Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life®

ALL THE WAY FROM JAPAN!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Originally from London, Jordan Green made the international leap to Tokyo Japan to seek a life different from what he once knew. He works for a PR firm that deals with influencers and local governments. Jordan seeks to help others who wish to make the same international leap. As well as, inspire those who want to experience a life of travel and explore through his Instagram and YouTube page under the name, "AfroInJapan". www.instagram.com/afroinjapan Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM KUWAIT!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Attorney Wesley J. Harris was determined to experience life abroad and searched tirelessly for the ideal opportunity. He currently lives and works in Kuwait. Harris plans to retire in New Zealand and is already exploring and researching the lifestyle. Wesley isn't the first generation to travel. He had an Uncle that was in the Army who spent his entire career in Germany until his death. Wesley plans to explore the things his Uncle didn't get a chance to do. Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM MEXICO!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Dr. Gerald C. Hassell is a clinical/spiritual psychologist, life coach, and author. He earned a B.A. in psychology from Talladega College and received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Wright State University in 1999. Concerned that traditional mental health providers fail to meet the needs of people of color, particularly men, Dr. Hassell started his private practice twenty years ago and has worked with hundreds of African American men, boys, and families. www.instagram.com/drghassell Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM UNITED KINGDOM!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Olson Aguirre is a travel content creator and cultural storyteller based in London. Originally from New York City, Olson moved to the United Kingdom where he is a Product Management and Marketing Sciences professional traveling the world. Olson started Olsonoverseas, to inspire others to challenge their thinking and upgrade their surroundings. Through his content Olson shares his experiences challenging cultural ideas and bringing a different consciousness about traveling. www.instagram.com/olsonoverseas Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM VIETNAM!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad JK Hobson hails from New York City, where he dove headlong into the music scene in the 80’s and 90’s. He first caught the traveling bug upon joining Crisis, a prominent metalcore band in the NYC underground scene. After moving to Los Angeles, releasing an album with the band, and years of touring, JK began more academic pursuits and in 2016 was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for teaching English. The Fulbright ETA program brought him to the Mekong Delta city of My Tho where he spent an academic year before moving to Saigon. After completing the Fulbright ETA program, he moved to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam. Since moving to Saigon, JK co-founded comedy collective Saigon Funny People, founded Asia Out Loud and has performed in Los Angeles, New York City, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam and was a finalist in the 2018 Vietnam Comedy Competition. With his confrontational standup comedy, JK has opened for International standup comedians Lars Callieou, Garrett Millerick, Corey Marx, Dwayne Perkins, and Mark Lucas and has guest-hosted VTV4’s Vietnam Discovery. JK was also the very first guest on the podcast “Seven Million Bikes: A Saigon Podcast.” In 2019, JK launched the Asia Out Loud social media site where he posts videos of his exploration of Vietnamese culture and food. He also runs a standup comedy series called The Outsiders under the banner of Standup Comedy Asia Out Loud. In late 2020, VN Express ran a video profile on JK which is featured on their website. He also hosts his own podcasts, “The We Outchea Expat Podcast,” and “Asia Out Loud Presents: The Outsiders Podcast!” JK has just returned from a run of comedy performances in NYC, culminating in a set at the legendary Bitter End in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village! instagram.com/jkhobson Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM SAUDI ARABIA!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad My name is Meres J. Weche, and I came of age as an '80s kid in Montreal, Canada. My parents moved to Canada with my younger sister and I from my native Haiti, in the Caribbean, during the 1970s, when I was four years old. Back then, I could only speak Creole and French, but I started learning English when I was 12 by listening to Micheal Jackson's Thriller album. After spending my summers throughout my teenage years in New York City with relatives (the Bronx ... where I 'may' have come across J-Lo at some point in the 6 train on my frequent trips to Manhattan), I became completely fluent by 16. I later called Ottawa and Toronto home. After shocking my family at 17 with a 2-year stint in the Canadian army reserves between school semesters as a Grenadier Guard (yeah, with the red suit and black bearskin hat), I first got the travel bug when I jetted off to London, England at 19 for a 4-month working holiday, followed by a backpacking tour of Europe. Before long, I started feeling the wanderlust calling again. So, I decided to write to the Chairman of the National Bank of Egypt, entirely out of the blue, successfully asking for a summer internship in Cairo, Egypt, at 21 while in university. Sometimes, you just have to ask. www.meresofarabia.com Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM BELGUIM!