The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup

For decades, Venezuela has been ravaged by socialism and the rule of strongmen like Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro. It is a country that has watched its most capable citizens flee for more than a decade. But after the shocking capture and arrest of Nicolás Maduro, as you can imagine, I’ve been getting questions left and right from the Expat Money community about the situation in Venezuela.  In today’s episode, my co-host Marc Clair and I break down what this arrest means for international law and geopolitical power, what it may mean inside Venezuela, and why this is not a classic “regime change” story. We also speculate on the real motives behind the move, who may be pulling strings, and where this could go next. IN TODAY’S EPISODE Listen in as Marc and I discuss what Maduro’s arrest means for international law and geopolitical power politicsLearn why this is not a traditional regime change and what that means for Venezuela internallyHear our take on how this fits into Trump’s renewed focus on Latin America and the Monroe DoctrineFind out what we think the real motives are, who the key players may be, and what comes next STAY IN TOUCH! Stay informed about the latest news affecting the expat world and receive a steady stream of my thoughts and opinions on geopolitics by subscribing to our newsletter. You will receive the EMS Pulse® newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times; sign up now and receive my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.” WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE, MARCH 6-7, 2026 Join us in Panama City from March 6-7, 2026, for our second annual in-person event, the Wealth, Freedom and Passports Conference! Prices go up January 10th, and space is very limited, so reserve your tickets right away. RELATED EPISODES 387: The Leaders Shaping Latin America’s Shift Toward Freedom 365: The Bukele Effect: Inside El Salvador’s Radical Transformation 340: Expat News: Trump Sends Rubio To Panama & Javier Milei's Meme Coin Scandal Mentioned in this episode:This Is Your Invitation to The HubThis isn’t for tourists. This is for serious freedom-seekers. The Hub—our private membership for expats and investors—is now open. Inside, you’ll get $2,000 off every trip,...

Longtime listeners of this podcast know that I have been talking about Latin America as the last real bastion of freedom for years. And the recent political shift away from its socialist past is clear evidence of this.  In today’s episode, we take a look back at the highlights from the past year’s discussions of Latin America’s rising trend of freedom-oriented leaders like Javier Milei, Santiago Peña, Nayib Bukele, Jose Raúl Mulino, and more. You’ll see the clear evidence of what I’ve been shouting from the rooftops for years now: Latin America is the future. Enjoy! IN TODAY’S EPISODE Listen in as I explain why Latin America has shifted away from socialism and towards pro-business and pro-freedom leadershipHear my breakdown of Javier Milei’s Davos speech and Argentina’s libertarian resetLearn why Paraguay and Paraguay have become top Plan-B destinations, in no small part thanks to their current leadershipFind out why I've been calling Latin America the future hub for freedom for years now, and how these leaders are helping prove me more correct than even I could have imagined STAY IN TOUCH! Stay informed about the latest news affecting the expat world and receive a steady stream of my thoughts and opinions on geopolitics by subscribing to our newsletter. You will receive the EMS Pulse® newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times; sign up now and receive my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.” WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE, MARCH 6-7, 2026 Join us in Panama City from March 6-7, 2026, for our second annual in-person event, the Wealth, Freedom and Passports Conference! Prices go up after January 9th, and space is very limited, so reserve your tickets right away. RELATED EPISODES 384: Panama’s Adult in the Room: President José Raúl Mulino 365: The Bukele Effect: Inside El Salvador’s Radical Transformation 355: Santiago Peña’s Paraguay: Latin America’s New Freedom Frontier 352: Javier Milei’s Argentina: What It Means For Expats And FreedomMentioned in this episode:No Plan-B Without the...

Most people plan for retirement. Some plan for their children. Almost no one plans for the next 100 years. In today’s episode, I’m joined by my colleague Marc Clair to discuss our recent Family Legacy Mastermind in St. Kitts. We dive into 100-year thinking, dynastic structures, and preparing heirs to receive wealth—plus a few recent travel stories along the way. Enjoy! IN TODAY’S EPISODE Listen in to hear why I describe the airport in Miami as the “seventh layer of hell”Find out why I reject the “die with nothing” mindset and see it as a failure of legacy planningLearn whichsix forms of capitalI believe matter more than money aloneHear how I use family constitutions, governance, and trusts to build generational resilience STAY IN TOUCH! Stay informed about the latest news affecting the expat world and receive a steady stream of my thoughts and opinions on geopolitics by subscribing to our newsletter. You will receive the EMS Pulse® newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times; sign up now and receive my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.” WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE, MARCH 6-7, 2026 Join us in Panama City from March 6-7, 2026, for our second annual in-person event, the Wealth, Freedom and Passports Conference! Prices go up after January 9th, and space is very limited, so reserve your tickets right away. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Paraguay September 2025 Tour Video St. Kitts Family Legacy Mastermind Expat Money Tours Expat Money Membership Breakdown RELATED EPISODES 383: Central Asia: A Chaotic Journey Across an Overlooked Region 373: Guyana: A Trip to the World’s Fastest-Growing Economy 273: Discover Paraguay: An In-Depth Breakdown Of Our Scouting TripMentioned in this episode:No Plan-B

