Portugal Junkies Podcast

Meredith + Mark in Portugal

We are Meredith + Mark and we just said goodbye to the traditional “American dream” in Charlotte, NC to instead experience a life of adventure NOW in Portugal. It’s been a wild and glorious ride, full of ups + downs + change + discomfort - but man are we glad we did it and are excited to share ALL of it right here. If you’ve ever considered moving abroad, we hope hearing about our journey will help you too. And if you’re considering moving to or traveling in Portugal, stayed tuned for more content about our move, the visa process, Portuguese culture, destinations + travel tips! portugaljunkies.substack.com

  1. 6h ago

    Things We'd Have To Give Up...Part 2 (35:32)

    After being in Portugal now for almost 2.5 years, we spent time on this episode reflecting on the things we’d have to give up if we ever moved back to the USA. (Hint: It’s A LOT.) And while some things we discuss are funny, small + even, shall we say, a bit ridiculous just so we can entertain you…many of them are no joke, y’all. Serious stuff like: ✅ Affordable (sometimes even FREE) healthcare, especially as we get older (ahem) ✅ Personal safety - how do you go from the 7th safest country in the world to 132nd?✅ Flying to the UK to visit family in 2.5 hours and less than 100 euros round trip ✅ 99% calm nervous system on most days And some fun ones like: 💫 Traveling less than 30 minutes to be in Spain for tapas 💫 The amazing bread cutting machine at the grocery store💫 Never looking at our credit score We hope you’ll listen in and subscribe (wherever you listen or watch) so you don’t miss out on our weekly episodes going forward! You can find us here on Substack, Apple and YouTube. Cheers, y’all! Meredith + Mark Other Ways We Can Help You Travel or Move Abroad 💫💫💫 ➡️If you have want to move abroad in the next 9-12 months and want to talk to Meredith about the She Thrives Abroad program, email her at Portugaljunkies@gmail.com ➡️If you’d like help designing the perfect Portugal Trip Itinerary from the world famous Mark “The Brit” Burns, book a FREE consult call here ➡️If you need help with visas or tax information, check out our partners Joao Pinto + Rui Borges (who are the experts) here Thanks for tuning in! This post + podcast episode is public so feel free to share it with anyone considering a move abroad! Get full access to Portugal Junkies at portugaljunkies.substack.com/subscribe

    36 min
  2. Things We'd Have To Give Up...(45:09)

    Jun 12

    Things We'd Have To Give Up...(45:09)

    After being in Portugal now for almost 2.5 years, we spent time on this episode reflecting on the things we’d have to give up if we ever moved back to the USA. (Hint: It’s A LOT. So we did a part 1 + 2, so stay tuned for next week!) And while some things we discuss are funny, small + even, shall we say, a bit ridiculous just so we can entertain you…many of them are no joke, y’all. Serious stuff like: ✅ Affordable (sometimes even FREE) healthcare, especially as we get older (ahem) ✅ Personal safety - how do you go from the 7th safest country in the world to 132nd?✅ Flying to the UK to visit family in 2.5 hours and less than 100 euros round trip ✅ 99% calm nervous system on most days And some fun ones like: 💫 Traveling less than 30 minutes to be in Spain for tapas 💫 The amazing bread cutting machine at the grocery store💫 Never looking at our credit score We hope you’ll listen in and subscribe (wherever you listen or watch) so you don’t miss out on our weekly episodes going forward! You can find us here on Substack, Apple and YouTube. Cheers, y’all! Meredith + Mark Other Ways We Can Help You Travel or Move Abroad 💫💫💫 ➡️If you have want to move abroad in the next 9-12 months and want to talk to Meredith about the She Thrives Abroad program, email her at Portugaljunkies@gmail.com ➡️If you’d like help designing the perfect Portugal Trip Itinerary from the world famous Mark “The Brit” Burns, book a FREE consult call here ➡️If you need help with visas or tax information, check out our partners Joao Pinto + Rui Borges (who are the experts) here Thanks for tuning in! This post + podcast episode is public so feel free to share it with anyone considering a move abroad! Get full access to Portugal Junkies at portugaljunkies.substack.com/subscribe

    45 min

  3. Jun 5

    Portugal Junkies Podcast is back!

