Curiosity and Connection

As summer break continues here in Canada and the World Cup becomes a memory, this month's guests will delve into media consumption from a female perspective.

In this week’s episode, I engage in a delightful conversation with my friend, Ashley Menard, as we explore the enchanting realm of historical romance and period dramas.

• ​Ashley reveals that her passion for historical romance was ignited by her mother, a devoted fan of Jane Austen's, Pride and Prejudice.

• ​Her mother also nurtured a love for Irish female authors within her.

As Ashley’s literary tastes evolved, she began to enjoy popular bestsellers like Harry Potter and Twilight.

I also share my insights on historical romance authors like Lisa Kleypas, Mary Balogh, and Lorraine Heath.

In addition, we delve into our perspectives on Netflix’s Shonda Rhimes’ adaptation of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton along with our thoughts on BBC’s interpretation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Connect with Nga Do here: https://linktr.ee/Flightofthedodobird

As summer break commences in Canada and the World Cup becomes a memory, this month's guests will delve into media consumption from a female perspective.

In this episode, I explore various aspects of media consumption with Rachel Mester, focusing on the perspective of female geek culture.

• Rachel reminisces about her childhood, sharing how punishment felt less severe in her room, as she had books to keep her entertained.

• Her mother cleverly utilized the Chapters/Indigo bookstore as an unofficial babysitter, knowing Rachel would joyfully immerse herself in the fantasy section while she ran errands at nearby stores in the mall.

Additionally, Rachel discusses how her parents' love for literature has shaped her media preferences, leading her to appreciate fantasy classics such as "The Lord of the Rings", "Harry Potter", and "Game of Thrones".

Rachel also provides her insights on DC and Marvel comics, Star Wars, romantic fantasy novels, and her opinions on video games.

As FIFA 2026 wraps up this July in North America, I am excited to continue the FIFA 2026 series with a concluding episode. In this episode, I will delve into the lively football culture found in diverse regions around the world.

I had a discussion with Chris Bach about German football culture and her insights on FIFA 2026.

Chris takes us on a captivating journey that begins in a small town in Germany. Her love for football sparked during major tournaments, when she would watch the games at home with her parents.

She shares her experiences of living and working across the globe, including in the U.S., UK, and Latin America. While in Latin America, Chris provided tours for guests eager to immerse themselves in the vibrant local football culture of Brazil and Mexico.

As FIFA 2026 takes place this June in North America, I am excited to continue the FIFA 2026 series. Every week, I will delve into the dynamic football culture from different regions around the world.

In this week’s episode, I have the delight of conversing with the father-son duo, Chuang and Isaac Zhu, who come from Sydney, Australia. They offer their perspectives on Australian football culture, while Chuang shares his insights regarding FIFA 2026.

Chuang's passion for football ignited in China, where he enjoyed watching major tournament matches alongside his father, a former goalkeeper and devoted supporter of Argentina.

After relocating to Sydney, Australia, his enthusiasm for the English Premier League flourished during his high school years, and he proudly embraced his identity as a Manchester United fan, with Eric Cantona being one of his earliest idols.

While living in London, Chuang had the exhilarating chance to attend a live Manchester United match.

Now, as a father, he is eager to share his love for English Premier League football with his two young sons. Chuang and his wife, Julie, are dedicated supporters of their children’s competitive soccer activities.

Isaac, their eldest son, has expressed that his favorite player is Cole Palmer from Chelsea, having witnessed him score in the 2024 Euro final where England faced Spain.

Chuang also enjoyed a couple of English Premier League games with his wife and two sons during their recent visit back to London, England.

As FIFA 2026 takes place in North America this June, I am excited to continue the FIFA 2026 series. Every week, I will delve into the dynamic football culture from different regions around the world.

This week, I return back to India to connect with my neighbor Razza Imam and get curious with his Indian football culture experience, English Premier League, and his thoughts on FIFA.

Raza shares how his initial encounter with the English Premier League came through playing the FIFA World Cup game on PlayStation. What kept him engaged was the strategy and tactics involved in managing a team and making crucial decisions.

His passion for the color red, ignited by watching the legendary red Ferrari in Formula 1, led him to support Liverpool as his chosen team in the Premier League. His admiration deepened when he witnessed Liverpool's incredible comeback against AC Milan in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final during his university years.

Additionally, Raza had the opportunity to meet his favorite Liverpool player, Steven Gerrard.

I am thrilled to continue the FIFA 2026 series! Each week, I will explore the vibrant football culture from various regions around the globe.

In this week's episode, I connect with my two mom friends Anna Cruz (Rio, Brazil) and Juliana Alvez (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and get curious with their experience of football (soccer) culture from female Brazilian lens, along with Juliana's experience with Brazil FIFA 2014 and their thoughts on FIFA 2026.

