The Expat Cast

Tereré Talks: Part 1. Exactly a year ago, Nicole packed up her bags and moved from Germany to Paraguay. She didn't know what to expect, because the Internet knows everything, except, apparently, things about Paraguay. After a year in Paraguay, Nicole has lots of love for this special place, and she's here to share about it in the Tereré Talks. Nicole's friend Zoe joins her as a co-host, and they start off by catching up on the last year. What did Nicole get up to? What did she find to do for work? Where has she traveled to in South America? Why hasn't this podcast come out for months?? And most importantly, what's the update on The Expat Cats!? Next Thursday: a crash course on basic information about Paraguay. Read more about tereré here.   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser   CONNECT Email theexpatcast@gmail.com Instagram @theexpatcast 

Season 8, Episode 0. A new season + a new format! In this intro to the new season, Nicole shares what she's got planned for season 8. Plus, she walks you through what tereré, the drink that's inspired the name of the season, is and how you drink it (at least as far as she's learned so far!). Read more about tereré here.   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On the website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 25. This week's guest is your host, Nicole! Nicole is from the US and lived in Germany for five and a half years. Just a couple weeks ago, she moved from Germany to Paraguay for a temporary stay. Over the course of seven months, Nicole recorded audio diaries about the move. The voice notes chronicle multiple moves, vehicle sales, paperwork stress,  figuring out how to quit a job in Germany, the oddness that is packing items to ship across an ocean, and sadness because of how a big move like this one impacts friendships. There's laughter, there's tears, there's an emptied bottle of tequila! Listen to the episode where Nicole announces her move here.   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 24. "Last year, the world changed, and the awareness of the situation is there now. It wasn't there 10 years ago." Kateryna grew up in Kiev, Ukraine and moved to the Netherlands a decade ago to study. Before she could reflect on if she'd like to stay there longer after her degree, war broke out in her home country. But, weirdly, not many people around her knew about it or discussed it. Fast forward to 2022. By then, Kateryna had spent most of her 20s in the Netherlands and built a life for herself there. Suddenly, the war escalated, and thousands of fellow Ukranians were seeking safety abroad due to the war, including in the Netherlands. Kateryna discusses how experiencing her 20s abroad affected her, plus what it's like to be abroad as an expat versus to be abroad while feeling war.   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 23. You might recognize her name and her voice from NPR, or National Public Radio, broadcasts across the US. Soraya grew up in the US, Iran, and Germany as the child of German and Iranian immigrants. She built an impressive career as a foreign correspondent, despite significant barriers keeping women from doing such work at the time. She persisted, and she succeeded. Soraya's career had her living for years in Afghanistan, opening up a Kabul bureau, before moving to Egypt, just months before the Arabic Spring broke out. After years of covering intense conflict and war, Soraya was eager to take a job in Berlin - but months after settling, the Russia-Ukraine war broke out for the first time. Now, she's been in Berlin for over 10 years, and she's the host of her own podcast, Common Ground Berlin. She joins us to talk about her extremely exciting life in such a wide range of fascinating places.   LINKS Common Ground Berlin   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 22. Lindsay was living in Michigan and nearing the end of high school, so she started to look at colleges in the US. And then she had a better idea. Rather than go to a US college and study abroad for a semester or a year, why not just go to university abroad? Now, she's halfway through her degree in Utrecht in the Netherlands. Lindsay tells us all about how she got the idea in her mind to get her Bachelor's degree abroad, what it's been like in comparison to a US college, and how she's navigated relationships with family and friends back home - all while learning to be an independent adult in a country she is brand new to!   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 21. Is there joy in life in Germany? Today's guest Priya grew up in India, lived for several years in Uganda, and now lives in Stuttgart, Germany. Priya and her German husband are raising their two small children in Germany, and focusing on family life has changed the considerations of what "joy" even means. We discuss where there was and wasn't joy in the various places she's lived. Priya shares a beautiful metaphor for how think about priorities when seeking joy. Hint: it involves one of the most popular brunch meals!   LINKS Priya's Instagram Wax & Wake BK on Instagram   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 20. If you think of a financial planner, you might not immediately think of the resume of today's guest. Born in the USA. A stint in Moldova. A few years in France. Then Rome. Then Copenhagen. Then back to the US, to Boston and then to Denver. And now, Toulouse, France.  Kieran spent most of her 20s living in various parts of Europe, learning what she likes and doesn't like in life, in a place, in a career, and in herself. A crucial piece of advice she got over a coffee date with her boss/mentor led her to relocate to the US, where she switched career tracks to become a financial planner. Now, after establishing her career and listening to her intuition, Kieran relocated to Toulouse, France, this time in a more permanent manner. After all her moves and career shifts and opportunities, she now views future life plans or ideas in the framework of, "I wouldn't be surprised if..."   