A Cultural Psychology Conversation with Deborah Ko

Who’s your organisation leaving out? A Conversation with DEI strategist Khayshie Tilak Ramesh

In this episode, DEI strategist Khayshie Tilak Ramesh shares her journey from a childhood experience of being “othered” to becoming a leading voice in creating more inclusive spaces. She demystifies intersectionality - how overlapping systems of oppression create unique experiences of discrimination – and explores how we can address compounded marginalisation. The conversation dives deep into shifting from non-racism to active anti-racism, with practical insights on indifference and neutrality, and navigating entrenched workplace resistance. Khayshie shares tangible strategies for navigating difficult DEI conversations, from understanding the interests behind a person’s position to the art of “calling in” versus “calling out” discriminatory systems. She reflects on the personal cost of advocacy, the tension between being bold versus palatable, and why rest is resistance - not a luxury. For anyone committed to building a more equitable world, this episode offers both the conceptual framework and actionable tools to move from awareness to meaningful action. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:44 - The Journey of Otherness 07:22 - Understanding Intersectionality 20:33 - The Distinction Between Non-Racist and Anti-Racist 36:31 - Negotiation: Interests vs. Positions 41:13 - Navigating the Movable Middle in Advocacy 44:58 - The Challenge of Being a DEI Strategist 49:02 - Balancing Boldness and Palatability in Advocacy 53:01 - Understanding Advocacy Burnout 01:01:35 - Being comfortable with No in Self-Advocacy 01:05:22 - Valuing Stories and Knowledge Beyond Books 01:08:29 - Redefining the Narrative of Migrants 01:12:01 - Authenticity in Advocacy and Representation 01:16:52 - Conclusion Resources mentioned: 1. “Invisible Women” by Caroline Criado Perez 2. “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” by Beverly Daniel Tatum 3. “Getting to Yes” by Fisher and Ury Connect with Khayshie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khayshie/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/khayshie/] Website: https://khayshie.com/ [https://khayshie.com/] --- Thank you for listening to From There To Here! If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show. I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here! LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-bellamy-dodd-813460152/] || Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ftth_podcast/] || Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7jq1jAPXbrlXMFY1Ttqx78] || Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/from-there-to-here-ftth/id1806636861] This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au [https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/].

Unmuting Women of Colour: From Silence to Reclaiming your Voice with Richa Joshi

Host Emma Bellamy-Dodd sits with Richa Joshi, who helps quiet voices get loud - especially women of colour who have been muted by systems, labels, and cultural expectations. In this episode, Richa shares her personal journey of (un-)learning to “shrink” to fit in and how parenthood became the catalyst for breaking generational cycles of silence. The conversation delves into the messy but essential work of “unmuting” - a process of unlearning harmful conditioning, challenging internalised narratives, and healing from self-erasure. Richa challenges the idea that integration is a one-sided task migrants must perform alone, reframing belonging as mutual adaptation where everyone evolves. Together, they explore the power of deconstructing our own cultural biases and moving beyond limiting labels and stereotypes – like the model minority myth - to embrace our evolving, intersectional identities.  Chapters: • 0:00 - Introduction • 3:00 - Identity Formation and Migration • 11:56 - The Emotional Process of Unmuting • 23:00 - Cultural Adaptation vs. Assimilation • 42:04 - Deconstructing Cultural Norms and Challenging Labelling • 48:54 - Power, Privilege, and Mutuality • 1:06:41 - The Role of Authenticity and Self-Reflection • 1:18:02 - Conclusion Resources mentioned: * “The Good Immigrant” by Nikesh Shukla * “The Leader unwritten: Becoming who you’re meant to be” by Premila Jina Connect with X: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richajoshi1978/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richajoshi1978/]  Website: unmutingyou.com  --- Thank you for listening to From There To Here! If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show. I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here! LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-bellamy-dodd-813460152/] || Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ftth_podcast/] || Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7jq1jAPXbrlXMFY1Ttqx78] || Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/from-there-to-here-ftth/id1806636861] This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au [https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/].

Ambiguously Brown: Navigating Mixed Identity with Zozan Balci

Zozan Balci is a researcher and author who explores the lived experiences of mixed heritage individuals navigating cultural in-betweenness. Born in Germany to Italian and Turkish migrant parents, Zozan lost her ability to speak Turkish as a child - a loss that sparked years of reflection and ultimately became the foundation of her PhD research. In this conversation, Zozan shares powerful stories from her book about the emotional weight of being “ambiguously Brown,” the invasive “Where are you from?” question, and how “in-betweeners” often erase parts of themselves to fit into dominant cultures. She discusses the racialization of cultural identity, the deep connection between language and relationships, and why well-meaning practices of inclusion can emphasise differences and eventually harm children. Zozan also introduces her documentary project “Say Our Names,” which addresses the everyday microaggression of name mispronunciation, and shares practical strategies for creating micro-inclusions. This episode challenges listeners to sit with discomfort, question their assumptions about belonging, and recognise that mixedness isn’t a deficit - it’s a rich, valid identity deserving of recognition and respect. Chapters: • 0:00 - Introduction & Welcome • 1:41 – The Personal Story Behind the Research • 5:00 – The Experience of “Ambiguous Brownness” • 10:00 – Feeling Not Enough of Anything • 15:51 – Why People Reject or Embrace Heritage Languages • 20:00 – Language as Connection, Not Asset • 24:59 – Race, Visibility, and Identity • 25:00 – Normalizing Mixedness • 30:00 – The Exhausting Emotional Labor • 33:30 – Say Our Names Documentary • 40:00 – Empowering Multilingual Students in Classrooms • 45:00 – Resisting Academic Conformity • 50:00 – The Myth of Objectivity in Social Science • 52:30 – Final Words of Wisdom • 55:29 – Dr. Rukia Odero’s Wisdom • 56:50 – What Does “Migrant” Mean? • 58:40 – What Is Home? • 1:00:00 – Before and After: Finding Authentic Voice • 1:02:33 – What’s Next: Micro-Inclusion & Closing Resources mentioned: • Book: Erased Voices and Unspoken Heritage: Language, Identity and Belonging in the Lives of Cultural In-betweeners, by Zozan Balci. Available in Routledge. • Thesis: To Speak or Not to Speak? The Dilemma of Heritage Language and Identity for the Culturally Hybrid Generation, by Zozan Balci. Available here: https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/147366/2/02whole.pdf • Documentary: “Say Our Names” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz2PUakvfH8 - • TV Show: “Kim’s Convenience” (Canadian TV show about a Korean migrant family recommended for its honest, funny take on identity). Connect with Zozan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drzozanbalci/ --- Thank you for listening to From There To Here! If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show. I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here! LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

