The Root & Seed Podcast
By Root & Seed Inc.
The Root & Seed PodcastApr 21, 2022
S5E8: Dr. Jenny T. Wang Part 2 "This was for the schooling you never got to have"
They say we remember moments not days. In part two of our interview with Dr. Jenny T. Wang, Dr. Wang crystallizes a moment between her and her mom, that feels relatable for all immigrants and their descendants, showing them that their hard work and sacrifices were ultimately worth it. Listen to that and more, including thoughts on resolving the role of our generation and how we can invite in tradition in a healthy way. And the way Dr. Wang lights up when answering the question around family food and recipes, will have you craving a meal and time shared with your elders.
Dr. Jenny T. Wang is a Taiwanese American clinical psychologist and national speaker on the intersections of Asian American identity, mental health, and intergenerational and racial trauma. Her professional mission is to destigmatize mental health within the Asian community and empower Asian Americans to prioritize their own mental well-being. She spearheaded the Asians for Mental Health therapist directory (www.asiansformentalhealth.com) to connect individuals with culturally reverent mental health care for Asian American diasporas. She created the Instagram community Asians for Mental Health (@asiansformentalhealth), where she explores the unique ways in which Asian American identity impacts our mental health. Her first book, Permission to Come Home: Reclaiming Mental Health as Asian Americans was published by Grand Central Balance in May 2022. She is a mental health advisory member of Wondermind and The Mental Health Coalition.
S5E7: Dr. Jenny T. Wang Part 1 "In Asian culture, you don’t fight back, you don’t speak out."
Just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Heritage month, we bring you part one of this two part series with clinical psychologist, Dr. Jenny T. Wang. In one of our most heart-felt, honest discussions to date we discuss about what it means to be descendants of immigrants, compassion and empathy for our parents' generation, and our role jostling between aging elders and the next generation, our children. Dr. Wang shares her professional insights gained from being an advocate for Asian American identity and mental health, together with personal stories of her own family - the dynamics and moments that defined her own story and now gifts to the world.
Dr. Jenny T. Wang is a Taiwanese American clinical psychologist and national speaker on the intersections of Asian American identity, mental health, and intergenerational and racial trauma. Her professional mission is to destigmatize mental health within the Asian community and empower Asian Americans to prioritize their own mental well-being. She spearheaded the Asians for Mental Health therapist directory (www.asiansformentalhealth.com) to connect individuals with culturally reverent mental health care for Asian American diasporas. She created the Instagram community Asians for Mental Health (@asiansformentalhealth), where she explores the unique ways in which Asian American identity impacts our mental health. Her first book, Permission to Come Home: Reclaiming Mental Health as Asian Americans was published by Grand Central Balance in May 2022. She is a mental health advisory member of Wondermind and The Mental Health Coalition.
S5E6: Daniel Mazzone "I got an email from the Vatican saying 'His Holiness would like to meet you,' and I replied 'LOL.'"
Daniel Mazzone grew up surrounded by familial influences in creativity, so it's no surprise that he became an artist. However, his upbringing and lived experiences didn't initially lead to success. Spending much of his youth on the streets of Toronto and pursuing a career that wasn't for him, Daniel eventually tapped into his early influences and a desire for more, leading him to pursue his passion for a life filled with the expression of human truths and authenticity.
In this interview, we delve deep into Daniel's life, from a soon-to-be-launched documentary on his travels, the inspiration behind his art, a trip to the Vatican, to a perfectly picked Conversation Card question that had Daniel coming full circle. You'll also hear in his own words why he believes that everyone should have parts of their life story tattooed on their skin.
Follow Daniel @danielmazzoneart
S5E5: Layla Saad: "My accent is a mixture of all of my experiences"
It’s one thing to be able to list off the places you've lived and the experiences you’ve experienced. It’s another to understand how those textures and nuances are interwoven to make you uniquely you and to channel those into being a leader. This episode’s esteemed guest New York Times and Sunday Times best selling author and CEO of Become a Good Ancestor, Layla Saad is one such person. We talk about everything from her upbringing to her faith, to her professional journey from lawyer to changemaker to who in Layla's family visits her in her dreams and another who is their home remedy healer. If this doesn’t inspire you to make change in your circle, we don’t know what will!
About our guest: Layla F. Saad is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author, antiracist educator, and international speaker. She is the founder and CEO of Become A Good Ancestor, a company and learning destination dedicated to helping changemakers build a better world without burning out. www.becomeagoodancestor.com
S5E4: Layla & Ab Freig: "It's a gold necklace, they gave it back to me and that is a blessing."
We are back with another family duo, this time father & daughter Ab and Layla Freig. Layla reflects on what it was like to grow up not fitting into a box, as a mixed Muslim and Jewish person and how her yearning to be connected to her background led to experiences that pushed the boundaries of what was evident and obvious around her. The connection between father and daughter is apparent through their respect for one another and we get to hear how Layla has learned so much from her upbringing providing her with gifts reflected in her ideals and values.
We top off the interview with an exchange using the Root & Seed conversation cards demonstrating the power of shared nostalgia, including what's up with the gold necklace! It's a story you don't want to miss. A moment we cherish and an interview to remember!
