Podcasts about tcks

ITP - 153 Yolanda Reshemah joins us from California to explore the complicated, emotional, and often beautiful question of where we belong after living across cultures. Born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, raised in England, shaped by France, and now living in the United States with a German husband and a globally minded daughter, Yolanda brings a deeply personal perspective on home, identity, relocation, culture shock, loneliness, raising TCKs, and building community after moving abroad. As the host of The Places We Call Home, Yolanda shares practical insight for international teachers, expats, parents, and globally mobile families trying to create belonging wherever life takes them.Her website: https://theplaceswecallhome.com/Her Podcast: The Places We Call HomeInstagram: placeswecallhomepod-more information-The International Teacher Podcast is a bi-weekly discussion with experts in international education. New Teachers, burned out local teachers, local School Leaders, International school Leadership, current Overseas Teachers, and everyone interested in international schools can benefit from hearing stories and advice about living and teaching overseas.Additional Gems Related to Our Show:Greg's Favorite Video From Living Overseas - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQWKBwzF-hw⁠Signup to be our guest  ⁠https://calendly.com/itpexpat/itp-interview?month=2025-01⁠Our Website⁠ -  ⁠https://www.itpexpat.com/⁠Our FaceBook Group - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/itpexpat⁠⁠JPMint Consulting Website  - ⁠https://www.jpmintconsulting.com/⁠Hannah's Personal IG - https://www.instagram.com/thatexpatfamily?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Greg's Personal YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs1B3Wc0wm6DR_99OS5SyzvuzENc-bBdO⁠Books (on Amazon) By Gregory Lemoine:Stay for the Show (2026) | Greg's first Childrens Picture Book⁠International Teacher Guide: Finding the "Right Fit" 2nd Edition (2025)⁠ | by Gregory Lemoine M.Ed.⁠⁠"International Teaching: The Best-kept Secret in Education"⁠⁠ | by Gregory Lemoine M.Ed.Apps by Greg:https://apps.apple.com/app/6755244840  1. Who's That? Name & Face Trainer  Nov 21, 2025https://apps.apple.com/app/6756509803   2. Facetag | Memory Trainer   Dec 16, 2025Chapters(00:00) Introduction and Guest Introductions(01:34) Yolanda's International Journey(05:01) Cultural Identity and Belonging(11:35) The Concept of Home(16:22) Yolanda's Podcast: The Places We Call Home(20:15) Challenges of Relocation and Community Building(25:19) Navigating Life During COVID-19(30:07) Creative Connections and Future Collaborations(33:53) Navigating Cultural Transitions(37:54) Building a New Life: Tools for Adjustment(42:23) Creating Stability in a Transient Life(48:00) The Concept of Home: More Than Just a Place(51:12) Rituals and Anchors in Different Cultures(53:46) Lighthearted Travel Stories and Lessons Learned(01:01:08) Reflections on Connection and Shared Experiences

An encounter with a harpist, and the joy of being in the audience. In this episode I reflect on the narrative so many Third Culture Kids encounter around their duty to lead.And for those interested - https://www.eiralynnjones.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here I explore that tension I see myself and so many other TCKs carry in our stories - a sense of needing to figure out how to do life 'right'. I connect this to the necessity in childhood for many of us to figure out the correct way of being for the current cultural context. The urgency that surrounds this can often inhibit our ability to give ourselves goodness... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thank you, friends, for clicking on this episode of the Pondering Purple podcast, a source of information, insight and inspiration for those who love MKs and those who are MKs.In this second segment of the series on TCKs and Neurodiversity, we go deeper into the topics, exploring what neurodiversity is, its strengths and challenges, and why it so often gets missed in cross-cultural contexts. You'll also hear quotes from adult neurodivergent MKs about their lives and the lessons they've learned. Note: this is an audio recording of the article found here.One more installment in this series will drop in the next couple of weeks—a video of those eleven adult TCKs revealing more of their stories. You won't want to miss seeing their faces and hearing their voices! Send a quick email to ⁠shellphoenix@gmail.com⁠ if you'd like to be notified when they do.The TCK Profile page:https://michelephoenix.com/neurodiversity-tck-profiles/Articles quoted in this episode: How to Help Neurodiverse TCKs in Transition – Jenilee GoodwinHow to Notice Neurodiversity in Third Culture Kids – Jenilee GoodwinNavigating Neurodivergence and Third Culture Identity – Dr. Kristen WilliamsonThird Culture Autism: Being Different in a Difference – Nanyadiri (Lala)Belonging in Translation: Autism, ADHD, and the Hidden Labor of Adapting Across Cultures – Dr. Laura MannucciMentioned in this episode:The Child Serve article on supporting families with children with greater needs: https://www.childserve.org/help-caregiver/The previous episode with Jenilee Goodwin: ⁠https://youtu.be/K4c24djz9Vg⁠Further recommended reading:Belonging in Translation — Laura MannucciDifferent, Not Less — Chloé HaydenDivergent Mind — Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for You — Jenara Nerenberg Driven to Distraction — Hallowell & RateyEmbracing the Autism Spectrum — Dr. Stephanie HomesLost in Translation — The Social Language Theory of Neurodivergence — Janae Elisabeth  Neurodiversity for Dummies — John Marble, KhushbooChabria, and Ranga JayaramanUnmasking Autism — Devon PriceUniquely Human — Barry PrizantUniquely Us — Dr. Stephanie HomesMake sure you subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss any episodes!To purchase your copy of Pieces of Purple, visit any Amazon hub around the world. (US: https://amzn.to/4nQC9B7)To purchase your copy of Of Stillness and Storm, visit: https://amzn.to/2Qjs7OdLearn more about me, access my resources, and read my articles on my website: www.michelephoenix.comFour ways to make sure you don't miss an episode:1. Click subscribe after you find Pondering Purple on the podcast platform of your choice.2. Friend and follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--I'll announce new episodes as they release. (Make sure you hit "Follow first" under the "Follow" tab.)3. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The MK Hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a group on Facebook solely devoted to sharing new materials as I produce them.4. Receive email notifications by writing “subscribe to podcast” in the subject line of a message you send to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shellphoenix@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (I promise--that's all you'll receive. No newsy epistles or cat pictures!)

Thank you, friends, for clicking on this episode of the Pondering Purple podcast, a source of information, insight and inspiration for those who love MKs and those who are MKs.In this first segment of the series on TCKs and Neurodiversity, we meet Jenilee Goodwin - mom to three neurodivergent young-adult children, former missionary, and Life Coach. She is a clear voice of knowledge and compassion regarding this too-often overlooked and misunderstood segment of the TCK population. This interview was full of aha moments for me, and I know it will be for you too. The video version of this conversation is available on the Pieces of Purple channel on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ztKg6QIIyxcTwo more installments in this series will drop over the next couple of weeks—and article and a series of interviews with TCKs who are neurodivergent. Send a quick email to shellphoenix@gmail.com if you'd like to be notified when they do.Find Jenilee: Website: https://jenileerachel.com/Instagram:  ⁨@jenileerachel⁩  Facebook:  ⁨@JenileeGoodwin-y3t⁩  More from Jenilee:New to Neurodiversity - https://jenileerachel.com/new-to-neurodiversity/ Neurodiverse Marriage on the Field - https://www.alifeoverseas.com/neurodiverse-marriage-on-the-field/How to Help Neurodiverse TCKs in Transition - https://www.alifeoverseas.com/how-to-help-neurodiverse-tcks-in-transition/How to Notice Neurodiversity in TCKs - https://www.alifeoverseas.com/how-to-notice-neurodiversity-in-third-culture-kids/Mentioned in this episode:Additude Magazine (ADHD): https://www.additudemag.com/Share Education Services (testing and support): https://www.shareeducation.org/Dr. Stephanie Holmes: (autism spectrum resources): https://www.holmesasr.com/Make sure you subscribe to this channel so you don't miss any episodes!To purchase your copy of Pieces of Purple, visit any Amazon hub around the world. (US: https://amzn.to/4nQC9B7)To purchase your copy of Of Stillness and Storm, visit: https://amzn.to/2Qjs7OdLearn more about me, access my resources, and read my articles on my website: www.michelephoenix.comFour ways to make sure you don't miss an episode:1. Click subscribe after you find Pondering Purple on the podcast platform of your choice.2. Friend and follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--I'll announce new episodes as they release. (Make sure you hit "Follow first" under the "Follow" tab.)3. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The MK Hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a group on Facebook solely devoted to sharing new materials as I produce them.4. Receive email notifications by writing “subscribe to podcast” in the subject line of a message you send to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shellphoenix@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (I promise--that's all you'll receive. No newsy epistles or cat pictures!)

