Episodes

  • Greece Changed Us — Here’s Why We Don't Want to Leave

    Greece Changed Us — Here’s Why We Don't Want to Leave
    Aug 18 2025

    We've been MARRIED for thirty-odd years. This year, after a huge family loss, we took our young adult kids and spent the summer in Greece. Here's how it went.

    Our summer in Greece has come to an end, and we don't want to leave.

    Greece has done wonders for our family, our marriage, my healing, Sonny's income, and our waistline. All have grown.

    Here's what we have loved, what we'll miss and what we are nervous about facing in England.

    Thank you so very much for being here with us.

    Yours, forever grateful

    Liz and Brian, husband and wife. x

    PS: If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. I'd love to have you. Go here to join us.

    ❤️Join my inner circle. Liz's free newsletter is here: https://itsadrama.com/frontrow/

    ❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and review the It's a Drama Podcast here, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue!

    🏡 We are staying in an Airbnb in Greece, but nine times out of ten, Brian and I house-sit.

    It has saved us approximately $30k in accommodation around Europe.

    If you want to join us in using TrustedHousesitters to travel the world, use our exclusive discount code to get a WHOPPING 25% off HOUSESITTING yearly membership. It's cheaper than one night's stay in an Airbnb.

    ⛑️Safety wing Nomad Travel insurance. If, like us, you are travelling for more than a couple of weeks, then we recommend getting a "rolling pay-as-you-go insurance". We use Safety Wing. They have been brilliant and offer us everything we need at a great price.

    💰 ✈️ Travelling overseas and don't want to pay hefty credit card charges? We love the brilliant all-in-one Wise Card. The one card allows you to spend and receive money worldwide. No more annoying charges and the need to face credit cards when you return home. Check out WISE here for ease, availability and the best rates!

    ❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and review the It's a Drama Podcast here, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue!
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    40 mins
  • This is What Happens When You Give Yourself Time

    This is What Happens When You Give Yourself Time
    Aug 11 2025

    What would you do with a million dollars?
    Brian would buy a car. Liz would build a writing retreat. Welcome to marriage.

    In this episode, Brian and I chat about money, marriage tiffs, and why giving yourself time — real, uninterrupted, guilt-free time — can change everything.

    We talk about our last precious days in Greece (and why we never want this spell to end), the joy of being unapologetically self-indulgent, supporting adult kids while still carving out a life of your own, and what “being time-rich” really means.

    Thank you for subscribing and taking the time to leave us a review. Your support means the world to us and is what keeps us going.

    Kia kaha,

    Liz and Brian x

    PS: If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. I'd love to have you. Go here to join us.

    And...if you're feeling really, really generous and have a few minutes to spare, it would be wonderful if you'd leave us a review. Your support means the world to us. Thank you. ❤️

    • Subscribe to this PODCAST on Apple
    • Subscribe to this PODCAST on Android
    • Subscribe to this PODCAST on Spotify

    Liz and Brian x

    PS: If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, my gorgeous, trusted confidants, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. You can sign up for my FREE Front Row Newsletter HERE.

    Get Liz's book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE TRAVEL BOG DIARIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📕 (now available on AUDIO) A hilarious memoir of how Liz and her family travelled the world for a year (with very little money and far too many hormones!)

    ❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠review the It's a Drama Podcast here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue

    🟩 looking for the BEST Travel Insurance? There is only one company that we use (and only ever use when we travel), and that is World Nomads. Over the years, we've made three claims (sorry, guys), and each time the service has been superb. Check ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠World Nomads out here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
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    1 hr
  • When will you see yourself as others do?

    When will you see yourself as others do?
    Aug 4 2025

    We thought this week's "outside the comfort zone" podcast episode would be about memory and how you perceive yourself, but it turned out to be so much more than that.

    In this week's podcast by the sea, you can expect to hear how Liz struggles with her son confessing to wanting to be a millionaire, how the couple are navigating life as they spend 24 hours a day together with a family of four in an apartment in Greece, and why we struggle to see ourselves as others do.

    Enjoy, our lovely friends.

    Thank you for subscribing and taking the time to leave us a review. Your support means the world to us and is what keeps us going.

    Kia kaha,

    Liz and Brian x

    PS: If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. I'd love to have you. Go here to join us.

