Julie Nataas is back in the All Indiana Podcast studio. The reigning NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Champion is making her Top Fuel Dragster debut next week with the Scrappers Racing Team! Julie shares her journey into the Top Fuel seat, what she’s been doing to prepare and how her relationship with the Salinas family actually goes way back to when she …

Lauren Gaudion is the VP of Marketing & Communications for Arrow McLaren IndyCar. You can’t miss their team and fans all decked out in papaya! There is so much that goes into her job “on” and “off” the track. We discuss what it takes to maintain and promote a team brand, creating successful social media content, what the Month of May looks like for…

When you listen to Scrappers Racing Top Fuel Driver Jasmine Salinas talk - you can hear how passionate she is about wanting a career in drag racing. On this episode of Women Take The Wheel, she opens up on career from Junior Dragster to Top Fuel. Hear about the valuable lessons she’s learned over the years from her dad, what it was like getting bac…

Kayleigh Hill-Beakley currently drives in the Super-Comp class, but has plans to keep going faster. Find out when she caught the racing bug, and how the JCM Driver Development Program is helping guide her pursuit to drive Top Fuel some day. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do…

Starting a chat with someone new can be a little scarier when you’ve lost that expat hook. You know the chat – so how long have you lived here? Where are you from? Where did you live before you moved here? Nikki talks about her new intro chats as a repat and how she’s coping with conversations that seem to go nowhere. When were you your most confid…

This week I am joined by Shannon Hill. Some of you may know her better as Mad Maxine! She has embraced the drag racing BUG life, and even taken it to the next level! It is more than just backing up a car. We talk about what it takes to be a BUG, a new ambassador program she has started, and taking on those internet trolls. See Privacy Policy at htt…

On this week's Women Take The Wheel, I am on location at IRP, catching up with past guest, Maddi Gordon. When we first talked to her a couple years ago, she was working on her Dad’s Top Alcohol Funny Car Driver. Now she is driving that race car – and doing a good job of it! This is kind of a unique podcast as we did our interview in two parts. Befo…

I’m so blown away by what Savannah Moffitt has accomplished at such a young age. Just months after graduating college, she is an engineer at Tesla and involved in motorsports. Find out how a meeting with her idol, Lynn St James, led to internships and opportunities. Plus, what she is doing to help lead the way for other girls in college, interested…

This week we discuss Expats the television series based in Hong Kong. The series is adapted from the novel The Expatriates written by Janice Y.K. Lee. Nikki is 6 months in with her repatriation and has a very honest chat about being friendless and miserable. Our favourite things: Tiny Beautiful Things American Fiction Past Lives Taylor Swift The Er…

I welcome back Ida Zetterstrom! We first met her at PRI two-years ago, and she has accomplished so much since then. She’s European Top Fuel Champion, Swedish driver of the year – and now she’s made the move to the states to compete in the NHRA! Ida talks about her plans this season with JCM Racing, the differences between racing in Europe and the U…

She has been racing since she was only seven years-old! At the ripe old age of 17, Audrey Gerberding competes with the best at dirt tracks around the Midwest. She knows what she wants and has a bright racing future ahead of her. Hear how she plans to juggle driving and college in the coming year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and …

Ellen Greenleaf wears many hats in the motorsports industry, including a new sport for me to learn about – Off-Shore powerboat racing! Some of the things we talk about: what she's done to help mentor girls in motorsports, her passion-project documentary, and her family connection to the very first Indy 500 Championship in 1911. Stay tuned. See Priv…

I have the pleasure of sitting down with the first lady of motorsports, Linda Vaughn! No matter if you follow IndyCar, Drag Racing, NASCAR – you know who she is. We got together to talk at the 2023 Performance Racing Industry show in the new PRI Paddock Podcast Studio. She shares stories from her career that includes her love of racing, being an am…

It is PRI week in Indianapolis, so I have PRI Executive Editor Meredith Kaplan Burns in the podcast studio with me. We talk about how the PRI Show has grown over the years and what is new this everyone to see this year. She also shares what goes into being an editor of this industry leading magazine, and her advice for women who want to pursue a si…

What is a good salary in Doha? London? Jakarta? We’ve all seen the questions based on how much money you need to make to survive, today we have a new question. What’s been the biggest cost you didn’t foresee when you moved? What did you forget to factor in? We also talk about the grieving expat. Going through grief when no-one understands the enorm…

Lauren Edwards is the CEO of Reine Digital and Consulting. She created and runs a company - mostly comprised of women - who do digital, social and content creation for drivers and athletes. Lauren tells us how driver Jimmie Johnson helped encourage her to take the leap to start her own company, how she has grown her business and she shares the behi…

The Trailing Spouse is dead – this week on the podcast we talk about why the “Accompanying Spouse” has arrived. I mean the Accompanying Spouse was always a better term wasn’t it? We all walk side by side don’t we? Sidenote – the term Trailing Spouse will no longer be used in the Two Fat Expats Facebook Group with Accompanying Spouse being the prefe…

