Armchair Expat - a Bargain Homes Abroad Production

What does it mean to build a life abroad — not just once, but again and again, through different seasons of life? In this episode of Armchair Expat, Shannon sits down with Laura Baringer to explore a deeply thoughtful, non-linear international journey that spans Italy, Guatemala, Nigeria, Rwanda, the UK, and now the Netherlands. Laura shares how growing up between cultures shaped her identity, why...

Thinking about moving abroad — or already living overseas and feeling overwhelmed by taxes, visas, or financial planning? In this episode, Shannon sits down with Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA, Founding Partner of Connected Financial Planning and host of the Passport to Wealth™ podcast, for a deeply insightful and surprisingly relatable conversation about what it really takes to build a financially soun...

In this episode of The Armchair Expat Podcast, Shannon sits down with Jennifer Sontag — serial entrepreneur, expat, and founder of ViaMonde, a bespoke agency that simplifies relocations to Spain and Italy. Jennifer’s story is one of bold reinvention, deep resilience, and the transformative power of starting over in a new country. Jennifer shares her journey from growing up in St. Louis to living i...

Ever thought about packing up your life and moving to another country you’ve never even been to? That’s exactly what my guest today, Mary Alice Duff, did. She’s a fractional COO and business strategist living in Montpellier, France. After launching her own clothing brand and later shifting into business consulting, she now helps small businesses streamline operations and scale sustainably. She als...

In this episode of Armchair Expat, host Shannon Acton sits down with Kelly Cutchin, U.S. Country Manager for MoneyCorp, to demystify the world of currency exchange and international money transfers.   They explore why using your bank for overseas transactions could cost you thousands, how forward contracts can protect your home-buying budget, and why personalized service still matters in a digital...

Moving abroad sounds glamorous, but behind the Instagram reels and dream-home photos, there’s a very real side that often goes untold. In this episode, I’m joined by Stacy Ennis, bestselling author, book coach, and host of the Beyond Better podcast, who has lived in four countries outside the U.S.—the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Thailand, and now Portugal. Stacy gets brutally honest about interna...

“Expat taxes made simple” — it might sound too good to be true, but that’s exactly what my guest today has set out to do. I’m joined by Nathalie Goldstein, founder and CEO of MyExpatTaxes, the leading tax software built specifically for Americans living abroad. Originally from California, Nathalie moved to Austria a decade ago, where her own frustrations with filing U.S. taxes as an expat inspired...

What happens when you trade Miami traffic for Madrid tapas—and still have to keep the IRS happy? In this episode of Armchair Expat, Shannon Acton interviews Nicolas Castillo, founder of Rook International CPAs and Advisors, about the realities of building a life and business abroad. Nicolas shares his personal journey from Miami to Madrid, opening up about the challenges of adjusting to a new cult...

“Can I really afford to move abroad?” It’s the question at the heart of so many expat dreams — and today we’re digging into it with someone who knows the answer firsthand. My guest is Alex Ingrim, financial advisor, expat, and CEO of Liberty Atlantic Advisors, a US-registered investment firm specializing in helping Americans navigate life and wealth planning in Europe. Originally from Alaska, Alex...

What happens when you leave behind the nonstop energy of New York City for life in a 5,000-person town tucked into the Italian mountains? In this episode of Armchair Expat, Shannon sits down with Caroline Chirichella, founder of Chirichella Associates, to hear her story of trading chaos for community. Caroline shares her unlikely path—from training as an opera singer, to running a private dining b...

In this episode of Armchair Expat, Shannon sits down with Erin Charlotte, an international real estate agent and Golden Visa advisor who’s helping Americans find their dream homes — and their freedom — in Portugal. Originally from Minnesota, Erin shares the story of how a birthday trip to Porto sparked a full-on relocation journey and led to the creation of her thriving real estate business. From...

In this episode of Armchair Expat, host Shannon Acton sits down with Christine Job, J.D.—an award-winning storyteller, strategist, and creator of the acclaimed podcast Flourish in the Foreign. Christine shares her deeply personal and transformative journey from Atlanta to Spain, detailing the burnout that led her to take a sabbatical, the unexpected magic of walking the Camino de Santiago, and how...

