The returner support

The returner support

By Anais Ruel - Expert in life's transitionSociety & CultureEducationSelf-ImprovementPlaces & Travel
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The returner support episodes

  • 40. Who Am I Now? Navigating Identity Crisis After Living Abroad

    Have you ever asked yourself “Who am I now?” after coming back home from living abroad?


    In this episode, I dive deep into the identity crisis many people face when they return home after months or years abroad. I explore the different layers of identity, who you were before you left, who you became during your time abroad, and who you’re becoming now that you’re back.


    We talk about:

    • The roles and labels you carried before: in your family, at school, with friends

    • The beliefs you built around those roles

    • The new identities you embraced abroad, whether you were an au pair, exchange student, expat, or backpacker

    • What happens when those identities no longer apply back home

    • How to navigate the “in between” space of cultures and languages

    • Why it’s not about choosing either/or but accepting all parts of yourself

    • The shift from belonging to becoming, and why creating a vision for your life is key to moving forward

    • How we attach ourselves to identity labels like “introvert” or “extrovert” to feel safe and understood, and what happens when those no longer fit


    If you’re feeling lost in the space between who you were and who you want to be, this episode will help you put words on what you’re experiencing, and start imagining what’s possible from here.


    Find all the different programs


    🔗Apply for 3 months 1:1 coaching : Here

    🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here

    🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here

    📩 Sign up for the Sunday Self Care Newsletter : Here
    📩 Let’s connect on Instagram: @the_returner_support


    Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    27 min
  • 39. One Mindset Shift That Can Change How You Feel About Being Back

    When we return to our home country after living abroad, it’s so easy to focus on what’s missing. What we don’t like. What we lost. We romanticize the place we left and feel stuck, like the best part of our life is already behind us.


    In this episode, I invite you to shift your perspective. To look again.

    What if it’s not about the country… but about how you’re seeing it?


    I’ll share honest stories from my own journey and walk you through powerful mindset shifts that have helped me reconnect with life where I am, without pretending everything is perfect.

    You’ll learn:

    • Why we often resist the present and how to soften that resistance

    • A daily practice to spot the good, even in small ways

    • How to regulate your nervous system to make space for clarity and inspiration

    • A guided invitation to imagine your ideal life, no matter where you are right now


    This episode is a loving nudge to stop waiting for a different place or version of you to arrive. Your life isn’t over. It’s unfolding.


    ✨ Tune in to start seeing things differently, starting today.


    Find all the different programs


    🔗Apply for 3 months 1:1 coaching : Here

    🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here

    🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here

    📩 Sign up for the Sunday Self Care Newsletter : Here
    📩 Let’s connect on Instagram: @the_returner_support


    Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    41 min
  • 38. Family, Triggers & Returning Home After Time Abroad

    In this deeply honest episode, I open up about the messy, emotional, and often surprising reality of moving back in with family after time abroad.

    Before coming home, the idea of living with my family stressed me out, especially knowing I'd be between my dad's place in the middle of nowhere and a complicated past with my mom. I share the truth about what it’s been like to live through that: the boredom, the loneliness, the triggers… but also the small, intentional steps I’ve taken to reconnect, heal, and try to rebuild something with my mom.


    This episode is a mix of reflections and real-life stories, some of them uncomfortable, some of them tender. It’s for you if you’re trying to make peace with where you are, wondering what your family dynamics are teaching you, or feeling disconnected from your vision.

    Because when life feels slow, stuck, or emotionally charged… there’s usually a deeper reason.


    ✨ Listen in if you’ve ever asked:

    • “Why does it feel so hard to be home?”

    • “Is it possible to change a relationship with a parent?”

    • “What am I supposed to do with this boredom or loneliness?”


    Sometimes the most ordinary moments are where the healing starts. And sometimes, your discomfort is the very thing pointing you back to yourself.


    Find all the different programs


    🔗 Join Reignite Your Spark (6 weeks group program) : Here

    🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here

    🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here

    📩 Sign up for the Sunday Self Care Newsletter : Here
    📩 Let’s connect on Instagram: @the_returner_support


    Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    41 min
  • 37. Radical Honesty: A Check-In for Life After Moving Back Home

    In this episode, we’re doing something most people avoid: getting radically honest with ourselves.


    If you’ve returned to your home country, whether by choice or circumstance, it’s time for a check-in.


    Where are you really at in your life right now? And where do you actually want to be?


    I guide you through a compassionate but honest reflection:

    • Why did you come back? Was it for family, studies, something else?

