The Places We Call Home podcast

Send us Fan Mail When you’ve tried the meetups, the coffee chats, the parent groups, the playground conversations… and still feel unseen This episode is for every expat and immigrant woman who has ever wondered, “Is it me?”  It’s not you. It’s the journey.  This episode will help you: Release assumptions about who your friends “should” be Recognize red flags and protect your emotional energy Cast...

Send us Fan Mail re you an expat woman struggling to make real friendships in America, feeling out of place, or wondering if you need to change who you are just to belong? Dasha moved to the USA from Russia for love. She landed in Lubbock, Texas. In this episode, she shares her journey from small-town rejection to finding meaningful connections in San Francisco. Her story shows that the expat expe...

Send us Fan Mail Done with shallow interactions or unsure how to build real connection? You’re not alone.  How do you become part of the  social circle when you keep getting the cold shoulder, where friendship isn’t spontaneous, and emotional safety isn’t guaranteed? This episode unpacks what’s really behind the struggle—and how to bridge the cultural gap with clarity and courage. You’ll walk away...

Send us Fan Mail Wondering where to find the kind of female friendships that actually feed your soul? You’re not wrong for craving more than surface-level connection. We're talking about loneliness, cultural shifts, and the quiet ache of being unknown in a new country. Forming meaningful friendships can feel like a second full-time job.  You’ll walk away with: Science-backed reasons why female fri...

Send us Fan Mail What if I fail? What if I don’t belong?  Are these questions keeping you from moving abroad for the life you dream of? This episode is your expat woman’s masterclass on moving abroad without letting fear win. Host Yolanda shares real experiences and what helped her prepare for a new life in the USA. If you can’t shake your own fears or answer the “How are you going to make it work...

Send us Fan Mail Hands up if you want to stay stuck in a job you hate, with dreams unfulfilled!  No soul wants that. We want to succeed. We want adventure, to be seen, heard, felt. We want purpose, love. And most of all, we want to be remembered.  I'm sitting down with guest and new friend, Samira Kawar, who left Jordan when there were no universities, and political unrest in neighboring countries...

Send us Fan Mail Why does starting over hurt so much when you move abroad?  Dive into the emotional truth behind relocation and how expat women can turn that pain into personal growth, confidence, and belonging. If you’ve ever relocated, battled homesickness, or struggled to find your place in a new culture, this episode speaks directly to you.  Drawing insights from the 2024 Global Expat Survey,...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling lost, lonely, or disconnected after moving abroad? Yolanda sits down with Samira Kawar—a trailblazing immigrant woman from Jordan who arrived in the U.S. in 1968 and built a life of legacy, leadership, and belonging. If you’re an expat woman navigating homesickness, culture shock, or isolation, this episode offers more than validation—it offers a blueprint.  You’ll learn h...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling homesick after moving to the USA? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.  In this Friday episode host Yolanda Reshemah shares three powerful ways expat women can use the wisdom of others to feel grounded, connected, and at home again. Whether you’ve just arrived or have been living abroad for years, this conversation will help you: Learn from...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling like you don’t belong yet?   In this heartfelt episode, Yolanda Reshemah and guest Karen Giva share the truth about starting over abroad—why belonging takes time, how healing helps, and what every expat woman can do to truly feel at home in a new country.  You'll learn why vulnerability matters, how to rebuild community, and what it really takes to feel at home in a new co...

Send us Fan Mail To share your own migration story or feedback email  guest@Theplaceswecallhome.com  This compelling podcast dives into Expat and immigrant women (and men) stories. Those who immigrate to the USA, tackling the struggles of homesickness, identity crisis, and culture shock in the USA while adjusting to expat life and navigating cultural differences. Through conversations on starting...

Send us Fan Mail Are you an expat woman starting over in the USA—and wondering why this transition feels harder than you expected?  Relocating abroad isn’t just about visas, moving boxes, and learning English. It’s about navigating homesickness, unspoken cultural codes, rebuilding your career, and figuring out how to belong in a place that doesn’t yet feel like home. In this heartfelt episode, you...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever wonder why homesickness hits so hard when you’re living abroad—even for things you never cared about back home? In this episode of Starting Over in the USA , Yolanda Reshemah explores the hidden truth behind homesickness for expat women. From longing for food you rarely ate to missing traditions you barely participated in, this episode dives deep into the emotional sid...

