In this Chinwag Tuesdays episode, I sit down with Mike Budden—an Aussie English teacher living in Berlin—who is also fluent in German! We dive deep into accent training, pronunciation, language immersion, and the real reason why many learners struggle with listening. If you're learning English (or teaching it!), this episode is packed with insights and relatable stories to help you improve your Aussie accent and make your language learning more effective. Mike Budden shares practical strategies ...
Sep 09, 2025•47 min•Season 2Ep. 22
In this week’s Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Frankie — an English teacher from a small-town in Georgia in the US who has called Colombia home for the past eight years. Frankie’s story takes us from a life-changing trip to Nicaragua, to falling in love, selling everything she owned, and starting fresh in a new country. We talk about the highs and lows of living abroad — visa challenges, learning a new language, and adjusting to everyday life in a completely different culture. Frankie shares how s...
Aug 19, 2025•53 min•Season 2Ep. 21
In this heartfelt Chinwag Tuesdays episode, I sit down with Shak — a photographer and restaurant owner originally from India, now living on the Sunshine Coast. With 18 years of experience navigating life in Australia, Shak shares his raw and relatable journey from student migrant to successful business owner, father, and proud Aussie resident. From ordering coffee without saying “please” to the power of joining hobby groups, Shak opens up about the real-life language and cultural shocks many int...
Aug 05, 2025•46 min
🔊 Audio Disclaimer : So sorry about the sound quality this week! I had some unexpected mic issues. This is the best balance I could manage between cleaning it up and avoiding distortion. If I left it untouched, there was too much echo — so this version is the best of both worlds (even if not perfect). Thanks for understanding! 💛 In this inspiring Chinwag Tuesdays episode, I sit down with Julia from Germany, a language coach and academic support specialist now living in Sydney. We chat about he...
Jul 22, 2025•46 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Moving countries isn’t just paperwork – it’s personal. In this powerful Chinwag Tuesdays episode, I’m joined by Katrina James, a Sydney-based counsellor who helps skilled migrants navigate the emotional challenges of moving to Australia. From homesickness and cultural confusion to late-night dinners and job market pressure, Katrina shares what really happens after the visa is approved. Learn how Aussie culture differs, why feeling lost is normal, and how to rebuild confidence when you're far fro...
Jul 08, 2025•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 18
What’s it like moving from bustling Mexico City to the calm and quiet of Perth, Western Australia? In this warm and insightful episode of Chinwag Tuesdays , I chat with Karen—my very first guest from Mexico—about her journey as a skilled migrant, her career in the IT industry, and the cultural surprises she faced along the way. Karen opens up about everything from converting pesos to dollars at the supermarket, to adjusting to Aussie work culture, to embracing Australia’s slower pace of life. We...
Jun 24, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Why is it so hard to make friends in Australia? What do Aussies really think of migrants in the workplace? This week on Chinwag Tuesdays , I’m joined by Aditya — a tech leader, career coach, and migrant who has lived across India, the US, and now Melbourne. We chat through his fascinating journey from Amazon and Salesforce to helping new migrants settle in and thrive professionally in Australia. From cultural differences to communication gaps, Aditya shares powerful insights that every internati...
Jun 10, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 16
From Portugal to Melbourne — Jo’s life is a masterclass in language, culture, and courage. In this Chinwag Tuesdays episode, I chat with Jo: a hyperpolyglot actress, drama teacher, language teacher, and translator who now calls Australia home. Jo speaks six languages, has worked in international theatre and education across Europe, and shares what it’s really like performing, teaching, and living in multiple languages. We discuss identity, how language influences your personality, the challenge ...
May 27, 2025•56 min•Season 2Ep. 15
In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays , I chat with Carol , a civil engineer from Brazil living in Sydney. Carol shares her journey of moving to Australia, transitioning from construction to project management, and launching a mentoring business to help other migrants land jobs in their fields. If you're an international student or professional looking to break into the Aussie job market, this episode is packed with insights, strategies, and motivation! 🎙️✨ 🔑 Key Highlights: 🏗️ From Brazil to A...
May 25, 2025•54 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Want to master an accent that opens doors? This week on Chinwag Tuesdays , I sits down with Jesús Flores, an inspiring Colombian accent coach living in Michigan who helps learners transform their English pronunciation into a confident American accent. From sci-fi movies and teenage language schools to moonlighting as a pronunciation coach—this episode is full of golden insights for international students, teachers, and migrants alike. ⌛Chapters / Key Highlights Meet Jesús: Colombian roots & ...
