As a first-time Foreign Service accompanying partner, Sim Khandaker was surprised and saddened when all his new friends PCSed and left post. But he’s since found community through chili cook-offs and game nights. And he’s made connections across continents, including with our very own Lauren Steed.

Sim is offering his coaching services to community colleagues through a free workshop on how to bounce back strategically from layoffs. Register today: https://balancedatlast.com/workshop/

Guest Bio:

Sim Khandaker is a relationship counselor turned executive & career coach with 15+ years of experience and a background in corporate Fortune 100, education, and global 100 companies. His work focuses on building a balanced life for individuals, repairing relationships (couples, teams, family), and supporting career development from college students to the C-suite.

Sim is the owner of Balanced at Last, where he provides FREE monthly workshops and 1:1 coaching to help clients gain professional clarity, build strategies, and create action plans to start living a more balanced life.

In Oct 2025, Sim launched a podcast to address the psychology behind professional development, including the mental and emotional barriers to professional success.

* Learn more at https://balancedatlast.com/

* Connect with Sim at https://www.linkedin.com/in/skhandaker

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Perhaps predictably for November, we’d like to show a little gratitude for some of the many kind things EFMs have done for us. 🙏

In this episode, Lauren and Steph share a few personal anecdotes to kick off the conversation.

We want to hear from you!

Share a short story about a time another EFM has done something great for you. Schedule a short interview on our calendar: https://availableworldwide.net/be-a-guest-on-our-show/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Unlike many State Department EFMs, Chris’s experiences are shaped by her husband’s role with DOJ. How did she break out of her comfort zone and find a community that is worth retiring into?

Chris Lang has been an EFM at four posts now, and at her current age of 61, she has figured out how to settle in, connect with others, and be happy wherever she is. She knows the importance of doing what you love and finding like-minded people. She enjoys being active (through hiking, biking, walking, and pickleball), working with refugees, playing Mahjong, cooking, reading, and hanging out with friends.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Guest Bio:

Emily Cornell, ACC is a storyteller, strategist, and coach helping women navigate change. A fourth-tour EFM, she’s also dedicated to uplifting Foreign Service accompanying partners. Her coaching combines intuition with a co-creative process, always remaining grounded in strategy. Through her relatable approach, she strives to create space for clients to tap into their courage, creativity, and strength.

Whether one-on-one or in groups, she fosters community and resilience, helping women thrive on their journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Emily is committed to creating a trauma-informed space, is credentialed by the International Coaching Federation, and is a Certified Designing Your Life coach.Learn more about Emily’s work as a Change Coach for Women: https://www.emilycornell.com/

Connect with Emily: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycornell/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

The "Available Worldwide" podcast marks its return after an eight-month hiatus. Steph and Lauren blame their busy schedules and creative blocks for the pause. It was reconnecting with listeners and in-person meetups that reignited their excitement to speak with you about your EFM journey.

We announce new podcast formats focusing on specific stories and experiences relevant to diplomatic spouses, drawing inspiration from the successful discussion circles we’ve been hosting within the Available Worldwide Network.

These themed episodes dive deep into particular challenges and adventures, helping new listeners find great support by topic and theme. We’re looking forward to updates from past guests and hearing from new voices who have great stories on these new topics. We want you to share your experience.

We feel the podcast plays a role in providing connections and support, and we encourage listeners to be part of the drive to provide supportive community for other diplomats’ spouses.

If you’re ready to join us on the podcast, recording sessions are available soon.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Lauren and Steph catch up on some of the exciting things that happened in the Available Worldwide community in 2024 and invite you to share your story of transformations on our podcast in 2025. Is this your year?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Jenn is a licensed therapist who was looking for a therapist at her challenging first post abroad. When she struggled to find the help she needed, it inspired her to start her own practice -- Bloom Counseling.

In this interview, I chat with Jenn about how accompanying partners can build better self-care practices by finding out what works for them, remembering what they love, and pursuing their own dreams not 'instead of' but 'in addition to' the demands of their spouses' careers.
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BIO
Jen Evans is an EFM, therapist, and Mom who started her private practice, Bloom Counseling, while posted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Jen found herself halfway across the world with a newborn and toddler during COVID and amongst a burgeoning civil war. She searched for her own therapy but could not find a therapist who was willing to work with her while posted overseas and who understood the challenges of expat life.

Away from her own support system, she noted this gap in care for diplomats and expats and founded Bloom Counseling to address those needs.

Four years later, she is posted in Mexico City with her husband, two young girls, and a Bernese Mountain Dog. She feels fortunate to meet the unique needs of her community every day.

