From Down Under to Down South

Aussie Mike

From Down Under to Down South is a twice-weekly reflection from an Australian making a life in the American South. After moving from Australia to Tennessee in 2018, I began noticing the subtle cultural differences most people miss — the way politeness sounds different, the way goodbyes stretch longer, the way everyday moments quietly reveal what’s different. Some episodes explore those contrasts directly. Others are quiet stories from the week — conversations and small moments that say something bigger. It’s not outrage or culture wars. And it’s not a travel diary. It’s simply one Australian perspective on life between two countries. If you’ve ever lived overseas, loved two places at once, or found yourself caught between familiar and foreign — you’ll feel at home here. New episodes are released twice weekly as part of the broader From Down Under to Down South series across podcast and YouTube.

  1. 1d ago

    This Week in America — My Jeep Needs Counselling

    Send us Fan Mail This week in America somehow turned into a mix of Jeep suspension problems, MRI tunnels, ballroom dancing injuries, drum recitals, and trying to work out why American kids seem to have busier schedules than corporate executives. After my Jeep Wrangler started developing the infamous “death wobble,” I found myself bouncing between tire shops, mechanics, dealerships, and a father-and-son off-road garage that felt more like a Southern sitcom than a repair shop. Somewhere in the middle of all that, I also had an MRI on my leg, discovered my personal bravery limit inside medical tubes, and watched Brianna confidently launch herself toward her first drum recital. Meanwhile, Georgia got accepted into a summer theatre program for James and the Giant Peach — which quickly raised the question of whether American kids are now accidentally working full-time hours during summer break. This episode is really about the people behind all those moments though. The mechanics, MRI staff, teachers, parents, and random conversations that make everyday life in America feel both exhausting and strangely warm at the same time. 🎙️ This Week in America — My Jeep Needs Counselling ☕ Buy Me a Coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/fromdownundertodownsouth 🌏 Website https://fromdownundertodownsouth.com 🎧 Podcast Listening Page https://fromdownundertodownsouth.com/listen/ 📘 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068568677919 🐦 X https://x.com/aussiemika74 📩 Business enquiries michael@fromdownundertodownsouth.com Thanks for listening. Hoo roo maties. Support the show Check out additional content on our YouTube page! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjipgN51kc8swHyKeSx2tzw

    9 min
  2. May 21

    This Week in America — When Your Kids Feel More American Than You Do

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when your kids grow up in a country that still feels new to you? In this episode of This Week in America, I share a simple moment at The Hermitage in Nashville that turned into something bigger — a quiet realisation about identity, family, and what it means to belong in America as an Australian. Living in the United States for eight years, I’ve grown used to the questions about my accent. But hearing my daughter confidently say, “I’m American,” stopped me for a second. Not because it surprised me… but because of how simple it was for her. In this episode, I reflect on raising kids between two cultures, how identity feels different as a parent, and how living in America has slowly changed the way I hear people talk about it. It’s not about politics or headlines — it’s about the everyday people, the small moments, and the shift that happens when a place stops being theoretical and becomes personal. If you’ve ever lived overseas, raised kids between cultures, or found yourself caught between two versions of “home,” this one might feel familiar. ☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/fromdownundertodownsouth  🌏 Website: https://fromdownundertodownsouth.com 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FromDownUndertoDownSouth 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068568677919 🐦 X: https://x.com/aussiemika74 📩 Business enquiries: michael@fromdownundertodownsouth.com Thanks for listening. Hoo roo maties. Support the show Check out additional content on our YouTube page! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjipgN51kc8swHyKeSx2tzw

