Babes, how did you get here

April Jackson
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  • Places & Travel
  • Semiweekly Series

🌍 Real people. Real journeys. Real lives lived elsewhere. Hosted by April Jackson — BBC presenter, entrepreneur, and former Miss Universe Jamaica — Babes, How Did You Get Here? is a high-quality podcast spotlighting the inspiring stories of everyday people who left everything behind to build a life in a new country. 🎙️ In each episode, April dives into authentic, emotional conversations with global nomads, immigrants, and dream-chasers — from a Russian woman thriving in Jamaica to a former US Marine finding purpose in Thailand. Their stories are raw, reflective, and full of powerful lessons on belonging, transformation, and the courage to start over. 📅 New episodes every Wednesday and Sunday. Whether you’re an aspiring traveller, a lover of human stories, or someone seeking the motivation to explore the world, this podcast will leave you feeling inspired and deeply connected.

  1. 11/16/2025

    Black in Thailand: Smiles, Stereotypes… and the Ugly Truth

    🌏 What does it really mean to be Black in Thailand? In this powerful episode of ‘How Did You Get Here?’, Kikombe shares the reality of being an African expat in Phuket – from racism and stereotypes to finding safety, family and a new sense of home. In this powerful conversation, Kikombe — an African teacher, storyteller, and father — opens up about his life in Phuket. From facing racism and stereotypes during his job search, to the culture shock of moving from Tanzania to Thailand, he shares the raw reality of being Black abroad. 🇹🇿 Growing up in Kenya and teaching in Tanzania ✈️ The challenges of getting work in Thailand as an African 🤝 Finding community, safety, and a new sense of home in Phuket ❤️ Identity, family, and raising mixed-race children abroad 🌍 How racism, culture, and belonging shaped his journey This is more than a travel story — it’s about resilience, identity, and what it truly means to find “home” far from where you were born. If you want to start join the parenting course: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com/products/courses/ai-placeholder 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe if you want more inspiring real-life stories from around the world. 00:00 Intro - Who is The Kikombe 00:07:15 – Life in Tanzania: safety, culture & Kilimanjaro views 00:13:40 – First impressions of Thailand: kindness & cultural shock 00:18:55 – Racism & job struggles: “passport problems” in interviews 00:25:49 – First arrival in Thailand: a sea of yellow & food culture 00:31:39 – Heat, neighbors & small acts of kindness 00:35:16 – Homecoming tears: when Dad said “My son” 00:45:22 – Loneliness abroad & raising kids with mixed identities 00:49:51 – Leaving Bangkok: fast life vs. Phuket’s calmer path 00:57:33 – Football in Phuket: sandals to shin pads 01:03:53 – Cost of living: Phuket housing & the kitchen test 01:05:33 – Toilet culture shock: adapting to the Thai hose 01:09:39 – Raising kids in Phuket: beaches, sports & schools 01:22:06 – Racism & identity: defining the “Black tax” 01:40:54 – Does being a Black man change life in Thailand? 02:20:34 – Kenyan community in Thailand — 600 strong #BeingBlackInThailand #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #BlackInThailand #BlackAbroad #BlackExpat #ExpatLife #Thailand #Phuket #Racism #Stereotypes #AfricanDiaspora #RealStories #Podcast #LifeAbroad

