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This Expat Life

Amanda Maxime

While life abroad is often amazing, it is not only rainbows & butterflies - as all experienced expats very well know. From the pleasures of drinking from fresh coconuts to dealing with a personal crisis, This Expat Life opens up space for all facets of life abroad. And more importantly: what you can do to thrive in it.
Certified coach, former diplomat and forever globetrotter Amanda Molenaar dives into the good, the bad & the ugly of expat life. Expect hands-on tips, deep dives, and relatable stories by fellow expats. Whether you're about to take off on your first international adventure or have been repatted already: This Expat Life is your place to find real understanding and to grow from the inside out.
Find more about Amanda and her programs here: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com.
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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 29 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • S0 · E127
    Yesterday · 27 min

    #122 The 3 things I'm doing differently as I’m moving abroad again

    Sign up for the free LIVE session that I'm hosting on the 30th! Let's get your priorities for Q4 clear so that you can end 2026 on a high. Only organizing this once, just for fun :) Save your spot here (limited spots available). If there’s one thing that’s essential when you’re moving abroad that is not about logistics, it’s this: being intentional about this new chapter of your life. I’m doing the same right now as I’m closing a 6-year chapter in The Hague and moving abroad again. And my previous moves abroad have taught me something about my tendencies, traps and preferences - so I know exactly what to look out for now. In this episode I share the 3 things I’m doing differently as I’m about to leave for Mexico. Things I’m actively investing time, money and effort in. Whether you’re moving abroad, starting a new chapter in another sense, or liking the idea of being intentional with Q4, this episode will give you the inspiration to come up with your own three things.

  • S0 · E126
    September 17 · 39 min

    #121 Peter Panning through life abroad - or adulting differently? With Kathleen O’Donnell

    For years, writer Kathleen O'Donnell has built an international life shaped by curiosity, uncertainty, and a willingness to choose a different path than the one she grew up around. But like many of us living abroad, her journey hasn't always been straightforward. Behind every move, every residency application, and every milestone came moments of self-doubt, comparison, and learning to trust her own definition of a life well lived. In this episode of This Expat Life, Kathleen shares what a decade abroad has taught her, from a one-year travel break that turned permanent to settling in Athens without the marriage, kids, house, or car that so often mark "adulthood" back home. This one's for anyone questioning a milestone they're "supposed" to want. And you can find Kathleen on Substack - this is the article that made me reach out to her. Links & resources: ✈️ Ready to stop letting “Should I stay or should I go?” influence your sleep, joy and peace of mind? In The Co-Pilot I help you finally make the decisions you’ve been avoiding, confidently. Schedule a free call here to see if it’s the right step for you now. 🙌 Get a free taster of how I guide you to clarity for your next chapter here. 📚 I’ve listed my favorite books! Find them here. 👩‍💻 Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn

  • S0 · E125
    September 10 · 26 min

    #120 Dealing with the pre-move chaos + a personal update

    Two weeks before moving to Mexico, I’m deep in the pre-move chaos & overwhelm. If you’ve moved abroad (or back home again), you know what I’m talking about! In this episode I share my simple but effective way for dealing with the chaos, one that you can apply yourself to any busy season of your life. Links & resources: 📞 Ready to stop letting “Should I stay or should I go?” influence your sleep, joy and peace of mind? In The Co-Pilot I help you finally make the decisions you’ve been avoiding, confidently. Schedule a free call here. 🙌 Get a free taster of how I guide you to clarity for your next chapter here. 📚 And I’ve listed my favorite books! Find them here.

  • S0 · E124
    August 19 · 15 min

    #119 Why should you hire a coach as an expat?

    If you’ve been a listener of the show and heard me talk about working together, perhaps you were thinking: “But I don’t need help with the expat things in my life”. Yes - AND... I would still tell you to hire a coach. In this episode I tell you why I believe every expat should work with a coach - well, the expats that are serious about their expat life and view it as an opportunity for reinvention and their personal growth. 👉 Ready to hire me? There are two options: ✅ Shift personal patterns so that your relationships, career, personal power, wellbeing and joy can skyrocket wherever you go - in my 1:1 Coaching Journey. Read about my coaching and fill out the form here: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com/coaching. I’ll reach out to you after that. ✅ Are you at crossroads? Knowing you don't want to stay there forever but not sure what's next? The Co-Pilot is your next step. Book a free call with me here: https://calendly.com/amandamaxime/the-co-pilot-figure-out-your-expat-crossroads. 👉 Want a taster of working with me? Get my NEW, free creation: The Roundabout Exit. For expats who have been stuck in decision limbo for more than 6 months and are tired of overthinking. Not a pdf with prompts that are open doors, but three different ways for you to start lifting the fog. Built in the same way that I coach, delivered to your inbox over multiple days. Get it here for free: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com/roundabout-exit Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 🕵️‍♀️ Connect on LinkedIn 📰 Subscribe to my weekly Air Mail 👩‍💻 Visit my website

