Expat Focus: For anyone moving or living abroad

DolceRight founder Jan Savolainen joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about buying and renovating a house in Italy – and what happens when the dream turns into a nightmare. At 64, Californian Jan bought a little countryside house near Ostuni, in Puglia, sight unseen, and hired a consultant and their recommended team to renovate it. She describes the warning signs she missed, the video that showed how little work had been done, and how, she says, their renovation money was gone. Jan also explains how a young Italian architect stepped in to rescue the project, and why buyers in Italy get none of the protections that buyers in the US have. She covers one euro houses, permits and building restrictions, and the one thing every buyer should do before signing: independently hire their own lawyer, estate agent, geometra and notaio. If you're dreaming of buying property in Italy, this is an honest reality check to help you go in with your eyes wide open. #BuyingPropertyInItaly #LivingInItaly #Puglia #ItalianRenovation #ExpatLife #MoveToItaly #ExpatFocus 👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Falling for Italy 03:16 Finding Puglia on Google Earth 05:03 Ostuni, Trulli and the Itria Valley 09:19 Hiring a Property Consultant 12:15 Buying the House for €105,000 14:03 Early Warning Signs 15:39 Cancelled Meetings, Missing Photos 19:43 The Video That Revealed the Truth 21:24 Confrontation and Lost Money 23:30 Is There Any Legal Recourse? 23:48 Other Expats Affected 26:01 Why You Must Vet Your Team 28:17 Rebuilding with Architect Vito Pepe 30:40 No Buyer Protections in Italy 33:31 The Truth About One Euro Houses 34:49 Permits, Pace and Building Limits 39:09 Why They Didn't Walk Away 40:14 What Happened Next 42:14 Life in Ostuni Today 46:40 Before You Sign: Hire Independently 48:37 DolceRight Apps and Books 49:38 Final Thoughts 🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/italy/podcast/buying-a-house-in-italy-when-the-dream-becomes-a-nightmare 📝 Show Notes DolceRight – https://www.dolceright.com/ 👉 Follow Expat Focus here: RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267 X | https://x.com/expatfocus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus Website | https://www.expatfocus.com  

Travel writer Carly Hulls joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about slow living, and why it's worth trading a fast-paced life abroad for one you can actually savour. Carly is an Australian who moved to Vienna in 2012 after a season as a tour guide and a whirlwind romance that began in an Austrian après-ski bar. She explains how Vienna's long lunches, Sunday closures and Heurigers first set her on the path to slow living, and how burnout and a pandemic move back to Australia made her rethink how she wanted to live. Now settled with her family in the Alpine region of Tyrol, Carly talks about the seasonal rituals that make slowing down feel natural, and the less picturesque side of the countryside dream, from empty holiday homes to the learning curve of growing your own food. She also shares practical advice for new arrivals in Austria, including joining a local Verein to get out of the expat bubble and giving yourself at least 18 months before deciding whether to stay. If you're living abroad and feel like you're still running at your old pace, or you're dreaming of a quieter life in Austria, this episode offers an honest look at what slow living really involves: the joys, the trade-offs and the small daily choices that make it work. #SlowLiving #LivingInAustria #MoveToAustria #ExpatLife #Vienna #Tyrol #ExpatFocus 👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com 00:00 Introducing Carly Hulls 00:54 From Tour Guide to Austria 04:38 First Months in Vienna 06:50 What Makes Vienna Great 10:42 How Vienna Sparked Slow Living 12:49 Burnout and a Pandemic Pivot 16:07 Why Move Back to Austria 20:29 Slow Living in Tyrol 27:05 The Reality Behind Slow Living 28:35 Holiday Homes and Empty Streets 31:10 Growing Your Own Food 33:55 Advice for New Expats: Learn German 34:45 Joining a Verein 37:10 The 18-Month Rule 39:30 Carly's Vienna Guide and Wrap-Up 🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/austria/podcast/expat-life-in-austria-slower-cheaper-better 📝 Show Notes Carly Hulls – https://carlyhulls.com 👉 Follow Expat Focus here: RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267 X | https://x.com/expatfocus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus Website | https://www.expatfocus.com

