Peter Kowalke: nomad, relationship coach, half-monk

Peter Kowalke is a 45-year-old relationship coach, "half monk," and Bangkok-based nomad who has crafted a life of radical simplicity. (peterkowalke.com)

Peter explains his life through multiple levels of understanding—from the simple "I help people have good marriages and travel around the world doing it" to the complex spiritual journey that led him to nearly become an ordained monk in the Vedanta tradition. He shares how he lives on as little as $9,000 a year while occasionally earning up to $200,000 through his three income streams: relationship coaching, content marketing, and freelance writing.

We explore his nomadic lifestyle across Southeast Asia and Africa, his philosophy of distinguishing wants from needs, and his creative frugality, such as his airport food court "monk's bowl" approach to eating. Peter reflects on the challenges of his borderless existence during the pandemic, when global "tribalism" left him without a community safety net despite his carefully designed life of freedom.

Peter discusses the apparent contradiction between his relationship coaching and monastic leanings, his unschooling background that taught him to question conventional wisdom, and how he builds community through his popular Bangkok dinner parties. Peter's story illuminates the rewards and challenges of crafting a life that prioritizes spiritual growth and human connection over material possessions and geographic roots.

Full transcript: dirtbagrich.com/peter