In this episode of Armchair Expat, Shannon sits down with Jeannette Ceja, an award-winning bilingual travel journalist, international speaker, and fierce advocate for women and Latinos in travel. From her earliest passport stamp at 9 months old to speaking on stages around the world, Jeannette has built a career fueled by curiosity, courage, and connection. Now living in the south of France, she s...

In this episode of Armchair Expat, I sit down with freelance writer and editor Nicole “Ziza” Bauer, who shares her journey of moving to Italy and building a new life abroad. Ziza talks about the lifelong dream that led her to Italy, her experience navigating the dual citizenship process, and how she used manifestation, intuition, and practical planning to make her move happen. We dig into the logi...

Today’s guest brings both heartfelt wisdom and hard-won experience to one of life’s biggest transitions: moving abroad. Dr. Colleen Crowley is a psychologist, expat, and global traveler who has spent the last 30 years living around the world—while also raising a family and supporting others through major life changes. Drawing on over two decades of clinical experience, she now helps individuals an...

Lauren McDonnell of She Thrives Abroad shares her journey from the U.S. to the Netherlands, detailing the motivations behind her family's move abroad, the extensive research and planning involved, and the challenges of transitioning to a new culture. She discusses the importance of safety, quality of life, and education for her children, as well as the unique aspects of living in the Netherlands,...

In this episode of the Armchair Expat podcast, Dan shares his journey from a corporate career in the U.S. to pursuing his dream of living in Italy. He discusses his love for travel, the challenges of finding a home, navigating the visa process, and the cultural immersion he experienced in his new community. Dan also highlights the bureaucratic hurdles he faced while purchasing a property and the o...

In this episode of the Armchair Expat podcast, Shannon interviews Allison, an American expat living in Portugal. They discuss Allison's journey from New York to Portugal, the challenges of moving abroad with children, the process of finding a suitable school, and building a community in a new country. Allison shares her experiences with language learning, the pursuit of citizenship, and the cultur...

In this episode of the Armchair Expat podcast, Shawna shares her journey from growing up in Los Angeles to living in Spain and helping others move abroad. She discusses her experiences in the corporate world, her love for the European lifestyle, and the creation of her business, Move Overseas Now, which assists Americans in relocating to Europe. Shawna provides valuable insights into visa options,...

In this episode, guest Andrew Guck shares his remarkable journey from upstate New York to building a life in southern France, where he’s lived for over a decade. What began with a casual interest in French class—and a long-lost crush—eventually led to a love story, a spontaneous elopement, and a bold move abroad. Andrew opens up about the cultural differences he encountered, especially the French...

In this episode, I'm joined by Matt and Dawn — better known as The Unretirees — who traded their big-city grind for a brand-new life on Portugal’s Silver Coast. We talk about how they sold almost everything they owned, why the pandemic was a turning point, and what made Portugal the obvious choice (spoiler: fast-track citizenship and serious beach vibes helped). We get into the real talk about int...

In this episode of the Armchair Expat podcast, Shannon chats with Thea Duncan, the founder of Doing Italy. The conversation explores Thea's journey to Italy, her love for the culture, and how she helps others navigate the process of moving to Italy. Thea shares her experiences with intuition, the impact of COVID-19 on her career, and practical advice for those looking to relocate to Italy, includi...

What if your next big move—whether it’s across the world or deep within—wasn’t about figuring it out, but about feeling it through? In this episode, Shannon sits down with Nicolle Merrilyne, a Certified Intuitive Energy Healer, Medium, and Meditation Teacher who recently left California to follow her intuition—and her spirit guides—all the way to Spain. Together, they explore how grounding, energy...

What if your birth chart could tell you where in the world you're meant to thrive? In this episode of Armchair Expat, Shannon chats with world traveling professional relocation astrology specialist Helena Woods about the weird, sometimes woo-woo, and yet wildly accurate world of astrocartography— otherwise known as the “astrology of place”.   They dive into why where you are matters, and how plane...

In this episode, Cepee shares how a restless career path and a big leap abroad led her to create She Hit Refresh—a thriving community for women over 30 ready to reinvent their lives overseas. We dive into the highs and lows of her expat story, what it really takes to start over in a new country, and why community is the secret ingredient to a successful transition. Plus, Cepee shares inspiring ref...