In this solo episode, I share the story of a migrant’s suitcase - the one that carries not only our belongings, but also our hopes, fears, and dreams that tie into everything we become as a migrant. This is a personal reflection on what a suitcase can really represent in the migrant journey, with insights from guest episodes. Listen to this episode if you have ever packed up your life and wondered what really travels with you as you start your new life.

Meet Vlad, an extrovert from a country full of introverts! In this episode, he shares his journey of moving from Estonia to Australia, and the cultural contrasts he’s noticed along the way. With authenticity and humour, he opens up about navigating small talk, Melbourne’s food and coffee culture, and the everyday quirks of living in Australia. We dive into his love for Sri Lankan kotthu rotti, Chinese food, and bucket-list travel destinations. Vlad also reflects on the struggles of migrating,...

From leaving a “proper job” to pursuing her passion for fashion, Tina’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode of Migrant Munch, she opens up about taking the leap to become a personal stylist, moving across the world from Australia to LA, and building a thriving career she loves. We also dive into the psychology of styling and shopping - how what we wear affects how we feel, and how understanding style can be a powerful tool for confidence and self-expression. Tina’s story reminds...

From being seen as the “troublemaker kid” to discovering what truly brings him joy, Tanush’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode of Migrant Munch, he opens up about his childhood, his journey towards self-development and how he found his definition of happiness. Tanush’s story reminds us that who we are is not determined by the stereotypes placed on us - it’s found in the choices we make along the way, and the way we choose to live our lives. This episode is for those who have f...

In Episode 6 of Migrant Munch, we chat to Josh Lincoln (yes, that’s his real name). Josh shares his journey from growing up in India to arriving in Australia as an international student, with no safety net and everything to figure out on his own. At one point, he was juggling three jobs just to survive. When his visa was close to expiring and he had no job lined up, he came dangerously close to losing it all. Yet, he persevered through the hardships. If you’ve ever wondered how much str...

In Episode 5 of Migrant Munch, Vish shares her story of growing up in Sri Lanka, navigating challenges, and then moving to Australia. From dealing with the struggles of setbacks she faced, to becoming a counsellor who now helps others heal, Vish reflects on the power of therapy, the reality of migration, and what it really means to find your way when everything feels unfamiliar. If you’ve ever felt like therapy is a “waste” for you, so you've buried your pain and kept struggling in silence ...

In Episode 4 of Migrant Munch, Nisal Keembiyage shares his story of moving to Australia to study medicine, and unexpectedly becoming a bit of a celebrity along the way. From slicing brains in mice to lip syncing in the uni shuttle bus (and running through campus in a wedding dress), Nisal reflects on living between two worlds: the serious path of medicine and the joy of creating content just for the fun of it. Whether you’ve ever juggled different sides of yourself, wanted to show up authen...

What do you do when you're not quite Aussie, not quite Sri Lankan, yet always somewhere in the middle? In Episode 3, Dr. Sarah Arachchi shares what it was like growing up as a Sri Lankan in Australia and starting to realise the differences between her two cultures, from the pressure to fit in, the disconnection when visiting Sri Lanka, to the quiet pride in holding onto her roots and forming her own identity. Whether you’ve moved countries, grown up between cultures, or simply felt li...

In this episode of Migrant Munch, we hear from Duygu, who left Turkey and began the quiet, courageous work of evolving in a new life in Australia. From learning to silence her inner critic to figuring out her new identity, her story is one of self-discovery and finding positivity despite all the obstacles that are thrown our way.

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussions of personal hardship, which may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening and reach out for support. In Episode 1 of Migrant Munch, I chat with Niranjala, whose journey has been anything but straightforward. Just when things were finally starting to fall into place, life threw her another challenge. This episode is about resilience, navigating the hardships of life, and finding ways to keep going, even when it’s hard.