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Formerly known as “Transcontinental Overload”, this podcast is now called “Get the Boots” – the old title will be used for book-related content only.
I love talking to other people about their own experiences and looking at life through a different lens. Previously, my guests included expats only – a whole range of global adventurers and nomads, including trailing spouses, TCKs (third culture kids), professionals such as coaches and psychologists, and of course ex-expats – those brave enough to repatriate.
In addition to expat stories, there are a few Destination Specials, to help us travel vicariously when we can’t do it in real life.
There are also a few episodes called Steph’s Take, to share more personal thoughts.
My new endeavour, “Get the Boots”, is all about venturing out to embrace the new. I’m expanding my focus to include those who haven’t moved countries. After all, life’s challenges hit us all sooner or later, whether we’ve stayed in one country or not.
Join me as we uncover what it truly means to overcome, and how the toughest moments can sometimes open the door to the strongest versions of ourselves.
85. Too Sensitive? Think again – with Nadine Prager – Get the Boots
- 85. Too Sensitive? Think again – with Nadine Prager
- 84. How to feel grounded – with Inga Knysh
- 83. The beauty of transformation – with Inga Knysh
- 82. Welcome to "Get the Boots" – an introduction to my new podcast
- 81. The reality of life as a TCK – with Tanya Crossman
- 80. A TCK on her own terms – with Urmi Hossain
- 79. Ein Herz für San Francisco – mit Frank Marx
- 78. The beauty of Human Design – with Christina Ferschen (Part 2/2)
- 77. Expat on a whim – with Christina Ferschen (Part 1/2)
- 76. From the Alps to the heart of Texas – with Claudia Miller
Previous episodes:
83. The beauty of transformation – with Inga Knysh (December 11, 2025)
Originally from Russia, Inga Knysh is a transformation coach based in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
After her own experiences living abroad, repatriating to Moscow and then moving twice more, Inga learned to listen to her body and intuition and decided to make a complete career change.
To find out more about Inga’s work, visit her website and follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn.
81. The reality of life as a TCK – with Tanya Crossman (September 15, 2025)
Today’s episode is all about what it’s like to be a TCK – a third culture kid. My guest is Tanya Crossman, a cross-cultural coach, mentor and researcher, who is supporting families in their global journeys.
This episode is first and foremost for parents, all parents, not just those of TCKs, and above all, parents of teenagers. Please listen, share and talk about this episode – there is so much wisdom in it.
Find out more about Tanya on her website, follow her on Instagram and on LinkedIn, and read her books, Misunderstood: The Impact of Growing Up Overseas in the 21st Century, and Thongs or Flip Flops: Australian kids overseas and what comes next.
Tanya is writing her third book and is gathering input! Make sure you check out her Instagram.
80. A TCK on her own terms – with Urmi Hossain (September 8, 2025)
Today’s episode is about being a TCK – the next one is about being a TCK and working with TCKs.
My guest today is Urmi – Italian by birth, Bengali by blood, Canadian by law. She tells her story of being a brown girl in Sicily, brought up by Bengali parents who immigrated to Italy and assumed they were raising a Bengali child.
Urmi’s book, Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth From Interracial Struggle, is available on Amazon.
Urmi’s activities and achievements are too many to list – you can find them all on her Linktree.
79. Ein Herz für San Francisco – mit Frank Marx (August 1, 2025)
Heute gibt’s eine Folge mit ganz viel Herz!
Frank nimmt uns mit in seine Herzensstadt San Francisco, wo er seit mehreren Jahren lebt und als Tourguide arbeitet.
Unser Gespräch fängt mit Franks spannender Geschichte an und schlängelt sich durch Themen wie Mut, Freundschaft und den Unterschied zwischen deutschen und amerikanischen Beziehungen, die derzeitige politische Lage, Minderheiten, den Blick von außen, Nationalgefühl, und die Liebe zu anderen Menschen und Orten.
Weitere Infos zu Frank findet ihr auf seiner Website, auf Facebook und auf Instagram, und für weitere Einblicke gibt es diese ARD- oder ZDF-Reportagen.
78. The beauty of Human Design – with Christina Ferschen (July 24, 2025)
As promised, here’s part 2 of my conversation with Christina, a German expat here in New Jersey. Christina is a certified Embodicode® Mentor & Human Design Coach. She offers sessions both in German and English.
Contact Christina via her website or on Instagram.
77. Expat on a whim – with Christina Ferschen (July 16, 2025)
Here’s part 1 of two conversations I had with my friend Christina!
Christina is originally from Germany, and is currently an almost neighbour of mine here in New Jersey. Although by the time these episodes are released, she might be about to get on a plane, as her time in the US has come to an end and her family is relocating to Germany.
We talk about the crazy beginnings of her story here in the US, and what it’s like to live in a very highly pressurised part of this country, the commuter belt around NYC. We compare notes – Christina has three children ranging from 9 to 14 years old – and so obviously school is a big subject, and we cover everything from competitiveness, anxiety, keeping up the perfect facade, perfectionism and overscheduling.
We also talk about friendships, some big differences between making friends here as opposed to Germany, and how important it is to keep an open mind.
76. From the Alps to the heart of Texas – with Claudia Miller (June 9, 2025)
My guest today is another mountain girl who moved to Texas (I know I’m not there anymore but of course I loved the parallels)!
Originally from Austria, Claudia lives in Austin with her American husband and their baby son. She is a professional pastry chef and culinary expert, and the founder of Alpin Delights, where she brings a taste of Austria to the US through live online baking classes, pre-recorded cooking and baking lessons, as well as a selection of authentic Austrian baked goods available to order locally in Austin.
Grab your popcorn (or cake!) and sit down for this special treat of a story, as you listen to Claudia’s amazing and dramatic love story that brought her to Texas, just ten months ago. No spoilers allowed here!
Of course we discuss the difficulties and joys (!) of dating long-distance, how life never goes according to plan, the power of connection and the importance of family, food and friendship.
74. Sonne, Heimweh & Community – mit Janine Zöfert (March 31, 2025)
Und schon wieder sind wir auf Deutsch unterwegs – heute ist Janine von “Ich Hier Du Dort” bei mir, vielleicht kennt ihr ihren Instagram-Account, bei dem Paare davon erzählen, wie sie der Lieben wegen ausgewandert sind.
Natürlich geht es bei unserem Gespräch auch um die Liebe, denn – ihr ahnt es bereits – Janine ist selbst aus Liebesgründen ausgewandert, und zwar nach San Diego in Kalifornien wo sie mit ihrem Mann und drei Kindern lebt.
Unser Gespräch dreht sich vorwiegend um Freundschaft, und wie wichtig es gerade für Auswanderer ist, sich alte Freundschaften zu erhalten und gleichzeitig eine neue Community aufzubauen. Dabei reden wir auch über die vielen kulturellen Unterschiede bei diesem Thema.
Janine erzählt davon, wie sie ihr Business Ich Hier Du Dort gegründet hat, und was sie sonst noch so auf die Beine stellt.
