Foreign Affairs Podcast
Sharing funny, strange, juicy, and ridiculous stories about people in foreign places. Host Lauren Hamilton swaps stories with guests and discusses reader-submitted stories, walking down memory lane of foreign places.
49. Crazy After Hour Parties w/ Justine
This week we have Justine on the podcast, and she tells two stories about hitting up the after-hours spot and where that goes wrong. Because there's nothing good that happens after 2 am in your early 20s.
listen to the Realityshore Podcast (available everywhere)
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48. Almost a Muppeteer & Performing at Disney
We have a fellow expat, Steph, to share her sliding doors moment of almost becoming a Muppeteer, and host Lauren talks about her middle school performance at Disneyworld.
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47. Realities of teaching in China
This week we're talking about what it's really like to teach in China. We have a listener-submitted story about having to play Law & Order detective to defend yourself at work, and host Lauren gives you the lowdown on what it's been like teaching in China for the past 11 years. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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46. Living Through 9/11 and a Serial Killer
This week, brother of the podcast joins Lauren to talk about what it was like growing up in Silver Spring Maryland, as kids during September 11th and the DC Sniper killing spree.
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45. the Expat Friendship Cycle
This week, host Lauren is discussing the reality of friendships while living abroad and going through her own graveyard of friendships after 11 years in China.
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44. What Is Going On With Expats in Bali?
We're discussing the story of the expats who got deported from Bali.
BBC article
the Guardian article
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43. Realities of Moving Abroad
This was Patreon exclusive that I'm sharing here on the main feed (I had tech issues with the episode I had planned for this week)
After 10 years in China, I'm sharing the honest, messy, and nuanced realities of life abroad that don't fit into a 60-second video.
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42. Travel AITAH
This week, host Lauren is reading some good ol' Am I the Asshole" stories centered around traveling.
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41. My Uncle's Footsteps Through Ireland
Today I'm joined by my mom, who introduces her Uncle Phil, who first traveled to Ireland in 1971 to film a documentary about the places that our family then visited 50 years later.
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40. My family trip to Ireland
I finally took a family trip to Ireland—and it ended up being amazing!
In this episode, I'm sharing the highs, the mishaps, the pubs, the scones, the tiny country roads, and the unexpected things about Ireland.
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39. No Privacy in China: Squat Toilets
Alex joins host Lauren to chat surprising differences in privacy, personal space, and public life in China—from toilets and hospitals to banks and everyday interactions.
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38. Apartment Fraud & Concerts in China w/ Shagi
This week we have Shagi back on the podcast talking apartment fraud within a thruple and what was it like when Kanye, Beyonce and Linkin Park were touring through China.
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37. The Chinese Version of Literally Everything w/ Aleese
Host Lauren is joined by guest Aleese Lightyear for a fun conversation comparing the Chinese versions of familiar Western experiences. Together, they unpack the funny and surprisingly universal similarities between life in China and the West after their years of living abroad.
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36. I joined a fake sorority in college
This week host Lauren talks about when she joined a “social club” at her religious university… which was basically a sorority pretending not to be a sorority.
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35. Expat AITAH
This week, host Lauren is reading AITAH reddit posts all about expat life and traveling abroad. The good, bad, and the ugly.
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34. Hard Truths About Living Abroad
This week, host Lauren discusses the not so pretty sides of living abroad as an expat
original reddit post
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33. Underage and Unsupervised: Senior Beach Week
This week, Lauren takes you back to one of the most chaotic, unsupervised, and slightly questionable rites of passage: senior beach week. Fresh out of high school, Lauren shares what really went down during that week-long “spring break” for teenagers. And later, she reads reddit posts from fresh 18 y/o with their own beach week problems.
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32. Terrible Coworkers & Prom
This week, we are joined again by Sean who shares a terrible coworker story and Lauren recalls her strange encounter during her high school senior prom. Later they both discuss an AITA about when you need to kick out one of your bridesmaids before the wedding.
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31. Losers Back Home: Love is Blind
Lauren is talking her favorite topic: losers back home (LBH). She categorizes LBH in the context of China, all related to Love is Blind Season 10.
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I Started a Patreon!
Right now you can access the FREE library of podcast episode and newsletters.
Check out the Patreon here.
30. Magic Mike in China
This week, host Lauren shares the bizarre but entertaining variety shows and talent galas that all all over China.
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29. The Worst Jobs in China
Ways to Counter 🧊
This week, host Lauren shares the WORST jobs she's had while working in China for the past 10 years.
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28. My Travel Horror Story
This week, host Lauren shares the embaressing stories from when she traveled SE Asia in her early days living in China. Later she discusses an 3 AITA stories about the drama that surrounds traveling while being in relationships.
