Expat Focus

Co-Founder of My Expat Mind Anna Zhadan joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about expat mental health. After leaving Belarus at just nine years old and making many international moves since, Anna knows first-hand the psychological toll that living abroad can take. She channelled that experience into My Expat Mind, a directory built to help expats find therapists who understand what it's really l...

Victoria Pearce, the writer behind A Life Away, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about moving abroad after 40. Victoria has lived in the UK twice — once as a young grad student, and again in her 40s with a husband and an 11-year-old in tow. Her story unpacks what it really looks like to uproot a settled life, swap a legal career for a writing one, and rebuild from scratch on the other side of...

Yolanda Reshemah, host of The Places We Call Home Podcast, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about building authentic community when you move abroad. Yolanda's expat journey began at just 10 years old when she moved from the Caribbean to the UK, and she's since lived in France and the USA. She shares how each move shaped her identity — from discovering Parisian culture to navigating reverse cu...

Relocation and lifestyle consultant Laura Poggioli joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about what it really takes to settle into life abroad. Laura is the founder of La Relocation Group, which operates across Switzerland, Spain, South Africa, and soon Dubai. After relocating more than 108 people around the world in her previous corporate role, she recognised that traditional relocation support w...

Susana Yang, founder and CEO of The Golden Portugal, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about moving to and retiring in Portugal. Originally from Hong Kong, Susana moved to Portugal in 2018 and founded her immigration agency after a frustrating experience with local legal services. She breaks down the three main visa routes — the D7 passive income visa for retirees, the D8 digital nomad visa an...

Tom Zachystal, Founder of International Asset Management, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about how US citizens can manage their money when moving abroad. With 25 years of experience advising American expats, Tom breaks down the difference between physically moving money into non-US accounts and simply diversifying out of the US dollar. He covers the challenges of opening overseas investment...

American military nurse Lisa Denmark joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about retiring in Chiang Mai, Thailand — and why she has never looked back. After eight years working for the US military in Germany, Lisa faced a visa deadline that forced a decision: return to the States, or start over somewhere new. She chose Thailand, moved sight unseen, and hasn't left since. Lisa shares how she landed...

Travis Drews, founder of the Global Citizen Hub, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to discuss an often-overlooked route to moving abroad: student visas. Originally from the US and now based in Berlin, he shares how his own international journey — and a surprising message from family — led him to help others find realistic migration pathways, even without a job offer, investment capital, or a partner o...

Australian expat consultant Simone Collins joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about turning a Bali "gap year" into a life-changing two-year relocation — and helping others do the same. Founder of Our Year in Bali , Simone shares how a family experiment became a full-scale move, what daily life in Bali really looks like, and why so many people dream of making the island home. She explains who Ba...

Financial advisor Tom Zachystal joins the Expat Focus Podcast to break down what Americans need to think about financially before moving abroad. As President of International Asset Management — and an expat himself — Tom shares practical guidance based on decades of experience helping US citizens navigate life overseas. Tom explains why Americans can never fully "leave" the US tax system, how citi...

What does moving to Spain really look like for non-EU nationals? And how can you tell if it's the right move for you? In this episode of the Expat Focus Podcast, James Blick, founder of Spain Revealed, joins host Carlie Bonavia to share what life in Spain is actually like — beyond the beaches and tapas. James explains why your vision for life in Spain matters more than the visa paperwork at the st...

Data-driven relocation consultant Vasily Yurenkov joins the Expat Focus Podcast to discuss how numbers — not just gut instinct — can guide your move abroad. When political turmoil forced him to leave Russia, Vasily and his wife used his analytical model to decide where to rebuild their lives. Now based in Amsterdam, he helps others choose their ideal destination by comparing 600+ data points acros...

Relocation concierge Ashley Sourci joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about moving to France — and tackling the country's infamous bureaucracy. Originally from California, Ashley shares how she fell in love with French life, the challenges she faced setting up on her own, and why she now helps others navigate the endless paperwork and catch-22s of settling in. She explains what a relocation con...

