Have you ever wondered what it would be like to pack up your life in South Africa and move somewhere completely different, all for the sake of a better future for your children? Or what goes through your mind when you look at your home country and start thinking about life twenty years from now?

In this episode, I spoke with Margaux and Dian de Wet, a couple originally from Johannesburg who took the big leap to Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the United States. Their story takes us all the way from Joburg to Barcelona, where Dian studied for his MBA, before finally arriving in America, where they've built a new life for themselves and their twins.

I really enjoyed talking with Margaux and Dian. My conversation with the de Wets was refreshing, and they were open about the tough decisions, sacrifices, and adjustments they had to make - the biggest one was leaving family behind, but there was also getting used to new cultures, and tackling the realities of visas and finding community in a foreign place.

Their reflections on knowing your "why" and sticking together as a couple really hit home for me, and I think their perspective will resonate with anyone considering a similar change.

“I didn't want to go and be poor in another country. That was a big thing for me.” - Dian de Wet

00:00 Introduction

04:09 Doing his MBA abroad

08:03 Creating a new future for their family

15:24 Getting used to the cold

17:53 Finding South African community in Cape Cod

23:26 US Visa challenges

30:22 Safety abroad vs South Africa

32:47 Domestic help is expensive abroad

35:34 Advice for emigrants

Resources

• Join the South African Women in The USA & Canada Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1957344347867518/

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com

You’ve probably seen South Africa in the news a lot lately - and not a lot of it is good news! How does the news impact the decision to leave, stay, or even return? And what is it that keeps people positive about South Africa, despite all the challenges that make headlines?

In this episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Paul Harris, a well-known South African entrepreneur, businessman, and one of the founders of Rand Merchant Bank - and my former boss, I might add! With so much negativity and noise in the media about South Africa, often from those who have left, I wanted to get Paul’s perspective on why he still feels so strongly about the country, and why it's important to report good news too.

Chatting with Paul was a refreshing experience, mainly because of his ongoing optimism about South Africa, even when times are tough. Our conversation helped me reflect on my own journey and the reasons behind deciding to move abroad. It also reminded me why, despite having left, I’ll always love my country!

Hopefully, our discussion can help others think more deeply about what it really means to stay or leave, and how much our attitude and actions can impact our future - no matter where we are in the world.

“I'm a proper South African and more South African than any Australian is Australian and any American is an American.” - Paul Harris

00:00 Introduction

05:33 South Africa's resilience over the years

06:35 Being positive about South Africa

11:12 “Would you live in the wilderness or would you live in a zoo?”

16:09 South Africans are resourceful and aspirational

21:56 Adapting to a new culture abroad

27:38 Improving South Africa-US relations

32:14 Navigating opinions on social media

Resources

• Read Paul’s original ‘message to a friend overseas’ on Biznewshere: https://www.biznews.com/sarenewal/2025/01/14/paul-harris-no-need-to-stress-about-sa

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to pick up your life and move to a new country? What does it look like to build and maintain a support network once you've left? What are the pros and cons about emigrating?

In this episode, we answer these questions and more as I’m joined by my good friend and fellow nomad, Ian Visser. Ian has lived in several countries and has a wealth of experience when it comes to uprooting and starting again somewhere new.

We chatted about the realities of emigration, including the tough decisions you have to make, the things you miss most about home, and the surprises that come with making such a big move.

I really enjoyed hearing his differing perspective on what it takes to relocate, leaving behind everything familiar to make a fresh start, and when going back might actually make sense.

“What is underappreciated is probably one of the most courageous things that a person or a family can do.” - Ian Visser

00:00 Introduction

02:38 Emigrating is courageous

03:13 What makes a “successful” move

05:53 What about going back to SA?

10:39 Financial realities of moving abroad

13:28 Comparing healthcare in SA and abroad

15:53 Rebuilding a network

19:10 Positives of emigrating

23:33 “Just go and explore”

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to start a new life on the other side of the world – away from family, familiar places, and the routines you’ve always known? Or questioned what really makes someone decide to move for good, especially when it means leaving behind the comfort of close connections?

In this episode, I chat with a fellow podcaster and Tukkies grad, Rudolph Botha, who swapped life in South Africa for Canberra, Australia almost 17 years ago. Rudolph’s story is one of balancing big decisions for his family’s future, finding new ways to connect with his roots, and navigating the everyday joys and challenges of being an expat.

Out of everyone I’ve spoken with so far, Rudolph and his family have been living abroad the longest. It was refreshing to hear how he’s built a happy life abroad in the long-term, while still being honest about the sacrifices and emotions that come with leaving loved ones behind. I especially enjoyed hearing about his role as a podcast co-host of ‘Magalies Potgooi’ (which I recently appeared on as a guest) and the importance of staying connected with fellow South Africans, no matter where in the world you land.

“If you can move to a place where you've got some sort of support system, that is, I think, one of the biggest advantages.” - Rudolph Botha

00:00 Introduction

04:40 Why Rudolph made the decision to leave

06:13 Life in Canberra

10:53 Fleeing the South African political situation

12:46 Advice for anyone emigrating

15:46 Phases of emigrating

18:05 Finding community at the dog park

20:33 Did he ever consider going back to South Africa?

