Quiero un Panino con Cheese - a Podcast for TCKs and Multicultural Families

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In this deeply moving episode of Quiero un Panino con Cheese, I sit down with therapist, researcher, and author Dr. Rachel Cason to explore the complex emotional landscape of Third Culture Kids (TCKs).

Rachel’s book, Incredible Lives and the Courage to Live Them: Thoughts of a Third Culture Kid Therapist, offers a compassionate and powerful reflection on identity, belonging, grief, adaptability, and what it means to grow up between cultures.

Together, Rachel and I dive into:

• What it was like for Rachel to grow up in Niger, West Africa, as the daughter of white missionary parents
• The emotional impact of repatriating to England as a teenager
• Losing her first language (Hausa) and the grief tied to cultural disconnection
• Why so many TCKs struggle with the question: “Where are you from?”
• The hidden emotional cost of adaptability and people-pleasing
• The difference between “fitting in” and truly belonging
• Identity props: the objects, languages, memories, and symbols that help us hold onto our stories
• Cultural appropriation, privilege, and navigating multicultural identity thoughtfully
• Why storytelling can be profoundly healing for TCKs
• What “home” really means for globally mobile people

This conversation is gentle, honest, emotional, and validating for anyone who has ever felt caught between worlds.

Rachel Cason is a therapist, researcher, and Third Culture Kid whose work focuses on identity, belonging, life stories, and the emotional experiences of globally mobile people. Her PhD research explored TCKs’ relationship to place, identity, and belonging.

Her book, Incredible Lives and the Courage to Live Them, combines professional insight with lived experience to create a compassionate guide for TCKs and anyone navigating questions of identity and belonging.

You can find out more about Rachel by checking out her website, Life Story Therapies

Her book (paperback and Kindle) is available here on Amazon UK and Amazon US 

and on Audible.

You can also find Rachel on Instagram as well as on LinkedIn

If this conversation about Third Culture Kids, global parenting, identity, belonging, and raising multicultural children resonated with you, I'd love your support.

Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone navigating international life, raising globally mobile children, or searching for where they truly belong.

Together, we can help more globally mobile families feel understood, connected, and at home—wherever they are in the world.

For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

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What happens when Serbian, Cuban, and German cultures collide under one roof—and four languages are spoken daily?

In this episode, I sit down with Jovana, a speech processing engineer, mom of three, multilingual parenting advocate, and host of Real Moms Talking podcast. 

Together, we explore the realities of raising children across cultures, the beauty (and chaos) of managing multiple languages at home, and why emotional connection matters more than perfection and consistency.

From “multilingual dogs” to navigating cultural traditions like Christmas and the Three Kings, this conversation is full of humor, honesty, and practical insight for any family raising kids between worlds.

🌍 What you’ll learn:

•  The difference between growing up multicultural vs. becoming one as an adult 
•  How to raise kids with 4 languages without confusion 
•  Why “one parent, one language” isn’t the only approach 
•  How to blend traditions from multiple cultures into one unique family identity 
•  Why emotional safety is more important than language consistency 
•  How to handle criticism or misconceptions about multilingual parenting 
•  Practical strategies to encourage kids to use multiple languages naturally 

Jovana shares how living in a “neutral country” like Germany allowed her family to build their own hybrid culture, combining the best of Serbian, Cuban, and German traditions. 

Raising multilingual kids isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection, identity, and creating a space where all parts of your family’s story belong.

You can follow Jovana at Real Moms Talking on Instagram here

Also follow her podcast, Real Moms Talking on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

If this conversation about Third Culture Kids, global parenting, identity, belonging, and raising multicultural children resonated with you, I'd love your support.

Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone navigating international life, raising globally mobile children, or searching for where they truly belong.

Together, we can help more globally mobile families feel understood, connected, and at home—wherever they are in the world.

For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

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Ready to be inspired by a journey that goes far beyond physical limits? In this episode, entrepreneur and endurance athlete, David Green, shares the extraordinary story of running across 12 European countries in just 99 days—an experience that became as much about human connection as it was about endurance.

From navigating borders on foot to forming unexpected bonds with strangers, David’s journey reveals powerful lessons about curiosity, humility, and what it truly means to connect across cultures.

