We continue our chat with Nancy about their home renovation process in Portugal… Enjoy Part 2 of Nancy + Denise’s Move Abroad Story! Connect with Nancy⬇️ 💫 Expat in Portugal Substack: 💫Nancy’s Home Renovation Process Blogs ⬇️ https://expatinportugal.substack.com/p/our-little-project THE GOOD STUFF…⬇️ ➡️If you have questions for us about moving abroad and want to schedule a 1:1 call with us, book a time on our calendar here: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies/p/book-a-11-call-with-us-o146p ➡️If...
Jan 09, 2026•30 min
Meet our friend Nancy, fellow Substacker and now our immigrant friend! She and her wife, Denise, moved to Portugal about 5 years ago and live near us in the Algarve. After flipping multiple homes in the US over the course of their lives, they both wanted to do the same here in Portugal - so they did. Was it a breeze? Nope. (Did you really think it would be?) So we talk through all of it - how they found the right place, the right people and what challenges they faced along the way! Connect with ...
Jan 02, 2026•31 min
Meet our lovely friend Bob Tapper, former California realtor turned digital nomad. After spending 40 years in California, Bob yearned for the European experience, living in Austria + the UK before deciding to put down roots in Porto, Portugal last year. We chat about: * what made him choose Portugal when settling down and traveling less * how to build community and accept a slower culture than the hustle life of the USA * his advice for those considering a move abroad solo (hint: he says go for ...
Dec 12, 2025•48 min
Meet our friends Jazz + Eric. They said goodbye to active shooter drills + bulletproof backpacks in Ohio and said hello to the 7th safest country in the world, Portugal. In today’s episode, we chat about: * the experiences in the USA that led them to choose a better life for themselves and their kids * international + public schools here in Portugal and how they began their research about what location best met their family’s needs * “touching grass” in Portugal - living our best lives outdoors ...
Dec 05, 2025•56 min
One day I was having a coffee alone at a cafe in Tavira and a woman approached me and said…”Meredith?” 👀👀👀 That’s how I met Genie. She had seen us on TikTok (or Youtube?) and had also recently moved to Tavira and recognized me from our social media content. (I’m convinced it was my GRAY locks.)This week’s episode is all about Genie + her moving abroad story that actually started before she was even born. Let’s just say she comes from a family that sees the world as opportunity! Enjoy! THE GOO...
Nov 28, 2025•40 min
We are thrilled to return from our longer-than-intended break with a new Portugal Junkies Podcast episode, where Mark + I recap all the things we’ve been up to since we last published the podcast in August. AND now that we are back - you’ll be getting a new episode every Friday so make sure you are subscribed wherever you listen - YouTube, Substack or Apple! (We are also on other platforms but you get the idea….) In Part 3, our final update from the break, we catch you up on: ✅ To buy or not to ...
Nov 21, 2025•38 min
We are thrilled to return from our longer-than-intended break with a new Portugal Junkies Podcast episode, where Mark + I recap all the things we’ve been up to since we last published the podcast in August. AND now that we are back - you’ll be getting a new episode every Friday so make sure you are subscribed wherever you listen - YouTube, Substack or Apple! (We are also on other platforms but you get the idea….) In Part 2, we catch you up on: ✅ WE SOLD OUR HOUSE IN THE USA! ✅ What we did in Por...
Nov 14, 2025•27 min
We are thrilled to return from our longer-than-intended break with a new Portugal Junkies Podcast episode, where Mark + I recap all the things we’ve been up to since we last published the podcast in August. AND now that we are back - you’ll be getting a new episode every Friday so make sure you are subscribed wherever you listen - YouTube, Substack or Apple! (We are also on other platforms but you get the idea….) In Part 1, we catch you up on: ✅ Our new apartment in Tavira - why we moved, the pr...
Nov 07, 2025•28 min
Can you believe we have published our 50th episode?! We are so thankful for your support, for listening, for every note of thanks. August is vacation month for lots of Portuguese, so we are following suit at Portugal Junkies Podcast! But - we will be back soon, we promise. In the meantime, tune into our top episodes + resources until we get back: * Five Easy Steps To Pin Point Your Perfect Place In Portugal * Top 5 Must Have Resources For Moving To Portugal * Ask Your Partner These 10 Questions ...