  • S0 · E123
    August 12 · 18 min

    #118 How to strengthen your intuition - 5 practical tips

    “Make your big decisions more with your intuition” but what if you don’t know what your intuition is saying?! I got this question in different variations in the last weeks so I’m dedicating an episode to it. Because when you are a global citizen moving around, you have a ton of decisions to make, constantly. And if you can rely on a strong intuition, this will help you make better and faster decisions. 👉 Been stuck in expat decision limbo? Get my NEW free journey The Roundabout Exit here: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com/roundabout-exit Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 📞 Book a free call to talk about The Co-Pilot 💌 Share your reflections: info@amandamaximecoaching.com 🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

  • S0 · E122
    August 5 · 26 min

    #117 Feeling like an outsider with old friends? 3 tips

    What if you’re increasingly feeling like an outsider with your old friends from back home? This is not an episode where I give you practical tips on how to stay in touch - instead we’re looking at the undertow that might be happening in the dynamic between you and the group. And I give you 3 tips on how to deal with that, coming from my 1:1 coaching of the last few weeks. Liked the tips and implemented them? Let me know! Send me an email (info@amandamaximecoaching.com) or DM on IG or LinkedIn.

  • S0 · E121
    July 29 · 35 min

    #116 12 mid-year questions to reflect on what’s been - and what you’re calling in

    Grab your pen and journal! This isn’t a regular episode where you get to listen, but one where I’m prompting you to reflect. The episodes where I ask you two sets of questions at the end of the year are always popular, and since I very much enjoyed my own mid-year review, I’m now bringing back this type of episode for the summer. If you had big goals for 2026, or wanted to change your habits, an area of your life or your entire life, this episode will help you see how far you’ve come, what you need to acknowledge and what you can let go of - as well as looking ahead to the final months of the year, how you can create the space for your desired results and what you need to change in order to get there. If you love goal setting or just a good self-reflection session, you’re going to love this episode. And would you like support to move out of expat decision limbo? Schedule a free call for The Co-Pilot here.

  • S0 · E120
    July 22 · 28 min

    #115 Why is it that so many expats start to question their life choices in summer? (+ tips)

    Why is it that so many expats start to wonder about their life choices in summer? I’m bringing back a popular episode from two years ago in which I give my perspective - plus tips on what to do with it, of course. And would you like support to move out of expat decision limbo, decide on what's next and start your next chapter? Book a free call to hear more about The Co-Pilot here.

  • S0 · E119
    July 15 · 44 min

    #114: Can you raise a child and still live free? Elke van Eijk's story

    Before we dive in, last chance: doors to The Space - my DIY solo retreat for expats - close in a few days, on July 31st! For years, business coach Elke van Eijk has built an international life shaped by curiosity, courage, and a willingness to embrace change, and based on one core value: freedom. But like many people living abroad, her journey hasn't always been straightforward. Behind every move, career decision, and new chapter came moments of uncertainty, self-reflection, and learning to trust herself. In this episode of This Expat Life, Elke shares the experiences that have shaped her perspective on living internationally, navigating transitions, and creating a life that feels aligned with who you are—not who you think you should be. Together, we explore what it means to build a meaningful life across borders, why personal growth often comes from the unexpected, and how embracing uncertainty can open doors to opportunities you never imagined. Whether you're an expat, considering a big life change, or simply looking for inspiration to create a life that's true to you, this conversation is full of thoughtful insights and practical reflections. Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 💌 Share your reflections: info@amandamaximecoaching.com 🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com 📰 Subscribe to my weekly Air Mail

  • S0 · E118
    July 8 · 30 min

    #113: Am I on track for my 3 big 2026 goals?

