Think Global: Life Overseas

Listen in for a story about a young couple who packed up their lives and moved to Thailand — where they discovered that the smallest moments matter most. In this episode, we explore what it means to slow down, show up, and let unlikely friendships find you.

In this episode, my friend shares about nine years of life in Jordan — the country's rich history, its remarkable hospitality, and how living there has reshaped how he thinks about patience and efficiency.

This month, I sat down with friends living in Tunisia, an often overlooked country in North Africa, for a conversation about its beauty, the misconceptions surrounding it, its rich history, and how it has become a place they now call home.

I loved sitting down with my friend, who has lived cross-culturally for nearly 20 years. We dive into life lessons on hospitality, creating belonging, and learning not to take offense in new cultures.

This month, I sat down with a friend living in China to reflect on her experiences navigating friendships, embracing adventure, and discovering rhythms of rest in a new culture.

Welcome to Think Global: Life Overseas! This season, we’re taking a new approach—sharing honest, funny, and meaningful conversations with friends around the world about life, friendship, and everyday experiences of living cross-culturally.

What’s it like to raise a family in a different culture? Tune in for a conversation with a friend who shares the joys, challenges, and unexpected gifts of raising children overseas. 

At Think Global, we often say, “The world is our home.” Yet in many ways, we’re all nomads journeying through a world that is ultimately temporary. In this episode, we explore what it means to live well with a nomadic mindset, finding purpose, connection, and joy along the way.

In this episode, we invite you to take a fresh look at how you view and use your free time—whether it’s a weekend, summer break, or even retirement. What if your free time could be more than just a break? What if it could be a way to serve others and invest in something that lasts?

Traveling and living overseas requires a high tolerance for uncertainty. In this episode, we explore how uncertainty is a constant part of life—and how we can learn not just to tolerate ambiguity, but to thrive in the midst of it.

Why is it important to step outside your comfort zone and embrace new cultures? Join us as we explore how meaningful connections and cultural experiences can ruin you for the ordinary—in the best possible way.

Kicking off season five of Think Global, we explore how to overcome language barriers and build connections with people around the world that go beyond words.

Join us as we explore common questions about the risks of traveling and living abroad, discussing how wisdom and courage can help us embrace new opportunities and overcome fears.

In this episode, we’re joined by our friend Stephen Proctor, author of Wild Wonder, for an inspiring conversation about how nature teaches us about ourselves, our place in the world, and the importance of slowing down to live well. 

Join us as we dive deeper into two key virtues from Ryan Holiday’s book Right Thing, Right Now. With so much conflict and tragedy around the world, how can we develop understanding and empathy for other people's lives and struggles and become people who help, even in small ways? 

Inspired by Ryan Holiday's book Right Thing, Right Now, this episode explores the virtues of loyalty and decency – how they distinguish us, impact our relationships, and shape our world.

This month, we sit down with our friend Scott, who has experienced life in multiple countries and has plenty of entertaining stories to share. Join us for a laughter-filled episode as we explore the joys, challenges, and adventures of living around the world! 

As the Summer Olympics approach, we explore how sports create a unique platform for unifying people and fostering global connections.

Hearing news from around the world can often leave us feeling overwhelmed and powerless. How can we shift our perspective to see the challenges in our global and local communities as opportunities help? 

On this special episode, our guests, Hudson and Emily, share about their journey to visit every country, the kindness of strangers, the friendships formed across cultures, and the impact these experiences have had on their perspectives. 

In this episode, we discuss the importance of creating meaningful connections amidst a growing sense of loneliness. How can we intentionally combat isolation, regardless of our cultural context?

Come along for an entertaining Q&A episode as we delve into the topics of travel, culture, and our global adventures!

In this episode, we take a look at the significance of cultivating endurance amidst a culture that encourages comfort over resilience. Join us as we learn how to navigate life's challenges with an attitude of endurance.

Launching season 4 of Think Global and stepping into a new year, we dig into a unique outlook on the variety of life's beginnings and endings, pondering the question: "How can we conclude one chapter well in order to beginning the next successfully?"

With Christmas approaching, we explore practical ways to bring "joy to the world" and share anecdotes of Christmas celebrations from various cultures, including our own and those of our friends.

