Your Best Life Abroad

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Solveiga Jaskunas, who shares her powerful journey from Lithuania to building a thriving career in American HR & public speaking. Solveiga opens up about the real challenges of immigrating—from navigating job searches in a new country to adjusting to cultural differences that aren't always visible on the surface.This episode goes beyond the typical immigrant success story. Solveiga reveals the mindset shifts that transformed her career, the critical role of community support, and why she chose to step into public speaking to amplify immigrant voices in professional spaces. Whether you're an immigrant professional, a career changer, or simply someone seeking fresh perspective on growth, this episode has something for you.Tune in to learn: Mindset Shifts: Changing your internal narrative to unlock new opportunities in your international careerThe Power of Community: Why you can't do it alone and how to find your peoplePublic Speaking as Purpose: Using your story (flaws &ball) has the power to create impactful changeVisibility in Career Growth: Why being seen matters and how to increase your visibility strategicallySelf-Compassion: The importance of being kind to yourself while living abroadConnect with SolveigaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solveigajaskunas/Website: https://www.immigrantvoiceinhr.com/Connect with Mary Martha:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymarthakipcak/Instagram: @coachwithmmBook a free 30-minute consult call: https://calendly.com/coachwithmm/30min

Hey YBLA listeners!I'll be taking the next two weeks off to rest & reflect on 2025 (it's been a wild one!), savor the Christmas markets here in Madrid, and enjoy the holiday season with my husband and new friends.YBLA Season 2 will be back on January 7th, 2026!

There's a mistake I see people making all the time in their move abroad plans—and most don't even realize it's a mistake. They start with action as the first step, when action should actually be the last step. In this episode, I'm breaking down the two crucial phases that need to happen before you take action, so you don't end up overwhelmed, anxious, and confused in your move abroad journey.Tune in to learn: The Action Phase Trap – What jumping straight into action looks like (researching countries, applying for jobs abroad, hiring immigration lawyers, starting visa paperwork) and why starting here actually makes you less likely to follow through.Phase 1: Clarity – Getting clear on your move abroad vision, your unique why (beyond just "I want to leave"), and your core values. This is your foundation—without it, you're decorating a house that doesn't exist yet. Clarity helps you make decisions aligned with YOU and shut out outside noise and opinions.Phase 2: Preparation – Addressing the practical parts (budgeting, understanding how to choose a country, identifying skill gaps, creating realistic timelines) AND the emotional/mindset parts (nervous system regulation, managing "what if" spirals, building confidence). Think of this as building a bridge to your life abroad instead of jumping and hoping you land on your feet.Why Action Works When It Comes Last – When you've done the clarity and preparation work first, action feels natural and fluid. You're not forcing yourself—you're ready. You make better decisions about which country to choose, which jobs to apply for, who to network with, and how to use your immigration consultant's advice effectively.Ready to get clarity on your move abroad?Book a free 30-minute consult call with me: https://calendly.com/coachwithmm/30minConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymarthakipcak/Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachwithmm/

A lot of people are worried about if they'll regret moving abroad.But what about if you'll regret not moving abroad? Yeah, I said it.After nearly a decade abroad, and countless conversations with other expats & people who want to move abroad I dive into the three signs that you'll regret moving abroad.Tune in to learn:Why you should start taking your "inexplicable desire" to move abroad seriously even if you can't explain it in a way that convinces the naysayersWhy you should take the feelings of feeling more "you" abroad seriously. For real, not everyone feels this way after travelling.Why your "good on paper" life is impressive but deep down isn't what you want, and why the "good on paper" life is so hard to leave behind for the path less travelled.Previous Episodes You'll Want to Listen to:From the Philippines to New Zealand: A Leap of Faith - With Andera Halalhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/2sLoJ3p8hR2466y41JhEo5?si=xcKQRTG4QYWVPRlz5aizuAReady to get clarity on your move abroad?Book a free 30-minute consult call with me: https://calendly.com/coachwithmm/30minConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymarthakipcak/Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachwithmm/

How to get over the fear & uncertainty of moving abroad ?!I get this question all the time. I see it aalll the time on Social Media. You name it - the question is there, waiting paciently for an answer.Tune in to today's episode as I dive into my top tips to navigate the fear & uncertainty that come with moving abroad!Ready to get clarity on your move abroad?Book a free 30-minute consult call with me: https://calendly.com/coachwithmm/30minConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymarthakipcak/Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachwithmm/