This episode finds me struggling to articulate a sensation I've both felt personally and witnessed in my work with TCKs - a feeling that it's hard to truly trust the love of others as being about us. When we have spent a lifetime working to be useful or likeable by different cultural prisms, it can be hard to let love land as an experience we get to fully participate in, rather than simply work to generate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flor Bretón García was born in Venezuela and left her homeland at 22 — which means she's now lived outside her home country longer than she lived in it. Lawyer. Educator. Cross-cultural consultant. Mother of three adult TCKs. President of FIGT. And a woman who, after receiving her 598th job rejection, sat down on a Friday night and wrote an article that stopped LinkedIn in its tracks.In this conversation, Flor and Doreen unpack what happens when globally complex women hit systems built for linear lives — and why that's not a talent problem. It's a design problem.Flor opens with the moment she was quietly advised to take an accent-removal class, so as not to distract her students. It was the first time she felt the world asking her to become smaller — and she traces her journey from that moment of self-consciousness to her current view of her accent as an open door, an invitation for people to learn her story.That story took a sharp turn on one particular Friday evening, when she sat down and really looked at those 598 rejection emails. What she noticed changed everything. Many had arrived within 30 minutes of her hitting "apply." Others cited a search for a better "cultural fit." No human being, she realized, was reading her resume at midnight on a Saturday. The systems were doing it for them — and those systems are built to reward one thing above all else: predictability. The very quality that globally complex women are not.This is what Flor calls the great gap — the distance between what organizations say they want and how they actually hire. They talk about agility, resilience, adaptability, the ability to navigate ambiguity. But their applicant tracking systems, their recruiters, their hiring managers are all scanning for familiarity and linearity. A nonlinear resume looks like uncertainty. And uncertainty, to a system, looks like a no.What makes this conversation so compelling is Flor's refusal to let that be the final word. She invites hiring managers to ask a different question entirely — not "why doesn't this resume fit our template?" but "what capabilities is this career showing me?" Because there is intention behind every pivot a global woman makes. The move that looks like confusion from the outside is almost always a decision made in the middle of uncertainty, following a vocation, pulling a common thread. For Flor, that thread runs through everything she's done as a lawyer, educator, and consultant: redesigning systems that truly honour humans with dignity.She also gives us one of the episode's most memorable frameworks — the difference between a Forest Gump resume and a Michelangelo resume. Both are nonlinear. But one looks like things just happened to you, and the other reveals that everything was intentional, even when the path was uncertain. The difference, she says, is entirely in how you tell the story.And telling the story, it turns out, is everything. Not listing countries. Not cataloguing credentials. But pulling the thread, naming the vocation, and being clear about what you want the listener to do with what you've shared. Flor's closing message is one worth sitting with: gWe would love to hear from you, send us a text please!Support the showYou can map the move. You cannot map the metamorphosis. Nomadic Diaries explores the interior journey of expat life — the belonging, the identity shifts, the repatriation, and everything that travels with you that can't be packed in a suitcase. This episode may be part of our Re-Entry Series (30 episodes on coming home) or The Belonging Project (29 episodes on belonging across cultures). Browse the full catalog at nomadicdiariespodcast.com and please share or leave a review if this episode resonated.

Adrienne Belaire grew up on Aramco compounds in Saudi Arabia from first grade through high school, a world full of sunshine, small communities, and the particular freedom of a life lived between cultures. She is a wife, mother, potter, and artist who, after navigating her own sometimes turbulent repatriation to the United States, made a quietly remarkable decision: to go back again. She returned to Saudi Arabia as an adult gave birth to and has raised her three children there, giving them the same roots she had always missed. She is one of those rare people who has lived the TCK experience from both sides,  as a child, a daughter, a sibling and now as the parent holding the map.What You'll Walk Away WithThis conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like a marble thrown across a floor, feeling scattered, disconnected, not quite sure where they landed. Adrienne talks with extraordinary candor about the sudden closure of her compound in 1986, the grief of losing a community with no internet to hold it together, and what it felt like to fly into Denver knowing she was landing somewhere that was supposed to be home but felt nothing like it. What makes this episode particularly powerful is her hard-won perspective on what she wishes someone had told her then, that your kids need to know you are their safe place, especially when the world outside doesn't understand them yet. There is also a genuinely moving moment when she describes reading the Pollock TCK book for the first time as an adult and simply thinking: that is me. That is my sister. That is my brother. Recognition, it turns out, is its own special way a kind of homecoming.A Gentle NudgeWhether you are raising children overseas, or if you were once a child raised overseas this episode could be for you. Please share it with an expat parent who is navigating a transition right now, they will thank you for it.Please share this podcast with someone, we work hard to produce content that makes a real difference.  In the catalog there are 30 episodes on coming home (the Re-Entry Series) and also on the topic of belonging,  (the Belonging Project).Or browse the full catalog at nomadicdiariespodcast.com and please share or leave a review if this episode resonated.We would love to get to know you and what you might like to hear.  Here is a simple form, only three very short questions.   https://form.typeform.com/to/xV0rKTBD We would love to hear from you, send us a text please!Support the showYou can map the move. You cannot map the metamorphosis. Nomadic Diaries explores the interior journey of expat life — the belonging, the identity shifts, the repatriation, and everything that travels with you that can't be packed in a suitcase. This episode may be part of our Re-Entry Series (30 episodes on coming home) or The Belonging Project (29 episodes on belonging across cultures). Browse the full catalog at nomadicdiariespodcast.com and please share or leave a review if this episode resonated.

On this episode, we talk with Heather Santymire, a TCK to Zimbabwe. You'll hear her share about her life as a TCK, a parent to TCKs, and serving parents of TCKs. Heather has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to all things TCK! She talks about growing through hardship and clinging to the Lord in good times and bad times. She also talks about some of the joys and wins she's had in her various roles. This is an episode you don't want to miss!What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE.HOSTS: Michelle Ellis, John Michael Caldwell, Nicole CaldwellSONG: Sunscreen by Vic DaviCONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Facebook | Email UsCHAPTERS:0:00 - 0:55 | Introduction0:55 - 7:41 | Getting to Know Heather7:41 - 10:32 | Proactive Member Care for Families10:32 - 16:08 | Navigating Transitions for TCKs and Parents16:08 - 17:20 | The Importance of Community17:20 - 20:43 | Lean Into the Lord20:43 - 26:15 | Accepting It's Okay to Not Be Okay26:15 - 31:23 | Celebrating Wins and Success Stories31:23 - 36:51 | Finding Hope in Hard Times36:51 - 39:23 | Encouragement for Parents of TCKs39:23 - 42:33 | MK Debate42:33 - 46:19 | ClosingSHOW NOTES:33:05 | Psalm 121:1-3 - “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.”35:33 | Romans 8:28 - “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”KEY QUOTES:6:28 | “When you answer God's call on your life, get ready for a battle… and it's vital that you have community around you that will help support you through that.”11:22 | “We can't and we shouldn't remove all the hard. We grow through the hard.”16:29 | “It can be so easy to feel like I'm the only one walking through this situation and the enemy sweeps in very quickly to say, “yep, you're the only one. You're alone. No one cares.”17:22 | “Lean into the Lord. Don't lean away from Him.”22:14 | “If everything is always easy then I'm more dependent on myself. It's really in the hard times that we can say, "‘oh, that's when I had to go back to the Lord and say I need your help.'”Interested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE.COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

Finishing up this mini-series on TCKs and Maslow with questions about what self-actualised actually looks like for us as TCKs? What does fulfilled and meeting our potential even look like? And I am, ironically and perhaps rather perfectly, recording this on a day where I don't feel at all 'my best self'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we talk with Michael Southerland, a TCK to The Netherlands and Wales. You'll hear him share thoughts to TCKs and parents alike on shifting your perspective to gratitude, managing anxiety, and finding purpose in your life's season. Michael is wise beyond his years so you'll definitely want to soak up as much as you can from this episode.What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOSTS: Michelle Ellis, John Michael Caldwell, Nicole CaldwellSONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Facebook | Email UsCHAPTERS:0:00 - 1:07 | Introduction1:07 - 7:24| Getting to Know Michael7:24 - 14:42 | Introducing MK Debate14:42 - 22:58 | Navigating Through Transition & Change22:58 - 32:00 | Suffering & Gratitude32:00 - 45:28 | Thoughts for Parents of MKs45:28 - 52:23 | Discipleship, Formation & Purpose52:23 - 58:15 | Closing Thoughts & Final EncouragementSHOW NOTES:6:05 | Dutch Orange Wave30:16 | Acts 5:40-42 - “…The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus…”35:46 | Philippians 4:6-7 - “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”53:07 | Galatians 6:9 - “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”KEY QUOTES:22:19 | “The season of life you're in isn't forever and it's got an expiration date and eventually you will move on to something new.”23:30 | “Most of the time the most forming things that happen in me are happening through suffering.” 25:52 | “Everything that's within discipleship to Jesus can't just be thoughts, it has to be put into action.”27:41 | “There's something within us that struggles to believe God. ‘Can my life really be given to You in a way where You're going to take care of me?'”30:45 | “The peace that transcends understanding has to come from a place of saying, ‘God, I'm going to trust you even though I don't really know what's going on.'”31:01 | “Prayer is not performance, it's just honesty.”33:53 | “Your kids are your compass, not your cargo.” (Tim Southerland)Interested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE.COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

This episode tackles the self-esteem tier of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. I've spoken before about self-esteem and TCKs, but here I focus on the ways in which TCKs learn they are interesting... and are those things about us, or what's happened to us? And what difference does it even make? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thank you, friends, for clicking on this episode of the Pondering Purple podcast, a source of information, insight and inspiration for those who love MKs and those who are MKs.···This episode is the audio version of Chapter Five of Pieces of Purple: The Flipsides. To view all the episodes in this series, including the conversations with TCKs that drop two weeks after each chapter, follow this link to the Youtube channel: ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/pieces_channel⁠⁠⁠. ...The Amazon page for Piece of Purple is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For bulk order pricing of ten copies or more, please ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CONTACT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ me.To access discussion questions for each chapter, click ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠....More of my MK-related resources can be found at the following links:1. My most-read articles listed on my⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 2. My grand new book--everything I've ever taught about MKs in one place--⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pieces of Purple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!3. My ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of video "nuggets" on Youtube.4. My novel about a missionary family, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Of Stillness and Storm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.···Four ways to make sure you don't miss an episode:1. Click subscribe after you find Pondering Purple on the podcast platform of your choice.2. Friend and follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--I'll announce new episodes as they release. (Make sure you hit "Follow first" under the "Follow" tab.)3. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The MK Hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a group on Facebook solely devoted to sharing new materials as I produce them.4. Receive email notifications by writing “subscribe to podcast” in the subject line of a message you send to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shellphoenix@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (I promise--that's all you'll receive. No newsy epistles or cat pictures!)···Please share this resource in your missionary, MK, and TCK circles. I'd love it if you also left a comment on whatever platform you use, so Pondering Purple can be less of a monologue and more of a conversation.···The title of the podcast is a nod to the complex, beautiful, sometimes confounding, always life-shaping and ideally life-enhancing effects of growing up in the color swirl of cultures and worlds.···Helpful definitions:· MK or Missionaries' Kid - the child of missionaries.· TCK or Third Culture Kid - someone who has spent a majority of his/her formative years in a culture other than his/her passport culture. This includes missionaries' kids, military kids, business kids, diplomats' kids, etc.

