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 course, how it feels to say farewell to The Expat Cast! (from minute 0:25) Connect with Nicole @NikkiNeedsToMove on Instagram. A big thank you from the heart to everyone who's spent some time with The Expat Cast in your ears since 2018. Forming real connections around the globe and feeling less alone in this crazy journey of life abroad has been so rewarding. Mit ganz viel Liebe & un abrazo muy fuerte, -Nicole REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser CONNECT Email [email protected] Instagram @theexpatcast Instagram @nikkineedstomove

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 stories! Mentioned in the episode -Free Walking Tour of Asuncion: here or here -Botelleras, traditional Paraguayan bottle dancing -Tourist information center in Asuncion from Senator PY -ChacaTours -Museo del Fútbol Sudamericano -Atyra -Get information about visiting Filadelfia in the Chaco Next Thursday: the final episode of Tereré Talks! Read more about tereré here. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser CONNECT Email [email protected] Instagram @theexpatcast

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! Videos mentioned in the episode: -alo_molinas on YouTube and his skits on Paraguayan Spanish vs. Mexican Spanish, practicing Guarani, and saying thank you in Paraguay -WikiToungues episode on Guarani Next Thursday: traveling in Paraguay! Read more about tereré here. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser CONNECT Email [email protected] Instagram @theexpatcast

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. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser CONNECT Email [email protected] Instagram @theexpatcast

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. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser CONNECT Email [email protected] Instagram @theexpatcast

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 that will make you do a double-take, in a good way. And somehow, no one knows about it. No one talks about it. Until now! Next Thursday: shopping and commerce! Read more about tereré here. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser CONNECT Email [email protected] Instagram @theexpatcast

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. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser CONNECT Email [email protected] Instagram @theexpatcast

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. Listen until the end for the wild tale of how far German government agencies will go to track you down! Next Thursday: transit in Paraguay. Read more about tereré here. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser CONNECT Email [email protected] Instagram @theexpatcast

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 - including the unusual city structure! Next Thursday: we dive into the numbers for all things housing in Paraguay. Read more about tereré here. If you're visiting Asuncion, check out a free walking tour: here or here. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser CONNECT Email [email protected] Instagram @theexpatcast

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 work? Where has she traveled to in South America? Why hasn't this podcast come out for months?? And most importantly, what's the update on The Expat Cats!? Next Thursday: a crash course on basic information about Paraguay. Read more about tereré here. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser CONNECT Email [email protected] Instagram @theexpatcast

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. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On the website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast

