Episodes

One of the supposed perks of living in Europe is that you can just hop on a cheap flight and spend the weekend in Rome, Paris, Barcelona, or wherever else strikes your fancy. $25 flights! Weekend getaways! See all of Europe! Well … sort of. In this episode of As the Dinesens Turn, Jason and Tracy talk about the reality of travel when you actually live in Europe — especially when you're traveling as a family. Those cheap flights do exist, but they're not quite as cheap or plentiful as they on...

Back-to-school season is here in the United States — but here in Portugal, we still have a few weeks to go! In this episode of As the Dinesens Turn, we talk about some of the differences we've discovered between schools in Portugal and the U.S. From getting textbooks and school supplies to schedules that don't arrive until the last minute, the Portuguese school year operates very differently from what we were used to. We also talk about Portugal's new restrictions on phones in schools, nationa...

Go to college. Get the degree. Work hard. Build a career. Save for retirement. Do all the right things, and everything will work out. At least, that’s what we were told. In this episode of As the Dinesens Turn, Jason and Tracy wrestle with their growing cynicism—or maybe realism—about work, education, money, careers, and the promises their generation grew up believing. Both came of age hearing that a college degree was the ticket to a secure future. Jason remembers a high-school guidance ...

Two years ago, we packed up our lives in Iowa and moved to Portugal. We expected plenty of changes—but one of the biggest surprises was how much the move transformed our marriage and our family life. In this episode, we talk honestly about the burnout we experienced in the United States, how slowing down changed the way we communicate, and why having time and space for each other has made such a difference. We also discuss rediscovering hobbies, prioritizing mental and physical health, and why ...

After more than three months away, we're back! Life got busy—but for good reasons. In this episode of As the Dinesens Turn, Jason and Tracy return with a practical discussion about one of the biggest questions they get from people considering a move abroad: "If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?" Looking back after more than three years living in Portugal, we share nine lessons we wish we'd known before making the move. Some are practical, some are financial, and s...

In this episode of As the Dinesens Turn, we talk about what we actually miss after moving from the U.S. to Portugal in 2023.Some of it is small and even sort of humorous:--Gigantic drinks from QT--Casey’s breakfast pizza--Being able to find jalapeños and green onions whenever you wantSome of it is more practical:--The ease of running everyday errands--Driving that… makes sense--The ability to quickly travel back and see familyAnd some of it runs deeper:--Community--Colleagues--The intellectual e...

Moving abroad can seem like the perfect solution to burnout, politics, or simply wanting a fresh start. But does relocating actually fix your problems?In this episode of As the Dinesens Turn, Jason and Tracy talk honestly about what life is really like after moving from Iowa to Portugal. They discuss the “honeymoon phase” of living abroad, the reality of navigating unfamiliar systems, and the identity shifts that come with leaving your career and home country behind.While Portugal has brought ma...

Nearly three years ago, we packed up our lives and moved from Iowa to Portugal. We expected some changes. We planned for others. But a lot of what actually shifted happened slowly — quietly — and in ways we didn’t fully notice until recently.In this episode of As the Dinesens Turn, we reflect on who we were when we arrived and who we are now. We talk about how living in Portugal has changed our relationship with time, work, guilt, identity, parenting, and even ourselves — and what hasn’t changed...