Almost Local: Living Abroad Stories – Details, episodes & analysis

Thinking about moving to Latin America? In this episode, we sit down with Mike, who has spent 14 years living in Nicaragua and over 30 years building communities across the region. We dig into the truth about safety, the real cost of living, and why the media narrative gets it wrong.

If you are looking to retire abroad or invest in overseas real estate, this conversation covers essential topics like cultural adjustment, buying property in Nicaragua, and finding affordable healthcare abroad. Whether you are interested in Gran Pacifica or just exploring expat life in Central America, Mike shares honest advice on building a home away from home.

🎙️ Guest: Mike Cobb
Mike Cobb is a veteran real estate developer and community builder with over 30 years of experience in Latin America, including living in Nicaragua for 14 years with his family. He is the founder of ECI Development, focusing on creating residential communities for expats.

🔗 Guest Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecicommunities/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ECIDevelopmentLTD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eci-development-ltd./
Website: https://www.ecidevelopment.com/

📚 Guest Book
How to Buy Your Home Overseas: And Get It Right The First Time!: https://www.amazon.com/How-Buy-Your-Home-Overseas-ebook/dp/B0D3RZ14NY
Get your free copy at: podcast@ecidevelopment.com

Send us a message!

Level8: Upgrade your travel experience with luggage designed for people constantly on the move. Durable, sleek, and built to last—Level8 makes every trip smoother. Get 10% off with code LEVEL8Expat10.

StartAbroad: Planning a move abroad doesn’t have to be overwhelming. StartAbroad helps you navigate visas, paperwork, and the entire relocation process—especially for Costa Rica, Panama, Spain, and Portugal.

Get 5% off with code ALMOSTLOCAL.

Slate and Key: Thinking about relocating to Portugal? Slate & Key offers step-by-step support to guide you through the process. Start with their free webinar to understand exactly what it takes to make the move. Check out the free webinar!

Support the show

Check the episodes in video in Youtube 🎥:
https://www.youtube.com/@almostlocalstories

Follow us on social media 📲:
https://www.instagram.com/almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.facebook.com/almostlocalstories

🌎✈️ Join our Almost Local Network now and connect with a global community of like-minded adventurers!

Is raising kids abroad harder than you thought? In this episode of Almost Local, British English teacher Amy Smith breaks down the brutal reality of culture shock in Poland vs. Spain and exposes the biggest myths about language learning.
If you are an expat mother or struggling to feel 'at home' in your new country, this conversation is for you.

Topics Discussed:
Poland vs. Spain: Which country is actually harder for expats?
Raising Bilingual Kids: The hidden challenges mothers face.
The Fluency Myth: Why moving abroad doesn't guarantee you'll learn the language.
Pink Flamingo English: Amy's unique approach to teaching online.

Key Questions Answered:
How does culture shock differ across Europe?
Can you learn English without living in the UK or US?
How do you handle the isolation of a language barrier?

🎙️ Guest: Amy Smith
Founder of Pink Flamingo English Online — a community helping international mothers gain confidence in English and feel at home in the UK.

🔗 Guest Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinkflamingoenglishonline/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pinkflamingoenglishonline
Website: https://www.pinkflamingoenglish.com

Send us a message!

Level8: Upgrade your travel experience with luggage designed for people constantly on the move. Durable, sleek, and built to last—Level8 makes every trip smoother. Get 10% off with code LEVEL8Expat10.

Support the show

Check the episodes in video in Youtube 🎥:
https://www.youtube.com/@almostlocalstories

Follow us on social media 📲:
https://www.instagram.com/almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.facebook.com/almostlocalstories

🌎✈️ Join our Almost Local Network now and connect with a global community of like-minded adventurers!

🎧 In this episode of Expat Experts, I’m joined by Australian-born filmmaker, storyteller and podcast host Chris Baron. Now based in Indonesia, Chris takes us behind the scenes of his extraordinary journey—from filmmaking in extreme environments to launching his podcast “No Ordinary Monday”, relocating abroad and re-imagining life on his own terms.

