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
Best Places to Live in Australia 2025: Top 9 Cities Ranked
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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 community.
The results may not align with popular assumptions. Sydney and Melbourne aren’t automatically at the top — and some smaller cities perform surprisingly well.
We’ll look at:
• How the rankings were calculated
• What the data says about governance, environment, economy, and health
• Why some cities consistently score higher than others
• And how these rankings compare to lived experience
As someone who’s lived in different parts of Australia — and now in the United States — I also reflect on what “liveability” really means beyond statistics.
Rankings tell part of the story. Culture, lifestyle, and belonging tell the rest.
If you’re considering a move, reminiscing about home, or simply curious about how Australian cities stack up, this is a thoughtful breakdown of the 2025 data.
Full survey available here:
https://happy-city-index.com/
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Thanks for listening.
Hoo roo maties.
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