Available Worldwide

Join Lauren & Stephanie for a behind-the-scenes look at the Available Worldwide podcast. In this friendly chat, we reflect on the past year, including our popular Trailing Houses 10-year anniversary interview, and the honor of winning the Champions of Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members Award.

Everything you wanted to know about creating the only podcast by, for & about the accompanying partners of the US Foreign Service.

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

When Greg Lee says he "helps men get their balls back," he's not advocating toxic masculinity. Instead, through his coaching, he helps men step up their presence, their cognitive engagement and their leadership by redefining their relationship with alcohol.

Join us as we talk about identity, all-or-nothing thinking, and examining the trade-offs we make in life.

Learn more about Greg's work below...
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Many men in the foreign service community (FSOs and EFMs) identify as "fine."
In fact, they are deeply frustrated.

Why are they frustrated? Their marriages are strained. Their sex lives suck. Their kids enjoy every modern convenience and parenting strategy, but are unpleasant to be around. Their job looks good from the outside, but from the inside, it's a stinker. They deal with their frustration by drinking.

Greg helps these men get their balls back.
They get onto a disciplined path where they prioritize their health and fitness. This gives them vitality and virility. They learn to assert themselves as men in a way that benefits those around them. Through their transformation, everyone wins. Their families, friends, colleagues are all better off.

When a man lives like this, he doesn’t want to sedate himself. Drinking becomes nothing more than a trivial pleasure.

Schedule a coaching consult with Greg: https://gregleenow.com/bookacall/

Follow Greg on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gregory.lee.71

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

Heather Emerick's EFM journey is so much like that of Steph and I. She's had jobs on the local economy, volunteered, run her own business, consulted, contracted, and now works a WAE job at FSI itself.

Her story is one of finding optimism where she didn't think she might, and a transformation from being a creature of habit and lover of a particular place to a person who loves the change in variety of life as a diplomatic accompanying partner.

She can "Bloom Wherever She is Planted!"


Heather Emerick is a budget coach and founder of DiploBudgets, a service for ex-pats who want to create a solid financial foundation to help them take advantage of the adventure of living overseas.

As an EFM and mother of three, Heather knows that living overseas comes with tremendous benefits and myriad challenges- money stress shouldn’t be one of them. In 2017, after feeling frustrated and never in control of their finances, Heather discovered YNAB (You Need a Budget), and after some hard work, everything fell into place.

Using YNAB four principles, Heather and her family weathered an ordered departure, traveled during every tour, completed several moves, and bought a house in D.C. without worrying about finances. Through it all, Heather learned tips and tricks for making YNAB work with the ex-pat lifestyle. She’s excited to share her experience with other DiploBudgeters!

When she’s not sharing her love of budgeting, she is an expert talent development consultant specializing in designing, creating, and facilitating engaging learning programs for clients, including Brown University, Dartmouth College, Conservation International, and Sunshower Learning. Heather also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Foreign Service Institute, the training school for the U.S. Department of State, teaching courses in management and leadership.
Find Diplobudgets at www.DiploBudgets.com

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

Nermine Mansour of Chez Nermine is an advocate of her Egyptian culinary heritage, but she's also an advocate for "trailing spouses" finding their mission.

In this interview, she shares how she developed both professionally and personally while transitioning from being an Egyptian diplomat to an American diplomatic spouse. She describes how she discovered her mission through the mantra, "Your mess is your message."

Join us as we talk about the realizations and routines that have helped her find fulfillment!
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BIO

Nermine is a former Egyptian diplomat turned Egyptian-American food writer, recipe developer, and staunch advocate of Egypt cuisine. Her upbringing in Egypt and her nomadic journey across five continents have sharpened her senses and deepened her belief in the soft power of food.

Five years ago, she launched Chez Nermine https://cheznermine.com/ , a food blog and online business where she offers recipe developing services and product reviews to food businesses. She cherishes hosting cooking classes for real foodies. However, her absolute delight is cooking in front of a camera and sharing her food heritage with the world.

Nermine just moved from Singapore to Alexandria VA, where she currently lives with her husband and kids. Her mantra is: Fear is my compass; I should do what I fear the most.