May 13, 2025•57 min•Season 2Ep. 14
From Townsville to Shanghai and back again — Maree shares her 18-year expat journey teaching English in China. We go deep into the reality of reverse culture shock, expat identity, starting an education business back in Australia, and how living abroad transforms your perspective forever. If you're an ESL teacher, migrant, or international student navigating life between cultures, this episode is for you. ⌛Chapters / Key Highlights Maree’s unexpected leap from Townsville to teaching in China F...
May 06, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 13
What does it mean to sound Australian when you’ve grown up multilingual, lived abroad, and still say “France” instead of “France”? This episode with linguist Nick is a love letter to Australian English, culture, and identity — especially from a South Aussie perspective. Get ready for a lively chinwag about Balkan languages, ethnic pride, Aussie small talk, reverse culture shock, and the unique South Australian accent. Key Highlights Welcome & meet Nick: Growing up in multicultural Elizabeth ...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Ready for a real chinwag? This week on Chinwag Tuesdays , I sit down with Richa, a passionate English teacher from India who's taught students from over 15 countries—and she's only just getting started! 🎓🌏 P.S. Just a heads-up—there was a little recording issue towards the end, so the episode ends a bit suddenly. But don’t worry, you won’t miss any of the good stuff! We chat about the ups and downs of teaching English online, her transition from voice acting to education, and why she champions...
Apr 15, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 11
In this inspiring episode of Chinwag Tuesdays , I chat with Dawa — a Nepalese international student, gardener, and aspiring IT professional living in Melbourne. From juggling three jobs and a master's degree to starting a gardening side hustle, Dawa shares the real challenges and wins of migrant life in Australia. We talk about Aussie slang in trade jobs, navigating cultural differences, working in hospitality and aged care, and how Dawa is now preparing for a career in IT. Whether you're an int...
Apr 08, 2025•32 min•Season 2Ep. 10
In this heartfelt episode of Chinwag Tuesdays , I sit down with Xiang — a Chinese-born art therapist, artist, and migrant living in Melbourne — to unpack her inspiring story of healing, creativity, and adjusting to life in Australia. Xiang opens up about learning Aussie English , navigating cultural differences, experiencing burnout, and how art therapy became a transformative tool for self-expression and recovery. From designing a multicultural dress for Melbourne Fashion Festival to working in...
Apr 01, 2025•53 min•Season 2Ep. 9
📢 Planning to move to Australia? Avoid these visa mistakes & get expert PR advice! 🇦🇺 In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays , I chat with Aakarsh, an immigration lawyer in Melbourne , about: ✅ The biggest visa mistakes international students make ✅ PR pathways and how to transition from a student visa ✅ Why cultural integration is essential for long-term success in Australia Aakarsh shares: His journey from international student to launching his own law firm, MAD Migration (My Aussie Dreams...
Mar 25, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 8
In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays , I sit down with Leticia, a marketing executive at Pearson, originally from China and now based in Melbourne. 🇨🇳➡️🇦🇺 Leticia shares her journey of studying in Australia, securing PR through marketing (a rare pathway!), and thriving in the Aussie job market. We discuss: ✅ Moving from China to Melbourne – Why she chose Australia and her experience settling in ✅ Getting PR as a marketing professional – How she navigated the visa process and key strategies ✅ ...
Mar 18, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 7
In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays , I chat with Anish, a civil engineer from Chandigarh, India, now living in Adelaide. 🌏 From growing up in a family of engineers to navigating university life in Australia, Anish shares his journey of career choices, cultural adaptation, and the challenges of settling into a new country. We dive into his experiences studying in South India, overcoming confidence barriers, landing internships through LinkedIn, and even teaching in the Himalayas! 🏔️ Anish also...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I sit down with Emma from Mmm English, one of the biggest names in online English education! 🌟 Emma shares her journey from teaching in Vietnam to building a YouTube empire with over 6 million subscribers. We dive into the evolution of mmmEnglish, why she stepped away from her channel, and how she created Hey Lady - a thriving online community for women learning English. 🔑 Key Highlights: 🍽️ From Food Vlogs to English Lessons – How mmmEnglish started as a ...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 3 min
In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I sit down with Tom, an English teacher from Melbourne and the founder of Ace Language Academy. Tom shares his inspiring journey from working in banking and travelling the world to discovering his passion for teaching English. He talks about how his experiences living abroad and learning new languages shaped his teaching philosophy, and how he now helps students build confidence, improve their pronunciation, and immerse themselves in Australian culture. 🔑 Ke...