Bei Fragen zur Einreise in die USA hilft das Auswärtige Amt.
72. Abenteuer Rückkehr – mit Andrea Zahrte (Jan. 17, 2025)
Heute gibt’s mal wieder eine Folge auf Deutsch!
Mein Gast ist Andrea aus Hamburg, die sich nach mehreren Jahren in den USA wieder in Deutschland eine Karriere und ein neues Leben aufgebaut hat.
Andrea arbeitet im internationalen Schulwesen und als Coach und Mentor für Rückkehrer nach Deutschland, insbesondere mit Kindern, und natürlich bekommen wir jeden Menge Tipps und Perspektiven, was den Neustart im alten Land angeht.
Wir sprechen über bestimmte Strategien, die bei der Rückkehr helfen und auch darüber, was nicht hilft, wie wichtig es ist, zu trauern und was so mit der eigenen Identität passiert, wenn man nach einem Auslandsaufenthalt in die alte Heimat zurückkehrt. Und noch vieles mehr!
Wer sich mit Andrea in Verbindung setzen will, macht das am besten über LinkedIn, Instagram oder direkt auf ihrer Website.
70. US culture shocks – with Viktoria Daute (Dec. 6, 2024)
Today’s episode takes us to a city close to my heart: Austin, the capital of Texas.
My guest Viktoria, originally from Germany, tells us how she ended up in the Lone Star State, and you’ll find out why we are expat twins!
Viktoria tells us about her early days in the US, her food truck business, and her move to Texas just before the pandemic. Since we recorded this in September, which is technically still summer in Austin, we also talk a lot about Texas weather.
In true German fashion, we don’t mince our words and discuss everything from politics to religion, and if you’re an American listener, you might be surprised by our viewpoints from time to time. This is a very European episode. Enjoy at your peril.
You can find Viktoria on Instagram, and follow her Worlds Collide podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts! Don’t hesitate to contact her if you feel like being a guest on her show, she’s a great host.
Here’s a link to that time I was a guest on the Worlds Collide Pod.
69. Destination Special: Huaraz, Peru – with Ami Furness (Nov. 15, 2024)
67. Destination Special: Aberdeen – with Catriona Turner (Nov. 1, 2024)
66. Making friends and the power of loneliness – with Sarah Siegert (Oct. 14, 2024)
Have you ever felt lonely in your expat adventure?
My guest today is Sarah, a German in London, who used her own loneliness to establish a business as a “Loneliness Coach”.
Friendships, and how to make friends and keep them, is our overall topic, but of course we also talk a lot about cultural differences, especially between the UK and Germany.
Sarah mentions Brooke Castillo’s The Life Coach School Podcast, which is a great resource, not only if you’re interested in coaching in general. There’s a lot of wisdom there.
You can find out more about Sarah via Instagram or head straight to her Linktree and find all the links to her resources, including a quiz to find out how lonely you really are, and ways to turn it into your biggest strength.
65. Mehr als Worte: Sprachen lernen, Kulturen verstehen – mit Vanessa Paisley (Sept. 27, 2024)
Heute geht’s auf die Insel!
Mein Gast ist Vanessa, eine Engländerin, die lange in Österreich gelebt hat und seit 10 Jahren wieder in ihrer alten Heimat Hertfordshire lebt.
Vanessa arbeitet als interkulturelle Trainerin und Sprachlehrerin, und natürlich sprechen wir ausgiebig über das Sprachenlernen und die Unterschiede zwischen Englisch und Deutsch. Außerdem geht’s ums Umziehen mit Teenagern, die Zweisprachigkeit, verschiedene Schulsysteme, Tee, Schokolade und Chips, sowie den Unterschied zwischen “Handy” und “Handy”.
Wenn ihr mehr über Vanessa wissen wollt, findet ihr sie am besten auf Instagram, oder natürlich direkt auf ihrer Website.
64. Celebrating life as an Adult TCK – with Shakti Hannie (Sept. 20, 2024)
My guest today is a true ATCK – an adult third culture kid. Third Culture Kids are people who were raised in a culture other than their parents’ or the culture of their country of nationality, and also live in a different environment during a significant part of their child development years.
Shakti is also the author of Colours of a Cultural Chameleon: “Where are you from?” Life. gets interesting when one has no simple answer.
Born in the Netherlands to a Belgian father and an Indian mother, Shakti has known cross-cultural living from an early age, moving to Delhi, India on several occasions, and also Boston, USA, for a year, before returning to the Netherlands, where she lives today with her husband and son.
We talk about writing in general, and writing and publishing your own work, but mainly we talk about what it’s like to constantly bridge two or more cultures, what it means to belong, the power of celebrations, and the gift of multillingualism.
You can find Shakti on Instagram, or go straight to her website for more information about her writing, travel and publishing tips.
63. Destination Special: Asunción – with Nicole Palazzo (Sept. 14, 2020)
62. When expat dreams turn into a fight for survival – with Sabine Schwab (August 12, 2024)
My guest today is Sabine, a fellow German transplant in New Jersey, who’s lived in the US since 2010.
Her story is truly harrowing and amazing at the same time: Sabine talks about how a life-altering emergency made her expat journey take a 180, and how her life has changed since then.
We talk about how an emergency situation like this affects your family in and outside of your country, what consequences a medical diagnosis can have for your residency status, and we discuss different health systems, and the importance of grandparents in your children’s lives.
Apart from being an active fundraising coordinator, speaker and advocate, Sabine functions, amongst other things, as a volunteer leadership advisor for the American Brain Tumor Association, sits on the advisory council of the National Brain Tumor Society, and serves on the Board of Directors of Epic Experience, a Colorado-based nonprofit that organizes camps for adult cancer survivors. She recommends their podcast: Campfires of Hope – Living beyond Cancer.
To connect with Sabine, find her on Instagram!
61. Notes from a romantic expat – with Iliana Genkova (August 6, 2024)
Today’s guest is a true nomad – Iliana, a Living Abroad Strategist, writer and scientist, born and raised in Bulgaria, and currently living in Chicago.
Iliana left life behind the Iron Curtain for adventure in the US just before the millennium and has since lived in five countries on three continents.
We talk about the transience of life, making friends all over the world, what it means to have a relationship with a country, and how to keep a glass-half-full attitude through the darker times.
To connect with Iliana, find her on Instagram, LinkedIn or via her websites, www.olivemaps.com, and www.iliana.us, where you’ll find the writer’s side of this free spirit.
60. Ein Herz für Vintage – mit Susann Reiner (Julyyy 30, 2024)
Und weiter geht’s mit den deutschen Folgen! Mein heutiger Gast ist Susann Reiner, alias Madame Süsette, Vintage-Liebhaberin und Geschäftsfrau mit Herz.
Susann ist ursprünglich aus Thüringen, und floh mit ihrem damaligen Mann kurz vor der Wende in den Westen, wo sie sich in der Nähe von Stuttgart niederließen.
