The Expat Chat

The Expat Chat is a podcast devoted to inspiring over 50's to take more affordable long term travel and lifestyle choices - be it for 3 months or 3 years. We interview intrepid adventurers taking their travaticals or 'travel sabbaticals' as a means of reinvigorating and reinventing their lives...often for a fraction of their cost of living back home. If you want the travels of Rick Stearn with the freedom of Tim Ferriss this podcast is for you.Subscribe today.

Episode 138: Trading Silicon Valley for a Mooring in Montenegro 06/10/2023

Episode 137: Live in Turkey or Live in Malaysia? Ryand Runge of Snail Travels 05/28/2023

Episode 136: How to Cruise For Six Months Every Year; Richard and Angelyn Burk 05/21/2023

Episode 135 (From the Archives): How We Started With Fulltime Travel; Michael and Yvonne Bauche 05/18/2023

Episode 135 (From the Archives): How We Started With Fulltime Travel; Michael and Yvonne Bauche Can you really sustain a lifestyle caring for other people’s houses and never have to go home again? Today’s guests are living proof of the fact. Michael and Yvonne Bauche gave up a comfortable but stress-inducing lifestyle in Vancouver Canada 3 years ago and they haven’t looked back. Their income is lower but so is their living costs giving them the opportunity to live a millionaire’s lifestyle on less than $C3000 per month all without having to eat into their savings. They’ve met interesting people and made new friends for life. They’ve housesat in many parts of Europe, Central America and the Caribbean and now spend over 70% of each year minding houses, often for repeat clients who have them back. They have so many requests in fact that they have built up a network of fellow house sitters who can take care of the clients they can’t get to! But the best part is they have their freedom back. In today’s interview you’ll discover just how easy and cost effective housesitting can be and the opportunities it can open up for you to live your life to the fullest. If you’d like to know more about housesitting check out their website at or you can grab their free report at What I learned from their interview: 1. If you’re serious about housesitting travel light. Both Michael and Yvonne exist with hand luggage only and don’t really feel they miss anything from doing so (Yvonne even confesses to not carting heels with her!). It helps they have mainly focused around warmer climates but if you want to make life easy (and save on luggage costs and insurance ) then travelling light helps 2. Housesitting offers a far more meaningful way to enjoy an area. You can be treated as a local. Michael and Yvonne encourage their hosts to set them up with a network of people when they arrive which makes the whole process far more comfortable for them 3. Don’t spread yourself too thin. The Bauches concentrate on housesitting in regions resisting the urge to leap around the world and incur bigger travel costs. /episode/index/show/theexpatchat/id/26880576

Episode 134: The Growth of Housesitting... and Living in France 05/14/2023

Episode 133: How to Pivot Your Travel Plans on a Dime 05/07/2023

Episode 132: Traveling in a Post Covid World; Jane Dempster-Smith 04/30/2023

Episode 131: Traveling the Camino Alone; Leita Joy 04/24/2023

Episode 130: How to Save $30000pa and Travel the World; Michael and Yvonne Bauche 04/16/2023

