As we continue our new collection of conversations with inspiring people from within our community, we’re hearing from people who are showing us the many different ways it’s possible to build a fulfilling life and career around a diplomatic and globally mobile life.

In this episode, we’re joined by Heather Butler, a social entrepreneur and management consultant and the founder of Zaliwa.

After moving to Kenya in 2021 for her husband’s diplomatic posting, Heather came across a beautiful bag made entirely from sweet wrappers. Struck by the waste crisis and lack of job opportunities she was seeing around her, this unexpected discovery sparked an idea that would eventually become Zaliwa.

Meaning “to be born” in Swahili, Zaliwa is about the art of rebirth. Heather brings unique, handcrafted goods made from recycled materials to the global market, building a product-based business across three different countries.

In this episode, we explore:

• Moving to Kenya with the intention of working remotely, only to discover that remote work wasn’t feasible in the way she had expected
• How Heather created her own sense of purpose when she no longer had a paid job role
• How one bag made from sweet wrappers sparked the idea for Zaliwa
• The realities of building a product-based business across borders
• How Heather has navigated sourcing, production and selling physical products while living a globally mobile life

Heather’s story is a brilliant reminder that sometimes the opportunities we create for ourselves come from simply paying attention to what is happening around us.

What started with a move to Kenya, a bag made from sweet wrappers and a growing awareness of the challenges around waste and employment has evolved into a business that Heather is building across borders and taking with her through her globally mobile life.

We hope these conversations inspire you to see your own possibilities differently and remind you that there isn’t one right way to build a career, create opportunities or make this globally mobile life work for you.

Zaliwa – Instagram & TikTok: @zaliwa.co Website: zaliwa.co.uk

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

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

https://tally.so/r/nP7zO5

As we continue our collection of conversations with inspiring people from within our community, we’re hearing from people who are showing us the many different ways it’s possible to build a fulfilling career and life around a diplomatic and globally mobile life.

In this episode, we’re joined by Laura, a Speech and Language Therapist who specialises in working with adults with aphasia. Laura is currently living in Chile with her husband and two sons, and her journey is a brilliant example of what can happen when determination, perseverance and creativity meet the challenges of a globally mobile career.

In this episode, we explore:

• The challenges of navigating bilateral agreements as a professional living overseas
• What it meant for Laura’s professional licence
• The determination and perseverance it took to keep pursuing her career
• Why sometimes you have to find your own route when the traditional career path doesn’t fit your life

Laura’s story is a wonderful reminder that sometimes making this globally mobile life work for you means finding a different route to where you want to go. It’s about being willing to persevere, get creative and take that next confident step, even when the path isn’t straightforward.

We hope these conversations inspire you to see your own possibilities differently and remind you that there isn’t one right way to build a career, create opportunities or make this globally mobile life work for you.

The Aphasia Space – www.aphasia.space | Instagram: @aphasia.space

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

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

https://tally.so/r/nP7zO5

As we move on from our confidence series, we’re starting a new collection of conversations with inspiring people from within our community who are showing us the many different ways it’s possible to build a fulfilling life around a diplomatic and globally mobile life.

We’ll be hearing real stories of confidence, career, identity, reinvention and the choices people have made to create opportunities for themselves, wherever in the world they find themselves.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Aoife Kenny, a New Zealander born to Irish parents and a self-described citizen of the world. Through her own career and her husband’s UN postings, Aoife has lived in nine different countries and has continually evolved her career alongside an incredibly mobile life.

In this episode, we explore:

• The realities of UN diplomatic life and how it differs from embassy life
• How Aoife has used her medical degree to create different opportunities across different countries
• Finding ways to build a career that can evolve and move with you
• How her experiences in medicine, international public health, humanitarian aid and yoga have shaped what she does today
• Aoife’s current work supporting women through perimenopause and menopause
• How she is building a global women’s health offering from Bhutan

Aoife’s story is a wonderful example of what can happen when you stop trying to fit your life into one fixed definition of success and instead remain curious about what is possible.

We hope these conversations will inspire you to see your own possibilities differently and remind you that there isn’t one right way to make this globally mobile life work for you.

Instagram: @draoifekenny Website: www.aoifekenny.com LinkedIn: Aoife Kenny

Substack: https://substack.com/@draoife

ASK your questions on our anonymous link:

https://tally.so/r/nP7zO5

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

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

We’ve spent this confidence series talking about rebuilding your confidence, rediscovering who you are, and finding confidence beyond your job title. But what happens when you know what you want, yet still can’t quite bring yourself to take the next step?

