2:30 – Mike opens up about his struggle with patriotism and the impact of 9/11. He reflects on his rollercoaster Navy career and his feelings about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

13:00 – In the second half, Mike discusses race. On the anniversary of Tupac Shakur's death—the West Coast rapper shot in a drive-by—he references Tupac’s song "Changes," which is quoted in his book, Building Bridges: Can We Love & Relate in a Polarized World?. Mike delves into his relationships with people in the Black community in the U.S. and the broader African diaspora, offering perspective on the challenges faced by Black individuals worldwide.

Preorder my book and get my Building Bridges MasterClass for FREE! https://sullyworks.myshopify.com/

Mike introduces a special series. His book, Building Bridges: Can We Love & Relate in a Polarized World?, will be published very soon. He's taking a short break from interviews, peeling back the cover, and providing raw, unscripted thoughts regarding the book's content.

Today he talks about the different worlds he and his wife are from and the challenges it portends.

Get His FREE MasterClass by preordering his book now on Shopify! https://sullyworks.myshopify.com/

The side saga continues in the Philippines as Mike goes through a mini-repatriation nightmare with some surprising lessons revisited (00:00).

Rajni and Mike talk dance (4:00). Mike opens up about his missed opportunity growing up. Rajni says that many in the industry forget the real joys of the art.

“It might be as tiring as being a TCK and explaining where you are from?” (8:00)

Their discussion transitions into what she is doing now with the hoop and her painful journey   (11:30). 

“Don’t suffocate the child within.” (14:00)

Rajni talks about her interaction with her family regarding her choice to dance (17:30).

She talks about the critical voices around her in her art and her aspirations to support others in the community (20:00). Of course, Mike has to talk about his book (20:30) and the double-edged sword of technology. Meditation comes back into the picture again as well (24:00).

The podcast ends with a story from her father about Indian society (27:00).

Reach out to Mike Sullivan: https://sullyworks.com/

Every once in a while, Mike will bring on an avid listener to 'hang out' and talk about their TCK experience. Today's guest, Rajni Ramachandran, is the daughter of a diplomat and has an incredible journey. She delves into meditation and the secret of staying in one place for 18 years.

Mike and Rajni find themselves on the outside in a movie discussion, ‘living under a rock’ (4:10).  Mike sheds his nerdiness to impress the ladies in junior high (8:00).

(10:50) Mike asks the ridiculous question. Rajni says she’s from planet Earth. That’s a good start! :D Rajni is a diplomat kid who has been all over planet Earth. Mike and her compare revenge stories on their parents (12:00).

Ranjni describes her 18 years in Delhi and her secret to not moving. (15:20)

Mike asks about the discipline she has acquired in meditation. (16:50), and he discovers what meditation is not. 

We talk about being an Indian TCK and a diplomat’s daughter, moving every three years. Food, accents, and doubting her own Indianess (23:00).

The podcast has given Mike a new community that helps him understand our unique place (30:00). 

“There’s like an inner voice that says, you know you’ve moved around enough, but you need to be here and possibly use those experiences you grew up with and help India a little bit in any way you can.”

Rajni crashes the party a bit, bringing up (33:00) the reality of our loss as TCKs and our ‘silly dreams.’ She drops the mic on her way out and tells us what hope we have ‘beyond the labels.’

Of course you can find Mike on his website, here:

https://sullyworks.com/

Mike is baaaack! Back Home, that is. He is in the Philippines with his super family. And back on to do some amazing episodes for Season 3.

He updates everyone on his move from Türkiye to the Philippines and his plans for the future.

Of course, his book will be published shortly. Mike raised $7000 on Kickstarter.com and is eternally grateful to those who supported him.

If you aren’t one of those people but want to get on board and get his book, preorder it today and get 10% off and free access to his MasterClass.

Mike talks about the agonizing decisions TCKs have to make when deciding what to pack and bring to their next location. It involves another suitcase debacle.

He had the chance to meet two of his guests, Karina Lagarrigue and Angie Weinberger, at the SIETAR Congress in Lille, France, in June.

Now home in the Philippines, Mike plans to pivot his English teaching career into intercultural work, providing research and media to help resolve conflict and improve cross-cultural dialogue. He has no plans to move and is looking for remote work to keep the lights on.

BUY HIS BOOOK! FREE GLOBAL SHIPPING!

https://sullyworks.com/

https://sullyworks.myshopify.com/

Marie talks about her book, 'Tales of a Diplomat's Daughter, and her passion about mental health. Her podcast 'Talks with a TCK Friend' is her first venture into providing a space for TCK's to talk about such issues.

Mike believes being a diplomat is not for him (1:30). Marie pushes back a bit revealing more about her upbringing (2:17), and how diplomacy looks different for each country (4:30). 

Mike asks about the expectations Marie was under being a diplomat's daughter (5:10). Marie divides it up into academic and diplomat family pressures.

“If I don’t do ‘this’ Mom and Dad will be disappointed.” (8:00)

(9:30) Marie recommends the book ‘The Emotionally Healthy Leader, by Peter Scazzero.

Of course Mike talks about his book and his journey emotionally and his difficulty with transitions (11:20). He talks about the expectations he had growing as well as an MK. Marie also adds the religious dimension of the ’tyranny of expactions’ that we both grew up with.

We get into the weeds a bit about the ‘Jesus’ we should see in the Bible as Christians (14:00).

Mike segue’s into a discussion on (15:00) mental health and how the next generation's focus on it has been helpful for him. He wants Marie to talk about her apirations for the future in the mental healthy sector. Marie talks about what a shock it was to find out what mental health is and her journey in this regard.

