The Expat Reality Podcast with Annie and Steve

What started as a random chat at Matso’s in Broome turned into one of those conversations you don’t forget.In this episode, we sit down with Lesley-Anne Merrigan, who left Dublin earlier this year and is now backpacking her way through Australia. She’s currently in Broome completing her 88 days of farm/regional work on a Working Holiday Visa — the requirement you need to tick off if you want to apply for a second year in Australia.We talk about what pushed her to leave Ireland (career frustration, cost of living, feeling stuck), and what it’s actually been like landing in remote WA. The heat. The isolation. The culture shock. The “what have I done?” moments. And then — the shift — when uncertainty starts to feel like freedom.We also get into something that doesn’t get talked about enough in backpacker circles: understanding and respecting Indigenous Australian culture, especially in regional towns where you’re far more exposed to the realities of the country than you are in the big cities.If you’re thinking about doing your 88 days, applying for a second-year visa, or you’re already here questioning your life choices — this episode will feel very familiar.We chat about:Why she left Dublin (and why London and Dubai weren’t the answer)What the 88 days really look like on a Working Holiday VisaWhy doing regional work can give you more leverage for sponsorship laterCost of living: Ireland vs AustraliaBroome backpacker life, slang, and “Broome time”Learning to live with uncertainty instead of fighting itFollow Lesley-Anne on Instagram: @lesleyannemerrigan_____________________________________________________________Follow us for more updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LondonerInSydneyRead our Australian Travel Blog: https://londonerinsydney.com/Australian Visa Migration Services: Get 50% off your first visa consult with Migration Unity - Code: ANNIEhttps://migrationunity.com/?am_id=Annie

What happens after the big lap ends, the boxes are unpacked, and the “new life” becomes everyday life?In this episode of The Expat Reality Podcast, Annie and Steve sit down in person with returning guests Emma and Kieran (watch Emma's previous episode here) to hear what the last 15 months have really been like since their move from Sydney to Margaret River, Western Australia.We talk about the shift from feeling like a visitor to becoming a resident, why community doesn’t magically appear when you relocate, and the practical steps they took to build connection, purpose, and belonging. Emma shares how volunteering (including community pantry work and local conservation initiatives) opened doors into the community, and Kieran explains why he launched a local chapter of Tough Guy Book Club as a way to tackle male loneliness and create a simple, structured space for men to connect.Along the way, we cover the realities of expat friendship-making, the lifestyle contrast between big-city living and a smaller regional town, and the unexpected ways place, values, and life stage shape what “settled” actually means.If you’re considering a move, feeling stuck in the in-between, or wondering how to find your people in Australia, this one will resonate.We accidentally lost the video recording of this podcast episode so there's no video for this one sorry!Episode highlightsUK to Australia, the big lap, and why Margaret River became “the place”The difference between being a tourist and being a residentVolunteering as a shortcut to community and belongingMaking friends as an adult expat: what actually worksKieran’s Tough Guy Book Club chapter and the conversation around male lonelinessLifestyle contrasts: Sydney vs Margaret River (nature, pace, produce, and day-to-day life)Why “settled” is often built intentionally, not discoveredFollow EmmaInstagram: @weirhere (Emma) — https://www.instagram.com/weirhere/ Tough Guy Book ClubFind a local chapter / learn more — https://www.toughguybookclub.com/find_usStart a chapter — https://www.toughguybookclub.com/start_a_chapterListen / watch / follow The Expat Reality PodcastYouTube (video podcast) — https://www.youtube.com/@LondonerInSydneyInstagram (our main channel) — https://www.instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/Website - https://londonerinsydney.com/ResourcesGet a FREE Visa Assessment with True Blue Migration Services by mentioning 'Londoner In Sydney' - https://truebluemigration.com/assessment/ 10% off Star RV Motorhomes - Code: LIS10 Download the exact same finance tracker we used to save $50K in 8 Months. Discount code: ANNABEL10 - https://coplenty.com/annabel

