Podcasts about swisspats

This week SwissPats get a special guest, a two in one - Joe visits us as himself, to tell us about his Drag persona - Odette Hella'Grand. Odette is the best Drag artist in Basel (she has the awards to prove it!) and one of very few drag performers who live and work in Basel. Bringing shows that are suitable for all adults in Basel, regardless of if you're a Swiss native, an expat or a visitor, Odette has thrilled with glitz and glamour while aiming to make Basel's Drag scene an integral part of Switzerlands entertainment circuit - and we at SwissPats think she is doing an awesome job! To see Odette in show in Basel, head to odettehellagrand.ch where you can click on the links to buy tickets for the Oh G! It's Drag, the Roasting Edition, set to take place on Oct. 9 2020. Or head directly to starticket.ch to book your ticket. Follow Odette at www.instagram.com/odettehellagrand as well as her friend and makeup artist, fellow drag queen Dita Whip www.instagram.com/ditawhip *** Don't forget to like and subscribe, follow and download!⁣⁣ *** To listen ~~ ⁣ Anchor - https://anchor.fm/swisspats Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/swisspats/id1255274540 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1OKeUnxaZCiagpG88isB5g⁣ ***

Today Shirin joins SwissPats to tell us all about coffee - from living and working in the coffee regions of Papua New Guinea, to buying and selling beans for Peets and Nespresso in USA, Singapore and Switzerland. Shirin is knowledgeable and passionate about coffee, and wants you to get to know your coffee roaster - where do your beans come from? Are you buying sustainable beans? She certainly made Suzi eager to sniff a cup of freshly roasted coffee! Visit Shirin at the Carouge Farmers Markets near Geneva every Saturday and www.instagram.com/sweetbeancoffeeswitzerland and www.sweet-bean-coffee.ch *** Don't forget to like and subscribe, follow and download!⁣ ⁣ To listen ~~ ⁣ Anchor - https://anchor.fm/swisspats Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/swisspats/id1255274540 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1OKeUnxaZCiagpG88isB5g⁣ ⁣ To leave a review go to our Facebook or iTunes page!⁣ ⁣ https://www.facebook.com/Swisspats⁣ ⁣ https://www.instagram.com/swisspats ***

Cary Rick is this week's esteemed guest on SwissPats, and he joins a guest co host! Gary Colen is a friend of Suzi, and has been kind enough to take some of the SwissPats load. We think you will enjoy hearing a different voice and it’ll be nice to get back into the studio with 2 voices instead of 1! But back to this week's guest... Cary hails from Chicago, and has spent so long in Europe he feels much more at home here. Not only has he had a successful career in acting and dancing, but he has worked with many people to make their lives better through Movement Analysis and the creation of Institut fur Bewegungsanalyse. Click the link below for the Les Arts Sceniques theatre company run by Cary and Martina Rich. https://lesartssceniques.ch/en/home/ *** Don't forget to like and subscribe, follow and download!⁣ ⁣ To listen ~~ ⁣ Anchor - https://anchor.fm/swisspats Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/swisspats/id1255274540 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1OKeUnxaZCiagpG88isB5g⁣ ⁣ To leave a review go to our Facebook or iTunes page!⁣ ⁣ https://www.facebook.com/Swisspats⁣ ⁣ https://www.instagram.com/swisspats ***

Dr. Ruby Bakshi Khurdi is an award winning International Motivational Public Speaker, Global Goodwill Ambassador for Switzerland, Chairperson for All Ladies League, Charismatic Educationist, Social Entrepreneur, Leadership & Cultural Trainer. She has been nominated Most Inspirational Female Entrepreneur of 2017 by Swiss Entrepreneur Magazine. She is a Role Model and Mentor to International students from Business and Hospitality Management Colleges. WOAH! What a resume! And she joined Suzi to discuss her 20 year Swiss journey to create this supportive network for women in Switzerland. Follow Dr Ruby on her YouTube page and join in her webinar on 22nd May on Managing Emotional Intelligence, information in the eventbrite website below. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_GI2pV0T8Lo7O-oYRnyVpQ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/billets-managing-emotional-intelligence-103335059946?fbclid=IwAR0HcuLBKzpD1l2xAVKxWMZJm85OnEt9vp0OTfIuKS2NIvOjQTbcprxp6NI Don't forget to like and subscribe, follow and download!⁣ ⁣ To listen ~~ ⁣ https://anchor.fm/swisspats https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/swisspats/id1255274540 ⁣ https://open.spotify.com/show/1OKeUnxaZCiagpG88isB5g⁣ ⁣ To leave a review go to our Facebook or iTunes page!⁣ ⁣ https://www.facebook.com/Swisspats⁣ ⁣ https://www.instagram.com/swisspats

