done letting fear, shame, or politics dictate how and where you live...
If you're tired of shrinking yourself to fit into spaces that were never designed for your expansion...
If you're ready to build a life that reflects the full, unfiltered truth of who you are...

Then clear your damn calendar.
Because this Summit is YOUR next move.

Bring your friends.
Share this with your queer crew.
Post it in every group chat you've got.

ON THE CHANNEL:

Thinking About a Cruise? Watch This First.

What if your passport doesn’t protect you anymore?

In this brutally honest breakdown, I’m pulling back the curtain on what’s really happening to queer travelers around the world — and why more LGBTQ+ nomads are ditching the U.S. for good.

After 15+ years living openly queer in 40+ countries, I’ve seen the patterns. The warning signs. The invisible borders.

And I’ve got one message for you:
👉 It’s not just about where you travel. It’s about where you’re truly seen.

🌍 In this episode:

• 🌈 5 favorite countries still rolling out the rainbow carpet

• 🚫 The hidden restrictions quietly targeting queer travelers

• 🍷 The wildcard nation that literally greets you with wine

• 🇺🇸 And why the U.S. is rapidly losing trust, safety, and soul

✈️ DESTINATIONS:

🇪🇸 Spain, the Quiet Way

When people talk about Spain (#1 on the PrideNomad Index), they usually mean the hits: Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Gran Canaria—maybe Seville, if they’re feeling cultured.

But the Spain that stays with you?

It’s rarely on the front of the postcards.

Lately, we’ve been hearing all kinds of stories from PrideNomads traveling through Spain. So today, let’s talk about the Robert Frost side of the country:

The roads less traveled. The quiet towns. The slow afternoons.

The places that don’t make the rainbow maps—but might just give you the most real experience.

Take Santiago de Compostela. Yes, it’s the end of the famous Camino. But even if you don’t hike 500 miles to get there, the town holds something ancient. Stone streets. A stillness that doesn’t beg for your attention—it earns it.

One YouTuber called it “peaceful in a way I didn’t know I needed.” That stuck with me.

Up north, Asturias offers something even rarer: no pressure.

You’re not rushing from monument to monument. You’re sipping cider poured from arm’s length (yes, that’s a thing), wandering fishing villages, and realizing—maybe for the first time in a while—you don’t need a plan. Just shoes and curiosity.

Then there’s La Rioja, Spain’s wine country, where you can drink outrageously good reds for €4 a glass. It’s like Napa without the ego. No need to be a sommelier—just say “Rioja” and enjoy.

Some of the best nights in Spain happen in tiny Andalucían hilltowns, where you might stumble into a local fiesta. No English. No expectations. Just grilled fish, warm wine, and dancing under string lights.

BTW… that’s the magic of saying yes. PrideNomad Mom and I had a similar, unforgettable moment in Kathmandu—completely unplanned, completely unforgettable.

We get caught chasing bucket lists. But sometimes it’s the third cities—Salamanca, León, Oviedo—that give you what the big ones can’t: room to breathe. Room to feel human again.

So if Spain is calling, don’t just follow the guidebooks. Follow the invitations. The overheard suggestions. The stranger at the bar who says, “You should check out this little town—nobody goes there.”

That’s the good stuff.

Make flexibility your plan. Let serendipity lead.

And if you’ve found a corner of Spain that moved you, hit reply and tell me: where’s your quiet corner? We might just feature it next. We want to share real stories—from real PrideNomads—who found something worth remembering.

Because that’s what we’re building here: a travel guide made of your moments, not marketing hype.

Spain’s quiet corners are waiting.

No rainbow flags required—just an open heart and comfortable shoes.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:

🌴 From Unicorn Exit to Jungle Awakening: Why You Should Nomad With Us In Costa Rica This July 🌈

You’ve heard of Turo—the Airbnb-for-cars unicorn worth billions.
But you probably haven’t heard what happened after its queer founder, Shelby Clark, was pushed out.

He didn’t launch another startup.
He went into the jungle…
And built something real.

Now, Shelby’s the creator of the Jungle Gayborhood—a transformational queer sanctuary on 300 acres of Costa Rican rainforest.

🗓️ July 27–Aug 2, I’m joining Shelby and his team for a life-changing LGBTQ+ retreat—and you’re invited.

🌈 Expect waterfalls, deep breathwork, optional plant medicine, and a space where you can finally exhale.
 🧠 Fully trans-affirming, trauma-aware, and science-backed.
🏕️ And yes—you get $200 off any retreat this year when you mention PrideNomad.

✨ Bonus:
You’ll meet Shelby first at the World Playground Summit, where he’s a featured speaker sharing the full story of how he went from Silicon Valley glory…
To jungle rebirth.

This is your invitation.
To stop chasing.
To start remembering.
To come home to yourself.

👉 Click here to request info or just reply “COSTA RICA” and we’ll send you everything.

Let’s go.

P.S. Hey — quick personal note, just between us nomads…

This book might just remind you you’re not alone.

📖 Download your pay-what-you-want copy here before the final version drops.

With pride & wanderlust,

Ken

Answer to Today’s Quiz

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