Expat Diaries - Costa Rica Edition
Welcome to 'Expat Diaries - Costa Rica Edition', the weekly podcast that dives into the vibrant and challenging world of expats who've traded their familiar homes for the lush, tropical paradise of Costa Rica. Join us as we explore captivating stories from a diverse group of adventurers who dared to embrace a new way of life. Each episode is a unique journey, filled with insights about the hurdles, joys, and transformative experiences encountered when settling in this beautiful Central American haven. Perfect for those with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for the unconventional, our podcast offers an exhilarating peek...
🎙️ Cindy Crawford - From Texas Realtor to Thriving Expat in Costa Rica’s Uvita 🌴🏡

In this episode, we meet Cindy Crawford, a former Texas realtor whose journey to Costa Rica began in 2017 with her son’s wedding. Captivated by the beauty and charm of the country, Cindy and her husband made the leap to relocate after the Covid-19 pandemic pushed them to seek a fresh start.
From exploring the picturesque areas of Manuel Antonio and Ojochal to finding their dream home in Uvita, Cindy shares the ups and downs of their relocation journey. Determined to integrate into the local community, Cindy and her husband are now active participants in Uvita’s vibr...
🎙️ Part 2: Jules McLachlan - Escaping Canada for a New Life in Costa Rica with Her Daughters 🌴💪

Part 2 of this powerful and emotional episode, Jules McLachlan shares her dramatic journey of escaping Canada with her three daughters in search of safety, freedom, and a fresh start in Costa Rica. Jules opens up about the challenges she faced, including dealing with relentless exes, navigating legal battles, securing restraining orders, and even hiring security to protect her family.
Despite these obstacles, Jules found resilience, strength, and hope in Costa Rica, carving out a new life for herself and her girls. This is not just a story of escape—it’s one of survival, courage, and triumph over...
Part 1: Jules McLachlan: Escaping Canada for a New Life in Costa Rica with Her Daughters 🌴💪

In this powerful and emotional episode, Jules McLachlan shares her dramatic journey of escaping Canada with her three daughters in search of safety, freedom, and a fresh start in Costa Rica. Jules opens up about the challenges she faced, including dealing with relentless exes, navigating legal battles, securing restraining orders, and even hiring security to protect her family.
Despite these obstacles, Jules found resilience, strength, and hope in Costa Rica, carving out a new life for herself and her girls. This is not just a story of escape—it’s one of survival, courage, and triumph over adve...
🎙️ Part 2: Luba Nikolayev - Love, Motherhood, and Building a Life in Costa Rica 🌴❤️

Part 2. We pick up from where we left off with Luba Nikolayev, whose journey in Costa Rica began in 2015 during a 10-month teacher training trip. Years later, on a celibacy quest, she met Jonah—her future husband—and together they’ve built a beautiful life filled with love, challenges, and adventure.
Luba shares her experiences of birthing children in Costa Rica, including the cultural differences and joys of raising a family abroad. After a brief 18-month hiatus outside the country, Luba and Jonah found themselves drawn back to Costa Rica to welcome another child and rediscover their love f...
🎙️ Part 1: Luba Nikolayev - Love, Motherhood, and Building a Life in Costa Rica 🌴❤️

In this heartwarming episode, we meet Luba Nikolayev, whose journey in Costa Rica began in 2015 during a 10-month teacher training trip. Years later, on a celibacy quest, she met Jonah—her future husband—and together they’ve built a beautiful life filled with love, challenges, and adventure.
Luba shares her experiences of birthing children in Costa Rica, including the cultural differences and joys of raising a family abroad. After a brief 18-month hiatus outside the country, Luba and Jonah found themselves drawn back to Costa Rica to welcome another child and rediscover their love for its unique lifest...
Part 2 - 🎙️Ashley Ihemelu: From Dallas to Costa Rica: Raising Kids and Building The Hungry Tribe🌍🌿

Part 2. We continue our chat with Ashley Ihemelu, a dynamic mother of two who made the bold decision to leave Dallas and embrace a new life in Costa Rica. Frustrated by the high costs of private Spanish immersion schooling in Texas, Ashley and her husband realized they could provide the same opportunities for their children by moving abroad.
Their journey to Costa Rica wasn’t a straight line, but a pivotal meeting with a local healer who agreed to mentor Ashley in nutritional health changed everything. Now based in San José, Ashley runs The Hungry Tribe, a thr...
Part 1 - 🎙️Ashley Ihemelu: From Dallas to Costa Rica – Raising Kids and Building The Hungry Tribe🌍🌿

In this episode, we chat with Ashley Ihemelu, a dynamic mother of two who made the bold decision to leave Dallas and embrace a new life in Costa Rica. Frustrated by the high costs of private Spanish immersion schooling in Texas, Ashley and her husband realized they could provide the same opportunities for their children by moving abroad.
Their journey to Costa Rica wasn’t a straight line, but a pivotal meeting with a local healer who agreed to mentor Ashley in nutritional health changed everything. Now based in San José, Ashley runs The Hungry Tribe, a thr...
🎙️ Cathy Tallone - Embracing Community and Transformation in Costa Rica 🇨🇷✨

In this episode, we sit down with Cathy Tallone, a transformational life coach who made the life-changing decision to move to Costa Rica with her family during the pandemic. Originally from the New Hampshire Seacoast, Cathy, her husband Michael, and their two sons, aged 8 and 14 at the time, embarked on their Costa Rican adventure in November 2020, completing the move in June 2021.
Cathy shares how their first visit to Costa Rica in March 2020—just days before the pandemic shut down the country—planted the seed for a new life abroad. From buying a home versus renting to choosing betw...
🎙️Marie Vincent - From Retired Med Pro to Costa Rica’s Most Trusted Pet & House Sitter 🐾🏡

Meet Marie Vincent, a retired medical professional from California who turned her fluency in Spanish into an exciting new chapter in Costa Rica. After deciding that a Spanish-speaking country was the ideal fit for her retirement dreams, Marie traveled to Costa Rica and quickly found her niche as a pet and house sitter.
Marie’s journey is more than just a retirement story – it’s a tale of building trust, community, and an in-demand lifestyle that blends work and leisure. Now one of Costa Rica’s most trusted and sought-after sitters, Marie shares her insights on how to navig...
🎙️ Darren Enns - Building Sustainably in Costa Rica with Eco Builders 🌎🏡

In this episode, we sit down with Darren Enns, the visionary behind Eco Builders of Costa Rica. Originally from the Vancouver/Seattle area, Darren’s extensive background in industrial and commercial building took a new direction when he fell in love with Costa Rica’s Southern Zone. Drawn to the Uvita area, Darren’s passion for sustainability and responsible building inspired him to launch Eco Builders, a company dedicated to providing high-quality, eco-friendly homes in Costa Rica.
From sourcing sustainable materials to delivering a stress-free home-building experience, Darren is on a mission to redefine construction standards in Costa...