    At the halfway point of the year, I opened my journal, looked back at the 3 big goals I'd set in January, and asked myself one simple question: Am I becoming the person I wanted to become? In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my first six months of 2026. I'm sharing where I've made progress, where I've fallen short, and the unexpected wins that I wasn’t seeing yet back in January (and they are GOOD!). This check-in and my 3 goals come directly from my solo retreat that I do every December for the new year. And because I know summer often serves as a reset time too, with back to school vibes in September, you might also want to have a process that sets you up for the change you desire. That’s why I re-opened doors to my DIY solo retreat The Space! I offered this two-day experience last December and it was a hit. You can join again now. Sign up, book yourself a nice cottage and go through the material that I’m giving you - yours to keep, so you can do it as often as you’d like! Doors close on July 31st, sign up now! https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com/the-space

  • S0 · E115
    June 22 · 23 min

    #112: From Berlin to a new beginning: Laura’s year of transformation

    Laura had been living in Berlin for more than nine years, but after returning from a three-month sabbatical, she realized she couldn't ignore the feeling anymore. She was deeply unhappy in her corporate job and knew she wanted to move back to the UK - but instead of taking action, she found herself stuck in a cycle of overthinking, overworking, and waiting for life to change. For two years, she poured all her energy into a job that no longer fulfilled her, while putting her own dreams on hold. She wanted someone - or something - to come along and change her situation for her. Fast forward to today, and while Laura is still living in Berlin, everything has changed. She's back in the driver's seat of her life, creating the life she wants now instead of waiting until after the move, and confidently working towards her next chapter in the UK. Listen to this episode to hear how Laura shifted from waiting to taking action - and why small steps can completely change the direction of your life. And crave the same transformation as Laura? Let's have a call to see if The Co-Pilot is the right fit for you. Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 📰 Subscribe to my weekly Air Mail

  • S0 · E114
    June 20 · 29 min

    #111: The most expensive mistake high-functioning expats make

    What is the most expensive mistake I see high-functioning expats make? In this episode I share my observations! Links & resources: Visit my website Book a call for The Co-Pilot Get out of expat decision limbo with my new FREE mini-journey The Roundabout Exit

  • S0 · E113
    June 15 · 33 min

    #110: From the Expat Waiting Room to a new country: Soraya’s intentional move

    Before we dive in, last chance to get your DIY solo retreat designed for expats! Get your two-day reset for just €149 (forever access). Doors close on July 31st. Sign up here: https://www.amandamaximecoaching.com/the-space Soraya - a Belgian coach living in Spain - rated her life abroad as a 7 out of 10, but still felt stuck. So stuck that she felt like living in a waiting room. She knew Spain wasn’t here long-term place - but where was her place? Months passed and she wasn’t investing in her home, relationships and more. Till she realized no one was coming to change it for her, and decided to get into action. Fast forward to today, and she’s moving to a whole new country - one that was never the easy choice. Listen to this episode to hear how Soraya made this happen! Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 🧳 Sign up for the priority list of The Co-Pilot 📰 Subscribe to my weekly Air Mail

  • S0 · E112
    June 12 · 34 min

    #109: Who’s driving your expat life? The autopilot of your crossroads

    Have you ever felt stuck at a crossroads, unable to make a decision no matter how much you think about it? In this episode of This Expat Life, I explore something I see over and over again with expats and globally mobile professionals: the hidden autopilots that quietly influence our decisions. What if the reason you're struggling to move forward isn't because you need more information - but because an unconscious pattern is running the show? I share the five most common autopilots that keep people stuck, from overthinking and fear to busyness and guilt. You'll learn how these patterns show up in everyday life, why they can be so difficult to spot, and how to start making decisions from a place of clarity rather than autopilot. If you're navigating a big life decision, feeling stuck between options, or wondering why you keep postponing the next chapter, this episode is for you. Let me know which autopilot you recognized most in yourself! Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 🧳 Book a call to see if The Co-Pilot is the right fit for you 📰 Subscribe to my weekly Air Mail

  • S0 · E111
    June 8 · 40 min

    #108: Unmasking the driven expat: Martina Gastaldello’s road to alignment

    Before we dive in, did you know that doors to The Space - my DIY solo retreat package for expats - are open just for the month of July? 😌 Book it here! Doors close on the 31st. A few years ago, Martina and I met when she joined one of my coaching programs. At the time, she was deep in a burnout. After years of working in the humanitarian sector across the Middle East, South America, Eastern Europe, and Africa, her body had finally forced her to stop. What struck me most about Martina wasn't just her impressive international career, but her willingness to honestly look at the patterns that had brought her to that point, like perfectionism and the belief that her worth was tied to how much she achieved. In this episode of This Expat Life, Martina shares what burnout looked like from the inside, what recovery really required of her, and how her life has changed since. We talk about working in high-pressure international environments, the warning signs she ignored for too long, and the mindset shifts that helped her rebuild her relationship with herself, her work, and her definition of success - especially now that she’s preparing for motherhood. If you've ever struggled with burnout, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or the feeling that slowing down somehow means falling behind, I think you'll find a lot in this conversation. Want to connect with Martina and hear her story? Tune in to the episode and let me know what resonates most with you. Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 💌 Share your reflections: info@amandamaximecoaching.com 🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com 📰 Subscribe to my weekly Air Mail

