The Human Vibe

Now that we've made a more permanent move to Germany, we're excited to begin this new chapter in our lives and a new season of The Human Vibe! Last year, we decided to leave the United States and live in a different European country every three months. Throughout the journey, we've faced and experienced things that changed us individually and as a couple. In this episode, we discuss the past few weeks, putting down roots in southwestern Germany, and how the journey we've been on has changed our worldview. It's been a beautiful adventure so far and we can't wait to continue visiting new countries and telling you about our lives as expats in Europe. Listen in and thanks for vibing with us!

Hello, beautiful humans! This episode is Austin's first solo and the topic is one we've been asked a lot about. The housing market is wild globally right  now and Germany is no exception. In discussing his experiences finding a long-term apartment lease, Austin shares some of the highs and lows of doing something like this as a foreigner in Europe. From beginning to end, the process was like a roller coaster of emotions and learning moments. If you've ever been curious about the apartment hunting process in Germany (or Europe in general), listen in and thanks for vibing with us! 

We are so excited to be releasing our 20th episode! This was a really fun one  in which we continue some of our storytelling. Going back to Palermo in Sicily, we spent our last day of 2021 cooking some amazing food and experiencing celebration like we'd never seen (or heard) before. On the first day of 2022, we moved to Split, Croatia! We discussed our journey getting there and why it ended up being a place of spiritual growth and healing. From night-time nature bathing on a pebble beach to hiking the mountains around us, we took some time to slow down for a bit and refuel ourselves. In this episode we chat about our time leading up to the news that brought us to Germany and why Split was such an important milestone and spiritual refuge for us. Listen in and thanks for vibing with us!

As a follow-up to our previous episode in which Austin talked about being alone in Germany for six weeks, this episode will look at what Zach and Schnitzel experienced emotionally in Croatia during that same time. We get candid about facing inner demons, introspection, and the healing power of being in nature. This is an emotional one but we had so much fun recording! Listen in and thanks for vibing with us!

Hello, beautiful humans! We are so grateful to be all back together and reunited in southern Germany! In this episode, we dive into Austin's time alone here for six weeks. After receiving a job offer in nearby Karlsruhe, he left Zach and Schnitzel in Croatia and began the process of registering and obtaining his visa. From language and cultural barriers to dealing with poor WiFi connectivity, we discuss what that time period was like for Austin and how it led to our being in Germany, reunited. Listen along and thanks for vibing with us! 

After a gruesome six weeks living apart and in different countries, we're finally back together! In this episode we share more details about why we were apart, we'll talk more about our big news, and what our plans for this podcast and our adventures might be. Thank you to everyone who continues to listen to our stories because we couldn't do this without all your love and support! Cheers to being back together and more podcasts to come! Thanks for vibing with us.

Since our last episode was published, things in Europe have changed drastically. With the ongoing war crisis in Ukraine, we've experienced a monumental and historical shift in how Europeans see themselves in relation to one another. In this episode, Zach provides a solo update on some personal projects and announcements set to air in the next month or so, how we are doing safety-wise, what it's like to be in Europe right now, and how powerful solidarity is in supporting the Ukrainian people during this horrific  crisis.    Keeping ourselves up-to-date on what's going on in Ukraine and in Europe is important for our safety and we recommend Radio Free Europe as a great way to get ongoing news and updates.    Additionally, it's important that we support the Ukrainian people, many of whom are now refugees in other countries. One organization which seeks to assist refugees in crisis is The International Rescue Committee (IRC). The IRC assists refugees from Ukraine and other countries' citizens who are fleeing war and violence.    This isn't a typical episode but we wanted to make sure we provide an update on our well being and reiterate how important it is to stand together as human beings during this difficult time. Thank you so much for your ongoing support, and thanks for vibing with us.

Our Thanksgiving weekend in 2021 was anything but traditional. We decided to take a train to Sicily's southeastern most point to the beautiful city of Siracusa (Syracuse), which was, at one point, one of the most important cities in all of the Greek empire. The Isola di Ortigia (Island of Ortigia) is a gem filled with some of the most stunning ancient temples and examples of Greek and Byzantine architecture in the Mediterranean. From grilled sardine bruschetta to German-speaking Italian waiters and a late-night concert outside the window of our B&B, this was a weekend we'll always remember. We're so excited to share this beautiful memory with all of you! Thanks for vibing with us!

Travel isn't alway glamorous, especially when you live in a foreign country for months at a time. In November, Zach was attacked and robbed while walking back to the apartment. His phone was stolen and the aftermath brought up a great deal of emotional trauma. In this episode we discuss the not-so-easy side of being vulnerable as a foreigner and how empathy is the ultimate tool in finding a way to forgive and fully heal, even in the face of something painful. In the end, this unfortunate event hasn't dampened our passion for traveling and exploring other places, cultures, etc. These conversations are important to have because being human is complex and filled with diverse experiences, both good and bad. Thank you to our friends, family, and greatest supporters for being there and joining us through this journey. Thank you so much for vibing with us!

On the last warm day of 2021, in early November in Sicily, we took a train ride to the beautiful north-coast town of Cefalù. We didn't know what to expect but the small town nestled between tall mountains and the blue Mediterranean Sea quickly became one of our favorite places in all of Sicily. We swam in the sea, explored the winding roads of the old town, stood in the stunning Norman-era cathedral, ate incredible food, and took a jump off a medieval pier. We are so excited to share with you our beautiful day in Cefalù! Thanks for vibing with us!

In this second part of our solo trip episodes we talk about Zach's journey through Austria and Germany. From Vienna to Munich and then Heidelberg, we discuss crying in front of Gustav Klimt's masterpiece painting "The Kiss," eating a traditional Austrian meal, and taking a train to Munich. This conversation was so much fun and we cannot wait for you all to join in on the beautiful adventure. Thanks for vibing with us! 

