The Adventure Calls Podcast

How can you support your kids in a country where you’ve never lived? How can you help them thrive abroad? That’s what we talk about in today’s Adventure Calls podcast episode. If you’re a parent considering a move abroad or planning for a future as an expat parent, this episode is essential. Moving abroad is overwhelming: visas, housing, language, work, and the safety, security, and happiness of your kids. Everyone says kids adjust faster than adults, but the truth is, we don’t know exactly how our kids will react. We just want them to have a better life. In this conversation, we explore the factors you as a parent can control in this unpredictable experience. Relocating abroad with your family can provide your children with better opportunities and a richer cultural and language education with lifelong benefits. It’s crucial for parents to understand the process from their children’s perspective—how each stage of relocation affects them. This helps you support, listen, and intervene when necessary. Today, we speak with Karlijn Jacobs, Netherlands-based entrepreneur and founder of Expat Valley. Karlijn is a trained children’s therapist and relocation expert who moved to Shanghai in 2010. After two years, she had her first daughter. After five years in China, Karlijn returned to the Netherlands to give birth to their second daughter. Now, she works to make international relocation easier and more fun for families through Expat Valley. Find Karlijn Jacobs online: Company: Expat Valley Website: www.expatvalley.com [http://www.expatvalley.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobskarlijn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobskarlijn] Find Rainbow Relocation Strategies across the web: Services: Rainbow Relocation Strategies | Rainbowrelo.com [https://rainbowrelo.com/services] Free Community: Queer Expats Worldwide Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/queerexpats] Instagram: @rainbowrelo [https://www.instagram.com/rainbowrelo/] Book: How To Move Abroad [https://jessicadrucker.com/book] About the Adventure Calls podcast The Adventure Calls podcast seeks to empower queer folks, our families and allies to move, live and thrive abroad with interviews with relocation experts, queer expats who have successfully relocated and other organizations that give a lens on the LGBTQ+ experience in the world. The host / producer, Jess Drucker, is the founder of Rainbow Relocation Strategies, a company that centers the experience of queer expats around the world.

Over the past few weeks, Google searches around How To Move Abroad have skyrocketed, up more than 1000% percent overall. And many of those searches, especially for the LGBTQ+ community, are geared toward Portugal. Between the D-8 Digital Nomad visa and the D-7 retirement / non-lucrative visa, Portugal has made it onto every future expats radar. But what is it actually like to live there? Just because you might be able to get a visa to move there, do you want to? That’s where Sue and Diana come in. Sue Reddel and Diana Laskaris are a married couple who moved to Portugal in 2021 from the States. They moved with their two elderly cats and made a life for themselves. The duo are former corporate executives who jumped off the ladder and into entrepreneurship roughly a decade ago, and now they work remotely from Portugal and run Food Travelist, a food and travel publication. The pair are avid travelers, but Sue had never lived abroad before this move. So what has it been like to move to this beautiful, coastal Southern European country? That’s what we get into in this episode. This conversation was recorded inside our Queer Expats Worldwide community on Facebook, and shared with you here. It is a bit longer than our usual episodes, but because of the popularity of Portugal as a possible relocation destination, we wanted to share it with you in its entirety. To access more interviews like this and a very active community of  LGBTQ+ folks and families, join our Queer Expats Worldwide community. Sue and Diana can be found at: Website: Food Travelist [https://foodtravelist.com/] Instagram: @foodtravelist [https://www.instagram.com/foodtravelist/] Facebook community: Queer Women and Friends in Portugal  [https://www.facebook.com/groups/queerwomeninportugal/] Links mentioned in this episode: Transport your larger animals abroad for your move with barkair.com [http://barkair.com] Sue and Diana have written two books: 101 Tips for Moving To Portugal  [https://www.amazon.com/101-Tips-Moving-Portugal-Arrive-ebook/dp/B0B5VDVBG6?ref_=ast_author_dp] What Should I Do Now?  [https://www.amazon.com/What-Should-Now-Jumpstart-Decisions-ebook/dp/B0B5VHWQQW?ref_=ast_author_dp] Rainbow Relocation Strategies: Find out how to work with us at: Rainbow Relocation Strategies [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1042336/episodes/%20http://www.rainbowrelo.com] Instagram: @rainbowrelo [https://www.instagram.com/rainbowrelo/] Book: How To Move Abroad [https://jessicadrucker.com/book] Queer Expats Worldwide Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/queerexpats] Your host, Jessica Drucker, can be found online at jessicadrucker.com [http://jessicadrucker.com/] The Adventure Calls podcast is a bi-weekly podcast that seeks to empower queer folks to move, live and thrive abroad with interviews with relocation experts, queer expats who have successfully relocated and other organizations that give a lens on the LGBTQ+ experience in the world.

