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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.
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.
What is Human Design?
To sum it up, Human Design is a comprehensive and integrative system that combines elements from various ancient and modern disciplines to help individuals understand their unique personality, decision-making process, and life purpose.
The Human Design System synthesizes aspects of two types of science: the ancient observational systems of Astrology, the Chinese I’Ching, the Hindu-Brhmin Chakras and The Tree of Life from Kabbala; and the contemporary disciplines of Quantum Mechanics, Astronomy, Genetics, and Biochemistry - this is according to its founder, Ra Uru Hu, in 1987.
Human Design centers around the division of human beings into 5 "energy types": Manifestors, Generators, Manifesting Generators, Projectors, and Reflectors. Each type has its corresponding "strategy," a mode of behavior that is natural to the functioning of that particular type’s aura or energy system. Human Design focuses specifically on these aura dynamics, using this information to prescribe "self" and "not self" themes that are then used to evaluate how one should best live according to one’s type.
Human Design maps 9 energy centers in the body. An individual's bodygraph reveals which of these centers are "defined", meaning that they are consistent and reliable in their functioning, and which ones are “undefined”, meaning the energy is more fluid and less consistent. These centers are connected by Channels and form Gates at the connecting points.
There are also 7 Authorities, including splenic, emotional, sacral, or lunar, amongst others, and 12 different Profiles.
And all of it can be calculated based on the date, time and location of birth.
We mention the Gene Keys, a big component or rather complementary system, but we don't go into this during our conversation due to time constraints.
We're off to South America again! Today, we're travelling to Huaraz, the hiking capital of Peru. Ami, a student from the UK, takes us to her favourite spots and talks us through some interesting food and drinks she encountered during her stay.
I have something very different for you today. This episode is just a little outburst that needed to find an audience - I'm working on new projects, but while I don't have a finite home for them yet, this podcast is my temporary host.
For comments, please find me on Instagram! I absolutely welcome feedback, especially at this work-in-progress stage.
67. Destination Special: Aberdeen - with Catriona Turner
Today we're travelling to the Silver City! Catriona Turner, author of "Nest - a Memoir of Home on the Move", former guest on this podcast and recent repatriate to Scotland, takes us around her beautiful hometown of Aberdeen. If you haven't read it yet, Catriona's book Nest - A Memoir of Home on the Move is widely available everywhere and a really good read. You can also listen to our previous podcast conversation to find out more about Catriona's story. Please also check out her website, and Instagram with links to the wonderful writing initiative #May on the Move!
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
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
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.
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
For my very first Destination Special, we're travelling to South America!
Nikki Palazzo, born in the US and a former expat in Germany, is showing off the city she's called home for the last 18 months: Asunción, the capital of Paraguay.
Join us on our virtual weekend through this colourful and friendly city and find out where to eat, drink cocktails and watch the sunset. We also venture out of town, and there are tips and anecdotes galore! Make sure you eat something before listening, as you'll be ravenous once you've heard Nikki describe Paraguayan food.
From Tereré to San Juan Festivals and the joys of parallel parking, I promise you won't get bored hearing all about this secret little place that usually ranks pretty high on the list of happiest countries in the world.
For more information, get in touch with Nikki on Instagram, or listen to her on this podcast - she was my guest for Episode 27! If you want to find out about her previous experiences in Germany, she still has her Expat Cast links available.
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.
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.
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.
77. Expat on a whim - with Christina Ferschen (Part 1/2)
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.
Christina mentions the Harkness method - if you're interested, here's more information.
The second part of our conversation takes us to Christina's business and passion project: Human Design. Make sure you stick around if you're curious or in the mood for something a bit more spiritual. I strongly recommend that you do - Human Design is fascinating!
Get in touch with Christina on Instagram or through her website.
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!
Want to be a guest on this podcast? Please get in touch, I'd love to hear your story. Check out my website Transcontinental Overload.
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.
Viel Spaß!
Wenn ihr inspiriert seid. und selbst Gast bei mir sein möchtet, meldet euch bitte! Ich freue mich immer über neue Geschichten.
57. Closing the culture gap: the power of vulnerability - with Christian Höferle
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.
Christian mentions Karl May, a German 19th and early 20th-century author, and in fact one of the most well-known German writers to date. He wrote travel adventure stories about the American Wild West despite never having travelled there himself, and his stories about Winnetou and Old Shatterhand were part of German children's childhoods for over a century.
Just because I promised it in the episode, here's an American swear word you might not know you needed: "BFE = Butt F%$ Egypt = the middle of nowhere". You're welcome.
