House of Peregrine

Moving Abroad, Motherhood, and the End of Old Rules (with Vanessa Bennett) | Ep 85

What happens when motherhood cracks open the old “rules,” and moving abroad removes every last distraction?In this episode of the House of Peregrine Podcast, Mickelle Weber sits down with Vanessa Bennett; therapist, author of The Motherhood Myth, and co-host of Cheaper Than Therapy—for a candid, elegant conversation on partnership, power, and the brave work of rewriting your life. Vanessa shares how losing their LA home to wildfires became the unexpected catalyst for a one-year move to Costa Rica: a reset to grieve, downshift, and decide what comes next from steadier ground.Together, they explore how systems like patriarchy, capitalism, and colonialism operate as dominator models (someone “above,” someone “below”) and why the alternative isn’t matriarchy, but a partnership model built on sovereignty, care, and choice. They also unpack codependency vs interdependence, and why over-functioners often have to be the ones to put the rope down first.In this episode:Motherhood as a paradigm shift for couplesDominator systems vs partnership modelsCodependency (“if you’re good, I’m good”) vs interdependenceWhy some therapy can reinforce hierarchy and how to vet supportMoving abroad as a truth-teller (“Costa Rica divorce”)Finding stability even when there is no planFind Vanessa Bennett at https://www.vanessabennett.com and on Instagram @vanessa.s.bennett. Listen, follow, and subscribe to the House of Peregrine Podcast for more conversations designed to make expat life feel less lonely and far more intentional.https://www.houseofperegrine.com/podcast/ep-085House of Peregrine is the network for International life, made by and for people living abroad.  Get started with a FREE account today to unlock exclusive content, connections, and opportunities:houseofperegrine.com/auth/signupJoin a global circle of thinkers, creators, and doers. We host events, build products, publish guides, run a podcast, offer rewards and curated products — all within a vibrant ecosystem of experts and businesses to support your life abroad.Subscribe: houseofperegrine.com/subscribeJoin our WhatsApp Group: HOP CommunityExplore Memberships: houseofperegrine.com/membershipsInstall the App: houseofperegrine.com/installFollow us for daily inspiration and updates:Instagram: @houseofperegrinepodcastYouTube: @HouseofPeregrineofficialLinkedIn:@company/house-of-peregrineTikTok: @houseofperegrinepodcast

Burnout Isn’t “Tired” | A Most Played Episode Clip

When your ambition collides with your humanity, the body always keeps the score. In this Most Replayed Moment, Mickelle is joined by Alicia Ingruber of Alicia Inspired, for a candid, deeply grounding conversation on what burnout actually is and why it’s so often misunderstood.Alicia shares her own story: a childhood shaped by constant relocation, the lifelong search for belonging, and the belief that “home” would finally be found in Amsterdam, until it wasn’t. In trying to build the dream life anyway, she went into overdrive: more work, more discipline, more effort, more proving. The warning signs arrived quietly (exhaustion, headaches, digestion issues, deep unhappiness)… until her nervous system collapsed into a multi-year burnout that stripped everything back. What followed became a turning point: learning to listen to her body, rebuild from the inside out, and dedicate her work to somatic healing, nervous system regulation, and sustainable success.In this episode:Alicia’s lived experience of burnout and what “collapse” can truly look likeWhy burnout isn’t “tired” or “overwhelmed,” but a full-body, emotional, and mental shutdownA clear nervous-system lens: regulated vs. fight/flight vs. dorsal collapse (numbness + depletion)Why modern culture expects burnout recovery to look like a cold and how that pressure prolongs healingThe invitation on the other side: coming back into the body, building a life that fits, and learning a new paceIf what is shared feels familiar,  let it be gentle confirmation: you’re not broken and you’re not alone. Listen to the full original episode here: https://www.houseofperegrine.com/podcast/ep-063To connect with Alicia Ingruber and explore her work at Alicia Inspired, visit https://www.aliciainspired.com and follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciainspired.House of Peregrine is the network for International life, made by and for people living abroad.  Get started with a FREE account today to unlock exclusive content, connections, and opportunities:houseofperegrine.com/auth/signupJoin a global circle of thinkers, creators, and doers. We host events, build products, publish guides, run a podcast, offer rewards and curated products — all within a vibrant ecosystem of experts and businesses to support your life abroad.Subscribe: houseofperegrine.com/subscribeJoin our WhatsApp Group: HOP CommunityExplore Memberships: houseofperegrine.com/membershipsInstall the App: houseofperegrine.com/installFollow us for daily inspiration and updates:Instagram: @houseofperegrinepodcastYouTube: @HouseofPeregrineofficialLinkedIn:@company/house-of-peregrineTikTok: @houseofperegrinepodcast