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 19. Oscar grew up in Ecuador and moved to the USA in his early adulthood. Now, he's preparing to move to Germany with his German partner - who, funnily enough, is from Hamburg, exactly where Oscar's great-grandfather was from! Oscar fills us in on what these three countries have in common, including a surprising opinion about which countries have the least in common. Plus, there is an enthusiastic nerding out over bridges in this episode! And an exciting Q&A about life in Paraguay, where Oscar's partner once lived!   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 18. Eleanor is a late bloomer. She moved abroad on more or less a whim in the late 1990s, when she was in her late 20s.  Eleanor was working in tech at the time, and although her initial move abroad was rather disorganized, with many misfires and much flying by the seat of her pants, by the time the tech bubble burst in the early 2000s, she was in a good position. She was living in Munich, Germany, working a steady job in web design, so she decided to stay. To bloom. When she hit her mid-30s, she changed her career and met her husband. They had their kid when she was in her early 40s. And now, Eleanor is approaching her inflection point, or the year when she'll have lived longer in Germany than in her home country (USA). And now, she's here to share the wild story with us and reflect on what it all means.   FIND ELEANOR Her Website Her blog post, "How I Became a Lifetime Expat in Germany" On Instagram @eleanormayrhofer On LinkedIn   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 17. Kendall Long is now a resident of Germany! You may know her from her appearances on The Bachelor or Bachelor in Paradise. Now, this LA local is calling Stuttgart, Germany home, along with her fiance and their dog. Kendall has been in Germany a month or two, and she joins Nicole, a fellow US American who has been in Germany for over five years, to swap insights. Kendall shares her first impressions of Germany and asks some burning questions, and Nicole gives advice to her as a newcomer to the area.   MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Previous episodes about Learning German and Becoming Bilingual as well Travel Germany: The Black Forest Find a tandem partner with Tandem or VHS DM pharmacy store and the brand Weleda Carsharing programs such as Grüne Flotte in Freiburg or several companies in Stuttgart World's Largest Pig Museum in Stuttgart   FIND KENDALL On Instagram @itskendalllong On TikTok @itskendalllong   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 16. We're catching up with Austyn from Expat Hour. Austyn started her podcast while living in the Netherlands with her four kids and her husband. About two years ago, Austyn ended her podcast to focus on a new job and her family. But some big things have happened in her life since then, most notably that Austyn and her family now live in Portland, Oregon! She joins The Expat Cast to fill us in on what's been going on and what it was like to make a big international move on short notice.   FIND AUSTYN Listen to her previous appearance on The Expat Cast, The Introverted Expat On Instagram @expathour   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 15.  In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there. Today, we learn about the Black Forest!  Jenny lived in Freiburg for 5 years, and she spent all her free time taking the train up into the Black Forest to hike, bike, and explore the area. Two years ago, she moved up to that area, and now she is truly the expert expat when it comes to the Schwarzwald! She's here to share her best tips and hidden secrets of what to explore in the Hochschwarzwald. Find a blog post with more details and links to the tips we discussed in the episode here. To listen to all the episodes in the Travel Germany series, click here.   FIND JENNY Listen to previous episodes with Jenny Language Course Visas Assimilation v. Self The Broke Expat Snacks and Toilets   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 14. Lindsey absolutely loved her life in Zurich, Switzerland. But still, she moved back to her home country, USA. After years and years of living the best life she and her family could in the US - we're talking beautiful house, big garden, kids riding a yellow school bus to school, the whole works - she still found herself daydreaming of the walkability, work-life balance, beauty, and more of life in Switzerland. She hosted the Expat Repat podcast, where she talked to other repatriates, or repats, about their lives since relocating to their home country. Then one day, it happened. She and her family moved back to Zurich. She became an expat gone repat gone re-expat. We check in with Lindsey to hear if sliding back into her former life abroad was all she dreamed it to be, and how she made the move happen.   FIND LINDSEY Her previous episode on The Expat Cast, "Moving Back 'Home'" On Instagram Her podcast's Instagram Her blog, Swisslark   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 12. Marlene and Nicole met and became friends in Freiburg, where Marlene was getting her master's degree in the Global Studies Program. Shortly after finishing the degree, she moved to Berlin, and from the end of the program until today, she's faced a series of serious challenges: housing insecurity, job insecurity, visa insecurity, health and mental issues, relationship difficulties, and financial problems. Plus, Marlene struggled with depression, and she also got diagnosed with ADHD. And she's one of those people who gets joy and happiness out of making someone else's day, but she lives in a country where the culture tends to be a bit more suspicious of strangers. Suffice it to say, she's been faced with plenty of problems, and then some, and she shares how she managed to push through to today, when things are starting to slowly look more stable.   