Places & Travel Episodes

In this engaging episode of Nomadic Diaries, Doreen Cumberford and Megan Norton-Newbanks welcome Caz Stuart, an accomplished documentary filmmaker, to discuss the art of storytelling, belonging, and community - both on and off camera. Caz explores her nomadic journey from Europe to San Miguel, Mexico, weaving in her extensive career experiences, particularly in making hard-hitting documentaries on social issues for UK television. The conversation spans topics from the dynamics of competitive pi...

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 Expat Hypnotherapis. Drawing from decades of global living, as well as expertise in multiple mental health modalities, Patrick Kadian explores how moving across continents continuously reshapes our understanding of identity, belonging, and well-being. Key Topics Covered Patr...

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 filmmaker and cultural bridge-builder Todd Nimms, whose unique upbringing between Saudi Arabia and America shaped his perspective on identity, belonging, and cross-cultural understanding. Todd's Intercultural Roots Todd Nimms was born in Saudi Arabia to an American family, a...

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 Mexico, sharing practical steps, insider tips, and cultural insights to help expatriates, digital nomads, and dreamers navigate the real estate market with confidence. Key Topics & Highlights 1. Real Estate in San Miguel de Allende Tracy explains her holistic approach with B...

Episode Summary: In this insightful episode of Nomadic Diaries, Doreen sits down with Autumn Carolyn—world traveler, writer, and author of Traveling in Wonder—to talk about the realities of moving abroad, the impact of travel on our senses, the power of reflection, and the process of returning home after years overseas. Autumn shares heartfelt stories from her time living in England and traveling to 30 countries before turning 30, as well as her experience with reverse culture shock and redisco...

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, we welcome our returning guest, Koen Gomes, a global nomad and horse groom recorded live from San Miguel de Allende. Koen dives into his experiences as a nomadic traveler, flying horses across the globe, and the intricacies involved in this unique lifestyle. We explore Koen's travels over the past six months. Key Highlights: Koen shares details about attending the Olympic Games in Paris and experiencing Tokyo during autumn. We discussed the challenges of fly...

How a Nat Geo Producer Became a Storyteller Fiction of Imagination Welcome to the current episode of Nomadic Diaries, where journeys are more than just miles on a map—they're transformations of life and spirit. This week, we're diving into the adventurous life of Neil Laird, a former TV producer and now a novelist, whose career path has migrated from filming National Geographic documentaries to authoring comedic, fantastical novels about time travel. A Journey Begins: Beginning as a young m...

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 small-town Midwest America to living in six different countries and visiting over 40, Kathy shares her fascinating journey of becoming a global citizen and helping others bridge cultural divides. Throughout the conversation, Kathy delves into the complexities of developing ...

Join Doreen Cumberford, the host for a delightful conversation with Margaret Ghielmetti, author of "Brave(ish)," who reveals how living abroad transformed her life from the inside out. Margaret shares her refreshingly honest take on finding courage in unexpected places and building what she playfully calls "superpowers" through facing fears head-on. In this episode, you'll discover: Why being "brave-ish" (rather than perfectly brave) leads to authentic growthHow living in different cultures...

What happens when a 13-year-old in Malawi needs emergency medical evacuation, but their insurance has just expired? Andrew Jernigan shares the dramatic story and reveals how proper international insurance can be the difference between life and death. In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, Doreen sits down with Andrew Jernigan, CEO of Insured Nomads, to unravel the complexities of international insurance for global citizens. Andrew shares compelling narratives that shaped his mission, including th...

In this episode host Doreen Cumberford interviews Iliana Genkova, who shares her remarkable journey from Bulgaria to building a life across multiple continents. Starting with just $200 in her pocket, Iliana moved to the United States in 1999, marking the beginning of her global adventures. Her story demonstrates how sometimes the best plans are a mix of preparation and embracing the unknown. After securing U.S. citizenship, Iliana's journey took her to the UK, where she learned valuable lessons...

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 Hoffman, a James Beard award winner for food writing whose life story spans continents and careers. We explored Steve's fascinating background as an author, tax preparer, and distinguished food writer and dove into his family's move to Languedoc, France. A Season for That: ...

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 provide encouragement to go outdoors, to breathe in nature and to ground oneself during the repatriation journey. Here at Nomadic Diaries we love to interview expat and cross-cultural authors, so continue to tune in to discover wisdom and lessons that create a more inspir...

