THE EXPAT FILES SHOW #1520 FRI, AUG 14 (08-14-26):

THE EXPAT FILES SHOW #1520 FRI, AUG 14 (08-14-26):

Author: Progressive Radio Network August 14, 2026 Duration: 28:00
Johnny announces his next one-week Latin American Insider seminar in Guatemala and El Salvador (November 14–20, 2026). He observes that most small tiendas, mini-marts, and wholesale businesses across Latin America are owned by Chinese and Koreans. Large chain stores like La Torre, Costco, and Walmart are owned by wealthy Latino families, while smaller scruffier shops are Asian-owned. Hardware stores (ferreterías) are a rare exception rarely owned by Asians due to the specialized product knowledge required. Asians are described as highly industrious, frugal, and work long hours, rarely spending on restaurants, bars, or vacations except for nice cars. Latinos generally do not resent Asian business dominance and would not trade places with them because of cultural differences in spending and lifestyle. Johnny strongly recommends using the “hidden wallet” feature with an extra passphrase on Ledger or Trezor cold wallets for better security after recent hacks. He reviews median fixed broadband speeds in Latin America, with Chile leading at 335 Mbps and Cuba at the bottom with only 4 Mbps. Prescription drugs (including Viagra, pain meds, opioids, and now GLP-1s) are widely available without a prescription at many mom-and-pop pharmacies despite official rules. Ecuadorian authorities have seized over 20,000 motorcycles since 2021 for lack of plates, registration, or licenses, which Johnny celebrates.  Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "2026 - LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT": The new edition for 2026 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com                  

Ever wondered what it actually takes to build a life far from familiar shores? The Expat Files: Living in Latin America moves beyond glossy travel brochures and dives into the nuanced, daily realities of making a home across the border. Hosted by longtime resident John Mueller, this podcast from the Progressive Radio Network offers an honest, ground-level view. Conversations here explore the complexities of navigating new bureaucracies, finding community, and the subtle cultural shifts that define an expatriate experience. You’ll hear from people who’ve made the leap-some for work, others seeking retirement, many just chasing a different rhythm of life. Each episode unpacks practical challenges alongside personal reflections, covering everything from local business etiquette and housing markets to the simple joy of discovering a neighborhood mercado. It’s a resource for the curious and a companion for those already packing their bags, stripping away the romance to reveal the authentic, sometimes messy, always fascinating process of adaptation. Tune in for stories that are less about postcards and more about the profound, everyday adventure of planting roots in a new world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 36

The Expat Files: Living in Latin America
Podcast Episodes
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1500, FRI, MAR 27 (03-27-26) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
#1- 1500 Expat Files Show milestone: #2- When Expats get old and decrepit: What’s your plan on how to fade into the sunset? Do you even have a plan? #3- Planning ahead is NOT part of the Latin American playbook: #4- Unfe…
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1499, FRI, MAR 20 (03-20-26): [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
#1- When gringos and expats obtain indigenous wives and girlfriends: #2- AI arrives in Latin America in a big and unexpected way…starting with the famous “Mercado Libre” buy and sell website eliminating10,000 white colla…
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1498, FRI, MAR 13 (03-13-26) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
#1- When transit cops target gringos: #2- The problem with gringo tourists: #3- How Latinos can spot a gringo tourist a mile (or a kilometer) away: What about them spotting out us long term expats? #4- Do Latinos mock or…
The Expat Files: Living in Latin America - 3-6-26 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
#1- Do you have EFWS? (Expat Files Withdrawl Syndrome) #2- TEN small ways Latin American repair guys will gouge and rip you off (and you probably won’t realize it): #3- Those little piles of glass you occasionally see at…
The Expat Files - #1496, FRI, FEB 27 - 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
#1- A word about Mexico “Lindo”: Hate to say “I told ya so” but… I told ya so … #2- Are there any places safe from the cartels in Mexico? #3- Giving up on Air B&B’s: #4- Why I don’t recommend Peru for your plan-B: #5- I’…
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1495, FRI, FEB 20 (02-20-26): [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
#1- Should you bring your kids with you to live in Latin America? At first they will whine, kick and squirm…. #2- Don’t confuse nerds with intellectuals: I’ve met Latino nerds on the spectrum, but I’ve yet to meet any re…
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1494, FRI, FEB 13 (02-13-26): [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
#1- About those horses you occasionally see on the street and in the boonies in Latin America: #2- How educated Latinos in Latin America are reacting to Bad Bunny’s Superbowl appearance: It’s not exactly what you might t…
The Expat Files: Living in Latin America - 2/6/26 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
#1- Why have some Latin countries like Guatemala suddenly appeared on Trump’s new blocked travel VISA list while other Latin countries don’t: #2- How Latinos use time-tested immigration scams to get legal USA 90 day trav…
THE EXPAT FILES SHOW #1492, FRI, JAN 30 (01-30-26) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
#1- My personal history of being scammed in Latin America (by popular listener demand): Yes, we all get scammed in our lifetimes and have the scars to prove it, some more than others but hopefully we learn. There are bad…
THE EXPAT FILES SHOW #1491, FRI, JAN 23 (01-23-26) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
#1- The best and worst case scenarios when one attempts to build or remodel a house or property in Latin America: Today we cite examples at both ends of the spectrum… a gringo house building project that went very smooth…