4GEPADFO One last change to donate to Krisenchat Ukrainian   FIND Marlene On Instagram   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 12. Shaun from The Germany Experience and Nicole from The Expat Cast are coming together for a special episode: a call to donate to their charity of choice this holiday season, and a big announcement from Nicole.   4GEPADFO Donate to Krisenchat Ukrainian   FIND SHAUN The Germany Experience On Instagram   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 11. Hannah Teslin moved to Germany years ago for a relationship. When it ended, she found herself in a situation where she had to rebuild her life in Germany, but this time, for herself. Her path to independence involved plenty of trial and error, but Hannah managed to create a beautiful life for herself, now with an amazing job where she works for herself, a wonderful, supportive partner, and most importantly a fantastic group of girlfriends! In this week's episode, Hannah and Nicole focus on how to make friends abroad. Between the two of them, they've tried it all, from sports groups to events to apps. Plus, they explore how friendships abroad grow and change over time, with new jobs, new romantic partners, or even new geographical changes - and what it's like to go through a friend-breakup abroad.   4GEPADFO Donate to Krisenchat Ukrainian   FIND HANNAH Previous appearances on The Expat Cast, here and here On Instagram On TikTok   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 10. Aditi's career has taken her from her small hometown in India to various bigger Indian cities, and even abroad to Italy, Austria, the US, and Germany. Although the moves have provided many amazing opportunities and experiences, it's also come with many a setback, including a year-long stint living at home with her parents while being unemployed. Aditi also has always worked in male-dominated fields, and she shares how her views on gender have evolved into an enlightened outlook that helps her recognize safe and unsafe spaces. Plus, her failures along the way have been her greatest moments of bravery, so she shares the importance of accepting failure and ultimately accepting yourself.   4GEPADFO Donate to Krisenchat Ukrainian   FIND ADITI Email her at ar.aaditi.sharma@gmail.com On Instagram On LinkedIn   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 9. This one's for the love expats! The people - mostly women - who moved abroad to close the distance on a long-distance relationship, or to keep their relationship unit together after a geographical change. Zuza moved from her home country of the Czech Republic to go to Sweden. Sweden led to Uganda, which led to Italy, which led to Zambia, which led to Mongolia, and along the way, she's had her own experience with intercultural relationships. Now, she's chosen to stay put in Zambia, and she's turning her experience into resources by becoming an intercultural relationship coach. She joins the podcast to share her stories and tips about what to do and what not to do to build a healthy intercultural relationship.   4GEPADFO Donate to Krisenchat Ukrainian   FIND ZUZA Online On Instagram On YouTube   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 8. Jo and her husband moved from the western US to Vienna, Austria about a year and a half ago. They've really made the most of their time in Europe by traveling several weekends per month, and Jo creates beautiful, fun travel content for Instagram and Tiktok. In addition to chatting about her travels, Jo - an American in Austria with limited knowledge of Germany - and Nicole - an American in Germany with limited knowledge of Austria - try to figure out how much these two neighboring countries have in common. Plus, how do two Americans abroad celebrate Thanksgiving?!   DONATE TO 4GEPADFO Krisenchat Ukranian   FIND JO Online On Instagram On TikTok   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 7. We caught Jaedyn in a weird time: between deciding to move and actually doing the moving. Jaedyn is from Canada and has been living in Stuttgart, Germany for 4.5 years. Just when she found peace with the idea of staying in Europe long-term, she met a boy in Canada and things changed. Now, she's in her last season in Germany. Because Germany requires 3 months notice on most contracts, Jaedyn started the moving away from Germany process back in August, but she isn't actually leaving until December. We recorded this episode in October, right in the middle of the preparing-to-leave-but-not-yet-gone.   FIND JAEDYN On Instagram   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 6. Where do you call home? For many expats, the question isn't an easy one to answer. Many places? No place at all? Keltie Maguire is a Clarity Coach who moved from Canada to Germany several years ago. She uses her professional expertise and personal experience to shed light on the sticky subject of home: how to define it, how to create it, and how to make a place feel more like it. Plus, a discussion - and a confession - about homesickness.   FIND KELTIE Her episode on the Dear Shandy podcast, "Parenthood Clarity" Online On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 5. "You asked, I answer!" Listeners submitted questions on Instagram for Nicole to answer, which she does with the help of her best friend and previous guest, Zoe.  