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 big move like this one impacts friendships. There's laughter, there's tears, there's an emptied bottle of tequila! Listen to the episode where Nicole announces her move here. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 built a life for herself there. Suddenly, the war escalated, and thousands of fellow Ukranians were seeking safety abroad due to the war, including in the Netherlands. Kateryna discusses how experiencing her 20s abroad affected her, plus what it's like to be abroad as an expat versus to be abroad while feeling war. REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 months before the Arabic Spring broke out. After years of covering intense conflict and war, Soraya was eager to take a job in Berlin - but months after settling, the Russia-Ukraine war broke out for the first time. Now, she's been in Berlin for over 10 years, and she's the host of her own podcast, Common Ground Berlin. She joins us to talk about her extremely exciting life in such a wide range of fascinating places. LINKS Common Ground Berlin REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 how she's navigated relationships with family and friends back home - all while learning to be an independent adult in a country she is brand new to! REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 involves one of the most popular brunch meals! LINKS Priya's Instagram Wax & Wake BK on Instagram REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 with her boss/mentor led her to relocate to the US, where she switched career tracks to become a financial planner. Now, after establishing her career and listening to her intuition, Kieran relocated to Toulouse, France, this time in a more permanent manner. After all her moves and career shifts and opportunities, she now views future life plans or ideas in the framework of, "I wouldn't be surprised if..." REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 Paraguay, where Oscar's partner once lived! REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 hit her mid-30s, she changed her career and met her husband. They had their kid when she was in her early 40s. And now, Eleanor is approaching her inflection point, or the year when she'll have lived longer in Germany than in her home country (USA). And now, she's here to share the wild story with us and reflect on what it all means. FIND ELEANOR Her Website Her blog post, "How I Became a Lifetime Expat in Germany" On Instagram @eleanormayrhofer On LinkedIn REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 a newcomer to the area. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Previous episodes about Learning German and Becoming Bilingual as well Travel Germany: The Black Forest Find a tandem partner with Tandem or VHS DM pharmacy store and the brand Weleda Carsharing programs such as Grüne Flotte in Freiburg or several companies in Stuttgart World's Largest Pig Museum in Stuttgart FIND KENDALL On Instagram @itskendalllong On TikTok @itskendalllong REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 short notice. FIND AUSTYN Listen to her previous appearance on The Expat Cast, The Introverted Expat On Instagram @expathour REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 secrets of what to explore in the Hochschwarzwald. Find a blog post with more details and links to the tips we discussed in the episode here. To listen to all the episodes in the Travel Germany series, click here. FIND JENNY Listen to previous episodes with Jenny Language Course Visas Assimilation v. Self The Broke Expat Snacks and Toilets REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 repatriates, or repats, about their lives since relocating to their home country. Then one day, it happened. She and her family moved back to Zurich. She became an expat gone repat gone re-expat. We check in with Lindsey to hear if sliding back into her former life abroad was all she dreamed it to be, and how she made the move happen. FIND LINDSEY Her previous episode on The Expat Cast, "Moving Back 'Home'" On Instagram Her podcast's Instagram Her blog, Swisslark REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 with ADHD. And she's one of those people who gets joy and happiness out of making someone else's day, but she lives in a country where the culture tends to be a bit more suspicious of strangers. Suffice it to say, she's been faced with plenty of problems, and then some, and she shares how she managed to push through to today, when things are starting to slowly look more stable. 4GEPADFO One last change to donate to Krisenchat Ukrainian FIND Marlene On Instagram REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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. 4GEPADFO Donate to Krisenchat Ukrainian FIND SHAUN The Germany Experience On Instagram REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 Nicole focus on how to make friends abroad. Between the two of them, they've tried it all, from sports groups to events to apps. Plus, they explore how friendships abroad grow and change over time, with new jobs, new romantic partners, or even new geographical changes - and what it's like to go through a friend-breakup abroad. 4GEPADFO Donate to Krisenchat Ukrainian FIND HANNAH Previous appearances on The Expat Cast, here and here On Instagram On TikTok REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 outlook that helps her recognize safe and unsafe spaces. Plus, her failures along the way have been her greatest moments of bravery, so she shares the importance of accepting failure and ultimately accepting yourself. 