Available Worldwide

Tracy describes herself as "a soulful explorer living an inspired life." Her background is a study in contrasts: from a career in banking, fraud, and counterterrorism, she's come to embrace the role of creative and writer. In this episode, Tracy talks about her transition from the Secret Service to the spouse of a diplomat, and how writing is what fuels her now. Instead of being defined by her rol...

Long-time listeners will know that we, Steph and Lauren, like to joke that our mothers are our biggest fans. So, in honor of May and Mother's Day, we are introducing them to you. What do parents of Foreign Service employees and accompanying spouses think about the diplomatic lifestyle? What are their fears and opinions about what we do? What's their advice for other far away relatives? This is the...

Not every accompanying partner of an American diplomatic employee has the same access to employment and professional identity, or to many of the benefits and protections of US citizen Eligible Family Members. Non-citizens and spouses or partners designated as "members of household" struggle even more with maintaining their careers at post. Even at posts that have bilaterial work agreements (which...

Having a client-facing business can be challenging if you're an introvert, empath or HSP (highly sensitive person). But Brigi has found what works for her, and she's eager to support other heart-centered entrepreneurs. In this interview, we learn how Brigi leveraged her office management background in organizing Foreign Service moves, then transformed her knowledge and experience into becoming a D...

Last year, we profiled the Around the World 5K, an annual Foreign Service run for charity that takes place every April. The participants nominate non-profits to benefit from the event and this year, they selected the Mountain Seed Foundation, an EFM-led NGO supporting people impacted by war through art and wilderness therapy, housing and refuge support, and ongoing networks of alumni. In this epis...

Join the Available Worldwide Team! Lauren and Steph have produced the Available Worldwide podcast for the past 2 years in addition to running our personal businesses. We volunteer our time to tell the inspiring stories of EFMs, and we’re looking for someone to join our team who has a similar passion for encouraging EFMs. By volunteering with us, you'll gain experience promoting a podcast while giv...

From publishing kids' books in the Marshall Islands to teaching astronomy in Nicaragua. From researching cosmic rays in Utah to writing a book on science writing for Johns Hopkins. Jamie has pursued an incredibly varied career. Everywhere she goes, Jamie tries to level up....and she's done a stellar job! Listen in on our conversation to hear how she lets her wide-ranging interests guide her, and w...

Justin has created a personal career built on a love of problem solving and social entrepreneurship. At each post, he jumps into the challenge of making his new home and finding his new project. Whether that's boat building, catering or invention, he's discovered a new story, a new identity in each new place. In this episode, Justin and I talk about how he finds his new adventures and the way food...

A quick mini-episode to ask you to share your love of Available Worldwide by posting the podcast to your local community group, by sharing our homepage with a new EFM at post, or by leaving us a review on Facebook. We love you all!! 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

Looking for a stable job with career progression from post to post? Valeria would recommend looking at jobs in international education. After years of working as an educator and administrator, Valeria is taking the first steps into a new venture — resume and cover letter consulting. In this episode, Valeria walks us through some of the questions she's asked and answered while setting up her portab...

Join Lauren & Stephanie for a behind-the-scenes look at the Available Worldwide podcast. In this friendly chat, we reflect on the past year, including our popular Trailing Houses 10-year anniversary interview, and the honor of winning the Champions of Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members Award. Everything you wanted to know about creating the only podcast by, for & about the acco...

When Greg Lee says he "helps men get their balls back," he's not advocating toxic masculinity. Instead, through his coaching, he helps men step up their presence, their cognitive engagement and their leadership by redefining their relationship with alcohol. Join us as we talk about identity, all-or-nothing thinking, and examining the trade-offs we make in life. Learn more about Greg's work below.....

Heather Emerick's EFM journey is so much like that of Steph and I. She's had jobs on the local economy, volunteered, run her own business, consulted, contracted, and now works a WAE job at FSI itself. Her story is one of finding optimism where she didn't think she might, and a transformation from being a creature of habit and lover of a particular place to a person who loves the change in variety...