Portugal has been at the top of almost every 'Best Places to Move Abroad' list for the last several years...but is it really?  Anything that receives so much attention can't be real... can it? Well, it just might be! If you are interested in moving to Portugal, get out your pen and paper and get ready to take some serious notes, because this is everything you need to know to move to Portugal in 2025.  In this episode of Adventure Calls, host Jess Drucker chats with expert relocation consultant Rossana Veglia, who shares invaluable insights on successfully moving to Portugal. From visa navigation to housing and community integration, you will get to the bottom of advice from an actual expert on how to actual move to Portugal.  Rossana Veglia is the Chief Mobility Officer at Global International Relocation, offering extensive relocation services in Portugal from offices in Porto, Lisbon, and the Algarve. Originally from Venezuela, Rossana has lived in the US, Spain, and Portugal, bringing vast personal and professional expertise in immigration and relocation. Her company supports various visa categories and helps individuals transition smoothly to life in Portugal. With a deep understanding of the visa systems and housing market, Rossana is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to move abroad. Below are the key takeaways from this episode: * Visa Processes: Applications take approximately 90 days, requiring thorough documentation, such as proof of financial means and accommodation. * Housing and Moving: Post-approval, moving takes 5-8 months. Lisbon is pricier, while coastal and smaller town options like the Algarve and Silver Coast offer more affordable real estate. * LGBTQ Inclusivity: Portugal is welcoming to LGBTQ expats, especially in Lisbon’s Príncipe Real and Bairro Alto, with active communities and inclusivity programs. * Relocation Support: Companies like Global International Relocation offer comprehensive support, from visas to finding accommodations, with significant presence in key Portuguese cities. * Affordability: Despite rising city costs, Portugal remains affordable for expats, with smaller towns providing a balance of cost, quality of life, and investment opportunities. Find Rossana Veglia: Website: https://global.pt/en/homepage-en/ [https://global.pt/en/homepage-en/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossanaveglia/?originalSubdomain=pt [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossanaveglia/?originalSubdomain=pt] Rainbow Relocation Strategies:  [https://rainbowrelo.com/90days] Queer Expats Worldwide Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/queerexpats] Rainbow Relocation Strategies [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1042336/episodes/%20http://www.rainbowrelo.com] @rainbowrelo [https://www.instagram.com/rainbowrelo/] on Instagram Book: How To Move Abroad [https://jessicadrucker.com/book] Your host, Jessica Drucker, can be found online at jessicadrucker.com [http://jessicadrucker.com/] The Adventure Calls podcast is a bi-weekly podcast that seeks to empower queer folks to move, live and thrive abroad with interviews with relocation experts, queer expats who have successfully relocated and other organizations that give a lens on the LGBTQ+ experience in the world.