This episode explores the intricate themes surrounding the family challenges of transitioning and relocating, particularly those involved in mission work. With host Aaron Santmyire guiding the conversation, the episode features esteemed guest Lauren Wells, founder and CEO of TCK Training. The discussion unfolds with a reflective narrative on Wells' previous interactions with the Santmyire family, establishing a backdrop for the discussion on the emotional complexities that accompany relocations. The episode articulates the nuanced perspectives on how transitions impact children, emphasizing the necessity for intentionality in familial support structures. Wells shares the dichotomy often observed in third culture kids (TCKs), where the advantages of their unique upbringing are frequently counterbalanced by significant emotional and psychological struggles. This episode serves as a compelling exploration of how families can cultivate resilience and achieve a healthy integration into new environments through informed strategies and community engagement.Takeaways: This podcast episode emphasizes the importance of emotional support for families transitioning to new cultural environments. Lauren Wells discusses the protective factors that can enhance the well-being of globally mobile families during transitions. The episode highlights the need for intentionality in helping children acclimate to new schools and communities. Listeners are encouraged to recognize the emotional zones their children experience during transitions and to respond appropriately. Parents are reminded to hold space for difficult emotions and facilitate open conversations about the challenges of relocation. The discussion underscores that the responsibility of spiritual discipleship should not be neglected during times of transition.

Our guest today is Ginger Darval, a retired nurse and boomerang third culture kid who spent her growing up years in Ecuador, returned to the U.S., and then went abroad again after she was married (hence, the boomerang). She finally moved back to the U.S. in the 1980's where she continued to work as a nurse and raise her three children. In this episode, Ginger tells us stories of what it was like growing up in the 1960's as part of a missionary community in Quito, Ecuador. Her father worked in the hospital connected to HCJB (now Reach Beyond), and Ginger and her siblings were part of a close knit group which saw each other through trauma and at the same time, possibility.Recovering from Traumatic Stress bookMental Health Support for TCKs, ATCKs, and Expat FamiliesReach Beyond Radio Ministries

On this episode, you'll hear some exciting announcements you won't want to miss. The team then shares some encouragement for TCKs about success, perseverance, and anxiety. You'll hear reminders about God's all-sufficient grace and sovereignty over every aspect of our lives. What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOSTS: THE ROOTED TCKSONG: Sunscreen by Vic DaviCONNECT WITH US: Instagram | Facebook | Email UsCHAPTERS:0:00 - 0:49 | Welcome to Season Five0:49 - 2:41 | Exciting Announcements2:41 - 7:03 | Reflections on Past Retreats703 - 10:45 | New Years Goals & Resolutions10:45 - 15:38 | Encouragement for TCKs15:38 - 24:29 | Dealing with Pressure & Anxiety24:29 - 29:43 | God's Sovereignty & Grace29:43 - 34:53 | Closing Thoughts & Final EncouragementSHOW NOTES:20:16 | 2 Corinthians 12:9 - “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”26:47 | Romans 8:28 - “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”29:42 | Ephesians 3:16-21 - “…And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is…”KEY QUOTES:13:13 | “It's not about being perfect the first time. It's about persevering even through failure.” 13:33 | “You are built for more. You are made for more.”14:14 | “You just have to give yourself grace and give people around you grace.”20:49 | “You have limitations and that is not a sign of weakness.”25:39 | “Anxiety is not your identity.”27:29 | “Don't have an iron grip on what you think has to happen.”Interested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE.COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

Thank you for clicking on this episode of the Pondering Purple podcast, a source of information, insight, and inspiration for those who love MKs and those who are MKs.···In this conversation, you'll meet Sophie—multi-cultural TCK and speaker of truth. This chapter explores the missionary culture, particularly the "Tyranny of Shoulds," and asks several questions. • Where do the Shoulds come from? • How do they impact MKs and TCKs? • What can parents do to mitigate the influence of Shoulds on their children? And so much more...To view episodes in this series as videos, follow this link to its Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PIECESOFPURPLECHANNEL...The Amazon page for Piece of Purple is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For bulk order pricing of ten copies or more, please ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CONTACT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ me.To access discussion questions for each chapter, click ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠....More of my MK-related resources can be found at the following links:1. My most-read articles listed on my⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 2. My grand new book--everything I've ever taught about MKs in one place--⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pieces of Purple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!3. My ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of video "nuggets" on Youtube.4. My novel about a missionary family, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Of Stillness and Storm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.···Four ways to make sure you don't miss an episode:1. Click subscribe after you find Pondering Purple on the podcast platform of your choice.2. Friend and follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--I'll announce new episodes as they release. (Make sure you hit "Follow first" under the "Follow" tab.)3. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The MK Hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a group on Facebook solely devoted to sharing new materials as I produce them.4. Receive email notifications by writing “subscribe to podcast” in the subject line of a message you send to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shellphoenix@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (I promise--that's all you'll receive. No newsy epistles or cat pictures!)···Please share this resource in your missionary, MK, and TCK circles. I'd love it if you also left a comment on whatever platform you use, so Pondering Purple can be less of a monologue and more of a conversation.···The title of the podcast is a nod to the complex, beautiful, sometimes confounding, always life-shaping and ideally life-enhancing effects of growing up in the color swirl of cultures and worlds.···Helpful definitions:· MK or Missionaries' Kid - the child of missionaries.· TCK or Third Culture Kid - someone who has spent a majority of his/her formative years in a culture other than his/her passport culture. This includes missionaries' kids, military kids, business kids, diplomats' kids, etc.

Tanya has been on my show a few times talking about her work with Third Culture Kids (TCKs). This time, she shared her journey growing up, working in China, and finding her career in supporting TCKs. Her book: MisunderstoodFind her on FB https://www.facebook.com/misunderstoodTCKon IG @misunderstoodtck https://www.instagram.com/misunderstoodtck/?hl=enHer previous episodesEp48 Supporting Third Culture Kids w/ Tanya CrossmanEp86 Childhood Experiences & Third-Culture Kids? w/ Tanya Crossman Ep102 Adult TCKs Looking Back ft. Tanya Crossman If you enjoy this episode, I recommend...➡️ Ep93 Second-Gen Indian American Muslim (1) w/ Jamil➡️ Ep88 Doing Grad School in Denver w/ Celine➡️ Ep84 South Indian & Private School w/ Daphne ➡️ Ep82 When Music Intersects with Multiple Identities w/ MARC AMELLO➡️ Ep76 Learning Hindi in India w/ Sarah

So many of us orient ourselves around the question, "Where do I belong?" In this episode I ponder what flipping the script could do for us - "Where do I want to belong?" Join me and, as always, I'd love to hear your feedback so send that through to rachelcason@explorelifestory.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thank you, friends, for clicking on this episode of the Pondering Purple podcast, a source of information, insight and inspiration for those who love MKs and those who are MKs.···This episode is the audio version of Chapter Four of Pieces of Purple: The Missionary Culture. To view all the episodes in this series, including the conversations with TCKs that drop two weeks after each chapter, follow this link to the Youtube channel: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/pieces_channel⁠⁠. ...The Amazon page for Piece of Purple is ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠. For bulk order pricing of ten copies or more, please ⁠⁠⁠⁠CONTACT⁠⁠⁠⁠ me.To access discussion questions for each chapter, click ⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠....More of my MK-related resources can be found at the following links:1. My most-read articles listed on my⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 2. My grand new book--everything I've ever taught about MKs in one place--⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pieces of Purple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!3. My ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of video "nuggets" on Youtube.4. My novel about a missionary family, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Of Stillness and Storm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.···Four ways to make sure you don't miss an episode:1. Click subscribe after you find Pondering Purple on the podcast platform of your choice.2. Friend and follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--I'll announce new episodes as they release. (Make sure you hit "Follow first" under the "Follow" tab.)3. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The MK Hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a group on Facebook solely devoted to sharing new materials as I produce them.4. Receive email notifications by writing “subscribe to podcast” in the subject line of a message you send to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shellphoenix@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (I promise--that's all you'll receive. No newsy epistles or cat pictures!)···Please share this resource in your missionary, MK, and TCK circles. I'd love it if you also left a comment on whatever platform you use, so Pondering Purple can be less of a monologue and more of a conversation.···The title of the podcast is a nod to the complex, beautiful, sometimes confounding, always life-shaping and ideally life-enhancing effects of growing up in the color swirl of cultures and worlds.···Helpful definitions:· MK or Missionaries' Kid - the child of missionaries.· TCK or Third Culture Kid - someone who has spent a majority of his/her formative years in a culture other than his/her passport culture. This includes missionaries' kids, military kids, business kids, diplomats' kids, etc.

