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Description
When I moved to the United States for the first time, I had no idea how much it would stretch me, soften me, undo me, and rebuild me.
I’ve relocated six times now, and every move has taught me something about courage, belonging, and the quiet work of creating a life from scratch.
The Places We Call Home is the podcast I wish I had during those early years — a place for expat and immigrant women who are navigating homesickness, culture shock, loneliness, friendship, identity, and the long, tender process of starting over in the USA.
I created this space for women like us — women who have left the familiar behind and are learning how to belong again. Here, we talk honestly about the emotional side of moving abroad: the friendships that don’t work out, the moments you feel invisible, the ache for home, the joy of small wins, and the surprising ways we grow when we’re pushed into a new life.
You’ll hear real stories from global women who have rebuilt their lives across borders, as well as my own reflections on what it means to be an expat woman in America — the challenges, the reinvention, the resilience, and the unexpected beauty of it all.
If you’re trying to make friends in the U.S., if you’re wrestling with identity, if you’re rebuilding your confidence, or if you’re simply trying to understand who you are in this new place, this podcast will sit with you in that journey. You’re not behind. You’re not alone. You’re becoming — and you’re doing it with more courage than you realize.
Subscribe to The Places We Call Home on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Take me with you on your walks, your commutes, your quiet evenings, and those moments when the ache of “elsewhere” feels a little too loud.
This is your space. Your story matters here.
60 Episodes
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For expat and immigrant women who feel drained, unseen, or lonely in your new friendships abroad. Are the connections you’re making abroad actually right for you, or are they slowly draining you? In this solo episode of Places We Call Home, I share three clear signs that the friendships and communities you’re trying to build in your new country are not aligned with who you are — and what to do when you notice them. I talked about what it looks like to shrink yourself just to fit in, how it fe...
What does it really mean to start over in a country where no one knows your story? Ghirmay is a US citizen. He arrived over 18 years ago with no English, no family, and no way to return home. His journey is a true immigrant story of life in the USA, resilience, overcoming homesickness, overcoming loneliness, resilience and pure grit. He washed dishes, went to ESL classes, and slowly shaped a new identity. this is the unglamorous side of life in the USA—the culture shock, the pride and t...
What would make you walk 2,000 miles, three times? For Tim Scott, it came down to one thing: getting back to his family in Mexico and to his sick daughter, no matter what it cost him. This isn’t a movie plot. It’s one American man's real immigration story shaped by sacrifice, cultural differences, and the kind of grit people tap into when they're fighting for their version of the American dream. Tim left Virginia with almost nothing and decided that stopping wasn’t an option. His journey carr...
Moving abroad changes you in ways you don’t always see coming. In this episode, I’m trying to make sense of it — the quiet identity shifts, the emotional realities of life abroad, and what it feels like to build a life in a place that wasn’t part of your original story. Right now, for me, that place is the USA. I talk about how moving abroad reshapes your sense of self, the tension between fitting in and staying authentic, and the emotional work of finding your footing when everything f...
In this episode, I sit down with Patricia Boes — co‑founder and CEO of Unlimit Me — a woman who has quietly built a life of impact while navigating her own big move across the world. Patricia left Australia, rebuilt her identity in the Bay Area, and now spends her days helping young people find confidence, belonging, and a sense of self at a time when mental health is under real pressure. Patricia is one of those women who doesn’t chase the spotlight. She’s grounded, honest, and deeply ...
In this short minisode, is about the quiet identity shifts so many expat women experience after moving to the USA. From homesickness and cultural differences to the unexpected ways we grow, this episode reflects on who we were before we moved — and who we’re becoming now. Yolanda shares her own recent move back to the USA, the emotional changes she’s noticing in herself and her family, and the stories she’s hearing from expat women around the world: I don’t recognize myself anymor...
What if this holiday season didn’t leave you overwhelmed, overspending, or quietly homesick? Yolanda explores how you, expat and immigrant woman, can create a cozy, joyful holiday season that actually feels like yours — even while living far from home. This episode brings 10 expat‑approved tips gathered from communities in the USA, the UK, and online expat spaces. Hear about: Creating your own mini holiday world at homeBlending yours and American cultural traditionsBuilding micro‑communities ...
What does Christmas look like when your life stretches across many countries? If you’re an expat or immigrant woman navigating the holidays in the USA, this episode offers something deeper than tips—it offers recognition. You’ll hear the mix of nostalgia, joy, longing, and connection that comes with celebrating Christmas far from home. You’ll come away with: A reminder that home isn’t lost — it’s carried with you, recreated, and reimagined Permission to let your traditions ev...
