Unscripted: What's it really like to live abroad?

Unscripted: What's it really like to live abroad?

In this episode, I'm just chatting about what it's really like to live abroad and what I miss most about the US. There's no task on this one... just me and you sharing how it actually feels to live abroad.

What Healthcare Actually Looks Like When You Move Abroad

I had cancer at thirty. I've navigated healthcare in two countries with that history, including a high-risk pregnancy in Switzerland that cost me nothing beyond my regular insurance premium. This week I'm talking about what healthcare in Europe actually looks like — how most of Europe's systems work for legal residents, what makes Switzerland different, whether doctors speak English, and what to do about the gap between leaving your American coverage and getting onto a new system. Also: if you've been telling yourself you can't move abroad because of your health situation — please listen to this one before you make that call. It might not be the barrier you think it is.

You Left America. Your Vote Still Counts

Here's the thing nobody says clearly enough: moving abroad is not opting out. You still file US taxes. You still carry that passport and get the face when someone finds out you're American. You still feel the dollar losing value in your actual bank account. You are still affected by what happens there. This week I'm making the case for why your vote matters more from abroad than you might think ... and why five million Americans living outside the US not voting is one of the most quietly consequential political facts nobody talks about. FVAP.gov [https://www.fvap.gov/] — official government resource for overseas voters Democrats Abroad [https://www.democratsabroad.org/] Republicans Overseas [https://www.republicansoverseas.com/]

American Moving Abroad? The IRS Is Coming With You. Here's What That Means

Nobody wants to talk about taxes. Until the IRS sends them a letter, at which point everybody wants to talk about taxes very urgently. This week I'm giving you the heads up before that happens. The basics of what Americans abroad actually need to know about US taxes — why you still have to file even when you live somewhere else, why you probably won't owe anything, what FBAR is and why the penalties for missing it are genuinely alarming, and what to do about your state taxes before you leave. This is not tax advice. I am not a tax professional and I will tell you approximately forty times in this episode to hire one. But this is the awareness conversation that nobody is having clearly enough in the move abroad space and you deserve to know this stuff before it becomes a problem. Important disclaimer: This episode is general awareness only. Please consult a qualified expat tax professional for advice specific to your situation.

Going Back to School Abroad at 30, 40, or 50: The Moving Abroad Visa Strategy Nobody Talks About

Someone I know just got accepted into a Master's program in France. She's in her thirties. She's moving in September. And she is not doing this because she couldn't think of anything else — she's doing it because it is one of the smartest moves I've seen someone make in a long time. This week I'm making the case for the student visa as a legitimate, strategic, completely underrated pathway for adults who want to move abroad. We're talking about what a student visa actually gives you, why earning a local degree dramatically changes your job prospects in that country, why you are not too old for this, and the practical things you need to research if you want to take this seriously. Also: why the nineteen year old with the lanyard who lives in your imagination is not relevant to this conversation and needs to be evicted immediately.