Non/Native

Hello and welcome back to Non/Native, the podcast that shares conversations between female immigrants, expats and interlopers. For this episode – the final installment of this series – I was joined by Alix O'Neill, a journalist who moved to the South of France in 2019, in search of great food, country living, and a slice of the good life. Alix and her husband are both Irish but had been living in London prior to their move in early 2019. We chatted in June while she was staying with her family in Belfast and working on her memoir, 'The Troubles with Us' which will be published in 2021. We discussed what it's like to give birth in a different country, how Brexit played a part in Alix's decision to move abroad, and the importance of attempting – if not mastering – speaking French. Thanks to everyone who has listened to this season of Non/Native – keep your eyes peeled for season four, coming later this year. To learn more about 'The Troubles with Us' or her renovations, you can find Alix on Instagram or Twitter: @alixoneill Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik

Hello and welcome back to Non/Native, the podcast that shares conversations between female immigrants, expats and interlopers. For this episode, I was joined by Maria, a parenting blogger from Trinidad who now lives in Surry, England. It was during her first year in the UK that Maria met her now-husband, and what was a temporary stay has turned into almost two decades, and bringing up a mixed-heritage family. In this episode Maria and I chat about the transition of becoming a mother while living abroad, raising multicultural children, and how years of Skyping friends and family back home has helped prepare us, in one sense, for the pandemic. Maria also shares her advice for anyone thinking of taking the leap and moving abroad. This interview was recorded in May 2020. Say hello to Maria on Instagram or Twitter: @msxpat Learn more about Maria's life raising a mixed heritage family at: https://thetigertales.co.uk/ Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik

Hello and welcome back to Non/Native, the podcast that shares conversations between female immigrants, expats and interlopers. This episode features an interview with Diana Gameros, a Mexican musician and activist living in the Bay Area. Diana came to the USA as an undocumented teenager, and her journey to establish permanent residency and the love for her homeland is infused into the music she creates. It was an honor to talk to her about her experience living "in the shadows" while studying, and the emotional moment she was able to go back to Mexico for the first time in 16 years. That particular trip was captured on film in the documentary 'Dear Homeland', produced by KQED, which has just been nominated for a Cine Las Americas award, and will be screened as part of their virtual showcase on July 18th. More details here: https://www.instagram.com/dearhomelandfilm/ Find Diana on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @dianagameros Learn more about Diana's music and 'Dear Homeland' at: https://www.dianagameros.com/ Listen to 'Our Children Are Sacred!' and learn more about the project at: https://linktr.ee/ourchildrenaresacred Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik

Welcome back to Non/Native, the podcast that shares conversations between female expats, immigrants and interlopers. Today's episode features a conversation with Lily, a corporate lawyer who swapped London for Dubai in 2017. One of Lily's key coping mechanisms after moving solo to the UAE was exercise, particularly yoga, and her passion soon became her vocation, leading her to leave her practice and retrain as a yoga teacher. In this episode we chat about that transition, common misconceptions about Dubai's flora and forna, and the empowering feeling of moving abroad and saying yes to new opportunities. Say hello to Lily on Instagram: @lillianzahra Learn more about Lily's life and yoga practice: https://lillianzahra.com/blog/ Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik

Welcome back to Non/Native, the podcast that shares conversations between female immigrants, expats and interlopers. It's been just over a year since season two, a longer hiatus than I intended, and which feels like a lifetime ago given how much 2020 has thrown at us so far. I hope you're staying safe and sane, wherever you're listening from, and I'm so excited to share the stories of some fascinating women with you this season. For this episode I had the pleasure of interviewing Hayley, a British blogger and blog consultant now living in Bellevue, Washington. Hayley and I first met on Twitter years ago when we were both still living in Bristol, and I was delighted to chat to her about her new life in the States, some of her favourite British delicacies, and the nuances of the American healthcare system. Keep up with Hayley on Twitter or Instagram: @hayles / @hayleyghowells Learn more about The Glasshouse here: https://glassho.us/ Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik

It’s the last episode of the season, and what a guest to end with! Sarah is an Australian comedian now living in London, which she’s called home since 2002.  Sarah and I met working at Glastonbury Festival’s radio station, Worthy FM, about eight years ago, when I was drawn to her cheerful nature and (obviously) cracking sense of humour. In this episode we discuss the realities of moving half way around the world without a secure job, the romance vs reality of moving abroad, and the mood in London around Brexit.   Thanks for listening to season two Non/Native, and a big thank you to all the incredible guests we've had so far. Don't forget to subscribe to be notified when season three begins in autumn! Keep up with Sarah on Twitter or Instagram: @sarahbennetto / @sarahbennetto  Learn more about End of the Road Festival, which Sarah curates the comedy for, here: https://endoftheroadfestival.com/ and on Twitter: @EOTR Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod  Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast  Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions  Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik 

