Building a Life Abroad, Culture Shock, and Big Leaps with Traveling Jackie

An episode of the Zero To Travel Podcast podcast, hosted by Jason Moore, titled "Building a Life Abroad, Culture Shock, and Big Leaps with Traveling Jackie" was published on June 25, 2025 and runs 79 minutes.

June 25, 2025 ·79m · Zero To Travel Podcast

Summary

What does it really take to build a life abroad, and what happens when travel pushes you far outside your comfort zone?  Jackie Nourse, aka Traveling Jackie, is an adventure travel pro, host of JUMP podcast, tour leader, and storyteller who’s built a life around helping people explore the world boldly and authentically. With over 20 years of travel under her belt, Jackie’s led countless group trips, launched two podcasts, and built a passionate community of travelers who seek adventure and growth.   In this crossover episode, Jackie and I reflect on our first in-person meetup in Norway and dive into what it means to design a lifestyle you love, raise a family in a new culture, and face fear head-on. From raising kids in the forest outside Oslo to climbing Europe’s highest sea cliff with a serious fear of heights, this episode explores the intersection of travel, courage, and personal transformation.  This episode offers a personal look into what it means to build a new life in a different country, from navigating culture shock to raising bilingual kids and finding your own rhythms far from home. Jackie also shares a powerful story about doing something she truly didn’t think she could do: climbing Europe’s highest sea cliff on a via ferrata, despite having a serious fear of heights. Her reflections on fear, courage, and support are deeply relatable, whether you're standing on a cliff face or facing something uncertain in your own life. What’s one moment in your life when curiosity helped you say yes to something scary? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.  Tune In To Learn:  Why Jackie decided to design an off-the-beaten-path adventure through Norway  How I ended up living in Oslo (and what I love about it)  Advice to anyone considering a move abroad, especially with a family  How “friluftsliv” shapes Norwegian life and values  What it’s like to raise kids in a forest-filled neighborhood outside Oslo  Why self-designed lifestyle checklists help you reverse-engineer the life you want  How public transport and local access shape rural Norwegian life  What via ferrata is (and why climbing one on a cliff face isn’t as relaxing as it sounds)  How Jackie faced a phobia head-on and climbed the highest sea cliff in Europe  Why small choices (like buying gloves) can snowball into big courage  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Jackie’s website  JUMP Podcast  Want More?  Top 5 Hidden Highlights Around the World with Jackie Nourse from JUMP Adventures  The Best Of Argentina w/ Jackie Nourse  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Booking.com - Book your next stay and find exactly what you’re looking for on booking.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Description