Limitless Laowai Expat Life, Business Strategy, Personal Development & Cultural Adjustment In China | Learn Chinese

If you're raising kids abroad, have you ever wondered what it may be like for them to repatriate as Third Culture Kids? In this show, Limitless intern Nick Abouchedid interviews two college students who spent the majority of their childhood in China. Americans by passport, Aaron Brantingham and Quincy Larson, both call China home, and had different experiences as they acclimated to life in the US. What was it like to graduate from international schools? Were they prepared academically and socially to attend college? How did they manage their adjustment and culture shock to life and study back home? Tune in to find out! // Ten quick questions will better your listener experience. Take the 2016 Listener Survey at www.limitlesslaowai.com/survey. // A special thanks to this episode's sponsor Concordia International School Shanghai. Discover more at www.concordiashanghai.org.

In May, Limitless had the distinct privilege of working with their first intern, Nick Abouchedid. Building Limitless is not a 9-5 office job. Instead Pete, Nick and Ally did life together for the two weeks and Nick got to experience first hand what it’s like to be an entrepreneur here in Shanghai. In this show, they've compiled short clips of reviews from each of the 10 days he worked with Limitless. What did he do and how did he feel about his experiences? Did he learn a thing or two? Stick around the find out! // Connect with Ally at ally@limitlesslaowai.com and Pete at pete@limitlesslaowai.com. // A special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Concordia International School Shanghai. Discover more at www.concordiashanghai.org. // Ten quick questions will better your listener experience. Take the 2016 Listener Survey at www.limitlesslaowai.com/survey. #222 The Intern Chronicles, with Nick Abouchedid

Founder and managing partner of TEAM Education Consulting Company, Tess Robinson, knows a thing or two about how to help students and families access fantastic educational opportunities abroad. In this episode, she shares part of her entrepreneurial journey, tips and wisdom for setting students up for future success as well as some of her experiences balancing life abroad as a longtime expat, business owner and mama of three boys. // Find this show and more online at www.limitlesslaowai.com/tessrobinson2 // Ten quick questions will better your listener experience. Take the 2016 Listener Survey at www.limitlesslaowai.com/survey. // Connect with Tess by email at tess@teameduconsult.com and find more online at http://teameduconsult.com // A special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Concordia International School Shanghai. Discover more at www.concordiashanghai.org.

Recently, Limitless co-host Pete Rogers sat with speakers and leaders who were featured at the 10th annual International Professional Women's Society (IPWS) Leadership Summit. This landmark event gathered top female leaders from around the globe to deliver dynamic content and innovative workshops, all shaped around the theme of "Embracing the Changing Nature of Leadership: A Roadmap to Success." This was a professional and personal development experience like no other in China. In this fascinating series of short interviews, you'll gain wisdom from corporate executives, leading restaurateurs, non-profit founders, and other amazing women who share their stories, their triumphs, and their struggles. Tune in to hear them share how leadership has changed in the workplace and how each of these women have been personally impacted. // Connect with Pete at pete@limitlesslaowai.com. See this show and more online at http://limitlesslaowai.com/ipwsleadership/ // Learn about IPWS online at www.ipwsconnect.com // A specia

Have you ever reached a breaking point in your life? Maybe your health isn't awesome. Or your relationships seem rocky. Perhaps the state of your mental or emotional health wavers depending on the day. If so, you're not alone and in this week's wrap up, Ally rolls up her sleeves, lays down her pride and dives right into just how off-kilter her overall health and wellness has become over the past year. This show was really hard to record and it’s for those of you who realize that your potential has been shrouded in excuses, and you’re ready for a kick in the rear this summer to reclaim the greatness that you know has been lying dormant inside of you. Tune in to hear more but only if you’re ready for a challenge that’ll get you back to operating on all cylinders this summer! // Email Ally at ally@limitlesslaowai.com with questions, comments or just to say hi. Find this show and more online at www.limitlesslaowai.com/pursuitofwellness // Ten quick questions will better your listener experience. Take the 2016 Lis