Ab Freig is an accomplished businessman; he was the president and CEO of the largest Ag companies in Canada and is now an entrepreneur and a university instructor. Ab is married and has two wonderful adult children.
Layla Freig is a financial, strategic and creative consultant and the founder of LF Consulting. She spends most of her time at work with entrepreneurs, helping to build and scale their businesses. She is a CPA who specializes in fashion, and she is often referred to as "the fun accountant." Outside of work, Layla loves travel, dance, and long walks on the beach. She also volunteers on a few different boards in Winnipeg, serving marginalized communities within the province and the arts & culture scene.
S5E3: George Pimentel: "There I was, reliving my parents life."
From the Oscars to Root & Seed in under a week! This episode's guest is photographer of the rich and famous, George Pimentel. As a third generation photographer, George shares the stories behind the man he is today and how family, experience and connection to his roots has led to life of both balance and contradiction. And he wouldn't want it any other way! From travelling to his motherland of Portugal as a University student, to his first celebrity photograph of Robert DeNiro, to a project he started during Covid, all the way to what he's up to next, this interview will leave you searching for a way to bring connection to your heritage into your life.
S5E2: Ryan Alexander Holmes Part 2 : "Grandmas are like Goddesses"
Aren't they? In Part Two of our interview we hear Ryan's softer side including the people, traditions and rituals that make Ryan, Ryan. All through the lens of his mixed heritage. We hear Ryan's perspective on why being sad isn't so bad, how he's connected with his deceased family members through his dreams and how love through unique cultural ways is still love. All heart, all love, all Ryan.
Ryan Alexander Holmes is an actor, content creator based out of Los Angeles. He is known for his strong presence on social media where he used comedy and writing to explore and embrace his mixed Chinese/African American heritage. Follow Ryan @ryanalexh
BONUS : News from Root & Seed HQ
This bonus episode includes a special announcement from Root & Seed, including the launch of physical conversation cards on Kickstarter on Tuesday February 28 at 6:00AM PST/9:00AM EST. Sign up here for launch day discounts! For more details you can always find us at www.rootandseed.com or on social @rootandseedco
S5E1: Ryan Alexander Holmes Part 1: "If you don't know who you are, society will dictate it for you."
What a way to start off this season! This episode we talk to Ryan Alexander Holmes in the first of a two part series and kick off Season 5 on the topic of identity. We talk about his mixed-ness, Black excellence, Asian American excellence, how he is always searching for narratives that put his culture at the centre of it and Ryan tells us family stories that he wishes lives on for generations to come. Perhaps most jaw dropping is Ryan's respect for his Black Dad's encouragement for him to really understand his Chinese side as he grew up, best summarized in the line "If you don't know who you are, society will dictate it for you."
Ryan Alexander Holmes is an actor, content creator based out of Los Angeles. He is known for his strong presence on social media where he uses comedy and writing to explore and embrace his mixed Chinese/African American heritage. Follow Ryan @ryanalexh
Season 5 of The Root & Seed Podcast | Launching Feb 16!
Our relationship with our cultural background, significant events in our upbringing, present day societal and even inherited experiences of generations inform our identity and the choices of what to take forward. All helping to answer the question: who do we think we are? We explore topics like this and more with interviews with some incredible guests like actor and content creator Ryan Alexander Holmes, changemakers, Samanta Krishnapillai of OnCanadaProject, Layla Saad of How to be a Good Ancestor and Psychologist Dr. Jenny Wang from Asians for Mental Health.
Launching February 16, this season is filled with stories told directly by our guests. We giggle, we laugh, we cry and most of all we connect over a shared understanding of the complexities of cultural and family identity. You’ll get the same fill of tradition, celebration, and sheer joy for family dishes and recipes. Except this season we’ve kept the editing low and inspiration high allowing each of our guests’ stories to shine.
Hosted by Anika Chabra, Executive Produced by Jenn Siripong Mandel and Edited by Emily Groleau & Camille Blais. We can’t wait to bring another season of Root & Seed.
S4E8: “I never really wanted to be at home, which is why I gravitated to the basketball court." - Anish Bhalla
What do the 90s, hip hop and basketball have to do with one another? For a good number of youth who grew up in Toronto, especially those from immigrant backgrounds during that decade, the answer is everything. Anish Bhalla has embarked on a playful, yet therapeutic journey of documenting his upbringing in the animated series Bhalla Show. It’s playful, because of nostalgic humour, and therapeutic because of the role that basketball played in Anish’s life. Lucky for us, Anish’s honesty and willingness to share his story is resulting in a relatable depiction of the immigrant family, even though Anish’s intention is “just to tell the story of his family.” The idea of documenting through animation is such a great way to illustrate an otherwise uncaptured past, bringing Season 4 of The Root & Seed to a close.
