At 51, Patricia Brooks traded her corporate paycheck for life in a small town in southern France. A seasoned problem-solver with many years of experience as project manager and a certified coach, Patricia started a business, The Courage Catalyst.

Passionate about instilling confidence and courage in others, Patricia now empowers women to confidently pursue their dreams of living abroad.

Patricia discusses pathways for long-term stays and entrepreneurship in France. And she confirms that knowing your core motivation ("your why") is essential for navigating the challenges that come with moving abroad.

Her story and expert guidance offer real encouragement for anyone dreaming of an international adventure, proving it's not too late to create a life you love in a new country.

In this episode:

• Patricia's unexpected desire to learn French and decision to move to France

• Anxieties around leaving a corporate paycheck and the importance of running the numbers

• France’s long-stay visitor visa and the profession libérale (freelancer) visa

• Creating her business, The Courage Catalyst, to help other women move abroad

• The importance of knowing your "why" for moving abroad

Where to find Patricia:

• TheCourageCatalyst.com

• YouTube: @PatriciaBrooksCourageCatalyst

• Instagram: @thecouragecatalyst⁠

• Facebook: The Courage Catalyst

Resources:

• France’s Long Stay Visa

• France’s profession libérale visa

Watch episode 65 on YouTube

Thank you to our sponsor, International Living.

As founder of Digital Nomad Kit and creator of the Virtual Excellence Academy, Hannah Dixon has empowered over 37,000 freelancers worldwide. Hannah is known for creating inclusive communities that inspire belonging and well-being while empowering learners to build thriving independent businesses.

Hannah discusses why being a virtual assistant (VA) is a good career option. She shares her insights on staying motivated, trying to avoid burnout, and what it takes to be a successful VA, as well as her project to support and connect remote workers who are LGBTQIA+. 

In this episode:

• Hannah's journey to becoming a pioneer in the location-independent lifestyle.

• The definition of virtual assistance and the work of Digital Nomad Kit

• Hannah’s free 5-Day VA Challenge and its potential to launch remote careers

• The benefits of freelancing and becoming a VA over traditional full-time employment

• Rainbow Remote community for LGBTQIA+ remote workers

• Hannah's future plans and dream projects

Connect with Hannah:

• Free 5-Day VA Challenge

• Virtual Excellence Academy

• Rainbow Remote

• Hannah’s newsletter

Previous episodes with Hannah:

• Feel It to Heal It: Hitting Rock Bottom & Rising Above with Hannah Dixon| Ep 34 (from 2021)

• How to Become a VA: Hannah Dixon, Digital Nomad Kit | Ep 8 (from 2019)  

Move Abroad After 30 Masterclass

This four-day live training covers the essential steps to moving abroad, from visa options to mindset work. Join the waitlist for the next masterclass at shehitrefresh.com/masterclass.

Watch episode 64 on YouTube

Thank you to our sponsor, ⁠International Living⁠!

This episode from the archive features author and She Hit Refresh member Lori Tharps just before her 2021 move from the U.S. to Spain with her husband and two children. At that time, Lori was just 9 days away from hopping on a plane and making her life abroad dream with her family a reality! 

Lori gives us an insight into those final days of closing up shop on your life in one country and prepping for a big move with your family to another continent. 

And we’ll be posting an episode this season where we’ll catch up with Lori to see how it’s going now that she’s settled into her life in Spain.

In this episode:

• How Lori's love affair with Spain started

• Why she’s moving to Spain at age 49

• Why she left her tenured faculty position

• How her kids feel about moving abroad

• How Lori and her husband will support themselves abroad

• Her experience as a Black woman in Spain

• What the last 9 days of her life in the U.S. were like

About Lori

Lori L. Tharps is an author, journalist, educator, and podcast host who uses her words to spark conversation and change around issues of race and diversity. 

She is the author of the book, Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America and a memoir, Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain, and she has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Essence, and Glamour. Lori is the mother of three, can say “I love you” in seven languages, and considers any independent bookstore her happy place.