4GEPADFO Donate to Krisenchat Ukrainian FIND ADITI Email her at [email protected] On Instagram On LinkedIn REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 Zambia, and she's turning her experience into resources by becoming an intercultural relationship coach. She joins the podcast to share her stories and tips about what to do and what not to do to build a healthy intercultural relationship. 4GEPADFO Donate to Krisenchat Ukrainian FIND ZUZA Online On Instagram On YouTube REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 neighboring countries have in common. Plus, how do two Americans abroad celebrate Thanksgiving?! DONATE TO 4GEPADFO Krisenchat Ukranian FIND JO Online On Instagram On TikTok REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 leaving until December. We recorded this episode in October, right in the middle of the preparing-to-leave-but-not-yet-gone. FIND JAEDYN On Instagram REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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. FIND KELTIE Her episode on the Dear Shandy podcast, "Parenthood Clarity" Online On Instagram On Facebook On LinkedIn REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 REFERENCED Travel Germany: Nuremberg American Pride Solo Female Travel REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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, so we discuss what it's like working in the field in a place where cash is still the standard and the fear of sharing your data gets in the way of modernization. Is it possible to find the golden middle between digitalization and privacy? FIND LAUREL On Instagram @lwrocks REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 was a cornerstone of the international community. Now, Esther is back in her hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. She speaks about her time teaching criminal law in Tübingen, the Freiburg era, and her decision to move back to the US - and how voicing her desires and staying flexible has led to a series of moments where everything aligns. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. If your insurance doesn't cover therapy or you'd prefer to have more options when choosing your therapist, BetterHelp is a fantastic alternative to going through the German healthcare system. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast. Listen to the interview with Esther's daughter, Nyla, here: "Moving Abroad at Age 15" REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 that specializes in it (Doist). He's on The Expat Cast to talk to Nicole - a digital nomad skeptic - about his experiences and to explore the pros and cons of this increasing trend. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. If your insurance doesn't cover therapy or you'd prefer to have more options when choosing your therapist, BetterHelp is a fantastic alternative to going through the German healthcare system. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast. FIND CHASE On Instagram @about.abroad On LinkedIn The Doist Blog His podcast About Abroad Nicole's appearance on his podcast, "Life in the Sunny South of Germany's Pleasantville, Freiburg" REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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: It's an identity burp! FIND DITTE On Instagram @ditteoe Drawing Walks Berlin REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 Podfest July 16 and 17 to see podfriends Idan from Unmatch Me Now and Shaun from The Germany Experience. LINKS Register: July 4th Event with Horbach Expats, 7 pm, online Financial Planning for US Americans in Germany Podfest Berlin Episodes with Zoe about Solo Female Travel and about American Pride REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 who has formed the community of listeners, which creates a safe space for us to take on these difficult topics. This episode is sponsored by MyExpatTaxes. Use the code EXPATCAST to save 10%! RESOURCES Cheryl Strayed's essay, The Ghost Ship that Didn't Carry Us BeMyTravelMuse's video, How I Decided to Have Kids (Not an Easy Choice!) Edna Bonhomme's essay, Infertility Stung Me: Black Motherhood and Me SharetheLove Blog's post, Pregnancy Troubles as the Expat WantedAdventures's video, STOP ASKING ME IF I'M HAVING KIDS Balancing Stories episode, What if I Don't Want Kids? The Midnight Library by Matt Haig GUESTS Julian, former guest for Finding Therapy in Germany Casey, former guest for Becoming Bilingual and Visiting Home Shaun from The Germany Experience, former guest for Raising a Son with Special Needs in Germany Ashley, former guest for Pregnancy in Germany and Expat Mama Meghan from Balancing Stories, former guest for Expat Resilience Stefanie, former guest for Austria v Germany and Travel Germany: Stuttgart Jorge from The Canadian Wants to Know Steffi Keltie Chase from About Abroad REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 MyExpatTaxes. Use the code EXPATCAST to save 10%! RESOURCES The Expat Cast episodes: the initial Ask the Expat episode, the Travel Germany series, To Stay or To Go? with Katherine from Bad Days Abroad, Being Queer in Germany Unmatch Me Now episodes about dating in the queer community: Bi-Sex and the City, Slide into My DMs Like a Sexy Snail, and Everyone Have Extra Large Dicks and Other Grinder Myths Information about Kindergeld Help for refugees from Ukraine Abandoned Berlin FIND IDAN His podcast, Unmatch Me Now On Instagram @unmatchmenow REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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. They explain how they got the paperwork in order so they could take their careers with them when they moved, what it's like working