Grace joined Suzi to discuss her journey from the Philippines to Switzerland... all in the name of love. In the 9 years Grace has been in Switzerland, she has made a name for herself as a woman who really can do anything - she's hosted very successful galas all over the world, including at the Dolder Grand in Zurich. On top of that, Grace runs her own party supply business AND is the owner of the first of its kind in the Philippines - the Hello Kitty House, which brings joy to those that live near the village she grew up in. Grace admits that the chance to follow her dreams is becuase of her wonderful family - both those still living in the Philippines and her Swiss family. To follow Grace's story and see photos from her past events and Hello Kitty house museum, follow the links below. https://www.facebook.com/GraceMengulloLeupi/ https://www.facebook.com/GraceLeupiHelloKittyHouse/ Dont forget to like and subscribe, follow and download! To listen ~~ https://anchor.fm/swisspats https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/swisspats/id1255274540?l=en https://open.spotify.com/show/1OKeUnxaZCiagpG88isB5g Don't forget to comment, like and share all of SwissPats social media. To leave a review go to our Facebook or iTunes page! https://www.facebook.com/Swisspats https://www.instagram.com/swisspats

Maria Zioga joined Suzi this week to discuss her journey from a career in politics, hoping to change the world, to a world of wine - but not like you'd expect. Maria also lets us know what being a diplomats wife is like, and tells us the realities of living country to country, for set periods of time. As expats we may understand to some degree, but imagine not having the choice to stay, or having to stay somewhere you hate. Maria tells us how she's coped with that, and what she has decided to do as a result. You can join Maria on her Wine Tasting events online, which have been such a huge success that Maria will continue them even after life goes back to "normal", a positive outcome from the lock down situation! If you're in the Geneva area, Maria will continue the wine tasting events in town, as soon as she is allowed! Follow Maria @genevawinesociety on facebook and instagram, as well as @vinum_lore for regular updates on what Maria is drinking, what she thinks of it and interesting and fun information on grapes, regions and more. To join a meetup event go to https://www.meetup.com/Geneva-wine-meetup/ Dont forget to like and subscribe, follow and download! To listen ~~ https://anchor.fm/swisspats https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/swisspats/id1255274540?l=en https://open.spotify.com/show/1OKeUnxaZCiagpG88isB5g Don't forget to comment, like and share all of SwissPats social media. To leave a review go to our Facebook or iTunes page! https://www.facebook.com/Swisspats https://www.instagram.com/swisspats

This week Suzi caught up with Don to see how life is treating him back in the ol' US of A, finding out if he has managed to settle into life back home. It seems to be corona as usual, for Don, for Suzi... for everyone! Suzi also discusses a birthday coming up in her home, and wonders how others have handled Corona Birthdays. To listen ~~ https://anchor.fm/swisspats https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/swisspats/id1255274540?l=en https://open.spotify.com/show/1OKeUnxaZCiagpG88isB5g Don't forget to comment, like and share all of SwissPats social media- as well as let us know about what local businesses you are supporting during the quarantine. To leave a review go to our Facebook or iTunes page! https://www.facebook.com/Swisspats https://www.instagram.com/swisspats

Rylla is SwissPats Reimagined host - sharing stories of peoples life abroad, reimagined. Rylla is the author of Trailing Spouses Reimagined, and spent a solid chunk of her own expat life preparing for, interviewing, and curating the book which delves deep into the life of men and women who've followed their partners to create a new life as an expat. This weeks episode brings Rylla and SwissPats own Don Delco together to tell us about his journey, from the beginning in Basel and the advice to stock up at Costco, to the bittersweet end where his family make the decision to return to the USA to further his wife's career. Thank you to Rylla for her awesome interview, and to Don Delco for being his usual self (yoga pants, really!). Don't forget to comment, like and share - as well as let us know about what local businesses you are supporting during the quarantine. To leave a review go to our Facebook or iTunes page!

