www.skool.com/were-moving-to-europe
Abigail (Abbie) Somma
Gratitude Buddies

What does it really take to build a fulfilling life in a new country?

In this episode, Casey Kelly speaks with Abigail Somma, who has lived and worked across several countries. They explore how mindfulness, gratitude, and strong community connections can help people navigate the emotional and practical challenges of relocating abroad.

Abigail shares her personal journey of creating Gratitude Buddies, a community built around skill-sharing, meaningful connections, and mindful networking. Together, they discuss managing expectations when settling into a new place, coping with the emotional ups and downs of international life, and finding practical ways to build resilience and belonging.

This conversation offers thoughtful insights for anyone moving abroad, adapting to life overseas, or looking to build deeper connections in a new environment.

00:00 Rethinking the Meaning of Home
00:22 Podcast Introduction – Moving from the US to Europe
00:52 Meet Abigail Somma – Living in Spain, Italy, and Austria
01:48 Abigail’s Journey Living Abroad
03:10 From International Relations to Mindfulness and Community
04:22 The Origins of Gratitude Buddies
05:02 Why Gratitude and Community Matter After a Move
06:09 Belonging, Mindfulness, and Building Connection
07:30 Finding Community Through Shared Values
08:09 Managing Expectations When Moving Abroad
09:50 Culture Shock and Everyday Challenges in a New Country
11:29 Emotional Resilience – Humor, Crying, and Self-Compassion
13:33 Resources for Americans Planning a Move to Europe
14:57 The Hidden Mental Load of Living in Another Language
16:12 Beginner’s Mind – Staying Open to New Experiences
19:20 Guided Gratitude Meditation with Abigail Somma
23:44 Resetting Your Mindset with Mindfulness
25:00 Practical Advice for Building Community Abroad
26:07 Accepting Mixed Emotions When Moving Countries
27:02 Redefining Home and Cultivating Belonging
27:48 Final Thoughts and Gratitude Buddies Community
28:28 Outro – Thanks for Listening

Production team

Host and Researcher: Casey Kelly – We’re Moving to Europe

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas – Unscripted Creatives

Sound library

All the music was composed especially for the We’re Moving to Europe podcast by Sage Barton. Copyright 2025, Sage Barton.
Medication background music - The Orienvibes (https://pixabay.com/users/43208736/)

Extra visuals
Meditation visual - Nathan Cowley, Pexel
Images on title slides - Photos by Pierre Blaché and Alejandra Cifre González on Unsplash

We’re Moving to Europe Substack

We’re Moving to Europe Community

https://www.eleanormayrhofer.com/entreprenuership-in-germany
https://thegermanylist.de/the-germany-expat-business-show-podcast/

What does it really take to start over in a new country and build a business from scratch in Germany?

In this episode, host Casey Kelly sits down with Eleanor Mayrhofer, who moved from the US to Germany on a whim after a friend invited her to start a business. What followed was a crash course in entrepreneurship, networking, visas, language barriers, and cultural integration.

Eleanor shares the realities of navigating German work permits, understanding local business regulations, and building a professional network without speaking fluent German. She explains how a government support program helped her transition into freelancing, breaks down the German public and private healthcare systems, and highlights the power of the vibrant expat community.

Whether you're dreaming of launching a business abroad or simply curious about life as an entrepreneur in Germany, this episode is packed with practical insights and honest lessons from the front lines.

00:00 Joining expat groups vs integrating long term
01:03 Welcome + show intro (Casey’s move to Portugal)
01:34 Meet Eleanor Mayrhofer (US-born marketer in Germany since 1999)
01:59 How Eleanor ended up in Germany (a “big accident”)
03:14 The beer garden moment: “Let’s start a business”
04:24 Reality check: no network, no German, no plan
05:26 First job lead through networking (and visa stress)
06:08 Getting paid under the table while waiting on permits
06:43 Munich’s early web boom and the hiring wave
07:08 Landing at Sapient and finally getting the paperwork sorted
08:11 How timing and luck played a role (tourist visa extensions)
08:45 From corporate stability to going independent
09:15 Why “network is everything” when you start freelancing
10:29 Government support for founders: Gründerzuschuss explained
11:35 Germany’s healthcare: public vs private (what expats should know)
14:36 Being covered in the US: the $100k hospital story
16:11 Sponsor break: We’re Moving to Europe membership community
17:05 Does Germany really support entrepreneurs? Yes and no
17:19 KSK (artists’ social insurance) + freelancer reality math
18:26 Taxes, cash flow, and admin: the bureaucracy challenge
20:12 Choosing English vs German as your business language
20:32 Scaling, niches, and early business mistakes (printables)
21:46 Avoiding extra complexity: why a US LLC backfired
22:18 German business structures (GmbH/UG) + today’s tools/resources
23:30 Biggest upsides of self-employment: autonomy and flexibility
24:31 Advice for newcomers: side hustles, compliance, and pipeline
26:41 Networking culture in Germany (English-friendly ecosystems)
27:51 Startup scenes, meetups, and where connections happen
29:38 Expat community in Munich: evolving beyond the “bubble”
31:38 There’s never been a better time: creators, groups, accelerators
33:27 Eleanor’s podcast + where to find her (Germany List)
34:31 Wrap-up + credits (Producer/Editor: Magdalena Laas)

Production team

Host and Researcher: Casey Kelly – We’re Moving to Europe

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas – Unscripted Creatives

Sound library

All the music was composed especially for the We’re Moving to Europe podcast by Sage Barton. Copyright 2025, Sage Barton.

We’re Moving to Europe Substack

We’re Moving to Europe Community

Portugal Taxes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=@WMTEurope

Moving to Portugal as a US citizen? Your biggest surprise might not be the visa, it’s the taxes.
From double taxation myths to retirement income traps, this episode explains what Americans really need to know.

In this episode, Casey Kelly speaks with Pedro Gaudêncio, a chartered accountant and CEO of Portugal Taxes, to break down how the Portuguese tax system works for US expats living in Portugal.

They unpack common misconceptions that often circulate online, explain how the Portugal–US double taxation agreement actually works in practice, and why many Americans misunderstand their tax obligations after moving abroad. Pedro also explains how different types of income are treated, including US retirement income, and what digital nomads and remote workers need to be aware of when becoming tax resident in Portugal.

The conversation also explores tax benefits and incentives for younger expats, why early planning matters, and why working with qualified tax professionals is essential for staying compliant with both US and Portuguese tax authorities.

Whether you are planning a move to Portugal, already living there, or researching US expat tax planning, this episode offers clear, practical insight to help you avoid costly mistakes.

00:00 – The tax mistake that shocks most Americans in Portugal
01:13 – The tax expert Americans wish they’d talked to sooner
04:26 – Why the US makes expat taxes so much harder
05:52 – The biggest tax myths Americans believe about Portugal
06:45 – Selling a US home? Here’s the Portugal tax trap
09:04 – Will you really be taxed twice?
13:56 – Two tax strategies every US expat should understand
15:58 – Why Google gives terrible tax advice for expats
19:38 – How Portugal taxes Social Security and 401(k)s
23:16 – Digital nomads: where your income is really taxed
26:24 – “They won’t know I’m abroad” is a risky bet
28:39 – Hidden tax perks for younger expats (NHR 2.0)

Production team

Host and Researcher: Casey Kelly – We’re Moving to Europe

Producer and Editor: Magdalena Laas – Unscripted Creatives

Sound library

All the music was composed especially for the We’re Moving to Europe podcast by Sage Barton. Copyright 2025, Sage Barton.