Anish is a husband, father, writer, producer, basketball player, and tech aficionado. He has been creating basketball content since 2010 and has worked with Canada Basketball, On Point Basketball, and the Toronto Raptors organization. His current project, The Bhalla Show, won the Just for Laughs Stand Up and Pitch contest in Montreal earlier this year. Follow its journey to production and air @bhallashow
S4E7: "A lot of people can feel a sense of third culture-ness" - Kyle Leung
As a champion for people's stories across the Asian diaspora, Kyle Leung, host of podcast "What kind of Asian are you?" is used to uncovering the relationship of heritage and background on one's identity and sense of belonging. We are appreciative of his expansion of the definition of third culture to a feeling of "being in the middle", with no clear sense being anchored to places of origin or places of choosing. But perhaps it's Kyle' sense of responsibility to be a means for the precious stories to be captured that is the most impressive. What started as a pandemic project, Kyle's podcast has grown in importance, evidenced by his wide range of guests like Randy Lau and Jeremy Won.
Kyle is a Hong Kong-Chinese Canadian diaspora that immigrated to Canada during his childhood. His whole life, he has always been curious about identity, third-culture diaspora stories, Asian migration stories, and Asian representation in media. As a result, he started his podcast, "What Kind of Asian Are You? Podcast" to discuss these topics with other like-minded Asian diaspora individuals. Through the podcast, he hopes to highlight, amplify and validate Asian stories worldwide. Listen to Kyle and his impressive list of guests: https://whatkindofasianareyou.buzzsprout.com/
S4E6: "What is unspoken can fill up space" - Theresa McVean
We don’t know what we don’t know, but these unknowns still shape us. And can be passed through generations unless it is given air, tended to, and healed. This episode we speak to genealogist Theresa McVean from Ancestree Detectives who gives us a glimpse into the world of genealogy and the process of how working with a professional can help thread seemingly disparate knowledge into a family story arc. Theresa has stories for days and we get to hear about how she has used her detective skills with clients and a few stories from her own discovery journey.
If you have a family mystery needing solving and looking to hire a professional to guide you, Ancestree Detectives is a great place to start. You can get in touch with them at https://www.ancestreedetectives.com/
About our guest: Theresa McVean, co-founder and chief genealogist at Ancestree Detectives. By providing a platform for family historians to connect with a diverse group of vetted experts for as few as 30 minutes at a time, Ancestry Detectives empowers customers whether their search is record-based or DNA oriented.
Theresa began her career at the Toronto Reference Library, joined the Globe and Mail’s fledgling digital department in 1999. She went on to an award-winning career in advertising with leading publishers and advertising agencies before launching Ancestree Detectives with co-founder Dawna Henderson.She is the Chair of the Ontario Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists as well as a member of the marketing committee for APG internationally.
A daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother who grew up in Dundas and Niagara Falls, Ontario, she is a lover of family history and storytelling.
S4E5: "I'm a huge Mama's boy, no shame in that!" - Peter Pham
In our first intergenerational podcast interview, we speak to Peter Pham and his mom about their shared love of cooking, their family stories and history. As a professional cook, self taught baker and current operator of Phamilyeats, Peter is finding meaning and joy in feeding others. Chockfull of nostalgia and real talk, Peter gives us a glimpse into how a descendent of Vietnamese refugees has ended up running a patty and pot pie shop. Admittedly he is still navigating his relationship with his own Vietnamese background - but one thing is for sure - Mama's cooking is something that he always has a hankering for! Check out www.phamilyeats.ca and get your patties today.
S4E4: "I am from Planet Earth!" - Marel Alemany
Marel Alemany has a deep sense of how his Afro, Latin and Caribbean backgrounds have influenced his present day sense of self. Yet as a person who connects with multiple generations and with people from various backgrounds, what we appreciate most is his proclamation of “I am from Planet Earth” which sets the tone for this interview from the very beginning. After years of unconsciously expressing his heritage in his work, Marel shares how he is leaning into it intentionally now….representing his voice and values through his work as a director, producer, and singer/songwriter across music, film, and children’s media. Marel’s influence on documenting is vast and for that we couldn’t be more grateful. It’s a conversation filled with passion, creativity and pure joy for music, lyrics, dancing and more!
About Marel Alemany: Constantly seeking to unravel his musical influences, Marel embarks on a new journey with each song. Tropical and autochthonous rhythms from the Caribbean are mixed in his music, with lyrics that tell stories and a hint of nostalgia that recalls the soul of the 60s and 70s. It is impossible to define his music without fear of falling short.
Although he has been on stage since he was very young (there are stories of a five-year-old boy throwing his jacket into the audience after performing a song by legendary Spanish singer Rafael), his musical career officially began when he won, in 2003, the first prize in the prestigious Casa de Teatro writing and music awards, for the pop category.
From then on, he became a regular on the bohemian scene in Santo Domingo. In 2006 he released his first album De Papel, with which he garnered several "number one" hits on local radio stations and was nominated for the Casandra awards (current Soberano awards). In 2009, he decided to pay homage to his roots and make a salsa-influenced album, Carne. With Carne, he succeeded in Argentina and Peru, reaching first place in several popular lists. He played in Altos de Chavón with Eros Ramazotti and with Juan Luis Guerra in Buenos Aires. After publishing several singles recently, including Tu Guerra y La mía (2017) and Navegaré (2019), he has just released his third production, Salir al Sol, where he mixes all his musical influences. From pop to folk, Marel once again makes it clear that he enjoys the fusion of rhythms and that his lyrics will always be committed.
