The Expat Reality Podcast with Annie and Steve

We chat to Kelly Lloyd from AUREC Migration and Mobility (our podcast sponsor) about visas to Australia. This episode includes many mind-blowing things we never knew about applying for a visa to Australia. If you are thinking about emigrating to Australia, this episode is for you. This is an amazing episode full of so many tips and advice, Kelly truly shares amazing insights which you shouldn't miss if you're thinking of applying to an Australian visa. She has been the only migration agent we have ever mentioned on londonerinsydney.com, and for good reason - she's great! In this episode, she answers our readers and followers' questions which include: - What to do while waiting for a partner visa? - Why is there a big wait for the skilled visas at the moment? - When will the Working Holiday Visa be available for up to 35 year olds for Brits? - Can you buy a house if you're not a citizen? And so much more! Kelly also spills the tea about hidden loopholes you may not know about, the most common questions she gets asked and the common mistakes people make when applying for a visa to Australia. Listen to the end… you'll get so much out of this episode! This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com  Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Check out our site for tips for living & travelling around Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ I've shared all of my visa process to Australia on my site, from Working Holiday, right up to citizenship which you can find here: https://londonerinsydney.com/expat-tips/australia-visa-tips/

We loved recording this episode as we dive into the other side of expat life, a side that is often overlooked. While moving abroad can feel like a fresh start, we discuss whether expats are generally happier leading an expat life, as grief and guilt leaving loved ones behind often catches up with us over time. We chat about what some of our followers told us about their current dilemmas as expats in Australia, and we also discuss how our love for travel has shaped our path for trying to fit into the 9-5 lifestyle and as an expat trying to fit into living in a new country. Listen to the end as we talk about towns and cities we have considered moving to in Australia (and tips for how to decide where to live regionally vs in a city), as well as tips for how to embrace life as an expat and live each day to the fullest, if you're feeling unsettled, like many of us are. Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Check out our site for tips for living & travelling around Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

We chat to Amy Butters, a British expat who feels like the ‘guiltiest expat' alive. When you become an expat, it's not unheard of to feel a sense of guilt and grief when leaving loved ones back home. Over the years, we all have to learn how to accept our new lives living in another country, while learning that life is continuing on without us back home. So, in this episode, we chat to Amy who just returned back from UK after a whirlwind trip home. Fresh off the plane, Amy explains what it was like visiting friends and family in January of all months. We talk about what life is like back home right now, how her friends and family are dealing with the energy crisis and how she feels being back in Australia. Listen right to the end because we discuss about why we should all be appreciating each and every day like we're only living the expat life for a short period of time. Changing our mindset could help us feel free from feeling like we're stuck between two worlds. Amy originally shared her moving to Australia story on our site which you can read here: https://londonerinsydney.com/amy-expat-central-coast-move/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Check out our site for tips for living & travelling around Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility: https://aurec.com - They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

In this episode we chat to Emma Edwards from The Broke Generation, a super popular Instagram, Tik Tok, weekly newsletter and popular podcast. She creates content, classes and courses that leverage the fields of money psychology and human behaviour to help us feel more financially confident. Emma is originally from UK and moved to Melbourne 7 years ago to be with her now Australian husband. In this episode, we chat all about her move to Australia, the psychology around money and how being an expat will cost you so much more than you can imagine. We also talk about having expenses back home after you move, what happens to your student loan and National Insurance, as well as how to make more money on the side. This is a fantastic episode I know you'll get so much out of! Make sure you follow Emma's content by typing in @thebrokegeneration wherever you get your podcasts from, Instagram and TikTok. Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Check out our site for tips for living & travelling around Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/