25:01 Feeling safe in Australia

27:54 Navigating Australia’s red tape

30:10 Pros and cons of taking your furniture overseas

33:15 “Test your reasons”

35:04 No regrets

Resources

• Listen to Jan’s guest appearance on Rudolph’s podcast, ‘Magalies Potgooi’: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6mDsvKvQZOqJKCkSkiWVQv?si=b0e816da8bb540c8

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com

Have you ever thought about selling everything and moving overseas for a fresh start? What would you do if it didn’t work out quite like you hoped?

In this episode, I chat with Lilly Quintal, who moved with her family from South Africa to Portugal after long-term financial struggles and the hope for a better future. Lilly opens up about what happened when they arrived, only to find out, months later, that they had been lied to and were faced with nothing but empty promises. What followed was months of debilitating depression, struggling to get the support they needed and having to say goodbye to the half a million rand they had spent to try and make their new life happen. It was a tough journey, and after 21 months in Portugal, Lilly and her family decided to return to South Africa.

I really appreciated Lilly’s honesty and courage in sharing the reality behind her emigration story, especially given how challenging the experience turned out to be.

It was uplifting to hear about how they eventually found a support system, made lifelong friends and reunited with family. Let Lily's story be a cautionary tale to anyone looking to immigrate: always, always do your due diligence before making the move.

“There was a lot of guilt, the fact that I'd left them behind going to Portugal for a better future and then unfortunately things just didn't work out.” - Lilly Quintal

00:00 Introduction

02:16 Deciding to leave South Africa

03:28 Empty promises

05:26 “I hit rock bottom”

06:25 Doing due diligence

09:12 Finding community in Portugal

12:55 My heart was in SA

14:50 Longing to come back home

17:52 Struggling with depression

21:04 Seeking a better future financially

23:35 Blessed to be back

24:47 Do your homework

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com

When the safety and security of your family comes under threat, would you move over 10,000km across the world? What if that meant leaving behind all of your family and friends?

In this episode, I spoke with Lindi Dercksen, who moved from eManzimtoti, South Africa, to Australia’s Gold Coast. Lindi opened up about her family’s journey, from the early doubts and tough goodbyes to the experience of finding work and creating a new home from scratch.

After looting, loadshedding and retrenchment, Lindi and her family decided to enact their dream of moving somewhere that had a big South African community, but could offer their young children a better quality of life.

I really enjoyed hearing how she and her husband made the decision for the sake of their kids, but also for themselves, and how their lives have changed since arriving in Australia.

It was inspiring to hear her positive attitude, the resilience of her children, and the way the South African community in Australia supports each other through the ups and downs. I found our conversation relatable, especially when it comes to missing family and building a simpler, safer life.

“Kids are so resilient and they are so, so much stronger than what we think.” - Lindi Dercksen

00:00 Introduction

01:21 Reason for leaving South Africa

06:02 Speaking Afrikaans in Australia

07:22 Missing family back home

08:52 Finances and finding a job

10:22 The day we left

12:59 There’s no turning back

13:57 Australia’s South African community

15:47 How similar is the lifestyle?

20:16 Do people question your decision?

22:37 Would you have done anything differently?

23:48 Advice for immigrating

26:06 Missing South Africa and appreciating Australia

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com

What makes a young South African couple decide to move to a country they've never even visited? And, after nearly a decade abroad, what makes them choose to return home?

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Hester and Johan Pieterse, who originally left Cape Town in 2016 for Ireland. They didn’t know anyone there, and hadn’t even visited Ireland before making the jump – talk about taking a leap of faith! Over the next nine years, they built careers, started a family, and eventually became Irish citizens. But as you’ll hear, the pull of family and sunshine drew them back to South Africa.

Unlike most of the conversations I've had with other South Africa emigrants, Hester and Johan never planned on relocating permanently. My wife and my plan had always been to make the move for good, so it was refreshing to talk to people with a completely different experience of relocating.

“You can go and come back. You’ve got nothing to lose” - Hester Pieterse

00:00 Introduction

04:36 Visiting South Africa

06:55 Cost of living in Cape Town

12:31 Getting Irish citizenship

18:27 Would you have done anything differently?

19:46 Underestimating the red tape

20:46 Considering safety in South Africa

23:50 The decision to return to South Africa

26:07 Do you have any local friends considering emigrating?

27:18 Shielded from local politics

28:48 Advice for relocating with kids

31:41 Things we miss about Ireland

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com

Have you ever wondered if moving overseas could really give your children a better future? Or what it’s actually like to leave South Africa behind and start fresh in a new country with your whole family?

Today I speak to Rogerio Vieira, who made the decision to relocate with his wife and five children from South Africa to Lagos, Portugal - the same place my wife and I have relocated to! Rogerio shares what it was like to adjust to life here in Lagos, why they felt it was the right move for their kids, and what challenges they’ve faced along the way — especially when it comes to fitting into a new schooling system and learning a new language.

As someone who’s gone through their relocation experience, it was great to chat with Rogerio and hear his honest perspective. I really enjoyed hearing about his family’s journey, the ups and downs, and his advice for anyone considering making the same move. I think you’ll find his story both relatable and helpful if you’re thinking about your own future abroad.

“The younger they are, I think they pick it up quite easily. Us older people, it's a bit more difficult. It's not an easy language.” - Rogerio Vieira

00:00 Introduction

04:21 Rogerio’s father’s immigration story

06:29 Living in Lagos

11:04 The possibility of returning to South Africa

13:18 Don’t make the same mistake we did!

14:55 Getting his wife’s Portuguese passport

18:49 His advice for those leaving SA today

This podcast was produced by the team at Zapods Podcast Agency:

https://www.zapods.com