Excuse the excitement, but I’ve only flippin’ well launched a podcast! Say hello to Non/Native, the podcast that shares conversations with immigrants, expats and interlopers.
Moving abroad can be messy, challenging, exhilarating and terrifying. Even moving to somewhere with a culture similar to the one you grew up in can present unexpected challenges, and then of course there are the not-so-small matters of what – and who – you have to leave behind.
Since moving to San Francisco I’ve experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Non/Native was developed out of a desire to highlight the stories and experiences of fellow female immigrants, from the little things like missing particular foods, to the bigger stuff like making new friends and navigating a new culture.
All the guests in this season chose to move abroad, and many of them speak about the privilege of being able to make that choice. In future seasons guests may not have have had the same privileges, or been welcomed into their new countries as openly.
The first episode of season one is now available, so if you’d like to listen, you can find it on iTunes and Spotify now, and Google Podcasts very soon. This episode features my lovely friend, Fran, who kindly spent time with me discussing why she left the British school system to work at an international school in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam.
Over the next few weeks you’ll also hear from women from around the world discussing why they moved, what life is like as an immigrant, what they miss from their old lives, and what they love about their adopted homes.
I’m so excited to launch this podcast as it’s a project that’s been in the works for several months now. It feels scary to be putting myself “out there” even though I’ve been writing this blog for years, so I hope you’ll have a listen (and subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode) and tell me what you think.