The Places We Call Home podcast

Moving abroad has a way of shaking loose parts of you that you didn’t even know were fragile. Friendships shift, it changes your sense of self. In this episode, I talk with Patricia Boes , CEO of Unlimit Me , about what it takes to rebuild identity in a new country. Patricia shares how she found belonging after leaving Australia for the Bay Area, and what helped her feel grounded when everything f...

Relocating to a foreign country has a way of rearranging things -- your friendships, confidence, parts of you that you thought were solid. I talk about: the mix of belonging, homesickness, and loneliness that comes with expat life what it feels like to raise kids between cultures the version of you that’s waiting on the other side of this transition You don’t have to have it all sorted. You’re all...

The holidays are complicated when you’re living in a country that isn’t home. I’m sharing ten simple, comforting ideas that worked for me and can help you create a holiday season in the USA that feels truly yours. I talk about: finding community without the overwhelm • how to opt out gracefully • planning for triggers like homesickness I hope this episode gives you a few ideas — and a little comfo...

Send us Fan Mail What does Christmas look like when your life stretches across many countries? If you’re an expat or immigrant woman navigating the holidays in the USA, this episode offers something deeper than tips—it offers recognition. You’ll hear the mix of nostalgia, joy, longing, and connection that comes with celebrating Christmas far from home. You’ll come away with:  A reminder that home...

Send us Fan Mail Have you created your dream expat life abroad? Life as an expat is no joke! Moving to the USA can mean new opportunities, growth, and the inevitable personal changes for the better. For you.  Here is why you should not expect to walk in the front door to find the same attitudes that wished you well years ago. The new version of you is critiqued, the old version still expected. And...

Send us Fan Mail Have you immigrated away from your home, feeling foreign and a little lost? The first months abroad can feel like a whirlwind—joy, then the crash, then the ache of missing home.  In this episode, host Yolanda revisits her interview with guest Dr. Veronique Elefant—Yani, Clinical Psychologist, and creator of 3D Human Therapy®.  You will get: Gentle ways to steady yourself: journali...

Send us Fan Mail How to protect your identity, set boundaries, and create meaningful traditions when creating a new life in the USA. You’re not imagining it. For expat / immigrant women in the USA, the holidays often bring a unique mix of homesickness, cultural pressure, and the quiet fear of not belonging. This episode takes an honest look at what women like us are really experiencing: the overwh...

Send us Fan Mail How do you avoid isolation and create connection, community, and belonging during the Christmas holidays? The holidays can be a season of joy but for immigrant and expat women, it can feel like an extra layer of homesickness and longing. In this episode, we explore how to transform that loneliness into connection by blending traditions from back home with new rituals that feel aut...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling the dread of holiday loneliness because you live abroad?  Host Yolanda is being honest. The holidays bring a much needed moment of rest, togetherness, community, fun and festive food. But if you live abroad without family and you haven't built your tribe yet, it can be a mess.  The season that’s supposed to bring joy can instead spotlight what you're missing. Pay attention...

Fleeing Russia. Starting over in a new country is hard enough — doing it under pressure comes with a cost most people never talk about. In this episode, I sit down with Anna and Sergey as they share the story of fleeing Russia with only three days’ notice and seeking asylum in the United States. Their journey is raw, emotional, and full of moments that reveal what relocation really feels like when...

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do as an expat is admit that you’re ready to go home. In this episode, I share the story of a friend who, after twenty years in the USA, realized she was done pushing through corporate pressure, cultural exhaustion, and the constant feeling of being “the different one.” Her decision to return to England wasn’t about giving up — it was about choosing a life that...

Send us Fan Mail How do you rebuild an entire life from zero—no job, no family, no network—after fleeing a country you can never return to? If you’re an expat woman trying to feel grounded, connected, or at home in the USA, this episode reveals the real emotional, practical, and spiritual challenges that come with starting over—and the one element that makes the transition radically easier. You ar...

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...