Holding the Fort Abroad Podcast

Adults Who Have Grown Up With A Travelling Parent

#55 Sharing my father with the world – with Michael Pollock

Synopsis: Growing up as the child of a minister and a father who was also actively involved in cross-cultural work, had a profound impact on Michael. His father’s frequent travels for youth ministry, pastoral duties, and later, more global roles in raising awareness about Third Culture Kids, created a complex dynamic in their family life.…

#51 The Impact of Parental Absence on Childhood – with Katia Vlachos

Synopsis: Katia Vlachos’ father was away during her childhood. During this episode, she graciously shares her story of realising later on in life the impact her father’s absence had on her. Katia has lived internationally for many years. She’s the author of the book A Great Move and a soon-to-be-released memoir. She coaches people going…

#48 What makes you think I had an absent father? – with Lucas

Synopsis: Continuing the series of Growing up with a Travelling Father, Lucas talks about his experience. Despite the financial constraints and the challenges brought on by his father’s international career, Lucas expresses gratitude for a supportive family environment and discusses how travel and cultural exposure have shaped his worldview. What This Episode is About: A…

#46 “You have to behave while I’m away” – with Irene

Synopsis: In this compelling episode, Irene reflects on her childhood in Jakarta, living with her grandparents while her mother made a bold move to Greenland for financial stability. She opens up about the intricacies of cultural differences within her family, the support she had despite her mother’s absence, and how she sees it as part…

#45 Embracing the World Through a Travelling Father – with Ophelia

Synopsis: In this episode, Ophelia opens up about the nuances of growing up with a globe-trotting father, an experience that came with its blend of adventure and uncertainty. She reminisces about a youth punctuated by her dad’s inconsistent presence and the creative ways her family maintained connections across continents in an era before the omnipresence…

#36 I don’t resent my globetrotting father – with Anaju

Synopsis: HTFA Episode #036, titled “Bonding across Distance: Anaju’s Tales of a Globetrotting Father”, explores how her family coped with her father’s absence through ritual, reading, and intentional time together. Anaju reflects on her dad’s efforts to stay connected despite the distance and how this unique upbringing led her to pursue a master’s in sociology.…

holding-the-fort-abroad-podcast

Welcome to Holding the Fort Abroad, the podcast about frequent business travel and working away from home:

Holding the Fort Abroad is about sharing creative ways families have found to maintain relationships when a partner and/or parent works away from home a lot and how the non-travelling partner juggles the roles of home and their own pursuits. I interview expats who have experience, therapists and researchers and share my own tools for this life journey. Even if you don’t have a travelling partner, you will find gems in this podcast for your life.

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Supportive services for traveling and home-based parents

Families where one partner is away a lot for work or is living and working in another country for long periods don't often realise they are under more pressure than families who don't have this lifestyle.

However, I truly believe that split location families can build a strong unit, be a happy family with happy individuals even when living apart. I have witnessed families who are living this reality.