Xuxu - The Prague Expat Podcast

What does it feel like to leave Kazakhstan as a teenager, study abroad, and eventually build a life in Prague?In this episode of Xuxu – The Prague Expat Podcast, I sit down with Assem, a 22-year-old from Atyrau, Kazakhstan, who has been living in the Czech Republic for five years.Her journey started early: at 12, she came to Prague for a summer camp; at 15, she spent a year living with a host family in North Dakota through the FLEX program; and at 16, she moved to Prague to study at Prague University of Economics and Business.Assem also shares what she has learned about independence, adulthood, staying connected to family back in Kazakhstan, and finding a sense of belonging while living abroad.And of course: her favourite things about Prague, her ideal Prague day, journaling, Czech culture, and whether she sees herself staying in the Czech Republic forever.A conversation about growing up abroad, taking risks, finding balance, and discovering that home can be more than one place.

In this episode, I sit down with Bianca, a former Romanian world champion gymnast, researcher, and expat living in Prague. We talk about her incredible journey—from growing up by the Black Sea in Romania to competing on the world stage, studying in Finland, coaching in France, and eventually creating a new home in the Czech Republic.Bianca shares how gymnastics shaped her discipline and outlook on life, why Prague was only supposed to be a six-month stop, and how unexpected opportunities convinced her to stay. We also dive into cultural differences, learning Czech, balancing ambition with intuition, and the small moments that make a city truly feel like home.Whether you're an expat, considering moving abroad, or simply curious about the stories behind people's journeys, this episode is full of thoughtful reflections on identity, resilience, and embracing life's unexpected paths.✨ In this episode, we discuss:Growing up in Romania and becoming a world champion gymnastLiving in Finland, France, and finally PragueFinding community through sportCultural surprises in the Czech RepublicBuilding a career in academia after elite sportsThe challenges of language learning and staying connected to familyWhy "home" is sometimes a place you never planned to stay🎙️ If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to follow the podcast and leave a rating—it really helps more people discover these inspiring expat stories.

What makes someone leave India, study in Lithuania, and eventually build a life in Prague?In this episode of the Xuxu Podcast, I sit down with an expat who has lived in six countries, traveled to nearly 40, and ultimately decided that Prague was the place to call home.We talk about:• Falling in love with Prague during a Christmas trip• Why Prague feels more Central European than Eastern European• The reality of learning Czech (and surviving the Czech Post Office)• Getting permanent residency after nearly a decade in the Czech Republic• Favorite cafés, bars, parks, and hidden spots in Prague• Living in Lithuania, Malta, Canada, and beyond• Travel, identity, and feeling at home abroad• Regrets, personal growth, and saying yes to new experiences• Why success isn't about numbersWhether you're an expat, traveler, digital nomad, or simply curious about life in Prague, this conversation is full of honest stories, laughs, and reflections.🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations with internationals, creators, and interesting people living in Prague.#Prague #CzechRepublic #ExpatLife #MovingAbroad #TravelPodcast #PragueLife #DigitalNomad #XuxuPodcast

What happens when you leave Istanbul, start from scratch in Brno, build a career in IT… and then decide to buy a van and launch your own moving business?In this episode of Xuxu, I talk with the founder of Omut Express about moving to Czechia, building a life in Brno, quitting corporate life, and helping more than 320 people move across Prague, Brno, and Europe.We talk about career changes, expat life, best moments, Czech surprises, svíčková, faith, risk-taking, and why sometimes you need to be “a little bit crazy” to build the life you want.A warm, funny, and motivating conversation about starting over — and keeping going.In this episode:Moving from Istanbul to BrnoStarting a career in ITQuitting corporate lifeBuilding OT Express from scratchCzech culture shocks and favorite traditionsWhy failure can become a blessingThe power of just doing it🎧 Listen to more episodes of Xuxu on Spotify.

