It's a Drama Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

What's happening? Why, when I was feeling fine, 'doing ok,' and 'coping', do I suddenly feel like I've been hit by a sledgehammer and fallen down a well of darkness?

It's been almost five months since my mum passed. 

This is a behind-the-scenes podcast. One of those we never expected to record. But record we did.

I've never had a public panic attack before. I didn't have a clue what was happening. But I do now, and we wanted to share this podcast episode with you in the hope that it might help you in some small, comforting way. 

Thank you for being with us; you are loved, you are needed, and our hearts always beat with yours.

Your friends,

Liz and Brian x

Visit the Show Page here: ⁠https://itsadrama.com/having-a-public-panic-attack/

Links mentioned in the show:

Sign up for Liz’s ⁠FREE email newsletter⁠. This is the best way to get to know Liz and have her meet you. I look forward to sharing my words with you ❤️ 

Love to travel and laugh? Get Liz’s book, ⁠THE TRAVEL BOG DIARIES⁠📕 (now available on AUDIO!) A hilarious memoir of how Liz and her family travelled the world for a year (with very little money and far too many hormones!)

❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and ⁠review the It’s a Drama Podcast here⁠, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue!

🇳🇿 Remember! If you are thinking of MOVING TO NEW ZEALAND and want to know more about the country, SIGN UP below for our⁠ FREE 5-DAY VIDEO GUIDE ⁠To Life in New Zealand. This will also lead you to more details of the NZAhead Community that Liz and Brian talk about 🇳🇿 

💰 Transferring currency? We are proud to team up with TorFX, a foreign exchange service company that offers personal FREE advice and guidance anywhere in the world. If you are looking for a money-saving currency solution where trust and transparency count, we’ve done the homework for you! ⁠TorFX⁠. We use them, our community uses them. These guys are great!

Please assume all links on this page are affiliate links. This means we make a small commission at no extra cost if you use the links. Thank you 🙂

Thank you for listening; you are fabulous, and we love you.

Liz and Brian x

Follow us on:

⁠YouTube⁠⁠

⁠⁠Pinterest⁠⁠

⁠⁠TikTok⁠

Liz and Brian are back in New Zealand. They flew from Chiang Mai via Bangkok and China and, thirty hours later, were home in Taranaki, New Zealand. Tucked up in bed.

But flying home to NZ didn't go smoothly. In fact, it was a sodding fiasco.

What started as a dream-come-true-flight ended with wet knickers and tears.

And not only that, the food on the plane was sh*t.

Sit back and listen to the story of the return flight 

Enjoy!

Liz and Brian x

Visit the Show Page here: https://itsadrama.com/flying-to-nz

Links mentioned in the show:

Sign up for Liz’s FREE email newsletter. This is the best way to get to know Liz and have her meet you. I look forward to sharing my words with you ❤️ 

Love to travel and laugh? Get Liz’s book, THE TRAVEL BOG DIARIES📕 (now available on AUDIO!) A hilarious memoir of how Liz and her family travelled the world for a year (with very little money and far too many hormones!)

❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and review the It’s a Drama Podcast here, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue!

🇳🇿 Remember! If you are thinking of MOVING TO NEW ZEALAND and want to know more about the country, SIGN UP below for our FREE 5-DAY VIDEO GUIDE To Life in New Zealand. This will also lead you to more details of the NZAhead Community that Liz and Brian talk about 🇳🇿 

💰 Transferring currency? We are proud to team up with TorFX, a foreign exchange service company that offers personal FREE advice and guidance anywhere in the world. If you are looking for a money-saving currency solution where trust and transparency count, we’ve done the homework for you! TorFX. We use them, our community uses them. These guys are great!

Please assume all links on this page are affiliate links. This means we make a small commission at no extra cost if you use the links. Thank you 🙂

Thank you for listening; you are fabulous, and we love you.

Liz and Brian x

Follow us on:

YouTube⁠

⁠Pinterest⁠

⁠TikTok⁠

It's the first time in eight weeks I've left the house.

Apart from getting groceries, walking in nature, and spending an hour or two working at our local cafe, my safe place to grieve has been at home.