Marel is also a multi-skilled filmmaker and writer because what he longs for the most is creativity. An accomplished producer of advertising commercials, he has been working in Children's Media for the last 2 years, trying to mix his musical talent with his recent parenthood and his filmmaker skills. This has driven him to move to Canada, where he is a composer, writer and producer for the Story Planet Podcast and runs the Spanish YouTube Channel for little kids Tope Tope. www.marelalemany.com
S4E3: “She was like a superhero to me….not to everybody else, but to me” - Nancy Lam
When Nancy Lam started writing her dying mother's story it was in effort to capture her mother's legacy for her children to know and appreciate. This journey turned to writing and publishing a work of fiction that, while based on her mother's life, grew in ways that many people from immigrant families can appreciate. Not knowing all the details but wanting to fill the gaps, the book "The Loyal Daughter" speaks to the immigrant journey, the strength of an immigrant woman and celebrates the bonds between women in families.
But perhaps most importantly, to quote Nancy, this is about "finding yourself not only in your family but outside of it". And it celebrates the common immigrant story, paying homage to their impact on the fabric of Canada. It's for that reason that we hope that it inspires more stories of the common person, the so-called "superheroes" in each of our lives.
Nancy Lam is a Toronto author. As a child and teenager, she lost herself in stories by Canadian writers, in university she majored in Canadian History to earn a Bachelor of Arts before acquiring her law degree. As an immigration lawyer she now helps prospective Canadians write and present their life stories to government officials. Her first novel, The Loyal Daughter (At Bay Press, Fall 2022) is based on her mother’s immigration story to Canada.
S4E2: “I think that your stories are the most important possession that you actually have.” - Robert "Lucky" Budd
When Root & Seed launched, our dream was to talk to a historian. Scratch that. Our dream was to talk to Robert “Lucky” Budd. So this episode is a dream come true. We have so much respect for Lucky’s tenure in the historical documenting space and his ability to democratize the act of personal and family storytelling, leaving us with just the right amount of inspiration to start somewhere, somehow. This episode is chock filled with tips, stories of incredible Canadians and how the magic of oral storytelling has potential to be accessible and rewarding for all. And we are grateful to get a glimpse into Lucky’s personal perspective on a family ritual he holds near and dear, on his terms.
Robert "Lucky" Budd is an award winning and bestselling Canadian author, oral historian, and radio host. He is known for his books based upon the stories of British Columbia pioneers, as well as his book collaborations with artist Roy Henry Vickers and Olympic Champion Andre DeGrasse. He is also the President of Memories To Memoirs.
S4E1: "Are there other ways to connect with your culture without the filter of your parents?” - Grace Phan-Nguyen
If you heard our season three finale interview with Grace Phan-Nguyen, you know we left that conversation at the genesis of a whole other story.
Grace's life purpose is to document cultural stories, especially those previously underrepresented in media, and share a narrative they left untold, one that echoes her experience as a descendant of Vietnamese political refugees.
In this episode, we go deeper into her cultural experiences and do our best to answer the question: "Are there other ways to connect with your culture without the filter of your parents?”
Grace is a producer, screenwriter, and researcher. She originally started in theatre specializing in arts management and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives. She recently switched to film and television; specializing in youtube. Her clients include, My Name is Andong and Made With Lau. She's interested in food research, documentaries, feeding friends or family, and long naps.
Season 4 is launching Tuesday, Sept 20!
It's back to school, back to Fall, back to work and back to the Root & Seed podcast time!
Season 4 of The Root & Seed Podcast is launching Sept 20 - and this season we are talking about something that is so fundamental to this platform - documenting one’s heritage, cultural stories and practices. We hear from an immigration lawyer and now author who has written a heartfelt book of fiction based on her family’s experience, an aural historian who likens himself to being a producer and muse of sorts in bringing individual stories to life and a new comedic writer who reflects on his upbringing in a TV show celebrating hip hop, basketball and the 90s. And some of our guests document in more informal ways…but every episode has tips that even the most novice can appreciate.
If you are a returning listener and part of this beautiful community, welcome back. If you are a new listener, you might be wondering what we are all about. After years of being conditioned to play small, we are shining a light on stories from across the cultural spectrum that help to inspire pride and ownership of one’s life story and relationship with our heritages. You are most welcomed here!
S3E8: "I'm not ready, I'm not Auntie status!" - Grace Phan-Nguyen
In our Season 3 finale, we go from a curried goat/goat curry debate :) to bbq pig parades. Food is central to how Grace Phan-Nguyen lives, works, and celebrates. Her familial and geographic cultures come together in stories about everything from her wedding to seasonal holidays.
We love how earnest and intentional she is in making sure her current life and future generations embrace the multitudes of cultural influences she is responsible for maintaining. And if she doesn't know how to do something herself, Grace has a knack for finding a community of Aunties wherever she is in the world.
