Babes, how did you get here

Episoder

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  I Came Back to Jamaica to Run My Family’s Business—The Reality Shocked Me 08.09.2026 1t

  What happens when you leave Jamaica, build a life in America, and then return home to take over your family’s business? In Part 2 of this conversation, Dijon Powell opens up about leaving Miami’s fast-money service industry and returning to Negril, Jamaica, to become the youngest person in charge of her family’s restaurant and beach bar. She shares the reality behind the decision: the pressure of carrying on her family’s legacy, adjusting to life back home, managing staff, dealing with cultural expectations, and learning that running a business is far more demanding than it looks from the outside. Dijon also speaks honestly about her time working in Miami restaurants, becoming addicted to fast money, questioning the traditional path, and realizing that a job does not define who you are. From a disastrous Mother’s Day service to the deeper question of whether Jamaicans abroad should return home and help build new opportunities, this episode explores identity, ambition, family, sacrifice, and what it truly means to come back to Jamaica. Chapters 00:00:00 The unexpected job opportunity 00:02:26 Working at a Black-owned restaurant in Miami 00:04:33 Becoming addicted to fast money 00:05:39 Why a job does not define who you are 00:07:42 Choosing the lifestyle you really want 00:10:03 Three years in the service industry 00:11:25 When the money started changing 00:14:05 The family business enters the conversation 00:17:35 Why Dijon decided to move back to Jamaica 00:23:41 Family, distance, and the fear of coming home 00:28:57 Her friends visit Jamaica 00:31:27 Becoming the youngest boss in charge 00:34:05 Was the move meant to be permanent? 00:37:11 “I don’t believe in coincidences” 00:40:08 The pressure of running the family business 00:41:20 The restaurant disaster that changed everything 00:44:22 Mother’s Day 2024: The ultimate operational nightmare 00:51:18 The cultural differences in hospitality 00:55:29 Should more Jamaicans return home? Watch until the end and share your thoughts in the comments: Would you leave the United States to return home and run your family business? Subscribe to A Life Elsewhere for more conversations about migration, identity, home, ambition, and starting again somewhere new. #ALifeElsewhere #Jamaica #JamaicanDiaspora #ReturnToJamaica #NegrilJamaica #FamilyBusiness #Entrepreneurship #CaribbeanDiaspora #LifeInJamaica #MovingBackHome #BlackEntrepreneurs #WomenInBusiness #RestaurantBusiness #DiasporaStories #JamaicanStories
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  Why I Threw Away My US Degree & 6-Figure Tips to Move Back to Jamaica 04.09.2026 47min

  Is going to college the right choice for you? We discuss the value of higher education and how it broadens your worldview. For many, university is a path to clarity when you do not know what you want to do in life. It offers a unique opportunity to step outside your immediate environment, especially for those who have never left the street they grew up on. This conversation explores why college serves as a vital bridge for personal growth and perspective. Whether you are considering a degree or simply reflecting on your own educational journey, understanding the benefits of higher education can change your outlook. We weigh the experiences of those who knew their path versus those who used school to figure it out. Subscribe for weekly life perspective breakdowns, and let me know your thoughts on the value of college in the comments. Chapters 00:00:00 The Value of College When You're Unsure 00:01:52 A Personal Journey Between Two Worlds 00:04:34 The Reality of Living in South Miami 00:06:19 How Early Exposure Shapes Your Identity 00:09:55 The Unexpected Turn Toward Business 00:21:50 The Culture Shock of North Florida 00:38:54 Taking a Chance on the Creative Path
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  Why I Left Everything to Build a Life in Cape Town 01.09.2026 58min

  Thinking about moving abroad? See how one creative left the American South to build a new life in South Africa. April Jackson travels the world connecting with people who have chosen to start over in new countries. In this episode, she sits down with cinematographer and YouTuber Frankie Henry to discuss his decision to leave the American South behind. They explore the practical and creative choices that led him to pursue a different path. If you are considering the reality of living in Cape Town, this conversation covers the adjustment process and the mindset required to make such a significant change. Frankie shares his perspective on treating life as a series of experiments rather than a straight line. For anyone curious about the nitty-gritty of expat life, this interview offers a grounded look at the experience of relocating to a new culture. It serves as a guide for those weighing the pros and cons of moving to South Africa permanently, demonstrating that moving abroad is a viable path for those willing to take the risk. Subscribe for weekly stories about global living, and let me know in the comments: what is the biggest fear holding you back from making a move? Chapters 00:00:00 Leaving Everything Behind 00:00:43 From One Week to Forever 00:01:37 Searching for a Better Fit 00:03:54 Growing Up in a Mixed Household 00:07:43 First Impressions of Cape Town 00:14:37 The Flavor Games Experiment 00:19:46 An Outsider's Perspective 00:25:23 The Police Officer Who Just Said Hi: Race Relations in South Africa 00:40:05 No Regrets: Why He'll Never Move Back to America 00:42:46 This Is Home: Building a Future in Cape Town 00:53:35 Being the First: A Black Student in a Southern Private School 00:58:24 The Mad Scientist: Life as One Big Experiment
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  She Left New York With 7 Kids and No Plan — Now Jamaica Is Home 25.08.2026 15min

  New York City was draining his health, working three jobs, and running out of time. So they made a radical decision: pack up all 7 children, abandon the prestigious New York music institutions, and move to Jamaica. In this episode of A Life Elsewhere, we sit down with Dr. Lisa Walker — a professional violinist from Chicago, dedicated educator, and mother of seven. From navigating cultural shock at Devon House and exposing the flaws of the traditional school system, to raising globally recognized musical prodigies right from Kingston, Lisa shares the raw truth about what it really takes to sacrifice your own comfort for the love of family and island life. Is moving to Jamaica really the ultimate escape from the Western rat race? 👇 Join the conversation in the comments: Would you give up your career in the US or UK to raise your family in the Caribbean? Chapters 00:00:00 The Obsession: How the Violin Became My Only Friend 00:02:03 First Taste of Jamaica: Mackerel Rundown & Culture Shock 00:07:10 The "Devon House" Incident & Learning to "Sweet Up" Jamaicans 00:11:20 Moving Back to Kingston: From 2 Students to 150 #MovingToJamaica #JamaicaRelocation #KingstonJamaica #LifeInJamaica #Diaspora #Homeschooling #CaribbeanLiving #ALifeElsewhere
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  "Google Said Kingston Would Kill Her — She Moved Anyway" 21.08.2026 13min