Alone.

In this episode, we wanted to share our first overnight trip away since losing Mum. We went to see our son, Sonny, in Hamilton, New Zealand. In the real world.

Filled with grief but determined to do something normal, this is what the experience looked like. 

Thank you for listening and watching. We love you.

Arohanui

Liz and Brian xx

Liz's Front Row newsletter.

The best of my writing is shared in my weekly newsletter. Join my inner circle for free, and let's get to know each other better.

Sign up for the Front Row Newsletter here.

❤️ Like what you heard? PLEASE SHOW YOUR LOVE by rating and reviewing us!  You can leave your review for the It's a Drama Podcast here  It only takes a minute and helps us reach more people. Scroll to the bottom of your podcasting app to review.

🇳🇿 Our Moving to NZ Podcast is called NZ Ahead. Everything you need to know about moving to and living in New Zealand:
NZ Ahead

Liz's latest book about travelling the world with two teenage kids is now available on AUDIO! Get your copy HERE 

📧 Please email Liz or Brian (or both!) and let us know where you are listening from and why you love the show!

liz@itsadrama.com

brian@itsadrama.com

You'd think that after living in New Zealand for 12 years we'd have adjusted to the kiwi ways. And we have. To most things.

But not all.

We moved to New Zealand from England in 2009 and it was the best move that we have ever made. We have raised our kids in a country that embraces innovation and creativity, and have been warmly welcomed by the wonderful New Zealand people. 

But. There are times when we are reminded that this is not Kansas. That we still need to work a little harder to truly fit in. Whenever these seven events show up in life down under, we realise that try as we may, we are still adapting to life in New Zealand.

Here are the seven culprits that still baffle these two slow learning brits...

Are you Considering Moving To New Zealand and are desperate to know what life in New Zealand is (really) like? Do You LOVE New Zealand & dream of moving here one day?

Sign up HERE and I will send you my FREE Moving to and Living in New Zealand Guide. A 5 Part Video Series! At the end of the series, you will be offered details of how to become part of our very exciting and growing community of New Zealand loving members!

SIGN UP NOW!

1. The second syllable thing.
2. Ham.
3. Real estate signs.
4. House prices.
5. The ten-second pause.
6. Whitebait.
7. Coffee.

Life in New Zealand Compared to the UK. From a Kiwi Who's Tried Both

Leaving America to live in New Zealand

7 Things That Scared us About Moving To New Zealand

Living in New Zealand. Why 30% Of Immigrants Go Back Home

Moving to New Zealand. The How's, the Whys and the Hoops.

Moving to New Zealand. 5 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid Making

Americans in New Zealand. Will They Ever Feel at Home?

7 Weird Things About New Zealand

You Know You're in New Zealand When...

Where To Live in New Zealand? North or South Island?

Foos in New Zealand. Will You Struggle With a Special Diet?

(Where we share the things that are happening in our lives right now).

Episode #1: Meeting Our Teenage Daughter. Life at 17.

Episode #2: Our Son at 20. Homeschooled. No College. Three Jobs.

Episode #3: We Met Online. The Māori Subscribers Who Changed Our Lives.

Episode #4: The REAL Reason We Left the UK.

Episode #5: Quitting School. Now What?

Episode #6: Feeling Fear But Going On Regardless.

7 Most Beautiful Places on Earth (And Why You Need To Visit Them SOON! 

Japanese Culture. 7 Things You Should (Really) Know BEFORE You Go

How to Travel The World For Free. Or at Least Very, Very Cheap.

Italy Travel (Like You've Never Seen Before. In Your Life.)

YouTube

Pinterest

Facebook

TikTok

• Subscribe to us on Apple
• Subscribe on Android
• Subscribe on Spotify

It's on days like this that I tend to reminisce. Go back in my mind ten years to when Brian was working in his plumbing and heating business and I was at home with kids, doing my best to provide them with a rounded education.

Through my rose-tinted glasses, I see a calm and harmonious family who had a regular wage popping through the door every week. A life where the mother felt no need to put herself onto Youtube and make big fat mistakes in front of the world.