Susann war ausgebildete Krankenschwester, bevor sie ihren Beruf an den Nagel hängte und in vielen Bereichen tätig wurde – unter anderem führte sie zehn Jahre lang eine Second-Hand-Boutique, zunächst in Deutschland und dann in Malaga, Südspanien, wo sie heute mit ihrem Mann bereits zum zweiten Mal lebt. Momentan arbeitet sie hauptsächlich online, und führt außerdem Vintage-Touren durch ihre Herzensstadt.
Susann liebt Spanien, die Sonne, Kleider und natürlich vor allem Vintage-Mode und alles was mit Nachhaltigkeit zu tun hat, außerdem hat sie es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, Frauen zu unterstützen. Ihre positive Grundeinstellung und Energie kann man schon beim Zuhören spüren!
Mehr über Susann und ihr Leben findet ihr auf ihrer Madame Süsette Website, und natürlich auf Instagram.
59. Going Dutch – with Rossella Davi (July 23, 2024)
We’re heading to Rotterdam today. My guest is Sicilian Rossella Davi, who’s lived in the Netherlands on and off for the last 12 years.
While we talk a lot about how national stereotypes aren’t always applicable, we also can’t escape them, and have a good laugh at Dutch minimalism vs. Italian drama, amongst other culture shocks.
Find Rossella on Instagram, or check out her Going Expat website if you want to know more about moving abroad, and in particular the Netherlands!
58. Abenteuer Auswandern – mit Monique Menesi (July 15, 2024)
Meine erste Folge auf Deutsch!
Mein heutiger Gast ist Monique Menesi – vielleicht bereits bekannt durch ihren Muttersprache-Podcast, oder ihren Unternehmer-Podcast zum Business-Aufbau.
Monique ist erfolgreiche Unternehmerin, Auswandererin und Coach mit mehr als 30 Jahren Erfahrung. Wie sie selbst das Auswandern mit ihrer Familie meistert (Dubai, Katar, Schweiz und USA) und was sie sonst noch für Pläne hat, erfahrt ihr in unserem Gespräch.
Natürlich sprechen wir auch über ihre große Leidenschaft, das Coachen von Frauen und die Begleitung bei der Unternehmensgründung, und alles, was dazugehört.
Weitere Infos findet ihr am besten auf Moniques Website, und natürlich auch auf Instagram.
57. Closing the Culture Gap: the power of vulnerability – with Christian Höferle (June 18, 2024)
My guest today is “The Culture Guy” – Christian Höferle, founder, president and CEO of The Culture Mastery, a coaching, mentoring and consulting company based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Our conversation starts with Christian’s early life in small-town Bavaria (incidentally, the exact same area and time period I grew up in), his experience as a 17-year-old exchange student in the US, and how this part of his life shaped his future mindset. We then meander through his professional life traveling from Germany to the United States, and finish by talking about the nature of his business.
We cover a multitude of cultural differences, expectations, and the importance of vulnerability in an international setting, and find some special Bavarian aspects of being German – which I’m always happy to talk about!
Christian shares some amazing insights into the German and American psyche and draws out some fascinating historical coincidences – if you’re working in an international environment and are intrigued by how different cultures can work together more productively, you’re in for an absolute treat.
Find out more about Christian and what he’s up to on The Culture Mastery Website, his very funny and informative YouTube channel and podcast “Two Chaps Many Cultures” on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and IHeartRadio, or find him on LinkedIn and of course on Instagram.
56. Embracing the mess: Life in a global family – with Mariam Navaid Ottimofiore (June 13, 2024)
Today’s guest is, without a doubt, the most global person I’ve had the pleasure of talking to! She is none other than two-times author, writer, speaker, economist, language enthusiast and passionate expat, Mariam Navaid Ottimofiore.
To say that today’s episode is a love letter to learning languages is an understatement, and you will find so much wisdom in Mariam’s observations. I kept wanting to stop and take notes.
Mariam was born in Pakistan, grew up in Bahrain, the United States and Pakistan, went to college in the US and Britain, and has lived in Germany, Denmark, Singapore, Dubai, Ghana and Portugal. She met her German-Italian husband at university in Brighton, England, and they’re raising their three children with even more than “just” their four home languages.
They’re currently based in Cascais, Portugal.
I still don’t know how we managed to fit it all into one episode, but we cover a huge variety of topics. We talk about how she has managed all those moves, maintained and developed her identity, why learning the language of each country has been so important, and how she keeps all those memories alive for her family.
Mariam recently published her second book, “The Guilty Can’t Say Goodbye”, a mystery novel about three global women, and of course we’re talking at length about this book and the writing process. I devoured it on a recent trip and wholeheartedly recommend it for your summer reading list!
For more information about Mariam, her life and her books, visit her website, and make sure you follow her on Instagram.
55. Turning your expat journey into a book – with Catriona Turner (Dec. 15, 2023)
Today’s episode is for all the aspiring writers out there and, of course, their equally important enthusiastic readers!
My guest is Catriona Turner, a seasoned expat and newly published author. Her memoir, “Nest – a Memoir of Home on the Move” is widely available.
We chat about Catriona’s expat journey, taking her from Scotland to France, Uganda, Congo and Denmark, and then back to Scotland, and how she decided to fulfil her dream of becoming a writer and then a published author.
Find out more about Catriona on Instagram, or her website: The Frustrated Nester.
Get the first three chapters of “Nest” for free: https://thefrustratednester.com/overload/
Sign up via email, and you’ll be sent the download link.
The book that helped Catriona with her memoir is Fast Draft Your Memoir by Rachael Herron. Rachel also hosts a brilliant writing podcast, called How Do You Write.
If you’re interested in joining a writing challenge, NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month) might be the tool for you!
54. Humanising education: the importance of emotional intelligence – with Brantley Turner-Bradley (Sept. 15, 2023)
My guest today is an education warrior: Brantley Turner-Bradley, East Asia Education Director for Dwight Schools.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Brantley spent 25 years of her life in China and is raising three TCKs with her husband. We spoke in June, while Brantley and her family were in the US; they are currently embarking on a new venture in Hanoi, Vietnam.
We cover a whole range of subjects, from the importance of cultural immersion for growth, to the Chinese vs US education system, AI and how the current education system is failing young people, the way emotions have been dismissed from curricula over the last few centuries, the differences in remote and in-person learning, the importance of vulnerability – both feeling and showing it – and so many more.
To connect with Brantley, or learn more about her, find her on LinkedIn.
The book Brantley mentions is called Emo Sapiens, by Polish author Rafał Ohme, expert in the field of psychology of persuasion, emotions and the subconscious. The book has only been published in Polish at this point.
53. Written in the stars: How locational astrology can guide your life’s story – with Katherine / the Fox Hill Witch (June 9, 2023)
Today’s guest is Katherine, who was a guest on my podcast two years ago, an expat coach, writer, and locational astrologer.
Using my own journey as an example, we’re traveling the world looking at some of the places I’ve lived in or visited, and how the date, place and time of my birth are determining how I react to different places in the world.
If you’re interested in finding out more, check out Katherine’s website, or find her on Instagram.