And here we have the second instalment of our Maslow series... Safety Needs! What does safety and risk actually mean in our TCK stories? And how do we see these play out in our current chapters? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show NotesWelcome back to Nomadic Diaries for part two of our conversation with Ruth Van Reken, the influential voice behind "Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds." Joined by Megan Norton-Newbanks and your host Doreen Cumberford, Ruth dives deep into cross-cultural identity, belonging, and generational perspectives.Key Topics DiscussedNavigating the "Where Are You From?" QuestionRuth shares practical ways globally mobile people can gracefully answer this challenging question.The Social Dynamics of IdentityExamining why traditional questions about origin can feel alienating, and how curiosity and cultural sensitivity can create bridges instead.The importance of focusing on connection and stories rather than details.Generational Differences in Storytelling and BelongingThe panel reflects on how different age groups approach storytelling, sharing, and forming connections.Unique Strengths of Third Culture Kids (TCKs)Ruth outlines new research highlighting cultural competency and linguistic skills as hidden superpowers of TCKs.Adaptability, bridge-building, curiosity, and global enthusiasm as signature traits in careers and communities.Creating a Sense of Home and BelongingRuth reflects on cultivating belonging wherever she's lived, emphasizing human connection and the joys of multicultural friendships.Advice for Parents Raising TCKsRuth offers actionable guidance: nurture family traditions, recognize each child's unique gifts, and always foster a sense of agency and choice.The importance of honoring both shared humanity and individual uniqueness.Final Thoughts on BelongingThe episode closes with a focus on collective belonging, inspired by a quote from Mother Teresa.Notable Quotes“You can make it a fun question.”  Ruth Van Reken“I am more interested in the connection than the details.” “Our biggest challenge is not only belonging—but belonging to ourselves.” –Ruth Van RekenSupport the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

Episode OverviewIn this enlightening episode of Nomadic Diaries, Doreen Cumberford and  Megan Norton-Newbanks welcome renowned author and expert Ruth Van Reken, whose work on third culture kids (TCKs) has impacted countless lives globally. The conversation centers on belonging, identity, and the often-complex emotional terrain of those who grow up between cultures.What You'll Hear1. Ruth's Origin Story and JourneyRuth's personal experience of being a third culture kid raised in Nigeria, drawing parallels with her father's similar upbringing in Iran and her own children's formative years in Liberia.The internal challenges faced despite a privileged, adventurous life—silent grief and lack of belonging—and how journaling led Ruth to uncover deeper truths about cross-cultural identity.2. The Birth of the “Third Culture Kid” ConceptRuth's first encounter with the term TCK and her collaboration with Dave Pollock, which resulted in the foundational book Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds.Insights into the writing process, the evolution of the TCK concept, and the ongoing development of the term "cross cultural kid" for inclusivity.3. Normalizing the Experience of Displacement and GriefWhy naming the experience is powerful, how sharing stories cultivates belonging and healing, and Ruth's hope to normalize feelings of isolation and loneliness.The importance of making these concepts accessible to educators, counselors, and community leaders.4. Belonging – Local and GlobalDiscussion about belonging in various circles—family, local communities, and global networks.The difference between experiential and geographical belonging, and how third culture kids can feel at home in many places (and sometimes nowhere in particular).5. Sowing Narratives TogetherThe power and therapeutic effect of sharing our hidden stories—the secret shames and quiet pains that many TCKs carry.Transformative moments from Ruth's own life, including her 80th birthday celebration, where her two worlds—local and global—beautifully converged.6. Navigating Difficult QuestionsTips and reflections on answering the classic expat question, "Where are you from?" with grace, and using it as a gateway to deeper connection instead of retreating behind simple answers.Key Quotes"When we share the things that are secret in those places that we think nobody feels like this, that's when people put their hand up or come on the side and say, 'But I do.' I had no idea anybody else felt like this." Ruth Van Reken"Belonging is more than just the place. But you can find that contentment in where you are if you live it fully." Ruth Van RekenSupport the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

This is an episode I've been pondering a while - how do TCKs perceive their own needs in terms of an internalised hierarchy? I explore where Maslow's ideas and my own observations around need-juggling and autonomy interact here - and specifically around our physiological needs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode OverviewIn this enlightening episode of Nomadic Diaries, Doreen Cumberford and  Megan Norton-Newbanks welcome renowned author and expert Ruth Van Reken, whose work on third culture kids (TCKs) has impacted countless lives globally. The conversation centers on belonging, identity, and the often-complex emotional terrain of those who grow up between cultures.What You'll Hear1. Ruth's Origin Story and JourneyRuth's personal experience of being a third culture kid raised in Nigeria, drawing parallels with her father's similar upbringing in Iran and her own children's formative years in Liberia.The internal challenges faced despite a privileged, adventurous life—silent grief and lack of belonging—and how journaling led Ruth to uncover deeper truths about cross-cultural identity.2. The Birth of the “Third Culture Kid” ConceptRuth's first encounter with the term TCK and her collaboration with Dave Pollock, which resulted in the foundational book Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds.Insights into the writing process, the evolution of the TCK concept, and the ongoing development of the term "cross cultural kid" for inclusivity.3. Normalizing the Experience of Displacement and GriefWhy naming the experience is powerful, how sharing stories cultivates belonging and healing, and Ruth's hope to normalize feelings of isolation and loneliness.The importance of making these concepts accessible to educators, counselors, and community leaders.4. Belonging – Local and GlobalDiscussion about belonging in various circles—family, local communities, and global networks.The difference between experiential and geographical belonging, and how third culture kids can feel at home in many places (and sometimes nowhere in particular).5. Sowing Narratives TogetherThe power and therapeutic effect of sharing our hidden stories—the secret shames and quiet pains that many TCKs carry.Transformative moments from Ruth's own life, including her 80th birthday celebration, where her two worlds—local and global—beautifully converged.6. Navigating Difficult QuestionsTips and reflections on answering the classic expat question, "Where are you from?" with grace, and using it as a gateway to deeper connection instead of retreating behind simple answers.Key Quotes"When we share the things that are secret in those places that we think nobody feels like this, that's when people put their hand up or come on the side and say, 'But I do.' I had no idea anybody else felt like this." Ruth Van Reken"Belonging is more than just the place. But you can find that contentment in where you are if you live it fully." Ruth Van RekenSupport the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

In this heartfelt episode, Doreen and Megan sit down with Dr. Jemina Watstein, an internationally experienced visual art educator who specializes in working with third culture kids (TCKs) and international families. Together, they explore the deep connection between art, identity, healing, and belonging - especially for people who've lived globally mobile lives.What You'll Hear:Jemina's Background:Jamina shares her journey as a visual art educator over two decades, teaching in the US, Germany, and Thailand, and her academic path from a Master's in Fine Art Photography to a PhD in International Educational Leadership.Art as Inquiry & Healing:She dives into what “inquiry-based art” means and gives practical classroom examples, explaining how open-ended questions can help kids - especially TCKs - explore and express where they come from.Universality & Differences in Children's Art:Jemina discusses universal stages of artistic development, how art transcends culture, and what influences personal expression as children grow up in varied educational systems (IB, American, etc.).Avoiding Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriation in Art:The group examines how to teach cultural art forms with respect and depth, rather than relying on stereotypes, and emphasizes the importance of context and personal connection.Art, Family, and Belonging:Insightful tips for parents to use art as a way to help their children process change, loss, and belonging—whether after a move or while they're adapting to a new environment.Travel-Friendly Art Supplies:Practical advice on traveling with art materials for families on the move—including the joy and portability of fiber arts and even something simple like a beloved pen or marker.Key TakeawaysInquiry-led art empowers both children and adults to understand and express their identities.Art fosters belonging—both individually and collectively—especially for those crossing cultures.Parents and educators can support healing and adjustment through creative prompts and open-ended exploration.Bringing even compact art supplies or starting collaborative art practices can help root a sense of self and connection, no matter where you are.Resources MentionedTCK Art Education Website – Jemina's site with research and contact infoJemina Watson Art – Jemina's portfolio and worksBook: “Slurping Stoop” (for art prompt inspiration)Connect With Dr. Jemina https://tcksarteducation.weebly.comJemina Watson ArtFinal ThoughtsExplore art as a safe space for inquiry and connection, wherever you are in the world. Don't underestimate the power of making - and gifting - something by hand as a path to deeper human belonging.Thanks for listening to Nomadic Diaries! If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone in your global community and let us know how art has helped you find your sense of home.Support the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, hosts Doreen Cumberford and Megan Norton-Newbanks welcome Stephen Toole for a rich conversation about the challenges and triumphs surrounding belonging and transition for Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and their families. Stephen draws from his decades of teaching and counseling experience across the globe, sharing practical advice and personal anecdotes about fostering community, supporting children and parents through transition, and the growing focus on well-being in international schools.Key Discussion Topics1. Challenges of Belonging for TCKsIncreasing diversity in international schools, with more local students mixing with expats.2. Inclusive Practices in International SchoolsThe shift away from “English only” policies and embracing translanguaging strategies.The importance of validating and integrating students' home cultures and languages in the classroom.Offering a variety of extracurricular activities to help students find their community.3. Approaches to Supporting New StudentsAllowing space and time (a month or more) for new arrivals to settle before deep check-ins.4. Community Building Beyond the ClassroomRoles of parents, teachers, and staff in fostering a sense of belonging for the whole family.School events like welcome barbecues, international days, and cultural festivals as bridges for integration.5. Advice for Parents Navigating TransitionTransition is difficult—normalize sadness, frustration, and “not getting it right” at first.Don't dismiss your child's (or your own) grief; making space for discomfort is important.When challenges persist, reach out and communicate with counselors and trusted staff; don't try to handle it alone.6. Self-Care for Educators and CounselorsThe importance of having personal rituals and support networks (e.g., family time, walking pets, supportive colleagues).Creating safe, welcoming office spaces for students to retreat to when they need a break.Memorable Quotes“Transition is difficult and it's okay to cry. You're not going to get it right the first time, and that's also okay.”  Stephen Toole“Allowing them to speak about where they've come from is just as important as helping them move forward.” —Stephen TooleResources & ContactConnect with Stephen Toole: He welcomes outreach via LinkedIn for resource sharing and conversation about TCK transition and school support.https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-toole-m-ed/Recommended Books/Practitioners Mentioned:Doug Ota  “Safe Passage” (on transition care)Ruth Van Reken  on TCK identity, transition, and supportConnect with Us:Subscribe for more stories and insights from global nomads and experts on the topic of Belonging.Support the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