Have you created your dream expat life abroad? Life as an expat is no joke! Moving to the USA can mean new opportunities, growth, and the inevitable personal changes for the better. For you. Here is why you should not expect to walk in the front door to find the same attitudes that wished you well years ago. The new version of you is critiqued, the old version still expected. And then there's the guilt of having achieved more. If you're in a season of feeling like you're stuck between w...
Have you immigrated away from your home, feeling foreign and a little lost? The first months abroad can feel like a whirlwind—joy, then the crash, then the ache of missing home. In this episode, host Yolanda revisits her interview with guest Dr. Veronique Elefant—Yani, Clinical Psychologist, and creator of 3D Human Therapy®. You will get: Gentle ways to steady yourself: journaling, presence, and letting go of the pressure to “fit in”, and Holistic perspectives on resilience,...
How to protect your identity, set boundaries, and create meaningful traditions when creating a new life in the USA. You’re not imagining it. For expat / immigrant women in the USA, the holidays often bring a unique mix of homesickness, cultural pressure, and the quiet fear of not belonging. This episode takes an honest look at what women like us are really experiencing: the overwhelm, the financial expectations, the social scripts, and the emotional weight of navigating American holiday cultu...
How do you avoid isolation and create connection, community, and belonging during the Christmas holidays? The holidays can be a season of joy but for immigrant and expat women, it can feel like an extra layer of homesickness and longing. In this episode, we explore how to transform that loneliness into connection by blending traditions from back home with new rituals that feel authentic to where you are now. Our guest today is Manuelita Antonio Rangel Sosa. She is a Venezuelan-American ...
Feeling the dread of holiday loneliness because you live abroad? Host Yolanda is being honest. The holidays bring a much needed moment of rest, togetherness, community, fun and festive food. But if you live abroad without family and you haven't built your tribe yet, it can be a mess. The season that’s supposed to bring joy can instead spotlight what you're missing. Pay attention, expat / immigrant friends. Don't poo-poo these practical ideas to create connection. Soak up the encou...
What would you do if you had three days to leave mum, dad, friends, career ... even the home you just built—Knowing you may never return? This is part 2 with Anna and Sergey. He had 72 hours to make his escape for freedom. They chose to move to the USA, remembering the freedom they once enjoyed here. What they met was a challenge they hadn't expected ... detention centers, separation, uncertainty. But this is not a hard luck story. Tune in for the ultimate in transforming your lif...
Expat woman, ever wondered if resilience means holding on… or knowing when to let go of a life that no longer fits? Pushing through homesickness, cultural differences, and corporate challenges becomes second nature. But sometimes resilience isn’t about enduring — it’s about choosing a new chapter, even if that means returning home. In this episode, you’ll learn how to recognize the emotional and practical signs that your expat journey may be complete, why redefining resilience can release you...
How do you rebuild an entire life from zero—no job, no family, no network—after fleeing a country you can never return to? If you’re an expat woman trying to feel grounded, connected, or at home in the USA, this episode reveals the real emotional, practical, and spiritual challenges that come with starting over—and the one element that makes the transition radically easier. You are going to discover How genuine community can dissolve fear, isolation, and the emotional weight of starting over....
When you’ve tried the meetups, the coffee chats, the parent groups, the playground conversations… and still feel unseen This episode is for every expat and immigrant woman who has ever wondered, “Is it me?” It’s not you. It’s the journey. This episode will help you: Release assumptions about who your friends “should” beRecognize red flags and protect your emotional energyCast your net wider with intentionStay open to the people who can genuinely feed your spiritUnderstand that fri...
re you an expat woman struggling to make real friendships in America, feeling out of place, or wondering if you need to change who you are just to belong? Dasha moved to the USA from Russia for love. She landed in Lubbock, Texas. In this episode, she shares her journey from small-town rejection to finding meaningful connections in San Francisco. Her story shows that the expat experience touches all of us—no matter where we come from. What matters most is having the strategies and tools to wor...
Done with shallow interactions or unsure how to build real connection? You’re not alone. How do you become part of the social circle when you keep getting the cold shoulder, where friendship isn’t spontaneous, and emotional safety isn’t guaranteed? This episode unpacks what’s really behind the struggle—and how to bridge the cultural gap with clarity and courage. You’ll walk away with three things: Key cultural insights into how Americans form adult friendships—and how to use that ...
Wondering where to find the kind of female friendships that actually feed your soul? You’re not wrong for craving more than surface-level connection. We're talking about loneliness, cultural shifts, and the quiet ache of being unknown in a new country. Forming meaningful friendships can feel like a second full-time job. You’ll walk away with: Science-backed reasons why female friendships improve mental health, reduce stress, and protect your wellbeingA practical first step to identify t...
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