Babes, how did you get here

Yumi is a Japanese social media professional and content creator who has spent the last five years building a life in Cambodia. Originally planning to attend a university in Japan, she found herself questioning her future after failing the entrance exams twice. Instead of giving up, she enrolled at a university in Cambodia, studied hospitality management, learned to speak Khmer, and eventually dis...

His family escaped Cambodia. He was born in a refugee camp and raised in America. Decades later, he bought a one-way ticket to the very country his family had once fled, a place he had never visited, but one that would eventually become his home. Vanna Sann grew up in the United States, pursued higher education, and built an international career working with prestigious organizations and global br...

Benjamin van Wijk is a former member of the Dutch military police who spent seven years serving in the Netherlands, including assignments at Amsterdam's airport and royal palaces. After leaving his career behind, he planned to start a new life in Australia. Instead, an unexpected series of events kept him in Bali, where an invitation to church would eventually change his perspective on life. From...

After walking away from New York and breaking free from America’s suffocating mold of Black masculinity, Baba Siete Saldávez made the ultimate decision: he moved to South Africa, built a life of complete spiritual sovereignty, and vowed never to return. In this raw, unapologetic, and deeply grounding second chapter, he pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to dismantle societal programming...

Born in Brooklyn and forced to fight for his life on the streets of New York, Babasiete Saldávez broke free from America’s rigid expectations of Black masculinity to build a life of complete spiritual sovereignty across London, Paris, and Cape Town. In this raw, vulnerable, and commanding conversation, he exposes the toxic archetypes placed on Black men, the trauma of colorism, and the moment of a...

Born in Western Sydney and bullied for being Indian, Bevninda Sanghera dropped out of law school with one year left, built a career in fashion, and moved to Dubai just two months ago. In this raw and emotional interview, he reveals the racism, judgment, and drinking culture that made him quit everything, and the devastating loss that changed how he lives. Bevninda’s story is one of the most powerf...

Marcus had the career, the flat, the salary, and the life he was supposed to want. Yet he realized he was miserable. Instead of waiting for retirement, the British Jamaican teacher walked away from London, tested life in South Korea and Gambia, built an online teaching business, and moved to Kingston to claim the peace he could never find in the UK. Now teaching UK students from 6 AM and finishing...

Eleni had a successful life in Canada, a thriving construction business, a family, and financial stability. Then one trip to Jamaica changed everything. After falling in love with the island, she and her husband decided to leave Canada, move to Kingston, and open a sourdough bakery… despite never having baked before. Nine years later, they're still there. In this episode, Eleni talks about startin...

3 weeks before her wedding, Lilly discovered that her fiancé was a .... In this raw and emotional interview, she reveals the devastating moment that changed everything and the incredible journey of survival that followed. Lilly’s story is one of the most powerful adoption stories you will ever hear. Abandoned in Thailand at just 4 years old, she was adopted into a white family in rural Pennsylvani...

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Paz Fourcard: Redefining Solo Motherhood & Finding Love in Bali What happens when a 22-year-old Filipino beauty industry star gets pregnant, refuses to shrink, and builds a life that redefines what it means to be a solo mom—twice—before finding a love so pure it made her feel like she was finally coming home? In this deeply moving and powerfully honest episode, host...

Ever wondered what it truly takes to leave the familiar behind and build a life across continents? See what happens when a former model and wellness practitioner decides that life outside the United States is where she truly belongs. In this candid conversation, April Jackson sits down with Simone Floyd—conscious travel consultant, wellness practitioner, mother, and proud Pan-Africanist—to trace a...

What happens when you stop relying on standard logic and let the cosmos dictate your entire life? In this episode, we sit down for an unfiltered, eye-opening conversation about surrendering practical control and letting the stars take the wheel. From signing contracts and making huge financial decisions to choosing who to date and who to cut off, this discussion dives into the reality of trusting...

What happens when you step outside conventional religious boundaries to help the next generation build a genuine relationship with the unseen? In this episode, we dive into an intimate, honest conversation about blending diverse faith traditions, navigating the weight of loss, and guiding children toward their own spiritual autonomy. From sitting together in an Episcopalian church to having quiet...