The conventional path for young men is breaking down. College is more expensive than ever, jobs are disappearing faster than degrees can keep up, and an entire generation is being pushed into debt, confusion, and dependence before they’ve even had a chance to build real-world skills. More parents and young men are starting to ask a hard question: “If this system is failing, what actually works?” In today’s episode, I am joined by entrepreneur, rancher, and author Matt Smith to discuss The Preparation, his new book co-written with my friend and mentor Doug Casey. We break down how real competence creates confidence, why character matters more than credentials, and how skill acquisition, mentorship, and responsibility can shape capable, independent individuals inside a system designed to produce the opposite.  Enjoy! IN TODAY’S EPISODE Listen in to hear why the traditional college path is failing young menLearn why exposure to risk and responsibility builds judgment that schools never teachHear why character and responsibility matter far more than credentialsFinish this episode with a clear alternative to raising dependent boys in an increasingly unstable world STAY IN TOUCH! Stay informed about the latest news affecting the expat world and receive a steady stream of my thoughts and opinions on geopolitics by subscribing to our newsletter. You will receive the EMS Pulse® newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times; sign up now and receive my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.” WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE, MARCH 6-7, 2026 Join us in Panama City from March 6-7, 2026, for our second annual in-person event, the Wealth, Freedom and Passports Conference! Prices go up after January 2nd, and space is very limited, so reserve your tickets right away. RELATED EPISODES 382: Doug Casey’s Crystal Ball for 2026: The One Conversation You Can’t Afford to Miss 378: Why Dropping Out of School Was the Best Investment I Ever Made 289: Lessons From Homeschooling Five Children Overseas - Joshua Sheats  

Panama finally has an adult in the room. Under President José Raúl Mulino, the country is shifting away from drama-driven politics and toward competence, discipline, and steady governance. While much of the world sinks deeper into dysfunction, Panama is choosing a path grounded in seriousness and long-term stability. In today’s episode, I break down what Mulino’s leadership means for the country’s future and why it matters for anyone building a serious Plan-B. If you want a clear understanding of where Panama is heading and why this moment matters, this is the analysis you don’t want to miss. Enjoy! IN TODAY’S EPISODE Listen in to hear how José Raúl Mulino rose from placeholder candidate to the steady, competent leader reshaping Panama’s political landscapeFind out how Mulino is defending Panama’s sovereignty amid US-China pressure over the Canal and recalibrating the country’s geopolitical positionLearn why Panama’s entry into Mercosur represents one of the most consequential economic moves in its modern historyHear my full breakdown and latest updates on Panama's Investor Visa and why Panama residency is becoming more valuable than ever STAY IN TOUCH! Stay informed about the latest news affecting the expat world and receive a steady stream of my thoughts and opinions on geopolitics by subscribing to our newsletter. You will receive the EMS Pulse® newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times; sign up now and receive my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.” WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE, MARCH 6-7, 2026 Join us in Panama City from March 6-7, 2026, for our second annual in-person event, the Wealth, Freedom and Passports Conference! Get your tickets now, as space is very limited.  RELATED EPISODES 363: Expat News: Panama’s Bitcoin Push, Portugal’s Passport Delays And The EU’s Insane Tax Proposal 340: Expat News: Trump Sends Rubio To Panama & Javier Milei's Meme Coin Scandal 336: Update: Panama Citizenship & Brazil TripMentioned in this episode:This Is Your Invitation to The HubThis isn’t for tourists. This is for serious freedom-seekers. The Hub—our private membership for expats and investors—is now open. Inside, you’ll get $2,000 off every trip, direct access to my offshore Rolodex, and exclusive calls with the...