Perhaps it's an empathy that comes from her parents' own immigration experience, or the inspiration of theatre on her cultural sense of self, but we find Grace is always digging deeper to understand things beyond the surface. There was no one more perfect to end off this incredible season on “celebration” of culture.
Grace is a producer, screenwriter, and researcher. She originally started in theatre specializing in arts management and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives. She recently switched to film and television; specializing in youtube. Her clients include, My Name is Andong and Made With Lau. She's interested in food research, documentaries, feeding friends or family, and long naps.
S3E7: “I wanted to experience my culture, not as a spectator, but as somebody who was living in the moment” - Serena Anthony
“When East meets West” (Indian, that is) should be the title of Serena’s cultural journey. With pride on both sides of her identity, we hear how she fell in love with the West Indian celebration of Carnival as an adult, but still has incredible heart for her more traditional East Indian roots. We explore how much she values her familial heritage, how she embraces multiple cultures in her children’s lives, and how she cherishes the stories and moments behind her favourite family foods. But perhaps the most important part of Serena’s story is how she surrendered to her authentic self in this journey, leaving the opinions of others behind - to be her whole self at home, at work, and at play.
Serena Anthony is Chief People Officer for GroupM North America. Serena is an expert Human Resources Management professional with over 20 years of experience working across complex, disparate ecosystems where she demonstrates her true capabilities as an innovative thinker and change-maker in the field. As a member of GroupM’s North America Executive Committee, Serena is a key player in designing, driving and championing GroupM’s people strategy. With a passion for diversity & inclusion programming, and a focus on culture, Serena aims to position GroupM as an employer of choice. She is known for her motivational leadership, dynamic personality, and delivering valuable impact.
Serena is the proud mother of identical twin girls and currently resides in Canada, splitting her time between Toronto and New York City.
S3E6: “My interest in my Jewish heritage is to know who I am” - Michael Levine
What happens when a literary agent (aka literary genius) in his golden years opens up about his culture and respect for his roots? You get unfiltered, authentic, tell it like it is, story after story goodness. Michael Levine prefers to be a “man in the shadows” behind the works for Canada's who's who like Adrienne Clarkson, Silken Laumann and Margaret Trudeau. But we loved getting him to talk about HIS story, his thoughts and his approach, now that he’s seen it all. It’s no wonder that he deduces very simply that “My interest in my Jewish heritage is to know who I am” full stop.
Some of our favourite moments:
2:00 Michael jokes that he is the product of a mixed marriage
3:08: The revelation that led to him discover that his family was affected by the Holocaust
7:19 Jewish people aren’t only white people
9:20 Religion & being a social Jew
11:55 What storytelling has meant to him and how he celebrates the good guys
13:25 His friendship with Michael Ignatieff & Ignatieff’s book “Finding solace in dark times”
15:40 Shakespeare's “to thine own self be true” informing Michael’s approach to life
Michael Levine is a retired partner of Goodmans LLP, is Chairman of Westwood Creative Artists/Literary Agent, and Executive Producer. Through Generic Productions Inc., he has acted as EP of over 65 productions in Canada. He has acted for a number of film, television and live theatre producers, writers, directors, and personalities in many media fields and has guest-lectured in the entertainment field for many universities and organizations in Canada and the US.
S3E5: “Our culture will never die with me” - Kirthana Sasitharan
From self-proclaimed "weekend brown girl" as a teenager, to relearning traditional Bharatanatyam dance as an adult, and soaking in time with her parents as cultural connection... this episode's guest, Kirthana Sasitharan, takes us on a real journey. Her raw reflection of her parent's sacrifices really resonated with us, and it's no surprise that she's committed to making sure "our (Tamil) culture will never die with me"
Other highlights:
1:43 Kirthana's decision to go into journalism and her parents reaction
4:21 What being a 'weekend brown girl' means
7:08 An epic Diwali party celebration in University
10:28 Why completing traditional dance is so important
16:27 The biggest struggle her family faced & and what being an immigrant means (cue: Black tax from Trevor Noah)
We are left with the thought of the role of legacy in celebration and the implications & importance that actions today can have on the future. Reminder to rate and review our podcast on Apple - it helps other like-minded people find our pod and grows this beautiful community!
Kirthana Sasitharan is a CBC News Reporter, Producer, and Newsreader. Her experience includes travelling Ontario, working in various community newsrooms including CBC Hamilton, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo, CBC Thunder Bay, and CBC Sudbury. She’s also worked on the TV side of things at News Network, Marketplace, and the investigative unit.
Her experience outside of the CBC includes working for Business in Vancouver, the United Nations Association of Canada and Editor in Chief of Ignite Magazine. Kirthana is also a content producer having co-produced and managed a diversity oriented series for CBC Toronto called Boldly Asian. She’s also produced, reported, and marketed another series focused on the diversity of Toronto communities and perspectives called Rediscovering Culture.