Meet Emma Weir, a British woman from Brighton, who ended up moving to Australia with her family after her husband's work relocated them to Sydney in 2017. She shares all the details from visiting Sydney, to moving over six months later, how she moved her cat over and what it was like living in Sydney. When Covid hit, Emma's husband lost his job and so they decided to take their kids out of school and embark on the famous Big Lap of Australia, travelling around the entire country in their caravan. She shares tips on how she home schooled her children, and how to prepare for travelling Australia in a van. When they finished their travelling Australia trip, Emma's family decided to move to Margaret River in Western Australia. Find out why they moved, and what life is like now they are living there. Emma previously shared her moving to Australia story on our site which you can read here: https://londonerinsydney.com/emma-swaps-sydney-for-van-life-in-australia/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://www.instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Check out our site for tips for living & travelling around Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only. migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

Read our Brutally Honest Tips For Visiting Bali here: https://londonerinsydney.com/honest-tips-for-visiting-bali-for-first-timers/ Having recently visited Bali for the first time, we're going to share what our experience was like, what perceptions we had before visiting and how did they match up for visiting one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. In this travel guide for Bali, learn about how Bali belly is a real thing, how Steve sprained his ankle and what happened at 5:31am which changed our entire holiday. We'll also talk about the famous Bali Beach Clubs, where to spend New Years Eve in Bali, how to book a driver, and the pros and cons for visiting Bali. We'll also talk about visiting Flores Island, famous for the Komodo Islands. Here we did an amazing trek to a remote village called Wae Rebo which you can read more about here: https://londonerinsydney.com/13-tips-for-visiting-wae-rebo-village-in-flores-indonesia/ We also visited the amazing Sumba Island which is a whole other world away from Bali. Think traditional villages, pristine landscape, wild swimming holes and waterfalls you'll get all to yourself and so much more. Some of the things we mention in this guide (not sponsored at all) We stayed at these amazing hotels in Bali: Seminyak: Maya Sayang Canggu: Villa Kano Ubud: Menzel Hotel Uluwatu: Gravity Hotel (adults only) We tried this hangover cure and it surprisingly worked: https://tend2.com.au/ We watched these videos to get an idea of various areas around Bali before visiting: https://www.youtube.com/@onlinebalidriverandtourstv Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://www.instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Follow more from us: https://theexpatrealitypodcast.com/ Check out our site for tips for living amd travelling around Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

We welcome Caroline Mc Kenna from A County Down Under in this week's episode of The Expat Reality Podcast! As Irelands biggest export to Australia, Caroline sits down with us to share her moving to Australia story, how she's become a big social media star, and how she's a mental health advocate for expats and young people all around the world. As a high school teacher, she also runs Sunrise Socials to build a community for people as they get together to watch the sunrise in various parts of the world. She also runs events in Sydney which sell out instantly and she's the host of a global Top 10 podcast around the world also called A County Down Under. In this episode Caroline talks about how she handles being known as a bit of a celebrity in Sydney, how she's encouraging her students to lead lives with passion and integrity and she shares tips for anyone unsure where they are supposed to live in the world – the never ending expat problems we are always facing. Caroline has shared her guide for the Best Irish Pubs in Sydney on our site which you can read here: https://londonerinsydney.com/best-irish-pubs-in-sydney/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Follow more from us: https://theexpatrealitypodcast.com/ Check out our site for tips on living in Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration and Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention ‘THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST' for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

In this episode of The Expat Reality Podcast, we discuss the questions you might like to talk about before marrying an Australian as an expat, what our wedding day looked like and why it wasn't the best day of our lives. We also chat about our adoption in Australia story as well as why Annie can't have children. Read more about the topics we talk about in our blog posts below: How Much Our Elopement Wedding Cost Us I didn't see infertility coming my way Why Bert Jewellery in Sydney is the most amazing ring designer How we planned our elopement wedding in the sunshine coast I ordered 6 wedding dresses online and this is what I ended up with If you're interested in doing an Elvis style wedding in Melbourne, check out The Altar Electric Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney @theexpatrealitypodcast Follow us on TikTok Check out our site for tips on living in Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention ‘THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST' for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

