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.
From Down Under to Down South
7 Things You Should Never Say to an Aussie
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There are a few phrases Australians hear overseas that tend to land… poorly.
Living in the United States, I’ve had my share of well-intentioned comments that triggered an automatic eye-roll — not out of offence, but familiarity.
In this episode, I look at seven things people often say to Australians, and why they don’t always land the way intended.
We’ll explore:
• The stereotypes that still follow Australians abroad
• Why certain phrases feel dated or oversimplified
• How humour and slang get misunderstood
• And what actually builds better cross-cultural connection
This isn’t about scolding anyone.
It’s about how easy it is to reduce a country to a handful of clichés — and how much more interesting things become when you move past them.
If you’ve ever had your own culture summed up in one sentence, you’ll probably recognise the feeling.
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Thanks for listening.
Hoo roo maties.
Check out additional content on our YouTube page!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjipgN51kc8swHyKeSx2tzw
