Get the Boots
This is the follow-on podcast from "Transcontinental Overload". Everyone faces tough times. Some are chosen, others are forced upon us. What matters most is how we respond.This podcast is about real people who have faced real challenges — setbacks, obstacles, loss, or life-altering changes, such as a move abroad — and found a way forward. Each episode dives into a personal story of resilience, courage, and sometimes transformation. My guests share what they went through, what shifted their mindset, and how they learned not just to survive, but to grow.If you’ve ever wondered how others manage to rise from diffic...
90. The dark side of life as a Third Culture Kid - with Jessi Bullis
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Trigger warning: We are talking about very sensitive topics in this episodes, including assault, trauma and suicide. For immediate help or to discuss struggles, you can connect with people who can support you by calling or texting 988 anytime in the US and Canada. In the UK, you can call 111. These services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
My guest today is an adult TCK*: Jessi, the former Director of Marketing and Adult TCK Services with TCK Training (she's still actively involved in their Suicide Intervention Training and select retreats. Jessi...
89. Giving visibility to the trailing spouse - with Dominique Narciso Kim
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My guest today is a 6 times expat, podcaster, author, international keynote speaker, global purpose coach and business mentor, amongst other things! - meet Dominique Narciso Kim.
If you've ever been upset to be called the "trailing spouse", or struggled with your identity shifts during a move abroad, our conversation is for you. Dom gives the term "trailing spouse" a new and definitely more positive spin.
Find Dominique on LinkedIn or Instagram to follow her journey. Not only does she have a new country to move to, she also has...
88. The beautiful world of multilingualism - with Louise Sverud
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Today's guest brings a fresh breeze of energy and positive vibes! Louise, originally from Sweden, has lived in Lanzarote for over 25 years and has made the Spanish island her and her children's home.
We discuss the wonders and challenges of multilingualism and what it looks like to try and raise your children with more than one language.
For more information about Louise, or maybe you're in need of a multilingual virtual assistant with a good dose of expat experience, head to LinkedIn or Instagram.
My book, "Transcontinental O...
87. The beauty of solitude - with Megan Nicholls
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We have a special treat today: Megan from the UK is taking us on the Camino de Santiago!
After working on cruise ships and then briefly back in England, Megan decided to head down to Portugal to walk the Camino - all by herself. To get clarity, to experience being alone, to test her limits.
If you've ever thought about walking the Camino yourself, or if you've never heard of it, this is the episode for you. Enjoy!
You can find out more about Meg and her l...
86. Globally Aware: how a week of volunteering can change your life - with Kimberly Haley-Coleman
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Today, we're heading all over the planet! My guest, Kimberly Haley-Coleman is the founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware, a US & Canada based nonprofit that leads and mobilizes volunteers for short-term service projects in over 25 countries worldwide.
We talk about the concept of service, the importance of local knowledge and participation and why and how an experience like the ones Globe Aware provides can be transformational. As Kimberly puts it, it's a "win-win-win situation!"
For more information on Globe Aware, head straight to the website, or follow on...
85. Too Sensitive? Think again - with Nadine Prager
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For the last episode of the year, I sit down with Nadine Prager to talk about burnout and what we can do, especially at the end of the year, to avoid it.
You can find Nadine via her website, or on Instagram, or join her Telegram WhatsApp group, The Luxury of Sensitivity.
Also check out her wonderful podcast, Too Sensitive, My Ass! which we didn't have time to talk about today, and keep your eyes peeled – Nadine has a book coming out in 2026!
Another thing we didn't get...
84. How to feel grounded - with Inga Knysh
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As promised, here are a few tips and tricks to check in with yourself and find a sense of grounding and connection with where you are.
Inga Knysh works as a transformation coach based in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast, and please reach out if you want to be a guest or have a story you'd like to share with me.
My book, "Transcontinental Overload - a Memoir of Movement, Meltdowns & Making a Life In Between" is for sale at a...
83. The beauty of transformation - with Inga Knysh
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I'm so happy to kick off my new podcast direction with a guest who knows all about transformation. Originally from Russia, Inga Knysh is a personal transformation coach based in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
After her own experiences living abroad, repatriating to Moscow and then moving twice more, Inga learned to listen to her body and intuition and decided to make a complete career change.