We talk about:
🌍 Why moving abroad can be the ultimate life hack for growth & freedom
🎬 Making the leap from a traditional film career to remote creative work
✈️ Living as an expat in Indonesia: culture-shock, mindset shift, and daily wins
💻 Practical advice for building a location-independent career and working from anywhere
⚠️ The hidden challenges of expat life & how to turn them into opportunities
💬 Real talk: cost of living, finding your place, navigating visas and local culture 

If you’re thinking about relocating abroad, switching careers into something more adventurous or creative — or simply curious what real expat life looks like — this episode is for you.

🎙️ Guest: Chris Baron
A globetrotting documentary filmmaker and storyteller who, drawing on a background in science and a taste for adventure, travels the world capturing real‑life stories and unusual career paths from volcanoes to remote wild kitchens for his podcast No Ordinary Monday.

🔗 Guest Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noordinarymondaypodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/No-Ordinary-Monday-Podcast/
YouTube:  @noordinarymonday  
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@noordinarymondaypodcast
Website: https://www.noordinarymonday.com/

Send us a message!

Level8: Upgrade your travel experience with luggage designed for people constantly on the move. Durable, sleek, and built to last—Level8 makes every trip smoother. Get 10% off with code LEVEL8Expat10.

StartAbroad: Planning a move abroad doesn’t have to be overwhelming. StartAbroad helps you navigate visas, paperwork, and the entire relocation process—especially for Costa Rica, Panama, Spain, and Portugal.

Get 5% off with code ALMOSTLOCAL.

Support the show

Check the episodes in video in Youtube 🎥:
https://www.youtube.com/@almostlocalstories

Follow us on social media 📲:
https://www.instagram.com/almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.facebook.com/almostlocalstories

🌎✈️ Join our Almost Local Network now and connect with a global community of like-minded adventurers!

What happens when your life abroad looks perfect on paper — but inside, you feel completely empty? ✈️ 🤔

In this episode of the Expat Experts Podcast, host Marc Alcobé talks with Lara Ferreira — a Brazilian-born former corporate high-flyer turned mindful career & life coach, now based in the Netherlands. After a serious burnout, Lara discovered a deeper purpose and founded Mindful Experiences to help expats who feel “successful on paper but empty inside.”

In this conversation, we explore:
🌍 What it really feels like to live abroad and succeed … but still feel disconnected
🔥 How burnout became Lara’s wake-up call and launch-pad for change
🧘 Practical strategies for expats to rediscover purpose, meaning, and fulfilment
💬 Cultural insights: Brazilian warmth vs. Dutch directness — what it means for life abroad
💡 Step-by-step advice for building a life abroad that feels good, not just looks good

💪🏼 Listen now to discover how burnout became Lara’s turning point, what it really means to live mindfully as an expat, and why finding balance abroad starts with slowing down.

🎙️ Guest: Lara Ferreira
Lara Ferreira is a Brazilian-born mindful career and life coach based in the Netherlands, who transformed her own experience of corporate burnout into a mission to help expats find purpose, balance, and fulfilment abroad.

🔗 Guest Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulexperiences_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferreiralara
Website: https://www.mindfulexp.com/

Send us a message!

Level8: Upgrade your travel experience with luggage designed for people constantly on the move. Durable, sleek, and built to last—Level8 makes every trip smoother. Get 10% off with code LEVEL8Expat10.

StartAbroad: Planning a move abroad doesn’t have to be overwhelming. StartAbroad helps you navigate visas, paperwork, and the entire relocation process—especially for Costa Rica, Panama, Spain, and Portugal.

Get 5% off with code ALMOSTLOCAL.

Support the show

Check the episodes in video in Youtube 🎥:
https://www.youtube.com/@almostlocalstories

Follow us on social media 📲:
https://www.instagram.com/almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.facebook.com/almostlocalstories

🌎✈️ Join our Almost Local Network now and connect with a global community of like-minded adventurers!

Thinking about moving abroad? Wondering why some places feel right and others feel off? Today’s episode will change how you see the world 🌍✨

We’re joined by Isabel Guerreira, founder of Your Stellar Truth — a New York City expat who moved to Spain after discovering the power of astrocartography, the branch of astrology that reveals where in the world your energy flows best.

