Between Two Worlds with Dr. Phebe

Dr. Phebe Brako

If you’ve ever had to explain therapy to your immigrant parent… defend why you don’t want to be a doctor… or survive an auntie asking “Where is your husband?” before saying hello… Welcome. You’re among family. Hosted by Dr. Phebe Brako — therapist, immigrant daughter, and professional translator of “what your parents meant when they said you’re acting too Western” — Between Two Worlds is the podcast where immigrant parents and their children come to laugh, reflect, and finally understand each other a little better. Each week, we unpack the real conversations immigrant families have behind closed doors… and the ones they usually avoid entirely. From church and career pressure to dating, therapy, identity, emotional expression, and generational expectations, this show explores the tension between: parents who sacrificed everythingand children trying to build lives that honor that sacrifice without losing themselves  Dr. Phebe breaks down both sides of the generational divide, with humor, honesty, cultural nuance, and therapist-level insight, often joined by her very own immigrant mother for real-time perspective, wisdom, and the occasional loving accountability. Because this isn’t about choosing sides. It’s about building understanding. So whether you’re the child in therapy, the parent trying your best, or the family mediator in the group chat… Pull up a chair. We’re bridging the gap, one awkward conversation at a time.

الحلقات

  1. قبل يومين

    Bringing It All Together

    What can a 7-year-old teach us about identity, culture, and belonging? More than you might think. In this special episode of Between Two Worlds with Dr. Phebe, I’m joined by my youngest and most honest guest yet…my oldest son, Kwame. Kwame and I explore what it feels like to grow up between cultures through the eyes of a child. From being Ghanaian and American to family traditions, names, school, and the little moments that shape identity, this conversation is funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly profound. As immigrant parents, we spend so much time teaching our children where they come from. But how often do we stop to ask who they’re becoming? His answers reminded me that bridging cultures isn’t just about passing down traditions. It’s about listening, staying curious, and allowing our children to shape the conversation, too. Whether you’re an immigrant parent, an adult child of immigrants, or someone raising children across cultures, this episode will leave you smiling, reflecting, and maybe even reaching for the phone to call your parents…or your kids. Because sometimes the greatest teachers are the little voices we’ve been trying so hard to guide. 🎙️ If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review, share it with someone you love, and join the conversation on social media. Send your questions and topic ideas to consult@phebebrakolmft.com or slide in my DM's on Instagram @drphebebrako Remember we can only grow our audience with your support. Please share with your community!

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  2. ٣٠ يونيو

    Fluent in Three Languages and Emotional Suppression

    What if you’ve become so good at adapting to everyone else’s expectations… that you’ve forgotten who you are? In this episode, Dr. Phebe Brako sits down with author, finance professional, and Stories Beyond Borders host Urmi Hossain for an honest conversation about growing up between cultures, chasing success, and searching for an identity that feels like home. They unpack what it means to be fluent in multiple languages but struggle to express your own emotions, the pressure immigrant children face to prioritize stability over self-discovery, and why so many high-achieving immigrant daughters secretly battle guilt when choosing themselves. They also explore: Why success doesn’t automatically lead to self-worth How code-switching can shape your identity The hidden emotional labor of constantly adapting What self-love looks like beyond motivational quotes The immigrant habits that never leave you, no matter how successful you become If you’ve ever felt too much for one culture, not enough for another, or wondered which version of yourself is the “real” one, this conversation is for you. Because sometimes the hardest language to learn isn’t English, French, or Bengali… It’s learning how to speak honestly about your own needs. 🎙️ Tune in for a conversation that will leave you laughing, reflecting, and maybe texting your sibling, “Did they secretly interview our family?” Learn more about Urmi and her amazing work at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZoiI0SGU0Xo9_lNjtLWtgg and follow her on IG @urmamio Send your questions and topic ideas to consult@phebebrakolmft.com or slide in my DM's on Instagram @drphebebrako Remember we can only grow our audience with your support. Please share with your community!