🌍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

•  What it takes—physically and mentally—to run across Europe 
•  How endurance challenges can deepen cultural understanding 
•  Why curiosity, humility, and respect are essential when crossing borders 
•  The surprising kindness of strangers and moments that restore faith in humanity 
•  How travel and extreme challenges reshape identity and worldview 
•  The realities of logistics, visas, and navigating different national systems 
•  How multicultural family experiences influence openness and perspective 
•  The heartwarming story of Lucky, a rescue dog who inspired a movement 
•  Practical advice for expanding your worldview through travel

This episode is a powerful reminder that the longest journeys aren’t just measured in miles—they’re measured in growth, connection, and perspective.
Whether you're a runner, traveler, or simply curious about the world, David’s story will challenge you to step outside your comfort zone and embrace the unknown.

David Green is a retired entrepreneur, endurance athlete, and writer who has completed numerous ultra events, including solo runs across the United States, Brazil, and Spain, and most recently set an FKT for running across Europe. His love of movement, adventure, and open roads is matched only by his bond with dogs. In 2022, he and his wife, Mônica, founded Friends of Lucky Caminho, a nonprofit that helps stray dogs along Brazil’s Caminho da Fé trail, where he first met Lucky. David lives in Florida and Portugal with Mônica and their three rescue dogs. A portion of this book’s proceeds supports the charity. You can find the book on Amazon here.

For more about David, check out his website here and read about all his amazing adventures.

If this conversation about Third Culture Kids, global parenting, identity, belonging, and raising multicultural children resonated with you, I'd love your support.

Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone navigating international life, raising globally mobile children, or searching for where they truly belong.

Together, we can help more globally mobile families feel understood, connected, and at home—wherever they are in the world.

For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

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What does it really take to leave everything behind and start a new life abroad—with kids?

In this episode, I sit down with Rebecca Cretella, an American mom who made the bold and intentional decision to move her family from the U.S. to Spain in search of a slower, more connected lifestyle. From navigating visas and selling everything they owned to raising “third culture kids” in a new country, Rebecca shares the real, unfiltered journey behind their move.

This conversation dives into the emotional, logistical, and cultural layers of building a life abroad—and what “home” truly means when you redefine it from scratch.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

•  What sparked Rebecca’s decision to leave the U.S. 
•  How to move abroad as a family (without a job relocation) 
•  The biggest logistical challenges (and how to handle them) 
•  Different visa options for moving to Spain 
•  The emotional reality of starting over in a new country 
•  What it’s like raising third culture kids (TCKs) 
•  How children adapt to new languages and cultures 
•  Balancing your home culture with a new one 
•  Why “home” becomes a feeling—not a place 

🌍 Key Topics Discussed

•  Work-life balance differences between the U.S. and Spain 
•  Letting go of possessions and starting fresh 
•  Navigating uncertainty and fear 
•  Building community abroad 
•  Supporting children through major life transitions 

Rebecca Cretella is the creator behind the Instagram page, Heart and Home Abroad, where she shares with her over 11K followers her family’s unfiltered journey of relocating to Spain. She also offers tools and coaching to help those families actually make the move. You can also find Rebecca on LinkedIn here

If this conversation about Third Culture Kids, global parenting, identity, belonging, and raising multicultural children resonated with you, I'd love your support.

Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone navigating international life, raising globally mobile children, or searching for where they truly belong.

Together, we can help more globally mobile families feel understood, connected, and at home—wherever they are in the world.

For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

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In this engaging conversation, Angela and I explore the joys and complexities of multicultural partnerships, particularly focusing on parenting and cultural identity. We discuss the importance of communication, setting boundaries, and the unique experiences of raising children in a neutral territory. The dialogue emphasizes the need for intentionality in relationships and the beauty of creating a family culture that blends different traditions.

A highlight of the topics discussed includes:

• Multicultural partnerships require grace, compassion, and patience.
• Parenting styles can differ significantly based on cultural backgrounds.
• Establishing a strong foundation of values and boundaries is crucial.
• Living in a neutral territory can offer couples a unique opportunity.
• Children in multicultural families may identify differently based on their experiences.
• Communication is key to navigating challenges in multicultural relationships.
• Trailing partners often face identity and career challenges.
• Finding joy in shared activities can strengthen family bonds.
• Intentionality in family traditions helps children feel connected to their cultures.
• Regular check-ins between partners can prevent resentment and foster support.

Angela always shares such great advice and tips for couples and families as they embark on what can be the most complex yet rewarding journey of their lives.

With 20 years of experience, Angela Vitiello is a senior international consultant and social entrepreneur with a multicultural perspective (has lived in 4 countries on 3 different continents). Her areas of focus are coaching (individuals, teams, and groups), facilitating, and consulting on Leadership, Group Dynamics, Transitions, Intercultural Communication, and Expatriate Life. Since 2014, she has worked with public and private clients (from SMEs to universities) in a variety of sectors (Banking, Luxury Goods, Public Service, Law, Education/Academia, Consulting, and more).  