    Happy June, Portugal Junkies - After a bit of an unplanned hiatus, Mark + I are back with new podcast episodes starting this Friday! We give you an update on what’s new for us since January, like: * We finally gave in a bought a car * We’ve done lots of traveling - USA, UK, Spain, Italy, Prague, just to name a few * We successfully renewed our temporary residency here in Portugal - good for another 3 years! * What we have planned for the upcoming episodes of the pod * And more perspectives about reaching 2.5 years in Portugal We hope you’ll listen in and subscribe (wherever you listen or watch) so you don’t miss out on our weekly episodes going forward! You can find us here on Substack, Apple and YouTube. Cheers, y’all! Meredith + Mark Other Ways We Can Help 💫💫💫➡️If you have want to move abroad in the next 9-12 months and want to talk to Meredith about the She Thrives Abroad program, email her at Portugaljunkies@gmail.com➡️If you’d like help designing the perfect Portugal Trip Itinerary from the world famous Mark “The Brit” Burns, book a FREE consult call here ➡️If you need help with visas or tax information, check out our partners Joao Pinto + Rui Borges (who are the experts) here Get full access to Portugal Junkies at portugaljunkies.substack.com/subscribe

    28 min

  4. Jan 9

    Renovating A Home In Portugal - Part 2 (30:12)

    We continue our chat with Nancy about their home renovation process in Portugal… Enjoy Part 2 of Nancy + Denise’s Move Abroad Story! Connect with Nancy⬇️ 💫Expat in Portugal Substack: 💫Nancy’s Home Renovation Process Blogs ⬇️ https://expatinportugal.substack.com/p/our-little-project THE GOOD STUFF…⬇️ ➡️If you have questions for us about moving abroad and want to schedule a 1:1 call with us, book a time on our calendar here: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/book-a-11-call-with-us-o146p ➡️If you’d like help designing the perfect Portugal itinerary from the world famous Mark “The Brit” Burns, for just $249, book a FREE consult call here: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/lets-start-planning-your-portugal-adventure ➡️If you need help with visas or tax information, check out our partners Joao Pinto + Rui Borges (who are the experts) here: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies ➡️For other key resources + 💫FREEBIES💫 about Portugal and moving abroad, visit our website: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies Cheers y’all! Meredith + Mark Get full access to Portugal Junkies at portugaljunkies.substack.com/subscribe

    30 min

  5. Jan 2

    Renovating A Home In Portugal - Part 1 (30:59)

    Meet our friend Nancy, fellow Substacker and now our immigrant friend! She and her wife, Denise, moved to Portugal about 5 years ago and live near us in the Algarve. After flipping multiple homes in the US over the course of their lives, they both wanted to do the same here in Portugal - so they did. Was it a breeze? Nope. (Did you really think it would be?) So we talk through all of it - how they found the right place, the right people and what challenges they faced along the way! Connect with Nancy⬇️ 💫Expat in Portugal Substack: 💫Nancy’s Home Renovation Process Blogs ⬇️ https://expatinportugal.substack.com/p/our-little-project THE GOOD STUFF…⬇️➡️If you have questions for us about moving abroad and want to schedule a 1:1 call with us, book a time on our calendar here:https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/book-a-11-call-with-us-o146p➡️If you’d like help designing the perfect Portugal itinerary from the world famous Mark “The Brit” Burns, for just $249, book a FREE consult call here:https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/lets-start-planning-your-portugal-adventure ➡️If you need help with visas or tax information, check out our partners Joao Pinto + Rui Borges (who are the experts) here:https://stan.store/portugaljunkies➡️For other key resources + 💫FREEBIES💫 about Portugal and moving abroad, visit our website: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies Cheers y’all! Meredith + Mark [amazing to realize we live so close to both ocean and mountains in Tavira] Get full access to Portugal Junkies at portugaljunkies.substack.com/subscribe

    31 min

  6. 12/12/2025

    Bob's Move Abroad Story (48:22)

