As Season 1 of Sakura, Sikhi & Strength concludes, I'm reflecting on the journey from feeling displaced between cultures to discovering that these "in-between spaces" are actually where I found my greatest strength. This finale episode connects the themes that emerged across 13 conversations about resilience, identity, and authentic living. What I used to see as my biggest challenge - this multicultural identity that sometimes left me feeling like I didn't fit anywhere - became the source...

After 15 years of privacy, I'm sharing something deeply personal - my journey with multiple sclerosis. At 26, five months into marriage everything changed with a diagnosis that would reshape how I understood strength, planning, and what it means to build a life when the rules suddenly shift. Joined by Dr. Stephen Krieger, neurologist at Mount Sinai at the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS who has walked this entire journey with me, we explore what it means to build a meaningful life r...

When was the last time you gave yourself the same compassion you'd give your best friend? In this deeply personal episode, I explore the transformative power of unlearning the performance trap that keeps us believing our worth must be constantly proven and earned. Through vulnerable stories about the moment a doctor told me I needed to "take a break" (and I genuinely didn't understand what he meant), I examine how perfectionism can masquerade as high standards while actually undermining our c...

In this deeply personal episode, I sit down with my maternal grandmother, Veena Singh (Nanima), for an intimate conversation spanning 84+ years of wisdom, resilience, and unwavering faith. Born in what was then part of India, Nanima's early years took her from her birthplace to Persia and eventually to 1940s Delhi, where she witnessed incredible social and historical changes while building a life rooted in Sikh values and unconditional love. Wisdom That Transcends Generations: The difference ...

In Part 2 of this enlightening series, technology leader and Sikh scholar Inderpreet Singh shares what Gurbani (Sikh scriptures) actually teaches about building resilience, maintaining optimism, and finding strength through life's inevitable challenges. This episode explores profound spiritual concepts made accessible for modern life, from the daily practice of Chardi Kala (ascending spirits) to understanding how divine remembrance becomes medicine for contemporary ailments. Deep Teachings Ex...

In Part 1 of this two-part series, I speak with Inderpreet Singh, a technology leader and Sikh scholar whose multicultural journey beautifully illustrates how faith evolves across cultures and continents. Born in Delhi but raised across Japan, Canada, and India, Inderpreet's story takes us from being teased as "Triple Bun Samosa" in boarding school to finding his Sikh identity actually strengthened in a Catholic educational environment. This Episode Explores: How childhood challenges build li...

Smart vs Wise: Why Intelligence Isn't Enough We celebrate degrees, test scores, and credentials - but what about wisdom? In this introspective episode, I share vulnerable stories about my real estate career journey to explore the crucial difference between being smart and being wise. Through personal examples, I examine how our obsession with intelligence often overshadows the development of wisdom - the ability to read context, understand nuances, and make decisions aligned with our deeper v...

What does it look like to grow up as a third culture kid in today's world? In this refreshing conversation, Asees sits down with 11-year-old Gia Kiteishvili, a half-Korean, half-Georgian young student growing up in New York City, to explore identity, belonging, and resilience from a Gen Z perspective. Gia brings a unique viewpoint to our understanding of multicultural identity – from attending Korean school as an international student to describing how her multicultural background helps her "...

What does it mean to navigate identity when your childhood spans continents and cultures? In this profound conversation, Asees sits down with Antoinette Aku Quarshie, Dean of Students at a New York Independent School, who brings over 30 years of experience working with young adolescents during their crucial identity-forming years. Born to a Grenadian mother and Ghanian father, Antoinette was raised between the UK, Grenada, Ghana, and the United States. Her unique third culture background, com...

What's the difference between being nice and being kind? In this deeply personal episode, Asees shares why understanding this distinction completely transformed how she shows up in relationships – and why it might save your sanity too. Through vulnerable stories from her real estate career and family dynamics, Asees explores how cultural conditioning around "respecting elders" and "keeping the peace" led her to accept treatment that was slowly draining her energy and self-worth. From the buil...

What happens when three young women from different corners of the world meet in Paris and discover they finally understand each other? In this heartwarming conversation, Asees reconnects with her dearest friends Annick and Maureen – a friendship that began at Sciences-Po over 20 years ago and has only grown stronger across continents. Annick (French-Mexican-American, now in Atlanta) and Maureen (British-Italian-French, calling in from Brussels) join Asees to explore what it means to live with...

What does it mean to grow up in a "neither nor world"—belonging everywhere and nowhere at once? In this illuminating conversation, Asees sits down with Ruth Van Reken, co-author of the groundbreaking book "Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds," to explore the complex reality of living between cultures. Ruth shares her personal journey from Nigeria to Chicago, revealing how understanding her multicultural story transformed decades of confusion into clarity and purpose. This conversation...

What happens when your identity spans continents and cultures? In this deeply personal conversation, host Asees sits down with accomplished journalist and writer Aarti Virani to explore the beautiful complexity of being second-generation and third culture kids. Both born to Indian families in Kobe, Japan, Asees and Aarti share a unique bond - their grandfathers moved to Japan post-WWII, their fathers grew up together, and their mothers got pregnant around the same time. Now raising families i...

Welcome to the very first episode of "Sakura, Sikhi & Strength"! I'm Asees, and I'm sharing the story behind this podcast and my unique journey as a third-culture kid and second-generation immigrant. In this episode, you'll hear about: - Why I chose the name "Sakura, Sikhi & Strength" and what each element means to me - Growing up as a second-generation immigrant born in Kobe, Japan, then moving to LA - Navigating multiple identities - Japanese culture, Sikh faith, and American life -...

Welcome to Sakura, Sikhi & Strength - a podcast about finding strength in the space between cultures and thriving through life's constant changes. I'm Asees Sethi Anand, your host, and as someone born in Japan, raised in Los Angeles, and now living in New York City, I understand what it means to navigate life between worlds. This podcast is for anyone building careers, starting families, caring for loved ones, and writing their own definition of success - all while honoring the beautiful ...