Having recently made the jump from an eclectic career that has included consulting, dancing, writing, and occasional gigs with startups, Mike Paduada decided to explore the world of app development. He and his wife have been living in Shanghai for over four years. Also, Mike is Canadian, and he’s pretty proud of that! If you're feeling stuck in your entrepreneurial (or life) journey, tune in and let Mike help show you the world of limitless possibility. // Connect with Mike by email at mike@paduada.com. Find this show and more online at http://limitlesslaowai.com/mikepaduada2 // Ten quick questions will better your listener experience. Take the 2016 Listener Survey at www.limitlesslaowai.com/survey // A special thanks to this episode's sponsors China Business Cast; subscribe at www.chinabusinesscast.com, and Concordia International School Shanghai. Discover more at www.concordiashanghai.org.

When a business opportunity presented itself to trained midwife, Alison Nantz, she took a leap of faith and dove right in. Originally from the US, Alison has spent almost half of her life in Asia and even met her husband, Josh, when they were kids growing up in Taiwan. They’ve been married and living in Shanghai for over five years now and welcomed their first son into the family earlier this year. Ali works as a doula and lactation counselor and is the co-owner of Shanghai Doula, an entrepreneurial venture started in Shanghai seven years ago. In this episode, Alison shares more on the limitless possibilities for expats in China and her unlikely entrepreneur journey. // Find this show and more online at http://limitlesslaowai.com/alisonnantzrl // Ten quick questions will better your listener experience. Take the 2016 Listener Survey at www.limitlesslaowai.com/survey. // A special thanks to this episode's sponsors China Business Cast. Subscribe at www.chinabusinesscast.com. And Concordia International School S

So there are a lot, a lot of foreigners in China, and much of what we do at Limitless is try to bridge the gap between our cultures and the local Chinese. But, it's ridiculous to think that each of our individual foreign cultures would handle transition into life and work in China the same (even cultural differences between households will play its part, but that's a whole different podcast...)! Let's drill down a bit deeper and see if we can't get more specific insight from cultures similar to your own. For this show, Ally interviewed Cidonie Richards, Editor in Chief of Ringier China. Originally from Australia, Cidonie argues that Aussies typically handle the transition into China quite well, and over the course of our interview she shares insights into why she chose the schools she did, what was challenging about moving abroad, how she and her kids handled the transition and what life is like for her in Shanghai. Tune in to here an Aussie's view on life abroad. // A special thanks to this episode's sponsor

For the past two weeks, Limitless has had the distinct pleasure of working with Nick Abouchedid, a rising senior at an intentional school here in Shanghai. Because Ally intentionally designed this business to be uber mobile and flexible, she was a bit nervous about taking on an intern... Doing life with Ally these days often involves lots of baby poop and fussy Margie Rose, meals on the fly (if at all), juggling a couple businesses often in one conversation, making birthday cupcakes at 5am and frosting them while on a conference call at noon, oh... and the Monas even moved house in the middle of the internship! It would be an understatement to say that Ally was just a little bit 'nervous' to take on an intern. Would there be value for someone to come along for the wild ride and see what a bit of the entrepreneur grind is all about? Does Ally actually have any wisdom to share with the next generation? Thankfully, Intrepid Intern Nick would say an enthusiastic YES to those questions. Tune in to hear Nick share

Have you ever lost trust in someone? Sure you have. Who hasn’t? What about this one: Why do you trust some people right off the bat, and yet for others, there’s something about them that you can’t quite put your finger on but you doubt their level of trustworthiness. There are concrete answers to these questions! Ally learned a ridiculous amount about trust, sitting with life and executive coach Terri Creeden and diving deep into three elements that make up trust. In the studio they had a fascinating discussion that we hope radicalizes your personal understanding of what you truly need when it comes to securing trusting relationship. Tune in to find out what that might be. // Find more shows online at http://limitlesslaowai.com/terricreedentrust // Ten quick questions will better your listener experience. Take the 2016 Listener Survey at www.limitlesslaowai.com/survey. // Connect with Terri online at www.creedencoachingandconsulting.com. // A special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Concordia International S

