Welcome to Expecting Expats- a space where we’re expecting more than just babies—join Amanda, a childbirth educator and doula, and CJ, a therapist-in-training, as they explore parenting, partnerships, emotional growth, and the journey of building a life in a new country.
Expecting Expats
Claim This Podcastby Hosts Amanda and CJ
5.0(17 reviews)
84 episodes
Updated Weekly
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Podcast Overview
Welcome to Expecting Expats- a space where we’re expecting more than just babies—join Amanda, a childbirth educator and doula, and CJ, a therapist-in-training, as they explore parenting, partnerships, emotional growth, and the journey of building a life in a new country.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/14/2022
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Recent Episodes
June 17, 2026
Hallway Claustrophobia: Why Getting Out the Door Feels So Hard as an Expat Parent
<p>Have you ever found yourself standing in a crowded hallway, desperately searching for a missing shoe while one child refuses to get dressed, another is asking a thousand questions, and you're already late? If so, you're not alone.</p><p>In this episode of Expecting Expats, Amanda and CJ dive into what they're calling "hallway claustrophobia"—that overwhelming feeling that seems to strike during family transitions, especially during hectic mornings, school drop-offs, travel days, and bedtime routines.</p><p>Together, they explore why these moments feel so intense, how overstimulation affects both parents and children, and why these everyday challenges can feel even bigger when you're navigating expat family life. From managing the emotional load of parenting abroad to handling transitions in a new language and culture, this episode is a reassuring reminder that you're not failing—you're simply human.</p><p>Amanda and CJ share honest stories from their own experiences with expat parenting, discuss how stress and sensory overload impact the nervous system, and offer practical strategies for staying regulated when family life feels chaotic.</p><p>Whether you're newly abroad or have been living overseas for years, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, validated, and equipped with a few new tools to navigate the everyday challenges of expat motherhood, expat parenting, and raising children far from home.</p><p><br></p><p>In This Episode, We Discuss:</p><p>* Why mornings and family transitions can feel overwhelming</p><p>* The science behind parental overstimulation and transition fatigue</p><p>* How moving abroad impacts stress levels for parents and children</p><p>* Why kids often struggle with transitions and routines</p><p>* The connection between time pressure, sensory overload, and emotional regulation</p><p>* Practical ways to manage overwhelm during busy family moments</p><p>* The importance of repair after losing your patience</p><p>* How to create more calm and connection during daily routines</p><p>* Why self-compassion matters in expat family life</p><p><br></p><p>Expat Parenting Tips from This Episode:</p><p>* Slow down when possible—everything is not an emergency</p><p>* Notice signs of overstimulation before reaching your limit</p><p>* Take a breath or step away briefly when emotions start rising</p><p>* Prepare for transitions by giving children advance notice</p><p>* Remember the HALT check-in: Are you Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired?</p><p>* Focus on repair rather than perfection after difficult parenting moments</p><p>* Give yourself grace—raising a family abroad comes with unique challenges</p><p><br></p><p>Resources Mentioned</p><p>* Good Inside Podcast with Dr. Becky</p><p>* Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger by Soraya Chemaly</p><p><br></p><p>Connect With Us</p><p>Have you experienced "hallway claustrophobia" or another version of transition overwhelm? We'd love to hear from you.</p><p>Share your experiences, questions, and favorite expat parenting tips with us. Your stories help strengthen the expat family support community we're building together.</p><p>If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another parent who might need the reminder that they're not alone.</p><p>Because parenting abroad is hard—but you don't have to do it alone.</p>
June 3, 2026
Trading Germany for Spain: Rebuilding a Business + Expat Family Life with Seli Jacome
<p>In today’s episode of our Expat Experts Series, Amanda and CJ sit down with Seli Jacome —a birth and postpartum doula, lactation consultant, and former Frankfurt resident who flipped the script on expat family life four years ago by relocating her trilingual family to Valencia, Spain.</p><p>If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to move out of Germany, or how to navigate the vulnerable phases of expat motherhood while building a business from scratch in a brand-new country, this episode is a must-listen!</p><p><br></p><p>🎧 Key Takeaways from the episode: </p><p><br></p><p>* The Search for Slow Living: How the desire for green space, safety, and a slower pace of life drove Seli's family to move from Germany to Spain.</p><p>* Embracing Multi-Cultural Identity: Seli discusses navigating her family's unique German, Korean, Mexican, and British roots within expat parenting.</p><p>* The "DIY" Approach to Expat Parenting: How Seli spotted a massive gap in the Spanish postpartum healthcare system and created her own international community groups (including a massive secondhand kids' market in her garden!).