Whereabouts Tales | Stories of Belonging and Immigrant Experiences

Paul Puscas | Stories of Belonging and Cultural Exploration

Whereabouts Tales shares the real stories of immigrant experiences, belonging, and global journeys from expats, returnees, and cultural explorers. I'm diving into life between worlds unpacking identity, transformation, and what it means to belong. Each episode is a conversation about chasing dreams, navigating change, and discovering yourself far from home. Tune in for raw, thoughtful, and inspiring journeys across borders. 🎧 New episodes every 2 weeks | 🌍 Real people. Raw stories. Remarkable paths.

  1. vor 12 Std.

    Escaping the 9-to-5: Quitting an 18-Year Corporate Career to Travel the World | Jessica Roman

    What happens when you do everything right for 18 years, buy the house, raise the kids, and realize the "American Dream" is just a blueprint for burnout? In this episode of Whereabouts Tales,I'm sitting down with Jessica Roman, a former corporate IT manager who decided she was done waiting for retirement. At 47, Jessica quit her nearly two-decade career, sold her house in six days, gave away her possessions, and bought a one-way ticket to India. This conversation deconstructs the reality of solo female travel in your 40s, the mental shift required to stop "keeping up with the Joneses," and why slow travel is the ultimate antidote to the corporate grind. If you are feeling stuck in your corporate career or wondering if it is too late to completely rewrite your life's trajectory, this is your blueprint. Timestamps 00:00 - The Reality of Corporate Burnout After 18 Years 08:04 - The First Solo Trip to Italy That Changed Everything 12:48 - The Courage to Quit a Secure 9-to-5 Job 16:55 - Rejecting the Counter-Offer & Selling the House 24:39 - Overcoming the Pressure to "Keep Up With The Joneses" 33:12 - Tourist Mode vs. The Reality of Slow Travel 48:16 - The Challenges of Solo Female Travel After 40 1:09:39 - Redefining the Meaning of "Home" If this episode challenged your perspective on how you spend your time, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe to Whereabouts Tales for weekly conversations exploring the philosophical and biographical journeys of the world's most interesting travelers.

  2. 22. Juli

    David Deane Haskell: Toxic Shame, Codependency & Inner Child Recovery

    What if positive affirmations are actually disgusting? Author David Deane Haskell breaks down the brutal realities of toxic shame, addiction, and codependency.  In this sprint of the Book of Tales, we pivot from analyzing failing global logistics to analyzing the most complex, easily compromised system on earth: our own psychology. We sit down with David Deane Haskell, author of Wounded Angels, to dismantle the polite myths of the modern self-help industry. David provides a real-time autopsy of his recovery from severe substance addiction and codependency. We trace the origins of "unearned shame" back to childhood trauma and examine how adult triggers expose our buried wounds. We discuss the visceral discomfort of early recovery, the danger of treating your symptoms as proof of your brokenness, and why re-parenting your inner child requires radical self-acceptance instead of seeking external validation. This is not a polished five-step program; it is the raw, unvarnished work of survival. Chapters 00:00 - Why Positive Affirmations Feel "Gross" 01:50 - The Anti-Self-Help Manual: Wounded Angels 06:05 - Anatomy of an Adult Trigger 07:45 - From Substance Addiction to Codependency 12:00 - The "Shame-Shocked" Boy & Scapegoating 15:15 - The Visceral Reality of Toxic Shame 24:25 - Confronting the "Inner Critic" 27:45 - Escapism vs. Real Healing 50:00 - Re-Parenting & Adult Children

  3. 20. Juli

    Escaping the American Dream: Danielle Nemesio’s Ego Death in Sicily

    We are often told that the pinnacle of success is found in the relentless pursuit of achievement. But what happens when you reach the top of that mountain, only to realize the view isn't what you expected? In this episode, I sit down with Danielle Nemesio, who traded a high-profile culinary career at Walt Disney World for a life in Sicily. But this is not a romanticized story of La Dolce Vita. Danielle peels back the curtain on the crushing bureaucracy, the abrasive culture shocks, and the profound ego death required to abandon a secure American life for a path where your resume means absolutely nothing. We dissect: The systemic trap of American "burnout culture." The psychological divide between a society built on achievement and a culture built on connection. Why the "demo version" of travel hides the reality of building a life abroad. The difference between "surviving" and actually "living." If you’ve ever felt the urge to strip away your safety net and start over, this conversation is your reality check.

