Voices from Around the World

Global Voices, Human Stories

• Obediah's Global Movement

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What does it mean to carry home within you when borders shift and communities fracture? Ashley Pena, a Puerto Rican and Dominican trauma-informed wellness coach, opens our debut episode with a sensory journey through her cultural heritage—where the mingled scents of salt air, grilling food, and sunscreen transport her back to beach picnics filled with family, food, and music.

Beyond these warm memories lies a powerful story of healing. Ashley candidly shares how she navigated generational trauma without proper tools or resources, describing the painful contradiction of being expected to show resilience while vulnerability remained taboo. "Healing truly is a miracle and it's revolutionary," she reflects, "especially when there's so much generational trauma in your culture." This profound insight frames healing not merely as personal work but as cultural reclamation and collective liberation.

The conversation weaves through cross-cultural misunderstandings, the importance of finding joy amid hardship, and Ashley's passionate advocacy for equality in all forms. With remarkable clarity, she articulates how systems designed to preserve inequality require both awareness and action. Yet even facing these challenges, Ashley maintains hope by transforming her pain into purpose that supports others.

As we sample the flavors of her heritage through descriptions of pastelón and mangú, Ashley leaves us with a message that resonates far beyond cultural boundaries: "Your voice matters, your story matters, and what you have to offer the world matters." In these words lies the heart of Voices Around the World—the belief that sharing our authentic experiences creates ripples of understanding that can, indeed, change lives.

Subscribe now to join our journey exploring diverse perspectives that illuminate our shared humanity. What voice will you hear next?

Speaker 1:

Welcome to Voices Around the World, a podcast that brings together diverse voices and perspectives from different corners of the globe. Each episode features interviews with individuals from various cultures, backgrounds and professions, allowing listeners to gain insights into different worldviews, experiences and ideas. From personal stories to discussions on global issues, this podcast aims to foster understanding, empathy and connection among people from all walks of life. Join us as we explore the rich tapestry of human voices and celebrate the diversities that makes our world so vibrant. What's the sound of hope in a new land, or the meaning of home when borders shift? Welcome to Voices Around the World, the podcast where, one story at a time, we discover the world as our neighbors live it. I'm your host, obadiah, and every week, we invite guests from different parts of the globe to share the heartbeat of their lived experience and their perspective on challenges and joys that unite or divide us. Today, we begin not with headlines, but with a voice. Stay with us for a story that may just shift the way you see the world.

Speaker 1:

Today, it is my true privilege to introduce our first guest on Voices Around the World, ashley Pena. Ashley is a proud Puerto Rican and Dominican trauma-informed wellness coach, raised in Miami, florida. Drawing from their own journey of healing through pain and personal trials. They've turned their pain into purpose, supporting others from all walks of life and reclaiming their power. In healing from trauma through holistic, heart-centered care. Trials, they've turned their pain into purpose, supporting others from all walks of life and reclaiming their power and healing from trauma through holistic, heart-centered care. Ashley, it is my pleasure to welcome you again as our first guest to Voices Around the World. Is there anything that you would like to say?

Speaker 2:

Yes, I just want to thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to have this conversation and I can't wait for people to tune in and hopefully have some takeaways and things that can help support them along their journey.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for sharing that, Ashley. So to begin, could you describe a small detail that consistently evokes a sense of home to you?

Speaker 2:

Oh, my goodness. Yes, there's this combination of smells that are just so overwhelming and so amazing that always remind me of home, and it's the combination. It's hard to describe, it's something that you only know if you've experienced it personally, but it's this combination of salt in the air and people grilling and sunscreen. It's like this unique, overwhelmingly abundant smell in the Caribbean and in Miami in the best way, and I feel like so. So, so much. It always reminds me of home and if I could bottle it up and wear it every single day, I absolutely would, and it's it's incredible. It always is such a nostalgic smell and it's something that I crave when I'm not home.