    2h 32m

  2. 11/18/2025

    From Drunk Flight to Bangkok to Full-Time Creator | Keis' Wild Journey

    If you to join April's motherhood community: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com/products/courses/ai-placeholder Keis_One Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCO5IhWS7_CIU1HoAkffBzcg From drunk spontaneous trips to full-time content creation in Bangkok – Adam (Keis) shares his raw, unfiltered journey of leaving corporate Australia for an uncertain adventure across Asia. In this episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', we dive deep into the reality of expat life in Thailand with Adam, a content creator who ditched his hospitality career in 2017 for Seoul, South Korea, before eventually landing in Bangkok during the pandemic. With just $6,000 and no Plan B, he bet everything on YouTube – and won. Adam opens up about: 🎬 Building a YouTube career from scratch during COVID lockdown 💰 The brutal reality of making 100 videos before earning a cent 🇰🇷 Living in Seoul for 2.5 years – from pizza shops to acting gigs 🇹🇭 Why Thailand's energy fuels his creativity (despite the insane traffic) 💑 Dating in Bangkok and finding love on Tinder 🏠 Moving from city chaos to suburban life 💸 The tourist tax trap and overtourism challenges 🍜 Why food determines where he'll live ✈️ That time he booked a drunk one-way ticket to Bangkok From sleeping on his parents' couch during lockdown to building a sustainable content creation business, Adam's story proves that sometimes having no backup plan is exactly what you need. He shares the unglamorous truth about content creation, the isolation of expat life, and why he believes the cream always rises to the top – even in an oversaturated market. Whether you're dreaming of escaping the 9-5, curious about life as a digital nomad, or wondering what it really takes to make it as a content creator abroad, this conversation strips away the Instagram filters to reveal what expat life in Bangkok actually looks like. Key Timestamps: Chapters 00:00:00 The drunk trip that started everything 00:07:15 Corporate burnout in Australia 00:13:40 Why Seoul, not Bangkok, came first 00:25:49 Making pizza in a 6-seater Korean restaurant 00:31:39 Pandemic lockdown: 9 months with parents 00:35:16 Moving to Thailand with $10,000 and desperation 00:45:22 100 videos, no money – the content grind 00:49:51 YouTube vs TikTok: Why formulas matter 00:57:33 Dating in Thailand: The language barrier truth 01:03:53 Bangkok traffic and why he fled to suburbs 01:09:39 Tourist prices and the expat frustration 01:22:06 Can foreigners ever truly integrate in Thailand? #BabesHowDidYouGetHere #ExpatLife #Thailand #Bangkok #ContentCreator #YouTuber #DigitalNomad #LivingAbroad #ExpatThailand #ContentCreation #SouthKorea #Seoul #TravelPodcast #ExpatStories

    1h 21m

  3. 11/22/2025

    Are You Japanese Enough? Harsh Truth behind the scenes

    From Japan to Cambodia: Beauty, Identity & Finding Home Through Pageantry. In this captivating episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', April sits down with Megumi Wilson — Miss Japan Universe 2022 Second Runner-Up, world traveler, singer, actress, and creative force now thriving in Cambodia. As a former Miss Jamaica Universe herself, April brings a unique lens to this conversation about pageantry, purpose, and the courage it takes to build a life far from home. Meg opens up about her journey as a biracial woman raised in Japan, navigating identity, acceptance, and the pressure to be "Japanese enough." From growing up in Tokyo to competing on the Miss Universe stage with a pixie cut and zero pageant experience, her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-discovery. 🌏 Growing up biracial in Japan: navigating identity & acceptance👑 The pageant journey: training during COVID, not winning the crown & what came after✈️ Why Cambodia? The vision, the language, the leap of faith💄 Pageant myths vs reality: empowerment, objectification & what girls really need to know🎭 Working in media & entertainment in Southeast Asia🙏 Faith, signs & trusting the process when things don't go as planned 🌸 What being Japanese means to her — and why kindness is at the core This is more than a pageant story. It's about choosing yourself, listening to your inner knowing, and building a life that honors both your heritage and your dreams — even when the path isn't clear. Whether you've ever thought about pageantry, moved abroad, or struggled with identity and belonging, this episode will inspire you to trust your journey and show up as your fullest self. 👉 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real-life stories of courage, culture, and transformation. #MegumiWisolson #MissJapanUniverse #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #PageantLife #MissUniverse #BiracialIdentity #JapaneseAmerican #ExpatLife #Cambodia #PhnomPenh #LifeAbroad #BeautyPageants #Empowerment #FaithJourney #CulturalIdentity #RealStories #podcast