To say that life in China moves 'quickly', may be an understatement. Breakneck speed may be a better descriptor. Or... Bustling. Brisk. Accelerated. Hurried. Immediate. Hasty. Sudden. Rushing. Jerky. Aggressive. Dynamic. Do you feel It? — That chaotic energy surrounding you as you hustle down the street? Does your calendar feel it, as every moment gets scheduled to the brink of an insane pace? Does your heart feel it, when you go through your day rushing to and fro? What if there was a better way—what if you could actually slow down and enjoy each moment of the day, being productive where productivity is necessary, being calm when peace is imperative, and being present because, well, your actual presence is simply vital to those around you. Our guest on this show, coach and consultant Terri Creeden, is a proponent of moving through life slowing, with intent and purpose. She shares with us her personal story (no, moving slowly does not come naturally to her!), why we need to slow down, and how to do it. // Fin

In the studio this week, Ally and Pete are joined by Limitless Intern, Nick Abouchedid, a rising senior at an international school in Shanghai. Nick has been killin' it in his first week with the Limitless hosts, getting a real feel for the hustle and bustle of entrepreneurship in China. In this episode, hear some of his experience so far, the Best Of what launched this week and what's up ahead. // Email with comments, questions, or just to say hi! to ally@limitlesslaowai.com & pete@limitlesslaowai.com. // A special thanks to this episode’s sponsor, Concordia International School Shanghai. Discover more at www.concordiashanghai.org. // Find this show and more online at http://limitlesslaowai.com/nickabouchedid // Ten quick questions will better your listener experience. Take the 2016 Listener Survey at www.limitlesslaowai.com/survey.

How many times in your day-to-day life in China have you wondered (or muttered), "Why would someone DO that???" As we learn to navigate our new existence in China, the sentiment is often negative—we can't help but filter the insanity happening around us through our own rosy glasses. But what would happen if we had a concrete tool that could help us take the right-wrong judgment call OUT of the equation? How could a unbiased, curious approach to grappling with local culture and customs serve us and those around us? Terri Creeden is an executive and life coach, based here in Shanghai, who, as she puts it, re-enlisted her own coach back home early on in her expatriation journey to help her navigate some of the tough things she was facing adjusting to her day-to-day. What was the outcome of those sessions? The Ridiculous List. Tune in to hear how something as simple as making a list can radically alter your perception of what’s happening around you and help you mentally and emotionally manage the transition into

Nine-year-old Reece, 13-year-old Maddy, and 16-year-old Cam are no strangers to the limelight. You-tubers, actors, musicians, and martial artists in their own right, they've taken their short time in Shanghai by storm, forging new paths, learning new disciplines, and laughing all the while. Simply put, these remarkable young women are goal-oriented, career minded and just plain fun to be around. Want to hear their take on life abroad? Tune in to find out! // Connect with the girls on any social media channel by searching for 3GingerSisters. Watch them on YouTube at www.youtube.com/3gingersisters. Find more online at http://limitlesslaowai.com/3gingersisters ‎// A special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Concordia International School Shanghai. Discover more at www.concordiashanghai.org. // Ten quick questions will better your listener experience. Take the 2016 Listener Survey at www.limitlesslaowai.com/survey.

Women in top leadership is a hot button issue globally. Strategies for improving gender equality in the workplace and training for women who are firmly climbing the corporate ladder aren't uncommon. Yet, Ally's guest on this show, Deutsche Bank Chief Operating Officer, Josie Zhao holds a refreshing view that women don't need to be taught leadership; instead, the workplace needs to change and leaders must learn to embrace the innate leadership qualities that women bring to the table. Josie and Ally sat together for over an hour, maybe closer to two even, and walked through her journey to the top of the male-dominated banking industry. They talked about her challenges coming back to China after 20 years abroad, how she managed to win the respect of her team as a female senior leader, not seen as fully Chinese, nor fully 'laowai'. Josie is honest when it comes to balancing life and work, her family, her view on successful mentoring, and career sponsorship. For Ally, it was incredible to sit with Josie and hear h

