What would you do if your mother was arrested for shooting a man over a mango tree? For award-winning journalist and author Annabelle Tometich, this was just the beginning of an unforgettable journey through family, culture, identity, and resilience.

In this episode, Annabelle sits down to discuss her highly acclaimed memoir, The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida & Felony. She shares her Filipino-American upbringing, the challenges of navigating multiple cultures, and the shocking events that shaped her life. From medical school rejection to becoming a renowned food writer and author, Annabelle’s story is one of transformation, discovery, and survival.

🎧 In This Episode:
✔ The true story behind The Mango Tree and its unbelievable opening scene
✔ How growing up multicultural shaped Annabelle’s identity 🇵🇭🇺🇸
✔ Family trauma, resilience, and the power of storytelling
✔ Why she wrote under a French male pseudonym as a food critic
✔ Her journey from science to journalism to memoir writing