Available Worldwide

If you’ve been in the Foreign Service long, you see the same questions asked again and again in Facebook and Reddit groups. At some point, you stop answering, roll your eyes, and scroll on. But if you’re new to this nomadic life, these questions are so important! In this episode, we address some of the most-asked questions and share our top tips for Foreign Service life. We’d love to hear from you...

Lauren interviews Lisa Crawford about her Likes and Dislikes as part of the current series. Learn about some of the unique challenges of the Southern Hemisphere's seasons that Lisa wasn't expecting when she was assigned to Wellington, New Zealand. Lisa reveals her distaste for ______, even though everyone else in her family adores it and the convenience and variety available in New Zealand. Then f...

It's time for a new topic! What do you love that everyone else hates? What do you hate that everyone else loves? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Are you ready to share your nostalgias and “missing outs” with us? In our next few episodes we’d love to hear what you “Value More Now that it’s Gone.” You can sign up for an interview time at the “Be A Guest on our Show” tab at availableworldwide.net In this episode, you’ll hear from Steph and Lauren about some of the things they value now that they don’t have them in their lives. I’m pretty sure...

After years of living apart, Tracy Huang joined her partner at a post where she was able to keep her job. Now at a micro-post where she’s not allowed to work, Tracy is discovering life as a “real” EFM for the first time and is thankful for the community she’s found during the journey. GUEST BIO Tracy Huang is currently based in Samoa, where she’s exploring painting, online facilitation, and aerial...

With 22 years an Eligible Family Member (EFM) Carla Gray has a lot of people to be grateful for. One thing they all have in common? They've recognized her strengths and boosted her confidence to try new things. In this episode, she shares a few of those stories. She has paid their support forward by helping others recognize their own strengths and skills, even if they have a "patchy work history."...

As a first-time Foreign Service accompanying partner, Sim Khandaker was surprised and saddened when all his new friends PCSed and left post. But he’s since found community through chili cook-offs and game nights. And he’s made connections across continents, including with our very own Lauren Steed. Sim is offering his coaching services to community colleagues through a free workshop on how to boun...

Perhaps predictably for November, we’d like to show a little gratitude for some of the many kind things EFMs have done for us. 🙏 In this episode, Lauren and Steph share a few personal anecdotes to kick off the conversation. We want to hear from you! Share a short story about a time another EFM has done something great for you. Schedule a short interview on our calendar: https://availableworldwide...

Unlike many State Department EFMs, Chris’s experiences are shaped by her husband’s role with DOJ. How did she break out of her comfort zone and find a community that is worth retiring into? Chris Lang has been an EFM at four posts now, and at her current age of 61, she has figured out how to settle in, connect with others, and be happy wherever she is. She knows the importance of doing what you lo...

Guest Bio : Emily Cornell, ACC is a storyteller, strategist, and coach helping women navigate change. A fourth-tour EFM, she’s also dedicated to uplifting Foreign Service accompanying partners. Her coaching combines intuition with a co-creative process, always remaining grounded in strategy. Through her relatable approach, she strives to create space for clients to tap into their courage, creativi...

The "Available Worldwide" podcast marks its return after an eight-month hiatus. Steph and Lauren blame their busy schedules and creative blocks for the pause. It was reconnecting with listeners and in-person meetups that reignited their excitement to speak with you about your EFM journey. We announce new podcast formats focusing on specific stories and experiences relevant to diplomatic spouses, d...

Lauren and Steph catch up on some of the exciting things that happened in the Available Worldwide community in 2024 and invite you to share your story of transformations on our podcast in 2025. Is this your year? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Jenn is a licensed therapist who was looking for a therapist at her challenging first post abroad. When she struggled to find the help she needed, it inspired her to start her own practice -- Bloom Counseling. In this interview, I chat with Jenn about how accompanying partners can build better self-care practices by finding out what works for them, remembering what they love, and pursuing their ow...

Elizabeth Streett did everything right: going to college and becoming a diplomat. She met all the criteria for what anyone would see as successful. But success didn't really end up being what she sought, and it turns out that was the wrong word to use anyway. After discovering that life as a diplomat didn't have the room for the kinds of joy that she wanted to prioritize in life, she left the prof...

After rave reviews of his debut novel, EFM Matthew Becker has two more books coming soon. In this episode, find out how an academic mathematician with a past work in missile tracking and  COVID test kit distribution analysis became an EFM and followed a secret dream to become an author.  Like most avid readers, Matthew believed he could write something pretty decent. Unlike the rest of us, he actu...

Laura Jennings has navigated her share of twists, turns, and transitions, from starting her career in publishing to successful stints in marketing and communications . She's a passionate and accomplished business developer , having built a portable Pilates business and taken it to five posts. Now as Chief Strategy Officer at LVL-Up Strategies , she continues to advocate for EFM career progression...

When there's an EFM who has turned what seems to be a location-dependent career into something globally portable, you know you'll eventually meet them here on Available Worldwide.  In this episode, Amy shares what it was like to unexpectedly dine with some global power-players, how she made the tough decision to quit a portable job without the guarantee of something new, and what things are really...

Charting Her Own Course: Building the Right Skills to Thrive at Post Melissa Dokurno's career has taken quite a few twists and turns since her spouse joined the Foreign Service, and even before he was officially on board. While they've both made sacrifices for each other's careers, they've kept their family strong even when physically separated. In this interview, Melissa tells the story of their...

In this episode, Lauren meets yet another life trajectory twin, Janelle Meyer, who went to college with dreams of being a graphic designer, but who eventually came back to her true calling, work helping students succeed. Janelle is a special educator with a real passion for using brain-based methods to help children learn to read and succeed in school. This episode covers her journey to becoming a...

Purvi Gandhi Irwin works in a job that didn't exist when she entered her career field as a preservation project architect. She's a design tech consultant working with 3D modeling software and was recently hired by Overseas Building Operations (OBO). In our interview, Purvi shares questionable choices in high school, how her career has evolved, her special connection to the bathroom tiles in Easter...

We're on summer break! We just wanted to share a quick update about how you can get involved in the next season of episodes AND how to stay connected to the Available Worldwide community.  Apply to be a guest : https://availableworldwide.net/contact/ Join the Available Worldwide Network: https://availableworldwide.net/available-worldwide-network/ You'll hear from us again in September! This is a p...

Special Episode: Guest Updates! We’ve asked past guests to send in audio updates. We’ll hear from 4 guests in Part 2 of this two-part series. We asked past guests to tell us what’s new with them since their interview, what’s the same, what effect being on Available Worldwide had on them or their business, and if they’ve learned any additional lessons since being on the show or have other advice to...

Special Episode: Guest Updates! We’ve asked past guests to send in audio updates. We’ll hear from 5 guests in Part 1 of this two-part series. We asked past guests to tell us what’s new with them since their interview, what’s the same, what effect being on Available Worldwide had on them or their business, and if they’ve learned any additional lessons since being on the show or have other advice to...

On the Available Worldwide podcast, we want to highlight the  inspiring stories  of the accompanying partners of the Foreign Service. But, we don't want to hide the very  real challenges  that many spouses face.  In this interview for Pride month, you'll hear Maciej Szumny share some of the challenges he has faced as a same-sex partner and foreign-born spouse . You'll be inspired by Maciej's resil...

In this episode, meet Mikell Reed Carroll, an EFM with a job you probably couldn’t imagine being portable: pagentry! Mikell has been competing in pageants since she was around 20 years old, and has won numerous titles over the past 26 years. This June, she plans to compete for the Miss Virginia USA title, which would make her the oldest contestant to do so. Her tenacity and confidence grow every d...