Who’s your organisation leaving out? A Conversation with DEI strategist Khayshie Tilak Ramesh
In this episode, DEI strategist Khayshie Tilak Ramesh shares her journey from a childhood experience of being “othered” to becoming a leading voice in creating more inclusive spaces. She demystifies intersectionality – how overlapping systems of oppression create unique experiences of discrimination – and explores how we can address compounded marginalisation. The conversation dives deep […]
Unmuting Women of Colour: From Silence to Reclaiming your Voice with Richa Joshi
Host Emma Bellamy-Dodd sits with Richa Joshi, who helps quiet voices get loud – especially women of colour who have been muted by systems, labels, and cultural expectations. In this episode, Richa shares her personal journey of (un-)learning to “shrink” to fit in and how parenthood became the catalyst for breaking generational cycles of silence. […]
Ambiguously Brown: Navigating Mixed Identity with Zozan Balci
Zozan Balci is a researcher and author who explores the lived experiences of mixed heritage individuals navigating cultural in-betweenness. Born in Germany to Italian and Turkish migrant parents, Zozan lost her ability to speak Turkish as a child – a loss that sparked years of reflection and ultimately became the foundation of her PhD research. […]
Being a Brown Female Doctor with Sarah Arachchi
Dr. Sarah Aratchi brings a powerful and heartfelt account of migrating to Australia as a child, reflecting on the everyday realities being “othered” due to her surname and skin colour. She unpacks the lasting impact of being “the brown kid” in school and the constant questioning about where she’s “really from” that followed her into […]
A Cultural Psychology Conversation with Deborah Ko
In this episode, host Emma Bellamy-Dodd sits down with cultural psychologist Deborah Ko for an eye-opening conversation on identity, belonging, and adaptation across cultures. Deborah shares her personal experiences growing up at the intersection of American and Hong Kong backgrounds, and reveals how cultural psychology became a lens for understanding her multiple selves. The discussion […]
From Shame to Strength: Owning Your Migrant Story with Fabiola Campbell
In this conversation, host Emma Bellamy-Dodd speaks with Fabiola Campbell, founder and CEO of Professional Migrant Women and author of the upcoming book “Own it”. Fabiola shares her deeply personal migration story – born in Australia but raised in Venezuela, Fabiola returned as an adult expecting to feel at home, only to confront the reality […]
Let’s Talk About It: Loneliness, Racism, and Finding Belonging with Ochan Aba
In this episode, Ochan shares his multifaceted journey as someone of South Sudanese and Ugandan heritage, born in Ethiopia to migrant parents, whose family later moved to Kenya before eventually resettling in Australia. He opens up about the challenges he faced after arriving, including experiences of loneliness, racism, and racial profiling. Ochan discusses how these […]
Surviving the Impossible: Yaser Naseri’s Journey from Iran to Australia
In this episode of From There to Here, Emma Bellamy-Dodd speaks with Yaser Naseri, who fled Iran after political activism made staying impossible. Yaser describes life in Tehran, the dangers of protesting, and tough decisions that led him to Indonesia – where multiple failed escape attempts and a deadly boat disaster profoundly shaped him. He […]
The Power of Sport to Rebuild: How Roman Abasy Champions Refugee Integration Through Sport
In this podcast episode, Roman Abasy shares his inspiring journey from Afghanistan to Australia as a refugee and human rights advocate. He discusses his background as a Taekwondo champion, his transition to advocating for women’s rights in sports, and the challenges he faced adapting to a new culture. Roman emphasizes the importance of sports in […]
Rugare Gomo on Owning Identity, Creating Safe Spaces, Asking for Help, and Pursuing Freedom
In this episode, host Emma Bellamy-Dodd speaks with Rugare Gomo, author, leadership coach, and Zimbabwean-born migrant, about his journey toward embracing his authentic self in Australia. Rugare discusses growing up under strict societal and cultural expectations, navigating identity as a gay Black African man, and overcoming years of statelessness and exclusion. He highlights the unique […]