  4. 8. Juli

    The Fix by Declan Hill: Organized Crime & The 2026 World Cup

    Is the 2026 World Cup truly clean? We dissect Declan Hill’s "The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime," exposing how global betting syndicates, corporate logistics, and spot-fixing manipulate modern football. In this solo sprint of the Book of Tales, we pull back the curtain on the invisible infrastructure of international sports corruption. Tying the chaotic events of the 2026 World Cup—from late-stage VAR technicalities to unprecedented presidential phone calls overriding red cards—directly to the dark data models of organized crime, we examine the systemic vulnerabilities of the beautiful game. We strip away the national anthems and stadium lights to reveal a global corporate supply chain managed by underground syndicates. You will learn the mechanics of "shopping money," how "runners" exploit underpaid athletes and referees through psychological grooming, and why the multi-billion-dollar sports betting market relies on spot-fixing corners and yellow cards rather than altering final scores. Finally, we turn the lens on the audience to explore the philosophical burden of the spectacle: Why do fans willingly ignore the obvious rot just to preserve the tribal joy of belonging? The Book of Tales Club: Claim your physical copy of Declan Hill’s The Fix :https://amzn.eu/d/09Q7AwjSSupport the Show: Upgrade your own audio production with our Riverside affiliate link: https://riverside.sjv.io/QYP9A9Chapters00:00 WC 2026 moments05:47 PART ONE: WHEN SUSPICION ENTERS THE STADIUM08:22 PART TWO: THE ARCHITECTURE OF CORRUPTION12:30 PART THREE: THE KFC MEETING14:34 PART FOUR: A ROMANIAN STORY16:05 PART FIVE: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF COMPROMISE18:55 PART SIX: WHY THE ZWAYER MOMENT MATTERS20:33 PART SEVEN: THE FAN’S COMPLICITY23:59 PART EIGHT: CONCLUSIONS

  5. 1. Juli

    Asadito: Losing Your Identity in a New Language | Whereabouts Tales #71

    The "English Delusion" & Rebuilding Your Identity in Austria | Asadito What happens when you sell everything you own to move 12,000 kilometers away, only to realize you left your personality behind? In this episode of Whereabouts Tales, we sit down with Asadito, an Argentinian musician who uprooted his family to start over in the Austrian Alps. We deconstruct the harsh realities of emigration that nobody talks about. Asadito shatters the "English delusion" the dangerous misconception that speaking English is enough to survive and integrate in a German-speaking country. We explore the severe sensory culture shock of European bureaucracy, the crushing realization that your sense of humor doesn't translate, and why the loss of cultural identity is a necessary destruction. Ultimately, this is a masterclass in rebuilding yourself: Asadito explains how getting "broken" by his migration allowed him to emerge as a 50% Argentinian, 50% Austrian artist who bridges cultures through multilingual music. Whether you are an expat battling homesickness or simply fascinated by the psychology of starting over, this conversation redefines what it means to find "home." Connect with Asadito: Instagram: https://instagram.com/asadito.live Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Em9tiI578AfRraP0Elj9y?si=YUqL9IJqSRiT9tIb9tYzBw Website: https://asadito.live/ Support the Show: Record your own high-quality podcast with Riverside.fm: https://riverside.sjv.io/QYP9A9 If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It is the single best way to help this global community grow. Episode Chapters: 00:00 - The "English Delusion" & Surviving in Europe 05:24 - Selling Everything: The Naivety of Emigration 12:37 - Sensory Culture Shock: The Smells and Sounds of the Alps 26:19 - Losing Your Charisma: Becoming a "Boring Person" in German 37:10 - Refusing to be a Stereotype: The Birth of Multilingual Music 45:34 - 50% Argentinian, 50% Austrian 51:57 - Redefining "Home" as People, Not Places 1:05:05 - Why Emigration Has to Break You 1:06:30 - Defining Success on Your Own Terms

  6. 24. Juni ·  Bonus

    Gerrymandering & Big Data: How Software Rewrites US Elections

    What happens when the constitutional baseline of "one person, one vote" collides with highly sophisticated geographic software? In this bonus deep-dive of Whereabouts Tales, we pull back the curtain on the invisible architecture of American political power. Emily Pabst, who previously managed redistricting data for the Kansas Legislative Research Department, joins us to explain exactly how electoral lines are drawn—and how they are manipulated. We trace the evolution of redistricting from hand-drawn maps to the deployment of complex GIS software capable of slicing demographic data down to the city block. We explore the reality of gerrymandering, the loss of professional innocence when data is weaponized for political gain, and how institutions can implement high-reliability design to survive human flaws. Finally, Emily issues a challenge to our listeners: finding media that maps an optimistic, aspirational future instead of a dystopian one. [Chapters] 00:00 - The Architecture of Power (Cold Open) 01:24 - What is Redistricting & "One Person, One Vote"? 07:43 - Inside the Room: GIS Software & City Blocks 12:24 - Wiggle Room: Population Limits & Incumbents 19:24 - From the 90s to Today: The Tech Evolution 24:28 - Weaponizing Data & The Reality of Gerrymandering 36:42 - Independent Boards & Remaking the Rules 42:17 - The Need for Aspirational Futures in Media [Essential Links & Calls to Action] The Assignment: Have a recommendation for a movie, book, or show that presents an optimistic future? Drop it in the YouTube comments or reach out via our website. Emily Pabst’s Work: remaketherules.com Upgrade Your Studio: Whereabouts Tales is recorded flawlessly on Riverside: https://riverside.sjv.io/QYP9A9

