The Expat Chat

Episode 138: Trading Silicon Valley for a Mooring in Montenegro

  In this episode of the podcast, I explore the exciting experience of living and travelling on a boat. I talk to Tim Bull, who is exploring the Mediteranean from his mooring base in Montenegro. We discuss the typical day of a live-aboarder, the appeal of living on a boat, along with its challenges, and the vibrant community of live-boarders in Montenegro. We talk about how Tim has invested in a variety of assets, including an apartment in Athens and a hobby farm in Bulgaria. We also discu...

Episode 137: Live in Turkey or Live in Malaysia? Ryand Runge of Snail Travels

In this episode, we explore full-time travel and settling down with Ryan Runge of Snail Travelers. Ryan and his wife Emily decided to leave the traditional American 9-5 lifestyle to pursue their dream of traveling the world. We follow their journey from Lima, Peru to Malaysia, Mexico, and finally, Turkey, where they choose to settle due to the kind people, beautiful waterfront, four seasons, and reasonable cost of living. We also discuss the differences in infrastructure between Malaysia and...

Episode 136: How to Cruise For Six Months Every Year; Richard and Angelyn Burk

In this episode, we chat with Richard and Angelyn Burk who have been traveling the world for over two years. Inspired by their forever home, they decided to pursue traveling upon their retirement and took advantage of deals for cruises after the onset of COVID. We discuss cruising during and post-COVID, the protocols in place to keep passengers safe, and the flexibility of the cruise industry. We also explore the benefits of cruising, such as being able to explore a new place every day, taki...

Episode 135 (From the Archives): How We Started With Fulltime Travel; Michael and Yvonne Bauche

Can you really sustain a lifestyle caring for other people’s houses and never have to go home again? Today’s guests are living proof of the fact. Michael and Yvonne Bauche gave up a comfortable but stress-inducing lifestyle in Vancouver Canada 3 years ago and they haven’t looked back. Their income is lower but so is their living costs giving them the opportunity to live a millionaire’s lifestyle on less than $C3000 per month all without having to eat into their savings. They’ve met inter...

Episode 134: The Growth of Housesitting... and Living in France

In this episode, we explore the concept of long-term travel after Brexit with Ian Usher and Vanessa Anderson from Housesitting Magazine who provided us with the perspective of two people who relocated to France at the time of Brexit. We discuss how Brexit has changed how expats can live in Europe, the challenges of property renovation in another country, and the surge of house-sitting during the pandemic thanks to Vanessa’s unique insights as an employee of Trusted Housesitters. We also disc...

Episode 133: How to Pivot Your Travel Plans on a Dime

Ever woken up not knowing where you will sleep tonight? For some travelers this level of unplanning isn't scary - in fact it gives them the freedom to turn on a dime as new opportunities arrive On this episode, we explored the idea of a slower lifestyle and last minute booking and how it has changed the lives of Jimmy and Sarah Johnson. We discussed the advice they would give someone considering this ethod of travel, and shared their own experiences and how the slower pace of life has be...

Episode 132: Traveling in a Post Covid World; Jane Dempster-Smith

In this episode, I explore sustainable travel post-COVID with Jane Dempster Smith of Two Travel. We discuss the impact of COVID on travel, the theme of the TBX conference, and the changes in their own travel style. Jane also mentions the conference brings in hundreds of travel content creators and there were many new attendees this year. We also discuss adapting to multi-generational travel, their budget and travel bucket list, and their own Staycations Australia concept. Finally, we talk ab...

Episode 131: Traveling the Camino Alone; Leita Joy

In this episode I explored what it takes to prepare for a spiritual journey along the Camino pilgrimage in Spain. My guest Lisa Joy shared her own experience of traveling the Camino, including the year of preparation she did, which included research, physical and spiritual preparation, and talking to people who had already done the Camino. I also discussed the importance of solo female travel, the costs associated with the journey, and the hardships faced by the original pilgrims. Lastly, I ...

Episode 130: How to Save $30000pa and Travel the World; Michael and Yvonne Bauche

In this episode, we discussed the ins and outs of house-sitting and how to find the right sit for yourself. We spoke with Michael andYvonne Bauche, who have done over 85 house-sitting sessions. They suggested that newbies should start with shorter, smaller sets in order to build up preferences. For those looking to travel extensively, they recommend a minimum of one month for a house-sitting session. We also discussed how to read into house-sitting profiles, how to create trust between the o...

