Cross-Cultural Skills Episodes

Vashti Kanahele - On Navigating Mental Health, Community, and Global Adventures Join Doreen Cumberford as she engages in a heartfelt conversation with Vashti Kanahele about the mental health challenges and triumphs encountered during her international journey. Vashti opens up about her experiences as an expat, particularly focusing on the impact of frequent moves on her family's well-being and the invaluable support systems that sustained her. Mental Health Awareness and Telehealth T...

Maximizing Energy and Finding Joy in Everyday Life In this inspiring episode of "Nomadic Diaries," host Doreen Cumberford sits down with Judy Matejczyk, a certified Life Mastery Coach and visionary mentor. Together, they explore the realms of personal growth, overcoming life's hurdles, and the transformative power of visioning. Unlocking Your Inner Potential Judy introduces a novel approach to maintaining positive energy: keeping reminders of your greatest achievements alongside your d...

When the Unexpected Strikes: Sarah's Resilient Journey as an Expat Mom In this deeply moving episode, host Doreen Cumberford sits down with Sarah Deschamps, a remarkable woman who faced one of the most daunting challenges an expat parent can encounter – navigating a critical medical situation for her child in a foreign country. Prepare to be inspired by Sarah's resilience, vulnerability, and the profound lessons she learned along the way. A Mother's Commitment Sarah shares the gripping sto...

In this episode of "Nomadic Diaries," Doreen Cumberford welcomes humorist and motivational speaker Conor Cunneen. Originally from Ireland and currently based in Chicago, Conor, also known as "Irishman Speaks," shares his unique insights and experiences on the use of humor in cross-cultural communication, navigating life as a migrant, and the dynamics of humor in business and presentations. Filled with laughter, thought-provoking discussions, and personal anecdotes, this episode ...

Forging Bonds Across Borders and Cultures, with Melissa Hahn! Welcome to another captivating episode of 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 book *Forging Bonds in the Global Workforce*. Here are a few shownotes: Forging Global Bonds: Melissa Hahn's Insights on Thriving Across Cultures Through thought-provoking di...

-Embracing Cultural Diversity: In this insightful episode, Chris Shawnessy, a seasoned cross-cultural expert, takes us on an enriching exploration of understanding and navigating the nuances of cultural diversity. Brace yourself for thought-provoking anecdotes, practical wisdom, and a refreshing dose of humor. The Open Lens Chris emphasizes the importance of being open to different perspectives and embracing new routines as a means to expand one's worldview. Unwritten Rules From queuing etiquett...

What keeps you anchored when your address keeps changing? Author and holistic coach Nikki Cornfield reflects on raising third culture kids across cultures, holding onto herself through repeated moves, and how writing her memoir, The Soul’s Compass, A Traveller’s Way Home, turned private healing into a story she could finally own. She also shares why yoga became her portable sanctuary, a practice that travels as well as she does. For settled expats and perpetual nomads alike, this is a conversation about finding your inner compass and learning to trust it.

Welcome to Michael Sullivan's episode on Nomadic Diaries called The Expat's Portable Identity. Michael is currently a Goodwill Ambassador with the US Department of State in Turkey and is currently penning a book titled "Building Bridges: Can We Love and Relate in a Polarized World." Michael shares his rich experiences and the nuanced challenges faced by his wife and children by virtue of their relationship and biculturalism. ⚡Building Bridges Across the Great Divide⚡ In this epi...

Finding Home Within While Abroad! 🌍 Nomadic Diaries Takes You on a Fascinating Journey Into the Life of a Multicultural Maven! In this globetrotting episode, get ready to embark on an adventure with Wiebke Homburg - intercultural trainer, coach extraordinaire, and the author of "Finding Home Within". Brace yourself for stories spanning multiple continents and a whirlwind of cultural experiences! 🗝️ Key Highlights: ✈️ Wiebke's nomadic trail: From Belgium to the USA, Spain, Chile, Mexico...

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, titled Expat Families - Surviving Alone Overseas, Rhoda Bangerter and Doreen Cumberford delve into the emotional and logistical complexities faced by expats and split families living abroad. Rhoda shares her firsthand experiences tackling the challenges of maintaining stability and coherence in family life while being separated from her husband by vast distances because of work commitments. Here are three of the top strategies for managing such situations: ...

In this episode we explore the various factors that contribute to expat fatigue, including cultural adjustments, language barriers, and the emotional toll of being far from loved ones. Hear personal anecdotes from Doreen’s experiences and Camila’s expert insights on navigating the rocky waters of expat life. Discover actionable strategies and tips to combat expat fatigue and reinvigorate your expat journey. Key Takeaways: 1. Understanding Expat Fatigue. Learn what sets expat fatigue apart fr...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with globetrotter James Hammond, as Doreen delves into his transformation from a classic backpacker to an advocate for slow travel and cultural immersion covering work visas and digital visas. James is a podcast producer, writer and travel expert. Doreen, the host, admits that she was extraordinarily chatty in this episode....sorry James! In this episode, you'll discover: 👣 James's evolution from his first hedonistic journey to embracing a purpose-driven ...