Recently, someone booked a coaching call with me and when I asked what they wanted to get out of it, they wrote one word: clarity. This happens all the time, people reach out wanting to move abroad but feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or confused about their next steps. In this solo episode, I'm breaking down the three biggest things that actually get in the way of you getting that clarity you're craving.What does this actually look like in real life?....Information Overload & the Research Rabbit Hole – Why going down endless YouTube videos, blog posts, and social media spirals leaves you more confused than confident. Here's the truth: research happens after clarity, not before.Choosing a Country Based on "Good on Paper" First – The mistake of picking the trendiest destination (Spain, Italy, Portugal) because it makes logical sense or everyone else is doing it—without first understanding what YOU actually want your life to look like abroad.Trying to Get Clarity Completely on Your Own – Why you can't be both the person experiencing all the feelings AND your own coach at the same time. It's impossible to see the situation clearly when you're in it, and that's exactly why support matters.Ready to get clarity on your move abroad? Book a free 30-minute consult call with me: https://calendly.com/coachwithmm/30minConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymarthakipcak/Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachwithmm/

Join me for my chat with Andrea, who shares her inspiring journey from the Philippines to New Zealand.Andrea Halal is a marketing leader, storyteller, and founder of Big Leap Energy, a platform that empowers women to show up bigger, bolder, and braver in their personal and professional lives. Originally from the Philippines and now based in New Zealand, Andrea took her career to new heights through personal branding and community, embodying her belief that confidence creates opportunity. As Marketing Head at Ideqa and community builder at The Marketing Club and Auckland Expat Girlies, Andrea helps others embody authenticity, courage, and clarity, all of which are the essence of Big Leap Energy.Andrea opens up about what it really takes to trust yourself, take big leaps of faith, and face the emotional ups and downs that come with starting over in a new country. She talks about the power of preparation, networking, and having a supportive family during major transitions abroad.We also dive into the realities of navigating microaggressions, building resilience, and creating a new sense of home and belonging from the ground up.Tune in to learn:The importance of knowing your why when moving abroadHow to build a personal brand and network on LinkedIn (from someone who's done it before!)The role of intuition and community when starting freshThe courage it takes to reinvent yourself abroad✨Connect with Andrea:→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreahalal/→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jheanandrea/⁠→ Substack: https://bigleapenergy.substack.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=online&utm_campaign=ybla✨ Connect with Mary Martha:→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymarthakipcak/⁠→ Book a free 1:1 Chat: https://calendly.com/coachwithmm/30min

In this episode of Your Best Life Abroad, I sit down with Megan, an international career coach, to talk about what it really takes to build a global career without losing sight of yourself along the way. Megan shares her journey of working across 10 countries (yes—10!), and what she’s learned about the power of networking, staying persistent, and crafting a clear story around your career.We also get into the real stuff—like the myths of remote work, how to handle challenges when the path abroad doesn’t go as planned, and why being present and flexible can make all the difference when you’re creating a life and career you love abroad. ✨ Connect with Mary Martha:→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymarthakipcak/⁠→ Book a free call: https://calendly.com/coachwithmm/30min✨ Connect with Megan:→ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/megancassel→ Free resource "How to move abroad without starting over": https://subscribepage.io/DmKhKn→ Book a free 1:1 chat with Megan: www.calendly.com/megancassel

In this episode, I sit down with Vivian from FTB Home, a professional home organizer, to talk about the deep connection between home organization, personal identity, and life transitions.Vivian shares how creating a living space that truly reflects your desired lifestyle can make all the difference—especially during big life changes like moving abroad. We dive into the emotional side of decluttering, the importance of letting go of belongings, and how to start defining a vision for your next chapter.Vivian also shares some really practical tips—like her “five-second rule” for making quick, confident decisions when organizing or deciding what to keep.Tune in to learn:✨ The emotional and practical sides of moving abroad✨ What it means to let go of the past and create space for the future✨ The challenges of downsizing and the emotional weight our belongings can hold✨ The power of digitizing memories✨ How to make thoughtful furniture decisions that align with your best life abroad✨ Get in touch with Vivian on LinkedIn:→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivian-najib/✨ Get in touch with Mary Martha:→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymarthakipcak/⁠→ Book a free 1:1 chat: https://calendly.com/coachwithmm/30min⁠

Anyone who's ever felt alone in a sea of people knows:Making friends abroad doesn't always fix loneliness.In this episode, I dive into my take on why making friends doesn't always fix the loneliness you may feel in your life abroad. I share my story of being so busy with what felt like a thriving social life that I didn't make time to connect to myself - and what I did to reconnect with myself and stopped feeling lonely.✨Connect with Mary Martha:→ Book a free 1:1 chat: ⁠⁠⁠book a free 1:1 chat here!⁠⁠⁠→ LinkedIn:⁠⁠ ⁠Mary Martha Kipcak⁠