Dating Beyond Borders

Marina Iakovleva
  • 5.0 (1)
  • RELATIONSHIPS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Dating Beyond Borders Podcast! I’m Marina, the creator behind the Dating Beyond Borders YouTube channel, where I’ve spent the past 10 years exploring how culture shapes love and connection. Now, I’m bringing that same passion to the podcast world! Each week, I sit down with guests from around the globe to dive into the ways culture influences relationships, identity, and the way we connect. From dating norms to cross-cultural misunderstandings, no topic is off-limits. Let’s break down barriers. One culture at a time.

  1. 14 HR AGO

    Ep. 96 - She Escaped North Korea.. then Faced a Different Kind of Shock

    In this special episode, I speak with Eunhee Park, a North Korean defector, about her escape from North Korea and her journey to South Korea.We explore the questions many people have about life inside North Korea: did she ever question the Supreme Leader? What does being “well off” actually mean in North Korea? Do North Koreans fall in love and have romantic relationships? Eunhee shares the unexpected hardships she faced after arriving in South Korea: from discrimination and intense culture shock to overwhelming freedom, endless choices, and the pressure of adapting to a highly competitive society. She opens up about the difficulty of starting over from zero, rebuilding identity, and facing loneliness in an entirely new world.Why do so many North Korean defectors struggle to feel like they belong in South Korea? What hurts the most when you leave your country behind? And what do we, living with freedom and choice, take for granted every day? Read "The Courage to Die": https://shorturl.at/edYGB Say hi to Eunhee: https://www.instagram.com/northkorea_eunhee/ Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

    1h 23m

  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    (Mini Pod) Why the Dutch and Americans Misunderstand Each Other (Ft. Double Dutch)

    In this podcast snippet, I speak with Derek, an American who has lived in the Netherlands for many years, about the differences between American and Dutch humor, self-presentation, and communication styles.Say hi to Derek: https://www.instagram.com/letsdoubledutch/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

    8 min

  3. 19 FEB

    Ep. 95 - From the UK to Southern Italy: The Reality Behind the Dream (Ft. Lauren Quacquarelli)

    This week I’m joined by Lauren, an English-Italian content creator who left Derby to start over in Puglia. We talk about the reality of life in Southern Italy, beyond the dream, including bureaucracy, lifestyle differences, micro-connections, and the challenge of building new friendships. We also dive into a deeper question: can moving abroad improve your mental health, or do you take yourself with you? Say hi to Lauren: https://www.instagram.com/laurenquacquarelli/ Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

    1h 6m

  4. 12 FEB

    Ep. 94 - The Hard Truth About Dating in Paris: Power Games, Nonchalance, and Cheating

    This week, I chat with Penelope, a French-American woman living and dating in Paris. We dive into the truth behind “the city of love”—the reality of dating in a city defined by nonchalance, where excitement often comes before commitment, and marriage and family can take a backseat to more transient encounters. We compare France and the U.S. on nuance, dating labels, and end goals, and tackle age-old questions like: Are French men great lovers? Do they cheat more? And are French women really intimidating? Say hi to Penelope: https://www.instagram.com/penelope_brg/ Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

    59 min

  5. 10 FEB

    (Mini Pod) This Made Me Feel Like Less of a Man: Men From Sweden, Mexico & Korea

    In this podcast snippet, I speak with men from Sweden, Mexico, and South Korea about what makes them feel emasculated in relationships. We also talk about vulnerability — whether men feel safe opening up today, and what actually makes them feel “less than a man.” Say hi to Max:   / _maxem_   Say hi to Carlos:   / charliealbarrancomedy   Say hi to KT:   / ktpark_striking   Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram:   / datingbeyondborders  Dating Beyond Borders channel:    / datingbeyondborders

    15 min

  6. 7 FEB

    Ep. 93 - What BEING A MAN means in Sweden, Mexico & Korea

    In my first-ever in-studio podcast, I sit down with three men from Sweden, Mexico, and South Korea to unpack one of the most talked-about topics today: masculinity. We explore how masculinity is defined in their cultures, what they were taught about being a man, how they view a man’s role in relationships, and which qualities they value most in a partner. Say hi to Max: https://www.instagram.com/_maxem_/ Say hi to Carlos: https://www.instagram.com/charliealbarrancomedy/ Say hi to KT: https://www.instagram.com/ktpark_striking/ Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life. Say hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

    1h 18m

  7. 30 JAN

    Ep. 92 - Dutch Directness, Dry Humor & Cultural Shock (Ft. Double Dutch)

    In this episode, I speak with Derek, an American living in the Netherlands with his Dutch husband, about the cultural nuances that often get overlooked—how Americans and Dutch people express enthusiasm differently, what humor works (and doesn’t), and why these differences are often misunderstood online. Say hi to Derek: https://www.instagram.com/letsdoubledutch/ Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

    1h 8m

  8. 25 JAN

    (Mini Pod) French vs American Mentality: Parenting, Perfection & Individualism 🇺🇸🇫🇷

    I talk to Alisa, an American who has lived in French is married to a French man about the differences in American and French mentality: from parenting, to the perfection culture so present in France, the slow living vs hustle and why Americans tend to leave parties earlier.Say hi to Alisa: https://www.instagram.com/multilingual_nest/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

    9 min
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Ratings & Reviews

About

Welcome to the Dating Beyond Borders Podcast! I’m Marina, the creator behind the Dating Beyond Borders YouTube channel, where I’ve spent the past 10 years exploring how culture shapes love and connection. Now, I’m bringing that same passion to the podcast world! Each week, I sit down with guests from around the globe to dive into the ways culture influences relationships, identity, and the way we connect. From dating norms to cross-cultural misunderstandings, no topic is off-limits. Let’s break down barriers. One culture at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Marina Iakovleva
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    114
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Marina Iakovleva
  • Show Website
    Dating Beyond Borders

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