    And...if you're feeling really, really generous and have a few minutes to spare, it would be wonderful if you'd leave us a review. Your support means the world to us. Thank you. ❤️

    • Subscribe to this PODCAST on Apple
    • Subscribe to this PODCAST on Android
    • Subscribe to this PODCAST on Spotify

    Liz and Brian x

    PS: If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, my gorgeous, trusted confidants, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. You can sign up for my FREE Front Row Newsletter HERE.

    Get Liz's book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE TRAVEL BOG DIARIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📕 (now available on AUDIO) A hilarious memoir of how Liz and her family travelled the world for a year (with very little money and far too many hormones!)

    ❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠review the It's a Drama Podcast here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue

    🟩 looking for the BEST Travel Insurance? There is only one company that we use (and only ever use when we travel), and that is World Nomads. Over the years, we've made three claims (sorry, guys), and each time the service has been superb. Check ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠World Nomads out here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • If you’re struggling with loss listen to this

    If you’re struggling with loss listen to this
    Jul 27 2025
    "It's been a year, get on with it". If you are struggling with any kind of loss and want to feel supported and loved, this conversation is for you. Not only will it help you, but you will see that you are normal, and, most importantly, not alone. *This episode is part of our husband-and-wife healing conversations series. These podcast episodes are recorded outside. We are husband and wife, Liz and Brian, and we are currently staying on the Greek island of Paros with our two young adult kids as part of our year-long trip away from New Zealand. The episode starts with us walking to a busy cafe. We invite you to come along with us and have a coffee and a chat. I think you need to hear this. Kia kaha (stay strong), my brave friend. Liz and Brian x PS: If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. I'd love to have you. Go here to join us. I was beating myself up pretty badly in last week's behind-the-scenes outdoor podcast episode. I was frustrated and hurting. The thing is, I miraculously managed to get to be fifty-three years old without ever losing anyone significant in my life, so last year, when I lost both parents within a matter of months, I felt like I'd been thrown into the deep end of the murky waters of grief. As you know, there is no handbook for how to grieve. No guide, no nothing. And I didn't know how to do it. So I did what we all do, the only thing I knew how to do. I wiped my tears, stopped talking about it publicly, felt embarrassed if someone saw me with a tear-stained face and kept myself REALLY busy to hide the fact that I felt broken, lost and sinking in sadness. In short, I did what I had been programmed to do. I got on with it. Hoped that it would all go away and never ever come back as long as I lived. But now here I am. Sixteen months later. On this year-long trip. And, for the first time since my mum and dad died, I have time. Too much time, probably. And when you have lots of time and nothing to distract you, the feelings and emotions that have been pushed down into your toes bubble to the surface. And the result is what you heard last week in this podcast. Shame. Embarrassment. Resentment. Anger. Lost. I am learning now (still learning) that this outburst, this wave of "I hate myself-ness", was a cry for help. Because, like many of us who are grieving in a world that is too busy to stop, I didn't give myself the proper time. Or attention. I didn't know that grief is not just a "one-time-never-comes-back-emotion". That it needs to be honoured. Talked through. Given space. And time. As much time as it takes. In this episode, Brian very patiently (god, I love this man) listens and advises while I remove the self-blame and shame veil. Remove it for all of us. This is what a healing journey looks like. This is grief. Showing up in the rawest, fullest, deepest, most desperately needing to be addressed kind of way. I hope you feel my love and know that my heart will always beat with yours. Stay strong, my darling friend. Yours Liz x And...if you're feeling really, really generous and have a few minutes to spare, it would be wonderful if you'd leave us a review. Your support means the world to us. Thank you. ❤️ Subscribe to this PODCAST on Apple Subscribe to this PODCAST on Android Subscribe to this PODCAST on Spotify Liz and Brian x PS: If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, my gorgeous, trusted confidants, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. You can sign up for my FREE Front Row Newsletter HERE. 🔗 Here is the link to the grief podcast Liz talked about. Listen to is, it will help: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4eI76331jY7tDlwOOiqJlA?si=x6sripXESXyyYRs-KhmTEg ❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠review the It's a Drama Podcast here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Mouth tape, money, and travelling with adult kids. An update from Greece

    Mouth tape, money, and travelling with adult kids. An update from Greece
    Jul 21 2025

    We're back, from our sunny Naousa balcony, on the Greek island of Paros, Greece, where we're staying for a month with our two young adult kids for the summer.

