Stories Beyond Borders

What does it mean to grow up everywhere and nowhere at the same time? In this episode, I sit down with author and speaker J.K. Amerson López to discuss her memoir Embassy Kid: An American Foreign Service Family Memoir . As the eldest daughter of an American diplomat, J.K. spent her childhood living across Latin America, Europe, and Washington, D.C., constantly adapting to new cultures, languages,...

In this episode of Stories Beyond Borders, I sit down with Asees Anand to explore her unique journey growing up between cultures and countries. Born in Kobe, Japan to Indian parents and raised in Los Angeles, Asees shares what it was like navigating a world where her appearance often shaped how others perceived her identity. While she looked Indian, she felt deeply connected to Japanese culture an...

In this episode of Stories Beyond Borders , we are joined by Rohene Bouajram, an award-winning educator, leadership coach, and internationally renowned speaker. Rohene is a Zimbabwean-Canadian whose work is deeply shaped by her bridged identity and lived experience of navigating systems not built for universal inclusion. She shares her journey of arriving in Canada in 2002 as what she describes as...

In this episode of Stories Beyond Borders , I sit down with Tanja Podvrsan, a cross-cultural trainer and coach whose life journey spans Slovenia, the United States, and now France. Tanja’s story begins in Slovenia, where, as a young girl, she would look up at the sky and dream of a life beyond what felt familiar. That dream turned into reality most unexpectedly, as she left her home with nothing b...

What does it mean to grow up everywhere… and nowhere at the same time? 🌍 In this episode, I sit down with John Liang, Editor-in-Chief of Culturs Magazine and an Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK), to explore identity, belonging, and what it really means to grow up across cultures. Born in Guatemala to Chinese descent, John shares his family’s story—from his parents’ unexpected love story to his own j...

Tasnim Hasan, marketing strategist, storyteller, and founder of Bangladeshi Trailblazers Podcast & Influsio, shares her journey across continents and cultures in this episode of Stories Beyond Borders . Born in Bangladesh, raised in Dubai, and having pursued her studies in the USA, Tasnim reflects on how the cities she’s lived in shaped her perspective, career, and creativity. From witnessing...

In this episode of Stories Beyond Borders , I sit down with Desta — a Bangkok-born, British-Eritrean educator, writer, and vocalist whose life has unfolded across continents, cultures, and languages. Having traveled to more than 90 countries through her work in international education, Desta shares the deep gratitude she feels for a life shaped by movement — and the quiet tension that comes with i...

In this episode of Stories Beyond Borders , I sit down with Simone Johnson, a former U.S. diplomat, author, and cultural bridge-builder, to unpack the deeply human journey of identity, culture, and self-discovery. Originally from Jamaica, Simone shares her immigrant story—moving to the United States on a scholarship, navigating college, and adapting to a new culture. But beyond the “typical” immig...

In this episode, I speak with Saleha Mirza, author of Confessions of a Brown Girl , about identity, belonging, and the quiet struggles many brown women grow up carrying. Saleha is the youngest of four siblings and grew up as the only brown child at her school, without South Asian friends or people who looked like her. Wanting to fit in, she often tried to be more Western and, at times, felt embarr...

In this episode, I sit down with Bảo-Vy Nguyễn, a community organizer, artist, and founder of Missing Blue , a grassroots initiative dedicated to creating space and visibility for cross-cultural individuals. Born in Montreal and raised across multiple cities—including Ottawa, Vancouver, and even Finland—Vy’s life has been deeply shaped by constant mobility and the layered identity of being a third...

In this deeply heartfelt episode of Stories Beyond Borders, I sit down with Angela — a biracial woman who grew up navigating two cultures: a white mother and a Black father. She shares how, in her home, race wasn’t openly discussed, leaving her to make sense of her identity on her own. Angela reflects on the complexity of looking white in a Black family, acknowledging both the privilege she carrie...

In this episode, I’m joined by Simone Pols , a language enthusiast, coach, and founder of the Simple Italian Podcast — one of the most popular podcasts for Italian learners. 🌍 Simone’s story is rooted in curiosity — a deep desire to learn, explore, and connect with people across cultures. Having lived in several countries and speaking nearly a dozen languages (with Spanish as his favorite!), Simo...

In this episode, I’m joined by Angela Vitiello, MBA, MSEd — founder of the Expat Parenting Collective, alumna of INSEAD, member of the European Mentoring & Coaching Council, and affiliate of the Institute of Coaching at McLean/Harvard Medical School. Angela has lived in 4 countries across 3 continents, traveled to nearly 40, and has been navigating life as an expat parent since 2018. Her work...

In this episode of Stories Beyond Borders , we sit down with Alexandra Paucescu , a Romanian writer, journalist, and intercultural communication expert. As the spouse of a diplomat for nearly two decades, Alexandra has lived in various countries, raising her children as Third Culture Kids (TCKs). She shares her experiences of adapting to new cultures, the challenges and joys of frequent relocation...

What does “home” really mean when you grow up between cultures? In this episode, I sit down with Michelle Foltinger Garcia , a Spanish-Danish actress, writer, and podcast host of Unrooted . Born and raised in Marbella and educated in the UK, Michelle moved to New York to pursue her acting career. But soon, she realized New York wasn’t what she imagined it would be—and found herself drawn back home...

In this first episode, I sit down with Markian Benhamou— former content creator turned community builder — to explore what it truly means to be a Third Culture Kid (TCK). With roots in France and the U.S., and a childhood shaped by life in Russia, Spain, and Hong Kong, Markian shares how growing up across cultures helped shape his identity and worldview. We talk about the languages he speaks, what...