S3E4: “The harm stops here and I'm going to walk in a healed way” - Asha Frost
There is something so freeing about shedding the ‘shoulds’ and ‘musts’ and inviting in simple celebration of our cultures into our daily lives - especially for the Indigenous community who have suffered so much shame and restriction through colonization. However, this invitation can be extended to people from a variety of cultural backgrounds. In this episode we talk to Asha Frost, an Indigenous Medicine healer who speaks about the diagnosis that led her to dig into her cultural background, some beautiful moments at her wedding and naming ceremony, and how uncovering intergenerational harm in her own family led her to feel it intimately and profoundly. Asha leaves us with the thought that by breaking cycles through identification and intention that one can heal, not only for ourselves but for generations to come.
Asha Frost (she/her) is an Indigenous Medicine Woman and best-selling author of You are the Medicine. She is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation. Asha is from the Crane Clan, the totem of leadership, and believes in holding space from vision and heart. As an energy healer, homeopath, and mentor, Asha has guided thousands of people through profound and lasting transformation.
Asha lives on Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat, and Haudenosaunee Territory, with her husband and two beautiful children, with whom she co-creates a better world for the seven generations to come. You can purchase her book at youarethemedicinebook.com
S3E3: "What does it mean to be a witness to the passage of a generation?" - Abdul-Rehman Malik
You know when a conversation is next level when it feels like therapy....part informative, part healing, part inspirational. This episode we speak to Abdul-Rehman Malik, an award-winning journalist, educator, and cultural organizer. He speaks about his family story, appreciation for intergenerational time during this pandemic time and sheds a light on a tradition he wishes to reclaim where we get to experience the more jovial side of Abdul-Rehman. He concludes by expanding on the idea of storytelling as a sacred act, an idea we can't argue with!
Abdul-Rehman’s work at the intersection of faith and social change has spanned the globe, from Canada to the U.S., U.K., Pakistan, Sudan, Indonesia and beyond. Abdul-Rehman is currently a Lecturer at the Yale Divinity School as well as director of the Muslim Leadership Lab at Yale’s Dwight Hall Center for Social Justice. A veteran of BBC Radio, he is also host of the Aga Khan Museum’s popular podcast This Being Human, which is in its second season.
Listen to This Being Human here: https://portal.agakhanmuseum.org/podcasts/index.html
S3E2: "Our parents' generation were the doers, but now we're asking, “but why?”" - Sunita Shah
What happens when you blend life experiences together with your superpowers and lean into that confluence to bring to the world something that is inviting, knowledgeable and playful? This episode’s guest, Sunita shares how her inquisitiveness and early experiences together with 25 years in speech and language therapy helped her write books, introduce toys and provide content to help demystify the complexity of Hinduism in her platform, The Jai Jais. We hear how Sunita is constantly inspired to learn more, dig deeper and does so in such a way in which we all get to benefit, even if you follow or subscribe to another religion or culture. As she puts it “I’m just a regular middle aged mom who wants children to think that religion is not boring and it doesn’t have to be done in a solemn way.” It’s no wonder her platform has enjoyed the success it has so far and has inspired all ages to learn more and ask why.
Check out Sunita’s books, toys and content by following The Jai Jais at @thejaijais on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
S3E1: "Wherever you are in the world, it's important to take your space" - Zoe & Brooklyn Brownstone
Season 3 is here! With the theme of celebration in mind, we are pleased to present Zoe & Brooklyn Brownstone, two sisters who recall how they have been celebrating their Jewish heritage and culture proudly since moving to Europe in very different ways. Zoe is a writer and comedian and has introduced her relationship with her identity into her shows and material. Brooklyn is the founder of The Labour Department, a social space for soon-to-be and new parents, currently living in Amsterdam with her husband and son. While they are both proud Jews, we love hearing how they share different perspectives on seemingly similar experiences. We also get to hear some realizations about making sense of their life choices and personality traits, and how they appreciate the gifts of their backgrounds. We were left inspired….. and not surprisingly laughing!
You can check out Zoe’s upcoming shows and writing (including the Hey Alma article) at Zoebrownstone.com and learn about Brooklyn’s platform, The Labour Department at thelabourdept.com
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Season 3 Teaser: Launching April 10, 2022
It's April and it's time for another season!
Season 3 of The Root & Seed Podcast is launching April 10 and we cannot be more excited. We are talking about celebration, the kind that one does through their actions, words, big and small, every day and on special occasions. The diversity of guests and their stories will continue to amaze and delight. Please join us by subscribing on your favourite podcast player. If you like what you hear, please add a rating and review to help others like you hear the stories that make up celebrating one's cultural and familial (origin and chosen) backgrounds.
Welcome to Root & Seed, a podcast about tradition seekers who are exploring, defining, and celebrating their family and cultural identities. Join us every other week as we release more rich stories of the past woven with hope for the future.
S2E6: "This is our story, as much as anyone else's" - Chantal and Danielle (Dani) Khan Da Silva
It's our second season finale and we are ending with a special one! Sisters Chantal and Danielle (Dani) Khan Da Silva's curiosity led them to truly understand their family, their stories and the role their stories play in each of their lives. Chantal wrote a poignant article following the 20th anniversary of 9/11 about her family's decision to change their name from paternal Khan to maternal Da Silva to protect the family. Now 20 years later both sisters are fully aware of the significance of that act and have taken power back with reclamation of their name. With that reclamation comes pause and reflection on what life would have been like if they didn't change their name and awareness of how their heritage and background feeds into their present day purpose and platforms. We are grateful to hear their story and how they honoured their backgrounds by bringing it to the forefront in our first ever sister interview for the Root & Seed podcast.