  Google told her Kingston was the most dangerous city in the world. She moved anyway — and it changed everything. Lana, a Lebanese tax professional living the "perfect" expat life in Dubai, got a mysterious call from a UK recruiter offering a job in Jamaica — a country she knew nothing about beyond Bob Marley. Seven years later, she's raising her daughter in Kingston, walks downtown without fear, and says she's never felt more at home anywhere in the world. In this episode of A Life Elsewhere with April Jackson, we talk about why Dubai's "fake" luxury pushed her away, giving birth in Jamaica, the brutal honesty of Jamaican culture, raising a confident child in a real community, and what "belonging" actually means when you can fit in anywhere. 🇯🇲 Moving to Jamaica | Relocation | Kingston | Caribbean life | Expat in Jamaica | Diaspora Chapters: Chapters 00:00:00 "Kingston is the most dangerous city in the world" 00:02:00 The phone call that changed everything 00:06:00 Leaving Dubai's fake life behind 00:12:00 Why she never feels unsafe in Kingston 00:18:00 Being pregnant & giving birth in Jamaica
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  American Model Starved to 0% Fat — Now She’s a Crowned Queen Abroad 18.08.2026 16min

  She was rejected by major modeling agencies in the West, told her body wasn't good enough, and ended up hospitalized alone abroad at age 18. Instead of giving up, Sydney left the United States behind with just one suitcase—reclaiming her identity, shocking international stages, and rising to global royalty. This is the untold, dark side of international modeling, identity shifts, and the radical choice to abandon Western expectations to build a life of genuine freedom. Hear international model life stories and marketing student advice. Learn how to balance a high-pressure career with academic goals. In this episode, we sit down with Sydney to discuss her unique journey navigating the modeling industry while pursuing a degree. This conversation is designed for anyone feeling stuck between two worlds, offering a realistic look at what it takes to manage these demanding paths simultaneously. You will gain practical perspective on handling industry expectations alongside the realities of being a marketing student. We break down the specific challenges Sydney faced while building her portfolio and managing her studies. Whether you are considering a major life change or simply looking for relatable career transition tips, this discussion provides actionable insights you can apply to your own trajectory. We cover the highs and lows of her dual career path and how she maintains focus. Subscribe for weekly lifestyle podcast episodes that help you navigate your next big move. Let us know in the comments what career topics you want us to cover next. Chapters 00:00:00 From Hometown to International Modeling 00:00:57 First Steps Into the Industry 00:03:28 Life Inside a Model Apartment 00:07:15 The Hidden Pressures of the Industry 00:12:29 Finding Purpose in Creative Work
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  I Lost the Chance to Have Children — Then Jamaica Became My Life 14.08.2026 20min

  Learn the realities of living abroad and empowering youth in Jamaica with Farnoosh. Gain practical insights on global career paths. Farnoosh Jhudga, Executive Director of the Lead Outreach Initiative, joins us to discuss her experiences working abroad and navigating different cultural landscapes. We examine the specific challenges of leading community outreach in Jamaica, where she focuses on supporting young people in inner-city environments. This conversation is designed for anyone considering an international move or interested in the impact of global non-profit work. Throughout the discussion, we analyze the distinct differences between living in Dubai, Canada, and Jamaica. By comparing these regions, we clarify how professional environments and social responsibilities shift when working abroad. You will hear firsthand how to approach community outreach Jamaica projects effectively while managing the complexities of international relocation. Subscribe for weekly career and global lifestyle breakdowns, and comment below which country you are most interested in learning about next. Chapters 00:00:00 A Purpose Found in Jamaica 00:00:41 The First Volunteer Trip 00:02:29 A Life-Changing Decision 00:04:00 Healing Through Helping Others 00:08:31 Debunking Jamaican Stereotypes 00:18:48 Finding Safety in the Community #Jamaica #MovingToJamaica #KingstonJamaica #JamaicanDiaspora #LifeInJamaica #CanadaToJamaica #ExpatLife #CaribbeanLife #RelocatingToJamaica #CommunityWork #PurposeDrivenLife #PersonalTransformation #WomenWho Inspire #YouthEmpowerment #VolunteerWork #LivingAbroad #TravelPodcast #LiveElsewhere #JamaicaStory #DiasporaStories
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  I Left Palestine for Jamaica — Now I Run a Bean‑to‑Bar Factory 11.08.2026 15min

  Hear the story behind Liquor More Chocolates as Nadine Biory shares how she builds artisanal chocolate inspired by Jamaican heritage. Discover how personal family history shapes a brand's unique identity. This conversation explores the creative process of developing artisanal chocolate and balancing business with deep cultural roots. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or a chocolate enthusiast, Nadine Biory offers a candid look at the challenges and rewards of launching a niche food product. Her journey highlights the importance of storytelling in modern branding. Beyond the business side, we discuss how personal values and heritage influence product design. Nadine reflects on her family’s experiences and perspectives on living in places like Ethiopia and Palestine, providing a thoughtful context for how she approaches her work. This episode is for anyone interested in the intersection of culture, identity, and entrepreneur stories. Subscribe for weekly creator interviews and business breakdowns. Leave a comment telling us what part of the chocolate-making process you want to learn more about next. Chapters 00:00:00 From Ivory Coast to the Caribbean 00:01:41 Choosing Jamaica Over Other Options 00:02:55 Crafting Authentic Jamaican Chocolate 00:05:58 Managing Business Amidst Diplomatic Moves 00:08:27 Cultural Adjustments and Culinary Cravings
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  "Where Are All My People At?" — Why This Black American REFUSES to Move Back to the US 07.08.2026 1t 23min