as a librarian in Germany, difference between libraries in different countries, and how to find an international library job. This episode is sponsored by MyExpatTaxes. Use the code EXPATCAST to save 10%! RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL LIBRARIANS INALJ Open Biblio Jobs Anabin, for librarians moving to Germany The season one episode, "Prepping for a Job Hunt in Germany" FIND KATHERINE On Twitter @Kat_Lui She recommends "Wir können mehr sein" by Aminata Touré REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 finding your career, there have been many challenges and big life moments in Nyla's expat life, which may be just beginning. This episode is sponsored by MyExpatTaxes. Use the code EXPATCAST to save 10%! REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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, this time in a country that wasn't her own. She lays out the pros and cons of relying on Germany's robust social system for help with her kid. Plus, Tanya recently decided to do a test move back to the US, and she shares how being a single mom has played into that decision. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast. FIND TANYA Our previous episode together, "Weltschmerz and Culture Shock" Her website REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 female expats. After lots of research, interviews, and analysis, the study results are here! Kate shares with us all about her research method and the conclusions she's found about who these women are, what their motivations are, how they incorporated family planning into things, and why there aren't more breadwinning female expats. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast. FIND KATE Our previous episodes together, "Expat Partners" and "Repatriating During a Pandemic" Her website, SharetheLove.blog Download the study, The Thriving Female Expat Instagram @SharetheLove.Blog REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 truths are revealed in this interview, such as the surprisingly serious industries the Zac/ks work in and the truly stunning fact of just how tall the Zac/ks are! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast. FIND ZACXVIII Podcast "Zacks in the City" Instagram @ZacXVIII TikTok @ZacXVIII YouTube @ZacXVIII FIND ZACK BACHELOR Podcast "Zacks in the City" Instagram @ZackBachelor TikTok @ZackBachelor REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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, and while it was inspiring and beautiful, she was still yearning for Hamburg. So she made it happen, all on her own, landing a job that she loves, a flat she can call her own, and even a new love. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast. FIND EMILY Online at loololo.com On Instagram @EmilyinHamburg REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 herself since that initial move abroad still plague her now - to stay or to go? where is home? - but with a different set of priorities as she looks towards retirement and getting old. This episode is sponsored by Lingoda. Read more and sign up for the sprint with the code EXPATCAST2022 for 20€ off! THE DATING ABROADCAST With Aspen and Nicole Subscribe on Spotify On Instagram @TheDatingAbroadcast REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 of Germany's best wine regions. Plus, there are various museums, castles, and viewpoints in Karlsruhe itself. To listen to all the episodes in the Travel Germany series, click here. This episode is sponsored by Lingoda. Read more and sign up for the sprint with the code EXPATCAST2022 for 20€ off! FIND SANTHIYA Christie's Instagram @teleport2dland REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 yourself from the water you've been swimming in and learning to function in somewhere completely new. Listen to the other episode with Samar, "The First Few Months" This episode is sponsored by Horbach Expats. Join Horbach Expats and The Expat Cast for an event on Monday, January 17 at 19 CET all about investing in real estate for foreigners living in Germany! Sign up here. This episode is sponsored by Lingoda. Read more and sign up for the sprint with the code EXPATCAST2022 for 20€ off! REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 - and while it has been all the things they dreamed of, nothing has quite happened as they planned, as their new home is smack dab in the region that got horribly flooded in summer 2021. Donate to Kinderlachen to support education grants for differently abled kids in Germany via ThrEGEPADFO! This episode is sponsored by Horbach Expats. Join Horbach Expats and The Expat Cast for an event on Monday, January 17 at 19 CET all about investing in real estate for foreigners living in Germany! Sign up here. This episode is sponsored by Lingoda. Read more and sign up for the sprint with the code EXPATCAST2022 for 20€ off! REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast

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 test? Are they good-bad, or just bad-bad? Merry Christmas & guten Rutsch / good slide into the New Year! The Expat Cast will be back January 6, 2022. Donate to Kinderlachen to support education grants for differently abled kids in Germany via ThrEGEPADFO! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% on your first month of professional therapy at BetterHelp.com/ExpatCast. FIND ASPEN On Instagram @sassspen Our previous episode together, "Moving Abroad or Running Away?" THE DATING ABROADCAST Subscribe on Spotify On Instagram @TheDatingAbroadcast REVIEW On Apple Podcasts On Podchaser On my website CONNECT theexpatcast.com Instagram @theexpatcast Twitter @theexpatcast