Aug 11, 2025•7 min
So here’s the thing. Two years ago, when we were preparing for our visa interview + appointment, we did DIY. The process is doable, albeit frustrating at times when your total understanding of the process is toddler-level, and many times in the first year, I doubled-down on the DIY route. But in the past two years, we’ve seen drastic + rapid changes in the process that can catch you off guard if you are navigating the process alone. Enter Joao Madeira Pinto , our immigration attorney. You know -...
Jul 17, 2025•34 min
Friends, don’t let the misinformation on the “interwebs” kill your Portugal dream before it starts. The amount of inaccuracies we’ve seen written recently about Portugal’s recently PROPOSED immigration changes (ahem, not official yet) is shocking. So, recognizing that we are not the experts on this topic, we invited our immigration attorney here in Portugal on the podcast this week to stop the chaos and get to the truth. Enter Joao Madeira Pinto , certified immigration attorney, Portugal Junkies...
Jul 11, 2025•28 min
New episode is live! 🎙️🎙️We answer these questions from our listeners ⬇️ * What are the pros and cons of living in the Algarve? * Do you still feel the same about not having a car a year and half later? * What have you adjusted to living without? * How is Charlotte doing? What’s her care like there at the vet? Planning a trip to Portugal but hate the actual PLANNING part? We got you. We built customized Portugal itineraries based on how YOU like to travel. Start by booking your free call with ...
Jul 04, 2025•37 min
Women deserve to know the details, so I gave them up on the podcast today. After 47 episodes, I think we’ve proven that Mark + I are VERY real when it comes to sharing our experiences living in Portugal since 2023. No sugar coating. No romanticized European dream sequences. Just real life. Almost 1.5 years in. Today on the podcast is Part 2 of what we did last week, when I interviewed Mark (without preparation!)…and this time he interviewed me. And guess what, folks? The entire conversation beca...
Jun 30, 2025•27 min
This week’s podcast episode is totally off the cuff. I ask “the hubs” a bunch of questions about our move abroad to Portugal with zero prep to get his truly unfiltered, gut-reaction answers. Next week, he’ll do the asking. Here were my questions for him: * What top personality traits do you feel are a “must-have” for anyone considering a move abroad? * What has been the most personally challenging part of moving here for you? * Do you see us living in Portugal for the rest of our lives? Why or w...
Jun 22, 2025•36 min
Are you getting closer + closer to really leaving the USA + moving to Portugal? Given what we are seeing, many people are + we get it. We moved in December 2023 from Charlotte, NC to Portugal and now live in the Algarve. In this episode, we share our top 5 “must see” resources if you are considering a move abroad to Portugal in 2025 or 2026. At the very least, these are the resources that will help you research visa info + plan cost of living impacts/budgets + understand the overall landscape of...
Jun 13, 2025•32 min
We are approaching 18 months in Portugal and there are still a few things that are not quite routine for us… yet. We chat about it in this week’s podcast episode: ➡️Later nights + later morning routines ➡️Portuguese time ➡️Metric system + sizing + nutrition labels ➡️Where exactly do I go to get _________? ➡️Why do we still have trouble relaxing sometimes? If you or someone you know is interested in traveling in Portugal, hit us up! We build customized itineraries for Portugal travelers. 💫FREE💫...
Jun 06, 2025•31 min
Can’t stop, won’t stop talking about what still blows our mind in Portugal after living here for the past 16 months. We talk about the things that still shock us (in a good way) and how those same things keep us feeling so grateful to be immigrants in Portugal. Key Travel + Move Abroad Resources: www.stan.store/portugaljunkies To hear more, visit portugaljunkies.substack.com...
May 30, 2025•26 min
Can’t stop, won’t stop talking about what still blows our mind in Portugal after living here for the past 16 months. We talk about the things that still shock us (in a good way) and how those same things keep us feeling so grateful to be immigrants in Portugal. So good that we have a Part 2 coming next week! Key Travel + Move Abroad Resources: www.stan.store/portugaljunkies To hear more, visit portugaljunkies.substack.com...
May 23, 2025•25 min
This week’s podcast episode had us discussing things we thought we would miss when we moved abroad but surprisingly we don’t miss much at all! When you are making a choice to leave the home you’ve known, it can feel daunting to think about these kinds of comforts that you fear missing- a home you and your partner built, your favorite bourbon or even the car-centric lifestyle you’ve always been used to… But honestly, we’ve realized that a simple, peaceful life here makes those things seem so insi...
