Meet the Expats

Meet the Expats
  • 4.5 (8)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Bimonthly

In Meet the Expats, expat podcast, you will hear stories from expats all over the world as they share their motivations, challenges and unique experiences in the new place they have decided to call home, for a few years, months or a lifetime. 🌍 From making new friends, and dating, to kids and looking for a new job, these expats will share how they got through the challenges of moving their lives to a new country, their top secret addresses and favorite spots we all wish we had when we settled into a new city. ✈️ Tune in every second wednesday to discover a new portrait, interview and city ❤️ Follow on insta: @meettheexpats Enquiries at meettheexpats@gmail.com If you want to contribute, tips against shout outs can be made through Tipee (https://fr.tipeee.com/meet-the-expats)  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  1. Meet Dennison: Life Beyond the Golden Visa

    13h ago

    Meet Dennison: Life Beyond the Golden Visa

    Meet Denison Smith, an American novelist who recently traded the wide-open landscapes of New Mexico for the rolling countryside of Portugal’s Alentejo region. In this episode, Denison shares the story behind her move from the United States to Portugal, a journey that was years in the making thanks to Portugal’s Golden Visa program. What started as an “insurance policy” gradually became a life-changing decision, prompted by political shifts in the U.S., a desire for new possibilities, and the opportunity to build a slower, more intentional life abroad. We talk about the realities of relocating to Portugal, from navigating Portuguese bureaucracy and learning the language in a rural community to buying a home in the Alentejo and finding an unexpected network of artists, creatives, and fellow internationals living off the beaten path. Denison also reflects on the challenges of importing her car, surviving one of Portugal’s wettest winters in recent memory, and adapting to a culture where things happen face-to-face and at a very different pace. Along the way, we discuss what makes Portugal so appealing to expats: the warmth of local communities, the slower rhythm of life, the sense of trust between neighbors, and the beauty of living in a place where human connection still comes first. Denison also introduces her newly released novel, The Westward Hours, a speculative fiction story that explores climate change, political upheaval, resilience, and humanity’s relationship with the land. Interestingly, the themes of the novel mirror many of the reasons that ultimately led him to make the move to Portugal. If you're considering moving to Portugal, curious about life in the Alentejo, or interested in hearing an honest account of starting over abroad later in life, this episode is full of insights, stories, and practical realities. 📖 Denison's book: The Westward Hours by Denison Smith Restaurant recommendation: Howard's Folly 🎤Expat song: Que Sera Sera by Doris Day (from The Man Who Knew Too Much) Follow for more expat stories: 📘 Meet the Expats Blog 📹 Youtube Channel 📱 Instagram 📱TikTok Credits: Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    27 min
  2. Meet Amanda: from nomadic lifestyle to settled down in Copenhagen

    May 13

    Meet Amanda: from nomadic lifestyle to settled down in Copenhagen

    Meet Amanda, Who at the age of 17 started a nomadic lifestyle, bartending across 10 different countries, seizing every opportunity, before settling down with her family in Copenhagen. Amanda shares her reverse culture shock when moving back to the US, and more about life, culture shocks and the wonderful work-life balance in Denmark. Follow for more expat stories: 📘 Meet the Expats Blog 📹 Youtube Channel 📱 Instagram 📱TikTok Credits: Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    30 min
  3. Meet Maddalena : dating as an expat