    9 min
  3. May 18

    10 Small Things Americans Do That Still Surprise Me

    Send us Fan Mail As an Australian living in America, I’ve come to realise it’s not the big cultural differences that stay with you… it’s the small, everyday habits. In this episode, I talk through some of the little things Americans do that still catch me off guard — from sending mail from your own mailbox, to turning right on a red light, to traditions like trunk or treat. They’re completely normal if you’ve grown up in the United States.  But from an Australian perspective, they stand out in quiet, unexpected ways. This is a reflection on everyday life in America — the subtle cultural differences between Australia and the US that you only really notice once you’re living inside them. If you’ve ever lived overseas, or you’re curious about American culture through an Australian lens, this one will feel familiar. 🌏 Read the companion article:  https://fromdownundertodownsouth.com 🎧 Listen to the podcast:  https://fromdownundertodownsouth.com/listen/ ☕ Support the channel:  https://buymeacoffee.com/fromdownundertodownsouth 📺 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@FromDownUndertoDownSouth 📘 Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068568677919 🐦 X:  https://x.com/aussiemika74 📩 Business enquiries: michael@fromdownundertodownsouth.com Support the show Check out additional content on our YouTube page! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjipgN51kc8swHyKeSx2tzw

    10 min
  4. May 11

    What America Get Right

    Send us Fan Mail After living in the United States for a number of years, there are still plenty of things that surprise me about daily life here. Some are confusing. Some take getting used to. But there are also things America does genuinely well — things that stand out once you’ve lived somewhere else. In this episode, I reflect on a few parts of American culture that have quietly impressed me since moving here. From the way communities show up for each other, to the openness of everyday interactions, to small habits that make life feel welcoming in ways I didn’t expect. Living between two countries changes how you see both of them. Sometimes it’s the differences that stand out most clearly — and sometimes it’s the things you realise are worth appreciating. This episode is part of the ongoing reflections from an Australian living in the American South, noticing the small cultural moments that often go unspoken. Companion story: https://fromdownundertodownsouth.com Podcast listening page: https://fromdownundertodownsouth.com/listen/ ☕ Buy Me a Coffee  https://buymeacoffee.com/fromdownundertodownsouth 🌏 Website  https://fromdownundertodownsouth.com 📺 YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@FromDownUndertoDownSouth 📘 Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068568677919 🐦 X  https://x.com/aussiemika74 📩 Business enquiries: michael@fromdownundertodownsouth.com Thanks for listening. Hoo roo maties. Support the show Check out additional content on our YouTube page! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjipgN51kc8swHyKeSx2tzw

    11 min
  5. May 7

    This Week in America — Representing Australia at a Tennessee School Night

    Send us Fan Mail What does everyday life in America actually feel like? In this episode, I share a week that started with representing Australia at a school international night in Tennessee… and unfolded into a series of small moments that say a lot about living in the United States as an Australian. From sausage rolls, Vegemite, and Tim Tams at an American school event… to watching kids grow up in a naturally multicultural environment… to the small everyday differences you don’t really notice until you do — like ice in drinks, mailbox flags, and even how Easter quietly passes here. There are also moments that feel a little heavier — rising gas prices, school lockdown drills — and how those realities sit alongside a very normal, routine day-to-day life that often looks nothing like the version of America seen on the news. This is a reflection on the difference between seeing America from the outside… and actually living here. ☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/fromdownundertodownsouth  🌏 Website: https://fromdownundertodownsouth.com 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FromDownUndertoDownSouth 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068568677919 🐦 X: https://x.com/aussiemika74 📩 Business enquiries: michael@fromdownundertodownsouth.com Thanks for listening.  Hoo roo maties. Support the show Check out additional content on our YouTube page! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjipgN51kc8swHyKeSx2tzw

    10 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

From Down Under to Down South is a twice-weekly reflection from an Australian making a life in the American South. After moving from Australia to Tennessee in 2018, I began noticing the subtle cultural differences most people miss — the way politeness sounds different, the way goodbyes stretch longer, the way everyday moments quietly reveal what’s different. Some episodes explore those contrasts directly. Others are quiet stories from the week — conversations and small moments that say something bigger. It’s not outrage or culture wars. And it’s not a travel diary. It’s simply one Australian perspective on life between two countries. If you’ve ever lived overseas, loved two places at once, or found yourself caught between familiar and foreign — you’ll feel at home here. New episodes are released twice weekly as part of the broader From Down Under to Down South series across podcast and YouTube.