Guest: Karen Karbo, Creator of Yeah, no. Not Happening
Host: Sonaya Williams, Creator of Your Expat Life
Recorded: January 2026
Location: South of France & Doha, Qatar
Episode Overview
In the first Your Expat Life Live conversation of 2026, Sonaya sits down with writer and author Karen Karbo to talk about what it really means to build a life abroad, beyond the Instagram version.
Karen shares her journey from California and Portland, Oregon to a small village in the very south of France, just miles from the Spanish border. Together, they explore the practical, cultural, and emotional realities of expat life: from language barriers and community building to healthcare, cost of living, and the importance of choosing a place that fits your everyday life, not just your dreams.
This conversation is honest, funny, deeply human, and full of insights for anyone considering a move abroad or already navigating life as an expat.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
Why Karen and her husband chose a small village in the South of France over a major city
The importance of visiting multiple times before moving and why timing matters
What daily life actually looks like in a rural French town (no stoplights, long meals, strong opinions)
