Meet the Expats

Meet Selena, an American expat who moved from Texas to Madrid at just 24, despite never having visited the city before.

Eight years later, Selena is still living in Spain and has gone through quite the expat journey, from teaching English and learning Spanish to navigating multiple visas, building a community from scratch, and eventually switching to Spain’s digital nomad visa.

In this episode, Selena shares what motivated her to leave the US and try life in Europe after a six-week backpacking trip opened her eyes to a different way of living. She talks about why the sense of community she discovered in Europe made such an impression on her, and how she took the leap to move to Madrid without knowing exactly what the future would look like.

We also talk about one of the biggest challenges of expat life: building a community from scratch. Selena shares how joining a football group helped her meet people from all over the world and led to friendships that have lasted almost eight years. Her advice? Put yourself out there, even when it feels uncomfortable. You never know where one conversation might lead.

Selena also talks about learning the local language and integrating into Spanish life, why she believes you can't really get by with English alone, and how learning Spanish has made everyday life, bureaucracy and finding accommodation much easier.

We compare Madrid with other parts of Spain, talk about the slower pace of life, the importance of patience, and why expats should always have a Plan B, C and sometimes even D when it comes to bureaucracy and visas.

Selena shares some of her favourite Madrid restaurants, tapas bars and cafés.

Selena's Madrid recommendations:

• 🍴 La Confusa – Traditional Spanish tapas, plus an excellent cheesecake
• 🍷 Taberna de la Copla – Vermouth and classic Spanish tapas in Malasaña
• 🍽️ Cantina Singular – Small family-run restaurant with a twist on Spanish food, near Metro Bilbao
• 🍷 Casa Alberto – Historic restaurant in Madrid's Literary Quarter, known for its vermouth
• 🍷 Lamiak – Great tapas, wine and sharing plates
• 🍸 La Berlona Bar – Chic and slightly more upscale, perfect for a date or when you want to impress
• 🍷 Hermanos Vinagre – Casual, fun and very Spanish
• 🎨 Los Gabrieles – Historic tapas bar with beautiful interior details, including paintings and tilework
• ☕ Maria Peperina Cantina – Great coffee and big windows in Arganzuela
• 🥐 Casa Victoria – Central café with a fun atmosphere, brunch and great coffee

🎵 Selena's expat song: Vivir la Vida by Marc Anthony – a feel-good salsa track that captures the fun, energy and rhythm of life in Spain.

If you're thinking about moving to Spain, starting a new life abroad, or simply wondering what it takes to build a life and community in another country, this episode is for you.

Listen to the episode and discover Selena's journey from Texas to Madrid!

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Meet with Urmi,

an Italian with Bengali roots who grew up in Italy, spent time in the UK, and has now been living in Montreal, Canada for the past decade.

Urmi is a Third Culture Kid, and her story is one of navigating different identities. Growing up with Bengali parents in Italy, she experienced a “dual life”: one version of herself at school and another at home. She shares the challenges of feeling both Italian and not quite Italian, while also feeling different within her Bengali community.

We follow her journey from Sicily to Northern Italy, then to the UK as a teenager, before she eventually made the move to Canada — this time entirely by her own choice.

Montreal turned out to be a surprising fit. Urmi talks about discovering a city that is deeply multicultural and bilingual, where she now works in French despite having studied in English. She also shares the little things that help her recreate a feeling of home.

We also dive into working in Canada, including some important advice for anyone hoping to build a career in Montreal. Urmi explains why networking, LinkedIn, professional references and mentorship can be particularly important in the Canadian job market — and why being able to work in both French and English can make a major difference in Quebec.

And as a TCK, does she see Montreal as her final home? Not necessarily. We talk about the idea that once you've grown up moving, you may always keep the door open to another country, another opportunity and another adventure.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Growing up Italian with Bengali parents

• The challenges of having a dual cultural identity

• Life as a Third Culture Kid

• Moving from Italy to the UK as a teenager

• Discovering multicultural Montreal

• Finding a job in Canada as an expat

• Finding pieces of Italy in Montreal

• Why TCKs may always feel ready for another move

📍 Urmi's Montreal recommendations:

• ☕ Café Italia — a 70-year-old Italian café where Urmi goes for coffee, Italian conversation and a taste of home.

• 🍕 Pizzeria Gemma — for Italian-style, thin-crust pizza.

• 🍰 Casa di Totò — a Neapolitan family-run spot for Italian treats including cannoli, coda d’aragosta and sfogliatelle.

🎵 Urmi's Expat Song: Perdono — Tiziano Ferro

🎙️ Urmi's podcast: Stories Beyond Borders — a podcast exploring immigration stories, Third Culture Kids, identity and the meaning of home.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and follow Meet the Expats on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for more stories from people building lives across borders.

