Ep. 11 - Nicole Shubalis - Why She Refuses to Call Her New Life Luck

Could you leave everything you know to start over completely alone?Nicole Shubalis was a private chef in Chicago with a catering business and a full, go-go-go life. Then, on her 40th birthday, a trip to Crete cracked something open. At 42, she sold or gave away almost everything and moved to Chania alone, with just her dog.Tony and Effi sit down with Nicole live in Athens to unpack the real story behind the move: the pull she couldn't ignore, the paperwork that made it feel permanent, and the 2012 shooting that reshaped how she thinks about safety and fear. They also get into slow living, Cretan food, and training for her first HYROX.If you have ever wondered whether the leap is worth it, or told yourself someone else is just lucky, this one is for you. Listen now.Timestamped Highlights02:18 - The 40th birthday trip that quietly rewired her entire life plan07:12 - The identity line every Greek American will feel in their chest07:59 - The Cretan food scene that just earned a world ranking12:57 - Why her food videos flopped and what took off instead21:39 - The 2012 night in Chicago that changed everything23:34 - The part of the recovery that was harder than the injuries29:24 - What training for a HYROX taught her about her own ceiling40:45 - The 90 percent she gave away, and why it felt like freedom42:58 - What she felt on the one-way flight she had dreamed about43:47 - The unglamorous moment it hit her that this was permanent45:26 - The one comment about her move that she cannot stand55:39 - Her first six months in Crete summed up in a single wordMentioned ResourcesThe Ultimate Guide For Moving Abroad by Nicole Shubalis, a 70-page guide, available through her Instagram bioBringing Your Dog Abroad guide by Nicole ShubalisHYROXAbout the GuestNicole Shubalis is a Greek American private chef, yogi, and content creator who left Chicago to rebuild her life in Chania, Crete. French culinary trained, she ran a private chef and catering business in the States before moving abroad at 42. Through her brand Nicole Unpacked she shares expat life, food, slow living, and the honest behind the scenes of starting over.🔗 Instagram | TikTok | WebsiteImportant LinksLearn more about us: Kasandrinos.comBuy our book: Kasandrinos KitchenJoin our Facebook community: FacebookFollow us: Instagram | TikTok | PinterestLinkedIn: Tony Kasandrinos | Effi Kasandrinos BoothThe Kasandrinos Effect is an original podcast brought to you by Kasandrinos International and editing by Podcast Your Brand.