Pragati Siddhanti joined Suzi and Don a few weeks ago, before the great Lockdown of 2020, to tell us about her journey from India to Switzerland, from being a career woman to finding a passion project all while studying and taking on new activities she wasn't used to. Pragati hadn't been an expat until she made the leap to Basel, and there were lots of challenges, hurdles and discoveries for not only her, but her family too. Joining forces with her sister Pragati began blogging at beforbeauty.com before creating her own blog about being an Indian expat in Basel. On her website myswissstory.com you can find awesome articles, features (including SwissPats own feature!) and more. To download her free Ebook at https://myswissstory.com/2019/09/11/21-hidden-gems-of-switzerland/ or visit Amazon for a copy. Follow this weeks guest on instagram at instagram.com/pragatisiddhanti Don't forget to comment, like and share all of SwissPats social media- as well as let us know about what local businesses you are supporting during the quarantine. To leave a review go to our Facebook or iTunes page! https://www.facebook.com/Swisspats https://www.instagram.com/swisspats

Don and Suzi drove to Zug to meet the inspiring and fun Maricela Robles, the author of You Don't Need a Body to Sail a Boat, as well as 3 other books. Originally a lawyer in London, Maricela transitioned to published writer after finding solace in mediation, all the while embarking on a journey that took her from Mexico to London to Switzerland. Good news for parents, SwissPats is giving away 2 copies of You Don't Need a Body to Sail a Boat. All you have to do is comment below letting us know you'd like a copy, and Suzi will send a copy to 2 lucky winners. Follow Maricela and her meditation journey for kids at meditationfairy.com and @meditationfairy on instagram. Use #thisismeditation and #iamamediationfairy to keep up to date with other Meditation Fairies! Don't forget to comment, like and share - as well as let us know about what local businesses you are supporting during the quarantine. To leave a review go to our Facebook or iTunes page!

Don was still with SwissPats when he and Suzi travelled in the pouring rain to the outskirts of Zurich to visit Danna Levy Hoffmann and her husband Georg to hear all about Organalicious, Danna's health coach business. Danna takes us on a journey from USA and Israel to Switzerland and explains why her family where a huge part of her healthy lifestyle story. You can visit Danna online at www.organilicious.ch/ Just because we are all stuck inside, doesnt mean this guest episode is going to waste - Danna explains that you can still use her services during lock down, and why now more than ever its important to look after our health.

In the final special series on Covid19 where Suzi speaks to people all over the world, we get an insight into the different stages that some countries are currently in - with the understanding that these stages are changing rapidly - what is in place today may be ramped up tomorrow. Also, how is the community coming together to support those vulnerable members of society? In this episode we meet Maureen in Thailand, Barbora in Netherlands, Nishan in Finland, Ben in Sweden and Gemma in England.  Before the interviews, Dr Michelle Wright from Health Matters provides some medical information for those living in Switzerland. Visit https://coronavirus.unisante.ch/  Thank you to Dr Michelle Wright for providing this service. To listen to this Special Edition episode, as well as Episode 1 and 2, visit SwissPats at www.swisspats.com www.facebook.com/Swisspats www.instagram.com/swisspats https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/swisspats/id1255274540?l=en https://open.spotify.com/show/2poqC63ETtbuZw8IxDAvZM?si=pzeELgQcQpusKCFTyXoUXg >>>Also on PlayerFM, PodBean, Stitcher and Google Play

Today Suzi brings you another Covid19 special episode after talking to women all over the world about their personal situations dealing with the coronavirus. Suzi speaks to Hoda in Belgium, Ipsita in Hong Kong, Kim in Albania, Tess in Spain and Laura and Sarah in Singapore.  Before the interviews, Dr Michelle Wright from Health Matters provides some medical information for those living in Switzerland. Visit https://coronavirus.unisante.ch/ Thank you to Dr Michelle Wright for providing this service.  To listen to this Special Edition episode, as well as Episode 1, visit SwissPats at  www.swisspats.com www.facebook.com/Swisspats www.instagram.com/swisspats https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/swisspats/id1255274540?l=en https://open.spotify.com/show/2poqC63ETtbuZw8IxDAvZM?si=-CHhcC2YTimH094W9tYbig >>>Also on PlayerFM, PodBean, Stitcher and Google Play