To find out more about Inga's work, visit her website and follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Don't forget to subscribe to th...
82. Welcome to "Get the Boots" - an introduction to my new podcast
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Welcome y'all!
It was time for a change. My book, "Transcontinental Overload - a Memoir of Movement, Meltdowns & Making a Life In Between" is coming out this Thursday, 23 October 2025, and the title will be reserved for all things book-related.
So why "Get the Boots"? Well.... dive into this episode and find out!
I'm excited to start something new and look forward to talking with all my new guests and listeners.
"Get the Boots" goes hand in hand with my Substack publication, Steph Gets the Boots.<...
81. The reality of life as a TCK - with Tanya Crossman
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Here's the latest episode - it is the last episode of Transcontinental Overload the Podcast. But fear not: I will continue in a different format with a fresh focus and a new name very soon.
Today's episode is all about what it's like to be a TCK - a third culture kid. My guest is Tanya Crossman, a cross-cultural coach, mentor and researcher, who is supporting families in their global journeys.
This episode is first and foremost for parents, all parents, not just those of TCKs, and above all...
80. A TCK on her own terms - with Urmi Hossain
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This is the penultimate episode of Transcontinental Overload - the Podcast. One more after this, and then it's off to new adventures. I'll keep you posted! Don't forget to subscribe so you automatically get the new episodes.
Today's episode is about being a TCK - the next one is about being a TCK and working with TCKs.
My guest today is Urmi - Italian by birth, Bengali by blood, Canadian by law. She tells her story of being a brown girl in Sicily, brought up by Bengali parents who i...
79. Ein Herz für San Francisco - mit Frank Marx
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Heute gibt's eine Folge mit ganz viel Herz!
Frank nimmt uns mit in seine Herzensstadt San Francisco, wo er seit mehreren Jahren lebt und als Tourguide arbeitet.
Unser Gespräch fängt mit Franks spannender Geschichte an und schlängelt sich durch Themen wie Mut, Freundschaft und den Unterschied zwischen deutschen und amerikanischen Beziehungen, die derzeitige politische Lage, Minderheiten, den Blick von außen, Nationalgefühl, und die Liebe zu anderen Menschen und Orten.
Weitere Infos zu Frank findet ihr auf seiner Website, auf Facebook und auf Instag...
78. The beauty of Human Design - with Christina Ferschen (Part 2/2)
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As promised, here's part 2 of my conversation with Christina, a German expat here in New Jersey. Christina is a certified Embodicode® Mentor & Human Design Coach. She offers sessions both in German and English.
What is Human Design?
To sum it up, Human Design is a comprehensive and integrative system that combines elements from various ancient and modern disciplines to help individuals understand their unique personality, decision-making process, and life purpose.
The Human Design System synthesizes aspects of two types of science: the ancient observational systems of Astrology, t...
77. Expat on a whim - with Christina Ferschen (Part 1/2)
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Here's part 1 of two conversations I had with my friend Christina!
Christina is originally from Germany, and is currently an almost neighbour of mine here in New Jersey. Although by the time these episodes are released, she might be about to get on a plane, as her time in the US has come to an end and her family is relocating to Germany.
We talk about the crazy beginnings of her story here in the US, and what it's like to live in a very highly pressurised part of...
76. From the Alps to the heart of Texas - with Claudia Miller
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My guest today is another mountain girl who moved to Texas (I know I'm not there anymore but of course I loved the parallels)!
Originally from Austria, Claudia lives in Austin with her American husband and their baby son. She is a professional pastry chef and culinary expert, and the founder of Alpin Delights, where she brings a taste of Austria to the US through live online baking classes, pre-recorded cooking and baking lessons, as well as a selection of authentic Austrian baked goods available to order locally in Austin.
<...75. Notes from a Perfectionist - Steph's Take
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Today's little progress report is all about my book, my podcast and why I do things the way I do.
The German version begins at 19 minutes.
Wenn ihr mich lieber auf Deutsch hört, spult zur 19. Minute vor.
You can find me on my website (excuse the mess while it's being updated), on Instagram, and on LinkedIn. Substack coming soon!
74. Sonne, Heimweh & Community - mit Janine Zöfert
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Und schon wieder sind wir auf Deutsch unterwegs - heute ist Janine von "Ich Hier Du Dort" bei mir, vielleicht kennt ihr ihren Instagram-Account, bei dem Paare davon erzählen, wie sie der Lieben wegen ausgewandert sind.
