Culture Connective

Culture Connective

By life.with.mariiamEducationSelf-Improvement
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Culture Connective episodes

  • Episode 6: On living "Sayonara, Toxica Energy!"

    Have you ever left a dinner, event, or a party completely DRAINED because someone (or a few people) toxicated 3 hours of your precious energy? Toxicated (I know it's not an official word) projected their insecurities on you, or used this as an opportunity to talk about other people's personal business, or was just outright obnoxious and completely out of touch with reality?


    I have been there. Many times. Until I decided to stop allowing this cucaracha energy poison my peace.


    Tune in for more - you do not want to miss this episode.

    23 min
  • Episode 5: On Why I Disappeared in 2023

    Culture Connective is back after another long (but intentional) hiatus with batteries charged and energy bright enough to conquer 2024.

    Tune in for a transparent take on what it took to "disappear" for a while as your host, Mariam, worked through unexpected medical diagnoses, fertility struggles, alongside huge life and career shifts.


    17 min
  • Episode 3: On Breaking Generational Cycles

    I’m breaking a generational cycle. *correction* I’m breaking SEVERAL generational cycles.

    And if you’re reading this and it resonates, you definitely are as well.

    I, and several of us WOC/immigrants, grew up in a world where women are considered second-class citizens.

    • Where marriage is the only ticket to “freedom”
    • Where financial independence didn’t align with a woman’s existence
    • Where physical appearance and body weight were the first factors to be considered as “pretty” and “desirable” for marriage
    • Where lifestyle choices and how you dressed were haunted by the concept of “log kya kehen gai (what would people say)?”
    • The generational cycle breakers (aka you) are flipping the script.

      • Putting your mental health first
      • Building significant boundaries
      • Not settling to make others happy
      • Vocalizing your rights
      • Investing in YOU
      • Not waiting to be “saved” by marriage
      • Breaking toxic cultural traditions
      • How amazing is that?


        As the year wraps up, it's so important to take the time to reflect and recognize how far you have come and how far you are about to go. I am dropping some real talk to highlight some reminders because at the end of the day, we all need to hear these things. 

        Happy tuning in, Culture Connective fam!


        33 min
      • Episode 2: On belonging… and identifying as a Third Culture Immigrant

        Growing up Third Culture has unknowingly, yet deeply, affected how I live my adult life.  When I learned of this concept several months ago, I realized there must be so many other Third Culture individuals out there who, like me, go about their daily lives facing huge but unspoken challenges.  Becoming aware of my Third Culture identity has highlighted an eerie sense of a lack of belonging that I could not put my finger on before.  Do you ever find yourself stumped when a colleague or friend asks you a simple question like "Where are you from?"  If so, you are probably a Third Culture individual like me.  Until now, that question has caused me so much confusion and difficult feelings--I've been lost.  How many other Third Culture individuals have yet to tap into their true identifies?  



        15 min

      About Culture Connective

      From the publisher's feed

      Culture Connective is a podcast where we discuss how to navigate life as a third culture minority, how to live in your authenticity, all while embracing the daily hustle.