Society & Culture Episodes

Dr. Joy Wiggins Meet Dr. Joy Wiggins, we chatted about Raising Kids to Boardroomsshe is a cultural agility expert, former professor, and single mum who packed up her life in Texas and moved to Lisbon, Portugal with her teenage daughter Ruby. She's spent decades living and working across cultures, from Germany to China to Jordan, she also now helps globally mobile women build careers and lives that don't fit neatly inside one country's borders. What You'll Take Away: There's a world of differen...

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 generational perspectives. Key Topics Discussed Navigating the "Where Are You From?" QuestionRuth shares practical ways globally mobile people can gracefully answer this challenging question.The Soc...

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 from her book, "Life in the Camel Lane," diving into the core themes of home, identity, and the elusive sense of belonging for global nomads. Listeners are invited to reflect on adaptation, cultural transitions, grief, and the growth that comes from living liminally—caught bet...

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...

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-focused town to an increasingly family-friendly destination, with multi-generational families taking root.Safety and Community: Both guests address common concerns about safety in Mexico, providing per...

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 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 discussions and personal anecdotes, Melissa offers invaluable wisdom for navigating the complexities o...

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 lessons found in both anticipation and nostalgia, and the journey of finding "places that light you up", even when you never fully feel that you belong. Together, Doreen and Marilyn explore what it mea...

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 of third culture kids (TCKs), expats, and people in global transitions. Mathieu's international upbringing as the son of a Canadian diplomat took him from Paris to Morocco, the Ivory Coast, Haiti, Switzerland, and back to Canada. Together, they dive deep into the emotional l...

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, we sat down with Tanya Crossman, a leading expert on Third Culture Kids (TCKs) whose personal experiences and professional work have made her a trusted voice in the global mobility community. Tanya's Third Culture Journey Tanya Crossman's journey as a TCK began with moves between Australia and the United States during her childhood, following her father's career path. Her cross-cultural experiences deepened significantly when she later spent 13 years living a...

In this engaging episode of "Nomadic Diaries," host Doreen Cumberford sits down with Marilyn Gardner—a seasoned author and expat who has spent her life living across multiple countries. They dive into the essence of rituals and faith and how these elements intertwine with the nomadic lifestyle. Marilyn shares vivid memories from her childhood in Pakistan and discusses how these early experiences shaped her spiritual journey and everyday rituals. Key Topics Covered Introduction to Marily...

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 some key highlights from their conversation: Background & Cross-Cultural Upbringing:Kirtika grew up with a unique blend of Indian and Nepali cultures, which provided her with a rich cultural perspective even before moving to the West. Eastern Philosophical Influence:Kirtika...

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. McGregor is the founder of Wanderwell Psychology, focusing on the well-being of expatriates, third culture kids, global nomads, and more. They discuss the unique psychological pressures of expat life, the importance of finding the right psychotherapist, and the difference ...

Nomadic Diaries Episode: International Women's Day Special Host: Doreen Cumberford In this episode, we have combined the voices of six women who I interviewed over the last year. Each one is unique, works in international and intercultural situations, and has at least one golden nugget of wisdom to contribute to our lifestyles. Meet: Iliana Jankova: Moved from Hungary to the US with $200. Iliana's story embodies courage as she has navigated several countries and continents solo. https:/...

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...

Step into the world of global mobility as we explore the intricate tapestry of expatriate life and the art of navigating transitions in 2025. In this compelling episode, we delve into the multifaceted challenges and rich opportunities that come with living abroad, from embracing seasonal traditions in new cultures to managing the complex dynamics of international careers. Drawing inspiration from James Clear's wisdom that "habits are the compound interest of self-improvement," we explore how in...

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: ...

Hosts: Doreen and Sharon Fields Special Guest: Rebecca Eichler Episode Summary: Welcome to another compelling episode of Nomadic Diaries! In this episode, hosts Doreen and Sharon Fields are joined by the remarkable Rebecca Eichler, an international human rights advocate and the star of the acclaimed documentary Las Abogadas: Attorneys on the Front Lines of the Migrant Crisis. Key Takeaways: Rebecca’s Journey to Mexico: Rebecca shares her and her family’s transformative journey from the ...

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...

Have you ever wondered how to truly find closure when saying goodbye to a place you've called home? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, titled Farewells, hosts Doreen Cumberford and Linda Mueller delve into the emotional intricacies of farewells and the impact they have on our repatriation journey. From personal anecdotes to expert tips on creating meaningful rituals, they explore how farewells can be empowering rather than distressing. Tune in to discover h...

Have you ever felt like you needed some choices and sources of inspiration amidst a repatriation journey? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, host Doreen Cumberford and co-host Linda Mueller seek to provide ideas of where to find that lightbulb of inspiration that will propel you to take the very next ideal step. Linda shares her insights into the topic of music, including how your favorite pieces of music can inspire your journey of repatriation, together with reminders t...

In this episode, we sit down with cultural anthropologist James Richardson to explore how his experiences living in diverse cultures - especially India - have profoundly shaped his perspectives on relationships and commitment in America. James shares thought-provoking insights gleaned from his anthropological work and personal journey, painting a vivid contrast between the supportive, interconnected community dynamics he observed in India versus the more isolated, "non-committal" culture preval...

Meet Amy Suto an Author, Writer and Digital Nomad. Creativity and Flow....... As a writer, author and nomad Amy has learned a lot about well-being, balance and pace of life. She has been on the road for four years now and feels like the digital nomadic lifestyle contributes momentum to her success. Amy has used the elements of geography to create her first novel called The Nomad Detective which was inspired by her travels and true crime stories. For Amy, helping others by tell...

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...