  A homeless stranger handed her back her own business cards — and it changed everything. Twani Price left corporate America and South Central Los Angeles to build a Black wine empire in Cape Town, South Africa. From being humiliated at a 5-star restaurant to being featured in The New York Times, from selling out Black-owned winery bus tours in LA to founding Afro Wine Week — this is the story of betting everything on yourself, your culture, and your community. We talk moving abroad as a Black American, why representation in wine matters, dating in Cape Town (it's "like Squid Games"), grief from a distance, and why she'll never move back to the States. 🍷 Guest: Twani Price — Zuri Wine & Events | Sips with Soul | Afro Wine Week Keywords: moving abroad, Black Americans abroad, leaving America, Cape Town, South Africa, diaspora, relocation, Black-owned wine Chapters Chapters 00:00:00 The sign from God 00:02:00 Who is Twani Price? 00:06:00 South Central LA childhood & twin sister 00:14:00 The 5-star dinner humiliation that started it all 00:22:00 Quitting corporate with a 6-month payout 00:30:00 Broke in Cape Town — the homeless man moment 00:38:00 The New York Times calls 00:46:00 Why representation in wine matters 00:55:00 Grief, family & missing home 01:05:00 Dating in Cape Town = Squid Games (Gabrielle Union story!) 01:15:00 "I like my wine like I like my men" #CapeTown #SouthAfrica #WineIndustry
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  My Fiancé Was a Pedophile—Then I Became an Alcoholic: A Thai Adoptee's Journey to Sobriety 31.07.2026 56min

  3 weeks before her wedding, Lilly discovered that her fiancé was a pedophile. In this raw and emotional interview, she reveals the devastating moment that changed everything and the incredible journey of survival that followed. Lilly's story is one of the most powerful adoption stories you will ever hear. Abandoned in Thailand at just 4 years old, she was adopted into a white family in rural Pennsylvania and grew up as a transracial adoptee. She battled severe identity issues, addiction, and one of the most shocking betrayals imaginable when she found out her fiancé was a pedophile just weeks before their wedding. After years of alcoholism and rock bottom, she got sober and made the life-changing decision to return to Thailand to find her birth mother and reclaim her Thai citizenship. In this deeply moving conversation, Lilly opens up about the crushing guilt she carried after the discovery, the justice system that failed her family, and her escape to Los Angeles as a person of color seeking belonging. She shares the brutal reality of her addiction, from beating a boyfriend in a blackout to lying naked on her apartment floor refusing to shower. She talks about the moment her mother finally saw the truth, the shame of rehab at Betty Ford, and the seven years of sobriety that led her back to Thailand. #TransracialAdoption #AdoptionStory #ThailandAdoption #MyFiancéWasAPedophile #SobrietyJourney #AddictionRecovery #BettyFord #FindingBirthMother #BangkokLife #AdoptionTrauma #PrimalWound #IdentityCrisis #HealingJourney #SurvivorStory #BirthMotherSearch #ThaiCitizenship #RuralPennsylvania #LosAngeles #SevenYearsSober #PedophileFiancé #AlcoholismRecovery #RockBottom #Podcast #BabesHowDidYouGetHere #TrueStory #Resilience #Courage #MusicHealing #AdopteeVoices #InternationalAdoption
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  My Fiancé Was A Pedophile: Her Reaction Is Heartbreaking 28.07.2026 1t 2min

  3 weeks before her wedding, Lilly discovered that her fiancé was a pedophile. In this raw and emotional interview, she reveals the devastating moment that changed everything and the incredible journey of survival that followed. Lilly’s story is one of the most powerful adoption stories you will ever hear. Abandoned in Thailand at just 4 years old, she was adopted into a white family in rural Pennsylvania and grew up as a transracial adoptee. She battled severe identity issues, addiction, and one of the most shocking betrayals imaginable when she found out her fiancé was a pedophile just weeks before their wedding. After years of alcoholism and rock bottom, she got sober and made the life-changing decision to return to Thailand to find her birth mother and reclaim her Thai citizenship. In this episode, Lilly opens up about the trauma of adoption, the pain of abandonment, her battle with sobriety, and the moment she decided to face her past. This is a story of resilience, healing, and the search for identity. 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 Foster Care in Thailand to Adoption in America 00:02:29 Growing Up Transracially Adopted in Rural Pennsylvania 00:04:38 Her Father's Vietnam War Past and the Adoption Decision 00:05:46 Family Dynamics: Siblings, Distance, and German Heritage 00:08:54 The Primal Wound: Early Abandonment and Attachment Issues 00:20:48 Music as Survival: Annie, Motown, and Finding Her Voice 00:23:11 The Smell of Durian: First Memories of Thailand 00:26:50 Dance Dreams Crushed: Body Image and Parental Expectations 00:37:20 College Breakdown: Depression, Food Issues, and Pushing Family Away 00:42:58 The Asian Boyfriend and Introduction to Cocaine 00:35:41 Three Weeks Before the Wedding: Discovering Her Fiance Was a Pedophile 00:56:41 Fighting for Justice: Navigating the Legal System Alone #MyFiancéWasAPedophile #AdoptionStory #TransracialAdoptee #SobrietyJourney #FindingBirthMother #ThailandAdoption #TrueStory #Podcast #HealingJourney #AdoptionTrauma #SurvivorStory #PedophileFiancé #AddictionRecovery #BirthMotherSearch
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  Robbed in London, Safe in Africa: Why This Jamaican Left the UK 21.07.2026 1t 47min

