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Chef Deseree (Dez)’s culinary journey started after working in the finance sector in New York City in the early 2000s, before deciding to pursue a lifelong passion for cooking that had been simmering on the back burner for years. She came by it honestly – her culinary desire was instilled in her at an early age while growing up in a multigenerational family of talented home cooks in Taiwan and eating at night markets and street stands with friends. 

She went back to her roots, enrolled at the French Culinary Institute and from there embarked on a decade-long career that saw her hone her skills and climb the culinary ladder at some top New York City restaurants, including La Grenouille, Oceana and Locanda Verde. She moved to Vancouver, Canada in 2016 and stepped into the role of Executive Sous Chef at CinCin Ristorante + Bar, before joining the team at Old Bird as its opening chef in 2020 and then moving on to the role as executive chef and sales director at Fresh Ideas Start Here (FISH) during the pandemic. Chef Dez most recently competed on season 10 of Top Chef Canada and finished as runner-up.  She is now the Head Chef at Blank Canvas Catering with the Joseph Richard Group.  

Join us as we chat about growing up internationally, international schools, family, following your passions, dreaming big, age being just a number, cooking, food, guilty pleasures, culture, people, competition, and of course, Top Chef Canada Season 10!  

Dez can be reached at: 

Email- [email protected] 

Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/dez.lo.9

Instagram-chefdezlo  

benthere.org 

 #dreambig #globalliving #thirdculture #nyc #taipei #hongkong #vancouvercanada #canada #chef #topchefcanada #ageisjustanumber #cheflife #growingupglobal #dowhatyoulove #family #chosenfamily #taipeiamericanschool #cooking #followyourheart 

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Born in Louisiana and adopted soon after, John McDermott moved to Taipei, Taiwan, during his high school years. A graduate of Taipei American School and Evangel University, John was able to travel extensively while overseas, which started a lifelong passion for exploring new countries and places. Currently, a truck driver based out of Missouri, John enjoys spending time with his two children and continues to travel and explore.

Listen in as we talk about acclimating to new places, international living, international schools, traveling, exploring, family, fatherhood, returning "home," and much more!

John can be reached at the following:

[email protected]

Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/john.mcdermott.773981

benthere.org

#thirdculturekid #expatlife #tck #internationalschools #taipeiamericanschool #home #travel #culture #adventure #life #trucker #moving #fatherhood #family 

*previously recorded

Daniel Nguyen-Phuoc is a Vietnamese-American who grew up attending British schools in Indonesia. In his adult life, he's lived in the United States, Switzerland, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and currently lives in Poland. Daniel teaches English by day and performs stand-up comedy by night.  

Listen in as we chat about expat life, cultures, stand-up comedy, career paths, traveling, family, mental health, podcasting, relationships, friendships, the definition of success, and much more!  

Daniel can be reached at the following:  

Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/dbnguyen85

Instagram-dbnguyen85 

[email protected] 

 #expat #expatlife #traveler #globalnomad #comedy #comedian #stand-up #englishteacher #success #mentalhealth #family #home #culture #career  #life #podcast #benthere #Indonesia #Switzerland #Malaysia #UnitedStates #Poland 

benthere.org 

Claire Hauxwell is a professional badass, writer, author, and coach. A trained supply chain professional and ex-spreadsheet lover, she now puts her Type A personality to work by deconstructing the nuances of expat life. With more than a decade of global living experience, Claire shares her wisdom on her My Theory on Blooming blog and coaches female expat accompanying spouses to create fulfilling and intentional lives abroad. If she's not roaming the aisles of the grocery store or meandering the forest with her dogs, you'll find her sweating it out at CrossFit or having cocktails with friends. Claire and her family currently live in Switzerland, but every summer return to the shores of Muskegon, Michigan, for a taste of home.  

