Culture has a price tag.
And we pay it every time we decide what to buy.

In this episode of Canadian Salad, we explore how culture shapes our buying decisions and what choosing new or used quietly signals about identity, status, and belonging. Drawing from personal stories, cultural research, and cross-cultural dialogue, we unpack how individualistic cultures emphasize self-expression, while collectivist cultures often prioritize social acceptance and status.

From thrift stores and hand-me-downs to luxury brands and “saving face,” this conversation reveals how consumption is rarely just about money. It’s about values, power, and the unspoken rules we inherit. We also examine how secondhand shopping is being reinterpreted globally, sometimes as sustainability, sometimes as strategy, and sometimes as survival.

This episode invites listeners to question what we’re really paying for when we shop and who gets to decide what counts.

Keywords: culture and consumption, new vs used, consumer culture, thrift shopping, collectivist cultures, individualistic cultures, secondhand goods, buying decisions, status and belonging

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
A Janklin Production.

Holiday gatherings are more than meals and invitations. They’re cultural events shaped by time, dress, greeting rituals, and unspoken rules we often don’t realize we’re following.

In this episode, Andrea and Hostion explore the culture of gatherings through real stories, laughter, karaoke confessions, and cross-cultural insights. From punctuality and dress codes to hugging, kissing, and showing up with “banana hands,” they unpack how different cultures gather, why misunderstandings happen, and how curiosity can soften the awkward moments.

A warm, funny, and thoughtful conversation for anyone heading into holiday gatherings with mixed feelings and an open heart.

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
A Janklin Production.

Colonialism is officially on trial — and the world can’t look away.

In this episode, Andrea and Hostion unpack a monumental move by African nations pushing to recognize colonialism as a crime against humanity in international law. Through personal stories, history made human, and deeply reflective conversation, they explore how colonial legacies still shape our lives today — from language to identity to global inequality. They end with a powerful message of hope: a world healed through accountability, solidarity, and shared responsibility.

A grounding, illuminating, and surprisingly uplifting conversation about what justice could look like when we finally listen to the voices long ignored.

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A Janklin Production.

This week, Andrea and Hostion sit down with Ulysses — writer, community-builder, trans man, and beloved ballroom family member — for a heartfelt conversation about masculinity. 

Together they unpack how culture, race, gender, queer community, and lived experience shape what it means to be a man today. From performance to pressure, safety to softness, and tradition to transformation, this episode explores masculinity through honesty, humour, and humanity.

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When United States Vice President JD Vance slammed Canada’s “salad bowl immigration" as "insanity,” the internet exploded — and so did we.

In this episode, Andrea and Hostion break down the politics, history, hypocrisy, and humour behind Vance’s comments. From failed monocultural empires to the real story of immigration in Canada, they explore why diversity isn’t a threat — it’s the natural human condition.

Honest, sharp, funny, researched, and full of heart, this episode reminds us that Canada has always been a salad bowl, and always will be. 

A must-listen for Canadians, immigrants, policy nerds, and anyone who loves a spicy cultural conversation.

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Global citizen and cultural intelligence advocate Muraly Srinarayanthas joins Andrea and Hostion for an energizing conversation about multiculturalism, curiosity, and what it takes to build true belonging in Canada. 

From childhood cross-cultural moments to boardroom negotiations in Bangladesh, Muraly shares real-world stories that highlight both the beauty and the challenges of navigating diverse worlds. Together, they explore power dynamics, community, fear vs. possibility, and why Canada’s multicultural future depends on every generation stepping up. 

Insightful, warm, and unexpectedly funny, this episode is a reminder that diversity becomes strength only when we practice it.

Connect with Murlay on LinkedIn, or check out his book 'Between Borders, Beyond Boundaries' or subscribe to 3 Magazine!

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In this honest and eye-opening conversation, Andrea and Hostion unpack why white aggression is so often excused, justified, or even framed as heroic — while Black, Indigenous, and racialized anger is quickly vilified, policed, or labeled “dangerous.” 

Drawing on history, psychology, media patterns, and personal stories, the hosts explore how narrative power shapes who is viewed as human, who is viewed as a threat, and how bias quietly shapes everyday interactions. They also discuss the real-world consequences of these double standards, from policing to protests to family dynamics, and offer powerful reflections on what each of us can do to disrupt this narrative in ourselves and our communities. 

Lighthearted moments, vulnerable storytelling, and sharp cultural insight all come together in a conversation you won’t be able to un-hear.

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This Remembrance Day, Canadian Salad shares a powerful conversation with Lisa Wallace, a former member of the Royal Canadian Navy, veteran, and current Royal Roads University student. Lisa opens up about her experiences as a Black woman in Canada’s Armed Forces, her reflections on the recent CAF apology for systemic racism, and what true remembrance looks like when we include every person who served.

Host Andrea and Lisa explore how representation, respect, and collective memory can reshape how Canadians honour those who sacrificed for the country — especially those whose names have been forgotten.

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
A Janklin Production.

Sumo is more than a sport — it’s a ritual, a mirror of Japanese identity, and now, surprisingly, a digital community reaching across the world. In this episode, Andrea explores how one of Japan’s oldest traditions is finding new life in unexpected places: a backyard in Victoria, British Columbia, a childhood memory in Japanese immigrants, and a global network of Fantasy Sumo fans.

Through conversations with Matt, a Fantasy Sumo enthusiast, and Akari, who grew up watching the sport with her grandparents, this episode traces what happens when an ancient practice wrestles with globalization, technology, and change. It’s a story about respect, connection, and the delicate balance between holding on and letting go.

If you like this story format of this episode, please let us know by connecting with us!

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Culture isn’t a costume 👻

It’s spooky season—but what’s really scary is how cultural appropriation disguised as “just a costume" is still normalized and practiced today.

In this heartfelt Halloween episode, Andrea and Hostion dive into the tangled web between cultural appreciation and appropriation. From haunted houses and dead sailors to Princess Peach and bloody dentists, they share personal stories, cultural insights, and a few laugh-out-loud moments along the way. Learn why empathy and curiosity are your best costume accessories—and how to celebrate Halloween without perpetuating harm. 

Because culture isn’t a costume, and play shouldn’t perpetuate pain.

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
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