Take a Sabbatical! Prevent Burnout and Realign with Your Purpose | Ep 84

What if sabbaticals aren’t just for college professors and burnout isn’t a personal failure or even a rest deficit? Burnout might just be a quiet signal that life and work have drifted out of alignment and a sabbatical could be an important step in all careers? In this episode, Mickelle sits down with Lyndall Farley, co-founder of BreakSpace, to reframe career breaks as an intentional bridge between chapters.Lyndall shares how she’s taken 12 sabbaticals (including one that reshaped her entire life in Amsterdam) and why BreakSpace exists: to offer both a roadmap and a community, so you’re not navigating the “messy middle” alone.Together, they explore the dignity of transition: how to plan for change before it becomes a crisis, how to anchor your break in themes (not productivity goals), and how to return to a life you don’t need to escape from.In this episode:Why burnout is often structural misalignment (and why rest alone isn’t enough)The reality of non-linear careers and shifting life prioritiesFounders, identity fusion, and the pull to default into “the next thing”How to design a break with themes, not goalsLyndall’s 5 psychological phases of a sabbatical, from decompression to re-entryLearn more: https://gobreakspace.com Connect with Lyndall on LinkedIn  (DMs welcome).Grab details for the discount at houseofperegrine.com/podcast/ep-084

Finding the School That Fits Your Family | A Most Played Episode Clip

Choosing a primary school is one of the first and most emotionally charged decisions families face when relocating to the Netherlands. In this most‑played moment from Episode 026, Mickelle revisits a standout conversation with Annebet van Mameren of New2NL, whose decade of experience supporting international families brings calm, clarity, and perspective to the process.Together, they explore why children’s happiness is foundational to a successful move, how the Dutch school system is designed around choice rather than rankings, and what really matters when selecting a school, especially for internationally minded families navigating language, culture, and community for the first time.This clip is an essential listen for parents at the beginning of their journey and a grounding reminder for those already immersed in the Dutch education system. Links to the full episode, the Amsterdam School Lottery guide, and the supporting app can be found in the show notes.In this episode:Why children’s happiness directly impacts family and professional wellbeingHow the Dutch school system prioritizes choice over “best school” rankingsWhat international families should look for when choosing a primary schoolThe role of community, language, and parental involvement in school fitAnnebet van Mameren is the founder of New2NL, a relocation consultancy that supported international families for over 10 years. While the company has since closed, the insights shared here remain highly relevant.🎧 Full episode: https://www.houseofperegrine.com/podcast/ep-026📘 School Lottery Guide: https://www.houseofperegrine.com/journal/ams-school-lottery-navHouse of Peregrine is the network for International life, made by and for people living abroad.  Get started with a FREE account today to unlock exclusive content, connections, and opportunities:houseofperegrine.com/auth/signupJoin a global circle of thinkers, creators, and doers. We host events, build products, publish guides, run a podcast, offer rewards and curated products — all within a vibrant ecosystem of experts and businesses to support your life abroad.Subscribe: houseofperegrine.com/subscribeJoin our WhatsApp Group: HOP CommunityExplore Memberships: houseofperegrine.com/membershipsInstall the App: houseofperegrine.com/installFollow us for daily inspiration and updates:Instagram: @houseofperegrinepodcastYouTube: @HouseofPeregrineofficialLinkedIn:@company/house-of-peregrineTikTok: @houseofperegrinepodcast

College Ready, Debt Free | Ep 83

Mickelle is joined by Shellee Howard of CollegeReadyPlan (collegereadyplan.com) for a calm, practical masterclass on getting teens “university ready” without signing up for years of debt. With four kids through college debt‑free (and deep experience across the US + Europe), Shellee makes the process feel both elevated and doable.Her North Star is identity: when a student knows who they are, what matters, and can prove it, they waste less time, choose majors with intention, and become far more scholarship‑ready. She shares a simple “million‑dollar in 24 hours” game that surfaces core values without the eye‑roll.Together they map the international reality: US admissions are holistic, leadership and initiative matter, while many European pathways are more GPA‑driven and can track students earlier. Shellee also demystifies SAT vs ACT focus, IB vs AP tradeoffs, and why starting early is the quiet advantage.In this episodeA core‑values game that unlocks better decisionsHow self‑knowledge reduces debt (and stress)What universities value: leadership > “sign up and show up”SAT vs ACT: diagnose, pick one, then trainUS vs Europe admissions: holistic vs GPA‑drivenScholarships (even in middle school) + the role of FAFSAFor more and for all Shellee’s links visit https://www.houseofperegrine.com/podcast/ep-083House of Peregrine is the network for International life, made by and for people living abroad.  Get started with a FREE account today to unlock exclusive content, connections, and opportunities:houseofperegrine.com/auth/signupJoin a global circle of thinkers, creators, and doers. We host events, build products, publish guides, run a podcast, offer rewards and curated products — all within a vibrant ecosystem of experts and businesses to support your life abroad.Subscribe: houseofperegrine.com/subscribeJoin our WhatsApp Group: HOP CommunityExplore Memberships: houseofperegrine.com/membershipsInstall the App: houseofperegrine.com/installFollow us for daily inspiration and updates:Instagram: @houseofperegrinepodcastYouTube: @HouseofPeregrineofficialLinkedIn:@company/house-of-peregrineTikTok: @houseofperegrinepodcast