What starts as a TEFL certification in Florence turns into a life-changing journey through Rome, Tuscany, and the Italian wine world

In this episode of The Global Girlfriend Podcast, we sit down with Tara, co-host of Taste Toast Travel, to talk about what really happens when you say yes to living abroad — the messy parts, the magic moments, and everything in between.

Tara shares how a breakup and career crossroads led her from retail in California to teaching English in Italy, working with the Italian military, living in Rome, and eventually landing at a Tuscan winery where she met her husband and later got married — yes, at an Italian vineyard.

We dive into:
✨ What it’s actually like to get a TEFL certification abroad
✨ How to find English teaching jobs in Italy
✨ Florence vs. Rome — and why Rome might surprise you
✨ Working at a winery in Tuscany
✨ Planning a destination wedding in Italy (on a budget!)
✨ Following your intuition when life feels uncertain
✨ Building a global life, career, and family abroad

This episode is for anyone who’s dreamed about teaching English overseas, moving to Italy, or reinventing their life through travel — and wants the honest version, not just the Instagram highlight reel.

Plus, Tara sticks around for our rapid-fire round covering Italian food obsessions, underrated destinations, and the ultimate wine to bring to a girlfriend dinner.

If you’ve ever thought, “There has to be more than this” — this one’s for you.

Follow Tara & Taste Toast Travel:
Instagram & TikTok: @tastetostravel_
Website & Podcast: tastetostravel.com

Follow The Global Girlfriend:
Instagram & TikTok: @theglobalgirlfriend
Website: theglobalgirlfriend.com

✈️ New episodes weekly. Bring your passport energy.

What happens when you choose adventure over the conventional path, and trust yourself enough to keep going?

In this episode of The Global Girlfriend, we sit down with Jayce Keil, international luxury wedding photographer, former whitewater river guide, outdoor adventurer, and global entrepreneur, to talk about building a life driven by passion, creativity, and freedom.

Jayce shares her journey from guiding multi-day river trips in Moab and ski seasons in Telluride, to traveling the world, falling in love across borders, and building a photography and videography business with her Irish husband that now spans the US and Europe. Together, we dive into what it really takes to create a location-flexible career, navigate international relationships, blend cultures while raising a child, and resist the pressure to “pick just one life.”

This episode is for anyone dreaming of:
• Living and working abroad
• Building a location-independent or creative career
• Navigating love, marriage, and family across cultures
• Choosing adventure over expectations
• Designing a life that doesn’t fit into a single box

Jayce’s story is an honest reminder that you don’t have to follow the script, and that believing in your vision (even when others don’t) can change everything.

🎧 Tune in for inspiration, real talk, and permission to run toward the life you actually want.

Find Jayce here:

https://jaycekeil.com/

insta: @jaycekeil

Follow The Global Girlfriend here:

www.theglobalgirlfriend.com

insta: @theglobalgirlfriend

As we step into a new year, this episode of The Global Girlfriend is all about pausing, reflecting, and dreaming forward.

In this New Year special, we’re looking back at 2025: a year of travel, growth, courage, and unexpected lessons...and setting powerful intentions for 2026. From unforgettable destinations and meaningful cultural moments to behind-the-scenes reflections on building a global podcast and community, this episode is about honoring where you’ve been and getting excited about where you’re going.

We reflect on what travel taught us in 2025—about slowing down, belonging, confidence, and purpose—and share how The Global Girlfriend podcast evolved through conversations centered on global living, love, friendship, and personal expansion. We also express deep gratitude for our listeners, whose messages, stories, and support continue to shape this community.

Looking ahead to 2026, we talk about:

• Dream travel destinations and intentional ways of exploring the world

• Slow travel, deeper cultural immersion, and traveling for meaning, not just content

• New podcast themes, dream guests, and how we want the show to feel next year

• Personal intentions, growth goals, and choosing a word or mantra for the year ahead

This episode is also an invitation to reflect on your own year and step into your Global Girlfriend era, wherever you are in the world. You don’t need a passport to live globally, curiosity, courage, and intention are enough.

Whether you’re planning your next trip, navigating life abroad, or simply craving a sense of expansion and connection, this episode is meant to feel like a hug and a boarding pass.

🎧 Subscribe, share this episode with a fellow global girlfriend, and tag us with your 2026 dreams. Wherever you are in the world, you belong here.