Between Worlds

In Episode 4 of Between Worlds , Ronnie, Esther, and our first guest Michelle talk about how different environments shape our friendships . From high school where social circle is small, to big university campuses, to the graduate school at USC, we explore how different social circles affect the way we meet people and build connections. We also discuss the loneliness of starting over, the fear of...

In this episode of Between Worlds , we talk about the “digital mask” many international students wear while living in the U.S. From switching between Mandarin and English to managing different identities across WeChat, Instagram, and other platforms, we explore how social media can make us feel both visible and hidden at the same time. We share personal stories about context collapse , family misu...

In Episode 2 of Between Worlds , Ronnie and Esther unpack The Success Trap —the pressure many international students feel to prove that studying abroad is worth it. From guilt while resting to the constant need to be productive, this episode explores the emotional cost of tying value to achievement. We talk about the pressure to be the “perfect international student,” the shift from school pressur...

Welcome to the very first episode of Between Worlds , a podcast created by two USC international students, Ronnie and Esther, who are navigating the "permanent in-between" state of living in the U.S.. In this debut session, we dive deep into "The System Shock" —that jarring environmental reset the moment you step off the plane and realize your daily life has reverted to zero. We candidly share our...