SEASON 2 EPISODE 3 with special guest ZERLINA MAXWELL
You may know her as the host of Mornings with Zerlina on SiriusXM, as the author of the book, The End of White Politics, or from her work as a political analyst and strategist. She’s worked on two presidential campaigns, so she knows the ins and outs of American politics better than most. But today, we’re stepping away from the headlines to talk about something deeply personal: her decision to leave the U.S. and relocate to Italy…
Which she managed to pull off just days after the Inauguration.
In this episode, we get into why she made the move—not as a dramatic escape, but as an intentional act of self-preservation. Zerlina opens up about the therapy sessions, the grief, and the deep self-reflection that powered her exodus—and what life in Sicily is teaching her now.
We also talk about:
[00:05:00] 2023: grief, therapy, and the moment her therapist said “move abroad”
[00:07:00] Zerlina’s new daily routine in Italy (which includes a daily seaside run)
[00:16:00] Why she chose Palermo over Rome.
[00:18:00] How she managed to Blaxit just days after the 2025 U.S. Presidential Inauguration
[00:26:00] How she’s redefined happiness and success, and has added years to her life.
[00:50:00] Media diet vs. echo chambers—what distance clarifies about U.S. news
[00:55:00] How she sees role as a journalist now
[01:02:00] Her peace protocols in the era of Trump 2.0
[01:20:00] Why she started her mental-health focused Substack, The Inner Work Dispatch
…and so much more!
If political fatigue or disillusionment has you eyeing your passport, then stick around. This conversation is for you.
RESOURCES & MORE WAYS TO CONNECT
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Zerlina’s Substack: https://zerlinamaxwell.substack.com/
Courtney’s Substack essays mentioned in this episode:
Don’t Save Her. She Don’t Wanna Be Saved: A Love Letter to the 92%: https://courtneybowden.substack.com/p/dont-save-her-she-dont-wanna-be-saved?utm_source=publication-search
Just Gimme a (Mexican) Minute: https://courtneybowden.substack.com/p/just-gimme-a-mexican-minute-moving
The Mainstream Media Is Playing In the American Public’s Face: https://courtneybowden.substack.com/p/the-mainstream-media-is-playing-in
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Ready to begin your own journey abroad? Download our FREE Blaxit Soundtrack & Soul Work Journal—a curated blend of music and prompts to help you reflect, dream, and move with intention: https://blackexpatstories.com/soundtrack
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