  Why This Jamaican Says Kingston Is Safer Than London | Cheryl Ankra Newton on Moving to South Africa What if everything you were taught about “safe” countries was backwards? In this powerful conversation, April Jackson sits down with Cheryl Ankra Newton — a British-born global citizen with Trinidadian and Ghanaian roots who left a successful career in London to build a new life in South Africa. Just days before moving to Johannesburg, Cheryl was robbed in London. Sixteen years later, after living across South Africa, she says she has never been robbed or assaulted there. Meanwhile, April — who is Jamaican — shares why her experiences of crime in London challenged everything she believed about the so-called “first world” versus the Caribbean. Together, they explore the truth about Kingston, Jamaica, London, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Ghana and life abroad — beyond the headlines, stereotypes and fear-based narratives. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with people who chose a different life abroad: [insert channel link] In this episode, we discuss: Why Cheryl left a prestigious Mayfair career after a 10-day trip to South Africa Why a Jamaican woman says Kingston can feel safer than London Crime in London vs crime in Jamaica, Johannesburg and Cape Town The dangerous assumptions people make about Africa and the Caribbean Cheryl’s unforgettable meeting with Nelson Mandela on his 92nd birthday Love, migration and building a marriage across countries and cultures Raising a child as a global citizen in South Africa The reality of healthcare, education and cost of living abroad Living in Ghana during COVID and reconnecting with ancestral roots Building legacy, entrepreneurship, community and a life that feels aligned TIMESTAMPS Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Following Love to South Africa 00:01:52 The Eight-Year Courtship That Changed Everything 00:03:46 First Impressions: Why Are They Hiding This From Us? 00:07:41 The 10-Day Trip That Led to Resignation 00:10:43 Meeting Nelson Mandela on His 92nd Birthday 00:13:27 Joburg vs Cape Town: Finding Community as an Expat 00:18:09 Crime, Context, and the Grace We Give First World Countries 00:31:00 The Wedding That Brought 150 People to Cape Town 00:34:55 Raising a Global Citizen: Identity Across Four Cultures 00:39:12 The Two Years in Ghana: Answering an Ancestral Calling 00:44:06 Why South Africa Wins Every Time: The Matrix of Living Abroad 00:45:13 The Price of Progress: Ghana, Jamaica, and Unsustainable Inflation 01:04:23 Motherhood in South Africa: Nannies, Help, and Quality Time 01:10:34 Healthcare That Works: Why She’d Choose South Africa Over the UK 01:16:38 Schooling for a Global Network: The American International School 01:23:50 Raising Kids Who Aren’t Spoiled: The Thing That Keeps Me Up at Night 01:43:49 The Train Station Racism That Changed Everything 01:53:42 The Confidence of Being Ghanaian in Nigeria: Nice Try 02:07:06 Redefining Success: From Corporate Ladder to Cashew Farms 02:14:36 The Postcard Life: Colorful, Vast, and Full of Champagne This is not a conversation claiming that crime does not exist in Jamaica, London, South Africa or anywhere else. It is a conversation about context: the stories we are told, the places we fear, and why we often extend more grace to Western cities than we do to Black countries and communities. If you are thinking about moving abroad, moving to Jamaica, relocating to South Africa, living in Cape Town, returning to Ghana, or simply questioning the narrative around the “first world,” this episode is for you. 💬 Where have you felt safest — and did it surprise you? Share your experience in the comments. ▶️ Watch next: Connect with April Jackson: https://www.instagram.com/a_life_elsewhere/ Connect with Cheryl Ankra Newton: @cherylankrahnewton #Jamaica #London #MovingAbroad
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  “I Felt Black for the First Time… in AFRICA?!” Her Story Shocked Our Jamaican Host 17.07.2026 1min

  A Nigerian woman boards a plane to Lesotho with her husband and twins. She's not running from anything. She's not chasing a dream. She's choosing dependence over independence for the first time in her life, and it terrifies her more than leaving America ever did. Eight years later, she's still on the continent. Raising global children in Cape Town, navigating microaggressions in old money neighborhoods, building wellness communities, and learning that home isn't always the place you were born, but the place where you finally feel seen. She's a healthcare practitioner who left Maryland's 14 hour emergency room shifts for a life with house help, drivers, and the kind of comfort she never thought she'd have. She grew up sheltered in Lagos, moved to the U.S. at 18 with nothing, worked her way through college braiding hair, paid for her IVF twins out of pocket, and intentionally celebrated every single one of their birthdays in a different country. She tried going back to Nigeria. The system broke her heart. She landed in Lesotho for a soft landing, then moved to Cape Town because the schools were better and the mountain stole her soul. This isn't a story about escaping. It's about choosing discomfort over convenience, building a village across continents, and staying married for 20 years even when you've divorced him in your head multiple times. 🔥 What we cover: Why Cape Town was the first place she actually chose to live The mountain, the ocean, and why wellness finally had a picture Growing up sheltered in Lagos where fear kept her grounded Leaving Nigeria at 18 and landing in Maryland with family she'd never met The coffee shop incident that revealed how unprepared she was Do you have toilets in Africa? The questions that never stopped Losing an aunt one year into America and learning to braid hair to survive Three people in a one bedroom apartment and finally feeling free Meeting her husband at a Howard birthday party and building a life The IVF journey and telling her kids she literally paid for them Intentional parenting: celebrating birthdays abroad and raising global children The village: her sister in law, her brother's wife, and the core that raised kids together The box system: how she categorizes every person in her life Moving to Lesotho and depending on a man for the first time Why that was the hardest thing she ever did Cape Town calling when education forced the next move The reality of being Black in Cape Town: are these your children? Why people assume her husband is the gardener in his own neighborhood Affordability, belonging, and finally being seen as a Black woman Trying to go back to Nigeria and why the system broke her heart The uncle who sent you to school but molested you: her relationship with Nigeria Religion vs relationship: unlearning fear based faith Why the most religious countries are often the most corrupt ⏱️ CHAPTERS: Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Choosing South Africa After a Life of Wandering 00:00:57 First Impressions: The Mountain, Ocean, and Wellness 00:05:53 Growing Up Nigerian: From Sierra Leone to Lagos 00:06:36 Leaving Home at 18: The Move to Maryland for College 00:08:14 The Coffee Shop Incident: Cultural Shock and Survival Mode 00:11:56 The Ridiculous Questions: Do You Have Toilets in Africa? 00:19:43 Tragedy Strikes: Losing an Aunt and Learning to Braid Hair 00:21:45 Three in a One-Bedroom: Reuniting with Mom and Brother 00:23:44 Fear as Foundation: The Sheltered Life That Kept Her Grounded 00:25:59 Meeting Her Husband: A Howard Connection Through a Birthday Party 00:33:12 The IVF Journey: Paying for Your Children Out of Pocket 00:34:27 Intentional Parenting: Travel, Values, and Celebrating Birthdays Abroad 00:38:18 The Village: Raising Kids with Family and Fierce Loyalty 00:46:07 The Box System: How She Categorizes People in Her Life 00:50:28 The Move to Lesotho: A Soft Landing on the Continent 00:54:07 Depending on a Man: The Hardest Thing She Ever Did 00:58:14 Cape Town Calling: When Education Forced the Next Move 01:07:59 The Reality of Being Black in Cape Town: Assumptions and Microaggressions 01:12:53 Why South Africa Works: Affordability, Belonging, and Being Seen 01:17:34 Nigeria: The Uncle Who Sent You to School but Molested You 01:23:16 Religion vs Relationship: Unlearning Fear-Based Faith 01:28:33 Empty Nest and Therapy: Sending the Twins Back to America 01:31:07 Marriage After 20 Years: Resentment, Distance, and Choosing to Stay 01:39:02 The Postcard: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, and The Beautiful #SouthAfrica #CapeTown #Nigeria #Lagos #ExpatLife #Maryland #Howard #Lesotho #BlackWomen #Healthcare #IVF #Parenting #IntentionalParenting #GlobalChildren #EmptyNest #Marriage #20Years #Religion #Faith #Belonging #Microaggressions #OldMoney #Wellness #Community #Village #Support #MovingAbroad #LivingAbroad #ChoosingYourself #Podcast #AprilJackson #BabesHowDidYouGetHere #FindingHome #BuildingFamily #TheContinent
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  I Left a High-Paying NYC Fashion Job to Teach Ballet in Cambodia—My Family Thought I Was Mad! 10.07.2026 48min

  A corporate fashion designer boards a plane to Cambodia for a one month holiday. She's not running from anything. She's not chasing a man. She just Googled "best places for solo female travelers" and Cambodia was number three. Eight years later, she's still here. Teaching fashion to the next generation of Cambodian designers, dancing, modeling, freelancing, and building a life she never could have built in New York. Ray is a multidisciplinary creative who traded her New York cubicle for a $70 tuk tuk ride with a driver who became family, a kindergarten teaching gig she never wanted, and a fashion job she manifested into existence. She grew up in California, moved to Portland, studied in LA, landed in New York working corporate fashion, and hated every second of the cubicle life. So she took a break, Googled Cambodia, and never looked back. This isn't a story about escaping. It's about choosing discomfort over safety, challenge over convenience, and building a life that feeds your soul even when it doesn't make sense on paper. 🔥 What we cover: Why she left New York's corporate fashion scene for a country she'd never been to The $70 tuk tuk driver who took her to meet his family and changed everything Nerd Night and the moment she realized she could actually live here New York summers with no sea breeze and winters that lie to you with sunshine Why she prefers New York bluntness over LA's fake chill energy The racism of teaching: when your skin color affects your qualifications Applying to teach kindergarten and being rejected for a month while a TA taught Two students leaving her class because their parents didn't want a Black teacher How easy it is to get a teaching job in Cambodia if you're white The fashion job she manifested finally calling her after one year of survival jobs Teaching kindergarten seven days a week and ballet on weekends just to stay afloat COVID in Cambodia: lockdown with a different vibe Why she never considered going home during the pandemic The workaholic mentality and learning to stop making herself small Dating for six years straight and losing herself in relationships Trying to find a husband instead of finding herself The year she finally went single and sat with her own thoughts Affirmations, journaling, and learning to speak kindly to herself Redefining success: it's not about money or fame, it's about community and art Why she doesn't agree with what society thinks success looks like Female friendships and learning to let people in Why Cambodia made her the woman she is today Teaching fashion at a Cambodian university and molding the next generation Why most of her students end up working for Chinese owned factories How she switched the curriculum to prepare them for real jobs Doing everything: dancing, modeling, teaching, freelancing, and creating Why you can do everything in Cambodia but you can't in New York Living with intention and learning to say no to opportunities that don't align The year of no and how it changed her entire life Finding your community or leaving because there's nothing else here for you Why she still doesn't speak Khmer after eight years The hardest thing about living here: missing museums, parks, and shopping ⏱️ CHAPTERS: Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: A Multidisciplinary Creative's Journey to Phnom Penh 00:00:27 Corporate Fashion and the Cubicle Life in New York 00:01:00 West Coast Girl Meets East Coast Energy 00:03:36 New York Summers, Brutal Winters, and Learning to Survive 00:06:27 Why Cambodia? A Solo Travel Decision That Changed Everything 00:07:12 First Impressions: Heat, Humidity, and the $70 Tuk-Tuk Man 00:11:08 Nerd Night and Meeting the Expat Community 00:12:08 The Fashion Question: Can I Actually Work Here? 00:12:35 Following Your Gut: The Decision to Move 00:14:16 Leaving New York: When the Fantasy Becomes Reality 00:21:44 Teaching Kindergarten and Ballet: The Survival Jobs 00:23:47 The Racism of Teaching: When Your Skin Color Affects Your Qualifications 00:27:11 The Fashion Job Comes Through: Manifesting Your Dreams 00:29:28 COVID in Cambodia: Lockdown with a Different Vibe 00:37:23 The Workaholic Mentality and Its Double-Edged Sword 00:44:36 Female Friendships and Learning to Let People In 00:50:20 Making Yourself Small in Relationships 00:53:14 Redefining Success: Art, Community, and Intentional Living 00:49:09 Cambodia Made Me Who I Am Today 01:12:09 Teaching Fashion: Molding the Next Generation of Cambodian Designers 01:15:24 Doing Everything: Dance, Model, Teach, and Create 01:16:41 It's the People: Why Cambodia is Home 01:20:43 Living with Intention: Saying No to Say Yes to Yourself #Cambodia #PhnomPenh #NewYork #ExpatLife #FashionDesigner #TeachingAbroad #BlackWomen #SoloTravel #CorporateEscape #LivingAbroad #Workaholic #FemaleFreindships #Relationships #RedefiningSuccess #Community #IntentionalLiving #COVID19 #Lockdown #SelfDiscovery #Podcast #AprilJackson #BabesHowDidYouGetHere #FindingHome #BuildingCommunity #ChoosingYourself
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  I PREFER South African Racism Over British 'Politeness' | She Left The UK After 7 Years 07.07.2026 25min