There are over 600 cities in China and only four are considered first tier cities. With most of Ally and Pete's interviews emerging from expats in the first tier (think, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou), Limitless is missing a massive lot of you out there in the second and third tier. For this show, Ally had the distinct privilege of chatting with Australian Nicole Webb. Nicole is loving life and re-inventing herself and her career in the well-known second tier city of Xi'an. Rich in history, Xi'an is a tourist attraction for many expats and locals alike, but what is it like to live there? What does it feel like to be the first (and perhaps only) foreigner people around have ever seen? What about the medical system? And how can you find community? Tune in to hear all about life in the second tier. // Find more online at http://limitlesslaowai.com/nicolewebb_xian/. Connect with Nicole at her blog at www.mintmochamusings.com; on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mintmochamusings, Twitter https://twitter.com/nicole

Like it or not, our identity are oftentimes inextricably linked to what we do as our profession, and as someone who previously worked outside the home, China's supporting expat spouses find themselves struggling when that bit of our lives is suddenly stripped away. That apparent loss of identity, mixed with culture shock, and adjustment challenges, can throw supporting spouses off kilter. Ally's guest on this show, Nicole Webb, is no stranger to the process of identity loss. In her mid-thirties, Nicole was at the top of her game as a news reader for a prominent Australian news channel. The idea of going abroad had no appeal; yet almost six years and two assignments later, Nicole has successfully reinvented herself, created a business that's mobile and is excited about the possibility of future assignments. What hurdles did she have to climb over and how did she manage to find herself and settle into a brand new skin? Tune in to find out! // Find more online at http://limitlesslaowai.com/nicolewebb_reinvention

Last week's wrap up was about battling fear living overseas as an expat. This week, Pete and I change gears and talk about possibility. The possibilities that are available to China's expats are, well, limitless. After a recent string of events in our lives, Pete and I are on possibility highs it seems as we record this week's wrap up. Tune in to be inspired and hopefully encouraged to look for, recognize and seize the opportunities knocking at your front door. // Send comments, questions, criticisms and praise to pete@limitlesslaowai.com and ally@limitlesslaowai.com. We read and respond personally to every message. // A special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Concordia International School Shanghai. Discover more at www.concordiashanghai.org.

In the land of noodles, rice and dumplings, is maintaining an almost zero carb approach to a diet possible? And by 'diet' we simply mean a way of eating and you'll totally understand why after hearing Ally's guest on today's show, Bianca Fontana, talk about her daily food routine. Plagued by health challenges years ago, Bianca took her health into her own hands, and literally cut out every starching carb and sugar she was eating. Ally sat across from Bianca in her home office, and was shocked by how a woman who eats about 80% healthy fats in her day to day could look as radiant, lean and healthy as Bianca does. While Ally isn't sure she could be one to give up her peanut butter toast snack addiction, it was fascinating to hear this low carb, healthy fat approach to eating. Bianca dives into details and how it's completely possible for those of us in China if you're interested. Want to learn how? Tune in to find out! // Connect with Bianca at www.thefatexperiment.com or on Wechat @biancafontana.

As an expat mama of three small children, I've asked myself a time or two whether or not my choice to raise my girls abroad, as international citizens, is a wise one. I've pondered what intended and unintended consequences might be. I've watched older children of family friends go off to college back 'home' after years abroad. Some adjust well. Some struggle. Some fail. Most can't quite put their finger to a map on a physical place called home. And I've worried how my children will fit into a world that's so large and yet so small. It turns out, I'm not the only expat parent to question their decision to bring their kids abroad at some point. So, I chatted with long-time expat, Carol Schoch, who raised her three daughters across five continents. Tune in to hear their struggles, victories, and strategies for raising children as little expats themselves. // Connect with Carol on wechat by searching cmschoch. // A special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Concordia International School Shanghai. Discover more at