Somewhere Unfamiliar

Aisha grew up in Nairobi, New York, and Abu Dhabi, and this conversation explores what it feels like to navigate different cultures and identities from a young age.We talk about adaptation, belonging, immigrant families, changing accents, identity, and the experience of becoming a “chameleon” — learning how to shift naturally between cultures, environments, and social settings.The episode also explores friendship, community, growing up internationally, and the complicated feeling of trying to figure out who you are underneath all the adaptation.This conversation felt especially personal to me because I’ve actually known Aisha since childhood, even though our lives took very different paths over the years.

Somewhere Unfamiliar is a podcast about moving, identity, belonging, and what it really feels like to build a home in a new place.Through personal stories and honest conversations, it explores the excitement, the loneliness, and everything in between that comes with starting over.

When you grow up moving between countries, you don’t just change places...you start questioning where you belong.What does that do to your identity over time?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Eimad Houry, someone I’ve known and looked up to for many years.He grew up moving across countries and continents from a very young age and spent much of his life as a study abroad student himself. That experience shaped his career and led him to spend decades at Mercer University building study abroad and international affairs programs that had a lasting impact on students and how they saw the world.This conversation goes beyond the idea of study abroad as just an experience. It’s less about where you go, and more about what those experiences do to you over time.We talk about the parts people don’t always mention, including the loneliness, the adjustment, and what it takes to build real connections, and how these experiences continue to shape identity and decisions long after.Resources:How Studying Abroad Changed My Life by Eimad Houry & Chinekwu Obidoa⁠⁠ 

You move abroad… and suddenly going back doesn’t feel the same.Why does returning “home” feel so different after living somewhere else?In this episode, I sit down with Laura to talk about her move from Glasgow to San Diego and how something that started as a work opportunity turned into a complete life change.We talk about the moment it finally felt real, the pressure of starting from scratch in a new country, and what it’s actually like trying to build friendships in your 30s when everyone else already has their life set up.Laura also shares what surprised her most about moving. Not the leaving, but what happens when you go back. Realizing that home doesn’t feel the same anymore, and that you’re no longer fully part of the life you left behind.This is a conversation about identity, change, and what it means to build a life somewhere new while still feeling connected to where you came from.

When you’ve lived in multiple countries, “home” stops being a place.So what does it actually mean when you don’t feel tied to just one?In this episode, I talk with Ossama from Sultan + Shepard about growing up between cultures and never having a simple answer to “where are you from.”We talk about his path into music, the failures along the way, and the moments that shaped how he sees identity, family expectations, and what it means to build a life on his own terms.It’s a conversation about figuring out what “home” really means…when it isn’t a place.

You move to a new country… and suddenly everything you built no longer translates.What does it feel like to lose your identity overnight?In this episode, Silvina shares her journey of moving from Argentina to the United States in her twenties and what it really means to start over from scratch.After graduating top of her class in Argentina, she arrived in the U.S. and realized that her accomplishments didn't translate. She talks about what that felt like and how she rebuilt her life from there, while also learning to speak English.We get into what it takes to build a community in a new place, how long it can take to feel like you belong, and the emotional side of immigration that people don’t always talk about. That includes the guilt of building a life far from family, and the mindset shifts that helped her move through it.This is a very honest conversation about identity, resilience, and taking responsibility for the life you want to create, no matter where you are.

What does it mean to build a life far from where you began? In this podcast, the host interviews people who have moved across countries and cultures, sharing the stories behind starting over. It's the excitement, the loneliness, the resilience, and the unexpected ways we find belonging.

You move to a new country… but you never fully stop feeling like an outsider.Why does that feeling follow you, no matter where you go?This conversation explores Nadine's journey in Lebanon and in the US, detailing the challenges of cultural transition, language barriers, and the impact of war on identity. Nadine reflects on the importance of community, the complexities of adult friendships, and the search for belonging in a new environment. Through her stories, the discussion highlights resilience, growth, and the significance of family and cultural connections in shaping one's sense of home.