The Global Chatter with Amanda Bates

Estelle Hughes is a fierce, strong voice for inclusivity and cultural relevance within educational spaces. She is the visionary behind the African Learning International, a nonprofit focused on expanding professional development opportunities for African educators.

In this episode, Estelle shares her own experiences of attending international schools in the Republic of Congo as a Cameroonian and how those experiences would impact her as an international educator. She also offers her candid thoughts on what it means to be an African expat traveling on a less than privileged passport and the real impact it can have on both life and professional choices. And she gives a glimpse of life with a South African husband and their third culture kids that they have been raising abroad in Switzerland.

To stay connected, visit theglobalchatter.com.

We made it to the end of 2021 but we've got one more episode before signing off for the year. The Global Chatter podcast editor, Stephanie Fuccio takes over and puts host Amanda Bates in the proverbial hot seat. In this episode, they cover how podcasting has changed the way Amanda approach's storytelling, what's coming up in 2022 and why Prague has a longstanding travel bucket list spot (amongst other things). To learn more, visit theblackexpat.com.

In this episode, psychologist and expat Dr. Neeta Ramkumar discusses what it means to belong -- both when you do and don’t look like the local communities you’re moving in and out of. With her Indian-Guyanese heritage, she shares her complicated story of identity. She also discusses how living in Fiji drew her closer to being part of the Indian Diaspora as well as examines the microaggressions and the privileges that comes with being an expat of color. To learn more, visit theblackexpat.com.

In this episode, Panama-based photographer Roxanne Munson discusses what it means to reinvent yourself and your career in a new location a couple times over. She delves into raising and preparing her Black American Third Culture Kids for college and life when they return to their passport country. She also talks about the importance of knowing confidently who you are when entering unfamiliar spaces. To learn more, visit www.theblackexpat.com.

In this episode, expat Vanessa Arnold explains how she unexpectedly pursued a linguistic degree and how that put her on the path to moving to Germany. She shares the challenges of trying to navigate a new country when you don’t know the language, or the people and have limited connections. She also describes the differences she’s experienced being a dark skinned Black woman in Berlin and in New York. To learn more, visit: theblackexpat.com.

In this episode, psychotherapist Dr. Sherrá Watkins shares her story of perseverance and determination. The North Carolina native discusses her unlikely story of becoming an expat including how she was able to find the right opportunity and move to St. Maarten during the pandemic. Sherrá also provides some insight on how to adjust to some of the common challenges international students face including homesickness, anxiety and loneliness. For more information, visit theblackexpat.com.

In this episode, writer and speaker, Mariam Ottimofiore shares how early years a third culture kid prepared her for a life abroad. Currently based in Portugal, she discusses how her own interfaith, intercultural and international story has helped others design the expat life of their choice.

In this episode, former banker turned fashion designer Audra Gordon shares how her early life in the Caribbean and the United States shaped the career she has today. She discussed her sustainable conscious brand, Beam Bold, her love affair for Africa and why being a people person is her superpower.

In this episode, leadership coach, and consultant, Tamara Thorpe shares how her multiple moves abroad have impacts the work she does to support the next generation of leaders. She also discusses knowing when to pivot in your career and how DEI (diversity, equity & inclusion) work looks different depending on the location.

Bonus Episode: As part of our career focused YouTube series, The Roaming Pro, Kevin Simpson shares his key strategies for building an education focus business for expat entrepreneurs.