Send us Fan Mail Discover three emotional tools to help you feel grounded, confident, and emotionally safe while adjusting to life in a new country. Are you feeling disoriented, emotionally drained, or unsure of who you are since moving abroad?  You’re not alone. This episode breaks down the real difference between culture shock and homesickness—and why understanding both is key to emotional resil...

Send us Fan Mail  Simple shifts to help you feel grounded and strong in a new country.  In this episode, Yolanda Reshemah and clinical psychologist Dr. Veronique Ani unpack the hidden emotional challenges expat women face—from homesickness and self-doubt to the constant search for validation. Together, they reveal why true confidence doesn’t come from a new country or a new role, but from trusting...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever returned home only to realize you no longer feel at home there? For many expat women, the journey of relocation is full of unexpected emotions—missing one community while trying to rebuild another, questioning identity, and wondering where “home” truly is. This episode dives into that very struggle, showing how the USA can still hold promise despite its imperfections...

Send us Fan Mail What would you sacrifice for love—your career, your culture, your entire community? Dive into the story of Cristiani, a successful Brazilian entrepreneur who left behind her thriving design business, family, and culture to move to the U.S. for love. Her journey reveals the emotional challenges of starting over in a new country, balancing homesickness, cultural identity, and learni...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what it really takes to uproot your life, move across the world for love, and start over in America?  If you’re relocating to the USA—or already living here as an expat—you’ve likely felt the sting of loneliness, cultural missteps, and the struggle to find real connection. This episode is a moment from Dasha’s story,#13. Tune in now to hear why friendships don’t form...

Send us Fan Mail Do you need some practical insights on navigating cultural differences, social norms so you can thrive? Have you ever wondered if moving abroad means losing yourself—or finally finding who you really are?  For many expat and immigrant women, relocation is more than a physical move—it’s an identity shift. This episode explores how navigating cultural differences, reinventing your c...

Send us Fan Mail What's one mindset shift that will help any expat woman let go of the past and truly thrive in the USA? If you’ve relocated to the USA, you know it’s more than just unpacking suitcases. It’s about navigating cultural differences, finding your footing in a new land, and deciding who you want to be now. In this episode, we revisit a powerful conversation with Theo, a German expat wh...

Send us Fan Mail If you're a woman navigating a new country, especially the USA, and struggling with cultural differences, questioning your identity and if you belong, this episode offers you real tools to help you rebuild, reconnect, and rise.  Learn how to overcome homesickness, rediscover your voice, and take bold action - even when you don't feel ready. Perfect for immigrant and expat women fa...

Send us Fan Mail What if everything you were taught to believe about your future—your identity, your limits, your worth—was wrong? In this jaw-dropping episode, we go deep with Zainab—a Palestinian-African American woman whose life began with shaved identity, cultural rejection, and racial isolation in a village outside Jerusalem.  She faced every reason to stay small. Instead, she rewrote her sto...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt a quiet longing to start over abroad… only to talk yourself out of it with fear, doubt, or “what if I fail?” Before you pack a suitcase or book a one-way flight, there’s an emotional battle happening inside—and you’re not alone. In this heartfelt episode, Yolanda Reshemah pulls back the curtain on the most common fears that hold expat women back. Whether it’s fe...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered if the dream of starting fresh in the U.S. is really worth it? For many expat and immigrant women, the journey to start over in the U.S. begins with hope but often runs headfirst into uncertainty, emotional exhaustion and now shifting policies.  In this heartfelt episode, Yolanda Reshemah opens up about what the dream really costs—and why so many still choos...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a love letter to bold women who lead with story, stand out on purpose, and use cultural confidence as their superpower. In Part 2 of this heartwarming and hilariously honest conversation, Yolanda and Amy continue exploring identity, entrepreneurship, and authenticity across borders.  Amy shows that embracing your cultural quirks and leading with your truth isn’t ju...