Today's episode is pondering around how hard we work to create coherence, and my own experience this week of wanting to let incoherence be. TCKs often work so hard to prune and curate their stories, and I'm exploring here the relief I feel at not doing that today. Thanks for joining me! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this heartfelt solo episode, Megan Norton-Newbanks pulls back the curtain on her new book, Letters Now Sent, a collection of letters from over 90 contributors who have experienced life as expats, nomads, and third culture kids (TCKs). Inspired by Ruth Van Ryken's memoir, Letters Never Sent, the project explores themes of belonging, vulnerability, and the emotional tapestry of cross-cultural living.Key Themes & HighlightsOrigins of the Project:Megan Norton-Newbanks was inspired by Ruth Van Ryken's letter-form memoir and wondered how deeply personal reflections from those living cross-culturally could create a shared archive Emotional Responses to Letter Writing:Contributors reported tears, laughter, and catharsis as they revisited formative memories. Letters range from humorous moments to deep expressions of grief and gratitude Who Are the Letters For?Letters addressed parents, grandparents, children, mentors (including Ruth Van Ryken), and younger selves—showing the diverse impact of globally mobile lives (Standout Letters:Chris O'Shaughnessy's letter to his childhood friend highlights empathy and its lasting effects on cross-cultural connection Susie Brown, a U.S. Foreign Service mom, writes to her sons about the real challenges and closeness that come from their “vagabond life” (What is Belonging?Megan Norton-Newbanks concludes: belonging isn't about fitting in, but being seen—especially “in the mess” of global mobility (00:07:02–00:07:34).Letters as Emotional Yarn:These aren't tidy stories, but threads handed to the listener—the reality of living between cultures (00:07:18–00:07:34).Shared Experience:Despite chaos and change, the book reassures listeners that they're not alone in their questions and feelings. It's “messy, lovely, layered, and deeply human” (00:09:24–00:09:31).Memorable Quotes“Belonging isn't about fitting in, it's about being seen. Even in the mess.”“Sometimes being a part of someone else's story is the most sacred kind of belonging there is.”Call to ActionShare the episode or the Belonging Project series with expats, nomads, TCKs, or anyone seeking to feel seen in their globally mobile journeys.Support the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

Thank you, friends, for clicking on this episode of the Pondering Purple podcast, a source of information, insight and inspiration for those who love MKs and those who are MKs.···This episode is the audio version of Chapter Three of Pieces of Purple: The Passport Culture. To view episodes in this series as videos, including the conversations with TCKs that drop two weeks after each chapter, follow this link to the Youtube channel: ⁠https://bit.ly/pieces_channel⁠. ...The Amazon page for Piece of Purple is ⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠. For bulk order pricing of ten copies or more, please ⁠⁠⁠CONTACT⁠⁠⁠ me.To access discussion questions for each chapter, click ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠....More of my MK-related resources can be found at the following links:1. My most-read articles listed on my⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 2. My grand new book--everything I've ever taught about MKs in one place--⁠⁠⁠⁠Pieces of Purple⁠⁠⁠⁠!3. My ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of video "nuggets" on Youtube.4. My novel about a missionary family, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Of Stillness and Storm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.···Four ways to make sure you don't miss an episode:1. Click subscribe after you find Pondering Purple on the podcast platform of your choice.2. Friend and follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--I'll announce new episodes as they release. (Make sure you hit "Follow first" under the "Follow" tab.)3. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The MK Hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a group on Facebook solely devoted to sharing new materials as I produce them.4. Receive email notifications by writing “subscribe to podcast” in the subject line of a message you send to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shellphoenix@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (I promise--that's all you'll receive. No newsy epistles or cat pictures!)···Please share this resource in your missionary, MK, and TCK circles. I'd love it if you also left a comment on whatever platform you use, so Pondering Purple can be less of a monologue and more of a conversation.···The title of the podcast is a nod to the complex, beautiful, sometimes confounding, always life-shaping and ideally life-enhancing effects of growing up in the color swirl of cultures and worlds.···Helpful definitions:· MK or Missionaries' Kid - the child of missionaries.· TCK or Third Culture Kid - someone who has spent a majority of his/her formative years in a culture other than his/her passport culture. This includes missionaries' kids, military kids, business kids, diplomats' kids, etc.

In this heartwarming episode of Nomadic Diaries, hosts Doreen Cumberford and Megan Norton-Newbanks welcome Hiroko Bell, a Japanese adult third culture kid (ATCK) and passionate advocate for cross-cultural families. Hiroko shares her remarkable geographical journey, from Japan to the US, England, and back again, before settling in New York City and embracing her multi-layered identity.Key Topics & HighlightsBelonging to New York CityHiroko reflects on finding home not in a physical location, but among family and community—a concept captured in her song “I Am Me.”Japanese TCKs and 'Kikokushijo'Unique Japanese term ‘Kikokushijo' and its evolution: from describing children struggling to reintegrate after living abroad, to being viewed as global assets.Educational and emotional challenges for returnees, especially regarding language tracks and stereotypes.Importance of translating TCK resources and raising awareness in Japan.The Role of Language and IdentityThe complex relationship between language proficiency and cultural belonging, illustrated by personal anecdotes and the nuances of bilingual/mixed families.Empowerment & MissionHiroko's commitment to affirming TCK strengths, advocating for visibility and belonging, and empowering future generations through language and awareness.Song Highlight:Hiroko shares the story behind “I Am Me,” written to express the TCK experience and the emotional journey of finding home and identity. The episode closes with a moving excerpt from the song.Songwriter: YUSHIOLyrics: Hiroko Nagata BellSingers: Minori Therrien Imai, Yaji Tomo, YUSHIOProduced by OkannootoFind Hiroko at:https://www.instagram.com/uptck.jphttps://youtu.be/bXv6Kt1t8gM?si=fYzpoVSEkCOZCqOHhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hiroko-nagata-bell-6457811/Here is a short excerpt from the song.Where are you from? It's an easy question But not for me Here, there or nowhere, I don't know  I come from different places  Mix of words Mix of norms I wonder if I'm all mixed up  Am I more like my dad Or more like my mom Or maybe neither  Where do I belong? Who am I?  Made up my mind Won't worry no more I don't have to be like anyone else  Don't define me Don't confine me I am ME  Where's your home? It's an easy question But not for me Here, there or nowhere, I don't know   Support the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

In this heartfelt conversation on Nomadic Diaries: The Belonging Project, host Doreen Cumberford and co-host Megan Norton-Newbanks, interview Melki Siddiq, a communication coach, English teacher, counselor, and avid traveler. Melki reflects on his cross-cultural journey spanning India and Colombia, delving into the paradoxes of belonging, identity, and self. The conversation explores how constant movement can fragment - and also enrich - our sense of self, what it means to find home, and the nourishing power of community, rituals, and meaningful questions.Key Themes & Highlights:Introduction to Melki Siddiq:Melki shares his professional background and experiences living in India and five years in Colombia. The Paradox of Belonging:Melki describes belonging as a push and pull between seeking connection with others and preserving individuality, a sentiment familiar to third-culture and cross-cultural individuals.He shares, "Belonging everywhere and nowhere at once” - the tension and freedom of a nomadic identity.Skill of Adaptability:Through moving across cultures and languages, Melki developed adaptability and flexibility. He notes, however, that this flexibility may feel like fragmentation, prompting questions about identity and wholeness.Productive Tension & Self-Discovery:Melki views the inner tension of belonging as "a beautiful dance between being of the world and being in it." He regards self-inquiry as essential, asking: Can I belong somewhere without losing myself?.Grounding Rituals:Melki grounds himself through meditation and running—activities representing both stillness and movement, mirroring the oscillation within his own sense of belonging.Community and Safe Spaces:Melki values connections where masks are set aside and psychological safety is prioritized. He discusses his global network, including friendships formed at conferences and maintained through virtual meetups.Coaching & Reflection:As a coach, Melki prefers to guide rather than advise, encouraging self-discovery through reflective questions. Key prompts he uses:Why am I seeking a sense of belonging?Am I being authentic, or just trying to fit in?Can I belong somewhere without losing myself?How can I create spaces that welcome others' individuality?Memorable Quotations:“We are the thread in the fabric, but also the fabric as well.”“Home is where your heart is.”“How do I create spaces that welcome individuality in others?”Where to Find Melki:LinkedIn: Melki SiddiqPodcast: “Meaningful Conversations with Talk Cause” (Spotify)Website: talkcause.comFor Listeners:This episode is a rich exploration of rootlessness, community, and the evolving nature of identity. Whether you're a frequent traveler, an expat, or simply pondering your place in the world, Melki's insights offer comfort and inspiration.Thank you for tuning in to Nomadic Diaries: The Belonging Project. Don't forget to subscribe, share your reflections, and join us next time.Support the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