What happens when you leave Jamaica, build a life in America, and then return home to take over your family’s business? In Part 2 of this conversation, Dijon Powell opens up about leaving Miami’s fast-money service industry and returning to Negril, Jamaica, to become the youngest person in charge of her family’s restaurant and beach bar. She shares the reality behind the decision: the pressure of...

Is going to college the right choice for you? We discuss the value of higher education and how it broadens your worldview. For many, university is a path to clarity when you do not know what you want to do in life. It offers a unique opportunity to step outside your immediate environment, especially for those who have never left the street they grew up on. This conversation explores why college se...

Thinking about moving abroad? See how one creative left the American South to build a new life in South Africa. April Jackson travels the world connecting with people who have chosen to start over in new countries. In this episode, she sits down with cinematographer and YouTuber Frankie Henry to discuss his decision to leave the American South behind. They explore the practical and creative choice...

New York City was draining his health, working three jobs, and running out of time. So they made a radical decision: pack up all 7 children, abandon the prestigious New York music institutions, and move to Jamaica. In this episode of A Life Elsewhere, we sit down with Dr. Lisa Walker — a professional violinist from Chicago, dedicated educator, and mother of seven. From navigating cultural shock at...

Google told her Kingston was the most dangerous city in the world. She moved anyway — and it changed everything. Lana, a Lebanese tax professional living the "perfect" expat life in Dubai, got a mysterious call from a UK recruiter offering a job in Jamaica — a country she knew nothing about beyond Bob Marley. Seven years later, she's raising her daughter in Kingston, walks downtown without fear, a...

Meet Talia, a volunteer teacher in rural Cambodia. Hear her unconventional story about leaving her original plans behind to teach. Many people move abroad, but Talia is not living the typical expat life. In this interview, she explains how she unexpectedly ended up in Cambodia despite planning to visit South America. We discuss the reality of life as a volunteer teacher in a rural community and th...

From New York City to Cape Town, South Africa! 🇿🇦✨ Meet Carol Burns, an entrepreneur and community builder who left the US behind after falling in love with Amapiano music. This highlights the best moments from our full conversation about leaving conventional expat hubs, taking spontaneous solo trips, and finding unexpected business opportunities across emerging markets. Whether you're dreaming o...

She was rejected by major modeling agencies in the West, told her body wasn't good enough, and ended up hospitalized alone abroad at age 18. Instead of giving up, Sydney left the United States behind with just one suitcase—reclaiming her identity, shocking international stages, and rising to global royalty. This is the untold, dark side of international modeling, identity shifts, and the radical c...

Learn the realities of living abroad and empowering youth in Jamaica with Farnoosh. Gain practical insights on global career paths. Farnoosh Jhudga, Executive Director of the Lead Outreach Initiative, joins us to discuss her experiences working abroad and navigating different cultural landscapes. We examine the specific challenges of leading community outreach in Jamaica, where she focuses on supp...

Hear the story behind Liquor More Chocolates as Nadine Biory shares how she builds artisanal chocolate inspired by Jamaican heritage. Discover how personal family history shapes a brand's unique identity. This conversation explores the creative process of developing artisanal chocolate and balancing business with deep cultural roots. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or a chocolate enthusia...

A homeless stranger handed her back her own business cards — and it changed everything. Twani Price left corporate America and South Central Los Angeles to build a Black wine empire in Cape Town, South Africa. From being humiliated at a 5-star restaurant to being featured in The New York Times, from selling out Black-owned winery bus tours in LA to founding Afro Wine Week — this is the story of be...

3 weeks before her wedding, Lilly discovered that her fiancé was a pedophile. In this raw and emotional interview, she reveals the devastating moment that changed everything and the incredible journey of survival that followed. Lilly's story is one of the most powerful adoption stories you will ever hear. Abandoned in Thailand at just 4 years old, she was adopted into a white family in rural Penns...