So, what are you?

So, what are you?

By Faraz and Ida MilaniSociety & Culture
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So, what are you? episodes

  • Ep. 5: "What are people going to think?" (Reetu)

    Reetu Sandhu is an Organizational Therapist and recent transplant from Seattle to the Bay Area Peninsula. In this episode, we talk about the challenges around multi-cultural relationships and weddings; things like introducing her non-Indian significant other to her parents and family, the strict requirements on her lipstick color during her wedding ceremony, having an Indian wedding and a "white" wedding, and a lot more. We also talk about tradition, which hills to die on when confronted with cultural pressures or expectations, and the importance of choosing the people you give energy to carefully.

    Want to share your story on the pod?

    48 min
  • Ep. 4: "People like me make beautiful art" (Rubén)

    Rubén is a 31 year old User Experience Designer at a large U.S. tax preparation company — but he's far more than that. His story starts off inside his mother's womb, being snuck across the Mexican border in an enclosed, hollowed out section of a truck right by the engine, for 4 hours straight. And that's just the beginning. Rubén talks about being born into the Mexican mob and gang life, the machismo that is present in Mexican culture, spending 6 months with the rich kids at Palo Alto high school, and a lot, lot more. Get ready for a heavy hitter.

    Want to share your story on the pod?

    56 min
  • Ep. 3: "They're just older versions of us" (Preston)

    Preston is a 29 year old Machine Learning Engineer based out out of San Jose, CA. He grew up with Chinese parents who split up when he was young -- his mom subscribing to a "just do your best" mentality and promoting independent thinking, while his dad found meaning in Faith and exists with more of a "scarcity mindset" influenced by humble upbringings in SF Chinatown projects. Preston details his journey, from a non-academic wandering into college trying to appease parental and cultural pressures, to ironically self-choosing to get a second Bachelor's and eventually his Masters in AI from Stanford.

    Want to share your story on the pod?

    54 min
  • Ep. 2: "Culture can be limiting" (Ayan)

    Ayan is a 25 year old agricultural engineer based out of San Jose, CA. Having spent his childhood in the United Arab Emirates as a racial and religious minority and later moving to the U.S. with his family, Ayan is no stranger to being the odd man out. In this episode, Ayan dives into his experience being different both in the Middle East and in Silicon Valley, his life changing 3-month "fast" from entertainment, and his thoughts on how culture can limiting. Enjoy!

    43 min

About So, what are you?

From the publisher's feed

The "So, what are you?" podcast features two Persian-American siblings who dissect the challenges of growing up straddling multiple cultures in America. They invite guests from various backgrounds to share their stories about having parents who are immigrants, managing the expectations of multiple cultures, and how they define their own identity. Vulnerability required.