A Thousand Natural Shocks With Gabe S. Dunn

What’s it like to travel and live outside the U.S. when you're at high risk for harassment? Gaby talks with queer travel writer Meg Ten Eyck about what should you invest in for safety and what information you need to know before you move or even visit a new country as someone that is queer, gender non-conforming or another member of the LGBTQ community. Plus, find out why countries should be marketing to LGBTQ tourists. Then, we talk to Timothy Anderson, a black teacher from Tennessee, who moved to Japan and regularly finds himself sticking out like a sore thumb. What’s it like to live in a country where you’re one of very few black people? CONTENT WARNINGS: homophobia, racism and sexism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Gaby plots her escape plan by talking to Malte Zeeck, founder of InterNations and a German-born expert on expat communities, about the costs of moving abroad and how to find the right place for you. Then, she hears first-hand from Danielle Roberge, an American who moved to Spain and found that lower salaries were a fair trade off for better work-life balance and social safety nets. What are the biggest factors to consider before moving abroad? How much might it cost and what steps do you need to take? Let’s find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Gaby explores the lack of money taboos in Chinese culture with TV writer Jessica Gao. Gao, who was born in China, explains the ways her mother shares every last detail of how much Jessica is making. Why are people so open about how much things cost, how much they’re earning and how much they LOVE money in Chinese culture? Then, Gaby welcomes back Andrew Ti, friend of the podcast and "Yo! Is This Racist?" co-host, to talk about the differences between Chinese and Chinese-American wealth displays. Happy Chinese New Year, everyone! Here, have a red envelope of cash! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What if the answer isn’t choosing where to live, but rather choosing to live nowhere? Gaby speaks to Rachel Wilson and Natalie Frizza, two members of Australia’s nomad community -- people who have chosen to live and raise kids in converted campers, vans and buses. Gaby explores what that daily life looks like, the cost of living and who tends to be able to experience that lifestyle. (Hint: White people, mostly.) Then, she talks to Melody Warnick, author of This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are about the concept of “home.” Trigger Warning: Brief misophonia around 31 minutes in. (Sorry! It’s short!) Rachel Wilson - Youtube.com/c/charlierachel Natalie Frizza - Instagram.com/nataliethenudie/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Gaby invites a Tibetan Buddhist monk to be on his very first podcast! Gyaltsen Chopel discusses how Buddhism functions to deprioritize money altogether -- and his work as a caretaker who handles day-to-day expenses and donations made to a Buddhist temple in Los Angeles. It’s not the conversation you’d expect from a monk! Then, Gaby calls India to speak to assistant professor of Hindu Studies, Dheepa Sundaram, about how Hindu culture views community, money, technology and wealth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In the Philippines, kids jump at midnight to get taller. In Romania, you should pay off all your debt to ensure good fortune in the New Year. Join Gaby as she digs into New Year’s Eve superstitions -- and money superstitions -- with Philippines based writer Katrina Escalona and Romanian studies lecturer Julieta Paulesc. Come on, it can’t hurt to be a little superstitious in 2020! We need all the luck we can get! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Did you get money as a gift this year? Bet you're not alone. In this episode, Gaby explores the deeper cultural significance behind gifting money during celebrations. First, she calls up her dad, Marc Dunn, to talk through some of their own family traditions. Like, why do the Jews give money in multiples of 18? Then, she speaks with Kole Ade Odutola, a Nigerian-born professor at the University of Florida, about the economy of affection, spraying money on a bride and groom during weddings and how to understand your own value when leaving your home country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Gaby explores work-life balance in The Netherlands, which has some of the world's shortest work hours, and in South Korea, which has some of the longest.  First, she speaks with expat Jovi Paredes about the emphasis on vacation and mental health resources in The Netherlands. Then she talks with LA Times Seoul correspondent Victoria Kim about the persistent boss-employee hierarchy and emphasis on constant work in South Korea.  This episode is all about work, work, work, work, work, work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As the grandchild of a Holocaust survivor, Gaby explores her extremely complicated feelings about Germany. In order to take a modern look the country and consider whether she could live there today, she speaks to Berlin-based journalist Jill Petzinger about the German preference for paying in cash and distaste for debt. Then she chats with American expat Dana Newman about coming to terms with Germany’s dark past. And finally, Gaby listens to an old conversation with her late grandmother about her experiences in Nazi-occupied Europe. TW: anti-semitism, Holocaust and allusion to sexual assault This episode is sponsored by State Farm (www.statefarm.com) and Worthy (www.worthy.com/bad) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Gaby explores the places that always top the “Happiest Countries on Earth” lists. First, she chats with writer and friend Kate Jones, a queer Vietnamese comedian who lives in Switzerland about the country’s pros (high salaries, social safety nets, beautiful scenery) and cons (racism, homophobia). Then, Gaby calls up Helsinki Bloomberg News Bureau Chief Kati Pohjanpalo to talk about money and modesty in Finland, the Finnish perception of America and why Finland is the happiest country on Earth. This episode is sponsored by State Farm (www.statefarm.com) and Worthy (www.worthy.com/bad). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy