Charly Leetham joined the Jukebox Podcast to discuss a long tech career and her current life as a WordPress-focused digital nomad who supports small businesses while traveling around Australia.
Early years and career turn
Charly’s interest in technology began early: amateur radio at 13 and an associate diploma in electronic engineering at 16. Her career included lab work, field service, sales, and customer-service management. After running retail franchises that didn’t succeed, she shifted in about 2007 into helping people with tech—right as WordPress was maturing. She taught herself PHP, themes, plugins and troubleshooting, and for nearly two decades has been supporting websites and small-business technology.
Becoming a digital nomad
Remote work was always attractive so she could be with her children, but the tools weren’t ready earlier. Today she lives and works from a family-fitted camper van, traveling Australia and supporting clients remotely. The move toward mobility was partly practical—housing affordability—and partly about freedom: chasing milder seasons, spending time with family (including travel with her elderly father), house-sitting, and experiencing different regions while maintaining steady work.
Perks of the lifestyle
– Freedom and flexibility: seasonal migration, choice of locations, and the ability to work from scenic spots.
– Family time: easier to travel with and visit family frequently.
– Variety and experiences: house-sits, local communities, and new regional discoveries.
– Work continuity: modern remote tools enable dependable client support from nearly anywhere.
Trade-offs and constraints
– Limited space: workspace is compact (roughly a metre square). Everything must be stowed after work to reclaim living space.
– Minimal possessions: no bulk shopping, pared-down kitchenware, and continual decisions about what to keep.
– Lifestyle compromises: more frequent small shopping trips, reduced storage, and simpler day-to-day living.
Community and human contact
Charly prefers staying in one place for several weeks when possible to build a sense of rootedness and explore nearby areas. She relies on online communities (Discord and chat tools) and drops into local cafés or pubs for in-person contact. She notes that nomads vary: some need frequent social time; she’s comfortable with less and recharges in nature.
Essential tech and power setup
– Laptop: a high-performance, durable laptop is vital. Charly uses an MSI gaming laptop for better cooling and to handle heavier workloads like design or large exports.
– Peripherals: external microphone and webcam for calls, a 21-inch monitor mounted in the van, and a compact keyboard and mouse.
– Power: dependable power sources matter—portable power stations or direct battery solutions are common choices when off-grid.
– Internet: Starlink is fundamental for consistent connectivity. Mobile networks and regional landlines (NBN) in Australia can be unreliable outside cities, so Starlink often provides faster, steadier service. Charly upgraded from Starlink v2 to v3 hardware and mentioned a smaller, more portable Starlink unit exists for backpack-style needs.
– Setup: modern Starlink units auto-align and sit on simple mounts, but they need a clear sky view (no heavy tree or building obstructions) and a reliable power supply.
– Performance: in her experience, Starlink frequently outperforms local home internet in speed and stability when working regionally.
How she runs her business
Charly runs a small business helping other small businesses manage tech and WordPress sites. Her role combines technical support, translating tech issues into plain English, mediating between vendors, troubleshooting plugins and servers, and acting as a de facto CTO or technical partner.
– She starts by understanding business goals—inputs and outputs—before recommending tools.
– She prefers fixing and integrating existing systems rather than selling new tools unnecessarily.
– When deeper fixes are needed, she provides clear diagnostics to plugin or hosting providers and helps resolve finger-pointing between suppliers.
Client relationships and workflow
– Asynchronous-first: most client interactions are async—email, chat, and scheduled calls—so she can travel and keep flexible hours. Clients are trained on expected response times and booking methods.
– Trust and responsiveness: clients learn she responds promptly when possible and makes sensible judgement calls. Quick fixes are sometimes handled while she’s on the move.
– Boundaries and fit: when working styles don’t align she’s willing to end or refer relationships; she sees that as healthy commercially and for client outcomes.
– Growth: most work arrives via word of mouth, with some marketing and referrals. She’s been increasing marketing slowly while staying honest and clear with clients.
Practical philosophy and advice
– Minimalism rule: buy something only after you’ve needed it four times—this helps avoid accumulating unnecessary items.
– Gratitude and effort: Charly acknowledges the hard work it took to build this life and the responsibility that comes with it.
– Advice to others: many WordPress and tech professionals could adopt remote or nomadic habits if they design processes for async work, educate clients, and build trust-based relationships.
Where to connect
Find Charly at askcharlyleetham.com/connect-me for social links and booking options. She offers a free 30-minute session to discuss business tech setups and is active on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Rumble, and Odyssey. She also hosts a short podcast, Making Tech Easy for Small Business Owners, with 10–20 minute episodes that simplify tech topics.
Summary
Charly’s journey from electronics and field service to WordPress troubleshooting shows how technical skills combined with deliberate client processes can create a mobile, flexible life. Key enablers are reliable remote connectivity (notably Starlink), a compact but capable tech setup, clear client agreements and expectations, and a willingness to trade conventional housing and possessions for the freedom to travel, spend time with family, and work from diverse locations.