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Learn more about Chez Nermine's services, which include recipe development, food writing, cooking show hosting, and cooking classes. And don't forget to check out Nermine's extensive and exquisite recipes at https://cheznermine.com/

Follow her on:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cheznermine/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cheznermine/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheznermine/

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

It's not everyday an already expat gets married and find out that being an EFM means you get some new privileges but also lose a few in countries without bilateral work agreements.

It that change is combined with a global pandemic and pivot to doing a lot more online than we ever did before, you might find yourself doing what Dr. Fae did, recreating her traditionally geographically stable profession into something portable.

In this episode, learn about the ups and downs of life as an online mental health practitioner,, and be introduced to a friendly, nomadic dinosaur.


Dr. Fae is a licensed therapist & EFM abroad. She speaks two languages (English & Foreign Service acronyms) and works with adults all over the globe who want to create a more meaningful life for themselves, no matter where they are.

You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Therapy is a place where you can explore life’s difficult questions and find help for concerns such as burn-out, stress, anger, anxiety, sleep issues, and “just not feeling right”.

Dr. Fae specializes in existential concerns, finding/aligning values, and men’s issues. Services are eligible for insurance reimbursement. For free resources, more information, or to schedule a free consultation, visit drfae.com.

She offers a risk free, no obligation consultations for all potential clients where you can get to know each other and assess for fit.

Find her online at Online Therapy International www.drfae.com

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

October 2022 marks the 10 year anniversary of the founding of Trailing Houses – the unofficial Facebook Group of the Foreign Service. Affectionately known as THOTUS, the group now numbers at around 23,000 members.

Since its inception as a way for a few EFMs from Kathmandu to keep in touch after departing post, it’s grown to be the first stop for questions, answers, information, sharing, and connection for folks serving in Embassies and Consulates around the world as well as those based “back home.”

Trailing Houses is moderated by 5 admins: 4 EFMs (spouses of Foreign Service members) and a direct-hire FSO: Ed (E.M.) Dyer, Erica Meeks, Ricky Lynn, Lesley Beahm (who couldn’t make the interview), and Kim Beauchamp. Collectively, they’ve served in: Abidjan, Abuja, Harare, Kathmandu, Khartoum, La Paz, London, Nairobi, Podgorica, Prague, Pristina, Tallinn, Tel Aviv, and, of course, D.C.

In this exclusive interview, the Admins share with us the origins of Trailing Houses, how it’s grown, where it’s heading, and what they’ve learned from moderating a hugely diverse group who move around the world, trailing their houses with them.
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You can support the generous work of the Trailing Houses admins by contributing to their Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/trailinghouses

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

Christine knows firsthand what a huge effect packout and delivery can have on your leaving and landing when posted abroad or returning home.

In this interview, she recalls when she identified gaps in support during her first international move and describes how she came to create a business to fill that need.

Now dubbed as the "PCS Doula" or "Consumables Concierge," Christine is on a mission to help ease the burden on families serving their country. At the same time, she's passionate about creating flexible job opportunities at fair wages for Foreign Service and military spouses.

She also shares with us her lessons learned from serving two tours as CLO that have helped her as a business owner and that could help you get your next job.

BIO

Christine Lusk is passionate about supporting busy diplomats and their families through their transitions and while serving overseas.

Being a diplomatic spouse, Christine quickly learned that there are a lot of logistics that get managed by families. Often figuring those out can be confusing, complicated, and difficult to manage with all of the other burdens of a move.

DiploDash https://www.diplodash.com/ was created from Christine's own need to feel like she could delegate certain tasks to another person when she really needed time for more important priorities.

DiploDash supports clients with their pack-out or delivery of household shipments, consumables and supplemental household shipments, strategy sessions for PCSing, and care packages to post.

Even though Christine's undergraduate degree is in business, she never dreamed that becoming an entrepreneur was in her future. It seems there are many benefits to becoming a diplomatic spouse and having to start over again and again.

At the end of the day, Christine's favorite part of owning DiploDash is knowing that her clients are getting the support they wanted to make their lives easier to manage during a move.

DiploDash services include:

- Consumables and Supplemental HHE shipments
- Pack-Out and Delivery Support
- PCS strategy sessions
- Care packages to post.