“Mental health is, in a nutshell, self-awarenes.”  (18:00)

 It resonates with Mike, but in a different manifestation (21:00). Marie shares how her podcast (22:00) is her first venture into providing others with the knowledge that they are not alone in their mental healthy journeys as TCK’s. Listen to her podcast here. Please! I love it.

Get excited! Marie’s writing another book! (27:00). A spoiler for my listeners!

Marie’s final words are powerful. We are NOT alone and community is so, so important!  

If you'd like to connect with Marie, find her book, or listen to her amazing podcast, the following links should get you there!

⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5s0c69SlQLzJxBTm6jMJQB?si=3751d5c2f2244082⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mariesuazoauthor/⁠

⁠https://mariesuazoauthor.com/⁠

Mike Sullivan can be found here:

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullyworks/

Marie Suazo, Filipina by birth, author of Tales of a Diplomat's Daughter is the podcast host of Talks with a TCK Friend. Drop what you are doing and listen to her now. In this double set of episodes, they first discuss the ridiculous question and her adjustment to the Philippines.

In this episode, they start off talking about the confidence Marie has developed in her journey to becoming a brilliant podcast host and voice for TCKs (3:10).

They discuss whether or not they have a right as TCKs to complain (6:00) and coming from a different world.

Of course Mike presses Marie to answer the ridiculous question (8:05) Marie pops off her long list of moves around the world with her family.  She talks about which country she relates to the most (9:25). Mike has some fondness for the same country as well.

Fun fact. Lena Lee (author of Girl Uprooted) was on Marie’s podcast, two diplomat daughters comparing notes and books! (10:30). Be sure to check that out.

Marie is now in the Philippines (12:00) and she AND Mike are figuring out what they are going to do next.

Finally, Mike and Marie discuss the positives and negatives of being in the Philippines.(14:40). We get into traffic, ‘Bali-Bali’ culture, and classism in a post-colonial era.

Stay tuned for the BONUS ROUND episode as we talk in depth about her journey as a diplomat's daughter and more.

If you'd like to connect with Marie, find her book, or listen to her amazing podcast, the following links should get you there!

https://open.spotify.com/show/5s0c69SlQLzJxBTm6jMJQB?si=3751d5c2f2244082

https://www.instagram.com/mariesuazoauthor/

https://mariesuazoauthor.com/

Mike Sullivan can be found here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullyworks/

Angie Weinberger is back to talk about her mission and more from her book!!

She starts off with her mission and what she’s been accomplishing as a coach (2:50). She talks about the pain she has seen in the global mobility space.

She talks about how she started her company (5:30), and provides an intercultural component to her coaching that is often missing alongside expats in their transition journey. 

Mike asks about how the Rockme App has developed over its lifespan (8:00), and what its potential is in its current iteration.

Angie lands Mike’s situation completely in describing (9:55) how her app helps bring much needed support to expats. Having a global reach provides her the ability to get others involved in the process. 

They then talk about her recent book, the Rockstar Album  (15:20) that copmlements the Rockme App. She discusses the design of her book consisting of an interactive approach.  It was difficult but well worth the effort.

Mike wants to know why Angie encourages vulnerabilityy (20:15) in her book, and how much we should share with others as coaches. She talks about how helpful vulnerability can be to build trust. 

For those of you interested in using the app and navigating and interacting with the book  (25:50) to handle their own transition globally to a new situation, she provides a holistic model (28:40) to make it possible in a healthy and wholesome manner. There are an enormous amount of resources available as well on the side.

If you want to find out more about Angie Weinberger or get a hold of the precious resources she provides click or cut n' paste the link below:

https://globalpeopletransitions.com/

https://rockme.app/login

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01G28OZT0?ingress=0&visitId=2a8c99ef-c113-4a57-90d5-c2b6207e82fb

Mike Sullivan's agenda these days is at the following:

https://sullyworks.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullyworks/

Angie Weinberger is a Global Mobility Yoda, Expat Coach, and Author. She’s the Founder and Managing Director of Global People Transitions Ltd., Zurich, Switzerland. She is the progenitor of the RockMeApp, providing individual and group based coaching in the mobility space. She also lectures on global mobility and inclusive leadership competency.

The podcast starts off with a bit of smalltalk about the amazing timing Angie has coming on to talk about mobility because Mike is leaving Türkiye (1:45) and knows he can find something wonderful. He opens up about some of his past trauma getting the way of decision making.

“A lot of my clients are exactly where you are now, Mike.” (4:23)

They discuss the expat hub that Switzerland is (6:00) and the fact that bankers are indeed human too. :D 

Angie talks about some of her recent forays into academia (9:35), and expounds on the complexities of global mobility and building a proper policy around that.

They finally get to the ridiculous question (13:15) and Angie has a unique start and finish to her global journey.  After 15 years Angie settles in Zurich (19:32), not far from a special place across the border. We also discover that Mike knows little about ‘Heidi’ in Switzerland and about Europe in general.

Angie’s discussion of the outsourcing industry perks Mike’s curiosity as he considers his future options (20:00). They talk about how colonization has come full circle in some ways (22:00).

Stay tuned for the second part of this splendid series to find out the nitty gritty of mobility and what Angie has been doing to help bring the human touch back into the process. We talk about her book as well. Lot’s more to come!!

To find Angie Weinberger click or cut n' past the following link:

https://globalpeopletransitions.com/

As promised Mike's book is in the following location:

https://sullyworks.com/

"Nose Bleeeed! Where are you going to live??"

Nikki shares about how her life is going to be pivoting, not only because she is getting married, but because her body is telling her, like it did 13 years ago. She is pivoting toward us! TCK’s! (2:15). 

Nikki gets into the weeds of her impending marriage to ANOTHER TCK (8:00)

Found out more about Nikke Muller through her website:

https://www.nikki-muller.com/