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Psychologists say: ”Our sense of belonging defines the value of our life & it helps us cope with life when life gets rough.” And we all know: it doesn’t get any rougher than when we feel lonely. In order to thrive in life we need to find balance between living in integrity (being our best self and within society) and living in authenticity (being our favourite self). Often those two are at odds, unless we develop those inner qualities and build them into personal strengths, so that we can design the kind of belonging we personally need. Belonging doesn’t happen to happen - it is made happen.
Episodes
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
In this vulnerable and truth-telling episode, Nic Scholtysik (belonging researcher) and Natalia Szyszka (psychotherapist) talk about the unique texture of expat friendship: urgent, sometimes deep, often short-lived — and always shaped by the invisible emotional labor of starting over. This episode is a must for anyone living abroad, working in HR, or supporting globally mobile talent. We unpack why expat friendship feels different, what grief hides behind even a “good relocation,” and how connection can be made more sustainable across cultures.
Shownotes:
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[00:03:21] – Why expat friendships start fast — and often end just as fast
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[00:09:21] – “You’re not depressed — you’re grieving the life you chose not to live.”
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[00:17:10] – The cultural ‘codes’ of friendship and how they vary country to country
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[00:23:45] – Why loneliness persists, even with a social life
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[00:28:02] – What HR and leadership usually miss in onboarding international talent
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[00:35:27] – How to offer empathy without pity or overstepping
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[00:41:50] – What rituals, habits, and ‘sameness’ can do for stability abroad
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[00:49:03] – Identity loss, partner dynamics, and emotional exhaustion in new countries
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[00:58:33] – Hopeful ways to reframe disconnection, without rushing the process
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