Thriving in Spain

Verónica J
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I’m Vero, your host and coach. After six years in the U.S. and now back in Spain, I know the ups and downs of starting over abroad. Each week on Thriving in Spain, I share coaching tools and real stories to help you handle culture shock, build connections, and create a life you love here. www.thespanishontheroad.com/coachingforexpats

  1. JAN 7

    EP24 Unlearning the Good Girl, with Laura Mcneice

    In this episode, I sit down with my friend and student Laura to explore something many women feel but rarely name out loud: the lifelong pressure to be “the good girl.” The polite one. The peacekeeper. The non-threatening high achiever. The one who anticipates everyone’s needs, stays agreeable, and makes life easier for others — even when it costs her something. Together we unpack how this Good Girl identity forms, how it’s reinforced by family, school, culture, work environments, and gender expectations, and how it quietly shapes our behavior well into adulthood. Through our stories and an ontological coaching lens, we talk about: The invisible rules women learn to follow from childhoodHow culture, society, and unspoken expectations shape our identitySelf-abandonment, conflict avoidance, and “being nice” at our own expenseWeaponized incompetence and the mental loadThe roles we perform — entertainers, peacekeepers, caretakers — and what happens when we stopThe moment you realize: “I don’t want to be the good girl anymore” This is a conversation about reclaiming your power, questioning the silent rules you inherited, and choosing authenticity over approval. If you’ve ever felt responsible for everyone else’s comfort or found yourself playing roles you never consciously chose, this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air — and maybe a small revolution. You can book a coaching session with me in English or Spanish here: ⁠⁠www.thespanishontheroad.com/coachingforexpats⁠⁠⁠ 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes about expat life & emotional confidence.

    58 min

  2. 12/24/2025

    EP23 They Didn’t Even Ask for It

    This episode is tender, honest, and probably exactly what you need before the holidays. We talk about that familiar, uncomfortable moment when someone expects something from you — your time, your help, your emotional labor — and they didn’t even ask. No conversation. No request. Just silent expectations floating in the air. I share the childhood story behind my own “you didn’t even ask for it” wound, how these patterns resurface during family visits, and why Christmas can reactivate the versions of ourselves we’ve already outgrown. Through a feminist lens and the clarity of ontological coaching, we explore why so many women are raised to anticipate others’ needs before their own… and how to break that cycle. You’ll learn Why returning home can reawaken old identitiesThe difference between an expectation and a real requestThe five conditions of a valid request in ontological coachingHow to use your body as a boundary detectorSimple but powerful practices to protect your energy this seasonWhat it means to show up as the woman you’ve become — not the girl they remember If you’re tired of over-giving, over-explaining, or being assigned roles you never agreed to, this episode will bring you clarity, grounding, and a whole lot of permission to choose yourself. You can book a coaching session with me in English or Spanish here: ⁠⁠⁠www.thespanishontheroad.com/coachingforexpats⁠⁠⁠ 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes about expat life & emotional confidence.

    8 min

  3. 12/17/2025

    EP22 - Homesickness During the Holidays: How to Hold Yourself With Kindness

    Homesickness during the holidays isn’t weakness — it’s emotional information. In this episode, we explore the deeper meaning behind longing, nostalgia, and the ache that appears when you’re far from home during December. You’ll learn how homesickness relates to identity, grief, belonging, and the transition between your past self and your present self. With practical tools, emotional reframes, and a compassionate lens, this episode helps you meet your homesickness with kindness instead of judgment. If the holidays feel heavy, and you need emotional support, I’m here for you. ⁠www.thespanishontheroad.com/coachingforexpats⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes about expat life & emotional confidence.

    10 min

  4. 12/10/2025

    EP21 The Family Conversations You’re Dreading This Christmas

    Holiday season as an expat brings joy… and a lot of emotional tension. In this episode, we unpack the family conversations you might be dreading: the questions, the expectations, the pressure to justify your choices, and the subtle comments that touch old wounds. You’ll learn how to distinguish present-you from past-you, how old family dynamics get activated, how to set gentle boundaries, and how to protect your sense of self during the holidays. If you feel anxiety, guilt, or emotional overload around December conversations, this episode will support you with clarity and compassion. Need help navigating family expectations and emotional boundaries? www.thespanishontheroad.com/coachingforexpats⁠⁠⁠ 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes about expat life & emotional confidence.

    8 min

  5. 12/03/2025

    EP20 Your Expat Identity Is Not a Personality Change — It’s a New Observer

    Living abroad can make you feel like you’re becoming a completely different person… but you’re not. Your personality isn’t changing — your observer is expanding. In this episode, we explore how language, culture, emotional safety, and inner narratives shape your sense of identity in Spain. You’ll learn why you sometimes feel like a softer, louder, quieter, braver, or more emotional version of yourself — and how to understand this transformation without fear. This is a gentle, grounding episode about identity, belonging, personal evolution, and the emotional layers of starting over in a new country. If you’re navigating an identity transition abroad, you don’t have to do it alone: ⁠⁠www.thespanishontheroad.com/coachingforexpats⁠⁠ 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes about expat life & emotional confidence.

    10 min

  6. 11/26/2025

    EP19 When Spain Feels Too Much: Sensory & Social Overload Abroad

    Why does Spain sometimes feel too much — too loud, too fast, too social, too chaotic, too unpredictable? In this episode, we explore what sensory and social overwhelm really look like when you’re living abroad, and why your nervous system reacts more intensely in a new cultural environment. You’ll learn how to distinguish between sensory overload and emotional overload, how your identity shifts under pressure, and gentle tools to regulate yourself without abandoning who you are. If you feel overstimulated, disconnected, or exhausted by “Spanish intensity,” this episode will help you understand what’s happening inside you — and how to ground yourself again. Feeling emotionally overwhelmed in Spain? Get support here: www.thespanishontheroad.com/coachingforexpats⁠⁠⁠ 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes about expat life & emotional confidence.

    10 min

  7. 11/17/2025

    EP18 The Spanish Winter Slump

    Why does winter in Spain drain your energy, motivation, and sense of self? This episode explores the emotional and ontological layers behind the Spanish Winter Slump — that quiet drop in mood and clarity many expats feel when the light fades and everything feels heavier. You’ll learn the key difference between physical tiredness and existential fatigue, why your system reacts so strongly in this season, and simple rituals to help you reconnect with yourself without pressure or productivity. We cover: •⁠ ⁠How winter shapes your identity abroad •⁠ ⁠Why your Spanish feels “slower” •⁠ ⁠The emotional contrast between seasons •⁠ ⁠How to understand what you really need •⁠ ⁠Gentle practices to regulate your mind and body If you’re feeling low, foggy, or disconnected, this episode will help you understand what’s happening — and meet yourself with compassion. ✨ Stay tuned and join the newsletter at ⁠www.thespanishontheroad.com/coachingforexpats⁠ 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes about expat life & emotional confidence.

    9 min

  8. 11/08/2025

    EP17 ⁠⁠⁠The Lack of Meaning: An Emptiness That Also Transforms

    What if the emptiness you feel isn’t a failure — but an invitation to rebuild from within? In this conversation with coach Gemma Perera, we talk about how meaning-loss shows up, what it teaches us, and how to find direction again through small, human actions. We explore: •⁠ ⁠Early signs of meaning-loss vs. culture shock •⁠ ⁠Values as an inner compass (without turning them into cages) •⁠ ⁠Naming emotions to regain agency (hello, radiomente) •⁠ ⁠Working with our inner “characters” (the Critic, the Explorer, etc.) •⁠ ⁠Tiny, value-led actions that restart momentum •⁠ ⁠Getting out of survival mode with 5 minutes of tenderness ✨ Stay tuned and join the newsletter at www.thespanishontheroad.com/coachingforexpats 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes about expat life & emotional confidence.

    46 min
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About

I’m Vero, your host and coach. After six years in the U.S. and now back in Spain, I know the ups and downs of starting over abroad. Each week on Thriving in Spain, I share coaching tools and real stories to help you handle culture shock, build connections, and create a life you love here. www.thespanishontheroad.com/coachingforexpats

Information

  • Creator
    Verónica J
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Verónica J
  • Show Website
    Thriving in Spain