PODCAST · society
Nomads and Nimble Shadow
by Jory
We’re two retired first responders who sold everything, grabbed our dog Django, and set out to live our dream. Nomads and Nimble Shadow is our journey — the highs, lows, and life lessons of living full-time on the road or in Central America and finding a slower, more intentional way to live.Email questions, prompts, and topics to: [email protected]
Episodes
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Ep48 - Shower Shock
What happens when two retired police lieutenants trade sirens, freeway traffic, and 30-year careers for giant frogs, venomous snakes, and jungle living? In this episode of Nomads and Nimble Shadow, Shawn and Kendra look back on 10 months of nomadic life in Costa Rica—and the adventures,...
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Ep47 - Coast to Coast, Heart to Heart
"We don't make it work—it just works." Long-distance relationships and blended families aresupposed to be hard work, but Sarah (California), John (Massachusetts), and 12-year-old Harper are rewriting the rulebook. In this episode, we sit down with the trio to explore how 3,000 miles of separation...
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Ep46 - Jaguars not included...
Welcome back to the show, where we’ve officially swapped instant gratification for Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast—a place operating in a total time-machine gear where everyday convenience vanishes, and true tropical adventure begins. In this episode, we’re joined by our self-proclaimed "Marriott...
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Ep45 - What happens in Vegas....
Finally! We're back with some updates, trip highlights, and an accidental night in Vegas! Catch up with us as we fill you in on the last three months of couch surfing and living on the road, as we wait for our Wanderbox build to be completed. For the next upcoming episode, we are headed back to...
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Ep44 - Mother Nature Tried to Kill Us
In this episode, we take on the wild beauty of British Columbia, where the scenery is stunning, the AirBnBs are questionable, and Mother Nature clearly has a sense of humor. From close encounters with a protective bear and her cubs to an elk cow guarding her calf, a flat tire, a barebones…
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Ep43 - Self Driven
We catch up with an old colleague who shows us how retirement, road trips, Teslas, and AI can all collide in the best way. From a 10,000-mile cross-country journey using full self-driving to discovering quirky roadside stops with ChatGPT and Grok, his story is about embracing technology, staying...
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Ep42 - Budget Blues
In this episode, Kendra and Shawn recap their chaotic, funny, and sometimes sketchy journey through the Midwest, Canada, and back toward the Rockies. From visiting their daughter at a communal workaway farm to losing their truck Val near Mount Rushmore, meeting “Rusty,” surviving Midwest roadkill...
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Ep41 - Floating Freedom
In this episode, we interview an adventurous retired couple who traded traditional life on land for full-time life aboard a sailboat. While they joined us from Greece and we recorded from Canada, we talked about what it really means to live on the ocean — from learning to sail, provisioning,...
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Ep40 - Slipping Gears and Secret Tunnels
Join us as we take listeners on a whimsical, nomadic trekacross the Midwest, navigating everything from a "catastrophic" water main break in historic Galena to a transmission-slipping scare in Chicago. Their journey blends deep dives into 19th-century architecture and dark legends of secret…
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Ep39 - The Old Mississip!
Follow us as we continue north from Sioux Falls to beautiful La Crosse, Wisconsin. We wander the almost empty streets of this historic town while the temperature falls from 80 degrees to 20 degrees in an hour. And what is that loud siren? Small trigger warning for sexual abuse discussion.
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Ep38 - North, the long way
This episode brought to you by all the small country roads that somehow earned a highway label. We take the long way from Oregon counterclockwise through the USA to Canada. We discuss living on the road, people watching, and experiencing the small nuances brought to you by the backroads. We hope...
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Ep37-Seven Days at Sea
We flew to the wrong island… and it turned into one of the best weeks of our lives. Seven days on a dive boat, exploring reefs, meeting amazing people, and making memories that hit different. This one’s loaded with videos and photos—throw it on your big screen and come along with us.
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Ep36-Leaving to Live
We sit down with some new friends and discuss what it takes to walk away from what you know and to follow the dream of living abroad. The impetus to departure, and the day-to-day lessons of being outside of the USA. A big thank you to Vanessa and Don for joining us and sharing their story.
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Ep35 - Water, Wonder, and the Windy Road to La Fortuna
We step out on a three-day road trip to explore La Fortuna. Our days were filled with white water rafting, chasing turquoise waterfalls, hiking in the wilderness, and stumbling across a culinary hidden gem on the side of a lonely country road. Hop in with us as we explore the volcanic beauty...
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Ep34 - Dust to Dust
In this episode, we talk about the unexpected loss of my father and my trip back to the United States to face my responsibilities. We also reminisce about air travel and share stories of prior adventures. Thanks for listening!
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Ep33 - Two for One!
Two podcasts in one. The first part entails our adventure and discovery of the medical system in Central America. Can two brave Americans pay less and get more in a developing country? I think you'll be surprised by what we have discovered. Part two focuses on our drive and experience of what the...