</p><p>* The Mental Load of a Third Language: The exhausting reality of managing pediatric appointments, school systems, and daily life when navigating your third language.</p><p>* Germany vs. Spain: A fascinating comparison of school flexibility, healthcare structures, and why Seli’s family swapped German structure for Spanish sunshine and a slower pace of life.</p><p>* Navigating Big Moves with Teens & Newborns: Seli’s firsthand expat parenting tips on moving across Europe with older children and a 7-week-old baby in tow.</p><p><br></p><p>📝 Other Episode Highlights</p><p><br></p><p>🌍 A Truly Global Family Background</p><p>Seli is half-German and half-Korean, married to a man who is half-Mexican and half-British. Together with their three kids, they speak English, Spanish, and German at home. Despite deep roots in Germany, Seli opens up about never feeling like she 100% fit in—and how that ultimate search for belonging led them to the colorful, diverse expat bubble of Valencia.</p><p><br></p><p>🛑 The Shock of Spanish Bureaucracy & Healthcare</p><p>Think German paperwork is tough? Seli shares hilarious and stressful stories of navigating old-school Spanish paper trails. She also breaks down the cultural shocks of expat motherhood in Spain, where the cozy German Hebamme (midwife) home-visit culture doesn't exist, forcing new moms to navigate postpartum care entirely differently.</p><p><br></p><p>💼 Finding Your Niche in a New Market</p><p>When Seli arrived in Spain, she realized local mothers return to work much earlier (around 4 months) compared to Germany, leaving a massive lack of expat family support for postpartum care and community playgroups. By embracing a "Do-It-Yourself" attitude, she successfully rebuilt her doula and education practice to serve the international community.</p><p><br></p><p>⭐ Connect with Our Guest</p><p>* Find Seli here:</p><p>* www.21doulaservice.es</p><p>* 21doulaservice_selijacome</p><p>❤️ Enjoyed this episode?</p><p>If you found Seli’s expat parenting journey inspiring, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode filled with real, raw stories and practical expat family support.</p><p><br></p><p>Podcast recommendations:</p><p>Neuroshambles </p>
May 20, 2026
Raising Third Culture Kids: Superpowers, Identity Crises, and Where the Pretzels are
<p>What happens when you’re raising children in a country completely different from your passport culture? In this episode, Amanda and CJ explore the beautifully complicated reality of expat parenting and raising Third Culture Kids (TCKs). From blending holiday traditions (think Danish elves, St. Nicholas, and Santa Claus all competing for airtime) to navigating identity, belonging, and the ever-changing meaning of “home,” this conversation dives deep into modern expat family life.</p><p><br></p><p>Amanda and CJ share honest stories about expat motherhood, cultural confusion, and the emotional challenges that come with raising globally mobile kids. Whether your children are fluent culture-switchers, “look-alike” TCKs, or simply obsessed with German bakery pretzels, this episode offers reassurance, laughter, and practical insight for parents building lives abroad.</p><p><br></p><p>If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing this whole international parenting thing “right,” this episode is packed with relatable moments, encouragement, and thoughtful expat parenting tips. Most importantly, it’s a reminder that while raising TCKs can create complicated identity questions, it also gives children extraordinary adaptability, empathy, and resilience.</p><p><br></p><p>Key Takeaways</p><p><br></p><p>* What is a TCK?</p><p> A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is someone raised outside their parents’ passport culture, blending their home culture with the culture of their host country to create a unique “third culture” identity shared by many internationally mobile families.</p><p>* The “Look-Alike” vs. “Non-Look-Alike” TCK Experience</p><p> Amanda and CJ discuss how children who physically resemble the dominant culture of their host country are often expected to fully understand the language and social norms—creating a unique layer of identity pressure many expat families experience.</p><p>* Redefining the Meaning of Home</p><p> In both expat motherhood and broader expat family life, “home” often becomes less about geography and more about relationships, routines, and emotional connection.</p><p>* The Hidden Superpowers of TCKs</p><p> While global mobility can bring challenges like transient friendships and identity struggles, TCKs frequently develop remarkable emotional intelligence, cultural adaptability, communication skills, and resilience in uncertainty.</p><p>* The Importance of Expat Family Support</p><p> Raising children abroad can feel isolating at times, which is why strong community, honest conversations, and reliable expat family support systems are so important for both parents and kids.</p><p><br></p><p>Book recommendations:</p><ul><li>Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds</li><li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4GJYPCNQmIrw7lp2qCXMLj?si=btsYdDymTUu0kt-O16PL9A">Rage becomes her: The Power of Women’s Anger, by Soraya Chemaly </a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Podcast Recommendations: </p><ul><li>Disengaged, by Leah Harding </li></ul>
84 total episodes available
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This podcast updates weekly.
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This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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