    Apr 22

    Meet Maddalena : dating as an expat

    Meet Maddalena, an Italian relationship and dating coach now living in London, whose expat journey took her from a small town in Southern Italy to Dublin, Rome, and eventually London. In this episode, Maddalena shares how living abroad transformed not only her life, but also her approach to love, dating, and emotional connection. Dublin became her turning point. What started as an exciting new chapter quickly turned into a deeper personal journey. Away from her support system, Maddalena began noticing repeating patterns in her relationships — idealising partners, confusing chemistry with compatibility, and unconsciously building emotional barriers to protect herself. “When you are abroad you build a barrier unconsciously… this barrier makes you feel stronger and independent, but at the same time it blocks intimacy.” Through self-reflection, journaling, and learning to lower those emotional walls, Maddalena began to understand how expat life can amplify existing patterns. Loneliness, independence, and uncertainty often create a push-and-pull dynamic: wanting connection while simultaneously keeping people at a distance. She also shares powerful insights into common expat dating patterns: Dating casually because you know you might leave Choosing "safe" relationships to prove stability Confusing chemistry with real compatibility Seeking connection from a place of need rather than alignment “Chemistry is a spark, but it's not everything… Alignment is knowing your values, your non-negotiables, and asking deeper questions.” Today in London, Maddalena feels more grounded. Now a relationship coach, she helps expat women navigate dating abroad, gain awareness of their patterns, and create meaningful relationships built on emotional availability and alignment. Whether you're newly abroad, navigating loneliness, or simply curious about how expat life shapes relationships, this episode offers thoughtful reflections and practical advice on dating while living internationally. 🎧 Expat Songs Tubthumping — Chumbawamba“I get knocked down, but I get up again” — Maddalena’s Dublin anthem that reflected her resilience during her transformation abroad Jazz music in London — Maddalena’s go-to vibe for relaxed, meaningful moments in the city www.maddalenavario.com Follow for more expat stories: 📘 Meet the Expats Blog 📹 Youtube Channel 📱 Instagram 📱TikTok Credits: Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    23 min
  4. Meet Yolanda: from loneliness to belonging in the US

    Apr 1

    Meet Yolanda: from loneliness to belonging in the US

    Meet Yolanda, a global expat who has relocated six times across the world before eventually settling in California — what started as a one-year adventure turned into 16 years, two children, and a deep journey of rebuilding home from scratch. In this episode, Yolanda shares how she and her husband moved to the U.S. after winning the Green Card lottery, chasing sunshine and a new adventure. But beyond the excitement of Yosemite road trips and the honeymoon phase of expat life, reality soon set in: loneliness, cultural differences, and the unexpected challenge of building a life — not just living in a new place. Yolanda opens up about the emotional side of relocating: missing the sounds of city life, struggling with surface-level friendships, and becoming a new mother far from family support. She explains how she navigated homesickness, built meaningful rituals, and intentionally created community — from coffee shop routines to long walks with her baby, and eventually returning to university at Berkeley to reconnect with purpose and people. This conversation explores the deeper side of expat life: Why speaking the same language doesn’t mean cultural ease The difference between friendliness and real friendship How to build belonging when community doesn’t come naturally Why rituals — even small ones — can transform your expat experience Learning what you truly need to thrive abroad Yolanda also shares how understanding cultural differences, including what she calls a “stranger-danger” mindset in the U.S., helped her stop taking things personally and instead build authentic relationships intentionally. This episode is a thoughtful and honest conversation about identity, resilience, and the work required to truly feel at home abroad. Whether you're considering a move, newly relocated, or years into expat life, Yolanda’s experience is full of relatable insights and practical inspiration. Café & Bar Recommendations (California – Marin County & Napa Area) Blue Barn — A favorite local spot for brunch and salads (Yolanda recommends the Thai chicken salad) Jacuzzi Family Vineyards — Beautiful vineyard near Sonoma with unique infused olive oils and wine tasting Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs (Calistoga) — Relaxing spa experience perfect for a special day Golden Haven Hot Springs (Calistoga) — Another wellness escape in Napa Valley 🎧 Also mentioned:Yolanda’s podcast — The Places We Call HomeExpat song: Spice Girls Wannabe a nostalgic Brit-abroad tradition during afternoon tea gatherings Follow for more expat stories: 📘 Meet the Expats Blog 📹 Youtube Channel 📱 Instagram 📱TikTok Credits: Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    44 min
  5. Meet Cécile: rediscovering France

    Mar 11

    Meet Cécile: rediscovering France

    Follow for more expat stories: 📘 Meet the Expats Blog 📹 Youtube Channel 📱 Instagram 📱TikTok Credits: Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    34 min
  6. Meet Shannon: building her small business in Germany