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Ep32 - Fast Food
Listen as we discuss the difficulties of enduring a three-day water fast. The science behind the why and the ups and downs while we're in it. Thanks for joining us. Send your comments, questions, and topics to: [email protected] This episode has some photos embedded if you have the...
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Ep31 - Christmas in Costa Rica
What is Christmas to you? What makes you get in the Christmas Spirit? What are the traditions that can carry over to Central America? We share seasonal stories and listen to Emma reflect on what made her Christmas magical growing up.
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Ep30- Living Requires Risk
In this episode, we explore the idea that meaningful memories often live just beyond our comfort zone. From traveling in developing countries and trying unfamiliar foods to staying in unexpected places and visiting destinations many friends and family would never imagine, we talk about how taking...
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Ep29 - It's Raining Geckos!
The Cost of Caring Too Much Is it healthier to care less and live fancy-free, or safer to pre-plan and stress over everything that could go wrong? In this episode, we dive into K’s wildly chaotic day, complete with rabies worries and geckos dropping from the ceiling. We also revisit some...
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Ep28 - Cat's in the Cradle
We sit down with a longtime family friend who’s known us for years, and she shares her perspective on visiting Costa Rica for the first time. As the former spouse of a first responder, she opens up about the challenges of supporting someone balancing intense work demands with family life—and the...
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Ep27 - Whip Spider!
In this episode, we go over our recent wins and woes of adjusting to our new way of life. Central America is beautiful and offers a variety of fun challenges. We reflect on living in the jungle and how sometimes the jungle finds its way into your home. Thanks for joining us, and don't forget to...
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Ep26 - Superfan returns with his wife!
This episode was recorded at our Costa Rica home with two close married friends who were kind enough to spend their vacation with us. We discuss the difficulties of being married to a first responder, and when things start to balance out, you then bring a trained police dog into a home with three...
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Ep25 - Costa Rica!
We arrived! This episode is brought to you from Central America. We discuss the differences of living abroad and the challenges of figuring it out along the way. Coffee talk, reflections, and negotiating PTSD flight/freeze in a crowded grocery store. Thanks for joining us! Please send...
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Ep24 - Travel Highlights and Woes
In this episode, we dive into all the ways travel inevitably goes sideways when you’re abroad—and how that’s often where the best memories are made. You don’t remember every uneventful mile of a road trip, but you do remember changing a tire in a muddy ditch during a thunderstorm… while being...
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Ep23 - And Now...Another Transition
This episode counts down to a pause in our life on the road and the transition to moving to Central America in the coming days. We discuss our anxiety of giving up our now everyday routine for the stresses of caring for a home in a new environment where English is not spoken by the locals. We…
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Ep22 - Navigating PTSD on the Road
In this engaging conversation, the hosts reflect on their recent travels, discussing the emotional and psychological impacts of transitioning from serene landscapes to bustling urban environments. They delve into personal experiences with PTSD, the challenges of navigating public transportation,...
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Ep21 - Superfan Interview!
email us In this retrospective episode, we reconnect with a long-time friend and former co-worker who shared the journey with both of us in law enforcement. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside him in several areas of police work—and even better, our professional paths…
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Ep20 - Youngblood and his other half
We sit down with my son and his girlfriend to catch up and recollect fun memories. We learn about sponge cities, the insight from a prior Jamba Juice employee, Halloween past and present, and how minesweeping at a beach seems cathartic. For this episode, we are in the Airstream in Petaluma.…
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Ep19 - Our next generation, thoughts and reflections
Traveling with kids...where do you go? Local destinations, popular grandiose locations, or international? How young is too young to travel? In this episode, we utilize our last night in Washington DC to talk to Emma and Andrew about travel philosophy and other fun topics. Mentioned in this…
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Ep18 - Special Guest!
We are joined and interviewed by the oldest in the family and her boyfriend. We discuss parenting as first responders and being parented by first responders, as well as philosophies and S's nine lives. We look forward to hearing from you. Please email us with questions/requests/concerns to:...
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Ep17 - Survivor Audition/s and some science!
In this episode...S outsmarts K on how many shows he can pick per week...K's prior audition and maybe future audition for Survivor...PTSD, when did we start to notice a change, and how are we adapting to being in each other's space ALL the time? Thanks for listening. We would love to hear from…
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Ep16 - The World is a Book
We share a story about S getting the bends, and if he hadn't, we may not be here today..... Travel stories and how dumb two city people can be deep in the Amazon Rainforest. And yes, another BJJ injury Thanks for listening, as always, feel free to send comments/questions/concerns to us at:...
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Ep15 - Behind the Curtain of Humanity
We share a story where we fall victim to an elaborate scam/con during our travels. K shares a work story. Trigger warning for sexual assault. Welcome, and we're happy you're listening. Send all comments/questions/concerns to us at: [email protected]
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Ep14 - A work story (FINALLY!)