You can find Angela on Instagram and LinkedIn 

You can also reach out to her through the Expat Parenting Collective Website

Please hit the follow button and enter this crazy, multilingual, international world and explore these questions and so much more as I open up about my personal experiences over a cup of coffee, Americano, espresso, cafe con leche, or whatever gets you moving!

For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

If this conversation about Third Culture Kids, global parenting, identity, belonging, and raising multicultural children resonated with you, I'd love your support.

Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone navigating international life, raising globally mobile children, or searching for where they truly belong.

Together, we can help more globally mobile families feel understood, connected, and at home—wherever they are in the world.

For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I sit down with my brother Riccardo for a conversation that feels both deeply personal and surprisingly universal. As siblings, we share the same family, the same roots, and many of the same experiences—but the way we’ve each processed our multicultural upbringing is very different.

Growing up across continents meant that identity was never a simple question for us. We talk about what it was like navigating multiple languages, cultures, and expectations—and how moving between places like Asia, Europe, and the United States shaped who we are today.

Riccardo and I reflect on the advantages and challenges of being raised between cultures: the adaptability it fosters, the moments of confusion around belonging, and the subtle ways language, nationality, and even our names influenced how others perceived us—and how we perceived ourselves.

We also explore the concept of being a Third Culture Kid, the ability to become cultural “chameleons,” and the unexpected independence that often develops when home is constantly shifting. From Riccardo’s experience building a life abroad to my reflections on identity across different environments, this episode is an honest look at what it means to grow up global while still trying to understand where you belong.

Above all, we talk about the incredible value of embracing multicultural perspectives—especially for the next generation growing up in an increasingly connected world.

In this episode, we explore:

• How growing up in multiple countries shapes identity, adaptability, and worldview
• The role language, accents, and names play in shaping self-perception
• Cultural differences between Italian, American, and broader European experiences
• How passports and nationality can influence opportunities and belonging
• The realities of being a Third Culture Kid (TCK)
• Why multicultural childhoods often build resilience and independence
• The contrasts between life in Europe and the United States
• Why embracing diversity and global citizenship matters more than ever

I loved this touching conversation with my big brother. It was a long time in the making. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it.

Rick’s background covers a 40 year career that has ranged from banking and finance to sports management and entrepreneurial ventures. He is a published author with two patents to his name and professional postings in New York, Washington DC, Milan, Los Angeles, Frankfurt, and London.

Born in Philadelphia, Rick has lived in Thailand, Hong Kong, Italy, Canada, England, Germany, and the US. Currently residing in Frankfurt with his wife Patricia, Rick and Trish have three children, one in Chicago, one in Madrid, and one in Seoul. Rick’s mother lives in Rome, and his sister lives in Madrid….His is truly an international and third culture family.

Follow Rick on LinkedIn here

If this conversation about Third Culture Kids, global parenting, identity, belonging, and raising multicultural children resonated with you, I'd love your support.

Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone navigating international life, raising globally mobile children, or searching for where they truly belong.

Together, we can help more globally mobile families feel understood, connected, and at home—wherever they are in the world.

For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

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In this episode, Riia shares her journey of living in a multicultural relationship, raising a child in "neutral territory" (neither hers nor her partner's), and navigating the complexities of identity and emotional challenges that come with being a "trailing partner," a term neither of us likes. She discusses the importance of cultural traditions, language dynamics, and the guilt often felt by expats. Through her experiences, Riia highlights the resilience and personal growth that can emerge from these challenges, ultimately defining home as the people we choose to surround ourselves with.

During our discussion, Riia shares:

• how living in a multicultural relationship has impacted how she sees the world and has required compromises;
• how living in a neutral territory allows both partners to learn and struggle together, creating a strong partnership;
• how the pressure of being a "trailing partner" often goes unrecognized, despite the emotional labor involved;
• the guilt she feels about not being close to her family and the impact on her child;
• how expat life is not always glamorous; it comes with its own set of challenges and emotional struggles;
• the complexities of language dynamics in a multicultural family;
• her definition of home.

An extremely open and honest conversation about the many aspects, positive and negative, of living a global life, many of which often go unseen.

You can find more about Riia and her experiences on her Instagram page.

If this conversation about Third Culture Kids, global parenting, identity, belonging, and raising multicultural children resonated with you, I'd love your support.

Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone navigating international life, raising globally mobile children, or searching for where they truly belong.

Together, we can help more globally mobile families feel understood, connected, and at home—wherever they are in the world.

For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I sit down with Bernard Asnong, author of Be Awesome Be Global, for a thought-provoking conversation about identity, belonging, and what it really means to live beyond borders.

