I finally admit it: I am a Passport Bro – And You Should Be Too

I remember the first time I stepped off the plane in Thailand, sweat trickling down my back, the humid night air assaulting my senses. The smell. The sites. Even the sounds were different.  

It was a new world—older than the United States by centuries, but fresh to me. 

I’d spent most of my life chasing a dream I couldn’t quite define. I grew up outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (go Steelers!), left at 19 for Miami in search of something bigger, something more exciting. You know, that whole “big city, bright lights, never sleep” vibe that always plays out well in a Scorsese film. I wanted that, and more.  

In Miami, I found an adrenaline-fueled world in the adult entertainment industry. You might have heard of Tootsie’s Cabaret. If you haven’t, just listen to enough rap songs or watch a flashy music video and you’ll probably get a reference or two. 

I was part of the management team that transformed Tootsie’s from a small mom and pop club into a cultural mainstay.  It didn’t happen overnight and it took a lot of people to make it happen, but if I am being honest with myself; I drove the train.  Like I said, I wanted it all and that was my ticket.  

And as time went on, it paid off like a lottery ticket.  

Picture it: a three-bedroom condo overlooking Hallandale Beach, a Porsche and an Escalade parked out front, and let’s say I never had a shortage of “companionship.” I was living that glossy, XXL-magazine-cover life, the kind where people assume you’ve got it all.

Except I didn’t. 

I had the cars, the condo, the women, the parties. And yet, there was this hollow echo inside me. 

It wasn’t just about money. I made more of it when I left Tootsie’s and started a small chain of restaurants and bars. I’d doubled down on success and material comfort, and still felt like there had to be more.

Then came Thailand. 

As I mentioned in previous articles, I first went there almost 20 years ago just to see what it was all about.  

I had a tear in my eye the first time I left,  I knew I would return and…after a few more visits,,, I knew I would eventually move there.  

Initially it was meant to be a retirement dream—something I’d do decades later, when the grind wore me down and the doctor told me to lay off the Jack and the chicken wings. But my father died young, and that always stuck with me. 

The future’s not promised, so why was I waiting?

So I packed up, left my empire in the States, and moved to Pattaya, Thailand. 

Seven years later, I’m still here, and I can say with absolute conviction that it’s the best decision I ever made. The move reshaped me—my worldview, my sense of self, my understanding of happiness. 

Now, I’m not just living abroad; I’m thriving. And that’s why I’m finally ready to admit it: I’m a Passport Bro.

I know, I know. The phrase “Passport Bro” often comes with a truckload of baggage, and I’m not talking about the kind you check in at the airport. 

When I first heard it, I bristled. It implied something I didn’t relate to—a caricature of men fleeing their home country just to chase foreign women, as if happiness only comes in the form of a partner who doesn’t speak your language fluently. 

But that’s not why I came here.

 I didn’t leave the States because I couldn’t meet women. Trust me, that was never an issue simply because of my proximity to women on a daily basis because of the jobs. 

I left because I was searching for something else, something genuine—peace, understanding, adventure, and a chance to rewrite my life’s narrative.

Over time, I dug deeper into what the Passport Bros movement actually represents. 

Sure, it’s about men stepping outside the confines of a Western dating environment they find toxic or unsatisfying. 

But beyond that, it’s about breaking free from constraints, from a system that many men believe doesn’t appreciate them, respect them, or even treat them fairly.

 It’s about preserving traditional values that have become rare, about finding kindness, love, and mutual respect—qualities that feel harder to come by these days back home.

A lot of critics want to label Passport Bros as exploiters or predators, which is just absurd. 

Look, if there’s one thing I learned running massive adult entertainment complexes and restaurants, it’s that true exploitation is easy to spot. It’s the boyfriend who sends his girl to work at the Strip Club while he drives the Mercedes and goes out every night with his boys on her dime.  

What we’re talking about here is men choosing a life that aligns better with their core values. 

Men rediscovering their worth, stepping out of the narrative that says: “Just accept it. It’s normal.” 

Well, it might be normal, but that doesn’t mean it’s healthy—or that we have to stick around and suffer through it.

I’m not painting Asia as some utopia.  You will have to decide that for yourself.  

Every place has its share of challenges, cultural bumps, and moments of confusion. 

But what I found here in Pattaya, after countless sunsets on the beach and conversations with locals who became like family, is a culture that’s more appreciative of interpersonal relationships. 

There’s a different rhythm to life—slower, more deliberate, more connected. When you step out of a Western mindset that glorifies conflict, competition, and endless hustle, you find that there’s a whole world that values harmony, understanding, and genuine warmth.

And the women here appreciate you.  Support you.  And most genuinely just want to spend time with you and take care of you, without smothering you.  

They know you are a man and they gladly accept the role of a woman.  

That’s what it means to be a Passport Bro for me. 

It’s not just about who you date; it’s about how you live. It’s understanding that what you want—a balanced, respectful relationship(s), a sense of purpose, financial sanity—is achievable in places that don’t require you to compromise your core self. 

It’s reclaiming your autonomy in a world that tries to tell you your masculinity is a problem rather than a strength.

You are a man.  And here, that's not just ok. It’s expected.

And that feel fucking great…

Admitting that I’m a Passport Bro took time because I had to confront the stereotypes. Not to anyone else.

Just to myself.  

But in embracing the label, I’m actually just embracing my own journey. And now, after seven years in Thailand, I’m so fulfilled that I want to share this experience with others. 

I built “My Life in Asia” to show people what’s possible. 

I even launched an educational course to help men (and anyone, really) who are curious about carving their own paths abroad—who want to experience a life that’s not defined by the rat race back home.

If you buy it, I hope it helps you.  That is why I made it.  

But if you don’t, that’s ok too. Unlike most people who create online courses, I am ok financially and don’t need the cash.  That is probably why I sell it so cheap.  

Mostly I did it because I really wanted and needed to share my experience and my way of doing it was creating an educational tool that alleviates some of the anxiety a move like this could present. I wanted to give you information that helps you hit the ground running and most of the Youtube videos I have found, while entertaining, just don’t touch on the real truth.  

This isn’t some “Eat, Pray, Love” knock-off or a call to pack up and run away without a plan. 

I would say this is the exact opposite.  We are men.  We always want a plan.  

For most of us, it’s about making an informed decision. It’s about doing the research, understanding the cultural nuances, and stepping into a world that might feel foreign at first but eventually becomes your new home.

So if any part of this resonates—if you’ve ever felt a pang of discontent despite all the bells and whistles of “success,” if you’ve ever wondered whether you could thrive somewhere else—sign up for my newsletter. 

Let’s talk it through. 

Let’s figure out what’s holding you back and how to break free. Consider it a backstage pass to the show that’s been playing behind your own mental curtains for far too long.

We’re living in a world that’s changing faster than we realize.

Being a Passport Bro doesn’t mean you hate where you come from. It just means you’re honest enough to acknowledge that you need something different—maybe even something better—and you’re courageous enough to chase it.

So join me. Be a Passport Bro, or at least explore what that means. 

Sign up for our newsletter on My Life in Asia and let’s take this journey together. We only get one life. Why not spend it somewhere that lets you be the best version of yourself?