Transcontinental Overload
Transcontinental Overload shines a spotlight on expats’ life stories, and the realities of leaving your home country and making a new life abroad. Host Stephanie Cook talks to fellow expats, global nomads and professionals about their personal journeys and observations, discussing the complexities, wonders, heartache and richness of living abroad. The podcast goes hand in hand with her blog on www.transcontinentaloverload.com.
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.Â
The German version begins at 19 minutes.
Wenn ihr mich lieber auf Deutsch hört, spult zur 19. Minute vor.Â
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.Â
NatĂĽrlich geht es bei unserem Gespräch auch um die Liebe, denn - ihr ahnt es bereits - Janine ist selbst aus LiebesgrĂĽnden ausgewandert, und zwar nach San Diego in Kalifornien wo sie mit ihrem Mann und drei Kindern lebt.Â
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! Â
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 an...
72. Abenteuer RĂĽckkehr - 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 fĂĽr RĂĽckkehrer nach Deutschland, insbesondere mit Kindern, und natĂĽrlich bekommen wir jeden Menge Tipps und Perspektiven, was den Neustart im alten Land angeht.
Wir sprechen ĂĽber bestimmte Strategien, die bei der RĂĽckkehr helfen und auch darĂĽber, 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!!!Â
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!
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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.Â
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 ĂĽber 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: AsunciĂłn - 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: AsunciĂłn, the capital of Paraguay.Â
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 fĂĽr 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.Â
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.
NatĂĽrlich sprechen wir auch ĂĽber ihre groĂźe Leidenschaft, das Coachen von Frauen und die Begleitung bei der UnternehmensgrĂĽndung, 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. Â
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.Â
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!
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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.Â
50. Have dog, will travel! - with Chase Warrington
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My guest today is Chase, an American currently based in Spain and Germany.
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Chase works as Head of Remote at Doist, a pioneer of distributed work that specializes in productivity software. He is responsible for developing and executing the company's remote work strategy. Having worked remotely for over 12 years, as one of Doist’s 100 employees in 35 countries, he has a whole array of accolades!
Knowing the huge range of possible subjects, we just started chatting and our topics cover the nomadic lifestyle, working remotely and what a typical day loo...
49. Building home within (part 2) - with Lea Misan
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In our second conversation, Lea and I jump right back in and pick up a few subjects we mentioned in Episode 48.
This time we dig even further into our expat minds, and Lea takes me deep into Jewish cultural history and how it's shaped the collective psyche.Â
We also talk about how our own experiences have not only shaped us, but also keep influencing our immediate families, and we go back to topics such as identity, belonging, homesickness, and how we can maintain a bearable tension between missing a place an...
48. Building home within (part 1) - with Lea Misan
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Today's episode is the first of two parts - I'm talking to Lea Misan, London-based author, psychotherapist and coach, as well as trauma counsellor. She's the executive director of UK charity Act for Change, and has worked extensively with expats.
We talk about everything from what it's like to grow up with multiple languages, moving countries at a young age and in adolescence, what such a multi-faceted life does to your psyche and sense of self, and so much more.Â
For more information about Lea, or how to contact h...
47. Expat life through a lens - with Taro Moberly
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We're venturing east today, to Japan! My guest is Taro, a Kyoto based photographer, who grew up in California, but decided to explore his heritage and moved to Japan in his twenties.
We talk about what it's like to be a foreigner in a country that's strange and familiar at the same time, the intricacies of Japanese rules of behaviour, drinking culture, and why there is only one way to eat potato chips.Â
And of course we talk about photography, and how a hobby can become a lot more t...
46. Serendipity in Italy - with Kaci Matthews
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My guest today is another Texas girl! I do love my Texans, and Kaci is no exception. Originally from Houston, and in need of a new direction in life, she decided to try her luck at a job posting in Rome. Fast forward a few years, and her home is now a small town in Tuscany.
Honestly, Kaci's story reads like a film script, and I truly hope someone can take it to the silver screen.
Kaci paints such a vivid picture of her journey, describing her struggles and...
45. Driving, Dating & Dirndls: A Texan in Bavaria – with Alex Katte
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Today's guest has made me miss not only one, but two places!
