In this episode of The 50+ Nomad Podcast, I’m walking you through the four micro hustles I’m personally building this year, based on what I’m actually doing right now.
After 15+ years online and building everything from newsletters to digital courses, coaching businesses and seven-figure e-commerce brands, I’ve become very intentional about how I work, especially at this stage of life.
These are business models that travel well, don’t demand 24/7 intensity, and layer together to fund a freedom-filled, travel-led life after 50, without burning you out or trapping you behind a laptop.
If you’re multi-passionate, starting over, or simply want income that supports your life instead of consuming it, this episode will help you see how micro hustles can connect rather than compete.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
What I really mean by micro hustles (and why they are proper businesses, not hobbies)
Why starting with subscribers, not products, is the smartest move after 50
How to layer income slowly and intentionally instead of doing everything at once
Why small, focused digital products outperform big “life-changing” courses now
How cohorts, group coaching, and text-based support create momentum without burnout
Why physical products can be powerful if you don’t want to be the brand
How all four models work together under one clear audience and outcome
Key Takeaway
Start with one micro hustle, get it working, then add the next when the timing feels right. Don’t try to do everything at once!
Time-Stamped Guide
00:00 Welcome + recording from London
00:02 Why I now choose businesses that travel well and don’t demand 24/7 intensity
00:04 What I actually mean by a micro hustle (and what it isn’t)
00:06 Why focus first, then diversify (and the quote I still remember years later)
Micro Hustle #1: Newsletter & Subscribers
00:06 Why everything starts with subscribers
00:07 How Substack makes audience-building simpler
00:08 Paid newsletters as early confidence and momentum
00:09 How writing helps you clarify who your audience really is
00:12 Subscribers first, products second
Micro Hustle #2: Mini Products, Courses & Cohorts
00:12 Why big transformational courses are losing effectiveness
00:13 One problem, one solution, one clear outcome
00:14 Examples of small, useful digital products that still sell
00:16 Why cohorts work so well (and how they’ve evolved)
00:18 How newsletters naturally lead into products and cohorts
Micro Hustle #3: Group Coaching, Community & Text-Based Support
00:19 Why group coaching beats one-to-one for energy and scale
00:20 How simple paid coaching offers can work early on
00:21 Text-based coaching via email, WhatsApp or voice notes
00:22 Layering coaching after cohorts for ongoing support
00:23 Why I’m using this model myself this year
Micro Hustle #4: Physical Products & E-commerce
00:24 Why I’m launching This Big World on Amazon
00:24 The realities of Amazon FBA vs easier entry points like Etsy
00:25 Print-on-demand as a lower-risk way to start
00:26 Who This Big World is for and why I built it
00:27 How the travel challenge cards work in real life
00:29 Why physical products suit people who don’t want to be the brand
Bringing It All Together
00:30 How all four micro hustles connect under one umbrella
00:31 Why this isn’t scattered, it’s layered
00:31 Where to start if you’re just beginning
00:32 Final thoughts on building income that adapts and travels
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
My recent article: Why London Is the Greatest City on the Planet
The article I reference on creators building multiple streams of income
My Substack newsletter: The 50+ Nomad
This Big World travel challenge cards (Amazon launch)
Previous podcast episode on Etsy + print-on-demand jigsaw business
Join the Conversation
Which of the four micro hustles appeals to you most right now?
Share where you’re starting, or what you’re layering next, and what one small step you’re committing to this week.
And as always…
Make it happen.
Are you a fun-loving, spontaneous adventurer?
If so, my new brand This Big World is designed for you!
If you love saying yes to random adventures, my first product - ‘This Big Travel Challenge Cards’ - will spice up any trip (or any Tuesday, to be honest).
50 scratch-off adventure prompts that turn moments into memories you’ll remember forever! Order a dish you can’t pronounce. Explore streets starting with your initial. Find hidden spots that tourists miss.
Whether you’re in Bangkok or your own backyard, each challenge takes 30 minutes to a few hours max. Perfect for adding spontaneous fun without derailing your plans. Grab a pack and scratch one off this weekend!
Bonus: one pack also contains a $5,000 Golden Ticket travel credit voucher! Willy Wonka vibes. Very real prize!