In this episode of Xuxu, I talk with Charlanne, an American expat who moved to Prague in 2013 and ended up building a whole new life in the Czech Republic. What started as a trip with her dad to Prague turned into a major life change: leaving behind plans to become a police officer in the US, falling in love, staying in Prague, raising a family, and now moving into a tiny house near Olomouc.Charlanne also shares what surprised her most about Czech society, how she met her Czech husband on Tinder, what giving birth in the Czech Republic was really like, and why she’s trading Prague for village life.If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to move to Prague, start over abroad, or build a life far from where you thought you’d end up, this episode is for you.In this episode:moving from the US to Pragueculture shock in the Czech Republicdating and finding love in Pragueexpat motherhoodgiving birth in Czech hospitalslearning Czechleaving city life for a tiny house near PragueXuxu is a podcast about expat lives, identity, change, and the stories people carry with them in Prague and beyond.

Welcome to the final episode of Season 1, an episode mostly about xuxu. But i needed a host - so I invited my friend Martin. The first ever Czech person I was in touch with. After a full season of interviewing expats about their first days, culture shocks, integration stories, and life in the Czech Republic, Martin steps into the hot seat to share his own perspective - as the first Czech guest on the show.Together, we revisit:🇨🇿 What foreigners really think before moving to the Czech Republic✈️ First impressions of Prague back in 2017🌍 Eastern Europe vs. Central Europe — does it matter?🏥 Navigating healthcare, language barriers, and real integration🍺 Beer culture similarities between France and CzechiaIt’s a reflective, funny, and heartfelt conversation about identity, belonging, and what “home” really means after 8 years abroad.Thank you for being part of Season 1. 💛

❄️ “Did I make the wrong decision?”Arriving in Prague at minus five degrees, straight from a sunny Greece, our guest’s very first thought was doubt. In this episode, we rewind to October 2018: the first night on a friend’s couch, the first bureaucratic errand (hello, Lítačka), and the shock of Czech autumn.Friendship, IT jobs, referrals, and falling in love with a city faster than expected.We also dive into:– Greek communities abroad and how they grow– first impressions of Czech people- A conversation about doubt, adaptation, language barriers, and the small everyday moments that make a new country slowly feel like home.🎧 Listen if you’ve ever moved abroad — or wondered if you should.

What does it really take to rebuild your life in a new country—and even create a community from scratch?In this episode, Maria shares her journey of arriving in Prague alone, without ever having visited the city before, after years of moving across countries. We talk about the emotional reality of immigration: the excitement, the fear, the exhaustion, and the moment you realize that “arriving” is only the beginning.Maria opens up about her integration process in Prague, learning the language, finding her footing, and the importance of building a support system. That search led her to football—something she only started playing at 22—and eventually to founding Roving Cobras, a women’s football club in Prague created as a safe, non-judgmental space for beginners and expats.

In this episode of Xuxu Podcast, we welcome Robin, who takes us through his unexpected journey from the UK to Prague — starting with a fully-funded interview trip for a PhD that changed everything.Robin shares the story of arriving in Prague for the first time, discovering the city’s open spaces, forests, and hidden corners, and how a simple Twitter post spotted by his dad ended up shaping the next five years of his life.We talk about:🌍 What it’s like to be “foreign talent” in Czech academia🔬 His PhD research — from genetic mutations linked to ALS and epilepsy to early-stage drug development💸 The surprisingly chaotic reality of PhD funding in Czech Republic🚧 Moving labs, navigating Brexit and COVID, and adapting to Czech work culture🌞 Why he left the UK, and how long it really takes to build a life in Prague🤝 Making (and losing) friends abroad, finding community through hobbies, and dating through lockdown

Anaïs moved to Prague when she was just two years old, after her parents found work in the Czech Republic. Now sixteen, she’s lived almost her entire life in Prague — but with French roots at home. So… does she feel French? Czech? Both? Or maybe neither?In this episode, we talk about identity, belonging, and what it’s like to grow up between two cultures — not as an expat, but as someone who’s never fully been from just one place.