Anna and Juliana guide us through the deeply family-oriented culture of Brazil, highlighting the significant role football plays within it. For instance, families often gather for a meal and then come together every Sunday at 4 o'clock to watch their local clubs compete.

Anna recounts how football was ingrained in her family life while growing up in Rio, Brazil. Even after moving to Canada, she maintains her connection to her family in Brazil through football, now sharing this passion with her children and husband.

Juliana also reflects on how football was a significant part of her home life near Sao Paolo, Brazil. She vividly describes the atmosphere during the 2014 Brazil World Cup, where the spirit was vibrant and everyone embraced the celebration.

Connect with Nga Do here: https://linktr.ee/Flightofthedodobird

I am thrilled to continue the FIFA 2026 series! Each week, I will explore the vibrant football culture from various regions around the globe.

In this week's episode, I connect with my friend, Michelle Michiels and get curious with their experiences with sports from a Canadian Queer lens and their thoughts on FIFA 2026.

Michelle shares an engaging narrative that begins with their early exposure to sports, starting as a child on ice skates. With their mother working as a hockey referee, she often had Michelle stay in the penalty box, which creatively served as a babysitting solution while she oversaw ice hockey games. From this unconventional start, Michelle contemplates their sports journey in a small town. Eventually, they transitioned to university, where priorities shifted, and sports took a backseat.

It wasn't until moving to Toronto for their master's program that they reignited their love for athletics through a queer softball league, where team sports have consistently provided a welcoming space for community building and connections.

Now, as a parent, Michelle is exploring the interests of their children in both individual and team sports.

Additionally, Michelle shares their thoughts on trans athletes and FIFA 2026.

Connect with Nga Do here: https://linktr.ee/Flightofthedodobird

I am thrilled to continue the FIFA 2026 series in June! Each week, I will explore the vibrant football culture from various regions around the globe.

In this week's episode, I connect with my colleague, Adnan Mohammedi and get curious with Iraqi and Egyptian football (soccer) culture, Spanish football league, FIFA 2026 and Adnan's navigation of Canadian soccer landscape.

Adnan takes us on an enthralling journey that starts with his first memory of watching the FIFA 2002 World Cup in South Korea with his family in Baghdad, Iraq. During this unforgettable moment, he and his brother proudly wore their team jerseys—Adnan cheering for Argentina while his brother supported Brazil. Even after they moved to Cairo, Egypt, seeking safety amidst the Iraq War, his love for football remained unwavering. He continued to play in the streets and local clubs alongside his brother.

Upon arriving in Toronto, Canada, Adnan had to adapt to the local football culture. He shares valuable insights drawn from his varied experiences playing in different positions, transitioning from striker to midfielder, and eventually becoming a goalkeeper.

Connect with Nga Do here: https://linktr.ee/Flightofthedodobird

I am thrilled to continue the FIFA 2026 series in June! Each week, I will explore the vibrant football culture from various regions around the globe.

In this week's edition, I chat with my neighbor, Jerryn Cherian, to gather his insights on Indian football culture, English Premier League, and his views on FIFA 2026.

Jerryn recounts his personal journey of discovering football during the early days of dial-up internet in Delhi, India. The only means to watch football were through thumbnail drives and burned CDs filled with highlight clips from the World Cup and the English Premier League that were being circulated in Jerryn's high school.

This experience ultimately inspired him to conduct his own research on Arsenal, an English Premier League team, all thanks to the influence of the French manager, Arsène Wenger.

Jerryn also credits football culture for enabling him to forge lifelong friendships, transcending language barriers.

In anticipation of the FIFA 2026, which will be held in North America this June, I am excited to kick off May with a special series focused on the event. This series will feature weekly episodes that dive into the rich football culture from diverse regions around the world.

In this week's episode, I connect with Italo Aliaga and get curious with him regarding Peruvian football (soccer) culture along with his thoughts on Ted Lasso, Canadian Soccer, and attending Qatar FIFA 2022.

Italo invites us on an inspiring journey that begins in Lima, Peru, where his maternal heritage sparked his enthusiasm for Peruvian football. Even after relocating to Toronto, Canada, this love for the game continued to play a vital role in his life. Although his passion for football momentarily waned as he ventured into other interests such as music and baseball, his commitment to Peruvian football remained steadfast.

He closely followed the careers of several players, including a Peruvian goalkeeper, Pedro Gallese in MLS with Orlando and Claudio Pizarro who eventually made his way to Chelsea in the English Premier League. This rekindled his love for football culture and strengthened his admiration for the English Premier League.

In addition, he immersed himself in Canadian soccer culture, cheering for both national and local teams in Toronto, always supporting the underdogs. Now, he shares this enduring passion with his son, as they had the chance to embark on their first World Cup adventure together in Qatar 2022.

Connect with Nga Do here: https://linktr.ee/Flightofthedodobird