Maria Barciela

A seasoned expat and entrepreneur, Maria brings real talk, humor, and heart to the podcast, sharing the ups and downs of life abroad. She also loves to write and share her experiences on the blog.

Maria grew up between Rio, Brazil; Mar del Plata and Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has since lived in New Zealand and the Netherlands. A business owner and self-starter, she thrives on building new ventures.

With a deep appreciation for travel and storytelling, Maria has spent the past 20 years running Across South America, a boutique travel company she co-founded with her sister. As a female-led business, it helps others experience the richness of the region through carefully curated journeys.

Her journey has taken her across the world, always pushing her to create, connect, and explore.

"In a world so vast, it never ceases to amaze me how, despite our differences, we are all the same in many ways."

You can read more of Maria's story here.

Ana Kunz

With a passion for connecting people, Ana—or Anita, as we call her—helps bring the Almost Local community together.

Born and raised in Santiago, Chile, Ana has always been passionate about the land. She studied agronomy and built a career in the world of fruits, combining science with her deep love for nature.

Her journey took her to New Zealand, where she studied, and now to the Netherlands. Recently, she launched a business dedicated to handmade garments crafted by South American artisans—sustainably made.

You’ll always find her at the international school’s community center or connecting with fellow expats at events.

"Give me good soil, good wool, and good company, and I’m home anywhere in the world."

You can read more of Ana's story here.

Andrea Beck

Andrea captures the raw, unfiltered stories of expat life, turning experiences into words that resonate.

Growing up in Vancouver, Canada, she was always fascinated by writing and people. This led her to become an English teacher, a world traveler, an author, and a counselor.

Andrea has been fortunate to live in America, Switzerland and the Netherlands, always with her pen in hand. Recently, she completed her first Young Adult novel, Below the Surface, and is working on a menopausal memoir, a women’s novel.

"Living abroad can be lonely at times, but I’m comforted by the multitude of stories that surround me, no matter where I am."

More of Andrea's story can be found Here.