Should we stay or should we go now? That’s the question that LGBTQ+ folks and their families have been asking over the last several months of this 2024 election cycle. If Trump wins, are we safe? And just how bad will Project 2025 be for the LGBTQ+ community if he does win? Make no mistake about it. There is a tangible, intentional ecosystem created to scapegoat and marginalize queer folks in a quest for power from the right, says Spencer Macnaughton, our guest. Spencer is a Gracie Award-winning and Emmy-nominated journalist. He has written and produced for 60 Minutes+, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Vice, Vox, Time, NBC News, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone. He is also an Adjunct Professor at New York University where he teaches a course about LGBTQ journalism. Macnaughton is now the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ news publication that will launch September 3rd. Contribute to the growth of Uncloseted Media here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=PFPHZ5CHP35TG&ssrt=1715262419710 [https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=PFPHZ5CHP35TG&ssrt=1715262419710]  Below are the key takeaways from this episode: * Project 2025: The episode highlights the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, a document with anti-LGBTQ policies that could affect the community under a Trump administration. * Anti-LGBTQ Legislation: There is concern over new anti-LGBTQ laws in states like Texas and Florida, which may serve as models for federal policies. * Activism and Relocation: Jess and Spencer stress the importance of voting and activism, along with discussing the choice between staying to fight for LGBTQ rights or relocating to more progressive countries. * Uncloseted Media Launch: Spencer announces the September 3 launch of Uncloseted Media, an LGBTQ news publication aimed at providing rigorous journalism on LGBTQ issues. Find Spencer Macnaughton + Uncloseted Media Instagram @unclosetedmedia  [https://www.instagram.com/unclosetedmedia/] TikTok @unclosetedmedia [https://www.tiktok.com/@unclosetedmedia] X.com [https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FUnclosetedMedia] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/people/Uncloseted-Media/61561509999344/] LinkedIn: Uncloseted Media [https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncloseted-media/] UnclosetedMedia.com [https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/about] Links from the episode: Project 2025: https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf [https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf] Heritage Foundation https://www.heritage.org/ [https://www.heritage.org/] Outspoken (an LGBTQ right-wing publication) https://getoutspoken.com/ [https://getoutspoken.com/]  Rainbow Relocation Strategies 90-Day Exit Strategy Cohort [http://rainbowrelo.com/90days] ( join the waitlist for our next cohort - more information coming mid September) Queer Expats Worldwide Facebook Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/queerexpats] Rainbow Relocation Strategies [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1042336/episodes/%20http://www.rainbowrelo.com] @rainbowrelo on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rainbowrelo] Book: How To Move Abroad [https://www.jessicadrucker.com/book]  Your host, Jessica Drucker, can be found online at jessicadrucker.com [https://jessicadrucker.com/] The Adventure Calls podcast is a bi-weekly podcast that seeks to empower queer folks to move, live and thrive abroad with interviews with relocation experts, queer expats and other organizations that give a lens on the LGBTQ+ experience in the world.

In this solo episode, Jess pulls back the curtain on Rainbow Relocation Strategies, sharing her personal journey and passion for empowering queer folks to thrive abroad. Discover the vision behind creating a global, supportive community and learn about a unique opportunity to join the first-ever expat cohort [http://rainbowrelo.com/90days] launching this August. Key takeaways from today's episode: * Community Focus: Jess emphasizes the importance of building a supportive and empowering community for queer expats through Rainbow Relocation Strategies and the Queer Expats Worldwide Facebook group. * Specialized Support: Jess outlines her decision to focus on working with queer clients and corporations to address the unique needs of LGBTQ individuals relocating abroad, highlighting the gaps in knowledge and support from traditional corporate relocation services. * Challenges and Advocacy: The episode discusses the unique challenges queer individuals face when moving abroad, including discriminatory practices and lack of support, illustrated by a high-level employee's experience. * 90-Day Exit Strategy Program: Jess introduces the first-ever cohort of a 90-day program designed to help future queer expats plan their move abroad, providing hands-on coaching, community support, and actionable tasks. Book now to start August 7th, 2024 and finish just ONE day before the US election. * Vision for the Future: Jess shares her broader vision for the future of Rainbow Relocation Strategies, aiming to create global pathways and networks for queer individuals, enabling them to thrive in an interconnected world shaped by global mobility and interdependence. Links mentioned in the podcast: [time sensitive] 90-Day Exit Strategy Cohort [http://rainbowrelo.com/90days] (by August 7th or waitlist!) Queer Expats Worldwide Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/queerexpats] Rainbow Relocation Strategies [ http://www.rainbowrelo.com] @rainbowrelo on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rainbowrelo] Book: How To Move Abroad [https://www.jessicadrucker.com/book]  Your host, Jessica Drucker, can be found online at jessicadrucker.com [https://jessicadrucker.com/] The Adventure Calls podcast is a bi-weekly podcast that seeks to empower queer folks to move, live and thrive abroad with interviews with relocation experts, queer expats and other organizations that give a lens on the LGBTQ+ experience in the world.