    Feb 18

    Meet Shannon: building her small business in Germany

    Meet Shannon, an American expat who followed love to Germany—and ended up building a thriving small business in Baden-Württemberg. Originally from the San Francisco area, Shannon moved to Germany for what was meant to be a temporary chapter. Fourteen years later, she’s still there, raising a family and running her own aesthetics business from the ground up. In this episode, we talk about navigating entrepreneurship abroad, dealing with German bureaucracy, learning the language while building a client base, and adapting to cultural differences without losing yourself. Shannon shares the reality of starting a business as an expat woman in Germany, the importance of community (especially when friendships come and go), and how she blended her American personality with German culture to create a business that truly works—for her and her clients. An honest, warm conversation about resilience, identity, and building something of your own far from home. 📍 Location Recommendations (Germany) Kazumi (Böblingen) – her go-to sushi spot Motorworld Böblingen – where her business is located, plus bars, restaurants, and car lovers’ heaven Brazilian Churrasco Restaurant (Stuttgart) – lively atmosphere, music, and all-you-can-eat Brazilian BBQ 🎶 Expat Song “I Follow Rivers” – a song that captures the leap of faith that brought her to Germany Find Shannon: www.californiaglowbeauty.com   Related article: Starting a business in Germany Follow for more expat stories: 📘 Meet the Expats Blog 📹 Youtube Channel 📱 Instagram 📱TikTok Credits: Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    25 min
  7. Meet Josh: Community Building on the French Riviera

    Jan 28

    Meet Josh: Community Building on the French Riviera

    Meet Josh, Entrepreneur, community builder, and Dutch expat who turned isolation on the French Riviera into connection, and a thriving international community. Joshua moved to the South of France in 2018 with his wife, chasing a better quality of life, sunshine, and a slower pace. What he didn’t expect was how isolating life abroad could feel, even in one of the most beautiful regions in the world. In this episode, we talk about the reality of settling into the French Riviera: navigating language barriers, adapting to a slower (very slow) pace of life, and the challenges of building genuine friendships in a place shaped by tourism and transient expat populations. how that experience led him to create Next Locals, a community-first platform born from simple meetups over drinks, consistency, and the desire to bring like-minded people together offline French culture, the importance of making an effort with the language, the differences between Paris and the South, and how creating a “tribe” is what truly makes a place feel like home. 🎤Song Tell Ol’ Bill - Alternate version by Bob Dylan: https://open.spotify.com/track/4UFz15tiyxEV8w70Az6GtN?si=Rxnj3klnSPiKVVxdhXxTIA 🍕Restaurant recommendations in Cagnes-sur-Mer.  La Spiaggia : https://www.laspiaggiaplage.com/ Le Bistrot de la Marine: https://lebistrotdelamarine.fr/  Next Locals website: https://nextlocals.com/  Follow for more expat stories: 📘 Meet the Expats Blog 📹 Youtube Channel 📱 Instagram 📱TikTok Credits: Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    28 min
  8. Meet Zach and Anna: making it easy for expats to move with StartAbroad

    Jan 7

    Meet Zach and Anna: making it easy for expats to move with StartAbroad

    Meet Zach and Anna, Serial expats and founders of StartAbroad, a relocation company built from real-life experience moving abroad, sometimes with support, sometimes completely on their own. From the Dominican Republic to Kenya, Rwanda, an unexpected year stuck in the US during Covid, and finally settling in Costa Rica, Zach and Anna share the highs, lows, and emotional rollercoaster of expat life. We talk about culture shock, common expat mistakes, outdated information, scams, and why moving without the right support can quickly become overwhelming. They also explain why they created StartAbroad, the kind of practical and emotional support expats really need, and what it means to truly adapt to a new culture, especially when raising a child abroad. Costa Rica Recommendations Gingerbread (Nuevo Arenal) – their favourite local restaurant (pro tip: ask for the chef’s menu) Playa Conchal – white sand, crystal-clear water, and perfect beach days Marino Ballena National Park – home to the iconic Whale Tail beach on the South Pacific coast Expat Song “Under the Sea” (salsa version) by Alejandro Sanz – the soundtrack of this chapter of their expat life Considering a move abroad, book a free consultation call Relocating to Costa Rica? Follow for more expat stories: 📘 Meet the Expats Blog 📹 Youtube Channel 📱 Instagram 📱TikTok Credits: Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    31 min
See All (91)

4.5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

In Meet the Expats, expat podcast, you will hear stories from expats all over the world as they share their motivations, challenges and unique experiences in the new place they have decided to call home, for a few years, months or a lifetime. 🌍 From making new friends, and dating, to kids and looking for a new job, these expats will share how they got through the challenges of moving their lives to a new country, their top secret addresses and favorite spots we all wish we had when we settled into a new city. ✈️ Tune in every second wednesday to discover a new portrait, interview and city ❤️ Follow on insta: @meettheexpats Enquiries at meettheexpats@gmail.com If you want to contribute, tips against shout outs can be made through Tipee (https://fr.tipeee.com/meet-the-expats)  Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Meet the Expats
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Meet the expats
  • Show Website
    Meet the Expats

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