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The eXpat Files Ep 7: This American Life (Patreon)

Published:
2025-07-07 18:02:53
Imported:
2025-07
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Content

The eXpat Files is a new series of podcast episodes that chronicle David and @joyofnapping's conversations as they consider whether/how to move to another country.

In this episode, David and Joy discuss:

Portuguese immigration law follow-up from last episode

The concept of belonging to America

Turning the missile keys simultaneously

No President has ever had something like the big beautiful bill

Our current plans (subject to change!)

PATRONS: You can get this audio in your podcast app by going to patreon.com/davechen, going to the "My Membership" section, and copying and pasting the RSS link to your podcast app.

Files

Comments

Mike Aparicio

As the child of a Latino immigrant, they would love it if I left. But to paraphrase Michael Bolton in Office Space, "Why should I leave? They're the ones who suck."

Pixel-davis

I sympathize with everything Joy is saying. I was never ultra patriotic, but November of last year severed any remaining interest I have in conceiving of myself as an "American." What this country proved itself to be is not in alignment with who I am. One could argue the first Trump election was a fluke or a mistake, but you cannot make that argument when it happens again. For a period of my life it seemed like we were on a general trajectory of progress with some setbacks along the way, and I could feel some pride in my national identity as a result. That is entirely and completely extinguished and will never return.

Mathew

I don't know how to ask this really, it's a huge question, but for those of us staying, for whatever reason, what do you think we do? I think I understand that part of your decision to leave is that you don't know, or believe there is nothing we can do at this point. I don't know. It's all so surreal and scary and overwhelming, but I don't know what options there are. Or is leaving this all behind and letting it fall apart on its own the only option at this point?

Joy o Napping

I can only speak for myself. I don't think leaving this all behind is the only option. Even in active war zones, not 100% of people flee. I have thought about what I would do if I were to stay... I'd try to live in a blue city in a blue state, and I'd invest in knowing my neighbors and being part of mutual aid /shared resource networks. I would get health care established (getting into doctors can take a while) and do as much preventive health care as I can before the Medicaid cuts go into effect (i.e., not put off routine screenings). I would keep focus on my personal priorities as a way to keep going; I let mine go by the wayside during the pandemic due to my non-stop feelings that everything was an emergency. I would also start to use different messaging platforms and stay off social media if I were politically active or seeking to disrupt. I would take up at least one slow hobby (gardening, fermenting, knitting... things that you cannot see the results of immediately) as I think this is a great reminder that change of the type we want does not happen at the pace we dream it, but at the pace we show up repeatedly to do it.

Mathew

Thank you for the response, Joy. Political activism is new to me, and I've always found it a struggle to build a community. Historically, I've isolated to cope with things and I've sort of dug myself into a hole. I've tried to focus on work and hobbies, but since the pandemic I've also felt a lot of guilt in doing that and a loss at what to do. Listening to you two talk about these difficult times has sparked in me a desire to try. I always appreciate your conversations. Thank you for sharing your perspectives here and for being good people in the world.

Warpstone

Thanks again for sharing. It has been lovely hearing your PoV of how you are both feeling in The USA at this time. Wish you both all the best.

Sarah Tudesco

Thank you both for sharing your experiences so openly. Your posts have really resonated with me as I'm grappling with many of the same feelings and decisions. I'm also working through the despair I feel about our country's direction, particularly as someone in librarianship and higher education—fields that feel increasingly undervalued and under threat. At the same time, I'm navigating some challenging personal health issues and trying to make healthcare decisions that will protect me moving forward. Your courage in taking this step has genuinely inspired me to think more seriously about what good choices look like for my own future, and what I can do to help improve things for my community rather than just feeling overwhelmed by it all. I wish you both safe travels and look forward to learning more about your journey. Thank you for being willing to share this process—it means more than you might realize to those of us still figuring out our own paths forward.