Speaker 1:

Man, I'm imagining that smell, right, the smell of salt in the air, people grilling and sunscreen. That's such a vivid and sensory rich description. It instantly, like I said, transport me and, I'm pretty sure, our listeners. The way you capture that blend of salt, that salt air, gross food and sunscreen feels like a memory wrapped in warmth and joy. It's amazing how sense can hold so much emotional weight, almost like a passport to a place and feeling, that imagining of bottling up and wearing it every day, as you mentioned, truly I can only imagine it speaks to how deeply that environment lives in you. And again, thank you for painting that moment so beautifully to our listeners and to myself. So before we continue, is there anything you'd like to expand on?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I just want to add that home is, it can be a place, but really home is the memories that you have. It's that thing, whether it's a smell, whether it's a memory, whether it's a food right it's that thing that reminds you of home, that makes you feel connected to your childhood, to who you are. And obviously for me growing up, it was really hard to call one place home just because I didn't have that. It was very unstable and inconsistent for me. So for a long time I didn't feel like I had a home and I didn't know how to create a home within myself. And that question just reiterates the fact that home is where you are and it's what you carry with you. It's the memories that you have, and it doesn't always have to be associated with it.

Speaker 1:

I love how you highlighted how, at a very young age, how you kind of understood things in such a deep way, despite everything happening around you, right Feeling like you were called to do things differently, right Called to think differently from what was the norm, as well as what you witnessed and experienced in your environment. Your reflection, as I said, is highly valued. You've articulated many of the challenges I faced, both in my childhood and adulthood, around recognizing my differences as well as learning to embrace them with grace rather than judgment. So let's turn now to the next topic, building on what you just shared. So is there a family tradition or community ritual that shaped who you are?

Speaker 2:

Yes, absolutely. So there's this kind of going back to the first question, right? That sense of smell that's nostalgic for me is rooted in the tradition of having beach picnics. So in general in my culture, we tend to throw parties and like celebrate just for no reason, to be honest. It's just so that we can have a reason to do something, to celebrate something.

Speaker 2:

But beach picnics, in particular, were such a core memory of mine.

Speaker 2:

It was where we would wake up super early in the morning, we would pack up all of our food that we prepared the day before and I'm talking about, you know, pasta, rice, beans, like all a real, real food that we put to the day before and we would just rally up as many people as we could and we would get to the beach super early, making sure that we would find the best beach spot and we would just spend the day at the beach.

Speaker 2:

We would ride bikes, swim, play and just dance, put music right, just had the best time. And I love this tradition so much because not only does it remind me of my culture and make me feel connected to my community, it's something that always reminds me of the importance of joy and of showing up to create space to enjoy life, even when things are hard and even if they're not perfect, and that's something that I carry with me every day and that I try to pass on and pass forward. It's just the intentionality of bringing joy into your life. Even when you are struggling, even when you feel like it's not possible to have joy in your life or you're not deserving of it. It's just really taking the time to celebrate and to connect with people. And obviously that tradition looks a bit different for me now, just because they're not as big the beach picnics, they're not with as many people, but that doesn't matter. It's really just about connecting, it's about getting together, it's about creating a space where you can enjoy your life, even when things are hard.

Speaker 1:

I love, ashley, how you mentioned how some of your traditions taught you the importance of joy showing, creating space to enjoy life even when things aren't perfect. Right, that spirit you mentioned, that spirit still lives in you and also influence how you hold space for other people now in the work that you do. So, wow, thank you for sharing that. And how you describe right the beach picnics. You gave a window into traditions that layered with joy and tension and deep cultural meaning. So I love how you framed it, not just as a party, as you mentioned, but as a ritual of togetherness. You're with your family. You woke up early, you made sure you got to the beach, you made food Basically, it sounds like you took the whole kitchen with you You're cooking all day the day before and just made sure that you arrived before the sunrise, found that perfect spot and just enjoyed that time with your family.

