Chinwag Tuesdays

🔊 Audio Disclaimer: So sorry about the sound quality this week! I had some unexpected mic issues. This is the best balance I could manage between cleaning it up and avoiding distortion. If I left it untouched, there was too much echo — so this version is the best of both worlds (even if not perfect). Thanks for understanding! 💛

In this inspiring Chinwag Tuesdays episode, I sit down with Julia from Germany, a language coach and aca...

Moving countries isn’t just paperwork – it’s personal.

In this powerful Chinwag Tuesdays episode, I’m joined by Katrina James, a Sydney-based counsellor who helps skilled migrants navigate the emotional challenges of moving to Australia. From homesickness and cultural confusion to late-night dinners and job market pressure, Katrina shares what really happens after the visa is approved.

Learn how Aussie culture differs, why feeling lo...

What’s it like moving from bustling Mexico City to the calm and quiet of Perth, Western Australia? In this warm and insightful episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Karen—my very first guest from Mexico—about her journey as a skilled migrant, her career in the IT industry, and the cultural surprises she faced along the way.

Karen opens up about everything from converting pesos to dollars at the supermarket, to adjusting to Aussie...

Why is it so hard to make friends in Australia? What do Aussies really think of migrants in the workplace? This week on Chinwag Tuesdays, I’m joined by Aditya — a tech leader, career coach, and migrant who has lived across India, the US, and now Melbourne.

We chat through his fascinating journey from Amazon and Salesforce to helping new migrants settle in and thrive professionally in Australia. From cultural differences to commu...

From Portugal to Melbourne — Jo’s life is a masterclass in language, culture, and courage. In this Chinwag Tuesdays episode, I chat with Jo: a hyperpolyglot actress, drama teacher, language teacher, and translator who now calls Australia home.

Jo speaks six languages, has worked in international theatre and education across Europe, and shares what it’s really like performing, teaching, and living in multiple languages. We discuss id...

In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Carol, a civil engineer from Brazil living in Sydney. Carol shares her journey of moving to Australia, transitioning from construction to project management, and launching a mentoring business to help other migrants land jobs in their fields. If you're an international student or professional looking to break into the Aussie job market, this episode is packed with insights, strategie...

Want to master an accent that opens doors?

This week on Chinwag Tuesdays, I sits down with Jesús Flores, an inspiring Colombian accent coach living in Michigan who helps learners transform their English pronunciation into a confident American accent. From sci-fi movies and teenage language schools to moonlighting as a pronunciation coach—this episode is full of golden insights for international students, teachers, and migrants alik...

From Townsville to Shanghai and back again — Maree shares her 18-year expat journey teaching English in China.

We go deep into the reality of reverse culture shock, expat identity, starting an education business back in Australia, and how living abroad transforms your perspective forever. If you're an ESL teacher, migrant, or international student navigating life between cultures, this episode is for you.

⌛Chapters / Key Highlights

What does it mean to sound Australian when you’ve grown up multilingual, lived abroad, and still say “France” instead of “France”? This episode with linguist Nick is a love letter to Australian English, culture, and identity — especially from a South Aussie perspective. Get ready for a lively chinwag about Balkan languages, ethnic pride, Aussie small talk, reverse culture shock, and the unique South Australian accent.

Key Highlights

Ready for a real chinwag? This week on Chinwag Tuesdays, I sit down with Richa, a passionate English teacher from India who's taught students from over 15 countries—and she's only just getting started! 🎓🌏

P.S. Just a heads-up—there was a little recording issue towards the end, so the episode ends a bit suddenly. But don’t worry, you won’t miss any of the good stuff!

We chat about the ups and downs of teaching English online, her tr...

In this inspiring episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Dawa — a Nepalese international student, gardener, and aspiring IT professional living in Melbourne. From juggling three jobs and a master's degree to starting a gardening side hustle, Dawa shares the real challenges and wins of migrant life in Australia.

We talk about Aussie slang in trade jobs, navigating cultural differences, working in hospitality and aged care, and how ...

In this heartfelt episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I sit down with Xiang — a Chinese-born art therapist, artist, and migrant living in Melbourne — to unpack her inspiring story of healing, creativity, and adjusting to life in Australia.

Xiang opens up about learning Aussie English, navigating cultural differences, experiencing burnout, and how art therapy became a transformative tool for self-expression and recovery. From designing a mu...

📢 Planning to move to Australia? Avoid these visa mistakes & get expert PR advice! 🇦🇺

In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Aakarsh, an immigration lawyer in Melbourne, about:
✅ The biggest visa mistakes international students make
✅ PR pathways and how to transition from a student visa
✅ Why cultural integration is essential for long-term success in Australia

Aakarsh shares:

• His journey from international studen...

In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I sit down with Leticia, a marketing executive at Pearson, originally from China and now based in Melbourne. 🇨🇳➡️🇦🇺 Leticia shares her journey of studying in Australia, securing PR through marketing (a rare pathway!), and thriving in the Aussie job market.

We discuss:

✅ Moving from China to Melbourne – Why she chose Australia and her experience settling in
✅ Getting PR as a marketing professio...

In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Anish, a civil engineer from Chandigarh, India, now living in Adelaide. 🌏 From growing up in a family of engineers to navigating university life in Australia, Anish shares his journey of career choices, cultural adaptation, and the challenges of settling into a new country.

We dive into his experiences studying in South India, overcoming confidence barriers, landing internships throu...

In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I sit down with Emma from Mmm English, one of the biggest names in online English education! 🌟 Emma shares her journey from teaching in Vietnam to building a YouTube empire with over 6 million subscribers. We dive into the evolution of mmmEnglish, why she stepped away from her channel, and how she created Hey Lady - a thriving online community for women learning English.

🔑 Key Highlights:

🍽️ Fr...

In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I sit down with Tom, an English teacher from Melbourne and the founder of Ace Language Academy. Tom shares his inspiring journey from working in banking and travelling the world to discovering his passion for teaching English. He talks about how his experiences living abroad and learning new languages shaped his teaching philosophy, and how he now helps students build confidence, improve their p...

In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Sukhi, a British English teacher who brings a unique approach to language learning by combining mindfulness, breathwork, and even yoga into his lessons. Sukhi shares his journey from teaching in schools to working independently and how mindfulness can help English learners build confidence, overcome self-doubt, and communicate more effectively.

🔑 Key Highlights:

🧘‍♂️ Mindfulness &...

In the exciting first episode of Season 2 of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Dan from BritSpeak, a British English teacher living in Japan. Dan shares his journey from Sheffield to Japan, his passion for teaching British slang and culture, and the challenges of navigating life in a foreign country. We also explore the quirky differences between British and Australian English, with plenty of laughs and insights along the way!

🔑 Key Hi...