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PODCAST

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

society & culture relationships

All Episodes

00:59:53

Ep. 113 - Australian in America: Rudeness, Tall Poppy...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/10/06

What happens when an Australian moves to America and discovers that speaking the same language doesn’t mean sharing the same culture?I sat down with an Australian who has lived in the US for years to talk about everything from politeness, humour and friendship to status, dating, customer service and Tall Poppy Syndrome.Why can Australian directness come across as rude in America? Why are Americans more comfortable talking about success? Why do Australians sometimes insult the people they love?We

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01:04:19

Ep. 112 - From the UK to Italy to Amazonia: Does...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/10/01

What does it mean to be polite? How much privacy do we actually need? And why can something that feels completely normal in one culture seem completely bizarre in another?In this episode, I sit down with anthropologist Dr. Cami Morelli to compare three very different approaches to communication, boundaries, family, sharing, and relationships.We talk about why Brits say “sorry” and “thank you” so much, why Italian family and friends can be much more involved in your personal life, and what Dr. Cami

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01:06:22

Ep. 111 - Why You Misread Your Partner: How Culture...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/09/22

How much of what we think we’re “reading” in someone is actually shaped by our own culture?In this episode of Dating Beyond Borders, I’m joined by Dr. David Matsumoto, a leading expert on emotions, body language, microexpressions, and cross-cultural psychology. We talk about how culture shapes emotional expression, why we misread people when dating across cultures, what silence can communicate, and whether microexpressions really reveal what someone is feeling.If you’ve ever wondered why someone’s

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01:20:59

Ep. 110 - Living in Europe Changed How She Sees...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/09/15

Why do Europeans often think Americans are "fake"? And why does a simple compliment carry an entirely different weight in France compared to the US? In this episode of the Dating Beyond Borders podcast, I sit down with content creator Roya Fox to unpack what living abroad reveals about the American mindset.When you leave your home country, you start seeing your own culture from the outside. In this conversation, we dive into the hidden mechanics of American social norms: the baseline pressure of

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00:59:56

Ep. 109 - Living in America Changed the Way He Sees...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/09/08

Why do Germans often say America has "no culture"? And why is negativity seen as a sign of intelligence in Germany? In this episode, I chat with Tobi Harms, a German expat who moved to the US for love, to explore the deep mentality differences between German and American culture.Moving beyond classic tropes like punctuality, bread, and hiking, we unpack the psychological reality of living abroad: the German superiority complex, American optimism vs. German skepticism, small talk, making friends, and

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00:51:15

Ep. 108 - The Male Loneliness Epidemic in China: Why...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/09/01

Watch the preview here: Watch the preview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UjDPE2DbjcChina is facing a growing male loneliness crisis, with more than 30 million men who may never find a partner or marry.Filmmaker Violet Du Feng takes us inside the crisis: from male dating bootcamps in Chongqing to rising bride prices that put marriage out of reach for many working-class men. We explore how the One-Child Policy shaped this imbalance and what it means for a generation of Chinese men struggling

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00:08:28

The Truth About Dating in Italy vs the US (Mini Pod)

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/05/21

In this clip, I speak with Amedeo, an Italian living in the US, about the biggest cultural differences between dating in Italy and dating in America. We discuss relationships, dating expectations, communication styles, and how Italian and American dating cultures compare.Say hi to Amedeo: https://www.instagram.com/amedeo_iasci/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

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01:08:28

Ep. 107 - Dating in Denmark: What Happens When There...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/05/14

This week I speak with Steven, a Danish dating coach, host of the podcast *Looking for Love*, and author of a book on modern dating.We dive into the complexities of dating in Denmark, from a lack of clear dating “rules” or scripts, to a more casual hookup culture, and the effects of extreme individualism and strong gender equality—positive in many ways, but sometimes challenging for people trying to build romantic connections in Denmark.Say hi to Steven: https://www.instagram.com/stevenhojlund/Each

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00:53:45

Ep. 106 - What Japan's "Love is Blind" Says About...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/05/07

In this episode, I speak with Priyanka from "Love Is Blind Japan" about her experience on the show and what it reveals about dating and relationships in Japan.We explore the lack of public displays of affection, the emphasis on politeness and indirect communication, the contrast between kawaii and more openly “sexy” dating styles seen elsewhere, and how the structure and ending of the Japanese version differs from other international adaptations of the show.Say hi to Priyanka:

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01:13:36

Ep. 105 - From Mexico to Berlin: I Lost Myself Trying...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/04/30