Natürlich geht es bei unserem Gespräch auch um die Liebe, denn - ihr ahnt es bereits - Janine ist selbst aus Liebesgründen ausgewandert, und zwar nach San Diego in Kalifornien wo sie mit ihrem Mann und drei Kindern lebt.
Unser Gespräch dreht sich vorwiegend um Freundschaft, und wie wichtig...
73. 5th Anniversary Episode - Steph's Take
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Happy Anniversary, Transcontinental Overload Podcast!
While the current abysmal state of affairs is nothing to be cheerful about, I'm trying to keep a positive mindset and am celebrating that my podcast is 5!
Let's use all our anger and despair and fear and create a strong community - long live the resistance! Es lebe der Widerstand! (deutsche Version beginnt 16:13).
In the coming weeks and months, you'll find more content on and beyond the podcast, as I'm working through a stack of ideas for you, including collaborations, Zoom meets a...
72. Abenteuer Rückkehr - mit Andrea Zahrte
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Heute gibt's mal wieder eine Folge auf Deutsch!
Mein Gast ist Andrea aus Hamburg, die sich nach mehreren Jahren in den USA wieder in Deutschland eine Karriere und ein neues Leben aufgebaut hat.
Andrea arbeitet im internationalen Schulwesen und als Coach und Mentor für Rückkehrer nach Deutschland, insbesondere mit Kindern, und natürlich bekommen wir jeden Menge Tipps und Perspektiven, was den Neustart im alten Land angeht.
Wir sprechen über bestimmte Strategien, die bei der Rückkehr helfen und auch darüber, was nicht hilft, wie wichti...
71. A little end of year note - Steph's Take
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Just a quick note to say THANK YOU!!!
It's been a great year, and here's to a happy and productive 2025!
In case you want the definition of RSD (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria):
Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) is when you experience severe emotional pain because of a failure or feeling rejected. This condition is linked to ADHD and experts suspect it happens due to differences in brain structure. Those differences mean your brain can’t regulate rejection-related emotions and behaviors, making them much more intense.
In 2025, I will bombard you...
70. US culture shocks - with Viktoria Daute
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Today's episode takes us to a city close to my heart: Austin, the capital of Texas.
My guest Viktoria, originally from Germany, tells us how she ended up in the Lone Star State, and you'll find out why we are expat twins!
Viktoria tells us about her early days in the US, her food truck business, and her move to Texas just before the pandemic. Since we recorded this in September, which is technically still summer in Austin, we also talk a lot about Texas weather.
In t...
69. Destination Special: Huaraz, Peru - with Ami Furness
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We're off to South America again! Today, we're travelling to Huaraz, the hiking capital of Peru.
Ami, a student from the UK, takes us to her favourite spots and talks us through some interesting food and drinks she encountered during her stay.
Some points of interest mentioned:
Café Andino
Wool shop “Los Gemelos” (Ami and I are both avid knitters)
Shopping tips:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-every-adventurer-should-visit-this-peruvian-mountain-town/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/peru/huaraz-and-the-cordilleras/shopping
Ancash mount...
68. Authenticity and connection in a crazy world - Steph's Take
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I have something very different for you today.
This episode is just a little outburst that needed to find an audience - I'm working on new projects, but while I don't have a finite home for them yet, this podcast is my temporary host.
For comments, please find me on Instagram! I absolutely welcome feedback, especially at this work-in-progress stage.
67. Destination Special: Aberdeen - with Catriona Turner
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Today we're travelling to the Silver City!
Catriona Turner, author of "Nest - a Memoir of Home on the Move", former guest on this podcast and recent repatriate to Scotland, takes us around her beautiful hometown of Aberdeen.
If you haven't read it yet, Catriona's book Nest - A Memoir of Home on the Move is widely available everywhere and a really good read.
You can also listen to our previous podcast conversation to find out more about Catriona's story.
Please also check out her website, and Instagram with...
66. Making friends and the power of loneliness - with Sarah Siegert
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Have you ever felt lonely in your expat adventure?
My guest today is Sarah, a German in London, who used her own loneliness to establish a business as a "Loneliness Coach".