Claire is also the author of the new book, "Badass Abroad-How To Get Your Expat Shift Together" and can be reached at the following:  

Website: clairehauxwell.com 

Blog: My Theory On Blooming Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chauxwell

Instagram: Mytheoryonblooming  

Listen in as we chat about expat life, vulnerability, coaching, writing, family, traveling, and so much more!

benthere.org  

*recorded Sunday, November 13, 2022  

#expat #author #badass #imfine #global #mytheoryonblooming #getyourexpatshifttogether #coach #switzerland #michigan #benthere

Rachel Hicks is a second-generation TCK raising third-generation TCKs. She was born in the foothills of the Himalayas and spent the bookends of her childhood in India, with moves to Pakistan, Jordan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Hong Kong in between. She married her college sweetheart and managed to live in one place for seven whole years (Phoenix, Arizona) before moving as a family with two young children to Chengdu, China, where they lived for another seven years. They repatriated to the U.S. in 2013 and now live in Baltimore, Maryland.

Rachel’s poetry and fiction have appeared in The Briar Cliff Review, Baltimore Review, Relief, St. Katherine Review, Off the Coast, Gulf Stream, and other journals. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee and the 2019 Briar Cliff Review Fiction Prize winner. She is the editor of Among Worlds magazine (for adult TCKs) and an associate editor at Del Sol Press. She works as a freelance copyeditor. Her career has included teaching (high school English and homeschool) and volunteering with an international relief and development agency. She uses her writing to explore themes of loss, exile, worldviews, their consequences, and bearing witness to human dignity. 

To see samples of Rachel’s writing and published work and information about her copyediting services, visit rachelehicks.com.

All about Among Worlds magazine and submission details: https://interactionintl.org/publications/among-worlds-magazine/ (submission deadline for Dec. issue on the theme of RISK is October 30, but will accept pieces a few days beyond that date)

Resources for TCKs and globally mobile families:

Interaction International — Services to TCKs, globally mobile families, and people who work with or care for TCKs (counselors, educators, etc.): https://www.interactionintl.org.

TCK Training — Services to TCKs, globally mobile families, and more: https://www.tcktraining.com (especially check out their Resources section)

Daraja — TCK organization founded by Michael Pollock (whose father, Dave Pollock, co-wrote the TCK “Bible” Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds): https://www.darajatck.org; Daraja offers coaching, consulting, and events for TCKs at any stage of life

All new BenThere, Season 3, Episode 1, Unabashed. Listen in as BenThere takes a serious but important turn, as I talk to Seth Louton and Seth Winterhalter regarding men's mental health. Honest, raw, and unscripted, we get real about a topic that is literally killing men. Give it a listen, share, and please seek help if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health. You aren't alone.

#mentalhealth #talkitout #mensmentalhealth #grace #mentalhealthawareness #haveaconversation #youarentalone 

**Disclosure. This episode is a chat between friends and in no way shape or form should be used as an alternative to professional medical help if needed. Please contact your local healthcare provider for additional resources or try an online counseling option such as betterhelp.com and/or talkspace.com.

Seth Louton can be reached at: 

[email protected]

Seth Louton | Facebook

sethtakesphonepictures (Instagram)

Seth Winterhalter can be reached at:

[email protected]

Seth Winterhalter | Facebook

sethwinterhalter (Instagram)

BENTHERE.org

Tim Brantingham is a US passport holder but has lived most of his life in Asia, having been born in Taiwan,   with 12 years at Taipei American School (TAS); and having worked the last 30 years in Taipei, Shanghai, Hong Kong and now Tokyo.  Tim comes from a line of American missionaries and is the fourth generation of American to live and work in Asia—his kids are the fifth.  

Tim went to the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and has graduate degrees from the University of Hong Kong and Oxford University. He is a co-founder of Brantingham & Carroll International, which he runs with fellow TAS classmate Matt Carroll. They have an engineering, manufacturing and supply chain business working mainly in renewable energy. They also dabble in craft beer and venture investments.  

Tim is married to another fellow TASer, Mariko Dose, and together they have three kids attending Nishimachi International School in Tokyo.  

Listen in as we chat about TCK life, being a 4th generational TCK, raising TCK's, family life, studying at Oxford, acclimation to ones passport country, international schools, travel, mentors, international business, craft beer and much more!   

Tim can be reached at: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tim.brantingham 

Email: [email protected]

The visual of the interview can be watched at BenThere.org.

