Balancing Stories

FULL SHOW NOTES with links on Balancingstories.com

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Balancing Cultures: Episode 7 - What If I Don't Want Kids?

Our guest today: Meghan Foley has climbed Kilimanjaro, had beer baths in Prague, swung through the rainforest in Central America, and walked with elephants in Thailand. When she’s at home in Colorado, she is a dietitian that specializes in treating eating disorders who  hikes 14ers and snowboards on the weekends. But with all these interesting talking points available, what do most people want to ask this 35 year old about…family planning. Meghan Foley is here to talk about the cultural pressures to have kids and her decision making process.

The decision to have kids is a balancing of cultures because as we balancing between a fear of change and a fear of regret, both of those fears are created by what we perceive to be a “better choice”. And what shapes our perceptions of what makes a choice good or bad or better? Our culture. From the homes we grew up in to society and the laws that govern our lands, we are told what is expected of us as productive members of the community.

We acknowledge that family planning and choices around reproduction are not choices everywhere. Melinda Gates book The Moment of Life, opened my eyes to areas around the world where women do not have the privilege to have these conversations let alone the free will to exercise their choices. I encourage those interested to read her book and follow what the Gates Foundation is doing to support international family planning.

Balancing Cultures: International interviews about how cultural differences make life more interesting. Hope, humor, and thought-provoking questions. Host: Meghan Kitchen. Instagram @balancingcultures and Facebook Balancing Cultures.

If you have a question or comment, send an email to [email protected]

FULL SHOW NOTES with links on Balancingstories.com

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Balancing Cultures: Jewelry – Every One, Every Culture, Everywhere

We may have found the ultimate subject of balancing cultures. Jewelry. Yes Jewelry. It was and is a part of every culture. The questions I have: What is the balance of cultures.... Between artist and audience, between artist and client, and between artist and themselves, their experiences, the things that impact their work.

Our Guest Today: Laura Deakin is an Australian-born contemporary jeweller who has lived abroad for over a decade, and recently relocated from Munich to Melbourne. She completed her BFA at Monash University under Dr. Marian Hosking and in 2004 she moved to Munich to complete a post-graduate Master studies at Munich’s Academy of Fine Art (Akademie der Bildenden Künste) under Prof. Otto Künzli.

Instagram: lauradeakinjewellery and coralcoveyjewellery

Artists who have influenced Laura’s work: Marian Hosking, Mari Funaki, Otto Künzli, Karl Fritsch

If you have a question or comment, send an email to [email protected] OR leave us a voicemail on anchor.fm/balancingcultures

Follow Balancing Cultures: on Instagram @balancingcultures and on Facebook Balancing Cultures

Balancing Cultures: International interviews about how cultural differences make life more interesting. Hope, humor, and thought-provoking questions. Host: Meghan Kitchen

FULL SHOW NOTES with links on Balancingstories.com

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Balancing Cultures: Episode 5 - Third Culture Kid in Retrospect: What Do I Value?

Our Guest Today: Vanessa Kitchen was born in the USA to a Belgian mom and German dad. Though there was the possibility to move back to Europe, the family ultimately decided to stay in the USA long term. What was it like being an American girl at school and European at home? What does she think of her parent’s decisions and their way of life now that she’s a mom? Join us for an international kid’s perspective in retrospect.

This episode partners well with the reflections from Episode 3 – What Will My Kids Value. Mitch Norris shared with us his questions from the parent’s perspective about raising a child who is half Australian, half Japanese in Thailand. Questions about language learning and retention, what cultural influences will be adopted and embraced, and what nationality his son would eventual claim as his own.

After reflecting on both episodes, I’m left with a lot of things to consider for my own children as they are raised in Germany with an American mom and Finnish dad. Hopefully, you will find connections to your own experience through these stories.

If you have a question or comment, send an email to [email protected] Or leave us a voicemail on anchor.fm/balancingcultures

Follow Balancing Cultures: on Instagram @balancingcultures and on Facebook Balancing Cultures

Balancing Cultures: International interviews about how cultural differences make life more interesting. Hope, humor, and thought-provoking questions. Host: Meghan Kitchen

FULL SHOW NOTES with links on Balancingstories.com

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Balancing Cultures - Episode 4 Part 2: Tell Me More About Kid's Books

A continuation of the conversation with Ann Heiliger about Children’s Literature. Ann provides specific book recommendations for topics. We end the episode with an overall reflection for both episodes about why we should care about kids books. Books for a better future!