Speaker 1:

Again, those early mornings, the hunt for the perfect spot, the music, the food it all makes it so alive, so alive. And the way you connected to those memories to your healing work and how it. You know how it supported you with your own healing journey as well, as you know now you're supporting other people with their own healing journey. So that is so powerful. It's a reminder that joy isn't just a feeling, it's a practice, a way of showing up, not only for ourselves but for each other, and it sounds like you carry that legacy so so, so beautifully, in which you navigate challenges or have navigated challenges, and earlier you mentioned about an environment. Growing up in an environment that had a lot of chaos, instability, tension. A lot of people around you were suffering from traumatic experiences. This deregulation struggles with anger, frustration, as well as generational traumas and addiction. So, as we know, every culture has its storms and sunrises, so can you share with us a moment that deeply challenged you and your community?

Speaker 2:

Yes, definitely so in my culture. Right, every culture has its storms. I think it's important to acknowledge the fact that each culture has it and they also have it in slightly different ways. Right, and in my culture, it was obviously, unfortunately, the norm to be around chaos and instability, and it was also the norm to have to be expected to carry the weight of the healing of that right and the healing of generational trauma, but also without being given the tools or the resources or the space to even do that right. So it's hard because you have this weight that you carry with you, that's not only yours and you also have this responsibility, or you feel this responsibility, to heal it and to break it and to do different despite it. But you also don't know how to even do that right because you're not shown, you're not taught, you're not given the tools.

Speaker 2:

So I saw my culture very early in my life how resilience was rewarded and celebrated, but then, at the same time, vulnerability and mental health and healing was often silenced or invalidated.

Speaker 2:

So there's this like unspoken rule to keep going no matter what, to fight through anything that you go through, even when your mental health is struggling, even if you're struggling and suffering mentally, physically, emotionally and financially.

Speaker 2:

And for me, there was like a huge turning point in my life when I had to face my own traumas head on at such a young age and I realized that, you know that that's not something that I should have ever had to do or something that should have ever been put onto me, and also acknowledging that it wasn't only my own trauma but so many generations of it that I had this deep understanding and awareness of, and it wasn't mine to carry, much less to carry on my own.

Speaker 2:

So that moment really changed something within me and it cracked something open in me and, although it was painful, it also was the beginning of my purpose and it's where I started to unlearn and to heal and then eventually help others do the same. And it showed me just how powerful healing is and how it's not this personal, individual thing, it's cultural, it's expansive, it's collective and it's how we retain our right to rest, to experience joy, to experience the joy. And it just reminded me, it showed me that healing truly is a miracle and it's revolutionary, especially when there's so much generational trauma in your culture.

Speaker 1:

Ashley, I love your reflection. I have to highlight what you mentioned around healing isn't just personal, it's cultural, as well as reclaiming our right to rest, joy and heal as a revolution. I think a lot of times because stigma is still at the forefront of mental health and saying I'm not okay. A lot of people tend to, you know, highlight that resiliency and not pay attention right to their mental, emotional and spiritual health. They are suffering because they are taught that showing weakness right, that showing that you're struggling, is a form of weakness. So you have to continue to show up, even if you're suffering within yourself. So I thank you for naming it with such clarity and courage.

Speaker 1:

Again, what you shared speaks a volume of transformation that comes when we stop surviving and start reclaiming. The way you framed healing as both personal as well as cultural is extremely profound. It reminds us that restoration isn't just about yourself, but about rewriting inherent narratives and making space for collective liberation. That kind of honesty actually just doesn't resonate, as you know, as a ripple effect that will be passed on and shall be passed down through generations as we continue to heal. So before we continue, is there anything else that you'd like to expand on?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, the only thing that I would like to expand on is just the awareness that healing, like you said is, it's a lot right, there's a lot of heaviness and responsibility in healing and when you feel like you're doing it alone, it can feel so unfair and it can feel so isolating and frustrating and challenging, and I just want the listeners to know that it's worth it to navigate through it. It's worth it to keep going and to still be on your journey of healing, even if it feels like you're carrying it completely alone, because you, like you perfectly said, you're not only healing yourself through it, you're healing so, so, so many people that came before you and you're also creating such a powerful, illuminating path and space for everyone that comes after you.