52. Sex, Lies & Audiotape: why American teenagers don’t get the full story – with Julia & Jeremiah, the Sexvangelicals (May 11, 2023)
We’re going really deep today!
My guests are American family and sex therapists Julia & Jeremiah, who currently live in Utrecht, The Netherlands. They are the founders of “Sexvangelicals – the sex education the church didn’t want you to have”, and co-host the Sexvangelicals Podcast.
Sex! Religion! Politics! We talk about it all in this episode. Our topics range from sex education (and the lack thereof) at school to differences in parenting depending on which country you grow up in, and the impact of social media on they way we approach sex.
You can find out more about Julia & Jeremiah on Instagram, and make sure to check out their website, where you’ll also find the Sexvangelicals Podcast. Their site is an absolute treasure trove of books, links, and recommendations if you want to dig deeper!
The book Jeremiah references is “Not Under My Roof: Parents, Teens, and the Culture of Sex”. Highly recommended!
50. Have dog, will travel! – with Chase Warrington (Jan. 20, 2023)
My guest today is Chase, an American currently based in Spain and Germany.
Chase works as Head of Remote at Doist, a pioneer of distributed work that specializes in productivity software. He is responsible for developing and executing the company’s remote work strategy. Having worked remotely for over 12 years, as one of Doist’s 100 employees in 35 countries, he has a whole array of accolades!
Knowing the huge range of possible subjects, we just started chatting and our topics cover the nomadic lifestyle, working remotely and what a typical day looks like for him, national stereotypes, the pros and cons of calling several places home and what it does to one’s identity, and what it’s like to do all this with a pet!
Chase also has a podcast, which we didn’t get a chance to talk about. If you’re interested in finding out more about that, check out his website, About Abroad. He can also be found on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
48/49. Building home within – with Lea Misan
Today’s episode is the first of two parts – I’m talking to Lea Misan, London-based author, psychotherapist and coach, as well as trauma counsellor. She’s the executive director of UK charity Act for Change, and has worked extensively with expats.
We talk about everything from what it’s like to grow up with multiple languages, moving countries at a young age and in adolescence, what such a multi-faceted life does to your psyche and sense of self, and so much more.
In our second conversation, Lea and I jump right back in and pick up a few subjects we mentioned in Episode 48.
This time we dig even further into our expat minds, and Lea takes me deep into Jewish cultural history and how it’s shaped the collective psyche.
We also talk about how our own experiences have not only shaped us, but also keep influencing our immediate families, and we go back to topics such as identity, belonging, homesickness, and how we can maintain a bearable tension between missing a place and living in the present.
For more information about Lea, or how to contact her, take a look at her website, or contact her by Email: coachleamisan@gmail.com
Lea’s Charity: Act for Change , Email: lea@actforchange.org.uk, also on Instagram and Facebook.
Lea can also be found on LinkedIn.
47. Expat life through a lens – with Taro Moberly (Nov. 6, 2022)
We’re venturing east today, to Japan! My guest is Taro, a Kyoto based photographer, who grew up in California, but decided to explore his heritage and moved to Japan in his twenties.
We talk about what it’s like to be a foreigner in a country that’s strange and familiar at the same time, the intricacies of Japanese rules of behaviour, drinking culture, and why there is only one way to eat potato chips.
And of course we talk about photography, and how a hobby can become a lot more than just a hobby.
Taro’s book, In Kyoto, a collection of over 80 photographs, will be published later this year.
You can find out more about Taro on Instagram, Twitter, or visit his website.
If you’re interested in Trope Publishing and the projects and artists they feature, you can find out more here. Prints of Taro’s photography are also available!
46. Serendipity in Italy – with Kaci Matthews (Oct. 20, 2022)
My guest today is another Texas girl! I do love my Texans, and Kaci is no exception. Originally from Houston, and in need of a new direction in life, she decided to try her luck at a job posting in Rome. Fast forward a few years, and her home is now a small town in Tuscany.
Honestly, Kaci’s story reads like a film script, and I truly hope someone can take it to the silver screen.
Kaci paints such a vivid picture of her journey, describing her struggles and internal battles so well that you feel like you’re right there alongside her. Our conversation covers so many expat topics, from loneliness, to messy bureaucracy, language struggles, false promises, childbirth during the early days of COVID, and what it’s like to run a business with your non-expat partner in a foreign country.
Enjoy the ride with Kaci – you won’t be disappointed. Please share this story with whoever needs to hear the truth about expat life with all its ups and downs!
Find out more about Kaci on Instagram, or go straight to the website.
45. Driving, Dating & Dirndls: A Texan in Bavaria – with Alex Katte (Sept. 4, 2022)
Today’s guest has made me miss not only one, but two places!
Alex Katte, originally from Houston, TX, lives near Munich with her German husband and new baby son. We discuss the weird similarities between Bavarian and Texan cultures, the joys of driving without a speed limit, and the special charm of traditional clothing.
Of course we also delve into the cultural differences, and how tricky it might be to incorporate two cultures within one family, the difficulties of the German language and what it’s like to get married during the pandemic.
If you’re thinking about studying in Germany, the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) is a great resource!
I hope you enjoy today’s episode as much as I did!
You can find Alex on Instagram, or follow her soon-to-be-revived blog.
43. Survive and thrive in Germany – with Lawin from Pop Your Cultural Cherry (Jan. 14, 2022)
Here’s my belated last episode of 2021 to kick off 2022! My guest is another expat in Germany, Lawin from the Philippines.
We chat about Lawin’s unexpected journey to becoming a European resident, his somewhat frosty welcome in Germany and what to expect when you move into a new place, as well as the main differences in working culture, how to make friends, and the beauty of German work-life-balance.
Our conversation then veers off to cover the wonderful world of karaoke, and we discuss German music, including the weird phenomenon that is German Schlager.
Lawin is a fellow podcaster; he started “Pop Your Cultural Cherry” during the pandemic, and we compare some notes and chat about his upcoming plans for the show.
Find him on Instagram, and make sure you give his podcast a listen – just click the link and find your preferred podcast platform.
42. The Adventures of Aspen Abroad (Dec. 21, 2021)
Here it is, my last episode of the year! I’m talking to Aspen, an American who grew up in Hawaii and has been based in Munich, Germany, for the last nine years.
Our conversation ranges from discussing cultural differences including the vastly different social systems in the US and Germany, her journey through German bureaucracy, bluntness, and loneliness, and the reasons why she loves German culture with all its weird and wonderful quirks.
As Aspen would put it, she’s achieved the American dream by moving to Germany – but I think it’s down to her amazing tenacity and positive outlook on life.
We also chat about the brutal world of social media, why she’s taken a step back from her original channels, and is working on new projects. One of those is a very tongue-in-cheek-but-honest new podcast about intercultural dating, which she started with her friend Nicole, host of The Expatcast podcast and previous guest on this show. The very brilliant title of this collaboration: “The Abroadcast – two broads abroad dating Germen so you don’t have to”.
If you want to find out more about Aspen, find her on Instagram, and make sure you check out her and Nicole’s new podcast!