    1h 23m

  4. 11/25/2025

    Deported, Broke, Alone: How Jamaica Became My Everything

    From Montreal's Michelin Dreams to Kingston's Reality: A Chef's Raw Journey of Sacrifice, Survival & Starting Over In this powerful episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', April sits down with Chef Matthew — a celebrated Canadian chef who walked away from TV fame, two thriving restaurants, and financial security in Montreal to rebuild his entire life in Jamaica with just $60,000, a French bulldog, and Japanese knives. This isn't your typical expat story. It's raw, unfiltered, and deeply honest — about addiction, recovery, reinvention, and what it really takes to start over in a country that tests you at every turn. 🔪 From rehab to restaurants: How cooking saved his life (and became his new addiction) 💰 The sacrifice: Leaving two restaurants, a TV career & financial stability at 34 ✈️ Arrival in Jamaica: Detained at customs, partnership collapsed, sleeping with a machete 🍌 Surviving on nothing: Banana & oatmeal breakfasts, tomato sandwiches, $100 left in his pocket 🌀 Hurricane Beryl: The storm that saved him from deportation 📄 The bureaucracy: 8 months to get a work permit, navigating Jamaica's "f*****y" 🍽️ Building a reputation: His first dinner, $1,000 from mom, and earning his place 💔 Dating in Jamaica: Culture shock, rent requests, and redefining what he's looking for 🏡 Finding home: Why Kingston feels more like himself than Montreal ever did 🇯🇲 Earning your place: What it means to truly belong in Jamaica Matthew opens up about the toxic hospitality industry, his relationship with weed and alcohol, why he'll never open a high-end restaurant in Jamaica (yet), and how moving here forced him to redefine success, happiness, and what it means to feel at home. 00:00 Introduction: A Chef's Journey to Jamaica 01:50 From Rehab to the Kitchen 03:29 The Breaking Point in Montreal 05:02 Spiritual Awakening and the Decision to Move 15:52 The Catastrophic Arrival 21:35 Surviving on $100 and Oatmeal 31:19 The $1,000 Gamble 36:47 Jamaica's Produce and Creative Cooking 45:38 Finding Home in the Culture 1:02:08 The Dating Scene Disaster 1:16:22 Earning Your Place This is more than a chef's story. It's about choosing yourself when everything falls apart. It's about trusting the process even when you're down to your last dollar. It's about finding peace in discomfort and building a life that honors who you really are — not who you thought you should be. Whether you've ever thought about leaving everything behind, struggled with addiction and reinvention, or wondered what it takes to truly belong somewhere new — this episode will challenge you, inspire you, and remind you that sometimes the hardest journeys lead to the most honest versions of ourselves. 👉 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real-life stories of courage, transformation, and finding home far from where you started. #ChefLife #Jamaica #ExpatLife #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #Montreal #CanadianChef #StartingOver #Recovery #AddictionRecovery #KingstonJamaica #CaribbeanLife #Reinvention #ChefStories #RealStories #Podcast #LifeAbroad #Sacrifice #FindingHome #JamaicanCulture

    1h 14m

  5. 11/29/2025

    Adopted at 12, Sent to Afghanistan… and Ended Up a World-Record Scuba Diver in Phuket

    What happens when a kid who never quite felt at home is adopted, sent to war, burns out in the kitchen as an executive chef… and then decides to break a Guinness World Record underwater in Phuket? 🌊🔥 In this episode, Barrington Scott—Guinness World Record holder for the fastest scuba dive and full-time deep diver in Phuket, Thailand—sits down with April Jackson to unpack a life story that sounds completely unreal… but isn’t. We talk about: Growing up feeling “out of place” and being adopted as a child Why he joined the U.S. Marines and what Afghanistan really did to his mind and body The invisible weight of PTSD and coming back to “normal life” when nothing feels normal How he lied his way into a restaurant kitchen and rose to executive chef The moment he walked away from it all and chose the ocean instead Training his body and mind to break a Guinness World Record in scuba diving What life in Phuket is actually like beyond the postcard beaches How facing death repeatedly changed the way he now lives, loves and chooses peace If you’ve ever felt lost, stuck in the wrong life, or secretly dreamed of burning everything down and starting over abroad, this conversation will hit hard. 💬 Tell us in the comments: What part of Barrington’s journey shook you the most—the war, the kitchen grind, the world record, or the decision to start over in Thailand? — 🎧 About the show – “How Did You Get Here?” Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica, April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script—swapping comfort for courage, and choosing a life “elsewhere”. New episodes every week from around the world. 📌 Subscribe for more stories on: Reinvention & second chances Life abroad, expat realities & culture shock Trauma, healing and mental resilience Work, identity and building a new life from zero 👍 If this episode moved you, like, comment and share it with someone who needs proof that it’s not too late to change everything.

