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 4: Finding People Like Us - A 20-Year Third Culture Friendship
What happens when three young women from different corners of the world meet in Paris and discover they finally understand each other? In this heartwarming conversation, Asees reconnects with her dearest friends Annick and Maureen – a friendship that began at Sciences-Po over 20 years ago and has only grown stronger across continents.
Annick (French-Mexican-American, now in Atlanta) and Maureen (British-Italian-French, calling in from Brussels) join Asees to explore what it means to live with multiple cultural identities and the unique challenges that come with never quite fitting into a single box.
Key themes explored:
- The relief of finding people who "just get it" without explanation
- Why the question "Where are you from?" creates anxiety for multicultural people
- How we perform different versions of ourselves in different cultural contexts
- The difference between cultural homelessness and cultural abundance
- Why we sometimes "tone ourselves down" with monocultural friends
- The importance of finding emotionally safe relationships that embrace all parts of you
This conversation beautifully captures the complexity of third culture identity – from the longing for places left behind to the gift of navigating multiple worlds. Whether you're living between cultures yourself, raising globally mobile children, or simply curious about the multicultural experience, this episode offers both validation and insight into the beautiful messiness of complex identity.
The friendship between these three women proves that when you find people who truly understand your multifaceted self, geography becomes irrelevant and authentic connection transcends borders.
About the Guests: Annick is French-Mexican-American, currently living in Atlanta with her German husband. Maureen is British-Italian-French, working in European affairs in Brussels. All three met as students in Paris and have maintained their bond across continents for two decades.
🎧 Available everywhere you listen to podcasts 🔗 Links: https://linktr.ee/sakurasikhistrength