Connect with Lori:

• Website: My American Melting Pot 

• Reed, Write, and Create podcast
• Instagram: @loriltharps

Thank you to our season sponsor, ⁠⁠International Living⁠⁠!

Cepee answers move abroad questions from the November 2024 Move Abroad After 30 Masterclass, providing practical advice and personal insights to help you navigate your move abroad.

Moving abroad can be an emotional rollercoaster. But the challenges that you face can be overcome if you surround yourself with like-minded people and maintain a solutions-based mindset.

Still have questions? The April 2025 Move abroad after 30 masterclass is a great resource to get your questions answered!

In this episode:

• Do you need an immigration lawyer when applying for a visa?

• How do I figure out where to move if I'm not sure yet?

• Can I take my U.S.-based job abroad?

• What kind of healthcare can I expect abroad?

• How do I rebuild my social life abroad?

• Should I buy property abroad?

• How do I stay motivated when the move abroad feels overwhelming?

About Cepee:

Cepee Tabibian is the founder of She Hit Refresh, a global community of over 17,000 women aged 30+ who want to transform their lives by moving abroad. Her expertise and inspiring journey have been featured in top media outlets like Forbes, USA Today, The New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC Make It, and International Living. She also delivered the TEDx Talk “What immigrants can teach us about identity,” and has spoken at numerous travel and relocation events such as TBEX (Travel Blogger Exchange) and International Living’s “Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp.”

Born in West Virginia to an Iranian father and a Colombian mother, Cepee grew up in the diverse city of Houston, Texas, with a deep-rooted curiosity about the world. While wanderlust was always in her DNA, her journey to moving abroad wasn’t easy. After numerous failed attempts, she finally succeeded in moving to Madrid, Spain, in 2015 at age 35—a life-changing decision that inspired her to empower other women to break free from their own roadblocks and create the lives abroad they’ve always dreamed of.

Through her Facebook group, Move Abroad After 30 Masterclass, Refresher’s Lounge, YouTube channel, and podcast, Cepee equips women with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to move abroad at any age.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Move Abroad After 30 Masterclass: shehitrefresh.com/waitlist

• Hannah Dixon's 5-Day VA Challenge: shehitrefresh.com/vachallenge

• Girl Gone International: https://girlgoneinternational.com

• Internations: internations.org 
• Bright Tax: brighttax.com

Watch episode 62 on YouTube

A big thank you goes out to our season sponsor, International Living!

Cepee speaks with Denise, who moved from the US to the Netherlands in her 50s on the DAFT visa.

A certified project manager and Prosci-certified change manager, Denise is launching her management consulting business, Pastel Fire Business Consulting, while navigating life in her new home. 

Denise's story will inspire you to pursue your dreams, no matter your age!

In this episode:

• How divorce and tech layoffs led to a turning point
• The fear, excitement, and uncertainty of preparing for a move abroad
• DAFT visa requirements, benefits, and limitations
• Finding housing in the Netherlands’ competitive rental market
• Denise's advice for women in their 50s who want to move abroad

Where to find Denise:

• Pastel Fire Business Consulting
• YouTube: @TrippingtheBrightFantastic

Mentioned in this episode:

I want to take care of me: Why more American women are moving abroad for a better life (USA Today)

Watch episode 61 on YouTube

Thank you to our season sponsor, International Living!

Cait Church is a music marketing professional, full-time wanderluster, and typical Pisces. With a passion for amplifying the voices of women in country music, Cait built her career at a major record label as a marketing director and promotion director. But burnout led her to step away, and she embarked on an adult gap year, traveling across Europe with her wife and Winston, their one-eyed Chihuahua mix.

Now based in Valencia, Spain, Cait is a freelancer, working on projects that are in alignment with her lifestyle, including collaborating with She Hit Refresh and working in international marketing at an artist management company.

On weekends, you’ll find her eating tapas, taking walks along the Mediterranean, or hopping on a train to explore somewhere new.