Richard Hammond, founder of French Connections HCB, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about what it really takes to move to France. Born in France to British parents and raised between two cultures, Richard has spent nearly a decade helping English-speaking families relocate, and his team now handles 30 to 40 visa applications a month. He explains why the visa process is more straightforward than most people fear, especially for retirees, and why the real difficulty has shifted from filling in forms to knowing where in France you should actually live – because a move can succeed on paper while quietly failing on everything that matters. Carlie and Richard also dig into the truth behind the viral remote work stories, what's really happening with early retirees and the French healthcare system, and the financial proof you need for a visa application: the 1,400 euros a month figure, why it's more complicated than a single number, and why Richard tells clients to approach it like a mortgage application. If you're weighing up a move to France – whether you're two years out or already deep in the admin – this one will save you from the mistakes that are hardest to undo. #MoveToFrance #LivingInFrance #FranceVisa #ExpatLife #FrenchBureaucracy #Expat 👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com 00:00 Introducing Richard Hammond 02:57 Living Between Cultures 08:06 Building The Relocation Business 15:00 Moving To France In 2026 21:33 Choosing The Right Region 29:43 Region Matcher And Scouting 36:10 Remote Work And Healthcare Myths 45:11 Visa Financial Proof Explained 49:55 How To Get Help 52:14 Wrap Up And Next Steps 🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/france/podcast/how-to-move-to-france-in-2026-visas-money-and-picking-your-region 📝 Show Notes French Connections HCB – https://frenchconnectionshcb.com Move to France HCB – https://movetofrance-hcb.com/ French Connections HCB on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@frenchconnectionshcb 👉 Follow Expat Focus here: RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267 X | https://x.com/expatfocus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus Website | https://www.expatfocus.com

Financial advisor Scott Schwartz joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about what it really takes for Americans to build a life abroad. Scott has flown as an international airline captain, sailed around the world, and now lives part-time on his boat in Malta. He's spent over three decades advising Americans living overseas, and his new book, Adapting Elsewhere: A Practical Guide for Americans Moving Abroad, tackles the parts of the move that nobody puts in the brochure. Scott explains why moving abroad has shifted from a romantic retirement dream to a practical strategy, and gets into the financial traps that catch Americans out: FATCA reporting and why banks turn US citizens away, PFICs, worldwide taxation, and the biggest mistake of all – leaving the country before you've sorted out your financial institutions at home. He and Carlie also cover residency routes from Malta's reworked citizenship by investment programme to retirement visas, why international health insurance matters more than most people expect, and the case for the "Schengen shuffle" as a low-risk way to try somewhere before you commit. #MovingAbroad #AmericansAbroad #ExpatFinance #LivingInMalta #ExpatLife 👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com 00:00 Welcome and guest intro 01:07 Scott's global backstory: pilot, sailor, advisor 03:24 From the cockpit to financial advising 05:28 Why he wrote Adapting Elsewhere 07:43 Building community, and life in Malta 09:57 Why Americans are moving now 13:09 Money traps: FATCA, PFICs and banking 16:44 Residency, golden visas and citizenship by investment 18:40 Where to start, and how to build your team 20:34 Working, retiring and healthcare abroad 22:39 The Schengen shuffle and exit plans 27:05 Mobility as a financial hedge 32:01 What a first advising conversation looks like 36:03 How to get in touch, and the next book 37:34 Wrap up and call to action 🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/international/podcast/fatca-pfics-and-golden-visas-a-us-expat-money-guide 📝 Show Notes Adapting Elsewhere: A Practical Guide for Americans Moving Abroad – https://www.adaptingelsewhere.com/ Scott Schwartz, International Asset Management – https://iamadvisors.com/ 👉 Follow Expat Focus here: RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267 X | https://x.com/expatfocus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus Website | https://www.expatfocus.com

British author Chris Ruffle joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about three decades of life in Asia — and the vineyard and Scottish castle he built in rural China. Chris left Yorkshire in the 1980s with a degree in Chinese and has since worked across China and Taiwan as an investor, winemaker and writer, most recently publishing the audiobook In a Strange Land. He explains how a frustrating search for a decent bottle of wine led him to plant a vineyard in Shandong, why the winery ended up looking like a granite castle in Aberdeen, and what it really takes to operate a business in rural China — including the handbag a safety inspector requested before signing off on the build. Chris and Carlie talk about homesickness, the friendships that come and go with every move, the letters his mother quietly kept for decades, and what future historians will make of a generation that stopped writing them. If you're weighing up a move abroad, already living far from where you started, or just curious what three decades in Asia actually looks like, this episode is full of stories you won't have heard before. #ExpatLife #LivingInChina #ChinaExpat #ExpatStories #MovingAbroad #Audiobook #ExpatFocus 👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com 00:00 Welcome 00:30 Why Chris left the UK 03:13 How the vineyard dream began 05:01 Building a Scottish castle in China 07:14 Bribes, handbags and doing business 09:46 The audiobook: In a Strange Land 11:29 What exile teaches you about displacement 15:17 Where is home now? 17:22 Letters, emails and lost history 19:43 Voice actors and finding new perspectives 23:21 Chinese soil, grapes and wine 26:16 Where to find Chris 🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/china/podcast/a-vineyard-a-castle-and-three-decades-in-asia-chris-ruffles-expat-story 📝 Show Notes In a Strange Land – https://linktr.ee/InAStrangeLand Treaty Port Vineyards – https://www.treatyport.com 👉 Follow Expat Focus here: RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267 X | https://x.com/expatfocus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus Website | https://www.expatfocus.com

