Episodes

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 passport country. The series centered on personal experiences, expert tips, and actionable advice aimed at transforming repatriation into a positive and generative phase of life. The question at ...

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 life, overcoming perfectionism, and the challenging yet rewarding process of repatriation. From the subtleties of cultural adaptation to the importance of building international connections, th...

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 Cumberford sits down with Helen Ellis, an expert in long-distance grandparenting relationships, to uncover the practical and emotional intricacies of repatriation. Helen shares heartwarming and pragmatic strategies to help expats navigate their return with grace, blending t...

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 journey of identity and belonging after living abroad. Through her experiences in diverse cultures, from Costa Rica to Vermont, Deirdre shares the continuous and often challenging process of finding home within oneself. Arriving Well is a compilation of five raw, compelli...

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 just about physically returning home. It's a multifaceted process that involves emotional, psychological, and logistical shifts. The lily pad analogy perfectly captures how these small steps ca...

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...

Feeling adrift or untethered after moving back home? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, our host Doreen Cumberford speaks with guest Camilla Quintana about the emotional and practical challenges of repatriation while sharing her personal stories of transition and adaptation. Camilla offers insights on maintaining connections and shifting your focus to commonalities, and offers valuable advice for making your return a smoother, more fulfilling experience. Join us to learn how to leverage thes...

Have you ever experienced what you suspected might be symptoms of repatriaion? In this episode, hosts Doreen Cumberford and Linda Mueller discuss some of the more light-hearted ways and situations where returnees can sometimes feel caught between multiple cultural identities, struggling to reconcile their international experiences with their home environment. The psychological impact of repatriation can often include unexpected grief, a sense of loss, and difficulty communicating the depth o...

Can you magine stepping back into your homeland only to feel like a stranger in a once-familiar place? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, hosts Doreen Cumberford & Linda Mueller together with author and repatriation expert Craig Storti, examine the intricate world of repatriation, unpacking the emotional, social, and cultural challenges that come with a returning home after long stints abroad. From the unexpected struggles of returning home to the emotional impact of farewells, Craig's insigh...

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...

What sort of hidden grief and identity struggles can plague Third Culture Kids and expats when 'going home' again?" In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, host Doreen Cumberford a looks into the emotional and psychological challenges faced by Third Culture Kids (TCKs) when returning to their passport countries. They interviewed the brilliant Dr. Rachel Cason, a leading TCK therapist and author of "Incredible Lives and the Courage to Live Them". Together, they explore...

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 ...

Can you imagine navigating the complexities of international healthcare while simultaneously repatriating? In this compelling episode of Nomadic Diaries, Linda Mueller interviews author Sarah Deschamps on the topic of a family's journey through medical challenges in Tokyo and an eventual repatriation to the U.S. Sarah describes the demanding journey of living in Japan, contending with her daughter's critical medical needs, and how her family found resilience amid profound medical obstacles. Sa...

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, Linda Mueller reads from Arriving Well: Stories About Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering Home After Living Abroad. Arriving Well is a compilation of five raw, compelling, autobiographical stories about re-entry. Each of the authors experienced the roller-coaster ride of re-entry to their passport country in totally different and yet totally valid ways after a differing number of years abroad. Linda is reading from the chapter called ...

Can you imagine repatriating in an emergency? Welcome to Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series where we explore the journey of repatriation back home. In our latest episode, Doreen Cumberford and Linda Mueller chat with Joel David Bond, a true explorer who's spent 20 years living on multiple continents. We plunged into the story of his abrupt return to the U.S. after 20 years abroad, Joel offered insights into managing anxiety, using technology for smooth transitions, and fostering a mindset of...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the planning and logistics of moving back home? In today's episode of the Re-Entry Series, Doreen Cumberford and Linda Mueller dive deep into the logistics of repatriation on Nomadic Diaries. They share invaluable tips on everything from efficient packing to handling crucial documentation and pet transport. One key to a satisfying repatriation lies in managing the logistics effectively. When the practical details are well-managed, you can focus on the ...

Do you ever feel like the invisible side of you needs some sources of inspiration during the potential chaos of repatriating back home? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, host Doreen Cumberford and co-host Linda Mueller dive into the invisible aspects of repatriation. Linda shares her insights into a book called The Pivot Year, 365 Days to Become the Person You Truly Want to Be by Brianna Weist. Here at Nomadic Diaries we love to interview expat and cross-cultural authors, so continue to tune...

Have you experienced the rollercoaster of crossing borders, building a life overseas only to do so in reverse? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, host Doreen Cumberford plunges into the challenges and triumphs of repatriation. In this episode, we had an eye-opening conversation with Chris O'Shaughnessy who is a TCK and InterCultural trainer, about the complexities of this mighty transition. From treating your home country as foreign, to using humor and humility, Chris sha...

How do you navigate the complex journey of grieving an old life while building a new one? In today's episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, we look into the often overlooked topic of grief during repatriation. Doreen and Linda interviewed Dr. Sally McGregor, cross-cultural therapist, who shared invaluable insights on dealing with hidden grief, ambiguous loss, and the emotional journey faced by expats and Third Culture Kids. We learned about the power of being present, findin...

Have you ever felt the profound challenge of transplanting your entire life from one country to another? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, host Linda Mueller chatted with the incredible Tanja Pleis, an award-winning international photographer. We dove into her journey of balancing family life and professional aspirations while repatriating from the U.S. to Germany. Tanja shared her challenges, for example, managing grief from the closing of her Chicago studio and adjusti...

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, Linda Mueller reads from Arriving Well: Stories About Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering Home After Living Abroad. Arriving Well is a compilation of five raw, compelling, autobiographical stories about re-entry. Each of the authors experienced the roller-coaster ride of re-entry to their passport country in totally different and yet totally valid ways after a differing number of years abroad. This book highlights the variety of ways ...

Have you ever grappled with the upheaval of moving countries and then moving back? In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, the Re-Entry Series, hosts Doreen Cumberford and Linda Mueller engage with cross-cultural coach Jerry Jones to delve into the emotional and psychological effects of repatriation. Jerry shares his compelling personal experiences transitioning from China back to the United States, highlighting how seemingly minor lifestyle disruptions can accumulate into significant emotional ch...

Today’s episode of the Re Entry Series, focuses on the Vision Building for your repatriation journey. We discuss the importance of creating a vivid, emotional, and sensory-rich vision of your desired future state to navigate the complex process of returning home. Linda Mueller and Doreen Cumberford share practical tips on setting clear, positive intentions and visualization techniques to keep you motivated, aligned and moving towards your preferences. Remember, envisioning your repatriation exp...