Episode 129: Traveling the World on Two Wheels; Brent Ruru

In this podcast episode, I explored the concept of adventurous travel on two wheels with Brent Ruru from Christchurch, New Zealand. He and his family have cycled the length of New Zealand, Cambodia, Spain, and Canada. During their journey in New Zealand, they raised over ten thousand dollars for a child cancer charity. They discussed the hospitality they enjoy everywhere and the benefits of global traveling. Finally, I discussed the Te Araroa trail in New Zealand and plans for future travels...

Episode 128: The Benefits of Medical Tourism

In this episode, Chris Englert and Steve Goodfriend discuss their nomadic lifestyle, and explore the financial and medical benefits of travelling the world. They share their own strategies for saving money, such as investing in stocks at a young age and prioritizing travel. The speakers also share their experience finding medical care in different countries, and the importance of having insurance. Furthermore, they discuss the importance of spending time with family and friends, and the less...

Episode 127: Extended Vacations: Brian and Penny Davidson

Brian and Penny Davidson have perfected the art of extended vacations, thanks to a combination of slow travel and housesitting. They have no desire to hit the road permanently but want to avoid rushing around sites and being restricted by a budget as normal travel can be. In this episode, we explore the many benefits of house sitting as an option for travel and how it can provide a local experience and cost savings. We talk about how Brian and Penny are able to afford 3 - 4 month holidays ...

Episode 126: Finding the Fountain of Youth: Alan and Ros Cuthbertson

Perpetual travelers Alan and Ros Cuthbertson of Frequent Traveller join us to discuss their life of constant travel. Since hitting the road in 2015 from their base of Bundaberg, Australia they've mastered the art of living on the road for an affordable price. They credit their lifestyle with providing them with a new-found feeling of youth. In this interview we discuss the benefits of medical tourism overseas, the kind hearted nature of people around the world and why you need to ignore wh...

The Cost of Flight in a Post Covid World

Today we’re joined by Jesse Neugarten, CEO ofDollar Flight Club. Jesse is no crystal ball gazer however he has done some pretty extensive research into the airline industry and what happened after 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis. The results have been interesting and in this discussion Jesse will share his findings and how they could be a very accurate pointer to what will happen with airline pricing coming out of the corona virus scare.

Financially Independent and Retired Early

FIRE exponents (Financial Independence Retire Early) Tim and Amy Rutherford of GowithLess.com have found the secret of early retirement and with the kids off their hands have now hit the road full time. The covid world we now live in has put something of a spanner in the works for many permanent travellers including those, like Amy and Tim, who have just got underway. They won’t be letting this put paid to their careful planning however. We caught up with them to discuss how to be flexib...

Travelling Without Flight

Travelling the world has its challenges at the best of times - but attempting to do it without flight is a whole new experience! Today we interview Dave and Di Taunton who, in 2016, decided to sell up and hit the road crossing the planet without the use of flight. They left their native Sydney and havent looked back. In this interview they share their experiences of how travelling by road and sea offers a unique perspective of the world and how their new lifestyle has enriched them. Sit back...

Episode 124: Dave and Di Taunton Travelling Without Flight

Travelling the world has its challenges at the best of times - but attempting to do it without flight is a whole new experience! Today we interview Dave and Di Taunton who, in 2016, decided to sell up and hit the road crossing the planet without the use of flight. They left their native Sydney and havent looked back. In this interview they share their experiences of how travelling by road and sea offers a unique perspective of the world and how their new lifestyle has enriched them. Sit back...

The Future of Travel in a Post Covid World - Part 2

Many of you will have enjoyed our previous podcast The Future of Travel in a Post Covid World where we discussed what will happen when the current lockdown situation comes to an end. This live event was an excellent chance to ask your questions of our live panel but as we have an audience spread across six continents we weren't able to do this at a time that suited everyone. With that in mind we decided to repeat our live event with The Future of Travel in a Post Covid World - Part 2 with a ...

Live Discussion:The Future of Travel in a Post Covid World -Part 1

Todays podcast is a recording of our recent live panel discussion on the Future of Travel in a Post Covid World. Joinng me are world renown travel blogger Barbara Weibel of Hole in the Donut .com  Intrepid Aussie traveller Duncan Dempster Smith of To Travel Too.com and Co-editor of Housesitting Magazine Ian Usher of housesittingmagazine.com. These live panel discussions are a regular part of our interviews and gives you, the listener, the chance to participate with your own questions for our...