41. The long road to La Dolce Vita – with Jenn Overstreet (Dec. 11, 2021)
This is a Thanksgiving special! Just kidding, but we recorded it on Thanksgiving day, and so there’s a fair amount of festive talk in this conversation. My guest is Jenn, an American who’s been living in Rome for the last four years.
We talk about the beauty of Italy, and la dolce vita, but also how vulnerable you can feel as an expat, and how moving to a new country can pull the rug out from under your feet. Jenn opens up about her own personal journey and how she’s appreciating the fact that this experience can totally transform your life in a good way and coax personality traits out of you that you never knew you had, and how all her and her husband James’ “messy” experiences have led to them founding their own fitness business, Overstreet Wellness.
You can discover more about Jenn and James on Instagram: Jenn can be found here, and James is here. Both have direct links to their fitness program.
40. Forks in the road – with Izge Cengiz Ercan (Oct. 31, 2021)
Today’s guest is Izge, who grew up in Turkey, left her home country to study in the US, worked in various locations. and then decided to move back and forth a few times. She now feels like a complete mix of the two countries and slightly at odds with both from time to time.
We talk about those seemingly small moments that change the trajectory of your life, the best way to integrate into life in another country, and how to combine those different aspects of yourself.
And we both agree that food is the best way to connect us with our heritage and the places we love (yes, I am collecting my guests’ recipes).
39. When life gives you lemons – with Janine Christie (Oct. 18, 2021)
Today’s guest is Janine, a Canadian expat in Valencia, Spain. Janine left Canada over 14 years ago, but never planned to stay this long. Cupid had other plans, however, and she ended up staying, and after initial bumps in the road, is now fully embracing her expat existence.
We talk about the strange sense of not belonging, how to survive – and even embrace – the dark days, and why being stubborn is a good thing.
We discuss toxic positivity on social media, and how finding your voice and staying true to yourself are the most powerful weapons as an expat.
Janine is married to a Welshman, so of course we had to have a little nostalgic gush fest about Gavin & Stacey – if you’ve never seen it and are curious about Wales, this is the show to watch. An absolute institution, not just in the UK.
You can find Janine on Instagram, and learn more about her services as a copywriter and writing coach on her new website, So Janine Christie, which will be launched very soon! In the meantime, her previous rants and observations can be found on her old website, My Expatations.
38. A Brit walks into a bar in New York – with Megan and Simon Bucknall (July 28, 2021)
Today I don’t have just one guest, but two! Married couple Megan from the US and Simon from the UK are on the show to tell us their story and share some insights into the differences between their countries.
“Great Britain and America are two countries divided by a common language” – this famous George Bernard Shaw quote couldn’t be more true.
Megan grew up near Austin, Texas, moved to California after college and then to New York, where she met Simon from the UK, who had taken the opportunity to leave his home country for a job posting in the US.
They talk us through how they met, and how their different backgrounds have influenced their relationship and decisions.
Topics include language and behaviour, US vs. British dating rules, and of course, food! British vs. US dishes, spices and special traditions, such as turkey two ways.
In case you’re still wondering what Yorkshire puddings are, here’s a link to provide more information! And equally so for Tamales. I just didn’t have room in the episode.
37. Presque French – with Paul Taylor (July 22, 2021)
Today’s guest is someone you might have heard of if you’re a) Francophile, and/or b) a comedy enthusiast. Paul Taylor is a British stand-up comedian who lives in Paris with his French wife and daughter, and performs both in English and French.
We talk about his career transition from Apple employee to full-time comedian, how to do comedy in two languages, the peculiarity of accents and in particular British vs. American English, and our theories on why some people have stronger accents than others.
Paul gives us a glimpse into the life of a stand-up comedian, different stand-up cultures in different countries, and how comedy has been greatly helped by the advancement of Netflix. Since both of us are language nerds and subtitle enthusiasts, our conversation dives deep into that part of linguistics. We also talk about the challenges of bringing up kids with multiple languages and cultures, and how we can keep a connection to a country we don’t live in.
Paul’s first hour-long stand-up routine, Franglais, is available on YouTube, while his second show, So British ou Presque, was interrupted by the pandemic, and is starting up again now – so if you’re in France later this year, you’re in luck! Tickets are available on his website.
Paul also vlogs regularly, and he does a live show where viewers/listeners call in to contribute, Happy Hour Live.
All his materials can be found here.
36. German adventures – with Stephanie “Steffi” Montague (July. 6, 2021)
My guest today is my namesake Steffi, originally from the UK, who’s lived in Southern Germany for a couple of years now. She calls herself an unexpected expat, and had never anticipated a move, or having to learn another language.
Of course we discuss the many aspects of learning German, how she slowly overcame her fear of talking to native speakers, and how ultimately the whole expat experience has given her more confidence and helped her to be less risk averse. We do go off on a tangent exploring a possible connection between the Scots and the Bavarians, and the merits of British vs. US baked beans.
Other topics include the joys of driving on the Autobahn at 200km/h, why people perceive the Brits as more polite when they’re actually much ruder than the Germans (yes I know this will cause some controversy), and the phenomenon of not appreciating a place’s beauty when you live there, but definitely miss it when you’ve left.
Make sure you check out Steffi’s blog, Adventures of Steffi, and find her on Instagram or Facebook as @theadventuresofsteffi.
35. The transient life of an army nomad – with Brigitta Perez (June 15, 2021)
Today’s guest is Brigitta, a Hungarian with some Canadian roots, who’s married to an American. And not just any American, but a member of the US Army.
We talk about what it’s like to deal with the many moves and ups and downs of army life, how to make and maintain friendships when your life is so transient, and how to cope with the sacrifices you need to make sometimes.
I was really impressed by Brigitta’s warm personality, positive attitude and obvious love for her husband and the life they’ve created.
If you’re an Army spouse in need of some encouragement or just a chat – get in touch with Brigitta! She’s happy to connect, and can be found on Facebook where she runs her own business as a Virtual Assistant.
34. A rollercoaster of love – with Corinna Emery (June 10, 2021)
My guest today is Corinna, a fellow German in the US. Corinna currently lives in Cape Cod with her American husband and two children, although they hadn’t planned to live there, and might still up sticks and relocate.
Corinna’s story resonated with me on so many levels – being married to someone not from your home country, trying to make it work in one country, but missing another, relocating and doubting your decisions… but you just keep going. And Corinna and Ben’s love story is a truly mesmerizing one!
Corinna also has some great tips for traveling with children, and how to stay sane and survive as a couple when you experience so many different situations together.
As you will hear in this interview, this woman is a fighter – I mean, who founds two businesses while traveling with kids, no long-term plan and no home to return to?!
I’m so excited to share this love story with you. If you want to find out more about Corinna and her travels, go to her Instagram.
And of course, check out Corinna’s businesses:
Ryde and Roam, children’s vintage wear
The Caep, phone accessories
33. French bias in the USA – with Marie Thouvenot (May 24, 2021)
My guest today is Marie, a fellow European bringing up kids in the United States.