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27. My Terrible Job History
This week, host Lauren shares the terrible jobs she had prior to becoming a teacher in China. Later she discusses an AITA about when you wanna quit your jobs but you mother in law is your boss.
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26. Wild Concert Encounters
This week, we are joined by fellow podcaster Justine who shares her CRAZY WILD backstage story from her partying days and Lauren recalls her encounter from a concert freshman year of college. Later they both discuss an AITA about when you girl ditched you to go backstage with a musician that's just a "friend".
listen to the Shorestore Podcast (available everyewhere)
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25. Strange Teacher Stories w/ Aleese Lightyear
This week , Miss Aleese Lightyear is back on the podcast to FINALLY give an update on the infamous mute fiancé. And both Aleese and Lauren share some of their strangest coworker and student stories they've had as teachers. Later they both discus an AITA about when a teacher cancels the movie day.
Aleese's Youtube
her instagram
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24. Scammed in Thailand & Trapped in Korea w/ Matt
This week, we are joined by Matt a fellow expat in China. He shares his nightmare stories about teaching abroad. Later, they both discuss an AITA Reddit post about when your wife falls for a romantic online scam and you blast all your business online.
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23. China Apartment Horror Stories w/John
This week, we are joined by John a former Chinese expat. He and Lauren share their Chinese apartment horror stories. Later, they both discuss an AITA Reddit post about when your roommate's boyfriend starts spending a little too much time at the apartment, where he doesn't pay rent.
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22. We Almost Joined a Cult w/ Adam
This week, we have our first repeat guest, Adam, to talk about his close encounter with a Korean religious cult. Then host Lauren talks about her close call with the NXVM cult. And later, they both discuss an AITA Reddit post about when mind control causes you to cheat on your boyfriend.
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21. Thailand Full Moon Parties w/ Chris
This week, the brother of the podcast Chris is on to share his full moon party experience in Thailand that truly could only happen to someone in their early 20s . Host Lauren shares her own Thailand stories from her 20-something years. And later, they both discuss an AITA Reddit post about when you get stuck solo traveling when your friend ditches you for her new boyfriend.
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20. Twenty somethings traveling in India & China w/ Julia
This week, the sister-in-law of the podcast Julia is on to share how she had the trip of a lifetime in Mumbai with her childhood bestie. Host Lauren shares how she had the worst culture shock of her life during her first solo travel. And later, they both discuss an AITA Reddit post about when you get the short end of the stick on a family holiday
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19. China Day 1 w/ Matt
This week, we're joined by new friend of the pod Matt to share his chaotic and stressful first day living in China back in 2009. Finally, they both discuss an AITA Reddit post about how maybe you shouldn't move to a new country with your boyfriend.
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18. My Dad met RFK
This week, Dad of the podcast is on to share how he met RFK just years before he was assassinated. And later, they both discuss an AITA Reddit post about when you are quiet-quitting your job that you hate.
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17. My Mom Was a Hippy... kinda
This week, Mom of the podcast is on to share her adventure in Colorado when she was 18. Including: hippies, Ted-Bundy-close-calls, and hitchhiking. And later, they both discuss an AITA Reddit post about when the group trip doesn't necessarily always make it out of the group chat
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16. Reverse Culture Shock & UK Observations
This week, host Lauren discusses how she experiences reverse culture shock when coming back home to the US from China. And later, she shares some of her UK observations from her recent trip there.
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15. AMA & Reading my DMs
This week, host Lauren answers some of your "ask me anything" questions, and later she reads some of the most bizarre DMs from her Instagram @laurensfoodielife
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14. China Teaching Stories
This week, host Lauren shares some of her crazy China teaching stories. Later, an anonymous listener letter about a tricky Chinese coworker dating situation.
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13. Sugar Daddies and Coworker Creeps w/ Seynique Smythe
This week, we're joined by oldest friend of the pod, Seynique Smythe, to share her French encounter with sugar daddies while studying abroad. Later, host Lauren reads a juicy anonymous listener letter about the CREEPIEST coworker story to date. Finally, they both discuss an AITA Reddit post about when working with your best friend goes wrong.
follow Seynique here
listen to our other podcast:
Everybody Wants Something: a Degrassi Podcast
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12. Cockney Coworker Chaos w/ Casey
This week, we're joined by Casey to share her coworker nightmare story with ALL the drama surrounding a school musical. Finally, they both discuss an AITA Reddit post about a smelly coworker.
follow Casey @pineappleworldtour
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11: Life at a Kung Fu Academy w/ Nathan K. Williams
This week, we're joined by Nathan to share his story of finding himself while studying at a kung fu academy in rural China. Finally, they both discuss an AITA Reddit post about family drama surrounding bridesmaids' dresses.
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