The Expat Files: Living in Latin America
Experienced expat John Mueller shares what it's really like for Americans to live, work, and retire in Latin America. The podcast offers firsthand insights and practical advice on navigating life abroad. Each episode covers topics such as cost of living, healthcare, culture shock, and building a new life in a foreign country. It's a valuable resource for anyone considering or already living the expat lifestyle in Latin America.
Episodes
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1521 FRI, AUG 21 (08-21-26):
Johnny’supcoming week-long “Latin American Insider Seminar” will be in Guatemala and El Salvador (November 13–20, 2026). For details go to Expatplanb.com or click on:
https://www.expatplanb.com/expat-insider-seminar-nov-2026/
Only a handful of Latin American countries (Chile, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica) actively enforce mandatory yearly vehicle technical inspections; most others hav
THE EXPAT FILES SHOW #1520 FRI, AUG 14 (08-14-26):
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 sto
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1519 FRI, AUG 07 (08-07-26)
· Avoid Facebook expat groups — they create a dependency bubble full of know-it-alls, sellers, and political ranting.
· WhatsApp is essential in Latin America; without it you’re basically cut off from daily life.
· Machetes are common and rarely used for crime except crimes of passion.
· Cleaning staff often salvage useful items from your trash and may open their purses for inspection when lea
Expat Files - #1518 FRI, JULY 31 (07-31-26):
#1- More on that crazy Guatemalan Jade mining story:
#2- Proof why Latin American governments can never be trusted:
Oh, and the US govt is even worse….
#3- The problem with Miami mailbox forwarding services:
#4- What you never knew about your Latin American electric bill:
#5- Why buying a hybrid car is NEVER recommended:
#6- How newbee green gringos are easily misled by woke Fakebook gr
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1517, FRI, JULY 24 - 07-24-26:
#1- DYK that severe Air B&B restrictions are in the works in most all Latin American countries?
So, as govts. crack down, Gringos and expats must be aware that owning an Airbnb is NOT a long term good or sure investment anymore...
#2- DYK Costa Rica has double the minimum wage of most all other Latin American countries, and they enforce it:
That means in the rest of Latin America you can g
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1516, FRI, JULY 17 (07-17-26)
#1- Dumb and dumber in Latin America:
#2- A word about physical books and bookstores in Latin America:
#3- What you really need to know about phone and internet plans in Latin America:
#4- What the Narcoculture influence has done to women in Mexico:
#5- Emotional support animals and their wimpy owners in Argentina:
#6- The downsides of having a Latina GF:
#7- Latino male complaints abo
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1515, FRI, JULY 10 (07-10-26):
#1- To be fat or obese in Latin America:
#2- Ozempic and GLP-1’s have arrived in Latin America:
Is that a good or bad thing? Do the locals even understand it?
#3- Brownouts, blackouts and power outages in Latin America AND the USA:
Are you prepared to suffer or will you just put up with it?
#4- Why its absolutely time to go solar and off-grid no matter where you live:
Why the payback time pe
The Expat Files: #1514, FRI, JULY 03 (07-03-26)
Descriptions -
#1- When your rudimentary Spanish suddenly allows you to hear things you are not supposed to hear:
#2- Living super cheap in the Latin American boonies:
#3- The govt in Ecuador is more corrupt than you can imagine:
#4- So many little daily irritations have such simple solutions that are never addressed:
#5- The #1 crime (by far) committed against individuals in Latin Amer
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1513, FRI, JUNE 26 (06-26-26):
#1- The preponderance of hacks and data breaches in Latin America and how they affect gringos and Expats:
#2- Scammers impersonating me trying to sell crap in my name:
#3- The Latin American / Miami real estate connection is real:
#4- Envy, jealosy and snobbery in Latin America:
#5- The simple thing that most all successful Expats have in common:
#6- You don’t ever want a Latino, or espe
The Expat Files: #1512, FRI, JUNE 19 (06-19-26):
#1- What do Expat Files listeners have in common?
#2- When legal Latinos living in the USA throw in the towel, get out of dodge, and move back to their home country:
#3- Latin American “sweatshop” realities;
#4- Lotteries in Latin America: Who wins?
#5- DYK that Ecuador is on its 7th round of curfew lockdowns, all of that in just the last two and half years?
Meanwhile, Ecuador is forever
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1511, FRI, JUNE 12 (06-12-26)
#1- What about becoming an Expat in Portugal?
