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 Americans Totally Misunderstand About Surviving in Australia
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
“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 what everyday life in Australia actually looks like.
We’ll talk about:
• The reality of snakes, spiders, and wildlife
• Why sunburn is often a bigger threat than fangs
• Where most Australians actually live
• Why Melbourne weather keeps everyone guessing
• The myth of kangaroos hopping down every street
• And how Australia differs from America in ways that have nothing to do with animals
This isn’t a dramatic takedown of Hollywood myths.
It’s a grounded look at what’s exaggerated, what’s misunderstood, and what living in Australia really feels like day to day.
If you’ve ever wondered whether Australia is truly a survival test… this might recalibrate things.
======================
Support the podcast:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/fromdownundertodownsouth
🌏 Website: https://fromdownundertodownsouth.com
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FromDownUndertoDownSouth
📷 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068568677919
🐦 X: https://x.com/aussiemika74
📩 Business enquiries & collaborations: michael@fromdownundertodownsouth.com
Thanks for listening.
Hoo roo maties.
Check out additional content on our YouTube page!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjipgN51kc8swHyKeSx2tzw
