The Expat Cast
theexpatcast
The ExpatCast is the podcast where expats share stories about fitting in, standing out, and every mishap on their journey to feeling at home abroad.
Tereré Talks: Paraguay for Foreigners & the End of The Expat Cast
Tereré Talks: Part 10. Is Paraguay a good place to live as a foreigner?
After 9 episodes of singing the praises and things to love about Paraguay, it's time to share some of the honest downsides. (0:00-0:25)
Plus, it's the last episode of The Expat Cast! Over six year since the podcast started in a moldy basement in Germany, it's time to wrap it up in sunny Paraguay.
Nicole closes it out with sharing if she's happier in Paraguay, how she feels about returning to Germany one day, and, of
Tereré Talks: Travel in Paraguay & Paraguay Travel for Backpackers
Tereré Talks: Part 9. Many backpackers spend months backpacking "all" of South America - but skip Paraguay. Are they missing anything?
Nicole is temporarily living in Asuncion and traveling around the country. Zoe is a seasoned backpacker who might have skipped Paraguay, but is glad she didn't.
Together, the two give insights and recommendations as to what you can do in Paraguay, the best places to visit, and how to link it into your South American trip.
Plus: some of their crazy travel
Tereré Talks: Languages in Paraguay (Paraguayan Spanish, Guarani, Jopara)
Tereré Talks: Part 8. Paraguay is a mixture of surprises when it comes to language.
Yes, they speak Spanish, but Paraguayan Spanish is completely distinct from other South American countries' Spanish. Plus, the second official language of Paraguay is Guarani, the most widely spoken native American language. And on top of that, there's Jopara, which is a mixture of Spanish and Guarani!
To make things stranger, within the foreigner community, sometimes German is more useful than English!
Vi
Tereré Talks: The Kind, Welcoming, Tranquilo People of Paraguay
Tereré Talks: Part 7. If US Americans are peaches, and Germans are coconuts, are Paraguayans... marshmallows?
One of the main things you'll hear about Paraguay - if you hear anything - is that the people are really nice. But what does that actually mean? Enjoy this series of stories that paint a clearer picture of what exactly people mean when they say Paraguayans are nice!
Next Thursday: languages in Paraguay!
Read more about tereré here.
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Tereré Talks: Buying Home Goods & More - Shopping and Commerce in Paraguay
Tereré Talks: Part 6. In Paraguay, you can drop 50$ on a single linen shirt in a posh shopping mall, and you can spend 150$ on a hand-made, custom dining set that you picked up on the shoulder of a highway.
Furnishing a home in Paraguay can be quite the adventure, full of Facebook Marketplace scams, artisans clustered by skill selling on the roadside, and buying plants in the middle of a forest.
Next Thursday: the Paraguayan people!
Read more about tereré here.
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Tereré Talks: Paraguayan Cuisine & Food in Paraguay
Tereré Talks: Part 5. Paraguayan food: the best-kept secret in international cuisine?
Paraguay cuisine is a magical land where the sopa is cornbread, the soups have hidden steaks at the bottom, and gluten intolerant eaters can enjoy tapioca-based everything.
Even beyond their own cooking, Paraguayans simply know what to do in the kitchen. There's a booming craft beer scene, heaps of top-rate international restaurants, and the best beef you'll have in your life.
All of that for a price tag th
Tereré Talks: Transit in Paraguay
Tereré Talks: Part 4. Zoe and Nicole discuss the oddities of getting around in Paraguay.
You can walk - but not on the sidewalks. You can drive - but you can't turn left. You can bike - but watch out for the sinkholes disguised as puddles. You can take a bus - but you have to book it in person. You can fly - but the airport shops aren't reliably open.
Next Thursday: food!
Read more about tereré here.
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Tereré Talks: Paraguayan Homes & the Cost of Living in Paraguay
Tereré Talks: Part 3. White chunky tile flooring, a special pavilion for the barbecue, and an old dude with a gun napping at the end of the street. Welcome to a Paraguayan home!
In Paraguay, there are a lot of quirky things about a house, from the confusing but cool electrical outlets to dogs that are kind of pets, kind of security. Nicole and Zoe explain what a Paraguayan home looks like, plus a cost breakdown to compare rent and utilities costs among Paraguay, Germany, and the USA.
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Tereré Talks: Fast Facts & First Impressions of Paraguay
Tereré Talks: Part 2. Things Nicole read about Paraguay before moving here: it's the only landlocked South American, and it has an impressive mail system.
Both "facts" proved to be untrue. So Nicole and Zoe are here to correct them!
After going over basic geographical information, Nicole and Zoe share a short history of Paraguay, some fast facts about the population and places of interest, and a bit about safety in Paraguay. Plus, they discuss their first impressions upon arriving in Asuncion
Tereré Talks: Catching Up About One Year of Living in Paraguay
Tereré Talks: Part 1. Exactly a year ago, Nicole packed up her bags and moved from Germany to Paraguay. She didn't know what to expect, because the Internet knows everything, except, apparently, things about Paraguay.
After a year in Paraguay, Nicole has lots of love for this special place, and she's here to share about it in the Tereré Talks.
Nicole's friend Zoe joins her as a co-host, and they start off by catching up on the last year. What did Nicole get up to? What did she find to do for wo
Tereré Talks: Season Announcement
Season 8, Episode 0. A new season + a new format! In this intro to the new season, Nicole shares what she's got planned for season 8. Plus, she walks you through what tereré, the drink that's inspired the name of the season, is and how you drink it (at least as far as she's learned so far!).
Read more about tereré here.
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My Move from Germany to Paraguay, an Audio Diary
Season 7, Episode 25. This week's guest is your host, Nicole! Nicole is from the US and lived in Germany for five and a half years. Just a couple weeks ago, she moved from Germany to Paraguay for a temporary stay.
Over the course of seven months, Nicole recorded audio diaries about the move. The voice notes chronicle multiple moves, vehicle sales, paperwork stress, figuring out how to quit a job in Germany, the oddness that is packing items to ship across an ocean, and sadness because of how a
A Ukranian Reflects on a Decade in the Netherlands with Kateryna
Season 7, Episode 24. "Last year, the world changed, and the awareness of the situation is there now. It wasn't there 10 years ago."
Kateryna grew up in Kiev, Ukraine and moved to the Netherlands a decade ago to study. Before she could reflect on if she'd like to stay there longer after her degree, war broke out in her home country. But, weirdly, not many people around her knew about it or discussed it.
Fast forward to 2022. By then, Kateryna had spent most of her 20s in the Netherlands and bui
Foreign Correspondent Turned Berliner with Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson
Season 7, Episode 23. You might recognize her name and her voice from NPR, or National Public Radio, broadcasts across the US. Soraya grew up in the US, Iran, and Germany as the child of German and Iranian immigrants. She built an impressive career as a foreign correspondent, despite significant barriers keeping women from doing such work at the time.
She persisted, and she succeeded. Soraya's career had her living for years in Afghanistan, opening up a Kabul bureau, before moving to Egypt, just
Getting Your Bachelor’s Degree Abroad with Lindsay
Season 7, Episode 22. Lindsay was living in Michigan and nearing the end of high school, so she started to look at colleges in the US. And then she had a better idea. Rather than go to a US college and study abroad for a semester or a year, why not just go to university abroad?
Now, she's halfway through her degree in Utrecht in the Netherlands. Lindsay tells us all about how she got the idea in her mind to get her Bachelor's degree abroad, what it's been like in comparison to a US college, and
The Question of Joy, in Germany and Elsewhere with Priya
Season 7, Episode 21. Is there joy in life in Germany? Today's guest Priya grew up in India, lived for several years in Uganda, and now lives in Stuttgart, Germany. Priya and her German husband are raising their two small children in Germany, and focusing on family life has changed the considerations of what "joy" even means.
We discuss where there was and wasn't joy in the various places she's lived. Priya shares a beautiful metaphor for how think about priorities when seeking joy. Hint: it inv
”I won’t be surprised if...” with Kieran
Season 7, Episode 20. If you think of a financial planner, you might not immediately think of the resume of today's guest. Born in the USA. A stint in Moldova. A few years in France. Then Rome. Then Copenhagen. Then back to the US, to Boston and then to Denver. And now, Toulouse, France.
Kieran spent most of her 20s living in various parts of Europe, learning what she likes and doesn't like in life, in a place, in a career, and in herself. A crucial piece of advice she got over a coffee date w
The Venn Diagram of Ecuador, USA, & Germany with Oscar
Season 7, Episode 19. Oscar grew up in Ecuador and moved to the USA in his early adulthood. Now, he's preparing to move to Germany with his German partner - who, funnily enough, is from Hamburg, exactly where Oscar's great-grandfather was from!
Oscar fills us in on what these three countries have in common, including a surprising opinion about which countries have the least in common. Plus, there is an enthusiastic nerding out over bridges in this episode! And an exciting Q&A about life in Parag
On Late Blooming & Inflection Points with Eleanor
Season 7, Episode 18. Eleanor is a late bloomer. She moved abroad on more or less a whim in the late 1990s, when she was in her late 20s.
Eleanor was working in tech at the time, and although her initial move abroad was rather disorganized, with many misfires and much flying by the seat of her pants, by the time the tech bubble burst in the early 2000s, she was in a good position. She was living in Munich, Germany, working a steady job in web design, so she decided to stay. To bloom.
When she h
First Impressions of Germany with Kendall Long
Season 7, Episode 17. Kendall Long is now a resident of Germany! You may know her from her appearances on The Bachelor or Bachelor in Paradise. Now, this LA local is calling Stuttgart, Germany home, along with her fiance and their dog.
Kendall has been in Germany a month or two, and she joins Nicole, a fellow US American who has been in Germany for over five years, to swap insights. Kendall shares her first impressions of Germany and asks some burning questions, and Nicole gives advice to her as
Welcome to America, For Better or For Worse with Austyn
Season 7, Episode 16. We're catching up with Austyn from Expat Hour. Austyn started her podcast while living in the Netherlands with her four kids and her husband. About two years ago, Austyn ended her podcast to focus on a new job and her family.
But some big things have happened in her life since then, most notably that Austyn and her family now live in Portland, Oregon! She joins The Expat Cast to fill us in on what's been going on and what it was like to make a big international move on shor
Travel Germany: The Black Forest with Trash Jenny
Season 7, Episode 15. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there. Today, we learn about the Black Forest!
Jenny lived in Freiburg for 5 years, and she spent all her free time taking the train up into the Black Forest to hike, bike, and explore the area. Two years ago, she moved up to that area, and now she is truly the expert expat when it comes to the Schwarzwald! She's here to share her best tips and hidden secret
Expat Repat Re-Expat with Lindsey
Season 7, Episode 14. Lindsey absolutely loved her life in Zurich, Switzerland. But still, she moved back to her home country, USA. After years and years of living the best life she and her family could in the US - we're talking beautiful house, big garden, kids riding a yellow school bus to school, the whole works - she still found herself daydreaming of the walkability, work-life balance, beauty, and more of life in Switzerland.
She hosted the Expat Repat podcast, where she talked to other rep
Viva la Deutschland, Baby! with Marlene
Season 7, Episode 13. Marlene and Nicole met and became friends in Freiburg, where Marlene was getting her master's degree in the Global Studies Program. Shortly after finishing the degree, she moved to Berlin, and from the end of the program until today, she's faced a series of serious challenges: housing insecurity, job insecurity, visa insecurity, health and mental issues, relationship difficulties, and financial problems.
Plus, Marlene struggled with depression, and she also got diagnosed w
I’m moving! Collab Episode with The Germany Experience
Season 7, Episode 12. Shaun from The Germany Experience and Nicole from The Expat Cast are coming together for a special episode: a call to donate to their charity of choice this holiday season, and a big announcement from Nicole.
