Quiero un Panino con Cheese - a Podcast for TCKs and Multicultural Families

Send us Fan Mail What does home really mean when you've spent your life moving between countries, cultures, and continents? In this episode, I sit down with Sam Frearson-Tubito —author, speaker, and third-generation global nomad—to explore the realities of growing up as a Third Culture Kid (TCK) , raising globally mobile children, and navigating identity, belonging, and home across cultures....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined once again by Annegret Bertsch, a Certified Professional Coach, for a thoughtful conversation about the realities of accompanying a partner abroad and the complex emotions, challenges, and opportunities that can come with it.  Together, we explore why the term “trailing spouse” often feels limiting and discuss how accompanying partners can reclaim their...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the answer to the question “Where are you from?” is both everywhere and nowhere? In this episode of Quiero un Panino con Cheese , I sit down with author Kathleen Gamble to discuss her remarkable memoir, Echoes of a Global Life . Born in Burma (now Myanmar), Kathleen spent her childhood and young adulthood moving between continents, cultures, languages, and identi...

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply moving episode of Quiero un Panino con Cheese , I sit down with therapist, researcher, and author Dr. Rachel Cason to explore the complex emotional landscape of Third Culture Kids (TCKs). Rachel’s book, Incredible Lives and the Courage to Live Them: Thoughts of a Third Culture Kid Therapist , offers a compassionate and powerful reflection on identity, belonging, gri...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when Serbian, Cuban, and German cultures collide under one roof—and four languages are spoken daily? In this episode, I sit down with Jovana, a speech processing engineer, mom of three, multilingual parenting advocate, and host of Real Moms Talking podcast.  Together, we explore the realities of raising children across cultures, the beauty (and chaos) of managing mult...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to be inspired by a journey that goes far beyond physical limits? In this episode, entrepreneur and endurance athlete, David Green, shares the extraordinary story of running across 12 European countries in just 99 days—an experience that became as much about human connection as it was about endurance. From navigating borders on foot to forming unexpected bonds with strangers...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to leave everything behind and start a new life abroad—with kids? In this episode, I sit down with Rebecca Cretella, an American mom who made the bold and intentional decision to move her family from the U.S. to Spain in search of a slower, more connected lifestyle. From navigating visas and selling everything they owned to raising “third culture kids” in...

Send us Fan Mail In this engaging conversation, Angela and I explore the joys and complexities of multicultural partnerships, particularly focusing on parenting and cultural identity. We discuss the importance of communication, setting boundaries, and the unique experiences of raising children in a neutral territory. The dialogue emphasizes the need for intentionality in relationships and the beau...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with my brother Riccardo for a conversation that feels both deeply personal and surprisingly universal. As siblings, we share the same family, the same roots, and many of the same experiences—but the way we’ve each processed our multicultural upbringing is very different. Growing up across continents meant that identity was never a simple question for u...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Riia shares her journey of living in a multicultural relationship, raising a child in "neutral territory" (neither hers nor her partner's), and navigating the complexities of identity and emotional challenges that come with being a "trailing partner," a term neither of us likes. She discusses the importance of cultural traditions, language...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Bernard Asnong , author of Be Awesome Be Global , for a thought-provoking conversation about identity, belonging, and what it really means to live beyond borders. As always, I begin with the question: “Where are you from?” — and quickly unpack how complex that simple question becomes when you’ve lived across multiple countries and cultures. Bernard...

Send us Fan Mail Season 2 of Quiero un Panino con Cheese is almost here. After a heartfelt and meaningful first season, I want to express my deep gratitude to my co-host, Hazel, whose energy and care helped shape this podcast. Due to professional commitments, she won’t be continuing into season two, and I wish her nothing but the very best. This new season marks a fresh chapter. I’ll be hosting so...

Send us Fan Mail As the year comes to a close, we’re also wrapping up Season 1 of Quiero un Panino con Cheese — and what a year it’s been.  This episode serves as a year-end recap, where we share our honest thoughts on what 2025 has meant for us personally and creatively , the lessons we’ve learned along the way, and how this podcast has grown since its very first episode. From meaningful conversa...

