Whereabouts Tales | Stories of Belonging and Immigrant Experiences

Paul Puscas | Stories of Belonging and Cultural Exploration
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture
  • Biweekly

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. 4h ago

    Germany vs USA: Why Olya Is Thinking of Staying in America

    What happens when you move abroad for a few years, only to discover that you might never want to leave? In this episode of Whereabouts Tales, I sit down with Olya from Olya Between Cultures to explore what it really means to start over in a new country, not once, but twice. Olya's journey began in Kazakhstan, where she was born before moving to Germany with her family at just six years old. She remembers the challenges of arriving in a country where she didn't speak the language, but also the sacrifices her parents and grandparents made to give the next generation a better future. Years later, Olya had built a comfortable life in Germany. A teaching career she loved, a beautiful home, and family and friends close by. Then came an opportunity to move to South Carolina, USA. What was supposed to be a temporary adventure turned into something neither she nor her husband expected: the possibility of making America their permanent home. We talk about the cultural differences between Germany and the United States, why American friendliness and positivity have changed the way Olya sees the world, and what she misses about the life she left behind. But there's much more to her story. We explore the challenges of raising multilingual children, the differences between German and American education, finding real friendships abroad, and the unexpected emotions of stepping away from a career to become a stay-at-home mother. We also discuss something that comes up often on this podcast: how moving abroad changes our relationship with family, our confidence, and ultimately our understanding of home. One thing that stayed with me from our conversation is that Olya didn't leave Germany because she was unhappy. She already had a good life. But sometimes a different environment allows us to discover a version of ourselves we didn't know existed. And perhaps that's what makes moving abroad such a powerful experience. In this conversation, we explore: Growing up between Kazakhstan and Germany Why immigrant families make extraordinary sacrifices Moving from Germany to South Carolina with children The reality of American life compared to Germany Raising multilingual and multicultural children Friendship, family relationships and belonging The personal challenges of giving up a career Finding confidence and the courage to try new things Why a temporary move might become permanent Whether you're considering moving abroad, already living between cultures, or simply curious about how different places shape our lives, I hope Olya's story gives you something to think about. Connect with Olya:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olya.between.cultures/ About Whereabouts Tales I'm Paul Puscas, and on Whereabouts Tales, I have honest conversations with people whose lives have taken them across borders. We talk about moving abroad, identity, culture, family, belonging, and everything that happens between leaving one place and finding yourself somewhere new. Explore more stories: https://www.whereaboutstales.com I'd love to hear from you:Have you ever moved somewhere temporarily and ended up wanting to stay? What made you change your mind? If you enjoyed this conversation, follow Whereabouts Tales on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone who might connect with Olya's story. Because every journey has a story worth sharing.

  2. Oct 7

    Moving to Belize: Leaving Canada & Starting a New Life Abroad with Simo D

    Moving to Belize sounds like a tropical dream, but what is everyday expat life really like? Simo D left Canada with his wife and young children to build a new life in Belize, trading long workdays and the familiar safety net of home for more family time, freedom and a completely different way of living. In this episode, we talk about the reality of living in Belize: raising children abroad, healthcare, hurricanes and power outages, residency and immigration, making friends as an adult, rebuilding your identity after leaving a career behind, and the difficult first years of adapting to a new country. Simo also shares the deeply personal reason his family began questioning their life in Canada, why there were moments when they wondered whether Belize was really right for them, and how they eventually began building a community and a sense of belonging. One of the biggest lessons from his experience is simple: moving abroad doesn't make your problems disappear. You exchange them for a different set of problems, and the question becomes which trade-offs are worth making. If you're considering moving to Belize, leaving Canada, raising a family abroad, becoming an expat or simply starting over somewhere new, this is an honest look beyond the tropical postcard. And after more than four years in Belize, despite everything his family has been through, Simo says he has no regrets. Simo D https://unfilteredabroad.substack.comhttps://www.instagram.com/simo_d_unfiltered_abroad/cocktails To Go article: https://unfilteredabroad.substack.com/p/cocktails-to-goRoad Trip article: https://unfilteredabroad.substack.com/p/on-the-road-in-mexico?utm_source=publication-searchMoveSmart: https://movesmart.world If you enjoyed the conversation, follow the podcast so you don't miss the next story. And I'd love to know: if you could start again in another country, where would you go?

