This Expat Life

✈️ Participate in my survey to have the chance to win my new course. Deadline 5 May ✈️ When I was a busy diplomat trying to excel at my career AND enjoy Brazil to the fullest, I was most of the time living in my head. My head & nervous system were always 'on' and I realised I needed a practice or habit to ground myself more.I started meditating and while this worked for me for quite some time, I abandoned the habit when life got even busier (how ironic). But thankfully I found a new morning practice that is not only much more FUN but has also proven KEY in my latest success.Want to know what I'm talking about and how you can do it too? Listen to this episode to hear more!And if you want another way to implement this tool, download my free 'Guidebook to becoming the CEO of your expat life' where I share a powerful exercise.

<< Participate in my giveaway! I'd love your input on how not feeling grounded in your expat life is affecting you - and have a chance to win a ticket to my new course. >>What if you're a strong, independent woman with your own career, and your partner of 1.5 year asks you to follow him abroad? Nathalie van Haaren knows all about it. Even though she's been internationally minded from birth, she did have to adapt moving to Senegal now as the spouse of an expat.In this beautiful conversation, Nathalie shares openly and vulnerably what it meant for her identity and how she dealt with - and overcame! - the challenges. This episode is a must for anyone who moved abroad to be with their partner - and for those who asked their partner to join them. You'll recognise you're not alone going through some of the struggles and you'll get helpful tips & perspectives.We would love to hear what you think! You can find us here:Nathalie: Instagram & websiteAmanda: Instagram & website

I'm halfway into my 6-months stay in Rio and that got me thinking: How am I finding it? Listen to this episode to hear:- what I've been up to - how Rio has been treating me (spoiler alert: very good!)- if the fears & doubts before leaving came true- how I deal with lows when living abroad - what plans I have for my 2nd half in the marvelous cityAs always I'd love to hear what you thought of the podcast! Feel free to send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram.And want to know how I'm always creating my best expat life? Download my free 'Guidebook to becoming the CEO of your expat life' here.

And following up on the open conversation with Tamara Stroop (see the previous episode), here's part 2... With a plot twist!We had another call about 6 weeks after we first spoke, to see how we were both doing and what had changed for us. Well, for Tamara quite a lot! Listen to this episode to hear what that was. And are you an expat who's also struggling abroad? Know that I offer a listening ear in my free discovery calls. Book yours here.

Business coach Tamara Stroop and I had each just moved abroad - Tamara to Barcelona, me to Rio - and as we were talking about our experiences, we figured it would be nice to record an open conversation about journeys!This is not the usual interview but rather a candid conversation between two women in their mid-30s who decided to take a chance and enjoy life abroad. You'll hear us speak very openly about our first struggles after arriving, expensive AirBnB's, how the countries make us feel, our love life and more.If you've just moved abroad, have been there for a long time or are thinking of going... This episode is for you. And make sure to listen to part 2 for a plot twist!

There's one thing that's essential if you desire a big change in your life, which is also often overlooked. If you are ready to achieve a big goal, go off the beaten track or just want to follow your heart, make sure to include this key element. It has been crucial in my own journey. Listen to the episode to know what I'm talking about!

As a seasoned female, latina & expat engineer in tech, Iliana Quiñonez knows what it's like to move abroad and stand out from others in the workplace. Iliana moved to the US in her 20s and through trial and error learned to adapt to - and embrace - the American work culture. Now with over 20 years of experience, this trailblazer is passionate about DEI in the work place.In this episode Iliana gives valuable and practical advice for those who live abroad but may feel like they're standing out - whether that's because of their culture of origin or the sector they work in.You can find Iliana on LinkedIn.

Today I'm sharing two personal stories of my time in London and Brazil when things were NOT going so well. An almost burnout and grief knocked me off course and looking back, I wish I had a coach by my side. Tune in to hear these stories and why I believe every expat should hire a coach at some point in their life abroad.Want to hear how my coaching could work for you? Find more here: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com

Today I'm sharing my 'origin story', the story of when a perfect storm really kickstarted my personal growth and made me the person & coach I am today. This is my most personal story as of yet and I'm sharing it in the hopes that it might inspire you. Listen how returning back home, grief, a pandemic, heartache and a coaching training all at once nearly broke me - but in hindsight, really resurrected me.What's your origin story? 

It's one of the things every expat at some point struggles with: friendships. It may be hard to find them abroad, to maintain your friendships back home, or to stay connected to new friends as you or they move again.But here is Sarah Siegert, expat friendship coach who's dealt with all of the above herself. Having moved abroad to the UK for her partner, she found herself feeling lonely as it struggled making new friends. After applying techniques she learned in coaching, she was able to turn her situation around and find meaningful connections. And now she helps other expats with this!Tune in to hear:- Sarah's story (you're not alone!)- Why you should break down & change your thoughts when you find it difficult to make friends abroad- About an exercise to slowly change & practise your new beliefs- What to focus on when you’ve just moved abroad and are looking for new friends- About staying connected to friends back home- When new friends in your host country move back homeYou can find more about Sarah here. And you can download the free pdf guide she mentions in the episode here.

When I shared that I was moving to Rio I got the same questions over and over again.. Some of which even made me laugh! In this episode I answer them all, also hoping to inspire you to make a similar move, whether that's to Rio or elsewhere.Listen to this episode to know:- Why I chose Rio- If I'm going to work there- Why 6 months- If I still have a lot of friends here- What visa I'm on- What happened to my catsLet me know if this episode helped you in any way and if you have any other questions!