As we prepare to gather and celebrate with loved ones this holiday season, join us as we discover how the simple act of sharing a meal can create powerful connections that transcend cultural and language barriers. 

Join us as we wrap up this series with a conversation exploring how cultures around the world show hospitality and how we can become people who are hospitable beyond expectations.

As we continue this series about going beyond expectations, we discuss how other cultures around the world view optimism and how we can choose to be optimistic people despite our natural tendencies or cultural norms.

We're kicking off a new series where we will explore how we can go beyond expectations in our lives. Throughout this episode, we discuss what generosity looks like around the world and how we can exceed our own culture's expectations as we become people who are generous with our time, money, energy, and knowledge.

Join us as we talk about becoming people who intentionally invest in others more than we focus on ourselves. How can we have a "there you are" outlook in our relationships instead of a "here I am" mentality? 

Could thinking about death cause us to live happier, more fulfilling lives? On this episode, we explore some research and ideas suggesting that an awareness of the end is the key to living more fully now. 

In our final episode of this series, we discuss the positive effects of inevitable interruptions in our lives. 

On this episode, we discuss the value of hard work in all areas of life and how it impacts the people around us. 

We're kicking off a new series about becoming better versions of ourselves. This month we discussed friendship and asked the question, "how do I become a better friend?"

As we begin season 3 of Think Global, we're convinced that making small tweaks to our daily habits could produce staggering results and help you recover more time to do more of what matters most.

As we kick off a new year, we discuss the history of New Year's resolutions and how we can thoughtfully enter this new year in a healthy way. 

As the holiday season approaches, we reflect on what we have been thankful for lately and discuss a few surprising benefits of gratitude. 

In this episode, we share some of our favorite takeaways from The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter and how we have seen the benefits of embracing discomfort in our own lives and in the lives of our friends around the world. 

A group of young people we recently spent time with reminded us that you can make a significant impact in a short amount of time if you chose to be courageous. In this episode, we discuss the importance of living your life as a "heroic deed." 

Gratitude, Resilience, Aspiration, Courage, and Empathy make up The 5 Graces of Life and Leadership. In this episode, we discuss how we have seen these 5 attributes displayed throughout our years of traveling and forming relationships across diverse cultures. Check out The 5 Graces by Gary Burnison.

Mongolia is sometimes referred to as "the end of the earth" because of its vast, untouched wilderness. On this episode, we talk to a friend who has lived in Mongolia for 5 years about how the locals live in community.

In this episode, we talk to a friend living in Iraq about what local community looks like in this ancient, tribal country.  

We're starting a new series about how building relationships look different in every culture! In this episode, we talk with our guest about what local community looks like in China.

In this episode of the "Things We Didn't Know" series, we explore the country of Morocco. Moroccan Mint Tea Recipe: Moroccan Mint Tea Recipe & Ceremony – MoroccanzestBuy Moroccan Mint Tea here: Temple of Heaven China Green Tea Special Gunpowder 1 Kilo

In this episode of the "Things We Didn't Know" series, we explore the country of Laos.  Where to buy specialty coffee from Laos:Jing Jhai CoffeeSaffron Coffee

In this episode of the "Things We Didn't Know" series, we explore the country of Tunisia. Tunisian date sugar: 100% Organic Date Sugar | Sugar Substitute for Baking | Alternative Sweetener | 100% Dates | Plant Based | Fiber Rich | Vegan | Gluten Free | Paleo | Kosher | (12 Ounces) Tunisian olive oil: La MegaraTunisian Organic Extra Virgin Unfiltered Chemlali Olive Oil- Metallic Tin 33.8 fl oz (1 Liter)- Dark Color, Robust Taste- Cholesterol Free, Gluten Free, GMO Free

In this episode, we review the topics we've covered in season 1 and how they relate to a recent international trip.

In this episode, we invite three special guests to join us for a conversation on adapting to life in America, things missed from home, and the importance of hospitality.

This month, Tim and Jonathan host their first guests for a conversation about what it's like to live cross-culturally.

Tim and Jonathan unpack the theme of the Think Global podcast: "The world is our home, where strangers become friends and friends become family."