Available Worldwide: Recent Episodes
Available Worldwide
An interview-style podcast by, for, and about the accompanying partners of the American Foreign Service. In each episode, we’ll talk to accompanying partners who have discovered superpowers they never knew they had and found success in unlikely places. We highlight voices that will inspire and encourage you as you explore what it means to be “available worldwide.”
We're on summer break! We just wanted to share a quick update about how you can get involved in the next season of episodes AND how to stay connected to the Available Worldwide community.
Apply to be a guest: https://availableworldwide.net/contact/
Join the Available Worldwide Network: https://availableworldwide.net/available-worldwide-network/
You'll hear from us again in September!
Special Episode: Guest Updates!
We’ve asked past guests to send in audio updates. We’ll hear from 4 guests in Part 2 of this two-part series.
We asked past guests to tell us what’s new with them since their interview, what’s the same, what effect being on Available Worldwide had on them or their business, and if they’ve learned any additional lessons since being on the show or have other advice to share with Foreign Service accompanying partners.
We hope you’ll enjoy listening to their updates, and be sure to revisit their original interviews using the links below.
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In this episode, you'll hear updates from:
Kent Blakeney - U.S. History for Expats
Listen to our original interview: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/kent-blakeney-us-history-for-expats--49737453
Website: https://www.ushistoryforexpats.com/
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Melissa Finkenbiner - artist
Listen to our original interview: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/melissa-finkenbiner-artist--47268915
Website: https://www.melissafinkenbiner.com/
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Mary Stange - Ponte Travels
Listen to our original interview: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/mary-stange-ponte-travels--47044476
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marystange/
Website: www.pontetravels.com
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Patricia Linderman - Fierce after 45
Listen to our original interview: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/patricia-linderman-fierce-after-45--48246500
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-linderman-63a83213/
Website: www.fierceafter45.com
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This episode is sponsored by Fierce After 45**
We’ve all got health goals. So why aren’t we there yet? We’re human! And so many other things get in the way. Having a health coach is like riding an electric bike on your journey toward your personal health goals. It’s faster, easier, and a whole lot more fun!
Health coach Patricia Linderman is a longtime EFM who totally gets the Foreign Service lifestyle. She offers affordable Zoom coaching in any time zone, specializing in women over 45 but open to all.
Visit FierceAfter45.com to find out more and schedule your free consultation today!
Website and blog: www.fierceafter45.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FierceAfter45
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fierceafter45/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fierceafter45
Special Episode: Guest Updates!
We’ve asked past guests to send in audio updates. We’ll hear from 5 guests in Part 1 of this two-part series.
We asked past guests to tell us what’s new with them since their interview, what’s the same, what effect being on Available Worldwide had on them or their business, and if they’ve learned any additional lessons since being on the show or have other advice to share with Foreign Service accompanying partners.
We hope you’ll enjoy listening to their updates, and be sure to revisit their original interviews using the links below.
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In this episode, you'll hear updates from:
Erica Green - Iceland Writer's Retreat co-founder
Listen to our original interview: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/erica-green-iceland-writers-retreat--46617849
Learn more:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericagreen1/
Website: https://icelandwritersretreat.com/
Dr Fae Frederick - online therapist
Listen to our original interview: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/fae-frederick-online-therapy-international--51681934
Learn more:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfaefrederick/
Website: drfae.com
Crystaline Randazzo - master storyteller and media creatrix
Listen to our original interview: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/crystaline-randazzo-storyteller--49444392
Learn more:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crandazzostorytelling/
Website: www.crystalinerandazzo.com
Erin Semelka - financial planner
Listen to our original interview: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/erin-semelka-clockwise-capital--47716977
Learn more:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-semelka/
Website: https://www.schorn.net/
Valeria Laitinen - resume writer
Listen to our original interview: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/valeria-laitinen-better-see-v--52650636
Learn more:
Website: https://betterseev.com/
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This episode is sponsored by DiploDash
Are you struggling to figure out how to get your consumables? If shopping and packing out your consumables is a challenge, DiploDash® can help!
When you hire DiploDash to manage your consumables, you get a partner in the process. We’ve been there – hungry for certain foods and frustrated by what's available in the local market. We've also been confused by the endless lists of recommendations.
Working with DiploDash you’ll be guided through the consumables process from start to finish. Your biggest task is deciding what you want us to buy for you.
Get the consumables you want and never leave Post. Contact DiploDash to schedule a complimentary call today.
www.DiploDash.com
https://www.facebook.com/diplodashservice
https://www.instagram.com/diplodash/
On the Available Worldwide podcast, we want to highlight the inspiring stories of the accompanying partners of the Foreign Service. But, we don't want to hide the very real challenges that many spouses face.
In this interview for Pride month, you'll hear Maciej Szumny share some of the challenges he has faced as a same-sex partner and foreign-born spouse. You'll be inspired by Maciej's resilience, optimism, and adaptability. And he's a great storyteller!
Maciej also shares important, actionable advice for other spouses who leave their home countries to join diplomatic spouses moving from post to post.
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BIO
Born and raised in Warsaw, Poland, Maciej Szumny had a successful career working in Public Relations and Marketing for big international companies like Nike and Reebok. He was a published poet and a writer, cooperating with different lifestyle magazines in Poland and the UK.
One day he met his future husband who was posted to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw. They fell in love, and Maciej decided to leave everything behind to start a new life as a diplomatic spouse.
Maciej has lived in Praia, Cabo Verde, Montreal, Canada, and Washington DC, where he became the number-one seller of the luxury line of Armani fragrances in the United States.
Maciej was most recently living in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, where he took care of his family of six, including four canine members. He also spent time saving the lives of homeless animals, earning him the nickname Saint Maciej of Assisi.
Maciej and his spouse are currently PCSing back to Washington D.C. where Maciej is open to new professional opportunities.
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AW SPONSOR: DIPLODASH
This episode is sponsored by DiploDash
Are you struggling to figure out how you will survive PCS? If sorting your shipments, planning logistics, and managing pack-out days wakes you from a deep sleep, DiploDash® can help!
When you hire DiploDash to support your PCS, you get a partner in the process. We have been there -- overwhelmed by the packers swirling around us while battling decision fatigue. We've also struggled with PCS amnesia and the strong desire to pretend like it isn't really happening.
Working with DiploDash you have an advocate supporting you through your move. You don't have to go it alone!
Get the PCS help you want. Contact DiploDash to schedule a complimentary call today.
www.DiploDash.com
https://www.facebook.com/diplodashservice
https://www.instagram.com/diplodash/
In this episode, meet Mikell Reed Carroll, an EFM with a job you probably couldn’t imagine being portable: pagentry!Mikell has been competing in pageants since she was around 20 years old, and has won numerous titles over the past 26 years. This June, she plans to compete for the Miss Virginia USA title, which would make her the oldest contestant to do so.
Her tenacity and confidence grow every day as she adds more experiences to her life story: law school, advocacy work, television appearances, health challenges and now being one of the top Pageant Coaches in the world.
Listen as she advises host Lauren how to build confidence and why she (and all EFMs!) should build a “Win List” to help us get through challenging days. The skills of a pageant winner are the extremely portable skills of confidence under pressure, facing challenges on the spot and, in today’s online world, personal branding and representing your supporting organization.
Mikell is a Maine native, graduate of the University of Maine School of Law and has 26 plus years of experience in the world of beauty pageants. She is a former Mrs. Maine International, Mrs. DC, World's Mrs Tourism, International Ms USA and Ms USA Universe.
She opened her full service pageant coaching and consulting business in 2021 and has since been named to Pageant Planet's Top 20 Best Coaches in 2023.She is currently in training to compete in the Miss Virginia USA competition in June.
On Facebook and Instagram:
@carrollcrownconsulting
@mikellreedcarroll
This Episode is Sponsored by Diplodash
Are you struggling to figure out how you will survive PCS? If sorting your shipments, planning logistics, and managing pack-out days wakes you from a deep sleep, DiploDash® can help!
When you hire DiploDash to support your PCS, you get a partner in the process. We have been there -- overwhelmed by the packers swirling around us while battling decision fatigue. We've also struggled with PCS amnesia and the strong desire to pretend like it isn't really happening.
Working with DiploDash you have an advocate supporting you through your move. You don't have to go it alone!Get the PCS help you want.
Contact DiploDash to schedule a complimentary call today.
www.DiploDash.comhttps://www.facebook.com/diplodashservice
https://www.instagram.com/diplodash/
Early in her career, Alaina had to learn how to translate all she'd learned in culinary school to the traveling life of the partner of a Foreign Service Officer.
After years of running a successful catering business in several countries, she's now back in D.C. discovering what her next version of success will look like.
Listen in as Alaina shares the lessons she's learned, including why she values contentment over happiness. As an added bonus, Alaina shares tips on what to bring that next international school potluck!
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BIO
Alaina Missbach is, first and foremost, an avid eater and, secondly, a chef.
She’s a former Army officer turned graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park (earning her diploma at 8 ½ months pregnant) before being whisked off to their first post with her two small kids and newly-appointed FSO husband
Delighting in the truth that “Everybody eats!” she started her own catering business, serving the Embassy and International School communities.
Fast forward 12 years, 5 posts, and more events/dinners/meals than she can count, Alaina has experienced the ups and downs of changing careers, finding her way as an EFM business owner, and maintaining all aspects of her identity in the meantime.
In her business, Alaina specializes in custom menus created for each client and event. She loves sharing her joy for American food and culture with her friends and Foreign Service family overseas.
Alaina is a lifelong learner and takes on the challenge of always increasing her knowledge, learning new things, and trying new methods—both in cooking and in life.
Learn more about Alaina:
* www.instagram.com/ChefAlaina
* www.facebook.com/TheGlobalFork
* www.linkedin.com/in/alaina-missbach
* www.theglobalfork.com (soon to be live!)
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This episode is sponsored by DiploDash.
Are you struggling to figure out how to get your consumables? If shopping and packing out your consumables is a challenge, DiploDash® can help!
When you hire DiploDash to manage your consumables, you get a partner in the process. We’ve been there – hungry for certain foods and frustrated by what's available in the local market. We've also been confused by the endless lists of recommendations.
Working with DiploDash you’ll be guided through the consumables process from start to finish. Your biggest task is deciding what you want us to buy for you.
Get the consumables you want and never leave Post. Contact DiploDash to schedule a complimentary call today.
www.DiploDash.com
https://www.facebook.com/diplodashservice
https://www.instagram.com/diplodash/
After 3 years of producing the Available Worldwide Podcast, we're celebrating by re-interviewing our first guests, each other. Lauren talks with Steph about what's changed with Global Nomad English and how podcasting changed her work with clients and pushed her into developing skills she never knew she'd need.
Steph's Bio:
Stephanie loves helping people tell their stories.
In 2018, she started Global Nomad English, building on her English language teaching background, to offer global professionals online writing coaching, editing, and interview prep services. She now primarily works with hopeful Foreign Service applicants to help them write strong, concise personal narratives and practice telling compelling work experience stories in oral assessments and interviews.
Stephanie is a passionate supporter of the accompanying partners of the US Foreign Service, from co-founding the Available Worldwide podcast to launching the Available Worldwide Network. She firmly believes that by sharing our stories we not only inspire each other but can build solidarity leading to lasting change for the EFM professional community.
Stephanie recently secured a position as an Adjunct Faculty DETO (domestic employee teleworking overseas) for the Foreign Service Institute. As an LE Staff Training Instructor, she facilitates online and in-person classes on Communication Skills, Team Building, and Supervisory Skills. Her goal is for LE Staff to feel heard and to help them build skills to find greater fulfillment and success in the workplace.
Stephanie enjoys bike touring and traveling with her IRM spouse. Together, they’ve served at Posts in Moscow, San Salvador, and Berlin. Since being posted to London, she’s reentered the rowing world and trains/competes with a Thames women’s rowing club.