Nomadic Diaries host, Doreen Cumberford sits down with Joel Bond, to discuss Palm Trees and Resilience! Joel is an author, educator, and expatriate who has lived in Iraq for seven years. They dive into his experience as chronicled in his first book, "As Large as Your Spirit," touching on the human side of living overseas and finding one's identity amidst global chaos. We discussed Joel's Reverse Refugee Experience, where he shared his unique tale of attempting to return to Iraq amidst the refug...

Catch Renata Urban's sage advice and Doreen Cumberford's experience on this episode of Nomadic Diaries, guiding you through the exciting yet challenging journey of developing adaptation the superpower . Whether you're planning a move, living abroad, or simply curious about cross-cultural experiences, this episode is a must-listen. Episode Highlights The Art of Adaptability Renata Urban discusses the critical factors for a successful expatriate experience, such as adaptability, emo...

Welcome to this world of Oz and cultural adaptation. In this intriguing episode our host Doreen Cumberford invites guest Vanessa Paisley, an expert in intercultural communication, to dive into the complexities of living and working across different cultures. Throughout the episode, Vanessa and Doreen swapped personal stories that reflect on the challenges of maintaining one's mental health and identity when living overseas. Vanessa discusses her experience of moving to rural Austria, dealing w...

In this enlightening episode of Nomadic Diaries, host Doreen Cumberford talks with Syed Zafar, a well-respected voice in the field of intercultural communication. Syed brings a lifetime of experience navigating multicultural environments, from his roots in Pakistan to his professional endeavors in countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United States. Listeners are in for an engaging discussion on the nuances of cultural intelligence, the distinction between tourists and travelers, and stories t...

Title: Nomadic Diaries: Navigating Cultural Complexities with Nick Dunn Episode Summary: In this enriching episode of Nomadic Diaries, we sit down with intercultural competence specialist Nick Dunn to dissect the intricacies of cultural differences and how to navigate them with grace and efficiency. Through personal anecdotes and expert insights, we explore the value of cohesion, clarity, and playfulness in communication—both in global travels and multicultural workplaces. Key Points Discusse...

Welcome to another episode of Nomadic Diaries where we traverse the boundaries of culture and geography to understand the essence of a nomadic lifestyle. Hosted by Doreen Cumberford, we are joined by our distinguished guest Polly Collingridge, a cross-cultural psychology expert and a professional at the Cultural Intelligence Center in the UK. Cultural Intelligence: A Deep Dive Polly Collingridge shares insights from over 150 peer-reviewed papers that back the cultural intelligence (CQ) scale as...

In a recent interview Doreen and Sharon spoke with Roy Craft a former executive and cross-cultural expert who has worked across borders, races, cultures and languages. As someone who's crossed borders to live and work in various countries, our mantra has always been about fostering global-mindedness. Here are some key takeaways from our conversation with Roy Craft that resonated with that mantra. 🌏 The Power of Appreciative Inquiry In any interaction, focusing on the positive aspects of organi...

🎙️New Episode Alert: Meet Angie Weinberger! Angie is an experienced university lecturer, coach, and global expert and we loved our conversation on this episode. This conversation highlights the human aspect of international transitions and the art of cultural competence. Key Takeaways From This Episode: Intercultural Sensitivity: Angie underscores the crucial role of intercultural competence in navigating the current global landscape. We dig into the nuances of global mobility, focusing on bot...

A short book reading for National Podcasting Month! In this episode, we explore the book "The Intercultural Mind" by Joseph Scholz, where he presents groundbreaking research from cultural psychology and neuroscience. Here are 3 key takeaways from the episode: 1️⃣ Culture Shock: Discover what culture shock really means and how it affects us. We explore why we might be blind to our own cultural biases and how unconscious biases can impact our experiences abroad. 2️⃣ The International Mindse...

🌍✨ Exciting Cultural Exploration in the Latest Episode of Nomadic Diaries! ✨🌍 I had the pleasure of discussing a fascinating experience in the latest episode of Nomadic Diaries. The topic of cultural whiplash truly opened my eyes to the diverse traditions and celebrations around the world. Here are the key takeaways from the episode: 1️⃣ Embracing Different Traditions: The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico have evolved into a grand event, with families visiting cemeteries to hon...

Support the show Nomadic Diaries explores expat life, repatriation, belonging and global living. This episode may be part of our Re-Entry Series (30 episodes on coming home) or The Belonging Project (29 episodes on belonging across cultures). Browse the full catalog at nomadicdiariespodcast.com and please share or leave a review if this episode resonated.

Welcome back to another episode of Nomadic Diaries, a podcast that explores the transformative journeys of expats and world travelers. In today's episode, we delve into the world of Jo Parfitt, a renowned expat, writer, and teacher with an impressive 30-year experience living overseas. With a staggering 32 books written and hundreds of mentees under her belt, Jo has become a trusted name in the realm of writing and publishing. In 1997, Jo founded Summertime Publishing, specializing in books fo...