Episode 129: Traveling the World on Two Wheels; Brent Ruru 04/10/2023

Episode 128: The Benefits of Medical Tourism 04/02/2023

Episode 127: Extended Vacations: Brian and Penny Davidson 03/27/2023

Episode 126: Finding the Fountain of Youth: Alan and Ros Cuthbertson 03/19/2023

Financially Independent and Retired Early 05/08/2020

Travelling Without Flight 05/02/2020

The Future of Travel in a Post Covid World - Part 2 04/25/2020

The Future of Travel in a Post Covid World -Part 1 04/17/2020

6 Years Travel and Counting 04/10/2020

Update on The Expat Chat 03/26/2020

Polar Bears and Icebergs; Living Beyond the Arctic Circle 05/09/2018

Polar Bears and Icebergs; Living Beyond the Arctic Circle It seems in this day and age most of the world has been explored. Trying to find a destination which isn’t crowded with tourists and cameras is an increasingly difficult job. Today’s interviewee however has found the perfect place to live where few people will bother him. For most people the idea of a job for life would seem like perfect security. For Christian Bruttel life in the German education system as a teacher was enjoyable but he felt trapped, as if his life was already played out. When the opportunity to become a guide on the remote island of Svalbard came up he leapt at the chance to follow his dream. Four years on he’s mastered everything from chasing off polar bears to building igloos and he has the photos and memories to prove it. Christian joined us to discuss one of the most unique jobs in the world, why Svalbard is a place of such great beauty and how living in this unique location has changed his perspective on life. You can check out Christians stunning photos and even purchase prints at his blog What I learned from Christian’s interview: I have to admit to having no idea about Svalbard (or Spitzbergen as it’s also known ) before I spoke with Christian but the picture he paints of some of the truly unique experiences there now makes me want to go. Where else can you find a place that gives you polar bears, whales, icebergs, igloos and the Northern Lights in a ready-made package? It sounds reasonably affordable to get to despite the limited opportunities for flights. Thanks to melting ice Christian does have the excitement of seeing things that may never have been seen by human eyes before but the melting is a reminder that our planet is susceptible to change and we must do all we can to protect areas like Svalbard for the sake of all of the planet. Remember Christian had no experience of this and have never been into the Arctic but he has developed a skill and a passion over the last 4 years. There are lessons for all of us in the journey he has made. /episode/index/show/theexpatchat/id/6572894

Polar Bears and Icebergs; Living Beyond the Arctic Circle 03/31/2018

How to Downsize for the Big Trip Ahead 03/29/2018

How to Downsize for the big Trip Ahead 05/06/2018

300 Days of Travel...and Counting... 03/28/2018

Eradicating Leprosy, Raising Kids and Selling Coffee 03/28/2018

Eradicating Leprosy, Raising Kids and Selling Coffee For most people just moving to a foreign country would be a big enough challenge. Starting a new business from scratch while raising 7 children (5 adopted locally with special needs) and supporting a wife who has moved mountains in terms of helping eradicate leprosy from large rural areas of China would be a huge ask but for Joshua Jagelman it’s just another day at the office. The office for Joshua is not normal however. He and his home schooled family divide their time between Chiang Mai in Thailand where some of his children receive treatment, his original home in Sydney where he has investments built up over the last ten years from his Chinese base and their two homes in China where his wife Alex works hard to continue serving rural communities in the areas of heath and nutrition. If you’re a coffee lover check out the locations for Joshua’s fine coffees by visiting and What I learned from Joshua’s interview: Normally I come up with a list of the key learnings laid out step by step but too be honest I’m still coming to grips with the extent to which Joshua has built a life that I don’t think even he would have imagined 15 years ago. It would have been easy to have stayed teaching in Sydney and I guess he would still be there now if things hadn’t changed. Instead living an expat life has introduced him to a remarkable woman on an amazing crusade, raising 7 children and creating successful businesses that have allowed him to give his family a freedom of lifestyle that others can only envy. Most people spend their lives avoiding heartache and difficulties. The idea of voluntarily raising children in need of special assistance is not something that many of us would consider doing. The idea of working to eliminate one of the most debilitating health scourges would certainly be a bridge too far. The world is a better place for people like Joshua and Alex and it was a privilege to meet with Joshua and share his story today. I hope you enjoyed it too. /episode/index/show/theexpatchat/id/6416689

Raising Our Kids without School - Our Mexican Life 11/23/2016

Raising Our Kids without School - Our Mexican Life In today’s interview we speak with Martin and Lorena Cagnotti – two expat Argentinians who made the decision 13 years ago to move from their home town of Buenos Aires to the hubbub of Mexico City. After 7 years there they have now settled into the idyllic seaside community of Playa del Carmen where they are raising their two children through unschooling. We met up with them to discuss living in one of the world’s largest cities, why they moved to Playa del Carmen and to talk about many of the myths and fears round home schooling and unschooling children and why they feel it has been the best thing for their development. You can follow their adventures and ask them questions about living in Playa del Carmen at their website, . If you’re a family and into home exchanging with other families of similar age then check out their new home swapping website What I learned from speaking with Martin and Lorena: Mexico City has an unfair reputation as an unsafe place to visit. The Cagnotti’s loved their time there and had no issues with safety. Mexico is a city of extremes in wealth and poverty yet all seem to live together side by side with no ill feeling or tension. Playa del Carmen offers a quieter lifestyle than the busier party town of Cancun only an hour away. If you’re after a slower pace of life it’s certainly an option with an increasing number of expat families and retirees settling there. Like any holiday town it has it’s tourists areas and local areas and it’s important to get out and about and explore beyond the beaches if looking to shift there (if you want to know more about Cancun check out our interview with Jen and Jay Kerwood) Unschooling is not about leaving your children to run amuck. It is really about letting them discover what they are interested in then showing them how to learn the relevant skills to help them. By understanding why they need to learn and how to practically apply it, it gives their learning more purpose and gives them a reason to learn. Unschooling or home schooling doesn’t mean your children are outside the curriculum indefinitely. In Mexico they are still able to pass exams that allow them to tick the right boxes for further education and as Lainie Liberti also spoke about more and more colleges and universities are accepting children who have been raised in an unschooled environment. As Alyson Long and Andrew and Daryl Grant will also testify to unschooling or home schooling does not leave your children lacking for social interaction. The Cagnotti kids still attend classes in art and music and interact more often with other children who are being home schooled or unschooled than they would have done in the classroom environment. They love what unschooling has offered them and wouldn’t change what they are doing. /episode/index/show/theexpatchat/id/4856103

