This Expat Life

How do you know when to say yes to a big investment, scary step or invitation?

I was in California when I got a text at 3AM from a friend: he needed to make a decision around a financial investment - could I advise him? Coincidentally, that day I too had to make a decision about a big investment. If both he and I were going through the same thing, I’m sure others are too.

And because I have my ways to find my own answers to these questions, I’m sharing my approach with you in this episode.

Plus, at the end you’ll hear what investment & personal project I said yes to 👀 Tune in to find out!

PS. This is the Business Insider article I'm talking about

Wow, I absolutely loved this interview. I met Rianne at my business conference in April last month where she delivered a talk on how you can use two Dutch words to amplify your most authentic self the next time you need to perform. And she blew us away. So I knew I had to get her on the show. Because if you live abroad in a context that’s requiring you to adjust or in a global life that’s constantly changing… You want to be your most authentic self.

I’m not going to spoil anything further - just listen to this fantastic episode to know how you can be your magnetic self, have more fun, get better results and stay true to yourself. Enjoy!

Find more about Rianne on Instagram and LinkedIn.

What’s the ONE quality high-achieving expats have in common?

As a coach having worked with 240+ expats personally (aside from my DIY courses), I see this one quality again and again. And… I also see where it’s becoming a trap.

In this episode I share what I see and how it’s holding you back, plus my own experiences of when you can soften the quality-turned-trap.

I’d love to hear if it resonates!

And ready to let go of your self-reliance a little and call in support? Book a call to see if The Co-Pilot is the right fit for you now.

A question came in from someone inside The Co-Pilot recently for our hot seat coaching call - and the moment I read it, I knew it needed its own episode. Because I've been there myself, more than once, and I have a feeling at least one of you listening right now will recognize yourself in it too.

My coachee had just joined the program ready for the next chapter. There was momentum, clarity, energy - the good kind of feeling that something new is finally starting to move. And then, a few weeks in, she got ill, enough to slow everything down. And she asked me: what do you do when you want to keep going, but your body or your life just won't let you?

In this episode, I share my answer to that - because this isn't just about being sick. It's about any moment where your tank is running low. A stressful stretch at work, a breakup, a grey winter in Europe, grief, burnout. Those seasons where you still feel that pull toward something bigger, but you simply don't have the energy to chase it at full speed.

I talk about why those low periods are actually the worst time to make big decisions, why giving yourself explicit permission to pause matters more than you'd think, and what you can do in the meantime - an exercise I've used myself in Rio, after my parents died, and in many other harder chapters - that shifts something internally without costing you the energy you don't have.

So if you’re feeling stuck between wanting to move forward and simply not having the capacity to, this one is for you. Let me know what you think!

Links & Resources:

📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime

📞 Book a call to see if The Co-Pilot is the right fit for you

💌 Share your reflections: [email protected]

🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

Most expats focus on the decision or crossroads that’s in front of them: should I stay or should I go, apply for a new role, relocate, or go for my big scary goal? And it makes sense that most of your attention goes here, but… what few people don’t look at beforehand is who you need to be to carry that decision. If you want to start a next chapter, you need to expand, too, for the decision to be truly a success. And the earlier you are aware of this identity change, the better you can prepare for it.

In this episode I explain what I mean with ‘new chapter new you’ by using a personal example of when a stranger told me to go home while I was in Mexico City.

Did this episode resonate? I’d love to hear from you!

Links & Resources:

📖 Prioritize your life with The Wheel of Expat Life (free download)

📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime

💌 Share your reflections: i[email protected]

🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

In this episode, I’m answering a question I recently received while I was in Mexico City: how do you not feel lonely when you arrive somewhere new on your own? It’s such a real question - and if you’ve ever moved abroad, even temporarily, you’ve probably felt this too.

I’ve experienced this many times myself, arriving in a new city without knowing anyone. And while I genuinely enjoy my own company, I also know that connection is essential for me to feel good and grounded. So in this episode, I’m sharing the three things I personally do every time I land somewhere new to meet people and build meaningful connections (well - tip #3 is dependent on something else 👀).

Want to get more tips? Go to episode #1 for the full list of how to make friends and build a community abroad!