Born in France, Marie lives in Michigan with her American husband and two children.
We talk about what it’s like to try and maintain your mother tongue as the minority language in your household and country, and how to create the need to use “your” language, while accepting that your kids are growing up in another country and culture.
She even founded her own French school with other expats in order to support her kids’ learning.
Other topics – of course – are the weird and wonderful differences in French and American culinary cultures, the difference between peaches and coconuts, and how we can create beauty by mixing cultures.
If you want to find out more about Marie, check out her blog, French Bias, where she talks about bringing up multilingual kids, expat life in the US from a French perspective, and lots and lots of information about food and food culture, as well as language learning resources.
32. “You go me on the cookie” – discovering Germany with Dana Newman (May 11, 2021)
My guest today is Dana, an American in Munich, Germany. Dana is a seasoned YouTuber, and her channel, Wanted Adventure, is an absolute favourite of mine.
She is also the author of a really funny and insightful book about learning German, You Go Me On The Cookie!, which we talk about at length. It’s only published in German at the moment, and is a wonderful reminder for us German native speakers that our language is full of wonder and contradictions.
Other topics of conversation include (of course) the love story that brought her to Munich, weird and wonderful birthday and cake traditions, the many degrees of bubbly water, and German windows.
Other than on YouTube, you can also find Dana on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. She also has a Patreon page, plus a super cute gift shop – take a look! Her book, You Go Me On The Cookie! is widely available – how about a little support for your local book shop?
31. Turning your life upside down (does anyone read the small print?) – with Cath Brew (April 28, 2021)
My guest today is Cath, who was a guest on my show over a year ago, and it was so good to be able to continue our conversation. It’s not easy to have a flowing conversation and then try to fit it into an hour-long episode, so I was more than pleased to delve into all the things we didn’t have time for last time.
Our conversation meandered from the whirlwind beginnings of Cath’s love story, to dealing with redundancy, coming out and leaving her home country to move half way around the world, same-sex marriage, and how to deal with neurodiversity within a relationship, realizing you didn’t actually read the small print when you moved into your new partner’s life and home.
To find out more about Cath, visit her website, Drawn to a Story, and make sure you check out her wonderful book, Living Elsewhere, – it’s a fantastic gift for someone living or planning to live the expat life.
And as if being an illustrator and running her own business wasn’t enough already, Cath is also a practicing shamanic healer!
Cath can also be found on Instagram and Facebook, where she runs regular “Talk-Back Tuesday” and “Barefoot Friday” live groups, addressing topics such as gender identity, racism, prejudice and so much more!
30. From Nebraska to Tanzania – with Brenda Kimaro (April 15, 2021)
Today I’m talking to Brenda, a “Nebraskan farm girl turned global adventurer” about her life in Tanzania, where she lives with her Tanzanian husband and their twins and various extended family members, running a safari business, Tanzania Choice Safaris.
Brenda is a wonderful storyteller and talks openly about her journey from being an introverted Western woman to embracing life in a completely different, patriarchal society, how her new culture has shaped her views on her own country, and what advice she would give other women in similar situations.
Brenda also has a blog, The Joy of Life is Love, which she (and I too!) hopes to revive, and if you are interested in seeing the family in action, you can find them on Amazon Prime on House Hunters International, Season 78, Episode 2 (2015): A Family Safari in Tanzania.
29. The dangers of stereotyping – are our differences cultural or character driven? – with Sundae Schneider-Bean (April 8, 2021)
My guest today is the wonderful Sundae Schneider-Bean, author, podcaster, and intercultural coach and strategist, whose mission is to help global individuals achieve their international and personal goals.
Having been a member of Sundae’s coaching program, I loved hearing her story – from meeting her Swiss husband on a backpacking trip, to moving to Switzerland, experiencing a terrorist coup in Burkina Faso and then relocating to South Africa, with a few solo parenting stints, identity crises and challenges thrown in along the way.
We discuss what it means to differentiate between cultural and personal differences within a relationship, the importance of equality when it comes to decision making, how to give yourself space to adjust and sometimes grieve, and so much more.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Sundae and her work, make sure you listen to her podcast Expat Happy Hour, or visit her website!
And here’s a link to her Love Letter Every International Couple Needs to Read.
28. Standing your ground in Egypt – with Carol El Hawary (March 25, 2021)
Welcome to my new season! For the next few weeks and months, my focus will be on cross-cultural relationships, and I’m kicking off this new approach with a wonderful guest: Carol El Hawary from Scotland, who lives in Cairo with her Egyptian husband.
I still maintain this should be a movie script: a holiday romance in a country her aunt had strong connections with turned Carol’s life upside down and led her to create her dream business.
We talk about all the challenges a Western woman faces in an extremely male-dominated society, the heartache of almost losing a friend over the new relationship, how climate influences character, and how amazing it is to be able to influence a culture from within (with a good dose of fierce Scottish willpower!).
Check out Carol’s new travel service, Literary Tours Egypt, to find some wonderful inspiration!
27. Finding home (and your expat super power) in an unexpected place – with Nicole Palazzo (March 16, 2021)
Today’s guest is one of my favourite expat podcasters: Nicole Palazzo from The Expat Cast – “the podcast where expats share stories about fitting in, standing out, and every mishap on their journey to feeling at home abroad”.
We talk about the dark moments of expat life, how we discover things about ourselves we didn’t know, and what happens when your primary reason to leave your home country is no longer the reason to stay in your new place.
We discuss what it means to be introverted expats, and how we need to work really hard to overcome this, or, as Nicole puts it, try to “overthink things less”, and start to embrace our expat outsider status.
You can follow Nicole on Instagram, check out her website with all the links, or find her podcast on all the usual platforms. Make sure you check out Nicole’s conversation with Rachel from Meet the Germans, who is also a previous guest on this podcast!
26. A little anniversary message (March 4, 2021)
25. Finding your strengths in the transience of expat life – with Katherine from Bad Days Abroad (Feb. 22, 2021)
Today’s guest is Katherine from Bad Days Abroad, the blog she decided to start in order to process her own journey as an expat and her recent decision to repatriate to Estonia, her passport country, after 15 years of living abroad.
Katherine describes herself as an adult TCK, having spent most of her formative years in Switzerland, Portugal, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark, before deciding to move back “home”.
Our topics range from leaving your home country at an early age, to living as the perpetual outsider, language learning myths, the difficulty and serendipity of making friends as you get older, and how to deal with longing and grieving for another place.
We take a very honest look at friendships, the transience of expat life, and how it can teach us to live in the moment more and really appreciate what’s going on in our present.
I was blown away by Katherine’s maturity and total honesty, and can absolutely recommend her blog and Expats in Lockdown and upcoming Should I Stay or Go series! And of course, you can also find her on Instagram.
24. Loving your global life – with Martina from Almonds & Sunset (Feb. 8, 2021)
Today’s guest is Martina from Germany, who has lived in Spain, Switzerland and Australia, and is currently enjoying life in California with her young family.