Deni Jensen juggles a lot: Mom, driver and March of Dimes Ambassador. You'll be hearing more about her, as she teams up with Randy Meyer Racing to compete in Top Alcohol Dragster for 2024. Deni talks about how drag racing has truly become a family bonding experience for her and she shares her plans for the 2024 season and beyond. See Privacy Policy…

Sarah Tonsmeire is a motorsports Experience and Event Expert. So what does that job entail? As you will hear – A LOT! And it is a job that keeps her very busy. Find out where her love of motorsports began, how she worked her way into motorsports and started her company, plus learn about the wonderful holiday passion project she created in honor of …

This week on the podcast we answer a question from the Fatterati’s “Should I go home?” We also discuss the complications of re-acquainting yourself with old friends after repatriation. Kirsty’s three favourite things: Exposed (podcast) Deadloch (television) Travis and Taylor and everything EVERYTHING about them Ange Postecoglou and The Tottenham Sp…

🎧 Nikki has repatriated and she’s yet to make a new friend BUT it’s not all bad because she’s living in paradise AND she’s discovered her new favourite drink (a gin mule). This week on the podcast we’re talking repatriation, the good, the bad and the ugly cry. Kirsty’s three favourite things: The Girlfriends (Podcast) What’s love got to do with it …

Second generation race car driver, Sarah Allen joins the show today. I had the pleasure of documenting her NHRA racing journey in her A-Fuel dragster a few weeks ago. We have a great conversation about growing up in the NHRA racing community and learning from other women race car drivers in her class. We also discuss how she handles her diabetes wh…

McKenna Haase is a Sprint Car driver & and team owner And driver and owner are just two of the roles she takes on. She also created and runs a foundation to help introduce kids all over the country to motorsports and helps their get families get the resources they need to compete. And she does it all while putting her faith first. McKenna's journey…

This was Nikki’s very last podcast before she repatriated. The post When do you spill the beans that you’re moving? Long term postings or always on the move which one are you? first appeared on Two Fat Expats.By Two Fat Expats

It’s been seven hours and sixteen years…yes I know the song doesn’t go like that but it fits with the intro. It’s been a long time since Kirsty and Nikki have hit the maternity ward so we asked the Fatterati what it was like to have a baby away from home. We also did an expat mental health check, Nikki is now down to her last week as an expat befor…

I welcome back Suzannah Stapp this week. I consider her an ambassador for all motorsports. While officially here to talk about the Indianapolis 500 Ladies Oldtimers lunch - we also talk about her family legacy in motorsports, changes she’s witnessed for women at the races and why she brings a riot shield to dirt races. See Privacy Policy at https:/…

Michelle Della Penna has made it her mission to empower girls with knowledge, skills and opportunities to work in engineering and motorsports. She created the Della Penna Next Gen Motorsports Foundation to get that job done. Hear her story and the wonderful opportunities she is giving a group of girls here in Indianapolis during the month of May. P…

What are some of the unique challenges long term expats face? Savings and superannuation, self care and medical issues? Heart breaking friend break ups? Property ownership and all the tax implications that come with it? We ran through a few. We shared food discoveries from the Fatterati, what can’t you now live without? Kirsty’s three things: The F…

Two-time NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster champion Megan Meyer will be back in the driver's seat this summer for the Nitro Chaos series. She talks about getting back behind-the-wheel after taking a couple years off, and juggling the racing with motherhood. We also talk about the many other jobs she does to help grow racers gain sponsorships. See Privacy P…

Dystany Spurlock wants to go fast and she wants to do it all! She's an entrepreneur, Pro Stock Motorcycle team owner and driver, she is driving in the Skip Barber Formula Race Series and she even started her own foundation! Hear how she does it all, where her love for racing came from and why you will be seeing her a lot more at the races. See Priv…

Kelly Crandall is a 2x motorsports writer of the year who knew from a very early age that she loved NASCAR and writing. When she decided it was what she wanted to do for a career, nothing was stopping her. We talk about how she used social media to build her writing resume, how social media can also bring out the worst in some people and why it is …

Also, the ageist expat are you a victim or a perpetrator? Kirsty’s three things: Shrinking, The Big Swing and while we’re on the subject….golf! Nikki’s favourite three things: White Collar, 1923, Robbie Williams live in Copenhagen And watch out Amsterdam we’re coming for you! The post I don’t like it here – what to do when you hate your location. f…

It's Part 2 of my PRI interview! Two incredible ladies stop by the Clark Copper Head Gaskets booth to share their stories. First up is Gerda Joon, crew chief for Lex Joon Racing Top Fuel Dragster. Find out how she followed her racing dreams from the Netherlands to the USA. Then I talk to Pro Mod Driver Dina Parise about how she went from skating in…

