What does it mean to grow up everywhere and nowhere at the same time?

In this episode, I sit down with author and speaker J.K. Amerson López to discuss her memoir Embassy Kid: An American Foreign Service Family Memoir. As the eldest daughter of an American diplomat, J.K. spent her childhood living across Latin America, Europe, and Washington, D.C., constantly adapting to new cultures, languages, and environments.

We explore the meaning of home, identity, and belonging, as well as the challenges and opportunities that come with growing up across cultures. J.K. shares stories from Venezuela, Italy, Colombia, Spain, and the United States, reflecting on what it was like to always be the “new kid,” navigate different educational systems, and learn how to bloom wherever she was planted.

We also discuss the impact of her international upbringing on her sense of self, the role her parents played in shaping her journey, and the inspiration behind Embassy Kid, one of the first Foreign Service memoirs written from a child's perspective.

Whether you're a third-culture kid, an expat, the child of immigrants, or someone who has ever struggled with the question of where you belong, this conversation is for you.

Connect with J.K.:
Website: www.embassykid.com
Instagram: @realembassykid
Facebook: Embassy Kid

In this episode of Stories Beyond Borders, I sit down with Asees Anand to explore her unique journey growing up between cultures and countries.

Born in Kobe, Japan to Indian parents and raised in Los Angeles, Asees shares what it was like navigating a world where her appearance often shaped how others perceived her identity. While she looked Indian, she felt deeply connected to Japanese culture and recalls the challenges of adjusting to life in the United States after leaving Japan at the age of five.

Our conversation explores the realities of being a third-culture kid (TCK), including questions of identity, belonging, adaptation, and learning to navigate different cultural environments. Asees reflects on how living across multiple countries has shaped her worldview, why third-culture kids often develop strong adaptability skills, and how those experiences influence the way they build relationships and community throughout their lives.

We also discuss:
• Growing up between Japanese, Indian, and American cultures
• The challenges of moving from Japan to Los Angeles
• Being perceived differently based on appearance
• Life as a third-culture kid
• Studying and living in Morocco, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the United States
• Cultural identity and self-discovery
• Raising a multicultural family
• Why it's okay not to fit into a single box

Asees leaves listeners with a powerful message: stay strong, maintain your self-respect, embrace your uniqueness, and trust that you will eventually find your people.

About Asees Anand:

Asees Anand is of Indian origin, born in Kobe, Japan, and moved to the United States at the age of five. She earned a B.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University and later completed a Master's degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science, with additional studies at Al-Akhawayn University in Morocco and Sciences Po in Paris.

She began her career in Brussels, Belgium, working in EU Relations before relocating to New York City, where she now works as a real estate agent specializing in Manhattan properties. Asees lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

She is also the creator and host of the podcast Sakura, Sikhi & Strength, where she explores multicultural identity, resilience, and the experience of building a life across cultures.

Tune in for an insightful conversation about identity, culture, belonging, and embracing the richness that comes from living between worlds.

Connect with Asees Anand:
Instagram: @aseesanandPodcast Instagram & TikTok: @sakurasikhistrengthLinktree: https://linktr.ee/sakurasikhistrength

In this episode of Stories Beyond Borders, we are joined by Rohene Bouajram, an award-winning educator, leadership coach, and internationally renowned speaker.

Rohene is a Zimbabwean-Canadian whose work is deeply shaped by her bridged identity and lived experience of navigating systems not built for universal inclusion. She shares her journey of arriving in Canada in 2002 as what she describes as an “uninvited guest,” carrying with her the memories, ancestry, and collective history of Zimbabwe.

In this powerful conversation, Rohene reflects on:

• The legacy of Zimbabwe’s colonial history and independence in 1980
• The layers of racism and systemic inequities experienced both in Zimbabwe and Canada
• The complexity of migration, privilege, and access to education
• The emotional experience of returning “home” and facing re-entry shock
• The duality of belonging to neither place fully, and learning to exist in between identities

Through her lived experience and leadership work in equity, diversity, and inclusion, Rohene invites us to think more deeply about responsibility, history, and belonging — especially when building a life on land that is not originally our own.

Her final message is a powerful reminder:
“Don’t believe everything you are conditioned to believe. Seek answers and reconstruct your reality.”