SN shares a work story, talks about quitting ZYN's, taking little ones to the emergency room, and the potential dangers of leaving a little boy in the same room as a box of matches. Share with us your comments/questions/complaints or topics at: [email protected]
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Ep13 - Future Adventure Goals...is bigger better
Disc Golfing, customer service woes, and our potential future, the WANDERBOX! How do Americans travel around the globe to overland? Is it feasible and realistic to think you can take your overland vehicle wherever you want in the world? Missing the kids on the road.... Send your...
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Bonus Content
I have a ritual of making coffee in the morning. I filmed this in a beautiful Stargazing Villa named Kosmos that is located in Arizona. Enjoy the ASMR while I make a cup and enjoy the crisp, cool Arizona morning.
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Ep12 - Case of the Mondays
We share a rough day in hopes of giving you some laughs. Nothing's easy, and sometimes you both can have a bad day at the same time. We're in Lebanon, Oregon, for the week. Everything is one hour away from this home base..... Email us questions/comments/concerns to: [email protected]
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Ep11 - Who built the pyramids?
Cruising in Reno with big hair, favorite TV shows, and movies, and how allowing your kid to read scary books is ten times worse than letting them see the film. What are your favorite childhood movies, and did you cruise as a teenager? Get in touch with us: [email protected]
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Ep10 - Anniversary of 9/11, where were you on that day?
In this episode, we talk about our memories of that tragic day, the state of the union after a recent assassination, and other issues in our encapsulated lives. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to email us with questions, comments, and topics to: [email protected]
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Ep9 - Cooking on the road, meals growing up
We dive into what it's like cooking on the road in our smaller kitchen with the smaller fridge with the smaller pots, the miniature silverware, and tiny glasses....ok, not really. Also, we bring up our past and what we found on the dinner table as kids. The DMV in Oregon, compared to California,...
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Ep8 - Pet Peeves, PTSI, and eating a charcutier board like a heathen
Have you ever seen a salmon dressed in his finest red outfit before his version of Eyes Wide Shut? We got to see that today. Also in this episode, I share my experience with a panic attack at Costco, my pet peeves, and we discuss whether being a food server is really as difficult as it seems....
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Ep7 – Keeping Secrets
This episode is recorded in a State Park near Joseph, Oregon. We talk about our work resumes, missing our friends and family, and the moral dilemma of keeping secrets from your spouse when it comes to work. Thanks for listening!
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Ep6 - Is it a fact or a memory
We recorded this episode where mosquitoes are made, but have a new weapon against the itch. Catching up with my brother in his new castle, his childhood memories vs mine, the losing of a bet, and escape rooms.
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Ep5 - The baseline of boredom
Our story begins over the radio waves some twenty-five years ago — a call for service that was truly the cat’s meow. What followed was a glimpse into how balanced, “normal” people evolve after years in public safety. The average person may face five critical incidents in a lifetime. For those in...
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Ep4 - Uninvited guests, toe torture, and the locusts’ thirst for my orange juice
In this episode, we talk about our road trips as kids,pedicures for men, and most importantly, our formal introduction to our service dog. We recorded this episode at the top of a very high hill surrounded by wildernessin Pocatello, Idaho. This was our last episode with our beautiful red mountain...
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Ep3 - The Jack in Box you never see coming
In this episode, we discuss how being a police officer changes you and transforms the way you perceive and react to things. In trying to prepare for the jack-in-the-box hiding under the bed, your body and personality undergo not-so-healthy changes. Also included is the cacophony of a pack of...
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Ep2 - Philosophies on the American Dream
In our second episode, we discuss the illusion sold to us as the American dream, picket fence and all. Kendra shares her secret desire to step on baby animals. This episode brought to you by loud diesel trucks, a seemingly required vehicle in the small Utah town of Vernal, population 10,698.
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Ep1- First one here we go, this is who we are
An introduction to our adventure after walking away from the white picket fence.... We’re two retired first responders who sold everything, grabbed our dog Django, and set out to live our dream. Nomads and Nimble Shadow is our journey — the highs, lows, and life lessons of living full-time in a...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
We’re two retired first responders who sold everything, grabbed our dog Django, and set out to live our dream. Nomads and Nimble Shadow is our journey — the highs, lows, and life lessons of living full-time on the road or in Central America and finding a slower, more intentional way to live.Email questions, prompts, and topics to: [email protected]
HOSTED BY
Jory
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Nomads and Nimble Shadow have?
Nomads and Nimble Shadow currently has 49 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Nomads and Nimble Shadow about?
We’re two retired first responders who sold everything, grabbed our dog Django, and set out to live our dream. Nomads and Nimble Shadow is our journey — the highs, lows, and life lessons of living full-time on the road or in Central America and finding a slower, more intentional way to live.Email...
How often does Nomads and Nimble Shadow release new episodes?
Nomads and Nimble Shadow has 49 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Nomads and Nimble Shadow?
You can listen to Nomads and Nimble Shadow on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Nomads and Nimble Shadow?
Nomads and Nimble Shadow is created and hosted by Jory.
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