

Dating Beyond Borders
Marina Iakovleva
Welcome to the Dating Beyond Borders Podcast!
I’m Marina, the creator behind the Dating Beyond Borders YouTube channel, where I’ve spent the past 10 years exploring how culture shapes love and connection. Now, I’m bringing that same passion to the podcast world!
Each week, I sit down with guests from around the globe to dive into the ways culture influences relationships, identity, and the way we connect. From dating norms to cross-cultural misunderstandings, no topic is off-limits.
Let’s break down barriers. One culture at a time.
I’m Marina, the creator behind the Dating Beyond Borders YouTube channel, where I’ve spent the past 10 years exploring how culture shapes love and connection. Now, I’m bringing that same passion to the podcast world!
Each week, I sit down with guests from around the globe to dive into the ways culture influences relationships, identity, and the way we connect. From dating norms to cross-cultural misunderstandings, no topic is off-limits.
Let’s break down barriers. One culture at a time.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 29, 2025 • 9min
(Mini Pod) Why is South Korea's Birthrate the LOWEST in the World?
In this snippet I chat to David, the host of the Korean Pizza Club podcast about the scary phenomenon taking over Korea -- the incredibly low birthrate which is highly impacting the country. We dive into this, and the changing dating scene in the Korea.Check out David's Podcast about Korea: https://www.instagram.com/koreanpizzaclub/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Sep 24, 2025 • 40min
Dating in the US vs. Europe: The Unspoken Differences (Spain, Germany, France, Belgium)
How is dating in Europe and the US different? In this episode, I have 3 creators from different parts of Europe who are living in the US, and one American who is living in Europe talk about the biggest differences, from the commitment to the gender roles -- and everything in between.Say hi to Ana: https://www.instagram.com/_anagildersleeve/Say hi to Feli: https://www.instagram.com/felifromgermany/Say hi to Lucile: https://www.instagram.com/lucilehr/Say hi to Colby: https://www.instagram.com/colbypgrey/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Sep 18, 2025 • 56min
Ep. 81 - From Austria to Australia: Why Love is Harder in a Second Language
In this episode I talk to Magdalena, a TED speaker from Austria who has moved to Australia for her partner. She is a linguist and studies how language affects everything from expression of emotion, to conflict to the sense of humour. TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_3KmTevD5o&t=256sEach week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Sep 18, 2025 • 8min
(Mini Pod) Three Truths about Iceland that ONLY Locals Know!
In this snippet, I chat with Oskar, a hilarious Icelander, about the unique and surprising habits of Icelanders. From what they do on first dates, to their famously grumpy-but-casual personalities, and the two phrases they always use (and that sum up their take on life).Say hi to Oskar: https://www.instagram.com/speakviking/Try Icelandic classes with Oskar here: https://www.speakvikingcourses.com/Store-MarinaFull episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4m9eVmu2EZDpvgbyTnnLBV?si=O7CfyHTXTuCWvGvJfHr_bgEach week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Sep 13, 2025 • 11min
(Mini Pod) The BIGGEST Difference Between Argentinians and Americans
In this snippet, I chat to Sarah who has been living in Argentina for 7 years. (She has since moved back to the US for family reasons). We talk about her biggest culture shocks assimilating into Argentinian lifestyle, from the late night culture, to the more relaxed and spontaneous way of life, and prioritizing being over doing.Say hi to Sarah: / ba.noma 👉 Full Episode Here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6NeyMhoZToStFIFwd7k0SX?si=kNj3XZiWS223TppzTw1sdQEach week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: / datingbeyondborders Dating Beyond Borders channel: / datingbeyondborders

Sep 10, 2025 • 58min
Ep. 80 - What No One Tells you About Being a "Third Culture Kid" (Feat. TED speaker Maria Rincon)
This week I chat to Maria Rincon, a professional speaking coach who is also a third culture kid, brought up in a Colombian-Chinese household, having moved to Canada, then Sweden, and married to a German man. We will dive into the challenges and best parts of being a third culture kid, the search for home and the concept of identity.Say hi to Maria: https://www.instagram.com/publicspeakingwithmaria/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Sep 5, 2025 • 11min
(Mini Pod) "Doe Normaal": a Slavic Take on the DUTCH
In this podcast snippet, I chat with Alisa, a Slavic content creator who has made the Netherlands her home. We dive into Dutch lifestyle and mentality, from their rule-and-planning culture, to why conversations often stick to “safe” topics, to how bragging looks completely different from the Slavic kind, and why Dutch directness can sometimes feel a little too direct.Say hi to Alisa: https://www.instagram.com/alisa_law/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Sep 3, 2025 • 1h 1min
Ep. 79 - Dating as a Gay American in BELGIUM: Love, Grindr & Stereotypes
This week I sit down with Colby, an American journalist living in Belgium, to talk about what it’s really like dating European men, especially Belgians and the Dutch. We dive into the realities of gay identity in Europe vs the US, covering everything from Pride parades and stereotypes to the challenges of Grindr culture, and why finding love beyond hookups can be so difficult.Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Say hi to Colby: / colbypgrey Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: / datingbeyondborders Dating Beyond Borders channel: / datingbeyondborders

Aug 26, 2025 • 1h 7min
Ep. 78 - From the US to Norway: Why Moving Abroad Has Completely Changed My Life! (Feat. Hendo)
This week I sit down with Hendo, from the channel Hendo in Norway, to chat about her experience leaving LA for Oslo. We talk about her biggest reasons for leaving the US, what has been the biggest struggle of life in Norway, and how her life has changed since the move to Scandinavia.Say hi to Hendo: https://www.instagram.com/hendoinnorway/Why she moved from the US: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rVwlDYk6l8Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders

Aug 21, 2025 • 1h 21min
Ep. 77 - Truth About Brazilian Sexuality: Pick-Me Culture, Youth Obsession & Double Standards
This week, I talk to Fernanda, a Brazilian sexologist, about how dating, relationships, and sexuality play out in Brazilian culture. Is Brazil really a highly sexualized society—and how does that impact women and men? What are the expectations around desirability? Are Brazilians truly “great in bed,” and where does that stereotype come from? We also dive into PDA, infidelity, and much more.Say hi to Fernanda: https://www.instagram.com/fe_alv/Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture, connection and of course, dating. The goal is to go as deep as possible and to really understand where we all come from and how much culture influences our life.Want to join the mailing list? https://www.dating-beyond-borders.comSay hi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datingbeyondbordersDating Beyond Borders channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/datingbeyondborders