* Learn about Steph's English and Writing Coaching Services at Global Nomad English
* Find Steph on LinkedIn or Facebook
On the 3rd anniversary of the Available Worldwide Podcast, we chat with co-host Lauren Steed about her small business, Nomad Educational Services. Lauren shares how her students are changing, how she's adapting, and what she's learned more about the value she adds in the process. We also touch on the stress of PCSing while running a business, plus the AW Podcast and Network.
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BIO
Dr. Lauren Steed has over 20 years of experience in test prep, classroom and college teaching, and student mentorship at all levels of education.
She started Nomad Educational Services in 2017, building on past work as a college prep consultant and executive functioning coach in Northern Virginia, and as a freelance writing and essay coach for expat undergraduate and graduate student applicants.
Dr. Steed works with families looking for a low-stress, high-confidence mentoring approach for their college-bound students. Families can feel confident that their student:
* will be fully supported along their path to college,
* will apply to schools that match their academic history and interests and will help them succeed, and
* will submit applications they are proud of.
Nomad Educational students apply to all kinds of schools — from the Ivy League to art school, from hands-on, career-focused schools to those specializing in the classics, from small and supportive to massive and athletic, and every type and size of school in between. All of Dr. Steed's students are excited about the schools where they end up.
Find out more about Nomad Educational Services:
* nomad-ed.com
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-steed-phd/
* https://www.facebook.com/NomadEdServices/
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This episode is sponsored by the Available Worldwide Network.
Are you looking for a safe and supportive online community where you can connect with other Foreign Service spouses who just get it?
The Available Worldwide Network is a community-led platform providing professional development, personal connection, and social support for the accompanying partners of the US Foreign Service.
Our goal is to help EFMs and MOHs who are trying to maintain or build careers abroad or at home to feel connected, valued, and empowered; to share our challenges and celebrate our successes, and to work together to find solutions through solidarity.
You can join the Available Worldwide Network today to participate in co-working sessions, LinkedIn and resume workshops, professional development book clubs, small business masterminds, and monthly member match-ups to expand your network.
Find all you need to know at https://availableworldwide.net/available-worldwide-network/
First time EFM Amanda Zelaya saw EFM life as the chance to finally go all in on her dream career. She describes life as an indie romance author and ghostwriter, her journey into self-publishing, the challenges of being an indie author, and how her writing career has evolved alongside her husband's Foreign Service posting. Hear her insights into the realities of promoting her "spicy" romance novels, navigating the world of BookTok and Amazon, and the importance of adaptability in the ever-changing publishing landscape.
Amanda Zelaya is an Indie Romance author and Ghostwriter who has published over fifty romance novels spanning multiple genres. As a ghostwriter, she has written two novels that became Amazon Kindle best-sellers, and as a solo indie writer, she has had a book hit the Top 100.
While ghostwriting started as a way to make extra money for her wedding and break up the monotony of teaching middle school English, Amanda discovered a passion for creating stories and developed a lucrative side hustle that has allowed her to support her husband as he follows his career dreams.
She has taken a break from ghostwriting and exclusively writes spicy mafia romances under her pen name, Kennedy Slope.
Check out her books on Amazon and
Join her mailing list for exclusive material
Erika Furey is a self-described "jack-of-all-trades." From barista to public relations, from esthetician to yoga teacher, from CLO to health coach, Erika demonstrates commitment and consistency in pursuit of her passions.
In this interview, Erika delves into the difficulties of maintaining connections and a sense of belonging as a Foreign Service spouse, highlighting the emotional toll of constantly uprooting and rebuilding relationships at each new Post. She emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, deep connections, and meaningful friendships despite the transient nature of diplomatic life.
Erika shares her journey towards self-discovery, personal growth, and healing, particularly in overcoming long COVID and finding her calling as an integrative health coach.
BIO
After working just about every service industry job in Missoula, Montana during college, Erika started at a Public Relations consulting firm which led to doing outreach for a DC software start-up. Then, just as she was starting to get some experience under her belt, she went and married into the Foreign Service turning her career life on its head.
Shortly after joining the FS and getting married, Erika had two children back-to-back. While raising kids, she’s worked at every Embassy they’ve served at. In between jobs and while being posted abroad, she’s collected multiple health and wellness certifications.
Erika believes there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to health. With this in mind, she set out on a path of self-discovery to explore how her own habits and decisions have shaped her and how she can use her personal experience, growth, and self-healing to inspire others to set out on their own journey toward positive transformation.
You can learn more about Erika’s work as an integrative health coach at:
* http://erikafureyintegrativehealthcoach.com/home
* https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikafurey/
* https://www.instagram.com/esfurey_healthcoach
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This episode is sponsored by Career Valet
EFMs have many different career paths – really too many to count: travel enthusiast, embassy workhorse, dog mom, children organizer, remote work trailblazer… But the one thing that we almost all have in common? Our paths aren’t straight or straightforward. And often it takes someone else to help us tease out our strengths, skills, and value.
That’s what they do at Career Valet, an EFM-owned and entirely EFM-staffed career consultancy that works with you to tell your best narrative on paper and online, aligned with target jobs. They’ve worked with EFMs, FSOs, members of Congress, Fortune 100 leaders, nonprofit and technology professionals, just to name a few.
Check out www.careervalet.com to read advice on their blog or subscribe to their newsletter.
You can also sign up for a free call and learn about their customized packages, including a new entry-level package for any young professionals in your life.
It’s your story. They amplify it.
Find Career Valet at their Website or on LinkedIn
In this week's episode, Lauren and Natalie Kortum share a discussion about teleworking, taxes, and legal obligations while working remotely for domestic or international businesses when overseas. Natalie shares how she successfully negotiated teleworking with her employer, the importance of portraying confidence in teleworking negotiations and how to communicate in a way that reassures the corporate tax and HR offices. They cover the importance of post selection, internet availability, and impermanence.
Natalie Kortum is Chief Technology Strategist for Data Analytics and AI working to develop the next great solutions from Dell. She is renowned in the world of marketing analytics for skills in investment optimization having optimized Dell’s $1.2 B marketing spend for multiple years. She has worked for a multitude of companies from all different verticals including Humana, IBM, Home Depot, BP, Sabre, Charles Schwab with 20 years spent in the data science and analytics space as an AI/analytics consultant and evangelist. She holds two US patents tor innovative modeling approaches and leads training efforts for Dell's internal salesforces to get them up to speed on AI.
* Connect with Natalie at LinkedIn
* Or her Website
* Download the Sample Letter mentioned in this episode
More resources on Teleworking
* Official instructions from the GCLO
* Fall 2023 FAMER statistics
This episode is sponsored by Career Valet
EFMs have many different career paths – really too many to count: travel enthusiast, embassy
workhorse, dog mom, children organizer, remote work trailblazer…
But the one thing that we almost all have in common? Our paths aren’t straight or
straightforward. And often it takes someone else to help us tease out our strengths, skills, and
value.
That’s what they do at Career Valet, an EFM-owned and entirely EFM-staffed career
consultancy that works with you to tell your best narrative on paper and online, aligned with
target jobs. They’ve worked with EFMs, FSOs, members of Congress, Fortune 100 leaders,
nonprofit, and technology professionals, just to name a few.
Check out www.careervalet.com to read advice on their blog or subscribe to their newsletter.
You can also sign up for a free call and learn about their customized packages and interactive
resume building course launching in March.
It’s your story. They amplify it.
Find Career Valet at their Website or on LinkedIn
More than 40 people nominated Michelle for the Tragen Award in 2023. This huge number illustrates the impact of her volunteer advocacy work on the many EFMs serving as Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas (DETOs).
As we learn about Michelle's fight for fair pay, she highlights the importance of research, building a team, and advocating for systemic change.
In discussing her career history, Michelle explains how government contracting helped her get her foot in the door, and how she later figured out how to create a job share arrangement to improve her work-life flexibility.
Michelle also shares how teleworking helped her slip back into a familiar role and feel connected to her "before" self when everything else was in flux as she first moved abroad for her spouse's job.
BIO
Michelle Neyland is a Civil Service Officer and Domestic Employee Teleworking Overseas (DETO) currently based with her family in Bucharest, Romania.
She started working at the State Department in 2009, spending 10 years as a digital communications officer at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and then a congressional advisor at the Bureau of International Organization Affairs.
In 2023, at a ceremony at the State Department, she received the Eleanor Dodson Tragen Award from the DACOR Bacon House Foundation for the advocacy she did to address a pay inequity and secure locality pay legislation for Civil Service DETOs across the entire U.S. federal government.
Read more about Michelle's DETO advocacy work in 2 Federal News Network articles:
* https://federalnewsnetwork.com/pay/2023/01/hundreds-of-federal-employees-teleworking-overseas-set-to-receive-pay-bump-under-ndaa/
* https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-report/2023/12/feds-teleworking-overseas-got-a-pay-raise-state-dept-honors-an-employee-who-made-it-happen/
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EPISODE SPONSOR
As a company owned by and employing EFMs, Krozel Capital understands the unique financial challenges faced by U.S. Foreign Service families serving at home and abroad.
Their team of tax professionals is well-versed in U.S. tax laws, multi-state and non-resident filings, and reporting income of working spouses while abroad.
Krozel Capital is a virtual firm with services tailored to accommodate your unique circumstances, offering online consultation hours and secure document exchange, no matter where you are posted.
They also offer fee-only financial planning services through their affiliated firm, Krozel Capital Management.
Don't let tax season and financial concerns rob you of time with your family and friends. Contact Krozel Capital today at www.krozelcapital.com to learn more about their services.
In this episode, artist Christy Kill and host Lauren Steed talk about: the joys of life with a puppy, turning discouragement into opportunity and using frequent moves as an inspiration for new creative pursuits.
Given the time and space to pursue something new, Christy found her professional identity in painting. She experiments with different mediums and materials, and and finds inspiration in nature and the environment, She honestly shares about her experiences as an artist, including both successes and failures, and how she believes in saying yes to opportunities that come her way. Like many EFMs, she finds her unexpected success by stepping out of her comfort zone.
Christy Kill is an award-winning abstract painter. She has exhibited in numerous locations in the DC area; and a pair of her paintings “On the Shores of Iceland” were featured in a slideshow during ArtBasel Miami in December 2017. They are now on permanent display at the Ocean Cluster in Reykjavík, Iceland. She has given proceeds and paintings to several NGO’s and charities serving children and the environment.
Christy creates custom statement pieces of art and is inspired by the people she meets, in the countries she has lived - Norway, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Iceland, and now Uruguay - and will always be influenced by her native roots of the Southern U.S. In 2023, Christy was awarded the U.S. Department of State’s Professional Development Fellowship, and is currently taking a masterclass for artists as well as online courses through the Smithsonian Institute.
You can find out more by visiting her website: www.christykill.com or following her on Instagram or Facebook @christykillart
This episode is sponsored by Fierce After 45, Rediscover your energy and vitality with the support of health coach and personal trainer Patricia Linderman! She managed her own recovery from a tendency to a sedentary lifestyle, overweight, shame and self-blame. An EFM for 31 years, she offers affordable coaching in any time zone, using the power of self-love and compassion to transform your habits. Say goodbye to discomfort and hello to a more vibrant you. Visit Fierce After 45 to schedule your free Zoom consultation today.
Find Patricia at
Website and blog: www.fierceafter45.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FierceAfter45
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fierceafter45/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-linderman-63a83213/
Adam Pearlman’s first post abroad as an accompanying partner was as the spouse of a DCM (deputy chief of mission). After years of government service, Adam is now navigating the wild ride of starting a law firm that leverages geography and where remote work is an integral part of the company culture.
