The In- Between Life

Why do talented, hardworking employees leave organisations they once loved? Is it really about salary—or is something deeper happening? In this episode of In Between Life , I explore one of the biggest challenges facing organisations today: retaining great people. Drawing on leadership research, organisational psychology, and my own experiences working across hospitality in India, France, and Aust...

Micromanagers, Control Freaks & The Future of Leadership | In Between Life What happens when leadership becomes control? In this episode of In Between Life, I explore one of the most common workplace experiences across industries: micromanagement. From hospitality kitchens and healthcare teams to universities, government departments, technology companies, and global consulting firms, many empl...

Why do so many immigrants feel caught between two worlds? In this episode of In Between Life , I explore one of the biggest cultural differences I've observed living in Australia: the contrast between Western individualism and Eastern community-based values. Growing up with strong family and community connections and then moving to Australia, I found myself navigating two very different ideas...

What does it actually mean to integrate into another culture? In this episode of In Between Life , I explore the invisible emotional labour of cultural integration in multicultural Australia — beyond visas, jobs, and surface-level success. As immigrants, international students, and skilled migrants build new lives abroad, many face challenges that are rarely discussed openly: loneliness and belong...

Australia is known as one of the most multicultural countries in the world—but what does inclusion actually look like when you’re a migrant working here? In this episode of In Between Life , I share my experience as a pastry chef and skilled migrant in Melbourne, exploring the reality of diversity and inclusion in Australian workplaces—especially in hospitality. Because there’s a difference betwee...

What does it really mean to build a career across countries? In this episode of In Between Life , I share my journey as a pastry chef working in India, France, and Australia—and the deeper lessons behind it. This is not just about hospitality. It’s about how migration reshapes the way you think about work, leadership, business, and identity. From high-pressure kitchens in India to the precision-dr...

Loneliness is one of the most common — and least talked about — experiences of moving to a new country. In this episode of In Between Life , I talk about the emotional reality of loneliness as a migrant in Australia — something that doesn’t come with visa documents, job offers, or university brochures. From working long hours in hospitality to navigating cultural differences and building friendshi...

What does it really feel like to build a life in Australia as an immigrant in 2026? In this episode of In Between Life , I reflect on everything we’ve talked about so far — from the rising cost of living in Australia to burnout, identity, and the emotional reality of starting over. Following my last episode on the cost of living, I dive deeper into what’s changed since 2022 — including inflation,...

Living in Australia is often seen as a better opportunity — but what does it actually cost to build a life here as an immigrant? In this episode of In Between Life , I break down the real cost of living in Australia (2022–2026) based on my experience as a pastry chef and skilled migrant in Melbourne. From rising inflation to everyday expenses, this is an honest look at what it takes to survive — a...

Burnout in hospitality is real — but for many immigrants in Australia, it goes even deeper across industries like agriculture, paramedics, healthcare, IT In this episode of In Between Life , I sit down with Isha, who brings a rare and powerful perspective. Having worked in hospitality across India and Australia in front office, food & beverage, and sales roles — she now works in the mental hea...

Behind every chef in a kitchen, there’s a story that goes far beyond food. In this episode of "In Between Life" I speak with a fellow chef from the Philippines who shares her journey of moving to Australia, building a career in hospitality, and navigating life as an immigrant. We talk about what it really means to be the primary visa holder while your partner is dependent — the responsib...

Burnout is one of the most common but least talked about realities of working in hospitality. In this episode, I share my personal experience as an immigrant pastry chef in Melbourne working six days a week while trying to build a stable life in Australia. From early morning kitchen shifts to late night rides on public transport, hospitality life can be physically demanding and emotionally exhaust...

Moving to a new country changes more than your address — it can change your identity. In this episode of I n Between Life , Gaurvi shares a deeply personal reflection on the identity crisis many skilled migrants face in Australia . When your life starts revolving around visa statuses — student visa, temporary visa, sponsored worker — it can feel like your professional identity, confidence, and sen...

In this episode of In Between Life , I share my journey from international student to sponsored pastry chef — navigating school, part-time kitchen work, visa transitions, and the emotional reality of starting over in your late 30s. I talk about studying at Le Cordon Bleu, Melbourne, Australia , balancing three days of school with three days of work, and how soft skills, cultural sensitivity, and p...

What is it really like working in hospitality as a migrant in Australia? In this episode, I interview a fellow Colombian hospitality worker about their real experience moving abroad — from jobs, to challenges, and what helps them overcome the cultural and language barriers. We talk about: Migrant life in Australia Challenges in the workplace Motivations behind Chefs Building a life while waiting f...

Starting over in a new country sounds exciting — until you actually have to do it. In this episode of In Between Life , I share the story of my very first hospitality job in Australia — just 10 days after landing as a migrant student. From identity confusion to culture shock, I talk about: The pressure to find work immediately in Australia What kitchen trials are really like here vs back home The...

Before I was a pastry chef in Australia, I was a home baker in India trying to rebuild my life. In this first episode of In Between Life , I share my journey — from baking my first messy cake in Mumbai, to studying patisserie in France, building a cloud kitchen in India, and starting over again as a Le Cordon Bleu student in Melbourne. This is a story about migration, reinvention, and the quiet re...

In Between Life is a podcast about the space migrants live in — between leaving home and finding belonging. Through honest conversations with hospitality workers and skilled migrants, this podcast explores survival, identity, mental health, and the quiet struggles no one talks about. Not success stories. Not advice. Just real life in between.