Living the Good Life in Bangkok 11/17/2016

Living the Good Life in Bangkok Not all expats move to cut costs and living the expat life doesn’t have to mean living on the smell of an oily rag. Today’s interviewees have transformed their lives from management consultants slogging the 9 to 5 and longer, to internet marketing experts who have built themselves a digital empire and given themselves the lifestyle and freedom they’ve always wanted. In 2013 Andrew and Daryl Grant left the Gold Coast, Australia to enjoy the benefits of Bangkok, taking their two pre-teen children into a new way of living that an online business gives them the freedom to pursue. Today we discuss with them why they love Bangkok, how home schooling their children has provided them with a better education than they would have received in school, and they share some of the secrets of how they built their own online businesses. You can get some great advice on starting your own online business from their website resources at What I learned from speaking with Andrew and Daryl: Although Bangkok has a pretty good transportation system the Grants have mastered the art of driving locally and purchased a car. It has enabled them to travel much further than the BTS system would allow them and they feel they’ve got to know the city much better for it. Bangkok is interesting in the sense that it acts like a series of villages. The way locals interact with each other - and the Grants - displays the sort of small town feel that a city of this size normally wouldn’t have Daryl feels incredibly safe there, more so than in Australia, and has no qualms about allowing her 15 and 13 year old to travel around the city on their own They have found by home schooling the kids they get the opportunity to offer them so much more than a standard curriculum. Travel among other things is a big part of their education and the children have enjoyed some unique experiences they would never get in the classroom. They shared some great advice for building an online business including choosing a niche that you can be the expert in, setting up a business with continuity where you can be paid over and over for your services, and be persistent if you want results /episode/index/show/theexpatchat/id/4837728

Why Tragedy was our Travel Catalyst 11/09/2016

Why Tragedy was our Travel Catalyst Many people we interview have life changing moments that serve as the catalyst to their new life abroad. For Dalene and Pete Heck it was a series of tragedies including the death of Pete’s mother and Dalene’s sister passing in her early 30’s that prompted the two Alberta, Canada natives that it was time to make the most of the time they had on this planet. They had been avid travelers during the holidays they had taken but their corporate jobs served as a restriction to the real time and energy they wanted to put in. In 2009 they hit the road starting in Bolivia and covering much of South America. Since then they have built one of the world’s biggest travel brands and work with many media companies helping them use the travel environment and travel bloggers to build awareness online. You can check out their journey (and Pete’s wonderful pictures) at What I learned from speaking with Dalene: It’s interesting how Pete and Dalene don’t get tied into doing things that might make them more money but they don’t enjoy. They are aware that building their online business and being a travel blogger is a long term journey and that they need to do what is their passion so it doesn’t become a chore. Like Nat and Jodie these guys are also a fan of Nomador for finding housesitting gigs. They find it more personable and easier to deal with than some of the larger sites where it is harder to get good housesitting gigs. Again it’s about building a reputation and once you have it things get easier. Travel is about people. Their experience with the locals in Roatan where they were eventually asked to become god-parents to one of the local villagers – that’s the sort of special experience that money can’t buy. If you want to know more about Roatan check out our interview with Rika Purdey The world is not what the media portray. Dalene was very passionate about her experiences of countries, particularly Turkey, where the kindness of locals can be vastly different to the way the world is seen in the news. ( For more on Turkey check out Leonard Durso’s interview) /episode/index/show/theexpatchat/id/4816346