Adam shares eye-opening moments from his first two tours as an EFM. And, we delve into a recent article he wrote for the Foreign Service Journal in which he addresses the unique challenges FS spouses face and advocates for better support for Foreign Service family members. Read his excellent article at https://afsa.org/quest-reasonable-civ-mil-parity
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BIO
Adam Pearlman [https://www.lexpatglobal.com/staff_trusted/adam-pearlman/] launched Lexpat Global Services with another EFM so they would have a portable platform to continue doing the work they loved.
Adam had spent most of his career as a lawyer and advisor in government service with the U.S. Departments of Justice, Defense, and State, in the White House, and with the federal judiciary.
A contraction between the Latin “lex” and “expatriate,” Lexpat’s name is emblematic of the business model Adam and his team deliver – skilled international lawyers, peace and security experts, rule of law practitioners, and security professionals, based globally, delivering premium service to clients to accomplish their missions and goals anywhere in the world.
Lexpat’s team and partners – which proudly feature several EFMs – boast particular expertise in security and development-related issues. For industry clients, they provide risk assessment and management services; strategic reviews, assessments, and planning; and investigations, litigation, and compliance expertise. Their services for public sector clients include program design and monitoring and evaluation, as well as providing subject matter expertise in various fields connected to peace and security, governance, and the rule of law.
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This episode is sponsored by US History for Expats whose mission is to provide top-quality history courses for the kids of Mission personnel living overseas.
What makes US History for Expats unique? Their middle school and high school classes are accredited and 100% reimbursable via the Supplementary Instructional Allowance.
Check out a new history course for middle school students starting Feb 5, 2024, covering early cultures through the Civil War. And don’t miss out on their new Elementary program with rolling admissions for less than $200! Enroll and start in fewer than 5 minutes at https://www.ushistoryforexpats.com/
Join your hosts—Lauren and Steph—as we reflect on our busiest year everat Available Worldwide. We made people laugh, and we made people cry. We added a new member to our team, and we reached over 10,000 downloads. We hosted solopreneur Mastermind groups, and we organized a 4-day EFM/MOH Symposium.
And we've got even BIGGER plans for 2024!
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Stay up-to-date on all we're doing at Available Worldwide by signing up for our mailing list: https://availableworldwide.net/
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Like what we're doing? Buy us a coffee by donating at Kofi: https://ko-fi.com/availableworldwidepodcast
Emily Walker is the founder of Next Dinner Party Designs, a business dedicated to helping the foreign service community create beautiful spaces abroad.
Before the Foreign Service, she was a journalist covering healthcare in Washington, D.C., but her first tour move to Yemen sparked her interest in the unique experiences of Americans living in foreign countries and eventually led her to write a book set in the expat community there.
Living abroad led her to build on her love of transforming her own spaces and eventually transition to interior design. During a posting in Algeria she renovated a community center as a project manager and decided to make the switch full time.
You'll hear Emily describe her process of working remotely with clients, using 3D models and shared Pinterest boards to exchange design ideas. She highlights the importance of reflecting a client's personality in their space and shares examples of common mistakes people make when designing their homes abroad.
Emily also provides practical tips for improving living spaces abroad, such as replacing dingy drapes, anchoring rooms with large rugs, and considering paint colors to set the right mood.
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Emily Walker is the founder of Next Dinner Party Designs, a virtual interior design company aimed at helping Foreign Service folks create comfy, stylish, and vibrant spaces brimming with personality. Living in Yemen, Spain, Jerusalem, Morocco, and Algeria has helped her develop a colorful and patternful Global Eclectic style that seeks to spice up the often bland government digs diplomats move into abroad.
She's also an avid home cook, cocktail mixer, dinner party host, and writer. She's written about her overseas adventures, design projects, marriage, and cultural differences since 2012 on her blog, The Next Dinner Party. She's also written an (as yet unpublished) novel set in her first post, Yemen.
Podcast listeners can reference code "AvailableWorldwide2023" and receive 10% off a Next Dinner Party Designs Special. https://nextdinnerpartydesigns.com/services/
-Next Dinner Party Designs https://nextdinnerpartydesigns.com/
-The Next Dinner Party blog https://thenextdinnerparty.com/
-Instagram: @nextdinnerparty
Emily Cornell keeps a photo on her wall that reminds her of the moment she knew things had to change. After an ER visit due to severe burnout, a nearby terrorist attack during a work trip, and reconnecting with a college boyfriend who had just been posted to Brussels, Emily realized that she had to choose something bigger for her life.
During our conversation, Emily shares how she navigated many transitions over the next few years and ultimately made sense of her story through the power of coaching. She now coaches other women through transition and transformation.
Guest Bio
Emily Cornell, ACC is a storyteller, strategist, and coach. She helps Millennial and Gen X women tap into their courage and authenticity through transitions and transformations to feel more comfortable in their skin and bring their very best into the world.
She blends a co-creative and intuitive approach with the skills and knowledge gained from more than 15 years working in and for advertising/marketing agencies, startups, and nonprofits. She also has an interest in trauma-informed spaceholding and brings that lens to her work.
Emily is a third-tour EFM who thinks “home” is wherever her art is on the walls. You’ll find her in Delhi, India these days.
* Learn more about Emily’s coaching practice: emilycornell.com
* Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycornell/
* Find her stories on her blog: unexpectedexpat.com
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This episode is sponsored by Crystaline Randazzo, LLC.Crystaline is not just a storyteller, but a media creatrix who works magic with the science of storytelling. And like you, she's a Diplo spouse.
After years of collecting stories as a humanitarian storyteller and filmmaker, Crystaline started wondering why storytelling could be so empowering for some people but re-traumatizing for others. Ultimately, she left humanitarian storytelling and now envisions a safer way to tell stories. She's crafted a process that goes beyond just storytelling. It integrates safer stories through community practice, boundaries, and somatic movement.
Her eight-week course, "Transformational Storytelling, How to Tell Stories that Heal, Shift, and Transform," kicks off in February 2024. But Crystaline is also hosting a free training January 22nd-24th, "Find Your Voice, From Stuck to Storyteller: Empowering Changemaking Women to Uncover Their Story & Find Their Voice." *To sign up for the FREE training, visit: https://www.crystalinerandazzo.com/stuck-2-storyteller
To learn more about the 9 Week Live Group Cohort: Transformational Truthtelling: How To Tell Stories That Heal, Shift, and Transform (starting February 22, 2024*),visit https://www.crystalinerandazzo.com/transformationtruthtelling-sales
Susan Shirley is the CEO of Global View Leadership, a cross-cultural leadership advisory firm. In this episode, we discuss Susan's experiences living in different countries, her not-so-romantic State Department proposal, and her expertise in cross-cultural coaching. Her career was built on 10 years of experience in Egypt reporting on results for USAID projects. Over time, she realized her passion for teaching and training others in project management, which eventually led her to focus on coaching and leadership training.She shares insights on finding a niche in the coaching industry, and compares what she does as a professional leadership and cross-cultural management coach to other coaching avenues that EFMs might be suited for. We also talk about the highs and lows of following popular advice on social media marketing and whether it's worth hiring help to build your client base.
About Susan
Susan Shirley is a cross-cultural leadership coach. She works to increase the effectiveness of multicultural teams both by supporting expatriates as they transition to positions abroad and working with staff hired by international organizations in their own countries as they adapt to a new organizational culture. By helping individuals improve their emotional and cultural intelligence, they become more effective leaders, create more cohesive teams, and deliver better results for their organizations.
Susan Shirley founded Global View Leadership to ensure that cultural differences are never what keeps someone from success. Delivering one-on-one and group coaching, team development workshops, and training, Global View supports organizations and individuals as they work to improve internal and external communication.
With an MBA in international business, Susan has lived and worked abroad for over 25 years, and has provided training and teambuilding workshops to support organizations in 22 countries. She began her career in project management in Egypt and focused on professional development when she learned that her passion was in training and supporting others.
Global View Leadership WebsiteLinkedIn: Susan Shirley
Sumali has been an accompanying partner of the US Foreign Service for 19 years. In this interview, she describes the challenges of returning to the US job market after so many years of living abroad.
Sumali highlights the need for EFMs to reflect (and even wallow), but most importantly, to give themselves space and grace during the transition "back home." And, she gives us advice on how to take advantage of job opportunities and resources available while abroad—such as non-competitive eligibility and clearances—which will help secure better jobs in the US.
Looking forward, Sumali wants to continue living her own purpose and sharing her wisdom and practices with other EFMs through her coaching to help them find opportunities that align with their purpose and bring them joy.
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BIO
Sumali Ray-Ross is Indian by birth, an American, and a citizen of the world. She is a Global Health and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Expert, an Intercultural Coach and Speaker, Mother and Spouse.
Over the past 20 years, she has lived in 7 countries in Asia, Africa and the US. Her work has taken her to Central and Latin America, South and Southeast Asia, and Africa.
Sumali has navigated the highs and lows of constant transitions from one country to another, re-engineering herself, over and over again, while meeting the needs of her CCK/TCK/biracial children and family both home and abroad.
After returning back to the US right before COVID, Sumali went back to school to get certified as a Life and Leadership & Health and Wellness Coach. She is also a certified Holding Space and a Deep Coaching Intensive Practitioner and combines these coaching practices with meditation, mindfulness, tapping, and reiki to holistically support her clients.
Sumali’s coaching motto is ‘Meeting you where you are in your life & wellness journey.’ She has combined her professional and personal experiences to coach clients on life and leadership issues in the U.S. and overseas.
She helps women identify strategic volunteering or work opportunities, upgrade their skills/expertise to re-enter the workforce, and create a work/life balance that includes self-care practices. In doing so, they can meet the challenges of their ever-evolving lives with determination, grit, resiliency, and courage.
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Connect with Sumali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumalirayross/
Sarah Buckley is a food photographer and blogger who finds inspiration in crafting, art, and plants.
During our conversation, Sarah describes her career transition from nursing to food blogging, explaining the initial sense of loss and later fulfillment her move brought her.
Sarah admits that re-training took the time and effort equivalent to a bachelor's degree. But what she's learned along the way about keyword research, SEO, and writing for Google has paved the way to her success.
Sarah describes her superpower as the ability to persevere in her work even when success isn't immediately apparent. She credits her supportive EFM community with encouraging her to keep pursuing her dream in the face of challenges.
BIO
Sarah Buckley, a sleep researcher, made a career adjustment due to frequent relocations and growing family responsibilities. As a result, she decided to become a stay-at-home mother and use this time to explore her passions, including cooking, gardening, photography, and writing.
Her dedication led her to create Frolic & Fare, a successful blog that focuses on wild food, foraging, and edible flowers. This experience taught her that it's possible to create your own dream job, and she hopes to inspire others to follow their passions.
Keep up with Sarah's delicious recipes and beautiful photos on her website or follow her on Instagram.
Website: https://frolicandfare.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frolicandfare/
We have a huge announcement!
The first-ever Available Worldwide Symposium is taking place from November 1st to 4th.
This four-day online event will bring together EFM/MOH accompanying partners from around the world to address the theme "Moving the Needle: Finding Direction & Mapping Possibilities."
If you are passionate about EFM professional development and growth, we encourage you to get involved!
For those who are eager to take part in this transformative symposium, the booking calendar is now open for facilitators and presenters.
This is truly an incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, gain valuable insights, and take meaningful steps in your professional journey. So mark your calendars for November 1st to 4th, and let's move the needle together!
Learn more at https://availableworldwide.net/symposium/
On this episode of Available Worldwide, Lauren chats with Mackenzie Carlson, our new social media manager and fellow plant lover. Mackenzie shares her family's unique journey into the Foreign Service, from an adventurous road trip to prepping for a Covid-era quarantine. We discuss the best National Parks, the challenges of resume gaps, and the support she found in the EFM community both at post and via Available Worldwide. Mackenzie's fresh perspectives have already made a positive impact on our team as we continue to provide valuable resources for EFMs worldwide.