The Future of Travel in a Post Covid World -Part 1

Todays podcast is a recording of our recent live panel discussion on the Future of Travel in a Post Covid World. Joinng me are world renown travel blogger Barbara Weibel of Hole in the Donut .com  Intrepid Aussie traveller Duncan Dempster Smith of To Travel Too.com and Co-editor of Housesitting Magazine Ian Usher of housesittingmagazine.com. These live panel discussions are a regular part of our interviews and gives you, the listener, the chance to participate with your own questions for our...

Episode 121: Peter and Karen Pecksen

Todays guests are Canadian travellers Peter and Karen Pecksen. We first met Peter and Karen while housesitting in Singapore. We noticed from their comments on a Facebook group that they were in town - we reached out to them and the next day were enjoying each others company over a nightmarket dinner and a couple of beers. Thats just the way travel rolls sometimes! Pete and Karen are hardcore. Theyve been travelling for six years with no signs of tiring! On the interview they share their uniq...

6 Years Travel and Counting

Todays guests are Canadian travellers Peter and Karen Pecksen. We first met Peter and Karen while housesitting in Singapore. We noticed from their comments on a Facebook group that they were in town - we reached out to them and the next day were enjoying each others company over a nightmarket dinner and a couple of beers. Thats just the way travel rolls sometimes! Pete and Karen are hardcore. Theyve been travelling for six years with no signs of tiring! On the interview they share their uniq...

Update on The Expat Chat

Polar Bears and Icebergs; Living Beyond the Arctic Circle

It seems in this day and age most of the world has been explored. Trying to find a destination which isn’t crowded with tourists and cameras is an increasingly difficult job. Today’s interviewee however has found the perfect place to live where few people will bother him. For most people the idea of a job for life would seem like perfect security. For Christian Bruttel life in the German education system as a teacher was enjoyable but he felt trapped, as if his life was already played out....

Polar Bears and Icebergs; Living Beyond the Arctic Circle

It seems in this day and age most of the world has been explored. Trying to find a destination which isn’t crowded with tourists and cameras is an increasingly difficult job. Today’s interviewee however has found the perfect place to live where few people will bother him. For most people the idea of a job for life would seem like perfect security. For Christian Bruttel life in the German education system as a teacher was enjoyable but he felt trapped, as if his life was already played out....

How to Downsize for the Big Trip Ahead

One of the biggest and most emotional stages of preparing for an expat life is downsizing and leaving your current home. It’s a process fraught with emotion and the job of determining what passes the test of fitting in your suitcase or backpack for the travels ahead is daunting for most people. Today we speak to personal organizer Donna Donaldson about the process of preparing for your big move abroad. Donna has years of experience on helping people to downsize and declutter their homes an...

How to Downsize for the big Trip Ahead

Heading: How to Downsize for the Big Trip Ahead One of the biggest and most emotional stages of preparing for an expat life is downsizing and leaving your current home. It’s a process fraught with emotion and the job of determining what passes the test of fitting in your suitcase or backpack for the travels ahead is daunting for most people. Today we speak to personal organizer Donna Donaldson about the process of preparing for your big move abroad. Donna has years of experience on helpi...

300 Days of Travel...and Counting...

Many of our interviewees have an ah-ha moment when the decision to travel becomes a reality. For Carmen Tseng it came while chopping mushrooms! Her partner and her were discussing options for a holiday to Bali when the realization occurred to both of them that they could stay in a hotel there including breakfast each day for less than the cost of their suburban Perth apartment. From there a plan was hatched. They had always loved travel and once they knew it cost them less than their old...

Eradicating Leprosy, Raising Kids and Selling Coffee

For most people just moving to a foreign country would be a big enough challenge. Starting a new business from scratch while raising 7 children (5 adopted locally with special needs) and supporting a wife who has moved mountains in terms of helping eradicate leprosy from large rural areas of China would be a huge ask but for Joshua Jagelman it’s just another day at the office. The office for Joshua is not normal however. He and his home schooled family divide their time between Chiang Mai ...

Raising Our Kids without School - Our Mexican Life

In today’s interview we speak with Martin and Lorena Cagnotti – two expat Argentinians who made the decision 13 years ago to move from their home town of Buenos Aires to the hubbub of Mexico City. After 7 years there they have now settled into the idyllic seaside community of Playa del Carmen where they are raising their two children through unschooling. We met up with them to discuss living in one of the world’s largest cities, why they moved to Playa del Carmen and to talk about many of ...