ANNOUNCEMENT! No ads, no guests - SwissPats Suzi and Don are bringing you this unscheduled episode to make an announcement - the SwissPats Duo have officially become an Uno. Breaking up is hard to do, and that is true even for expat friends. Suzi and Don started the SwissPats as a passion project and something to do as expat stay at home parents, but become fast friends who relied on each other, supported each other and had genuine love and care for each other and their families. On this episode we discuss the feelings of leaving, plus the unknown realities of moving home during a pandemic.  SwissPats isn't over, it will continue. But it will sound different for a while. We thank you with the deepest gratitude for your support over the last 3 years, and hope you will continue to listen and support this passion project of ours.

Each month the SwissPats bring you all the coolest and most entertaining events throughout Switzerland. We had something planned for you for March 2020. There were football games, car shows, ski marathons, jazz festivals, a women's expo and of course, the Basel Fasnacht. Well, those have all been cancelled. On Feb. 28 the Swiss government imposed a ban on public events that gathered more than 1,000 because of the coronavirus outbreak. So instead of discussing what is happening in March, which is mostly NOTHING, Suzi and Don chat about the nothingness that is occurring in Switzerland. We promise it is more entertaining than that sentence makes it sound. 

The SwissPats travelled to Cow Country — Baerau, Switzerland — where CEO Roger Kern gave us a tour of their factory and even allowed us to help make a bell. After a long day in the factory, they sat down to chat about his journey from IT to Bell Maker in his family's foundry.  The SwissPats also discuss naked dining in Basel and a growing rat population throughout the country.

The SwissPats traveled to the heart of Swiss watch making - Biel/Bienne - to interview Giselle Rufer Delance, who is the woman behind Delance watches, which are the only Swiss watch brand created by a woman. The discussion ranges from her childhood without a father to her trail-blazing education to finally battling the male-dominated culture of Swiss watchmaking in the 1980s and 90s.

Suzi and Don traveled to Zurich to talk chocolate, specifically Swiss chocolate, with the co-founders of Attimo Chocolate, Olivia Madet and Alain Mettler. But wait, there's more. Attimo made world-wide news late last year by producing a CHF 640.- chocolate bar weighing 80 grams. They are listed in the Guinness World Record Book as having, "the world’s most expensive chocolate."  SwissPats listeners can WIN ONE OF THESE BARS. Download and listen to this episode to find out how. (Note: Winner must be located in Europe.) Good luck!

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. We may be in the heart of ski season, but there is more to do than carve the groomed pistes of Switzerland.  From the beginning of the month that features is a charity concert for the Australian Bushfires in Basel to the end of the month and the carnival in Bern with plenty in between like igloo building, whiskey and music festival, a drag show and where you can find a 6-kilometer toboggan run.  Charity concert for Australian Bushfire Relief | Feb. 1 | Basel Whiskey & Music Festival | Feb. 1-2 | Metropol Restaurant, Zurich My Mother Country – Paintings of the Aborigines | Feb. 2 | Kunsthaus, Zug Inside the Creative Mind | Feb. 4 | Freie Musikschule, Basel Expat Expo | Feb. 9 | Congress Center, Basel Afternoon Tea & Quiz | Feb. 14 | St. Ursula Church, Bern Oh G! It's Drag | Feb. 21 | Parterre Kultur, Basel Igloo building | Feb. 22 | Trübsee Engelberg The Dinosaurs' Garden | all month | Garden Centre in Gland 6 km Toboggan Ride | all month | Preda Carnival | Feb. 27-29 | Bern

We are in the thick of ski season so Don and Suzi welcomed on Dave Burrows of the SnowPros Ski School to discuss what he does, his teaching philosophies and, even some golf. (Sorry, Suzi). In addition, the SwissPats get a bit violent talking about a news item that involves a Swiss taxi driver his taser and a movie shoot that involved some actual shooting.