    • Are you satisfied with how things are unfolding? If not, what small action could you take?

    • How have you actually been feeling since you returned?


    This episode is all about realignment.


    This is not about pressure. It’s about setting gentle intentions, celebrating your progress (instead of only seeing the gap), and building bridges, one small action at a time toward the life you truly want.


    If you're back home and you want to create a life that truly fully you, book your Free Call Assess Your life : Here


    Find all the different programs


    🔗 Join Reignite Your Spark (6 weeks group program) : Here

    🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here

    🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here

    📩 Sign up for the Sunday Self Care Newsletter : Here
    📩 Let’s connect on Instagram: @the_returner_support


    Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    29 min
  • 36. How to Make Friends Again After Returning Back to Your Home Country

    In this episode, I dive deep into the complexities of making friends once you're back in your home country inspired by a Facebook post from a woman who found it difficult to reconnect socially after returning.


    I explore the common experience of feeling like people back home aren’t as open to new connections, and how this isn't just about your country, it's about human nature, routine, and established circles.


    But more importantly, I invite you to reflect: How did you show up when you were abroad? Were you curious, open, proactive? Are you showing up the same way now, or are you holding yourself back?


    I share my personal journey of returning home and realizing that I was limiting myself based on old beliefs about "how people are" in my country. I talk about the power of clarity, knowing the kind of friendships, conversations, and experiences you want to cultivate, and how that clarity helps you attract your people faster.


    Plus, I share some practical tools: apps, Facebook groups, and ideas to take the initiative and create your own community. Because the truth is, your people are out there, but you have to show up fully to find them.


    If you're back home and feeling disconnected, this episode is for you.


    🔗 Join Reignite Your Spark (6 weeks group program) : Here

    🔗Book Your FREE assess your life Call : Here

    🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here

    🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here

    📩 Sign up for the Sunday Self Care Newsletter : Here
    📩 Let’s connect on Instagram: @the_returner_support


    Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    35 min
  • 35. The Kind of Loneliness No One Talks About

    In this episode, I open up about a wave of loneliness that hit me hard last Saturday. It was one of those moments where everything felt heavy, and suddenly, all I could see was what I didn't have anymore. If you’ve been through a similar feeling, especially after returning home from life abroad, you’re not alone.


    Instead of trying to fix or push the feeling away, I chose to sit with it. To spend time with it. And in doing so, I discovered something surprising: beneath the loneliness, what I was truly missing was fun and playfulness.


    I share how loneliness has a way of lying to us, making the past seem better than it was, disconnecting us from our vision for the future, and making everything we do have feel invisible. But when we stop resisting and start listening, there’s something to learn.


    This episode is your gentle reminder that your emotions aren’t your enemies, they’re messengers. And maybe, just maybe, your loneliness isn’t about what you’ve lost… but about what you’re being called to create.

    🎧 Tune in if:

    • You’re feeling disconnected or misunderstood since coming home

    • Loneliness has been weighing heavy lately

    • You need a reminder that you’re not behind, just in a moment of pause


    🔗 Join Reignite Your Spark (6 weeks group program) : Here

    🔗Book Your First 1:1 Coaching Appointment (the first one is free) : Here

    🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here

    🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here

    📩 Sign up for the Sunday Self Care Newsletter : Here
    📩 Let’s connect on Instagram: @the_returner_support


    Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    26 min
  • 34. When Stability Delays Your Dreams

    In this episode, I open up about a deeply personal chapter of my life, the time I spent in Canada, torn between what I thought I needed and what I truly wanted. I take you through my journey from Montreal to Winnipeg, where I stayed not out of love for the place, but from a place of scarcity, chasing permanent residency in hopes of creating stability before following my true dream of traveling through Latin America.


    I share how anxiety built up as I postponed my desires, thinking I had to secure a base first. I reflect on why I didn’t want to return to my home country, especially after a difficult first return. This episode dives into the concept from "10x Is Easier Than 2x", about the trap of making decisions based on what you think you should do, rather than what truly aligns with your vision and values.


    We explore the difference between freedom from and freedom to, and how crucial it is to ask:
    🔹 Is this place expanding me or shrinking me?
    🔹 Am I choosing this from alignment or fear?

    Whether you're navigating a big move, considering a major life change, or feeling torn between comfort and growth, this episode is for you.