Martina created her blog, Almonds & Sunset, to celebrate the beauty and adventures of life abroad. Languages are one of her biggest passions, and if you’re ready to listen to two German language nerds geeking out about accents, the English language in general and our innate desire to fit in as non-native speakers, this episode is for you!
Of course we also talk about Martina’s experiences in Australia, Spain and Switzerland, and the things she misses about all of them.
If you want to find out more, check out her blog and Instagram!
23. Dreams, wanderlust and the power of intuition – with David McNeill from Expat Empire (Jan. 15, 2021)
Today, I have the great pleasure of talking to Expat Empire founder David McNeill. Originally from the United States, David has lived in Beijing, Tokyo and Berlin, and is currently based in Porto, Portugal.
He started Expat Empire because he has a genuine passion for living abroad, and wants to inspire people to move and show them how to do it. He has produced books, podcasts and blog posts, organizes meetup events and offers personalized consulting services to give everyone the opportunity to achieve their international dreams.
In our chat, we cover a whole range of topics, from the importance of having a dream and the willingness to take risks, to learning patience and trusting (and honing) your intuition in order to move forward.
If you’re planning a move abroad, or if you’re an expat who feels stuck in your current situation and are looking for change or an improvement of your circumstances, make sure you take a look at David’s website, Expat Empire. You can contact him directly by email at david@expatempire.com, and follow him on Instagram.
And if you’re thinking of moving to Japan, check out his book “Passport to working in Japan“.
22. Turning your expat life into a job – with Feli from Germany (Jan. 6, 2021)
My very special guest today is Feli from Munich, aka Feli from Germany (that’s her YouTube channel). I love talking to people with a similar background, and in typical German fashion, we jumped right into all the dicey topics you avoid in polite conversation in America: ignorance when it comes to world matters, sex, politics, religion, and many more. We had a blast!
Feli explains how she ended up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and what prompted her to launch her YouTube channel, and more recently, her podcast, Understanding Train Station. (Listen to this episode if you want to find out what the title means!)
Find Feli on Instagram, and @understandingtrainstation.
21. From expat to immigrant – with Etienne de Bruin (Dec. 21, 2020)
My guest today is Etienne, whom I met through my husband’s work, and who I knew within five minutes of meeting absolutely had to be a guest on my podcast. Originally from South Africa, Etienne has lived in Germany and then moved to the US in 2000 with his South African wife. They now live in San Diego, CA, with their three children.
Our conversation topics span the full US expat spectrum, and include gems such as:
- accents, especially German and South African
- Afrikaaner and English differences in South African culture
- the intricacies of bringing up your children with multiple languages
- musings and insights into the American psyche
- the pros and cons of reinventing yourself & the price you pay for leaving your home comforts
- sausages in all shapes and forms
- American chocolate
We also seem to dedicate an inordinate amount of time talking about Starbucks.
19. Meet the Germans II – with Rachel Stewart (Dec. 7, 2020)
Today’s guest is Rachel from YouTube channel “Meet the Germans”!
I always love talking to people with a connection to Germany, and Rachel being a Brit in Germany was a double whammy of fun for me.
Apart from comparing notes on German and British culture, we also discuss what it’s like to move in stages, and the importance of moving on your own terms, especially when it comes to your career, so you don’t end up being a trailing spouse.
Other topics include the German obsession with asparagus, bad internet infrastructure, carnival hysteria, and the crime that is the dubbing of TV series and films.
Please go and find Rachel’s show on YouTube! You can find her on the Deutsche Welle Euromaxx YouTube Channel, and of course, check out her Instagram.
18. Sticking to a plan when you belong nowhere and everywhere – with Oscar Mariani (Nov. 18, 2020)
Today’s guest is Oscar, a software engineer from Uruguay. At the age of 17, he ventured away from his home country to achieve his career dreams, but eventually decided to put family first and return to Uruguay, after living in the US, the UK and Portugal. We discuss what it’s like to find your place in the world when your sense of belonging is askew, and you constantly question your identity, and how certain life events make our minds up for us.
Other conversation topics range from navigating British social norms and sense of humour, to craft beer and international hand gestures, as well as raising multilingual children and trying to establish English customs in a Latin American country.
I found Oscar’s story really inspiring: belonging everywhere and nowhere, loving your family and the countries that become part of you while keeping your sense of humour – a perfect recipe for years like this one!
17. Parental guilt, expat bias and the joys of moving with teenagers – with Laura Anderson (Oct. 31, 2020)
Today, I’m joined by Dr. Laura Anderson, child and family psychologist with her own multicultural background. Dr. Anderson specializes in global families, adoptive families and those raising gender expansive children and adolescents, as well as treating children and teens suffering from anxiety and depression.
The range of topics we cover in our conversations are so valuable and interesting to all parents, not only global families, and if you are the parent of a teenager, or a pre-teen, I’d highly recommend listening!
A big topic we talk about is parental guilt, as added mobility and options always lead to a rise in feelings of guilt and fear. We discuss how you can avoid falling into that trap, and a “recipe” (27:50) for more successful transitions, using the following ingredients:
- child input
- preparation / preparedness
- acceptance of discomfort / grief, loss, fear
- sense of being in this together
- maintaining boundaries: no decisions out of guilt or fear
The book we mention is Raising Global Teens, by Dr. Anisha Abraham, a practical handbook for parenting in the 21st century.
If you’d like to find out more about Dr. Anderson, visit her website, or find her Common Chord Psychology page on Facebook.
16. What it’s like when you don’t fit in a box – with Sophie Durre (Oct. 14, 2020)
My guest today is Sophie, whom I met at work here in Austin. She was in total disguise when we met; to me, she sounded just like any other American girl in her twenties, and I had no idea she was a TCK with a very varied international background, until I heard her speak Italian on the phone. I’m so happy she wanted to be interviewed for my podcast, and it was fascinating to hear her family’s story and her perspective as a TCK.
We talk about the difficulties of being thrown into a new country with a new language at a young age, what it’s like to maintain friendships over time and distance, and how tough it can be to reveal, and be proud of your full self when you’re surrounded by people who don’t necessarily want to hear the whole story.
14. Roots, repatriation, and getting to know your post-expat persona – with Terry Anne Wilson (Sept. 8, 2020)
My guest today is Terry Anne Wilson, a Canadian-born expat of 30 years, who has spent the last two years back in her passport country. She is the author of Monday Morning Emails, which she co-wrote with fellow expat Jo Parfitt, and we talk about this wonderful memoir at length. I can’t recommend it enough, it’s a lyrical, honest and heartbreaking account of two families’ expat lives, and has so much to offer (not only to expat families). Terry Anne is working on other writing projects and workshops, and you can find out more about her life on her website (including her blog).
Topics that come up through talking about her book are mental health and expat parent guilt, the importance of roots and how to make peace with your life once your nomadic days are over. Terry Anne shares what helped her get there, including her “Wonder Room”, “Serendipity Fridays”, and how the COVID19 crisis has forced her to really arrive “home”.