American blogger Kirsten Raccuia returns to the Expat Focus Podcast to share her experiences with healthcare in Mexico. After relocating from Malaysia with her husband, Kirsten has navigated everything from pharmacy visits to surgery — and she opens up about the realities of medical care as a foreign resident. She explains why Mexico is a hub for medical tourism, how costs compare with the USA, an...

Jordan Giberson joins the Expat Focus Podcast to share her journey from Austin, Texas to London, and the lessons she's learned along the way. From turning down a safe job offer at home to pursuing her dream of living in the UK, Jordan talks about navigating visas, surviving lockdown as a new arrival, and adapting to British culture. She opens up about the challenges of residency rules, what Americ...

Barbara Boyle joins the Expat Focus Podcast to discuss her move from a high-flying advertising career in the US to a tranquil life in Monforte d'Alba, a small town in Italy's Piedmont region. Barbara shares what it was like to renovate a 300-year-old stone barn with zero Italian, embrace the local slow food culture, and become part of a tight-knit rural community. She also opens up about her breas...

Sigga Hansen joins the Expat Focus Podcast to share honest insights about learning Danish as an expat. As founder of Lingua Danica and one of Denmark's most experienced Danish teachers, she reveals why Danish is trickier than expected - and why it's essential for truly experiencing Danish life. Key Insights: Why Germans learn Danish faster than Swedes (surprising but true!) The pronunciation chall...

Ever wondered what it's like to be pregnant in a foreign country? In this episode, Carlie chats with Sarah, an American living near Paris who recently welcomed her baby daughter Laura into the world. Sarah takes us through her entire French pregnancy journey - from those first nervous blood tests to her unexpected emergency C-section. She shares the real differences between French and American mat...

David Andrews, Director of Visa Visa Limited, returns to the Expat Focus Podcast to explain New Zealand's new approach to digital nomads. In this episode, we uncover the truth behind what's been called a "digital nomad visa" (but isn't actually a new visa at all!), exploring how visitors can now legally work remotely while enjoying everything New Zealand has to offer. David shares valuable insight...

Devra Jacobs joins the Expat Focus Podcast to discuss how to achieve a "happy move" when relocating. Drawing from her experience of 29 moves, including living abroad in Korea, Devra shares practical tips on making the moving process as stress-free as possible. She discusses the importance of pre-move preparation, including what to keep and what to leave behind, how to pack efficiently, and how to...

Nathalie Goldstein, CEO of MyExpatTaxes, joins the Expat Focus Podcast for an essential conversation about U.S. tax obligations for Americans living abroad. As an expat herself living in Austria for the past decade, Nathalie shares her personal journey and explains why she created a platform specifically designed to help U.S. citizens navigate their complex tax filing requirements from overseas. F...

Life coach Bianca Tate joins the Expat Focus Podcast to share insights on how clarity, confidence, and courage are crucial for a successful move abroad. Bianca, with her extensive personal and professional experience as an expat in multiple countries, delves into common challenges like cultural shocks, the importance of community, and the steps to prepare emotionally and practically for an interna...

Attorney Mena Maimone joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about the various pathways for moving to the United States in 2025. She explains common visas, such as the E2 investor visa, EB2 National Interest Waiver, and EB3 employment-based visa, detailing the requirements and processes for each. Mena shares her personal motivation for moving to the U.S., the key motivators for immigrants today, an...

Moving has been a top priority for some Americans since the US presidential election, leading to a surge in inquiries to immigration consultants, Canada Abroad. Deanne Acres joins the Expat Focus Podcast to explain exactly what US citizens need to know if they're set on relocating to Canada. For a free immigration assessment, visit: https://canadaabroad.com/assessment/ For job outlooks in Canada,...

Jake Barber, Founder and Advisor at SJB Global, is back in this episode to talk through the recent UK Budget announcements, and what they mean for UK expats. You can stay up to date with expert analysis like this by signing up to our monthly newsletter - just head to expatfocus.com/newsletter. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:32 Overview of UK Budget Changes 01:16 Income Tax and Capital Gai...