  She left Cape Town for love. 7 years later, she fled the UK and never looked back. Desmei Collia grew up in a township in Cape Town, South Africa. Her mother worked as a domestic worker — cleaning white people's houses — just to put food on the table. Desmei had no money, no university education, and no examples of success around her. Most of her childhood friends became prostitutes, drug addicts, or alcoholics. But she had one thing they didn't: the fire. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Desmei opens up about: 🔥 Why she PREFERS South African racism over British "politeness" 💍 Meeting her white British husband — a marriage that would have been ILLEGAL 30 years ago 🇬🇧 The shock of watching a WHITE woman clean her house in the UK 💔 Losing her older sister the first year she moved abroad — and why she only took 1 week off 🏚️ Growing up in poverty while her husband grew up skiing in Canada 🗣️ The hidden classism and racism in England that no one talks about ✊🏽 What it really means to be "Colored" in South Africa (and why it's NOT the same as "mixed race") 💰 Why she says "you can't teach the fire" — and why her family is still stuck 🙏🏽 How her mother — who lived through apartheid — accepted her white husband without a word This is not a sad story. This is a success story. From a Cape Town township to a British husband, from cleaning salon floors to becoming a senior hairdresser, from 7 years in the UK to coming home stronger — Desmei's journey will challenge everything you think you know about immigration, interracial relationships, race, and ambition. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⏱️ CHAPTERS: Chapters 00:00:00 "I prefer South African racism" 00:01:36 Meet Desmei: From Cape Town to the UK and back 00:02:45 Growing up in a township with a domestic worker mother 00:05:00 Why she didn't go to university 00:07:20 The two paths: academia or the streets 00:09:20 Breaking into the hair industry from the bottom 00:11:20 "I always knew I'd be somebody" 00:15:30 Losing her sister the year she moved abroad 00:17:30 Meeting her white British husband 00:21:00 Two different worlds: township vs privilege ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎙️ ABOUT THE SHOW: Some people dream of living elsewhere. Other people actually pack up and do it. I'm April Jackson, traveling the world finding interesting people who have moved abroad — sharing their unfiltered truths about identity, belonging, and the true cost of a life elsewhere. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 💬 What would YOU have done in Desmei's shoes? Drop a comment below. 👉🏽 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every week ❤️ LIKE if this conversation challenged you 🔔 Hit the bell so you don't miss the next story Share this with someone who's quietly been thinking about taking that next big leap. 💫 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ #SouthAfrica #UKLife #InterracialMarriage #MovingAbroad #Apartheid #CapeTown #ImmigrationStory #BlackWomen #ColoredCommunity #RaceInUK
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  She Left New York's Symphony for Her Husband's Happiness in Jamaica 03.07.2026 56min

  A professional violinist boards a plane to Jamaica in 1992. She's not coming for reggae or beaches. She's coming to teach at a small college, taste her first mackerel rundown, and discover whether she could build a life on an island she'd never considered home. Twenty years later, she's raising seven musical prodigies in Kingston, navigating Devon House attitude, homeschooling through three continents, and choosing her husband's happiness over Carnegie Hall. Dr. Lisa Walker is a classically trained violinist from Chicago who fell in love with a half Filipino, half Jamaican boyfriend at 21, came to Jamaica as a guest lecturer, and got her first taste of what it means to be an outsider in a place that doesn't hand you anything easily. She married, raised seven children across 50 cities, homeschooled them all, got three kids into New York's Special Music School simultaneously, watched her son win a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music, spent six months in Belgium learning French, and came back to Jamaica because her husband's health depended on it. This is not a story about falling in love with Jamaica. It's about falling in love with someone whose happiness lives here. It's about choosing sacrifice over convenience, building a life that honors your partner's roots, and creating magic for your children even when the resources aren't handed to you. 🔥 What we cover: First trip to Jamaica in 1992 teaching at West Indies College Mackerel rundown, beef patties, and falling in love with the food The Devon House reality check: when the honeymoon phase ended Learning to "suite people up" to get good service in Jamaica Starting violin at nine years old and practicing nine hours a day The teacher who made her feel like the greatest thing since sliced bread Auditioning for Chicago's Civic Orchestra and breaking all the rules Walking into an audition and speaking when you're supposed to stay silent The screen, the silence, and the sigh that told her she messed up Raising seven children who all play strings How each child chose their instrument based on what sound they crawled toward Homeschooling because no school could meet her children's needs The gifted child who got moved up three grades and felt socially isolated The Black son placed in the lowest class until a state test proved otherwise Teachers playing with math scores to keep celebrity kids on top Why she pulled her kids out of Jamaican schools Living in 50 cities across the world to give her children a global education Getting all three kids into New York's Special Music School Moving to Belgium for six months so the kids could learn French Spending $10,000 USD a month maintaining two lives Why they came back to Jamaica: her husband's health depended on it Watching Courtney drop 20 years the moment he stepped back on the island Choosing his happiness and longevity over her access to resources What it means to sacrifice your convenience for someone else's dream Teaching performance based pedagogy to Jamaican kids Why every child should learn an instrument ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⚠️ REAL TALK: This episode is about sacrifice, partnership, and what it means to choose someone else's home over your own comfort. It's about what happens when you're a world class musician who could live anywhere, but you choose the place that keeps your husband alive. When you homeschool seven children because no institution will meet their needs. When you move across 50 cities to give your kids the world. New episodes every week from around the world. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Violin That Became Her Friend 00:02:32 First Taste of Jamaica: Teaching at West Indies College in 1992 00:06:45 The Devon House Incident: Learning to Suite Them Up 00:17:11 Behind the Screen: The Audition That Went Wrong 00:15:31 Starting at Nine: The Race to Catch Up in Classical Music 00:20:29 Seven Children, Seven Instruments: How They Each Choose 00:27:09 The School System That Couldn't Accommodate Them 00:39:03 Homeschooling Seven: The Manager, Not the Teacher 00:41:26 The Social Myth: Why Homeschool Kids Are More Confident 00:42:43 Fifty Cities and Counting: Raising Global Citizens 00:44:49 The Belgium Experiment: Six Months in French School 00:48:37 Why Jamaica: The Experiment That Made Courtney Drop Twenty Years 00:49:42 Choosing His Dream Over Carnegie Hall #Jamaica #Chicago #Kingston #ExpatLife #Violinist #ClassicalMusic #Homeschooling #RaisingSeven #GiftedChildren #MusicEducation #BerkleeCollegeOfMusic #SpecialMusicSchool #Belgium #GlobalChildren #Parenting #Sacrifice #InterracialMarriage #PartnershipGoals #ChoosingLove #CulturalAdjustment #MovingAbroad #LifeInJamaica #Podcast #AprilJackson #BabesHowDidYouGetHere #FindingHome #BuildingFamily #LivingAbroad
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  From Chicago to Kingston: The Violinist Who Chose Jamaica Over Carnegie Hall 30.06.2026 51min