In this episode, we turn confidence into action and explore what it really means to have the courage to design a life that feels right for you, even when you don’t have all the answers.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why we often wait to feel confident, ready, or certain before taking action
• How fear can hold us back from creating the life we actually want
• Using future self visualisation to get clear on what you really want

This episode reminds us to stop waiting for certainty and start taking small steps towards the life you want. Designing your life doesn't mean having everything figured out, it means choosing what matters to you and having the courage to take the next step.

And remember:

You don't need to feel ready to begin. Sometimes, confidence comes because you began.

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 | zestie.carrd.co

For many diplomatic and expat partners, four simple words can feel surprisingly difficult to answer: "What do you do?" Whether you're working, taking a career break, raising children, volunteering, studying, or still figuring out your next chapter, this question can leave you questioning your identity, confidence, and sense of purpose.

In this episode, we unpack why this question feels so loaded and share practical coaching tools to help you answer it with confidence, no matter what season of life you're in.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why we often tie our identity and self-worth to our job title
• Practical ways to answer "What do you do?" with confidence and authenticity, whether you're working or not

This episode is a reminder that your worth isn't determined by your job title or productivity. You are so much more than your career, and your story deserves to be told with confidence. We hope you'll leave this conversation feeling empowered to answer one of the most common questions in diplomatic life with authenticity and pride.

🌱 Want to go deeper?

If today's episode resonated with you and you're ready to rediscover your confidence, identity, and purpose overseas, Emma would love to support you.

Find out more about Roots & Wings:

https://tinyurl.com/zestieRootsWings

Or explore The Portable You:

https://tinyurl.com/Zestieportableyou

If you'd like to find out more about Anna's coaching sessions, send her a DM on Instagram @Notjustaspouse

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 | zestie.carrd.co

Moving overseas can leave you questioning who you are. When your career, routines, friendships, and sense of familiarity are left behind, it's easy to believe you've lost part of yourself. Many diplomatic and expat partners feel the pressure to "reinvent" themselves with every new posting—but is that really what's needed?

In this episode, we challenge the idea that every move requires you to become someone new. Instead, we explore how overseas life can be an opportunity to rediscover the strengths, values, and qualities that have been with you all along.

In this episode, we explore:

- The difference between reinventing yourself and rediscovering who you've always been

- How our roles, careers, and routines can become intertwined with our sense of self

- Reflective ways to reconnect with yourself

Every posting adds to who you are rather than taking away from it. Sometimes, finding yourself overseas isn't about reinventing your life, it's about rediscovering the person who has been there all along.

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 | zestie.carrd.co

Confidence can feel elusive in diplomatic life. Every move asks you to start again, rebuild your routines, redefine your identity, and step into unfamiliar environments. It's no wonder so many diplomatic partners question themselves along the way.

In this episode, we unpack where confidence really comes from and why it isn't something you're born with, but something you build through experience, self-trust, and taking small courageous steps.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why confidence often takes a hit when you move overseas
• The myth that confident people never experience self-doubt
• Why confidence grows through action, not before it
• Ways to rebuild confidence, from celebrating small wins to learning to embrace being a beginner
• How self-compassion can help you navigate uncertainty and quiet your inner critic
• A simple reflection exercise to help you recognise just how much you've already overcome

This episode is a reminder that confidence is about trusting yourself to navigate whatever comes next. Every posting, every challenge, and every new beginning is another opportunity to strengthen your confidence and become the person you're growing into.

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 | zestie.carrd.co

We're celebrating one year of the UNPACKED podcast. What started as honest conversations about the realities of diplomatic life has become a space for connection, reflection, and community for partners navigating this unique lifestyle around the world.

In this special anniversary episode, we have a massive catch up and reflect on what has happened in the last few months and where we find ourselves midway through this one.

In this episode, we explore:

Emma's reflections on the first 13 weeks of motherhood since welcoming her new baby

Anna's update on life since her evacuation from Lebanon and where she and her children are now

The challenges, surprises, and moments of joy that have defined this transition in our lives

The intentions we are setting as we move into the next chapter of the year and the next year of UNPACKED

Whether you've been listening since episode one or have recently found our podcast, thank you for being part of this incredible community and for unpacking diplomatic life with us.

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 | zestie.carrd.co