Nermine Mansour of Chez Nermine is an advocate of her Egyptian culinary heritage, but she's also an advocate for "trailing spouses" finding their mission. In this interview, she shares how she developed both professionally and personally while transitioning from being an Egyptian diplomat to an American diplomatic spouse. She describes how she discovered her mission through the mantra, "Your mess...

It's not everyday an already expat gets married and find out that being an EFM means you get some new privileges but also lose a few in countries without bilateral work agreements. It that change is combined with a global pandemic and pivot to doing a lot more online than we ever did before, you might find yourself doing what Dr. Fae did, recreating her traditionally geographically stable professi...

October 2022 marks the 10 year anniversary of the founding of Trailing Houses – the unofficial Facebook Group of the Foreign Service. Affectionately known as THOTUS, the group now numbers at around 23,000 members. Since its inception as a way for a few EFMs from Kathmandu to keep in touch after departing post, it’s grown to be the first stop for questions, answers, information, sharing, and connec...

Christine knows firsthand what a huge effect packout and delivery can have on your leaving and landing when posted abroad or returning home. In this interview, she recalls when she identified gaps in support during her first international move and describes how she came to create a business to fill that need. Now dubbed as the "PCS Doula" or "Consumables Concierge," Christine is on a mission to he...

Lara Center describes some of the changes she's seen in EFM careers and service over her 20+ year as a diplomatic accompanying partner. Hear her adventures volunteering to preserve the cultural heritage of the countries she's served in, and the ways she's overcome the lack of bilateral work agreements and a desire to find her own role outside of work in the mission. She also describes her many yea...

Marcelle Yeager has the ultimate entrepreneurial superpower: tackling a lot all at once and with good results. While earning her MBA, she researched how to continue her career while moving around the world for her spouse's job. Since then, she's started two companies — Serving Talent and Career Valet. Listen to Marcelle talk about embracing uncertainty, being open to opportunity, and waiting for t...

Mary Jane talks about Mayan Archaeology, running around the world and pursuing a career that wouldn't normally be considered portable. Listen to her talk about the pros and cons of life as an independent scholar and what it's like to manage a major project from the other side of the world. Mary Jane Acuña is a Guatemalan-American archaeologist specializing on Ancient Maya culture. Her passion for...

Diana Argueta is an artist and activist who has found a way to blend passion and purpose as a creative entrepreneur. She uses her art to raise awareness and uses her sales to support improving the lives of elephants. In this interview, we explore the creativity that can come from constraints, the self-doubt of starting over, and mindset shifts that can help. BIO Diana Argueta is a Guatemalan entre...

Leslie DeGrande is a trainer and yoga therapist, which is a long way from her initial training in Museum Studies. In this interview, she shares how a series of closed doors on her career path led her to do something she loves: help people reduce their pain, get unstuck (physically & emotionally), and move with more freedom. LESLIE'S BIO Leslie DeGrande blends the scientific and holistic into a...

In this episode, I talk with William Martin, the foreign-born spouse of a US Foreign Service member about balancing two careers by trading off whose career is prioritized at each post, the ups and downs of work as a US Personal Services Contractor, the perils of not writing your own story, and how he has unintentionally come to live the American Dream. William Martin is an experienced political-ec...

Briana Wooten is a first-time EFM, among many other roles. As she finishes her first tour, we reflect on the wild ride of trying on new roles and embracing opportunities. Briana shows us how to balance work and creativity while offering ourselves the "space and grace" to grow in the process. BIO Briana Wooten considers herself a jack of many trades. Briana currently works as a Staff Aide Assistant...

Kent is an international educator, business owner and the author of Teaching Overseas In this episode, we talk about: how to get international school jobs, the joys and trials of changing schools and jobs with each post, how the people make all the difference. This episode is for all who wonder how you move on from your current level of success and find something new. How does Kent describe himsel...