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A grounded conversation on cultural roots, status loss, and the courage it takes to build a life that actually fits you.

In this episode, we get into the real, unpolished truth of what happens when you move abroad and suddenly find your identity being questioned or misunderstood.

My guest, Manuelita Antonio Rangel Sosa is a Venezuelan American artist, architect, designer, mother, and founder — and her story will feel familiar to anyone who has ever had to rebuild themselves in a new country.

We talk about cultural roots, the quiet “status loss” that happens in America, the humor you need to survive it, and the courage it takes to build the life no one is going to hand you.

What we cover:

• How cultural roots keep you steady when the world misreads you
• The subtle hierarchies immigrant women run into in the U.S.
• Humor as a way to push back when people question your belonging
• Why so many immigrant women end up creating the jobs no one will give them
• What “home” becomes when you’ve lived more years abroad than back home
• A practical gift for the woman who has just landed with two suitcases and a passport

Key takeaways

• Cultural roots aren’t nostalgia — they’re stability.
• Thriving abroad requires emotional intelligence, humor, and a defiant mindset.
• Empowerment abroad is about audacity: you carve the path yourself.

If this episode resonates, share it with another woman building a life abroad.

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For expat and immigrant women who feel drained, unseen, or lonely in your new friendships abroad.

Are the connections you’re making abroad actually right for you, or are they slowly draining you? In this solo episode of Places We Call Home, I share three clear signs that the friendships and communities you’re trying to build in your new country are not aligned with who you are — and what to do when you notice them.

I talked about what it looks like to shrink yourself just to fit in, how it feels when you’re physically present but emotionally invisible, and why your body often tells you the truth about a space long before your mind catches up. I also share a personal story from my early days as an expat woman in the USA, when I had to decide where my line was and what it meant to belong to myself first.

Walk away with:

• Three signs you're shrinking to fit in abroad and
• How to reclaim your voice as an expat woman

If you’re an expat or immigrant woman living in the US, or for you in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, or anywhere else in the world, and you’re walking away from gatherings feeling lonelier than when you arrived, this episode is for you.

You’ll leave with language for what you’re experiencing, three signs to watch for, and a gentle reminder that you deserve connections that nourish you, not connections that cost you pieces of yourself.

Download each episode. Connect to people and their stories.

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What does it really mean to start over in a country where no one knows your story?

Ghirmay is a US citizen. He arrived over 18 years ago with no English, no family, and no way to return home. His journey is a true immigrant story of life in the USA, resilience, overcoming homesickness, overcoming loneliness, resilience and pure grit.

He washed dishes, went to ESL classes, and slowly shaped a new identity. this is the unglamorous side of life in the USA—the culture shock, the pride and the quiet victories that come from starting over with nothing but determination. This isn’t about overnight success, it's about overcoming the psychological impact of moving abroad alone.

If you’ve ever felt like you were beginning again — in a new country like the USA or reinventing yourself — his story will stay with you.

In this episode you'll hear:

• Building life from scratch in a place where nothing is handed to you, and
• Living with the weight of not knowing if you'll ever go back home
• Finding identity, stability, and belonging far from where your story began

Follow the show for weekly podcast episodes about move abroad, expat life, where is home? overcoming homesickness, tools, strategies to thrive and find your voice as an expat woman.

https://www.instagram.com/placeswecallhomepod