Expat Focus – Details, episodes & analysis

Australian expat consultant Simone Collins joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about turning a Bali "gap year" into a life-changing two-year relocation — and helping others do the same. Founder of Our Year in Bali, Simone shares how a family experiment became a full-scale move, what daily life in Bali really looks like, and why so many people dream of making the island home.

She explains who Bali is best suited for — from families with young children to digital nomads and retirees — and breaks down practical considerations like schooling, visas, healthcare, housing, and cost of living. Simone also discusses the realities of leasehold property, transport challenges, accessibility for older expats, and how Bali's hospitality-driven culture shapes expat life on the island.

If you're considering moving to Bali — whether for a sabbatical, remote work, or retirement — this episode offers honest insights, real-world budgeting advice, and expert guidance to help you decide if Bali is the right fit.

#ExpatLife #LivingInBali #MoveToBali #BaliExpats #DigitalNomads #RetireAbroad #ExpatFocus

👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com

00:00 Simone Collins' Journey to Bali

01:15 Starting 'Our Year in Bali' Consultancy

03:12 Challenges and Decisions in Bali

05:55 Ideal Demographics for Moving to Bali

08:24 Visa Options for Long-Term Stay

12:31 Housing and Real Estate in Bali

16:20 Popular Areas for Long-Term Expats

20:52 Accessibility and Transport Considerations

22:36 Health Insurance Essentials for Expats

26:05 Navigating Language Barriers

27:17 Education Options for Expats' Children

30:56 Community and Cultural Integration

33:57 Cost of Living and Budgeting in Bali

37:58 How to Plan Your Move to Bali

40:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/indonesia/podcast/could-you-live-in-bali-heres-what-its-really-like

📝 Show Notes
Our Year in Bali – https://ouryearinbali.com/

👉 Follow Expat Focus here:
RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus
Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast
LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus
LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267
X | https://x.com/expatfocus
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus
Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus
Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus
Website | https://www.expatfocus.com

Financial advisor Tom Zachystal joins the Expat Focus Podcast to break down what Americans need to think about financially before moving abroad. As President of International Asset Management — and an expat himself — Tom shares practical guidance based on decades of experience helping US citizens navigate life overseas.

Tom explains why Americans can never fully "leave" the US tax system, how citizenship-based taxation, FATCA, and FBAR reporting affect expats, and why many banks now hesitate to work with Americans living abroad. He also explores common banking challenges, transferring money internationally, and misconceptions around cash limits when crossing borders.

If you're an American planning an international move — whether for work, retirement, or lifestyle — this episode offers clear, experience-backed advice to help you avoid costly mistakes and plan with confidence.

#ExpatLife #AmericanExpats #MovingAbroad #USExpats #ExpatFinance #ExpatFocus

👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:49 Tom's Background and Expertise

02:18 Financial Steps for Americans Moving Abroad

03:09 Banking Challenges for US Expats

13:33 Understanding FATCA and FBAR

16:35 Health Insurance Considerations

23:09 Currency Fluctuations and Financial Planning

25:31 Emergency Liquidity and Financial Planning Apps

28:41 The Role of Financial Advisors

33:24 Conclusion and Contact Information

🎥 Video & Transcript

https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast/financial-planning-essentials-for-americans-living-overseas

📝 Show Notes

IAM Advisors – https://iamadvisors.com/

👉 Follow Expat Focus

RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus

Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast

LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus

LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267

X | https://x.com/expatfocus

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus

Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus

Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus

Website | https://www.expatfocus.com

David Andrews, Director of Visa Visa Limited, returns to the Expat Focus Podcast to explain New Zealand's new approach to digital nomads. In this episode, we uncover the truth behind what's been called a "digital nomad visa" (but isn't actually a new visa at all!), exploring how visitors can now legally work remotely while enjoying everything New Zealand has to offer.

David shares valuable insights about:

• How the visitor visa rules have changed to accommodate digital nomads
• Tax implications for remote workers from countries with tax treaties
• The current job market and in-demand skills in New Zealand
• Investment visa changes making NZ more attractive for high-net-worth individuals
• An increase in American professionals (especially doctors) looking to relocate
• Practical advice on qualification transfers and finding employment
• The best locations for digital nomads, from Auckland to Christchurch
• Internet connectivity solutions for remote workers

Whether you're considering a short working holiday or testing the waters for a permanent move, this episode provides essential information for anyone interested in experiencing life in New Zealand while maintaining their remote career.