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation.What happens when you build a life in Australia, and then you’re told you have to leave?In this episode, we sit down with Nathan Joseph (yes, that Nathan — Love Island alum turned massive online fitness and mental health voice) to talk about a side of expat life most people don’t see… until it happens to them.Nathan shares how his move to Australia started during one of the hardest periods of his life, and why Australia felt like a reset he genuinely needed. We talk about the mental health “toolbox” he built to stay on track, what helped him cope day to day, and why being open about it now matters so much — especially for men.And then we get into the part that still feels unbelievable: Nathan was effectively kicked out of Australia after a chain of visa decisions during Covid, including a refused application and the fallout from a past incident that became a major problem later. He explains what happened, what the ban actually means, and what it feels like to lose a country you thought you’d live in forever — including possibly missing his best mate’s wedding in Byron Bay.We also talk about what he did after Australia: the months that broke him, why he quit drinking for 16 months, how he rebuilt his life and business from the UK, and how he’s grown a community of hundreds of thousands by being brutally honest about food, fitness, and what “healthy” actually means.If you’ve ever wondered how fragile the visa process can be, or you’ve felt like Australia became home before it was technically “safe” — you’re going to feel this one.You can follow Nathan here: https://www.instagram.com/nathangjoseph/ Check out our award winning Australia travel site full of free travel guides:https://londonerinsydney.com/ Follow us for our daily updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LondonerInSydneyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Useful links: Get a FREE visa assessment with the best Australian Migration Agents: https://truebluemigration.com/assessment/ Get 10% off a Star RV Motorhomes for hire across Australia or New Zealand. Code: LIS10 https://www.starrv.com/au Best Travel Insurance in Australia: https://t.cfjump.com/25880/t/11003?Url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.covermore.com.au%2f&UniqueId=podcast Learn how to manage your savings better like we did using CoPlenty and get 10% off using my code: ANNABEL10 https://coplenty.com/annabel

We chat to Kelly Lloyd from AUREC Migration and Mobility (our podcast sponsor) about visas to Australia. This episode includes many mind-blowing things we never knew about applying for a visa to Australia. If you are thinking about emigrating to Australia, this episode is for you. This is an amazing episode full of so many tips and advice, Kelly truly shares amazing insights which you shouldn't miss if you're thinking of applying to an Australian visa. She has been the only migration agent we have ever mentioned on londonerinsydney.com, and for good reason - she's great! In this episode, she answers our readers and followers’ questions which include: - What to do while waiting for a partner visa? - Why is there a big wait for the skilled visas at the moment? - When will the Working Holiday Visa be available for up to 35 year olds for Brits? - Can you buy a house if you’re not a citizen? And so much more! Kelly also spills the tea about hidden loopholes you may not know about, the most common questions she gets asked and the common mistakes people make when applying for a visa to Australia. Listen to the end… you’ll get so much out of this episode! This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Check out our site for tips for living & travelling around Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ I’ve shared all of my visa process to Australia on my site, from Working Holiday, right up to citizenship which you can find here: https://londonerinsydney.com/expat-tips/australia-visa-tips/

We chat to Amy Butters, a British expat who feels like the ‘guiltiest expat’ alive. When you become an expat, it’s not unheard of to feel a sense of guilt and grief when leaving loved ones back home. Over the years, we all have to learn how to accept our new lives living in another country, while learning that life is continuing on without us back home. So, in this episode, we chat to Amy who just returned back from UK after a whirlwind trip home. Fresh off the plane, Amy explains what it was like visiting friends and family in January of all months. We talk about what life is like back home right now, how her friends and family are dealing with the energy crisis and how she feels being back in Australia. Listen right to the end because we discuss about why we should all be appreciating each and every day like we’re only living the expat life for a short period of time. Changing our mindset could help us feel free from feeling like we’re stuck between two worlds. Amy originally shared her moving to Australia story on our site which you can read here: https://londonerinsydney.com/amy-expat-central-coast-move/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Check out our site for tips for living & travelling around Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility: https://aurec.com  - They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

Meet Emma Weir, a British woman from Brighton, who ended up moving to Australia with her family after her husband’s work relocated them to Sydney in 2017. She shares all the details from visiting Sydney, to moving over six months later, how she moved her cat over and what it was like living in Sydney. When Covid hit, Emma’s husband lost his job and so they decided to take their kids out of school and embark on the famous Big Lap of Australia, travelling around the entire country in their caravan. She shares tips on how she home schooled her children, and how to prepare for travelling Australia in a van. When they finished their travelling Australia trip, Emma’s family decided to move to Margaret River in Western Australia. Find out why they moved, and what life is like now they are living there. Emma previously shared her moving to Australia story on our site which you can read here: https://londonerinsydney.com/emma-swaps-sydney-for-van-life-in-australia/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://www.instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Check out our site for tips for living & travelling around Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only. migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

We welcome Caroline Mc Kenna from A County Down Under in this week’s episode of The Expat Reality Podcast! As Irelands biggest export to Australia, Caroline sits down with us to share her moving to Australia story, how she’s become a big social media star, and how she’s a mental health advocate for expats and young people all around the world. As a high school teacher, she also runs Sunrise Socials to build a community for people as they get together to watch the sunrise in various parts of the world. She also runs events in Sydney which sell out instantly and she’s the host of a global Top 10 podcast around the world also called A County Down Under. In this episode Caroline talks about how she handles being known as a bit of a celebrity in Sydney, how she’s encouraging her students to lead lives with passion and integrity and she shares tips for anyone unsure where they are supposed to live in the world – the never ending expat problems we are always facing. Caroline has shared her guide for the Best Irish Pubs in Sydney on our site which you can read here: https://londonerinsydney.com/best-irish-pubs-in-sydney/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Follow more from us: https://theexpatrealitypodcast.com/ Check out our site for tips on living in Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration and Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention ‘THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST’ for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