  A classically trained violinist from Chicago marries a Jamaican man. She visits the island in 1992 expecting sunshine and opportunity. Instead, she gets a Devon House ice cream lady who snaps at her, a healthcare system that airlifts her newborn to Florida, and a school system that manipulates her son's math scores to keep the local elite on top. She stays anyway. Not because Jamaica was easy, but because her husband came alive here. And because she realized she could teach violin at a world class standard anywhere in the world, even from a classroom in Kingston. \n\nDr. Lisa Walker is a professional violinist, a homeschooling mother of seven, and a woman who has lived in over 50 cities across the globe. She's taught violin in Compton, Paris, Belgium, New York, Honduras, and Jamaica. Her students have gone from wielding bows as weapons to sitting in top seats at Florida competitions. Her own children have earned full scholarships to Berklee College of Music, special music schools in New York, and Interlochen summer camps, all while being homeschooled and raised across continents.\n\nBut this isn't a story about privilege or natural talent. It's about a mother who realized early that the system wasn't built for her kids, so she built her own. It's about a woman who chose her husband's health and happiness over convenience, even when it meant recreating an entire life in a country that didn't always welcome her warmly. And it's about raising global children who can speak to a homeless man on a Jamaican beach with the same ease they speak to a concert master in Paris. 🔥 What we cover:First impressions of Jamaica in 1992: macro rundown and reality checks The Devon House ice cream incident that revealed the "sweet up" culture How she became a violinist at nine years old and practiced nine hours a day The teacher who made her feel like the greatest thing since sliced bread Why she homeschools seven children and what that actually looks like Performance based pedagogy: teaching Jamaican kids differently Taking kids from Compton and turning them into top orchestra players The National Children's Home pool party that changed everything Nine Jamaican kids shocking a Florida competition and teachers demanding trophies back Meeting Courtney: the Jamaican man who became the family standard Why they left New York and moved to Jamaica for his health Raising global children who have helpers but know how to busk in Central Park The $400 lesson: making her son earn his recording money on the streets Why Paris is where she felt most understood as an artist Parenting without judgment: asking your children how they want to be disciplined Why all seven kids play strings but none were forced The reality of living in Jamaica as a foreign professional How Jamaican kids learn music differently: it's all about doing, not listening Why she'll never teach music in Jamaica, only technique What it means to be a violinist versus playing violin recreationally The moment her husband dropped 20 years stepping off the plane in Jamaica How she keeps a world class standard in a country with no major orchestra Why homeschooling isn't about desks from 8 to 3, it's about managing resources The privilege of risk and what it takes to raise independent children Why her 20 year old son is now financially independent and just signed his first lease ⚠️ REAL TALK: This episode is about sacrifice, standards, and choosing love over convenience.\n\nIt's about what happens when you're a world class musician and you choose to live in a place that doesn't have Carnegie Hall, when you homeschool seven children because the system won't meet their needs, when you teach kids in Compton and Kingston with the same level of excellence, and when you marry a man whose soul belongs to a country that wasn't always kind to you.\n\nWhether you've ever thought about homeschooling, wondered what it takes to raise globally minded children, questioned whether you can maintain your professional identity in a place that doesn't value it the same way, or struggled with the balance between giving your kids everything and teaching them to earn it, this conversation will challenge you. ⏱️ CHAPTERS: Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: A Violinist's Journey to Jamaica 00:00:36 First Taste of Jamaica: 1992 00:04:50 The Devon House Reality Check 00:10:44 From Nine Years Old to Professional Violinist 00:12:19 The Teacher Who Made All the Difference 00:25:03 Homeschooling Seven Children: The Decision 00:30:38 Performance-Based Pedagogy: Teaching Jamaican Kids #jamaica #Kingston #ExpatLife #Homeschooling #ClassicalMusic #Violin #Parenting #GlobalChildren #RaisingKidsAbroad #MovingToJamaica #InterracialMarriage #BlackLove #MusicEducation #Compton #Paris #NewYork #Belgium #Chicago #CaribbeanLife #HomeschoolJourney #ProfessionalMusician #ViolinTeacher #Podcast #AprilJackson #BabesHowDidYouGetHere #LifeAbroad #Sacrifice #BuildingCommunity #BreakingStereotypes #ModernParenting #FindingHome
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  Talk With April 27.06.2026 54min

  LIVE — Talk With April: Living Abroad, Love & Finding Home Real people. Real journeys. Real lives. This week April Jackson goes live to talk about what it actually feels like to build a life far from where you started — the love stories, the culture shock, and those quiet moments of missing home.
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  "At 17 She Boarded a Plane Alone and Never Went Home Again" 23.06.2026 57min

  A 17 year old girl boards a plane from Botswana to Malaysia. She doesn't know a single person. She's never been to Asia. At the airport, she breaks down crying. Two decades later, she's built businesses across three continents, survived COVID lockdown separated from her partner, raised a global child who sleeps in her bed, and found home in a city she once visited on holiday. Pearl left Botswana at 17 with a scholarship and a dream to escape the shadow of eight older siblings. In Malaysia, she discovered herself through modeling, events, and the freedom to be loud, independent, and unapologetically her. Six years in Singapore followed, then a "temporary" move to Cape Town in 2019 while pregnant. COVID hit. Borders closed. Her Finnish partner was turned away at the airport. For seven months, she was alone with a newborn, a nanny, and a house renovation that wouldn't end. Now she runs fashion and landscaping businesses in South Africa, navigates race dynamics as a Black woman and foreigner, co sleeps with her six year old son, refuses to teach him her native language (yet), and questions whether she's parenting too softly compared to the strict, spanking filled childhood she fled. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🔥 What we cover: Leaving Botswana at 17 and crying in Kuala Lumpur airport Boarding school, A levels, and discovering freedom in Malaysia Culture shock: from African food to Asian spice Going home changed and realizing she'd never move back Six years in Singapore and meeting her Finnish partner COVID lockdown: seven months alone with a newborn in Cape Town Her partner turned away at the airport, separated for months Why Cape Town became home: nature, ease, and opportunity Raising a global child who speaks English but not Setswana Co sleeping with her son and why she won't stop Breaking the cycle: no spanking, no yelling, gentle parenting struggles Starting fashion and landscaping businesses in South Africa Race and business: being Black, foreign, and female in Cape Town The segregation she sees in restaurants and social spaces Public school trauma vs private school privilege The unglamorous truth about moving abroad Motherhood reality: it's harder than she ever imagined The surrogate question: would she have another child? Interracial love and dating across cultures in Asia Why she'd never date someone from her own country The alcohol conversation: teaching kids at home vs sneaking out Having children at 50: selfish or a second chance? Her life on a postcard: champagne by the beach at 8am ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎧 About the show — "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast explores the raw, emotional, and often uncomfortable stories behind people who chose a life elsewhere. New episodes every week from around the world. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⏱️ CHAPTERS: Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: From Botswana to Cape Town via Singapore 00:01:32 COVID Lockdown: Separated and Stranded 00:02:24 Leaving Home at 17: The Malaysia Journey Begins 00:03:12 Airport Breakdown: The Reality of Moving Abroad 00:04:03 From Modeling to Events: Finding Her Path in Asia 00:04:21 Culture Shock: Botswana vs Malaysia 00:05:26 Going Home Changed: The First Visit Back 00:08:07 Dreams Deferred: Why Botswana Couldn't Hold Her 00:09:14 Singapore Years: Six Years in the Lion City 00:10:41 Meeting Across Cultures: A Finnish-Botswana Love Story 00:12:02 Cape Town Calling: Why This City Became Home 00:13:15 Raising a Global Child: Language, Culture, and Identity 00:16:21 Breaking the Cycle: Parenting Differently 00:35:11 The Transformation: Eight Months in Asia 00:26:21 Fashion and Landscaping: Building Business in South Africa 00:29:10 Race and Business: Navigating South African Dynamics 00:40:48 The Education Debate: Public School Trauma vs Private School Privilege 00:46:57 Moving Abroad: The Unglamorous Truth 00:17:38 Motherhood Reality Check: It's Not What She Expected 01:19:47 The Surrogate Question: Body, Time, and Future Children 01:17:50 Interracial Love: Finding Connection Beyond Borders 01:16:47 Co-Sleeping and Connection: Parenting Philosophy 01:27:13 The Age Debate: Having Children at 50 and Beyond 01:33:30 Life on a Postcard: Champagne by the Beach #Botswana #CapeTown #SouthAfrica #ExpatLife #Malaysia #Singapore #MovingAbroad #COVIDLockdown #Motherhood #GentleParenting #CoSleeping #InterracialRelationship #GlobalChild #RaisingKidsAbroad #BlackWomanInBusiness #FashionBusiness #Entrepreneurship #RaceInSouthAfrica #CultureShock #LeavingHome #BoardingSchool #AsianExpat #AfricanAbroad #Podcast #AprilJackson #BabesHowDidYouGetHere #FindingHome #ModernMotherhood #LifeAbroad #BuildingCommunity #StartingOver #BreakingTheCycle
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  Street Gangs, Cancer & Cambodia: The Story of a Man Who Refused to Quit 19.06.2026 1t 1min