And then I take the glasses off and wipe them. And I remember that fear was always present.

There was the fear of some stuffing up my kid's life by homeschooling them. Fear of Brian drowning in the pool of stress that filled his fifty-hour workweek. Fear of using cling film when the whole world had adopted that rubbery Honeywrap organic stretchy stuff. Fear of doing things differently.

Fear. Loads of fear.

This week's podcast was made to inspire you. To encourage you to move forward with whatever it is you are doing. Even if (especially if) that thing is causing you to wobble and shake. 

Last week a friend reminded me of the Mark Twain quote:

Courage is not the lack of fear. It is acting in spite of it.

Another quote that I shall be using often came from my husband, Brian Deacle

Have courage. Trust in yourself.

Enjoy.

I know that you are going to love this episode. Let me know by leaving a comment on my blog or sending me a quick email at liz@itsadrama.com I read and reply to every single email.

We would love it if, after listening to this podcast, you took the time to let us know your thoughts? Leave a comment below or send me an email.  I answer every single email.

liz@itsadrama.com

Episode 1; Meeting our teenage daughter, Tessa

Episode 2: Our boy, Sonny at 20. Homeschooled. No college education. Three (very different) careers.

Episode 3: We met online. 

Episode 4: Why we REALLY left the UK

Episode 5: She's Quitting School. Now What?

YouTube

Pinterest

Facebook

TikTok

• Subscribe to us on Apple
• Subscribe on Android
• Subscribe on Spotify

New Zealand is often referred to as being, 'like England was fifty years ago.' At first, I wasn't sure what this statement meant but after living in New Zealand and witnessing the life skills and the values that New Zealand people work hard to retain, the expression became a whole lot clearer.

Are you Considering Moving To New Zealand and are desperate to know what life in New Zealand is (really) like? Do You LOVE New Zealand & dream of moving here one day?

Sign up HERE and I will send you my FREE Moving to and Living in New Zealand Guide. A 5 Part Video Series! At the end of the series, you will be offered details of how to become part of our very exciting and growing community of New Zealand loving members!

SIGN UP NOW!

A survey compiled by Melbourne's Monash University found that New Zealand families would like their children to be taught basic life skills in school. 

But what are the feels down on the ground? (Sorry, trying to sound cool but it failed. I promise not to do it again).

In this weeks show we thought we would give you our opinion on whether we think the New Zealand people are retaining (and passing on) valuable life skills to the younger generation or if they are watching helplessly as the good stuff gets washed down the drain. 

1. Manners and etiquette.
2. Fixing and maintaining cars.
3. Communication skills. Particularly in the younger generation. The way that New Zealand kids are raised is different from say, the UK.
4. Household chores and why they matter in New Zealand.
5. Toilet matters (admit it, your mind is boggling).
6. Technology, how advanced ARE the New Zealand people?
7. Re-cycling, clothing and fixing.

Life in New Zealand Compared to the UK. From a Kiwi Who's Tried Both

Leaving America to live in New Zealand

7 Things That Scared us About Moving To New Zealand

Living in New Zealand. Why 30% Of Immigrants Go Back Home

Moving to New Zealand. The How's, the Whys and the Hoops.

Moving to New Zealand. 5 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid Making

Americans in New Zealand. Will They Ever Feel at Home?

7 Weird Things About New Zealand

You Know You're in New Zealand When...

Where To Live in New Zealand? North or South Island?

(Where we share the things that are happening in our lives right now).

Episode #1: Meeting Our Teenage Daughter. Life at 17.

Episode #2: Our Son at 20. Homeschooled. No College. Three Jobs.

Episode #3: We Met Online. The Māori Subscribers Who Changed Our Lives.

Episode #4: The REAL Reason We Left the UK.

Episode #5: Quitting School. Now What?

7 Most Beautiful Places on Earth (And Why You Need To Visit Them SOON! 

Japanese Culture. 7 Things You Should (Really) Know BEFORE You Go

How to Travel The World For Free. Or at Least Very, Very Cheap.

Italy Travel (Like You've Never Seen Before. In Your Life.)