In this episode of Non/Native (the podcast that shares conversations between expats, immigrants and interlopers) I chat to Leoni, who swapped England for the USA, and now Dublin, Ireland, where she’s raising her two young children.  Leoni and I have known each other for around 13 years now and she and her husband moved out to the USA around six months before we did. Since then they’ve had two children and moved from Utah to Dublin, Ireland, but moving again is never far from their minds...  A note on the sound quality in this episode – Leoni and I recorded this first thing in the morning, before her children woke up, which is why we sound a little quiet at the start of the interview. It was a particularly busy morning in my neighborhood so there’s also a bit of traffic noise in the background.  Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod  Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast  Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions  Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik 

This week on Non/Native, I’m excited to be joined by Ghenet a born and raised New Yorker who moved to London to be with her now-husband four years ago. I first discovered Ghenet via Instagram, where she shares lots of her London adventures.  In this episode we discuss long distance relationships, the parallels – and differences – between London and New York, and pizza! And a quick note on the sound quality – we were joined on occasion by two special guests, so if you hear any meowing in the background, that’s our cats, Yoda and Rex, making their presence known.  Follow Ghenet's adventures on Instagram: @ghenetactually or Twitter: @ghenetactually   Visit her blog at: https://ghenetactually.co.uk/  Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod  Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast  Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions  Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik 

Hello and welcome back to another episode of Non/Native. This week I’m delighted to be joined by Niki, a British personal stylist who I’ve known since we were both blogging in Bristol around six or seven years ago. Niki has lived in Bangalore, Pittsburg and South Carolina (and now, as of this month, Massachusetts!), and in this episode she talks about standing out in India, and what it’s like trying to meet people in a new country when you’re self employed.  Follow Niki's adventures on Instagram: @nikiwhittle  Learn more about her personal styling business at: https://www.nikiwhittle.com/  Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod  Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast  Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions  Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik 

Welcome back to Non/Native, the podcast that shares conversations between female expats, immigrants and interlopers. For this episode I had the pleasure of interviewing Karen, an American who has lived and worked in the Middle East for over 18 years.   Karen’s work in the field of international education has taken her to the Czech Republic, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where she’s currently stationed. In this episode she shares how expat life has changed since she first moved abroad, how her parents inspired her love of travel, and some of the misconceptions about living in the Middle East.  Learn more about Karen’s work at: https://educationusa.state.gov/ or via her LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/in/bauerkaren  Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod  Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast  Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions  Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik 

Hello! Welcome to back to Non/Native, the podcast that shares conversations between female expats, immigrants and interlopers.  It’s the start of season two and this week I’m talking to Flora, a freelance style and food writer who was born in Russia, grew up in Israel and now lives in Northern California, with her husband and young daughter.   Flora splits her time between Tel Aviv and the Bay Area, and in this episode we chat about moving to another continent after falling in love at first sight, and what it’s like raising her daughter with the traditions of three different cultures.  Follow Flora's adventures on Instagram: @bicoastalista  Read her work at: https://www.floratsapovsky.com/  Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod  Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast  Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions  Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik 

In this episode of Non/Native (the podcast that shares conversations between expats, immigrants and interlopers) I chat to Louise, a British journalist and producer living and working in Berlin, Germany. Louise shares the foods she misses from the UK, what she loves about Berlin’s cool vibe, and we discuss the impact of Brexit on British citizens working abroad. Follow Lou on Twitter or Instagram: @loulizzie / @loulizzie3 Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik

In this episode of Non/Native (the podcast that shares conversations between expats, immigrants and interlopers) I chat to Julie, who swapped France for the United States five years ago after falling in love with her now-husband. Julie moved from Paris to Michigan, then New York, before settling (for now!) here in San Francisco. We discuss long distance relationships, the cultural parallels between Paris and New York, and the benefits of living in a multicultural society. Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik

Welcome back to Non/Native, the podcast that shares conversations between expats, immigrants and interlopers. In this episode I speak with Ieva, who followed her heart and moved from Latvia to London five years ago, after falling in love with an Englishman. Ieva now lives in Bristol with her partner James, who she began dating just before her decision to move the UK. In this episode we discuss jumping in with both feet, Latvian traditions, moving for love, and the joys of a good British pub. Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik

Welcome back to Non/Native, the podcast that shares conversations between expats, immigrants and interlopers, and thank you for all your feedback on the first episode! In this episode I speak with Carly, a British social media specialist who has been living in California's Bay Area since 2011. Carly talks about how Mrs Doubtfire and Star Trek IV helped her make the decision to move to San Francisco, the privileges of being able to move abroad, and what it feels like to be stuck between two politically challenging countries. Follow Carly on Twitter or Instagram: @teacupinthebay Listen to her on KQED’s ‘The Cooler’ podcast: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/448115865/the-cooler Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik

Hello! Welcome to the first episode of Non/Native, the podcast that shares conversations between expats, immigrants and interlopers. In this inaugural episode I speak to Fran, a British teacher living and working in Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam. Fran and I discuss what it’s like to teach abroad, how she has adapted to Vietnamese culture, and what it’s like to maintain friendships and relationships when you’re several time zones ahead. Follow Fran’s adventures on Instagram: @franny.ann Find me on Twitter or Instagram: @shipshapebf | #NonNativePod Website: shipshapeandbristolfashion.com/podcast Music: Interlaken Crossroad from The Sidecar Sessions Logo design background: Ydlabs / Freepik