What do digital nomads have to consider when returning back home after enjoying thrilling adventures, exciting work projects and all that freedom? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, host Doreen Cumberford welcomes Amy Suto, a seasoned traveler and writer, to share insights from her eight-month journey across South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore, and discuss how her travels inspired her latest book "Nomad Detective." Amy provides tips on avoiding digital nomad burnout, planning ahead for ...

What does it take to prepare oneself for repatriation? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, Doreen Cumberford reads from the book she authored, Life in the Camel Lane: Embrace the Adventure. This story highlights the preparation for a repatriation that seemed imminent but happened many months later. Each person's re-entry experience is unique and unrepeatable. Life in the Camel Lane is a comprehensive book written about living in Saudi Arabia and the lessons ...

Koen is one of our regulars on Nomadic Diaries and lives the life of a traveling nomad accompanying high performance horses as they travel around the world to attend equestrian events. It was really fun to reconnect, especially after Koen had visited Saudi Arabia, and I was eager to hear what he had been learning from his travels over the last six to nine months. I really enjoyed reconnecting with Koen Gomes again. The conversation covered the following: Embracing Ambiguous Identity: We discus...

Meet Chris Cerra, the genius and founder of Remote Base and Digital Nomad Trip Reports! I was introduced to Chris by a friend, who operates one of the most functional and powerful expat/nomad insurance companies and we discovered a common love for the far-ranging subjects of nomadism. Chris shared his wide-ranging but very sensible and down to earth approach to nomading, here are a few takeaways. Understanding Your 'Why' Knowing your motivation for embracing a nomadic lifestyle will help fuel...

In a world where globalization has transformed the way we live, work, and raise families, the host of the Nomadic Diaries podcast dive into the complex, yet rewarding, experiences of modern-day global nomads. Join us as we unpack the realities and strategies for thriving in the face of constant change and cultural duality. Shownotes: In this episode, we sit down with Mariam Ottimifiore, author of "This Messy Mobile Life," to delve into the intricate experiences of expats, international families...

"A Season for Adventure: Steve Hoffman Show Notes: Join us for an inspiring and fun conversation with Steve Hoffman, a James Beard award winner for food writing whose life story spans continents and careers. In this episode, we explore Steve's fascinating background as an author, tax preparer, and distinguished food writer. We delve into the Hoffman family's serendipitous move to Languedoc, France, which evolved from a planned semester-long stay into an extended adventure. Steve ...

Leadership Lessons from the Road: with Zoe Routh This episode is full of nuggets that can support you in unlocking new possibilities for you and your organization! Looking for a globally minded leader and consultant with a multicultural upbringing and cross-cultured perspective on what it takes to thrive in today's borderless business landscape? Zoe Routh fits the bill! Outward Bound Philosophy Zoe takes us back to her transformative experiences with Outward Bound, revealing how fa...

In this episode of "Nomadic Diaries," host Doreen Cumberford welcomes Marie DeCosse, the founder and CEO of Nomad Travel Groups. Together, they delve into the creation and philosophy behind the Nomad Home Exchange platform. Takeaways: Marie shares her upbringing as a third culture kid, moving between the US and developing countries, shaping her passion for global travel and cultural exchange. Nomad Travel Groups is the result of her global heartedness!Introduction to Nomad Travel Groups Provi...

🎙️ Dive into the Latest Episode of Nomadic Diaries with Sylvia Thiesen! 🌎 In our latest podcast episode we were honored to host the incredible Sylvia Thiesen. Sylvia, is a seasoned coach, therapist, and multi-cultured traveler. 🔑 Key Takeaways Embracing the Small Steps Prepares us for Big Leaps Be bold. Start with manageable challenges like dining alone without distractions. It’s all about building confidence one step at a time. Infinite Opportunities Inside Travel Harnessing the power ...

In this episode, host Doreen Cumberford interviewed Kelly Hayes-Raitt who is currently residing in Lisbon, Portugal. They discussed Kelly's journey from political consultant and activist to international house and petsitter and freelance writer. Key takaways: Life transitions, such as retirement or the loss of a loved one, can be catalysts for pursuing a nomadic lifestyle. It's essential to consider life stages and generational experiences when making the decision to launch oneself overseas as...

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...