The Root & Seed Podcast

It's April and it's time for another season! Season 3 of The Root & Seed Podcast is launching April 10 and we cannot be more excited. We are talking about celebration, the kind that one does through their actions, words, big and small, every day and on special occasions. The diversity of guests and their stories will continue to amaze and delight.   Please join us by subscribing on y...

It's our second season finale and we are ending with a special one! Sisters Chantal and Danielle (Dani) Khan Da Silva's curiosity led them to truly understand their family, their stories and the role their stories play in each of their lives.  Chantal wrote a poignant article following the 20th anniversary of 9/11 about her family's decision to change their name from paternal Khan to maternal...

As a writer, Nadia's creative work flows from her awareness and understanding of her story as someone of Afghan and Italian descent. Two geographies, two cultures, two religions and yet Nadia is resolving her identity in belonging to herself and her unique experience.   Through this conversation we are gifted with a perspective of an outsider looking in, an individual who is embracing an...

Janey had us at her proclamation and declaration of being "Unapologetically Nigerian" at the start of this podcast interview.  Her perspective on her identity and her gifts to the world unfolded in the rest of our conversation like a beautifully scripted song.  We learned about a special gift that sits in her office and reminds her where she's from, her thoughts on how understanding your...

Have you ever thought about all the things that needed to happen for you to exist today? All the choices that generations before you needed to make, the million things that needed to go right and the role of luck in it all?  Our episode 3 guest, Jon has.  Ingrained in his sense of introspection and grounded in his experiences growing up, Jon knows and appreciates his unique story and all...

Sophia and Saphina are two 2nd generation individuals from families of diverse backgrounds.  While their stories are unique and varied, if there is a common theme outside the relatability of their individual narratives, it would be the idea of choice.  Sophia’s intention is very clear and present and she wishes for her family to experience a connection to her religion, just like she did....

Alex is back!  Because we love a good bookend in storytelling, our Season One finale guest returns to tell a different side of his story and journey...this time as a father. You might remember Alex as being direct and honest about his reclamation of his Korean culture. In this episode, while we see the softer side of Alex, his intention to honour his culture is done with the same commitment l...

Racism, rejection and assimilation has been a part of the visible minority experience since migration began. Our season finale guest Alex, shares his experience of how life and societal events have shaped the reclamation of his culture. The contrast of his outlook and attitude towards his Korean culture from when he was a child to now is fascinating. Alex doesn't do anything half-way and isn't afr...

Circumstance and desire are two compelling reasons for really understanding one’s family traditions, culture and stories. Often, a level of curiosity can compel one to dig deeper, but sometimes the drive is out of need or loss.  Both Sara and Kathy share their experience with learning from older generations in their lives.  Their awareness of what they want to take forward is done with r...

The stories of immigrants are as varied as their countries of origin, the life stage when their journeys occur and who they immigrate with. We learned from our conversations with Lakshita and Paula that their connection to their home countries and cultures remain strong and vibrant despite the difference in their journeys. And we get to hear about how they keep that connection alive, on their term...

Have you ever considered what effects your family’s journey and history has had on your identity?  Could understanding those layers provide a deeper appreciation for who you are today? Aldo, a 2nd generation Canadian from Italian descent, gets pretty introspective about his family’s story and how that has shaped his sense of self.  Instead of trying to understand the culture as a societa...

What’s it like to be a cultural nomad? In this week’s episode we speak with Danielle, a citizen of the world, who helps us understand how sometimes you have to step away from what you are familiar with to truly understand what aspects are most important to you.  While it wasn’t always apparent, Danielle’s cultural undercurrents became more prominent once she moved from country to country, and...

Welcome to Root & Seed, hosted by Anika Chabra, a brand new podcast about tradition seekers who are exploring, defining, and celebrating their family and cultural identities. In our first episode, we explore the idea of Culture Catalysts - the moment that triggers people to choose to embrace the culture of their parents. Anika talks to Eddie and Vicky, two amazing people who had different feel...