    1h 34m

  6. 12/03/2025

    From 9–5 Drone to Bangkok Fitness King: @Darrenliufitness No-BS Journey

    If you want to start join the parenting course: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com 📖 Description Think all fried food is bad for you? Or that seed oils are poison? 💥 Darren Liu says you’ve been lied to. In this unfiltered conversation, Darren — a Canadian fitness coach turned Bangkok entrepreneur — tears apart the biggest diet myths and shares why “no food is bad food” might just change the way you eat forever. We cover: 🔥 The truth about seed oils and why they’re not the enemy 🍩 How to enjoy cookies, fried foods, and still lose fat 💸 Betting $25K on a mentor with only $5K in the bank 🥣 Launching a bone broth café in Thailand with zero restaurant experience 🏀 From basketball courts in Toronto to coaching celebs in Bangkok 👨‍👧 Balancing fitness, food, and fatherhood Whether you want sustainable weight loss, inspiration to take risks, or just a reality check on what’s actually healthy, this episode will hit hard. 00:00:00 – Intro: Meet Darren & Bangkok 00:03:12 – 8 years in Thailand 00:05:37 – Opening the bone broth café (Genius Bar) 00:09:38 – Seed oils & fat facts (rapeseed, trans fats) 00:11:53 – Body after weight loss: surgery, sag & fat cells 00:14:58 – $25K mentorship decision 00:18:27 – Going viral: 100,000 followers reel 00:21:37 – Bangkok energy: if you win, everybody wins 00:29:03 – Parenting: what my daughter eats at home 00:32:36 – Tinder success story in Bangkok 00:40:09 – Bangkok malls are mini-cities 00:51:57 – Major misconceptions about Thailand

    1h 10m

  7. 12/06/2025

    Grandma's Ghost Told Me to Leave… So I Moved to Cambodia and Started a Hair Empire