This is the first episode of a two-part series where we discuss solo trips we both took in October 2021! Austin did something for the first time ever and planned a solo trip by himself in a foreign country. Traveling to Taormina in Sicily exceeded his expectations and in this episode we dive into the sights, smells, and sounds of one of Italy's most beautiful and not-as-well-known gems. From an ancient amphitheater on the edge of a cliff above the Mediterranean to meeting new friends from around the world, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Thanks for vibing with us!

Our first few weeks in Palermo, the capital city of Sicily in Italy, were anything but boring. We take you on a journey in this episode around the ancient and, at times, wild streets of Palermo. We discuss everything from architecture, history, and food, to Sicilian culture and how we experienced some major travel disruptions which kept some dear friends from visiting us. When living abroad, you never know what tomorrow is going to look like! Listen in as we talk about our first few weeks in Italy and thanks for vibing with us!   *Social and website links from this episode:   The Facebook Page for Maqueda Bistrot, our favorite place for an Aperol Spritz and a small pasta dish here in Palermo!   Our friends, Jami and Travis, took a leap of faith and opened their own business, Reclaimed By Grace (RBG) and are truly incredible humans. We have a feeling that, although travel plans fell through this time, we'll be seeing and collaborating with them here in Europe soon. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram! 

Hello, beautiful humans! In episode 9 of The Human Vibe we're taking a moment to reflect on some tough but wonderful emotional things we've gone through and tackled since living abroad. We discuss the power of grace for others and our own self, as well as the beauty of empathy. Living abroad forces a lot of emotional things to the surface so in today's episode we are bluntly honest about that. From the personal struggles with anxiety we faced prior to leaving the U.S. to gaining patience while immersed in Italian culture, we are honest about what we've been going through. Listen in and thanks for vibing with us!   *In this episode we talk about a collaboration with The Overseas Dream. Check out their Instagram account @theoverseasdream where they have some wonderful conversations with others about living abroad*

Continuing with our harrowing adventure from Dublin to Paris on our way to Sicily, the second part of 'Farewell Ireland, Hello Italy!' details five wild hours we spent at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Thankfully, we made it to Palermo in Italy but immediately felt the culture shock after living in southwest Ireland. The landscape, weather, housing architecture, and people were vastly different and even on the first day we knew prepared ourselves for a major change for the coming three months. We're so excited to share our learning moments in Italy, which come in waves of excitement and discomfort at times. Listen to how we got to Sicily in 'Farewell Ireland, Hello Italy!' Part 1 and 2; thanks for vibing with us!

In the first part of 'Farewell Ireland, Hello Italy!' we talk about our emotional goodbye to Ireland after living there for three months. Our last full day was filled with so many beautiful goodbyes to friends we made for a lifetime. Getting to the airport in Dublin with all our belongings, though, was no cake walk. We drove on the 'other side' of the road and car for the first time (we survived!) and hit a lot of obstacles getting on our connecting flight to Paris before heading on to Palermo in Sicily. Check out Part 1 of 'Farewell Ireland, Hello Italy!' and thanks for vibing with us!

In this episode we talk about an incredible weekend we spent in Killarney, which is nestled in the mountains and on a lake in County Kerry, Ireland! Celebrating a friend's birthday, we experienced an Irish 'party town' and took a journey into the wilderness. From a group of French people having a picnic in the mountains to one of the most beautiful waterfalls we've ever seen, we discuss one of the best weekends we've had since being in Europe. Listen in and thanks for vibing with us!

Hello, beautiful humans! In this episode we talk about some of our memorable eating and drinking experiences while living in Southwest Ireland. Food has a powerful way of bringing us together and providing a sense of history and culture to our taste buds. Join us as we talk about Irish stout beers, the best soda bread in Ireland (in our opinion), and how County Cork is the culinary capital of the country!   Here are social media and website links to some of the places we highlight and discuss. Feel free to give them a like! - Boru Coffee Shop on Instagram and their Facebook page - 3 Little Piggies on Facebook - Cork Coffee Roasters on Instagram and their official website - St. Luke's Wine Tavern on Instagram and their Facebook page - Quinlan's Seafood Bar, Cork on Facebook - The Raven Bar, Cork on Instagram and their official website - Stone House Restaurant & B&B, Sneem on Facebook    Thanks for vibing with us! 

In this episode we take time to address something very real for anyone who makes a major life change: culture shock. Although we associate the shock of being in another culture with being abroad, it happens to all of us, no matter where we are in the world. We talk about our experiences and how we have learned to overcome the emotional anxiety we feel when we encounter culture shock on our personal journey.    As an additional note, if you or someone you know is suffering from mental health-related issues, always seek out professional help. You are not alone. A great online resource with a catalog of mental health assistance programs is Mental Health First Aid.    Thanks for vibing with us!

In this episode we re-cap our July adventures in Ireland. From ancient stone structures to swimming with jellyfish during an Irish heat wave, we had an incredible first month living abroad! Living in another country is a big adjustment, but when you have a tribe of loving friends, it makes things a lot easier.   Make sure to follow The Human Vibe on Instagram to see photos of our travels and other content related to this podcast.   Also! We love to talk about and referencing one of our favorite travel content-creating couples, Kara & Nate! Follow their journeys on YouTube and Instagram

Continuing with our decision to move abroad, we talk about the wild day we had when we left the U.S., what it was like to travel with our miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, and we chat a bit about overcoming some emotional adjustment in our first two weeks in Ireland!

In our very first episode we discuss what brought us to the point of deciding to move abroad. From dealing with the pandemic lockdown as a couple to addressing serious, internal questions about our happiness, we talk about the events leading up to our big decision. Listen now to 'If Not Now, When?' part 1!