Living the Good Life in Bangkok

Not all expats move to cut costs and living the expat life doesn’t have to mean living on the smell of an oily rag. Today’s interviewees have transformed their lives from management consultants slogging the 9 to 5 and longer, to internet marketing experts who have built themselves a digital empire and given themselves the lifestyle and freedom they’ve always wanted. In 2013 Andrew and Daryl Grant left the Gold Coast, Australia to enjoy the benefits of Bangkok, taking their two pre-teen chi...

Why Tragedy was our Travel Catalyst

Many people we interview have life changing moments that serve as the catalyst to their new life abroad. For Dalene and Pete Heck it was a series of tragedies including the death of Pete’s mother and Dalene’s sister passing in her early 30’s that prompted the two Alberta, Canada natives that it was time to make the most of the time they had on this planet. They had been avid travelers during the holidays they had taken but their corporate jobs served as a restriction to the real time and ene...

7 Tips for Living Healthy on the Road

Trying to stay healthy on the road can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare – you’re pushed for time, you’re in a strange environment with no common reference points or places to eat and you’re at your most vulnerable when energy levels get low and stress might get high. Today’s guest is Karen Wojciechowski who knows first-hand the difficulties of taking care of yourself as an expat traveler. She’s left her native habitat in Perth Australia with her husband and after a stint in Canada is now ...

Traveling the World Without Flight

Heading: Traveling the World Without Flying; Di and Dave Taunton Today’s guests haven’t gone anywhere yet…but they are about to! Di and Dave Taunton are only a few days away from their expat adventure. The catalyst for their nomadic lifestyle was a serious car accident Dave had 12 years ago. Re-evaluating life the two of them headed overseas with their children on a 5 year journey but 2 years in they decided they needed to return to give their children some normalcy. Dave still felt he h...

An Uncluttered Life

Show Notes – An Uncluttered Life; Warren and Betsy Talbot One of the first steps in any journey to become an expat is getting rid of the clutter – be it physical or mental – that is part and parcel of any home and any life. The first step on this journey is having clarity in what you want and what you need in order to achieve it, then eliminating the surplus that sucks your time and energy; be it items, issues or relationships. Today via livestream Blab we speak with Warren and Betsy T...

The Power of Mentors: How Positive Thinking Made Me a Digital Nomad

Shawna Sharee was first inspired to live a wandering lifestyle when she read the book Eat, Pray, Love. Like many she dreamed of travel but thought she needed a lot of money to do it. It wasn’t until she joined an online program for woman entrepreneurs that she discovered there were others living the life she wanted – and it was the motivation to change her own life. Despite a pay raise that threatened to tempt her away from her dream she set herself the task of ending a toxic relationship ...

The Homeless Digital Nomad

Katya Sarmiento’s time in college certainly gave her a well-rounded education. She embarked on a number of options including air traffic control before realizing a life of travel and entrepreneurship was her true passion. She dropped out of college, quit her part-time job and started her own online business intent on building her future. Through online contacts and Facebook groups she built relationships and helped others. In return they offered her a place to stay when she visited. She so...

RV'ing our Way Across the U.S and Europe

 You might like the idea of an RV holiday for a couple of weeks – but how about living permanently in a van? For Drew and Brittany Neumann the decision to quit their L.A. apartment for a new life on the road was an easy one. Their adventure so far has taken them all over the U.S.A in the last 12 months and with their recent wedding behind them the adventurous couple are now heading for a new van life in the Europe. We caught up with them in Florida making last minute wedding plans ahead of ...

Living at the Crossroads of East and West; My Life in Turkey

For many people living in a place that is 99% Muslim, in a city of over 15 million people with Syria on your border and 2 million refugees pouring into your country – this would be well outside your comfort zone. For Leonard Durso it’s just another experience of life in Turkey. After becoming dissatisfied with life in Academia (see Claudia Tavani interview) Leonard moved permanently to Turkey in 2010 and has come to love the people, the lifestyle and the affordability of the country known a...

How Our Online Store Funds Our RV Adventure

Living an Expat lifestyle and leaving the 9 to 5 routine doesn’t necessarily meaning not exploring your own country as part of the journey. For Alabama native Kyle Brady and his partner Olivia Gould their old lives left them feeling trapped and not going anywhere. They had a desire to see more of their own country – Olivia hadn’t even seen a mountain prior to going! The couple started their planning in September 2014 and after 12 months of downsizing and saving up (they set aside $300 per w...