In the 100th episode of SwissPats podcast, Don and Suzi discuss two new Swiss rules for 2020 that may or may not impact you as well as the country's new president. Did you know there was a new president? Most people didn't! They also welcome on Catherine Peloquin who is the president of the Basel's Toastmasters Club. What is Toastmasters? Where is Catherine from and how long has she been in Switzerland? Why does she love hiking the Swiss Alps so much? LIsten to find out. Happy New Year!

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. It may be the middle of the winter but there is plenty to get out of your cozy chalet to do and see beginning with family ski days to a light festival in Luzern, to a snow festival in Grindewald, a hot air festival in Château-d’Oex and even a museum night in Basel. (0:56) Three Kings Day | Jan 6. (3:36) Women Back to Business | Jan. 13 | Zurich (5:52) Famigro Ski Days | all winter (8:52) Lilu Licht Festival | Jan. 9-19 | Luzern (10:39) PhotoZürich | Jan. 10-14 (12:35) World Snow Festival | Jan. 20-25 | Grindewald (15:08) World Web Forum | Jan. 16-17 | Zurich (17:21) International Hot Air Balloon Festival | Jan. 25-Feb. 2 | Château-d’Oex (20:56) Museum Night | Jan. 17 | Basel (24:34) Cheese Festival | Jan. 26 | Markthalle Basel

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. It's pretty simple for December: Christmas Markets. Don and Suzi discuss the different markets around Switzerland including the biggest one - Basel. Since that's where they live it's the one they know the best, but exploring the different markets makes December in this country so much fun.  Top Christmas Markets in Switzerland: Basel Bern Geneva Lausanne Locarno Luzern Montreux Zurich

The SwissPats are back with the third edition of its latest series - Life Abroad Reimagined with Rylla Resler. The Trailing Spouse Reimagined, a book written by Resler and her co-authors Francesca Incocciati and Adriana Quarck, explore the real challenges and true joys of life abroad as a trailing partner. The book was based on dozens of interviews with men and women who have relocated to Switzerland for their partners' career, and this podcast seeks to continue what the authors started. For the third episode, Resler interviewed Howard Austin, a New Zealander who left behind his surfing life to follow his wife to her native Oberwil where he established himself as a nationally accredited practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. For more information on the book, click here.  

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. (2:08) Wasserturmcup (underwater rugby) | Nov. 2 | Luzern (6:02) The Lumineers | Nov. 6 | Zurich Halle 622 (7:22) 23rd International Kurzfilmtage | Nov. 5-10 | Winterthur (9:25) Rocknacht | Nov. 8 | ISC Club Bern (12:30) Theater Sports | Nov. 14 | Zurich Improv Comedy (14:12) Ólafur Arnalds | Nov. 12 | Zurich Halle 622 (16:32) Lausanne Festival of Lights | Nov. 21-Dec. 31 (18:54) Frontofbicycle Exhibition | Nov. 15 | Basel Art Center (21:20) From Basel, With Love | Nov. 16 | Braswell Arts Center (22:10) Zibelemärit (Onion Market) | Nov. 25 | Bern (29:52) "What The Dickens?!" | Nov. 21-24 | Lausanne

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. (1:21) Whiskey and More | Oct. 4-5 | Geneva (2:57) The Cheese Market | Oct. 4-5 Huttwil (4:21) Baby & Kid Planet | Oct. 4-6 | Lausanne (6:05) Oktoberfest | Oct. 5-6 | Wädenswil (7:30) Flute Festival | Oct. 4-6 | Gland (8:40) Zurich Film Festival | ends Oct. 6 (10:55) Zurich Tech Job Fair | Oct. 9 (12:27) Grape Harvest Festival | Oct. 11-13 | Cheyres (13:51) Living in a Box: Design and Comics | ends Oct. 20 | Vitra Design Museum (16:18) Shnit (short film festival) | Oct. 17-27 | Bern (18:43) Swiss Indoors Tennis Tournament | Oct. 19-27 | Basel (23:05) Career Relaunch Conference | Oct. 22 | Zurich (24:46) English courses | Volkshochschule Basel (28:07) Truffle Market | Oct. 26 | Bonvillars (30:05) Herbstmesse | Oct. 26-Nov. 12 | Basel

