Sakura, Sikhi & Strength
Welcome to Sakura, Sikhi & Strength - a podcast about finding strength in the space between cultures and thriving through life's constant changes. I'm Asees Sethi Anand, your host, and as someone born in Japan, raised in Los Angeles, educated globally and now living in New York City, I understand what it means to navigate life between worlds. This podcast is for anyone building careers, starting families, caring for loved ones, and writing their own definition of success - all while honoring the beautiful complexity of multicultural identity. Whether you're a third-culture kid, second-generation immigrant, or simply someone who feels caught between cultures, this show is your space to feel seen, understood, and empowered. Join me for honest conversations about resilience, growth, and finding your strength in the spaces that make you uniquely you.
New episodes coming weekly. Subscribe now so you don't miss a single story.
Connect with me:
Instagram: @sakurasikhistrength
Email: hello@sakurasikhistrength.com
Sakura, Sikhi & Strength
Episode 2: Anchor Friendships with Fluid Homes - A conversation with Aarti Virani
What happens when your identity spans continents and cultures? In this deeply personal conversation, host Asees sits down with accomplished journalist and writer Aarti Virani to explore the beautiful complexity of being second-generation and third culture kids.
Both born to Indian families in Kobe, Japan, Asees and Aarti share a unique bond - their grandfathers moved to Japan post-WWII, their fathers grew up together, and their mothers got pregnant around the same time. Now raising families in America, they reflect on how their multicultural backgrounds have shaped their careers, relationships, and sense of home.
Key Topics Discussed:
- The mental gymnastics of answering "Where are you from?"
- Why some friendships become "anchors" when your identity is fluid
- The difference between first and second-generation immigrant experiences
- How multicultural backgrounds create unique professional advantages
- Reframing cultural blending as "remixing" rather than dilution
- Finding places where you don't have to mute any part of yourself
This conversation will resonate with anyone who's navigated multiple cultural identities, felt caught between different versions of themselves, or wondered what "home" really means when you have multiple places that feel like home.
About Aarti Virani: Aarti is a renowned writer and journalist whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Travel and Leisure, The New York Times, NBC, CNN, and Vogue India. She is currently drafting a work of fiction about the Indian community in Japan, and brings professional expertise and personal insight to conversations about multicultural identity.
New episodes drop every Tuesday at 5AM EST.
Connect with Sakura, Sikhi & Strength:
Instagram: @sakurasikhistrength
Tiktok: @sakurasikhistrength
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sakurasikhistrength
Email: hello@sakurasikhistrength.com
All Episodes: https://linktr.ee/sakurasikhistrength