Send us Fan Mail Traveling—especially during the holiday season—can be exciting, chaotic, and downright stressful all at once. In this episode of Quiero un Panino con Cheese , Hazel and Gaia dive headfirst into the highs and lows of travel, sharing their personal tips, quirks, and very real anxieties when it comes to getting from point A to point B. In a lighthearted and funny conversation, they b...

Send us Fan Mail In this light-hearted episode, Hazel and Gaia dive into the joys and challenges of navigating the holiday season as part of a multicultural, globally-scattered family. With relatives spread across countries and time zones—and traditions coming from multiple cultures—the holidays can quickly become complicated. They explore:  Traditions vs. Flexibility: How much should you hold ont...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Elisabeth Hutman, a multilingual psychologist based in Madrid, to explore a topic many expats quietly struggle with: expat guilt . Together, we unpack questions such as: Do people even realize when they’re experiencing expat guilt? What are the signs, and how can we recognize it in ourselves? How is expat guilt tied to our sense of identity? Are c...

Send us Fan Mail Today we sit down with J.K. Amerson López , author of Embassy Kid: An American Foreign Service Family Memoir — the first book to tell the story of Foreign Service life from the perspective of a child. Kelly, as she likes to be called, shares vivid memories of growing up as the eldest daughter of a U.S. Foreign Service officer during a turbulent era beginning in the late 1950s. Fro...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode, we chat with the wonderful Kat Simison from Brewster Madrid . Kat wears many hats — she’s Brewster’s Director of Enrollment and External Affairs , an educator , and a mom raising a daughter between two homes: Spain and the USA . Our conversation dives deep into what it means to raise and educate children across cultures. Kat shares insightful stories tha...

Send us Fan Mail Markian Benhamou on the TCK Experience and Building Global Community In this episode, we sit down with Markian Benhamou — creator, content entrepreneur, and founder of the Smile Squad — to explore what it means to grow up as a Third Culture Kid (TCK) and how that experience has shaped his mission to build community across cultures. Markian shares his journey of growing up between...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever traveled somewhere and found yourself in a situation that felt completely foreign—even uncomfortable—because it was normal for the locals but so unusual for you? That’s culture shock . And that’s exactly what Hazel and Gaia dive into in today’s episode. Having lived in various countries around the world, they’ve both had their fair share of moments where local custom...

Send us Fan Mail Naming a baby should be one of the most joyful parts of expecting. But when families cross borders, cultures, and languages, this “fun” task can quickly turn into a puzzle. In this episode of Quiero un Panino con Cheese , we explore the complexities of choosing a name that works across multiple worlds. From avoiding awkward translations to navigating legal requirements in differen...

Send us Fan Mail What would it be like to leave everything you’ve ever known — your family, your hometown, your traditions — at just 23 years old and start a life abroad? Now imagine doing it 65 years ago, without the internet, Google Maps, cell phones, Duolingo, or even reliable landlines. That’s the incredible journey of our guest, Nicoletta Loewenherz, who “expated” long before the word was eve...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of our series,  TCK STORIES  , we sit down with Chiara — Gaia’s middle child and a true Third Culture Kid. Born in Paris to Italian parents, Chiara's journey spans multiple countries: from Rome to Madrid, then across the ocean to the U.S. for college and work, and now back to Spain. Chiara opens up in a raw and heartfelt conversation about what it’s like to...

Send us Fan Mail After years of living abroad, returning home might seem like the easy part—but for many, it’s the hardest transition of all. In this episode, we dive deep into the often overlooked phenomenon of reverse culture shock —what it is, why it hits harder than expected, and how to navigate it with more awareness and compassion. We’re thrilled to welcome Annegret Bertsch , a solution-focu...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt and candid episode, Hazel and Gaia tackle a tough but important topic: what happens when life takes a scary turn and you're thousands of miles away from your loved ones? Whether it's a personal emergency or a crisis back home, being far from family adds a layer of fear and helplessness that’s hard to shake. While we can't always prevent difficult m...