This special installment of the Nomadic Diaries podcast dives deep into the subject of belonging as it relates to nomads, expatriates, third culture kids (TCKs), and cross-cultural kids (CCKs).Host Doreen Cumberford and co-host Megan Norton-Newbanks are joined by Author and Coach, Carolyn Grant to discuss the emotional geography of transitions, the process of resettling, and the personal and community-wide strategies for fostering a true sense of belonging.Key Topics Discussed:Transitions vs. Change:Carolyn provides a powerful framework distinguishing external changes (like moving countries) from internal transitions (the psychological adaptation). She likens transition to a bridge with several emotional "markers"—from feeling settled, through phases of chaos and exhaustion, to finally feeling a sense of belonging in a new place.Personal Stories & Analogies:Carolyn shares her own experience as an "accidental immigrant," highlighting the hidden losses only noticed years later. She uses evocative metaphors like "the ear of the hippo" to express the way deep emotions and losses are often beneath the surface.Normalizing Transition:Through discovering the work of William Bridges and David Pollock, Carolyn and Megan emphasize how helpful it is to realize these feelings are normal -not a sign of personal failure or lack, but a universal part of the expat and nomadic experience.In-Person vs. Online Belonging:The group discusses the richness of face-to-face empathy and connection versus the limitations (but still the value) of online communities, particularly during the COVID pandemic.Inclusive Framework for TCKs/CCKs & Hidden Immigrants:The podcast explores identity beyond nationality and ethnicity, including stories from adoption and cross-cultural upbringing—how difference is not always visible or acknowledged.Tools and Strategies for Rebuilding Belonging:Grieve the Losses: Name and process what you're leaving behind.Initiate Connections: Seek out groups, mentors, faith communities, and activities.Embrace Fitting In vs. Belonging: Understand that true belonging takes time and is deeper than superficial assimilation.Faith & Personal Resilience: Both faith and resilience are described as anchors during times of transition and disruption.Find Carolyn at:https://facebook.com/carolyngrantwww.navigatetransition.comhttps://instagram.com/navigatetransitionSupport the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

In this insightful episode of the Nomadic Diaries' Belonging Project miniseries, Doreen and Megan welcome Andrea Schmidt, a trilingual global teen life coach specializing in supporting third culture kids (TCKs), especially teenage girls. The conversation delves into the complex processes of identity formation and belonging for TCKs, challenges of boarding school experiences, and the importance of supportive frameworks for globally mobile families.Key Topics DiscussedAndrea's Background:Certified coach & psychologist, works worldwide with TCK teenage girls in English, Spanish, and German, drawing on her own cross-cultural experiences.Identity vs. Belonging:Identity: Self-concept; how one defines oneself in multicultural settings.Belonging: The sense of connection to places, families, or cultures - often a challenge for TCKs who may feel “rootless” or “in between.”Boarding Schools & Family Dynamics:Discussion on TCKs who attend boarding schools, the impact on family bonds, and how frequent separation can challenge both belonging and emotional security.Preparation & Support:Many corporations offer limited prep for families relocating abroad. Some mission and military sectors offer more. Emotional support during transitions is often lacking.Coaching Approaches:Andrea uses the “RAFT” framework (Reconciliation, Affirmation, Farewells, Think Destination) to help teens process moves and transitions.Emotional Literacy & Struggles:Emphasizes developing an emotional vocabulary, modeling struggle (not just “success”), and the importance of parents taking care of themselves during transitions.Unique TCK Challenges for Teens:Frequent moves and disrupted friendshipsNavigating new languages, social norms, and academic systemsManaging “cultural homelessness” and assumptions about privilegePeer Connection & Trust:How repeated moves and goodbyes can affect confidence, trust, and willingness to form new connections. Andrea shares tips for both teens and parents.Coaching in Multiple Languages:Andrea sees flexibility and comfort switching languages in sessions as empowering for globally mobile teens.Long-Term Benefits of TCK Experience:Enhanced cross-cultural skills, adaptability, and empathyAdvanced problem-solving and global mindsetValue for future careers and leadership opportunitiesMemorable Quotes“Belonging is to everywhere and nowhere.” Andrea Schmidt“It's important for parents to help their children, even if they're teenagers, to get out there and make their place a place where they can belong, where they can hang out, where they can feel community.” Andrea Schmidt“True belonging doesn't require that we change who we are. Our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.”— Brene Brown Resources MentionedRAFT Model for transitionsAndrea's TED Talk (in Spanish and “hot pink heels!”)Andrea's coaching platforms:Instagram: @globalgirlcoachLinkedIn: Andrea SchmidtWebsite: globalgirlcoach.comThank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Nomadic Diaries wherever you get your podcasts.Support the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

In this episode, Lois Bushong joins Megan Norton-Newbanks and Doreen Cumberford - Host of Nomadic Diaries for a thoughtful discussion on belonging among Third Culture Kids (TCKs), globally mobile families, and expats. The conversation covers generational differences, the power of cultural memory and rituals, strategies for fostering belonging across generations, and personal reflections on identity.Main Topics CoveredShared Cultural Memory & Rituals:Lois Bushong explains how rituals—like celebrating cultural holidays or maintaining family traditions—create a sense of safety and belonging. Examples include celebrating Christmas Eve Latin American style and maintaining personal and familial touchstones from various cultures.Physical and Emotional Belonging:The hosts discuss how belonging isn't just physical, but deeply tied to our internal self and relationships. Lois Bushong uses metaphors to highlight the process of sorting through personal "baggage" and adjusting values, much like sailing and constantly refining your course.Strategies to Bridge Generational Approaches:Suggestions include reading Megan's book Belonging Beyond Borders, using metaphors for self-discovery, journaling, seeking out international communities, connecting with other TCKs, and accessing counseling or coaching (especially with professionals experienced in TCK identity or trauma).Authentic Connections & Storytelling:Sharing stories about meaningful objects and international experiences helps elicit a sense of community and personal truth.Continuous Process of Belonging:The hosts agree that belonging is never static—it's a lifelong work in progress and sometimes requires cognitive reframing and conscious decisions.Memorable Quotes"There is not going to be a perfect country that I'm going to land in. It's what's inside that's important." - Lois Bushong"Life is like being on a sailboat... we're always having to adjust the sails, adjust where we're going." - Lois BushongResources & RecommendationsBooks Mentioned:Belonging Beyond Borders by Megan Norton-NewbanksBelonging Everywhere and Nowhere by Lois BushongFind Lois/Megan/Doreenhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lois-bushong-a3241ab/https://www.linkedin.com/in/megancnorton/https://www.linkedin.com/in/doreenmcumberford/Connect With Us:Like, review, and share your comments!  Thanks for listening to Nomadic Diaries. Support the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

In this insightful second episode with Lois Bushong, the hosts dive deep into the concept of belonging for Third Culture Kids (TCKs), adult TCKs, and globally mobile families. Lois Bushong shares her expertise as a licensed marriage and family therapist, unpacking generational differences and the pivotal role of shared cultural memory of family and community. Key Topics & InsightsShared Cultural Memory & Belonging:Lois Bushong discusses how family rituals and cultural touchstones - such as holiday traditions and celebratory meals - help anchor a sense of belonging despite geographic and cultural shifts. Artifacts and Home as Story:Doreen Cumberford and Megan reflect on how the physical items in their homes serve as tangible mirrors for their international journeys, helping in personal storytelling and connection.Finding Belonging Internally:The hosts reinforce the idea that true belonging starts within. Lois Bushong uses metaphors like “carry-on baggage” and a “sailboat navigating life" to illustrate how self-reflection, examining one's values, and adaptation play a role in creating a sense of belonging that transcends location.Navigating Cross-Generational Connections:Strategies for bridging generational approaches include reading books (specifically plugging Megan Norton-Newbanks's "Belonging Beyond Borders"), using metaphors in therapy, journaling, engaging in meaningful cultural activities, and seeking mentorship or peer support.Normalizing the TCK Experience:Lois Bushong validates the complex identity struggles of TCKs and encourages finding community (in-person or online), sharing stories, and normalizing feelings of not fully “fitting in” anywhere.Practical Tips & ResourcesReflect on Rituals:Maintain or adapt family traditions and cultural practices wherever you live—they foster continuity and safety.Use Artifacts:Surround yourself with objects and decorations that tell your story and spark conversations about your journey.Seek Community:Connect with other TCKs, join international groups, or engage in multicultural activities for shared understanding.Therapeutic Tools:Explore counseling, coaching, and journaling. Directories like the International Therapist Directory can help find culturally competent therapists.Recommended Books:“Belonging Beyond Borders” by Megan Norton-Newbanks“Belonging Everywhere and insights into Counseling the Global Blue Mobile” by Lois BushongSupport the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, hosts Doreen Cumberford, Megan Norton-Newbanks welcome Lois Bushong, Author, Retired Counselor and Coaching expert on Third Culture Kids (TCKs). This conversation dives deep into the ever-evolving concepts of home and belonging, exploring generational differences, digital community building, and the psychological needs that underpin our sense of “place.”Key Discussion Points1. Home vs. BelongingLois distinguishes between "home" (a physical space) and "belonging" (an emotional, psychological state).You can be in your literal home but not feel a sense of belonging, and vice versa.2. Maslow's Hierarchy and BelongingBelonging sits just above basic needs (food, water, safety) in Maslow's Hierarchy, emphasizing its foundational importance.3. Third Culture Kids (TCKs)Defined as individuals who spend their formative years outside their passport country.Lois shares her expertise working with adult TCKs and reflects on the impact of living between cultures.4. Generational PerspectivesLois breaks down differences between Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and even Generations Alpha/Beta.Younger generations are often more comfortable finding community online and are attuned to diversity and inclusion, whereas older generations favor face-to-face interactions, loyalty, and stability.5. The Digital ShiftThe rise of technology has transformed experiences, with terms like “experience plagiarism” and “sensory hijacking” describing how online interactions can dilute genuine life experiences.Despite challenges, Lois and others note positives—like the ability to maintain meaningful connections through digital tools.6. Authentic BelongingDefined as genuine, vulnerable connection, whether in-person or online.The group agrees that authentic belonging can occur in digital spaces when interactions are honest and supportive.7. Changing Work EnvironmentsFrom office-centric workdays to remote, location-independent jobs, the sense of community and routine has shifted.Loneliness and isolation can result, but digital check-ins and intentional connections (like sending a daily heart emoji) are important new practices.8. Internalizing BelongingLois highlights the importance of cultivating internal belonging, especially when external circumstances change.Healthy, authentic relationships act as reflective “mirrors,” helping us to truly see ourselves.Notable Quotes:“A home is a physical place... Belonging is a psychological concept.” Lois Bushong“Authentic belonging is when you're real with someone - not fake, not pretend.” Lois Bushong“Digital communities break down physical barriers, but you still need authenticity for true belonging.” Lois BushongTakeawaysBelonging looks different across generations and platforms - but its need remains urgent.Whether through face-to-face conversation, a heartfelt message, or a daily digital check-in, intentionality and authenticity are essential.For nomads, expats, and TCKs, belonging is both an internal journey and a relational one.Find Lois/Megan/Doreenhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lois-bushong-a3241ab/https://www.linkedin.com/in/megancnorton/Support the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