McKenzie Lowe Carlson is a mother of two and a first-tour EFM in Guangzhou, China.
McKenzie graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She taught third grade for one year and has since had the opportunity to stay home full-time with her kids, Bria and Tucker.
With her youngest starting school this year she was ready to venture back into the world of professionalism, but being at a post with no bilateral work agreement meant she couldn’t teach. She is currently volunteering as a social media manager for Available Worldwide. She enjoys indoor & outdoor gardening, reading, and organizing & decorating her home.
In this episode of the Available Worldwide podcast, we are joined by Lexi Boudreau, an EFM (Eligible Family Member) with a diverse career as a stay at home mom, volunteer and, working with various agencies and businesses. She and her husband joined the Foreign Service later in life and spent 14 and a half years abroad, falling in love with the lifestyle. She reflects on her personal growth since starting this lifestyle and discusses her experiences working in Uganda and Jordan. For Lexi, thriving in this lifestyle requires focusing on the positives and managing challenges without being overwhelmed. There will always be the difficulties of constantly moving but that's balanced by the the resilience she and her children have developed. Lexi advises incoming EFMs to prioritize their own careers and do what is best for their families.
Lexy Boudreau is returning to the U.S. after her family's fifth overseas post. At Embassy Amman she did media and communications in USAID's Education and Youth Office and took the lead with the Embassy's interagency DEIA events. Previously, Lexy led the PEPFAR Small Grants office at Embassy Kampala. In addition to being a Girl Scout Leader since 2009, she held a variety of volunteer positions with her four kids' schools and within the embassy community. During her EFM "career" she fully adopted the FS "it depends" mantra having learned to be flexible and reinvent herself during two evacuations, seven moves, sending three kids to college from overseas and now starting her first unaccompanied tour.
Evacuating from Ukraine was a turning point for Jessica.
She'd been a Foreign Service accompanying partner for 20 years. She'd navigated single parenting during her husband's tour in Iraq and learned how community can help you thrive in the midst of chaos. She'd successfully sustained her law career during multiple foreign and domestic postings.
But leaving Ukraine in 2022 shifted Jessica's priorities and, ultimately, her career. Learn more about Jessica's journey and how she looks at challenges as opportunities.
Join us for an emotional conversation about the stresses and lessons learned navigating life abroad with dual careers and kids.
BIO
Jessica Hayden has been an EFM for the past 20 years. Her family has lived in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, and The Netherlands, while her husband also served in Iraq. She has worked as both a lawyer and a writer and is the mother to 3 awesome kids.
In January of 2022, she evacuated from Kyiv with her children while her husband stayed behind with the Embassy. That experience fundamentally changed her career and life trajectory. She is now focusing on refugee issues and working on several writing projects about parenting during times of crisis.
Connect with Jessica:* Instagram https://www.instagram.com/diplo.momma/ * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-hayden-1707884/
In this episode, we meet Kavanaugh Livingston who in her first year as an EFM making a difference in supporting EFM (Eligible Family Member) careers in her community. Like many EFMs, she had to pause her career while her spouse serves as an FSO with the State Department.Kavanaugh organized an event to educate other post EFMs about the benefits of in mission employment, including both current and long-term retirement benefits. We also talk about the possibilities of offering similar informational support sessions to EFMs at your post.
Some key takeaways from her careers workshop:
* If it helps, use the EFM employment notebook as a suggested way to organize an electronic repository of all of your employment-, HR-, and payroll-related documents;
* Download and keep copies of ALL of your employment-related documents from Employee Express and any other online employee portals (i.e. SF-50s and Leave and Earnings Statements);
* The attached notebook also contains contact information, resources, and guidance on how to understand key employment documents;
* To streamline the process of applying for or renewing your security clearance (a.k.a. the e-QIP form), keep track of all of your residences, contacts, and travel details from the past 10 years;
* When applicable, use a personal email address (and not a government email address) to register for any third-party employment, HR, and retirement portals. When you retire from or leave government service, you will lose access to your government email; and
* It is the employee's responsibility to track their earnings statements and creditable service. Check these documents frequently to ensure their accuracy so that your retirement benefits are calculated appropriately.
Materials related to her EFM careers event available here.
Kavanaugh Livingston is a first-tour EFM in Mexico and recently transitioned to a life as a stay-at-home mom.
Before moving to Mexico Kavanaugh was a management consultant for IBM, and led strategy, knowledge management, and change management projects for her clients. Before her time at IBM, Kavanaugh got her MBA and worked for the United Nations Foundation (UNF). During her time with UNF, she managed efforts to improve household energy access for a global initiative. Kavanaugh started her career in the legal field before her most recent employment experiences. She is currently working towards her 200-hour yoga teacher training certification.
Kavanaugh is also a certified project management professional and has applied her extensive project management experience to support other EFMs at her current post. Her experience demonstrates that anyone at post, even first-tour EFMs, can serve as leaders.
Paula, her husband, Jason, and their two sons just completed an around-the-world journey, which saw them taking a year of LWOP (leave without pay) to visit 19 countries, including Paula's home country of Colombia.
In this interview, Paula shares some of the valuable lessons they learned about communication, kindness and self-growth during their trip. She also talks about her own struggles with anxiety and depression, and the importance of seeking help and not judging others based on mental health stereotypes.
Paula discusses her previous EFM jobs and the support she received from management officers who believed in her professional potential. She encourages new EFMs to be proactive, show up, and engage with embassy staff, emphasizing the opportunities for professional development within the State Department.
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BIO
Paula Andrea Pantoja has been an EFM for 14 years. She and her family have served in Mexico, Mozambique, El Salvador, and Tajikistan, and they're just starting their fifth tour in Tunisia.
Paula says:
"I am originally from Popayan, Colombia, and my mom tells me that I used to talk about traveling around the world from an early age. I love reading fantasy and fiction, dancing, playing soccer, doing Qigong and yoga, and trying new things that look fun.
I met my husband when we were working in a special needs summer camp in the Poconos, Pennsylvania in 2003. We've been together ever since and became parents of two fantastic boys, lived in five different countries, and travelled in more than 40 countries together.
I am a trained Spanish, English, and French teacher; however, since we joined the Foreign Service, I've been a CLO, roving secretary, and HR assistant/EPAP in our last three tours. I love working in HR because I truly believe I can make a difference in somebody's day. I want to become an OMS once my husband retires from the Foreign Service and keep traveling."
This summer we're taking a break from interviews to bring you a series of themed episodes especially relevant to newly minted EFMs — spouses whose partners have just joined the Foreign Service or who are about to be posted abroad for the first time.
You'll hear from your hosts—Lauren Steed and Stephanie Anderson—as well as from a smattering of other accompanying partners who left voicemails to share their own advice.
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Summer Special #4: Pack-out Advice
The final episode of our summer advice column series: the dreaded pack-out!
Whether you cut the clutter, embrace the chaos, or procrastinate till the last moment, pack-out is always stressful.
Lauren and Steph provide valuable advice and reassurance for folks facing their first pack-out, offering a glimpse into this unique aspect of foreign service life.
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Visit our Facebook page to share your own pack-out wins, horror stories, and top tips for newbies!
https://www.facebook.com/availableworldwidepodcast
This summer we're taking a break from interviews to bring you a series of themed episodes especially relevant to newly minted EFMs — spouses whose partners have just joined the Foreign Service or who are about to be posted abroad for the first time.
You'll hear from your hosts—Lauren Steed and Stephanie Anderson—as well as from a smattering of other accompanying partners who left voicemails to share their own advice.
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Summer Special #3: PCS Planning
In this episode of our summer advice column series, Lauren and Steph delve into the topic of PCS (permanent change of station) moves in the Foreign Service lifestyle.
We discuss staying organized, researching activities, making connections, and the importance of community support. We reflect on our own experiences and offer advice on flexibility and embracing the adventure of PCSing.
And whether you're an "Excel monster" or a relaxed "wine mom," we want to remind you that it's okay to cry. 😥
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Good luck to all of you slogging your way through the summer transfer season!
This summer we're taking a break from interviews to bring you a series of themed episodes especially relevant to newly minted EFMs — spouses whose partners have just joined the Foreign Service or who are about to be posted abroad for the first time.
You'll hear from your hosts—Lauren Steed and Stephanie Anderson—as well as from a smattering of other accompanying partners who left voicemails to share their own advice.
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Summer Special #2: EFM Career Narratives
What do you do? What's your story?
In this episode, Lauren and Steph talk about making the most of your opportunities and redefining who you are in terms of your career.
As accompanying partners, a lot of where we're going to land in the future is out of our control. However, the story we tell when we get there can make all the difference.
How do we define ourselves and create a more cohesive narrative from a sometimes patchy work history?
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Past episodes mentioned: ep. 20 Maryanna Koehring | English for the Job
https://www.spreaker.com/user/avail/maryanna-koehring
* ep. 38 Nermine Mansour | Chez Nermine
https://www.spreaker.com/user/avail/nermine-mansour
* ep. 39 Heather Emerick | Diplobudgets
https://www.spreaker.com/user/avail/heather-emerick
* ep. 47 Helene Lubatti | Employee Association Manager & Bagel Queen
https://www.spreaker.com/user/avail/helenelubatti
* ep. 49 Tracy MacDonald | Writer & Consultant*
https://www.spreaker.com/user/avail/tracy-macdonald-interview
This summer we're taking a break from interviews to bring you a series of themed episodes especially relevant to newly minted EFMs -- spouses whose partners have just joined the Foreign Service or who are about to be posted abroad for the first time.
You'll hear from your hosts--Lauren Steed and Stephanie Anderson--as well as from a smattering of other accompanying partners who left voicemails to share their own advice.
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Summer Special #1: Realities of EFM Employment
We don't sugarcoat the facts. We want you to know the challenges and the opportunities that might lie ahead for you as a new EFM (eligible family member) or MOH (member of household).
In this episode we talk about the different types of family member employment, the pros and cons of each, and we share some resources we've found useful.
Resources * Worldwide Family Member Employment Statistics https://www.state.gov/global-community-liaison-office/overseas-family-member-employment/family-member-employment-statistics/ * Global Employment Advisors https://www.state.gov/global-community-liaison-office/family-member-employment/global-employment-initiative-gei/ * EFM Business Owners Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/efmbusinessowners * EFMs Helping Other EFMs Find Employment https://www.facebook.com/groups/efmshelpefmsfindemployment/ * Teletrailing EFMs https://www.facebook.com/groups/1997423240366074
Tracy describes herself as "a soulful explorer living an inspired life." Her background is a study in contrasts: from a career in banking, fraud, and counterterrorism, she's come to embrace the role of creative and writer.
In this episode, Tracy talks about her transition from the Secret Service to the spouse of a diplomat, and how writing is what fuels her now. Instead of being defined by her role as an EFM or by a paycheck, she's learning to identify which passions and projects nourish her.
Tracy also shares advice on how to protect your space and time as a creative and "factor yourself into the equation."
- Learn more about Tracy on her blog: https://carpediemcreative.com/
- Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-macdonald-5477692/
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BIO
Tracy K. MacDonald is a southerner from Columbus, Georgia who holds a B.A. from Wesleyan College in Behavioral Sociology.
She is a Fraud and Risk consultant and public speaker, drawing on her experience as a former Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service and from her key roles as a Counter-Terrorism Instructor for the Defense Intelligence Agency, and as a Lead Associate in Counter-Illicit Finance for Booz Allen Hamilton.
She has gained a unique perspective from living and working abroad in several countries and is currently posted with her husband, son, and Golden Retriever “Biscuit” as diplomats supporting the U.S. Embassy’s mission in Libreville, Gabon.
