Nomadic Diaries: Mastering Global Transitions

In this episode, Doreen Cumberford welcomes welcomes Mathieu Gagnon, an Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK) and Professor of Psychology at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario specializing in the emotional experiences of third culture kids (TCKs), expats, and people in global transitions.

Mathieu's international upbringing as the son of a Canadian diplomat took him from Paris to Morocco, the Ivory Coast, Haiti, Switz...

Episode Summary: In this insightful episode of Nomadic Diaries, Doreen sits down with Autumn Carolyn—world traveler, writer, and author of Traveling in Wonder—to talk about the realities of moving abroad, the impact of travel on our senses, the power of reflection, and the process of returning home after years overseas.

Autumn shares heartfelt stories from her time living in England and traveling to 30 countries before turning 30, a...

I sat down with Linda Mueller, who was a previous Co-Host for the Re-Entry Series.  Linda is an experienced ExpatPartnerCoach and we dived into the benefits of coaching for people who live in the international and global communities.

Together, we explored what it really means to thrive as a global nomad, especially as an accompanying partner. We cover everything from wrestling with issues of purpose and identity to maintaining relat...

In this episode, we sat down again with Tanya Crossman, a leading expert on Third Culture Kids (TCKs) to catch up on recent research findings. 

Understanding Third Culture Kids

• Defining the TCK Journey: Tanya clarifies what makes a Third Culture Kid—children growing up outside their passport country without plans to settle permanently—and why their experience differs from immigrant children.
• Hidden Struggles, Global Strengths...

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, we sat down with Tanya Crossman, a leading expert on Third Culture Kids (TCKs) whose personal experiences and professional work have made her a trusted voice in the global mobility community.

 Tanya's Third Culture Journey 

Tanya Crossman's journey as a TCK began with moves between Australia and the United States during her childhood, following her father's career path. Her cross-cul...

In this engaging episode of "Nomadic Diaries," host Doreen Cumberford sits down with Marilyn Gardner—a seasoned author and expat who has spent her life living across multiple countries. 

They dive into the essence of rituals and faith and how these elements intertwine with the nomadic lifestyle. Marilyn shares vivid memories from her childhood in Pakistan and discusses how these early experiences shaped her spiritual journ...

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, Doreen interviews Kirtika van Hunen-Malla  who shares her experiences of living across cultures and how Eastern philosophies have shaped her understanding of international living. Here are some key highlights from their conversation:

1. Background & Cross-Cultural Upbringing:
   • Kirtika grew up with a unique blend of Indian and Nepali cultures, which provided her with a rich cultural perspect...

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, we welcome our returning guest, Koen Gomes, a global nomad and horse groom recorded live from San Miguel de Allende. Koen dives into his experiences as a nomadic traveler, flying horses across the globe, and the intricacies involved in this unique lifestyle. We explore Koen's travels over the past six months.

Key Highlights:

• Koen shares details about attending the Olympic Games in Paris an...

In this episode, host Doreen Cumberford chats with Dr. Sally McGregor, a licensed clinical psychologist and adult third culture kid, about the mental health challenges faced by expatriates and globally mobile individuals. 

Dr. McGregor is the founder of Wanderwell Psychology, focusing on the well-being of expatriates, third culture kids, global nomads, and more. They discuss the unique psychological pressures of expat life, the impo...

How a Nat Geo Producer Became a Storyteller Fiction of Imagination

Welcome to the current episode of Nomadic Diaries, where journeys are more than just miles on a map—they're transformations of life and spirit. This week, we're diving into the adventurous life of Neil Laird, a former TV producer and now a novelist, whose career path has migrated from filming National Geographic documentaries to authoring comedic, fant...

Nomadic Diaries Episode: International Women's Day Special

Host: Doreen Cumberford

In this episode, we have combined the voices of six women who I interviewed over the last year. Each one is unique, works in international and intercultural situations, and has at least one golden nugget of wisdom to contribute to our lifestyles.

Meet:

• Iliana Jankova: Moved from Hungary to the US with $200. Iliana's story embodies courage a...

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, host Doreen Cumberford sits down with cross-cultural communication expert Kathy Ellis to explore the intricate world of cultural adaptation and repatriation. 

From her humble beginnings in small-town Midwest America to living in six different countries and visiting over 40, Kathy shares her fascinating journey of becoming a global citizen and helping others bridge cultural divides.

Throughout the c...

Join Doreen Cumberford, the host for a delightful conversation with Margaret Ghielmetti, author of "Brave(ish)," who reveals how living abroad transformed her life from the inside out. Margaret shares her refreshingly honest take on finding courage in unexpected places and building what she playfully calls "superpowers" through facing fears head-on.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why being "b...

What happens when a 13-year-old in Malawi needs emergency medical evacuation, but their insurance has just expired? Andrew Jernigan shares the dramatic story and reveals how proper international insurance can be the difference between life and death.

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, Doreen sits down with Andrew Jernigan, CEO of Insured Nomads, to unravel the complexities of international insurance for global citizens. 

Andrew shar...

Imagine unlocking the power of your subconscious to achieve your dreams. In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, host Doreen Cumberford introduces us to the life-changing tool of vision boards, detailing how they can help expats and nomads achieve their goals through visualization and intentionality. Whether you are departing or arriving, an expat, nomad or repat vision boards can be a worthy tool.

Enhanced Focus through Visu...

In this episode host Doreen Cumberford interviews Iliana Genkova, who shares her remarkable journey from Bulgaria to building a life across multiple continents. Starting with just $200 in her pocket, Iliana moved to the United States in 1999, marking the beginning of her global adventures. Her story demonstrates how sometimes the best plans are a mix of preparation and embracing the unknown.

After securing U.S. citizenship, Iliana&a...

In this week's soul-stirring episode of Nomadic Diaries, I sat down with the remarkable Elizabeth Pritchard to explore how living overseas builds unshakeable grit and resilience. 

Elizabeth shares how each international challenge she faced – from cultural misunderstandings to complete life rebuilds – became a building block for developing true mental toughness. Her insights on turning adversity into advantage had me c...

Join me on a fascinating journey through the life and insights of John McEntire, a global citizen whose experiences span over five decades and traverse the cultural landscapes of Japan, Taiwan, Qatar, and beyond. 

John holds a certification with Jack Canfield to teach the success principles and has visits to 40 countries under his belt.  He has also developed a unique perspective on how cultural understanding and synchroni...