Home
Creators
Search Recent Missing Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

The eXpat Files Ep. 42 - It's Hard To Dream About (Patreon)

Published:
2026-08-08 17:51:38
Imported:
2026-08
Tags:

Downloads

Content

The eXpat Files is a series of podcast episodes that chronicle David and @joyofnapping's conversations as they consider how to adjust to life in another country.

In this episode, David and @joy discuss:

Wildfires in Spokane

Other trade-offs about living in the US

Frozen bank accounts in Portugal

What we've brought back to the US from Portugal (spiritually)

Belle Burden's book Strangers

David's anxieties about taking a GLP-1, continued

PATRONS: You can get this audio in your podcast app by going to patreon.com/davechen, going to the "My Members

Files

Comments

John Halski

What makes a drying rack good or bad?

David Chen

Including but not exclusive to: 1) How many articles/types of clothing it can hold 2) Can it dry those clothes efficiently 3) Materials (e.g. heavy, light, easy to hang clothes off of, etc.) 4) How easy it is to pack up into a portable unit and stow after usage

John Halski

Huh. I’m not an engineer or a product designer, but it seems like this should be a solved problem. Like if I bought a hammer, I expect it’ll do what a hammer is supposed to do given that it’s a known technology.

David Chen

You’d think, but then you buy the AmazonBasics drying rack and realize how far away we are from that reality

Aaron Miller

The Ikea Mulig looks pretty similar to that drying rack in the photo, although the base is more similar to what you would see on an ironing board. I use the Amazon Basics Foldable Portable Clothes Drying Rack which is great for my needs (I don't need to hang dry a ton of stuff). I'd be interested in hearing more about your GLP-1 experiences as you go forward, e.g. You mentioned having certain snacks ready. What snacks and why did you decide on them?

David Chen

Wow that does in fact look like a good match! Thank you!

David Chen

Snacks: stuff like chicken breast, protein drinks, basically just snacks that I can easily grab and will have essential nutrients annd specifically protein. Also: liquid IV, and other hydration supplements. That’s all I need for now I think.

Patrick Neon

Glad you see the benefits of a “European” drying rack, especially for delicate clothes and high-quality fabrics. 😄 I always wondered why Americans didn’t seem to hang their clothes or use drying racks. Now I know, it seems like people in the US just aren’t familiar with them or have high quality ones available! 👍

Roy Leo

It would be interesting to hear more of your thoughts on the "trade-offs" of returning to life in the US now. Specifically the part you mentioned about people getting snatched up by ICE on the street, that's a relatively new thing in the US and I assume it weights heavily on both of you. For context I'm a 32 year old Belgian citizen that just moved back to Belgium after 22 years of living in the US legally. I just happened to be in temporary limbo immigration-wise, and ICE-anxiety pushed me to leave the US and go back to my home country. Your podcast actually helped me take this step in my life and your conversations really helped me process my own transition to life in Europe. Anyway I just wanted to make the point that yes you've moved back to the US, but that doesn't mean the "Expat Files" framing is no longer relevant. At least for a few more episodes it would be interesting to hear you both talk about the experience of being back now after Portugal.

Edgar Flores

The Container store has a great drying rack. Everyone should air dry clothes they care about.

Danny C

Count me as being interested in your glp1 journey.

Danny C

On an unrelated tangent, which Vuori pants specifically are you referencing in your expat chats with Joy? I had never heard of Vuori and apparently they carry lots of different styles 😬

Gary Yarbrough

I really appreciated your discussion with Scott on GLP-1s and have directly benefited from your conversations on health in the past, influencing me in getting a Sleep Apnea diagnoses and helping normalize using a CPAP through just being honest and open about your experience.

Doczeuhl

I'm personally interested in your GLP1 journey. I just started and I'm on week 2 on zepbound.

Diana

Regular listener, rare commenter! I've been around since pre-Expat Files and always enjoy your conversations with Joy. I'd also be interested in hearing more about your GLP-1 journey.

Suren DeSilva

I’d love to hear more about the GLP1 journey! I’ve been dealing with a level of stubborn body fat that exercise and diet have been slow to fix. I also have with sleep apnea and prediabetes issues and always sort of wondered if starting on a similar journey could really help with those. I had a friend try it and he had great results but he isn’t as deep/thorough of a thinker as you. I think I had it in my head as an unsafe fad until your recent episode and that’s probably the first time I ever really considered it for myself. If you’re willing to share, I’d really love to hear about your experience.