Feb 18, 2025•51 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Sukhi, a British English teacher who brings a unique approach to language learning by combining mindfulness, breathwork, and even yoga into his lessons. Sukhi shares his journey from teaching in schools to working independently and how mindfulness can help English learners build confidence, overcome self-doubt, and communicate more effectively. 🔑 Key Highlights: 🧘♂️ Mindfulness & English: How mindfulness and breathwork can reduce anxiety an...
Feb 11, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In the exciting first episode of Season 2 of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Dan from BritSpeak, a British English teacher living in Japan. Dan shares his journey from Sheffield to Japan, his passion for teaching British slang and culture, and the challenges of navigating life in a foreign country. We also explore the quirky differences between British and Australian English, with plenty of laughs and insights along the way! 🔑 Key Highlights: 🗣️ British vs Aussie English: Exploring pronunciation...
Feb 04, 2025•46 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this exciting 33rd episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with @NEOEnglishwithPam an Aussie who has been living in Japan for 16 years. Pam shares her journey from Brisbane to Japan, her experiences running a chain of English schools, and the cultural contrasts she’s encountered living abroad. We discuss her approach to teaching advanced spoken English and how she’s raising her son to be a “citizen of the world” with strong connections to both Australian and Japanese cultures. 🔑 Key Highlights: ...
Nov 05, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In the latest episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Matt, known as @ozziemcguire on social media, a Melbourne-born English teacher who has made waves with his entertaining and educational content. Matt shares his journey from launching his social media presence on Chinese platforms to growing his audience across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube by teaching Aussie slang and helping English learners worldwide. 🔑 Key Highlights: 🗣️ From Teacher to Social Media Star: Matt’s journey from teaching ...
Oct 29, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In the 31st episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Clifton @ cliftonshipway , an Aussie who has been living in India for the past 21 years and has truly made it his home. We explore his absolutely incredible, almost unbelievable story, from his family's deep connections to India to Clifton’s work with his family’s NGO, and how he’s embraced a life filled with unique experiences in India’s rural and urban landscapes. 🔑 Key Highlights: 🌏 Cultural Immersion: Clifton shares how he fully immersed...
Oct 22, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In this special 30th episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Max from @EnglishwithMax , an English teacher from Australia. Max shares her fascinating journey of teaching English as a foreign language for over 10 years, how she started her successful YouTube channel English with Max, and her transition from studying her Masters of Interpreting to full-time teaching. We also explore the challenges of content creation and balancing teaching with social media growth. 🔑 Key Highlights: 🎥 YouTube S...
Oct 15, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Anna, an English teacher from Australia who has been living in Munich, Germany, for over 10 years. We explore her experiences adjusting to life abroad, navigating cultural differences, and teaching English to teachers in Germany. Anna shares insightful stories from her journey, from Cairns to Melbourne and now Munich, and how she built her career in education across multiple countries. 🔑 Key Highlights: 🌍 Aussie in Germany: Anna’s story of movin...
Oct 08, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Shiloh, a New Zealand ESL teacher living in Portugal. We explore the fascinating (and also funny) differences between Australian and Kiwi English, exploring pronunciation, vocab, and common misconceptions. Shiloh also shares her journey from growing up in Auckland to living abroad in Australia, France, and now Portugal, with plenty of fun stories along the way. 🔑 Key Highlights: 🗣️ Aussie vs. Kiwi English: The biggest pronunciation and vocabular...
Oct 01, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 28
In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays , I chat with Rovie, a social media star from the Philippines who’s been living in Australia for 8 years. Known as ‘The Mommy Roves’ on Instagram, Rovie shares her unique and funny experiences of understanding the Aussie accent, navigating cultural differences, and building a massive online following by documenting her life in Australia. 🔑 Key Highlights: 🌍 Adapting to Aussie Culture : Rovie talks about her transition from the Philippines to Australia, the c...
Sep 24, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 27
In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, I chat with Daniela, a Chilean yoga and manifestation expert who has been living in Australia for over five years. Daniela shares her incredible journey from working in corporate Chile to following her heart and building a career she’s passionate about in Australia. 🔑 Key Highlights: 🌍 Journey to Australia: Daniela’s story of leaving the corporate world in Chile to pursue her dream of living and working abroad in Australia. 🧘♀️ Discovering Yoga: How Danie...
Sep 17, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 26