Tracy loves nature photography, beach walks, and writing. She captures her travels and life as an ex-pat on her personal blog, Carpe Diem Creative. She’s an active member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), and has recently completed the first draft of her debut fiction novel, Becoming Agent McKenna.
Her freelance articles have been published in Bella Grace Magazine and on Stampington & Company’s official blog, Grace Notes.
Long-time listeners will know that we, Steph and Lauren, like to joke that our mothers are our biggest fans. So, in honor of May and Mother's Day, we are introducing them to you.
What do parents of Foreign Service employees and accompanying spouses think about the diplomatic lifestyle? What are their fears and opinions about what we do? What's their advice for other far away relatives?
This is the episode to share with your own far away friends and family, or with a new EFM who is still adjusting to foreign service life. We loved talking to our moms about stereotypes, misconceptions and the joys of a global life.
Not every accompanying partner of an American diplomatic employee has the same access to employment and professional identity, or to many of the benefits and protections of US citizen Eligible Family Members. Non-citizens and spouses or partners designated as "members of household" struggle even more with maintaining their careers at post. Even at posts that have bilaterial work agreements (which permit diplomatic spouses to work on the local economy), non-US citizens are often not eligible for those work permissions, in addition to being ineligible for many positions in the embassy or consulate.
In this episode, Lauren interviews a first tour accompanying partner at a post without a work agreement. Helene struggled with the challenges of leaving behind a professional and creative career as well as the limitations on consulate jobs because she is not currently a US citizen. In doing so, she found two new professional identities: Employee Association Manager and Bagel Queen.
About Helene:
While sheltering in place in NYC during 2020's first Covid wave, Helene and her husband learned that he was admitted into the Foreign Service. A few months and a totally remote on-boarding process later, they were on a plane headed to Guangzhou, China.While neither of them were strangers to living in China, Helene quickly found that this would be a totally new experience for her. With no avenues to work on the local economy or in any capacity at the consulate, she started baking bagels to occupy her days and bring a piece of NYC to her breakfasts. When word spread, she started a bagel business, then got involved with the American Employee Association where she linked up both activities for a while.
Having a client-facing business can be challenging if you're an introvert, empath or HSP (highly sensitive person). But Brigi has found what works for her, and she's eager to support other heart-centered entrepreneurs.
In this interview, we learn how Brigi leveraged her office management background in organizing Foreign Service moves, then transformed her knowledge and experience into becoming a Digital Business Manager.
She also offers sage advice to EFM's with business ideas: jump right in! Once you have an idea, run it by other EFM business owners because "we're there as a community to help you and support you."
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BIO
Brigi Perez is a Digital Business Manager and Notion Consultant who supports heart-centered, introverted, empath, and sensitive entrepreneurs to get organized in their businesses.She uses Notion to help them manage and keep all their information in one central hub to save them time and energy and move them from feeling overwhelmed to calm with ease.
As a Notion expert, she applies her love for strategy, planning, and project management to every aspect of her, life from planning her family's next move to organizing her life in her new country through her clients work. She loves breaking big visions into focused, manageable projects and tasks.
She was born in Hungary. She considers herself a lifelong learner, book and movie lover, and a highly sensitive person living a global life.
* Learn more about Brigi and her work at:
https://www.brigiperez.com
* Download her FREE Notion template:
https://brigisvirtualsolutions.ck.page/a8bacbce20
* Sign up for the Pivot Mastermind waitlist:
https://brigisvirtualsolutions.ck.page/a32296260c
Connect with Brigi on:* Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Brigisvirtualsolutions * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brigiperezdbm * Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Brigiperezdbm * YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK2rPBHUXCiv7Zc4hQ34OHA
Last year, we profiled the Around the World 5K, an annual Foreign Service run for charity that takes place every April. The participants nominate non-profits to benefit from the event and this year, they selected the Mountain Seed Foundation, an EFM-led NGO supporting people impacted by war through art and wilderness therapy, housing and refuge support, and ongoing networks of alumni. In this episode, Lauren talks to Bryn Beary and Nathan Schmidt about their work with the foundation and the great things that are happening. The team behind Mountain Seed all met while serving in Ukraine in the mid 2010s, now they're all over the world, but dedicating their careers and hearts to restoring hope and confidence to Ukrainians and others impacted by war.
They're here on Available Worldwide to ask you to spread the word about the Mountain Seed Foundation and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Mountain Seed Foundation (MSF) is a veteran-led nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that aims to provide healing to children and families who have been affected by war. Our approach involves a range of experiential programs, including mountain-based healing programs, art therapy, and outdoor therapy. By utilizing the healing power of the mountains and mountain climbing, we help individuals regain their self-confidence which trauma often steals away.MSF was founded by Nathan Schmidt, a U.S. Marine who served in many war-torn countries during his career. Through his own experience with PTSD and its impacts on his family, he grew to recognize the importance of mental health support, and found a powerful way to cope and heal through experiences in nature, most notably in mountaineering.
Nathan’s story and dream of providing support to families of war and trauma was brought to life by a team of EFM's that met during our overlapping postings to Ukraine. It was during the early years of the invasion that these strong relationships, bonds, and experiences were established, in turn empowering us all to take the leap of faith and build Mountain Seed.Learn more about Mountain Seed at* https://mountainseedfoundation.org
Join the Available Worldwide Team!
Lauren and Steph have produced the Available Worldwide podcast for the past 2 years in addition to running our personal businesses.
We volunteer our time to tell the inspiring stories of EFMs, and we’re looking for someone to join our team who has a similar passion for encouraging EFMs. By volunteering with us, you'll gain experience promoting a podcast while giving back to your community.
All interested applicants should send an email to availableworldwidepodcast@gmail.com
Let us know a little bit about your experience & why you’d like to join the Available Worldwide team.
From publishing kids' books in the Marshall Islands to teaching astronomy in Nicaragua. From researching cosmic rays in Utah to writing a book on science writing for Johns Hopkins. Jamie has pursued an incredibly varied career.
Everywhere she goes, Jamie tries to level up....and she's done a stellar job! Listen in on our conversation to hear how she lets her wide-ranging interests guide her, and why MacGyver's mullet is her spirit animal.
BIO
Jamie Zvirzdin researches ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays at the University of Utah and teaches science writing at Johns Hopkins University.
She has published work in The Atlantic, Kenyon Review, Brevity, Creative Nonfiction Magazine, CONSEQUENCE, Orion Magazine, Issues in Science & Technology, and elsewhere.
She writes a monthly newspaper column about citizen science for newspapers in Otsego County, New York, and she is the author of Subatomic Writing: Six Fundamental Lessons to Make Language Matter from Johns Hopkins University Press.
Learn more about Jamie at www.subatomicwriting.com
* www.jamiezvirzdin.com
* www.unboundbookmaker.com
Connect with Jamie on * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiezvirzdin * Twitter https://twitter.com/jamiezvirzdin
Justin has created a personal career built on a love of problem solving and social entrepreneurship. At each post, he jumps into the challenge of making his new home and finding his new project. Whether that's boat building, catering or invention, he's discovered a new story, a new identity in each new place. In this episode, Justin and I talk about how he finds his new adventures and the way food has been a theme throughout his life. In 2022, Justin was awarded the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad for a project that brought Malagasy sensibilities and production techniques together with efficient pressure cooker technology to reduce fuel use and cooking time.
Biography:
Justin Wimpey has traveled the world, trailing his spouse, a US Foreign Service Officer. He is an engineer with over two decades of experience with renewable energy, mechanical and industrial design, and project management. Currently, he resides in Arlington, VA and is the Executive Director for a 501c3 non-profit the BeLocal Group, which leverages global knowledge to solve local problems.Recently he was posted in Madagascar. Recognizing that 97% of Madagascar’s population uses charcoal for cooking, Justin sought a better solution which would not only be technologically feasible but highly affordable, produced locally, and culturally accepted. Starting from the traditional Malagasy pot design, he created a pressure cooker which he offered without compensation to a local metalworker and foundry. He also improved the manufacturing process and helped establish a women-led business to market and distribute the pots across Madagascar. The “Cocotte Minute Gasy” is rapidly gaining in popularity as it reduces charcoal use and therefore deforestation, and saves mainly women from spending many hours every day exposed to the health-damaging fumes of charcoal fires.You can read more about the project, and support it here:https://www.belocalgrp.com/cmg
A quick mini-episode to ask you to share your love of Available Worldwide by posting the podcast to your local community group, by sharing our homepage with a new EFM at post, or by leaving us a review on Facebook. We love you all!!
Looking for a stable job with career progression from post to post? Valeria would recommend looking at jobs in international education.
After years of working as an educator and administrator, Valeria is taking the first steps into a new venture — resume and cover letter consulting.
In this episode, Valeria walks us through some of the questions she's asked and answered while setting up her portable business. She also shares her positive perspective and advice as a third-culture kid, a mom to TCKs, and as an accompanying partner who continues to learn and grow as she moves from educator to business owner.
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BIO
Valeria Laitinen has lived and worked internationally for over 20 years. She began her career in international development and worked on democracy and governance projects in Bangladesh, Ghana and Nigeria. In Bangladesh, she was invited to develop and teach a course on job searching skills to graduate and undergraduate students at East-West University.
When she became a parent, she switched careers and became a certified international educator. She taught elementary school in Slovakia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Greece and Armenia. While in Greece, she entered administration and served as Elementary Vice Principal at ACS Athens.
In her role as school administrator, Valeria reviewed hundreds of resumes and cover letters, noting a vast range in effectiveness in how the applicants presented themselves on paper.
As a result, she founded Better See V https://betterseev.com/ to provide qualified and affordable resume and cover letter support to help jobseekers strengthen their application materials.
Valeria teaches the "Teaching and Working in Education" course for Eligible Family Members (EFMs) at the Foreign Service Institute.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Government from Harvard University, a Master's degree in Conflict Resolution and Post-Conflict Reconstruction from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a Master's in Education degree in International Education Administration from Endicott College.
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Learn more about Valeria's resume consultations:
https://betterseev.com/
Connect with Valeria on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-laitinen-b56a90186/
Join Lauren & Stephanie for a behind-the-scenes look at the Available Worldwide podcast. In this friendly chat, we reflect on the past year, including our popular Trailing Houses 10-year anniversary interview, and the honor of winning the Champions of Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members Award.
Everything you wanted to know about creating the only podcast by, for & about the accompanying partners of the US Foreign Service.
When Greg Lee says he "helps men get their balls back," he's not advocating toxic masculinity. Instead, through his coaching, he helps men step up their presence, their cognitive engagement and their leadership by redefining their relationship with alcohol.
Join us as we talk about identity, all-or-nothing thinking, and examining the trade-offs we make in life.
Learn more about Greg's work below...
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Many men in the foreign service community (FSOs and EFMs) identify as "fine."
In fact, they are deeply frustrated.
Why are they frustrated? Their marriages are strained. Their sex lives suck. Their kids enjoy every modern convenience and parenting strategy, but are unpleasant to be around. Their job looks good from the outside, but from the inside, it's a stinker. They deal with their frustration by drinking.
Greg helps these men get their balls back.
They get onto a disciplined path where they prioritize their health and fitness. This gives them vitality and virility. They learn to assert themselves as men in a way that benefits those around them. Through their transformation, everyone wins. Their families, friends, colleagues are all better off.
When a man lives like this, he doesn’t want to sedate himself. Drinking becomes nothing more than a trivial pleasure.
Schedule a coaching consult with Greg: https://gregleenow.com/bookacall/
Follow Greg on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gregory.lee.71
Heather Emerick's EFM journey is so much like that of Steph and I. She's had jobs on the local economy, volunteered, run her own business, consulted, contracted, and now works a WAE job at FSI itself.
