Meet Umberto,

Born and raised in Italy, he grew up with a picture of his grand father in Brooklyn, and that became his life goal. Travelling to New York, he started networking in the airport, while waiting in line to board the plane, little did he know this person would later become his very first employer in New York.

They stayed in touch, and a few months later he was offered a job. Then off he went to New York, the rest is history. Ambitious and hard working he settled right in to the fast paced environment, learning the language, how to adapt to the work culture and understanding the power of networking.

He shares his recommandation for the best 🍕italian pizza in New York and rooftop views.

His expat song: Not afraid by Eminem

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Credits:

Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king

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Meet Selena, an American expat who moved from Texas to Madrid at just 24, despite never having visited the city before.

Eight years later, Selena is still living in Spain and has gone through quite the expat journey, from teaching English and learning Spanish to navigating multiple visas, building a community from scratch, and eventually switching to Spain’s digital nomad visa.

In this episode, Selena shares what motivated her to leave the US and try life in Europe after a six-week backpacking trip opened her eyes to a different way of living. She talks about why the sense of community she discovered in Europe made such an impression on her, and how she took the leap to move to Madrid without knowing exactly what the future would look like.

We also talk about one of the biggest challenges of expat life: building a community from scratch. Selena shares how joining a football group helped her meet people from all over the world and led to friendships that have lasted almost eight years. Her advice? Put yourself out there, even when it feels uncomfortable. You never know where one conversation might lead.

Selena also talks about learning the local language and integrating into Spanish life, why she believes you can't really get by with English alone, and how learning Spanish has made everyday life, bureaucracy and finding accommodation much easier.

We compare Madrid with other parts of Spain, talk about the slower pace of life, the importance of patience, and why expats should always have a Plan B, C and sometimes even D when it comes to bureaucracy and visas.

Selena shares some of her favourite Madrid restaurants, tapas bars and cafés.

Selena's Madrid recommendations:

• 🍴 La Confusa – Traditional Spanish tapas, plus an excellent cheesecake
• 🍷 Taberna de la Copla – Vermouth and classic Spanish tapas in Malasaña
• 🍽️ Cantina Singular – Small family-run restaurant with a twist on Spanish food, near Metro Bilbao
• 🍷 Casa Alberto – Historic restaurant in Madrid's Literary Quarter, known for its vermouth
• 🍷 Lamiak – Great tapas, wine and sharing plates
• 🍸 La Berlona Bar – Chic and slightly more upscale, perfect for a date or when you want to impress
• 🍷 Hermanos Vinagre – Casual, fun and very Spanish
• 🎨 Los Gabrieles – Historic tapas bar with beautiful interior details, including paintings and tilework
• ☕ Maria Peperina Cantina – Great coffee and big windows in Arganzuela
• 🥐 Casa Victoria – Central café with a fun atmosphere, brunch and great coffee

🎵 Selena's expat song: Vivir la Vida by Marc Anthony – a feel-good salsa track that captures the fun, energy and rhythm of life in Spain.

If you're thinking about moving to Spain, starting a new life abroad, or simply wondering what it takes to build a life and community in another country, this episode is for you.

Listen to the episode and discover Selena's journey from Texas to Madrid!

Follow for more expat stories:

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Credits:

Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Meet with Urmi,

an Italian with Bengali roots who grew up in Italy, spent time in the UK, and has now been living in Montreal, Canada for the past decade.

Urmi is a Third Culture Kid, and her story is one of navigating different identities. Growing up with Bengali parents in Italy, she experienced a “dual life”: one version of herself at school and another at home. She shares the challenges of feeling both Italian and not quite Italian, while also feeling different within her Bengali community.

We follow her journey from Sicily to Northern Italy, then to the UK as a teenager, before she eventually made the move to Canada — this time entirely by her own choice.

Montreal turned out to be a surprising fit. Urmi talks about discovering a city that is deeply multicultural and bilingual, where she now works in French despite having studied in English. She also shares the little things that help her recreate a feeling of home.

We also dive into working in Canada, including some important advice for anyone hoping to build a career in Montreal. Urmi explains why networking, LinkedIn, professional references and mentorship can be particularly important in the Canadian job market — and why being able to work in both French and English can make a major difference in Quebec.

And as a TCK, does she see Montreal as her final home? Not necessarily. We talk about the idea that once you've grown up moving, you may always keep the door open to another country, another opportunity and another adventure.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Growing up Italian with Bengali parents

• The challenges of having a dual cultural identity

• Life as a Third Culture Kid

• Moving from Italy to the UK as a teenager

• Discovering multicultural Montreal

• Finding a job in Canada as an expat

• Finding pieces of Italy in Montreal

• Why TCKs may always feel ready for another move

📍 Urmi's Montreal recommendations:

• ☕ Café Italia — a 70-year-old Italian café where Urmi goes for coffee, Italian conversation and a taste of home.

• 🍕 Pizzeria Gemma — for Italian-style, thin-crust pizza.

• 🍰 Casa di Totò — a Neapolitan family-run spot for Italian treats including cannoli, coda d’aragosta and sfogliatelle.

🎵 Urmi's Expat Song: Perdono — Tiziano Ferro

🎙️ Urmi's podcast: Stories Beyond Borders — a podcast exploring immigration stories, Third Culture Kids, identity and the meaning of home.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and follow Meet the Expats on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for more stories from people building lives across borders.

Follow for more expat stories:

📘 Meet the Expats Blog

📹 Youtube Channel

📱 Instagram

📱TikTok

Credits:

Intro outro Ice tea, Not the king

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.