Connect with Rohene Bouajram:

Website: https://www.rohenebouajram.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohenebouajram/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rohenebouajram/
Email: [email protected]

Podcast: Unspeakable Leadership
Listen here: https://unspeakable-leadership.captivate.fm/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unspeakableleadership/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UnspeakableLeadership

In this episode of Stories Beyond Borders, I sit down with Tanja Podvrsan, a cross-cultural trainer and coach whose life journey spans Slovenia, the United States, and now France.

Tanja’s story begins in Slovenia, where, as a young girl, she would look up at the sky and dream of a life beyond what felt familiar. That dream turned into reality most unexpectedly, as she left her home with nothing but a plastic bag, a book, and a doll, when she immigrated to the United States as a teenager.

But starting over wasn’t easy. Navigating a new culture came with challenges, including bullying and being labeled as “different.” At home, she held onto her Slovenian identity, while outside, she learned to adapt, code-switch, and survive in an environment that didn’t always understand her.

Her journey didn’t stop there. Years later, life took her to France—another culture, another transition, and another set of challenges. What was meant to be temporary became a new chapter filled with unexpected difficulties, especially when it came to integration and finding her place once again.

Through exposure to multiple nationalities and languages, Tanja shares how communication goes far beyond words—each language carrying its own etiquette, nuance, and identity.

Today, she uses her experiences to help others navigate international careers and cross-cultural environments, guiding individuals, teams, and executives through the complexities of working and living across borders.

This conversation is about more than moving countries—it’s about identity, resilience, and what it really means to belong.

Her message is simple yet powerful: trust yourself, and everything will be all right.

🔗 Connect with Tanja:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tpodvrsan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanjapodvrsan/
Website: www.tptalks.com
Email: [email protected]

What does it mean to grow up everywhere… and nowhere at the same time? 🌍

In this episode, I sit down with John Liang, Editor-in-Chief of Culturs Magazine and an Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK), to explore identity, belonging, and what it really means to grow up across cultures.

Born in Guatemala to Chinese descent, John shares his family’s story—from his parents’ unexpected love story to his own journey across Costa Rica, the U.S., Panama, and Morocco. His life is a reflection of constant movement, cultural adaptation, and redefining what “home” truly means.

For years, John didn’t have the language to describe his experience. He once identified as a “global nomad,” only later discovering the concept of Third Culture Kids—and finally finding a sense of understanding and belonging.

We talk about:

• What it means to be an Adult Third Culture Kid
• Growing up between cultures and identities
• The ease—and complexity—of building connections across cultures
• How storytelling helps us make sense of who we are
• Why the TCK experience can be different for men and women

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fully belong in one place, this conversation is for you.

🌐 Website: www.cultursmag.com
📸 Instagram / Threads: @juanjohnjedi
🦋 Bluesky: @juanjohnjedi.bsky.social

🔗 Connect with John Liang

Tasnim Hasan, marketing strategist, storyteller, and founder of Bangladeshi Trailblazers Podcast & Influsio, shares her journey across continents and cultures in this episode of Stories Beyond Borders. Born in Bangladesh, raised in Dubai, and having pursued her studies in the USA, Tasnim reflects on how the cities she’s lived in shaped her perspective, career, and creativity.

From witnessing Dubai’s transformation firsthand to launching her own podcast during the isolating times of COVID-19, Tasnim navigated cultural transitions, visa challenges, and the intricacies of returning to Bangladesh as an adult third-culture individual. She opens up about the culture shocks she faced—including the art of punctuality—and how she found her community of understanding friends.

Tune in as Tasnim shares her message for fellow global citizens: keep traveling, savor good food, create content, and explore opportunities—because every experience adds to the story you are building.

📩 Connect with Tasnim Hasan:
Producer, Bangladeshi Trailblazers Podcast
E: [email protected]

In this episode of Stories Beyond Borders, I sit down with Desta — a Bangkok-born, British-Eritrean educator, writer, and vocalist whose life has unfolded across continents, cultures, and languages.

Having traveled to more than 90 countries through her work in international education, Desta shares the deep gratitude she feels for a life shaped by movement — and the quiet tension that comes with it: the longing to sometimes be rooted in one place and call it home.

We explore her powerful relationship with languages — she speaks eight and is still learning more — and how music became her most meaningful gateway into language learning and cultural connection. She also shares practical and inspiring tips on how anyone can learn a new language through rhythm, sound, and emotion.

