164 - The Pivot: Life After International Teaching

Reflecting, reimagining, and rewriting life after teaching overseas featuring Audrey Forgeron and David Carpenter.

About Audrey Forgeron

After first heading overseas in 1990 for a short-term teaching contract in Ethiopia, Audrey Forgeron never looked back. Over three decades and seven countries later, international teaching became both a career and a lifestyle; one filled with rich cultural experiences, global classrooms, and summers back home in Vermont.

Now semi-retired and working as a life coach, Audrey has turned her love of storytelling and travel into a new adventure: podcasting. With co-host David Carpenter, she explores life after international education, sharing insights, stories, and inspiration for those considering new chapters—whether that means pivoting careers or embracing retirement.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aforgeron 

About David Carpenter

David Carpenter brings decades of international school experience to the podcast, having started his overseas teaching journey in Israel in 1990. Since then, the landscape of global education has shifted dramatically with rapid school growth, post-pandemic changes, and evolving educator needs. David is passionate about helping both aspiring and current international educators make informed decisions about their lives abroad.

An experienced podcaster, David co-founded the Shifting Our Schools podcast in 2008 with Jeff Utecht and later teamed up with Dr. Mark Hofer for a second education-focused podcast, the Ed Tech Co-Op. 

A longtime blogger and digital resource creator, David enjoys building tools and communities that support learning and well-being.

Working with Audrey Forgeron on their Educators Going Global Learning Hub & Podcast is, in his words, “a joy and a privilege”—a chance to share stories, explore big questions, and give back to the international education community.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidcarpenterportfolio 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clubcarp15/ 
Portfolio: https://davidcarpenterportfolio.weebly.com 

Resources

• Seligman’s PERMA+Model Explained: A Theory of Wellbeing - Positive Psychology
• The 24 Character Strengths - Positive Psychology 
• Fostering Lasting Change in Schools: Four Factors to Consider, With Jim Reese (Episode 81 at Educator Going Global - EGG) - We apply frameworks in our schools and manage them through the change process. Think of designing your own framework as part of your plan for leaving international education.  
• International Health Insurance for Expatriates and Global Nomads (Blog post at Educators Going Global - EGG) - If you choose to live outside your home country health insurance is a big deal.  
• Health Insurance for Americans Returning to the US (Blog post at EGG) - This post just covers the basics so do your research!
• Health Insurance in Schools’ Salary and Benefits Packages (Blog post at EGG) - A cursory listing of the different types of health insurance international schools offer. 
• Investment with Low-Cost ETFs and Index Mutual Funds (Blog post at EGG) - Find links to all things Andrew Hallam! 
• Profiling Schools, Cities and Countries (Blog post at EGG) - This blog post and spreadsheet lists criteria when comparing schools, cities and countries that can help educators plan their recruiting strategy and when putting a possible retirement plan together focusing just on cities and countries. 
• Going “Unglobal: Transitioning Out of International Education (Episode 72 at EGG) - A panel of international educators share their insights and strategies when pivoting from international education. 
• What Does It Mean to be an International Educator? (Episode 39 at EGG) - Our guest Sandy Sheppard wrote an article about growing one’s self-knowledge of what it means to be an international educator.
• Leaving International Education - A Guide (David’s personal blog) - A blog post outlining a Positive Psychology approach to pivoting from international education. 
• The OG International Educator Podcasters: Meet Dan Taylor and John Mikton of the ISP (Episode 42 at EGG)
• Educators Going Global Learning Hub & Podcast
• https://educatorsgoingglobal.com/ 

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

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