Not a podcast.
A readcast.
A series of written conversations where immigrants don’t just tell us where they are today, they show us how they got there.
The decisions they made.
The mistakes they learned from.
The opportunities they spotted.
The moments they wanted to give up.
And the practical steps that helped them build a successful life abroad.
Although many of these stories will come from the UK because that’s where I live, Thriving Abroad isn’t just about Britain.
It’s about what happens when you leave everything familiar behind, arrive in a new country, and decide that simply surviving isn’t enough.
It’s about learning how to thrive.
Why I’m Starting This
One thing I’ve noticed is that many immigrants arrive with degrees, years of experience, ambition and dreams…
…only to be told almost immediately what they can’t do.
“You’ll have to work in care.”
“Go into support work.”
“Try picking and packing.”
“Work in the warehouse.”
“Forget your degree.”
Now let me be clear.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of those jobs.
They are honest jobs, and countless people have built wonderful lives through them.
But what I don’t like is the idea that they are the only options.
Because they’re not.
If that’s the career you want, wonderful.
But if your dream is to return to your profession…
Change careers…
Build a business…
Climb the corporate ladder…
Or create something entirely your own…
You absolutely can
And that’s exactly what Thriving Abroad is here to prove.
I Know This Because I’ve Lived It
When I first moved to the UK, someone looked at me and said,
“You studied Physics and Electronics? I don’t think you’ll ever get a job in that field here.”
I remember thinking…
Watch me.
Finding the right opportunity wasn’t instant.
It wasn’t easy.
There were applications.
Rejections.
Lots of them.
Learning curves.
Moments of doubt.
But I also discovered something incredibly important.
Your degree doesn’t suddenly lose its value because you’ve crossed a border.
Sometimes you need to present your experience differently.
Sometimes you need additional qualifications.
Sometimes you need to understand how recruitment works in your new country.
Sometimes you simply need someone who has already walked the path to show you what’s possible.
That’s what I hope Thriving Abroad becomes.
Not just inspiration.
Practical guidance from people who have actually done it.
But Here’s the Thing…
I don’t want this series to begin with my story.
You’ve read about me for nearly a year now.
My story will come.
Just not yet.
Maybe Episode 12.
Maybe later.
Because this project isn’t about me.
It’s about building a library of stories that immigrants everywhere can learn from.
Meet Our First Guest
Our very first guest is actually my best friend.
She lives in Canada.
I’ve watched her journey from the sidelines, and honestly…
It wasn’t easy.
I remember the tears.
The prayers.
The frustration.
The moments when it felt like nothing was working.
Fast forward to today…
She’s built a career she genuinely enjoys and continues to grow professionally.
In this series, she won’t simply tell us where she is today.
She’ll show us exactly how she got there.
The decisions she made.
The mistakes she learned from.
The skills she developed.
The opportunities she recognised.
And the moments that completely changed her journey.
Because that’s the part people rarely talk about.
What Makes Thriving Abroad Different?
Every guest will answer the same core questions.
* Why did you move abroad?
* What surprised you most?
* What was your biggest struggle?
* What changed everything?
* What would you do differently?
* What advice would you give someone arriving today?
* If you had to start again tomorrow, what would your first three steps be?
Because the goal isn’t simply to hear inspiring stories.
It’s to leave every episode with something practical you can apply to your own journey.
What You Can Expect
Each guest’s story will be released over several episodes instead of one very long article.
Think of it like reading chapters of a book.
Each episode will take you a little further into their journey.
Along the way, you’ll also be able to ask questions.
Leave them in the comments.
Send me an email.
I’ll include as many reader questions as possible in future episodes because I want these conversations to be genuinely useful.
I Want to Hear Your Story Too
Maybe you’ve built an incredible career abroad.
Maybe you’ve started a successful business.
Maybe you’ve completely changed industries.
Maybe you’ve overcome challenges you never imagined facing.
Or maybe your journey is still unfolding.
I’d love to hear from you.
If you have a story that could encourage, educate or inspire someone else, I’d love to feature you on Thriving Abroad.
Because every immigrant needs someone who makes them believe,
“If they did it… maybe I can too.”
Coming Soon…
I’m hoping our very first episode will be published on 11th July, 2026.
New episodes will be released on weekends, giving you something inspiring to read with your morning coffee.
With Love,
Ayo
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