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 #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
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1501, FRI, APR 03 (04-03-26):
Descriptions - EXPAT FILES SHOW #1501, FRI, APR 03 (04-03-26):
#1- Did you know that in Latin America there are a huge variety of Tacos you cannot eat:
#2- Gringo expats and their often stubborn music tastes :
#3- Latinos who actually think they are from New York or Mijami:
#4- A word about those slick teak farm investments so many trusting gringos get suckered into:
#5- The dope on tra
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1500, FRI, MAR 27 (03-27-26)
#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- Unfettered capitalism is alive and well in Latin America (and Latin governments and politicos absolutely hate that):
#5- How to instantly spot stupid gringos:
#6- Our own
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1499, FRI, MAR 20 (03-20-26):
#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 collar jobs (half of their support and marketing staff):
#3- How’d 3 million folks of Japanese decent end up in Brazil and Peru?
#4- About those gringo expats who prefer to have a
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1498, FRI, MAR 13 (03-13-26)
#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 make fun of us gringos behind our backs (like we do them?):
#5- The use of glyphosate in Latin America:
#6- Why buying a “Hybrid” car is pretty stupid:
#7- Our own Exp
The Expat Files: Living in Latin America - 3-6-26
#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 street corners are NOT natural artifacts:
#4- Is it possible that Venezuelans are naturally more dishonest and scheming than Latin Americans from other countries?
#5- Our
The Expat Files - #1496, FRI, FEB 27 - 2026
#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’m forever being asked about my pick for the best Latin American country for gringos and expats:
#6- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Cryp
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1495, FRI, FEB 20 (02-20-26):
#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 real Latino lintellectual…
#3- How Latinos rate you, versus how you rate yourself:
#4- Netflix is super popular in latin America:
Note though that the Spanish version in Lati
EXPAT FILES SHOW #1494, FRI, FEB 13 (02-13-26):
#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 think…
#3- When Gringos attempt to apply for a Latin American driver’s license:
A funny thing happened on the way to the driver testing station….
#4- New Whatsapp scams are ap
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