Toni Torres joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about the realities of moving to Málaga in 2026. Born and raised in the city, Toni has watched it transform into one of Spain's most popular expat destinations — and he sees both sides of that story every day, working with foreigners settling in while his local friends deal with rising rents and a tourism-first building boom. He explains what has changed over the past five to ten years, why the city draws so many people, how locals really feel about the influx of foreigners, and where he thinks the local government has fallen short. Toni also gets practical: what newcomers need to know about a rental market now among the most expensive in Spain, why you should start your search three or four months ahead and lean on WhatsApp and Facebook groups, and how to avoid the "expat bubble trap" that catches so many arrivals. He unpacks why the language is the biggest obstacle most people face, what actually works for learning Spanish, and his honest take on making Malagueño friends as an adult. If you're considering a move to Málaga — or you're already there and stuck inside the bubble — this is a useful reality check from someone who bridges both worlds. #ExpatLife #MovingToSpain #Málaga #LivingInSpain #SpainExpats #DigitalNomad #ExpatFocus 👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com 00:00 Welcome to Málaga 2026 00:49 How Málaga has changed 02:12 Why everyone visits 04:27 Locals vs tourists 08:41 Housing and rent reality 10:31 Finding a place to live 13:07 The expat bubble trap 14:56 Making local friends 16:43 Learn Spanish faster 20:26 Tough love advice 21:47 Where to find Toni 22:53 Final thoughts 🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/spain/podcast/moving-to-malaga-in-2026-what-you-need-to-know/ 📝 Show Notes Toni Torres – https://spanishtoni.com/ 👉 Follow Expat Focus here: RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267 X | https://x.com/expatfocus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus Website | https://www.expatfocus.com

Thinking about moving abroad with your pet — or worried about what it actually involves? In this episode of the Expat Focus Podcast, Carlie is joined by Giulia Gebhardt from WorldCare Pet Transport to break down what's changed in international pet relocation, and to bust some of the biggest myths along the way. Giulia explains why rules shift so often from country to country, how rabies categorisation shapes nearly every requirement, and why some breeds — including a few surprising ones — are far trickier to move than others. She also tackles the fears many owners have about the cargo hold and Middle East transits, and shares practical, reassuring advice on crate training and getting your paperwork in order well ahead of time. Whether you're relocating a Labrador, a Persian cat, or a French bulldog, this conversation will help you plan ahead and put your mind at ease. #ExpatLife #MovingAbroad #LivingAbroad #PetRelocation #ExpatFocus 👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com 00:00 Welcome Giulia Gebhardt 00:58 How Rules Keep Changing 03:00 Biosecurity and Rabies Explained 07:04 EU and CDC Entry Surprises 11:31 Easy vs High Risk Breeds 17:47 Cargo Hold Myth Busting 24:16 Middle East Transit Pet Lounges 30:23 Crate Training Tips 38:44 Paperwork and Planning Timeline 45:00 Where to Get Help and Resources 48:26 Final Wrap Up and Call to Action 🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/international/podcast/the-truth-about-flying-your-pet-abroad-busting-common-pet-relocation-myths 📝 Show Notes WorldCare Pet Transport - https://worldcarepet.com/door-to-door-pet-transportation-service/ WorldCare's ABCs of Pet Travel resource - https://worldcarepet.com/abcs-of-pet-travel/ 👉 Follow Expat Focus here: RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267 X | https://x.com/expatfocus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus Website | https://www.expatfocus.com

Co-Founder of My Expat Mind Anna Zhadan joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about expat mental health. After leaving Belarus at just nine years old and making many international moves since, Anna knows first-hand the psychological toll that living abroad can take. She channelled that experience into My Expat Mind, a directory built to help expats find therapists who understand what it's really like to start over in a foreign country. In this conversation, she and Carlie unpack the emotional side of expat life — homesickness, loneliness, identity shifts, the FOMO of watching family and friends move on without you, and how moving so often shaped Anna's independence and her sense of home. The pair then dig into the practical side of looking after your mental well-being abroad: how to find a therapist who speaks your language and gets the expat experience, why therapy is for everyday good health and not just crisis moments, and how insurance and reimbursement can vary wildly from country to country. Anna explains how My Expat Mind works as a free directory for clients, and shares a simple packing tip for making any new place feel a little more like home. If you've ever struggled with the hidden emotional challenges of living abroad — or you're considering a move and want to look after your mental health along the way — this episode is for you. #ExpatLife #ExpatMentalHealth #MovingAbroad #ExpatTherapy #LivingAbroad #Homesickness #ExpatFocus 👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:55 Anna's First Big Move 02:37 Defining Home Abroad 05:08 Challenges of Frequent Moves 06:45 Friendships Across Borders 10:06 How My Expat Mind Began 12:06 Common Expat Mental Struggles 13:52 Finding the Right Therapist 16:03 Why Therapy Helps 20:39 Insurance and Reimbursement 21:59 Packing Tip for Feeling at Home 23:17 Where to Find My Expat Mind 23:56 Final Thoughts and Outro 🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/international/podcast/looking-after-your-mental-health-while-living-abroad 📝 Show Notes My Expat Mind – https://myexpatmind.com/ 👉 Follow Expat Focus here: RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267 X | https://x.com/expatfocus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus Website | https://www.expatfocus.com