We also mention the wonderful global expat organisation FIGT, Families in Global Transition, which I absolutely urge you to check out, and we bring up another author and expert in the area of third culture and cross cultural kids and global families, Ruth Van Reken.
13. Lessons from a failed expat – with Nate Ritter (August 23, 2020)
Today I’m talking to Nate Ritter, an American travel enthusiast who, after a somewhat aborted attempt at living in France, describes himself as a “failed expat”. We’re talking about his adventures trying to live in France with his wife, why no failure is really a failure, and how his experiences have contributed to him setting up his hotel room savings business, Room Steals.
We talk about the big topic of learning a new language and some tricky pronunciations (if you’re listening to this with young children around, be warned: we do mention a certain male body part…). And of course, we also throw in quite a few French stereotypes for good measure!
Nate’s message: keep trying, learn from your mistakes, and don’t settle for just one country when there’s a whole world to explore.
12. Creating roots in a global setting – with Jacqueline Jeffries (July 26, 2020)
My guest today is Jacqueline, and old friend of mine from the good old California days. This episode was recorded in early March, before Coronavirus changed everything.
Jacqueline is originally from the UK, has lived in France, California, back in the UK, and now lives in Connecticut with her husband and the youngest of their three children – the older two are attending university in the UK (although currently, due to the pandemic, staying with the family in CT).
We discuss her multiple moves and what it’s like to create stability and roots for your family when you don’t have that permanent physical family home.
We also talk about friends, and how hard it is to make new ones as you get older.
And of course we compare notes on all the things we miss from the UK!
Here’s a link to the American school in Thorpe, England, that we talk about:
https://www.tasisengland.org/
11. Separated by a common language – with Micah Willbrand (July 12, 2020)
In this episode, I talk to Micah, an American transplant in England. After several hops back and forth across the pond over several years, he currently lives in London.
Our topics are British vs. US work culture, the importance of making tea the right way, the surprising differences in British and American English, and the loveliness of British quirks, accents and culture.
We also discuss the horrendous toll expat life can take on your family, especially when your experience doesn’t match up with your partner’s or your children’s, and how important it is to have a solid support system in place that starts with more awareness from the side of your employer, and also school.
The book I mention is “Watching the English“, by Kate Fox. If you are anthropologically inclined, I absolutely recommend it!
To avoid confusion, we recorded this interview a month ago in Austin, however, I edited it while on holiday/vacation in Colorado (please excuse the sound quality at the beginning and end, I was not in my studio), and both locations are mentioned. Enjoy!!
10. Juggling global family life – with Luise Gutsche (June 28, 2020)
In this episode, I talk to fellow German and nomad Luise Gutsche about the importance of a global (online?) support system, managing family life on various continents, the benefits of boarding school, and what it’s like to be stranded in your home country when you didn’t expect to be there that long.
Luise is a passionate photographer, you can find her here. Her blog, Shanghai Calling (it’s in German), is a treasure trove of topics. I highly recommend it! She’s happy to connect with you, if you have any questions on expat life, boarding schools, etc., or just want to make contact. Of course, she’s on Instagram too. Enjoy!
9. Blending cultures: Finnish roots and family identity in California – with Maija Lähdesmäki (June 14, 2020)
In this episode, I catch up with Maija, a Finnish expat in California. We met as volunteer art docents, teaching art in our elementary school district, and bonded over our love of art and of course our European roots.
Topics are what it’s like to raise cross-culture, multilingual children (Maija has four), the importance of roots and how to keep your children connected to them, and how to use art as a way to stay true to our expat duality – and make the most of Californian can-do attitude.
You can find Maija and her inspiring photography on instagram: @onblueplate/, and of course on her beautiful ceramics website: https://www.onblueplate.com/
8. Confucius, noodles, and the art of being a global nomad – with Steph Fuccio (May 31, 2020)
Today’s guest is Stephanie, an American who has been living overseas for the majority of the past 15 years, covering Argentina, Colombia, UAE, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan and China. She moved to Berlin, Germany in January 2020, just before the Coronavirus lockdown.
Steph talks about her various stints in Asia, reverse culture shock when she returned to the US, and what it feels like to change countries so often. And, of course, a major subject is food…..
Her podcast and other projects can be found here:
https://www.stephfuccio.com/
7. Meet the Germans! – with Shaun Behrens (May 4, 2020)
In this episode, I talk to expat Shaun from South Africa about my home country, covering the intricacies of the German language, some well-known German stereotypes and a few surprising facts!
Shaun has lived in Germany for 13 years and has set up his own podcast, “The Germany Experience”: https://thegermanyexperience.de/
Make sure you check it out!
6. Trailing spouses, tricky transitions and transforming the Swiss – with Claire Hauxwell (April 20, 2020)
In this episode, I’m talking to Claire Hauxwell, an American expat in Zug, Switzerland. Claire is a serial expat, having moved from Michigan to Geneva, followed by Brussels, Mexico City, to Johannesburg, and back to Switzerland. The conversation was recorded before the Coronavirus crisis led to us all being in lockdown, and Claire has added on to her blog in the meantime. Make sure you check it out.
Claire’s blog:
https://mytheoryonblooming.com
Her post about “trailing spouses”:
5. How to make the most of our expat toolbox – with Kim Adams – Part 2 (April 8, 2020)
4. Identity, resilience and how to turn expat struggles into strengths – with Kim Adams – Part 1 (April 3, 2020)
In these episodes, I talk to expat coach Kim Adams, founder of Resilient Expats, who coaches families, schools and teachers on how to develop emotional skills and how to turn the challenges of expat life into strengths. Kim and her family, originally from Missouri in the US, have spent the last ten years in Thailand and Oman.
These episodes were recorded before COVID-19 hit the news.
You can find Kim at:
https://resilientexpats.com/
3. How to expat in Norway and Texas – with Sarah Black (March 16, 2020)
Quite unexpectedly, this episode turned into an ad for Texas! Sarah and I discuss expat bubbles, resilience, the wonderful world of volunteering and all things Texas.
For more information about Sarah, visit
Instagram: @browneyedgalabroad
http://www.browneyedgalabroad.com/
Mentioned amongst Sarah’s inspirations:
Terry Anne Wilson, writer, traveller, expat:
https://notesonaboardingpass.com/
https://terryannewilson.com/
Two Fat Expats, bloggers & podcasters:
http://www.twofatexpats.com/
2. Banter, belonging and big skies – with Cath Brew (March 9, 2020)
This episode is all about what it’s like to be a triangle, finding your true identity and coming to grips with the English sense of humour. Cath talks about her journey from Australia to the UK, and why nothing comes close to a proper Sydney Flat White.
https://www.drawntoastory.com/
https://www.drawntoastory.com/living-elsewhere.html
http://iamatriangle.com/
https://www.naomihattaway.com/
1. Introducing Transcontinental Overload – the Podcast (March 1, 2020)
I Need You!
If you’re interested in being a guest on my show, let’s talk! I can’t wait to hear your story. Or if you just want to drop me a line with feedback or suggestions, this is the right place.
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