In this conversation, we explore:
✨ How your birth chart can guide your relocation decisions
🌐 What happens when you move toward the right planetary energy lines
🇪🇸 The emotional + cultural reality of living abroad in Spain
💼 How Isabel launched a relocation-focused astrology business as an expat
🧭 Tips for expats, digital nomads, and anyone seeking a life that feels aligned

If you're curious about expat life, relocating to Spain, digital nomad living, or how astrology and geography intersect, this episode is for you 🌙🧳💫

🎙️ Guest: Isabel Guerriera
Isabel Guerreira is a New York–born astrologer and relocation coach living in Spain who helps people align their life choices and where they live through astrocartography.

🔗 Guest Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourstellartruth/
YouTube:  @YourStellarTruthAstrology-o4h
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourstellartruth
Substack: https://practicalastrology.substack.com/
Website: https://www.yourstellartruthastrology.com/

🤑 Voucher code
Astro111 - 15% off any purchase on the website

Send us a message!

Level8: Upgrade your travel experience with luggage designed for people constantly on the move. Durable, sleek, and built to last—Level8 makes every trip smoother. Get 10% off with code LEVEL8Expat10.

StartAbroad: Planning a move abroad doesn’t have to be overwhelming. StartAbroad helps you navigate visas, paperwork, and the entire relocation process—especially for Costa Rica, Panama, Spain, and Portugal.

Get 5% off with code ALMOSTLOCAL.

Slate and Key: Thinking about relocating to Portugal? Slate & Key offers step-by-step support to guide you through the process. Start with their free webinar to understand exactly what it takes to make the move. Check out the free webinar!

Support the show

Check the episodes in video in Youtube 🎥:
https://www.youtube.com/@almostlocalstories

Follow us on social media 📲:
https://www.instagram.com/almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.facebook.com/almostlocalstories

🌎✈️ Join our Almost Local Network now and connect with a global community of like-minded adventurers!

👩🏼‍🎓🇮🇹 In this episode, we sit down with Sofia Vrettou, a Greek researcher and expat currently living in Italy, to explore what it really takes to build a life abroad — emotionally, culturally, and personally. Sofia shares her journey from Greece to Bologna as a PhD researcher, the cultural differences she experienced between Greek and Italian life, how identity shifts when you move countries, and the challenges of adapting to new academic and social environments.

We discuss:

• The emotional side of living abroad
• Language barriers & cultural surprises
• How to build community when starting over
• The beauty of blending cultures
• Rediscovering yourself outside your home country

🎧 Whether you're already abroad, planning to relocate, or simply curious about expat life — this conversation is for you.

📲 Follow Sofia on:
https://www.instagram.com/sofiavrettou_/

Send us a message!

Support the show

Check the episodes in video in Youtube 🎥:
https://www.youtube.com/@almostlocalstories

Follow us on social media 📲:
https://www.instagram.com/almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.facebook.com/almostlocalstories

🌎✈️ Join our Almost Local Network now and connect with a global community of like-minded adventurers!

🏯 👧🏽 What happens when you sell most of what you own, leave behind stable 9–5 jobs, and decide to slow travel through Southeast Asia? Meet Zanesta & Nabeel, the creators behind Tiny Detour. Originally from Australia, they traded routine for freedom, leaning into lifestyle arbitrage and building a life on their own terms.

In this episode of the Expat Experts Podcast, we dive into their expat journey as a couple:

• Why they left Australia for slow travel in Southeast Asia
• The biggest challenges & surprising moments of living abroad together
• How they balance finances, relationships, and uncertainty
• Their best advice for mid-career professionals considering a similar leap
• Fun cultural comparisons through our travel mini-games
• A hilarious story from their adventures on the road

👉 Whether you’re dreaming of leaving the 9–5, curious about lifestyle arbitrage, or already living abroad, this conversation will inspire you to think differently about work, life, and freedom.

📲 Follow Nabeel and Zanesta on:
https://www.youtube.com/@tinydetour/
https://www.instagram.com/tiny.detour/
https://tiny-detour2024.kit.com/6453a798c5

Send us a message!

