The Adventure Calls Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Should we stay or should we go now? That’s the question that LGBTQ+ folks and their families have been asking over the last several months of this 2024 election cycle. If Trump wins, are we safe? And just how bad will Project 2025 be for the LGBTQ+ community if he does win?

Make no mistake about it. There is a tangible, intentional ecosystem created to scapegoat and marginalize queer folks in a quest for power from the right, says Spencer Macnaughton, our guest. Spencer is a Gracie Award-winning and Emmy-nominated journalist. He has written and produced for 60 Minutes+, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Vice, Vox, Time, NBC News, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone. He is also an Adjunct Professor at New York University where he teaches a course about LGBTQ journalism. Macnaughton is now the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ news publication that will launch September 3rd.

Contribute to the growth of Uncloseted Media here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=PFPHZ5CHP35TG&ssrt=1715262419710 

Below are the key takeaways from this episode:

• Project 2025: The episode highlights the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, a document with anti-LGBTQ policies that could affect the community under a Trump administration.
• Anti-LGBTQ Legislation: There is concern over new anti-LGBTQ laws in states like Texas and Florida, which may serve as models for federal policies.
• Activism and Relocation: Jess and Spencer stress the importance of voting and activism, along with discussing the choice between staying to fight for LGBTQ rights or relocating to more progressive countries.
• Uncloseted Media Launch: Spencer announces the September 3 launch of Uncloseted Media, an LGBTQ news publication aimed at providing rigorous journalism on LGBTQ issues.

Find Spencer Macnaughton + Uncloseted Media

Instagram @unclosetedmedia 

TikTok @unclosetedmedia

X.com

Facebook

LinkedIn: Uncloseted Media

UnclosetedMedia.com

Links from the episode:
Project 2025: https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf

Heritage Foundation https://www.heritage.org/
Outspoken (an LGBTQ right-wing publication) https://getoutspoken.com/ 

Rainbow Relocation Strategies
90-Day Exit Strategy Cohort ( join the waitlist for our next cohort - more information coming mid September)

Queer Expats Worldwide Facebook Community
Rainbow Relocation Strategies
@rainbowrelo on Instagram
Book: How To Move Abroad 

Your host, Jessica Drucker, can be found online at jessicadrucker.com

The Adventure Calls podcast is a bi-weekly podcast that seeks to empower queer folks to move, live and thrive abroad with interviews with relocation experts, queer expats and other organizations that give a lens on the LGBTQ+ experience in the world.

In this solo episode, Jess pulls back the curtain on Rainbow Relocation Strategies, sharing her personal journey and passion for empowering queer folks to thrive abroad. Discover the vision behind creating a global, supportive community and learn about a unique opportunity to join the first-ever expat cohort launching this August.

Key takeaways from today's episode:

• Community Focus: Jess emphasizes the importance of building a supportive and empowering community for queer expats through Rainbow Relocation Strategies and the Queer Expats Worldwide Facebook group.
• Specialized Support: Jess outlines her decision to focus on working with queer clients and corporations to address the unique needs of LGBTQ individuals relocating abroad, highlighting the gaps in knowledge and support from traditional corporate relocation services.
• Challenges and Advocacy: The episode discusses the unique challenges queer individuals face when moving abroad, including discriminatory practices and lack of support, illustrated by a high-level employee's experience.
• 90-Day Exit Strategy Program: Jess introduces the first-ever cohort of a 90-day program designed to help future queer expats plan their move abroad, providing hands-on coaching, community support, and actionable tasks. Book now to start August 7th, 2024 and finish just ONE day before the US election.
• Vision for the Future: Jess shares her broader vision for the future of Rainbow Relocation Strategies, aiming to create global pathways and networks for queer individuals, enabling them to thrive in an interconnected world shaped by global mobility and interdependence.

Links mentioned in the podcast:

[time sensitive] 90-Day Exit Strategy Cohort (by August 7th or waitlist!)

Queer Expats Worldwide Community
Rainbow Relocation Strategies
@rainbowrelo on Instagram
Book: How To Move Abroad 

Your host, Jessica Drucker, can be found online at jessicadrucker.com

The Adventure Calls podcast is a bi-weekly podcast that seeks to empower queer folks to move, live and thrive abroad with interviews with relocation experts, queer expats and other organizations that give a lens on the LGBTQ+ experience in the world.

