Dr. Sarah Aratchi brings a powerful and heartfelt account of migrating to Australia as a child, reflecting on the everyday realities being “othered” due to her surname and skin colour. She unpacks the lasting impact of being “the brown kid” in school and the constant questioning about where she’s “really from” that followed her into adulthood.

The conversation also highlights the subtle ways in which sexism pervades the medical field - from being misidentified as a nurse to continually having to assert her expertise as a doctor. Rather than viewing her dual heritage as a burden, Sarah embraces what she calls being a “cross-cultural kid” - someone who can authentically inhabit multiple cultural spaces. She encourages others to resist the pressure to choose between identities, instead celebrating the richness that comes from blending Australian and heritage cultures through food, traditions, and community. Her journey from exclusion to empowerment illustrates how authentic self-expression can emerge from embracing multiplicity rather than conformity to a single narrative.

00:00 Journey of Migration and Childhood Memories

06:05 Navigating School Life as a Minority

12:00 The Impact of Cultural Questions

17:56 Experiences of Sexism in Medicine

25:54 Balancing Motherhood and Career

33:54 The Strength of Women in Dual Roles

38:13 The Journey of a Woman in Medicine

39:54 Writing a Memoir: A Personal Reflection

42:11 The Emotional Toll of Medicine

47:55 Cultural Identity and Migration

52:29 Finding Belonging in a Multicultural Society

56:06 The Power of Authenticity and Advocacy

Resources mentioned:

Brown. Female. Doctor. By Sarah Arachchi (available on Amazon)

Looking for Alibrandi, by Melina Marchetta

Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

Connect with Sarah:

Instagram: @kidsdoctorsarah

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If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

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This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

In this episode, host Emma Bellamy-Dodd sits down with cultural psychologist Deborah Ko for an eye-opening conversation on identity, belonging, and adaptation across cultures. Deborah shares her personal experiences growing up at the intersection of American and Hong Kong backgrounds, and reveals how cultural psychology became a lens for understanding her multiple selves. The discussion explores the discomfort of duality and dialecticism, Western versus Eastern notions of selfhood, and the fluid meaning of authenticity for those living between cultures. They unpack leadership and workplace dynamics, examining how the “ideal leader” looks like across cultures and how multicultural teams navigate these hidden norms. Deborah offers insights on communication, self-presentation, and adapting to professional norms abroad. The conversation also tackles how AI risks ironing out our individual quirks and cultural nuances, highlighting the critical importance of intentional engagement with technology. Memorable reflections on home, third-culture kids, and embracing complexity round out this compelling exploration of life in the in-between.

Chapters

00:00 Cultural Psychology: An Introduction

02:30 Growing Up Between Cultures

06:17 Understanding Identity Across Cultures

11:31 The Interdependent vs. Independent Self

16:32 Self-Presentation and Cultural Expectations

22:52 Leadership and Cultural Biases

28:16 Cultural Morality: What’s Right or Wrong Across Contexts

33:33 Communication Styles and Cultural Norms

40:14 Emotional Expression Across Cultures

45:59 Honesty vs. Kindness in Communication

51:17 The Impact of AI on Authenticity

57:05 Cultural Nuances in AI Communication

01:05:40 The Role of Critical Thinking in the Age of AI

01:13:28 Cultural Identity and the Migrant Experience

01:19:50 Closing Reflections

Resources mentioned:

“Geography of Thought” by Richard Nisbett

“The Culture Map” by Erin Meyer

“On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong

“Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner

Connect with Deborah:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahko/

Medium: https://psykobabble.medium.com/

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Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

In this conversation, host Emma Bellamy-Dodd speaks with Fabiola Campbell, founder and CEO of Professional Migrant Women and author of the upcoming book “Own it”. Fabiola shares her deeply personal migration story - born in Australia but raised in Venezuela, Fabiola returned as an adult expecting to feel at home, only to confront the reality of being a migrant in her birth country. Fabiola opens up about what she calls “the death of the superwoman” - the confident, capable person she was in Venezuela who disappeared when language barriers stripped away her ability to express herself. She explores the profound loss of identity and social capital that comes with migration, where achievements and connections that defined you back home suddenly carry no meaning. The conversation delves into the shame many migrants carry, the internal hierarchies of migrant “worth,” and the journey from focusing on what you lack to recognizing your strengths. Fabiola introduces her DARE method for reclaiming identity with courage and discusses the importance of daring to take up space and be seen.

Resources mentioned:

“Own it”, by Fabiola Campbell

To buy her book, click on the following link: https://www.amazon.com.au/Own-call-women-D-R/dp/B0FPBLW5TV

Connect with Fabiola or Professional Migrant Women (PMW):

Fabiola’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiola-campbell/

Website: professionalmigrantwomen.com.au

PMW Level Up Platform: https://professionalmigrantwomen.com.au/level-up-platform-launch/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:30 Meeting Fabiola Campbell and Her Journey

02:39 The Death of the Superwoman: Identity Crisis as a Migrant

09:04 Grieving the Past: Loss of Self and Social Capital

14:04 Shame and Internalized Identity: The Struggle of Being a Migrant

26:12 Empowerment Through Understanding: Shifting Perspectives

45:29 Daring to Take Up Space: Embracing Identity and Growth

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Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.