#expatlife #digitalnomad #newzealand #moveabroad

00:00 Introduction and Exciting News for Digital Nomads

01:17 Understanding New Zealand's Digital Nomad Visa

01:59 Visa Conditions and Practical Implications

03:57 Extended Stays and Tax Implications

11:18 Job Market and Employment Opportunities

12:42 Investment and Residency Options

19:09 Practical Tips for Digital Nomads in New Zealand

23:03 Conclusion and Contact Information

Welcome to another episode of the Expat Focus Podcast. I'm your host Carlie, and on today's show we're shining the spotlight on expat family life in Finland.

Paola is our guest, an Italian mum of two through birth and international adoption, who has lived in Finland for nine years. She blogs about multicultural family life at TheElephantMum.com, and she's going to share her insights on raising a family in Finland. We'll talk through some of the country's very family-friendly policies; Paola's experience in fostering multilingualism in her kids; the international adoption process in Finland; community integration; and how she and her husband go about blending three cultures into their everyday lives.

Today on the show, we're talking about raising children abroad, specifically as Third Culture Kids.

'TCKs' are people raised in a culture different to that of their parents, and the country named on their passport.

My guest, American Rachel Jones, is a mum of three TCKS. She left the USA with her husband and their young twins to work in northern Somaliland, and later Djibouti, where she still lives.

So what's it like raising your kids in a country that's so different to your own? How does the experience influence their development, and shape them as adults? And what challenges are you likely to encounter along the way? Rachel's going to share her insights, which she hopes will help other parents create a thriving family culture while living internationally.

On today's show we're going to be talking to a Virtual Midwife.   It's information overload when you're pregnant, and if you're having a baby while living in another country, there can be even more layers of complexity -  not just potentially in language, but in birth practices too. Your expectations versus the local reality might be quite different. Of course, you can find out almost anything online these days, but Googling stuff about pregnancy and childbirth... well, it's a bit of a minefield. And that's where Midwife Karen Wilmot https://www.thevirtualmidwife.com/ comes in.

If you could start your life abroad all over again, what would you do differently? What would you prepare better for, and what mistakes would you avoid making? Trainer and stand-up comedian Carmine Rodi moved from a small town in southern Italy to Prague in the Czech Republic four years ago, for love. And about one year in to his expat life, he published a blog post that went viral, entitled '10 things I wish someone told me before I moved to Prague.'

Carmine joins me on the show to talk through his very popular - and slightly controversial - list, which he hopes has helped others to more easily navigate the cultural nuances in the country he calls home.

When you're looking for a job in another country, it's important to know how to make your applications stand out - or in the case of Denmark, fit in. Karey Anne Duevang, the CEO and Founder of Welcome Group Consulting, knows exactly how to do this.

A long-time expat in the country, she faced her own career challenges when she first moved to Denmark, and has since worked in operations for Danish companies, including in the area of recruitment.

On the show today, Karey Anne is going to go through five must-dos to really help with your local job search. In this chat, she also has some really useful insights into Danish work habits.

Cat Gaa was pretty good at Spanish when she was at school in the USA. She first went to Spain on a study abroad program, and soon found her way back there, this time teaching English. Cat worked out how to stay on in Spain, she started a blog at Sunshine and Siestas, and that blog turned into a side hustle with a fellow expat.    Their business, Como Consulting Spain, helps fellow non-Europeans navigate the red tape around moving to the country and staying there long term.   So how can you move to Spain and become a long-term resident as a non-European? And what else is important to know about life and culture in the different regions of Spain? Listen to find out.  

Our guest today is based in Thailand - a country that is well known for attracting expats wanting good living on the cheap, but just how good, and just how cheap?

Brett Debritz is an Australian freelance journalist, currently on a 'trial retirement' in Thailand, and blogging at Expattaya.

If a move to the country is on your bucket list, you might want to take some notes during this chat, because Brett's going to talk us through what you get for your money: from housing, to bills, groceries, and other expenses that some expats moving to Thailand may not necessarily anticipate.