YouTube

Pinterest

Facebook

TikTok

• Subscribe to us on Apple
• Subscribe on Android
• Subscribe on Spotify

Oh, joy. Just when you think you have everything sorted.

Just when you think that you have all of your baby duckies lined up neatly in a row, something goes and changes. A big wet scary towel is thrown over you and your head is you find yourself being yanked pulled along with the flow.

I just wanted to make this absolutely clear before you listen to this weeks Behind the Scenes Podcast.

What may sound like a very calm and easy-going mother talking to her up-in-the-air-daughter is actually a woman whose mind is filled with jumble, fear, excitement, pride, and worry.

All parents know this feeling. Each and every one of us go through this at least a billion times a year with our kids. 

Enjoy.

I know that you are going to love this episode. Let me know by leaving a comment on my blog or sending me a quick email at liz@itsadrama.com I read and reply to every single email.

• Tessa's decision NOT to graduate. To change paths. To no longer 'do' education.
• The fear around making decisions that don't fit neatly into a square box. 
• Dealing with peer pressure.
• My, the parent's, perspective. My fears.
• The one most important skill that all parents need to keep moving forward.

We would love it if, after listening to this podcast, you took the time to let us know your thoughts? Leave a comment below or send me an email.  I answer every single email.

liz@itsadrama.com

Episode 1; Meeting our teenage daughter, Tessa

Episode 2: Our boy, Sonny at 20. Homeschooled. No college education. Three (very different) careers.

Episode 3: We met online. 

Episode 4: Why we REALLY left the UK

YouTube

Pinterest

Facebook

TikTok

• Subscribe to us on Apple
• Subscribe on Android
• Subscribe on Spotify

Yesterday I was asked by a member of our private community, 'Is the food in New Zealand better?' 

While this is a huge topic (and those who know me will have probably guessed my answer), I said it would depend on where you are comparing it to. Compared to the UK, yes, I think that the food in New Zealand is better. It tastes more 'real'.

Don't ask me to define real because I can't. Sorry. Let's just say it hits a different spot on the taste buds.

After talking to this community member for a while I discovered her reason for asking the above question. She had severe food allergies and was trying to gauge what life in New Zealand would look like. 

In this week's show, I talk to Jenn Morris. Jenn is from the Youtube channel, A Thousand Words. She emigrated to New Zealand over a decade ago and she has various food intolerances and allergies that she lives with. 

Would You Like To Join Our Private New Zealand Community?

Are you Considering Moving To New Zealand and are desperate to know what life in New Zealand is (really) like? Do You LOVE New Zealand & dream of moving here one day?

Sign up HERE and I will send you my FREE Moving to and Living in New Zealand Guide. A 5 Part Video Series! At the end of the series, you will be offered details of how to become part of our very exciting and growing community of New Zealand loving members!

SIGN UP NOW!

So...Is The Food in New Zealand Better?

If you are thinking of moving to New Zealand and you have an allergy or food intolerance, your big question will be how you will cope.

Is the food in New Zealand better? 

In this week's episode Jen shares:

How she didn't have any of these food intolerances until she moved to New Zealand and what that looked like.

How she copes living in a (very) small town in regards to her special dietary needs.

Grocery shopping in New Zealand.

Eating out with her special dietary needs.

Whether she thinks that food in New Zealand is better.

Watch more of Jenn on her brilliant Youtube channel!

A Thousand Words.

Watch The Video Podcast: Is The Food in New Zealand Better?

Moving to New Zealand? Here's More Content For You!

Life in New Zealand Compared to the UK. From a Kiwi Who's Tried Both

Leaving America to live in New Zealand

7 Things That Scared us About Moving To New Zealand

Living in New Zealand. Why 30% Of Immigrants Go Back Home

Moving to New Zealand. The How's, the Whys and the Hoops.

Moving to New Zealand. 5 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid Making

Americans in New Zealand. Will They Ever Feel at Home?

Interested in Life in New Zealand? Here's More Content For You!

7 Weird Things About New Zealand

You Know You're in New Zealand When...

