Building a Life Abroad, Culture Shock, and Big Leaps with Traveling Jackie

Jun 25, 2025

Jackie Nourse, known as Traveling Jackie, is an adventure travel expert and host of the JUMP podcast. She discusses building a life abroad, sharing her experiences raising bilingual kids in Norway and confronting her fear of heights while climbing Europe’s highest sea cliff. Jackie emphasizes the importance of community in personal growth and the lessons learned from slow travel. Her engaging stories highlight the intersection of courage and adventure, inspiring listeners to embrace challenges and design a life they love.

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ANECDOTE

Raising Kids in Norwegian Forest

Jason and Jackie describe raising bilingual kids in a forest neighborhood near Oslo.
The kids freely roam nature near home, fostering independence and connection to outdoors.

ADVICE

Choose Lifestyle First

Define your lifestyle values before choosing a place to live or travel.
Find a location that aligns with most of your values for a better fit and happiness.

INSIGHT

Embracing Norway's Weather

Norway's unpredictable weather resembles Patagonia with multiple seasons daily.
This wild climate is embraced as part of the authentic outdoors experience.

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What does it really take to build a life abroad, and what happens when travel pushes you far outside your comfort zone?

Jackie Nourse, aka Traveling Jackie, is an adventure travel pro, host of JUMP podcast, tour leader, and storyteller who’s built a life around helping people explore the world boldly and authentically. With over 20 years of travel under her belt, Jackie’s led countless group trips, launched two podcasts, and built a passionate community of travelers who seek adventure and growth.

In this crossover episode, Jackie and I reflect on our first in-person meetup in Norway and dive into what it means to design a lifestyle you love, raise a family in a new culture, and face fear head-on. From raising kids in the forest outside Oslo to climbing Europe’s highest sea cliff with a serious fear of heights, this episode explores the intersection of travel, courage, and personal transformation.

This episode offers a personal look into what it means to build a new life in a different country, from navigating culture shock to raising bilingual kids and finding your own rhythms far from home. Jackie also shares a powerful story about doing something she truly didn’t think she could do: climbing Europe’s highest sea cliff on a via ferrata, despite having a serious fear of heights. Her reflections on fear, courage, and support are deeply relatable, whether you're standing on a cliff face or facing something uncertain in your own life.

What’s one moment in your life when curiosity helped you say yes to something scary? I'd love to hear what they are, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Why Jackie decided to design an off-the-beaten-path adventure through Norway
How I ended up living in Oslo (and what I love about it)
Advice to anyone considering a move abroad, especially with a family
How “friluftsliv” shapes Norwegian life and values
What it’s like to raise kids in a forest-filled neighborhood outside Oslo
Why self-designed lifestyle checklists help you reverse-engineer the life you want
How public transport and local access shape rural Norwegian life
What via ferrata is (and why climbing one on a cliff face isn’t as relaxing as it sounds)
How Jackie faced a phobia head-on and climbed the highest sea cliff in Europe
Why small choices (like buying gloves) can snowball into big courage
And so much more

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