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 Aussie Words That'll Awkwardly Confuse Americans
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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 America.
In this episode, I share a handful of those vocabulary moments — the ones that led to raised eyebrows, awkward pauses, and the quiet realisation that we’re technically speaking the same language… but not quite the same version of it.
We’ll look at:
• Innocent Australian words that don’t translate cleanly
• Why certain phrases feel perfectly ordinary in one country and uncomfortable in another
• And what these misunderstandings reveal about culture, context, and humour
It’s not dramatic. Just mildly awkward.
And if you’ve ever lived overseas, 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