Speaker 1:

Absolutely, and, in light of what you just shared, let's explore cross-cultural experiences you may have encountered. So talk to us about a time where you were misunderstood or you misunderstood someone else because of cultural differences.

Speaker 2:

Yes, definitely, I absolutely have, absolutely have, and I feel like it is when we say we haven't, we're completely denying the reality right, that we all face. I think each of us have misunderstood or been misunderstood to some capacity, at least once. Right, and I think it's important to acknowledge that because it's the only way that we can do better Right, because it's the only way that we can do better right. And for me, growing up and being conditioned you know, in my community it's really common to be very strictly conditioned in regards to religion, and so for me, growing up, even though it didn't resonate deep down in my core, I always felt indifferent about it.

Speaker 2:

But I still also found it really hard, really easy actually to misunderstand other people's experiences in regards to spirituality and religion, because I was so deeply embedded in what I was taught and it allowed me although it's never a good feeling to misunderstand, sometimes you don't even know you're doing it right and it wasn't until I started recognizing that I was being misunderstanding that I could actually change and allow myself to not only have more empathetic, non-judgmental view of others and their personal experiences, but also more empathy for those that were misunderstanding me right, because that's also an experience that I dealt with many, many times just being misunderstood for no reason, sometimes right, just for the simple fact that people didn't ever meet or know someone like me, right?

Speaker 2:

So for me, it's really powerful to be able to reflect on ways that we have not only been misunderstood but also misunderstood others for many different reasons, and by doing that, I think it creates a space where we can do better and realize that, yes, sometimes misunderstanding comes from hatred and it comes from ignorance, but sometimes it comes from just having a lack of cultural awareness and just simply not knowing that there's more than just you and your experiences, and sometimes it's completely unconscious, and I think it's important for us to really reflect on that. So I love that you asked that question and it's it's just so powerful when you do realize that there's a space that you can create to be more understanding of others.

Speaker 1:

I love how you mentioned how you know. You highlighted how sometimes you know being misunderstood or misunderstanding someone else sometimes can come from disconnect and a lack of cultural awareness. So what advice would you give to the listeners and how they can be more culturally aware, right To allow them to have more connection instead of that disconnect, with understanding different cultures, different experiences? So what advice will you give to our listeners?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think that's so important and that's the other side of things right.

Speaker 2:

For me, in order to be more understanding and to find that common ground is to really just learn to listen, to connect, to have conversations right and to be intentional with when you are having conversations, when you're getting to know people from different cultures, from different parts of the world, really try your best to be intentional about being non-judgmental, right, especially when you're hearing things that you don't align with or that you don't know.

Speaker 2:

Just respect it right, respect the differences that show up and also lean into and value the similarities, right. I think it's important to come from a place of openness and of non-judgment so that we can really get to know the fact that there are so many I mean, there's seven plus billion people in the world there are so many unique experiences, and especially cross-culturally, and it's important for us to be aware of those unique experiences and to hear about them and to learn about them and to connect with the people that have them and to do so in a way that is rooted in love and in compassion and understanding. And the only way we can do that is by really paying attention and connecting and doing so from a lens of respect and care.

Speaker 1:

That's such a thoughtful and honest reflection, ashley, and I couldn't agree with you more. I thank you for sharing it with such clarity. I just recently started to travel and I know that prior to me going to different countries that I've never gone to before I did myself, you know I had to research and learn, so I can speak from experience of your feedback in regards to it's important to listen, it's important to learn, it's important to educate yourself and not make assumptions based on what you see on the news or based on what you read in a newspaper, based on the rhetoric that is so easily spread about different countries, different cultures. It's important to do that research yourself and even have conversations with people from different parts of the globe. So, again, thank you for sharing that with such clarity.

