Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.
In this episode, I’m speaking with Bryan McInnis, who moved from the United States to Kampala, Uganda with his wife and two daughters.
Every immigrant has felt the tension of the pull towards your people as you settle into the new country. The comfort of shared references, familiar jokes, conversations that don’t require any literal or cultural translation.
Bryan McInnis was no different. But he and his wife left the United States specifically to give their kids a more robust picture of the world. You can’t do that if you only hang out in the expat bubble.
And so 6+ months into life in Kampala, Bryan’s learning about cultural differences that only show up if you dig in.
Bryan and I chat about:
What it’s like to move the United States to Uganda
The trip that kicked off everything
The Ugandan entrepreneurial impulse that defies the “Africa is slow” stereotype
What it means to raise third-culture children
Why he thinks his family is more intentional now than ever
Dozie’s Notes
A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:
The expat/immigrant bubble is real and resisting it requires intention. Bryan admits to the temptation. He talks about sometimes just wanting to talk to another American about American things. But he and his wife left the States specifically to give their kids a more robust picture of the world. You can’t do that if you only hang out with people who share your references. As Shriya Ghate notes in her episode, immigration is a chance to build a new life with intention. A chance to decide who you want to be, separate from the expectations of your past life.
Starting over makes families more intentional. Bryan describes how his family is closer now than they were in Texas. His daughter’s transition to an international school was too abrupt, so they pivoted to homeschooling. He works remotely now, which means more time together. The adventure itself—new foods, new house, new routines— has ended up creating a sense of togetherness that didn’t exist before. This resonates with a recurring theme on the podcast: migration strips away the familiar, and in that stripping, you get an opportunity to build a purposeful new life.
Come open-minded. Bryan’s top advice for anyone moving to East Africa: check your expectations at the door. Approach the country and say, “Teach me how to live.” Not, “This is how I’m going to live.” This approach determines whether the hard moments become growth or resentment. And I think this advice holds for any country you move to.
Official Links
✅ Connect with Bryan McInnis on LinkedIn
✅ Check out his hilarious Mzungu Survival Guide
One Ask
If you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.
