From Down Under to Down South
From Down Under to Down South is a twice-weekly reflection from an Australian making a life in the American South.
After moving from Australia to Tennessee in 2018, I began noticing the subtle cultural differences most people miss — the way politeness sounds different, the way goodbyes stretch longer, the way everyday moments quietly reveal what’s different.
Some episodes explore those contrasts directly. Others are quiet stories from the week — conversations and small moments that say something bigger.
It’s not outrage or culture wars. And it’s not a travel diary. It’s simply one Australian perspective on life between two countries.
If you’ve ever lived overseas, loved two places at once, or found yourself caught between familiar and foreign — you’ll feel at home here.
New episodes are released twice weekly as part of the broader From Down Under to Down South series across podcast and YouTube.
Episodes
58 episodes
This Week in America - Accents, Tone and Belonging
Living overseas long enough changes the way you hear things.Sometimes it’s obvious. Sometimes it’s just a single word that quietly reveals where you started.In this episode of This Week in America, I reflect on accents, t...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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6:12
I Want To Move Back To Australia… But The Housing Crisis Has Me Scared
I’m an Aussie living in the United States… and lately, I’ve found myself quietly unsettled by the idea of moving home.Every time I see headlines about Australia’s housing crisis — and hear stories from people trying to rent or buy — I ca...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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14:05
This Week in America - The Quiet Cost of Moving Countries
When you move countries as an adult, you expect the obvious changes — new places, new systems, new routines.What you don’t always expect is how that decision echoes through your children’s lives years later.In this episode of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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7:00
Aussie in America: 6 Meats That Will Get You FINED in the USA
Some of the foods Americans once ate — and some you still technically can’t — surprised me more than I expected.As an Aussie living in the United States, I’ve learned that what’s considered “normal” on one side of the world can be comple...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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6:32
This Week in America - When Observations Become Political
This week I learned something about identity — not from a headline or an election, but from a hospital bill.After a British channel reacted to one of my older videos about healthcare costs in the United States, the tone in my comment sec...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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9:09
Boomer Bosses in Australia & the US: Old Normal, Fired Today
There was a time when certain workplace behaviours barely raised an eyebrow.Smoking at your desk.Long “liquid” lunches.Calling the women in the office “the girls.”Bosses who ruled more like monarchs than managers.In bo...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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10:49
This Week in America - When Competition Becomes the Show
This week I’ve been reflecting on dance competitions — not the steps or the scores, but the atmosphere around them.Georgia recently competed interstate again, dancing a lyrical solo and four group routines. She’s been on the floor since ...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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7:39
Work Culture Clash: Top 10 Aussie vs American Office Shocks
Moving from Australia to the United States changed the way I think about work — more than I expected.What feels ordinary in one country can feel confronting in another.In this episode, I reflect on the biggest workplace difference...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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12:20
This Week in America - Crossing State Lines
This week we drove to Atlanta for Georgia’s dance competition — which meant crossing a state line.In Australia, that used to feel like a major event. Flights. Planning. Real distance.In America, it can mean a couple of hours on an...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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6:37
Aussie vs American Boomer Sayings Kids Today Don’t Get
Boomer sayings really were a language of their own.Living between Australia and the United States, I’ve noticed something quietly funny: Boomers in both countries confused their kids — just in completely different dialects.From “b...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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11:19
This Week in America - Warmth & Steadiness
This Week in America: Warmth & SteadinessThis weekend, Brianna turned seven.Fifteen kids. Rain outside. Glinda from Wicked in the living room. And somewhere between glitter arguments and polite doorway goodbyes...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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7:14
Aussie vs American Accents: 20 Words We Say Completely Differently
I once asked for water at KFC and walked away empty-handed.After years living in the United States, I’ve realised it wasn’t the service — it was my pronunciation.From “water” to “Melbourne” to “tuna,” there are dozens of everyday ...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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9:36
This Week in America - Ice, Cookies & Participation
In this week’s episode, I found myself thinking about three very small, very American moments: ice in drinks, unexpected cookies, and the quiet art of participation.Living in the US has a way of highlighting things I never noticed back h...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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7:38
5 American Habits That Still Baffle This Aussie After 7 Years
Seven years into living in the United States, there are still a few everyday habits that stop me mid-sentence.Not because they’re wrong — just because they’re different.From enthusiastic small talk in grocery stores to supersized ...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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9:06
14 ‘Normal’ American Things That Still Shock Me as an Aussie Expat
After years living in the United States, there are still moments that quietly catch me off guard.Not because they’re wrong. Not because they’re outrageous. Simply because they’re different from what I grew up with.In this...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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12:21
Why Americans Think All Accents Sound the Same
Americans don’t think all accents sound the same.They just haven’t had enough practice yet.As an Aussie living in the United States, I’ve lost count of how many times my accent has been guessed as British, Irish… or “Australian, b...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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4:14
7 Aussie Words That'll Awkwardly Confuse Americans
After years living in the United States, I still occasionally say something completely normal by Australian standards… and get a look in return.It turns out some everyday Aussie words sound harmless at home — but land very differently in...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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9:35
12 American Foods That Shock Australians
Seven years into living in the United States, there are still certain foods that make me pause.Not because they’re wrong — but because they’re different from what I grew up with.From American cheese and sweet tea to chicken and wa...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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8:02
8 Old Aussie Sayings That’ll Stump Your Foreign Mates
Every Australian has said something overseas that landed with a blank stare.Living in the United States, I’ve learned that what feels completely ordinary back home can sound mildly baffling elsewhere.In this episode, I share eight...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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8:47
Secret Rules of Australian Culture You Must Know
There are certain things Australians don’t explain — because we assume everyone just knows.Say hello when you walk into a small shop. Bring something to a barbecue. Don’t take yourself too seriously.After living ...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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10:44
Best Places to Live in Australia 2025: Top 9 Cities Ranked
Which Australian cities are considered the most liveable in 2025?In this episode, I look at the latest Happy City Index rankings and explore how Australia’s major cities compare across quality of life, wellbeing, infrastructure, and comm...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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10:28
11 Fresh Aussie Slang Words Just Hit the Dictionary!
Several Australian slang words were recently added to the Oxford Dictionary — and some of them might surprise you.Living between Australia and the United States, I’m constantly reminded how quickly language evolves… and how differently i...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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8:19
Aussie Bogans vs American Rednecks What's The REAL Difference
Certain labels carry more weight than we realise.In Australia, “bogan.”In the United States, “redneck.”As an Aussie living in America, I’ve heard both used in ways that are affectionate, critical, humorous, and dismissive — so...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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8:01
Explore the Wild Side of Old School Australian Slang
Some Australian slang feels timeless. Other phrases sound like they belong to a completely different country.Living overseas has made me realise how quickly language moves on — and how many expressions from older Australia have ...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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8:12
7 Things Americans Totally Misunderstand About Surviving in Australia
“I’d never survive in Australia. Everything wants to kill you.”It’s something I’ve heard more times than I can count since moving to the United States.In this episode, I take a closer look at the assumptions behind that idea — and...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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8:54