Welcome to the introductory episode of Nomadic Diaries, The Belonging Project hosted by Doreen Cumberford. Doreen reflects on two years of conversations with guests e.g. cross-cultural trainers, writers, therapists, and ordinary people who have lived abroad and returned or moved elsewhere. No matter the topic, discussions lead back to one fundamental question: Where do I belong?Key Topics & ThemesThe Belonging Project:Doreen launches a series exploring belonging, inspired by recurring themes from previous episodes. Belonging as an Active Process:It's not passive. True belonging means making life welcome—actively participating, saying yes to new experiences, staying curious, and stepping outside familiar bubbles. Global Perspectives:Perspectives from international teachers, third culture kids (TCKs), academics, and artists will appear in future episodes. There is a focus on how belonging varies depending on passport, heart, and lived experience, not just geographical location.Home vs. Belonging:Doreen raises thought-provoking questions: Are home and belonging the same? Can you have one without the other? What does belonging look like for you personally?Personal Journeys:Both Doreen and her co-host, Megan Norton Newbanks (author of Belonging Beyond Borders), bring personal experience to the subject. Notable Quotes“Belonging doesn't always look the way we think it will. Sometimes it's not just about finding your tribe - it's about shared activity, space, or connection.”“Making life welcome helps us belong. It's not passive, it's an active topic.”“Home can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time and just learning to be okay with that paradox is important"TakeawaysBelonging is a deeply human need, crossing borders and cultures.Creating belonging requires stepping out of comfort zones and proactively engaging with new environments.The podcast series will feature a diverse range of stories, perspectives, and insights from global citizens.Listeners are invited to reflect on their own journey toward belonging.What's Next?The next episode will introduce Megan Norton Newbanks, who will share what belonging means to her - from a TCK perspective - and the hopes she and Doreen have for the series.Support the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with ease and grace.

Thank you, friends, for clicking on this episode of the Pondering Purple podcast, a source of information, insight and inspiration for those who love MKs and those who are MKs.···This episode is the audio version of Chapter Two of Pieces of Purple. To view episodes in this series as videos, including the conversations with TCKs that drop two weeks after each chapter, follow this link to the Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/pieces_channel. ...The Amazon page for Piece of Purple is ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠. For bulk order pricing of ten copies or more, please ⁠⁠CONTACT⁠⁠ me.To access discussion questions for each chapter, click ⁠HERE⁠....More of my MK-related resources can be found at the following links:1. My most-read articles listed on my⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 2. My grand new book--everything I've ever taught about MKs in one place--⁠⁠⁠Pieces of Purple⁠⁠⁠!3. My ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of video "nuggets" on Youtube.4. My novel about a missionary family, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Of Stillness and Storm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.···Four ways to make sure you don't miss an episode:1. Click subscribe after you find Pondering Purple on the podcast platform of your choice.2. Friend and follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--I'll announce new episodes as they release. (Make sure you hit "Follow first" under the "Follow" tab.)3. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The MK Hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a group on Facebook solely devoted to sharing new materials as I produce them.4. Receive email notifications by writing “subscribe to podcast” in the subject line of a message you send to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shellphoenix@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (I promise--that's all you'll receive. No newsy epistles or cat pictures!)···Please share this resource in your missionary, MK, and TCK circles. I'd love it if you also left a comment on whatever platform you use, so Pondering Purple can be less of a monologue and more of a conversation.···The title of the podcast is a nod to the complex, beautiful, sometimes confounding, always life-shaping and ideally life-enhancing effects of growing up in the color swirl of cultures and worlds.···Helpful definitions:· MK or Missionaries' Kid - the child of missionaries.· TCK or Third Culture Kid - someone who has spent a majority of his/her formative years in a culture other than his/her passport culture. This includes missionaries' kids, military kids, business kids, diplomats' kids, etc.

I had some soft slow sadness hit this week - and it took me a while to identify it as loneliness. This episode explores where and why loneliness might be a familiar part of our TCK story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we talk with TCK to Indonesia, Leah Musacchio.Join our conversation as we talk about friendships, finding purpose and belonging in temporary seasons, and making your home in Jesus regardless of where you are living. You'll hear Leah share her own stories and experiences of navigating her way through life away from her home country and how God met her in her culture shock and sadness. This is a great episode with practical advice for TCKs navigating big changes in their lives.What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOST: Michelle EllisSONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | FacebookSHOW NOTES:4:48 | The Mind & Body Clinic - Connect with Leah17:03 | A Reason, Season or Lifetime Poem - by Brian Andrew Chalker25:55 | Philippians 3:20 - “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.”KEY QUOTES:25:01 | “I just felt the Lord speak to my heart and [he] said, ‘your home isn't anywhere here on earth. Your home is wherever I am.'”28:28 | “God still makes a way for all of our struggles and all of our pain and everything that we go through. There's always a purpose behind it.”29:36 | “Don't be afraid to ask for help because you're important and it's so important to process those needs.” 38:57 | “It's a hard thing to move from what you know to so much unknown.” Interested in partnering with John Michael & Nicole in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that HERE.COMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

The Charlie Kirk Show staff take an hour of questions live from CK Exclusives subscribers, including: -What ways has God's help surprised the TCKS team in the days and weeks since the tragedy of Charlie's loss? -What were Charlie's favorite books and personal mentors? -What are Turning Point Action's key areas of focus in the 2026 mid-terms? Become an Exclusives subscriber and ask the team a question on-air by going to members.charliekirk.com.Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Charlie Kirk Show staff take an hour of questions live from CK Exclusives subscribers, including: -What ways has God's help surprised the TCKS team in the days and weeks since the tragedy of Charlie's loss? -What were Charlie's favorite books and personal mentors? -What are Turning Point Action's key areas of focus in the 2026 mid-terms? Become an Exclusives subscriber and ask the team a question on-air by going to members.charliekirk.com.Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thank you, friends, for clicking on this episode of the Pondering Purple podcast, a source of information, insight and inspiration for those who love MKs and those who are MKs.···This episode is the audio version of Chapter One of Pieces of Purple, my new book that contains everything I've ever learned, researched or taught about TCKs....The Amazon page for Piece of Purple is ⁠HERE⁠. For bulk order pricing of ten copies or more, please ⁠CONTACT⁠ me.To access discussion questions for each chapter, click HERE....More of my MK-related resources can be found at the following links:1. My most-read articles listed on my⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 2. My grand new book--everything I've ever taught about MKs in one place--⁠⁠Pieces of Purple⁠⁠!3. My ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of video "nuggets" on Youtube.4. My novel about a missionary family, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Of Stillness and Storm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.···Four ways to make sure you don't miss an episode:1. Click subscribe after you find Pondering Purple on the podcast platform of your choice.2. Friend and follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--I'll announce new episodes as they release. (Make sure you hit "Follow first" under the "Follow" tab.)3. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The MK Hub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a group on Facebook solely devoted to sharing new materials as I produce them.4. Receive email notifications by writing “subscribe to podcast” in the subject line of a message you send to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shellphoenix@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (I promise--that's all you'll receive. No newsy epistles or cat pictures!)···Please share this resource in your missionary, MK, and TCK circles. I'd love it if you also left a comment on whatever platform you use, so Pondering Purple can be less of a monologue and more of a conversation.···The title of the podcast is a nod to the complex, beautiful, sometimes confounding, always life-shaping and ideally life-enhancing effects of growing up in the color swirl of cultures and worlds.···Helpful definitions:· MK or Missionaries' Kid - the child of missionaries.· TCK or Third Culture Kid - someone who has spent a majority of his/her formative years in a culture other than his/her passport culture. This includes missionaries' kids, military kids, business kids, diplomats' kids, etc.

Bret Taylor & Sheryl O'Bryan share about the care and support they provide for missionary kids as they return to their passport country.ABOUT BRET TAYLOR & SHERYL O'BRYAN:Bret Taylor is the President of Interaction International and creator of the Adaptable TCK Model. He's spent over 25 years serving Third Culture Kids, starting as a chaplain for MKs in Kenya and later leading the Youth and Family Ministry at JAARS. He chairs the MK Caregiver's Summit and helps lead the International TCK Conference. Bret lives in North Carolina with his wife Mindy, has visited 33 countries, and swears by In-N-Out burgers.Sheryl O'Bryan grew up in New York (state) and always wanted to be a TCK. Her parents were uncooperative in this venture. She graduated from Wheaton College with a double major of French and History (but not necessarily French history). In 2019 she completed her M.A. in human services counseling with a focus on life coaching from Liberty University.Sheryl began working with TCKs in 1988 at the International Christian Academy in Cote d'Ivoire; A civil war forced her to evacuate in 2002. She then moved to her sending organization's home office and served as the TCK care and education specialist until 2018. Later that year, she joined Interaction International where she serves in a variety of capacities. Her favorite moments are always when she works directly with TCKs.ADDITIONAL RESOURCE:• Interaction International• Among Worlds Blog• Transit Lounge• TCK Connect• MuKappa• Faith on the Move: A Devotional for MK/TCK Teens in Cross-Cultural Transition- 30 day devotional by Interaction International• The Grief Tower: A Practical Guide to Processing Grief with Third Culture Kids by Lauren Wells• Swirly by Sara Saunders and Matthew Pierce

