Where Do Gays Retire Podcast

Bilbao, Spain: Green, Rainy, and Nothing Like the Postcards Guest: Debra Bongard | Host: Mark Goldstein Debra Bongard moved to Bilbao, Spain in May 2025 with her spouse and her son, who is now 24. She had planned to retire in another two or three years, but after watching friends have their lives cut short or their retirement plans derailed by unexpected health issues, and after the 2024 US electi...

🎙 Retiring in Akrata, Greece: 60% Cheaper Than Orlando Host Mark Goldstein talks with Jeffrey Davidson and Walter Zak, a married couple who left Orlando, Florida, after more than thirty years and now live in a hillside village above Akrata on the Gulf of Corinth. Wally spent more than thirty years in hotel real estate development and finance, finishing with the opening of a one-billion-dollar reso...

WHERE DO GAYS RETIRE PODCAST Show Notes Lancaster, PA: No Gay Bars, No Gayborhood, No Problem Hosted by Mark Goldstein| Guest: Stephen Hardy |Lancaster, Pennsylvania Runtime: approximately 60 minutes Stephen Hardy and his husband Addison thought Phoenix was the finish line. They had raised two sons there, downsized into a gut-renovated mid-century condo in Midtown, and built a full civic life. Ste...

🎙️ Uruguay for LGBTQ+ Expats: Permanent Residency, Public Healthcare, and Daily Life in Montevideo Hosted by Mark Goldstein, Where Do Gays Retire Uruguay has some of the strongest LGBTQ+ legal protections in the world, and almost nobody talks about it. Steven Guthrie noticed. When he started looking for somewhere outside the United States to build a life, Spain and Mexico were the obvious candidat...

Retiring in Toulouse, France: Gay Life in the Pink City with Cameron Bray In this episode, host Mark Goldstein sits down with Cameron Bray, an Australian-born, naturalized British citizen who has been living permanently in Toulouse, France for over ten years. Cameron arrived with a simple plan: stay three months, learn some French, and move on. That plan never quite worked out. He fell in love wit...

Is Lyon, France the Most Livable City in Europe for Gay Retirees? With Eric Way In this episode, host Mark Goldstein sits down with Eric Way, a Tennessee-born engineer who arrived in Lyon, France, in 1989 as a university exchange student and never left. Now approaching his 38th year in the city, Eric lives downtown in a 19th-century apartment with his French architect husband and splits time betwe...

Retiring as a Single Lesbian in Setúbal, Portugal: Finding Community Beyond Lisbon Guest: Jules de Mello | Host: Mark Goldstein When Jules de Mello retired after a 27-year career as a federal criminal investigator, she went looking for a sunny, walkable place near the water where she could build a full life on her own terms. Lisbon was the plan, until the rents priced her out. Then she discovered...

🎙️ Where Do Gays Retire Podcast Transgender in Mexico: Living Authentically Abroad Guest: Stephanie Byers |Host: Mark Goldstein What does it actually feel like to walk down the street as a trans woman in a small Mexican lakeside town, and have nobody give you a second glance? That's the reality Stephanie Byers describes in this deeply moving and eye-opening episode. Stephanie, a former Kansas stat...

Living the Slow Life: Retiring in Cuenca, Ecuador with William Hutter What if the secret to a fulfilling retirement was simply slowing down? William Hutter didn't plan to fall in love with Cuenca, Ecuador. He went to visit his husband's hometown and kept crying every time he had to leave. Eventually, he stopped leaving. In this episode, William shares what life is really like in one of South Ameri...

WHERE DO GAYS RETIRE PODCAST Show Notes The Frying Pan Is Now the Fire — Where Do We Go From Here? Hosted by Mark Goldstein| Solo Episode |April 2026 Sequel to: "Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire" (July 2025) When Mark recorded "Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire" last July, he was mostly thinking about political instability in other countries. He wasn't quite expecting the frying pan itself to...

🎙️ Where Do Gays Retire Podcast wheredogaysretire.com Gay Retirement in Querétaro, Mexico: Real Costs, Healthcare, Visas & LGBTQ+ Life Featuring Bryan Hutson & Juan Gomar •Hosted by Mark Goldstein Most people think of Puerto Vallarta or San Miguel de Allende when they imagine retiring in Mexico. Bryan Hutson and Juan Gomar — the gay couple behind boutique candle brand Casa Beige — chose so...

🎙️ Where Do Gays Retire Podcast Episode: Cologne, Germany — The Gay Capital of Europe That No One Talks About Guest: Bryson Kelpe Have you ever considered Cologne, Germany, as a place to retire or live abroad? Most people haven't — and after this episode, you just might add it to your list. This week I sat down with Bryson Kelpe, an American expat therapist who left Tennessee behind in 2019 and bu...

