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...

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...

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: ...

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...

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...

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...

🎙️ 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 ...

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...

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 ...

Episode Alert on Nomadic Diaries! 🌍 We just released a deeply inspirational episode featuring Kathleen Israel, a remarkable woman who embarked on the transformative journey of walking the Camino not once, but twice. Each step on her pilgrimage was a step towards healing after years of caring for her ailing husband. She shares not only her physical journey but also her spiritual and emotional voyage, culminating in the creation of her book, "Wisdom on the Camino." - Resilience and Personal Gro...

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 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...

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...

We are thrilled to bring you a brand new episode of Nomadic Diaries featuring Megan Norton. Megan, an author and daughter of a diplomat, shares her insights on cultivating a sense of belonging for adult Third Culture Kids (TCKs) in her latest book, "Belonging Beyond Borders: How Adult Third Culture Kids Can Cultivate a Sense of Belonging." During the podcast episode, Megan discusses how her book goes beyond the TCK community, exploring the universal human need for belonging. Using analogies fr...

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, we dive into the fascinating journey of Chris Cartwright. Chris shares valuable insights on setting goals, practicing regularly, and being accountable when pursuing passion and personal growth. We explore the concept of expatriation and its impact on individuals and communities. Chris highlights the importance of being aware of one's status as an expatriate and understanding the resources and privileges one has. We discuss the significance of approaching new ...