Being a Brown Female Doctor with Sarah Arachchi

Dr. Sarah Aratchi brings a powerful and heartfelt account of migrating to Australia as a child, reflecting on the everyday realities being “othered” due to her surname and skin colour. She unpacks the lasting impact of being “the brown kid” in school and the constant questioning about where she’s “really from” that followed her into adulthood. The conversation also highlights the subtle ways in which sexism pervades the medical field - from being misidentified as a nurse to continually having to assert her expertise as a doctor. Rather than viewing her dual heritage as a burden, Sarah embraces what she calls being a “cross-cultural kid” - someone who can authentically inhabit multiple cultural spaces. She encourages others to resist the pressure to choose between identities, instead celebrating the richness that comes from blending Australian and heritage cultures through food, traditions, and community. Her journey from exclusion to empowerment illustrates how authentic self-expression can emerge from embracing multiplicity rather than conformity to a single narrative. 00:00 Journey of Migration and Childhood Memories 06:05 Navigating School Life as a Minority 12:00 The Impact of Cultural Questions 17:56 Experiences of Sexism in Medicine 25:54 Balancing Motherhood and Career 33:54 The Strength of Women in Dual Roles 38:13 The Journey of a Woman in Medicine 39:54 Writing a Memoir: A Personal Reflection 42:11 The Emotional Toll of Medicine 47:55 Cultural Identity and Migration 52:29 Finding Belonging in a Multicultural Society 56:06 The Power of Authenticity and Advocacy Resources mentioned: Brown. Female. Doctor. By Sarah Arachchi  (available on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com.au/Brown-Female-Doctor-Sarah-Arachchi/dp/1923192167]) Looking for Alibrandi, by Melina Marchetta Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox Connect with Sarah: Instagram: @kidsdoctorsarah --- Thank you for listening to From There To Here! If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show. I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here! LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-bellamy-dodd-813460152/] || Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ftth_podcast/] || Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7jq1jAPXbrlXMFY1Ttqx78] || Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/from-there-to-here-ftth/id1806636861] This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au [https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/].

A Cultural Psychology Conversation with Deborah Ko

In this episode, host Emma Bellamy-Dodd sits down with cultural psychologist Deborah Ko for an eye-opening conversation on identity, belonging, and adaptation across cultures. Deborah shares her personal experiences growing up at the intersection of American and Hong Kong backgrounds, and reveals how cultural psychology became a lens for understanding her multiple selves. The discussion explores the discomfort of duality and dialecticism, Western versus Eastern notions of selfhood, and the fluid meaning of authenticity for those living between cultures. They unpack leadership and workplace dynamics, examining how the “ideal leader” looks like across cultures and how multicultural teams navigate these hidden norms. Deborah offers insights on communication, self-presentation, and adapting to professional norms abroad. The conversation also tackles how AI risks ironing out our individual quirks and cultural nuances, highlighting the critical importance of intentional engagement with technology. Memorable reflections on home, third-culture kids, and embracing complexity round out this compelling exploration of life in the in-between. Chapters 00:00 Cultural Psychology: An Introduction 02:30 Growing Up Between Cultures 06:17 Understanding Identity Across Cultures 11:31 The Interdependent vs. Independent Self 16:32 Self-Presentation and Cultural Expectations 22:52 Leadership and Cultural Biases 28:16 Cultural Morality: What’s Right or Wrong Across Contexts 33:33 Communication Styles and Cultural Norms 40:14 Emotional Expression Across Cultures 45:59 Honesty vs. Kindness in Communication 51:17 The Impact of AI on Authenticity 57:05 Cultural Nuances in AI Communication 01:05:40 The Role of Critical Thinking in the Age of AI 01:13:28 Cultural Identity and the Migrant Experience 01:19:50 Closing Reflections Resources mentioned: “Geography of Thought” by Richard Nisbett “The Culture Map” by Erin Meyer “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner Connect with Deborah: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahko/ Medium: https://psykobabble.medium.com/ --- Thank you for listening to From There To Here! If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show. I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here! LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-bellamy-dodd-813460152/] || Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ftth_podcast/] || Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7jq1jAPXbrlXMFY1Ttqx78] || Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/from-there-to-here-ftth/id1806636861] This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au [https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/].