Questions include: What's one thing you knew now that you wished you knew back when you moved? When did you start calling Germany home? Do you still feel like an expat, after 5 years in Freiburg? Plus, Nicole shares a little update from the road, as this episode was finished in a hotel room in Prague.   EPISODES REFERENCED Travel Germany: Nuremberg American Pride Solo Female Travel   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 4. Laurel fell in love with Berlin on a solo trip and decided to make the big move. But it wasn't her first big move. Laurel is from Indiana but moved to LA for several years. She shares how the culture shock moving from the midwest to southern California compares to the culture shock of moving from the USA to Germany. Then, we get into her career. Laurel pivoted to tech during her 5 years in Berlin. Germany is not exactly known for being the most up-to-date with technology, so we discuss what it's like working in the field in a place where cash is still the standard and the fear of sharing your data gets in the way of modernization. Is it possible to find the golden middle between digitalization and privacy?   FIND LAUREL On Instagram @lwrocks   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 3. Esther was finishing up law school in North Carolina when she told a colleague about her dream to live in Italy. That friend knew someone in Germany with an open position, and while Germany wasn't Italy, it was a heck of a lot closer to Italy than the USA is, so Esther applied. Within days, she had a job offer in Tübingen, Germany. She and her then-teenaged daughter moved mere months later and settled into a life abroad in Germany. Esther moved to Freiburg next, where she was a cornerstone of the international community. Now, Esther is back in her hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. She speaks about her time teaching criminal law in Tübingen, the Freiburg era, and her decision to move back to the US - and how voicing her desires and staying flexible has led to a series of moments where everything aligns.   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. If your insurance doesn't cover therapy or you'd prefer to have more options when choosing your therapist, BetterHelp is a fantastic alternative to going through the German healthcare system. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast.   Listen to the interview with Esther's daughter, Nyla, here: "Moving Abroad at Age 15"   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 2. Chase never wanted to work in an office, although he works in the corporate world. From the outset, he sought jobs where he could work remotely. Back when he started about 15 years ago, that was rare, to say the least. Now, it's quickly becoming the norm. Chase has lived and traveled for years now, all while working - because he works fully remote, or "remote first." In fact, he's SUCH a remote work nerd that he has a podcast about it (About Abroad), and works for a company that specializes in it (Doist). He's on The Expat Cast to talk to Nicole - a digital nomad skeptic - about his experiences and to explore the pros and cons of this increasing trend.   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. If your insurance doesn't cover therapy or you'd prefer to have more options when choosing your therapist, BetterHelp is a fantastic alternative to going through the German healthcare system. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast. FIND CHASE On Instagram @about.abroad On LinkedIn The Doist Blog His podcast About Abroad Nicole's appearance on his podcast, "Life in the Sunny South of Germany's Pleasantville, Freiburg"   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 7, Episode 1. We are back for Season 7! Woo! We're kicking it off with a conversation about identity burps, a term coined by today's guest, Ditte. Ditte is an artist from Denmark living in Berlin after many years in Amsterdam. Though drawing is like breathing to her, a main passion of hers was dancing tango. Then she moved to Berlin, a hub for tango, and... no longer felt like dancing tango. Instead, she felt like going to clubs and dancing to electro music. What's going on?? Easy answer: It's an identity burp!   FIND DITTE On Instagram @ditteoe Drawing Walks Berlin   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Nicole is popping by about halfway through a longer podcast break to update you on some news!   First, some life updates about travel, visits from home, and thoughts from abroad about the recent loss of the constitutional right to abortion in the US.   Then, a heads-up for fellow US Americans living abroad - The Expat Cast is collaborating with Horbach Expats to host another 4th of July special event about financial planing! Register now.   Finally, listeners in Berlin should head over to Podfest July 16 and 17 to see podfriends Idan from Unmatch Me Now and Shaun from The Germany Experience.   LINKS Register: July 4th Event with Horbach Expats, 7 pm, online Financial Planning for US Americans in Germany Podfest Berlin Episodes with Zoe about Solo Female Travel and about American Pride   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 25. Do you want to have kids or not? How has your geography impacted this? We asked these questions to the listener community, and fellow expats, immigrants, people living abroad shared their pros and cons, their talking points, their feelings, their beliefs, their dreams. Their answers range from YES to NO to MAYBE, and they're gathered here for you. This marks the end of season six! What a gift it's been - 150 episodes and nearly 4 years of podcasting. Thank you to everyone who has formed the community of listeners, which creates a safe space for us to take on these difficult topics.   This episode is sponsored by MyExpatTaxes. Use the code EXPATCAST to save 10%!   