    In this episode, we share everything from mouth breathing to juggling money stresses, ageing bodies, emotional outbursts, and the messy, muddled brain that is (probably) caused by too much Ouzo.

    Thank you so much for finding us and for staying around. If you enjoy the content and would like to support the show, please subscribe on your favourite platform.

    And...if you're feeling really, really generous and have a few minutes to spare, it would be wonderful if you'd leave us a review. Your support means the world to us. Thank you. ❤️

    • Subscribe to this PODCAST on Apple
    • Subscribe to this PODCAST on Android
    • Subscribe to this PODCAST on Spotify

    Liz and Brian x

    PS: If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, my gorgeous, trusted confidants, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. You can sign up for my FREE Front Row Newsletter HERE.

    Get Liz's book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE TRAVEL BOG DIARIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📕 (now available on AUDIO) A hilarious memoir of how Liz and her family travelled the world for a year (with very little money and far too many hormones!)

    ❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠review the It's a Drama Podcast here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue

    🟩 looking for the BEST Travel Insurance? There is only one company that we use (and only ever use when we travel), and that is World Nomads. Over the years, we've made three claims (sorry, guys), and each time the service has been superb. Check ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠World Nomads out here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
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    1 hr
  • Leaving your husband to spend a month in PARIS. Not what I expected (at all)

    Leaving your husband to spend a month in PARIS. Not what I expected (at all)
    Jul 13 2025

    Liz left her husband Brian and went off to spend a month in Paris with her daughter. The dream Paris trip.

    As is often the case, things went in the opposite direction from what she expected. Not in a bad way, though, in fact, things went in a very good way.

    Her time in Paris brought up thoughts and feelings around the grief of losing both parents. Feelings she thought (hoped) had been resolved.

    Not so. Very much not so.

    This week, we want to talk to you about Liz's Paris trip. About finding yourself alone with yourself and having time to face up to feelings you've been trying to push down.

    Thank you so much for lending us your ear. And thank you for finding us and for staying around. I hope this helps you in some small way ❤️

    My heart beats with yours.

    Kia Kaha.

    Liz and Brian x

    PS: If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, my gorgeous, trusted confidants, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. I'd love to have you. You can sign up for my FREE Front Row Newsletter HERE.

    If you are going to Paris and intend to do far more sightseeing than I did, then do not hesitate to get the Go City Paris Pass. It'll save you a fortune in money and time in the long hot lines.

    Brianna Wiest's book: The Pivot Year

    We stayed in an Airbnb in Paris, but nine times out of ten, Brian and I house-sit.

    It has saved us approximately $30k in accommodation around Europe.

    If you want to join us in using TrustedHousesitters to travel the world, use our exclusive discount code to get a WHOPPING 25% off HOUSESITTING yearly membership. It's cheaper than one night's stay in an Airbnb!

    Get Liz's book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE TRAVEL BOG DIARIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📕 (now available on AUDIO) A hilarious memoir of how Liz and her family travelled the world for a year (with very little money and far too many hormones!)

    ❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠review the It's a Drama Podcast here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue

    🟩 looking for the BEST Travel Insurance? There is only one company that we use (and only ever use when we travel), and that is World Nomads. Over the years, we've made three claims (sorry, guys), and each time the service has been superb. Check ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠World Nomads out here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

    Podcast Show Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Read our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ It's a Drama blog
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    1 hr and 45 mins
  • I lost her then i lost me. A raw conversation about grief, loss, and the fear of becoming someone new

