It's Called Culture

First, it would be remiss not to mention the January 1st Feast of the Holy Foreskin and its history. Next, we learn about New Year customs from various countries around the world and preach about how fireworks are detrimental and unnecessary. And we end by discussing our New Year's resolutions as our mental health segment.

First we address a few discussions from our social media community before diving into Krampus, the anti-Santa. Then we cover a variety of interesting Christmas-y liqueurs and the multi-cultural fruit cake. And as always, we end with mental health tips!

Lower your expectations. In this special *SpOrtS* edition, we talk football in our own style - including confessing to what we don't know. We highlight the importance of the sport to our Portuguese culture. And of course, we would never leave you without at least a few nuggets about alleged corruption.

A cross-cultural Christmas journey beginning with our very own Portuguese-American experiences with "O Sanny Claus".  We discuss the pros and cons of thirteen Icelandic Yule Lads including sausage-snatcher and window-peeper.  Then we dissect the history of Saint Nick and how he allegedly became known for gift-giving.  An instant classic! Follow us : Instagram: @_itscalledculture Twi...

Nature or nurture? Mel & Kel discuss a sample platter of specific anxieties they were brought up to have and whether or not they've been able to kick them to the curb. Fears not limited to burglary, trafficking, driving, cramping while swimming, cutting your hair after you eat, drinking wine with watermelon.  Wait, these got weird...!

We are joined by one of our listeners with a pretty neat life journey to share with us. Kyler Canastra is a fourth-generation Azorean-American from Massachusetts who studied linguistics and now lives full time in Lisbon. He shares his personal journey and academic knowledge with us, including what it was like to live abroad during the height of the pandemic lockdown. And of course, we also discuss...

We kick off by hilariously reacting to your responses on our Instagram poll about the "weirdest things people have snuck onto planes".  Next, we touch briefly on some Azores travel items before we get passionately sidetracked talking about our immigrant parents' specific furniture items for the remainder of the episode.  A wild journey you don't want to miss.

We are joined by Indy Santos, a bad-ass Brazilian who immigrated by herself to California nine years ago and became a US citizen. We compare our Azorean Portuguese culture to her Brazilian culture and learn about our similarities and differences. Indy is a strong, independent woman with a really good grasp on how to live a full life while balancing physical, emotional, and mental health! Indy most...

We share some of the more intriguing and ridiculous stories we could dig up (pun intended) on saints and their miracles for All Saints Day.  There's a little bit of everything: fasting on nothing but the eucharist for 8 years, mules genuflecting to the eucharist, murder, foreskin wedding rings, cures for rabies, exhumations, dismemberments, stolen heads, and a touch or two of ~*magic*~. &nbsp...

We are joined by Joseph Abdin, an attorney and first-generation American of Syrian and Palestinian descent.  We talk culture and upbringing in our immigrant families.  We knew we would find common ground even though we are from different cultures. Yet, we were shocked at how identical the immigrant experience is -- we are simply all the same. Joseph most recently appeared on CBS' Season...

We are joined by guest Vanessa Medeiros, our former schoolmate who keeps us belly-laughing as part of The Portuguese Kids comedy trio!  We discuss how appreciating, joking about, and trying to improve our culture are not mutually exclusive things. Vanessa also puts on her therapist hat for an extended mental health segment with us! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for full video episodes.&nbs...

In the second half of this episode, we continue our chat with the one and only Portuguese Princess from Providence, Michelle Costa from CBS' Big Brother Season 10.  We discuss embracing the culture, its benefits, and how Michelle earned her nickname. Part 2 also covers the more serious aspects of being on reality TV including some contestants facing racial biases, and the overall toll that continu...

We are joined by the one and only Portuguese Princess from Providence, Michelle Costa from CBS' Big Brother Season 10. We bond over culture, react to the BB24 Season Finale, and Michelle shares interesting "behind-the-scenes" nuggets from her time on the show. Be sure to tune in next week for the second half of our conversation and our mental health segment!  Follow Michelle:  Twitter: @...

Tested tips on how to deal with unwelcome appetizers (hint: say nothing and eat them anyway), dinner reservations, DIY beverages, and ordering fish without the head. Hear a tale of the pinnacle of Portuguese hospitality. And finally, some excerpts of life in the middle of nowhere a.k.a. Cu De Judas (Judas' Butt....). It's a real place, look it up! Follow us : Instagram: @_itscalledculture Twitter:...

You enter the vessel dressed to the nines, asking the stewardess for a selection of wines. Clutching your husband and your rosary beads, a safe landing granted by the apostle's creed. I hope they don't ask what is in your pants, or you might have to give up your banana plants. Follow us : Instagram: @_itscalledculture Twitter: @folkandfad TikTok: @melanncoley and @itscalledculture

Our 6th grade teacher and local legend "Mr. V" joins us to fill in the gaps about our 1990s experience in a Portuguese catholic school through his perspective. It doesn't feel like 25 years have passed in this rare, hilarious, and heartwarming exchange between teacher and students. Follow us : Instagram: @_itscalledculture Twitter: @folkandfad TikTok: @melanncoley and @itscalledculture

We discuss parts of the culture that we'd love to embrace (e.g., minimalism) as well as parts that we'd like to kick to the curb (e.g., the fear of impending doom that lives rent-free in our heads). And we have some hard-hitting revelations about guilt and judgment in our It's Called Mental Health segment. We are joined by guest Devin Meireles, Luso-descendant from Toronto, Canada and author of Th...

We continue to explore the "cult" of our culture through our own lived experiences of processions, rosary rituals, and eating Holy Ghost soup. Unrelated, find out how to properly dispose of historical creative fiction novels you may have outgrown. And don't forget to hang around long enough for our It's Called Mental Health segment with tips for anxiety management. Follow us : Instagram: @_itscall...

Melissa and Kelly explore the "cult" of their culture. Mysterious brotherhood? Check. Unwritten rules? Check. Cult-specific symbols? Check. Religious rituals, chants, and animal sacrifices? Check. Check. Check.  Follow us :  Instagram: @_itscalledculture  Twitter: @folkandfad  TikTok: @melanncoley and @itscalledculture

We discuss different ways to seek medical care: doctors, herbalists, bone-setters, the women who read from the book, witches, and healers. If there is one thing Azoreans believe, it's that:  "God heals, and the Doctor takes the fees." - Benjamin Franklin

Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea - Yeah, it's agonias!  We deep dive into research papers on the culture-specific phenomenon of "the agonies". Experiencing agonias? The doctor may prescribe Tums or an exorcism. It really is a spectrum. Also, we kick off a new segment titled It's Called Mental Health! Follow us: Instagram: @_itscalledculture Twitter: @folkandfad TikTok:...

The Official Portuguese Method (works for buffets, weddings, holidays, birthdays etc.)  Step 1: Count the number of guests.  Step 2: Double it.  Step 3: Double the amount of food again because it still doesn't seem like enough.  Step 4: Keep doubling until guests arrive.  Step 5: Throughout the party, continue offering to cook up just one more thing...

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, we can assure you our peeps were not out there setting the world on fire by starting the day with old bread soaked in a decaf coffee.  Or eating bowls of cornstarch.  Can a girl get one nutrient please?!  And it didn't get much better as the day went on, as Melissa also recounts the unfathomable tale of "sugar sandwiches" as after-...

We walk through the Portuguese food pyramid, except there are no section dividers. It's all carbs. With a side of carbs. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Discover the magic and miracles of soup. Weigh in on the dry bean saga. How much water does Jell-O need? And find out the secret ingredient that makes kids go crazy for hot dogs.

Speaking English means being assigned medical appointment and mail interpreting duties no matter how young you are.  Melissa and Kelly first reflect briefly on their podcasting journey thus far and then recount stories of misinterpreting a major diagnosis, using craftsman tools to perform an at-home medical procedure, hand-written chain letters, how to get out of jury-duty, and more...