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Harry Kennedy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but he grew up in Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.S. in Information Technology. His interest in IT began at age 11 when he disassembled his first PC. His career in IT and his interest in life abroad officially started in 2014 as an intern at a global company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. There, he gained experience in Computer Networking, Systems, Security, and interacting with employees abroad. This eventually paved a pathway into being offered a full-time position. Harry working both with his local and foreign colleagues sparked curiosity in all sorts of ways regarding life abroad. In 2016, he finally went abroad for the first time to Denmark, Poland, and France on business travel shortly after starting full time. This experience made an immediate impact which grew into a passion for life abroad and learning about different cultures. In 2018, he jokingly got the opportunity to live and work abroad for the company’s office in Belgium. He decided to take advantage of learning Flemish (Dutch), one of the country’s official spoken languages. He became the sole IT resource for the EU offices. This, along with his new founded language learning skills, both impressed and won over the support from his Belgian colleagues. After realizing the impact reaching people in their native language had and the value it brought, this motivated him to learn more languages. He decided to aim to become multilingual. Since then, he’s learned Dutch, French and Spanish to conversational fluency all within 4 years. He also serves as Chairman of the board for Passport For Change, a non-profit startup aiming to use global exploration to help black and brown youth between the ages of 5 and 18 to become global citizens. His experience abroad has been truly eye opening. He’s absolutely grateful for taking on this challenge as it’s helped him grow exponentially as a person. He’s learned how to take on new approaches to life. With this knowledge and experience, he’s using his time to give back to youth and others. He hopes to inspire them to pursue life changing experiences just like he had done. He also wants to share his story, and help others get into language learning and travel. Instagram: www.instagram.com/hkpro_ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMZdyM7FThrdjH0jDaEKN1Q Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM NEW ZEALAND!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Greg Thomas a former Marine and a professional security consultant with 11 years of experience in his field. He recently moved to New Zealand in April 2022. His goal is to show life in New Zealand from a black perspective and settle down in his new chosen home. His YouTube channel can be found here: https://bit.ly/3MymgwH www.instagram.com/blacktonystarks Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM COSTA RICA!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Michael Ruth is a world traveler, teacher and mentor. He is co-founder of Sun People Yoga. He teaches Ancient African and Egyptian methods of yoga that benefit physical health as well as holistic, mental, and spiritual health. He is a Navy veteran coming from a career first in IT and then as a surgical first assist in orthopedic surgery. Michael's yoga practice blends accessible, meditative movement with internal martial arts for liberation of mind, body and spirit. www.instagram.com/ramses_amun_ptah/ Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM HONDURAS!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Kenric Brooks is always asked, when did you start traveling? Well, I can say that I always remember traveling. We would always travel to the family farm on the weekends or the beach every summer. I joined the boy scouts; we also traveled to different campsites and states. Some of my fondest memories as a child were at places I have traveled. There were terrific memories from outdoor activities to beaches. My love for travel continued throughout my military career. I lived in Germany for over three years. While there, I took a trip to Pairs, Netherlands, and more. Driving along the countryside, beautiful green fields and vineyards in the distance France and many places in Europe is where my love for travel and food flourished. In 2018, after retiring from the military and working in the private sector for two years. I suffered a mental break. I was in search of myself. Within the last seven years, I experienced several significant life-changing events. It was then that I turned back to travel. In 2018 I started my journey to travel to all 206 countries and territories. And like everyone, 2020 happened. 