  3. Sep 23

    The Epiphany Ratio: Escaping Silicon Valley & Un-Dividing America | Wesley Warshawer

    What happens when a Silicon Valley data analyst trades his routine for a global pursuit of empathy? In this episode of Whereabouts Tales, Paul sits down with Wesley Warshawer to dissect his "Epiphanies-Per-Year Ratio" the metric he uses to measure personal growth against the stagnation of a daily routine. After leaving the remote tech bubble, Wesley spent years exposing his ego to the friction of foreign cultures. He unpacks the culture shock of private marriage investigators in India, the staggering physical safety of South Korea, and the harsh reality check of being laughed at in Colombia. More importantly, Wesley breaks down his 18-month road trip through rural America, providing firsthand evidence that the media's narrative of a hopelessly divided nation is a manufactured illusion. Key Insights: The Epiphany Ratio: Why staying inside your own bubble limits you to one paradigm-shifting realization a year. Cultural Inversions: Why raising your hand to ask a question in an Indian classroom is considered deeply offensive.The Safety Paradox: South Korea's unattended wallets and the psychology of absolute societal trust.Un-Dividing America: Finding shared moral foundations from the liberal coasts to rural Mississippi. Ego Death: Why true travel requires letting locals laugh at your ignorance. Follow Whereabouts Tales to ensure you never miss a flagship interview.

  4. Sep 11

    80. Surviving Tokyo: Addiction, Trauma, and a Live Earthquake with David Deane Haskell

    "I ended up hospitalized. I was almost dead about eight years ago". Moving abroad is often sold as an escape, but what happens when you bring your demons with you? In Episode 80, I'm sitting down with American drummer David Deane Haskell, who moved to Tokyo to play for Disney and stayed for over two decades. Beyond the pristine image of Japan lies a grueling story of survival. David confronts the 24/7 availability of alcohol that fueled his downward spiral, the devastating reality of codependency, and the intense inner-child trauma he had to face to reclaim his life. Note: This conversation features unedited, real-time audio of a 5.8 magnitude earthquake striking Chiba, Japan during the recording. [Chapter Breakdown] 00:00 - The Cold Open 01:50 - A Mysterious Fall and a Canceled Flight 04:30 - From Boston to Playing Drums at Tokyo Disney 16:25 - The 24/7 Alcohol Culture & The Spiral 23:00 - Hitting Rock Bottom: "I Was Almost Dead" 29:10 - The Truth About Codependency 30:30 - Confronting Childhood Trauma 56:45 - The Darker Edge of Anti-Foreigner Sentiment 01:14:00 - LIVE: 5.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes 01:16:15 - Why Japan is Still Home

  5. Aug 26

    Ep 79 | Angela Part 2: Unlearning Control, Harvesting Meat, and Escaping the Matrix

    [The Hook] You bought the camper van and left the corporate grind—but what happens when the honeymoon phase ends? [Episode Summary]  In Part 2 of our deep dive with Angela, we leave the theory of escaping the system and face the gritty, unpolished reality of executing it. Angela breaks down the culture shock of arriving in rural Hungary with zero language skills and the immense mental friction of unlearning decades of systemic "German control" programming. This is a raw masterclass in building an off-grid life from the dirt up. We cover the physical toll of renovating an 80-year-old house, including the strategic necessity of driving a mini-excavator straight through the living room and the heavy emotional philosophy required to raise and harvest your own meat. Angela reveals how she found genuine safety and healing in the Hungarian countryside, proving that true freedom requires getting comfortable with being deeply uncomfortable. [Key Takeaway]  Stop waiting for a perfect safety net. As Angela says, you will never live a life completely free of fear, but you can ensure your courage is always a little bit bigger than your fear. Listen to Part 1 (Ep 77) here: Spotify, Apple Podcast Follow Angela: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_soul_soil_angela/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-rizzo-839530174/ Support the Show (The Growth Metric):  If this two-part journey inspired you to rethink your own rules, the best way to support Whereabouts Tales is to tap the FOLLOW button on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a brief review. It directly pushes us up the charts and helps bring more stories like this to the community. Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Arriving in Hungary with Zero Language Skills 14:00 - Ditching Apps for Real-World Language Learning 27:11 - Mental Breakdowns & Unlearning the "Control" Mindset 46:07 - Finding the 80-Year-Old Off-Grid House 1:10:10 - Driving a Mini-Excavator INSIDE the House 1:26:18 - The Reality and Respect of Harvesting Your Own Meat 1:48:49 - Healing from Trauma & Finding Safety 2:17:59 - Where is "Home" Now?