Spider Murphy Gang is a Bavarian pop group we grew up with in the 80s. Watch the video of the song Christian quotes from to get some impressions of summery Munich in the 80s! Eisbach-Surfen: The Eisbach is a side arm of the Isar, Munich's beautiful river, and there is a standing wave, where surfers gather at any time of the year to show off their skills.
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.
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.
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!
Another writing resource Catriona mentions is Faber Academy London; this is full of advice, courses, and writing assistance.
If you're interested in making a Galette des Rois for epiphany, here's Catriona's French recipe, and here's one in English.
Thank you again, Catriona, for this inspiring, uplifting and informative conversation! Have a Fun-filled Festive Season and a Happy New Year!
54. Humanising education: the importance of emotional intelligence - with Brantley Turner-Bradley
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 from Bad Days Abroad
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.
Special treat: Katherine is offering a 20% discount for listeners of Transcontinental Overload on her Astrocartography packages!! Code ASTROMAP20, bookable here.
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!
The 2021 documentary I mention but couldn't remember the title of: "Cusp", following a group of teenagers in rural Texas. Watch the trailer here, and read more about the documentary here and here.
Hey, it's me, I'm still here! Just a little update from yours truly. The sound isn't very good as I recorded this in the car, but at least it's a little sign of life! In a nutshell: I'm spending more time writing these days than on the podcast, but it's still going. :-)
Please leave feedback and suggestions, contact me if you want to be on my podcast or just want to chat! You can find me on my website, or on Instagram.
50. Have dog, will travel! - with Chase Warrington
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.
Other apps/websites/organizations we mention: Internations, a global organization that helps newcomers connect with like minded people (not just expats) Pettravel.com, a great resource for anything related to traveling with your pet Bringfido, a global resource for anything dog-related (hotels, destinations, activities, restaurants, etc, plus entry and vaccination requirements)
When I looked for other pet travel related resources, I found this one, compiled by blogger Abroad Purpose.
Don't forget to subscribe to my podcast and blog, and if you're feeling generous, consider making a donation on Ko-Fi (who am I kidding - it's January lol).
76. From the Alps to the heart of Texas - with Claudia Miller
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.
Books we mention:
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home, by Tembi Locke
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 therapy and coaching website, or contact her by Email: coachleamisan@gmail.com
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.
For more information about Lea, or how to contact her, take a look at her website, or contact her by Email: coachleamisan@gmail.com
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!
Don't forget to subscribe to Transcontinental Overload, and check out my website if you'd like to find out more about me. And of course, you can always sponsor the podcast on Ko-fi.
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.
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram, check out my website, Transcontinental Overload, and leave me a 5* review on whatever platform you're listening to the podcast. It might seem preposterous to ask for 5 Stars, but it's the best way for others to find it, and benefit from this community of expats!!
You can also support me by buying me a coffee on Ko-fi. Any donations are welcome!!!
45. Driving, Dating & Dirndls: A Texan in Bavaria – with Alex Katte
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.
A little glimpse into my new surroundings! I've not had time or energy to set up new interviews with other expats, so today it's just yours truly, sharing some thoughts and updates from my new home in New Jersey. I'm reading out my latest blog post, which of course you can also read right here. In the meantime, find me on Facebook, Instagram, or check out my website. I'm always interested in hearing from you, welcome feedback and comments and would love to find new guests! Get in touch. I love my expat community.
43. Survive and thrive in Germany - with Lawin from Pop Your Cultural Cherry
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.
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
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.
And - since Christmas is fast approaching, and I haven't had any Glühwein yet - if you feel the need to make a donation, you can do that here. Happy Holidays!
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).
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.
Find out more about me on my website, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, @overloadedsteph, and if you like, buy me a coffee!
38. A Brit walks into a bar in New York - with Megan and Simon Bucknall
Hello, I'm back! 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.
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
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.
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.
And as threatened in my intro, here's the Ko-Fi link in case you want to "buy me a coffee"!
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
If you're a German expat or someone who speaks German, here's another podcast for you, Muttersprache-Podcast, hosted by Monique Menesi. Check it out!
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.
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
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
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.
74. Sonne, Heimweh & Community - mit Janine Zöfert
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.
Wir erwähnen die Nappifam, einen weiteren Instagram- Account, bei dem es um US-deutsches Alltagleben geht - schaut mal rein!
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.
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
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!
As promised in the introduction, here's the link to Matthew and Camila McConaughey's YouTube channel, with information on the benefit concert and their Just Keep Livin Foundation. Don't forget: 21st March!
It's just me today, celebrating my podcast's first anniversary and over 2,000 downloads, as well as making a little announcement. Thank you so much for being such fantastic listeners! Don't forget to spread the word, and please subscribe! You can also find me on my website, on Instagram, or join my Facebook group. See you next time!