• In this episode of Adventure Calls, you'll hear American expat Elissa Johnsen in her own words, as she narrates through her incredible journey of relocating with her family to New Zealand during COVID, offering an inspiring firsthand account of embracing change and creating a new life abroad.
• Elissa  is a Maryland native turned New Zealander who embarked on a life-altering journey two years ago with her close-knit family. She and her husband, together with their three young children, who at the time were roughly six, a toddler and a one-month old —left the familiarity of their United States home for a bit of an adventure  in the lush landscapes of New Zealand.
• Initially only for a year or two, the family set their roots roots a bit south of Auckland in the picturesque city of Tauranga, and Elissa and her family embraced the diverse culture and stunning environment of their adopted country. After spending two years assimilating and growing as a unit amidst Tauranga's coastal charm, Elissa and her  family decided they had no intention of returning to the United States, and made the vibrant capital city of Wellington their home. 
• Elissa's journey represents a unique blend of adventure and family, showcasing her courage and commitment to providing a rich life full of experiences for her children. Now settled in Wellington, she continues to navigate the rewards and challenges of life abroad with grace and determination.

Below are the key takeaways from this episode:

1. Elissa Johnsen, an American expat living in New Zealand, shared her journey of relocating with her family and working as a nurse in New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. The decision to move to New Zealand was driven by the desire for a better, less stressful environment for their family, particularly for their children, and the opportunities for their careers.
3. Elissa highlighted the significant differences in the healthcare system and societal environment between the United States and New Zealand, emphasizing the reduced stress and anxiety she experienced living in New Zealand.
4. The importance of downsizing and preparation for moving abroad was underscored as Elissa shared her experience of moving with children and the support she found in the expat community.
5. Elissa's TikTok account, KiwiFroyo, not only documents her family's life in New Zealand but also serves as a platform to share insights and advice with those interested in a similar move.

Find Jessica Drucker online:

Website: www.jessicadrucker.com

Coaching: www.jessicadrucker.com/coaching

How To Move Abroad Book: www.jessicadrucker.com/book

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainbowrelo

Find Elissa online:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kiwifroyo

Bridget Romanes is the visionary principal of Mobile Relocation, a consultancy that aids people in the complex process of moving and settling into New Zealand life. Born and raised in New Zealand herself, Bridget's early life was anything but ordinary. Her father, a mountaineer who ascended the Himalayas with the legendary Sir Edmund Hillary, infused Bridget's childhood with a spirit of exploration and a global perspective. Her home often buzzed with intriguing guests from various walks of life, enriching her understanding of the world.

Tune in to hear how the allure of New Zealand's community and breathtaking landscapes could be your family's next chapter on this episode of Adventure Calls.

From a young age, Bridget's vacations were a tapestry of experiences that spanned trekking in Fiji's rugged highlands to sailing across the azure waters of the Maldives. These adventures weren't common in the seventies and eighties, setting Bridget and her family apart as uniquely proactive global citizens.

It comes as no surprise that Bridget, influenced by her unconventional upbringing, would eventually carve out a niche in helping others navigate the life of an expatriate. Today, she intertwines her rich heritage of travel and cultural immersion with her professional acumen, serving as a guiding force for those embarking on their own journeys to new horizons. Bridget Romanes is not just a name but a synonym for cultural fluency and the passion to make the world one's home.

Perceived Social Liberalism and Safety in New Zealand: "once they get here, they do feel safe in a way that they haven't felt before." - Bridget Romanes

Find Jessica Drucker online: 

Website: www.jessicadrucker.com 

Coaching: www.jessicadrucker.com/coaching 

How To Move Abroad Book: www.jessicadrucker.com/book
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainbowrelo 

Find Bridget online:

Connect with Bridget on LinkedIn

Visit Mobile's website to learn about working with us to set up a new life in New Zealand

Access 100+ articles about relocating to New Zealand

Join Jess Drucker in the return of Adventure Calls as she shares her personal journey of expanding her family and launching a new company, and reveals the exciting new direction of the podcast focused on the adventures, challenges, and triumphs of LGBTQ folks and their families relocating internationally.