Connect with Jen:

• https://bloomwithjenn.com
• https://www.facebook.com/BloomWithJenn/
• instagram.com/bloom.counseling

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Elizabeth Streett did everything right: going to college and becoming a diplomat. She met all the criteria for what anyone would see as successful. But success didn't really end up being what she sought, and it turns out that was the wrong word to use anyway. After discovering that life as a diplomat didn't have the room for the kinds of joy that she wanted to prioritize in life, she left the profession. Becoming an EFM a few weeks later was an unexpected result. 

Today Elizabeth focuses on her key values and helps others use their key values to declutter their lives, both physically removing items that don't fit their happiest version of themselves, but also decluttering their mental and financial loads. Streett's method is about removing items that represent outdated versions of ourselves while asking why we have certain things and if they reflect who we want to be. This process emphasizes making choices based on our desired selves rather than simply counting items or fitting them into spaces.

How does she follow her own core values of authentic communication, joy, simplicity, curiosity, and nature? Find out in this episode!

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Elizabeth Streett grew up following the traditional markers of success, excelling academically and professionally as a U.S. diplomat. Despite her achievements, she grappled with a lack of genuine happiness and fulfillment, feeling bound by external standards rather than internal joy. Her turning point came when she noticed her son’s struggles in a conventional school setting, prompting Elizabeth to reevaluate her life’s direction and her family’s well-being. She left her career, embracing a simpler, values-driven life focused on joy, authenticity, and community. Now, Elizabeth shares her journey from a “perfect” life to one that is truly fulfilling, inspiring others to pursue intentional, minimalist paths in the pursuit of genuine happiness.

Make Space for Joy at www.evergreenacacia.com
and follow her on Linked In at https://www.linkedin.com/in/eastreett/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

After rave reviews of his debut novel, EFM Matthew Becker has two more books coming soon. In this episode, find out how an academic mathematician with a past work in missile tracking and  COVID test kit distribution analysis became an EFM and followed a secret dream to become an author. 

Like most avid readers, Matthew believed he could write something pretty decent. Unlike the rest of us, he actually followed through on that, writing several novels before getting his first contract and agent. Matthew explains how advanced math education taught him critical thinking skills rather than just specific techniques, and how he uses those to outline and organize plots, track manuscript submissions and record his late night and midday inspirations. 

In his debut novel, the wife of a congressional staffer goes missing amidst a mass shooting, Run, both a stand alone and part of a trilogy, is the story of someone much like all EFMs, an everyday hero in extraordinary circumstances. His second book, Don't Look Down, is available for pre-order now.

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Matthew Becker is a thriller author, with his debut novel RUN described as "a must read" and "wicked smart and exceptionally fun." He is a former mathematician, and worked as part of the national Covid-19 response. He has a doctorate in applied mathematics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is published in the Bulletin of Mathematical Biology.Matthew currently lives with his wife and their two children in Washington, DC, in between overseas assignments. An avid thriller reader, he loves stories with dense, twisted plots and emotional gravitas.
Website: www.matthewbeckerbooks.com
Instagram: @matthewbeckerbooks
Reviews and more on Goodreads

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Laura Jennings has navigated her share of twists, turns, and transitions, from starting her career in publishing to successful stints in marketing and communications. She's a passionate and accomplished business developer, having built a portable Pilates business and taken it to five posts. Now as Chief Strategy Officer at LVL-Up Strategies, she continues to advocate for EFM career progression as co-founder of a business staffed entirely by partners of the US Foreign Service.

In this interview, we learn that Paris isn't hard, but walking away from a career certainly is. We also discuss the mental component of identity and why Laura believes an important aspect of self-care involves embracing our potential to contribute to society. Listen in to learn more! 
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BIO

Laura Jennings enjoys bringing folks with aligned objectives together and empowering all parties to achieve their vision. Her ability to guide clients and her team toward their purpose or vision while recognizing their own particular ecosystems creates a culture of trust and lasting relationships primed for growth. 

Laura's 20+ years in communications, strategic partnerships, project management, and planning combined with 7+ years launching and building her own business, both nationally and internationally, led her to her purpose—connecting others and lifting them to their next level.

As part of a Foreign Service family, having a career in the traditional sense was not an option. Laura continued to maintain relevance whether as an entrepreneur, working in government, or serving the diplomat community and host country through programs that give back. Her ability to quickly evaluate situations, develop strategies, and implement initiatives with a positive impact ensured her success from country to country.

Laura has lived in five countries and has a working knowledge of four languages. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Language, Writing, and Rhetoric from the University of Maryland, College Park. She recently served on the Move2Learn Board of Directors and loves spending time with her husband and two girls as they adventure through this amazing life.
https://www.lvlupstrategies.com/team-members/laura-jennings

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com