Be sure to check out Chantal's work & profile at www.chantaldasilva.com and Danielle's profile & platform at www.danielledasilva.com and www.photographerswithoutborders.org
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
S2E5: "The only thing we need to belong to is ourselves" - Nadia Shahbaz
As a writer, Nadia's creative work flows from her awareness and understanding of her story as someone of Afghan and Italian descent. Two geographies, two cultures, two religions and yet Nadia is resolving her identity in belonging to herself and her unique experience. Through this conversation we are gifted with a perspective of an outsider looking in, an individual who is embracing and dwelling in her uniqueness and perhaps most importantly a preserver of compelling narratives that will live on for generations to come. On the light side, we hear of her appreciation and love for Afghan dance, how her nerdy side comes out when understanding her Italian history and how her father's loving advice when she was pregnant sparked a yearning and desire that only food could satisfy :)
You can read Nadia's beautiful writing at nadiashahbaz.com
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
S2E4: "We just know where we are from" - Janey Buzugbe
Janey had us at her proclamation and declaration of being "Unapologetically Nigerian" at the start of this podcast interview. Her perspective on her identity and her gifts to the world unfolded in the rest of our conversation like a beautifully scripted song. We learned about a special gift that sits in her office and reminds her where she's from, her thoughts on how understanding your roots helps when faced with racism, and how experiences growing up led her to reject certain parts of her culture. We ended with a special question from our conversation tool web app (capture.rootandseed.com) that perfectly reflected Janey's love and pride for her Nigerian identity.
It's no wonder that she's been able to harness that awareness and experience as the founder of Immiducation, a social enterprise solving the problem of underemployment amongst the underrepresented professional immigrant community. www.immiducation.com
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
S2E3: “Unite the present of your family with the history of your family” - Jon Crowley
Have you ever thought about all the things that needed to happen for you to exist today? All the choices that generations before you needed to make, the million things that needed to go right and the role of luck in it all? Our episode 3 guest, Jon has. Ingrained in his sense of introspection and grounded in his experiences growing up, Jon knows and appreciates his unique story and all the factors that contributed to who is today. Respectfully, Jon shares his cultural and familial influences, significant stories big and small that led to his understanding and so-called definition of his identity. He believes in preserving cultural connection, extending the boundaries of traditional definition of identity and stitching together the present of your family with the history of your family. We are inspired!
You can hear more from Jon in his blog called abenignconspiracy.com
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
S2E2: "It's on the list" - Sophia Lalani & Saphina Waters
Sophia and Saphina are two 2nd generation individuals from families of diverse backgrounds. While their stories are unique and varied, if there is a common theme outside the relatability of their individual narratives, it would be the idea of choice. Sophia’s intention is very clear and present and she wishes for her family to experience a connection to her religion, just like she did. Saphina credits her Canadian experience as an individual of mixed descent as providing her the choice on what to bring forward to herself, her family and her young children. In both cases we hear gratitude and appreciation for the availability and access of choice in their daily actions, words and lives and for that, we too are grateful!
Visit rootandseed.com to see the show transcript, read more quotes from our conversation with Sophia and Saphina. If you’d like to tell us your story, or chat about your thoughts on culture, family, and heritage, we always love to chat. Find us on social @rootandseedco and subscribe for our newsletter to never miss a Root & Seed moment.
S2E1: "You just can't put that in a recipe book" - Alex Choi
Alex is back! Because we love a good bookend in storytelling, our Season One finale guest returns to tell a different side of his story and journey...this time as a father.
You might remember Alex as being direct and honest about his reclamation of his Korean culture. In this episode, while we see the softer side of Alex, his intention to honour his culture is done with the same commitment level that we are used to from Alex - ALL IN. We also hear how he is embracing the concept of individualized cooking techniques from generations before, leaving us with the truth and aptly-named-episode-title of "You just can't put that in a recipe book".
Visit rootandseed.com to see the show transcript, read more quotes from our conversation with Alex. If you’d like to tell us your story, or chat about your thoughts on culture, family, and heritage, we always love to chat. Find us on social @rootandseedco and subscribe for our newsletter to never miss a Root & Seed moment.
S1E6: "From 'Hang a Larry' to a reverse judo move" - Alex Choi
Racism, rejection and assimilation has been a part of the visible minority experience since migration began. Our season finale guest Alex, shares his experience of how life and societal events have shaped the reclamation of his culture. The contrast of his outlook and attitude towards his Korean culture from when he was a child to now is fascinating. Alex doesn't do anything half-way and isn't afraid to tell it like it is. He leaves listeners with the invitation to truly lean into their cultures and own them. Heads up : if you are listening with children, you might want to keep your "earmuffs" handy for language.