Welcome to the latest edition of SwissPats where Don and Suzi are back to play one of the hottest game shows sweeping the nation: Which thing was invented in Switzerland? They also discuss the urban myth that Swiss housing authorities do not allow residents to flush a toilet between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The SwissPats welcome author and new expat Tammy Lynn Stoner, who has just released her debut novel, SUGAR LAND. Tammy has lived in 16 cities in three countries and is somewhat new to Switzerland as she is still adjusting to life here after moving with her wife and three kids earlier this year. She not only discusses her new book, but also the odd jobs she's had -- biscuit maker, medical experimentee and waitress in a Greek diner to name a few -- and how her dog became friends with a Swiss cow.

The SwissPats are back with its newest series - Life Abroad Reimagined with Rylla Resler. The Trailing Spouse Reimagined, a book written by Resler and her co-authors Francesca Incocciati and Adriana Quarck, explore the real challenges and true joys of life abroad as a trailing partner. The book was based on dozens of interviews with men and women who have relocated to Switzerland for their partners' career, and this podcast seeks to continue what the authors started. For the second episode, Resler interviewed her co-author Adriana Quarck. For more information on the book, click here.

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. September means the end of summer, but it doesn’t mean the fun slows down. The Swiss wine regions are the spotlight here, as there are numerous festivals celebrating the wine harvests, but also a night of American female comics, a cupcake festival for kids, a hike with beer tastings and even an Oktoberfest if you can't make it to Munich. Prost! Fantoche International Animation Film Festival | Sept. 3-8 American Standup Show Basel | Sept. 5 30 Years: Vitra Design Museum | Sept. 6 Traditional Grape Harvest Festival | Spiez | Sept. 8-9 Basel Cupcake Festival 2019 | Sept. 8 Le Temps du Cornalin | Sept. 14 Bierwanderig Ägerisee | Sept. 14 Parenting with Awareness | Cham | Sept. 17 Varen Wine Festival | Sept. 20-21 SlowUp Zürichsee | Sept. 22 International Week of Happiness at Work for Switzerland | Sept. 23-27 Oktoberfest Wädenswil | Sept. 27-28

There is no slowing down the drive of Chantal Vroom. (See what we did there?) She calls herself a communications trainer and while she self-deprecatingly said it may sound boring, the chat with the SwissPats was anything but. She covers her journey to Switzerland, having now two kids in this country, how she learned how to draw, what she learned from attending something called “Fuck Up Nights” and how she survived being Suzi's neighbor. Suzi and Don also discuss why a 5-year old was fined in Schaffhausen and how the Swiss schools are facing a language issue.

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. July was full of festivals and that continues this summer month, as Suzi and Don discuss a rock festival in a Roman amphitheater, a classical musical festival in Lucerne and two in Zurich - the star-studded Zurich Open Air and the techno-flavored Zurich Street Parade. Also, there is the Taste of Zermatt, a celebration of buskers in Bern and free - YES, FREE - productions of Pinocchio and Pocohontas in Basel.

The SwissPats are proud to announce its newest series - Life Abroad Reimagined with Rylla Resler. The Trailing Spouse Reimagined, a book written by Resler and her co-authors Francesca Incocciati and Adriana Quarck, explore the real challenges and true joys of life abroad as a trailing partner. The book was based on dozens of interviews with men and women who have relocated to Switzerland for their partners' career, and this podcast seeks to continue what the authors started. For the first episode, Resler interviewed her co-author Francesca Incocciati. For more information on the book, click here.

Don and Suzi also talk their summer holiday plans and the odd results of a study where Switzerland is considered the "worst in Europe" for being family-friendly. Whaaaat?!?!   As for this week's guest, Ariane Tavakol, her path to Switzerland was not a direct route. She left Iran at age 7 for Paris followed by stops in Los Angeles, New York City and even Buenos Aires. That has created a unique story and background for Tavakol and today she lives in Zurich. She joined the SwissPats to discuss her luxury lifestyle webzine, Discover Out Loud, and her latest role as a personal growth strategist.

