Nomadic Humanist Podcast Arrives

Anya Overmann grew up in the Ethical Society of St Louis—one of the founding member societies of the American Ethical Union and an affiliate of the American Humanist Association (AHA)—and is a rising leader of the global humanist community. She’s now sharing her experiences and insights in her new podcast The Nomadic Humanist, produced by Atheists United Studios. The podcast aims to “expand the definition of community, building relationships globally across cultures and digital space to share this one life we have.” I caught up with Overmann ahead of the podcast’s September 14^th launch.

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Emily Newman: You’ve been an avid traveler for a long time but leapt into the digital nomad lifestyle in August 2020, traveling to more than twenty countries on five continents (after extensive research of COVID regulations and planning for each destination). So where are you now, and where are you headed next?

Anya Overmann: I’m currently in Guatemala City, not yet sure where I’m headed next–that’s part of the beauty of this lifestyle. My partner and I are looking to eventually move aboard a sailboat and continue our travels as watery nomads. If we don’t find the right boat in Guatemala, we will likely continue traveling through Latin America.

Newman: What inspired you to develop this new podcast?

Overmann: I was approached by Atheists United [an affiliate of the AHA] with the proposal to produce a podcast about my life as a nomad and a humanist. I’ve been at this for two years now, so I have a lot of insight to offer!

Newman: Tell us about your team and who helped make the podcast possible.

Overmann: I’m lucky to have an incredibly talented and fun team behind this podcast. Evan Clark is the Producer and Chief Executive of Atheists United. Joey Kreiger is the Audio Engineer and also a member of Atheists United.

Newman: What can we expect from each episode? Will there be themes, clippings, music, guests, etc.?

Overmann: The first season of this podcast is scripted with musical intros, interludes, and outros. The themes I cover in this pilot season include what nomadic humanism means, intersectionality and how it applies to travel dynamics, the challenges of being part of a world community, what to consider when deciding where to go, and whether it’s ethical to travel during a pandemic. There’s a good chance we will be featuring guests in the second season and exploring a less scripted format.

Newman: What are some topics you look forward to or hope to tackle?

Overmann: I really want to help folks understand the importance of traveling ethically. While I’m a huge proponent of global citizenship and community, there is a broad spectrum of privilege that affords me the opportunity to experience this life of digital nomadism that most people in the world cannot access. Overall, I hope to help people become more conscious of the impacts of their travel and presence in another land.

Newman: What’s your favorite part of producing this podcast?

Overmann: I love having a platform to share the unique insights I’ve gained over the past two years. I have so much to share, and I’m really grateful that Atheists United came to me with this opportunity. I have really enjoyed spending time with Joey and Evan recording this podcast with Joey’s professional audio equipment in Los Angeles. I had several radio shows when I was in college, but this is WAY more fun!

Newman: How can people access the podcast when it launches September 14?

Overmann: You will be able to listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Google, and Amazon. Subscribe to our email list for updates: nomadichumanist.com.