Expat Lifestyles Episodes

Expat life is about super-sizing everything - your worldview, your resilience, your sense of what's possible when you step outside your comfort zone. It's the art of turning the whole world into your playground while discovering who you really are when nobody knows your backstory.
Nov. 29, 2025

Belonging Across Cultures

Show Notes Welcome back to Nomadic Diaries for part two of our conversation with Ruth Van Reken, the influential voice behind "Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds." Joined by Megan Norton-Newbanks and your host Doreen Cumberford, Ruth dives deep into cross-cultural identity, belonging, and …

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Nov. 24, 2025

Life in the Camel Lane - A Reading

In this heartfelt episode of Nomadic Diaries, Doreen Cumberford opens up about the challenges and transformations of expat life, drawing from her own 15 years as an accompanying spouse in Saudi Arabia. She reads an excerpt fr...

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Nov. 16, 2025

Bodies Know Belonging

This episode explores the deep connections between movement, body awareness, identity, and belonging, especially as experienced by people who navigate multiple cultures. The conversation dives into Marcia Bonato Warren's uniq...

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Nov. 8, 2025

Parenting & Belonging

In this insightful episode of Nomadic Diaries, hosts Doreen Cumberford and Megan Norton-Newbanks delve into the mental health challenges and evolution of belonging on the expat journey with special guest Patrick Kadian, The E...

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Nov. 7, 2025

Belonging Bites: Languages

Episode Overview: In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, co-hosts Megan Norton-Newbanks and Doreen Cumberford dive into the nuanced relationship between language and belonging. Drawing from their own global upbringings and exper...

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Oct. 23, 2025

Expat Repatriation Reality - Reposting

The Plot Twist Nobody Warns You About! In this insightful conversation, Angie Weinberger returns to Nomadic Diaries to explore the complex emotions and practical challenges faced by expats and global citizens, especially around repatriation and defining "home." Angie, based in Zurich, shares her ex…

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Oct. 8, 2025

The Price of Expat Life: Grief, Purpose etc......

In this heartfelt episode of Nomadic Diaries , host Doreen Cumberford chats with Brigitte Muller, a South African marketing strategist and long-term expat living in Tampa, Florida. They delve into the complexities of expat li...

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Sept. 17, 2025

Breaking Barriers: Connecting Saudi Stories to Global Screens

Some time ago I recorded this episode of Nomadic Diaries with Todd Nims, an Aramco Brat whose parents we had known in Saudi Arabia. Episode Highlights In this captivating conversation, we explore the fascinating journey of fi...

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Sept. 16, 2025

Moving With a Family to San Miguel de Allende?

Key Topics Discussed Tracy’s Expat Journey: Tracy shares her path from Aberdeen, Scotland to Mexico, with stops in Houston and Cancun, and explains how her kids have thrived in a multilingual, multicultural environment.San Miguel de Allende for Families: It is definitely shifting from a retiree-foc…

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Sept. 9, 2025

Moving to San Miguel de Allende: Practical First Steps

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries , host Doreen Cumberford welcomes friend and real estate expert Tracy Moss to discuss the ins and outs of buying property in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Tracy draws on her 20+ years in Me...

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July 8, 2025

Living Well Where You Don't Belong - or - Living Where You Light Up?

Hopefully you will find this episode with Marilyn Gardner soul-nourishing! Host Doreen Cumberford welcomes Marilyn Gardner for a deep dive into the rhythms, challenges, and beauty of leading a global, nomadic life. Marilyn shares her experiences of moving through 36 homes across continents, the les…

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June 10, 2025

Living Between Worlds: The Privileges and Losses of Global Childhoods

In this episode, Doreen Cumberford welcomes welcomes Mathieu Gagnon, an Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK) and Professor of Psychology at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario specializing in the emotional experiences o...

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May 20, 2025

Unpacking Transitions: Coaching for Expats & the Globally Mobile

I sat down with Linda Mueller, who was a previous Co-Host for the Re-Entry Series. Linda is an experienced ExpatPartnerCoach and we dived into the benefits of coaching for people who live in the international and global comm...

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April 8, 2025

Unpacking Your Emotional Suitcase: Therapy for the Globally Mobile

In this episode, host Doreen Cumberford chats with Dr. Sally McGregor, a licensed clinical psychologist and adult third culture kid, about the mental health challenges faced by expatriates and globally mobile individuals. Dr....

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Dec. 17, 2024

Living Abroad with Purpose - Steve Hoffman

Welcome to our first scheduled and deliberate replay episode. The reason we choose this episode is because it was one of our favorite episodes from 2024. Join us for a touch of inspiration and a fun conversation with Steve Ho...

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Dec. 10, 2024

The Story Behind This Podcast....

Ever wondered how globe-trotting lifestyles are transforming in our post-pandemic world? In this captivating episode of "Nomadic Diaries," guest Sylvia Thiesen interviews host Doreen Cumberford, to find out why Nomadic Diarie...

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Nov. 30, 2024

Re-Entry Series 30: Reflections and Farewells

We hope that these 30 podcasts have been both useful and informative! In this final episode of Nomadic Diaries' Reentry Series, hosts Doreen Cumberford and Linda Mueller reflect on 30 days of podcasts that included stories, themes, and challenges faced during the journey of returning to one's passp…

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Nov. 29, 2024

RE Series 29: Understanding Repatriation - Margaret Ghielmetti

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to return home after years of globetrotting? In this compelling episode of Nomadic Diaries, Linda Mueller sits down with Margaret Ghielmetti, author of "Bravish: A Memoir of a Recovering Perfectionist". They explore the emotional rollercoaster of expatriate lif…

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Nov. 28, 2024

RE Series 28: Repatriation & Family Helen Ellis

Have you ever felt the rush of joy upon returning home from a long journey, only to be blindsided by the emotional and logistical challenges that follow? In this short episode of Nomadic Diaries' ReEntry Series, host Doreen C...

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Nov. 27, 2024

Re-Entry Series 27: Reading From Arriving Well

Ever felt the pull of the world that lies beyond your doorstep? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series host Doreen Cumberford reads the heartwarming and insightful story of Deirdre K. Razzaque, exploring her ...

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Nov. 26, 2024

Re-Entry Series 26: Repatriation Realities

Imagine transitioning from the vibrant expat life in California to the complex and challenging reality of returning to London? That’s the journey Polly Collingridge from the Cultural Intelligence Centre shared with Doreen Cum...

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Nov. 25, 2024

Re-Entry Series 25 : Landings

Feeling unsteady as you transition back to your home country? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, host Doreen Cumberford and co-host Linda Mueller delve into the complexities of repatriation, exploring the emotional and logistical challenges through the metaphor of lily pads. Repatriation isn't jus…

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Nov. 24, 2024

Re-Entry Series. 24: Inspiration Outdoors

Have you ever used nature, the outdoors, or your environment to inspire or ground yourself during repatriation? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, host Doreen Cumberford and co-host Linda Mueller seek to...

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Nov. 8, 2024

Re-Entry Series 8: Hidden Grief - Dr. Sally McGregor

How do you navigate the complex journey of grieving an old life while building a new one? In today's episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, we look into the often overlooked topic of grief during repatriation. Doreen and Linda interviewed Dr. Sally McGregor, cross-cultural therapist, who …

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