Recording # 2 - FS kids and University A chat with Hannah Engel-Rebitzer, an independent Educational Consultant with Peak College Consulting, about what it is students should be looking for in university, and how parents can support this piece of the process .  We talk about location, academics, social scene, as well as a little about finances.  We talk about creating a balanced list and what that looks like.   Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2304981/episodes/1831679

Please see below for episodes posted in the last few weeks.   194- SOBRIETY in the Foreign Service Life In our episode today, Emily shares her personal journey to sobriety, including her struggles with alcohol and the various resources and support systems she has utilized and continues to utilize throughout her recovery. She discusses her experiences as a sober Foreign Service employee, addressing challenges with medical clearance, navigating social situations, and building a

Join Susie Brown and Sex Education Expert Scotney Young talk sex ed: global sex education standard disparities, age appropriate sex/gender education, helping parents with difficult (and awkward!) discussions with their tweens/teens, empowering teens for gender equality, & what you can do to support child safety. Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2304981/episodes/18223385-sex-education-your-tween-teen-and-you Scotney Young: https://www.instagram.com/rootsandboundaries?ig

Finding professional fulfillment overseas can be challenging, but not impossible.  What can you do to make this lifestyle work for you, professionally?  Join Susie Csorsz Brown and Scotney Young as they talk about different ways to find professional fulfillment, keeping sane, and what does networking do for you.   We talk about challenges and benefits of EFM employment, successful career transitions, portable career networking and more.  Listen here! https://www.buzzsprout.co

Happy November!  The Big Purple Blobbers are feeling the pain from this current government situation, so we are sharing our experiences and bringing hope to our community. We are in this together! Please see below for episodes posted in the last few weeks.   191: Downsizing: What to do (and what NOT to do), Foreign Service https://tinyurl.com/24uukv37 192: Foreign Service Without Pay?- Financial Hardship 2025 https://tinyurl.com/2p4m8nww You can also check out our main Audio

There comes a point where our foreign service journey ends, and we find ourselves leaving this space, this label, this persona for ... who knows what to expect?  Finding yourself facing this as your next move?  Listen to Sharoya share her wisdom, and Lisa shares some of her concerns and solutions.  Join us for the chat. Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2304981/episodes/18062301-moving-out-of-the-fs-heading-to-the-u-s

New podcast: It used to be that employment with the government was a stable option. Now, it feels like we are in an in-between place, where job certainty is iffy and now, no paychecks thanks to the government shut-down. What to do? Angi and I talk about the situation, and offer empathy and support. I wish we could offer jobs and funds, too, but we are in the same boat as everyone else. Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2304981/episodes/18027629-unexpected-financial

Sharoya, Angi and I talk about different aspects of kids leaving the house, having fewer family members around, and what happens when they come back home?  Some great suggestions for keeping the peace, making the most out of the new additional space ... and making sure you have beds for everyone when/if they come back home! We all know that our kids are supposed to grow up, go to uni, and then go off on their own. This is our primary goal as parents: help foster independence

Finally, another podcast! Shipping our kiddos off to university feels like a bit of a leap of faith, but it is what is supposed to...

Please see below for the episode posted in the last few weeks.  We’ll be back up to our normal posting pace as the Fall gets rolling....

Links to recent episodes on The Big Purple Blob, a podcast supporting Diplomatic families From July 189: Service Work, Purposeful work in...

Here are the latest episodes and a list of our most popular summertime/transition shows. We wish everyone a safe summer and a smooth...

Fitness, nutrition and health are all concepts we sometimes understand, sometimes embrace and sometimes are confounded by. Join me for a...

Please see below for the links for the episodes we shared in May. 185- EFM Non-Traditional Employment, Outside the Box Options Susie...

If you are a Foreign Service family, and you're about to send your kiddo off to university, you might have some questions about how that...

Having the opportunity to take an R&R is phenomenal.  Some destinations can be more rewarding and enjoyable than others, though.  Here...

Friends, no one likes packing out from their home.  It's stressful, emotionally draining, and just tiresome.  Some suggestions to make it...

What can we do for employment, to connect to our (new) community, to keep doing things that are meaningful?  And yes, absolutely,...

Adding stories for our Security team to include in their incoming briefing is definitely NOT a goal, but seems like even in our 8th tour...

Joining the Foreign Service -- whatever your branch of service might be -- is at the same time super exciting and also kind of scary and...