In this episode we’ll dive right in and tell you all of the goss about what it was like being on House Hunters International TV show. This American TV show shares an expat’s story moving abroad as they try to find a house to live in. We were approached to do this reality show after we started our expat site called Londoner In Sydney. You’ll find out the logistics of filming, what characters we were moulded into and even the falling out we had with the producers! It was such an interesting experience and one we're glad we did! Read more about our House Hunters TV Show experience here: What I wore to be on House Hunters International: https://londonerinsydney.com/wore-tv/ How I prepared to be on House Hunters International: https://londonerinsydney.com/top-5-tips-to-prepare-for-a-tv-showl/ Looking to move to Sydney? Check out our Where to live in Sydney guide: https://londonerinsydney.com/where-to-live-in-sydney/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://www.instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Follow more from us: https://theexpatrealitypodcast.com/ Check out our site for tips on living in Australia: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention ‘THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST’ for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

Suffer from terrible gut issues too? We both suffer from extreme gut issues in Australia and weirdly, it seems to settle down whenever we leave the country (which again happened recently when we visited Italy & Greece). In this episode we’re going to share our personal experiences of getting gut problems and what we’ve done to try and fix it. It’s been a long, long battle as we’ve tried pretty much everything to get over the extreme bloating and gut pain we’ve been experiencing for years. After creating a video diary about doing the elemental diet, Annie is asked on a daily basis to share how she is now. So, we’ve decided to share what’s happened since she did it in 2017 and a recent breakthrough that made the gut pain symptoms disappear overnight. Join our Gut Support group on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2227975800652873 If you’re interested, check out our articles about our experience with bloating in Australia below. Why do I suffer from a bloated stomach in Australia? https://londonerinsydney.com/whats-wrong-with-my-stomach-i-have-sibo/ Why do expats suffer with gut issues in Australia? https://londonerinsydney.com/gut-health-issues-in-australia/ My Video diary on the Physicians Elemental Diet https://londonerinsydney.com/my-experience-on-the-physicians-elemental-diet-to-treat-sibo/ Did the Elemental Diet work? https://londonerinsydney.com/sibo-update-elemental-diet-work/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ @thelondonerinsydney : https://instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ Follow more tips about living in Australia, check out our site: https://londonerinsydney.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

Welcome back to The Expat Reality Podcast! We absolutely loved making this episode, which is our favourite yet! Expect us to tell you loads of funny stories about different situations we were faced within in both England and Australia! We’re sharing loads of random stories about things we miss about England! We’ll start off by talking about the thought of never having to deal with dangerous animals in England, unlike Australia! Hear about our funny story about how a huntsman nearly made us crash our car. We’ll also talk about the random animals we’ve seen in the wild including snakes, camels, emus, kangaroos and more. Steve tells a funny story about how he only lasted three days working in a pub in England because he was totally confused by the different types of lagers you can order in UK. This randomly leads onto talking about that one time Annie worked behind the bar in a strip club in Darwin which was an experience she’ll never forget. Hear about the different types of foods we miss from England and listen to Steve talk about scones, meal deals and so much more. We hope you find this episode entertaining and will help you remember all of the things you might miss about England too. And if you’re moving to Australia, here’s a few things to prepare you before you land Down Under. You can read more about things we miss about England in our article here: 23 Things I’ll Miss About Living in England: https://londonerinsydney.com/things-i-will-miss-about-living-in-england/ Follow our Instagram accounts: @thelondonerinsydney: https://www.instagram.com/thelondonerinsydney/ @theexpatrealitypodcast: https://www.instagram.com/theexpatrealitypodcast/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@londonerinsydney Follow more from us: https://theexpatrealitypodcast.com/ This podcast series is sponsored by AUREC Migration & Mobility. They are the only migration agents we have ever used or spoken about to our readers. If you have any questions about moving to Australia, mention THE EXPAT REALITY PODCAST for a free initial assessment so you can ask them any questions or concerns you have about applying for the right visa to live in Australia at migration@aurec.com

In this expat podcast episode we’re taking it right back and we’re sharing why Annie left England and how she met Steve on her travels around the world in story that almost feels like a scene from a movie which could have been from Eat Pray Love. We’re going to share all the details about how we’ve been coming and going from Australia since 2011 and we’ll bring you right up to date about what we’re up to now. Find out how our travels around Africa totally changed our lives, learn about some of the jobs Annie’s had in Sydney and learn about how we ended up living regionally in Australia, which is where we are right now. Follow us on Instagram: @theexpatrealitypodcast and @thelondonerinsydney Read our award winning travel site which is full of expat stories and travel guides for living in Australia: londonerinsydney.com Watch / listen to more podcast episodes: theexpatrealitypodcast.com