Who gets to tell your story—and what happens when others tell it for you?

In this episode of Third Culture Therapy, I sit down with journalist, humanitarian, and founder of mental health organisation Art of Hope, Tara Kangarlou, to unpack the emotional toll of constantly explaining, justifying, and correcting misconceptions about one’s heritage.

Tara shares:

✨ The exhaustion of being in ‘explanation mode’ and the burden of representation

✨ How storytelling can be a tool for both personal healing and systemic change

✨ The role of mental health in humanitarian work and why emotional well-being is often overlooked in crisis response

✨ The challenges of the international aid sector—why too much of it is top-down and how real change happens when we centre the voices of those directly impacted

We also discuss the work of Art of Hope, a grassroots organisation focused on mental health support for refugees, and why sustainable, community-driven solutions—not external, one-size-fits-all aid—are key to lasting impact.

For anyone who has ever felt caught between worlds, exhausted by the need to explain, or frustrated with the way global narratives are shaped, this conversation is a reminder: your story matters. And how we choose to tell it can be a force for transformation.

Click through for more about Tara Kangarlou and Art of Hope

Let us know what you thought about the episode through a like, review or share and visit our Instagram and YouTube channel

✨ This episode is sponsored by the luxury silk hair wrap company, Paradise Fold. TThird Culture Therapy listeners get a special discount on products with the code TCT10

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.