  6. Aug 21

    The Myth of Inspiration & The Cost of Assimilation | Michael Shokrian

    The Hook What happens when the parts of your identity you try to erase are exactly what make you valuable? The Episode In Episode 78 (Book of Tales 08), Paul deconstructs the illusion of cultural assimilation and the brutal reality of the creative process with attorney, publisher, and author Michael Isaac Shokrian. Centered around his debut novel, American Playground, Michael details his jarring transition from Tehran to 1970s Los Angeles as a seven-year-old. He explains why he adopted Bugs Bunny as his cultural guide and exposes the hidden, often irreversible costs of compromising your identity to belong. Shifting from the immigrant experience to the mechanics of art, Michael dismantles the romanticized myth of the "struggling artist." He breaks down the rigorous daily schedule required to balance a law career, family, and the founding of The Thieving Magpie literary magazine, proving why waiting for inspiration is a fool's errand. Chapter Markers 00:00 - The Tehran Memory: Belonging vs. The Outsider 08:44 - Landing in 1970s Los Angeles without speaking English 19:00 - American Playground: Storytelling through a 7-year-old's eyes 30:58 - Why Bugs Bunny is the ultimate American archetype 38:25 - The true, irreversible cost of cultural compromise 56:50 - Time as a Currency: Managing the daily 3-hour writing block 1:00:38 - "Inspiration is for kids": The absolute necessity of discipline 1:09:39 - The reality of publishing and founding The Thieving Magpie Resources & Links Read the Novel: Get American Playground by Michael Isaac Shokrian Read the Magazine: Explore The Thieving Magpie Support the Show: Hit "Follow" on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a brief review to help us bring on more premium guests. Join the Inner Circle: Visit WhereaboutsTales.com to join the premium Book Club.

  7. Aug 12

    The Illusion of Security: From Six-Figure Burnout to a Camper Van in Hungary

    The Illusion of Security: From Six-Figure Burnout to a Camper Van in Hungary What happens when your body physically rejects the corporate matrix? Angela had the prestigious automotive project manager title, the BMW, and the German corporate lifestyle. But behind the facade, she realized she was operating in a "factory of PowerPoints and Excel without real life skills," ultimately leading to a devastating burnout where she spent three months doing nothing but crying just to reboot her mind. In this episode of Whereabouts Tales, we dismantle the modern safety net. Angela shares her radical blueprint for breaking societal programming and trading "unhappy certainty" for "happy uncertainty". In this episode, we explore: The Systemic Trap: Why traditional education and corporate environments are engineered to breed dependency, strip away real-life skills, and force you into a single-player competition mode. The Breaking Point: How the crushing weight of matrix management—holding massive project responsibility without the actual authority to make changes—forced Angela’s brain to shut down. The Escape Plan: The serendipitous chain of events that led her to shovel horse manure to clear her head, sell her apartment, buy a camper van after just four days of searching, and relocate to Hungary. Redefining Security: Why true safety isn't found in a monthly paycheck, but in the mental and emotional freedom to step out of survival mode and own your time. If you've ever felt the urge to walk away from a life that looks perfect on paper, this episode is your wake-up call.

  8. Aug 5

    The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea: Post-Communist Psychology

    What happens to a nation's psychology when the government collapses? Author Faizah Mohamed breaks down the brutal reality of the 1989 Romanian Revolution. In this sprint of the Book of Tales, we dissect the psychological hangover of communism. We sit down with Faizah Mohamed, author of The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea, to analyze how decades of systemic oppression hardwire generational trauma into our daily operating systems—from irrational food hoarding to deeply ingrained institutional paranoia. This is not a polite literary review; it is an autopsy of post-communist survival. We confront the aggressive anti-immigrant prejudice Faizah experienced in the UK, exposing the profound hypocrisy of Western media bias and the "Eastern European" stereotype. We also tear down the gatekeeping of the traditional publishing industry, exploring why independent publishing is the ultimate leverage for protecting your intellectual property and cultural history. Order the book and Connect with Faizah- Read the Book: Get your copy of The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea by Faizah Mohamed here: https://amzn.eu/d/08wCHyU8- Connect with Faizah: - Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/fazbooks/ - youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@fazbooks  - All the other links: https://linktr.ee/fazbooks [Timestamps for Audio Indexing] 00:00 - The Generational Paranoia of Communism 06:20 - Growing Up Multicultural in Post-Revolution Romania 16:15 - Western Ignorance & The "Eastern European" Stereotype 24:20 - Systemic Media Bias & Anti-Immigrant Hypocrisy 36:40 - The Art of Making a Forgotten Cup of Tea 43:50 - The Paradox of Nostalgia for Ceaușescu 57:30 - Why Romanians Hoard Food (Generational Trauma) 1:07:25 - Why Independent Publishing is the Ultimate Leverage 1:14:50 - Adapting the Revolution for the Big Screen

See All (84)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

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.

Information