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 5: From Nice to Confident Kindness
What's the difference between being nice and being kind? In this deeply personal episode, Asees shares why understanding this distinction completely transformed how she shows up in relationships – and why it might save your sanity too.
Through vulnerable stories from her real estate career and family dynamics, Asees explores how cultural conditioning around "respecting elders" and "keeping the peace" led her to accept treatment that was slowly draining her energy and self-worth. From the building neighbor who tried to sabotage her business to toxic family relationships where she kept chasing people who had no intention of reciprocating, she learned some hard lessons about the difference between people-pleasing and genuine care.
Key themes explored:
- The crucial difference between niceness (avoiding conflict) and kindness (genuine care, even when uncomfortable)
- How "confident kindness" comes from self-worth, not fear
- Why some people react negatively when you start setting boundaries
- Practical steps for transitioning from people-pleasing to authentic connection
- How cultural expectations can trap us in cycles of accepting poor treatment
- Why your confidence might trigger others (and why that's not your problem to fix)
- Specific phrases to use when setting boundaries with love
This episode is especially relevant for anyone who grew up being told to "be nice," "respect your elders," or "keep the peace" – and now finds themselves exhausted from accommodating everyone else's comfort at the expense of their own well-being.
The bottom line: The world doesn't need more nice people – we need people brave enough to care for real, even when it's uncomfortable. Because true kindness? It's love with courage.
New episodes drop every Tuesday at 6AM EST.
🎧 Available everywhere you listen to podcasts: https://linktr.ee/sakurasikhistrength
Connect with Sakura, Sikhi & Strength:
Instagram: @sakurasikhistrength
Tiktok: @sakurasikhistrength
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sakurasikhistrength
Email: hello@sakurasikhistrength.com