Away From Home cover art

Away From Home

Away From Home

By: Conversations with unusual people
Listen for free

About this listen

In this podcast, I interview people who live (far) away from home. Some are friends, others are strangers, and a few are strangers on the road to becoming friends. In these conversations, I get to ask interesting people all sorts of questions about their lives and the decisions they've made. My parents are from Shanghai, I was born in Chicago, and I've lived in Spain, China, Ecuador, and a few other places. I've always been drawn to the stories of people who have a complicated relationship with home. My hope with this podcast is to better understand the immigrants, expats, and foreigners of the world, including myself.

zhoubro.substack.comElaine
Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Florencia en Ecuador
    Jun 17 2025

    Florencia came to Montanita, Ecuador for a visit of 10 days and ended up staying over twenty years. During that time, she has raised a daughter, built a house, run a successful clothing business, and hosted visitors from all over the world in her home. Florencia is from Argentina and doesn’t speak English, so interview is conducted entirely in Spanish. If you speak Spanish, enjoy the episode and please forgive any mistakes in my speaking. If you don’t speak Spanish, I guess you could listen to it as background noise. Either way, enjoy!



    Get full access to Elaine's Substack at zhoubro.substack.com/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Ali in Colombia
    May 15 2025

    Ali was born on the border of Iran and Iraq, literally on the road as his family fled war through Armenia, Germany, and the Netherlands, eventually settling in a small suburb of Amsterdam. The two of us met at a permaculture hostel in the north of Colombia, which is where this interview takes place. In this episode, we discuss a memory from when Ali was one years old, what material possessions he actually needs, maintaining friendships while traveling long term, and much more.



    Get full access to Elaine's Substack at zhoubro.substack.com/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • Alec in Shanghai
    Sep 25 2024

    Alec was born and raised in Utah, but he is not Mormon. His dad is from Belgium, he speaks French, and he has been living in China for around 5 years. We met working at the same high school in Shanghai and bonded over board games. In this interview, we talk about buying a one way ticket to New Zealand, advice for aspiring travelers, and the wonder he still feels walking down the street in China.



    Get full access to Elaine's Substack at zhoubro.substack.com/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins

What listeners say about Away From Home

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.