In this episode we'll dive right in and tell you all of the goss about what it was like being on House Hunters International TV show. This American TV show shares an expat's story moving abroad as they try to find a house to live in. We were approached to do this reality show after we started our expat site called Londoner In Sydney. You'll find out the logistics of filming, what characters we were moulded into and even the falling out we had with the producers! It was such an interesting experience and one we're glad we did! Read more about our House Hunters TV Show experience here: What I wore to be on House Hunters International: https://londonerinsydney.com/wore-tv/ How I prepared to be on House Hunters International: https://londonerinsydney.com/top-5-tips-to-prepare-for-a-tv-showl/ Looking to move to Sydney? Check out our Where to live in Sydney guide: https://londonerinsydney.com/where-to-live-in-sydney/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://www.instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Follow more from us: https://theexpatrealitypodcast.com/ Check out our site for tips on living in Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention ‘THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST' for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

We're super excited to have our first guest on The Expat Reality Podcast, Jordana Grace aka That British Girl. Jordana is very well-known on TikTok and Instagram for creating viral comedy videos about ‘Things They Should Tell You Before Coming To Australia'. Her TikTok currently stands at over 9 million likes and some of her Instagram reels have seen over 10 million views each! Expect to hear about why milk in Australia is so complicated, why a washing machine has its own room and hear about why you definitely need to be prepared for the magpie swooping season. This is a brilliantly funny expat podcast to help you laugh on the way to work, while you're on your morning jog or whenever you listen to podcasts. You can read all of Jordana's tips for coming to Australia on our site here: 14 Things They Should Tell You Before Coming To Australia https://londonerinsydney.com/things-they-should-tell-you-before-coming-to-australia/ If you're not following Jordana already, simply search @thejordanagrace on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram as we know you'll love her videos as much as we do! Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://www.instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Follow more from us: https://theexpatrealitypodcast.com/ Check out our site for tips on living in Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

Suffer from terrible gut issues too? We both suffer from extreme gut issues in Australia and weirdly, it seems to settle down whenever we leave the country (which again happened recently when we visited Italy & Greece). In this episode we're going to share our personal experiences of getting gut problems and what we've done to try and fix it. It's been a long, long battle as we've tried pretty much everything to get over the extreme bloating and gut pain we've been experiencing for years. After creating a video diary about doing the elemental diet, Annie is asked on a daily basis to share how she is now. So, we've decided to share what's happened since she did it in 2017 and a recent breakthrough that made the gut pain symptoms disappear overnight. Join our Gut Support group on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2227975800652873 If you're interested, check out our articles about our experience with bloating in Australia below. Why do I suffer from a bloated stomach in Australia? https://londonerinsydney.com/whats-wrong-with-my-stomach-i-have-sibo/ Why do expats suffer with gut issues in Australia? https://londonerinsydney.com/gut-health-issues-in-australia/ My Video diary on the Physicians Elemental Diet https://londonerinsydney.com/my-experience-on-the-physicians-elemental-diet-to-treat-sibo/ Did the Elemental Diet work? https://londonerinsydney.com/sibo-update-elemental-diet-work/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ @thelondonerinsydney : https://instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ Follow more tips about living in Australia, check out our site: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

In this episode we're going to talk all about the random things we love about living in Australia. Expect to hear about everything from Kmart, Bunnings, choc tops, Easter show bags and of course the practical things like having space, and access to rainforests, mountains, skiing, beaches and so much more. We hope you find this episode entertaining and reassuring for anyone who is especially missing home right now. If you're thinking of moving to Australia, this podcast might help you prepare for the move as well! Go camping and find out where the good spots are! https://www.wikicamps.com.au/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ @thelondonerinsydney : https://instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ Follow more tips about living in Australia, check out our site: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

