Episode #296: Researching Digital Nomads and Lessons From 30 Years of Immersive World Travel with Dr. Kaisu Koskela

Episode Summary

Learn why digital nomads are not using digital nomad visas, and who the term “digital nomad” applies to anyway. Kaisu Koskela starts off talking about her experience growing up in a remote town in northern Finland near the Arctic Circle, gives tips for visiting the region, and talks about her all-female motorcycle club.  She then reflects on the years she spent working at local jobs around the world and traveling before smartphones.  Kaisu tells stories from her experience teaching English in Nepal and spending time with different tribes in Tanzania. She then talks about her interest in Anthropology and Ethnic Studies, how she developed a location-independent academic career, and why she is so interested in studying digital nomads.  Kaisu shares insights from her research into why digital nomads are not using the “digital nomad visas” and who is using them instead.  Kaisu also discusses the evolution of the “digital nomad” label and whether it has become interwoven with racial, class, or other types of privileged coding, and what implications that has.

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Dr. Kaisu Koskela

Dr. Kaisu Koskela is an anthropologist, location-independent academic researcher, and full-time digital nomad.  She received her PhD from the University of Helsinki in 2021, and her current research interests focus on digital nomads and the emergence of digital nomad visas. Born and raised in northern Finland, near the Arctic Circle, she has lived a more or less nomadic lifestyle for almost 30 years, has been a digital nomad for the past 10 years and has now been to more than 80 countries.

What You'll Learn
  • How to visit northern Finland and the Arctic Circle
  • Why Digital Nomads are not using Digital Nomad Visas and who Is
  • Whether the term “Digital Nomad” is imbued with racial, class or other privileged coding
Links From the Episode

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Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[2:13] Introducing Kaisu Koskela

[4:19] Growing up in Finland near the Arctic Circle

[6:19] Recommendations for Visiting Finland and the Arctic Circle

[7:48] Kaisu’s All-Female Motorcycle Club

[9:36] Working Local Jobs Around the World

[12:28] Reflections on World Travel Before the Internet

[15:03] Teaching English in Nepal

[19:12] Spending Time with Different Tribes in Tanzania

[23:33] Developing a Location-Independent Academic Career

[26:31] Studying Anthropology and Ethnic Studies

[28:22] Studying Digital Nomads

[30:15] Digital Nomad Visas

[38:07] Racial and Class Coding in the “Digital Nomad” Terminology