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Making Friends Abroad with Hannah Teslin
Season 7, Episode 11. Hannah Teslin moved to Germany years ago for a relationship. When it ended, she found herself in a situation where she had to rebuild her life in Germany, but this time, for herself. Her path to independence involved plenty of trial and error, but Hannah managed to create a beautiful life for herself, now with an amazing job where she works for herself, a wonderful, supportive partner, and most importantly a fantastic group of girlfriends!
In this week's episode, Hannah and
The Only Belonging You Need Is In Yourself with Aditi
Season 7, Episode 10. Aditi's career has taken her from her small hometown in India to various bigger Indian cities, and even abroad to Italy, Austria, the US, and Germany. Although the moves have provided many amazing opportunities and experiences, it's also come with many a setback, including a year-long stint living at home with her parents while being unemployed.
Aditi also has always worked in male-dominated fields, and she shares how her views on gender have evolved into an enlightened ou
How To Build a Healthy Intercultural Relationship
Season 7, Episode 9. This one's for the love expats! The people - mostly women - who moved abroad to close the distance on a long-distance relationship, or to keep their relationship unit together after a geographical change.
Zuza moved from her home country of the Czech Republic to go to Sweden. Sweden led to Uganda, which led to Italy, which led to Zambia, which led to Mongolia, and along the way, she's had her own experience with intercultural relationships.
Now, she's chosen to stay put in
An American in Austria with Jo
Season 7, Episode 8. Jo and her husband moved from the western US to Vienna, Austria about a year and a half ago. They've really made the most of their time in Europe by traveling several weekends per month, and Jo creates beautiful, fun travel content for Instagram and Tiktok.
In addition to chatting about her travels, Jo - an American in Austria with limited knowledge of Germany - and Nicole - an American in Germany with limited knowledge of Austria - try to figure out how much these two neigh
Preparing to Move Away from Germany with Jaedyn
Season 7, Episode 7. We caught Jaedyn in a weird time: between deciding to move and actually doing the moving.
Jaedyn is from Canada and has been living in Stuttgart, Germany for 4.5 years. Just when she found peace with the idea of staying in Europe long-term, she met a boy in Canada and things changed. Now, she's in her last season in Germany.
Because Germany requires 3 months notice on most contracts, Jaedyn started the moving away from Germany process back in August, but she isn't actually l
Finding and Defining ”Home” with Keltie
Season 7, Episode 6. Where do you call home? For many expats, the question isn't an easy one to answer. Many places? No place at all?
Keltie Maguire is a Clarity Coach who moved from Canada to Germany several years ago. She uses her professional expertise and personal experience to shed light on the sticky subject of home: how to define it, how to create it, and how to make a place feel more like it.
Plus, a discussion - and a confession - about homesickness.
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Q&A with Your Host, Nicole
Season 7, Episode 5. "You asked, I answer!" Listeners submitted questions on Instagram for Nicole to answer, which she does with the help of her best friend and previous guest, Zoe.
Questions include: What's one thing you knew now that you wished you knew back when you moved? When did you start calling Germany home? Do you still feel like an expat, after 5 years in Freiburg? Plus, Nicole shares a little update from the road, as this episode was finished in a hotel room in Prague.
EPISODES RE
Pivoting to Tech and Digitalisation in Germany with Laurel
Season 7, Episode 4. Laurel fell in love with Berlin on a solo trip and decided to make the big move. But it wasn't her first big move. Laurel is from Indiana but moved to LA for several years. She shares how the culture shock moving from the midwest to southern California compares to the culture shock of moving from the USA to Germany.
Then, we get into her career. Laurel pivoted to tech during her 5 years in Berlin. Germany is not exactly known for being the most up-to-date with technology, s
Voicing Your Desires & When Everything Aligns with Esther
Season 7, Episode 3. Esther was finishing up law school in North Carolina when she told a colleague about her dream to live in Italy. That friend knew someone in Germany with an open position, and while Germany wasn't Italy, it was a heck of a lot closer to Italy than the USA is, so Esther applied. Within days, she had a job offer in Tübingen, Germany.
She and her then-teenaged daughter moved mere months later and settled into a life abroad in Germany. Esther moved to Freiburg next, where she wa
Remote Work & Digital Nomadship with Chase
Season 7, Episode 2. Chase never wanted to work in an office, although he works in the corporate world. From the outset, he sought jobs where he could work remotely. Back when he started about 15 years ago, that was rare, to say the least. Now, it's quickly becoming the norm.
Chase has lived and traveled for years now, all while working - because he works fully remote, or "remote first." In fact, he's SUCH a remote work nerd that he has a podcast about it (About Abroad), and works for a company
Identity Burps & Being Vulnerable to the Whims of Life with Ditte
Season 7, Episode 1. We are back for Season 7! Woo!
We're kicking it off with a conversation about identity burps, a term coined by today's guest, Ditte. Ditte is an artist from Denmark living in Berlin after many years in Amsterdam. Though drawing is like breathing to her, a main passion of hers was dancing tango. Then she moved to Berlin, a hub for tango, and... no longer felt like dancing tango. Instead, she felt like going to clubs and dancing to electro music. What's going on?? Easy answer
Mid-Break Life Update, July 4th Event
Nicole is popping by about halfway through a longer podcast break to update you on some news!
First, some life updates about travel, visits from home, and thoughts from abroad about the recent loss of the constitutional right to abortion in the US.
Then, a heads-up for fellow US Americans living abroad - The Expat Cast is collaborating with Horbach Expats to host another 4th of July special event about financial planing! Register now.
Finally, listeners in Berlin should head over to Podfes
Deciding to Have Kids or Not When Living Abroad
Season 6, Episode 25. Do you want to have kids or not? How has your geography impacted this?
We asked these questions to the listener community, and fellow expats, immigrants, people living abroad shared their pros and cons, their talking points, their feelings, their beliefs, their dreams. Their answers range from YES to NO to MAYBE, and they're gathered here for you.
This marks the end of season six! What a gift it's been - 150 episodes and nearly 4 years of podcasting. Thank you to everyone
Ask the Expat with Idan from Unmatch Me Now
Season 6, Episode 24. What's it like dating a German? How do I make friends as an expat? Can I get a job in Germany without knowing German? Is the rental market reallllyyyy that bad?
Nicole is joined by Idan from Unmatch Me Now to get into all of these questions and more! From personal experiences and opinions to concrete resources about Kindergeld and donating blood, nothing is off the table.
Thanks to all the listeners who submitted questions for this episode.
This episode is sponsored by M
Libraries & Librarians Abroad with Katherine
Season 6, Episode 23. What's it like to be a foreigner working as a librarian in Germany? We've got two international librarians here to tell you!
Katherine and Nicole both fell in love with the career of librarianship before moving to Germany from Venezuela and USA, respectively. Now, they both live and work in German libraries, Katherine in a university library and Nicole in a public library. Both of them first worked at the libraries of cultural centers as a transition when making the move.
Moving Abroad at Age 15 with Nyla
Season 6, Episode 22. When she was 15, Nyla moved from the US to Germany. It was supposed to be just for one year.
Spoiler alert: it's been 6 years and counting!
Nyla comes on the show to discuss how the temporary moved turned permanent, and what it was like moving abroad as a teenager. She had to learn the language from scratch and adjust to a new culture, all while those delightful teenage hormones are there messing with your emotions.
From dating to drinking to getting your first job and fin
Life as a Single Mom in Germany with Tanya
Season 6, Episode 21. Being a single mom ain't easy. Being an expat ain't easy. Being a single mom AND an expat? Yeah, it REALLY ain't easy.
But it is possible. Tanya is here to tell us how.
Tanya moved from California to Germany when her son was 2. She had been single parenting until that point, and initially when she moved abroad, her then-husband was able to provide support while Tanya adjusted to life in Germany. After she and he divorced, Tanya found herself facing single parenthood again,
Breadwinning Female Expats: A Study with Kate
Season 6, Episode 20. Did you know that 80% of expats who moved abroad for work are male? Often, men get relocated for their work and their wives or partners to come with.
Kate has been working with and studying expat partners, or trailing spouses, who tend to be women, for years. Lately, she got curious about that other 20% - the women who moved abroad for their jobs, sometimes with their husbands or partners as the trailing spouse.
Thus launched a research project about the breadwinning femal
The Tale of Two (Surpringly Tall) Zacks with Zacks in the City
Season 6, Episode 19. It's a Buy One Get One deal: Nicole interviews not one, but TWO Zacks from Michigan who live in Stuttgart, Germany!
Zac XVIII and Zack Bachelor are two guys in their 20s who met on a basketball court in Stuttgart. They're from the same home state, have the same first name, and now are famous around expat social media for their hilarious skits about living as a US American in Germany. From TikTok to Instagram to podcasting and YouTube, the Zac/ks do it all.
Many shocking tr
Cruising into Your Dream Life Abroad with Emily (EmilyinHamburg)
Season 6, Episode 18. Emily is known online as Emily in Hamburg, but once upon a time, Emily was in New York, in Portugal, and even on a cruise ship!
After a performance career in New York City, Emily took a chance and signed a contract to perform on a cruise ship sailing around Scandinavia. Her training for the ship caused her path to cross with the big love of her life: Hamburg.
Emily loved Hamburg from the start, but life took her elsewhere. She had a stint living on the coast of Portugal,
”I’m Old but I’m Cool”: Living Abroad in Your 60s with Melanie
Season 6, Episode 17. Melanie moved to Switzerland when she was 29 and in love with a Swiss man. That relationship didn't last as she'd hoped, but Melanie stayed in Switzerland anyway.
Now, Melanie is 61, and she's living in southern Germany after many years in Cologne and several moves back to her home country of the US, then back to Germany. She shares the ins and outs of all these moves, including some seriously good love stories.
Plus, Melanie shares how the questions she's been asking hers
Travel Germany: Karlsruhe with Santhiya
Season 6, Episode 16. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there. Today, we learn about Karlsruhe!
Santhiya moved with her husband and their kids to Karlsruhe, Germany in June 2021. Though they haven't been there long, their family has made the most of their time and explored Karlsruhe and the area.
Karlsruhe is rich in day-trip opportunities, from a 3-hour train ride to Paris to a quick trip across a river to one o
All Thinking Is Comparison with Samar
Season 6, Episode 15. Once upon a time, two friends on a train trip to Nuremberg passed a bit of graffiti that would haunt then for years to come. Nicole & Samar have been quoting that graffiti since 2020, and now they're here to share all their thoughts about it with you.
"All thinking is comparison."
The phrase has come to be a moniker for discussing geographical backgrounds, diversity, and privilege. For people living abroad, the phrase gets at the new awarenesses that come with removing you
Floods & Vegan Cheese with Sara
Season 6, Episode 14. Moving abroad ain't easy. Now imagine moving to Germany having never been in Europe before. Speaking no word of German. With four kids. In the middle of a pandemic. And the house you move into gets flooded in a catastrophic regional weather disaster.
That's what happened to Sara. She and her husband and their four young kids moved to Rheinbach for her husband's job, developing vegan cheese. They envisioned it as an exciting adventure and a great opportunity for everyone -
Cheesy Christmas Movies, German Style with Aspen
Season 6, Episode 13. The best thing about Christmas in the US is the cheesy Christmas movies on Lifetime, Hallmark, and now even Netflix. Aspen & Nicole are two Americans in Germany who love trash movies, so we asked ourselves, do these wonderful-terrible movies exist in Germany?
To find out, we watched Über Weihnachten and This Is Love. Both are German productions released on Netflix that try to itch that same scratch - or dare I say jingle those bells. How do these two movies stand up to the
Expat Grief with Katie
Season 6, Episode 12. Grief isn't something reserved for tragedy and death. Grief has a much wider spectrum, and people living abroad have some unique challenges with some of its forms.