In this episode:

• Cait’s burnout and adult gap year away from the corporate hustle

• Spain’s Golden Visa and changing visa requirements

• Why Valencia is a great fit for Cait and her wife

• Living as an LGBTQ+ couple in Spain

• How networking helped Cait transition to freelancing

• Managing long-distance relationships with friends and family

Mentioned in this episode:

• Hannah Dixon’s 5 Day VA Challenge

• Instagram: @cait.c.church

Watch episode 60 on YouTube

Thank you to our season sponsor, International Living.

Michelle Coulson is CEO and founder of Remote Rebellion, a company that teaches people how to get remote work and design their lives with freedom and flexibility. In this episode, Michelle shares actionable tips on how to get a remote job, common mistakes to avoid, and the realities of the digital nomad lifestyle. 

Originally from the UK, Michelle worked as a recruiter for seven years. During lockdown, she was required to work remotely, so she took advantage and moved from London to Bali.

Then in 2021, when the dreaded “return to office” call came, she said NO. She quit her job and set up Remote Rebellion. Since then, she’s empowered hundreds of people to get remote jobs that align with their values. 

In this episode:

• Michelle's path from a traditional job in London to working remotely in Bali

• Why Michelle founded Remote Rebellion

• Debunking misconceptions about remote work

• • Common mistakes job seekers make
  • Tips for landing remote roles

• Strategies to stand out in the competitive remote job market

• Why taking breaks and prioritizing self-care is crucial in the job search process

Connect with Michelle:

• remoterebellion.com 

• LinkedIn: Remote Rebellion

• Instagram: @remote_rebellion

Watch episode 59 on YouTube

Looking to move to Europe?

Get your copy of ⁠"I'm Outta Here! An American's Ultimate Visa Guide to Living in Europe"⁠ at https://shehitrefresh.com/visaguide.  

Join our ⁠She Hit Refresh Facebook group⁠, get more tips and advice on how to hit refresh at ⁠⁠shehitrefresh.com⁠⁠, and follow us on Instagram at ⁠@shehitrefresh⁠⁠.

The Move Abroad After 30 Masterclass is a four-day live training covering the essential steps to moving abroad, from visa options to mindset work. Join the waitlist at http://shehitrefresh.com/masterclass

Alyssa is an American writer and educator with a very low tolerance for comfort zones. Ten years ago, she took the leap of a lifetime, moving from Boston to teach at an international school in Switzerland. She currently lives in Scotland, where she recently completed her PhD. She loves being an advocate for other solo women looking to take their leap into life abroad.

Alyssa has been a finalist for the BBC's Scottish Voices talent development program, and her unpublished novel was longlisted for Helen Lederer's Comedy Women in Print Prize. In her free time, she can be found dancing (badly), doing improv, and hanging out in bookstores. 

In this episode:

• Why Alyssa left Boston to explore international opportunities

• How she found her first teaching position in Switzerland

• The timeline for international school recruitment and tips for educators

• Why she moved to Edinburgh, Scotland

• UK visa options and challenges

• How to handle doubts when making big life changes

• The value of community and support from women who have already moved abroad

Resources from this episode:

•  Search Associates

• U.K. Visas and Immigration 

•  Schrole 

Where to find Alyssa:

• Website: alyssaowrites.com
• Instagram: @‌alyssaowrites

Watch episode 58 on YouTube

Thank you to our season sponsor, International Living!

Looking to move to Europe?

Get your copy of ⁠I'm Outta Here! An American's Ultimate Visa Guide to Living in Europe⁠. 

Join our ⁠She Hit Refresh Facebook group⁠, get more tips and advice on how to hit refresh at ⁠⁠shehitrefresh.com⁠⁠, and follow us on Instagram at ⁠@shehitrefresh⁠⁠.

Join the waitlist for the Move Abroad After 30 Masterclass, a four-day live training covering the essential steps to moving abroad, from visa options to mindset work.