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  3. ٢٣ يونيو

    You Sent Money Home Again? | The Financial Guilt Many Immigrant Children Carry

    Have you ever felt guilty spending money on yourself? Do you panic when your savings account drops below a certain number? Do you secretly feel responsible for making your parents’ sacrifices “worth it”? If you’re an immigrant child, this episode might hit a little too close to home. In this powerful and deeply relatable conversation, Dr. Phebe sits down with money trauma therapist Diana Mena, LICSW of Esperanza Counseling & Consulting PLLC, to unpack the hidden emotional cost of growing up in immigrant families where money was never just money. Here’s the tea: • Why so many immigrant children tie their worth to achievement and financial success • The guilt of saying “no” when family members need help • What happens when children become the family’s retirement plan • The emotional impact of watching parents sacrifice everything while still sending money home • How financial parentification shapes adulthood • Why setting boundaries can feel like betraying your culture • How to support family without losing yourself Whether you grew up hearing “Do you know how much we sacrificed for you?” or you’ve ever felt torn between honoring your family and living your own life, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, understood, and less alone. Because healing money trauma isn’t about abandoning your culture. It’s about learning that your worth is not measured by how much you produce, provide, or repay. 🎙️ Listen now and send this episode to the sibling, cousin, or fellow immigrant child who became the family financial planner before they were old enough to open a bank account. Learn more about Diana and her amazing work at www.esperanzacounselingpllc.com and follow her on IG at esperanzapllc Send your questions and topic ideas to consult@phebebrakolmft.com or slide in my DM's on Instagram @drphebebrako Remember we can only grow our audience with your support. Please share with your community!

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  4. ٢ يونيو

    I just want you to have better - but at what cost?

    "I Sacrificed Everything So You Wouldn't Have To. So Why Are We Still Missing Each Other?" "I gave up everything for you." If you grew up in an immigrant household, you've probably heard some version of that sentence. But what happens when a parent's greatest act of love becomes a child's greatest source of pressure? In this powerful episode of Between Two Worlds with Dr. Phebe, Dr. Phebe sits down with a respected elder from the community - Dr. Emmanuel Anusiem, to explore the heart behind immigrant sacrifice, the fears that drive parental expectations, and why so many immigrant families struggle to feel understood despite loving each other deeply. Together, they unpack: • What immigrant parents hoped their children would gain from their sacrifices   • The fears hidden beneath pressure around education, careers, and success   • Why younger generations are choosing happiness, purpose, and mental health differently   • The tension between gratitude and guilt   • What both generations wish the other understood This isn't a conversation about choosing sides. It's about understanding the love, fear, hope, and pain that often get lost in translation between generations. If you've ever felt torn between honoring your parents and becoming yourself, this episode will stay with you long after it ends. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this conversation. Send your questions and topic ideas to consult@phebebrakolmft.com or slide in my DM's on Instagram @drphebebrako Remember we can only grow our audience with your support. Please share with your community!

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حول

If you’ve ever had to explain therapy to your immigrant parent… defend why you don’t want to be a doctor… or survive an auntie asking “Where is your husband?” before saying hello… Welcome. You’re among family. Hosted by Dr. Phebe Brako — therapist, immigrant daughter, and professional translator of “what your parents meant when they said you’re acting too Western” — Between Two Worlds is the podcast where immigrant parents and their children come to laugh, reflect, and finally understand each other a little better. Each week, we unpack the real conversations immigrant families have behind closed doors… and the ones they usually avoid entirely. From church and career pressure to dating, therapy, identity, emotional expression, and generational expectations, this show explores the tension between: parents who sacrificed everythingand children trying to build lives that honor that sacrifice without losing themselves  Dr. Phebe breaks down both sides of the generational divide, with humor, honesty, cultural nuance, and therapist-level insight, often joined by her very own immigrant mother for real-time perspective, wisdom, and the occasional loving accountability. Because this isn’t about choosing sides. It’s about building understanding. So whether you’re the child in therapy, the parent trying your best, or the family mediator in the group chat… Pull up a chair. We’re bridging the gap, one awkward conversation at a time.