Third Culture Therapy

In this episode, Third Culture Therapy’s Layla speaks with Nyree Abrahamian, a writer, producer, and educator whose work centres storytelling as a tool for identity, belonging, and collective healing. As a Canadian-born Armenian living in Armenia, Nyree reflects on the paradoxes of diaspora, repatriation, and feeling both deeply connected and perpetually in-between. The conversation explores the i...

In this episode, Third Culture Therapy’s Layla speaks with Ariana Alexander Sefre, a British-Iranian activist and entrepreneur, and the founder of Spoke – an innovative app using music as a tool for mental health and emotional regulation. Together, they explore the cultural and systemic gaps in mainstream healthcare, Ariana’s personal journey into building Spoke, and the power of music to reach co...

In this episode, Layla speaks with Nat Rustom, a Lebanese clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Arab Psychedelic Society. Together, they explore psychedelic-assisted therapy through an Arab and culturally rooted lens. From the role of indigenous practices through community-based healing to the complexities of working with psychedelics within legal and cultural frameworks. Nat shares their pe...

In this episode, Third Culture Therapy’s Layla speaks with award-winning journalist, author, and cultural commentator Yomi Adegoke about the intersections of culture, identity, and mental wellbeing. Drawing on her experiences growing up Nigerian-British, Yomi reflects on representation, online accountability, and the complexities of Black British identity in media and public discourse. Layla and Y...

Exploring Asian Fetishisation and Self-Discovery with Kaila YuIn this episode, Layla Maghribi speaks with Kaila Yu, a Taiwanese American writer, model, and singer, about her memoir Fetishised: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty. Together, they unpack the fetishisation of East Asian women in Western media and culture, Kaila’s experiences in the entertainment industry, and the perso...

Third Culture Therapy is back on the 28th of January with a slate of riveting new episodes! From entrepreneurs to healers, entertainers to storytellers, tune in to hear our exceptional guests share their personal and professional insight on how culture shapes mental and emotional wellbeing. Out every other Wednesday. Click follow now to never miss an episode!

This podcast episode is published in collaboration with Hadar's Web and Third Culture Therapy. In this episode of Hadar's Web, host of Third Culture Therapy Layla Maghribi shares personal stories of ancestral pilgrimage to Libya and Syria. She traces her family history of activism against colonialism, which she continues through her own work, and highlights the critical history of Italian colonial...

Nisrine Maktabi is a Lebanese Canadian psychotherapist, trauma-informed coach, and founder of Rooted and Resilient , a program supporting multicultural individuals in reclaiming belonging and inner peace. In this intimate conversation, Nisrine joins Third Culture Therapy podcast to explore the invisible threads of intergenerational trauma, the grief we inherit, and the embodied paths to healing. W...

In this episode, Third Culture Therapy’s Layla speaks with Selma, the Moroccan-Dutch creator of Heal Magazine , a wellness platform created to centre diverse voices and increase representation in conversations around mental health. They explore how mainstream wellness often misses the mark, what it means to create community-led healing spaces, and the highs and lows of creating new narrative space...

How does Islamophobia shape our mental health? In this powerful conversation, we explore the deep psychological toll of racism, internalised Islamophobia, and the struggle for belonging. Our guest, Shaista Aziz, a British-Pakistani writer, politician, stand-up comedian, and fearless advocate, shares her personal journey of reckoning with these forces.  As the co-founder of The Three Hijabis ,...

How does generational trauma shape parenting? How can cultural values evolve while maintaining their core essence? In this episode, Third Culture Therapy host Layla Maghribi sits down with parenting coaches Sarah Raslan and Karen Abou Joude of The Wise Parent consultancy and popular Instagram page to unpack the challenges of raising children in a multicultural setting. From emotional int...

Who gets to tell your story—and what happens when others tell it for you? In this episode of Third Culture Therapy , I sit down with journalist, humanitarian, and founder of mental health organisation Art of Hop e, Tara Kangarlou, to unpack the emotional toll of constantly explaining, justifying, and correcting misconceptions about one’s heritage. Tara shares: ✨ The exhaustion of being in ‘explan...

How does where we come from impact our mental wellbeing? And why did Layla Maghribi decide to create a podcast about it? We're turning the tables in this insightful episode, as Ned Sedgwick sits down with Layla Maghribi, the creator and host of the acclaimed podcast  Third Culture Therapy . Layla Maghribi is a writer, journalist and podcaster. Born in the UK to Libyan/Palestinian and Syrian p...

What makes the search for mental health support so challenging? And can technology help make it easier? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Nicole Nasr, a psychologist, entrepreneur, and the founder of Journey Starts Here , a platform transforming how clients and therapists connect. Growing up in Montreal, Beirut, and London, Nicole developed a unique perspective on the intersection of culture, i...

How can you belong if you’re only ever considered “half” of something? How can we redefine identity on our own terms? In this episode, we’re joined by actor, filmmaker, and writer Jassa Ahluwalia. Jassa’s debut book Both Not Half is both a celebration but also a reclamation of the mixed heritage experience, centred around his ethos that we are all more than the sum of our parts.  Born in Cove...

How can we take care of our mental health while sustaining activism? How can we find strength in our struggles?  In this episode, we sit down with Palestinian psychotherapist and activist Mustafa Jayyousi , who specialises in trauma therapy for those facing systemic oppression and mental health care for activists. Mustafa shares his approach to helping activists manage trauma, build resilienc...

What does it take to truly understand yourself? And how can you unlock your full potential in life? In this episode, I sit down with Isik Tlabar, a life coach and spiritual guide who splits her time between Istanbul and London. Isik helps people connect with their inner power through breathwork, a technique that combines breath, sound, and movement to create a deeper connection between the body an...

CONTENT WARNING : This episode contains several mentions of extreme violence and self-harm, particularly involving children.  While difficult to talk about and listen to, we felt it right to include these moments to illustrate the severity of the situation and the vital importance of Alexandra’s work.  In spite of these difficult conversations, we hope that the episode will leave you fee...

How do you stay hopeful when times are hard? And can love truly survive, and even thrive, in the face of adversity? In the first episode of Season 2, we hear from award-winning journalist and writer Anna Lekas Miller, who specialises in conflict and migration. Despite covering distressing events like the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIS, Anna has always sought stories of compassion and love....

Third Culture Therapy host Layla Maghribi announces the return of another season of the podcast with an amazing new line-up of guests! From the impact of hostile foreign policies on love and relationships to the role of art, poetry & literature in healing, Layla goes deep on topics that are both highly personal, and completely universal. Third Culture Therapy will be back on the 25th September...

How do a father and son maintain a strong relationship while working together on healing others? Can professional collaboration strain personal family ties? Daniel Mate, musician, author, mental chiropractor, and Palestine advocate, joins us to explore these questions. Co-author of The Myth of Normal with his father, Gabor Mate, Daniel shares insights into their father-son partnership and their jo...

How can embracing both Arab and Jewish identities offer a new vision for healing in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? What does it mean to love Judaism but reject Zionism? Hadar Cohen, an Arab Jewish scholar, mystic, and artist, joins us to explore these complex questions. Founder of malchut , a spiritual school focused on Jewish mysticism and direct experience of God, Hadar’s work bridges spiritu...

How can we navigate personal loss while holding space for collective grief during times of crisis? What does it mean to find healing through the mind, body, and spirit after deep personal and communal trauma? Hana Elrais, a British-Libyan creative, grief counsellor, and end-of-life carer, joins us to share her unique approach to processing grief and trauma. Founder of Permission to Grieve , where...

What does it mean to live outside the stereotypes, and how can we free ourselves from shame? How do we stop caring about others' judgments and start living for ourselves? Alya Mooro, Egyptian-born and London-raised writer and best-selling author of The Greater Freedom: Life as a Middle Eastern Woman Outside the Stereotypes , joins us to explore these themes. Many of you may know Alya from her news...

How can we practice self-compassion and set boundaries while facing collective grief during a genocide? What does it mean to decolonize therapy, and how can it help communities struggling with generational trauma? This week, we’re joined by Palestinian-Polish therapist Tasha Matar, who specialises in generational wounds, diasporic grief, and complex trauma. Raised in Canada by a Polish mother and...