Friendships, and how to make friends and keep them, is our overall topic, but of course we also talk a lot about cultural differences, especially between the UK and Germany.
Sarah mentions Brooke Castillo's The Life Coach School Podcast, which is a great resource, not only if you're interested in coaching in general. There's a lot...
65. Mehr als Worte: Sprachen lernen, Kulturen verstehen - mit Vanessa Paisley
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Heute geht's auf die Insel!
Mein Gast ist Vanessa, eine Engländerin, die lange in Österreich gelebt hat und seit 10 Jahren wieder in ihrer alten Heimat Hertfordshire lebt.
Vanessa arbeitet als interkulturelle Trainerin und Sprachlehrerin, und natürlich sprechen wir ausgiebig über das Sprachenlernen und die Unterschiede zwischen Englisch und Deutsch. Außerdem geht’s ums Umziehen mit Teenagern, die Zweisprachigkeit, verschiedene Schulsysteme, Tee, Schokolade und Chips, sowie den Unterschied zwischen "Handy" und "Handy".
Wenn ihr mehr über Vanessa wissen wollt, findet ihr sie am besten auf Instagram, oder nat...
64. Celebrating life as an Adult TCK - with Shakti Hannie
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My guest today is a true ATCK - an adult third culture kid. Third Culture Kids are people who were raised in a culture other than their parents' or the culture of their country of nationality, and also live in a different environment during a significant part of their child development years.
Shakti is also the author of Colours of a Cultural Chameleon: "Where are you from?" Life. gets interesting when one has no simple answer.
Born in the Netherlands to a Belgian father and an Indian mother, Shakti...
63. Destination Special: Asunción - with Nicole Palazzo
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For my very first Destination Special, we're travelling to South America!
Nikki Palazzo, born in the US and a former expat in Germany, is showing off the city she's called home for the last 18 months: Asunción, the capital of Paraguay.
Join us on our virtual weekend through this colourful and friendly city and find out where to eat, drink cocktails and watch the sunset.
We also venture out of town, and there are tips and anecdotes galore!
Make sure you eat something before listening, as you'll be...
62. When expat dreams turn into a fight for survival - with Sabine Schwab
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My guest today is Sabine, a fellow German transplant in New Jersey, who's lived in the US since 2010.
Her story is truly harrowing and amazing at the same time: Sabine talks about how a life-altering emergency made her expat journey take a 180, and how her life has changed since then.
We talk about how an emergency situation like this affects your family in and outside of your country, what consequences a medical diagnosis can have for your residency status, and we discuss different health systems, and the importance of grandparents...
61. Notes from a romantic expat - with Iliana Genkova
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Today's guest is a true nomad - Iliana, a Living Abroad Strategist, writer and scientist, born and raised in Bulgaria, and currently living in Chicago.
Iliana left life behind the Iron Curtain for adventure in the US just before the millennium and has since lived in five countries on three continents.
We talk about the transience of life, making friends all over the world, what it means to have a relationship with a country, and how to keep a glass-half-full attitude through the darker times.
To connect...
60. Ein Herz für Vintage - mit Susann Reiner
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Und weiter geht's mit den deutschen Folgen! Mein heutiger Gast ist Susann Reiner, alias Madame Süsette, Vintage-Liebhaberin und Geschäftsfrau mit Herz.
Susann ist ursprünglich aus Thüringen, und floh mit ihrem damaligen Mann kurz vor der Wende in den Westen, wo sie sich in der Nähe von Stuttgart niederließen.
Susann war ausgebildete Krankenschwester, bevor sie ihren Beruf an den Nagel hängte und in vielen Bereichen tätig wurde - unter anderem führte sie zehn Jahre lang eine Second-Hand-Boutique, zunächst in Deutschland und dann i...
59. Going Dutch - with Rossella Davi
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We're heading to Rotterdam today. My guest is Sicilian Rossella Davi, who's lived in the Netherlands on and off for the last 12 years.
While we talk a lot about how national stereotypes aren't always applicable, we also can't escape them, and have a good laugh at Dutch minimalism vs. Italian drama, amongst other culture shocks.
Find Rossella on Instagram, or check out her Going Expat website if you want to know more about moving abroad, and in particular the Netherlands!
Want to be a guest on this p...
