A Q&A on making, meaning, and traveling light
An interview by Stefan Janssens
Even when people use the same word, their definitions can be slightly or completely different. I think minimalism is like that too. For someone, owning a hundred things might feel minimal; for someone else, even ten could feel like too much.
– minimalnomad
I first connected with minimalnomad through a late-night SoundCloud search. A stripped-back cover of Depeche Mode’s Enjoy the Silence led to a message, then stems, then a small EP assembled across time zones. On her own, she keeps things close to the core: voice, guitar, the shape of a song. When we teamed up, layering in some subtle electronics added a bit of depth without overwhelming her sound.
Her YouTube channel (link) follows the same rule: pared-down talks on minimal living and reviews of Korean books. It’s all about guarding your focus, picking what counts, and holding it close. She’s based in Australia these days, pulling double duty as a software engineer, and that mindset shows up everywhere – from her work to how she navigates life abroad.
Below, we chat about what minimalism really guards against, how distance plays into connecting with a Korean-speaking crowd, why steady, quiet growth beats the rush, and one small, film-like memory from a quick layover in Hong Kong.
On place and language
You film in Australia but speak to a Korean audience. How does that distance shape the connection, to viewers and to Korea
minimalnomad: I don’t have many friends, and I’m not very good at keeping in touch. I’m quite lazy about it, to be honest (laughs). I’m also introverted, which makes it even harder. I used to have a few Korean friends here, but most of them have gone back to Korea. The only Koreans I know in Australia now are a few former colleagues, and we don’t really stay in contact.
So I rarely have a chance to speak Korean in daily life. That’s why I enjoy reviewing books I’ve read quietly, speaking in Korean, and sharing little stories that connect to what happened that day. Sometimes they’re not connected at all, I just feel like talking. It’s always surprising and deeply touching that people enjoy those moments and feel a sense of connection through them.
I rarely have a chance to speak Korean in daily life. That’s why I enjoy reviewing books I’ve read quietly, speaking in Korean, and sharing little stories that connect.
On publishers and practicalities
I’ve visited your Youtube channel recently, and I saw the channel has grown to over 38,000 subscribers now. Have publishers started reaching out? How do you handle it?
minimalnomad: Yes, publishers reach out from time to time. It made me more interested in marketing, since I want to understand how things work on their side. I still don’t handle those inquiries very smoothly, so I learn a lot from the people who work at publishing houses. I try to remember how they communicate and apply what I learn when another company contacts me.
I haven’t really figured out proper pricing yet, so I usually go with the rate they suggest. I will never forget the ones who offer a little more, though. Haha. They’re usually fast, polite, and very clear in their communication.
Quite a few publishers also send books just for me to read. Since I live overseas, I often ask for e-books instead, or sometimes have the physical copies sent to my subscribers.
For creators who want to expand their channels, what has actually helped you?
minimalnomad: Consistency. That’s the only real secret. I once found two channels that were copying mine. One disappeared, but the other person is still uploading every week. I was a bit annoyed at first, but seeing them keep it up made me realize again that consistency is everything.
Consistency. That’s the only real secret.
If you have a business or a professional field, or if your friends often tell you you’re interesting to talk to, I think you should definitely start. Personal branding is everywhere now, and one of YouTube’s best things is that it costs nothing to begin.
And above all, choose something that genuinely grabs you. Otherwise, it’s hard to stay consistent.
On minimalism as daily practice
People often equate minimalism with owning less. What sits underneath your approach?
minimalnomad: Even when people use the same word, their definitions can be slightly or completely different. I think minimalism is like that too. For someone, owning a hundred things might feel minimal; for someone else, even ten could feel like too much.
To me, minimalism is about having what you truly need, while moving closer to a state where nothing goes unused. Competing over who owns less doesn’t mean much. A programmer without a computer wouldn’t be a wise minimalist.
To me, minimalism is about having what you truly need, while moving closer to a state where nothing goes unused.
I think a minimal life is about gradually clearing away what doesn’t serve you, in your own way, and at your own pace.
On work, tools, and choosing less
You are a software engineer. How does this practice travel into that part of your life?
minimalnomad: I used to be a designer, and looking back, I think there were more rules around communication in that field. Explaining your design decisions was part of the job.
As a software engineer, you still need to communicate and write documentation, but day-to-day conversations can be more concise. You don’t need as many cushion words, and that makes things feel lighter. It’s not me being blunt, it’s the culture.
I enjoy refactoring code, removing what’s unnecessary, making things cleaner and simpler. That process feels very close to minimalism.
And in the same way, I enjoy refactoring code, removing what’s unnecessary, making things cleaner and simpler. That process feels very close to minimalism. I think a minimal life is about gradually clearing away what doesn’t serve you, in your own way, and at your own pace.
On a recent stop in Hong Kong
We also love the travel photography you share on your blog, especially that evocative Hong Kong stopover. Any simple, specific recommendations for making the most of a quick layover there?
minimalnomad: Since it was just a short stopover, I had to focus on what mattered most. I gave up on gourmet dining (though please don’t make the same silly mistake I did: ordering bubble tea at McDonald’s) and decided to visit a filming location from one of Wong Kar-wai’s movies that I’ve always loved. Riding the long escalator up, I felt this wave of emotion, partly because I’ve always loved the atmosphere of Hong Kong cinema, and partly because it reminded me of the movies I watched when I was younger.
Even if you don’t have much time, your trip can be meaningful if you go somewhere that truly matters to you.
When I reached the top and sat on a lounge bench to rest, I happened to overhear a few Korean exchange students talking. They weren’t dating, but their conversation carried that soft, affectionate tension between close friends. I wasn’t intentionally eavesdropping. I was just too tired to move. But somehow the whole moment felt cinematic, like a quiet scene in a film. It’s a memory that still feels warm and vivid.
Even if you don’t have much time, your trip can be meaningful if you go somewhere that truly matters to you. I’d wanted to try an egg tart too, and luckily, since my flight was in the morning, I got to eat a freshly baked one from King Bakery at the airport. It was perfect.
On JUGGLING IT ALL
You’re doing a perfect job of doing everything you like— music, reviews, photography, blog, and coding– I imagine that could be too much. How do you balance it all?
minimalnomad: Reading this question actually made me feel a bit embarrassed, because it makes everything sound much more impressive than it really is (laughs). The only things I consistently keep up with are my full-time job as a software engineer and YouTube. I still love photography, but it has been a long time since I took pictures passionately, and my blog has not been updated in awhile either.
Recently, I watched a show called The Diplomat, there was a line that stuck with me: “The only way you can do both of those jobs at the same time is to do them both poorly.” I think there is a lot of truth in that, and answering this question made me reflect on my own routines. I also remember a line from the book The One Thing which says, “focusing on a single priority is ideal, but it is hard to live like that in reality”. So instead, I try to pick three important things each day and focus on completing just those. It feels like a more practical way to keep my life in balance, and to stay a little closer to the kind of minimalism I am aiming for.
I try to pick three important things each day and focus on completing just those. It feels like a more practical way to keep my life in balance, and to stay a little closer to the kind of minimalism I am aiming for.
– minimalnomad
IN CLOSING
Minimalnomad’s minimalism sidesteps the pointless tally of things thrown out or clung to. It boils down to a sharp-eyed check of what works: sifting the essentials from the daily slog, be it soft Korean chats about books, code stripped bare to run smoothly, or a quick dash to a Wong Kar-wai spot in the scrum of an airport lounge. Her videos, her tech shifts, her offhand trips abroad all add up to one cool-headed rule: trim the excess to keep moving, and cherish what truly sparks without a second thought.
About the Author