Her story is one of finding optimism where she didn't think she might, and a transformation from being a creature of habit and lover of a particular place to a person who loves the change in variety of life as a diplomatic accompanying partner.
She can "Bloom Wherever She is Planted!"
Heather Emerick is a budget coach and founder of DiploBudgets, a service for ex-pats who want to create a solid financial foundation to help them take advantage of the adventure of living overseas.
As an EFM and mother of three, Heather knows that living overseas comes with tremendous benefits and myriad challenges- money stress shouldn’t be one of them. In 2017, after feeling frustrated and never in control of their finances, Heather discovered YNAB (You Need a Budget), and after some hard work, everything fell into place.
Using YNAB four principles, Heather and her family weathered an ordered departure, traveled during every tour, completed several moves, and bought a house in D.C. without worrying about finances. Through it all, Heather learned tips and tricks for making YNAB work with the ex-pat lifestyle. She’s excited to share her experience with other DiploBudgeters!
When she’s not sharing her love of budgeting, she is an expert talent development consultant specializing in designing, creating, and facilitating engaging learning programs for clients, including Brown University, Dartmouth College, Conservation International, and Sunshower Learning. Heather also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Foreign Service Institute, the training school for the U.S. Department of State, teaching courses in management and leadership.
Find Diplobudgets at www.DiploBudgets.com
Nermine Mansour of Chez Nermine is an advocate of her Egyptian culinary heritage, but she's also an advocate for "trailing spouses" finding their mission.
In this interview, she shares how she developed both professionally and personally while transitioning from being an Egyptian diplomat to an American diplomatic spouse. She describes how she discovered her mission through the mantra, "Your mess is your message."
Join us as we talk about the realizations and routines that have helped her find fulfillment!
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BIO
Nermine is a former Egyptian diplomat turned Egyptian-American food writer, recipe developer, and staunch advocate of Egypt cuisine. Her upbringing in Egypt and her nomadic journey across five continents have sharpened her senses and deepened her belief in the soft power of food.
Five years ago, she launched Chez Nermine https://cheznermine.com/ , a food blog and online business where she offers recipe developing services and product reviews to food businesses. She cherishes hosting cooking classes for real foodies. However, her absolute delight is cooking in front of a camera and sharing her food heritage with the world.
Nermine just moved from Singapore to Alexandria VA, where she currently lives with her husband and kids. Her mantra is: Fear is my compass; I should do what I fear the most.
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Learn more about Chez Nermine's services, which include recipe development, food writing, cooking show hosting, and cooking classes. And don't forget to check out Nermine's extensive and exquisite recipes at https://cheznermine.com/
Follow her on:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cheznermine/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cheznermine/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheznermine/
It's not everyday an already expat gets married and find out that being an EFM means you get some new privileges but also lose a few in countries without bilateral work agreements.
It that change is combined with a global pandemic and pivot to doing a lot more online than we ever did before, you might find yourself doing what Dr. Fae did, recreating her traditionally geographically stable profession into something portable.
In this episode, learn about the ups and downs of life as an online mental health practitioner,, and be introduced to a friendly, nomadic dinosaur.
Dr. Fae is a licensed therapist & EFM abroad. She speaks two languages (English & Foreign Service acronyms) and works with adults all over the globe who want to create a more meaningful life for themselves, no matter where they are.
You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Therapy is a place where you can explore life’s difficult questions and find help for concerns such as burn-out, stress, anger, anxiety, sleep issues, and “just not feeling right”.
Dr. Fae specializes in existential concerns, finding/aligning values, and men’s issues. Services are eligible for insurance reimbursement. For free resources, more information, or to schedule a free consultation, visit drfae.com.
She offers a risk free, no obligation consultations for all potential clients where you can get to know each other and assess for fit.
Find her online at Online Therapy International www.drfae.com
October 2022 marks the 10 year anniversary of the founding of Trailing Houses – the unofficial Facebook Group of the Foreign Service. Affectionately known as THOTUS, the group now numbers at around 23,000 members.
Since its inception as a way for a few EFMs from Kathmandu to keep in touch after departing post, it’s grown to be the first stop for questions, answers, information, sharing, and connection for folks serving in Embassies and Consulates around the world as well as those based “back home.”
Trailing Houses is moderated by 5 admins: 4 EFMs (spouses of Foreign Service members) and a direct-hire FSO: Ed (E.M.) Dyer, Erica Meeks, Ricky Lynn, Lesley Beahm (who couldn’t make the interview), and Kim Beauchamp. Collectively, they’ve served in: Abidjan, Abuja, Harare, Kathmandu, Khartoum, La Paz, London, Nairobi, Podgorica, Prague, Pristina, Tallinn, Tel Aviv, and, of course, D.C.
In this exclusive interview, the Admins share with us the origins of Trailing Houses, how it’s grown, where it’s heading, and what they’ve learned from moderating a hugely diverse group who move around the world, trailing their houses with them.
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You can support the generous work of the Trailing Houses admins by contributing to their Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/trailinghouses
Christine knows firsthand what a huge effect packout and delivery can have on your leaving and landing when posted abroad or returning home.
In this interview, she recalls when she identified gaps in support during her first international move and describes how she came to create a business to fill that need.
Now dubbed as the "PCS Doula" or "Consumables Concierge," Christine is on a mission to help ease the burden on families serving their country. At the same time, she's passionate about creating flexible job opportunities at fair wages for Foreign Service and military spouses.
She also shares with us her lessons learned from serving two tours as CLO that have helped her as a business owner and that could help you get your next job.
BIO
Christine Lusk is passionate about supporting busy diplomats and their families through their transitions and while serving overseas.
Being a diplomatic spouse, Christine quickly learned that there are a lot of logistics that get managed by families. Often figuring those out can be confusing, complicated, and difficult to manage with all of the other burdens of a move.
DiploDash https://www.diplodash.com/ was created from Christine's own need to feel like she could delegate certain tasks to another person when she really needed time for more important priorities.
DiploDash supports clients with their pack-out or delivery of household shipments, consumables and supplemental household shipments, strategy sessions for PCSing, and care packages to post.
Even though Christine's undergraduate degree is in business, she never dreamed that becoming an entrepreneur was in her future. It seems there are many benefits to becoming a diplomatic spouse and having to start over again and again.
At the end of the day, Christine's favorite part of owning DiploDash is knowing that her clients are getting the support they wanted to make their lives easier to manage during a move.
DiploDash services include:
- Consumables and Supplemental HHE shipments
- Pack-Out and Delivery Support
- PCS strategy sessions
- Care packages to post.
Learn more about DiploDash services & contact Christine at https://www.diplodash.com/contact
Follow DiploDash on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/diplodash/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/diplodashservice
Lara Center describes some of the changes she's seen in EFM careers and service over her 20+ year as a diplomatic accompanying partner.
Hear her adventures volunteering to preserve the cultural heritage of the countries she's served in, and the ways she's overcome the lack of bilateral work agreements and a desire to find her own role outside of work in the mission.
She also describes her many years of work with the Associates of American Foreign Service Worldwide, both as a chair of the SOSA committee and the most recent past president. If you don't know what AAFSW is doing to promote DC-based and global community for EFMs, provide support to EFMs in crisis or facing employment challenges, or to support EFM policies in the Department or in Congress, you need to listen to this episode!
Lara Center has been part of the Foreign Service community since 2001 when her husband, Adam, began A-100. They have served overseas and domestically in Guadalajara, Caracas, Luxembourg, DC, Hanoi and DC. Currently, Lara’s husband is serving an unaccompanied tour.
Lara and Adam returned to Falls Church in 2019 with their son, David and daughter, Abigail. Lara has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management and Public Policy, Master in Public Administration and Master in Museum Studies.
Lara worked as a museum consultant while living in Hanoi. Lara worked directly with the Vietnamese Women’s Museum on new lesson plans, development of a Discovery Room and outreach to international schools.
Lara was elected president of the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW) in 2020 and served two years. She previously served on the Board of AAFSW from 2012-2016 and 2019-2020 as chair of the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA) award. Lara is the 2009 recipient of the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad for her work at Luxembourg’s National Museum of Military History.
Marcelle Yeager has the ultimate entrepreneurial superpower: tackling a lot all at once and with good results.
While earning her MBA, she researched how to continue her career while moving around the world for her spouse's job. Since then, she's started two companies — Serving Talent and Career Valet.
Listen to Marcelle talk about embracing uncertainty, being open to opportunity, and waiting for that lucky break in business.
Connect with Marcelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelleyeager/
Download a free resume handbook: https://www.careervalet.com/cv-resume-handbook
Listen to her career advice podcast: https://anchor.fm/career-bitches
BIO
Marcelle Yeager is passionate about helping mid- to executive-level professionals land jobs that get them to the next level of their careers.
At Career Valet (www.careervalet.com), she works with clients on their branding strategy and job search materials to secure new roles. This has led to many successes, including a senior director becoming the COO of a start-up and the CFO of a small firm becoming a VP in a $12B company.
For 3.5 years, she simultaneously ran ServingTalent, a boutique recruiting firm for top U.S. military and diplomat (foreign service) spouses.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Marcelle did her fair share of job searching and career exploration, eventually spending many years in strategic communications at a Washington, D.C. public affairs firm and Booz Allen Hamilton.
She also worked at the Department of Defense and the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In addition, she’s worked in Russia, Chile, and Lithuania. She is the spouse of a U.S. Foreign Service Officer.
Marcelle holds an MBA from the University of Maryland College Park and a BA from Georgetown University.
She is a former regular contributor to the U.S. News and World Report On Careers blog and ClearanceJobs, and has been featured in Forbes, MONEY Magazine, Business Insider, and FlexJobs, among others.
She is a school board member of The American International School of Vilnius. Marcelle has three children and loves to dance.
Mary Jane talks about Mayan Archaeology, running around the world and pursuing a career that wouldn't normally be considered portable.
Listen to her talk about the pros and cons of life as an independent scholar and what it's like to manage a major project from the other side of the world.
Mary Jane Acuña is a Guatemalan-American archaeologist specializing on Ancient Maya culture. Her passion for archaeology developed while growing up in Guatemala and visiting several sites that left her wanting to learn more about that ancient culture. She pursued university degrees in Archaeology and Anthropology, both in Guatemala and the U.S., ultimately earning her doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis. She has participated on multiple research projects and since 2014, has directed her own at an archaeological site called El Tintal in northern Guatemala. Broadly, the research focuses on understanding the sociocultural, political, and economic dynamics of the populations that inhabited El Tintal from approximately 800 BC to AD 1000.
Mary Jane likes to explore urban and natural places through running. She tries to run at least one race in each place where she has lived as an EFM, which so far has been Guatemala City, Seoul, Los Angeles, and now in Dhaka.
Diana Argueta is an artist and activist who has found a way to blend passion and purpose as a creative entrepreneur. She uses her art to raise awareness and uses her sales to support improving the lives of elephants.
In this interview, we explore the creativity that can come from constraints, the self-doubt of starting over, and mindset shifts that can help.
BIO
Diana Argueta is a Guatemalan entrepreneur and vegan lifestyle blogger based in Lusaka.
While living in Nepal, Diana saw the cruel treatment of captive elephants. Through art and awareness, The Elephant Soul became her way to tell their story and raise funds to help them. Ten percent of her proceeds support elephant welfare programs through Elephant Aid International.
She holds a Master’s degree in international politics and law, and she recently graduated as a vegan lifestyle coach and educator from Main Street Academy in New York. When she is not creating, Di loves baking and watching home décor shows.
Find out more about The Elephant Soul on Diana's website www.theelephantsoul.com
See Diana's beautiful work at instagram.com/the.elephant.soul
Support the work of Save The Asian Elephants advocacy group to protect them from exploitation and cruelty. Visit https://stae.org to learn more and consider making a donation to https://stae.org/donate/
Leslie DeGrande is a trainer and yoga therapist, which is a long way from her initial training in Museum Studies.