    From Virginia to Cambodia: How Fear, ADHD & a Ghost Message Built a Raw Hair Empire What happens when a small-town American with ADHD, no degree, and a dream leaves everything behind for a country most people can't find on a map? 🌏 In this raw, unfiltered episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', April sits down with Manisha — an American entrepreneur, educator, and raw hair sourcing queen who traded the chaos of Virginia for the slow, sacred life of Cambodia. From teaching English to trekking into remote provinces to source single-donor hair, Manisha opens up about the fear, the freedom, and the ghost message from her grandma that changed everything. We talk about: 💇‍♀️ Building a raw hair sourcing business in Cambodia's hidden villages 🧠 Living with undiagnosed ADHD until 25 — and how it fueled her success 👻 The moment her late grandma told her: "It's either this man or your dream life" 💔 Ending a 7-year relationship to choose herself for the first time 🌾 Why Cambodia feels like home in ways America never did 🚫 Blacklisting Atlanta, Georgia from her client list (yes, really) 💸 Making $1,000 her first month selling digital products and hair vendor lists 🏞️ Sleeping outside in provinces, negotiating without speaking Khmer, and building trust 🇺🇸 Why she'll never move back to America — and what that means for grief, family & freedom 🔫 Gun violence, fear, and why she finally feels safe at 3 a.m. in Phnom Penh 🧘‍♀️ Finding inner peace, slowing down, and unlearning the American grind 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Navigating grief from 8,000 miles away — and why distance helps her heal 🏰 Her ultimate dream: a women's resort & hair haven (and maybe a castle) This isn't just a business story. It's about choosing yourself when no one understands. It's about trusting the whispers — even from the other side. It's about building a life that doesn't need validation, only peace. If you've ever felt trapped by comfort, misunderstood by your own mind, or called to a life that makes no sense to anyone but you — this episode will speak to your soul. Key Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Scared but here — arriving in Cambodia alone 00:07:15 – Why Cambodia over Costa Rica & Poland 00:13:40 – First impressions: fear, safety & starting from scratch 00:18:55 – How ADHD shaped her business (and her depression) 00:25:49 – The grandma ghost message: "Choose your dream or this man" 00:31:39 – Sourcing hair in villages: sleeping outside, no Khmer, pure hustle 00:35:16 – Why Atlanta is blacklisted from her business 00:45:22 – Gun violence, America vs. Cambodia: where she finally feels safe 00:49:51 – Grieving from abroad: why distance helps her heal 00:57:33 – Digital products, vendor lists & making money from day one 01:03:53 – The slow life: family dinners by streetlight & what America lost 01:09:39 – Her ultimate vision: a women's resort, hair haven & maybe a castle 01:22:06 – "Welcome to Mobodia" — why this is home now 💬 Tell us in the comments: Have you ever had a moment where you had to choose between comfort and your calling? What did you do? — 🎧 About the show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica, April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script — swapping comfort for courage, and choosing a life "elsewhere." New episodes every week from around the world. 📌 Subscribe for more stories on: ✨ Reinvention, ADHD & mental health abroad ✨ Building businesses in unexpected places ✨ Grief, family & choosing yourself first ✨ Cambodia, expat life & slow living ✨ Raw hair sourcing, digital products & entrepreneurship 👍 If this episode moved you, like, comment and share it with someone who needs permission to choose themselves. #Cambodia #ExpatLife #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #RawHair #HairBusiness #ADHD #MentalHealth #PhnomPenh #BlackAbroad #Entrepreneurship #DigitalProducts #SlowLiving #Grief #ChoosingYourself #AmericanExpat #SoutheastAsia #WomenInBusiness #Reinvention #RealStories #Podcast Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: From Fear to Freedom 00:01:08 The Decision to Move to Cambodia 00:04:50 First Impressions and Settling In 00:06:09 Building the Hair Business 00:09:16 Navigating Cross-Cultural Business 00:12:07 The Hair Tour Experience 00:39:05 Addressing Criticism and Misconceptions 00:15:43 Cultural Adaptation and Personal Growth 00:28:23 ADHD Diagnosis and Self-Understanding 00:35:15 Digital Products and Business Strategy 00:52:07 Cambodia vs Thailand: Different Expat Experiences 01:04:10 Family, Independence, and American Culture 01:00:00 Safety, Gun Violence, and Why She Left America 01:13:47 Grieving from a Distance 01:23:57 The Relationship She Left Behind 01:29:25 Welcome to Mobodia #cambodia #PhnomPenh #RawHair #HairBusiness #ExpatLife #ADHD #MentalHealth #BlackInAsia #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #AmericanAbroad #Entrepreneurship #SlowLiving #Grief #GenerationalWealth #SelfLove #StartingOver #DigitalNomad #SoutheastAsia #Mobodia

