Available Worldwide
An interview-style podcast by, for, and about the accompanying partners of the US Foreign Service. In each episode, we’ll talk to diplomatic spouses who have discovered superpowers they never knew they had and found success in unlikely places. We highlight voices that will inspire and encourage you as you explore what it means to be “available worldwide.” Hosted by Lauren Steed and Stephanie Anderson foreign service, diplomacy, diplomat, trailing spouse, EFM, expat, abroad,
Episodes
March 7, 2023 • 32 min
From publishing kids' books in the Marshall Islands to teaching astronomy in Nicaragua. From researching cosmic rays in Utah to writing a book on science writing for Johns Hopkins. Jamie has pursued an incredibly varied career.
Everywhere she goes, Jamie tries to level up....and she's done a stellar job! Listen in on our conversation to hear how she lets her wide-ranging interests guide her, and why MacGyver's mullet is ...
Everywhere she goes, Jamie tries to level up....and she's done a stellar job! Listen in on our conversation to hear how she lets her wide-ranging interests guide her, and why MacGyver's mullet is ...
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February 21, 2023 • 41 min
Justin has created a personal career built on a love of problem solving and social entrepreneurship. At each post, he jumps into the challenge of making his new home and finding his new project. Whether that's boat building, catering or invention, he's discovered a new story, a new identity in each new place. In this episode, Justin and I talk about how he finds his new adventures and the way food has been a theme throughou...
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February 14, 2023 • 2 min
A quick mini-episode to ask you to share your love of Available Worldwide by posting the podcast to your local community group, by sharing our homepage with a new EFM at post, or by leaving us a review on Facebook. We love you all!!
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February 7, 2023 • 32 min
Looking for a stable job with career progression from post to post? Valeria would recommend looking at jobs in international education.
After years of working as an educator and administrator, Valeria is taking the first steps into a new venture — resume and cover letter consulting.
In this episode, Valeria walks us through some of the questions she's asked and answered while setting up her portable business. She also shares her ...
After years of working as an educator and administrator, Valeria is taking the first steps into a new venture — resume and cover letter consulting.
In this episode, Valeria walks us through some of the questions she's asked and answered while setting up her portable business. She also shares her ...
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December 20, 2022 • 30 min
Join Lauren & Stephanie for a behind-the-scenes look at the Available Worldwide podcast. In this friendly chat, we reflect on the past year, including our popular Trailing Houses 10-year anniversary interview, and the honor of winning the Champions of Career Enhancement for Eligible Family Members Award.
Everything you wanted to know about creating the only podcast by, for & about the accompanying partners of the US Foreign ...
Everything you wanted to know about creating the only podcast by, for & about the accompanying partners of the US Foreign ...
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December 6, 2022 • 31 min
When Greg Lee says he "helps men get their balls back," he's not advocating toxic masculinity. Instead, through his coaching, he helps men step up their presence, their cognitive engagement and their leadership by redefining their relationship with alcohol.
Join us as we talk about identity, all-or-nothing thinking, and examining the trade-offs we make in life.
Learn more about Greg's work below...
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Many men in the fo...
Join us as we talk about identity, all-or-nothing thinking, and examining the trade-offs we make in life.
Learn more about Greg's work below...
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Many men in the fo...
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November 22, 2022 • 32 min
Heather Emerick's EFM journey is so much like that of Steph and I. She's had jobs on the local economy, volunteered, run her own business, consulted, contracted, and now works a WAE job at FSI itself.
Her story is one of finding optimism where she didn't think she might, and a transformation from being a creature of habit and lover of a particular place to a person who loves the change in variety of life as a diplomatic ...
Her story is one of finding optimism where she didn't think she might, and a transformation from being a creature of habit and lover of a particular place to a person who loves the change in variety of life as a diplomatic ...
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November 9, 2022 • 42 min
Nermine Mansour of Chez Nermine is an advocate of her Egyptian culinary heritage, but she's also an advocate for "trailing spouses" finding their mission.
In this interview, she shares how she developed both professionally and personally while transitioning from being an Egyptian diplomat to an American diplomatic spouse. She describes how she discovered her mission through the mantra, "Your mess is your message."...
In this interview, she shares how she developed both professionally and personally while transitioning from being an Egyptian diplomat to an American diplomatic spouse. She describes how she discovered her mission through the mantra, "Your mess is your message."...
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October 25, 2022 • 30 min
It's not everyday an already expat gets married and find out that being an EFM means you get some new privileges but also lose a few in countries without bilateral work agreements.
It that change is combined with a global pandemic and pivot to doing a lot more online than we ever did before, you might find yourself doing what Dr. Fae did, recreating her traditionally geographically stable profession into something portable.
In ...
It that change is combined with a global pandemic and pivot to doing a lot more online than we ever did before, you might find yourself doing what Dr. Fae did, recreating her traditionally geographically stable profession into something portable.
In ...
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October 12, 2022 • 43 min
October 2022 marks the 10 year anniversary of the founding of Trailing Houses – the unofficial Facebook Group of the Foreign Service. Affectionately known as THOTUS, the group now numbers at around 23,000 members.
Since its inception as a way for a few EFMs from Kathmandu to keep in touch after departing post, it’s grown to be the first stop for questions, answers, information, sharing, and connection for folks serving in Embassies ...
Since its inception as a way for a few EFMs from Kathmandu to keep in touch after departing post, it’s grown to be the first stop for questions, answers, information, sharing, and connection for folks serving in Embassies ...
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September 27, 2022 • 31 min
Christine knows firsthand what a huge effect packout and delivery can have on your leaving and landing when posted abroad or returning home.