Learn more about DiploDash services & contact Christine at https://www.diplodash.com/contact

Follow DiploDash on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/diplodash/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/diplodashservice

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

Lara Center describes some of the changes she's seen in EFM careers and service over her 20+ year as a diplomatic accompanying partner.

Hear her adventures volunteering to preserve the cultural heritage of the countries she's served in, and the ways she's overcome the lack of bilateral work agreements and a desire to find her own role outside of work in the mission.

She also describes her many years of work with the Associates of American Foreign Service Worldwide, both as a chair of the SOSA committee and the most recent past president. If you don't know what AAFSW is doing to promote DC-based and global community for EFMs, provide support to EFMs in crisis or facing employment challenges, or to support EFM policies in the Department or in Congress, you need to listen to this episode!

Lara Center has been part of the Foreign Service community since 2001 when her husband, Adam, began A-100. They have served overseas and domestically in Guadalajara, Caracas, Luxembourg, DC, Hanoi and DC. Currently, Lara’s husband is serving an unaccompanied tour.

Lara and Adam returned to Falls Church in 2019 with their son, David and daughter, Abigail. Lara has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management and Public Policy, Master in Public Administration and Master in Museum Studies.

Lara worked as a museum consultant while living in Hanoi. Lara worked directly with the Vietnamese Women’s Museum on new lesson plans, development of a Discovery Room and outreach to international schools.

Lara was elected president of the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW) in 2020 and served two years. She previously served on the Board of AAFSW from 2012-2016 and 2019-2020 as chair of the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA) award. Lara is the 2009 recipient of the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad for her work at Luxembourg’s National Museum of Military History.

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

Marcelle Yeager has the ultimate entrepreneurial superpower: tackling a lot all at once and with good results.

While earning her MBA, she researched how to continue her career while moving around the world for her spouse's job. Since then, she's started two companies — Serving Talent and Career Valet.

Listen to Marcelle talk about embracing uncertainty, being open to opportunity, and waiting for that lucky break in business.

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Connect with Marcelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelleyeager/
Download a free resume handbook: https://www.careervalet.com/cv-resume-handbook
Listen to her career advice podcast: https://anchor.fm/career-b*****s
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BIO
Marcelle Yeager is passionate about helping mid- to executive-level professionals land jobs that get them to the next level of their careers.

At Career Valet (www.careervalet.com), she works with clients on their branding strategy and job search materials to secure new roles. This has led to many successes, including a senior director becoming the COO of a start-up and the CFO of a small firm becoming a VP in a $12B company.

For 3.5 years, she simultaneously ran ServingTalent, a boutique recruiting firm for top U.S. military and diplomat (foreign service) spouses.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Marcelle did her fair share of job searching and career exploration, eventually spending many years in strategic communications at a Washington, D.C. public affairs firm and Booz Allen Hamilton.

She also worked at the Department of Defense and the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In addition, she’s worked in Russia, Chile, and Lithuania. She is the spouse of a U.S. Foreign Service Officer.

Marcelle holds an MBA from the University of Maryland College Park and a BA from Georgetown University.

She is a former regular contributor to the U.S. News and World Report On Careers blog and ClearanceJobs, and has been featured in Forbes, MONEY Magazine, Business Insider, and FlexJobs, among others.

She is a school board member of The American International School of Vilnius. Marcelle has three children and loves to dance.

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

Mary Jane talks about Mayan Archaeology, running around the world and pursuing a career that wouldn't normally be considered portable.

Listen to her talk about the pros and cons of life as an independent scholar and what it's like to manage a major project from the other side of the world.



Mary Jane Acuña is a Guatemalan-American archaeologist specializing on Ancient Maya culture. Her passion for archaeology developed while growing up in Guatemala and visiting several sites that left her wanting to learn more about that ancient culture. She pursued university degrees in Archaeology and Anthropology, both in Guatemala and the U.S., ultimately earning her doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis. She has participated on multiple research projects and since 2014, has directed her own at an archaeological site called El Tintal in northern Guatemala. Broadly, the research focuses on understanding the sociocultural, political, and economic dynamics of the populations that inhabited El Tintal from approximately 800 BC to AD 1000.

Mary Jane likes to explore urban and natural places through running. She tries to run at least one race in each place where she has lived as an EFM, which so far has been Guatemala City, Seoul, Los Angeles, and now in Dhaka.

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