RESOURCES Cheryl Strayed's essay, The Ghost Ship that Didn't Carry Us BeMyTravelMuse's video, How I Decided to Have Kids (Not an Easy Choice!) Edna Bonhomme's essay, Infertility Stung Me: Black Motherhood and Me SharetheLove Blog's post, Pregnancy Troubles as the Expat WantedAdventures's video, STOP ASKING ME IF I'M HAVING KIDS Balancing Stories episode, What if I Don't Want Kids? The Midnight Library by Matt Haig   GUESTS Julian, former guest for Finding Therapy in Germany Casey, former guest for Becoming Bilingual and Visiting Home Shaun from The Germany Experience, former guest for Raising a Son with Special Needs in Germany Ashley, former guest for Pregnancy in Germany and Expat Mama Meghan from Balancing Stories, former guest for Expat Resilience Stefanie, former guest for Austria v Germany and Travel Germany: Stuttgart Jorge from The Canadian Wants to Know Steffi Keltie Chase from About Abroad   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 24. What's it like dating a German? How do I make friends as an expat? Can I get a job in Germany without knowing German? Is the rental market reallllyyyy that bad? Nicole is joined by Idan from Unmatch Me Now to get into all of these questions and more! From personal experiences and opinions to concrete resources about Kindergeld and donating blood, nothing is off the table. Thanks to all the listeners who submitted questions for this episode.   This episode is sponsored by MyExpatTaxes. Use the code EXPATCAST to save 10%!   RESOURCES The Expat Cast episodes: the initial Ask the Expat episode, the Travel Germany series, To Stay or To Go? with Katherine from Bad Days Abroad, Being Queer in Germany Unmatch Me Now episodes about dating in the queer community: Bi-Sex and the City, Slide into My DMs Like a Sexy Snail, and Everyone Have Extra Large Dicks and Other Grinder Myths Information about Kindergeld Help for refugees from Ukraine Abandoned Berlin   FIND IDAN His podcast, Unmatch Me Now On Instagram @unmatchmenow   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 23. What's it like to be a foreigner working as a librarian in Germany? We've got two international librarians here to tell you! Katherine and Nicole both fell in love with the career of librarianship before moving to Germany from Venezuela and USA, respectively. Now, they both live and work in German libraries, Katherine in a university library and Nicole in a public library. Both of them first worked at the libraries of cultural centers as a transition when making the move. They explain how they got the paperwork in order so they could take their careers with them when they moved, what it's like working as a librarian in Germany, difference between libraries in different countries, and how to find an international library job.   This episode is sponsored by MyExpatTaxes. Use the code EXPATCAST to save 10%!   RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL LIBRARIANS INALJ Open Biblio Jobs Anabin, for librarians moving to Germany The season one episode, "Prepping for a Job Hunt in Germany"   FIND KATHERINE On Twitter @Kat_Lui She recommends "Wir können mehr sein" by Aminata Touré   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website     CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 22. When she was 15, Nyla moved from the US to Germany. It was supposed to be just for one year. Spoiler alert: it's been 6 years and counting! Nyla comes on the show to discuss how the temporary moved turned permanent, and what it was like moving abroad as a teenager. She had to learn the language from scratch and adjust to a new culture, all while those delightful teenage hormones are there messing with your emotions. From dating to drinking to getting your first job and finding your career, there have been many challenges and big life moments in Nyla's expat life, which may be just beginning.   This episode is sponsored by MyExpatTaxes. Use the code EXPATCAST to save 10%!   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website     CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 21. Being a single mom ain't easy. Being an expat ain't easy. Being a single mom AND an expat? Yeah, it REALLY ain't easy. But it is possible. Tanya is here to tell us how. Tanya moved from California to Germany when her son was 2. She had been single parenting until that point, and initially when she moved abroad, her then-husband was able to provide support while Tanya adjusted to life in Germany. After she and he divorced, Tanya found herself facing single parenthood again, this time in a country that wasn't her own. She lays out the pros and cons of relying on Germany's robust social system for help with her kid. Plus, Tanya recently decided to do a test move back to the US, and she shares how being a single mom has played into that decision.   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast.   FIND TANYA Our previous episode together, "Weltschmerz and Culture Shock" Her website   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 20. Did you know that 80% of expats who moved abroad for work are male? Often, men get relocated for their work and their wives or partners to come with. Kate has been working with and studying expat partners, or trailing spouses, who tend to be women, for years. Lately, she got curious about that other 20% - the women who moved abroad for their jobs, sometimes with their husbands or partners as the trailing spouse. Thus launched a research project about the breadwinning female expats. After lots of research, interviews, and analysis, the study results are here! Kate shares with us all about her research method and the conclusions she's found about who these women are, what their motivations are, how they incorporated family planning into things, and why there aren't more breadwinning female expats.   