Below are the key takeaways from this episode:

• The podcast will now have a specific focus on the interests and needs of LGBTQ folks and their families looking to relocate internationally.
• The host's new company, Rainbow Relocation Strategies, aims to help LGBTQ individuals and their families move, live, and thrive abroad.
• The podcast will feature interviews with relocation consultants, immigration specialists, thought leaders in LGBTQ spaces, and successful queer expats living abroad.
• The host emphasizes the importance of looking at moving abroad with a sense of adventure, despite the challenges and the need for backup plans.
• The episode concludes with a message of empowerment to the LGBTQ community and encourages them to follow their call to adventure and consider relocating abroad.

Living Abroad Challenges: "It's actually quite challenging to live abroad, but it's those challenges that shape us and give us life skills and tools that we wouldn't have otherwise.” - Jess Drucker

Find Jessica Drucker online: 

Rainbow Relocation: www.rainbowrelo.com 

Relocation Guide: www.jessicadrucker.com/guide 

Coaching: www.jessicadrucker.com/coaching 

How To Move Abroad Book: www.jessicadrucker.com/book

On Adventure Calls, we talk to international American expats living around the world and on today’s episode you’ll meet Chase Warrington, an American expat currently based in Spain. 

Chase Warrington is the Head of Remote at Doist, a remote-first company with 100 employees based in 30+ countries spanning all time zones. 

He's lived in a handful of countries and has been working remotely from around the world for 13 years. He is an instructor, writer, and speaker and host of the About Abroad podcast, dedicated to exploring all elements of life beyond your borders. 

On this episode, Chase and I talk about the importance of following your call to adventure, living abroad, and how your community will appear when you take the leap. We also talk about the shift to remote work, and the growth of remote-first companies. 

Find Chase Warrington online
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-warrington/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dcwarrington
Podcast: www.AboutAbroad.com

Find Jessica Drucker online 
Website: www.jessicadrucker.com
Coaching: www.jessicadrucker.com/coaching
How To Move Abroad Book: www.jessicadrucker.com/book
2022 Global Relocation Guide:  www.jessicadrucker.com/guide
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jessicadrucker

*Get Your Free Move Abroad Checklist at www.jessicadrucker.com/checklist*

Diem is a social knowledge sharing app for women and non-binary folks founded by Emma Bates, an international branding and marketing rockstar originally from the UK who grew a blog to over 100,000 followers at age 19, and continued on to become Head of Global Marketing at Away.

On this International Impact episode of Adventure Calls,  Emma talks about living and thriving in New York City as an expat entrepreneur, and how the impact of living abroad guided her to create this safe space that focuses on tackling the inequality that exists for women and non-binary folks IRL and on social media.

The International Impact series includes interviews with expat builders, creators and entrepreneurs whose products and services not only impact the world, but the key ingredient is the time spent abroad by the company’s founder.

Find Diem
Website: https://www.askdiem.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askdiem/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/askdiem

Find Emma Bates
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-bates-288a89a0

Find Jessica Drucker
Website: www.jessicadrucker.com
Coaching: www.jessicadrucker.com/coaching
How To Move Abroad Book: www.jessicadrucker.com/book
2022 Global Relocation Guide:  www.jessicadrucker.com/guide
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jessicavdrucker
Linkinbio: https://linktr.ee/jessicavdrucker

*Get Your Free Move Abroad Checklist at www.jessicadrucker.com/checklist*

Everyone seems to be talking about remote work and moving abroad. Is it really so easy? In some countries it is! In others, like Denmark, it's not so simple.

In Denmark, life is good. Really good. Danes report an exceptionally high level of satisfaction with work-life balance, food, culture and quality of life in general. Foreigners who live here also report higher satisfaction in Denmark over their home countries, but they also have a hard time truly feeling accepted and settled in.

In this episode, we hear from Career Consultant Kate Dahl, an American who has lived in Denmark for five years.  After spending nearly seven years in neighboring Germany, Kate took the leap for love and moved to Denmark with her now husband.

After realizing the challenges that expats were having in their international job search, she set up her career consultancy to help international job seekers find and secure  jobs in Denmark.

Find Kate Dahl
Company website: Career Denmark www.careerdenmark.dk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/careerconsultant4internationals

Find Jessica Drucker
The Adventure Calls podcast explores the Art + Science around taking big risks and creating a life filled with Adventure.  Host Jess Drucker is a queer expat coach and consultant who helps LGBTQ+ folks move, live and thrive abroad.
 
