Melanin Without Borders: An Expat Podcast

Nicole and Erik Hatch never planned to move to Mexico. What started as a short vacation turned into a new life, permanent residency, and the creation of The Black Mérida Experience. In this episode, they share the logistics of moving abroad, the real cost of living, building a supportive community, finding peace, and why they believe Mexico can offer a fresh start for many families. Check out our...

Moving abroad is about more than finding a new place to live—it's about finding people who help you thrive. In Part 2, Ashiko shares why community has been the foundation of her life in Mérida, the importance of healing for yourself and your children, and why she believes moving abroad can be a family journey at any stage of life. We also discuss affordable healthcare, the cost of living, mult...

In this episode, we sit with Ashiko, a 65-year-old freedom fighter who moved to Merida five years ago after her mother’s passing. She shares how she found serenity and became part of a supportive Black-centered community called The Black Merida Experience, a Facebook group that connects Black families, both locals and expats. Ashiko describes feeling safe in one of the safest city in the Americas,...

After her divorce, Violet made the life-changing decision to move herself and her two daughters from the U.S. to Spain. In this episode, she shares how she navigated uncertainty, researched the best fit for her family, and ultimately chose a life where safety, community, and quality of life became priorities. We discuss motherhood abroad, taking leaps of faith, and what happens when you stop accep...

In this episode of Melanin Without Borders , I sit down with HAPPI and Cleo, a creative couple who recently made the move from the U.S. to Da Nang, Vietnam. Together, we explore what life is actually like beyond the social media highlights and travel vlogs. We discuss their journey to Vietnam, the realities of being Black in a country where very few people look like you, and how they've built...