In this interview, she recalls when she identified gaps in support during her first international move and describes how she came to create a business to fill that need.
Now dubbed as the "PCS Doula" or "Consumables Concierge," Christine is on a mission to help ease the burden o...
In this interview, she recalls when she identified gaps in support during her first international move and describes how she came to create a business to fill that need.
Now dubbed as the "PCS Doula" or "Consumables Concierge," Christine is on a mission to help ease the burden o...
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September 13, 2022 • 36 min
Lara Center describes some of the changes she's seen in EFM careers and service over her 20+ year as a diplomatic accompanying partner.
Hear her adventures volunteering to preserve the cultural heritage of the countries she's served in, and the ways she's overcome the lack of bilateral work agreements and a desire to find her own role outside of work in the mission.
She also describes her many years of work with the...
Hear her adventures volunteering to preserve the cultural heritage of the countries she's served in, and the ways she's overcome the lack of bilateral work agreements and a desire to find her own role outside of work in the mission.
She also describes her many years of work with the...
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August 30, 2022 • 34 min
Marcelle Yeager has the ultimate entrepreneurial superpower: tackling a lot all at once and with good results.
While earning her MBA, she researched how to continue her career while moving around the world for her spouse's job. Since then, she's started two companies — Serving Talent and Career Valet.
Listen to Marcelle talk about embracing uncertainty, being open to opportunity, and waiting for that lucky break in business.
*...
While earning her MBA, she researched how to continue her career while moving around the world for her spouse's job. Since then, she's started two companies — Serving Talent and Career Valet.
Listen to Marcelle talk about embracing uncertainty, being open to opportunity, and waiting for that lucky break in business.
*...
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August 16, 2022 • 30 min
Mary Jane talks about Mayan Archaeology, running around the world and pursuing a career that wouldn't normally be considered portable.
Listen to her talk about the pros and cons of life as an independent scholar and what it's like to manage a major project from the other side of the world.
Mary Jane Acuña is a Guatemalan-American archaeologist specializing on Ancient Maya culture. Her passion for archaeology developed while ...
Listen to her talk about the pros and cons of life as an independent scholar and what it's like to manage a major project from the other side of the world.
Mary Jane Acuña is a Guatemalan-American archaeologist specializing on Ancient Maya culture. Her passion for archaeology developed while ...
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July 5, 2022 • 29 min
Diana Argueta is an artist and activist who has found a way to blend passion and purpose as a creative entrepreneur. She uses her art to raise awareness and uses her sales to support improving the lives of elephants.
In this interview, we explore the creativity that can come from constraints, the self-doubt of starting over, and mindset shifts that can help.
BIO
Diana Argueta is a Guatemalan entrepreneur and vegan li...
In this interview, we explore the creativity that can come from constraints, the self-doubt of starting over, and mindset shifts that can help.
BIO
Diana Argueta is a Guatemalan entrepreneur and vegan li...
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June 21, 2022 • 31 min
Leslie DeGrande is a trainer and yoga therapist, which is a long way from her initial training in Museum Studies.
In this interview, she shares how a series of closed doors on her career path led her to do something she loves: help people reduce their pain, get unstuck (physically & emotionally), and move with more freedom.
LESLIE'S BIO
Leslie DeGrande blends the scientific and holistic into a Goldilocks "just-right"...
In this interview, she shares how a series of closed doors on her career path led her to do something she loves: help people reduce their pain, get unstuck (physically & emotionally), and move with more freedom.
LESLIE'S BIO
Leslie DeGrande blends the scientific and holistic into a Goldilocks "just-right"...
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June 8, 2022 • 33 min
In this episode, I talk with William Martin, the foreign-born spouse of a US Foreign Service member about balancing two careers by trading off whose career is prioritized at each post, the ups and downs of work as a US Personal Services Contractor, the perils of not writing your own story, and how he has unintentionally come to live the American Dream.
William Martin is an experienced political-economist specialized in challenging ...
William Martin is an experienced political-economist specialized in challenging ...
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May 24, 2022 • 24 min
Briana Wooten is a first-time EFM, among many other roles. As she finishes her first tour, we reflect on the wild ride of trying on new roles and embracing opportunities.
Briana shows us how to balance work and creativity while offering ourselves the "space and grace" to grow in the process.
BIO
Briana Wooten considers herself a jack of many trades. Briana currently works as a Staff Aide Assistant at the U.S. Embassy in Berli...
Briana shows us how to balance work and creativity while offering ourselves the "space and grace" to grow in the process.
BIO
Briana Wooten considers herself a jack of many trades. Briana currently works as a Staff Aide Assistant at the U.S. Embassy in Berli...
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May 10, 2022 • 32 min
Kent is an international educator, business owner and the author of Teaching Overseas
In this episode, we talk about:
how to get international school jobs,
the joys and trials of changing schools and jobs with each post,
how the people make all the difference.
This episode is for all who wonder how you move on from your current level of success and find something new.
How does Kent describe himself?
I knew I wanted to teach U.S. history...
In this episode, we talk about:
how to get international school jobs,
the joys and trials of changing schools and jobs with each post,
how the people make all the difference.
This episode is for all who wonder how you move on from your current level of success and find something new.
How does Kent describe himself?
I knew I wanted to teach U.S. history...
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April 19, 2022 • 27 min
Crystaline is a storyteller and media creatrix who believes in the transformative power of stories. In this episode, we talk about how stories shape our reality, how moving back to DC gave her the "kick in the butt" she needed to rewrite her own narrative, and how even slightly reframing the stories we tell ourselves can lead to tremendous changes in our actions and outlook. She also shares helpful advice on how to avoid th...
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