2020 helped me realize the genuine connection we have to each other and the need to feed that connection with family, friends, and experiences. I’m more determined than ever to see this journey, though. I am on a long and challenging process of personal change and development. I travel through unfamiliar countries to learn about or familiarize myself with the culture and share the experience with others. I intend to connect with the people who have been dispersed from their original homeland to understand the connection with the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of the particular nation. linktr.ee/countryboytravels206 Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM AUSTRIA!!! Black Men Living Abroad Series #blackmenlivingabroad Christopher Squires grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He graduated from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and was a pitcher/closer for the baseball team. He was drafted by the Miami Marlins and spent his time as a journeyman, traveling the country from Rookie Ball to Double A, as well as a few Independent ball stints in leagues stretching from Canada to Mexico. His baseball career eventually led him to Austria where his dream of starting a fashion label and creative studio would come to fruition. Off‐seasons were spent further developing his passion for fashion and style, a bloodline trend cultivated by the small boutique and personal shopping service started by his Grandmother and Great Aunt in New York City. He took on roles as a personal stylist for men’s clothier J. Hilburn, he has explored the modeling world from coast to coast as well as abroad, and worked for the independent luxury label, Weber + Weber that is now based in Vienna, Austria. Luvet Lifestyle was born in 2016 as a blog to connect others to content centered around international life and boutique fashions and styles, while encouraging them to embrace their uniqueness, chase their dreams and design a life they love. Soon after, it was time to move the closet design work into the foreground and begin creating garments that embodied the Luvet attitude. Mr. Squires continues to play and coach baseball for the Dornbirn Indians in Austria. His style reflects his passion for baseball, and sits at the intersection of hard and soft, rigidity and fluidity, rugged elegance. He encourages a minimalistic base infused with personality. Throughout Luvet Lifestyle’s pieces and content, you will find authentic and original details created and produced solely by Mr. Squires. These include, but are not limited to photos, music, logos, and much of the overall aesthetic. Inquiries on these topics, including styling and image consulting, for personal use, your website, business or brand, can be discussed by contacting Mr. Squires. www.luvetlifestyle.com www.instagram.com/luvetlifestyle www.instagram.com/christoph_wade Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

SEASON 3 DEBUTS AUGUST 1, 2022!!! Thank you so much for listening to Season 1 and 2. I greatly appreciate your support! Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2022 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Host Loronda C. Giddens is interviewed by Ashlee Braxton for the 100th episode. Loronda finds out what it feels like to be on the other side of the mic. Ashlee appeared as a guest on Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® podcast, Black Women Living Abroad Series. She is also the host of The Happy Choice podcast and Founder of Quantum Leap Consulting. PODCAST MILESTONES -Inaugural episode debuted January 17, 2019 -100 Episodes -Listenership in 73 countries -50 international guests representing 36 countries -Listeners and guests from 6 continents -Internationally syndicated show Loronda C. Giddens is an Army veteran who worked as a corporate professional for over a decade before transitioning to state government. She is a national conference speaker and certified instructor who educates on wellness in the workplace, youth empowerment women's empowerment, and personal development. She holds a Masters degree in Forensic Psychology and is Founder and CEO of EnerPeace Creations, a business that provides training and speaking services. Loronda is a 3x self-published author and creator, host, and producer of two internationally syndicated podcasts. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in her final year of graduate school, Loronda rediscovered her life purpose. She is a teacher, a healer and a life changer who uses the power of her words to elevate the consciousness of humanity. LEARN MORE ABOUT LORONDA C. GIDDENS www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com LEARN MORE ABOUT ASHLEE BRAXTON www.ashleebraxton.com ALSO AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE https://youtu.be/-05Y0c0D5T8 Check out the new YouTube Show, Gifting Generational Knowledge Co-Hosted by Loronda C. Giddens and Ashlee Braxton Gifting Generational Knowledge - YouTube Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens Copyright ©2021 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM PERU!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Liz Jones a certified yoga teacher, sound healer and spiritual mentor. She's passionate about all things travel and spirituality for people of color. She feels that travel is a tool to reconnect with our lineages, reclaim our traditions, activate our joy, expand our consciousness, and expand as humans. Liz worked at Uber as a Learning and Development Specialist for 5 years. In Dec of 2019 she was breaking up with a woman she was dating, feeling unfulfilled, anxious, and depressed. Liz quit her job and backpacked through Southeast Asia which was the spark of her spiritual awakening. Her awakening led her to yoga, sound, meditation, understanding the chakras, and energy work. Now she hosts healing retreats around the world. Liz teaches people of color how to activate joy, play, pleasure and their vision. www.instagram.com/bylizjones Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2021 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM MEXICO!