The Study Abroadcast

Brandon Losh and Johnny Felsenthal are basically best friends who studied abroad at the same time, and had two vastly different experiences. After listening to the interview, if you listen to the interview in its entirety you walk away scratching your head wondering who had a better time. 

It's packed with stories, life lessons, and tips that you can take on your own study abroad trip. 

Berlin (but basically Europe), and Semester at Sea....Annnnddd Go!

Marty Tillman is the President of Global Career Compass, which is an international education consultancy located in Washington D.C. We met at The Global IIE Summit in NYC a few months ago and decided to get an interview on the books.

Marty's vast experience in the field the reason why I had him on the show. A constant theme throughout the the podcast is affordability - 'The question isn't how can you afford to study abroad, rather, how can you afford not to?' 

Marty's interview is further evidence of that assertion. 

Cierra Powell knocked it out of the park with this interview. She was the first Study Abroadcast Gilman Award winning interviewee. Long overdue, but we finally got one of the esteemed Gilman alumna on the show. 

A former track athlete, Cierra is now working in Montana and on her way to receiving a Fulbright award

“It’s so important to get out of what you know. It’s so important to try something new and have that fish-out-of-water experience while you’re young.” - Alison Healy

Alison Healy is our first guest on the podcast that didn't study abroad. And like any good teacher, she morphs her story into a learning experience for pretty any other student going through the same thing she did. 

It wasn't her fault...really! She got shot; with cupid's arrow. It ended up working out for the best, but I'll let Alison tell you the rest, herself.

We also learn about Dominican University (@dominicanu), how they're a hispanic serving institution, and rival pretty much any school in the country as far as making study abroad accessible to their students.

“One week, being in another country, you’re going to forget about what everyone else is doing in the U.S., and you’re going to be having so many of your own adventures that you’re not going to be homesick at all.” — Lexa & Caroline (@sippin_sangria)

This interview couldn't have come at a better time ⏰.

Why?

Because I just wrote a post about making lifelong friends abroad and Lexa Muehlbauer and Caroline ZuHone have done exactly that.

It's really a great story, too:

They were at the same school and didn't know each other; they went abroad, and then they did. A website ensued, and the rest is history. 

If you're looking to learn Spanish, get lost, make friends, or start a travel blog you should listen to what these two have to say. We also get into what you should do after you graduate.

I'm so glad I was able to get them on the show. 

Brielle (@briellesajz) is serious about fashion, and the breadcrumbs prove it. She's slowly making her way around Europe and determined to make a name for herself in the industry. She's interned at both PVH and LUCKY BRAND, has passion for art, travel, and food, and it all comes together in her interview.

*Point of fact: It costs exactly €17 to get into the Louvre which = $19.05. (We were trying to figure this out 😂)

Wine tasting, French politics, Portugal, riots, internships, and job searching are also covered. 

First Chile interview...on the board; thanks to Rachel! She's also are first finance major, too, so she's really checking off all the boxes. And honestly, in this interview this interview was pretty much cruise control. Rachel remembered her trip vividly, like she just got off the plane. 

The Butler University alumnus is the current Study Abroadcast champion as far as length of time goes. I wish they were all this long.

Thanks, Rachel!

It's a great interview, too:

SHOW NOTES

“Every aspect of our program is designed to immerse the student culturally, not only by staying with a home-stay, but also with all of our cultural activities and excursions.” - Monica Guajardo 

“To be in a country where you don’t speak fluently and you struggle to express yourself [. . . ], it made me so sympathetic, empathetic for people who are in countries where they’re not a native speaker but they’re trying, because I never really knew how difficult it is to represent yourself in a natural way.” — Tiffany Ferguson (@tferg__)

Tiffany Ferguson is hustling. She's got a wildly successful Instagram page (linked☝️),Youtube channel (linked👇), and Twitter account (linked right here) 👈

Tiffany hasn't graduated yet, but it seems like she has. She is a great example of blending your interests with your major, and how to have fun while you're doing it. If you want to graduate and have more than a piece of paper to show for it you should listen to this interview.

TRANSFER STUDENTS!!!!!

I transferred (twice) and so did Tiffany. She addresses the moving pains in her interview, but is happy she made the switch.

Oh, I almost forgot...she studied abroad in France 🇫🇷, which is where her "mandatory baguette" picture above is from. 

SHOW NOTES

The first interview I had with a student who studied abroad with Global Experiences was wildly popular.

"Man, I wish I could get more interviews like that," I thought. As luck would have it, a few weeks later I ran into Melissa Buerkett at the annual IIE Summit in NYC, and we decided to get an interview on the books.

Melissa's above quote is what Global Experiences (@globalexperiences) does. She explains it in greater detail in the interview, but I'll come out and tell you: "almost anywhere can set up an internship for you abroad, but not everywhere can match you with one that'll align with your strengths." — Chris Carlton 

I don't know if you're aloud to quote yourself, but I just did 😊.

The bonus is that the interview is peppered with Melissa's own global experiences that truly live up to the name of the company she now works for.