Legal Nomads Reflects on a Year of Resilience and Impact Amidst Health Challenges
Legal Nomads, the popular blog and business founded by Jodi Ettenberg, has published a comprehensive year-end reflection detailing significant achievements and ongoing challenges. Despite enduring severe health complications, including a spinal Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) leak that began in 2017, Ettenberg has demonstrably continued to build and contribute to her community and the broader field of spinal CSF leak advocacy. The year 2025, marked by personal health setbacks and family caregiving responsibilities, has paradoxically become a period of remarkable productivity and impact for Ettenberg and the Legal Nomads platform.
The journey of Legal Nomads began nearly a decade ago as a personal travel blog, chronicling Ettenberg’s round-the-world adventures. Over time, it evolved into a multifaceted business, shaped by direct reader feedback and evolving needs. This evolution is clearly demonstrated by the development of resources for lawyers seeking alternative careers, comprehensive guides for celiac travelers, and the creation of merchandise and a newsletter. The article highlights how reader requests directly influenced the creation of these offerings, underscoring a community-driven approach to business development.
A Decade of Transformation: From Travelogue to Essential Resource Hub
Ettenberg’s narrative traces a significant career pivot from a structured legal profession to entrepreneurship. The initial phase of Legal Nomads was characterized by the thrill and occasional apprehension of the unknown. "When I first quit my job to travel, the panic of the not-knowing would occasionally creep in," Ettenberg writes. This uncertainty was a stark contrast to her previous career, where "each year salary was announced and measured."
The growth of Legal Nomads was organic, fueled by a close connection with its readership. Early content focused on travel experiences, but as the audience expanded, specific needs emerged. Lawyers grappling with career changes sought Ettenberg’s insights on navigating uncertainty, leading to the creation of the "alternative careers for lawyers" series and a dedicated resources page. Similarly, celiac readers requested more detailed information on safe food sourcing during travel, which resulted in the development of celiac guides and translation cards.
The desire for personal connection also played a crucial role. Reader meetups and food tours evolved from informal gatherings to structured events, fostering a deeper sense of community. This led to the expansion of the Legal Nomads shop, featuring country-based artwork that attendees could take home as mementos of shared experiences. The "Links I Loved" newsletter, initially a platform for sharing articles on social media, later transformed into "Curious About Everything" following Ettenberg’s spinal CSF leak, reflecting a shift in focus and content accessibility.
Navigating Life with a Spinal CSF Leak: Redefining Productivity
The spinal CSF leak, sustained in 2017, fundamentally altered Ettenberg’s life, drastically reducing her physical capacity. The article poignantly describes the daily reality of living with a condition that limits "uptime," measured in "standing increments" rather than billable hours. This new reality necessitates a meticulous management of energy and physical capacity, a challenge that has persisted for eight years.
"My life these days is physically a teeny tiny sliver of the decadent expanse of my travel years," Ettenberg states, emphasizing the constraints of her condition. She likens the concept of "upright time" to an hourglass, illustrating both the urgency and the downward flow of pressure associated with her condition. This experience has necessitated a profound adjustment, requiring a constant recalibration of daily activities and long-term goals.
Despite these significant physical limitations, Ettenberg has leveraged technology and community support to maintain an active and impactful presence. "Thanks to technology, and to community, though my physical existence is tiny, my life is otherwise infinite," she notes, highlighting her continued engagement through social media, project participation, and a leadership role with the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation.
A Year of Accomplishments: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
The year 2025 presented Ettenberg with significant personal and professional hurdles. The commencement of the year was marked by despair following a fall on Christmas Day that exacerbated her leak, leading to a prolonged period of recovery primarily spent in bed. This was compounded by the hospitalization of her father and stepmother, requiring her to manage their care alongside her ongoing business and volunteer commitments.
Despite these immense challenges, Ettenberg has compiled an impressive list of achievements from a supine position, demonstrating extraordinary resilience and dedication.
Monthly Curation: The "Curious About Everything" Newsletter
Ettenberg continued to publish her "Curious About Everything" (CAE) newsletter monthly. Originally an email list called "Linkies of the Day" dating back to her pre-travel legal career, the newsletter has evolved significantly. After her travel blog gained traction, it became "Links I Loved," a compilation of interesting pieces shared on Twitter. Upon sustaining her leak, and after a period of re-evaluation, it was relaunched as "Curious About Everything," a Substack newsletter that embodies Ettenberg’s enduring spirit of curiosity and exploration.
The newsletter, now at CAE 57 issues, provides readers with curated articles, a "start here" section, "the best of everything else," and a "quick links" list. Each issue also features an artist whose work has captured Ettenberg’s attention. Importantly, CAE remains free, sustained by income from celiac cards and her Patreon, a testament to her commitment to accessibility. The monthly compilation requires substantial effort, reflecting Ettenberg’s "voracious need to learn and then send pieces to people I think would enjoy them."
Global Reach: Celiac Translation Cards and Essential Guides
The celiac translation cards, first developed after a challenging trip to Japan in 2015, have become a cornerstone of Ettenberg’s business and a vital resource for gluten-free travelers worldwide. These cards, designed to clearly communicate dietary needs to restaurant staff and medical professionals, have now been sold over 25,000 times. The collection has expanded to include 21 languages, with new additions in Croatian, Korean, and Khmer offered this year. Ettenberg has several new language cards in development for 2026.