Welcome to our first live audience podcast recorded in Singapore – yes yes Kirsty was in Singapore in 2016 but it was a 4 kids, 20 suitcases and a beagle reading whereas this was the full package! The theme of the evening was friends. Kirsty asked Nikki will she have to change the way she recruits friends upon repatriation. What will be different? …

Nikki is dealing with the realities of the impact her expat life has had on her family relationships and describes how it feels like a bit of a “kick in the guts”. We talk about Kirsty’s book and its premise. Ever been described as excess baggage? Get ready for the reply. Three favourite things Kirsty: Meet Cute The Good House Helen had her baby – …

How will you settle? Expats traditionally have itchy feet so how do you settle when you’re heading home? How will you plan your expat year ahead? Or how will you divide up your time ahead? Now that expats are back travelling between countries what’s the most effective way to plan your year? Kirsty’s three favourite things: She said Steven Spielberg…

Women Take The Wheel is at the PRI Show meeting some amazing women! So many - that this is just part 1. I catch up with NHRA Rookie of the Year Camrie Caruso to find out her plans for 2023. Then I introduce you to professional drift driver Zandara Kennedy who started her career as a stunt woman! And finally we meet Riley Schlick who is only 17 and …

How will you cope with no-one giving a flying fig about your expat life when you’re home for the holidays or repatriating? Kirsty and Nikki discuss why expats are hurt by friends and family that appear disinterested in their expat lives. Is it time to accept that you’re really not that special? How will you deal with newcomers writing you off when …

Will you be with family or without for the festive season? What do you do to make your holiday season special or is the holiday season non existant where you’re currently living? Instead of our usual three favourite things with podcasts, movies and television we discuss our three favourite holiday traditions. Nikki: Making or tracking down Christma…

In our would you/could you we discuss what Covid restrictions look like in China right now. Would you/could you move there? We talk to the Chinese Fatterati about their lives and report back. Would you/could you make your house a home without your shipment? How? Kirsty’s Favourite Things: Colin from Accounts Shetland Magnetic Eyelashes Nikki’s Favo…

This week on the podcast we discuss travelling between countries with medications and how to navigate when you’ve been prescribed something in one country only to discover it’s banned in the country you’re moving to. Nikki has some big news which leads us to discuss expat redundancy. Nikki’s favourites The Rest is History (The World Cup series) The…

This week’s episode is all about the World Cup both in Qatar and South Africa. I’ve written a piece about living in Qatar and the recent press. Here’s a few of the links I talked about: David Beckham Peyton Manning World Cup Commercial Ghanin Al Muftah – the star of the opening ceremony. Michael Sheen – Welsh message Nikki’s three favourite things:…

A quick chat about having the World Cup on your door step. Who has the longest work hours and is it just a part of Expat Life? Should you put up and shut up? What’s it like to work in Qatar during the World Cup? We answer your questions about our 200th episode: When and how did we meet? What was our favourite holiday as an expat? Where would we lik…

If your interested in a career in motorsports, Indianapolis Motor Speedway has lots of opportunities for you to explore! Kennya Santiago tells us all about their College Program and all the paid internships they offer. Whatever field you are studying, they have something for you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privac…

There is more to shooting pictures of race cars than meets the eye. Motorsports photographer Amy Lentz shares what it is like standing behind the walls & fences of a race tracks to capture the perfect shot of a race car and the teams that makes them go fast! She also share tips and tricks for other aspiring photographers. See Privacy Policy at http…

Kelly Antonelli is the VP of Team Operations for Tony Stewart Racing & possibly the hardest working woman at the dragstrip . She has been around the sport for a long time and does WAY more than most people realize to keep the drag racing teams running. This week we talk about how she got into motorsports, who helped influence her passion for workin…

On this week's episode of Women Take The Wheel, I'm joined by Judy Kean, founding partner at Epartrade.com. Find out how she was inspired to come up with this successful company and what she is doing to bring motorsports companies together to do business. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19…

Are you ‘randomly selected’ for an extra pat down every time you make your way throught the airport? We think we may know the reason why. Listen in to find out why it’s happening to you. Would you/Could you break up a friendship over conversations about your children going to boarding school? Why does it hurt so much and how to gently discuss. Our …

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angie Smith has clinched a spot in the Countdown heading into the most prestigious race of the season: The U.S. Nationals. On this episode of Women Take The Wheel, we talk about how she ended up drag racing, even though she was raised in a 'circle track' family, and why her parents weren't crazy about her riding a mo…

Nikki walks us through her covid on holidays experience. Would you/could you send packages to a transit hotel? What are the rules? Do all hotels let you do it or are some hotels going to charge you for the privilege? We discuss. Would you/could you set up a contract with your partner on how many times you’ll be heading to your home country (particu…