#57. Expat Identity Shifts — How Moving Abroad Breaks and Remakes Who You Are

#57. Expat Identity Shifts — How Moving Abroad Breaks and Remakes Who You Are

From The Places We Call Home podcast by The Places We Call Home LLC

January 16, 2026 · 11 min

About this episode

This episode explores the identity shifts and emotional challenges faced when moving abroad, particularly in the context of building a new life in a foreign country.

Moving abroad doesn’t just change your address — it changes you . In this episode, I talk about the tension between fitting in and staying true to yourself, the culture shock that hits long after you arrive, and the slow, often invisible process of rebuilding your sense of belonging. These are the parts most “moving abroad” lists never mention — the internal unraveling, the rebuilding, and the becoming. You’ll walk away with: three questions to help you reconnect with the person you’re becoming a grounded understanding of how moving abroad reshapes who you are If you’re planning to move abroad in 2026, already living overseas, or somewhere in the messy middle of starting over, this conversation gives words to the things you’ve felt but haven’t known how to name. Follow the show and share it with someone navigating their own version of beginning again.

Topics covered

  • expat identity
  • moving abroad
  • cultural adjustment
  • emotional realities
  • belonging
  • identity changes

Keywords

  • expat
  • identity
  • culture shock
  • homesickness
  • relocation
  • self-discovery
  • belonging

Mentioned in this episode

Places: USA

More episodes of The Places We Call Home podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Places We Call Home podcast podcast page.