As summer travel wraps up and school schedules kick in, September often feels like the real New Year for families. It’s a chance to reset, find your new routines, and reclaim a sense of independence in a life that’s often dictated by someone else’s posting, schedule, or demands.

In this conversation, we unpack:

• Why September feels like a natural reset in diplomatic life
• How to create routines and new habits that give you more space for you
• Different tools on how we can change the way we see ourselves to feel more empowered, motivated and actually have more success wherever you are in the world

This isn’t about perfection or rigid schedules it’s about building habits and routines that support your independence, your family, and your well-being, no matter where your posting takes you.

ASK your questions on our anonymous link;

https://tally.so/r/nP7zO5

🎧 Connect with your hosts:

Anna – Instagram: @notjustaspouse | notjustaspouse.com | anna@notjustaspouse.com

Emma – Instagram: @thezestielife | emma@zestie.org

We’re kicking off a brand-new mini-series on the subtle ways diplomatic life can quietly shift you into dependency- on a person, a system, or a lifestyle- without you even noticing.

In this first conversation, we unpack:

• One of the first small, everyday signs that you might be sliding into a more dependent role
• How it affects your sense of identity, autonomy, and confidence
• The role that location, lifestyle, and partner dynamics play in reinforcing it
• Simple and practical tools to start reclaiming your independence and empowerment

This isn’t about judgement, it’s about awareness. Because once you can see the patterns, you can start to choose differently.

ASK your questions on our anonymous link;

https://tally.so/r/nP7zO5

🎧 Connect with your hosts:

Anna – Instagram: @notjustaspouse | notjustaspouse.com | anna@notjustaspouse.com

Emma – Instagram: @thezestielife | emma@zestie.org

When you’re constantly relocating, traditional career paths often go out the window. In this episode of Unpacked, we explore the idea of portfolio and portable careers the often non-linear ways diplomatic partners build meaning and identity through work, reinvention, and creative adaptation.

We ask:

- Are we constantly reinventing, or simply expressing our purpose in new forms?

- What does it look like to shift between employment, freelancing, consulting?

We also get honest about:

-The emotional side of reinvention

-The hidden power in flexibility (and the hidden cost)

-The realities of self-employment vs. formal employment abroad

-The pressure to “make it count” when you do get an opportunity

And that sticky question… which partner is lucky?

Whether you're in the middle of a pivot or just wondering what’s next, this episode is for you.

🎧 Connect with your hosts:

Anna – Instagram: @notjustaspouse | notjustaspouse.com | anna@notjustaspouse.com

Emma – Instagram: @thezestielife | emma@zestie.org