Returning guest Katie, a US American living in Munich, Germany, has had her own (un)fair share of grief. As a licensed counselor, she's put her experience and professional knowledge to pen and paper with her new book, The New Face of Grief.
We talk about scheduling a time to grieve, forcing ourselves to tell fri
Travel Germany: Wiesbaden with Christie from A Sausage Has Two
Season 6, Episode 11. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there. Today, we learn about Wiesbaden!
Christie moved from her home of London to her husband's home of Germany and quickly fell in love with the city of Wiesbaden. Located among German wine country and in the most forested state of the country, Wiesbaden's natural charm is made even more impressive by its historic old town.
Now a food and travel writer, Chr
Comedy in Germany - Does It Exist?? with Chelsea from SoundingLustig
Season 6, Episode 10. Hey so uhhh... Are German people funny?
We tackle the age-old question with Chelsea, a US American in Hamburg and a fellow lover of comedy. First, we share our favorite and least favorite German language movies and TV shows in the category "comedy." Then, we explore the stand-up scene in Germany, both via online specials and in-person shows.
Finally, we turn the examination inwards as we ask, do German people find us funny?
Donate to Kinderlachen to support education gra
The German Media Landscape with Nic and Simon
Season 6, Episode 9. Nic and Simon from the podcast "Decades from Home" come by to talk about the media landscape in Germany.
Nic and Simon both moved from the UK to Germany, where they've now been living for (you guessed it) decades. They share how they find their news in Germany, compare German political reporting to it in the UK, and even get into why US news is covered with such dramatic flair in German publications.
And, yeah, we mention the news story about the reappearing penis sculpture
Finding Therapy in Germany with Julian
Season 6, Episode 8. Let's talk about how to get mental health support when living abroad.
One great thing about living in Germany is the health care - for many reasons, but notably, most public health insurances cover mental health therapy. It's a wonderful thing, but like all things in Germany, there is a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy required to find a therapist, get the therapy approved, and start the actual process.
Today's guest, Julian, is from Venezuela and has been living in German
Visiting Home After Years Away with Casey
Season 6, Episode 7. Casey and Nicole compare stories and experiences from their first trips back to the US since the arrival of the pandemic.
Casey moved from the US to Germany 3 years ago. In March 2020, she had her bags packed and ready to go on her first trip back home since moving abroad... when lockdown was announced and international travel was halted due to Covid.
In August 2021, she finally got to go home. This was her first time visiting since moving abroad, her first time seeing fam
Living Right on Time with Julie
Season 6, Episode 6. To some, Julie's life might seem like she's hitting certain milestones too late. But for Julie, life is playing out right on time.
She left her good, satisfying life in Scotland in her early 40s, because she was ready for a change. Love took her to Munich, Germany, where she moved in with her partner, started her own business, and had a child - all at the same time. Although it was a lot of life changes all at once, Julie embraced this opportunity to create the life she wa
Expat Resilience & a Munich Love Story with Meghan from Balancing Cultures
Season 6, Episode 5. On a solo backpacking trip in her early 20s, Meghan visited Munich. She wasn't expecting to fall in love, but she did - with the city itself. She moved there as soon as she could, at least temporarily. But she extended her temporary stay by another couple months, then another, then another...
Now, she and Munich are celebrating 14 delightful years together. Along the way, Meghan has repeatedly chosen to stay in Munich, through career changes and challenges, breakups, and m
Travel Germany: Kiel with Jordan
Season 6, Episode 4. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there. Today, we learn about Kiel!
Jordan Wagner takes us all the way up north near the Danish border to the city of Kiel, a harbor city that is a paradise for boat lovers. Jordan used to think she could never love anywhere like she loves southern Germany, but Kiel converted her to love the north even more. She let's us in on the things that made her fall in
A South African, a Filipino,& an American Walk into a Bakery... with Shaun & Lawin
Season 6, Episode 3. Stop me if you've heard this one - a South African, a Filipino, & an American walk into a bakery...
Shaun from South Africa moved to Germany 14 years ago and now runs The Germany Experience podcast. Lawin from the Philippines moved to Germany 2 years ago and now runs the Pop Your Cultural Cherry podcast. And your host Nicole moved to Germany 4 years ago and hosts, well, this podcast.
The three come together to share their personal preconceived notions about Germany and the t
Cultivating Independence Abroad with Hannah from Travels with Teslin
Season 6, Episode 2. You know her from her TikToks about being a Canadian in Germany, but how did Hannah Teslin become this confident expat?
When Hannah moved abroad in college, it was to study abroad in Cologne - but really, she was studying there to be near a guy she'd met while traveling who lived in Hamburg. It was all too easy to slip into his world, his friendships, his activities, to depend on him to organize the logistics of their life together. Somehow, she became less of herself.
Now,
Wandering but Not Lost: Financial Freedom as an Expat & Traveler with Vanessa from Wander Onwards
Season 6, Episode 1. Welcome back for Season 6! We're kicking it off with a deeper look into how Vanessa of Wander Onwards got to become the financial guru, world traveler, and awesome expat she is.
From a brief stint as an undocumented person in China to meeting her husband at a beer pong tournament, Vanessa's got some crazy stories to share. She also explains how and why she got serious about paying off her over $100,000 in debt - including personal finance tips you can implement right away -
Your Stories: Times German Authority Figures Made Us Cry
Season 5, Episode 25. Cheers to 3 years of The Expat Cast, 125 episodes, 5 seasons!
This season finale, we're marking the occasion by diving into a touchy topic: I collected your stories of times German people of authority have made you cry.
It happened at the foreigner's office, in banks, in doctor's offices, at the customs office, on the train. It happened, surprisingly, far more in bigger cities and towns than smaller towns and villages. It happened even to people who speak fluent German.
We
The Grass Is Greenest Where You Water It with Steph
Season 5, Episode 24. Steph is a fellow expat podcaster, host of the great show Transcontinental Overload. She was born and raised in Germany, but her love for and comfort with the English language made her certain she'd one day move to London.
She did, and the classic thing happened: one year abroad turned into a lifetime. After years in England, Steph moved to Silicon Valley in California, USA. She was ready to return to her heart's home of England, but life had other plans, and it was off to
Life in a Small Bavarian Town with Steffi
Season 5, Episode 23. Steffi actually went by Stephanie until she moved from the UK to a small town in Bavarian almost two years ago. Her name isn't the only thing that has changed - Germany has made her ditch her high heels, embrace jeans for every occasion, and improve her ability to stay on top of paperwork.
Steffi is a hilarious breath of fresh air, who some might know from her blog Adventures of Steffi. We talk about why she loves her small town in Bavaria so much, despite career challenge
Covid Fatigue, Toxic Positivity, & Reentry for Expats with Gabriela
Season 5, Episode 22. Psychologist Gabriela Encina is here to talk to us about the unique effects life in Coronavirus Pandemic era has had on expats all over the world. We've all experienced Covid fatigue, languishing, and zoom burnout. Expats have also faced family separation, social isolation, and a harsh interruption to their integration process.
Now, as numbers start to go down and many countries start to open up, it may feel like it's all sparkles and rainbows from here - and maybe it wil
Times German Authority Figures Have Made Us Cry with Martina
Season 5, Episode 21. Just about every expat in Germany can tell you a story of a time an interaction with a person of authority made them cry.
While many if not most interactions go good or even well, there are unfortunately times when relating across cultures and languages goes awry and leaves you feeling disempowered, helpless, and demeaned. At worst, this might mean you don't get the medical help or the visa you need. At best, it's a negative experience that leaves you afraid of future inte
Travel Germany: Bamberg with Ana
Season 5, Episode 20. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there.
Today, we learn about Bamberg, a small city in upper Franconia in Bavaria. Within 2-3 hours from Munich, Berlin, and Prague, Bamberg is an ideal stop along the way. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of beautiful buildings, charming riverside nooks, and the famous smoke beer.
Ana's love of beer brought her to Germany, and she tells us why Bamberg i
Resumes, Interviews, & Contract Negotiations in Germany with Jana from Hallo Germany
Season 5, Episode 19. Applying for jobs in a new country is difficult, not just because it follows completely different processes than your home country but also because of all the ways the job-hunt process is ripe with opportunity for cultural clashes.
Jana is here to talk us through some of the most culture-clashy aspects of it: resume writing, interviewing, and contract negotiations. She gives concrete tips on how to navigate the process and how to prepare for unexpectedly challenging moment
A Mother-Daughter Reverse Expat Journey with Gabi & Elana
Season 5, Episode 18. When she was in her early 20s, Gabi, from Hannover, Germany answered a newspaper ad to become an au pair in Georgia, USA. There, she met and married and had three kids. She made a conscious choice to raise her kids as American children. While they kept up some German traditions, the language and culture were always secondary to English and American culture.
Her daughter, Elana, always had a curiosity about her German roots. When she was in her 20s, she moved to Germany to
TCKs, CCKs,and Preparing to Move Abroad as a Family with Anna
Season 5, Episode 17. If you're in the expat community, you've probably seen the initials TCK pop up in Facebook groups, on Instagram, and more. It stands for Third Culture Kid, and Anna, today's guest, is one of them.
She's married to a CCK, a Cross-Culture Kid, and their kids, who've lived in many countries before settling into their passport country, are TCKs.
Anna works as an expat coach specializing in TCKs and CCKs. She gives us a crash course on what they are, followed by a deep discuss
Bad Days Abroad and the Big Question: To Stay or To Go?
Season 5, Episode 16. The wonderful parts of life abroad are easy to share: photos from a great vacation, an Instagram post of your latest delicious meal. What's harder to talk about is the bad days abroad.
But fear not - there's a blog for that! Katherine started this blog while living in Denmark for 10 years. She grew up in Estonia and Switzerland, and after stints in Australia and New Zealand, Denmark was close to home geographically, but something wasn't right for her.
Last year, Katherine
Travel Germany: Berlin, Friedenau & Karlshorst with Marguerite
Season 5, Episode 15. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there.
Today, we learn about two Berlin neighborhoods: Friedenau and Karlshorst! Marguerite spent most of her life country hopping, but Berlin has captured her attention for 5 years and counting.In fact, it inspired her to start her blog, Berlin and Around, where she shares insider tips about Berlin.
She tells us why this metropolis is so unendingly interesti
Mental Health Support for Moms Abroad with Johanna from Afloat
Season 5, Episode 14. It's not easy being a mom. It's not easy living abroad. When you combine both things, things can get really, really tricky.
Johanna is a doula in Heidelberg, Germany. She's lived outside her home country of the US plenty, but moving abroad as a mom of two changed things for her. She shares her own expat story and explains the German social support systems, from pregnancy to entering school. Plus, she talks to us about Afloat, a non-profit she is the director of that helps
Turning the Tables: The Germany Experience Takes Over
Season 5, Episode 13. In December, The Expat Cast went head-to-head with rival podcast The Germany Experience to see who could raise more money for charity. As much as it pains to admit it, The Expat Cast lost. Today, The Germany Experience is here to claim their prize.
The Germany Experience is here to take over The Expat Cast for one episode. Shaun uses his prize to ask Nicole about how her experience as a podcast host has changed her, ahem, Germany experience, and he gets her to dish some ri
Travel Germany: Aachen with Lawin
Season 5, Episode 12. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there.
Today, we learn about Aachen! Lawin is from the Philippines. He's a fellow expat in Germany and a fellow podcaster, and he's been living in Aachen for two years now. He tells us all about living in walking distance to the Netherlands and Belgium - spoiler: great access to lots of kinds of beer.
To read all of his suggestions and see some great pictures
A German Expat in Germany with Martina
Season 5, Episode 11. Martina was born in the US to German parents who had most recently been living in Switzerland. When she was a baby, they moved back to Switzerland, then they relocated to the US for Martina's high school and college years.