-- Our “Lightning Round” of books for particular topics

*Grief: Grandpa’s Stories by Joseph Coelho -

*Kindness: Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller -

*Friendship: Jerome By Heart by Thomas Scotto -

*Cultural Diversity: All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold -

*Racial Diversity: The Colors of Us by Karen Katz -

*Family Structures: My Friends and Me: A Celebration of Different Types of Families by Stephanie Stansbie -

*Facing Challenges: The Breaking News by Sarah Lynne Reul -

*Female Empowerment: Dear Girl - A Celebration of Wonderful, Smart, Beautiful You by Amy Krouse Rosenthal -

*Deconstructing Toxic Masculinity: Dear Boy by Paris Rosenthal (Daughter of the late Amy Krouse Rosenthal) -

*A Book that made you feel all the feels: I Am Enough by Grace Byers -

*A Book that made you really think: The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld -

*A Book you grew up with that is still relevant today: The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch -

*Mr. Roger’s Books (Example: When a Pet Dies) -

Other Links: littlefreelibraries.org -- Instagram Accounts: @happily.ever.elephants and @hereweread and @theconsciouskid and the Facebook Group: Kids’ Books for a Better World

-- If you have a question or comment, send an email to [email protected]  Follow Balancing Cultures: on Instagram @balancingcultures and on Facebook Balancing Cultures

-- Balancing Cultures: International interviews about how cultural differences make life more interesting. Hope, humor, and thought-provoking questions. Host: Meghan Kitchen

FULL SHOW NOTES with links on Balancingstories.com

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Balancing Cultures - Episode 4 Part 1: Why Should We Care About Kid's Books?

Our Guest Today: Ann Heiliger is a fellow book lover, children’s literature advocate, and my personal librarian. She’s living back in her home town of Portland, OR (if only for Powell’s), with her husband and 6 year old twins after years abroad and international teaching. 

Join us for a discussion about the importance of children’s literature in building empathy, empowerment, connection and community. This is not just for parents. Everyone should understand more about the impact of books for the kids in their lives. Listen for perspectives on how books can be the ultimate tool in helping children with balancing cultures.

Part 2 will include: Book Recommendations and Final Reflections on Why We Should Care About Kid's Books.

If you have a question or comment, send an email to [email protected] 

Follow Balancing Cultures: on Instagram @balancingcultures and on Facebook Balancing Cultures

Balancing Cultures: International interviews about how cultural differences make life more interesting. Hope, humor, and thought-provoking questions. Host: Meghan Kitchen

FULL SHOW NOTES with links on Balancingstories.com

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Balancing Cultures - Episode 3: What Will My Kids Value?

Our Guest: Mitch Norris is Australian with German roots and abroad for 13 years. This international educator and Mo-vember advocate, just started his most adventurous chapter yet: parenting a third culture kid with his Japanese wife. Facing new challenges as an international parent, Mitch can now look two generations back and start to understand his grandparents in a new way. Although he and his wife do not live in the countries of their cultures, will their son absorb and value his heritage? Will he speak his mother’s mother tongue fluently?

This is a conversation about the trickle down of culture between generations and all the other thoughts in between. Tangents about international joys and challenges: language learning, deciphering spouses, and the challenges of capturing an image while travelling. Let’s start the conversation.

Follow Mitch’s adventures on Instagram (@norrisworldwide)

If you have a question or comment, send an email to [email protected] 

Follow Balancing Cultures: on Instagram @balancingcultures or on Facebook Balancing Cultures

Balancing Cultures: International interviews about how cultural differences make life more interesting. Hope, humor, and thought-provoking questions. Host: Meghan Kitchen

FULL SHOW NOTES with links on Balancingstories.com

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Balancing Cultures – Episode 2: Honoring Cultures in the Kitchen

Can Food be a Bridge between Cultures? Are there “Cultural Lanes” in the kitchen? Can cooking connect us to history and heritage? Can Grilled Cheese fix everything?

Our Guest today is Rebecca Eisenberg. American born, raised in the Jewish community of Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. After living in New York, New Jersey, and Baltimore, now she is busy filling her Los Angeles home with food from around the world. Rebecca Eisenberg is here to look at how to we honor and balance cultures in the kitchen. The Practical Kitchen!

- Blog: ThePracticalKitchen.com -

- Instagram: @the.practical.kitchen -

- Facebook: The Practical Kitchen -

- Recipes from the Episode:

Bagels,

Corn Tortillas,

Tuna Newberg,

Samosa Pot Pie,

Pork Tenderloin,

Aloo Dal Pierogis,

Simple Curry Chicken,

Pear and Gruyere Tart,

Southwestern Egg Rolls,

Apples and Honey Babka,

Grilled Cheese Cordon Bleu. - -

If you have a question or comment, send an email to [email protected] 

Follow Balancing Cultures: on Instagram @balancingcultures or on Facebook Balancing Cultures

Balancing Cultures: International interviews about how cultural differences make life more interesting. Hope, humor, and thought-provoking questions. Host: Meghan Kitchen

FULL SHOW NOTES with links on Balancingstories.com

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Balancing Cultures - Episode 1: Is this what NEW feels like?

Our guest today is Mira Taferner. German born and raised, married to an American and new to New York City. Despite living and travelling abroad, Mira can’t quite shake the newness of this move even 2 years later. Listen to Meghan and Mira talk through the uncomfortable of new to get to the joys of being different. We hope this conversation helps you reflect on your own experience because we've all felt new at some point.

Follow Balancing Cultures:

on Instagram @balancingcultures

on Facebook @Balancing Cultures

If you have a question or comment, send an email to [email protected]

Balancing Cultures: International interviews about how cultural differences make life more interesting. Hope, humor, and thought-provoking questions. Host: Meghan Kitchen

Balancing Cultures Podcast Trailer: The What and Who