Website: www.jessicadrucker.com
Coaching: www.jessicadrucker.com/coaching
How To Move Abroad Book: www.jessicadrucker.com/book
2022 Global Relocation Guide:  www.jessicadrucker.com/guide
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jessicadrucker
Linkinbio: https://linktr.ee/jessicavdrucker

*Get Your Free Move Abroad Checklist at www.jessicadrucker.com/checklist*

Episode Sponsors:
Stay safe abroad and get 10% off at HelpYouFind.Me at https://helpyoufind.me/adventurecalls

This week on Adventure Calls, I talk to Katheryn Gronauer, Founder of Thrive Tokyo, a company based in Tokyo that helps expats transition successfully to life in Japan. With a Japanese mother and an American father, Katheryn was raised between Florida and Tokyo, and has spent her life dissecting  how different value systems have shaped her identity and world view. 

We talk about everything from Katheryn's own journey, to challenges foreigners find in Japan (misreading the label and using hemorrhoid cream instead of toothpaste, anyone?!) and about the comfort that Katheryn has always found in the Japanese Sento, or bathhouse - the subject of her recent TEDx talk.

Find Katheryn Gronauer
On the TEDx stage:https://youtu.be/iJHD7EKetAA?t=1721
Online: https://www.thrivetokyo.com
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katheryngronauer
 
Find Jessica Drucker
Adventure Calls host Jess Drucker is a queer expat coach and consultant who helps lgbtq+ folks move, live and thrive abroad. She believes you can't be what you can see and is dedicated to sharing the art and science behind taking big risks and creating a life full of adventure.
 
Website: www.jessicadrucker.com
Coaching: www.jessicadrucker.com/coaching
How To Move Abroad Book: www.jessicadrucker.com/book
2022 Global Relocation Guide:  www.jessicadrucker.com/guide
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jessicadrucker
Linkinbio: https://linktr.ee/jessicavdrucker

*Get Your Free Move Abroad Checklist at www.jessicadrucker.com/checklist*

Episode Sponsors:
Get Your Wanderfest Tickets at www.wanderfestevent.com/adventurecalls
Stay safe abroad and get 10% off at HelpYouFind.Me at https://helpyoufind.me/adventurecalls

 Lauren Pelkey is a children's book author, blogger and entrepreneur based in Bogota, the capital of Colombia and one of the highest capital cities in the world at 8,661 feet above sea level.Lauren is no stranger to living life at the extremes.

In today’s interview, Lauren talks about applying for an Australian visa, getting approved only hours later and then quitting her job in fashion moving to Melbourne, Australia without knowing a soul. She talks about the time she stayed with a Hmong family in a one room house in the far north of Vietnam as a solo traveler.

What's more, she has had luck and adventure in her career as well, who has had to figure out how to create products, like her Wally the Wandering Wallaby children’s books and stuffed animal, all on her own.

She gained the street smarts and confidence to follow her instincts thanks to her time on the road. Lauren is originally from Massachusetts but has lived in Rome, Melbourne and now calls Bogotá, Colombia home.

In this episode, we talk about:
Lauren's solo travel experience in Sa Pa, Vietnam
http://www.wanderluluu.com/sa-pa-vietnam

Lauren's inclusion of a Peters Projection Map in her new children's book https://www.oxfordcartographers.com/our-maps/peters-projection-map

We talked about Gabby Beckford, who has been on the Adventure Calls show
https://open.spotify.com/show/262MsKEG23EoC1rfv2jEnI

Find Wally the Wandering Wallaby
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wallywanderingwallaby
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WallyWanderingWallaby 
On the website: https://www.wallywanderingwallaby.com

Find Lauren Pelkey + Wanderluluu
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderluluu/
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wanderluluu
On the website: http://www.wanderluluu.com
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-mae-pelkey-10196014

Find Jessica Drucker
Website: www.jessicadrucker.com
Coaching: www.jessicadrucker.com/coaching
How To Move Abroad Book: www.jessicadrucker.com/book
2022 Global Relocation Guide:  www.jessicadrucker.com/guide
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jessicadrucker
Linkinbio: https://linktr.ee/jessicavdrucker

* Get Your Free Move Abroad Checklist at www.jessicadrucker.com/checklist *

Episode Sponsor: Wanderful Women's Travel Community
Get Your Wanderfest Tickets at www.wanderfestevent.com/adventurecalls