Links & Resources:

📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime

💌 Share your reflections: [email protected]

🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

And then you’ve reached episode 100, wow! To celebrate this special episode, for the first time ever, I’m the one being interviewed on my own podcast 👀

Tune in to hear how my dear friend Coco Hofs (one of the very first guests on the show) interviews me and asks me some deep questions that really made me think - I had told her that nothing was off topic.

In this episode you’ll get honest reflections on what it means to live a global life, making space for the new, and staying true to yourself wherever you go. 

And if you are a long time listener of the show.. THANK YOU! It means a lot that you are here, listening to the episodes, sharing what my words brought up for you. We are growing our community of heart-led expats and I’m so happy and grateful that you are part of it.

If you want to say something about this episode, your favorite episode so far, or the show in general, I’d love to hear!

Send me a DM on Instagram at @amandamaxime, or email me anytime at [email protected].

Before we dive in, did you know that doors to The Space - my DIY solo retreat package for expats - are open just for the month of July? Book it here! Doors close on the 31st.

There’s something about when a decision has actually been made. Not just knowing what you want… But actually committing to it and taking the first steps. The weight that will be lifted is huge!

In this episode of This Expat Life, I share what it felt like to return to The Hague knowing I’m closing this chapter and starting a new one soon - and how different everything feels when you’re no longer stuck in indecision.

I talk about the expat waiting room - that in-between phase where life feels “fine,” but something deeper isn’t aligned. A place many expats stay longer than they intend, waiting for clarity that never comes from overthinking.

If you’ve been going back and forth on your next move, this episode will help you understand why it feels so heavy - and what shifts when you finally choose.

Because clarity doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from deciding. And yes, I’m also sharing what I actually decided for my own next chapter! Listen to know where I’m going 👀

Links & Resources:

📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime

💌 Share your reflections: [email protected]

🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

Before we dive in, did you know that doors to The Space - my DIY solo retreat package for expats - are open just for the month of July? You get your two-day reset, forever access, and a live call late August for just €149. Book it here! Doors close on the 31st.

There’s a phase in expat life I see again and again - and I’ve lived in it myself.

It’s that in-between space where you know something needs to change, but you don’t yet know what or where. So you wait. You overthink. You pause your life just a little… until weeks turn into months, and sometimes even years. Inside my world we call this the expat waiting room.

And sometimes, you do get clarity and know what is the right decision for you now. But how do you stay your course when doubts come up? When others question your choices? When you are presented with other options? And how do you actually get moving to open a new door?

In this solo episode of This Expat Life, I share 3 things I say to myself that have really helped me to keep my eyes on the ball, maintain my confidence, and stay in action.

Sometimes you don’t need deeper insights into yourself - you need a super practical easy tool to implement what you already know. Those 3 things are that for me.

And by the way, that’s also exactly what you’re getting inside The Co-Pilot: proven, powerful coaching exercises that give you deep insights about yourself and your decisions - as well as practical tools and tips to apply what you’re learning, in the context of your busy global life.

I’d love to hear what resonates with you.

Send me a DM on Instagram at @amandamaxime, or email me anytime at [email protected].

Links & Resources:

📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime

💌 Share your reflections: [email protected]

✈️ Join The Co-Pilot: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com/the-co-pilot

🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

What if you’re navigating an expat life decision… But you’re not doing that alone?

In this episode of This Expat Life, I sit down with Wiebke Anton, a relationship coach who works specifically with expat couples and internationally mobile professionals. Together, we explore what really happens beneath the surface when couples are navigating moves, repatriation, career sacrifices, and the unspoken fear that one decision could change everything forever.

We talk about why decision-making often feels heavier abroad, how power imbalances quietly show up in expat relationships, and why avoiding difficult conversations can slowly create distance - even when everything looks “fine” on the outside. We also dive into how perfectionism, fear of irreversibility, and the pressure to “make it work” can prevent couples from having honest, connecting conversations.

If you’re in a relationship and navigating big expat life decisions - whether you’re moving together, meeting abroad, or feeling stuck between options - this episode will help you feel less alone and more empowered to talk about what truly matters.

We’d love to hear what resonates for you!

Links & Resources:

📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime

💌 Share your reflections: [email protected]

✈️ Join The Co-Pilot: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com/the-co-pilot

🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com