
Ep. 11 - Nicole Shubalis - Why She Refuses to Call Her New Life Luck
Could you leave everything you know to start over completely alone? Nicole Shubalis was a private chef in Chicago with a catering business and a full, go-go-go life. Then, on her 40th birthday, a trip to Crete cracked something open. At 42, she sold or gave away almost everything and moved to Chania alone, with just her dog. Tony and Effi sit down with Nicole live in Athens to unpack the real story behind the move: the pull she couldn't ignore, the paperwork that made it feel permanent, and the 2012 shooting that reshaped how she thinks about safety and fear. They also get into slow living, Cretan food, and training for her first HYROX. If you have ever wondered whether the leap is worth it, or told yourself someone else is just lucky, this one is for you. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights 02:18 - The 40th birthday trip that quietly rewired her entire life plan 07:12 - The identity line every Greek American will feel in their chest 07:59 - The Cretan food scene that just earned a world ranking 12:57 - Why her food videos flopped and what took off instead 21:39 - The 2012 night in Chicago that changed everything 23:34 - The part of the recovery that was harder than the injuries 29:24 - What training for a HYROX taught her about her own ceiling 40:45 - The 90 percent she gave away, and why it felt like freedom 42:58 - What she felt on the one-way flight she had dreamed about 43:47 - The unglamorous moment it hit her that this was permanent 45:26 - The one comment about her move that she cannot stand 55:39 - Her first six months in Crete summed up in a single word Mentioned Resources The Ultimate Guide For Moving Abroad by Nicole Shubalis, a 70-page guide, available through her Instagram bio Bringing Your Dog Abroad guide by Nicole Shubalis HYROX About the Guest Nicole Shubalis is a Greek American private chef, yogi, and content creator who left Chicago to rebuild her life in Chania, Crete. French culinary trained, she ran a private chef and catering business in the States before moving abroad at 42. Through her brand Nicole Unpacked she shares expat life, food, slow living, and the honest behind the scenes of starting over. 🔗 Instagram | TikTok | Website Important Links Learn more about us: Kasandrinos.com Buy our book: Kasandrinos Kitchen Join our Facebook community: Facebook Follow us: Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest LinkedIn: Tony Kasandrinos | Effi Kasandrinos Booth The Kasandrinos Effect is an original podcast brought to you by Kasandrinos International and editing by Podcast Your Brand.