Expats do one thing more often than those who stay at home: moving! I feel like organising & clutter are relevant topics for expats simply because they have to go through their belongings more often than others. And plus, all the things you keep because they remind you of when you lived in country X...Because I struggle immensely myself with decluttering and organising (😅), I've invited professional organiser Manuela Weiss on the show. Manuela is Brazilian, has lived in Italy and is currently based in the Netherlands, so also from a personal point of view she's knows expat moving all too well.Personally I always like to use the end of the year for some decluttering, so I can make space for the new year. You might want to try this out as well.Listen to this episode to hear some valuable and practical tips on organising your home! If you want to know more about Manuela and her services, you can find her on Instagram. 

Christmas... I LOVE the holidays but they are also a trigger for me. Having grown up with difficult and unconventional family dynamics, the who/what/where of Christmas was always a question mark, bringing up a lot of anxiety.I assumed that things would get better as I got older, but this year as I find myself single & parentless in my mid-30s, I've realised that damn, Christmas is still a question mark 😩 I'm craving some unconditionality around my favourite holiday so that I don't need to wonder where I'm going to celebrate it this year.But no need for a pity parade as I learned about a principle that helped me change my mindset many years ago, when I was stuck in Brazil, with a rare parasite, my dad in the hospital, no family or boyfriend around, and a tiny fake Christmas tree in a tropical environment 😅 A not-so-perfect Christmas but the mindset shift worked its magic. And it's a principle I still apply every year!Listen to this episode how you can apply the principle yourself, and to hear some additional tips I have for you, whether you are far away from your loved ones, single, heartbroken, grieving or dealing with challenging family dynamics. You are not alone! 🎄🎄🎄PS. Ready to learn about more principles that can change your mindset, and life? My masterclass Ignite 2024 is now available for purchase. In this 2-hour recording you'll learn about my 4-step process I do every December to make the new year a great success and to ensure the growth & change I envision. It also comes with 2 Q&A sessions in January & February so you can be sure of extra support while you are DOING the work. I got you!

New Year New You... Is it really possible? I think it is!Listen to this episode to hear what has been a game-changing method for me when it comes to reaching my goals and what has helped me to go confidently from diplomacy to coaching & entrepreneurship.I also share the 4 elements that I include in my loooong 'December ritual' every year to create a super strong foundation for myself for the next year, so that I can really live my best year yet.

Careers... One of the main topics for high-achieving expats! But  what can you do to build your professional personal brand, find job leads in the host country, and stay up to date on opportunities in the home country if you know you're returning?LinkedIn is the place to be! According to Nyna Caputi, LinkedIn expert and one of LinkedIn's Top Experts in the San Francisco Bay Area. In this episode, Nyna shares how she got started and what you can do to make LinkedIn your professional playground. Besides a ton of practical tips to get the most out of your profile, network & content, she repeatedly shared one nugget of wisdom which I truly agree with. A mindset shift that will get you into action.Curious to find out? Tune in!You can find Nyna here on LinkedIn, and me here (feel free to connect with us!).PS. Nyna is also the organiser behind The Expat Woman Summit, taking place online from Nov 7th till Nov 9th, where I'll also be speaking. I'm thrilled & honoured to join the stage with the incredible speakers of the summit. Join us for free to learn more about personal growth, finance, career development and more for expats! And if you want even more, there's also a power pack that you can purchase so you'll have a year long access to the recordings, plus many more goodies. I've included my popular The Expat's Path training in the power pack!

The one part of expat life I don't know at all... Moving abroad with your family! I always moved abroad as a solo expat so what it's like to move with kids is very foreign to me. Reason to speak with Betina Pflug, a Brazilian expat in Australia who helps expats & their families to navigate life abroad!Listen to this episode to hear how Betina approaches family life and expat journeys, and the practical tips she has to help families feel at home abroad.If you would like to know more about Betina, follow her on LinkedIn or take a look at her website Wity Coaching.

Taking small decisions in daily life? Not my forte. But the big bold life moves? No problem!I recently decided to move to Rio and I took that decision in just 4 days. Easy peasy! But I know not everyone finds these big decisions easy. So in this podcast I share how I came to that decision and what helps me generally in the decision-making process, hoping to inspire you to decide on your own bold moves.Like my tips? 🚀 Take a look at my coaching😎 Follow me on Instagram🫶 Or leave a review about This Expat Life

Welcoming a guest to This Expat Life, and a very special guest: former diplomat - and my friend - Cinthya Mayorga!Cinthya is from Nicaragua and now lives in Spain, after quitting her diplomacy career 2 years ago. We actually met in Brazil when we were both working there at our respective embassies. We don't only share a working history, but also a passion for personal growth and this is why I brought her on the show!Tune in to listen to Cinthya about:- the not very pleasant state of being in limboland, waiting for external events to take place (we've all been there right?!)- what helped her to get out of limboland and feel at home in Seville- how Expat Life School made her feel less alone and helped her change her thoughts- how her choices are more & more aligned with her true self- her daily practices and thought processes that have helped her overcome doubt and anxiety- and much more!Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a DM on Instagram.

Expat life takes a lot of energy and just like with entrepreneurship, you also need to rely a lot on yourself. Whether it's about finding friends or mentally picking yourself up during a low, it's all down to you.That's why it's KEY to keep your energy in good shape. If you want to thrive in your expat life, you want to ensure your energy supply.In this episode I share about:- the different types of energy that I see- what I do when one of them is lacking- my non-negotiables to keep my energy high- things I do when I'm experiencing low energy.

In this episode I share some (pretty personal!) examples of the power of community and of having a coach by your side that I saw in my life last week.Listen to this episode how I'm finding working with a coach on some deeply personal issues and on the business decision I took that just opened up SO much space.I'm realising that being so open also feels very vulnerable, but as always I hope that my experiences inspire you in some way. Enjoy this episode!