In this interview, she shares how a series of closed doors on her career path led her to do something she loves: help people reduce their pain, get unstuck (physically & emotionally), and move with more freedom.
LESLIE'S BIO
Leslie DeGrande blends the scientific and holistic into a Goldilocks "just-right" approach to help women in their 40s and 50s age well.
A NASM-certified personal trainer, yoga therapist, and core confidence specialist, Leslie wants her clients to work with their bodies instead of ignoring or punishing them so that they feel strong, capable, and confident as they move through the years ahead.
Leslie works online, and her therapeutic background allows her to support clients with underlying health conditions and/or persistent pain.
Find out more at https://www.lesliedegrande.com/
You can also follow Leslie's work at
https://www.facebook.com/lesliedegrandeyoga/
https://www.instagram.com/lesliedegrande/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC9Qkrqe8ef8h0S_htS2lhg [free videos!]
Special offer
Essential Core Foundations
This fall, Leslie is offering a 6-week Core Foundations Program that will teach you how to find and train your core. The program is designed to be manageable yet challenging.
You'll start with the basics and systematically build into core-specific and whole-body exercises. Leslie will teach you how to layer difficulty, and potentially add some speed and impact as well.
By the end of the course, you will feel stronger, feel looser, and know how to use your core well.
Sign up for her mailing list at https://www.lesliedegrande.com to be the first to hear about the fall launch!
In this episode, I talk with William Martin, the foreign-born spouse of a US Foreign Service member about balancing two careers by trading off whose career is prioritized at each post, the ups and downs of work as a US Personal Services Contractor, the perils of not writing your own story, and how he has unintentionally come to live the American Dream.
William Martin is an experienced political-economist specialized in challenging humanitarian contexts, a career compatible with the foreign service life! The last 15 years, he has been part of organizations at different levels of responsibility in responding to crises : a Central African NGO, a French microfinance organization, the major American NGOs, and the world’s largest humanitarian donor. William holds a Master’s degree from the Sorbonne’s Institute for Economic and Social Studies where he met his wife. Together, they have two children with who they love discovering the world with.
Briana Wooten is a first-time EFM, among many other roles. As she finishes her first tour, we reflect on the wild ride of trying on new roles and embracing opportunities.
Briana shows us how to balance work and creativity while offering ourselves the "space and grace" to grow in the process.
BIO
Briana Wooten considers herself a jack of many trades. Briana currently works as a Staff Aide Assistant at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, a role she took on in September 2021 after serving as one of the Assistant Community Liaisons at the Embassy. When she's not working or traveling, Briana also has a small baking business - Oh, Crumbs!
Prior to moving to Berlin as an EFM, Briana spent several years working in the field of social work with a focus on teenagers in foster care. Briana earned her BSW at James Madison University and her MSW at Virginia Commonwealth University.
She is passionate about permanency and normalcy for children and teenagers in foster care and has advocated for a more holistic approach to foster care, particularly pertaining to biological family members.
Briana has enjoyed jobs where she has been able to work with youth on a direct level as well as address systematic issues at a larger scope and looks forward to whatever is next on her path.
Follow Briana on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ohcrumbshomemade/
Kent is an international educator, business owner and the author of Teaching Overseas
In this episode, we talk about:
how to get international school jobs,
the joys and trials of changing schools and jobs with each post,
how the people make all the difference.
This episode is for all who wonder how you move on from your current level of success and find something new.
How does Kent describe himself?
I knew I wanted to teach U.S. history when taking a class called America Since 1945 in my high school outside of Chicago. After earning degrees in History and Secondary Social Studies Education from Miami University I began teaching in North Carolina. Another dream of mine came to fruition when I joined the Peace Corps in 2003. I served in El Sauce, Nicaragua. That’s when I learned about International Teaching. I ended my service a few months early so I could teach at the American Nicaraguan School in Managua, the capital.
Since then, I’ve lived in seven countries, taught at the American school in each one, married the love of my life, had two children, one dog, earned a Master’s and Ph.D., written a book on teaching overseas, completed an Ironman Triathlon, and visited over 50 countries around the world.
I really wanted to get back to teaching U.S. History while overseas. I decided to start working on a way to use my experience as an educator to provide U.S. History courses to Americans living outside the United States. This turned into U.S. History for Expats.
Links
US History for Expats
2016 Edition of Teaching Overseas, new edition to be released later in 2022
Crystaline is a storyteller and media creatrix who believes in the transformative power of stories. In this episode, we talk about how stories shape our reality, how moving back to DC gave her the "kick in the butt" she needed to rewrite her own narrative, and how even slightly reframing the stories we tell ourselves can lead to tremendous changes in our actions and outlook. She also shares helpful advice on how to avoid the "EFM death spiral" after arriving at a new post.
Join Crystaline's next Story Circle on April 29, 2022: https://www.crystalinerandazzo.com/story-circle-info
BIO
Crystaline Randazzo empowers social impact women to catalyze change by helping them excavate and distill their stories, build brand awareness, and convert their ideal clients. She’s a master storyteller, media creatrix, and a story guide to other change-making entrepreneurs who are learning to speak their truth.
Crystaline has devoted the last 12+ years to collecting, filming, writing, and photographing compelling stories from Haiti, Zambia, Rwanda, Nepal, and South Africa. She believes that story excavation can be a healing practice that helps women understand the origin of their mission and communicate their higher purpose in the world.
Her approach to sharing human stories for specific audiences has supported organizations like She's the First, BlinkNow, GirlHub, UNICEF, CRS, and Fast Company share compelling stories and media campaigns that are relatable and inspire action.
Crystaline's custom program trains women to harness the power of their stories by creating authentic connection with themselves and others. She supports her clients in creating a concise archive of stories that can be used across their lives and their businesses to inspire others to join them in their missions and purchase their products and services.
Crystaline stands for women looking to make a difference in the world, make more money, and become the powerful heroine of their own life stories. She envisions is a world where women reject the narratives of who we think we're supposed to be and embrace ourselves with kindness and compassion so we can become more of who we always have been–healed and wholly ourselves.
Our latest episode reflects on how an EFM lifestyle can give you the freedom to pivot your journey, and how there is nothing "small" about any kind of small business or portable career. After weathering the challenges of the first few years of life as an EFM, Mustafa has a delightfully optimistic view on what those years taught him about life and business. What was my take home from this conversation?
Don't be ashamed to be proud of what you are good at, and make money doing it!
Mustafa is a communications and technology professional with over 16 years of experience in leadership roles focused on content creation, leading innovative media and technology interventions for programs supported by various US Government, non-profits, and private sector clients which include Stanford University, the ACLU, Vitalant, UNIDOS, Arizona State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Last Mile Health, The Brooking Institute, The World Bank, UNICEF, USAID, and the US State Department.
Mustafa is well sought out for his experience in developing effective media content on a range of issues which include: gender equity, education, and health in diverse and challenging contexts such as Pakistan, DR Congo, Lebanon, Ghana, Swaziland, Syria, Kenya, and the United States.
At 26, Mustafa was the youngest head of department at the University of Lahore in Pakistan where he founded the School of Creative Arts. Mustafa also founded the first media technology park of Pakistan at the University called the Creative Village, with a vision to train the media professionals of tomorrow on real-world commercial projects. Mustafa is an Atlantic Fellow at George Washington University and has a Masters (MSc) in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics. Mustafa is a proud father of his 5-year-old daughter Breenie.
Find his business at:
www.frontiersanimation.com
Watch the LA Film Festival awardee Super Vaccine Vato mentioned in this episode at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayt8GOe83BY&t=2s
and like and follow the Creative Frontiers YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw1r97hVJ9p9WwA7JYQNKMw
Dominique Narciso is a Certified High-Performance Coach, Author of "Live Your New Story: Discover Your Best Self and Live Your Best Life," Speaker, and Host of The Positive Success Show.
Join us as we discuss writing a new script for your life and giving yourself permission to live it!
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Ready to level up your life or career?
Sign-up for a complimentary 60 minute 1:1 Strategy Session with Dom @ www.calendly.com/dominiquenarciso
For more coaching and training on high performance, success, and leadership, you can sign up for Dom's Weekly Newsletter @ http://domnarciso.mykajabi.com/grow
Finally, you can connect with Dom on YouTube and her Social Media Channels below:
Subscribe to the YouTube Channel: The Positive Success Show
Linked-In: Dominique Narciso
Connect on Facebook: @theDomnarciso
Connect on Instagram: @domnarciso
Not all businesses are solo gigs. what does it mean to create a team and take on the responsibility for paying the salary of several people? In this episode, I talk with Melissa Mathews about collegiality, gathering good talent and creating a great team. She also discusses what works and what doesn't work when your business is mostly in the US, but your physical location is 7 to 10 hours ahead.
Melissa Mathews is the Founder and CEO of Spring Green Communications.
Melissa has worked in communications for over 20 years, advising business leaders and entrepreneurs. Her expertise lies in executive communications and speechwriting, and she is passionate about helping clients tell their unique story.
Before establishing what was previously known as The Mathews Group in 2010, Melissa earned her communications credentials at CNN and NASA.
Today, Melissa is proud to direct Spring Green Communications, a leader in the virtual agency model. She guides a team of remote staff and advises Fortune 50 clients, small businesses, and non-profits on corporate communications strategy. Melissa is also a passionate advocate for virtual and flexible work opportunities.
Melissa is married to a U.S. diplomat and has three kids and a Louisiana-born mutt. She has lived in the U.K., Japan, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
Find Spring Green Communications at: https://wearespringgreen.com
In this episode, I talk with Leah Evans about the Around the World 5K, an annual charity run that brings together members of the Foreign Service family to support a variety of great organizations under the principle that "We have no rules." This amazing community feels like a family of support for runners and non-runners alike. Leah also talks about the ups and downs of business ownership, mentions a few great people you should get to know better and motivates even non-runner me to see how many 5Ks I can walk in April.
Leah Evans lives in Guatemala City with her Foreign Service husband, four energetic children, and well-traveled dog. Her family has also lived in Tbilisi, Quito, Kyiv, Asuncion, Mexico City, and Washington, D.C.
She spends her time writing curriculum and working with clients through her education business American-History-in-a-Box. She can also be found practicing yoga, reading books, and coordinating the Around the World Virtual 5k.
As icing on the cake, she is on the design team for the first Foreign Service focused virtual school, Hemispheres Academy. She finds living the expatriate life to be exciting, challenging, and endlessly humbling.
Learn more about Leah's small business supporting Foreign Service Children at: www.afterschoolplans.com
Join the Around the World 5K Virtual community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/aroundtheworld5k
And sign up to be part of this year's Run/Walk at: http://aroundtheworld5k.com/
When Jodi's family decided to enter the Foreign Service, she was confident that her background as a licensed clinical social worker would translate well to a life abroad. Instead, Jodi learned to adapt her work to her new surroundings by building World Tree Coaching. Now, as she looks forward to moving back to the US, things are likely to change again.
Join us as we delve into the realities of returning stateside after having built a successful portable business abroad.
BIO
Jodi Harris, MSW is a mindfulness teacher and ICF certified coach. She has worked with individuals facing the challenges of cross-cultural adaptation for nearly 20 years in fields ranging from non-profit, clinical social work, government, and education.
In 2013, while living in Madagascar, Jodi founded World Tree Coaching, LLC to provide mindfulness-based coaching and training for the globally mobile. She also serves on the Executive Committee of Families in Global Transition and as the Managing Director of the Brussels Sports Association, a Belgian non-profit providing youth sports programming to international youth in Brussels.
