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
14 ‘Normal’ American Things That Still Shock Me as an Aussie Expat
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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 episode, I reflect on fourteen everyday American habits and assumptions that once surprised me — and in some cases, still do.
From portion sizes and social norms to the subtle rhythms of daily life, these are the small cultural details that reveal how deeply “normal” is shaped by where you’re from.
It’s not a takedown. It’s perspective.
If you’ve ever lived abroad — or even travelled long enough to notice the details — 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
