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Today’s PrideNomad™ Quiz:

In Today’s Email:

Experiences: Report from the Jungle

Your Invitation: Using AI to Give You Borderless Freedom

On The Channel: 10 Fear Blasters

LIFE LESSONS: The Truth About Hookups

EXPERIENCES:

✈️ A Gay Jungle, a Waterfall, and the Experience That Changed Me

What happens when queer freedom meets jungle stillness.

As PrideNomads, we drink in adventure—turning the world into our playground. We live without borders, earn from anywhere, create impact through our work, and chase meaning while having damn good fun doing it.

Today’s edition takes us on a more intimate journey than usual. But then, you’re not a “usual” person, are you?

Let’s go!

Tucked deep in the jungle of Costa Rica, I found something I wasn’t expecting.

Not a lover. Not a miracle. Not a mushroom-induced epiphany (well, maybe one or two of those too).

I found… stillness. And strangely enough, home.

Let me take you there for a moment.

The place is called the Jungle Gayborhood. It’s not a resort. It’s not a party. What it is… is sacred.

Imagine waking up to howler monkeys in the distance, showering outdoors under the canopy (yes, actual bathrooms—but open-air and oddly luxurious), and drinking in one of the most soul-punching views I’ve ever witnessed. From the main meeting space—the Shala—you stare out at the legendary Diamanté Waterfall, usually wrapped in clouds like it’s shy about how sexy it is.

And you feel small, in the best possible way.

Let me be clear:

This is not a resort with tennis courts. There’s no infinity pool. No buffet line.

I was there last week for a plant medicine retreat—and while yes, the ceremony was powerful, the place and the people did something to me. Quietly. Consistently. And completely.

Let me walk you through it.

🌿 This is not the jungle-lite version.

You are in it. The air hums. The birds scream. And yes, the monkeys are your unsolicited alarm clock.

But then you step outside—and you’re met with mist rising from the mountains, and the Diamanté itself, always flirting behind the clouds like it’s doing a slow, sexy reveal. While it’s a bit far to get to, you can hike to a variety of falls on the property every day if you’re up for it—just know the trails can get slippery in rainy season. (Jungle means jungle.)

🛌 And yet, it’s wildly comfortable.

You’ll either be in a shared luxury bunk room (think “glamping meets grown-up summer camp”) or a king suite with sheets you want to write poetry about. The bathrooms are technically outside—covered, private, and totally charming. Every detail feels intentional—grounded, charming, and just wild enough.

🍽 The food? Holy. Hell.

This is not a place for calorie counting. The chef is a wizard. From next-level ceviche to eggs that somehow taste like self-respect, every meal is an event. I went back for seconds… and maybe thirds. Zero regrets.

🧘 Then there’s the Shala.

This open-air sanctuary sits at the heart of the property, facing the falls in the distance..

It’s where we gathered for yoga, meditation, and some of the most vulnerable, life-giving conversations I’ve ever been part of.

Including a raw, powerful discussion on sexuality—with zero shame, zero judgment, and total honesty.

Here’s the twist: There was no sex allowed on this retreat. That space created something I didn’t expect—a reset. It made me look at how I’ve historically used sex for validation or connection… and start making different choices. Ones that feel more sovereign. More real. More me.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The people? My people.

Every person there was heart-led, open, curious, and real. No pretense. No posturing. Just honest humans doing the work of remembering who they are.

I walked away with new friends. Maybe family. And a part of myself I thought I’d lost.

🌀 The event was called “Remembering Wholeness”, and it was masterful.

It was a plant medicine retreat. And as for the psilocybin experience itself—my intention going in was to kill off the shadow part of me. The small self that had been trying to protect my heart for years, but was, in truth, strangling my soul.

What happened instead was far more profound. I didn’t destroy him. I honored him. I saw that there was nothing broken to fix—only a deeper remembering of who I really am. That shift—from self-rejection to self-recognition—changed everything.

No, it wasn’t the “ultimate once-and-for-all get-happy fix.” But it cracked something open and set the recalibration in motion. And the team—Rocky, John Jacob, and the angelic Mike from London—held it all with such grounded wisdom and love that I could finally let it happen.

I’ve done decades of inner work. Maybe I was just finally ready. Or maybe this was simply the right message, at the right time, with the right people, in the right jungle. Either way… like the song says in Wicked—I’ve been changed. For good.

👨‍💻 Now here’s the good news:

You don’t have to go on a retreat to stay here.

WiFi? Solid. Zoom calls? Surprisingly smooth. You can come with your laptop and your soul and live in both worlds: jungle peace and nomad productivity. You can let it all hang out—literally. (Yes, clothing optional. It’s hot. And honestly? It’s healing—regardless of your body type.)

🏳️‍🌈 This place was built for us.

Shelby Clark—who you may know as the founder of Turo—walked away from the startup grind to build something different: a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ folks to reconnect with nature, each other, and themselves. He lives on-site, and he cares in a way that’s rare. This isn’t a business project. It’s his calling (you’ll find a delightful podcast interview with him here).

🚌 Oh, and the arrival? Flawless.

We were picked up in a Mercedes van at the airport, taken to lunch by the beach for some pre-retreat bonding, and then delivered into the jungle experience. It set the tone immediately—intentional, intimate, and infused with joy.

