Experts & Expats

The Living Abroad Academy

The Experts & Expats podcast covers the critical aspects of moving to Europe, featuring candid stories from immigration experts and American expats who have already made the move. Hosted by the Living Abroad Academy.

Episodes

  1. 23 hr ago

    The Netherlands: How American Expats are Going Dutch

    Her move to the Netherlands went mega viral on social media, inspiring Darien Wilson to launch a successful business. Join our conversation as she shares the personal story behind it.  Today, Darien helps Americans move to the Netherlands using the DAFT visa, as well as secure housing in the challenging local market. Listen in as she shares interesting cultural tips, advice for different income scenarios (including launching a business), and pointers for navigating the healthcare system. If you've got Amsterdam or any location in the Netherlands on your wish list, this podcast will help you! If you're seriously considering a move to the Netherlands using the DAFT visa, or you've finished the process and need help finding a place to live, we recommend that you contact Darien Goes Dutch. Darien provides DAFT relocation coaching plus housing search support as an independent agent with Dutch Home Hunters. Get started at https://www.dariengoesdutch.com/ NEW EUROPE GUIDE - Have you started researching countries for a possible move to Europe? Add our new quick reference guide, European Visas for Americans to your process. Get it today for $5. READY. SET. MOVE TO EUROPE! Quickly get all the information for how to move to Europe, including legal requirements, time required, costs, and country options. Join the How to Move to Europe online learning for only $19. Let's keep in touch! ExpertsandExpats.com LinkedIn Bluesky

  2. 30 Apr

    Croatia: Healthcare, Housing, and What It Really Takes to Stay

    This episode features Sara Dyson, founder of Expat in Croatia, who turned her own messy immigration experience into a full-time business helping people navigate life in Croatia. She walks us through what daily life and immigration actually look like for Americans who want to stay long-term. Sara covers the Croatian healthcare system in detail: what independent residents pay out of pocket, how the public and private systems work together, and why the costs tend to shock Americans in the best way. She and Michelle discuss the housing market in Split and Zagreb, including why tourist rental pressure has driven up prices and what strategies actually work for finding a stable long-term apartment. On the immigration side, Sara is direct about the limits of the Croatian system for Americans without heritage ties: the digital nomad permit has lost its edge, and long-term residency requires a real commitment to working within the country. If you're seriously considering Croatia, this is the kind of honest, specific conversation that's hard to find anywhere else. For our listeners, Sara is offering a discount on a consultation with her team. Go to https://www.expatincroatia.com/expertspodcast/ and use the discount code: EXPERTS10. Included in this session is: ·  30-minute private video call with an EIC consultant  ·  30-minute session with a vetted, English-speaking Croatian lawyer (to use anytime)  ·  Follow-up email with personalized resources and links  ·  Introductions to vetted Croatian companies and professionals  ·  Croatia Restaurant Guide curated by the EIC team NEW EUROPE GUIDE - Have you started researching countries for a possible move to Europe? Add our new quick reference guide, European Visas for Americans to your process. Get it today for $5. READY. SET. MOVE TO EUROPE! Quickly get all the information for how to move to Europe, including legal requirements, time required, costs, and country options. Join the How to Move to Europe online learning for only $19. Let's keep in touch! ExpertsandExpats.com LinkedIn Bluesky

  3. 3 Feb

    Top 15 European Countries for American Expats in 2026. [Survey Results]

    Wondering which are the best European countries for American expats in 2026? In this season finale, we’re breaking down the InterNations' 2025 Expat Insider Survey—a massive study of over 10,000 expats across 46 countries—to uncover which European nations are delivering for expats. We focus only on the top and bottom 15 European countries overall and across these critical categories: Working Abroad, Personal Finance, Quality of Life, Expat Essentials, Ease of Settling In, and the General Happiness factor. The data reveals unexpected winners: Spain dominates quality of life rankings while Cyprus quietly claims spots in both the top 15 overall (#14) and happiness rankings (#6). Austria surprises at #4 for quality of life despite its reputation for unfriendly locals. Ireland leads Europe for working abroad, followed by the Netherlands, while Portugal and Spain stand out for personal finance. Other top 15 countries included Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and more! Hear Jeffrey’s analysis of how Emily in Paris is a great story of an American confronting and accepting life abroad and his theory about how €2 beers are likely fueling Spanish happiness scores. Join us for this wide-ranging conversation on expat life and what the data reveals! Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to the finale of Season 1!  00:31 Introduction to first filmed edition  1:35 Expat Insider Survey background and topics  9:38 European rankings and how LAA selects countries  23:50 Potential bias in survey participants  27:41 What's next for LAA and the podcast Get the InterNations Expat Insider 2025 report we discuss in this episode here. Go to our YouTube channel to see the visuals we discuss in this episode. Join our How to Move to Europe: Visa Basics for US Citizens course at www.livingabroadacademy.com/learn. Learn everything from visa and resident permit types and requirements to typical application costs and timelines. Bonus planning documents and interactive worksheets included!  NEW EUROPE GUIDE - Have you started researching countries for a possible move to Europe? Add our new quick reference guide, European Visas for Americans to your process. Get it today for $5. READY. SET. MOVE TO EUROPE! Quickly get all the information for how to move to Europe, including legal requirements, time required, costs, and country options. Join the How to Move to Europe online learning for only $19. Let's keep in touch! ExpertsandExpats.com LinkedIn Bluesky

About

The Experts & Expats podcast covers the critical aspects of moving to Europe, featuring candid stories from immigration experts and American expats who have already made the move. Hosted by the Living Abroad Academy.

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