Despite the frustration of intellectual property theft, where purchased cards are sometimes resold, the core mission of enabling safe travel for celiacs remains the driving force. The ability to continue this work from bed is a source of profound satisfaction.
In addition to the cards, Ettenberg has continued to expand her "Essential Gluten-Free Guides" series. This year saw the publication of guides for Cambodia and South Korea. These comprehensive guides, each spanning 3,000-5,000 words, detail safe and unsafe foods, recommend suitable restaurants and shops, and include the relevant translation card for each country. Ettenberg’s approach, which focuses on specific food items rather than just restaurant listings, was groundbreaking when she began over a decade ago and remains invaluable for celiacs navigating unfamiliar culinary landscapes. The series now covers 15 countries, with more planned for the future.
The Patreon Platform: A Haven for Diverse Content
Ettenberg’s Patreon membership, a direct response to reader requests, has become a vital space for content that defies easy categorization. While many advised her to narrow her focus to specific niches like "life after law" or "celiac travel," Ettenberg prioritized authenticity, ensuring her business reflected her diverse interests. This approach, while potentially limiting for marketing, has allowed her to share what fascinates her.
The Patreon operates on a "Support Only" model, where all tiers offer the same access. This flexible structure allows Ettenberg to contribute content as her health permits, while enabling supporters to contribute in a way that suits them. The tiers are represented by different birds: Bob the bluebird, Fiona the robin, and Arthur, the raven, mascot of Legal Nomads and a symbol of curiosity.
This year, Ettenberg utilized the Patreon for pieces that "fit nowhere else," including reflections on her health, advocacy work, and personal essays. These posts, alongside overflow links and brief life updates, offer a more intimate glimpse into her life and ongoing projects. The consistent income from the Patreon is crucial, enabling Ettenberg to dedicate significant time to her volunteer work with the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation, particularly as she is ineligible for disability in Canada. A limited-time offer of 15% off annual sign-ups with code 2025YEAREND is currently available.
Pioneering Research and Leadership in Spinal CSF Leak Advocacy
Ettenberg’s contributions extend beyond her personal platform into significant advancements in medical research and advocacy for spinal CSF leak patients.
Co-Authoring Groundbreaking Research
In a notable academic achievement, Ettenberg served as a patient co-author on a research paper proposing a new standardized reporting measure for dynamic myelography. This diagnostic imaging technique is crucial for locating spinal CSF leaks. The paper, titled "Enhancing Clarity in Dynamic Myelography Reporting: Results of a Survey of Patients and Referring Providers Evaluating a Standardized Reporting System in the Myelographic Work-Up of Patients with Suspected Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension," introduces a system called SIH-RADS. This standardized approach aims to improve the understanding of spinal CSF leaks for both patients and physicians, with reported benefits in clarity and preference over traditional reporting methods. The publication in the American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR) marks a significant contribution to the medical community’s understanding and diagnosis of the condition.
Leading the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation
Ettenberg’s involvement with the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation, which began in 2021, culminated in her election as Board President in 2025. This leadership role has demanded a substantial commitment of her time and energy, particularly in managing the hiring process for a new executive director. The foundation received over 130 applications, necessitating the development of interview questions, scoring processes, and legal considerations for hiring.
Beyond the hiring process, Ettenberg’s responsibilities included planning the annual conference, launching the first international patient registry for spinal CSF leak, organizing "Leak Week" for awareness, and overseeing board meetings. Her dedication stems from a desire to support patients and advance research and policy within the field. She views her leadership role as an integration of her past experiences, utilizing her legal acumen, business skills, and advocacy experience to drive progress. This experience has provided her with a renewed sense of cognitive capability despite her debilitating neurological condition.
Public Speaking and Awareness
Demonstrating her capacity to overcome personal challenges, Ettenberg delivered a presentation at a conference on barriers to care in spinal CSF leak, notably doing so while standing. This "fireside chat" with Dr. Andrew Callen, a neuroradiologist, offered a unique perspective on the patient-physician dynamic in addressing the complexities of the condition. The session received positive feedback, highlighting Ettenberg’s ability to effectively communicate the patient experience to medical professionals and contribute to crucial conversations within the field.
Looking Ahead: Continued Growth and Community Support
The year also saw Ettenberg update older blog posts with new data and retrospectives, ensuring the continued relevance of her extensive archive. She also recorded an episode of "The Hearing," a Thomson Reuters legal podcast, sharing her journey from law to entrepreneurship and offering advice to lawyers considering career changes.
The Legal Nomads community demonstrated its strong support through a fundraising initiative, raising $4,217 USD for spinal CSF leak research during "Leak Week." This collective effort underscores the power of community engagement in driving awareness and financial support for critical causes.
As Ettenberg navigates the ongoing demands of her health and her extensive professional and volunteer commitments, she expresses gratitude for her community and the business model that allows her to continue her work. While acknowledging the need to re-engage more fully with her own business, she aims to transition some of her administrative duties to the new executive director of the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation, allowing her to maintain her role as Board President and continue her vital advocacy work. The year 2025, despite its profound challenges, stands as a testament to Ettenberg’s enduring spirit, her commitment to her community, and her remarkable ability to achieve significant impact even in the face of debilitating health obstacles.
