After a hiatus filled with international exploration and life-changing decisions, Octavia returns to share why she disappeared—and what happened when she spent 60 days living in Portugal as a 54-year-old cancer survivor testing what international life could look like.

Recording from the Algarve region, she opens up about her 8-year dream of exploring life abroad, how a stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis delayed everything, and the physical transformation that happened when she finally spent two months living like a local in Portugal.

This episode is raw, honest, and deeply personal about what happens when you survive something that forces you to ask: "If I get through this, what do I actually want my life to look like?"—and then having the courage to explore that answer.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

- The backstory: Why Portugal has been calling for 8 years and what finally made it possible

- Physical transformation: How 30 days reduced inflammation, improved LARS syndrome symptoms, and reset her nervous system

- The Puerto Vallarta chapter: Why she fell in love with Mexico too, and how astrocartography explained being pulled to two different places

- "Safe and free" decoded: What those words mean practically for Black women living outside the U.S.

- The visa reality: Digital Nomad Visa process and what's actually involved

- Culture Lit's evolution: How the podcast is expanding to include wellness, entrepreneurship, and international living while still centering Black romance

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Can't Get Enough - Kennedy Ryan

Plus Size Player - Danielle Allen

Quasim Series - Jahquel J

Tender Offer - Tanvier Peart

Works by Regina Black, Tati Richardson, Mea Monique

RESOURCES:

🗺️ Astrocartography: astro-seek.com

Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

Please follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

If this episode resonated:

✨ Leave a 5-star review

✨ Share with someone considering a big life change

✨ Tag @becomingoctavia with your takeaways

Culture Lit celebrates Black romance novels, Black women's wellness, and the courage to write your own story—on the page and in real life.

STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: becomingoctavia

Twitter: xooctaviamarie

FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie

Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD

A Subito Media production

Mentioned in this episode:

If you're enjoying the show, join our community at culturelitpodcast.com.

Visit my bookshop!

Octavia shares a moment of pure alignment - discovering Tracee Ellis Ross's solo travel series while living her own Portuguese adventure. This episode is about the courage to travel alone, living fully at any age, and trusting that your dreams don't have expiration dates. Plus, an emotional deep-dive into "August Lane" by Regina Black - a devastating and beautiful second-chance romance set in the country music world.

August Lane" by Regina Black

The Art of Scandal" by Regina Black

Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

Please follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: becomingoctavia

Twitter: xooctaviamarie

FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie

Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD

A Subito Media production

Mentioned in this episode:

You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!

Visit my bookshop!

As you may know, I've had to start over at the age of 54 and I want to share something that's been on my heart. Today, I want to delve into the profound impact of storytelling and the many ways that the stories we talk about here shape our culture. Your story might be the most radical thing you've been keeping to yourself. We know resilience, we know authenticity, and we know how to live.

What is really exciting is that we're seeing a surge of black romance novels being adapted for screen, featuring titles like Tia Williams' 'The Perfect Find' and 'Seven Days in June,' Kennedy Ryan's 'Skyland' series, and JL Seeger's 'New Haven Romance Series.' Never underestimate the importance of visibility and representation in media! Reclaim your narrative and invest in self-care as acts of visibility and political resistance.

To help with this, I'd like to introduce the Wellness Ritual Bundle and Skin Ritual Bundle at https://jayneandbloom.com/collections/gift-guide. These bundles are an invitation to show up for yourself daily,  to invest in your comfort and beauty, and to create space for the fullness of who you are.

Find this and other recommendations at The CultureLit online BookShop and support independent bookstores at Visit my bookshop!

Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

Please follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Let me know what you’re reading, what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking about what you’re reading.

STAY CONNECTED

Instagram: becomingoctavia

Twitter: xooctaviamarie

FB: BecomingOctaviaMarie

Music credit: Cool Jazz Beat by FASOL PROD

A Subito Media production

Mentioned in this episode:

You can find all the books I've reviewed in this podcast in my Bookshop! Visit https://bookshop.org/shop/CultureLitPodcast to get your copy!

Visit my bookshop!