Babes, how did you get here

About Babes, how did you get here

🌍 Real people. Real journeys. Real lives lived elsewhere. Hosted by April Jackson — BBC presenter, entrepreneur, and former Miss Universe Jamaica — Babes, How Did You Get Here? is a high-quality podcast spotlighting the inspiring stories of everyday people who left everything behind to build a life in a new country. 🎙️ In each episode, April dives into authentic, emotional conversations with global nomads, immigrants, and dream-chasers — from a Russian woman thriving in Jamaica to a former US Marine finding purpose in Thailand. Their stories are raw, reflective, and full of powerful lessons on belonging, transformation, and the courage to start over. 📅 New episodes every Wednesday and Sunday. Whether you’re an aspiring traveller, a lover of human stories, or someone seeking the motivation to explore the world, this podcast will leave you feeling inspired and deeply connected.

Publisher

April Jackson

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Nov 2025

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

86 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Racism, Alcohol, and Judgment: Why I Left Everything Behind for Dubai

   Born in Western Sydney and bullied for being Indian, Bevninda Sanghera dropped out of law school with one year left, built a career in fashion, and moved to Dubai just two months ago. In this raw and emotional interview, he reveals the racism, judgment, and drinking culture that made him quit everything, and the devastating loss that changed how he lives. Bevninda’s story is one of the most powerful identity stories you will ever hear. Raised in Bankstown, Western Sydney, with deep Punjabi roots, he grew up hiding who he was, people-pleasing, and watching creatives get pulled back down by tall poppy syndrome. He quit a five-year law degree, got casted for modeling at Bondi, and turned color and dopamine dressing into a language for confidence. After losing his father to pancreatic cancer in October 2023, just six months after the diagnosis, he quit alcohol, took his Shahada, and made the life-changing decision to leave Australia for Dubai. In this episode, Bevninda opens up about childhood bullying, the ceiling he hit as a stylist in Sydney, the trust issues that came with going viral, and the fear of grieving his family from the other side of the world. This is a story of resilience, reinvention, and the search for a place where standing out is no longer a battle. If this story moved you, make sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. 🕒 TIMESTAMPS: Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: From Western Sydney to Dubai 00:00:46 How Did You Get Here? 00:01:30 Tall Poppy Syndrome and Growing Up in Bankstown 00:03:18 Bullied for Being Indian 00:04:06 Dopamine Dressing and Finding His Style 00:06:18 Why He Left Australia for Dubai 00:08:07 Childhood, Sydney, and a City That Doesn’t Smile 00:10:50 Wanting to Be a Lawyer 00:12:45 Quitting Law School With One Year Left 00:14:22 His Parents’ Sacrifice 00:16:36 The Instagram Ad That Made Him Quit 00:19:33 Casted for Modeling at Bondi Beach 00:22:42 Healing the Bullying Through Fashion 00:25:24 Proud to Be Punjabi 00:27:16 Hiding Who He Was in High School 00:31:41 How Fashion Led Him Back to Indian Culture 00:34:02 Losing His Father to Pancreatic Cancer 00:39:00 Why Leaving His Mom Made the Move Harder 00:41:12 Hitting the Ceiling in Australia 00:44:47 Fast Fashion, Judgment, and Dressing Bland 00:48:25 Getting Outside the Comfort Zone 00:50:51 Why Dubai, Not Europe 00:55:15 Quitting Alcohol and Taking His Shahada 01:05:33 Preparing the Move to Dubai 01:12:38 Eight Years of Content and Building a Personal Brand 01:16:43 Van Gogh, Self-Doubt, and a Hostile Environment 01:19:21 Trust Issues and Being Used 01:22:49 What People Misunderstand About Him 01:25:07 Imposter Syndrome in Rooms He Was Never Meant to Enter 01:29:12 The Plan for Dubai 01:31:01 What He Misses, and the Fear of Grieving From Far Away 01:36:01 Fast Fashion and Styling With a Conscience 01:38:31 What Has Surprised Him About Dubai 01:41:30 Men, Mental Health, and Talking About Grief 01:44:49 If His Life Was a Postcard #DubaiMove #TallPoppySyndrome #FashionStylist #Punjabi #TrueStory #Podcast #IdentityJourney #GriefAndLoss #SobrietyJourney #MentalHealth #SelfExpression #WesternSydney #SurvivorStory #DopamineDressing

2. 

   13 Oct 2026

   From London Legacy to Reverse Migration: A Teacher Comes Home to Jamaica

   Marcus had the career, the flat, the salary, and the life he was supposed to want. Yet he realized he was miserable. Instead of waiting for retirement, the British Jamaican teacher walked away from London, tested life in South Korea and Gambia, built an online teaching business, and moved to Kingston to claim the peace he could never find in the UK. Now teaching UK students from 6 AM and finishing by noon, he spends his afternoons at the beach or Hope Gardens, finally living on his own terms. In this episode, Marcus talks about rejecting the 9-to-5 grind, the reality of reverse migration, comparing UK and Jamaican education systems, navigating family warnings and crime perceptions, and finding what success could never buy: genuine happiness. A story about walking away from comfort, choosing peace over productivity, and refusing to wait to live the life you actually want. Would you leave financial stability behind to find real happiness? 👇 #Jamaica #MovingAbroad #ExpatLife #LeavingLondon #Kingston #ReverseMigration #Podcast #StartingOver #LifeAbroad #JamaicaLife

3. 

   10 Oct 2026

   They Left a Successful Business in Canada to Open a Bakery in Kingston

   Eleni had a successful life in Canada, a thriving construction business, a family, and financial stability. Then one trip to Jamaica changed everything. After falling in love with the island, she and her husband decided to leave Canada, move to Kingston, and open a sourdough bakery… despite never having baked before. Nine years later, they're still there. In this episode, Eleni talks about starting over in Jamaica, the reality of building a business from scratch, raising her son there, navigating the chaos of everyday life, and why Jamaica isn't necessarily for everyone. A story about taking risks, letting go of control, and learning to do life differently. What would make you leave everything behind? 👇 #Jamaica #MovingAbroad #ExpatLife #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #Kingston #StartingOver #LifeAbroad #JamaicaLife

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Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

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