Speaker 1:

And what you said really underscores how misunderstanding isn't just interpersonal, but often rooted in deeper cultural conditionings. Again, your willingness to name both sides, not just one or the other, but you name both sides, the ways you've been misunderstood and the way you have misunderstood, which creates space for real dialogue as well as growth, and I think that's an important piece to be able to have dialogue in order to listen to others and in order to grow and expand your understanding and your awareness and your connection. So it is a reminder that expanding our lenses, especially around spirituality and culture, is part of, you know, that healing process that we talked about. So let's turn to the next topic, which is building on what you've just shared. So, looking at your own life and the world today, what's a global issue you wish more people understood, like you.

Speaker 2:

Yes, there are many, many global issues that I wish more people understood and also that I wish I understood right, because there's absolutely global issues that I'm not aware of. But one of the biggest global issues that I'm extremely passionate about and that I wish more people understood was equality, and also, in turn, inequality. Right, and obviously equality in itself in our society, in the world, has many layers to it. There's economic equality, justice, educational and health equality and many, many more forms of equality and inequality, and although it's such a complex issue that again has many layers, again has many layers, for me it's really simple and it's always been very simple. I believe at my core and it's something that I wish more people believed as well that all people deserve to be treated equally and deserve equal opportunity point blank, period.

Speaker 2:

I don't think that there's any debating that. I think that that's a very simple concept that obviously, I know has a lot of complex complexities and also a lot of complex solutions to it, right, but for me it's really important and I wish more people understood, and not only understood the importance of equality, but understood how much every single day goes against it right and how much systemically is designed to preserve inequality, and it's something that has to change, and I do have to have faith and hope will change one day, but we're not there yet. We're actually very far from it, and I wish more people saw that and were more passionate about it.

Speaker 1:

I completely agree. You highlight an equity equality economics, justice, educational and health equality. For me, I feel it should be underneath basic human rights right. We all deserve it, without questioning no question about it. We all deserve those rights. So what you highlighted is such a powerful reflection and I thank you for naming both the complexities, as well as you know, and the clarity. What you said again reminds us that, while the systems we navigate are layered, often overwhelming, the core truth is beautifully simple Every person deserves dignity, opportunity and fairness. Dignity, opportunity and fairness, which aligns with equality economic, justice, educational and health equality. So when you speak from the place of conviction, heart, spirit and mind, it truly cuts through to no noise, and I really appreciate how you called out the intentional design behind inequality. That awareness is extremely crucial in these conversations like this that help us unearth those truths as well as imagine something better, not just for our respective countries, but for the globe as a whole. So, before we continue, is there anything else that you'll like to expand upon around this topic?

Speaker 2:

No, I just want to add, I just kind of want to echo, actually, what you said, and that it is rather simple and there should be no discussion about the fact that we all deserve dignity, we all deserve equality there, feel so passionate about it, and that you know and see the importance of it and and hopefully even through this conversation and through more people tuning in, they can see the importance of it and also do some research and learn more on the subject so continue along the lines of this discussion.

Speaker 1:

What? What keeps you hopeful even in the face of hardships?

Speaker 2:

oh my gosh, that is such a great question and, you know, hardship is one of those things that it's called hardship for a reason. It's hardship because it's hard and it's challenging and it's not going to feel easy. And there are points, especially if you're going through a hardship that is increasingly difficult. There are times where you might feel like you want to give up. And something that keeps me going in my hardship especially in the moments where I feel like giving up, where I feel a bit hopeless, to be honest, it's the awareness that if I navigate through, grow through and rise above what I'm currently experiencing, I know that one day, someday, somehow, there's at least one person that can be supported and can be helped through what I've experienced, and that's something that has just rang true along my journey time and time again.