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. Suzi and Don talk festivals and, hoo boy, are there a lot of festivals this month throughout Switzerland. There's a wine festival near #Vevey that happens only once every 25 years and Züri Fäscht that happens only once every three years. Music festivals cover a wide range of genres like opera, classical music, New Orleans jazz, country and blues, as well as events surrounding the alpenhorn, shepherds and their sheep and Switzerland's national sport, Schwingen.

David Max joins the SwissPats as he discusses his new shop in Basel,  Dandy Delirium. This boutique clothing store specializes in eccentric fashion that you can wear to work or at play. Its inspiration comes from Max living in the Soho neighborhood of New York City in the 1980s. Suzi and Don also chat about how much a 3-year-old’s curiosity cost an artist at Art Basel, they read a list of the world's most and least dangerous countries and both have trouble wrapping their heads around what is it’s like to date in Switzerland. Spoiler: It’ll cost you. 

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. Suzi and Don talk Shakespeare at a castle, Zurich Pride Festival, Art Basel, a street art festival, UNESCO World Heritage Days, the Rapperswil Blues & Jazz festival, a trout festival and the ability to witness cows hike up a mountain.  A Midsummer Night's Dream | June 3 | Castle Chillion, Veytaux | mwoker@hotmail.com Street Arts Festival | June 7 | Ascona Gotthelf Märit (historic farmers market) | June 8 | Sumiswald World Heritage Days | June 8-9 | 11 locations in Switzerland, see website Zurich Pride Festival | June 14-15 Rapperswil Blues & Jazz Festival | June 14-15 49th Trout Festival | June 29 | Lake Pfäffikon Alpine Ascent Engstligenalp | end of June | Adelboden to Engstligenalp  

TAK Ertzinger stopped by the SwissPats to discuss her new poetry book "Found: Between the Trees" available now at GreyBorders.com. The personal story of this American/Swiss poet and artist with a Latino background doesn't end there. She also discusses her battle with PTSD and how that led to her new found love of hiking and experiencing a pilgrimage throughout Switzerland.  Don and Suzi also talk Eurovision and how a Swiss movie theater's new seating option is simply a bad idea.

Don and Suzi welcomed on Susan Brownfield, a singer, actor, director and teacher who is one of two people behind the creation of Boutique Theatre Basel. From 7 June to 23 June, Brownfield is directing the musical, "The Last 5 Years." She joined the SwissPats to discuss that, as well as her journey from Oregon, to Boston, to Maine to Bulgaria and now to Switzerland. For more information on the musical, visit boutiquetheatrebasel.com.  The SwissPats also discuss the wild May snowstorm that hit Switzerland last weekend, and an odd quirk to the toilets on the older SBB trains.

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. Suzi and Don talk cow fighting championships - no, that wasn't a typo - a foodie heaven in #Zurich, a TedX talk in Basel, a place where Volkswagon Beetle lovers are gathering, a run in Bern that is considered the "most beautiful 10 miles in the world, and more! Lausanne Art Fair | May 2-5 Cow Fighting Championships | May 4-5 | Sion Dinner & Yodeling concert | May 5 | Hoher Kasten Kafertreffen | May 2-5 | Aaregg at Lake Brienz Grand Prix | May 11 | Bern TedX | May 11 | Basel Food Zurich | May 16-26 Fribourg Tattoo Convention | May 24-26

Author Margaret Oertig-Davidson joined SwissPats to discuss her new book, The New Beyond Chocolate, as well as her journey from Scotland to Switzerland. The book, according to publisher Bergli Books, "examines the Swiss through the eyes of hundreds of people who have lived and worked here, and [Oertig-Davidson's] insight will help any reader gain respect and understanding for the diverse people that make up Swiss society." The SwissPats also discusses why Suzi no longer believes in ghosts, Don laments over his awesome pen that is now in the possession of his co-host and they discuss percentage of Swiss residents who drive compared to those who use public transportation.

Janene Liston, also known as The Pricing Lady, sat down to discuss how her career as an engineer in the U.S. led her to Switzerland where she found her passion in pricing. The SwissPats also discuss what the results mean following the Zurich tradition of lighting a snowman on fire and how much the Lausanne police fined a man after parking for five minutes when he just paid for four. 