Now, Martina's living in Frankfurt, Germany in her 20s. Even though she's German, this is the first time in her life she's lived in Germany. We discuss what it was like living in the US for such critical life moments and how she's enjoying connecting wit
Getting a German Driver's License with Stacey
Season 5, Episode 10. Stacey's had her California driver's license since she was a teenager, but it doesn't get her far in Germany. Once you move to Germany, you have 3 years to convert your license to a German license, or you have to start over from square one.
For Nicole, from Pennsylvania, a state with license reciprocity with Germany, it was a one-time visit to city hall and a 35€ fee. For Stacey, from California, a state without reciprocity, it was months of studying, a first aid course,
Embracing Expat Entrepreunership with Tania
Season 5, Episode 9. She's lived in Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, the UK, South Africa, Thailand, Zanzibar, Austria, and now, Germany. Tania gets lost keeping track of everywhere she's lived! She craves stability, yet at the same time, she can't imagine not moving again soon.
Tania's expat history has made her very resourceful, creative, and flexible - all traits that make her a great entrepreneur. She consults on travel to Kenya, sews and sells African fabrics, has a blog, and more. Yet still, she
Italy Everywhere with Claudio
Season 5, Episode 8. Whether he's living in Belgium, the Netherlands, China, or Germany, Claudio manages to find Italy everywhere he goes. He's from a tiny village in northern Italy that's got more sheep and cows than people, and although he hasn't lived there in decades, it is his heritage. It is his home.
Claudio shares why and how he honors his Italian heritage, be it through food or people or something else entirely. Now based in Nuremberg, Germany for two years, it's important to him to br
America on Fire 3 - February 25, 2021
In June 2020, after the George Floyd protests, the Carl Schurz Haus in Freiburg hosted an online panel discussion with five Americans living in Germany about the state of America and their experiences with racism. It was moderated by Nicole, the host of The Expat Cast. The event was called America on Fire, and the audio was rebroadcast on The Expat Cast feed. There was a second follow-up event in July 2020.
Now, over half a year and more than a handful of several huge current events later, the p
Repatriating During a Pandemic with Kate
Season 5, Episode 7. Kate is from southwestern Germany and moved to Chicago, around the same time that Nicole moved from Chicago to southwestern Germany. The two connect on Instagram years back, and Kate was one of Nicole's first guests back in season one.
Now, Kate's back to share how her career, life, and family has grown since then. Kate's now a mom, and she and her husband ended up moving back to Germany with their baby in March of 2020, on one of the last flights from the USA to Germany b
First Female in the Family to Move Abroad with Reina
Season 5, Episode 6. So many of us move abroad without knowing anyone else who's done a big move like that. We struggle to find expat role models at the beginning, and usually end up with authors, characters, or friends as role models.
Reina was the first female in her tight-knit family to move abroad. It was hard to break the news to her family, and when she was adjusting to life in her new home in New Zealand, she faced serious withdrawal, going from constant family time to being a 26-hour fl
Travel Germany: Dessau with Inna
Season 5, Episode 5. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there.
Today, we learn about Dessau! Inna Koblents is from the Ukraine and lived in Italy before relocating to Dessau on a special visa for Jewish immigrants from former Soviet countries. She'd never heard of Dessau before the opportunity came up, but in her two years there, she's found herself feeling quite at home in this former East Germany town.
She's put
Am I Integrating or Am I Aging? with Rachel from Meet the Germans
Season 5, Episode 4. Rachel hosts the Meet the Germans series with Deutsche Welle, where she shares videos about current events and German culture in English through her perspective as a foreigner in Germany.
Rachel moved from the UK to Germany in her 20s, and now that she's in her early 30s, she's in a much different place in life than she was back when she moved. The German culture encourages things like organization, punctuality, board game nights in with small groups of friends, time in na
Make Me (Techncially) German (But Also Kind Of Not) with Adam Fletcher
Season 5, Episode 3. Ever since Nicole arrived in Germany, she kept seeing a book series with cool hipster graphics and titles like "How to Be German in 50 Easy Steps" everywhere in her expat life. They were funny observations about Germans from the views of a British immigrant. As if a cool cover and relatable content wasn't enough, the books were BILINGUAL! Meaning they were also good for practicing your German!
And now, the author himself is here to talk!
Adam Fletcher was bored in his UK ho
Coping with Unrest Back Home with Tara
Season 5, Episode 2. Since the start of 2020, the United States has provided a seemingly endless onslaught of scary and sad news that's continued and gotten even worse in 2021.
From Coronavirus killing hundreds of thousands, to Black Live Matters protests that were met by police violence, to the 2020 presidential election, and now a terrorist mob staging an insurrection in the capital, it has been a lot to cope with.
Nicole, an American in Germany struggling to process the news from afar, sits
TikTok, Glühwein, & Finding Independence in Hamburg with Hannah Teslin
Season 5, Episode 1. It's the season 5 premier!
After a couple months off to recoup, The Expat Cast is back with a new website and a fantastic guest to kick things off: Hannah from Travels by Teslin. The two talked in mid-December 2020 while Hannah was quarantining in her home country of Canada.
Hannah has been living in Hamburg, Germany for 7 years now. Her move was inspired by love, but even when that relationship ended, she had plenty of reasons to stay. She has a thriving career, manages a
SEGEPADFO Winner & Season 5 Announcement
SEGEPADFO. Happy Christmas! We're celebrating with the launch of SEGEPADFO: the Second Ever Germany Expat Podcasters Donation Face-Off.
This year, Shaun and I are fundraising for Über den Tellerrand. We are thrilled to say that we collectively raised 410€, which was enough to enable Über den Tellerrand to finance the build of their portable kitchen! Which podcast raised the most money? Who raised the least, and what consequences will they have to face? Listen to find out.
MORE INFORMATION
theg
SEGEPADFO Update 4: A Participant's Experience of Über den Tellerrand with Philippa
SEGEPADFO. Happy fourth Advent Sunday! We're celebrating with SEGEPADFO: the Second Ever Germany Expat Podcasters Donation Face-Off.
This year, Shaun and I are fundraising for Über den Tellerrand. In this episode, I give an update on who is in the lead and interview Philippa, a student in Freiburg who started joining the organization's events as a way to get to know new people in town.
MORE INFORMATION
thegermanyexperience.de/charity2020
Donate to the project here (Write in "The Expat Cast" in
SEGEPADFO Update 3: A Jingle and Some Trash Talk
SEGEPADFO. Happy third Advent Sunday! We're celebrating with SEGEPADFO: the Second Ever Germany Expat Podcasters Donation Face-Off.
This year, Shaun and I are fundraising for Über den Tellerrand. In this episode, I give an update on who is in the lead, release the brand new SEGEPADFO jingle, written by Shaun and featuring backup vocals from yours truly, and attempt to trash talk using quotes from Conor McGregor.
MORE INFORMATION
thegermanyexperience.de/charity2020
Donate to the project here (W
SEGEPADFO Update 2: with Tara from Über den Tellerrand
SEGEPADFO. Happy second Advent Sunday! We're celebrating with SEGEPADFO: the Second Ever Germany Expat Podcasters Donation Face-Off.
This year, Shaun and I are fundraising for Über den Tellerrand. In this episode, I interview the head of Über den Tellerrand Freiburg to learn more about the group.
MORE INFORMATION
thegermanyexperience.de/charity2020
Donate to the project here (Write in "The Expat Cast" in the "Dein öffentlicher Kommentar" field!)
Learn about Über den Tellerrand
CONNECT
theexp
Announcing: SEGEPADFO with Shaun from The Germany Experience
SEGEPADFO. Happy first Advent Sunday! We're celebrating with the launch of SEGEPADFO: the Second Ever Germany Expat Podcasters Donation Face-Off.
This year, Shaun and I are fundraising for Über den Tellerrand. In this announcement episode, we explain what the organization does, what project we're raising donations for, and how you can contribute to the cause.
MORE INFORMATION
thegermanyexperience.de/charity2020
Donate to the project here (Write in "The Expat Cast" in the "Dein öffentlicher Kom
Season 4 Finale: Expat Role Models
Season 4, Episode 25. It's episode 100! The end of season 4! So many reasons to celebrate!
To wrap up a season that ended up being released starting at the onset of a pandemic and seeing us all the way through to September, we hear from a variety of former guests, listeners, and expat friends from around Freiburg about who their expat/immigrant/nomad role model is.
Be it the people mentioned in this episode or the people who came on the show to mention them, there are examples you can aspire to
Dating as a Foreigner in Germany with Justin
Season 4, Episode 24. Nicole and Justin are two single Americans who have both been in Germany for about three years, and they're here to exchange their stories and perspectives on dating.
Is it more effective to date in German or in English? Is it easier to date Germans or fellow internationals? What dating apps are common in Germany, and what is it like to use them? Are the gender roles different in Germany versus the US, and if so, how does that affect dating?
Plus, both share the story of th
US Americans: How to Vote from Abroad with Candice from Democrats Abroad
Season 4, Episode 23. If you are a US citizen, even if you live abroad, you ARE eligible to vote. And you SHOULD vote.
Candice works with Democrats Abroad Germany and Vote from Abroad. She's here to tell us how to vote from abroad, why to vote from abroad, and what deadlines to keep in mind.
The important information she shares in the episode can be found here.
FIND DEMOCRATS ABROAD
On their website
On Instagram @demsabroadgermany
On Twitter @DemsAbroadDE
Facebook @DAGermany
On Email info-germ
The Downside of a Nomadic Life with Mahdia
Season 4, Episode 22. Mahdia left her hometown of Dhaka, Bangladesh when she was 19. Within a year, she'd settled into adulthood and expat life simultaneously in her new home of Wollongong, Australia. She loved her life, her friends, and most importantly, the person she'd become.
When she moved back to Dhaka three years later, Mahdia quickly realized her new identity didn't quite fit in. As she'd wanted to get her master's degree in Germany, anyway, she sent off applications and within a year wa
My Coronavirus Test Experience (Minisode)
Minisode. My summer vacation ended up consisting of me visiting friends in Cologne, Berlin, and Amsterdam. Because I was outside of German borders, I qualified for a free Coronavirus test upon my return. I share what my experience was like.
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Instagram @theexpatcast
Twitter @theexpatcast
Travel Germany: Nuremberg with Shannon
Season 4, Episode 21. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there.
Today, we learn about Nuremberg! Shannon and her family have lived in Nuremberg twice now, and they have fallen in love with the city's charm. Through the years, she's gathered a slew of great travel tips, which you can find here.
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Instagram @theexpatcast
Twitter @theexpatcast
Started from the Bottom with Mari
Season 4, Episode 20. Moving abroad means starting completely over from scratch. Career, friendships, belongings, culture, language - all of these things are gone or nearly gone when you move abroad. Yet somehow, at some point, expats/immigrants climb their way to the top and establish a life for themselves in all of these sectors.
Mari is from Indiana, USA and moved to Germany. Not only does she have her own story of how she started from the bottom; she also shares the story of her mother, who
All the Expat Ladies with Mari from The Expat Lady Experience
Season 4, Episode 19. Mari is here to talk all things related to the foreign female experience in Germany. Originally from Estonia, Mari has lived in three European countries. Along with Nicole's American perspective, the two discuss their experience of being a woman in Germany from an outsider's point of view.
Can a woman feel safe to walk home alone at night? Is there a form of sisterhood among German women? How do expat friend groups manage group dynamics when cultural differences make confli
Being Queer in Germany with Meg
Season 4, Episode 18. Meg is a love expat - she moved to Freiburg, Germany from South Carolina, USA to be with her German then-girlfriend, now-wife. From the southern US to southern Germany, she shares what it's been like for her being queer.