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Meet Denison Smith, an American novelist who recently traded the wide-open landscapes of New Mexico for the rolling countryside of Portugal’s Alentejo region.

In this episode, Denison shares the story behind her move from the United States to Portugal, a journey that was years in the making thanks to Portugal’s Golden Visa program. What started as an “insurance policy” gradually became a life-changing decision, prompted by political shifts in the U.S., a desire for new possibilities, and the opportunity to build a slower, more intentional life abroad.

We talk about the realities of relocating to Portugal, from navigating Portuguese bureaucracy and learning the language in a rural community to buying a home in the Alentejo and finding an unexpected network of artists, creatives, and fellow internationals living off the beaten path.

Denison also reflects on the challenges of importing her car, surviving one of Portugal’s wettest winters in recent memory, and adapting to a culture where things happen face-to-face and at a very different pace.

Along the way, we discuss what makes Portugal so appealing to expats: the warmth of local communities, the slower rhythm of life, the sense of trust between neighbors, and the beauty of living in a place where human connection still comes first.

Denison also introduces her newly released novel, The Westward Hours, a speculative fiction story that explores climate change, political upheaval, resilience, and humanity’s relationship with the land. Interestingly, the themes of the novel mirror many of the reasons that ultimately led him to make the move to Portugal.

If you're considering moving to Portugal, curious about life in the Alentejo, or interested in hearing an honest account of starting over abroad later in life, this episode is full of insights, stories, and practical realities.

📖 Denison's book: The Westward Hours by Denison Smith

Restaurant recommendation: Howard's Folly

🎤Expat song: Que Sera Sera by Doris Day (from The Man Who Knew Too Much)

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Meet Amanda,

Who at the age of 17 started a nomadic lifestyle, bartending across 10 different countries, seizing every opportunity, before settling down with her family in Copenhagen.

Amanda shares her reverse culture shock when moving back to the US, and more about life, culture shocks and the wonderful work-life balance in Denmark.

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Meet Maddalena,

an Italian relationship and dating coach now living in London, whose expat journey took her from a small town in Southern Italy to Dublin, Rome, and eventually London. In this episode, Maddalena shares how living abroad transformed not only her life, but also her approach to love, dating, and emotional connection.

Dublin became her turning point. What started as an exciting new chapter quickly turned into a deeper personal journey. Away from her support system, Maddalena began noticing repeating patterns in her relationships — idealising partners, confusing chemistry with compatibility, and unconsciously building emotional barriers to protect herself.

“When you are abroad you build a barrier unconsciously… this barrier makes you feel stronger and independent, but at the same time it blocks intimacy.”

Through self-reflection, journaling, and learning to lower those emotional walls, Maddalena began to understand how expat life can amplify existing patterns. Loneliness, independence, and uncertainty often create a push-and-pull dynamic: wanting connection while simultaneously keeping people at a distance.

She also shares powerful insights into common expat dating patterns:

• Dating casually because you know you might leave

• Choosing "safe" relationships to prove stability

• Confusing chemistry with real compatibility

• Seeking connection from a place of need rather than alignment

“Chemistry is a spark, but it's not everything… Alignment is knowing your values, your non-negotiables, and asking deeper questions.”

Today in London, Maddalena feels more grounded. Now a relationship coach, she helps expat women navigate dating abroad, gain awareness of their patterns, and create meaningful relationships built on emotional availability and alignment.

Whether you're newly abroad, navigating loneliness, or simply curious about how expat life shapes relationships, this episode offers thoughtful reflections and practical advice on dating while living internationally.

🎧 Expat Songs

• Tubthumping — Chumbawamba
  “I get knocked down, but I get up again” — Maddalena’s Dublin anthem that reflected her resilience during her transformation abroad

• Jazz music in London — Maddalena’s go-to vibe for relaxed, meaningful moments in the city

www.maddalenavario.com

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Meet Yolanda, a global expat who has relocated six times across the world before eventually settling in California — what started as a one-year adventure turned into 16 years, two children, and a deep journey of rebuilding home from scratch.

In this episode, Yolanda shares how she and her husband moved to the U.S. after winning the Green Card lottery, chasing sunshine and a new adventure. But beyond the excitement of Yosemite road trips and the honeymoon phase of expat life, reality soon set in: loneliness, cultural differences, and the unexpected challenge of building a life — not just living in a new place.

Yolanda opens up about the emotional side of relocating: missing the sounds of city life, struggling with surface-level friendships, and becoming a new mother far from family support. She explains how she navigated homesickness, built meaningful rituals, and intentionally created community — from coffee shop routines to long walks with her baby, and eventually returning to university at Berkeley to reconnect with purpose and people.

