When we feel disoriented, such as when living in another culture, hearing stories from real people who've been through similar experiences has a stabilizing effect. Creating space for people to tell their stories is a powerful way we can give them agency.

"Lending an ear is one of the most powerful gifts we can give to another person. And what we're giving to them is … power. So often it's another person who's defining us. But when we can choose the words and share with the world who we are, what we've been through, at our own pace and in our own tone, we reclaim a sense of agency and power."

And telling our own stories helps us gain perspective and shape our internal narrative.

Kate Jetmore from The Listen Podcast has an enduring love of storytelling - both as a performer and listener. After making her living as a singer and actress in New York for many years, she settled in Spain in 2002 and has worked since then as a translator and voiceover artist. In today's interview, Kate shares the importance of this artform for humans in general and expats in particular.

RESOURCES mentioned in the episode:

Join The Listen Podcast Community (Facebook group) for more of Kate's stories and story prompts.

The Listen Podcast is an exploration of Americans abroad and how they got there.

Mosaics activity for processing life events and intentionally shaping our narratives

expats.together. weekly live chat for diving into interesting & relevant topics, finding connection and social support

RATHER READ? I've got you covered with a [LINK] transcript and blog post.

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You may also like:

• Episode 21 - Creating Life Mosaics
• Episode 18 - Identity and Belonging, with Anna C. Seidel
• Episode 5 - Stories and Memories, with Ulrika Ernvik

ABOUT TODAY'S GUEST:

A native of Richmond, Indiana, Kate Jetmore graduated with a degree in performing arts from New York University. She made her living as an actress and singer, both in NYC, and touring around the US, until moving to Spain in 2002. Since that time, she has focused on her career as a translator, teacher and voiceover artist, serving such notable clients as the Guggenheim Bilbao, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, Disney España, Cambridge English and Amazon Prime, to name just a few. In November 2019 she launched The Listen podcast, featuring long-form interviews with international guests, and in 2021 further re-defined the show's mission to be an exploration of Americans abroad and how they got there. If there is a single through line in her life, it is a love of storytelling – both as performer and listener – and she has come to recognize the importance of this art form with every passing year.

CONNECT WITH Kate Jetmore:

The Listen Podcast Community (Facebook group)

Website: www.thelistenpodcast.com

Facebook (personal profile)

Facebook page for The Listen Podcast

Instagram (personal) @kjetmore

Instagram @TheListenPodcast

Twitter @TheListenPod

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Kim Adams is an American raising three daughters along with her math-teaching husband of 20 years. She loves photography, reading, thunderstorms, walking on the beach, camping where there are no bugs, and has a weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream.

To inquire how Kim can support you, send an email or use the contact form.

CONNECT WITH KIM:

Email

Resilient Expats LLC website

Facebook page

Free Parents Community on Facebook

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