What kinds of encounters has she had because of her queer identity? Can she and wife hold hands and kiss in public? What is the queer community like in Germany in comparison to the US? What's the deal with Christopher Street Day?
We get into all that, plus
Getting Cancer in Germany with Natalie
Season 4, Episode 17. Germany was supposed to be a temporary stop on a longer journey of living abroad for Natalie, from the UK, and her husband Conrad, from Germany. Then, months before their wedding, weeks before her birthday, and days before Christmas, Natalie got diagnosed with cancer.
The cancer diagnosis changed her life dramatically, immediately, and, in some ways, permanently. Natalie went through various operations, treatments, and therapies - and she did it all in German, a language sh
Travel Germany: Stuttgart with Stefanie
Season 4, Episode 16. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there.
In this episode, Stefanie from the episode Austria v Germany is back to tell us all about her new home city.
Not only is Stuttgart the capital of Baden-Württemberg; it also is the center of Schwabian culture, responsible for such beloved things like Käsespätzle and Maultaschen.
For all of her great travel ideas, read on here.
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Solo Female Travel with Zoe
Season 4, Episode 15. Nicole recently discovered solo travel, and she chats about it with Zoe, a seasoned solo traveler who has done longer trips across Europe, South America, and southeast Asia all by herself. They discuss the benefits of traveling alone, but they also acknowledge the challenges, and they share their tips for things like loneliness and safety, especially as young female travelers.
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Instagram @theexpatcast
Twitter @theexpatcast
America On Fire
BONUS CONTENT. After the George Floyd protests, the Carl Schurz Haus in Freiburg hosted an online panel discussion with five Americans living in Germany about the state of America and their experiences with racism. It was moderated by Nicole, the host of The Expat Cast.
The audio version of the panel is being re-broadcast here on The Expat Cast on the 4th of July intentionally. As panelist Jorrell put it, "This stuff happened. And it's okay - you can still think America is great now, but you hav
Divorce as an Expat Living Abroad with Katia
Season 4, Episode 14. Getting divorced abroad is complicated and challenging in just about every imaginable way, and Katia Vlachos is here to talk to us about it all.
Katia, a longtime expat, got divorced from her Austrian husband in Switzerland. She shares what she learned through the challenging process.
For more about Katia's experience and the resources she mentioned, head over to the blog.
FIND KATIA
Visit her website
Read her book, A Great Move
Check out her coaching services
On Faceboo
Travel Germany: Görlitz with Tessa and Lauren
Season 4, Episode 13. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there.
Tessa and Lauren are two Americans who both moved to Görlitz, a small city where you can stroll on over a bridge and find yourself in Poland. Görlitz is small but mighty, because it's actually the largest city in Germany to not be bombed in World War 2. It's full of charm, history, architecture, and local culture, and it's captured the hearts of many a
Talking about Racism with White Expat Podcasters in Germany with Shaun
Season 4, Episode 12. Nicole and Shaun are two white expat podcasters who live in Germany. Nicole is from the US, and Shaun is from South Africa.
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, the two come together to share their reactions and actions about racism, as white people, as podcasters, as expats in Germany, and as people from countries with significant racially unjust histories.
For a list of resources mentioned in this episode, head over here.
FIND SHAUN
On his website
On Instagram @th
The Relocation Industry with Sheanne
Season 4, Episode 11. For DIY expats like your host, Nicole, the world of the relocatoin industry is truly magical. For expats who move for jobs, this topic might be more familiar.
Sheanne works in the relocation industry, and she gives insider information on how to maximize your relocation package.
FIND SHEANNE
On her website
On Instagram @MigrantMamaAU
Listen to her podcast, Migrant Mama in Australia
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Instagram @theexpatcast
Twitter @theexpatcast
Podcast Blackout
There is no new episode of The Expat Cast this week. As an American living abroad, I cannot stand beside my fellow Americans in protest of police violence and racism in the United States. But that's no excuse to do nothing.
I'm donating my Coronavirus stimulus money to various organizations that work to end racial discrimination and support black communities.
I'm committing time to continuing to educate myself on racism and to listen to people of color.
I'm engaging in conversations about white
To Move or Not To Move: The Expat During a Pandemic Question with Emily
Season 4, Episode 10. When your extended family is split between two countries on two different continents, deciding where to root your own family is not easy. Throw in the complications brought to us by the Covid-19/Coronavirus pandemic, and the decision becomes nearly impossible to make.
Our guest today, Emily, has a family split between the US and Germany. Emily, her husband, their young daughter, and their pets are based in the States now, but have considered a move to Germany several times.
Travel Germany: Freiburg with Jibran
Season 4, Episode 9. In the Travel Germany series, different places across Germany are featured in interviews with expats who relocated there.
To kick it off, we're featuring the home of The Expat Cast: Freiburg. Located in southwest Germany on the edge of the Black Forest, 30 minutes from the Alsace in France and from Switzerland, this corner of the world is full of culture, food, wine, and seemingly endless nature to enjoy.
Get a full list of our recommendations here.
FIND JIBRAN
On YouTube
When Expat Life Doesn't Work Out with Brandi
Season 4, Episode 8. Brandi decided to move on from her life in California. She sold most of her things, packed up her cat, and moved to Germany in the heat of summer. It was a one-way-ticket kind of move, an open-ended relocation. She'd start with German courses and go from there.
Nine months later, Brandi was back in the States. Life in Germany had become a struggle beyond what was acceptable.
Brandi is here to share with us how she came to recognize that her expat journey wasn't the story she
Cross-Cultural Creative Clarity with Ariane
Season 4, Episode 7. Ariane left Munich, Germany for Canada when she was a teenager, not realizing it would be a 30-year stay that would change her forever. Now back in Germany with her Canadian-German family, Ariane is a life coach specializing in cross-cultural creative clarity.
Creativity doesn't just have to reference pursuit of an artistic project. Creativity can also be found in how we live our lives - and expats know that well. Because the experience of living in a new country is so far o
Becoming Bilingual with Casey
Season 4, Episode 6. Nicole and Casey share their highs and lows of language learning. Both gals are Americans who grew up monolingual and scoffed at their attempts to learn a language in high school or college, but moving abroad gave them the motivation to learn German, for real this time. They share their frustrations, freak-outs, failures, and even the occasional success.
Highlights include Nicole inquiring how much it would cost to get her apartment petted, Casey exclaiming her excitement to
Creating Home with Julia
Season 4, Episode 5. Expat & life coach Julia inspired me with her blog post, "How to feel at home while you're abroad." Although "home" can seem like it's something that just exists, separate from us, home is actually a feeling created actively by an individual.
But how?
Julia and I map out various strategies that have worked for us to make us feel at home, no matter where we are in the world.
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Instagram @theexpatcast
Twitter @theexpatcast
Community from a Distance with Aspen from AspenAbroad
Season 4, Episode 4. Coronavirus is a global pandemic that's got many of us trapped at home. Aspen and I team up to bring you a podcast/YouTube cross-over to help you find the good in this bad situation. Our status as expats in Germany has given us plenty of practice at maintaining relationships and creating a sense of community from afar, and we share our favorite tricks to feeling connected despite the distance.
Check out the video of this collaboration on Aspen's YouTube channel here.
Read t
Counseling for Cross-Cultural Relationships with Katie
Season 4, Episode 3. Being in a cross-cultural relationship comes with many strengths and many challenges, especially if one partner moved to a new country and learned a new language to make the relationship work. This week's guest has lots of experience with that, both personally and professionally.
Katie Rössler is an expat couple's counselor. Working with couples in person and online, through sessions as well as online courses and guides, Katie helps her clients navigate the tricky waters of
The Introverted Expat with Austyn from Expat Hour
Season 4, Episode 2. We dive into the topic of introversion with fellow introvert, fellow American living in Europe, and fellow podcaster Austyn from Expat Hour.
Although Austyn and Nicole fall on different places on the extrovert/introvert spectrum, we share a love for nights in, the fulfillment of reading a book or watching TV alone, and the joy of missing out, aka JOMO, on social events. We reflect on whether these introverted qualities make expat life easier or harder.
REFERENCED THIS EPIS
American Football in Germany with Nick from NALF
Season 4, Episode 1. We're back with season 4! And we're kicking it off by diving into the delightful world of American football in Germany.
Did you know that American football is played in Germany?
I didn't, and neither did today's guest, Nick Alfieri, until he got recruited by the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns. Yes, you read that right, they're called the Unicorns. Yes, it's impossible to say that without smiling.
Nick's from Oregon, and he jumped at the chance to continue his football career after
Taxes for Expats in Germany with Agnese from Wundertax (Rebroadcast)
REBROADCAST (Oct 2019). It's hard enough to be a responsible adult in your home country. When you move abroad, the weight of common adult tasks like filing taxes is compounded. Your oh-so-responsible host, Nicole, has lived in Germany for over 2 years and thusfar had done the oh-so-responsible thing and fully ignored her taxes.
But fear not - Wundertax is here to save her! Nicole gave their German taxes tool a go. It's specifically built for expats in Germany, with a streamlined tool available
Coronavirus and COVID-19 in Germany (with Nicole from The Expat Cast and Steph from Geopats)
This is a rebroadcast of an episode of "The Germany Experience," hosted by Shaun near Nuremberg. I call in from Freiburg to chat with Shaun and Steph Fuccio in Berlin of Geopats about our experiences with the COVID-19 outbreak in Germany.
Find The Germany Experience here, and on Instagram and Twitter.
Discuss your opinions on this episode in the The Germany Experience Facebook group!
Find Steph here, on Instagram and on Twitter.
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Instagram @theexpatcast
Twitter @theex
Filing US Taxes as an American Expat with Nathalie from MyExpatTaxes (Rebroadcast)
REBROADCAST (Nov 2019). Here at The Expat Cast, we're thankful for taxes. Or at least the services & programs that taxes provide. And we're thankful for people like Nathalie Goldstein, who founded MyExpatTaxes, a company whose software makes filing your US expat taxes fun and cute.
"Fun" and "cute" and "taxes" all in one sentence? Hold your gasps! With the MyExpatTaxes software, it's actually totally true.
Nathalie tells us her story about how her frustrating experience filing taxes as an Ameri
Whatcha Up To?
Season 3, Episode 25. It's the season 3 finale!!!
Thanks to everyone who has made this season of The Expat Cast a smashing success. To celebrate the season wrapping up, I've invited guests from the last 3 seasons to give us an update on where they are now, how things have changed since they last were on the podcast, and what decisions they've been making lately about their expat life.
We'll be back with season 4 at some point in the near(ish) future! Bis dann!
FIND THE GUESTS
1. James, from Li
Getting Married in Germany with Natalie
Season 3, Episode 24. Natalie left her home country of the UK and was backpacking in Australia when a handsome German man caught her eye in a hostel. Cue a whirlwind year of traveling together throughout Australia and Asia before moving together to Freiburg, Germany.
When the two got engaged, Natalie had plenty of big dreams for how she wanted her wedding. But quickly, it became apparent that putting on her dream English wedding in Germany wasn't going to so easy. On top of that, a surprise canc
Translating German Genealogical Documents with Katie
Season 3, Episode 23. After I had Katie on as a guest for the episode called Intercultural Relationships, I knew I had to have her on again to talk about her day job. Katie spends her days deciphering and translating old German handwriting from different genealogical documents.
Individuals researching their German ancestry - or individuals who just stumble across their great-great-grandma's diary - come to Katie to bring these original documents back to life. With her fluency in German, her kno
American Pride with Zoe
Season 3, Episode 22. There are an estimated 9 million Americans living abroad. If you asked each one of them how they feel about being American, you'd probably get 9 million unique answers. While we can't ask every single person how they feel, we can - and have! - asked two, and this week, we talk to Zoe, a native Philadelphian who returned to the city after various experiences living and traveling abroad.