58. Abenteuer Auswandern - mit Monique Menesi
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Meine erste Folge auf Deutsch!
Mein heutiger Gast ist Monique Menesi - vielleicht bereits bekannt durch ihren Muttersprache-Podcast, oder ihren Unternehmer-Podcast zum Business-Aufbau.
Monique ist erfolgreiche Unternehmerin, Auswandererin und Coach mit mehr als 30 Jahren Erfahrung. Wie sie selbst das Auswandern mit ihrer Familie meistert (Dubai, Katar, Schweiz und USA) und was sie sonst noch für Pläne hat, erfahrt ihr in unserem Gespräch.
Natürlich sprechen wir auch über ihre große Leidenschaft, das Coachen von Frauen und die Begleitung bei der Unternehmensgründung, und alles, was daz...
57. Closing the culture gap: the power of vulnerability - with Christian Höferle
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My guest today is "The Culture Guy" - Christian Höferle, founder, president and CEO of The Culture Mastery, a coaching, mentoring and consulting company based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Our conversation starts with Christian's early life in small-town Bavaria (incidentally, the exact same area and time period I grew up in), his experience as a 17-year-old exchange student in the US, and how this part of his life shaped his future mindset. We then meander through his professional life traveling from Germany to the United States, and finish by talking about the...
56. Embracing the mess: Life in a global family - with Mariam Navaid Ottimofiore
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Today's guest is, without a doubt, the most global person I've had the pleasure of talking to! She is none other than two-times author, writer, speaker, economist, language enthusiast and passionate expat, Mariam Navaid Ottimofiore.
To say that today's episode is a love letter to learning languages is an understatement, and you will find so much wisdom in Mariam's observations. I kept wanting to stop and take notes.
Mariam was born in Pakistan, grew up in Bahrain, the United States and Pakistan, went to college in the US and...
55. Turning your expat journey into a book - with Catriona Turner
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Today's episode is for all the aspiring writers out there and, of course, their equally important enthusiastic readers!
My guest is Catriona Turner, a seasoned expat and newly published author. Her memoir, "Nest - a Memoir of Home on the Move" is widely available.
We chat about Catriona's expat journey, taking her from Scotland to France, Uganda, Congo and Denmark, and then back to Scotland, and how she decided to fulfil her dream of becoming a writer and then a published author.
Find out more about Catriona on I...
54. Humanising education: the importance of emotional intelligence - with Brantley Turner-Bradley
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My guest today is an education warrior: Brantley Turner-Bradley, East Asia Education Director for Dwight Schools.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Brantley spent 25 years of her life in China and is raising three TCKs with her husband. We spoke in June, while Brantley and her family were in the US; they are currently embarking on a new venture in Hanoi, Vietnam.
We cover a whole range of subjects, from the importance of cultural immersion for growth, to the Chinese vs US education system, AI and how the current education system...
53. Written in the stars: How locational astrology can guide your life's story - with Katherine from Bad Days Abroad
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Today's guest is Katherine, who was a guest on my podcast two years ago, an expat coach, writer, and locational astrologer.
Using my own journey as an example, we're traveling the world looking at some of the places I've lived in or visited, and how the date, place and time of my birth are determining how I react to different places in the world.
If you're interested in finding out more, check out Katherine’s website, or find her on Instagram.
Special treat: Katherine is offering a 2...
52. Sex, Lies & Audiotape: why American teenagers don’t get the full story - with Julia & Jeremiah, the Sexvangelicals
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We're going really deep today!
My guests are American family and sex therapists Julia & Jeremiah, who currently live in Utrecht, The Netherlands. They are the founders of "Sexvangelicals - the sex education the church didn't want you to have", and co-host the Sexvangelicals Podcast.
Sex! Religion! Politics! We talk about it all in this episode. Our topics range from sex education (and the lack thereof) at school to differences in parenting depending on which country you grow up in, and the impact of social media on they way we a...
51. Just a lil' spring update
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Hey, it's me, I'm still here!
Just a little update from yours truly. The sound isn't very good as I recorded this in the car, but at least it's a little sign of life!
In a nutshell: I'm spending more time writing these days than on the podcast, but it's still going. :-)
Please leave feedback and suggestions, contact me if you want to be on my podcast or just want to chat!
You can find me on my website, or on Instagram.