She is originally from Austin, Texas and has lived in 7 countries. She and her spouse, a Foreign Service Officer, have 3 children. Learn more about Jodi's work at https://www.worldtreecoaching.com/
In this episode, Maryanna Koehring talks about the frustrations many Foreign Service partners feel at not being able to work in the professional fields in which they've trained and have experience. Maryanna shares her challenges and successes — both external and internal — and talks about how being a "tough cookie" is the best way to break through.
BIO
Maryanna Phillips Koehring grew up in Franklin, Virginia, a small town near the border of North Carolina. An undergraduate of Mount Holyoke College and graduate of The School for International Training/ World Learning in Brattleboro, Vermont, she has a passion for teaching non-native speakers of English. After teaching in the public schools of Virginia for several years, she found herself married to a Foreign Service Officer, hopping around the world and raising a family. She describes herself as a bit of a disgruntled EFM since finding employment has been anything but easy, but she has made lemonade from lemons by developing and launching her own business.
Maryanna’s business focuses on English language instruction to Foreign Service Nationals. Her main clients are US Embassies and USAID offices worldwide. Visit her website at https://www.englishforthejob.com/
In this episode you'll meet Patricia Linderman, an EFM who's "done everything." She and I talk about how New Year's Resolutions mirror the way that diplomatic partners recreate themselves every time they reach a new post, and how to create the kind of environment that will nurture the healthiest, happiest you. What goals did you set for yourself in 2022?
While posted in seven countries with her FSO spouse and two sons, Patricia Linderman worked as a writer, editor, translator, language teacher, mom, and volunteer. After all those stressful moves and too much time hunched over the computer, she realized that her health was going downhill, so in 2014 she made some lifestyle changes and lost 43 pounds – and discovered a passion for helping others move forward on their own health journeys. Now, with her health coaching practice “Fierce After 45,” she supports individual clients (including a 98-year-old retired CIA officer); leads workouts on Zoom for Foreign Service employees, EFMs and retirees from Washington State to Baghdad; offers free “Laughter Wellness” and mindfulness groups on Zoom; and writes a fiercely independent blog at www.fierceafter45.com where she shares exciting things she has learned about finding fun, joy and empowerment (not boredom or deprivation!) as we bring out our healthiest selves.
Find Patricia on the web at www.fierceafter45.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FierceAfter45
Instagram: @fierceafter45
Schedule a free "Midlife Tuneup" coaching session with Patricia: https://calendly.com/fierceafter45/60min
Sign up for the monthly Laughter group mentioned in this episode: https://calendly.com/fierceafter45/lunchtime-laughter-wellness
As we say goodbye to 2021, we reflect on what we've accomplished in the first year of our podcast.
Join Lauren Steed and Stephanie Anderson, your co-hosts, as we chat about what we've learned from starting a podcast, how we met our goals, and why we blew up Trailing Houses (the Foreign Service Facebook group) with a simple question.
Thank you so much for your loyal support of Available Worldwide this year! We really appreciate the glowing reviews, kind words, and generous donations to support our work of inspiring and encouraging the accompanying partners of the American Foreign Service.
Listen to our end-of-year wrap-up episode now!
At her first post abroad, Rona looked around at the accompanying partners she knew, saw their talent and experience, and became dismayed at the career stagnation facing many "trailing spouses." So, she decided to do something about it. Instead of continuing as an independent consultant, Rona launched a business that hires Foreign Service and military spouses and helps solopreneurs and small businesses to "level up."
LVL-Up Strategies is a minority- and woman-owned small business that provides growth advisory, operational strategy, and targeted implementation services to entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses. www.lvlupstrategies.com
In this episode, you'll hear how LVL-Up Strategies provides a unique and supportive work environment for Foreign Service and military spouses. And, Rona walks us through step-by-step how LVL-Up Strategies can provide full-service support to help your business move to the next level.
One of the reasons that diplomatic partners start businesses or take on telecommuting work is that they are looking for career satisfaction. Erin's work as a financial advisor has changed over the last 10 years, and is now exactly where she wants it to be: portable, satisfying and high-caliber. In this episode, she talks about how she became portable, but also provides important advice for diplomatic partners considering their own small business: options for planning for retirement and for reducing your current tax burden.
Download IRS resources related to the Solo 401 and SEP-IRA discussed in this show by searching the following terms:
Publication 4484 (rev. 04-2021) (irs.gov)
Publication 3998 (Rev. 11-2020) (irs.gov)
Leslie Mansour, of Rooted Moon Collective, believes that practicing the art of rooting down and creating rituals can help us feel settled and safe while creating sacred space that supports our lifestyles and helps us embrace the next version of ourselves in our lives abroad. We talk about how transition is never easy, but how it can be reimagined and done with intention.
Learn more about how Rooted Moon Collective can help you with everything from interior re-design to art curation to pack out. Visit https://www.rootedmooncollective.com
In this week's episode, you'll meet a visual artist who has found a way to make her career both portable and local, by diversifying her work and learning how to move beyond art as a hobby or self-sacrifice and into a real business. She'll also talk about how local influences have changed her craft at each post and how her foreign service life has provided unique opportunities that a creative life domestically could not have.
Over the last 10 years Melissa Finkenbiner has had nearly 20 art exhibitions, including the Zimbabwe National Gallery and 8 solo exhibitions. Her art is in private and permanent collections in 11 countries including the private collections of two ambassadors. The U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies purchased three pieces of art for U.S. Embassy Harare. Melissa hand fabricated and sold 500 pieces of jewelry including bespoke jewelry pieces for a bride’s wedding party and for an ambassador’s wife. In the last year she expanded into surface pattern for lifestyle products. She creates for those who appreciate eco-conscious works of art and those who seek a connection to global cultures and landscapes. Her husband joined the State Department in 2011. They moved from Myanmar to Armenia, Zimbabwe, and now Japan. Her art has been a way of exploring and connecting with these places.
See Melissa's work at:
Website and online shop: https://www.melissafinkenbiner.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissafinkenbiner/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaFinkenbinerArt
In this episode, Mary encourages accompanying partners who want meaningful careers to start with their strengths, pursue what they love, and consider buying a business rather than building one from the ground up. She also shares the struggles she's faced while starting a travel business in a global pandemic, and the personal lessons she's learned along the way.
If you've been a long time listener, you know that having a portable career as a diplomatic partner has its ups and downs. Amber Silva had experience as a photographer before becoming part of the diplomatic community, but is now learning how to start a business as an EFM, and how that differs from owning a photography business in the US. You'll hear about what additional things EFM business owners at post should consider, but also her excitement and conviction that sticking through this initial period will be worth it in the end.
Amber Silva is a travel wedding and lifestyle photographer based out of Nairobi, Kenya capturing authentic memories for joy filled couples and families.
Learn more about Amber's photography services in East Africa at https://ambersilvaphoto.com/ and @ambersilvaphoto on Facebook or Instagram.
In this interview, Erica Green talks about how she's kept the arc of her career, stayed true to her love of working with words, and created a truly fabulous event that gathers together authors, writers, and readers from around the world: the Iceland Writers Retreat.
Bio: Erica Jacobs Green has worked in book publishing for twenty-five years. Highlights of Erica’s publishing career include positions as a children’s book editor at Chronicle Books, Director of Publishing at Discovery Channel (Discovery Communications), and Vice President, Editorial Director for Kids Books at National Geographic.
As a freelance writer and editor, her articles and short stories have appeared in anthologies, newspapers, and online. Erica has worked with award-winning authors and illustrators as well as an array of famed brands for children and adults: from Jane Goodall to Star Wars and Kwame Alexander to Williams Sonoma.
Currently, Erica runs the Iceland Writers Retreat and Iceland Readers Retreat as well as WonderLab Group, LLC, both of which she co-founded. Originally from California, she’s spent over a decade abroad as an EFM at posts in Northern Ireland, Turkey, Russia, Iceland, and Poland. She now resides in Washington, DC.
In this episode, I talk with Trena Bolden Fields about being authentic to yourself and to your path. She reminds accompanying partners to never give up on what we love, and that real partnership does not mean having to lose yourself along the way.
In this episode, we hear from Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett about being a foreign-born spouse, finding and creating community, and learning how to get paid for what you do.
Amanda is the founder of Miss Panda Chinese, a popular online Chinese language and culture resource for parents and educators. She has taught ESL and Mandarin Chinese on four continents and is the Chinese language consultant for Word Party Season 4 and 5 on Netflix.
She was a former executive at Warner Bros. and has served as a professional interpreter for Hollywood celebrities as well as numerous Fortune 500 companies. Amanda was also the co-host for the English Club, the top-rated English language learning program on the National Education Radio Station in Taiwan, the radio equivalent of PBS in the United States.
Her published works include “First Mandarin Sounds an awesome Chinese word book” and the “Let’s Learn Mandarin Chinese with Miss Panda!” streaming album. She provides intercultural language consulting and training for global families, businesses, and language teachers.
In this episode, I talk with Amy Kennedy who has found her accompanying partner superpowers in meaningful, accessible volunteering. She's turned her volunteer gig into a paid job, but also created a global network of diplomatic spouses and expats who are working to empower and inspire young women. You'll hear about puppies, reaching out to host country NGOs and the GCLO's professional development fellowship grant.
Amy has been a lifelong expat and grew up in the FS, mostly in Africa. Currently posted to Beijing, she has been a Girl Scout volunteer for the past 11 years and has worked with USA Girl Scout Overseas on various projects for the past 3 years. Before COVID, Amy worked as a Community Development Manager, helping establish a USAGSO community in Maputo, Mozambique and joining World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scout staff to re-establish Girl Guides there after a 40 year pause. She is currently the Program Development Coordinator for the USAGSO Virtual Troop. Amy has twice been awarded a State Department Professional Development Fellowship grant and in 2020, was awarded the Girl Scout Thanks Badge.
Contact her about the virtual troop or for advice on starting your own Girl Scouting program at post at virtualtroop@usagso.org
Join us as we chat with learning strategist Carlos Pompa. Listen as he explains how a helicopter is a good metaphor for sustaining a successful business while moving between countries.
Stephanie Anderson, co-host of Available Worldwide, is also the owner of Global Nomad English. In this episode, find out what inspired her to work with non-native speakers of English in the diplomatic community and how her mission has changed over the last few years.
Join Stephanie Anderson as she chats with the co-host of the Available Worldwide podcast, Lauren Steed. Learn how Lauren has found her niche helping clients whose vision for their students matches her own optimistic outlook for Foreign Service college-bound kids.
Join us as we chat with Tim Robinson of The REI Concierge about finding passion by working for yourself, hobbies, investments, and how friends can motivate you to start something new.
Join us as we chat with Ladan about teaching piano in the Embassy community and online, and about finding your groove despite life's interruptions.
In this episode, we interview Dr. Elizabeth Shaffer, a 2012 SOSA Award for volunteerism recipient and a pediatric occupational therapist who has redefined herself to respond to the challenges she sees in the world around her, first by developing learning and training programs in her hose countries and then by starting a global community supporting parents as they help their kids find ways to succeed in this mobile lifestyle.
Join us as we chat with Angie Collins about how she's come to embrace being an entrepreneur, and how she's found a less "fuzzy" side of coaching.
Angie is a PCI certified Parent Coach® and the founder of Empowered Parents Empowering Daughters.
In her signature one-on-one coaching programs and her small group virtual parent support circles, Angie works with busy moms to create systems to organize their space, routines to organize their time, and intentions to connect with their daughters so they can feel more productive, yell less, and experience fewer power struggles.
As a mother to three girls, Angie understands the challenges that parents face as well as the immense joy that raising girls can bring. Her interest in coaching parents comes not only from her ability to relate to parents’ struggles but also from her educational background. Angie has an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a Master’s in education from Tufts University. She taught elementary school for several years and was a Preschool Teacher Trainer with the US Peace Corps in Cape Verde.