This Expat Life

Amanda Maxime
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While life abroad is often amazing, it is not only rainbows & butterflies - as all experienced expats very well know. From the pleasures of drinking from fresh coconuts to dealing with a personal crisis, This Expat Life opens up space for all facets of life abroad. And more importantly: what you can do to thrive in it.Certified coach, former diplomat and forever globetrotter Amanda Molenaar dives into the good, the bad & the ugly of expat life. Expect hands-on tips, deep dives, and relatable stories by fellow expats. Whether you're about to take off on your first international adventure or have been repatted already: This Expat Life is your place to find real understanding and to grow from the inside out.Find more about Amanda and her programs here: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com.

  1. 27 APR

    #103 How to keep momentum when you aren’t feeling good

    A question came in from someone inside The Co-Pilot recently for our hot seat coaching call - and the moment I read it, I knew it needed its own episode. Because I've been there myself, more than once, and I have a feeling at least one of you listening right now will recognize yourself in it too. My coachee had just joined the program ready for the next chapter. There was momentum, clarity, energy - the good kind of feeling that something new is finally starting to move. And then, a few weeks in, she got ill, enough to slow everything down. And she asked me: what do you do when you want to keep going, but your body or your life just won't let you? In this episode, I share my answer to that - because this isn't just about being sick. It's about any moment where your tank is running low. A stressful stretch at work, a breakup, a grey winter in Europe, grief, burnout. Those seasons where you still feel that pull toward something bigger, but you simply don't have the energy to chase it at full speed. I talk about why those low periods are actually the worst time to make big decisions, why giving yourself explicit permission to pause matters more than you'd think, and what you can do in the meantime - an exercise I've used myself in Rio, after my parents died, and in many other harder chapters - that shifts something internally without costing you the energy you don't have. So if you’re feeling stuck between wanting to move forward and simply not having the capacity to, this one is for you. Let me know what you think! Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 💌 Share your reflections: info@amandamaximecoaching.com 🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

    20 min

  2. 20 APR

    #102 A new chapter requires a new you

    Most expats focus on the decision or crossroads that’s in front of them: should I stay or should I go, apply for a new role, relocate, or go for my big scary goal? And it makes sense that most of your attention goes here, but… what few people don’t look at beforehand is who you need to be to carry that decision. If you want to start a next chapter, you need to expand, too, for the decision to be truly a success. And the earlier you are aware of this identity change, the better you can prepare for it. In this episode I explain what I mean with ‘new chapter new you’ by using a personal example of when a stranger told me to go home while I was in Mexico City. Did this episode resonate? I’d love to hear from you! Links & Resources: 📖 Prioritize your life with The Wheel of Expat Life (free download) 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 💌 Share your reflections: info@amandamaximecoaching.com 🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

    16 min

  3. 13 APR

    #101 How to not feel lonely when you arrive somewhere new

    In this episode, I’m answering a question I recently received while I was in Mexico City: how do you not feel lonely when you arrive somewhere new on your own? It’s such a real question - and if you’ve ever moved abroad, even temporarily, you’ve probably felt this too. I’ve experienced this many times myself, arriving in a new city without knowing anyone. And while I genuinely enjoy my own company, I also know that connection is essential for me to feel good and grounded. So in this episode, I’m sharing the three things I personally do every time I land somewhere new to meet people and build meaningful connections (well - tip #3 is dependent on something else 👀). Want to get more tips? Go to episode #1 for the full list of how to make friends and build a community abroad! Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 💌 Share your reflections: info@amandamaximecoaching.com 🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

    13 min
  4. #100! A personal conversation on outgrowing places, letting go, and following your inner compass

    30 MAR

    #100! A personal conversation on outgrowing places, letting go, and following your inner compass

    And then you’ve reached episode 100, wow! To celebrate this special episode, for the first time ever, I’m the one being interviewed on my own podcast 👀 Tune in to hear how my dear friend Coco Hofs (one of the very first guests on the show) interviews me and asks me some deep questions that really made me think - I had told her that nothing was off topic. In this episode you’ll get honest reflections on what it means to live a global life, making space for the new, and staying true to yourself wherever you go.  And if you are a long time listener of the show.. THANK YOU! It means a lot that you are here, listening to the episodes, sharing what my words brought up for you. We are growing our community of heart-led expats and I’m so happy and grateful that you are part of it. If you want to say something about this episode, your favorite episode so far, or the show in general, I’d love to hear! Send me a DM on Instagram at @amandamaxime, or email me anytime at info@amandamaximecoaching.com.

    46 min
  5. #99 When a decision stops weighing on you (+ sharing my own!)

    17 MAR

    #99 When a decision stops weighing on you (+ sharing my own!)

    There’s something about when a decision has actually been made. Not just knowing what you want… But actually committing to it and taking the first steps. The weight that will be lifted is huge! In this episode of This Expat Life, I share what it felt like to return to The Hague knowing I’m closing this chapter and starting a new one soon - and how different everything feels when you’re no longer stuck in indecision. I talk about the expat waiting room - that in-between phase where life feels “fine,” but something deeper isn’t aligned. A place many expats stay longer than they intend, waiting for clarity that never comes from overthinking. If you’ve been going back and forth on your next move, this episode will help you understand why it feels so heavy - and what shifts when you finally choose. Because clarity doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from deciding. And yes, I’m also sharing what I actually decided for my own next chapter! Listen to know where I’m going 👀 And crave that clarity too? You’re going to love my new mini program Runway: a 2-week intensive where we’re going to work together on lifting that fog and creating more clarity on what’s next for you. A concise, sweet & short program with 2 live trainings, a hot seat coaching call and a private WhatsApp group for answers to your questions. An ideal way to work with me if you aren’t ready for The Co-Pilot or 1:1 coaching! We start on March 30th, replays available if you can’t make it live. Right now the investment is just €88 - but it’s gradually going up to €197. So make sure to join now! Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 💌 Share your reflections: info@amandamaximecoaching.com 🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