Speaker 2:

There's no pain that I've experienced that hasn't been somehow turned into purpose, that has supported those that I've worked with, those that I crossed paths with, and it's really kept me going so many times. It's something that gives my life and my pain meaning and purpose. It's something that I have leaned on in order to help me navigate through each new obstacle, because there always will be one. There's always trial or tribulation that you face. It's inevitable in life, and what always keeps me going is the fact that pain is something that we all feel and experience. It, unfortunately and fortunately, connects us all together and it's something that we can all resonate with. And although that sucks sometimes and it feels extra challenging when we are experiencing it, it's important to acknowledge and understand that you can help somebody navigate through their own trials and tribulations, as you navigate and rise above your own.

Speaker 1:

I want to echo what you said around a pain is something that connects us all. We're not alone. I think that needs to be highlighted because some people, you know they they go through life and they're experiencing pain and there's a lot of aloneness with that, and some people just don't have support systems. They're assumed that you know it's something that they're, they have to navigate through alone, without seeking help. And, again, it can also depend on your cultural background, your conditionings, your, your beliefs.

Speaker 1:

I know that in certain cultures where we are encouraged right To to not talk about certain things that are, you know, bothering us, which which is, you know, sometimes pain. So it's it's important to highlight and echo that pain is something that connects us all and you do not have to do it alone. And you said that in such a beautiful and grounding and generous perspective and I greatly appreciate the way you highlighted that and your experiences around, how you navigated the hardships. So the way you framed the pain not just as something that we endure but as something that can transform us into service as well as connection, is incredibly powerful. So I think so many people need to hear that reminder on a daily basis that even in isolation, we're never truly alone, right, we can always reach out to other people to support.

Speaker 1:

Now there's opportunities to reach out. If you don't want to, you know, talk to someone in person. You know there's always many support groups that you can connect with online and our healing can have a ripple effect outwardly that we may not even recognize the power and the impact that our healing can have on someone else. So, again, the trust is the process, the ability to rise and then reach back to help someone else. It's kind of that quiet strength that builds the community as you reflect it on. So thank you for sharing that. That is such a special gift. So, to wrap us up, what is a lesson you hope our listeners will take away from your journey?

Speaker 2:

Yes, I love that so much and, with this conversation that we had, and also touching on your podcast and on what your podcast is called, I think it's super important for people to know that their voice matters, that their story matters and that what they have to offer the world matters.

Speaker 2:

I feel like it's completely understandable sometimes as I've experienced, as I'm sure you've experienced and as I'm sure so many listeners have experienced to feel like your voice is insignificant or too unique or too whatever it is that you've been told or taught right.

Speaker 2:

It kind of creates a space where we silence our voices or we dim our voices. And I think it has been a personal, important lesson of mine to know and to learn that my voice does matter and that my story does matter and that my voice and experiences, though unique, they also resonate and they're also relatable and reflective of the experience of so many other people. And there's so much power in that, in her voice, and it can change the trajectory of someone's life, it can save a life, and it has the power to inspire people and to as dramatic as it may sound to change the world. I truly believe that I truly believe that our voices are so much powerful than we have been taught they are, and I hope that the listeners take that away from this conversation the listeners take that away from this conversation, absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Again, that's such a powerful affirmation, right, if you can write it down. My voice matter, I matter, what I have to offer to the world matter. I can inspire as well as make a change in the world. So, if you heard me correctly, go ahead and write that down as your daily affirmation. And I think we all need to hear that more often. Right, we do. We need to hear that more often.

Speaker 1:

When we speak of the impact of someone's voice, you're not just encouraging expression, you're honoring the ripple effect that storyline can have. And each one of us, as you highlighted and mentioned, we all have a story. So it's incredible to think that a single story, shared with honesty and heart, as you have done today thank you, ashley can shift someone's path or even save a life. Right, that kind of belief in the power of connection is what this space, as you mentioned, is all about. So I want to thank you for reminding us that every voice carries weight, every story holds the potential to heal, inspire and transform. What a great way to kind of wrap it up. But there's one last question that I want to ask. I know that I said prior to this, that this was the last, but I want to ask you one last question. So, before we truly wrap up this time, can you share a comfort food or song from your culture that brings you joy?