    🔗 Join Reignite Your Spark (6 weeks group program) : Here

    🔗Book Your First 1:1 Coaching Appointment (the first one is free) : Here

    🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here

    🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here

    📩 Sign up for the Sunday Self Care Newsletter : Here
    📩 Let’s connect on Instagram: @the_returner_support


    Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    35 min
  • 33. 6 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Coming Home From Abroad

    Going back to your home country after living abroad is so much more than reverse culture shock, it’s an emotional rollercoaster, an identity shift, and a deep invitation to meet yourself all over again.


    In this episode, I’m sharing the 6 truths I wish someone had told me before I returned home. These aren’t the usual tips you find online, they're the hard-earned lessons I had to live through. If you’re about to go back, have already returned, or feel completely out of place back home… this one’s for you.


    Here’s what we’ll dive into:


    1️⃣ Why you can’t plan your future based on your past self—and how to start creating a vision that actually excites you.
    2️⃣ The misery of expecting your old life to still fit, and how to shift from expectations to intentions.
    3️⃣ The power of taking time to integrate who you became abroad—what you want to keep, and what it’s time to release.
    4️⃣ How being back home can feel deeply triggering, but also, how it’s the fire that forges your next chapter.
    5️⃣ Why being clear on your vision is non-negotiable, and how to move from faith, not fear.
    6️⃣ The truth that how you handle your return sets the tone for the next 5 years of your life. No pressure, but also, yes pressure.


    This episode is a permission slip to stop surviving your return, and start owning it.


    If you’re feeling lost, disconnected, or unsure about your next step, you are not alone. Hit play and let’s walk through it together 💛


    🔗 Join Reignite Your Spark (6 weeks group program) : Here

    🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here

    🔗Grab the Ebook Deep Dive : Here

    📩 Sign up for the Sunday Self Care Newsletter : Here
    📩 Let’s connect on Instagram: @the_returner_support


    Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    34 min
  • 32. Don’t Rush to Be ‘Fine’, You’re Not Broken, You Don’t Need to Be Fixed

    Last week was a triggering one for me, and instead of holding space for my emotions, I fell back into that old pattern of trying to fix myself. Sound familiar?


    In this episode, I share a real and raw reflection on what it means to accept yourself, especially in those messy, uncomfortable moments we often try to push away. When we come back home after living abroad, it's easy to think we should feel fine or have it all figured out. But often, what surfaces is shame, emotional overwhelm, and the urge to suppress what we think we “shouldn’t” feel.


    We talk about:


    • The trap of self-improvement as a form of self-rejection

    • Why we shame certain parts of ourselves instead of accepting them

    • How trying to “fix” your emotions only deepens the disconnection

    • The link between self-judgment and being triggered by others

    • Why your emotions aren’t who you are, and how to create space for them

    • The reminder that true change doesn’t come from pressure, but from love


    This is your invitation to slow down, soften, and stop rushing to be okay. You’re not broken. You’re human. And every part of you deserves compassion, especially the ones you’ve been trying to hide.


    🔗 Watch the Masterclass Rebirth Here

    🔗 Register to my 3 months 1:1 coaching program : Here

    📩 Sign up for the Sunday Self Care Newsletter : Here
    📩 Let’s connect on Instagram: @the_returner_support



    Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    27 min
  • 31. Old Patterns, New You: What to Do When You’re Back Home Again

    Have you ever felt like being back in your home country means you're right back where you started?


    In this episode, I share a perspective shift that changed everything for me:


    What if life brought you back not to punish you or undo everything you’ve become, but to offer you a chance to redo the past, with the person you are now?


    You're not who you used to be.
    You get to respond differently.
    You get to choose yourself this time.


    I also dive into the power of the stories we tell ourselves and how those stories can keep us stuck. Especially when we're blaming our country, our environment, or the people around us. There’s often a secret benefit hidden in the complaints, and once we uncover it, we can finally shift.


    At the end, I leave you with a powerful tool to start taking action from your future self instead of your past self.


    It’s time to reclaim your power, even if you're back where you started.


    🔗 Watch the Masterclass Rebirth Here

    🔗 Join the 20 days challenge Rise Up : Here

    📩 Sign up for the Sunday Self Care Newsletter : Here
    📩 Let’s connect on Instagram: @the_returner_support


    Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    37 min

About The returner support

From the publisher's feed

The Returner Support Podcast is the only space dedicated entirely to what it really means to come back home after living abroad. Here, we go beyond reverse culture shock, we talk about the messy, beautiful, confusing process of returning to your home country and rebuilding your life from the inside out.