    1h 31m

  8. 12/10/2025

    Pregnant, No English, New Country: How Jamaica Became Home for 18 Years

    What happens when a Dominican lawyer trades courtrooms for Caribbean vibes, lands in Jamaica pregnant, speaking zero English, and builds a whole new life from scratch? In this heartwarming episode of 'Babes, How Did You Get Here?', April sits down with Isis — a Dominican Republic-born lawyer turned event planner who moved to Jamaica 18 years ago with her husband, a six-year-old son, and nothing but faith and Google searches about goats in the streets. From navigating language barriers and spicy patties to raising two boys with completely different cultural identities, Isis opens up about what it really takes to build a home in a country that wasn't yours — and why she wouldn't change a thing. We talk about: 🌍 The moment her husband asked: "Do you want to move to Jamaica?" — and she said yes without ever visiting 🤰 Arriving pregnant, no English, just vibes and a dream 🗣️ Learning a new language while raising kids in a foreign school system 🍛 Dominican food vs Jamaican food: why curry lobster made her cry (and why patties are life) 👶 Raising two sons with totally different relationships to Jamaica — one feels 100% Jamaican, the other… not so much 💼 From lawyer to stay-at-home mom to thriving event planner in Kingston 🎉 Why her 51st birthday became the launchpad for her business 👯‍♀️ Building a chosen family across cultures: Haitian, Mexican, Chilean, French, Jamaican, and beyond 💔 The hardest moment: losing her father while living abroad and grieving from a distance 🏝️ Why Blue Lagoon is paradise and the south coast has her heart 🎄 Christmas Eve Dominican style vs. Jamaican Christmas — and why she'll never shop on December 24th 🎭 Dominican Carnival (covered faces & choreography) vs. Jamaica Carnival (bikinis, feathers & vibes) ✈️ Her two rules for anyone thinking about moving to Jamaica This isn't just an expat story. It's about choosing joy over perfection, surrounding yourself with the right people, and learning to embrace a new home without comparing it to the old one. It's about motherhood across borders, grief across oceans, and finding your people in the most unexpected places. Whether you've ever thought about moving abroad, struggled to fit in somewhere new, or just love a good story about resilience, reinvention, and rum — this episode will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even crave a beef patty. 💬 Tell us in the comments: Have you ever moved to a new country? What was the hardest part? And Team Tasty or Team Juicy? 👀 — 🎧 About the show – "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica, April Jackson, this podcast dives into the real, unfiltered stories of people who left the script — swapping comfort for courage, and choosing a life "elsewhere." New episodes every week from around the world. 📌 Subscribe for more stories on: • Life abroad, expat realities & building home in foreign places • Motherhood, identity & raising third-culture kids • Language barriers, cultural shock & finding your people • Reinvention, resilience & trusting the journey • Food, friendship & what it means to truly belong 👍 If this episode moved you, like, comment and share it with someone who needs to hear that home isn't always where you're born — it's where you choose to bloom. Chapters: 00:00 From Dominican Republic to Jamaica: A Leap of Faith 01:08 First Impressions and Early Challenges 03:08 Language Barriers and Finding Community 06:06 Raising Children Across Two Cultures 07:21 Food Culture Shock: Spice and Flavor 12:09 From Lawyer to Events Planner 13:58 Building a Business and Social Circle 23:06 The Hardest Part: Distance from Family 26:24 Advice for Future Expats 28:47 Favorite Places and Cultural Traditions #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #DominicanInJamaica #ExpatLife #JamaicaLiving #LifeAbroad #DominicanRepublic #CaribbeanLife #Motherhood #ThirdCultureKids #EventPlanner #KingstonJamaica #CulturalIdentity #Immigration #LatinasAbroad #RealStories #Podcast #Reinvention #FindingHome #ExpatMom #CaribbeanExpat #LanguageBarrier #GriefAbroad #ChoosingJoy

    37 min
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About

🌍 Real people. Real journeys. Real lives lived elsewhere. Hosted by April Jackson — BBC presenter, entrepreneur, and former Miss Universe Jamaica — Babes, How Did You Get Here? is a high-quality podcast spotlighting the inspiring stories of everyday people who left everything behind to build a life in a new country. 🎙️ In each episode, April dives into authentic, emotional conversations with global nomads, immigrants, and dream-chasers — from a Russian woman thriving in Jamaica to a former US Marine finding purpose in Thailand. Their stories are raw, reflective, and full of powerful lessons on belonging, transformation, and the courage to start over. 📅 New episodes every Wednesday and Sunday. Whether you’re an aspiring traveller, a lover of human stories, or someone seeking the motivation to explore the world, this podcast will leave you feeling inspired and deeply connected.

Information

  • Creator
    April Jackson
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit