Exploring Asian Fetishisation and Self-Discovery with Kaila YuIn this episode, Layla Maghribi speaks with Kaila Yu, a Taiwanese American writer, model, and singer, about her memoir Fetishised: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty. Together, they unpack the fetishisation of East Asian women in Western media and culture, Kaila’s experiences in the entertainment industry, and the personal cost of navigating visibility, desirability, and stereotype. The conversation explores identity, recovery, self-love, and the ongoing process of healing through self-reflection and culturally aware care.

💬 Topics Covered:

✔️ Asian fetishisation and “yellow fever” in Western culture

✔️ Kaila’s journey through the entertainment industry

✔️ Historical roots of racialized beauty standards

✔️ Family dynamics, identity, and cultural pressure

✔️ Addiction, recovery, and self-reckoning

✔️ Therapy, mental health, and self-love

✔️ Healing as an ongoing, non-linear process

00:00 Introduction to Third Culture Therapy

00:12 Meet Kaila Yu: Author and Entertainer

00:42 Exploring 'Fetishise': A Deep Dive into Kaila's Book

01:35 Kaila's Journey in the Entertainment Industry

02:55 The Impact of Cultural Stereotypes

04:52 Personal Experiences and Family Dynamics

06:13 Defining and Discussing Fetishisation

07:44 Historical Context and Personal Reckoning

13:07 Addiction, Recovery, and Self-Reflection

14:01 The Role of Family and Cultural Background

17:37 Therapy, Self-Love, and Moving Forward

32:14 Future Aspirations and Final Thoughts

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on mental health culture!Follow Third Culture Therapy on🌍 Substack | 🎧 Apple Podcasts | 🎙 Spotify | 📱 InstagramSupport the show: Like, follow, and share 💛

Third Culture Therapy is back on the 28th of January with a slate of riveting new episodes! From entrepreneurs to healers, entertainers to storytellers, tune in to hear our exceptional guests share their personal and professional insight on how culture shapes mental and emotional wellbeing.

Out every other Wednesday. Click follow now to never miss an episode!

How can you belong if you’re only ever considered “half” of something? How can we redefine identity on our own terms?

In this episode, we’re joined by actor, filmmaker, and writer Jassa Ahluwalia. Jassa’s debut book Both Not Half is both a celebration but also a reclamation of the mixed heritage experience, centred around his ethos that we are all more than the sum of our parts. 

Born in Coventry to a white English mother and a Punjabi Sikh father, Jassa has spent his life navigating overlapping identities, challenging stereotypes, and carving out his own space in the world.

We explore Jassa’s personal journey to embrace his Sikh roots, examine his unique philosophy of self-definition, and discuss the lessons he’s learned while advocating for greater representation of mixed heritage voices in the acting industry.

To make sure you never miss a Third Culture Therapy session, download the pod on your favourite platform and watch us on YouTube here and Instagram here.

If you’d like to support us further, please consider donating to our Patreon here.

And to stay connected with Jassa’s work, you can follow him here: 

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

How can we take care of our mental health while sustaining activism? How can we find strength in our struggles? 

In this episode, we sit down with Palestinian psychotherapist and activist Mustafa Jayyousi, who specialises in trauma therapy for those facing systemic oppression and mental health care for activists. Mustafa shares his approach to helping activists manage trauma, build resilience, and avoid burnout through workshops designed to support long-term social justice work. He discusses his journey into activism, shaped by his personal experiences, and how he balances his roles as a father and an activist while maintaining close connections to his family in Palestine.

We also explore Mustafa’s thoughts on “decolonising” mental health and how breaking from Western frameworks has allowed him and his clients to find more culturally rooted, communal methods of healing. 

To make sure you never miss a Third Culture Therapy session, download the pod on your favourite platform and watch us on YouTube here and Instagram here.

If you’d like to support us further, please consider donating to our Patreon here.

And to stay connected with Mustafa’s work, you can follow him on Instagram or his website

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

What does it take to truly understand yourself? And how can you unlock your full potential in life?

In this episode, I sit down with Isik Tlabar, a life coach and spiritual guide who splits her time between Istanbul and London. Isik helps people connect with their inner power through breathwork, a technique that combines breath, sound, and movement to create a deeper connection between the body and mind.

We dive into her approach to self-discovery and why she believes balancing both feminine and masculine energies is essential for personal growth. Isik also shares practical ways to use your intuition as a tool for clarity, purpose, and empowerment.

Join us for an inspiring conversation that will leave you thinking about how you can better connect with yourself and live more fully.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

Finally, click this link to find out more about Isik’s work. 

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

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains several mentions of extreme violence and self-harm, particularly involving children. 

While difficult to talk about and listen to, we felt it right to include these moments to illustrate the severity of the situation and the vital importance of Alexandra’s work. 

In spite of these difficult conversations, we hope that the episode will leave you feeling more hopeful and provide you with a better idea as to how we should help the most vulnerable. 

What are the long term effects of war on the children who suffer because of it? And what can we do to help those most in need? 

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alexandra Chen, a Hong Kong-born child psychologist and trauma specialist with over a decade of experience working with war-affected children and families across the Middle East and Africa.

Alexandra shares her deep insights into the often-overlooked, long-term impacts of conflict on children’s mental health, cognitive development, and education—drawing on her work with UN agencies, governments, and nonprofits in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and beyond.

We delve into how Alexandra copes with the emotional weight of witnessing such profound trauma, the strategies she employs to maintain her own wellbeing, and how her diverse identities—from her Hong Kong roots to her experiences in the UK—shape her approach to helping and healing.

Join us for a conversation that explores resilience, trauma, and the enduring power of hope in the face of unimaginable adversity.

If you are directly impacted by the war in Gaza and require mental health support, follow this link to sign up for support from Healing for Gaza. 

And if you want to provide support as a clinician or interpreter, or just want to donate to Healing for Gaza, all the information about how to do that can be found here. 

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

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

How do you stay hopeful when times are hard? And can love truly survive, and even thrive, in the face of adversity?

In the first episode of Season 2, we hear from award-winning journalist and writer Anna Lekas Miller, who specialises in conflict and migration. Despite covering distressing events like the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIS, Anna has always sought stories of compassion and love.

Her latest book, Love Across Borders, which recently won the Arab American Book Award, weaves real-life stories of couples navigating conflict and borders. One of those stories is Anna's own relationship with her husband Salem, a Syrian journalist.

Together, we explore the power of love in the face of adversity, discuss Anna's upcoming novel, and examine what role stories of hope can play even in the darkest times.

To make sure you never miss a Third Culture Therapy session, download the pod on your favourite platform and watch us on YouTube here and Instagram here.

We deeply appreciate your support as one of our listeners. If you'd like to support us even more, feel free to donate to our Patreon here.

And if you want to hear more from Anna, you can find her brilliant Instagram here:

This episode is sponsored by Paradise Fold, the silk hair wrap company. Listen to the episode for a special discount code on all purchases.

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

Third Culture Therapy host Layla Maghribi announces the return of another season of the podcast with an amazing new line-up of guests!

From the impact of hostile foreign policies on love and relationships to the role of art, poetry & literature in healing, Layla goes deep on topics that are both highly personal, and completely universal.

Third Culture Therapy will be back on the 25th September - and every other Wednesday after that - so make sure to follow & subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts and get alerted when the next episode drops. 

And if you’re a watcher then we are also on YouTube!

If you’re new to the show, scroll back & have a listen to previous episodes where i talk to therapists, shamans, tech entrepreneurs, and many more.

Like follow and subscribe everywhere you get your podcasts, and follow us on instagram and patreon @thirdculturetherapypod

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

How do a father and son maintain a strong relationship while working together on healing others?

Can professional collaboration strain personal family ties?

Daniel Mate, musician, author, mental chiropractor, and Palestine advocate, joins us to explore these questions. Co-author of The Myth of Normal with his father, Gabor Mate, Daniel shares insights into their father-son partnership and their joint project, "Hello Again: A Fresh Start for Parents and Their Adult Children."

Together, we dive into Daniel’s healing journey, his unique mental chiropractic approach, and the transformative experiences that shaped him, including Ayahuasca in Peru. We also explore the challenges of growing up in the shadow of a famous father and how Daniel has created his own path.We further discuss Daniel’s recent involvement in the Israel-Palestine debate and how his healing work applies to larger societal conflicts. Join us as we discuss personal healing, family collaboration, and activism.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our twitter and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

Finally, to hear more from our brilliant guest Daniel, you can find them on instagram here, and their website here.

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

How can embracing both Arab and Jewish identities offer a new vision for healing in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

What does it mean to love Judaism but reject Zionism?

Hadar Cohen, an Arab Jewish scholar, mystic, and artist, joins us to explore these complex questions. Founder of malchut, a spiritual school focused on Jewish mysticism and direct experience of God, Hadar’s work bridges spirituality, politics, and social issues. As a 10th-generation Jerusalemite with roots in Syria, Kurdistan, Iraq, and Iran, her personal and ancestral experience brings a unique perspective to her teachings on healing and justice.

Together, we discuss growing up in a divided Jerusalem, the challenges and beauty of identifying as both Arab and Jewish, and why true healing between Israelis and Palestinians requires the recognition of shared pain. Hadar also shares her thoughts on spiritual maturity, why personal healing is vital for societal change, and how building interfaith spaces can strengthen Arab communities across different religions. Join us for a conversation about identity, spirituality, and the path to peace.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

Finally, to hear more from our brilliant guest Hadar, you can find her instagram here.

This episode is sponsored by Paradise Fold, the silk hair wrap company. Listeners get a special discount on all products with the code TCT12

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

How can we navigate personal loss while holding space for collective grief during times of crisis?

What does it mean to find healing through the mind, body, and spirit after deep personal and communal trauma?

Hana Elrais, a British-Libyan creative, grief counsellor, and end-of-life carer, joins us to share her unique approach to processing grief and trauma. Founder of Permission to Grieve, where she leads monthly grief circles and one-on-one sessions, Hana uses a holistic approach, including vibrational sound medicine, to create a safe space for others to heal. Drawing from her own experiences of loss—her brother, her marriage, her country—Hana helps others through the complex layers of grief.