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast.   FIND KATE Our previous episodes together, "Expat Partners" and "Repatriating During a Pandemic" Her website, SharetheLove.blog Download the study, The Thriving Female Expat Instagram @SharetheLove.Blog   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 19. It's a Buy One Get One deal: Nicole interviews not one, but TWO Zacks from Michigan who live in Stuttgart, Germany! Zac XVIII and Zack Bachelor are two guys in their 20s who met on a basketball court in Stuttgart. They're from the same home state, have the same first name, and now are famous around expat social media for their hilarious skits about living as a US American in Germany. From TikTok to Instagram to podcasting and YouTube, the Zac/ks do it all. Many shocking truths are revealed in this interview, such as the surprisingly serious industries the Zac/ks work in and the truly stunning fact of just how tall the Zac/ks are!   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast.   FIND ZACXVIII Podcast "Zacks in the City" Instagram @ZacXVIII TikTok @ZacXVIII YouTube @ZacXVIII   FIND ZACK BACHELOR Podcast "Zacks in the City" Instagram @ZackBachelor TikTok @ZackBachelor   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 18. Emily is known online as Emily in Hamburg, but once upon a time, Emily was in New York, in Portugal, and even on a cruise ship!  After a performance career in New York City, Emily took a chance and signed a contract to perform on a cruise ship sailing around Scandinavia. Her training for the ship caused her path to cross with the big love of her life: Hamburg. Emily loved Hamburg from the start, but life took her elsewhere. She had a stint living on the coast of Portugal, and while it was inspiring and beautiful, she was still yearning for Hamburg. So she made it happen, all on her own, landing a job that she loves, a flat she can call her own, and even a new love.   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast.   FIND EMILY Online at loololo.com On Instagram @EmilyinHamburg   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 17. Melanie moved to Switzerland when she was 29 and in love with a Swiss man. That relationship didn't last as she'd hoped, but Melanie stayed in Switzerland anyway. Now, Melanie is 61, and she's living in southern Germany after many years in Cologne and several moves back to her home country of the US, then back to Germany. She shares the ins and outs of all these moves, including some seriously good love stories. Plus, Melanie shares how the questions she's been asking herself since that initial move abroad still plague her now - to stay or to go? where is home? - but with a different set of priorities as she looks towards retirement and getting old.   This episode is sponsored by Lingoda. Read more and sign up for the sprint with the code EXPATCAST2022 for 20€ off!   THE DATING ABROADCAST With Aspen and Nicole Subscribe on Spotify On Instagram @TheDatingAbroadcast   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website     CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 16.  In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there. Today, we learn about Karlsruhe!  Santhiya moved with her husband and their kids to Karlsruhe, Germany in June 2021. Though they haven't been there long, their family has made the most of their time and explored Karlsruhe and the area. Karlsruhe is rich in day-trip opportunities, from a 3-hour train ride to Paris to a quick trip across a river to one of Germany's best wine regions. Plus, there are various museums, castles, and viewpoints in Karlsruhe itself. To listen to all the episodes in the Travel Germany series, click here.   This episode is sponsored by Lingoda. Read more and sign up for the sprint with the code EXPATCAST2022 for 20€ off!   FIND SANTHIYA Christie's Instagram @teleport2dland   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 15. Once upon a time, two friends on a train trip to Nuremberg passed a bit of graffiti that would haunt then for years to come. Nicole & Samar have been quoting that graffiti since 2020, and now they're here to share all their thoughts about it with you. "All thinking is comparison." The phrase has come to be a moniker for discussing geographical backgrounds, diversity, and privilege. For people living abroad, the phrase gets at the new awarenesses that come with removing yourself from the water you've been swimming in and learning to function in somewhere completely new. Listen to the other episode with Samar, "The First Few Months"   This episode is sponsored by Horbach Expats. Join Horbach Expats and The Expat Cast for an event on Monday, January 17 at 19 CET all about investing in real estate for foreigners living in Germany! Sign up here.   This episode is sponsored by Lingoda. Read more and sign up for the sprint with the code EXPATCAST2022 for 20€ off!   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 14. Moving abroad ain't easy. Now imagine moving to Germany having never been in Europe before. Speaking no word of German. With four kids. In the middle of a pandemic. And the house you move into gets flooded in a catastrophic regional weather disaster. That's what happened to Sara. She and her husband and their four young kids moved to Rheinbach for her husband's job, developing vegan cheese. They envisioned it as an exciting adventure and a great opportunity for everyone - and while it has been all the things they dreamed of, nothing has quite happened as they planned, as their new home is smack dab in the region that got horribly flooded in summer 2021.   Donate to Kinderlachen to support education grants for differently abled kids in Germany via ThrEGEPADFO!   