    Meet our lovely friend Bob Tapper, former California realtor turned digital nomad. After spending 40 years in California, Bob yearned for the European experience, living in Austria + the UK before deciding to put down roots in Porto, Portugal last year. We chat about: * what made him choose Portugal when settling down and traveling less * how to build community and accept a slower culture than the hustle life of the USA * his advice for those considering a move abroad solo (hint: he says go for it!) Connect with Bob ⬇️ 💫Website: https://www.lifeabroadinportugal.com/ 💫Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebobtapper/ 💫Our episode on Bob’s Podcast ⬇️⬇️⬇️ THE GOOD STUFF…⬇️ ➡️If you have questions for us about moving abroad and want to schedule a 1:1 call with us, book a time on our calendar here: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/book-a-11-call-with-us-o146p ➡️If you’d like help designing the perfect Portugal itinerary from the world famous Mark “The Brit” Burns, for just $249, book a FREE consult call here: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/lets-start-planning-your-portugal-adventure ➡️If you need help with visas or tax information, check out our partners Joao Pinto + Rui Borges (who are the experts) here: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies ➡️For other key resources + 💫FREEBIES💫 about Portugal and moving abroad, visit our website: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies Cheers y’all! Meredith + Mark Get full access to Portugal Junkies at portugaljunkies.substack.com/subscribe

    48 min

  7. 12/05/2025

    Jazz + Eric's Move Abroad Story (56:09)

    Meet our friends Jazz + Eric. They said goodbye to active shooter drills + bulletproof backpacks in Ohio and said hello to the 7th safest country in the world, Portugal. In today’s episode, we chat about: * the experiences in the USA that led them to choose a better life for themselves and their kids * international + public schools here in Portugal and how they began their research about what location best met their family’s needs * “touching grass” in Portugal - living our best lives outdoors and amongst the locals to immerse ourselves in the culture Connect with Jazz + Eric ⬇️⬇️⬇️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pizzazzwithjazz?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc If you think that having kids makes the idea of moving abroad overwhelming or even impossible, your kiddos may actually be the ultimate reason why you absolutely SHOULD do it. THE GOOD STUFF…⬇️➡️If you have questions for us about moving abroad and want to schedule a 1:1 call with us, book a time on our calendar here:https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/book-a-11-call-with-us-o146p➡️If you’d like help designing the perfect Portugal itinerary from the world famous Mark “The Brit” Burns, for just $249, book a FREE consult call here:https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/lets-start-planning-your-portugal-adventure ➡️If you need help with visas or tax information, check out our partners Joao Pinto + Rui Borges (who are the experts) here:https://stan.store/portugaljunkies➡️For other key resources + 💫FREEBIES💫 about Portugal and moving abroad, visit our website: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies Cheers y’all! Meredith + Mark [us in Tavira on Mark’s 55th birthday] Get full access to Portugal Junkies at portugaljunkies.substack.com/subscribe

    56 min
  8. Genie's Move Abroad Story (40:10)

    11/28/2025

    Genie's Move Abroad Story (40:10)

    One day I was having a coffee alone at a cafe in Tavira and a woman approached me and said…”Meredith?” 👀👀👀 That’s how I met Genie. She had seen us on TikTok (or Youtube?) and had also recently moved to Tavira and recognized me from our social media content. (I’m convinced it was my GRAY locks.)This week’s episode is all about Genie + her moving abroad story that actually started before she was even born. Let’s just say she comes from a family that sees the world as opportunity! Enjoy! THE GOOD STUFF…⬇️➡️If you have questions for us about our move abroad and want to scheduled a 1:1 call with us, book a time on our calendar here:https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/book-a-11-call-with-us-o146p➡️If you’d like help designing the perfect Portugal itinerary from the world famous Mark “The Brit” Burns, for just $249, book a FREE consult call here:https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/lets-start-planning-your-portugal-adventure➡️If you need help with visas or tax information, check out our partners Joao Pinto + Rui Borges (who are the experts) here:https://stan.store/portugaljunkies➡️For other key resources + 💫FREEBIES💫 about Portugal and moving abroad, visit our website: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies Cheers y’all! Meredith + Mark Get full access to Portugal Junkies at portugaljunkies.substack.com/subscribe

    40 min
See All (64)

5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

We are Meredith + Mark and we just said goodbye to the traditional “American dream” in Charlotte, NC to instead experience a life of adventure NOW in Portugal. It’s been a wild and glorious ride, full of ups + downs + change + discomfort - but man are we glad we did it and are excited to share ALL of it right here. If you’ve ever considered moving abroad, we hope hearing about our journey will help you too. And if you’re considering moving to or traveling in Portugal, stayed tuned for more content about our move, the visa process, Portuguese culture, destinations + travel tips! portugaljunkies.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Meredith + Mark in Portugal
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Meredith + Mark | Podcasters
  • Show Website
    Portugal Junkies Podcast

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