🌈 So here’s what’s next…

We’re exploring the idea of hosting a PrideNomad Week here. Think: no schedule, no forced transformation—just a jungle immersion for PrideNomads who want connection, stillness, good food, and a reason to finally exhale.

Not a party.
Not a productivity bootcamp.
Just… home.

👉 Reply “JUNGLE” if you want to be the first to hear about it. (Seriously. I’m not being paid to say this. I just want you to experience what I did.)

In just a few days, something in me shifted.
My nervous system rebooted.
My walls softened.
My heart opened.

And I remembered that joy isn’t something you earn. It’s something you return to.

It’s not for everyone.
But if it’s for you, you’ll know the moment you arrive.

WANT TO USE AI TO LIVE BETTER?:

🎉 ANNOUNCING THE AI FREEDOM FORMULA

August 12 and 14, 2025 | 100% Online | Free to for World Playground Summit VIPs

I had planned to do this all myself—to share how I’m using AI to run a global, location-independent lifestyle.

But frankly, one of my best productivity hacks is to always find a better way…

So I asked myself…

What if instead of teaching you MY way of using AI...

I brought together 12 of the smartest AI practitioners I know?

People who've cracked codes I'm still working on.

People who've built systems that make my stuff look amateur.

People who are using AI in ways that would blow your mind.

So that's exactly what I did.

I called in favors.

Made some deals.

Probably overpaid a few people.

And convinced 12 of the brightest minds in AI business automation to share their best stuff.

Not their "okay" stuff.

Their BEST stuff.

The result?

The AI Freedom Formula.

August 12 & 14. Two nights.
I’m broadcasting it from London…you can watch it from anywhere.
BTW, if you picked up the VIP pass to the World Playground Summit, you attend FREE!

And holy mackerel, this is gonna be good.

If you're tired of doing everything manually while your competitors automate their way to freedom...

This is your moment.

ON THE CHANNEL:

10 Fear Blasters That Stop PrideNomads. And How to Move Anyway…

This isn’t a hype video. It’s a reality check—especially for queer nomads trying to break free.

In this episode, I walk you through the 10 fears that keep LGBTQ+ travelers stuck—like money, visas, healthcare, and that deep fear of not belonging anywhere.

Plus, the one silent fear almost no one talks about… but it might be the one running your entire timeline.

LESSONS:

🌍 The Stopover Kiss: Sex, Sovereignty, and Staying Grounded on the Road

A PrideNomad Love Letter from Edinburgh

I wasn’t planning on meeting anyone. Not really.

I’d just come off a week of heart-centered ceremony. Real stuff. No apps, no masks, no nonsense.

Just presence.
Truth.
Stillness.

But it’s Edinburgh Fringe, and the city is vibrating with possibility. I opened up Grindr late the other night—out of curiosity, not craving—and stumbled into a conversation with someone who was, well… kind of everything.

Handsome.
Smart.
My type.

London-based but here for the festival.
Close by.
The kind of man whose face makes you pause, not scroll.

We messaged briefly.
He came over immediately.

No games.
No buildup.
Just two men, crossing paths at exactly the right—wrong—time.

I had no plan to hook up—especially after my deep sexual awareness from last week. But connection has a funny way of surprising us when we’re not hustling for it.

There was kissing.
Passion.
A massage.
A lot of presence.
No penetration—by choice.
Just heat, heart, and an energy that felt both alive and strangely familiar.

It wasn’t toxic.
It wasn’t empty.
It was… beautiful.

And then—almost like a film cut mid-scene—he was gone.

He got dressed quickly, kissed me one last time, said he didn’t relax well, and left.

Within 15 minutes, I was blocked.

No message.
No goodbye.
No explanation.

But here’s the thing: I didn’t fall apart. I didn’t spiral into the old script of “What did I do wrong?” I didn’t make his inability to stay mean I was unworthy.

I think the lessons from the Jungle actually landed.

Instead, I stayed with me.

💡 Lessons from the Road (and the Bed)

1. Not everyone is ready for the kind of connection you’re ready for. Especially when you’re grounded, post-ceremony, and leading with the heart. A lot of men don’t know what to do when they’re actually seen—so they run. And that’s not your fault. That’s their frontier.

2. Not all intimacy is meant to be permanent. Sometimes, what you experience in a single night is the exact medicine you needed. Maybe it’s a preview of what you’re now ready to receive. Or maybe it’s just a reminder: you’re still alive, still desirable, still open.

3. As nomads, we don’t always get closure—but we do get clarity. When someone leaves without warning, it’s easy to feel discarded. But I saw this for what it was: a clear “no” wrapped in a pretty face and a quick exit. Not personal. Just…done.

4. You don’t need a witness to know something is beautiful. One of the biggest emotional shifts I’ve had on the road is learning to be my own mirror. I don’t need someone next to me to validate the sunset, the architecture, the café, the kiss. My presence is enough.

5. Staying grounded in who you are is the only real constant in a nomadic life. Whether you’re in a city for six days or six months, people will come and go. But your sense of self—that’s what you carry in your pack. That’s your real passport.

So yeah…I had a beautiful night.
And no, I’ll never hear from him again.
But I’m not bitter. I’m grateful.

Because the experience didn’t collapse me.
It clarified me.

Yes, this life can feel lonely. But it’s built on moments. Big and small. Strange and sacred.

And if we’re paying attention, each one teaches us how to stay rooted, even while we wander.

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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