How do you feel about men under six feet? Women with fake lashes? This week we discuss beauty standards. Jenna complains about the time, money, and effort required to meet society's standards of female beauty. Ibrahim considers plastic surgery. All in all, we remain cynical about the future standards of appearance and how far our looks-obsessed society will devolve.

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@interculturepod

http://interculturepodcast.com/

This week we dive into multiculturalism- What it means for governments and individuals, and the advantages and critiques of multicultural societies. In our intro, Ibrahim discusses the upcoming Turkish election, while Jenna discusses a weird quirk in Turkish culture. We also touch on the narratives of pundits like Tucker Carlson, who claim that a white genocide is imminent.

This city is gross!

This week we discuss the differences of life in cities, rural towns, and suburbs. We discuss our respective moves to New York City, including the benefits and drawbacks of different community types. We also reference a Pew research study on the differences within urban, suburban, and rural communities.

Reference:

What Unites and Divides Urban, Suburban and Rural Communities

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2018/05/22/what-unites-and-divides-urban-suburban-and-rural-communities/

Write to Us:

[email protected]

@interculturepod

http://interculturepodcast.com/

Your intercultural podcast returns! This week we have a casual discussion about immigration. What are the challenges of immigrating to a new country? What drives us to immigrate? We also discuss American and Turkish attitudes towards immigrants, including concerns about culture shift and government representation.

Write to Us: [email protected]

@interculturepod

http://interculturepodcast.com/

We are joined this week by Dr. Salvatore Forcina, a first-generation immigrant, former chief of surgery, and author of the forthcoming book The American Doctor. Dr. Forcina shares his journey of determination to study medicine and pursue his goals in a new country. He describes how he remained motivated after starting over many times, from learning a new language and culture to establishing his reputation in the medical community.

Donate to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria:

https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/unicef-responding-after-massive-earthquake-syria-and-turkey/40803

Pre-order The American Doctor:

https://www.amazon.ca/American-Doctor-Salvatore-J-Forcina/dp/1592112099

Dr. Salvatore Forcina:

Facebook: Dr. Salvatore Forcina

Instagram: @drsalvatoreforcinamd

Twitter: @DrSalForcina

Write to Us:

[email protected]

@interculturepod

http://interculturepodcast.com/

Can you make friends in a new country even if you are new to the culture and language? Spoiler- Yes. But are you ready to face possible rejection? This week we discuss all the paths to finding friends in a new nation, including student activities, social clubs, social media, hostels, and more.

@interculturepod

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This week we talk about ethnic enclaves around the world and right at home in NYC. What are the benefits of living in an enclave such as Chinatown? Should governments be concerned about immigrant assimilation? And where can we expect an American enclave to form in the future?

@interculturepod

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How much does our culture affect our mental health and sense of belonging? This week we discuss mental health, the impact of social media, and the post-holiday blues. We also spend some time thinking about the importance of finding the right therapist.

@interculturepod

Write to us! [email protected]

Need Help? Find free resources for mental health services:

https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/tools-resources/individuals/index.htm

https://www.oprah.com/omagazine/free-online-resources-for-mental-illness

Is animal breeding all that different from eugenics? Should we start letting our house cats shit outside? This week we discuss beloved animal companions- both fuzzy and scaly. We also think about how pets are valued, whether as family members or status symbols.

@interculturepod

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We are jumping back in after a much-needed holiday break with a new segment: multicultural movie reviews! For our first movie review, we look at Green Book (2018)- a heartwarming film with a side dish of controversy. We discuss how the characters ultimately grow to understand each other's differences, and celebrate the incredible artist, Donald Shirley (1927 - 2013). We also discuss the misstep of writer Nick Vallelonga in choosing not to involve Shirley's family in the making of this film. We wrap up by reflecting on the film industry's evolving portrayal of racial issues in United States.

Watch along with us, but be warned: Spoilers ahead! 

@interculturepod

[email protected]

Reference:

https://www.essence.com/entertainment/green-book-portrays-a-symphony-of-lies/

https://www.politifact.com/article/2019/feb/07/green-book-oscars-fact-check-true/

https://indianapublicmedia.org/nightlights/jazz-noun-don-shirley-extraordinary-pianist.php#:~:text=In%201982%20he%20told%20a,not%20respected%20like%20Arthur%20Rubinstein.

https://shadowandact.com/the-real-donald-shirley-green-book-hollywood-swallowed-whole