    1hr 47min
  6. #98 The 3 things I say to myself to stay my course after a decision

    10 FEB

    #98 The 3 things I say to myself to stay my course after a decision

    There’s a phase in expat life I see again and again - and I’ve lived in it myself. It’s that in-between space where you know something needs to change, but you don’t yet know what or where. So you wait. You overthink. You pause your life just a little… until weeks turn into months, and sometimes even years. Inside my world we call this the expat waiting room. And sometimes, you do get clarity and know what is the right decision for you now. But how do you stay your course when doubts come up? When others question your choices? When you are presented with other options? And how do you actually get moving to open a new door? In this solo episode of This Expat Life, I share 3 things I say to myself that have really helped me to keep my eyes on the ball, maintain my confidence, and stay in action. Sometimes you don’t need deeper insights into yourself - you need a super practical easy tool to implement what you already know. Those 3 things are that for me. And by the way, that’s also exactly what you’re getting inside The Co-Pilot: proven, powerful coaching exercises that give you deep insights about yourself and your decisions - as well as practical tools and tips to apply what you’re learning, in the context of your busy global life. I’d love to hear what resonates with you. Send me a DM on Instagram at @amandamaxime, or email me anytime at info@amandamaximecoaching.com. Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 💌 Share your reflections: info@amandamaximecoaching.com ✈️ Join The Co-Pilot: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com/the-co-pilot 🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

    53 min
  7. #97 Navigating expat life decisions as a couple, with Wiebke Anton

    5 FEB

    #97 Navigating expat life decisions as a couple, with Wiebke Anton

    What if you’re navigating an expat life decision… But you’re not doing that alone? In this episode of This Expat Life, I sit down with Wiebke Anton, a relationship coach who works specifically with expat couples and internationally mobile professionals. Together, we explore what really happens beneath the surface when couples are navigating moves, repatriation, career sacrifices, and the unspoken fear that one decision could change everything forever. We talk about why decision-making often feels heavier abroad, how power imbalances quietly show up in expat relationships, and why avoiding difficult conversations can slowly create distance - even when everything looks “fine” on the outside. We also dive into how perfectionism, fear of irreversibility, and the pressure to “make it work” can prevent couples from having honest, connecting conversations. If you’re in a relationship and navigating big expat life decisions - whether you’re moving together, meeting abroad, or feeling stuck between options - this episode will help you feel less alone and more empowered to talk about what truly matters. We’d love to hear what resonates for you! And want to join the workshop we are talking about in this episode? Join The Co-Pilot! The Co-Pilot is where you leave the expat waiting room and transform your overthinking into a solid next chapter of your global life. And when you join now, you get access to the live workshop (and the replay) by Wiebke, so you can navigate your decisions alongside your partner. Board here: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com/the-co-pilot Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 💌 Share your reflections: info@amandamaximecoaching.com ✈️ Join The Co-Pilot: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com/the-co-pilot 🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

    39 min
  8. #96 My 3 goals and a big decision for 2026!

    8 JAN

    #96 My 3 goals and a big decision for 2026!

    The start of a new year is always very exciting to me as I set 3 big goals for the year that I can't wait to work on. But sitting here in Mexico City, beginning 2026 far away from my usual routines, I’ve been reflecting deeply on what this new chapter is asking of me - and what I’m finally ready to let go of. In this episode of This Expat Life, I share my three personal goals for 2026 and the intention behind them - not as resolutions to tick off, but as identities I’m consciously stepping into. I talk about why I choose ambitious goals that stretch me beyond what feels “realistic,” how I use goals as mirrors for who I’m becoming, and what it means to commit even when doubt is still present. I also open up about a big decision I made toward the end of last year - a decision that came after years of waiting, negotiating with myself, and hoping external circumstances would make things clearer. I share what finally helped me move from being frozen to taking responsibility for my next chapter, even without knowing exactly how it will unfold. This episode is for you if you’re entering a new year feeling both excited and unsettled… if you know something needs to change but you don’t yet have the full plan… or if you’re learning how to trust yourself enough to move before certainty arrives. Sometimes clarity doesn’t come before the decision - it comes BECAUSE you made one. If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear your reflections. Send me a DM on Instagram at @amandamaxime, or email me at info@amandamaximecoaching.com. Links & Resources:  📸 Connect with me on Instagram: @amandamaxime   💌 Share your reflections with me: info@amandamaximecoaching.com  🌐 More at: amandamaximecoaching.com

    1hr 3min
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About

While life abroad is often amazing, it is not only rainbows & butterflies - as all experienced expats very well know. From the pleasures of drinking from fresh coconuts to dealing with a personal crisis, This Expat Life opens up space for all facets of life abroad. And more importantly: what you can do to thrive in it.Certified coach, former diplomat and forever globetrotter Amanda Molenaar dives into the good, the bad & the ugly of expat life. Expect hands-on tips, deep dives, and relatable stories by fellow expats. Whether you're about to take off on your first international adventure or have been repatted already: This Expat Life is your place to find real understanding and to grow from the inside out.Find more about Amanda and her programs here: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Maxime
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    107
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Amanda Molenaar
  • Show Website
    This Expat Life

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