I chat with Luardo, host of the Berlin & Elsewhere podcast. Luardo is a Mexican who moved to Berlin 14 years ago, and in this episode we dive into what it’s really like building a life abroad in Germany.We talk about trying too hard to assimilate and losing parts of your identity in the process, the biggest differences between German and Mexican mentality, what happens when a Mexican dates or has a relationship with a German, and how living abroad can completely change the way you think, relate

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01:00:02

Ep. 104 - A Brazilian Girl Who Grew Up in Japan:...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/04/23

I talk to Fadile Waked, a Brazilian model and actress who moved to Japan at the age of eight. We explore her experience growing up in Nagoya, including the strict rules and structure of the Japanese school system, and what it was like navigating life as a child between two cultures.Say hi to Fadile: https://www.instagram.com/fadilewaked/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

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00:13:47

Croatian in the US: The Differences You Don’t Notice...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/04/21

I chat with Tamara Peklić, a Croatian cross-cultural coach, about the biggest mindset differences she’s noticed between Americans and Croatians. We explore how education is approached in both countries, how personal space is understood at home, and why conversations in the U.S. can sometimes feel exhausting. We also look at what Americans tend to do better than Croatians—especially when it comes to customer service (which, let’s be honest, is almost non-existent in Croatia).Each week I will

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00:59:21

Ep 103 - Why It’s So Hard to Build a Life in...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/04/16

In this episode, I sit down with Gabi, a Lithuanian content creator who relocated to Spain: first to Madrid, and later to Barcelona. We dive into the realities of living in Barcelona as a foreigner, including the city’s complex relationship with tourism and expats.We discuss what it’s really like to find work in Spain, whether not speaking Catalan affects how you’re treated, and the challenges of building meaningful friendships in a highly transient city. If you’re considering moving to Barcelona or

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01:05:02

Ep. 102 - Dating in the US vs Italy: The Brutal...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/04/09

In this episode, I speak with Amedeo Iaschi, an Italian investor and content creator, who has been living in the United States for the past 8 years, about his experience navigating dating and relationships in a completely different culture.We dive into the realities of dating in the US: from interview-style first dates and the quickness of labeling “red flags,” to the feeling that modern dating can become repetitive and transactional. Amedeo also shares his perspective on loneliness, social life in

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01:05:13

Ep. 101 - The Real Reason Balkans Connect With Asians...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/04/02

This week, I’m joined by Tamara, a cross-cultural coach from Croatia, to talk about her experience living in the US and the cultural differences she’s observed along the way. We get into communication styles, small talk, education, and the overall mindset shift that comes with living abroad.We also explore an interesting idea: why Balkan cultures can feel surprisingly similar to Asian cultures in certain ways, from communication to values and where those similarities start to break down.Each week I

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00:07:42

Do Mexican women prefer dating foreign men? (Mini Pod)

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/03/31

I speak with 3 Mexican women about dating foreigners and cultural perceptions in Mexico. Is dating foreign men considered “upgrading”? What does “mejorar la raza” mean, and do “passport bros” really have an easier time dating in Mexico?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

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00:47:39

100th Episode Q&A: Podcasting, Dating & What I've...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/03/26

100 episodes later… I’m finally answering your questions.In this special 100th episode of Dating Beyond Borders, I open up about everything: from dating and relationships to travel, podcasting, and my personal life behind the scenes.You asked about meeting people abroad, cultural differences, and what it’s really like building this podcast.Thank you for being part of this journey! I wouldn’t be here without you.Each week I will interview guests from all around the world on the topics of culture,

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01:12:10

Ep. 99 - Dating Spain vs the UK: Gender Roles, Long...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/03/19

This week, I’m joined by Patry Ruiz, a Spanish content creator from Madrid who has spent much of her life in the UK. We explore dating in Spain, her experience marrying a British man, the nuances of Spanish women, and the realities of long-distance love.Say hi to Patry: https://www.instagram.com/_patryruiz_/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

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00:11:49

She Escaped North Korea But Wasn't Ready for THIS...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/03/17

In this snippet, I speak with Eunhee Park, a North Korean defector who escaped her country at just 21. But leaving was only the beginning—she has faced intense loneliness, culture shock, and the challenges of navigating a completely new life in South Korea.Say hi to Eunhee: https://www.instagram.com/northkorea_eunhee/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

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00:42:42

Ep. 98 -Culture Shock in Scandinavia: Expats on...

Dating Beyond Borders ·

2026/03/12

Get 10% off your first month of therapy with today's paid partner BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/datingbeyondbordersI chat to three expats living in Sweden, Norway and Denmark about their honest experiences living in Scandinavia, from the mentality to communication differences, work culture and relationships with their partner.Say hi to Ana: https://www.instagram.com/ana.marcal/Say hi to Hendo: https://www.instagram.com/hendoinnorway/Say hi to Derek:

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