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. Suzi and Don talk music festivals on mountains, flammable snowmen in Zurich and an event that features all things chocolate. Children's Author Tea Party | April 4 | Basel Cully Concert | April 5-13 | Lavaux Snowpen Air | April 6 | Kleine Scheidegg Festichoc | April 6-7 | Versoix Sechseläuten | April 8 | Zurich 20th Blues Festival | April 9-10 | Basel Zermatt Unplugged | April 9-13 Medevil Market | April 13-14 | Lucerne Easter Egg Hunt | April 21 | Mount Rigi Early Oktoberfest | April 19-22 | Reusch Fly Me To The Moon | April 5-June 30 | Zurich Kunsthalle Tulip Festival | April | In Morges, Lake Geneva

This is a special interview-only release of the SwissPats podcast. Don and Suzi sat down with Daniel Salerno of Diffair, a sustainable, eco-friendly fashion manufacture based in Zurich that is committed to improving the social and environmental aspects of the industry.   Currently, Diffair is undergoing a crowd funding campaign that ends March 28. For more information go to Diffair.ch or Kickstarter.com.

Back from a two-week holiday break, the SwissPats welcome on Sophie Adang, of Stylemixers. Sophie is a fashion consultant based in Basel who shows people how to choose clothing that suits them. Suzi and Don also discuss how Don deeply scarred his animal-loving son while visiting Iceland, how many Swiss cities are ranked in Mercer’s Quality of Living Reports, which offers city-to-city comparisons for nearly 500 global assignment destinations, how A Tribe Called Quest assisted an Emmental cheese maker and what are the chances a third class is added to rail travel in Switzerland.

Don and Suzi head down to Biel/Bienne to the offices of Creaholic, where professional inventors have been creating interesting and helpful things for more than three decades. They talked with a few of their employees on a new app that is helping expats find one another through activities. In news, the SwissPats discuss Fasnacht plans, how long a Swiss man drove without a license and how much money someone won on a slot machine in the Basel casino.

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. Suzi and Don talk Fasnacht as well as all the other top events that are happening this month in Switzerland including... Geneva International Auto Show | March 7-17 Schlaraffia | Frauenfield | March 7-10 Engadin Skimarathon | March 10 Festival of Culture and Jazz Music | Chiasso | March 14-16 Freiburg Film Festvial | March 15-23 Glacier Bike Downhill | Sass-Fee | March 16 Wohga Winterthur | Winterthur | March 21-24 Baselworld | March 21-26 Old Timer & Teilemarkt | Freiburg | March 23-24 Lauberhorn Run | Wengen | March 24 Women's Expo | Zurich | March 24 Expat Expo | Zug | March 24 WhiskeySchiff | Lucerne | March 28-30

World Radio Switzerland’s midday host Katt Cullen joins SwissPats to discuss her journey from a trapeze artist to radio show host in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Don admits he’s starting to like skiing, the Swiss ski chief said dumb things and is no longer the ski chief and Suzi found three different stories highlighting the Swiss’ fanatical desire to control speeding cars.

After an unexpected week off because of Suzi's illness she's back to being (mostly) healthy and the SwissPats welcomed Carl Wahlers, creator of Blokes & Black Dogs. The idea behind Wahlers' group is to create a peer-to-peer support group for English speaking men in the Lake Geneva region of Switzerland, where the focus is on men having the opportunity to talk openly about issues they are facing in life. Suzi and Don also discuss the top Swiss words of 2018 and what the canton of Uri is doing to control bears and wolves.

Harry Darling is third member of the Darling family to appear on SwissPats. His mom, Jeanne, is an educator and author. His sister, Kate, works at MIT on robot ethics. Harry? Well, Harry is an accomplished punk rocker and musician for the Bitch Queens and X-Darlings. (Listen to find out how you can win a free CD of either band.) Suzi and Don also discuss how Switzerland's on-the-spot fines will work beginning in 2020, what an "igloo driver" is and how it's bad and which publication ranks the country among best in the world.

Wondering what to do this month in Switzerland? Fear not the SwissPats have you covered. Suzi and Don break down all the top events that are happening this month in Switzerland that include expos for men, golf fans and motorcycle lovers in Zurich (not all at the same time), Basel's Expat Expo, horse racing in St. Moritz, Luzern's version of Fasnacht and a Pablo Picasso exhibition in Basel.