Yes, if you've noticed, in the last few years expat rags and social media have been promoting Portugal as a great Plan B. Well, sorry to say, unless you have a nice fat nest- egg or great pension above and beyond social security you will never make ends meet.
#2- The truth about modern-day backpackers:
You might be surprised to hear that in today's w
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1510, FRI, JUNE 05 (06-05-26):
#1- When Gringo Expats in Latin America exhibit stupid and asinine behavior:
#2- TDS- Trump Derangement Syndrome in Latin America:
Funny how Latinos don’t seem to exhibit it, but a certain percentage of Gringo Expats and tourists certainly do…
#3- How to instantly confirm that you have been stupid about your tattoos:
#4- The huge, recent 16-million-person data and credit card hack in Ecuador
Expat Files - 5-29-26
Hey Guys, use this audio attached please, the one I sent earlier today was missing the intro and exit bit.. but this one is complete.. sorry about that but I'm on vacation in the Mediterranean and the connections and circumstances are a bit crude......................
Descriptions - THE EXPAT FILES SHOW #1509, FRI, MAY 29 (05-29-26):
#1- A word about “influencers” and other internet beggars:
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1508, FRI, MAY 22 (05-22-26)
#1- When Gringo Expats in Latin America get bored with their lives:
#2- Tips concerning Electrical Appliances (you will thank me for later) when you finally go solar and get off the grid :
#3- How to instantly confirm that you have been stupid about your Amazon purchases:
#4- The two most dependable and available solar power inverter brand(s) I recommend for use in Latin America:
#5- Ever
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1507, FRI, MAY 15 (05-15-26):
#1- When an Expat in Latin America owns property, what happens to it when he or she dies?
#2- You won’t believe the strange peculiarities of Latino inheritance laws:
#3- “Point of use” tankless versus tank water heaters:
A discussion of the only type of water heater you should consider for use in Latin America…
#4- The truth about solar power backup versus LP gas or diesel backup generators:
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1506, FRI, MAY 08 (05-8-26)
Descriptions - EXPAT FILES SHOW #1506, FRI, MAY 08 (05-8-26):
#1- “Karens” in Latin America:
#2- Having a bad neighbor in Latin America:
#3- Don’t make this shortsighted Hybrid car mistake:
#4- Sorting out Latin American “cost of living” myths:
#5- What you need to know about Latin America salaries:
#6- What is really "middle class" in Latin America?
#7- How all classes of Latinos h
The Expat Files: Living in America - 5-1-26
#1- Latina girls and a particular testy problem that arises when they are at work and when attending university:
#2- Churches, temples and mosques in Latin America:
#3- About those Muslim populations in Latin America:
#4- Using WAZE in Latin America:
#5- You need to know about power blackouts in Latin America:
#6- Backup generators in Latin America:
Should you get one?
#7- Our own Expa
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1504, FRI, APR 24 (04-24-26):
#1- Common folk “credit plans” in Latin America
#2- Home mortgages in Latin America:
#3- My personal internet regrets:
#4- The surprising, somewhat amazing, Latin American birthrate and life expectancy dats:
#5- The fate of expired food and medicines in Latin America:
#6- Going off the grid -Part 3
#7- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1503, FRI, APR 17 (04-17-26)
#1- Buried in debt and credit is normal for Latinos:
Yet, they are still the happiest people in the world…
#2- Living “off the utility grid” in Latin America:
#3- EV myths and hypocrisies:
#4- Rooftop solar water heaters- Why I changed my mind about them:
#5- The trouble with being troubled by not learning Spanish fast enough… and feeling like a dolt:
#6- Our own Expat Captain Mango has
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1502, FRI, APR 10 (04-10-26):
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1502, FRI, APR 10 (04-10-26):
#1- Biometric fears in Mexico- PART 2:
#2- What you need to know about owning a cell phone in Latin America:
#3- Poor Latinos who are not poor by their own standards:
Living well on 3 bucks a day out in the boonies…
#4- There’s an infertility epidemic in Latin America:
Who would have thought this was possible…
#5- Amazon deliveries i
Recommended
Entrepreneur Kids Legacy Show - Family Motivation, Business Boss Babies, Inspirational Speakers and Healthy fun food
McKinsey on Consumer and Retail
megahired.com
Telli Talks with Telli Swift
Harmonize Your Life: Conversation on Self-Care for Women of Color
Lighting the Legal Career Path
High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset
Pintastic® Pinterest Podcast
Learn 50 English Phrases While You Sleep | Everyday English Phrases & Vocabulary
The Daily
The Joe Rogan Experience
World News Tonight with David Muir