Alex Katte, originally from Houston, TX, lives near Munich with her German husband and new baby son. We discuss the weird similarities between Bavarian and Texan cultures, the joys of driving without a speed limit, and the special charm of traditional clothing.
Of course we also delve into the cultural differences, and how tricky it might be to incorporate two cultures within one family, the difficulties of the German language and what it's like to get married...
44. First Impressions - with Stephanie, now a NJ resident
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A little glimpse into my new surroundings! I've not had time or energy to set up new interviews with other expats, so today it's just yours truly, sharing some thoughts and updates from my new home in New Jersey. I'm reading out my latest blog post, which of course you can also read right here.
In the meantime, find me on Facebook, Instagram, or check out my website. I'm always interested in hearing from you, welcome feedback and comments and would love to find new guests! Get in touch. I love my...
43. Survive and thrive in Germany - with Lawin from Pop Your Cultural Cherry
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Here's my belated last episode of 2021 to kick off 2022! My guest is another expat in Germany, Lawin from the Philippines.
We chat about Lawin's unexpected journey to becoming a European resident, his somewhat frosty welcome in Germany and what to expect when you move into a new place, as well as the main differences in working culture, how to make friends, and the beauty of German work-life-balance.
Our conversation then veers off to cover the wonderful world of karaoke, and we discuss German music, including the weird phenomenon that...
42. The Adventures of Aspen Abroad
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Here it is, my last episode of the year! I'm talking to Aspen, an American who grew up in Hawaii and has been based in Munich, Germany, for the last nine years.
Our conversation ranges from discussing cultural differences including the vastly different social systems in the US and Germany, her journey through German bureaucracy, bluntness, and loneliness, and the reasons why she loves German culture with all its weird and wonderful quirks.  Â
As Aspen would put it, she's achieved the American dream by moving to Germany - but I thi...
41. The long road to La Dolce Vita - with Jenn Overstreet
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This is a Thanksgiving special! Just kidding, but we recorded it on Thanksgiving day, and so there's a fair amount of festive talk in this conversation. My guest is Jenn, an American who's been living in Rome for the last four years.
We talk about the beauty of Italy, and la dolce vita, but also how vulnerable you can feel as an expat, and how moving to a new country can pull the rug out from under your feet. Jenn opens up about her own personal journey and how she's appreciating...
40. Forks in the road - with Izge Cengiz Ercan
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Today's guest is Izge, who grew up in Turkey, left her home country to study in the US, worked in various locations. and then decided to move back and forth a few times. She now feels like a complete mix of the two countries and slightly at odds with both from time to time.Â
We talk about those seemingly small moments that change the trajectory of your life, the best way to integrate into life in another country, and how to combine those different aspects of yourself.
And we b...
39. When life gives you lemons - with Janine Christie
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Today's guest is Janine, a Canadian expat in Valencia, Spain. Janine left Canada over 14 years ago, but never planned to stay this long. Cupid had other plans, however, and she ended up staying, and after initial bumps in the road, is now fully embracing her expat existence.
We talk about the strange sense of not belonging, how to survive - and even embrace - the dark days, and why being stubborn is a good thing.
We discuss toxic positivity on social media, and how finding your voice and staying true...
38. A Brit walks into a bar in New York - with Megan and Simon Bucknall
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Hello, I'm back! Today I don't have just one guest, but two! Married couple Megan from the US and Simon from the UK are on the show to tell us their story and share some insights into the differences between their countries.
"Great Britain and America are two countries divided by a common language" - this famous George Bernard Shaw quote couldn't be more true.
Megan grew up near Austin, Texas, moved to California after college and then to New York, where she met Simon from the UK, who had t...
37. Presque French - with Paul Taylor
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Today's guest is someone you might have heard of if you're a) Francophile, and/or b) a comedy enthusiast. Paul Taylor is a British stand-up comedian who lives in Paris with his French wife and daughter, and performs both in English and French.Â
We talk about his career transition from Apple employee to full-time comedian, how to do comedy in two languages, the peculiarity of accents and in particular British vs. American English, and our theories on why some people have stronger accents than others.
Paul gives us a gl...