As always, I begin with the question: “Where are you from?” — and quickly unpack how complex that simple question becomes when you’ve lived across multiple countries and cultures. Bernard reflects on what “home” means to him today and how mobility shapes identity.

We dive into the origin of the book — the series of life moments that made him realize this story needed to be told — and explore the bold title itself. What does “awesome” truly mean? 

A powerful thread throughout our conversation is friendship — and the surprising realization that we often underestimate the work and intentionality required to sustain meaningful relationships across borders and life transitions.

We also discuss:

• The concept of a Global Mindset, including Intellectual, Psychological, and Social Capital
• Why Third Culture Kids (TCKs) can make exceptional leaders and managers
• How Bernard’s global upbringing influenced his academic and professional path — from hospitality to Human Resources
• Whether travel is necessary to become globally minded
• The role of sustainability, responsibility, and empathy in shaping a truly global outlook
• Why programs like Erasmus Programme matter so much (with a bit of laughter along the way).

We also touch on practical advice for anyone who wants a more global life but feels geographically or professionally “stuck,” and what “thinking globally” really means when making career choices today.

Bernard shares how he hopes readers feel after finishing Be Awesome Be Global: more open, more curious, more connected — and perhaps a little braver about embracing a world bigger than borders.

This episode is a reflective, honest, and timely conversation about identity, empathy, leadership, and the kind of mindset the future demands.

Bernard can be found on LinkedIn and Instagram

His book, Be Awesome Be Global, can be found on Amazon

If this conversation about Third Culture Kids, global parenting, identity, belonging, and raising multicultural children resonated with you, I'd love your support.

Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone navigating international life, raising globally mobile children, or searching for where they truly belong.

Together, we can help more globally mobile families feel understood, connected, and at home—wherever they are in the world.

For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

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Season 2 of Quiero un Panino con Cheese is almost here.

After a heartfelt and meaningful first season, I want to express my deep gratitude to my co-host, Hazel, whose energy and care helped shape this podcast. Due to professional commitments, she won’t be continuing into season two, and I wish her nothing but the very best.

This new season marks a fresh chapter. I’ll be hosting solo, with a stronger focus on guest conversations featuring TCKs, parents, educators, creatives, and multicultural voices from around the world. Together, we’ll explore identity, belonging, home, language, family, and the beautifully complex realities of living between cultures.

Season 2 is about expanding the table and continuing the conversation—and I’d love for you to be part of it. New episodes are coming soon. Stay curious.

If this conversation about Third Culture Kids, global parenting, identity, belonging, and raising multicultural children resonated with you, I'd love your support.

Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone navigating international life, raising globally mobile children, or searching for where they truly belong.

Together, we can help more globally mobile families feel understood, connected, and at home—wherever they are in the world.

For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

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As the year comes to a close, we’re also wrapping up Season 1 of Quiero un Panino con Cheese — and what a year it’s been. 

This episode serves as a year-end recap, where we share our honest thoughts on what 2025 has meant for us personally and creatively, the lessons we’ve learned along the way, and how this podcast has grown since its very first episode. From meaningful conversations to unexpected laughs, Season 1 has been full of moments we’ll never forget. We would also like to give special thanks to all the amazing guests who have taken the time to share their wisdom with us during some wonderful conversations.

You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into our dynamic as hosts — because as you can tell from the very first moments of this episode,  we clearly never have any fun while recording 😉. Our chemistry, humor, and candid conversations have been at the heart of this show, and this episode is no different.

As we close out the season, we also share what we’re hoping for in 2026 — both for ourselves and for the future of the podcast. New topics, deeper conversations, and a lineup of exciting guests are already in the works.

After this episode, we’ll be taking a short break in January to regroup, gather our thoughts, and creatively reset. This pause will allow us to come back refreshed, inspired, and ready to bring you even more meaningful episodes in the next season.

Most importantly, we want to hear from you, our listeners. Your support, feedback, and engagement have meant everything to us this season. What topics would you like us to explore next? Are there conversations you feel don’t get talked about enough? Guests you’d like us to bring on?

Join us for this special season finale, celebrate the end of the year with us, and help shape what’s next for Quiero un Panino con Cheese.

🎙️✨ Happy New Year — and we’ll see you in the next season!

If this conversation about Third Culture Kids, global parenting, identity, belonging, and raising multicultural children resonated with you, I'd love your support.

Please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone navigating international life, raising globally mobile children, or searching for where they truly belong.

Together, we can help more globally mobile families feel understood, connected, and at home—wherever they are in the world.

For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese