Connected Roots and Routes

What happens when you don’t fit the boxes around you? In this episode, I explore how self-esteem is often understood as something internal, something we either have or lack. But when we zoom out, a different picture emerges. Our sense of self is shaped in relation to the environments we grow up in : the norms, expectations, and categories we are placed into, or excluded from. Drawing from my own e...

In this episode, I take you back to where my story begins and explore the power of identity narratives, how the stories we tell ourselves shape our sense of self. Whether you’re an adoptee, a mother, a parent, or simply someone reflecting on your own path, this episode is an invitation to step back, reframe, and perhaps even rewrite your own story in a way that empowers you.

🎙  Welcome to  Connected Roots and Routes !  🌍 I’m Dounya Chennah, and my story begins with adoption. Living life as an adoptee sparked a deep curiosity about what shapes who we are and how we find our place in the world. This journey led me to explore identity, belonging, self-esteem, and resilience—universal questions that connect us all. In  Connected Roots and Routes,  I share personal reflec...