Support the show

Check the episodes in video in Youtube 🎥:
https://www.youtube.com/@almostlocalstories

Follow us on social media 📲:
https://www.instagram.com/almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.facebook.com/almostlocalstories

🌎✈️ Join our Almost Local Network now and connect with a global community of like-minded adventurers!

Unlock the untold story of Aleksandar Svetski, an entrepreneur who overcame $250K in debt by age 20, lived as a digital nomad, and eventually launched the app Satlantis.io—a radical new vision for social mapping.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

• Aleks’s expat & digital nomad journey: How hopping across cultures shaped his mindset and career.
• From $250K debt to startup hustle: What resilience, discipline, and Bitcoin taught him.
• The philosophy behind Satlantis, and why he believes Bitcoin is more than money—it’s freedom.
• Mini-games like "Nomad Picks: Bullish or Bearish?" and "Pack, Burn, or Stack?" that reveal his expat preferences and values.
• Practical life hacks for other location-independent entrepreneurs looking to thrive abroad.

📲 Follow Satlantis on:
https://www.satlantis.io/
https://instagram.com/joinSatlantis
https://x.com/joinsatlantis
https://www.linkedin.com/company/satlantis.io/ 

📲 Follow Aleks on:
https://www.instagram.com/svetskiwrites/
https://substack.com/@svetskiwrites
https://www.youtube.com/@SvetskiWrites

Send us a message!

Support the show

Check the episodes in video in Youtube 🎥:
https://www.youtube.com/@almostlocalstories

Follow us on social media 📲:
https://www.instagram.com/almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.facebook.com/almostlocalstories

🌎✈️ Join our Almost Local Network now and connect with a global community of like-minded adventurers!

🤰✈️ In this episode, Angela Vitiello, founder of the Expat Parenting Collective, discusses the unique aspects of raising kids abroad. She shares insights on navigating culture shock as an expat family and offers valuable parenting tips for those considering moving abroad. Whether you're already an expat parent or contemplating the move, this episode provides essential guidance.

Ever wonder about the intricacies of being an  expat parent? In this week's episode, we have an insightful discussion of raising kids abroad. Angela Vitiello shares her experience as an expat family in different countries, providing valuable parenting advice and strategies for navigating parenting challenges.

📲 Follow Angela on:
https://www.expatparentingcollective.com/
https://vitielloconsulting.com/
https://www.instagram.com/expatparentingcollective/
https://www.instagram.com/itsangelavitiello/

Send us a message!

Support the show

Check the episodes in video in Youtube 🎥:
https://www.youtube.com/@almostlocalstories

Follow us on social media 📲:
https://www.instagram.com/almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.facebook.com/almostlocalstories

🌎✈️ Join our Almost Local Network now and connect with a global community of like-minded adventurers!

🇮🇹 🐎 What’s it really like to live in Italy as an American? We talk with Mike Manchester — an American expat who moved from Denver to Siena over 20 years ago and built his life in Italy. Mike co-founded an intercultural study abroad program, raised a bilingual family in Bologna, and even teaches English through improv! Mike touches on the teaching of English in Italian classrooms, pointing out that the current methods don't help students with real english conversation.

Mike shares his personal experience of discovering a talent for english speaking after joining a special program, helping them learn english and improving their english pronunciation. This highlights some nuances of english grammar for beginners.

🎧 In this conversation, you’ll learn:
🔹 How Mike turned a study abroad semester into a lifelong adventure
🔹 The biggest expat challenges and culture shocks he faced in Italy
🔹 Surprising differences between Siena and Bologna
🔹 One Expat Life Hack that helps anyone fit into a new culture
🔹 Why improv might be the secret to learning languages faster
🔹 Funny stories from Mike’s time teaching, traveling, and adapting to Italian life

📲 Follow Mike on:
https://www.improconversation.com
https://www.instagram.com/improconversation/
https://www.mikeallovertheplace.com
https://www.instagram.com/mikeallovertheplace/

Send us a message!

Support the show

Check the episodes in video in Youtube 🎥:
https://www.youtube.com/@almostlocalstories

Follow us on social media 📲:
https://www.instagram.com/almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@almostlocalstories
⁠https://www.facebook.com/almostlocalstories

🌎✈️ Join our Almost Local Network now and connect with a global community of like-minded adventurers!