  A Japanese man dreams of becoming a professional footballer. A street gang attack derails everything at 17. He ends up in Cambodia, survives testicular cancer, navigates divorce, and discovers his life purpose through photography, community, and human connection. Shunsuke, known as Taki, was on track to become a professional footballer in Japan when a random act of violence shattered his ankle and his dream. One day before his trial, a street gang attacked him, leaving him with a broken ankle and torn ligaments. But what could have been the end became a beginning. From advertising executive in Tokyo to country director in Phnom Penh, Taki traded the suffocating pressure of Japanese corporate culture for the chaotic freedom of Cambodia. He built a community through photography, nerd nights, and football, documented everyday life in the streets of Phnom Penh, and gained 50,000 Instagram followers overnight with a single photo of his son. But life abroad wasn't easy. Divorce. Distance from his children. And then, testicular cancer. He went through chemotherapy in Phnom Penh, lost all his hair, kept working, and rang the bell cancer free on Christmas Eve 2023. Now, nine years into his Cambodian life, Taki is building a creative co op called Hitonami, mobilizing photographers, designers, and change makers to solve social issues through creativity and purpose. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🔥 What we cover: From football dreams to street gang violence at 17 The doctor who healed him in 2 months and changed his philosophy Finding his attacker at Yokohama Station and getting revenge Why he chose Cambodia over Europe or America First impressions: red soil, tuk tuks, and BBQ on the streets The generous man who was killed and finding purpose through photography Building community through Nerd Night as an outsider Living in Japan vs Cambodia: the crushing weight of social norms The Instagram photo that got him 50K followers overnight Divorce, distance, and raising kids from another country Testicular cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy in Phnom Penh Losing hair, gaining perspective, and ringing the bell cancer free Lifestyle changes: quitting smoking, drinking less, cooking more Why he'll never go back to Japan Starting Hitonami: a creative co op with purpose Online scams, mafia, and social issues in Cambodia The privilege of risk and entrepreneurship realities Life purpose: meeting people and widening perspectives ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⚠️ REAL TALK: This episode is about resilience, reinvention, and refusing to give up. It's about what happens when your dream gets taken away, when your body betrays you, when your family is thousands of miles away, and you still choose to keep going. Whether you've ever thought about leaving your home country, survived something that nearly broke you, or wondered what it really takes to start over in a place where nobody knows you — this conversation will challenge you, inspire you, and remind you that life is about the people you meet and the perspectives you gain. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 💬 TELL US IN THE COMMENTS: Would you move to a country you'd never visited before? Have you ever had a dream taken away from you? What would your life postcard look like? Drop your thoughts below 👇 We read every single one. 🔁 Share this with someone who needs to hear this story. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎧 About the show — "Babes, How Did You Get Here?" Hosted by entrepreneur & former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast explores the raw, emotional, and often uncomfortable stories behind people who chose a life elsewhere. New episodes every week from around the world. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⏱️ CHAPTERS: Chapters 00:01:46 Living in Japan vs Cambodia: The Pressure of Social Norms 00:04:42 The Street Gang Attack That Ended His Football Career 00:09:05 The Doctor Who Healed Him in 2 Months Instead of 10 00:15:43 Revenge at Yokohama Station: Finding the Gang Member 00:19:51 Why He Chose Cambodia Over Europe or America 00:21:59 First Impressions: Red Soil, Tuk Tuks & BBQ on the Streets 00:29:46 The Generous Who Was Killed & Finding His Purpose Through Photography 00:24:36 Nerd Night & Building Community as an Outsider 00:28:13 The Instagram Photo That Got Him 50K Followers Overnight 00:37:48 Divorce, Distance & Raising Kids From Another Country 00:47:40 Starting Hitonami: A Creative Co op With Purpose #Cambodia #Japan #PhnomPenh #ExpatLife #CancerSurvivor #Reinvention #Photography #Entrepreneurship #LeavingJapan #SoutheastAsia #TesticularCancer #Chemotherapy #Divorce #RaisingKidsAbroad #CreativeCommunity #SocialChange #LifeAbroad #JapaneseExpat #CambodiaLife #Podcast #AprilJackson #BabesHowDidYouGetHere #LifePurpose #HumanConnection #StartingOver #BuildingCommunity #CancerFree #ModernMigration