Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding

France's most famous gift to America arrived in 1886. Clara arrived in Minnesota in 2023. Both changed things forever. 🗽 What does it actually feel like to leave home for the first time — at 17, alone, for a whole school year? Clara grew up in the south of France dreaming of California and Hawaii. YFU sent her to Minnesota. She ended up doing ice fishing, a New Year's cold plunge, prom on...

What does it really feel like to land in Japan at 16, not knowing if your Japanese is good enough, and stay for six weeks? In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding , host Kelsey Ross sits down with Mallory, a Michigan high school student who spent the summer of 2025 studying abroad in Japan through YFU (Youth For Understanding). Mallory waited two years to be old enough to apply...

What does it take to leave Lithuania at 16, earn a fully-funded U.S. State Department scholarship, and spend a year discovering who you really are? In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross sits down with Dominyka McMeel, a FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) scholar from Lithuania who spent her exchange year in Northern California with YFU USA. Dominyka opens up abo...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding , host Kelsey Ross sits down with Joy Cade , Virtual Orientations Chairperson at YFU and former exchange student to Japan. Joy shares her remarkable journey studying abroad in Shikoku, Japan , diving into the challenges and beauty of the Japanese language, culture, school life, and personal growth. From learning kanji and navigating cultu...

It's been one whole year of stories, exchanges, and lives changed — and we're celebrating with YOU. In this special one-year anniversary episode, host Kelsey Ross reflects on an incredible first year of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, answers your listener-submitted questions, and gets surprise updates from some of your favorite past guests. Plus, a special teaser for something w...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding , host Kelsey Ross sits down with Alexandra Tague, a CBYX alum who spent 2009–2010 living and studying in Germany through Youth For Understanding (YFU). Alex shares her journey from the moment she discovered the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program to the whirlwind months of preparing to leave the U.S. at sixteen. She opens up about...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding , Thai exchange alumna Tanya Thabjan shares the story of how her year studying abroad in the United States transformed her life. Tanya reflects on the challenges and joys of navigating a new culture, from overcoming language barriers and adjusting to an American high school to forming meaningful bonds with her host family. She describes h...

In this inspiring episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding , host Kelsey Ross sits down with high school student Ireland Emerson to explore her life-changing experience studying abroad in Germany through the YFU Germany for You scholarship. Ireland shares how she discovered the program, the emotional highs of being accepted, and the deep connections she formed with her host family durin...

In this special Podcasthon edition of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding , host Kelsey Ross sits down with Scott Messing — President & CEO of Youth For Understanding USA — to explore the life-changing power of cultural exchange. Scott shares his journey from growing up surrounded by global influences, to studying abroad in Germany, to eventually leading one of the most impactful exchange...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross speaks with Matt Burke, a YFU alum and CBYX scholarship recipient, about his transformative year studying abroad in Germany. From his early inspiration to the challenges of cultural adjustment and host family dynamics, Matt shares how his exchange experience shaped his identity, resilience, and future. Matt reflects on t...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross chats with Julika Enslin, a YFU alum from Germany who spent a transformative year studying abroad in Michigan. Julika shares how her curiosity about cultures and love for English led her to the U.S., and how her exchange experience shaped her personal growth, academic path, and global career. From field hockey and poetry...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross speaks with Tyler McCamley, a YFU France alumnus whose exchange journey began with a newspaper article and a bookmark—and led to a life transformed. Tyler shares his story of leaving Philadelphia for France as a high school student, navigating cultural differences, language barriers, and personal growth. He opens up abou...

In this heartfelt episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross sits down with Megan Herndon—YFU alumna, host mother, and volunteer—to explore the transformative power of cultural exchange. Megan shares her experience as a CBYX scholarship recipient in post-Berlin Wall Germany, the challenges of language immersion, and the deep connections formed with host families. Now a s...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross chats with Simone Majekodunmi, a 16-year-old YFU exchange student from Texas who spent six unforgettable weeks studying abroad in Japan. Simone shares how her love for Japanese culture began, how she prepared for her exchange—including learning Japanese and researching Hiroshima—and what it was like adjusting to life wit...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross chats with Marina, a YFU exchange student from California who spent a transformative year studying abroad in Austria. Marina shares how her passion for languages and dance led her to choose Austria, and how she navigated learning German, joining a unique dance studio, and adapting to Austrian school life. From Krampus pa...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross chats with Keith Hehr, a host parent from Iowa who has welcomed international exchange students through YFU for six out of the last ten years. What started with a baseball ad turned into a life-changing experience for Keith’s family, filled with laughter, learning, and global connection. Keith shares how hosting students...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross chats with Christian, a YFU alum from Germany who spent a transformative year studying abroad in Argentina. Inspired by his sister’s exchange experience, Christian shares how he chose Argentina over Canada, the culture shocks he faced, and how his host families helped him feel at home—complete with a welcome cake and a G...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross chats with Liz Zirk—a YFU alum, longtime volunteer, and soon-to-be host parent—whose exchange year in Germany in the late ’90s was anything but ordinary. From French pronunciation contests as a kid to boldly declaring her study abroad plans over dinner, Liz’s story is full of charm, courage, and cultural surprises. Liz s...

In this heartfelt episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross sits down with Carrie and Justin Stiltner, a couple from Clyde, Ohio, who share their journey of hosting exchange students through YFU. What began as a leap of faith during the COVID-19 pandemic turned into a life-changing experience filled with laughter, learning, and love. Carrie and Justin reflect on their f...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross speaks with Greta, a 17-year-old CBYX scholarship recipient from Germany, about her unforgettable exchange year in the United States. From overcoming her fear of backyard chickens to navigating multiple host family transitions, Greta shares the highs and lows of her journey with honesty, humor, and resilience. Greta open...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross speaks with Jarrett Wells, a United Methodist pastor from Illinois who, along with his family, has hosted six international exchange students through YFU. Jarrett shares how their hosting journey began, the importance of setting expectations, and the power of open communication. From hilarious cultural misunderstandings—...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross speaks with Kyle Tew, a 16-year-old CBYX scholarship recipient from Michigan currently living in Germany. Kyle shares his journey from applying to the prestigious Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program to adjusting to life abroad—language barriers, homesickness, and all. Kyle opens up about the support he recei...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, Musfirah shares her inspiring journey as a high school exchange student in the U.S. through the prestigious Kennedy-Lugar YES Scholarship Program. Originally from Bangladesh, Musfirah opens up about navigating culture shock, celebrating Ramadan abroad, and adjusting to life with a host family in small-town Michigan. From racing through a...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, Gabriela shares her inspiring journey as a high school exchange student from Iowa to Germany through the prestigious YFU CBYX Scholarship Program. From a whirlwind last-minute application to a chaotic but joyful acceptance moment, Gabriela’s story is filled with humor, heart, and determination. She opens up about the challenges of the CB...

In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross speaks with Abby, a high school exchange student who studied abroad in Germany through the prestigious CBYX Scholarship Program. Abby shares her inspiring study abroad experience, from living with a German host family and adjusting to cultural differences, to falling in love with German bread and embracing local traditio...