The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

1. 1
   Number 1: EXPAT FILES SHOW #1523 FRI, AUG 28 (08-28-26):

   Johnny announces his next one-week Latin American Insider seminar in Guatemala and El Salvador (November 14–20, 2026). Go to Expatplanb.com for signup details: The difference betweenkilowatts (power rate) and kilowatt-hours (energy used or stored), a common source of confusion for people considering solar systems. A Panama listener mixed up the terms (calling a 5 kW inverter “5 kWh” and a 40 kWh battery “40 kW”); the real issue was an underpowered inverter that couldn’t handle three mini-split ACs at night. Advice for solar shoppers: Ask the salesperson to explain the difference between kilowatts and kilowatt-hours — if they can’t, walk away. A modern 1-ton AC unit typically draws about 800–1,000 watts; look for a SEER rating of 20+ for much better efficiency than older units. Brazilian president Lula’s Bolsa Família program is mentioned critically for tying cash payments to children’s vaccinations. A Mexican national living in the U.S. was arrested in Colombia for defrauding U.S. COVID relief programs of more than $1 million. A new retirement-cost study shows a middle-class American needs roughlya $738,000 nestegg to retire comfortably in the U.S.; most Latin American countries require less than half that amount (Costa Rica and Uruguay are the most expensive in the region). Practical warnings about renting in Latin America: verbal promises from landlords often don’t match the written Spanish contract, tenants are usually responsible for appliance repairs, and full security deposits are rarely returned. Strong recommendation to use WhatsApp for all landlord communications (for a permanent record) and to run any Spanish rental or purchase contract through Grok or ChatGPT before signing. The first unmistakable sign you’re getting old issomewhat gross and not much discussed … Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "2026 - LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT": The new edition for 2026 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com

   August 28, 2026·28min
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   Number 2: EXPAT FILES SHOW #1521 FRI, AUG 21 (08-21-26):

   Johnny’supcoming week-long “Latin American Insider Seminar” will be in Guatemala and El Salvador (November 13–20, 2026). For details go to Expatplanb.com or click on: https://www.expatplanb.com/expat-insider-seminar-nov-2026/ Only a handful of Latin American countries (Chile, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica) actively enforce mandatory yearly vehicle technical inspections; most others have the laws but rarely enforce them. Annual vehicle registration stickers (“marbetes”) are required everywhere and are usually obtained at banks after paying taxes and any outstanding tickets. Many expats avoid sticking the ugly yearly marbete on the windshield and simply keep it in the glove compartment; police rarely care as long as you can show proof of payment. Traffic tickets in Latin America are cheap compared with the U.S.; fighting them is possible but often wastes more time than the fine is worth. A listener email from Panama contrasts the high cost and entitlement culture of U.S. dating/weddings with the much lower cost and more appreciative attitude of a Latina spouse in Panama. One of the biggest attractions of living in Latin America (especially off the tourist trail) is a slower, less stressful, more manageable lifestyle. Johnny criticizes expats who constantly complain and try to force Latin culture to match their home-country expectations instead of adapting. Listeners praise Grok AI for giving more direct, less politically correct answers than ChatGPT. A warning about recent data breaches involving Ledger and Trezor hardware-wallet customer mailing lists, leading to phishing emails and fake official-looking letters. Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "2026 - LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT": The new edition for 2026 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com

   August 21, 2026·28min
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   Number 3: THE EXPAT FILES SHOW #1520 FRI, AUG 14 (08-14-26):

   Johnny announces his next one-week Latin American Insider seminar in Guatemala and El Salvador (November 14–20, 2026). He observes that most small tiendas, mini-marts, and wholesale businesses across Latin America are owned by Chinese and Koreans. Large chain stores like La Torre, Costco, and Walmart are owned by wealthy Latino families, while smaller scruffier shops are Asian-owned. Hardware stores (ferreterías) are a rare exception rarely owned by Asians due to the specialized product knowledge required. Asians are described as highly industrious, frugal, and work long hours, rarely spending on restaurants, bars, or vacations except for nice cars. Latinos generally do not resent Asian business dominance and would not trade places with them because of cultural differences in spending and lifestyle. Johnny strongly recommends using the “hidden wallet” feature with an extra passphrase on Ledger or Trezor cold wallets for better security after recent hacks. He reviews median fixed broadband speeds in Latin America, with Chile leading at 335 Mbps and Cuba at the bottom with only 4 Mbps. Prescription drugs (including Viagra, pain meds, opioids, and now GLP-1s) are widely available without a prescription at many mom-and-pop pharmacies despite official rules. Ecuadorian authorities have seized over 20,000 motorcycles since 2021 for lack of plates, registration, or licenses, which Johnny celebrates. Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "2026 - LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT": The new edition for 2026 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com

   August 14, 2026·28min
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   Number 4: EXPAT FILES SHOW #1519 FRI, AUG 07 (08-07-26)

   · Avoid Facebook expat groups — they create a dependency bubble full of know-it-alls, sellers, and political ranting. · WhatsApp is essential in Latin America; without it you’re basically cut off from daily life. · Machetes are common and rarely used for crime except crimes of passion. · Cleaning staff often salvage useful items from your trash and may open their purses for inspection when leaving. · Most toilets are cemented rather than properly bolted to the floor to save time and money. · Cheap steel screws rust rapidly in the tropics; stainless steel is rarely used by local contractors. · Peruvian flute bands mysteriously appear in every tourist-heavy park around the world selling CDs no one will ever play. · Boa constrictors almost never kill people, but venomous snakes still cause several hundred deaths a year in Latin America, especially in rural areas. Be sure to pick up my newly updated, “2026 – LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT”: The new edition for 2026 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest “Stem Cell Clinic” info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com

   August 12, 2026·28min
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   Number 5: The Expat Files 9.28.25

   #1- When is it safe to take a Moto-Uber? How about never… #2- Now for a bit of real estate “boots on the ground” craziness: #3- Racism in Latin America- Part 3: Most Latin Americans don't even know they are racists... #4- Unchangable things that will continually baffle you in Latin America: #5- Those certain harsh things you really want to say to the locals but don’t…. Because you’re an uninvited guest in their country (and that would be rude): #6- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at: [email protected]

   September 28, 2025·28min
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