Intercultural Competencies Episodes

Intercultural competencies are your toolkit for thriving in a multicultural world - the skills that let you read between cultural lines and build bridges instead of walls. Think of them as your cultural superpowers that turn awkward misunderstandings into meaningful connections.
What If You Learned How to Stay?
March 17, 2026

What If You Learned How to Stay?

About Pia Pia Mailhot-Leichter is a self-described "recovering nomad" who has lived in more places than most people visit, from Manhattan to Sri Lanka, London to France, and eventually dropping anchor in Copenhagen after decades of following the nomadic pull. Born to a French-Canadian mother and a …

Listen to the Episode
One Next Best Step: Dr. Joy Wiggins on Moving Abroad Solo, Raising a Teen in Lisbon, and Building a Global Career
March 8, 2026

One Next Best Step: Dr. Joy Wiggins on Moving Abroad Solo, Raising a …

Dr. Joy Wiggins Meet Dr. Joy Wiggins, we chatted about Raising Kids to Boardrooms she is a cultural agility expert, former professor, and single mum who packed up her life in Texas and moved to Lisbon, Portugal with her teena...

Listen to the Episode
Beyond Culture Shock
Feb. 2, 2026

Beyond Culture Shock

What does it really take to build a life across cultures? In this episode, intercultural trainer Kathy Ellis joins Doreen for an honest conversation about the messy, beautiful reality of cross-cultural living. From her small-...

Listen to the Episode
"Belonging Is Not Found, It's Formed": 30 Episodes, One Big Question
Nov. 30, 2025

"Belonging Is Not Found, It's Formed": 30 Episodes, One Big Question

In this heartfelt farewell to the Nomadic Diaries podcast, Doreen Cumberford and Megan Norton-Newbanks co-host reflect on a remarkable 10-month journey exploring the expansive topic of belonging. Together, they look back over...

Listen to the Episode
Expat Life & the Stories We Carry Home
Nov. 24, 2025

Expat Life & the Stories We Carry Home

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...

Listen to the Episode
Expat Repatriation Reality - Reposting
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…

Listen to the Episode
When Home Becomes Impossible: One South African's Honest Story of Starting Over Abroad
Oct. 8, 2025

When Home Becomes Impossible: One South African's Honest Story of Sta…

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...

Listen to the Episode
Moving to San Miguel de Allende: Practical First Steps
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...

Listen to the Episode
How to Build Real Connections Across Cultures: Melissa Hahn on Forging Global Bonds
Aug. 13, 2025

How to Build Real Connections Across Cultures: Melissa Hahn on Forgin…

Welcome to Nomadic Diaries, where we delve deep into the journey and insights of global explorers. This episode, hosted by Doreen Cumberford, shines a spotlight on Melissa Hahn, an intercultural specialist and author of the b...

Listen to the Episode
When the World Shifts Overnight: Chris O'Shaughnessy on Geopolitics, Expat Life and the Speed of Change
Aug. 5, 2025

When the World Shifts Overnight: Chris O'Shaughnessy on Geopolitics, …

On this episode of Nomadic Diaries, host Doreen Cumberford sat down with Chris O’Shaughnessy to explore the latest trends, challenges, and insights from the expat and globally nomadic community. From the impact of geopolitics...

Listen to the Episode
When Home Doesn't Feel Like Home: Marilyn Gardner on Living Well Wherever You Land
July 8, 2025

When Home Doesn't Feel Like Home: Marilyn Gardner on Living Well Wher…

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…

Listen to the Episode
Living Between Worlds: The Privileges and Losses of Global Childhoods
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...

Listen to the Episode
Unpacking Transitions: Coaching for Expats & the Globally Mobile
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...

Listen to the Episode
Between Worlds: Navigating the Modern TCK Experience
May 13, 2025

Between Worlds: Navigating the Modern TCK Experience

In this episode, we sat down again with Tanya Crossman, a leading expert on Third Culture Kids (TCKs) to catch up on recent research findings. Understanding Third Culture Kids Defining the TCK Journey: Tanya clarifies what ma...

Listen to the Episode
What Eastern Philosophy Teaches Us About Living Between Cultures — with Kirtika van Hunen-Malla
April 22, 2025

What Eastern Philosophy Teaches Us About Living Between Cultures — wi…

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries , Doreen interviews Kirtika van Hunen-Malla who shares her experiences of living across cultures and how Eastern philosophies have shaped her understanding of international living. Here are...

Listen to the Episode
Unpacking Your Emotional Suitcase: Therapy for the Globally Mobile
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....

Listen to the Episode
Why Repatriation Hurts More Than Moving Abroad — Kathy Ellis on Cross-Cultural Adaptation
Feb. 11, 2025

Why Repatriation Hurts More Than Moving Abroad — Kathy Ellis on Cross…

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, host Doreen Cumberford sits down with cross-cultural communication expert Kathy Ellis to explore the intricate world of cultural adaptation and repatriation. From her humble beginnings in s...

Listen to the Episode
30 Episodes on Going Home: What We Learned About Repatriation
Nov. 30, 2024

30 Episodes on Going Home: What We Learned About Repatriation

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…

Listen to the Episode
Why Repatriation Is a Grief Process — with Margaret Ghielmetti
Nov. 29, 2024

Why Repatriation Is a Grief Process — with 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…

Listen to the Episode
How Repatriation Strains the Whole Family — with Helen Ellis
Nov. 28, 2024

How Repatriation Strains the Whole Family — with 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...

Listen to the Episode
Finding Home Within Yourself: Deirdre's Story of Identity After Living Abroad
Nov. 27, 2024

Finding Home Within Yourself: Deirdre's Story of Identity After Livin…

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 ...

Listen to the Episode
The Repatriation Reality Nobody Posts on Instagram
Nov. 26, 2024

The Repatriation Reality Nobody Posts on Instagram

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...

Listen to the Episode
Lily Pads and Landings: Navigating the Emotional Steps of Coming Home
Nov. 25, 2024

Lily Pads and Landings: Navigating the Emotional Steps of Coming Home

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…

Listen to the Episode
The Empathy Games: Where Everybody Wins!
Oct. 1, 2024

The Empathy Games: Where Everybody Wins!

In our new modern world where diverse teams and international collaboration are the norm, the ability to communicate effectively across cultures while engaging empathy is really important. Shownotes: Welcome to the Nomadic Di...

Listen to the Episode