Speaker 2:

Yes, I love this. I love that we're finishing off with this so much. I am Puerto Rican and Dominican, as you mentioned earlier, so I have to mention one for each, because, although they're similar and I'll explain in a moment why they're so similar I feel like I have to honor both of my sides. So, with that being said, a comfort food from puerto rico that I absolutely love is called pastelón, and I talk about this all the time.

Speaker 2:

I make this as often as I can because it's so delicious. It's similar to a lasagna, but instead of the pasta it is plantains, and specifically ripe plantains. It has to be the sweet one, and you can have it fried, so you can fry the plantain or you can boil and mash it and you just layer it up as you would a lasagna, of course, with caribbean spices. It has to be seasoned well and and baked to perfection, but it is so, so, so delicious. And then in dominican republic we have this.

Speaker 2:

It's usually eaten as a breakfast, actually, but for me, if I'm craving it and I need that comfort meal, I'm having it at any point of the day, at any time, and it is called mangú, and it's usually called like los tres golpes o cuatro golpes, because it's served typically with different kinds of meats as well as fried cheese. Because it's served typically with different kinds of meats as well as fried cheese. But since I'm vegan now, I don't have it traditionally, but it is still just as delicious and it's just green plantain that's boiled and mashed, kind of like mashed potatoes, and it's just so rich, it's so hearty, it's very filling and it's usually topped with pickled red onions and I literally my mouth is watering minus so good and I'm hungry right now. I'm sure the listeners are too. After those are ready to try some panchayat on a mango. Oh my gosh. Yeah, it's so delicious and it's one of those things that always make me feel held by my culture and comforted and it's just. I couldn't recommend trying them enough.

Speaker 1:

I know that you mentioned that these two dishes are typically made with meat, but now that you are vegan, if you feel called to make some pasta leon and mangu and send it my way or invite me over, hey, I will have no objections. That you've already made me hungry. Or invite me over, hey, I will have no objections. That you've already made me hungry. I'm already imagining, I mean, the taste. My mouth is salivating. So, again, if you feel called to do that, hey, I will not object to it.

Speaker 1:

So that is such a beautiful way to kind of wrap us up. So thank you so much for the description that you provided between a connection with food and your identity. Right, the way you speak about pasta leone and mungu as more than just a meal but as a way of feeling held by culture, is incredibly moving, as a reminder that comfort food isn't just about taste, as you mentioned. It's about memory, belonging and the quiet ways we stay rooted. So again, thank you for sharing that. It adds such a richness to this conversation. So before we wrap up, ashley, is there any final words that you would like to say or offer to?

Speaker 2:

our guests. I just want to say thank you so much for having me and I hope that the guests feel a sense of community and support through this podcast. And yes, I absolutely will make you pastelón whenever you want. I definitely will and I'm so grateful. Thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 1:

I am grateful for you, ashley, for agreeing to be the first guest on Voices Around the World, and you're always welcome back. I'm sure you will make another appearance, so thank you again. So today we not only heard the story of Ashley Penna, but of a world reshaped by resilience, tradition and hope. In a time where borders grow thicker and headlines louder, is these personal voices, quiet at first, but deeply resonate, that help us remember how connected we truly are. Ashley, thank you for trusting us with your journey, your perspective and your dreams for the world. If this conversation moved you listeners, share it, talk about it or tell us what resonated with you. What questions do you wish we would have asked? And again, don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. We'll be back next week with another voice from another part of our shared world. Until then, I'm your host, obadiah, and this is Voices Around the World. Let's keep listening and let's keep sharing. Thank you, okay.