The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup

After the fall of Maduro in Venezuela, the next question on the mind of many is, “Is Cuba next?” 

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Mailyn Salabarria, a Cuban refugee who left the island as an adult to rebuild her life in the United States. Mailyn and I discuss what the upheaval in Venezuela could mean for Cuba, how the regime maintains power, and what it would take to rebuild a post-Communist Cuba. Enjoy!


IN TODAY’S EPISODE

Listen in as Mailyn shares her personal story of what life was really like growing up in Communist Cuba 
Tune in to hear Mailyn’s take on what the recent U.S. action in Venezuela could mean for Cuba, and why the communist regime in Havana continues to be a central influence on the region.
Find out how Cuba exports regime propaganda around the world, and how it functions as a “Kabuki theatre” for international audiences
Hear Mailyn’s view on how a post-Communist Cuba would have to go about “relearning” freedom


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! Space is very limited, and prices will be rising on February 15th. Reserve your tickets right away.

 
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The annual gathering of global elites at the World Economic Forum in Davos is usually an easy skip. It typically features a parade of bureaucrats and technocrats, both elected and unelected, proudly touting their plans for “managing the world.” But this year, there were a couple of particularly interesting speeches from two world leaders who stand in stark opposition to one another. 

In today’s episode, my co-host Marc Clair and I break down the Davos speeches from U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and why Carney’s in particular was quite surprising to hear. 


IN TODAY’S EPISODE

Listen in as Marc and I break down Mark Carney’s admission that the so-called “rules-based order” has always been a mirage
Tune in to hear how Canada’s PM stood on a global stage in Davos and echoed ideas we’ve been hammering for years: self-sufficiency, independence, and the end of blind trust in global systems
Marc and I look at Trump’s speech and how his chaos-driven, “Art of the Deal” seemingly achieved his desired result regarding Greenland
Learn what the “Donroe Doctrine” and Trump’s push to reindustrialize the U.S. mean for the future of Latin America



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 February 15th, and space is very limited, so reserve your tickets right away.


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Trump has once again brought the subject of the U.S. acquiring Greenland to the forefront and is being louder than ever about its necessity. What once seemed like a joke of a headline is now being seriously entertained as a potential political reality. 

In today’s episode, my co-host Marc Clair and I break down Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, what it signals about Europe's direction, and how it fits into a broader repositioning of the geopolitical order. We also touch on a few other stories in the ever–changing landscape of global mobility, including St. Kitts tightening its CBI, new U.S. visa bond requirements, and more. 


IN TODAY’S EPISODE

Listen in as Marc and I discuss Trump’s Greenland play and what was once a wild headline may become an inevitability 
Tune in to hear why we believe Europe is becoming increasingly irrelevant and what that means going forward
Find out what changed with St. Kitts CBI, in another strong reminder toact swiftly and urgentlybefore programs change their requirements. 
Learn how the U.S.'s new visa bond requirements are another signal of a rapidly changing world order



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! Space is very limited, so reserve your tickets right away.


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No Plan-B Without the Language
If you’re planning to move overseas—or even just set up your offshore Plan-B—learning the local language isn’t optional. It’s protection. It’s access. It’s power. StoryLearning makes...

Colombia has spent decades being defined by headlines that no longer reflect reality, which shapes how most people see the country. But the moment you set foot there, you realize it is a completely different story.

In today’s episode, my co-host Marc Clair and I recap our recent Colombia exploration and investment tour. We dive into what it is really like in the booming city of Medellín and the deeper lessons you can only learn by spending time with people and communities in real life. If you have been researching potential expat destinations from behind a screen, this episode will inspire you to get away from the computer and get boots on the ground. Enjoy!

Note: This episode was recorded just prior to Maduro being arrested. We rearranged the schedule to air the episode discussing it last week. To get early access to the full podcast episodes, join one of our paid membership programs at ExpatMoney.com/Membership.
IN TODAY’S EPISODE

Tune in to hear Marc and I discuss the unique character trait we have noticed in people from countries with “bad reputations”
Listen in for the behind-the-scenes story from our recent Colombia tour, including a perfect example of why travel never goes “perfect”
Learn why I am so bullish on Colombia as a modern, affordable place to live, invest, and plant a flag as a Plan-B destination
Find out how our tour group attendees got early access to major opportunities, as well as an exclusive private meeting with Colombia’s possible next President


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! Space is very limited, so reserve your tickets right away.


RELATED EPISODES

388: Trump Arrests Maduro: What Does It Mean For Latin America?

387: The...

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 politics
Learn why this is not a traditional regime change and what that means for Venezuela internally
Hear our take on how this fits into Trump’s renewed focus on Latin America and the Monroe Doctrine
Find 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.


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