Visit rootandseed.com to see the show transcript, read more quotes from our conversations with Alex. If you’d like to tell us your story, or chat about your thoughts on culture, family, and heritage, we always love to chat. Find us on social @rootandseedco and subscribe for our newsletter to never miss a Root & Seed moment.
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-_something-bout-july
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/OFga9pkl6RU
S1E5: "A lot of conversation happens in between" - Kathy Lee & Sara Diament
Circumstance and desire are two compelling reasons for really understanding one’s family traditions, culture and stories. Often, a level of curiosity can compel one to dig deeper, but sometimes the drive is out of need or loss. Both Sara and Kathy share their experience with learning from older generations in their lives. Their awareness of what they want to take forward is done with respect and gratitude for those who’ve come before them and with a congruence with their values today. Be sure to listen right to the end when Root & Seed announces a special launch and opportunity.
Visit rootandseed.com to see the show transcript, read more quotes from our conversations with Sara and Kathy. And if you’d like to view Kathy’s photo-documentary please visit her on Instagram @the_kathylee. If you’d like to tell us your story, or chat about your thoughts on culture, family, and heritage, we always love to chat. Find us on social @rootandseedco and subscribe to our newsletter to never miss a Root & Seed moment.
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-_something-bout-july
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/OFga9pkl6RU
S1E4: "It felt like we were going on a trip!" - Lakshita Seksaria & Paula Navarrete
The stories of immigrants are as varied as their countries of origin, the life stage when their journeys occur and who they immigrate with. We learned from our conversations with Lakshita and Paula that their connection to their home countries and cultures remain strong and vibrant despite the difference in their journeys. And we get to hear about how they keep that connection alive, on their terms, with their answers to our question “What’s in your culture box?”
Visit rootandseed.com to see the show transcript, read more quotes from our conversations with Lakshita and Paula, or continue the conversation about the immigrant story. If you’d like to tell us your story, or chat about your thoughts on culture, family, and heritage, we always love to chat. Find us on social @rootandseedco and subscribe for our newsletter to never miss a Root & Seed moment.
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-_something-bout-july
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/OFga9pkl6RU
S1E3: "There were the Romans, a bowl of pasta and soccer" - Aldo Roma & Vicky Applebaum
Have you ever considered what effects your family’s journey and history has had on your identity? Could understanding those layers provide a deeper appreciation for who you are today? Aldo, a 2nd generation Canadian from Italian descent, gets pretty introspective about his family’s story and how that has shaped his sense of self. Instead of trying to understand the culture as a societal whole, Aldo wanted to dig into the stories of his individual family experience when connecting with his background. We also hear from Vicky, a guest from our first episode and she has a super interesting answer to a super interesting question.
Visit rootandseed.com to see the show transcript, read more quotes from our conversations with Aldo and Vicky, or continue the conversation about the effects of immigration on second generation. If you’d like to tell us your story, or chat about your thoughts on culture, family, and heritage, we always love to chat. Find us on social @rootandseedco and subscribe for our newsletter to never miss a Root & Seed moment.
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-_something-bout-july
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/OFga9pkl6RU
S1E2: "Go, See, Do" - Danielle Sweeney
What’s it like to be a cultural nomad? In this week’s episode we speak with Danielle, a citizen of the world, who helps us understand how sometimes you have to step away from what you are familiar with to truly understand what aspects are most important to you. While it wasn’t always apparent, Danielle’s cultural undercurrents became more prominent once she moved from country to country, and discovered the importance of how her varied experiences shapes who she is today. Heads up: if you are listening with children, you might want to keep your "earmuffs" handy for language.
Visit rootandseed.com to see the show transcript, read more quotes from our conversations with Danielle, or continue the conversation about cultural nomads. If you’d like to tell us your story, or chat about your thoughts on culture, family, and heritage, we always love to chat. Find us on social @rootandseedco and subscribe for our newsletter to never miss a Root & Seed moment.
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-_something-bout-july
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/OFga9pkl6RU
S1E1 "Shout Out to Kevin!" - Eddie Kim & Vicky Applebaum
Welcome to Root & Seed, hosted by Anika Chabra, a brand new podcast about tradition seekers who are exploring, defining, and celebrating their family and cultural identities.
In our first episode, we explore the idea of Culture Catalysts - the moment that triggers people to choose to embrace the culture of their parents. Anika talks to Eddie and Vicky, two amazing people who had different feelings about their heritage growing up, but at completely different stages of their life, realized that maybe there was something to their roots worth nurturing.
Visit rootandseed.com to see the show transcript, read more quotes from our conversations with Vicky and Eddie, or continue the conversation about culture catalysts. If you’d like to tell us your story, or chat about your thoughts on culture, family, and heritage, we always love to chat. Find us on social @rootandseedco and subscribe for our newsletter www.rootandseed.com to never miss a Root & Seed moment.
Show credits:
Hosted by: Anika Chabra
Brought to you by: Root & Seed
Executive Producer: Jennifer Siripong Mandel
Edited by: Camille Blais
Music credit: Something 'bout July (Instrumental) by RYYZN
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/-_something-bout-july
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/OFga9pkl6RU