Building Home: An Expat Podcast by Nneya Richards Nneya Richards

Neither myself or today's guests are the first Black creatives that saw Paris as a sort of North Star. But what does that say about New York. Are New York prices hindering a thriving creative class? Families? Now, that's a bleak thought. Ryan Norville had a quarter life crisis that lead her on a path to learning French and eventually she, her husband and two kids moved to Paris! Ryan's determination is evident in her rising career and artistry. She's just as adept at bringing visions to life for her floral art clients as she is for herself. From learning the language to visa, even enrolling her kids in school. Ryan's telling us about her path to expatdom in Paris. And we even get into those viral TikToks.



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You can find me living my expat life here on Instagram @nneya



And Ryan in Paris @cinnamonryan



Check out Ryan's beautiful artistry on Instagram @oatcinnamon

and Tiktok @ryannorville_



And check out my essay on being Black American in Paris on 'N A Perfect World

Una persona influyente... that perfectly describes today's guest Courtney Mccolgan an absolutely force in the tech entrepreneur world, currently blazing new trails in Latin America as the founder and CEO of Runa. Today we're chatting with this California girl, and Fulbright scholar about her path from California to China then Peru (with love) to CDMX. She's also raising a beautiful global family... and all of this with impeccable style. Can't think of a more fitting return from maternity leave!

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You can find me living my expat life on Instagram @nneya (I'll also share a few shots of my trip to Lima!)

and keep up with Courtney's latest ventures on LinkedIn



For more on my travels to Peru during Courtney and Daniel's wedding, check out 'N A Perfect World and be sure to read my first profile on my friend Courtney from 2017.

"You don't get anywhere by being comfortable." That could be one of the life mottos of today's guest, owner and executive chairman of Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort Grenada, Barry Collymore. From his time studying abroad to building community and mentorship, Barry is a true testament to when you love what you do, it comes naturally.  And what he loves is to grow, learn and evolve -- especially through the lens of travel. Barry is an advocate of investing in the people of the West Indies, combatting climate change and makes such a big impact from his little slice of paradise. Join Barry Collymore and I as we discussing building home, community and a life abroad. 

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You can find me living my expat life on Instagram @nneya

And Barry Collymore, man about the West Indies @barrycolly

Follow Mount Cinnamon Grenada on Instagram: @mountcinnamongrenada

And Twitter 

And to book your next stay at Mount Cinnamon Grenada (but don't take my spot!).

"There’s no going back in your identity, once you’ve moved, and once you have children, your identity does shift." Charmaine Wilkerson, author of Black Cake, one of Obama's favorite books of 2022 and coming soon to your screen adapted by Harpo productions!



In 2021, Random House reached out to me about the upcoming novel, Black Cake. Upon reading it, I immediate connected to this story set between the Caribbean, UK and California, writing by a West Indian American author, who lived in Rome. I had to chat with her. In February of 2022, Charmaine Wilkerson and I did an IG Live. This interview stayed in my memory bank and is certainly one of the building blocks of Building Home. We go into the idea of finding home and building home during my time in the UK, finding that slice of the Caribbean and looking for it in Italy. Charmaine chats with us about similarities and finding home in different cultures between Italy and the Caribbean in the way people gather, the matriarchy and so much more. Brilliant and insightful, Charmaine leaves us thinking "Where do we belong in the world?"



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You can find me living my expat life on Instagram @nneya

Follow Charmaine on Instagram: @charmspen1

And Twitter @charmspen1 

And to buy Black Cake check out your local bookstore and if not... there's always Amazon.

Resources mentioned in the episode:



BBC Windrush Generation: Who are they and why are they facing problems?

As a woman in the very gendered sports world, I’ve seen Eden thrive. She’s phenom and there’s not too many Black women, particularly Black Italian women in these decision making offices, on either side of the Atlantic. And it’s wild how she got into the field too… it was a chance bus encounter that led to her career path! It was so fun to dive in with Eden about her passion for sports culture and how that pushes her family’s traditional boundaries.  True italian style, she brings up the superior coffee! And we talk about something controversial – Black Americans taking up space — maybe even gentrification? – in spaces in Europe and Africa. You're not going to want to miss this episode!



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You can find me living my expat life on Instagram @nneya

As vibrant and multicultural as my community is around the globe, what I love about NYC is it's the same here. From childhood, I was drawn to people from other countries and their reason and experiences being in the states. NYC is not the easiest place to make it! Whether you're from Chattanooga or Verona. But the US and NYC has a love affair with Italians. From the Italian immigrant stories on Ellis Island, to Italian expat now that have heavily influenced American food, fashion, pop culture, Italians coming to the US are OG proponents of the American dream! Few better exemplify this than today's guest, Andrea Denver. A bonified tv star on both sides of the Atlantic, a successful business man and just a great guy, it seems Andrea has "made it." And he's definitely charmed all of us along the way. We’re talking airlines, his love of the US, the surprising US city that Andrea has a strong affinity for. We also talk behind the scenes of building a brand between the US and Italy. Tips for maintaining a relationship when you live between two places or travel a lot -- you know, typical chit chat between two expays!

And you’re going to want to open your notes app for Andrea’s tips for beautiful places to visit in Italy.

Listen, subscribe and give us five stars!



You can find me living my expat life on Instagram @nneya

And Andrea @andreadenver Also, catch him on Bravo's Winter House and Summer House! Andrea is the co-founder and CMO of Son of Wind and a partner at Acosta Tequila. BOOKED AND BUSY!









The New York Times How Italians Became 'White'