Living in Vienna, Austria with Nikolett Kustos: An Expat’s Perspective Discover the nuances of life in Vienna through Nikolett Kustos's experiences as a Hungarian-born photographer and resident. From cultural differences to practical cost-of-living insights, this episode offers a comprehensive view of what makes Vienna a unique and appealing place to live. In this episode: Nikolett’s journey from...

Living in Cape Town: Insights on Retirement, Culture, and Practical Life Explore the diverse and vibrant city of Cape Town through the eyes of local William E., as he discusses its changing landscape, LGBTQ community, cost of living, safety, healthcare, and cultural scene. Whether you're considering retiring there or just curious about life in South Africa, this episode offers valuable, firsthand...

🎧 WHERE DO GAYS RETIRE PODCAST HIV+ and Retiring Abroad: Which Countries Actually Have Your Back? Solo Episode •Host: Mark Goldstein • 46 min 17 sec Episode Description If you are HIV-positive and thinking about retiring abroad, you have probably researched the cost of living, visas, and LGBTQ+ rights. But there is one question almost nobody addresses directly: what actually happens to your antir...

Living in Braga, Portugal: An Expat's Personal Journey Toward Peace, Community, and Tranquility Join us as we sit down with John Pistana, a retired American expatriate who moved from New York and Fort Lauderdale, FL, to the charming city of Braga, Portugal. Discover his insights on cost of living, community integration, healthcare, and what makes Braga a peaceful haven for retirees seeking safety,...

Today, we're diving deep into the sunny shores of Cascais, Portugal, and trust me, it’s not just a pretty postcard! Our guests, Alastair and Wes, share their journey from bustling city life to the chill vibes of this coastal gem, where they’ve found a safe haven to retire. They spill the tea on what it’s like to live in a place that’s all about art, food, and a good dose of relaxation, while also...

Summary In this episode, Mark Goldstein interviews Brad Shreve and Maurice Chevalier, a couple who recently relocated to Oliva, Spain, after years of contemplating a move abroad. They share their journey of deciding between Ecuador and Spain, ultimately choosing Spain for its quality of life and community. The couple discusses their specific criteria for choosing a location, including a preference...

Summary In this conversation, Mark Goldstein interviews Chad Pitts and Jorge Pitts about their experiences living in Zaragoza, Spain. They discuss their motivations for moving, the research they conducted, and their first impressions of the city. The couple shares insights into the cultural vibe, community building, cost of living, transportation, food scene, and healthcare in Zaragoza. They also...

We're diving into the sunny vibes of El Puerto de Santa Maria, a gem in southern Spain, where life is all about community and connection. Our guest, Daniel Cairns, swapped the hustle of London for the laid-back lifestyle of Andalusia, and he’s here to share how he and his partner are creating a welcoming home for expats in their Casa de Vecinos project. Together, they’re redefining retirement by b...

Ready to level up your retirement game? We're diving into the 10 essential questions every LGBTQ person should ask before picking their retirement city. Forget about palm trees and sunshine; we're talking about finding a place that vibes with who you are today, not who you were in your 20s. From walkability to genuine LGBTQ friendliness, we've got the scoop on what really matters for your happines...

Ever been curious about retiring in Oaxaca, Mexico? Well, grab your sun hat, because today we're diving into that dreamy destination! We chat with David and Harvey, a dynamic duo who’ve crafted their lives in this vibrant city after years of exploring Latin America. They'll share the scoop on community vibes, cost of living, and the oh-so-important healthcare scene. Spoiler alert: it’s all about c...

Today, we're diving headfirst into the world of Americans moving to Spain! We'll chat about why folks from the LGBTQ community are flocking to this sunny slice of Europe, seeking safer and more affordable retirement spots. Our guest, Christopher Hughey, is a relocation guru who's got the inside scoop on what it takes to make the big move. From climate to cost of living, he's got the lowdown on eve...

We’re diving into some heavy stuff today, folks! This episode is all about survival and community, wrapped in a personal story that hits hard. Mark Goldstein shares his experience surviving an aviation disaster 43 years ago, and how that day shaped his journey. We talk about the importance of choosing safe, queer-friendly places and how community can be your lifeline. Plus, we throw in some tips o...

We're taking a virtual trip to the gorgeous city of Montpellier in southern France, where retirement life for the LGBTQ community is as bright as the Mediterranean sun! Joining me, Mark Goldstein, is the fabulous Lloyd Meeker, who's got the inside scoop on everything you need to know—housing, healthcare, and the local vibe. Imagine living in a place where being gay is a total non-issue and the com...