After her second year abroad in France, Zoe decided to move back to the US - not just tem
American Shame with Gabe
Season 3, Episode 21. There are an estimated 9 million Americans living abroad. If you asked each one of them how they feel about being American, you'd probably get 9 million unique answers. While we can't ask every single person how they feel, we can - and have! - asked two, and this week, we talk to Gabe, a native South Carolinian living in Amsterdam.
Gabe feels a deep sense of shame about being an American. Since moving to Europe, he's become disillusioned about numerous aspects of American h
FEGEPADFO Is Over!
FEGEPADFO. Is that another one of those famous, long, confusing German words?
Nein!
It's short for the First Ever Germany Expat Podcasters Advent Donation Face Off.
The Expat Cast is competing against The Germany Experience to see who can get more donations to their charity of choice over this Advent season. You can participate by donating to either one of their charities - or both!
MORE INFORMATION
thegermanyexperience.de/charity
The Expat Cast's charity of choice: Women's Worth Inc
Expat Lif
Christmas in Germany v. Christmas in America with Christin
Season 3, Episode 20. Nicole grew up in the US and moved to Germany in her mid-20s, and Christin grew up in Germany and moved to the US in her mid-20s. They both pull from their childhood as well as their years in their new home countries to swap stories about how the holidays are in both countries.
Do you know about the Christmas Pickle? Have you ever accidentally set an advent wreath on fire? When you think about a nice hot, alcoholic beverage, do you think about eggnog or about Gluehwein? We
4. Advent: #FEGEPADFO Update
FEGEPADFO. Is that another one of those famous, long, confusing German words?
Nein!
It's short for the First Ever Germany Expat Podcasters Advent Donation Face Off.
The Expat Cast is competing against The Germany Experience to see who can get more donations to their charity of choice over this Advent season. You can participate by donating to either one of their charities - or both!
MORE INFORMATION
thegermanyexperience.de/charity
The Expat Cast's charity of choice: Women's Worth Inc
Expat Lif
The Beauty of Community with Berly - Rebroadcast
Season 3, Episode 19. This is a rebroadcast from March 2019. It’s being re-released in honor of FEGEPADFO, or the First Ever Germany Expat Podcasters Advent Donation Face Off. The guest on the episode is Berly, one of the founders of Women’s Worth Inc., which is my charity of choice for FEGEPADFO.
Listen to hear how Berly’s came to the idea to found Women’s Worth, as well as stories of who the people are that this charity helps. I hope that after listening, you’ll be inspired to take a couple mi
3 Advent: #FEGEPADFO Update
FEGEPADFO. Is that another one of those famous, long, confusing German words?
Nein!
It's short for the First Ever Germany Expat Podcasters Advent Donation Face Off.
The Expat Cast is competing against The Germany Experience to see who can get more donations to their charity of choice over this Advent season. You can participate by donating to either one of their charities - or both!
MORE INFORMATION
thegermanyexperience.de/charity
The Expat Cast's charity of choice: Women's Worth Inc
Expat Lif
Apprenticeships in Germany with Shanon and Michael
Season 3, Episode 18. Germany is famous around the globe for their apprenticeship program, or Ausbildung. Did you know that foreigners are also eligible to do an apprenticeship in Germany?
We talk to two Americans doing apprenticeships in Germany, one in beer brewing and the other in pottery. The best part? During the whole three-year program, they get a salary! It’s not much, but it’s livable!
They explain to us how they got their positions, what it’s like doing an apprenticeship as foreigners
2 Advent: #FEGEPADFO Update
FEGEPADFO. Is that another one of those famous, long, confusing German words?
Nein!
It's short for the First Ever Germany Expat Podcasters Advent Donation Face Off.
The Expat Cast is competing against The Germany Experience to see who can get more donations to their charity of choice over this Advent season. You can participate by donating to either one of their charities - or both!
MORE INFORMATION
thegermanyexperience.de/charity
The Expat Cast's charity of choice: Women's Worth Inc
Expat Lif
Austria v. Germany with Stefanie
Season 3, Episode 17. Austria and Germany have a sensitive relationship. Picture a sibling rivalry, but with countries and cultures that have coexisted in varying states of war and peace for centuries.
Today's guest, Stefanie, grew up in Austria and, against all odds and cultural norms, married a German. *pause for gasps* The two live in Stuttgart, Germany, where Stefanie is experiencing a strange expatriation process after living in the UK for 16 years.
Stefanie delights us with a chat that man
1 Advent: Announcing FEGEPADFO
FEGEPADFO. Is that another one of those famous, long, confusing German words?
Nein!
It's short for the First Ever Germany Expat Podcasters Advent Donation Face Off.
The Expat Cast is competing against The Germany Experience to see who can get more donations to their charity of choice over this Advent season. You can participate by donating to either one of their charities - or both!
MORE INFORMATION
thegermanyexperience.de/charity
The Expat Cast's charity of choice: Women's Worth Inc
Expat Lif
Filing US Taxes as an American Expat with Nathalie from MyExpatTaxes
Season 3, Episode 16. Happy Thanksgiving!
Here at The Expat Cast, we're thankful for taxes. Or at least the services & programs that taxes provide. And we're thankful for people like Nathalie Goldstein, who founded MyExpatTaxes, a company whose software makes filing your US expat taxes fun and cute.
"Fun" and "cute" and "taxes" all in one sentence? Hold your gasps! With the MyExpatTaxes software, it's actually totally true.
Nathalie tells us about starting MyExpatTaxes and shares TONS of informa
Expat Loneliness with Gabriela
Season 3, Episode 15. The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting colder, and we're all getting lonelier.
The normal November blues are made that much more challenging when you're facing them in a foreign country. But fret not! You're not alone, even if you are lonely. Every expat has experienced a season of loneliness, and, dare I say, we'll all face them again at some point.
This week's guest is fellow expat and life coach Gabriela Encina, who brings us stories from her own life as we
Intercultural Relationships with Katie
Season 3, Episode 14. "You're always going to have one set of parents or family who is sad because they're missing their son or daughter."
Katie, an American, is married to an Austrian. Their relationship has been colored by what language they communicate in and where they live - in the US, in Austria, and now as digital nomads. Although sometimes it is as magical as taking twirling in the Austrian Alps, singing songs from The Sound of Music, there are numerous challenges that come up when you a
Imposter Syndrome as an Expat with Melissa
Season 3, Episode 13. You know it's going to be a good episode if it references Brene Brown AND Maya Angelou! This week, we're diving into the nitty gritty of imposter syndrome, or the deep feeling and/or fear of being a fraud. Maybe you've heard of it before, maybe you've admitted to feeling it before, but MAN does expat life intensify the experience of imposter syndrome!
Melissa, aka Intentional Expat, lived in Spain and the Netherlands for a decade before moving back to her home state, Washin
My Favorite Freiburg Murder with Megan
Season 3, Episode 12. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
What better way to celebrate Halloween abroad than by discussing true murder cases that happened in the town where you live? Inspired by the famous & well-loved true crime podcast, My Favorite Murder, your host Nicole and her guest Megan picked out two suspenseful cases that tie into their new home of Freiburg, Germany.
First up, Megan (who loves murder!) tells us the story of The Woman Without a Face. Then Nicole tells us the story of the Frauenmörder, aka
Taxes for Expats in Germany with Agnese from Wundertax
Season 3, Episode 11. After using and loving the WunderTax tool for expats in Germany to file German taxes, Nicole was so impressed that she invited them on the show. Fellow expat in Germany, Agnese, works with WunderTax, and she tell us everything we need to know to file our taxes on time, accurately, and painlessly.
The episode focuses on general insights into filing taxes in Germany. For more about filing taxes in Germany, check out this blog post.
FIND WUNDERTAX
On their website
Their expa
Snacks & Toilets with Trash Jenny
Season 3, Episode 10. It's the episode no one wanted, that no one needed - yet here it is! It's Snacks & Toilets!
In the first half of the episode, we discuss snacks - the snacks we love and hate in Germany, and the snacks we miss most from home.
Then comes part two: toilets. Have you encountered the elusive German toilet phenomenon, the poop shelf? We dish out the pros and cons of the strange design, then we give some well-deserved hate to our home country, USA, for having public bathroom doors
Living Abroad in Your 20s with Olivia
Season 3, Episode 9. Moving abroad throws so many things into question - your sense of home, your relationships, your career, your comfort zone. In fact, all of these things are also typically thrown into question during another life period: your 20s.
Olivia is 26. She is half-Irish, half-Austrian and has lived in Australia and Sweden. Suffice it to say, she's had her fair share of opportunities to ask these tough questions! In our conversation, we discuss what it was like growing up split betw
The Expat Cast Live at the Carl Schurz Haus with James
Season 3, Episode 8. Look out - a wild podcast has escaped the cage of the basement studio and emerged into the real world! The Expat Cast went LIVE!
In honor of International Podcast Day, we hosted an event at the Carl Schurz Haus, the German-American center in Freiburg. Following a quick crash course on podcasting, the audience enjoyed a panel discussion between The Expat Cast and local Freiburg podcast Jung & Freudlos about all things podcasting - how we make our shows, why we make the shows,
My Expat Story with Your Host, Nicole
Season 3, Episode 7. It's time to get to know your host! This episode, there's no guest - just me, Nicole, the lady behind the podcast. I tell my expat story, from my first experience abroad to today. I discuss how I left my heart in Italy, my long-distance relationship, my career as a librarian, and how I made the move to Germany in terms of career, visa, and cultural adjustment.
RESOURCES
Long-Distance Relationships
The First Few Months
Prepping for a Job Hunt in Germany
Information about B
Raising a Son with Special Needs in Germany with Shaun of Expat Life Germany
Season 3, Episode 6. Today, the expats in Germany podcast worlds collide - because Shaun from The Germany Experience is a guest on The Expat Cast!
Shaun moved to Germany from South Africa years ago with his wife, in search of adventure and new experiences. They now have German citizenship and are raising two - soon to be three! - kiddos in their rural German village.
Their oldest son has a special need called SYNGAP-1, and Shaun shares with us how they've navigated the situation as foreigners a
Moving Abroad with Teenagers with Linda
Season 3, Episode 5. Linda Kerr grew up as a Third Culture Kid and is now a "trailing spouse" or expat partner. That means she's experienced living abroad during various stages of life - but now, she's doing something totally new. She is living abroad in Germany with her husband and their two teenagers.
Linda explains how she's made moving to Europe work with a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old. Although it's not always easy, Linda's family has embraced their 3-year stay in Germany as a chance to m
International Schools with Lauren
Season 3, Episode 4. "For us, the number 1 priority was that they would thrive academically, that they would thrive socially, and that this experience would build them up, not suppress them and make them feel like introverts just because they're outsiders."
When Lauren moved from the Jersey Shore in New Jersey, USA to Barcelona, Spain with her husband and three small children, she did her research and decided that international school was the right choice for her kids' schooling. She explains t
People with a Backround of Migration with Fraser
Season 3, Episode 3. Folks, we've got our first New Zealand expat in Germany on the show!
Having lived in England during the Brexit vote, Fraser became keenly aware of how some foreigners are referred to as expats while others are immigrants. Expats are often seen in a positive light whereas immigrants are too often seen negatively. Not so coincidentally, "immigrants" are often people of color.
We dig into this topic, including considering the German phrase "Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund,"
Moving Back "Home" with Lindsey from The ExpatRepat Podcast
Season 3, Episode 2. "Expat" is short for expatriation, or living in a country other than one's native country, and "repat" is short for repatriation, or living back in one's native country after living abroad. Put them together, and you get Expat Repat, the name of Lindsey McLean's podcast.