#tck #tcklife #taipeiamericanschool #travel #family #business #craftbeer #writing #oxford #internationalschools #passportcountry #mentors #Asia #Taiwan #HongKong #Japan #acclimation #chosenfamily

Born in New Mexico, Merilyn Franz called Phoenix, Arizona home for 35 years prior to becoming an international educator. With her husband Derryl, Merilyn enjoyed three years at the International School of Bangkok, nine years at Taipei American School, and three years at the American School of Bucharest, Romania. Incredibly grateful for her years living overseas, and never one to slow down, Merilyn is currently retired living in Independence, Oregon and stays busy as a hospital volunteer while also helping at food banks. She has four adult sons, one adult stepdaughter, fifteen grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren. Sadly, Derryl (known as "Coach" to many of us that knew him), passed away on January 18, 2018.  Derryl is missed terribly, but ever the optimist, Merilyn continues to feel blessed by the people met and over-the-top international life experiences they shared together.  

Listen in as we chat life, the international experience, international schools, family, Derryl, acclimation, culture, life now, optimism and much more!  

Mrs. Franz can be reached at: 

Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/merilyn.franz

[email protected] 

The visual interview can be watched at BenThere.org.

#chosenfamily

Angela Soffe is an award-winning artist raised in Asia and now based in Washington state. Known for her intimate vocals and piercing lyrics, her songs are morsels of real life wrapped in honest Americana. Her recent album, "Second Wind" won the nomination for "Americana Album of the Year" by the Independent Music Awards 2019. Her new single, "Rocks" also won the Great American Songwriting Contest in 2019. Her work and story has been featured on independent films, commercials, and podcasts worldwide. She's recording and releasing her next album in Nashville, TN in 2021.  

Listen in as we chat about growing up in Asia, travel, acclimation, cultures, family, music, songwriting, pursuing dreams, plus an acoustic performance of her hit, "Rocks" at the very end of the interview!

Angela can be reached at the following:  

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/angela.soffe

Instagram- angelasoffemusic 

Website- https://www.angelasoffe.com/

#tck

*The visual interview is available at benthere.org.

Valeria Lie Alonso is co-founder of the international design studio Lie Alonso alongside her twin sister, where they create transcendental spaces and pieces in the realms of architecture, design, furniture and aviation. Daughters of the New World, born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, the twins’ ancestry stems from a Spanish father & Surinamese-born Hakka Chinese mother.

Having lived in Brazil, United States, and now in the United Kingdom, she has developed international multimillion-dollar projects from concept through completion, managing affluent & Forbes 500 clients while coordinating projects with various teams and companies worldwide, expanding her experience in industrial design and the luxury market. Previously, she worked for two of the largest business jet manufacturers in the world, Embraer Executive Jets and Gulfstream Aerospace. During this time, she directly engaged in winning international sales and delivery campaigns, traveling the world guiding clients through the extensive process of personalizing aircraft interior and exterior designs.

Valeria has uprooted her life twice, first by leaving her career in Brazil, and then again in the US to pursue her dreams and aspirations. She immigrated to England right before Brexit and COVID-19's lockdown, where she reunited with her twin and has been focused on building their life long vision, celebrating their heritage through their multidisciplinary practice.

At Lie Alonso, their creative philosophy represents a fusion of influences, developing unique spaces and pieces that transcend the classical and contemporary ages, with a sophisticated approach and a sense of ease and wonder. Their deep connection to distinct cultures brings an intrinsic way of understanding clients’ needs and desires, envisioning global perspectives, and uniting multidimensional aspects into rich cohesive designs, full of personality, charm, and effortless presence.

Listen in as we talk culture, home, traveling, chasing dreams, starting an international business, family, global perspectives, and much more!

Valeria can be reached at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/valerialiea

Instagram: valerialie

Website: www.liealonso.com

#globalcitizen #travel #brazil #unitedkingdom #USA #international #culture #globalperspectives #home #internationalbusiness #architecture #design #twins #dreams #relocation #family #benthere

The visual interview can be seen at www.benthere.org