Traveling on the Kindness of Strangers-the Amazing Adventures of a Nobody

 Leon Logothetis was a London stockbroker working in the city. On the outside he had it all but on the inside he felt miserable and depressed. His future looked set in stone until one day he watched an inspirational movie called the Motorcycle Diaries and he realized that his future was not going to improve unless he changed. Inspired he headed off on an adventure to travel the world spreading kindness along the way. Leon has gone on to visit over 90 countries and inspire thousands with his...

From Greek Islands to the Emerald Isles; Our Family Sabbatical in Greece and Ireland

From Greeks Islands to the Emerald Isles; Our Family Sabbatical in Greece and Ireland Tina Lavelle had traveled Europe when she was younger, and the urge to return had never left. Her husband Ralph had grown up in Ireland and both felt a desire to leave their suburban Australia lifestyle for some freedom abroad. In 2015 they packed up their two children, rented out their home and firstly headed to the Greek island of Zakynthos where they enjoyed 4 sun filled months before heading for Dublin...

Travel Helped Me Become Myself

Tommy Walker grew up in the north of England with stories of travel and adventure as a part of his life. With many relatives living overseas and an Uncle who had shared his stories of traveling in South East Asia Tommy had long held the goal of seeing more of the world for himself. Just over 3 years ago he headed off on an adventure to Thailand that was only supposed to be for 3 months. Hooked by the experience he explored much of Asia and Australia for a year and then spent 12 months trave...

Off the Beaten Track - My Life in Botswana and Pakistan

To many parents the idea of raising children in an underdeveloped African nation would seem scary. For Sara Sullivan it’s just another adventure in a life that has seen her explore new boundaries both personally and professionally. The mother of two has followed up time in Pakistan with starting a family in the Southern African nation where she lives with her family in the capital of Gabarone. Today she joins us to share her experiences of the Botswanan culture, how she raises her children...

Travel Perks Are Worth the Effort

Kay Dougherty was a successful well paid but stressed high heeled member of the Boston financial establishment when the financial crisis hit in 2008 and her company chose to downsize. In her mid 50’s Kay found getting a new job to be a challenge. Always a lover of travel she discovered a new role as a marketing consultant which paid the bills and have her increased freedom to travel more. Her travel blog of her adventures with her sister drew attention thanks to Kays contagious humor and le...

How I Moved Countries and Started Two Online Businesses

Well they say love can make you do things you don’t expect. For Andrea Gomez the prospect of moving from her home in Colombia to the Netherlands was not something she had expected growing up in Bogota! Andrea moved to be with her Dutch boyfriend around 8 months ago - to a small village near the border with Germany, and is slowly getting used to European life including climate changes that she never had to deal with before. In today’ s interview Andrea talks about what she loves about the D...

Village Life in Cambodia - How Volunteering has Changed My Life

Cambodia offers its visitors a land of contrasts. Larger cities like Phnom Penh are fast developing a western style with many of the fast food chains setting up shop. But head to rural Cambodia and you take a step back in time to a place where life is a lot simpler. One person enjoying the benefits of Cambodian village life is Kirsty Thorpe, an Australian teacher who has been volunteering with a child rescue organization a couple of hours from Phnom Penh. In todays interview Kirsty shares...

Finding My Fulfillment

Steven Courtney was no experienced traveler. In fact the 22 year old hadn’t even known what a youth hostel was when he made his first trip across the US on a work trip. He discovered a whole new world of multiple languages and adventure that he had to be part of. From that point forward the standard two week holiday was spent experiencing the world but limited time wasn’t enough and he knew he needed more. 4 years ago he took the plunge to becoming a fulltime traveler and hasn’t looked ba...

Living and Traveling in Costa Rica

Not everyone plans a move overseas. For Samantha Wei it was meeting her partner Yeison, a Costa Rican native,that was the catalyst for her move there from the United States 3 years ago. After an initial period of settling in she now considers Costa Rica to be home and has made a new life, and a very successful online business since moving there. We caught up with Samantha to discuss the process of adapting to a new country and culture, the relative merits of the two towns she has mainly liv...

The Foodies Guide to Traveling the World

Part of the enjoyment of another countries culture is exploring the food options. You can discover so much about a country and really discover the rich flavors that are available in each region that are unique to the area. Two travelers on a quest to uncover the world’s finest foods are Rosemary Kimani and Claire Rouger. The couple left their corporate positions in the U.S. in August 2015 and their journey so far has helped them find the finer detail of food in Uruquay, Argentina and now Ch...