Lindsey herself is a repat, living back in the USA after years of life abroad in Switzerland. In the years since she's moved back, she's struggled but succeeded at building a life that she's happy with. We d
Moving Abroad or Running Away? with Aspen from AspenAbroad
Season 3, Episode 1. We kick off season 3 with expat YouTuber Aspen, from AspenAbroad, in which we get a little deeper into Aspen's decision to move to Europe after growing up in Hawaii - and how she settled on Munich, Germany, as her new home. Released just in time to celebrate Aspen's 5th Gedeutschtag (Alles gute zum Gedeutschtag, Aspen!), we take a stroll down memory lane to look at the traumas and challenges that inspired Aspen to leave the US, followed by a discussion of how she's feeling n
Ask the Expat with Stacey
Season 2, Episode 25. Welcome to the Season 2 finale episode! To celebrate 50 episodes, 10,000 downloads, and 1 year of podcasting, we've called up a good friend to answer listener questions and quandaries in a brand new format called Ask the Expat. We give our best go at answering questions sent to us from expats all over.
For a full list of questions and resources mentioned in the episode, click here.
We'll be back with season 3 soon. Keep your eyes on social media and stay subscribed to get u
How to Show Up with Sundae
Season 2, Episode 24. For many, one of the toughest things about living abroad is being far away from friends and family. It can feel like you're missing out on all the important moments, big and small - and sometimes, that's true.
But sometimes, it's possible to move heaven and earth to be there, in person, for a big event. When that does happen, the moment becomes that much more important because of how far out of your way you went to be there. Showing up in those moments is, as Sundae explain
Celebrate Every Little Win with Gyo
Season 2, Episode 23. Gyo moved from southern California to Nuremberg, Germany 9 months ago to close the distance on her relationship. Although she's always struggled with anxiety, Gyo has found ways to continue challenging herself as she adjusts to the new culture.
Gyo and Nicole chat about the stresses of language learning, friend making, wellness and nutrition, and home building in Germany. Above all, the two share the belief that it is vital to celebrate your little wins along the way, like
Putting the Ex in Expat: Break-Ups Abroad with Jessica
Season 2, Episode 22. Many people move abroad for love, but what happens when that relationship doesn't work out? Germany wasn't anywhere on Jessica's radar when she started dating her German girlfriend. But eventually, she moved to her girlfriend's hometown of Erfurt, Germany.
Jessica immersed herself in the German language and culture. Two years into life in Erfurt, the relationship ended, but Jessica stayed. Even when she later moved away to England, her heart stayed in Germany.
FIND JESSI
Stereotypes and Misconceptions with Tatjana
Season 2, Episode 21. Tatjana is a Berliner who chose a profession in tourism in order to enable her to live all over the world - which she has, with stints in The Netherlands, England, The United Arab Emirates, and India.
Tatjana discusses what stereotypes and misconceptions she has encountered in her various experiences as an expat, including both ones that have been directed towards her as an expat and ones that have been directed toward the country she calls home. She also shares how she's i
You Are Where You Live with Mark
Season 2, Episode 20. Today's guest is celebrating three decades of life abroad! Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Mark Baker's studies in journalism and Eastern European international relations took him to Vienna, Austria in the late 1980s. Little did he know that the Iron Curtain would fall just as he was settling in, changing his life - and the world - forever.
Mark's writing career took him to Prague, Czech Republic, and now, he's an accomplished travel writer. Mark's got years of hard-ea
Preparing to Move Abroad with Riana
Season 2, Episode 19. Riana spoke to us when she had one month left in Canada before she, her partner, and their dog moved to Prague. As a Canadian under the age of 30, Riana was able to take advantage of the Youth Mobility Visa, which allows Canadians to life and work in 35 countries for one year. She talks us through how she decided that life abroad in Prague was the right choice for her.
Riana shares what kind of preparation she's been able to do pre-move abroad, as well as what it's been lik
Macaroon Moments with Ara
Season 2, Episode 18. Have you ever had a macaroon moment?
As a kid, Ara dreamed of eating a macaroon in Paris while gazing out on the Eifel Tower. But growing up in her hometown in Mexico, any kind of experience abroad seemed like an impossibly far away notion. Then: life and love happened, and before she knew it, there she was - eating a macaroon in Paris while gazing out on the Eifel Tower.
For Ara, that's what life abroad is all about. Although her weekdays are filled with working from home
From Pils to Pints to Passport Stamps with Sixtina
Season 2, Episode 17. Four years is Sixtina's magical number. After growing up in Germany, she moved to the Netherlands for 4 years, followed by Ireland for 4 years. She's also lived in the United States, Mexico, and Spain.
Mere days before she left Ireland to embark on her dream-turned-reality world trip, Sixtina told us what it's been like working for a big international company, learning just how German she is, and - of course! - that good ol' Irish pub culture.
RESOURCES
Expat Focus's guid
Meet the Parents with Momsie & Popsicle
Season 2, Episode 16. Guess who this week's guests are? My parents! I power my Brene Brown and get vulnerable by asking my parents how they feel about my choice to live abroad.
When my dad was a young adult and moved into an apartment 20 minutes from his childhood home, his mom was outraged he'd move so far away. My mom's extended family numbers around 40 people - of whom, only a handful live more than a 2 hour drive away. So what do they REALLY think about the fact that their daughter lives tho
Expat Mama with Ashley
Season 2, Episode 15. You last heard from friend of the show, Ashley, when she was pregnant with her son, and now she's back to share what it's like with her young son.
Ashley is now 7 months into motherhood, and she shares with us what it's been like adjusting to her new role. What was it like for her to give birth in Germany? How has she handled being an ocean apart from her family in the US? And how is she planning on keeping her American identity alive with her son?
Ashley's go-to book recom
The First Few Months with Samar
Season 2, Episode 14. Initially, moving abroad is insanely exciting. New scenery! New people! New language! New groceries! New new new! Wow wow wow!
And thennnnn reality comes crashing down, in the form of paperwork, financial pressure, a language barrier, or social isolation. While some part of you might still be excited about the newness, another part of you starts to wonder how the heck this will all work out. Was this whole move the right choice?
This week's guest is fresh out of that challe
Choosing to Move Back with Aurora
Season 2, Episode 13. Expats don't always stay expats forever. We sit down with Aurora, a Mexican-American living in Germany, to hear what made her decide to move back to the States.
Aurora will move back to the US this summer, but where exactly will she move? Cue: A Very Well Built Excel Spreadsheet!
DUNCAN & AURORA'S DECISION MAKING SPREADSHEET
Aurora and Duncan's formula as a Google Spreadsheet is here
Listen to Duncan talk about voting rights
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Instagram @theexpa
Here & There, Then & Now with Nic
Season 2, Episode 12. When Nic moved to Germany from England to be with his girlfriend, he committed himself mentally to the move. It would have taken something really huge and dramatic to make him consider moving back. But how does he manage keeping in touch with family, especially negotiating visits? And how does he still show up for his partner's family?
We use the topic of family as a launching point for a fun conversation about British Christmas, cultural judgement, and way more.
FIND NIC
Unemployment in Germany with Jeremy
Season 2, Episode 11. In this episode, we learn what it's been like for our guest, Jeremy, to be unemployed in Germany. Jeremy moved here for a two- to three-year work contract that recently ended. He tells us how he's been navigating the immigration and unemployment offices. Plus, we discuss how the social support he's been given in Germany has altered his approach to the job hunt in general.
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Instagram @theexpatcast
Twitter @theexpatcast
Clinging to Your Culture with Jenny
Season 2, Episode 10. When you moved abroad, did you find yourself suddenly caring an awful lot about dumb things from your home culture you never bothered with before? Likkkeeeee, I don't know, say, ABC's The Bachelor?
In fact, getting way too into the latest season of The Bachelor is what inspired this week's episode. It got us thinking about all the weird things we find ourselves interested in, especially those things we previously wanted nothing to do with, like football, touristy clothing,
Being Bi-Cultural with Gordon
Season 2, Episode 9. Gordon is half-German, half-American and grew up moving back and forth between both countries. He never stayed anywhere longer than 2 years since he was a little kid. Now, as an adult who is putting down roots of his own, Gordon shares with us how his bi-cultural identity as well has his frequent moving shaped him as a person.
He tells us the good, the bad, and the ugly about being that weird German kid whenever he was in America and being that weird American kid whenever he
The Beauty of Community with Berly
Season 2, Episode 8. Today's guest turned an existential crisis in Boston into a thriving non-profit in Nicaragua. How the heck did that happen? Welcome to the fascinating life of Berly. Now living in Freiburg, Germany while she completes her Masters degree in Global Studies, Berly has traveled the globe and lived in a variety of countries.
Through her personal experience as well as her experience in her non-profit, Berly has learned that the most important thing is community. It was only after
Affording Iceland with Alex
Season 2, Episode 7. Iceland skyrocketed to the top of the Must Visit list of many eager travelers over the last 5 years, but what's it like to actually live there? We chat with American expat Alex Illes about how she ended up with Iceland, how she managed to move her cats with her, and what it's taken to make life there work.
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Instagram @theexpatcast
Twitter @theexpatcast
Relationships with Loved Ones Back Home with Summer
Season 2, Episode 6. When one moves abroad, a lot gets left behind. Most importantly: people. Managing relationships with loved ones back home can be one of the hardest parts of the expat life. So today, two expats with totally different experiences sit down to chat about how they’ve managed.
FIND SUMMER
Blog at Eat Something Go Somewhere
Twitter @Summer Outside
Instagram @Summer Outside
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Instagram @theexpatcast
Twitter @theexpatcast
Study Abroad BFFs with Chad and Jared from Untranslatable Podcast
Season 2, Episode 5. By coincidence, Chad and Jared signed up for the same college study abroad program in Vienna, Austria. Although they knew each other from around campus back in Michigan, it wasn't until they were tossed together into an unfamiliar place that they became close friends.
Now, 7 years later, Chad lives in the Czech Republic and Jared lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and they keep their long-distance friendship alive as co-hosts of the Untranslatable Podcast, where they discu
Long-Distance Relationships with Meg
Season 2, Episode 4. It's Valentine's Day! We're celebrating with an episode about long-distance love. Host Nicole dated her boyfriend Gordon for 2 years, while she lived in Chicago and he lived in southern Germany. Guest Meg dated her boyfriend Lucas for 3.5 years, while she lived in Philadelphia and he lived in Zurich.
The gals are old friends from theater camp who bonded over their long-distance relationships with German men, thus prompting a long-distance friendship. Now, the women are livin
Book Worms International with Steph
Season 2, Episode 3. Your host Nicole is, as Leslie Knope so eloquently put it, a "punk ass book jockey" aka a librarian. Now having experienced librarianship in a handful of libraries across America and Germany, she's got a unique perspective on how different communities' reading habits look.
Plus, she's a huge book worm herself! (Duh, you get rejected from library school if you aren't) (Just kidding) (But am I?) So it was great fun to have fellow expat book worm Steph Fuccio on the podcast to
Extroverted Entrepreneurial American Expat with Joe
Season 2, Episode 2. Does your identity as an introvert or an extrovert impact your experience as an expat? Can America be understood as a more extroverted culture and Germany a more introverted one? And if so, what does that mean for foreigners?
This episode, we sit down with Joe, a fellow American in Germany, to discuss how his extroverted, outgoing friendliness has impacted his long-term happiness in Germany. Now in his seventh year living in Germany, Joe is slowly started to experience frus
Learning German with Jenny
Season 2, Episode 1. It's 2019! Is one of your goals for the new year to learn German? Super, then buckle up and brace yourself for some German-learning resources, tips, & venting. Of course, to learn German, or any language, a course is a great idea. But if you can't take a class due to money, access, or whatever, no fear. Our discussion focuses on free methods that are available to everyone.