This conversation explores the deeper side of expat life:

• Why speaking the same language doesn’t mean cultural ease

• The difference between friendliness and real friendship

• How to build belonging when community doesn’t come naturally

• Why rituals — even small ones — can transform your expat experience

• Learning what you truly need to thrive abroad

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Yolanda also shares how understanding cultural differences, including what she calls a “stranger-danger” mindset in the U.S., helped her stop taking things personally and instead build authentic relationships intentionally.

This episode is a thoughtful and honest conversation about identity, resilience, and the work required to truly feel at home abroad.

Whether you're considering a move, newly relocated, or years into expat life, Yolanda’s experience is full of relatable insights and practical inspiration.

Café & Bar Recommendations (California – Marin County & Napa Area)

• Blue Barn — A favorite local spot for brunch and salads (Yolanda recommends the Thai chicken salad)

• Jacuzzi Family Vineyards — Beautiful vineyard near Sonoma with unique infused olive oils and wine tasting

• Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs (Calistoga) — Relaxing spa experience perfect for a special day

• Golden Haven Hot Springs (Calistoga) — Another wellness escape in Napa Valley

🎧 Also mentioned:
Yolanda’s podcast — The Places We Call Home
Expat song: Spice Girls Wannabe a nostalgic Brit-abroad tradition during afternoon tea gatherings

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Follow for more expat stories:

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Meet Shannon,

an American expat who followed love to Germany—and ended up building a thriving small business in Baden-Württemberg.

Originally from the San Francisco area, Shannon moved to Germany for what was meant to be a temporary chapter. Fourteen years later, she’s still there, raising a family and running her own aesthetics business from the ground up. In this episode, we talk about navigating entrepreneurship abroad, dealing with German bureaucracy, learning the language while building a client base, and adapting to cultural differences without losing yourself.

Shannon shares the reality of starting a business as an expat woman in Germany, the importance of community (especially when friendships come and go), and how she blended her American personality with German culture to create a business that truly works—for her and her clients.

An honest, warm conversation about resilience, identity, and building something of your own far from home.

📍 Location Recommendations (Germany)

• Kazumi (Böblingen) – her go-to sushi spot

• Motorworld Böblingen – where her business is located, plus bars, restaurants, and car lovers’ heaven

• Brazilian Churrasco Restaurant (Stuttgart) – lively atmosphere, music, and all-you-can-eat Brazilian BBQ

🎶 Expat Song

• “I Follow Rivers” – a song that captures the leap of faith that brought her to Germany

Find Shannon: www.californiaglowbeauty.com  

Related article: Starting a business in Germany

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Meet Josh,

Entrepreneur, community builder, and Dutch expat who turned isolation on the French Riviera into connection, and a thriving international community.

Joshua moved to the South of France in 2018 with his wife, chasing a better quality of life, sunshine, and a slower pace. What he didn’t expect was how isolating life abroad could feel, even in one of the most beautiful regions in the world.

In this episode, we talk about

• the reality of settling into the French Riviera: navigating language barriers, adapting to a slower (very slow) pace of life, and the challenges of building genuine friendships in a place shaped by tourism and transient expat populations.

• how that experience led him to create Next Locals, a community-first platform born from simple meetups over drinks, consistency, and the desire to bring like-minded people together offline

• French culture, the importance of making an effort with the language, the differences between Paris and the South, and how creating a “tribe” is what truly makes a place feel like home.

🎤Song Tell Ol’ Bill - Alternate version by Bob Dylan: https://open.spotify.com/track/4UFz15tiyxEV8w70Az6GtN?si=Rxnj3klnSPiKVVxdhXxTIA

🍕Restaurant recommendations in Cagnes-sur-Mer. 

La Spiaggia : https://www.laspiaggiaplage.com/

Le Bistrot de la Marine: https://lebistrotdelamarine.fr/ 

Next Locals website: https://nextlocals.com/ 

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Meet Zach and Anna,

Serial expats and founders of StartAbroad, a relocation company built from real-life experience moving abroad, sometimes with support, sometimes completely on their own.

From the Dominican Republic to Kenya, Rwanda, an unexpected year stuck in the US during Covid, and finally settling in Costa Rica, Zach and Anna share the highs, lows, and emotional rollercoaster of expat life. We talk about culture shock, common expat mistakes, outdated information, scams, and why moving without the right support can quickly become overwhelming.

They also explain why they created StartAbroad, the kind of practical and emotional support expats really need, and what it means to truly adapt to a new culture, especially when raising a child abroad.

Costa Rica Recommendations

• Gingerbread (Nuevo Arenal) – their favourite local restaurant (pro tip: ask for the chef’s menu)

• Playa Conchal – white sand, crystal-clear water, and perfect beach days

• Marino Ballena National Park – home to the iconic Whale Tail beach on the South Pacific coast

Expat Song

• “Under the Sea” (salsa version) by Alejandro Sanz – the soundtrack of this chapter of their expat life

Considering a move abroad, book a free consultation call

Relocating to Costa Rica?

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