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Amber C. Edwards is a systems builder and integrator who created 30 Day Blaxit, a personal coaching program that teaches Black women how to efficiently experience overseas life - for a month, for a year, or forever. Not only does she work with her clients to create their blaxit plan, but she's also there for the first month in their new country. www.30dayblaxit.com Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2021 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM HONG KONG!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Angel Olausson is originally from Los Angeles but with the world as her playing field. She is a banking professional working within technology in the financial services sector in Hong Kong for over 14 years. She is passionate about the intersection of technology and finance. In her current role at a major financial institution, she develops and executes strategic initiatives set by global and regional leadership teams. She is equally passionate about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) and has worked extensively with these opportunities for progress throughout her career. Apart from DE&I and her work in finance and technology, Angel is married to a Swede in Hong Kong and they have a three year old boy they adopted in early 2021. The family lives in the middle of Hong Kong island with their two dogs. Connect with Angel on Facebook and LinkedIn: Angel Olausson Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2021 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM LEBANON!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Malikah Kelly is a serial expat, frequent traveler and content creator. She was born in New York and has traveled to over 20 countries. Malikah first moved abroad to Italy, and is currently living in Beirut, Lebanon. You can find her on Instagram and YouTube at Where is Malikah to learn more about how to make travel part of your lifestyle and plan for your move abroad. www.youtube.com/c/whereismalikah www.instagram.com/whereismalikah Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2021 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM SPAIN!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Lori L. Tharps is an award-winning author, freelance journalist and podcast host. She is a recognized voice in the areas of race, identity politics and African American culture. The author of three critically acclaimed nonfiction books, Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America (St. Martin’s Press) Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain (Atria) and Same Family, Different Colors: Confronting Colorism in America’s Diverse Families (Beacon), Tharps uses her words to ignite social change. A newly arrived expat in the south of Spain, Lori is turning her activism and community building skills to the menopause space. In September 2021, she launched My Bloody Hell, an online platform that houses a podcast and inclusive membership community for women on their menopause journey. www.loriltharps.com Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2021 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM ICELAND!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Jewells Chambers is a native New Yorker who fell in love with an Icelander and eventually moved to the country in 2016. Iceland quickly captured her heart. Her fascination with learning about the rich culture, history, language, and nature led to her starting All Things Iceland - an award-winning podcast and YouTube channel. Showcasing life as an expat who is learning the Icelandic language and providing travelers with insight on what to see and do certainly keeps her life interesting and exciting. www.allthingsiceland.com Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2021 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved

ALL THE WAY FROM GERMANY!!! Black Women Living Abroad Series #blackwomenlivingabroad Lisa Vanterpool's PR background means she’s licensed to take people out and chat them up over drinks; her time in London means she can do it in a British accent. She got started in PR in New York working with authors and book publishers at InkWell Management. After almost two years she had built the PR department from the ground up and secured press for clients in publications such as Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, CNN, New York Magazine, Refinery29 and many others. Additionally, she became instrumental in organizing Lena Dunham’s NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL European book tour, securing and working with foreign press. Lisa has ambidextrous skills as account manager and publicist and thrives on the research and creative thinking it takes to create opportunities that speak to women; millennial and otherwise. She’s got Southern roots and transatlantic tendencies after spending close to two years in London, earning her Master’s Degree in Publishing at Kingston University. She’s a firm believer in the transformative power of red lipstick and just so happens to be a certified etiquette consultant. www.lisavanterpool.com Peeling Back the Layers of Your Life® Podcast Creator, Host, and Producer: Loronda C. Giddens www.lorondainspiresgreatness.com Copyright ©2021 by Loronda C. Giddens All rights reserved