  • S0 · E110
    June 2 · 31 min

    #107 The joy of returning home: Charlotte van ‘t Wout’s story unfolds

    From being a desert girl in Sedona, Arizona to now a single mom by choice of two back in Amsterdam, with a stop in NYC in between: in this episode I catch up with Charlotte van ‘t Wout. Charlotte (also known as Celine Charlotte on Instagram) is a multiple 7-figure entrepreneur and has lived a global life. She was one of the first guests on the show (her saying yes to my pitch actually was the kick in the butt I needed to get started!) and shared about her life in the US in episode 3. But a lot of things have changed for her since. She moved, twice. And she became a mom, twice. In this new episode of This Expat Life we talk about these changes, how she’s finding life back in Amsterdam, now in a completely different phase of her life, and the cultural differences in motherhood. Want to know more about Charlotte? Follow her on Instagram. Let me know what you thought of this episode! Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 💌 Share your reflections: info@amandamaximecoaching.com 🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com 📰 Subscribe to my weekly Air Mail

  • S0 · E109
    May 28 · 29 min

    #106: A 3AM text, a Santa Barbara harbor, and a dream project - How to know when to say yes to a big investment

    How do you know when to say yes to a big investment, scary step or invitation? I was in California when I got a text at 3AM from a friend: he needed to make a decision around a financial investment - could I advise him? Coincidentally, that day I too had to make a decision about a big investment. If both he and I were going through the same thing, I’m sure others are too. And because I have my ways to find my own answers to these questions, I’m sharing my approach with you in this episode. Plus, at the end you’ll hear what investment & personal project I said yes to 👀 Tune in to find out! PS. This is the Business Insider article I'm talking about

  • S0 · E108
    May 18 · 54 min

    #105 Amplifying your most authentic self with Rianne Klein Geltink

    Wow, I absolutely loved this interview. I met Rianne at my business conference in April last month where she delivered a talk on how you can use two Dutch words to amplify your most authentic self the next time you need to perform. And she blew us away. So I knew I had to get her on the show. Because if you live abroad in a context that’s requiring you to adjust or in a global life that’s constantly changing… You want to be your most authentic self. I’m not going to spoil anything further - just listen to this fantastic episode to know how you can be your magnetic self, have more fun, get better results and stay true to yourself. Enjoy! Find more about Rianne on Instagram and LinkedIn.

  • S0 · E106
    May 11 · 30 min

    #104 The #1 quality high-functioning expats have in common (and why it’s also your trap)

    What’s the ONE quality high-achieving expats have in common? As a coach having worked with 240+ expats personally (aside from my DIY courses), I see this one quality again and again. And… I also see where it’s becoming a trap. In this episode I share what I see and how it’s holding you back, plus my own experiences of when you can soften the quality-turned-trap. I’d love to hear if it resonates! And ready to let go of your self-reliance a little and call in support? Book a call to see if The Co-Pilot is the right fit for you now.

  • S0 · E105
    April 27 · 19 min

    #103 How to keep momentum when you aren’t feeling good

    A question came in from someone inside The Co-Pilot recently for our hot seat coaching call - and the moment I read it, I knew it needed its own episode. Because I've been there myself, more than once, and I have a feeling at least one of you listening right now will recognize yourself in it too. My coachee had just joined the program ready for the next chapter. There was momentum, clarity, energy - the good kind of feeling that something new is finally starting to move. And then, a few weeks in, she got ill, enough to slow everything down. And she asked me: what do you do when you want to keep going, but your body or your life just won't let you? In this episode, I share my answer to that - because this isn't just about being sick. It's about any moment where your tank is running low. A stressful stretch at work, a breakup, a grey winter in Europe, grief, burnout. Those seasons where you still feel that pull toward something bigger, but you simply don't have the energy to chase it at full speed. I talk about why those low periods are actually the worst time to make big decisions, why giving yourself explicit permission to pause matters more than you'd think, and what you can do in the meantime - an exercise I've used myself in Rio, after my parents died, and in many other harder chapters - that shifts something internally without costing you the energy you don't have. So if you’re feeling stuck between wanting to move forward and simply not having the capacity to, this one is for you. Let me know what you think! Links & Resources: 📸 Connect on Instagram: @amandamaxime 📞 Book a call to see if The Co-Pilot is the right fit for you 💌 Share your reflections: info@amandamaximecoaching.com 🌐 Explore more: amandamaximecoaching.com

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