The AFS Exchange
In each episode of The AFS Exchange, we sit down with AFS-USA host families, students, volunteers, and educators to hear about the profound impact of their AFS experiences. Join us as we explore the knowledge and skills needed to help create a more just and peaceful world.
As a non-profit organization, AFS-USA has been empowering people to become globally engaged citizens for over 70 years. With programs in 45+ countries and hosting students from 90+ countries, AFS-USA has been creating life-changing intercultural experiences for generations.
Episodes
43 episodes
The Curious Trunk & the Lost Cairn: An AFS Historian's Journey
Welcome back to The AFS Exchange for the second part of our Founders' Day celebration! After covering the "when" and "what" of AFS's start in WWI in our last episode, we're now diving into the "who"- the people who were there, the early volunte...
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Season 5
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Episode 3
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33:11
Driving Change: The Legacy of AFS Volunteers
For this year's AFS Founders' Day, observed on April 7th, we delve into the remarkable origins of the organization during World War I. This episode recounts the story of the American Field Service, where young American volunteers courageously s...
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Season 5
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Episode 2
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34:49
Self Discovery Beyond the Bell
Season 5 kicks off with stories of self-discovery through American school activities. Ayya from Indonesia explores theater, Sama from Egypt embarks on a creative journey, and Danisa from South Africa takes on cheerleading. From coast to coast, ...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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30:40
Open Your Home, Open Your Heart: Celebrating Host Families & Inspiring New Ones
In this Season 4 finale, we celebrate the powerful connections formed between host families and exchange students.Hear inspiring stories from past episodes: Jutta learns about Senegalese culture from her host daughter, Diarra; Justin and...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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27:09
Connecting Communities, Changing Lives: Inside the 2024 AFS-USA Summit
Join me at the 2024 AFS-USA Summit in Dallas, Texas- a weekend packed with connection, inspiration, and a few unexpected surprises. This year’s theme, Connecting Communities, Changing Lives, brought together volunteers, host families, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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25:59
The Power of Study Abroad: 4 Returnee Stories
In this episode, we hear from four recent returnees who participated in AFS programs in France, Japan, Spain, and the Czech Republic. We begin with a deeper conversation with Selina, who spent a transformative summer in France with AFS after fe...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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32:52
Becoming a Global Family
Ever wondered what it's like to have a new brother every year? Justin and Chad, a couple from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, can tell you! They've been hosting AFS students for years, and their 3-year-old son, Everett, has grown up with a global family....
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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32:42
Crossing Borders, Overcoming Barriers: Kakeru's Inspirational Journey
“And that kind of moment of breakthrough has been helping me for the rest of my life, right? Whenever I face any difficulty or struggles, I know there's a way to break through by my own efforts. And there are things that I can control.”
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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36:35
Keith, Doug, and their Danish Host Son
Keith and Doug Byron, a couple from Indiana, welcomed a Danish student into their home in 2022-2023. In this episode, the two of them discuss their initial motivations for hosting, their Danish host son's deep dive into American culture, their ...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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34:54
Apartheid, Iowa, and the Aftermath: Reed and Ketsi’s Story
In this episode of The AFS Exchange, we share the incredible story of Reed Davis and Ketsi Meka, two friends separated by continents and decades. Ketsi, from South Africa, lived with Reed’s family in Iowa during 1982-83. After Ketsi returned to...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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34:59
Growing Together: AFS-USA Host Sibling Experiences
AFS students bring a lot to their new families and homes. But what about when they also bring the sibling experience for the first time?In this episode, we delve into the stories of only children who suddenly found themselves with sibli...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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42:43
Thank You, AFS-USA Volunteers!
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month at AFS-USA, and we're thrilled to present a special bonus episode dedicated to expressing our gratitude to our incredible AFS volunteers! They truly are the heart of our organization. In this episode, AFS...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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36:54
Tips from a Young Activist and AFS-USA Volunteer
Katherine, a young AFS-USA volunteer from California, is deeply passionate about activism. In 2023, she engaged in AFS-USA’s Youth Ambassador Sustainability Project, a 7-week online leadership course for emerging leaders. During this program, s...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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36:27
From Senegal to Seattle: One AFSer's Journey in the Pacific Northwest
March is host family appreciation month at AFS-USA - a huge shoutout to all AFS host families! This month, we're excited to share an interview featuring a host mother-daughter pair from Washington: Jutta and Diarra.Diarra from Senegal i...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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33:24
Season 3 Highlights
In Season 3 of the AFS Exchange Podcast we've had the privilege of engaging with 28 guests across 12 episodes, each sharing impactful stories about how AFS has shaped their lives. To cap it off, we're excited to share a special episode which sh...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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30:58
A Dynamic Duo: Mert and Ann's AFS Journey
Mert Özer from Türkiye and Ann Ford from New Jersey are halfway through their year together as AFS exchange student and host mother. Living in a home with two very active dogs, they share an appreciation for music.From afar, they may see...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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30:50
Cyprus 1974: A Summer Never to Forget
Each AFS participant's experience on program varies, but Deb Moon and Juliette Cosh's summer in Cyprus stands out as truly unique.Deb and Juliette, along with five other AFS students, were on this small island in 1974 when the Greek Cyp...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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37:55
Global Competence in the Classroom with AFS
Celebrate International Education Week with us as we chat with two dynamic educators dedicated to instilling global competence in their classrooms. In this episode, we explore the significance of global competence through the experiences of Han...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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36:09
AFS: A Masterclass in Empathy, Confidence, and Global Citizenship
Tatyana Sergeyeva, a Russian cultural exchange advocate, shares her inspiring journey as an AFS exchange student to Iowa in the early '90s during the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union. She credits her AFS experience with help...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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31:18
AFS Creates Active Global Citizens: Dr. Rich Besser's Story
Before Dr. Rich Besser started his notable professional career, he was an AFS student in Australia. Since then, he has served as the Acting Director of the CDC, the Chief Health and Medical Editor for ABC News, and held many other impressive po...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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30:40
Meet the Hummels: AFS Host Family and TikTok Sensation!
The Hummel family has found a unique way to spread the word about the host parent experience: TikTok! With over 125,000 followers at their account @Josiewhite201, they have successfully shared...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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35:12
A Journey That Starts But Never Ends
“Your journey with AFS starts, but it never ends, because it will be with you for the rest of your life." If you have ever studied abroad with AFS- or hosted an AFS student- you can probably relate to this! In the episode, Sarah and Tommaso sha...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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47:50
50 Years of Impact: AFS Alumnus Creates Positive Change through mothers2mothers NGO
Dr. Mitch Besser’s experience in South Africa began on his AFS program in the early 1970s, in the middle of the era of apartheid. 50 years later, his strong connection to the country remains. Mitch’s AFS program enabled him to break...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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24:52
Trip of a Lifetime: An Unforgettable Two-Week Journey to Spain with AFS
You don’t need to go abroad for an entire year to be impacted by international exchange. In this episode, we explore the transformative power of short-term study abroad programs for high school students via 3 interviews with former participants...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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42:41
Hosting an Exchange Student: Insights from Host Siblings and Families
Hosting an exchange student can bring a variety of benefits to host families, especially those with children, as it can change the way children perceive and interact with the world. In this episode we hear from several guests who have been eith...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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44:06