May 16, 2025•26 min
After 40 episodes (yay!) of this podcast documenting our move from the US to Portugal in late 2023, we get one question the most often. How do I know WHERE in Portugal is the best place to move for me and my family? We spend this episode walking through five easy steps to help you narrow down your list of potential locations. * Consider climate. This will help you weed out the areas that are too hot, too cold or too wet for you. * Coastal or inland? Is your heart set on beach life or are you ope...
May 10, 2025•25 min
Moving abroad from the US to Portugal has taught us a LOT about ourselves but one thing we are both struggling with after taking a mini break from traditional work is this feeling on some days that our worth is tied up in our work . And when that traditional work is no longer a part of everyday life, that worthiness issue can rear it’s ugly head. On this episode of the podcast, we talk about corporate indoctrination, how we can battle any feelings that we are being unproductive without tradition...
May 02, 2025•30 min
How much did we save to move abroad? How much does it actually cost to move to Portugal? What if your situation doesn’t look like ours? We finally talk about the financial side of our move - after lots of hesitation! But with more and more people truly considering leaving the USA and moving abroad, we thought it was important to be transparent so that you can create the right financial plan for yourself. Ultimate takeaways here: 1 - Approach your move abroad with a positive outlook - no matter w...
Apr 25, 2025•29 min
If you’re trying to decide if moving to Portugal’s Algarve region is the right place for you, tune in to our most recent podcast episode! We talk through the pros + cons of living in the Algarve as we hit our 6th month here in Tavira and 16th month in Portugal after moving from Charlotte, NC in 2023. Key Resources: www.stan.store/portugaljunkies Highlights - Too Long, Didn’t Watch Pros - slow pace of beach life is good for the central nervous system, weather/climate + no immediate need to be flu...
Apr 18, 2025•30 min
How are Americans perceived now in Europe? We talk about this through some specific experiences we’ve had meeting people from all over the world while living here in Portugal - their questions, our conversations + feeling this need to make sure they know really quickly that we aren’t THOSE KIND of Americans. Truth hurts. Our American brand is blemished bigly. Key Resources: www.stan.store/portugaljunkies To hear more, visit portugaljunkies.substack.com...
Apr 11, 2025•31 min
Mark + I have a “healthy” conversation about: * Parents and medical emergencies * Establishing medical care here in Portugal + our experiences so far in the Algarve * Recent Portuguese Festivals + Events we attended * Our new upcoming content: Portugal Junkies Day Trip Diaries * Customized Itineraries + 1:1 Calls Key Resources: www.stan.store/portugaljunkies To hear more, visit portugaljunkies.substack.com...
Apr 04, 2025•41 min
Mark + I continue our conversation and download of the big culture shocks we experienced over the break in the USA and what life looks like 15 months after moving abroad to Portugal. Key Resources: www.stan.store/portugaljunkies To hear more, visit portugaljunkies.substack.com
Mar 28, 2025•37 min
Mark + I talk through the big culture shocks we experienced over the break in the USA and what life looks like 15 months after moving abroad to Portugal. Key Resources: www.stan.store/portugaljunkies Portugal Junkies Substack brings you content about moving to + traveling in Portugal from peeps who actually did it! Subscribe for free to receive new posts, blogs + podcast alerts! To hear more, visit portugaljunkies.substack.com...
Mar 21, 2025•46 min
In our last episode of 2024, we celebrate some big milestones with the podcast + leave listeners with key resources to tune into during the holidays to usher you into a 2025 that may include a move abroad! Hint: Half of the battle is just believing that your dream of leaving the USA + moving abroad can actually be accomplished. Key Resources: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies To hear more, visit portugaljunkies.substack.com...
Dec 13, 2024•39 min
We are heading to the UK + USA for the holidays in a few short days and are both feeling a lot of feelings. We talk through our emotions around this, our anxiety about traveling to the USA post-election + the realities of things we sacrifice around the holidays since we moved abroad. Key Resources: https://stan.store/portugaljunkies To hear more, visit portugaljunkies.substack.com...
Dec 06, 2024•25 min
You all had so many questions over the past couple of weeks, so this episode is dedicated to answering a few of them! Here's a few we talk about in this episode: - Did your relationship change when you moved abroad? - How do you manage and continue to grow your relationships at home? - Do you have any regrets one year later? Find more key (and some FREE!) resources on our website at https://www.portugaljunkies.com + on our Stan Store at https://stan.store/portugaljunkies Give us a review + comme...
Nov 29, 2024•35 min