7 Tips for Living Healthy on the Road 10/27/2016

7 Tips for Living Healthy on the Road Trying to stay healthy on the road can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare – you’re pushed for time, you’re in a strange environment with no common reference points or places to eat and you’re at your most vulnerable when energy levels get low and stress might get high. Today’s guest is Karen Wojciechowski who knows first-hand the difficulties of taking care of yourself as an expat traveler. She’s left her native habitat in Perth Australia with her husband and after a stint in Canada is now living the digital nomad lifestyle in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she has established her website offering advice and consultation on healthy eating. We caught up with Karen where she talks about her experiences as an expat traveler and shares with us 7 tips for taking good care of yourself while you are traveling. You’ll find Karen’s Facebook group where you can share advice and get tips at What I learned from Karen’s interview: Drink lots of water. This may seem simple but is probably most people’s biggest let down. It can help reduce hunger pains and keep dehydration at bay. Particularly important if you have just changed climates from cold to warm and your body is still adjusting Choose your meal. Determine when you will be naughty or overindulge and be good for the rest of the day around it. Also don’t think if you make an unhealthy start you might as well write the day off by continuing to eat badly. You can soon balance the day out again Bring your own snacks. This not only helps with costs (especially in more expensive countries) but gives you that most important element of all control. If you can control your snacks you will resist the urge to grab anything on the go It doesn’t have to be long but just do something. Walking a new city you are in is not just a great way to see it but to get that exercise in. Karen has a step counter and can easily manage 30,000 strides while looking around. Keep your exercise shoes packed to make it easier and look out for some of those great 7 minute exercise apps that are available, and check out free fitness classes in new towns which might present different cultural experiences. Do meditation. This can help rebalance and destress you. Even just a few minutes helps. There are always travel downtime waiting for transport etc when you can manage a quick meditation. Again there are great apps that can help. Google healthy eating options before you go. It’s better to go armed with information that again gives you control then arriving uninformed and going in an unhealthy direction. Ask the locals who can also help you out when you arrive. Make health a priority. If you don’t focus on eating well and exercising each day it can soon get out of hand. If you make it a priority you have a better chance of getting the results you want and enjoying your travels more. /episode/index/show/theexpatchat/id/4778853

Traveling the World Without Flight 10/27/2016

Traveling the World Without Flight Heading: Traveling the World Without Flying; Di and Dave Taunton Today’s guests haven’t gone anywhere yet…but they are about to! Di and Dave Taunton are only a few days away from their expat adventure. The catalyst for their nomadic lifestyle was a serious car accident Dave had 12 years ago. Re-evaluating life the two of them headed overseas with their children on a 5 year journey but 2 years in they decided they needed to return to give their children some normalcy. Dave still felt he had unfinished business and with the kids now grown up he has persuaded Di that it’s time to hit the road again while they can. Their journey is to tour the world without airplane using cruises and ferries to cross waterways. Starting in Bali they will work their way around much of Asia over the next 3-4 months before heading further afield. We caught up with them to discuss the planning process to their trip and the fears concerns and excitement that they have about the journey ahead. You can follow their fresh adventures at What I learned from Di and Dave’s interview: I loved Di’s spreadsheet idea of having somewhere to throw all the information that you learn about as you go. I’ve been guilty of seeing or reading about somewhere interesting then promptly forgetting about it so I’m now setting up my spreadsheet. Thanks Di! There is some great online resources. Di mentioned Trip Advisor of course but the Man in seat 61 is another great one if you are planning to travel by plane or ferry. There are other alternatives to flying and as the Mundells and Chuck and Lori Ros have found there are some great one way cruise deals that can be had for the price of an airfare. Getting advice from others is a great way to not only gather information but be inspired. Di and Dave credit many bloggers for the inspiration and advice they have provided. Planning is great in the early part of your trip, especially to give you confidence that you have a roof over your head. Many of our longer term travelers do this less as they go on and realize that short term plans can also work just as well. We’ve found hosting couchsurfers is interesting as most people contact you only a day or two prior to arriving. This seems strange for an over-planner like myself but I understand once you hit the road that you soon get used to it. Before deciding you can’t live the expat lifestyle ask yourself why and give yourself 5 reasons why you can’t do it. The barriers may not be as real as you think. /episode/index/show/theexpatchat/id/4778825

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