How to Grow Abroad When You Go Abroad | Rich Kurtzman Interview

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Rich Kurtzman, author of Like a Fish in Water: How to Grow Abroad When You Go Abroad and founder of Barcelona SAE.

Rich has spent more than two decades helping students step outside of their comfort zones, experience new cultures, and grow in ways they could never fully predict before getting on that plane.

But this conversation is about more than studying abroad.

It is about what happens when you leave your comfort zone on purpose.

We talk about Rich’s first experience abroad in Russia, why Spain became such a meaningful place in his life, how travel changes your identity, and why learning to adapt across cultures may be one of the most valuable skills a young person can develop.

We also get into the book journey. Rich shares why he wrote Like a Fish in Water, how the book helped grow his business, how universities have used it with students, and why authors should never think their book is “done” just because launch week is over.

This episode is for students, parents, educators, authors, travelers, and anyone who knows there is something powerful waiting on the other side of discomfort.

Because sometimes the best way to find yourself is to go somewhere unfamiliar.