Black Expat Stories

Meet Zoe Smith, a Grenadian Brit Building Community in the Caribbean

In this episode, Zoe takes us through her journey of returning to her ancestral home in Grenada to start afresh after feeling unfulfilled in the London rat race. 

Today she leads the Exodus Collective - an eco-conscious village inspiring othersin the Diaspora to reclaim the Caribbean. 

In This Episode:

Zoe shares:

• What life was like as a Black Brit and her experiences with discrimination.
• When she realized the UK would never allow her or her children to truly thrive
• How she moved across continents as a single mom of 3 minor children. 
• The responses she received from her extended family when she informed them of her decision to move from London to Grenada
• How she and her children are adjusting to island life.
• The responsibility she feels to her ancestral lands in Grenada
• Her vision for the Exodus Collective as a model of sustainable, decolonized living in community

Zoe also offers sage advice for those still considering their own exodus to the Caribbean.

Connect with Zoe & The Exodus Collective: https://www.theexodus.co/

Read Zoe's Article in the Guardian referenced in this conversation: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/22/children-caribbean-british-racism-grenada-parents-collective

Rate, Review & Share!  

If this conversation resonated, please be sure to rate, review and share this episode!

Unlock An Exclusive Extended Interview With Zoe:

Upgrade your access by becoming a FRIEND OF THE SHOW and unlock bonus content, behind-the-scenes peeks, and more: https://blackexpatstories.com/support

Follow us and join the convo on social:

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

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@blackexpatstories

Make sure you’re subscribed to our YouTube channel, so you won't miss another Black Expat Story!

We're taking you on a Virtual Voyage to Portugal, and in this episode, Courtney talks to the incredibly insightful Chrishan Wright.

Originally from the Bronx, Chrishan is now based in Lisbon, Portugal, and is the founder of Blaxit Global, a podcast and digital community that empowers other expats, aspiring expats and re-pats with the resources they need to make their own bold moves abroad.

Connect with Chrishan & Blaxit Global: https://www.blaxitglobal.com/

In This Episode:

00:00 Meet Chrishan

05:26 How she decided to make her own travel dreams come true by taking a trip to New Zealand, which re-ignited her lifelong desire to live abroad.

15:18 The socio-political issues in the USA that catalyzed her move abroad..

33:19 How Blaxit Global supports aspiring expats with relocating and building a like-minded community.

43:19 Her cultural immersion and how she finds a sense of belonging in Portugal.

47:57: How she has embraced self-care and healthier lifestyle changes.

51:51: #AskAnExpat with Chrishan + Opportunity to become a FRIEND OF THE SHOW to unlock the full extended interview

55:36: How she has grown personally as a result of her expat experience..

01:03:35: What she thinks of the Blaxit movement and its evolution.

01:14:00: The sacrifices she’s made to secure her own freedom.

01:18:04: What she’s most proud of.

Upgrade your access by becoming a FRIEND OF THE SHOW and unlock bonus content, behind-the-scenes peeks, and more: https://blackexpatstories.com/support

Follow us and join the convo on social:

Follow us and join the convo on social:

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

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@blackexpatstories

Make sure you’re subscribed to our YouTube channel, so you won't miss another Black Expat Story!

We're taking you on a Virtual Voyage to Panama, and in this episode, I'm talking to the dynamic (and hilarious!) Charlotte Van Horn.

She is a pioneering expat who experienced the gift of international travel at 40, and it forever changed the trajectory of her life.

Fast forward to today and Charlotte is the founder of one of the fastest-growing Black expat communities in Latin America: Black Expats in Panama with over 7,000 members.

In this conversation, we're talking about:

• What inspired Charlotte's decision to Blaxit and make Panama her home full-time.
• How she maintained a long-distance marriage across international borders. (She's been married for 30 years!)
• How she adjusted to living in a new country and why she decided to start Black Expats in Panama.
• Why Charlotte believes Panama is a great country to start or continue one's Blaxit journey and how the Black Expat in Panama community offers new expats a soft place to land.
• The abundance of Black history in Panama and how she's illuminating it all with cultural immersion relocation tours.
• The harsh realities of expat living that aren't discussed widely enough on social media.
• Why Black expats should be collaborating (instead of competing) during this critical time in the Blaxit movement.

Support our show and help us continue capturing history in the making. Upgrade your access by becoming a FRIEND OF THE SHOW and unlock bonus content, behind-the-scenes peeks, and more: https://blackexpatstories.com/support

Follow us and join the convo on social:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackexpatstories/
• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@blackexpatstories

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Black Expat Stories email list to get new episodes and international living tips delivered right to your inbox.

Jas McNeil is a Florida native breaking barriers as the first Black woman to own a recording studio in Mexico. She's the founder of the Haus of Vibes, a co-working and recording space located in Playa Del Carmen, MX. Jas opens up about her expat journey and why she decided to open a space dedicated to cultivating creativity.

UNLOCK THE EXTENDED INTERVIEW FROM THIS EPISODE when you become a Friend of the Show. Learn more here: https://www.blackexpatstories.com/support/.

Follow us on social media for updates, sneak peeks and more riveting stories about international living - as told by Black expats:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackexpatsto...

Make sure you’re subscribed, so you won't miss another Black Expat Story!

Welcome to Black Expat Stories, a multimedia publication documenting the journeys of Black expats living all around the world.

I'm Courtney Bowden - a writer, an expat, and the Editor-in-Chief of this publication.

Black Expat Stories is my love letter to the courageous souls who have decided to embark on a journey to find healing, freedom and belonging…

And, despite the sacrifices, challenges and adjustments have managed to find beauty in their Blaxit.

We're giving you a front row seat to the Black Expat experience at every stage of the Blaxit - from decision to departure. 

So, get ready to enjoy some of the most riveting stories about international living on the internet, as told by Black expats.

Support this publication on Patreon, and be sure to follow us on Facebook!