Victoria Pearce, the writer behind A Life Away, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about moving abroad after 40. Victoria has lived in the UK twice — once as a young grad student, and again in her 40s with a husband and an 11-year-old in tow. Her story unpacks what it really looks like to uproot a settled life, swap a legal career for a writing one, and rebuild from scratch on the other side of the Atlantic. Victoria is candid about the cons of relocating in your 40s — selling the house, losing the easy school-gate friendships, rebuilding a settled life from very little — and equally honest about the upsides, including the career confidence that makes a midlife move surprisingly workable. She also discusses the practical side: moving an 11-year-old into the UK secondary school system, navigating GCSEs as an American parent, pivoting from practising attorney to content writer, the strange double life of being an American abroad in a politically turbulent moment, citizenship plans, and the pull of ageing parents back home. If you're weighing up a move abroad later in life, supporting a child through an international relocation, or rethinking your career as a trailing spouse, this conversation offers a grounded look at what to expect on the other side. #ExpatLife #LivingInTheUK #MoveToTheUK #USToUK #ExpatOver40 #TrailingSpouse 👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com 00:00 Introducing Victoria 00:34 Why Move Abroad After 40 01:05 Victoria's First UK Move  02:35 Returning Abroad Post Covid 05:09 Cons of Moving in Your 40s 07:45 Confidence and Career 09:21 Decluttering and Moving Logistics 11:48 Moving an 11 Year Old 14:33 Navigating UK School Culture 18:24 Trailing Spouse Career Pivot 21:44 Politics, Identity and Home 27:02 Citizenship and Belonging 28:02 What to Change and What to Love 32:06 Wrap Up 🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/united-kingdom/podcast/an-american-in-the-uk-the-honest-truth-about-moving-abroad-in-your-40s 📝 Show Notes A Life Away – https://alifeaway.com/ 👉 Follow Expat Focus here: RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267 X | https://x.com/expatfocus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus Website | https://www.expatfocus.com  

Yolanda Reshemah, host of The Places We Call Home Podcast, joins the Expat Focus Podcast to talk about building authentic community when you move abroad. Yolanda's expat journey began at just 10 years old when she moved from the Caribbean to the UK, and she's since lived in France and the USA. She shares how each move shaped her identity — from discovering Parisian culture to navigating reverse culture shock — and why feeling at home starts with knowing yourself. Carlie and Yolanda dig into why shared expat status isn't enough to build lasting friendships, and how Yolanda sought deeper connections through volunteering, classes at Berkeley, and being intentional about what she needs. They also swap stories about cultural quirks in the US, from California's yoga-outfit uniform to the phenomenon of "flaking," and discuss what it really means to thrive rather than just settle in a new country. #ExpatLife #ExpatCommunity #MovingAbroad #LivingInUSA #BuildingCommunity 👉 Visit Expat Focus at https://www.expatfocus.com 00:00 Yolanda's Expat Journey 01:25 Caribbean to UK at 10 02:42 Finding Parisian Community 04:13 Reverse Culture Shock 04:41 Tourist to Local Mindset 05:43 How Early Moves Shape You 08:09 Lessons on Slowing Down 09:41 Starting Her Podcast 12:23 A Process for Belonging 13:47 What Feeds and Anchors You 18:39 Building Lasting Friendships 22:15 Beyond Expat Friend Groups 24:48 US Culture Quirks 29:32 Where Home Is Next 31:19 Find Yolanda Online 32:36 Final Thoughts 🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.expatfocus.com/international/podcast/the-secret-to-expat-happiness-building-friendships-abroad 📝 Show Notes The Places We Call Home Podcast – https://theplaceswecallhome.com/ 👉 Follow Expat Focus here: RSS | https://www.expatfocus.com/feed YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ExpatFocus Podcast | https://www.expatfocus.com/podcast LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/expatfocus  LinkedIn Group | https://www.linkedin.com/groups/673267 X | https://x.com/expatfocus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/expatfocus Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/expatfocus.bsky.social Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/expatfocus TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@expatfocus Mastodon | https://mastodon.social/@expatfocus Website | https://www.expatfocus.com