Together, we discuss how death and divorce shaped her understanding of loss, her journey through an identity crisis as a Libyan-Brit, and how history played a role in resolving it. Hana also shares how she weaves Sufi practices into her work, and what it's been like to support the Arab and Palestinian community in the UK through grief circles during the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Join us for an intimate conversation about trauma, healing, and the power of collective grief.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

Finally, click this link to hear more from our brilliant guest, Hana.

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

What does it mean to live outside the stereotypes, and how can we free ourselves from shame?

How do we stop caring about others' judgments and start living for ourselves?

Alya Mooro, Egyptian-born and London-raised writer and best-selling author of The Greater Freedom: Life as a Middle Eastern Woman Outside the Stereotypes, joins us to explore these themes. Many of you may know Alya from her newsletter and community, The Greater Conversation, but did you know she’s also a TV producer with exciting projects on the horizon? In this episode, we dive into her journey of self-development, her mental health toolkit, and how she’s learned to trust herself more through life’s challenges.

Together, we discuss what it means to be a “woman outside the stereotypes” and why Alya might rethink putting "Middle Eastern" in her book title today. We also touch on body image, how illness taught her self-trust, and why looks are the least interesting thing about her (though she still loves a good selfie!). Alya also reflects on hosting her podcast The Talk of Shame and explores how confronting shame can empower us, especially for women.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

Finally, click this link to hear more from our brilliant guest, Alya!

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

This podcast episode is published in collaboration with Hadar's Web and Third Culture Therapy.

In this episode of Hadar's Web, host of Third Culture Therapy Layla Maghribi shares personal stories of ancestral pilgrimage to Libya and Syria. She traces her family history of activism against colonialism, which she continues through her own work, and highlights the critical history of Italian colonialism in Libya that is so often overlooked. In conversation with Hadar Cohen, Layla explores the mental health impacts of exile, the necessity of community to regional resilience, and the centrality of Palestinian liberation.

***

Hadar's Web is hosted by Hadar Cohen, an Arab Jewish scholar, mystic and artist. She teaches spirituality and Jewish mysticism at Malchut, a spiritual skill building school teaching direct experience of God. Hadar is a Jewish mystic who builds decolonial frameworks to worship God. Hadar is an artist weaving the spiritual with the political through the artistic mediums of performance, movement, writing, weaving, sound, and ritual.

To learn more about Hadar, visit hadarcohen.me //@hadarcohen32

To study at her mystical school, check out malchut.one.

Subscribe to her Substack to stay tuned to latest episodes and offerings hadarcohen.substack.com

Hadar's Web is a podcast featuring community conversations on spirituality, healing, justice, and art.

You can follow Layla at laylamaghribi.com, substack.com/@thirdculturetherapy & on Instagram @laylamaghribi

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

How can we practice self-compassion and set boundaries while facing collective grief during a genocide?

What does it mean to decolonize therapy, and how can it help communities struggling with generational trauma?

This week, we’re joined by Palestinian-Polish therapist Tasha Matar, who specialises in generational wounds, diasporic grief, and complex trauma. Raised in Canada by a Polish mother and a Palestinian father, Tasha brings her third-culture perspective and decolonial approach to her work, connecting deeply with clients—many of whom are Palestinians. Her eclectic practice includes Sensorimotor, DBT, internal family systems, and art psychotherapy.

In this episode, Tasha shares how her experience as an intersectional therapist has been especially invaluable during the ongoing genocide in Gaza. We explore tough but critical questions: How can we be self-compassionate during a genocide? How do we deal with survivor’s guilt? And how can we stop intellectualizing trauma and learn to sit with our grief?

Join us as Tasha discusses how art therapy bridges the brain’s divide, what ‘good’ therapy looks like during a crisis, and why decolonizing therapeutic practices is essential for more effective healing.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

Finally, to hear more from our brilliant guest, visit their instagram here!

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

How can healthcare workers cope with the emotional toll of witnessing a humanitarian crisis, and what can be done to protect them in conflict zones?

What are the mental health impacts of being an outspoken advocate for Palestinians in politically hostile environments?

In this episode of Third Culture Therapy, Dr. Omar Abdel-Mannan, a British-Egyptian paediatric neurologist and humanitarian activist, joins us to discuss these questions. As a leading voice in the global movement to protect healthcare workers in Palestine, Omar shares the mental and emotional challenges he’s faced after witnessing the horrors in Gaza. He also reveals advice he received from PTSD experts on how to process such trauma healthily.

We dive into Omar’s experience as a UK-based activist, the personal challenges of advocating for Palestinian rights in a politically difficult environment, and the reasons he decided to speak publicly about the mental health struggles faced by medics, including suicidal ideation. Omar sheds light on why it’s essential to destigmatise mental health issues among healthcare workers, particularly those on the frontlines of conflict.

Together, we explore Omar’s journey as a humanitarian, from his early trips to the West Bank and Gaza to co-founding Gaza Medic Voices, a platform amplifying the voices of Palestinian healthcare workers. We also discuss his work with Health Workers for Palestine, a global civil society movement holding vigils for healthcare workers killed in Gaza.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

Finally, To hear more from our brilliant guest you can follow Omar's work here and here.

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

In this episode, I share some of my reflections on my recent trip to Damascus, the place my mother was born and raised in, the place I spent all my childhood summers, the place I have some of my most loving and joyful memories and the place that is at the heart of one of the worst wars of the past century.

Here is where I answer some of the many questions I've been asked about how Damascus is today - the good, the bad, the ugly and the painful.

You'll hear about:

• My enduring love affair with Damascus, why I was worried I wouldn’t be welcomed by its residents and how I found gracious and loving acceptance instead
• On what the Damascus I saw is like - the daily life struggles, the mental and emotional pressures and the societal changes that promise a sliver of hope for the future of the country 
• And why being a third culture person and coming from painful countries of origin is a burden and responsibility we must bear, and why it can be difficult, but not impossible, to find safe spaces and people to share our love and pain with. 

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

How does growing up between cultures shape one’s perspective on business, technology, and mental well-being?

In this episode of Third Culture Therapy, we’re joined by Amir Bozorgzadeh, co-founder and CEO of Virtuleap, a startup combining neuroscience with virtual reality to address cognitive disorders like ADD, ADHD, addiction, and phobias. Born to Iranian parents in Canada, and having lived in the UAE for over a decade, Amir reflects on how his third-culture upbringing influenced his entrepreneurial journey. He shares how his connection to Iran’s ancient culture clashes with his Canadian upbringing and the challenges of doing business in contemporary Iran.

Amir discusses the mental health benefits of VR but also warns about the risks of overusing this technology. We also dive into his views on the venture capital world, why it’s often problematic, and how being outspoken has sometimes left him at odds with the entrepreneurial community. Join us as we explore how Amir’s third-culture experience has shaped his approach to technology, business, and personal growth.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

Finally, to hear more from our brilliant guest, you can follow Amir here.

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

How do we find our sense of belonging after years away from home?

What happens when the place we return to no longer feels familiar?

Dubai-born Reema Baniabbasi is a USA-trained counselling psychologist who faced these exact questions when she returned to her hometown after a decade in the United States. Reema currently works at The Psychiatry & Therapy Centre in Dubai, and as a consultant for Takalam, the UAE-based online counseling platform. She is also a mental health columnist for Sail magazine, bringing her unique perspective to the forefront of public discussion.

Together, we breakdown concepts of placelessness and disintegration, explore Reema's insights on the evolving mental health space in the UAE, and discuss how narrative therapy can help clients reclaim their life stories, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

Finally, to hear more from our brilliant guest Reema, you can see what she's up to here.

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

What hurdles do survivors face when trying to heal from their past?

How does leaving your home country shape your journey toward finding peace and purpose?

In this episode, we speak to Hazara-Brit Roh Yakobi, a UK-based activist and journalist who escaped Afghanistan as a child after being tortured by the Taliban. Roh, now standing as a Labour Party candidate in Shrewsbury, shares his story of survival, from his persecution as part of the Hazara minority to his search for inner peace after arriving in the UK.

Together, we discuss how political activism has given him a sense of purpose and sanity and explore his battle with depression and PTSD. Roh reflects on how his journey has shaped him and why he’s determined to fight the stigma surrounding mental health in his community.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

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

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

How does childhood in one country shape adulthood in another - particularly when the values and cultures of those countries seem in total opposition?

Karina Carter was born and raised amongst the wreckage of a fallen Soviet Union, before moving to the Netherlands as a teen.

Raised by a single mother in the house of a grandmother who had taken her own life, Karina describes the world she was born into as one of violence and loss.

Together, we retrace the paths of her early life, from Russian ‘soulfulness’ to Dutch ‘sobriety’, and untangle the traumas and nostalgias that form her memory of it. We discuss the idea of ‘unlearning’, and examine how collective wounds can often mask individual ones.  

\To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

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

Host Layla Maghribi shares her musings on the episode with a round-up what Bhanu shared about growing up between cultures and not completely fitting in either 'back home' or in one's adopted home.

Layla also questions what societal 'norms' really are and where they come from with a look at how many of our contemporary beliefs or views, including about homosexuality, come from colonial laws or foreign oppression that don't always reflect honestly on local culture.

Like Bhanu said, it is time to decolonise our minds...

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How does growing up in different cultures shape your sense of belonging?

What happens when you feel caught between identities in both your home and adopted countries?

In this episode, Bhanu Bhatnagar, a true Third Culture Kid, shares his unique journey. Born in Sweden to Indian parents and raised between Stockholm and Delhi, Bhanu now leads press and media relations for the World Health Organization's regional office for Europe.

Together, we discuss the challenges of being a "brown kid in Sweden," but also feeling like a foreigner in India, as well as what it means to be "Indian enough." Bhanu also shares how a chance encounter with yoga—introduced to him by a white woman—became a lifesaver as he navigated the trauma of coming out as a gay man to his parents.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

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

Nisrine Maktabi is a Lebanese Canadian psychotherapist, trauma-informed coach, and founder of Rooted and Resilient, a program supporting multicultural individuals in reclaiming belonging and inner peace.

In this intimate conversation, Nisrine joins Third Culture Therapy podcast to explore the invisible threads of intergenerational trauma, the grief we inherit, and the embodied paths to healing. We speak candidly about tracing ancestry, reclaiming joy through storytelling, and how somatic therapy helps multicultural communities move from survival to connection.

💬 Topics Covered:

✔️Tracing ancestry and grief after loss

✔️How unacknowledged grief shows up in high-functioning adults

✔️The sacredness of ancestral storytelling and cultural grief

✔️What healing looks like in a trauma-informed lens

✔️Somatic tools: breath, movement, self-touch, and sensory grounding

✔️ Understanding Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work

✔️From blame to compassion in parent-child dynamics

✔️The power of community healing and group therapy

Learn more about Nisrine here

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on mental health & culture!

Follow Third Culture Therapy on

🌍 Substack | 🎧 Apple Podcasts | 🎙 Spotify | 📱 Instagram

Support the show: Like, follow, and share 💛

This episodes is sponsored by luxury hair wrap brand Paradise Fold. Listeners get a special discount with the code TCT10. 

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

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

**PART TWO**

How does the journey from trauma to healing shape one’s identity?

What role can ancient practices play in modern mental health recovery?

In this two-part episode, we meet Louisa, an Iraqi Ayahuasca shaman and healer who trained in the Amazon jungle of Peru. After fleeing Baghdad during the Gulf War and seeking asylum in the Netherlands, Louisa faced years of trauma, anxiety, and PTSD that deeply affected her mental health.

Together, we discuss her struggles with addiction to cannabis, initially a means of self-soothing, and how she discovered that Ayahuasca was the key to addressing her unresolved pain. Louisa shares her transformative experiences with this ancient plant medicine, which has gained recognition in the West for its healing properties.

After her own healing journey, Louisa underwent an intense two-year training process in Peru to become a shaman, and she has been leading ceremonies for several years.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO READ:

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew made of two components - Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis. When combined, these two plants form a powerful psychedelic brew that affects the central nervous system, leading to an altered state of consciousness that can include hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, and euphoria.

It’s strongly recommended that Ayahuasca only be taken when supervised by an experienced shaman, as the brew can lead to an altered state of consciousness that lasts for many hours and those who take it need to be looked after carefully.

Taking Ayahuasca can result in serious side effects, as it can interact with many medications and may worsen some medical conditions. Those with medical conditions should not seek symptom relief by participating in an Ayahuasca ceremony.

If you’re interested in participating in an Ayahuasca experience, be sure to do your research thoroughly and speak to experienced shamans. Louisa has a list of important questions to ask before you consider joining a ceremony.

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

**PART ONE**

How does the journey from trauma to healing shape one’s identity?

What role can ancient practices play in modern mental health recovery?

In this two-part episode, we meet Louisa, an Iraqi Ayahuasca shaman and healer who trained in the Amazon jungle of Peru. After fleeing Baghdad during the Gulf War and seeking asylum in the Netherlands, Louisa faced years of trauma, anxiety, and PTSD that deeply affected her mental health.

Together, we discuss her struggles with addiction to cannabis, initially a means of self-soothing, and how she discovered that Ayahuasca was the key to addressing her unresolved pain. Louisa shares her transformative experiences with this ancient plant medicine, which has gained recognition in the West for its healing properties.

After her own healing journey, Louisa underwent an intense two-year training process in Peru to become a shaman, and she has been leading ceremonies for several years.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO READ:

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew made of two components - Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis. When combined, these two plants form a powerful psychedelic brew that affects the central nervous system, leading to an altered state of consciousness that can include hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, and euphoria.

It’s strongly recommended that Ayahuasca only be taken when supervised by an experienced shaman, as the brew can lead to an altered state of consciousness that lasts for many hours and those who take it need to be looked after carefully.

Taking Ayahuasca can result in serious side effects, as it can interact with many medications and may worsen some medical conditions. Those with medical conditions should not seek symptom relief by participating in an Ayahuasca ceremony.

If you’re interested in participating in an Ayahuasca experience, be sure to do your research thoroughly and speak to experienced shamans. Louisa has a list of important questions to ask before you consider joining a ceremony.

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

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

How does growing up between cultures shape our understanding of grief and healing?

In what ways can personal trauma connect to broader societal challenges?

In this episode, we chat with Jihad, a British-Lebanese multimedia producer who navigated life between Sierra Leone and the UK. He opens up about the profound grief and depression he faced after losing his mother to cancer, and how therapy became a crucial tool for overcoming the PTSD that followed.

Jihad reflects on surviving Lebanon's many tragedies and how being surrounded by a distressed population offered him a unique perspective on grief, describing it as a kind of “national group therapy.” He also shares his experiences of living as an openly gay man in a culturally conservative environment, viewing this as a powerful form of activism.

Together, we explore how the wounds from childhood bullying related to his sexuality continue to affect him as an adult, and the importance of addressing these scars through therapy.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

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

How can emotional intelligence help us navigate the challenges of migration and identity?

In this episode, we speak with Tania Khojasteh, a UK-based Iranian-Canadian entrepreneur, educator, and emotional intelligence expert. Tania is the founder of Uber Tutors and Fearless Knowledge, and hosts a podcast by the same name, where she delves into the intersection of emotional, social, and political intelligence.

Tania shares her personal story of leaving Iran as a child during the Iran-Iraq war and how the emotional toll of migration and conflict influenced her passion for emotional well-being. Together, we explore her journey through chaos, the immigrant experience cloaked in fear, and why emotional intelligence is key to improving both personal and business environments. Tania also breaks down the pillars of emotional intelligence and explains why companies are increasingly seeking to learn it.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our youtube and instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

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How can we build stronger connections with one another? What drives the need for deeper emotional bonds, and how can this lead to greater well-being?

In this episode, we chat with Omar Lababedi, a British Syrian entrepreneur and men’s work coach who grew up in France, Syria, Lebanon, and Nigeria. After years in real estate and construction, Omar felt a professional void and personal unhappiness. This led him to leave his job and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery.

With the support of daily practices, professional coaching, and a men’s circle through the Mankind Project, Omar co-founded Growth Velocity Academy, an international tech academy operating in several Middle Eastern cities. Now, as he explores new ventures in the mental health space, Omar opens up about battling the inner critic, the benefits of somatic work, and the vital importance of fostering loving connections among men.

To make sure you never miss a Third Culture Therapy session, make sure to download the pod on whatever platform you use, and follow our instagram

It means so much to the TCT team to have you as one of our listeners, but if you want to support us even more, feel free to donate to our Patreon here.

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In this episode, Third Culture Therapy’s Layla speaks with Selma, the Moroccan-Dutch creator of Heal Magazine, a wellness platform created to centre diverse voices and increase representation in conversations around mental health. They explore how mainstream wellness often misses the mark, what it means to create community-led healing spaces, and the highs and lows of creating new narrative spaces in media.

💬 Topics Covered:

✔️Why the wellness industry feels “vanilla” to many

✔️The lack of representation in mainstream wellness content

✔️The power of ancestral healing and intergenerational trauma

✔️Challenges in building inclusive wellness spaces and media

✔️The future of Heal Magazine and in-person community

✔️Selma’s personal rituals for maintaining mental well-being

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This episodes is sponsored by luxury hair wrap brand Paradise Fold. Listeners get a special discount with the code TCT10. 

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How does literature help us understand trauma and recovery in Arab cultures?

What insights can Arab women’s fiction offer about the connection between personal and collective trauma?

In this episode, we sit down with Layla Al Ammar, a writer and academic from Kuwait. With a master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh and a doctorate focusing on Arab women's fiction and literary trauma theory, Layla brings a unique perspective to the conversation. Her debut novel, The Pact We Made, was longlisted for the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award, and her second novel, Silence is a Sense, which explores the daily trauma of a Syrian refugee in the UK, was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing.

Layla and I discuss her deep interest in trauma, memory, and recovery, emphasizing how Arab literature reveals crucial links between individual and collective trauma. We trace these issues back to a ‘stunted’ nahda—Arab enlightenment—and highlight the challenges posed by a shared Arab psychic wound and the absence of authentic psychological studies in the region.

To not miss a single episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on our twitter and Instagram, and if you'd like to support our work, consider donating to our Patreon here.

This episode is sponsored by Paradise Fold, the silk hair wrap company. Listeners get a special discount on all products with the code TCT12

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Here's the what, who and why of this podcast!

Podcast cover art created by Rami Kanso

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Welcome to Third Culture Therapy with Layla Maghribi, a podcast that looks at the unique ways our cultural heritage impacts our mental and emotional well-being. Mental ill-health is a big concern across all societies and the topic is thankfully gaining more prominence in the media and within social circles. However, these discussions largely remain Western-centric and without enough regard to the unique aspects of a person’s culture, politics, religion and social history and the impact they have on our inner wellbeing.

Where we come from and the parts of that place or places that we carry with us shape our view of the world as well as many of the challenges that we face and the traumas we carry.

In our increasingly mobile and diasporic world, how do our multiple, sometimes conflicting, identities affect how we feel about ourselves and others? How do conflict, discrimination and repression harm us mentally? How do traditions, community and faith heal us emotionally? How does the discourse around mental health differ from country to country?

Every week, Layla speaks to people from diverse background, professions and mental health journeys to find out what aspects of their culture have helped or hindered their mental health.

Podcast cover art created by Rami Kanso

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How does Islamophobia shape our mental health? In this powerful conversation, we explore the deep psychological toll of racism, internalised Islamophobia, and the struggle for belonging. Our guest, Shaista Aziz, a British-Pakistani writer, politician, stand-up comedian, and fearless advocate, shares her personal journey of reckoning with these forces. 

As the co-founder of The Three Hijabis, Shaista has dedicated herself to tackling racism in football and challenging gendered Islamophobia head-on. She speaks candidly about the complexities of identity, community, and faith. 

We discuss the profound impact of recent global events, particularly the genocide in Gaza, on our collective grief and resilience. This episode is an invitation to confront the ways racism permeates our inner worlds and how we can reclaim our mental well-being through solidarity, compassion, and community healing.

🎙 Topics Covered:

✔️ The hidden weight of internalised Islamophobia

✔️ How racism shapes our mental and emotional well-being

✔️ The role of faith and spirituality in resilience

✔️ Collective grief as a form of love and resistance

✔️ The importance of finding and creating spaces for healing

Tune in for an unfiltered discussion on navigating identity, pain, and strength in an unjust world.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on mental health & culture!

Follow Third Culture Therapy on

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This episodes is sponsored by luxury hair wrap brand Paradise Fold. Listeners get a special discount with the code TCT10. 

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How does generational trauma shape parenting? How can cultural values evolve while maintaining their core essence?

In this episode, Third Culture Therapy host Layla Maghribi sits down with parenting coaches Sarah Raslan and Karen Abou Joude of The Wise Parent consultancy and popular Instagram page to unpack the challenges of raising children in a multicultural setting. From emotional intelligence to breaking past cycles, they explore what raising the next generation in a third culture world looks like and how self-awareness and intentional parenting can create healthier family dynamics.

If you're a parent, especially from a Third Culture background, this episode offers invaluable insights into raising emotionally aware and resilient children while maintaining cultural identity. Tune in to learn how to break unhelpful cycles and foster healthy relationships with your kids.

🎙 Topics Covered:

✔️ How trauma impacts parenting styles

✔️ Why emotional awareness is key for both parents & children

✔️ The neuroscience behind trauma and emotional regulation

✔️ Cultural values: what to keep and what to adapt

✔️ Practical strategies for self-regulation and parenting mindfully

✔️ The shift from authoritarian parenting to conscious parenting

✔️The role of respect, communication, and modelling behaviour

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on mental health & culture!

Follow Third Culture Therapy on

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This episodes is sponsored by luxury hair wrap brand Paradise Fold. Listeners get a special discount with the code TCT10. 

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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

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How does where we come from impact our mental wellbeing? And why did Layla Maghribi decide to create a podcast about it?

We're turning the tables in this insightful episode, as Ned Sedgwick sits down with Layla Maghribi, the creator and host of the acclaimed podcast Third Culture Therapy.

Layla Maghribi is a writer, journalist and podcaster. Born in the UK to Libyan/Palestinian and Syrian parents, Layla spent her childhood summers in Damascus and later lived and reported from there at the start of the uprising-turned-civil war. After several years working for international media outlets, including Reuters and CNNI, across the Arab world Layla returned to the UK and over the past few years she has been working on various independent projects, like creating this podcast and writing a book.

Tune in to hear Layla share her journey as a third-culture individual navigating the intersection of cultural identities, and how her experiences inspired her to create a platform for others like her. We delve into her motivations, the stories that have resonated the most with her, and the profound lessons she's gained from recent episodes.

Whether you’re a third-culture kid yourself, or simply curious about the nuances of global identities, this conversation will leave you inspired and reflective.

To make sure you never miss a Third Culture Therapy session, download the pod on your favourite platform and watch us on YouTube here and Instagram here.

And you can follow Layla's work here

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What makes the search for mental health support so challenging? And can technology help make it easier?

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Nicole Nasr, a psychologist, entrepreneur, and the founder of Journey Starts Here, a platform transforming how clients and therapists connect. Growing up in Montreal, Beirut, and London, Nicole developed a unique perspective on the intersection of culture, identity, and mental health.

Tune in to this episode for an exploration on the often-overwhelming process of finding the right therapist, the barriers many people face in accessing care, and how Nicole’s platform is making it easier to connect with mental health professionals. 

Nicole also gives us a rare look into how mental health practitioners care for their own well-being, and she shares her journey from psychologist to tech innovator, offering insights into how therapy can evolve to meet the needs of a diverse and ever-changing world.

To make sure you never miss a Third Culture Therapy session, download the pod on your favourite platform and watch us on YouTube here and Instagram here.

And to stay connected with Nicole’s work, follow Journey Starts Here

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In this episode, Third Culture Therapy’s Layla speaks with award-winning journalist, author, and cultural commentator Yomi Adegoke about the intersections of culture, identity, and mental wellbeing. Drawing on her experiences growing up Nigerian-British, Yomi reflects on representation, online accountability, and the complexities of Black British identity in media and public discourse. Layla and Yomi explore cultural heritage, community grounding, and the ongoing challenges and progress in creating more nuanced and inclusive narratives.