Nicole is a 44-year-old American who moved from California to Portugal, sight unseen, with her husband, two cats, and a dog. Before moving, Nicole was successful in convincing her employer to let her work remotely from overseas. 

Three years later, she’s happily living in Porto, learning the language, building a community, and sharing her immigrant journey on Instagram. She has no regrets about her decision to move and enjoys the slower pace of life, affordability, and safety in her new home country. 

In this episode:

• Why Nicole and her husband chose Portugal over other options

• Differences between Portugal’s D7 visa and digital nomad visa

• How Nicole made a strong case to her employer that enabled her to work remotely

• Using an EOR (employer of record) company to handle taxes and compliance

• How she found her apartment in Porto

• Challenges of making local friends and the importance of expat communities

EOR (Employer of Record) Companies:

• Deal
• Native Teams 
• Remote

Where to find Nicole:
Nicole shares her immigrant journey, and insights into what life is like in Portugal as a foreigner, on Instagram at @NicoleinPortugal.

Watch episode 57 on YouTube

Thank you to our season sponsor, ⁠ International Living⁠!

Looking to move to Europe?

Get your copy of I'm Outta Here! An American's Ultimate Visa Guide to Living in Europe. 

Join our She Hit Refresh Facebook group, get more tips and advice on how to hit refresh at ⁠shehitrefresh.com⁠, and follow us on Instagram at @shehitrefresh⁠.

Move Abroad After 30 Masterclass: A four-day live training covering the essential steps to moving abroad, from visa options to mindset work. Join the waitlist at shehitrefresh.com/masterclass.

Your host, Cepee, is joined by a returning favorite, Cindy Sheahan, for an update on her incredible journey. Cindy learned about the possibility of obtaining Italian citizenship through descent, a much faster process than waiting for Portuguese citizenship. This led to a swift change of plans, packing up her life in Portugal and heading to Italy.

Cindy's story is proof that it's never too late to rewrite your story. From solo travel at 56 to now traveling extensively with a partner and a home base in Palermo, Sicily, Cindy's adventures show that it's never too late to change course!

In this episode:

• Pivoting from nomadic travel to living in Portugal to becoming an Italian citizen

• Why Italy works better for Cindy’s nomadic lifestyle 

• Overview of the process to obtain Italian citizenship through descent

• Update on her relationship with her French paraglider boyfriend

• What Cindy loves about Palermo, Sicily

About Cindy

Cindy is a world traveler, American expat, wine drinker, and rule-breaker who has spent the past 7 years exploring the planet full-time. She enjoys hiking, hostels, free walking tours, and connecting with people. Cindy hopes to encourage and inspire other women to step out of their comfort zones -- and their time zones. She writes a blog about travel hacks and solo travel to places like Turkiye, Colombia, and Sri Lanka.

At age 63, she continues her travels, heading to Vietnam and China with her French paraglider boyfriend (whom she met on Tinder in Nepal) and then to Korea on her own this spring. 

Where to find Cindy:

• Website: postsfromaflashpacker.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/postsfromaflashpacker
• Instagram: @postsfromaflashpacker

Watch episode 56 on YouTube

About Cepee

Cepee Tabibian, Founder of She Hit Refresh and a citizen of the world, was born and raised in the U.S. by a Colombian mother and Iranian father. While Houston, Texas, will always be home, she relocated to her favorite country in the world, Spain, in 2015 at 35 years young and hasn’t looked back. Her mission is simple: to inspire women to take bold steps toward the life they’ve always wanted abroad—because you're never too old and it’s never too late to hit refresh.

Looking to move to Europe?

Get your copy of “I'm Outta Here! An American's Ultimate Visa Guide to Living in Europe” at shehitrefresh.com/visaguide.

Join our She Hit Refresh Facebook group, get more tips and advice on how to hit refresh at⁠ shehitrefresh.com⁠, and follow us on Instagram at ⁠@shehitrefresh⁠.

Special thanks to our sponsor, International Living, for making this season possible!