Doreen Cumberford welcomes Patrick Kadian - an expat, hypnotherapist, and expert on mental health for global nomads. With over 30 years of expat experience spanning 16 countries, Patrick offers a unique perspective on raising third culture kids (TCKs), navigating transitions, and caring for the mental wellbeing of globally mobile families. The focus is on understanding the TCK experience, the challenges these children face, and practical strategies parents can use to help their kids thrive during international moves.Topics We CoveredDefining Third Culture Kids (TCKs)TCKs are children who spend significant formative years living outside their parents' passport country, existing in a “liminal space” between cultures.Discussion on differences between “traditional” TCKs (longer stays per country) versus highly mobile digital nomad families.Core Challenges for TCKsIssues with identity, rootlessness, and restlessness.Stacked “miniature griefs” from repeated goodbyes and transitions.The importance of parental awareness and intentional support for emotional resilience.Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)Explanation of ACEs and their long-term health implications.Frequent moves and cultural transitions can increase ACE scores for expat children.Emotional Regulation & ResiliencePractical techniques for both parents and children, drawing from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).Tools like the “acceptance tool”—learning to sit with uncomfortable feelings and emotions and build psychological flexibility.Emphasis on consistency, presence, and the importance of parents being a “safe home base.”Hypnotherapy & Mindfulness PracticesClarification: Hypnosis is not mind control, but a form of deep relaxation similar to guided meditation.Discussion of how both hypnosis and meditation can calm the nervous system, helping individuals (children and adults) stay within their “window of tolerance” during stressful transitions.Suggested resources, including Patrick's guided exercises and recommended books like Good Inside and The Whole Brain Child.Actionable TakeawaysFor Parents: Start regulation work early—be present, emotionally available, and focus on being a consistent source of safety amid change.For Families on the Move: Acknowledge and talk about grief and loss; use regular mindfulness or meditation practices to build resilience.Understanding When to Seek Help: Trust your instincts if you or your child seems stuck, highly reactive, or overwhelmed, reach out to a professional like Patrick for supportive techniques.Resources & LinksPatrick Kadian's Website: www.theexpathypnotherapist.comListen to guided recordings and practical exercisesBook a free introductory chat or send a message directlyBooks Mentioned:Good Inside by Dr. Becky KennedyThe Whole Brain Child by Dr. Dan SiegelOther Areas to Explore:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) resourcesTCK Training by Tanya CrossmanFinal ThoughtsThis episode underscores that while global mobility presents unique emotional hurdles, it also cultivates strengths and “superpowers” in kids and families. Mindful, connected parenting and self-awareness are key to creating not just well-traveled, but well-balanced human beings.Support the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with Confidence.

On this episode, we talk with Micah Wells, LAC Missionary Associate and TCK teacher in Costa Rica.Join our conversation as we talk about what it looks like to serve new TCKs as they begin their first major transition to “life on the field.” You'll hear Micah share her story of getting started in missions and the need for TCKs and their families to feel supported throughout their missions journey. Micah is a friend who is full of wisdom, compassion, and joy and we believe you will be encouraged and challenged listening to her story and work.What questions do you have about this episode? How can we help support you or your TCK? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us HERE. HOST: Michelle EllisSONG: Sunscreen by Vic Davi SHOW NOTES:6:00 | Wide Open Missions30:04 | 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - “Love is patient, love is kind…”Connect with Micah: wellsmicah00@gmail.com Interested in partnering with Micah in prayer, one-time giving, or monthly giving? Do that ⁠HERE⁠.CONNECT WITH US: Instagram | FacebookCOMMON TERMS:TCK - third culture kidMK - missionary kidLAC - Latin America Caribbean

Send The Parable Podcast a TextBorn in France to a Canadian father and an American mother, Michèle is a consultant, writer, and speaker motivated by a deep passion for Third Culture Kids (TCK). After teaching for twenty years at Black Forest Academy (Germany), she launched her own ministry, equipping TCKs for flourishing, while offering those who care for them the information they need to love them well. Michèle travels globally to consult and teach, drawing from her thirty years of experience in TCK spaces. In her spare time, Michèle writes novels that have been published in the United States, Canada, Norway, and Poland. She loves good conversations, mischievous students, French pastries, and paths to healing. As you listen to Michèle, I hope you remember that your parable showcases how God is still present in our broken world.Reflection QuestionsWhat is your relationship with God like when walking through a hard season?Let's go on a little treasure hunt as we do something mundane today, maybe on a walk, folding the laundry, or connecting with a friend.  What beauty do you see there that you could have missed?Connect with MichèleWebsite | PodcastArticle: God Was Not in the StormFlecks of GoldPieces of Purple: The Greatness, Grit, and Grace of Growing Up MKGreg Bufkin's Episodes | Episodes 79, 142, 143Want to Enhance Your Conversations?Before you go, could you do me a favor and take my Listener Survey and then in doing so I will send you, "10 basic Tips to Enhance Your Conversations." It will be sent straight to your inbox and you can keep it on your phone and refer to it anytime you need a little help. #theparablepodcast #yourstorymatters #christianpodcast #hope #whatIlearned #faithWays to Support The Parable Podcast #1 Subscribe or Follow the podcast to ensure you catch every episode of The Parable Podcast on your preferred podcast platform (such as iTunes, Spotify). #2 Recommend this podcast to a friend, providing a great chance to begin your own Parable Conversation. #3 Looking for a speaker for your Church, Women's Group, or event? Contact Danielle to learn more.

Michèle Phoenix returns to the podcast to share about her new book, Pieces of Purple, based on personal experience and years of ministry with children of missionaries. This is a must-listen for parents, caregivers, teachers, and friends of Third Culture Kids (TCKs)! Find Michèle's book, Pieces of Purple, here! “Even parents who have lived cross-culturally for thirty or forty years will never fully understand in an embodied way what it means to have grown up with all of these cultural and experiential and all of these other inputs shaping who you are.” “Being a TCK is indescribable. It is hovering darkness; it is glimmering light. May we embrace the wonderful as we wrestle with the hard. And may the God who cherishes His purple people reach through the layers that make us so unique to touch the parts that need His love and free us up to flourish.” “We need to tell our stories so that they know that there's an after picture and that this is not the end. We can be the embodiment of hope to them. We can point to other people [...] we know who have been through challenges like this and who have found their footing again.” “I actually believe that our greatest strength is in mostly belonging, not fully belonging. If we can mostly belong in multiple places, we become bridge builders and change makers.” “I don't think we realize how much just living in proximity to us is teaching the TCKs in our care about life and faith and holding the tension that we all feel.” What's changing our lives: Keane: Getting up earlier Heather: Daily devotional from the Worship Initiative Michèle: Learning about attachment theory and baking sourdough bread Weekly Spotlight: Schools serving Third Culture Kids (TCKs) We'd love to hear from you! podcast@teachbeyond.org Podcast Website: https://teachbeyond.org/podcast Learn about TeachBeyond: https://teachbeyond.org/ 

In this episode, Doreen Cumberford welcomes welcomes Mathieu Gagnon, an Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK) and Professor of Psychology at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario specializing in the emotional experiences of third culture kids (TCKs), expats, and people in global transitions.Mathieu's international upbringing as the son of a Canadian diplomat took him from Paris to Morocco, the Ivory Coast, Haiti, Switzerland, and back to Canada. Together, they dive deep into the emotional landscape of third culture kids (TCKs): from the privileges and the hidden losses, to the impacts of nostalgia and awe, and how these shape our sense of belonging, well-being, and self-continuity.Key TopicsMathieu's Third Culture Kid JourneyChildhood across multiple continents due to his father's diplomatic careerChallenges and privileges of growing up globallyRepatriation to Canada and the long road to understanding identityTCK Characteristics & ChallengesIssues with belonging and identityThe deeper, sometimes ineffable sense of rootlessnessHidden losses, grief, and the ongoing process of adaptationResilience in children and advice for TCK parents: normalize and process complex emotionsThe Power of NostalgiaNostalgia as a bridge from loss to loveIts dual nature: potential to heal or to keep us stuck in the pastHow nostalgia fosters social connection and builds meaning in lifeThe concept of self-continuity and how nostalgia can reinforce itAwe: More Than “Awesome”Definition of awe and its complexity — both positive and terrifyingHow awe is especially present in the TCK experience due to exposure to vast new environments and culturesThe benefits of cultivating awe: increased meaning, social connection, and even physical well-beingAwe as a practice for everyone, not just TCKsAdvice for Parents Raising TCKsChildren are highly resilient, but struggle is normalDon't shy away from talking about the hard things and complex feelingsBe open about sadness; allow space to grieve loss and change togetherMemorable Quotes“Nostalgia is a bridge from loss to love.”“Sadness means love… you never feel sad about something you don't care about.”“Awe is a midpoint between deep interest and fascination — and fear.”“We get our stories right, and awe and nostalgia help us make sense of this nomadic life.”ResourcesContact Mathieu Gagnon: gagnonpsy@gmail.comTCK Research Podcast: Key Research, Books, and Concepts:Third Culture Kids (TCKs): The core theme of the episode, referring to children raised in a culture different from their parents' and/or the culture of their country of nationality.Ruth Van Reken: Referenced as an authority on TCKs and quoted for her insight, "I was encouraged, but never comforted."Van Tilburg's research on nostalgia: Matthieu quotes a phrase from this researcher, "nostalgia is a bridge from loss to love," and mentions recent scholarly work examining Doreen Cumberford: Host, author, and global transition expertConnect with Us:If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe! Have a story or a question for us? We'd love to hear from you—message us at Nomadic Diaries.Sayonara until next time! Support the showHome is Where Your Story Crosses Borders!We aim to inspire expat solutions, by helping you navigate global living with Confidence.