    I lost her then i lost me. A raw conversation about grief, loss, and the fear of becoming someone new
    Jul 1 2025
    What if the hardest part of being real… is letting people see it? We almost didn’t record this. The voice in my head said: Don’t show too much. Don’t be too much. But I’m tired of that voice. Tired of searching for safety instead of being it. If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. I'd love to have you. Go here to join us. Brian and I recorded this audio-only episode while we were out at a café in Naoussa, Paros. There’s a lot of background noise, people chatting, drills drilling, cars revving—but we left it all in because it felt real. And that’s what this episode is: real. The sound quality is a bit shit. Apologies. If you like it, and we keep this format, it will improve. I’m not quite sure what's going on at the moment. Life feels messy. Confusing. I feel as if something has cracked open in me. Maybe it’s grief. Maybe it’s the start of a new season. Maybe both. I don't know. And that's what this episode is: Not knowing. Me, trying to untangle something I can’t fully name yet, and Brian offering his ever-wise and patient thoughts. This episode is about grief—what it looks like when you’re in it: the confusion, the uncertainty, the messiness, the ache of something ending, or beginning, or both. It’s also about shame. About the fear of being seen—really seen. About how hard it can be to hit publish when you're sharing something vulnerable. About how I listened back to a recent episode and cringed—not because I wasn’t being real, but because I was. This is us, a husband and wife, in the middle of the mess, figuring it out as we go. If you’re in that place too, I hope this episode feels like a warm hand on your back. Thank you for giving us your time and for offering us this space to figure things out. Please reach out by email. I answer every single message. email: liz@itsadrama.com My heart beats with yours. Kia Kaha. Liz and Brian x PS: If you haven't yet joined my inner circle of friends, my life-letter readers, please do. You will be the first person I share everything with. I'd love to have you. Go here to join us. Get Liz's book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE TRAVEL BOG DIARIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📕 (now available on AUDIO) A hilarious memoir of how Liz and her family travelled the world for a year (with very little money and far too many hormones!) ❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠review the It's a Drama Podcast here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue! 🏡 Want to know how we travel for FREE? We use (and LOVE) Trusted Housesitters. If you want to join us in using TrustedHousesitters to travel the world, c⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heck out these beautiful houses⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and pets that are currently available & waiting for YOU to HOUSESIT! Once convinced that housesitting is for you, use our exclusive discount code to get a WHOPPING ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠25% off HOUSESITTING by going here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 🟩 looking for the BEST Travel Insurance? There is only one company that we use (and only ever use when we travel), and that is World Nomads. Over the years, we've made three claims (sorry, guys), and each time the service has been superb. Check ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠World Nomads out here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Podcast Show Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ It's a Drama blog
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • The Norway Road trip. Brian Went to the Top of Norway and Back — Here’s What Happened

    The Norway Road trip. Brian Went to the Top of Norway and Back — Here’s What Happened
    Jun 22 2025

    Greetings from Athens, Greece! This week we're sharing the story of Brian’s recent (and very excitingly epic) Norway road trip — a bucketlist journey to the very tippy top of Norway to spend time with his two favourite people and witness the midnight sun.

    Along with our son (Sonny) and his brother (Dave), Brian has just driven thousands of kilometres, slept in beds around the country, and let the road lead him through some of the most remote, breathtaking landscapes in the world.

    Back in Liz's arms, safe and sound, the couple are here in Athens (as part of our year-long trip away from New Zealand) where Brian shares with us all everything that happened on his Norway road-trip adventure.

    Brian's 3-week Norway Road Trip.

    Tell us Everything, Bri, (and I mean everything)

    Enjoy!

    PS: Stay tuned to the end to hear Brian's private behind-the-scenes diary entries that he recorded while on the road in Norway. And come back next time to hear all about Liz's time in Paris with their daughter ❤️

    Until then, thank you so very much for being here with us.

    Yours, forever grateful

    Liz and Brian xx

    ✏️Love stories? Sign up for Liz's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This is the best way to get to know Liz. I look forward to sharing my words with you ❤️

    Get Liz's book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE TRAVEL BOG DIARIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📕 (now available on AUDIO) A hilarious memoir of how Liz and her family travelled the world for a year (with very little money and far too many hormones!)

    ❤️ Like what you heard? Please rate and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠review the It's a Drama Podcast here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or if you are on Spotify, please review us over there. Your short review helps us massively and encourages us to continue!

    🏡 Want to know how we travel for FREE? We use (and LOVE) Trusted Housesitters. If you want to join us in using TrustedHousesitters to travel the world, c⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠heck out these beautiful houses⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and pets that are currently available & waiting for YOU to HOUSESIT!

    Once convinced that housesitting is for you, use our exclusive discount code to get a WHOPPING ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠25% off HOUSESITTING by going here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

    🟩 looking for the BEST Travel Insurance? There is only one company that we use (and only ever use when we travel), and that is World Nomads. Over the years, we've made three claims (sorry, guys), and each time the service has been superb. Check ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠World Nomads out here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

    Podcast Show Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Read our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ It's a Drama blog
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    1 hr and 32 mins