  7. 17. Juni

    Fleeing Cartels, a 25-Year Age Gap, and Moving to Mexico Sight-Unseen | Tom & Jenn Kan

    What happens when a chronic over-thinker from Texas marries a deadpan Australian who casually travels the world with zero plan? Today on Whereabouts Tales, we sit down with Tom and Jenn Kan to unpack a global love story that defies logic, borders, and a 25-year age gap. After their lives secretly orbited each other through impossible coincidences, they finally collided. We explore their chaotic journey of living abroad, including the sudden cartel violence and bombing that forced them to flee Ecuador, and why they decided to rebuild their lives in Merida, Mexico, completely sight-unseen. If you have ever romanticized the expat lifestyle, Tom and Jenn deliver a masterclass in adapting to the unknown—from navigating feudal landlord systems to realizing that home isn't a coordinate, it's the person you choose to brave the chaos with. In this episode, we cover: The "illegal" meeting and navigating a 25-year age gap. Tom’s experience growing up between Chinese and Australian cultures. The impossible transatlantic coincidences that connected their pasts. Why Jenn decided she was going to marry Tom before they were even dating. The cartel prison break and bomb that forced them to evacuate Ecuador. Culture shock in Mexico: Feudal landlords vs. Cardboard American houses. Powered by Riverside.fm We record Whereabouts Tales across the globe using Riverside. Start recording studio-quality podcasts from anywhere: https://riverside.sjv.io/QYP9A9 Connect with Jenn Kan: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenngrayugc TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenngrayugc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Genevi%C3%A8veMyrtille Podcast (Masks Down - Living with ADHD & Autism): Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/masks-down/id1769719328 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/737CafLWcKpNnSIIqwk809 Connect with Tom Kan: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomkanugc TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tomkanugc

  8. 10. Juni

    Machan Taylor: Touring with Pink Floyd, Sting, and Surviving the 80s

    Machan Taylor sang for Pink Floyd and Sting. But behind the stadium lights of the 1980s rock scene, she was battling imposter syndrome and cultural displacement. In this episode of Whereabouts Tales, we sit down with world-class vocalist Machan Taylor to dissect her memoir, Naked Out Loud. We explore her unique origin story—born in post-WWII Japan to an American military father and a Japanese singer mother—and how music became her only anchor while struggling to assimilate in the US. From grinding through four-set nights in the gritty 1970s New York club scene to joining the Jackson Victory Tour, Machan reveals what it actually costs to survive the music industry. We unpack the psychological weight of performing twenty feet from stardom, how the glamour of touring with legacy acts masked her internal trauma, and why teaching at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute has convinced her that the current streaming business model is failing the next generation of artists. Chapters 00:00 - The Reality of the 80s Music Scene 00:30 - A Hollywood Origin: Post-WWII Japan to New Jersey 08:09 - Cultural Displacement & Finding Identity in Music 15:42 - The 70s Club Scene vs. The TikTok Generation 27:49 - The Jackson Victory Tour & Networking 29:23 - Conquering Performance Anxiety & Imposter Syndrome 35:48 - Glamour vs. Trauma: Touring with Pink Floyd & Sting 44:13 - NYU & Why the Spotify Model Fails Artists 55:36 - Destigmatizing Mental Health & Naked Out Loud Clean Links Read the Memoir: https://a.co/d/0c5r7h7Z Machan Taylor Official: https://www.machantaylor.com/ Recorded flawlessly on Riverside: https://riverside.sjv.io/QYP9A9

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Whereabouts Tales shares the real stories of immigrant experiences, belonging, and global journeys from expats, returnees, and cultural explorers. I'm diving into life between worlds unpacking identity, transformation, and what it means to belong. Each episode is a conversation about chasing dreams, navigating change, and discovering yourself far from home. Tune in for raw, thoughtful, and inspiring journeys across borders. 🎧 New episodes every 2 weeks | 🌍 Real people. Raw stories. Remarkable paths.

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