This episode is sponsored by Horbach Expats. Join Horbach Expats and The Expat Cast for an event on Monday, January 17 at 19 CET all about investing in real estate for foreigners living in Germany!   This episode is sponsored by Lingoda. Read more and sign up for the sprint with the code EXPATCAST2022 for 20€ off!   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 13. The best thing about Christmas in the US is the cheesy Christmas movies on Lifetime, Hallmark, and now even Netflix. Aspen & Nicole are two Americans in Germany who love trash movies, so we asked ourselves, do these wonderful-terrible movies exist in Germany? To find out, we watched Über Weihnachten and This Is Love. Both are German productions released on Netflix that try to itch that same scratch - or dare I say jingle those bells. How do these two movies stand up to the test? Are they good-bad, or just bad-bad? Merry Christmas & guten Rutsch / good slide into the New Year! The Expat Cast will be back January 6, 2022.   Donate to Kinderlachen to support education grants for differently abled kids in Germany via ThrEGEPADFO!   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast.   FIND ASPEN On Instagram @sassspen Our previous episode together, "Moving Abroad or Running Away?"   THE DATING ABROADCAST Subscribe on Spotify On Instagram @TheDatingAbroadcast   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 12. Grief isn't something reserved for tragedy and death. Grief has a much wider spectrum, and people living abroad have some unique challenges with some of its forms. Returning guest Katie, a US American living in Munich, Germany, has had her own (un)fair share of grief. As a licensed counselor, she's put her experience and professional knowledge to pen and paper with her new book, The New Face of Grief. We talk about scheduling a time to grieve, forcing ourselves to tell friends and family back home about our grief experiences, and avoiding avoidance while living internationally.   Donate to Kinderlachen to support education grants for differently abled kids in Germany via ThrEGEPADFO!   This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast.   FIND KATIE Katie's website and resources Katie's Instagram @katie.rossler Katie' book, The New Face of Grief Katie's other The Expat Cast episode, "Counseling for Cross-Cultural Relationships"   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 11.  In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there. Today, we learn about Wiesbaden!  Christie moved from her home of London to her husband's home of Germany and quickly fell in love with the city of Wiesbaden. Located among German wine country and in the most forested state of the country, Wiesbaden's natural charm is made even more impressive by its historic old town. Now a food and travel writer, Christie's got the best tips on where to go, what to drink, and what to eat in and around Wiesbaden! To listen to all the episodes in the Travel Germany series, click here.   Donate to Kinderlachen to support education grants for differently abled kids in Germany via ThrEGEPADFO!   FIND CHRISTIE Christie's website ASausageHasTwo Christie's Instagram @asausagehastwo Christie's Twitter @asausagehastwo   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 10. Hey so uhhh... Are German people funny? We tackle the age-old question with Chelsea, a US American in Hamburg and a fellow lover of comedy. First, we share our favorite and least favorite German language movies and TV shows in the category "comedy." Then, we explore the stand-up scene in Germany, both via online specials and in-person shows. Finally, we turn the examination inwards as we ask, do German people find us funny?   Donate to Kinderlachen to support education grants for differently abled kids in Germany via ThrEGEPADFO!   OUR RECOMMENDATIONS Movies & TV Shows:  Fack ju Göhte, Stromberg, Tatortreiniger, Good Bye, Lenin!, Türkisch für Anfänger Comedians: Hazel Brugger,  Alicja Heldt, fellow expat Mari in Cologne TikTok accounts: Dominic, Felix, Felix's other account, Nic   FIND CHELSEA Chelseas's blog SoundingLustig Chelsea's Instagram @soundinglustig Chelsea's TikTok @soundinglustig   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 9. Nic and Simon from the podcast "Decades from Home" come by to talk about the media landscape in Germany. Nic and Simon both moved from the UK to Germany, where they've now been living for (you guessed it) decades. They share how they find their news in Germany, compare German political reporting to it in the UK, and even get into why US news is covered with such dramatic flair in German publications. And, yeah, we mention the news story about the reappearing penis sculpture. Read more about it here.   Get ready for ThrEGEPADFO!   FIND DECADES FROM HOME Their podcast "Decades from Home" On Twitter @decadesfromhome On Instagram @decadesfromhome   FIND NIC Nic's blog 40 Percent German Nic's Twitter @40PercentGerman Nic's Instagram @40PercentGerman His first appearance on The Expat Cast in 2019, "Here & There, Then & Now"   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 8. Let's talk about how to get mental health support when living abroad. One great thing about living in Germany is the health care - for many reasons, but notably, most public health insurances cover mental health therapy. It's a wonderful thing, but like all things in Germany, there is a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy required to find a therapist, get the therapy approved, and start the actual process. Today's guest, Julian, is from Venezuela and has been living in Germany for 5 years. In 2020, he hit a point where he needed help. He began his journey to find a therapist in his current home, Berlin. He shares why he decided to seek therapy and why it has been so valuable, over a year later. Most importantly, we get into HOW to seek therapy, from where to research doctors to who needs to sign off on the treatment and more. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. If your insurance doesn't cover therapy or you'd prefer to have more options when choosing your therapist, BetterHelp is a fantastic alternative to going through the German healthcare system. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast.   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 7.  Casey and Nicole compare stories and experiences from their first trips back to the US since the arrival of the pandemic. Casey moved from the US to Germany 3 years ago. In March 2020, she had her bags packed and ready to go on her first trip back home since moving abroad... when lockdown was announced and international travel was halted due to Covid. In August 2021, she finally got to go home. This was her first time visiting since moving abroad, her first time seeing family after the pandemic hitting, and to top it all of, she was six months pregnant!   FIND CASEY On Instagram @CaseyfromCologne On Twitter @CaseyinCologne   THE DATING ABROADCAST Listen to my other podcast where my friend Aspen and I date GerMEN so you don't have to! Subscribe on Spotify On Instagram @TheDatingAbroadcast   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 6.  To some, Julie's life might seem like she's hitting certain milestones too late. But for Julie, life is playing out right on time. She left her good, satisfying life in Scotland in her early 40s, because she was ready for a change. Love took her to Munich, Germany, where she moved in with her partner, started her own business, and had a child - all at the same time. Although it was a lot of life changes all at once, Julie embraced this opportunity to create the life she wanted. Many of her approaches were backed up by science and research - which she shares about in her work as a life coach and in various groups she started in Munich, including her Happiness Club.   FIND JULIE Her website The Happiness Club   THE DATING ABROADCAST Listen to my other podcast where my friend Aspen and I date GerMEN so you don't have to! Subscribe on Spotify On Instagram @TheDatingAbroadcast   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast

Season 6, Episode 5.  On a solo backpacking trip in her early 20s, Meghan visited Munich. She wasn't expecting to fall in love, but she did - with the city itself. She moved there as soon as she could, at least temporarily. But she extended her temporary stay by another couple months, then another, then another... Now, she and Munich are celebrating 14 delightful years together. Along the way, Meghan has repeatedly chosen to stay in Munich, through career changes and challenges, breakups, and more. Today, she's a wife, a mom, a teacher, and a fellow expat podcaster! She tells us all about the resilience it's taken to stick it out with her one true love, Munich. Check out the report from Expats and Spouses Monitor research project on expat partners.   FIND MEGHAN Her podcast Balancing Cultures On Instagram @BalancingCultures On Facebook @BalancingCultures On Twitter @BalancingStory   THE DATING ABROADCAST Listen to my other podcast where my friend Aspen and I date GerMEN so you don't have to! Subscribe on Spotify On Instagram @TheDatingAbroadcast   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 4.  In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there. Today, we learn about Kiel!  Jordan Wagner takes us all the way up north near the Danish border to the city of Kiel, a harbor city that is a paradise for boat lovers. Jordan used to think she could never love anywhere like she loves southern Germany, but Kiel converted her to love the north even more. She let's us in on the things that made her fall in love with it. Not only are there great beaches and events to explore in Kiel itself - it's also a great jumping off point for so many day trips, like to Hamburg, Sylt, or even Denmark! To listen to all the episodes in the Travel Germany series, click here.   This episode is sponsored by Lingoda. Read more about their upcoming sprint on the sprint with the code EXPATCAST2 for 20€ off!   FIND JORDAN On Instagram @jordanbwagner Her travel blog Wayfaring with Wagner Her blog about northern Germany Hamburg and Beyond   THE DATING ABROADCAST Listen to my other podcast where my friend Aspen and I date GerMEN so you don't have to! Subscribe on Spotify On Instagram @TheDatingAbroadcast   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast 

Season 6, Episode 3. Stop me if you've heard this one - a South African, a Filipino, & an American walk into a bakery... Shaun from South Africa moved to Germany 14 years ago and now runs The Germany Experience podcast. Lawin from the Philippines moved to Germany 2 years ago and now runs the Pop Your Cultural Cherry podcast. And your host Nicole moved to Germany 4 years ago and hosts, well, this podcast. The three come together to share their personal preconceived notions about Germany and the things they wish more people knew about it. Plus, they share what Germans know about their countries and the things they wish more Germans knew about their home.   This episode is sponsored by Lingoda. Read more about their upcoming sprint on the sprint with the code EXPATCAST2 for 20€ off!   FIND SHAUN Online at thegermanyexperience.de On Instagram @the.germany.experience On Twitter @GermanyXP   FIND LAWIN His podcast Pop Your Cultural Cherry On Instagram @popyourculturalcherry On Facebook @popyourculturalcherry   THE DATING ABROADCAST Listen to my other podcast where my friend Aspen and I date GerMEN so you don't have to! Subscribe on Spotify On Instagram @TheDatingAbroadcast   REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website   CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast  Twitter @theexpatcast