We explain why Tandem partnerships are so effective, advocate for labeling everything in your room/apar
Season Two - Coming Your Way Starting January 24, 2019!
We're BAAAAACK.
Almost.
Starting in one week, on January 25, The Expat Cast will be back in your feeds every Thursday. We'll be bringing you new interviews with expats all over the globe, with a special focus on expats in or from Germany and the German-speaking world. You can look forward to more laughs, more resources, more commiseration, and more verbal eye rolling at whatever cultural difference I find annoying that day.
Prost to Season 2!
CONNECT
theexpatcast.com
Instagram @theexpatcast
From Army to Expat with Kris
Season 1, Episode 25. "The things that I'm worried about now are more future tense."
Floridian Kris enrolled in the US Army in part because he was eager to travel, and he was happy to find himself stationed in Germany between missions. After two years of getting to know the German culture, Kris decided to learn the language, too, and shortly after his time in the military ended, Kris decided to call Germany his home forever. He shares with us how he came to that decision and what it is about Ger
The Broke Expat with Jenny
Season 1, Episode 24. Some people move abroad for a big, fancy job with an incredible relocation package. But many of us move abroad on our own, for love or in pursuit of a better life or whatever it may be. And for the DIY expats, there's no relocation package. There's sometimes even no job lined up and only limited savings.
Jenny and Nicole both moved abroad for love, on tight, tight budgets. They share the life hacks they've learned, like where to get the cheapest but yummiest groceries, wha
A Plethora of Resources for Living in Germany with James
Season 1, Episode 23. When host Nicole was preparing to move to Germany, one of the websites she frequented was Live Work Germany. It seems like they've got a resource guide for every bump in the road of moving to Germany, from registering your address to navigating a foreign qualification recognition process - all up-to-date, all in English. As a librarian who loves a good resource, Nicole has long been a huge fan. So it was an honor to sit down with the man behind it all, James!
James moved to
Being an Asian Woman in Germany with April
Season 1, Episode 22. What is it like to be an Asian woman in Germany? This week, we hear one woman's perspective. April is from China, and she's lived in Canada, Austria, the United States, and now Germany. Through her time in North America, Europe, and Asia, April has been able to compare people's reactions to her across cultures.
We discuss if/when it's acceptable to ask someone about their home country's politics, how to differentiate between a different cultural approach to getting to kno
Expat Partners with Katharina
Season 1, Episode 21. What do you call someone who moves to a new country because the person they're in a relationship with got a job offer abroad? A trailing spouse? Bitte nicht! They're an expat partner.
This nuance is vitally important, says our guest, Katharina, of the Share the Love blog. When Katharina agreed to move from Munich to Chicago for her husband's job, she was excited to continue her thriving career in a new country. She was shocked and devastated to realize that getting a job w
Germany, America, and German-American Centers with Friederike
Season 1, Episode 20. It should be no surprise that our conversation with Friederike Schulte, the director of a German-American cultural institution, had us ping-ponging across the Atlantic. Pennsylvania Quakers! Stuttgart! Silicon Valley! Berlin in the '40s! The Midwest Goodbye! The trans-Atlantic dialogue doesn't hold back on geography.
We chat over-assimilation, American heroism, and "that whole hanging out concept." (I'm still chuckling about that.) Plus, Friederike tells us what a German-A
Weltschmerz and Culture Shock with Tanya
Season 1, Episode 19. Have you ever felt completely fatigued, your energy fully spent, not because of anything in your personal life but rather because of the world at large? Welcome to the feeling of Weltschmerz, one of those wonderfully untranslatable German words, which combines the words Welt, or world, with schmerz, or pain, to create: worldpain.
Many of us, expat or not, have felt this over the last couple of years, and in honor of recent violent attacks in America & the US Midterm Electi
Culture Shock: USA v. Germany with Christin
Season 1, Episode 18. Christin decided to take a break from her life in Germany to do a study abroad year in Charleston, South Carolina, in the hopes of improving her English. Little did she know, she'd meet the love of her life on her first day of classes, launching a whirlwind couple of years, including an engagement, a long-distance relationship, a wedding, and a permanent move to America.
Now, she's settled into her life in US and runs the blog This German American Life. She joins host Nico
Prepping for a Job Hunt in Germany with Nicole
Season 1, Episode 17. It's hard enough to find a job in Germany, but the process of getting all the paperwork needed to finalize a job offer can be an unexpected headache and financial strain. Nicole shares her experience with what paperwork she needed to get a full-time job in her field in Germany.
For a full list of resources, check out the blog post here.
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House Hunting and House Hunters with Shanon
Season 1, Episode 16. Finding an apartment or house in Germany can feel impossible, and it can be incredibly confusing. Some homes are listed without kitchens. What Germany calls a 3-room house is called a 2-bedroom house in America. You might need a resume to apply for an apartment.
What?!
No fear! Shanon and Nicole break it all down. You can get a full list of resources they recommend here.
Plus, Nicole shares how she ended up on House Hunters International!
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Voting Rights Abroad with Duncan
Season 1, Episode 15. Did you know that American citizens, no matter where they are in the world, are eligible to vote? With the upcoming November 6 election in the United States in mind, The Expat Cast sits down with Duncan, an American voting rights enthusiast in Freiburg, Germany. We learn how register to vote and how to vote from abroad.
Starting at 22:20, Duncan talks about the non-profit Wahlkreis 100%, which advocates for non-EU citizens' right to vote in local elections in Germany. Dun
Sobriety and Mental Health in Germany with Rebecca
Season 1, Episode 14. Five years ago, Rebecca decided to cut alcohol out of her life. Just weeks after embarking on a sober life, she and her husband moved to Germany, a country famous for their beer and drinking culture.
Rebecca shares her experience as one of pleasant surprise, what with Germany's lesser-known strong love for non-alcoholic drinks and with the European cafe culture. The harder part of the move was dealing with the resurgence of her depression. Rebecca talks us through her proc
Napster Broke the Music Industry - Now What? with Reggie, Continued
Season 1, Episode 13. In the second half of our interview with Reggie, we dig deeper into how his background in rap and hip hop influenced his expectations for Germany.
Why are there kids mindlessly dancing, backs to each other, to Usher in a Freiburg club, when Reggie knew from working with Usher that the whole point of his music was to bring people together? What's the point of going to a club if there's no chance that Destiny's Child might show up?
And, in an Expat Cast first, Reggie helps u
Napster Broke the Music Industry - Now What? with Reggie
Season 1, Episode 12. Reggie was enjoying an exciting career in the music industry when Napster came along. Quickly, the industry as he knew it fell apart. So Reggie moved abroad.
With minimal research or planning, he flew into Frankfurt, Germany and let the adventure begin. Reggie shares his story with listeners, including how American foreign policy influenced his decision, and what hanging out with Jehovah's Witness groups taught him about the German people.
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Family of Six Takes a Year Abroad with Anne and Thompsen
Season 1, Episode 11. Anne Thompsen Lord, a mother of four, and her oldest son, Thompsen, sit down with The Expat Cast to share their experience with their family's year abroad. Anne and her husband Errol wanted to spend a year abroad so that their kids could have the gift of a second language, so when Errol's job as a professor of philosophy brought them the opportunity to live in Freiburg, Germany, they leapt on it.
They packed up their things, rounded up their 10-year-old, 7-year-old, and 5-
Pregnancy in Germany with Ashley and Appleseed
Season 1, Episode 10. Ashley, from Teaching English Abroad, is back on the show, this time with a special guest: her baby boy! Ashley is eight months pregnant when she sits down to tell The Expat Cast all about what it's like to be pregnant as an expat in Germany. Maternity leave, midwives, and Mutterpass - we touch on it all.
We also learn that it's fruitless to search for a baby shower card in Germany, where people might envision infants raining down on you in a tub, and we examine how apartm
International Student with Bahar
Season 1, Episode 9. Bahar got a taste for the relaxed German lifestyle on a short visit to a village that left her hungry for more. She'd studied English language and literature in Istanbul, so when she heard of an English-language Masters in British and North American Studies in Freiburg, it was a no-brainer to apply.
Bahar talks us through her experience getting a student visa in Germany as a Turkish citizen, including what bank account she needed and how a 2017 law introducing fees for inte
Assimilation v. Self with Jenny
Season 1, Episode 8. Part of the adventure of moving abroad is assimilating into the culture. But how do you assimilate without giving up too much of your own self identity? How much of who you are is tied to where you're from or where you live now?
We sit down with friend of the show Jenny to talk about our own personal journeys to adapt to life in Germany while maintaining our sense of self. We chat clothing choices, minimalism, eating habits, vacation planning, and more. On the way, Nicole le
Gap Year Abroad with Izzy
Season 1, Episode 7. Instead of heading to college straight after high school, 19-year-old Izzy decided to take a gap year and head to Germany with the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), specifically the Vocational Youth Exchange.
CBYX is a nearly fully-funded year-long program that brings American teens to Germany for a year of immersion into German culture and language. While staying with host families, teens work a variety of internships in fields that interest them so that they can le
Newlyweds Abroad, Part 2, with Danielle
Season 1, Episode 6. In part 2 of a 2-part series, The Expat Cast sits down with wife-and-husband duo, Danielle Tirado Green and Alex Green Tirado. The couple moved to Germany just months after marrying.
For Danielle, the move was inspired by her love for post-war French cinema. Her desire to complement her close relationship with French language and culture with knowledge of German language and culture led her to seek out work teaching English abroad in western Germany. Over the year the newly
Newlyweds Abroad, Part 1, with Alex
Season 1, Episode 5. In part 1 of a 2-part series, The Expat Cast sits down with wife-and-husband duo, Danielle Tirado Green and Alex Green Tirado. The couple moved to Germany just months after marrying.
For Alex, Germany was country of residence number 5. When Danielle said she wanted to move to Europe after graduating, it was an easy thing for Alex's nomadic heart to say yes to.
Their adventure kicked off with job hunting woes, language barriers, and, in Alex's case, a broken foot. Alex talks
Fulbright Program with Dane
Season 1, Episode 4. Fulbright Scholar Dane tells us all about his experience in the English Teaching Assistant program. Dane originally heard of Freiburg through friends in college who studied abroad via Academic Year Freiburg, and then again when he was living in Madison, Wisconsin, Freiburg's US sister city. When he applied to Fulbright, he hoped to be placed in the state of Baden-Württemburg, specifically in Freiburg.
As luck would have it, his application was accepted and he was off to the
Teaching English Abroad with Ashley
Season 1, Episode 3. We sit down with Ashley Matthäus, who moved to Germany without knowing German and without teaching experience. She was able to start her career as an English as a Foreign Language teacher at language schools that don't require previous experience, then work her way up to the higher paying language schools before becoming the head of the adult language courses at one of the schools.
Ashley shares tips, tricks, and lessons learned along the way, and she also shares how she bec
Language Course Visas with Jenny
Season 1, Episode 2. American expat Jenny came to Germany on a language course, or Sprachkurs, visa. She stayed a full calendar year and took A1, A2, and B1 German courses at the local Volkshochschule, literally, the people's college, similar to American community college.
What does one need to get this visa? Jenny talks us through all the details of what you need to get a language course visa, and she and host Nicole discuss the experience of learning German as a first second language for Engl
Introducing The Expat Cast with Nicole and Gordon
Season 1, Episode 1. What in the world is The Expat Cast, and who are the people behind it? Get introduced to the show, the host, Nicole, and the producer, Gordon, in this inaugural episode.
Nicole is an American expat living in Germany since 2017, and Gordon is a dual citizen of America and Germany who grew up biculturally, switching back and forth between the two. How do these experiences compare, and what's up next for them and this podcast?
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