Welcome back to The Expat Reality Podcast! We absolutely loved making this episode, which is our favourite yet! Expect us to tell you loads of funny stories about different situations we were faced within in both England and Australia! We're sharing loads of random stories about things we miss about England! We'll start off by talking about the thought of never having to deal with dangerous animals in England, unlike Australia! Hear about our funny story about how a huntsman nearly made us crash our car. We'll also talk about the random animals we've seen in the wild including snakes, camels, emus, kangaroos and more. Steve tells a funny story about how he only lasted three days working in a pub in England because he was totally confused by the different types of lagers you can order in UK. This randomly leads onto talking about that one time Annie worked behind the bar in a strip club in Darwin which was an experience she'll never forget. Hear about the different types of foods we miss from England and listen to Steve talk about scones, meal deals and so much more. We hope you find this episode entertaining and will help you remember all of the things you might miss about England too. And if you're moving to Australia, here's a few things to prepare you before you land Down Under. You can read more about things we miss about England in our article here: 23 Things I'll Miss About Living in England: https://londonerinsydney.com/things-i-will-miss-about-living-in-england/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://www.instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Follow more from us: https://theexpatrealitypodcast.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

In this episode we talk about what it was like when we moved back to England after living in Australia for 7 years. We'll share why we only lasted 6 months before we decided to move back to Australia. As an expat in Australia, I know only too well how difficult it can be to live so far from home. While we miss all of the good things about home, it's easy to forget how it can be challenging too. When I moved back to England, due to unforeseen circumstances, it just didn't work out for us and ultimately while I tried to re-create my old life, I realised I had moved on and that Australia had changed me. If you're moving from UK to Australia or thinking about moving from Australia to London for example, find out what made us move back to Australia within just 6 months. We'll also talk about what it was like trying to find a house and job, and of course the dreaded commute to work. We'll also talk about things we had missed about England but also seeing Australia totally differently. We also talk about how Annie went back just 9 months later to visit a friend in England after moving back to Australia again and realised so much about how it might be better to live in Australia and visit UK going forward. But how does Annie feel now? Find out what she would do different if we were to do it all again. You can read all about how we only lasted six months in Australia here: https://londonerinsydney.com/why-were-moving-back-to-australia-after-living-back-in-england-for-6-months/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney @theexpatrealitypodcast Follow more from us: https://theexpatrealitypodcast.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com .

In this expat podcast episode we're taking it right back and we're sharing why Annie left England and how she met Steve on her travels around the world in story that almost feels like a scene from a movie which could have been from Eat Pray Love. We're going to share all the details about how we've been coming and going from Australia since 2011 and we'll bring you right up to date about what we're up to now. Find out how our travels around Africa totally changed our lives, learn about some of the jobs Annie's had in Sydney and learn about how we ended up living regionally in Australia, which is where we are right now. Follow us on Instagram: @theexpatrealitypodcast and @thelondonerinsydney Read our award winning travel site which is full of expat stories and travel guides for living in Australia: londonerinsydney.com Watch / listen to more podcast episodes: theexpatrealitypodcast.com

In our very first episode we'll explain what The Expat Reality Podcast is all about. After running a successful expat site, we felt it's time to dig deeper and share insights and our thoughts about being an expat in Australia. We'll share why we started Londoner In Sydney, what it's like living in Australia and how it's not like being on a permanent holiday. We'll also talk about what it's like trying to fit into Australian life while navigating a new life and making friends in the process. We'll also talk about how we're trying to overcome our gut issues in Australia, and we'll share some of our favourite places to visit in Australia as well. If you're feeling like you're constantly being pulled in different directions, know that you're not alone as you try to settle in Australia. This podcast is all about opening up and trying to figure out where you're supposed to live in this world. We'll also talk about what it was like when we moved back to England, and why we've come back to Australia, and ultimately how becoming an expat can change you. We know only too well how expat guilt can become really exhausting that many expats move back home because of the fear of missing friends and family. And of course, join us as we are still in the search for finding our place in the world. And while we discuss all of this, we'll be talking about Home & Away, Muriel's Wedding, MAFS, travel pillows (the secret is more than one), and English pubs. Welcome to your new podcast to listen to each week! Follow us on Instagram: @theexpatrealitypodcast and @thelondonerinsydney Read our award winning travel site which is full of expat stories and travel guides for living in Australia: londonerinsydney.com Watch / listen to more podcast episodes: theexpatrealitypodcast.com