Where To Live in New Zealand? North or South Island?

Behind The Scenes Podcast Episodes

(Where we share the things that are happening in our lives right now).

Episode #1: Meeting Our Teenage Daughter. Life at 17.

Episode #2: Our Son at 20. Homeschooled. No College. Three Jobs.

Episode #3: We Met Online. The Māori Subscribers Who Changed Our Lives.

Episode #4: The REAL Reason We Left the UK.

Can't Wait To Travel Again? Here's Some Inspiring Content For You!

7 Most Beautiful Places on Earth (And Why You Need To Visit Them SOON! 

Japanese Culture. 7 Things You Should (Really) Know BEFORE You Go

How to Travel The World For Free. Or at Least Very, Very Cheap.

Italy Travel (Like You've Never Seen Before. In Your Life.)

Follow us on:

YouTube

Pinterest

Facebook

TikTok

Subscribe to us on Apple

Subscribe on Android

Subscribe on Spotify

Last week, when I received an email from a listener from the Middle East. (The fact that we have people listening to us from the middle east blows my mind with excitement but that is a different story). Here is a snippet of what it said:

"One second thing is the reason why you guys decided to move abroad. I am from the middle east so everybody want to move away from here. It is really interesting for me to listen to a westerner moving abroad".

After reading this email it suddenly struck me. How one person's ideal country is another person prison. Maybe prison is a tad harsh but it is late at night when I'm writing this and I can't think of the correct word so let's stick with 

Why WOULD anyone want to emigrate from the UK? And while we're at it, why would anyone want to leave New Zealand and live in Australia or England? Why on earth would anyone consider leaving beautiful, gorgeous France to live in America? 

But they do. Every single day.

I know that you are going to love this episode. Let me know by leaving a comment on my blog or sending me a quick email at liz@itsadrama.com I read and reply to every single email.

Hello and welcome back to episode 4 of It's a Drama Behind The Scenes Podcast.

In this podcast, Brian and I talk openly about:

When we agreed that staying in the UK was not an option

The fear of making mistakes and how we tried to 'make do' with what we had.

Money. Loss of money, making money, spending money. We've done it all.

Why are some people are happy to stay put in the same house for the rest of their lives?  

What is it? What is that burning desire to up and move your family to the other side of the world?

Give us Some Feedback on This Podcast!

We would love it if, after listening to this podcast you took the time to let us know your thoughts? I answer every single email.

liz@itsadrama.com

Have you listened to our other Behind The Scenes Episodes?

Episode 1; Meeting our teenage daughter, Tessa

Episode 2: Our boy, Sonny at 20. Homeschooled. No college education. Three (very different) careers.

Episode 3: We met online. 

Follow us on:

YouTube

Pinterest

Facebook

TikTok

Subscribe to us on Apple

Subscribe on Android

Subscribe on Spotify

This episode is a biggy.

There is no way we could condense what we have just experienced into a thirty-minute show.

Today you will hear us talk about how we met a Māori couple online - on Youtube. And how, within ten days of that initial introduction, these people had traveled ten hours across the country and were sitting at our table sharing dinner with us.  Four strangers. Two cultures. One beautiful connection.

I know that you are going to love this episode.

Hello and welcome back!

This is episode three of our six-part behind-the-scenes podcast series where we go deeper into our family life and share some things that we think will interest you and help in some aspect of your own life.

• How some Māori people are perceived to be in New Zealand.
• What some Māori people believe to be true about Pākehā (Pākehā is a Māori-language term for New Zealanders primarily of European descent).
• How it felt to be contacted by Mahuta who described himself as a  'Māori fan'
• The fear of looking ignorant and stupid and facing those fears head-on.
• Human kindness, openness, connection and trust. Why without these things it will always remain stuck.

We would love it if, after listening to this podcast you took the time to let us know your thoughts? I answer every single email.

liz@itsadrama.com

Episode 1; Meeting our teenage daughter, Tessa

Episode 2: Our boy, Sonny at 20. Homeschooled. No college education. Three (very different) careers.

Follow us on:

YouTube

Pinterest

Facebook

TikTok