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
The American Version of Polite
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After eight years living in the United States, one thing still quietly fascinates me — not how polite Americans are, but what they’re polite about.
From apologising for existing…
To holding doors from impossible distances…
To saying “sorry” before giving a compliment.
These are moments that, back home in Australia, wouldn’t even register.
This isn’t a criticism. It’s an observation.
A look at how politeness shows up in different places — and what that says about culture, comfort, and the assumptions we don’t realise we’re making.
If you’ve ever moved countries — or simply noticed how small social moments feel different depending on where you are — this one will probably sound familiar.
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Thanks for listening.
Hoo roo maties.
Check out additional content on our YouTube page!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjipgN51kc8swHyKeSx2tzw