💬 Topics Covered:✔️ Black British identity and cultural diversity✔️ Growing up Nigerian-British and navigating belonging✔️ Representation, visibility, and media narratives✔️ Online accountability, backlash, and mental health✔️ Writing Slay In Your Lane and centring Black women✔️ Anti-racist literature and political shifts post-2020✔️ Community, heritage, and grounding practices

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:54 Exploring Cultural Identity

02:16 Black British Identity and Influences

04:22 Navigating Cultural Differences

06:46 The Impact of Representation

11:30 Writing 'Slay In Your Lane'

15:17 Comparing Black British and American Experiences

21:12 Reflections on Progress and Challenges

24:16 Navigating Post-2020 Social Dynamics

24:43 The Backlash and Political Shifts

25:32 The Importance of Anti-Racist Literature

28:37 Writing for Black Women

31:49 Exploring Fiction During Lockdown

33:09 The Complexity of Online Accountability

40:03 Balancing Online Presence and Mental Health

43:03 Grounding in Community and Heritage

45:10 Upcoming Projects and Future Plans

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on mental health culture!Follow Third Culture Therapy on🌍 Substack | 🎧 Apple Podcasts | 🎙 Spotify | 📱 InstagramSupport the show: Like, follow, and share 💛

In this episode, Layla speaks with Nat Rustom, a Lebanese clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Arab Psychedelic Society. Together, they explore psychedelic-assisted therapy through an Arab and culturally rooted lens. From the role of indigenous practices through community-based healing to the complexities of working with psychedelics within legal and cultural frameworks. Nat shares their personal journey into psychology and how reclaiming ancestral and regional knowledge can reshape mental healthcare in Arab communities.

💬 Topics Covered:

✔️ What psychedelic-assisted therapy can look like in Arab contexts 

✔️ Nat’s journey into psychology and psychedelic work

✔️ MDMA, trauma, and culturally informed healing

✔️ Indigenous knowledge, local plant medicines, and ancestral practices

✔️ Legal and cultural challenges of integrating psychedelics into therapy

✔️ The mission and future of the Arab Psychedelic Society

✔️ Community care and collective healing beyond Western models

00:00 Introduction to Third Culture Therapy

00:10 Meet Nat Rustom: Clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Arab Psychedelic Society

00:57 Nat's journey into mental health and psychedelics

01:58 First encounter with MDMA

06:12 Cultural impact on psychedelic experiences

08:41 Culturally informed and rooted approaches in therapy

09:50 Challenges and opportunities in integrating psychedelics 14:43 The Arab psychedelic society: mission and initiatives

16:33 The role of psychedelics in trauma therapy

33:04 Future directions and hopes for psychedelic therapy in Arab communities

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on mental health culture! Follow Third Culture Therapy on 

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In this episode, Third Culture Therapy’s Layla speaks with Nyree Abrahamian, a writer, producer, and educator whose work centres storytelling as a tool for identity, belonging, and collective healing. As a Canadian-born Armenian living in Armenia, Nyree reflects on the paradoxes of diaspora, repatriation, and feeling both deeply connected and perpetually in-between. The conversation explores the impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh war, the stories behind Nyree’s acclaimed podcast Country of Dust, and how Armenian cultural practices hold space for grief, resilience, and communal care.

💬 Topics Covered:

✔️ Diaspora, repatriation, and navigating belonging

✔️ Armenian identity and cultural inheritance

✔️ Storytelling as a tool for collective healing

✔️ The impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh war

✔️ Creating the Country of Dust podcast

✔️ Processing grief, trauma, and resilience in Armenia

✔️ Community-building and Armenia’s first Storytelling FestivalTimeline

00:00 Introduction to Third Culture Therapy

00:09 Meet Nari Abramian: A Journey of Identity and Storytelling

01:03 Diaspora Dynamics and the Concept of 'Repatriation'

04:48 The Impact of the Nagorno-Karabakh War

05:10 Creating the Country of Dust Podcast

08:05 From Education to Storytelling

10:51 Armenia's Post-Independence Development

14:06 Armenia as a Haven for Diasporic Communities

16:16 Processing Trauma and Grief in Armenia

19:20 The Role of Storytelling in Healing

23:27 Behind the Scenes of Country of Dust

39:31 The Power of Community and Storytelling Festivals

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Follow Third Culture Therapy on🌍 Substack | 🎧 Apple Podcasts | 🎙 Spotify | 📱 InstagramSupport the show: Like, follow, and share 💛

In this episode, Third Culture Therapy’s Layla speaks with Ariana Alexander Sefre, a British-Iranian activist and entrepreneur, and the founder of Spoke – an innovative app using music as a tool for mental health and emotional regulation. Together, they explore the cultural and systemic gaps in mainstream healthcare, Ariana’s personal journey into building Spoke, and the power of music to reach communities often excluded from traditional mental health support. The conversation also touches on technology, activism, ethical business, and what it means to build care-led platforms as a culturally diverse founder.

💬 Topics covered:

✔️ Music as a tool for mental health and emotional regulation

✔️ Ariana’s journey to founding Spoke

✔️ Cultural and systemic barriers in mental healthcare

✔️ Technology, accessibility, and innovation in wellbeing

✔️ Navigating entrepreneurship as a British-Iranian founder

✔️ Activism, ethical business, and social justice

✔️ Mental health, creativity, and collective care

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Ariana's journey to founding Spoke

03:11 The science and impact of music on mental health

10:44 Challenges and strategies in reaching the audience

13:47 Personal reflections and cultural insights

25:26 Activism and social justice

42:27 Conclusion and final thoughts

Relevant links

https://spoke.world/

https://entrepreneursforpalestine.com

https://techforpalestine.org/

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