From her love for colourful and creative Thai cuisine to her vision of expanding her platform, Language Through Music, and writing two upcoming books, this conversation is a beautiful reflection on global identity, curiosity, and human connection.

Her message is a reminder we all need:

No matter how different we are, there is always something that connects us.

🎧 Tune in to hear a story about movement, belonging, and finding home in people, in languages, and in music.

🔗 www.languagesthroughmusic.com

In this episode of Stories Beyond Borders, I sit down with Simone Johnson, a former U.S. diplomat, author, and cultural bridge-builder, to unpack the deeply human journey of identity, culture, and self-discovery.

Originally from Jamaica, Simone shares her immigrant story—moving to the United States on a scholarship, navigating college, and adapting to a new culture. But beyond the “typical” immigrant narrative lies a powerful inner awakening. Raised in a collectivist culture where family comes first and meeting others’ needs is expected, Simone found herself confronting the individualistic values of American society—and questioning where she fit within it all.

Through reflection and lived experience, Simone realized a simple yet profound truth: you can’t pour from an empty cup. She opens up about learning who Simone truly is, unlearning guilt around self-prioritization, and understanding that fulfillment must come before service to others.

We also explore the different expectations placed on men and women, the importance of setting boundaries, and why boundaries are not acts of selfishness—but acts of self-respect. Simone shares insights from her book and her podcast, The Immigrant Experience in America, and leaves us with a powerful reminder: coming home to yourself is the most important journey of all.

This conversation is for anyone navigating multiple cultures, carrying family expectations, or learning how to choose themselves—without guilt.

🌐 Website: https://thebridgeconcepts.org
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonewjohnson/
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimmigrantexperience
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theimmigrantexperience

🔗 Connect with Simone

In this episode, I speak with Saleha Mirza, author of Confessions of a Brown Girl, about identity, belonging, and the quiet struggles many brown women grow up carrying.

Saleha is the youngest of four siblings and grew up as the only brown child at her school, without South Asian friends or people who looked like her. Wanting to fit in, she often tried to be more Western and, at times, felt embarrassed being around other brown people—feelings she now reflects on with honesty and self-awareness. Her parents, unlike many traditional South Asian households, encouraged integration and openness, shaping her perspective in unique ways.

We talk about how these early experiences influenced her sense of identity and later inspired her book, Confessions of a Brown Girl, which is a collection of her own stories alongside experiences shared by friends and acquaintances. Saleha also opens up about marriage, the challenges of adjustment, and the realities many women face but rarely speak about openly.

At the heart of this conversation is a powerful message: don’t settle for less—in relationships, in life, or in how you choose yourself.

This episode is an honest, reflective conversation for anyone who has ever felt caught between cultures, expectations, and the desire to belong.

🔗 Follow Saleha’s refinishing & DIY projects on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/gemofapiece

📚 Find her book Confessions of a Brown Girl on Amazon:
https://a.co/d/43Vd1is

In this episode, I sit down with Bảo-Vy Nguyễn, a community organizer, artist, and founder of Missing Blue, a grassroots initiative dedicated to creating space and visibility for cross-cultural individuals. Born in Montreal and raised across multiple cities—including Ottawa, Vancouver, and even Finland—Vy’s life has been deeply shaped by constant mobility and the layered identity of being a third-culture kid.

Vy opens up about one of her biggest lifelong challenges: the question “Where are you from?” A question that seems simple, yet for many TCKs, carries complexity, assumptions, and the pressure of being placed into a box. She shares the experience of returning to Montreal and being placed in a welcome class despite being from the city, and how cultural expectations and linguistic assumptions have shaped her sense of belonging.

We also dive into the creation of Missing Blue, the community Vy built to support individuals navigating multicultural identities. She speaks about the importance of representation, safe spaces, and connection for people who don’t fit neatly into one cultural category.

Vy also reflects on how different languages bring out different versions of herself, and how—despite speaking English, Vietnamese, and French—she sometimes feels insecure when others question her French. Yet through it all, she embraces an empowering message:
Feeling alienated doesn’t make you less—her alienation is her strength, making her authentic, grounded, and uniquely herself.

If you’ve ever struggled with identity, belonging, or cultural complexity, this episode will feel like a conversation you’ve been waiting for.

Connect with Vy:
Instagram: @missingblue.co
Facebook: @missingblue