Masala of Cultures

Luisa and Aswin
  • 5.0 (2)
  • RELATIONSHIPS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Masala of Cultures - a show by Luisa (Colombia) and Aswin (India). We are a multicultural couple living more than 16,000 kilometers away from each other. We are creating this content to share our experiences of learning and living each others’ cultures. We are sure that you will find value and get to know more about our diverse and colorful world. Join us to connect and grow through differences!

  1. The Reality of Living With My Indian In Laws as a Latina

    FEB 27

    The Reality of Living With My Indian In Laws as a Latina

    ¡Hola Masala! ❤️ This week, we are talking about something that sounds simple but feels huge when you live it: moving in with your Indian in laws. For two years, Luisa lived in India with my parents. New country. New language. New food. New rules at home. And yes, a very involved Indian mom 😅 Living with your partner’s parents can feel intense. Now add culture shock to it. In this episode, Luisa shares how she really felt during those two years. The good parts. The uncomfortable moments. The pressure. The love. The small daily things that nobody talks about when you marry into an Indian family. We talk about expectations inside an Indian household, privacy, food habits, family dynamics, and how we handled conflicts as a couple. If you are in an intercultural relationship and thinking about living with in laws, this conversation will hit home. Have you ever lived with your partner’s parents? Or are you about to? Tell us your experience in the comments 👇💬 We read every single one. 📘 Curious about the beautiful side of having an Indian mother in law? 💛 👉 https://www.masalaofcultures.com/post/5-reasons-why-you-should-love-your-indian-mother-in-law?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=s5e2 Join us as we talk about love, cultures, and real relationship challenges one spicy story at a time 🌶️ Nandri, Vanakkam! 😄

    26 min
  2. Why Long Distance Relationships Are a Financial Privilege 💸

    JAN 31

    Why Long Distance Relationships Are a Financial Privilege 💸

    ¡Hola Masala! This week, we are talking about something no one warns you about when it comes to long distance relationships: money 💸 Love might be free, but long distance definitely is not. From flights and visas to time zones, gifts, and unexpected surprises, long-distance relationships come with hidden costs that can add serious pressure to couples. After spending years in a long distance relationship across continents, we are sharing the honest truth about why long distance relationships are NOT for the poor and what couples should realistically prepare for. Have you felt the financial pressure of long distance love? Or are you currently navigating it right now? Tell us your experience in the comments 👇💬 📘 Want a deeper roadmap to make long distance work? Check out our complete guide here: 👉 https://www.masalaofcultures.com/post/the-ultimate-guide-to-long-distance-relationships-making-love-work-across-miles?utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=s5e1 Join us as we talk about love, cultures, and real relationship challenges one spicy story at a time 🌶️ Nandri, Vanakkam! 😄

    14 min
  3. Cultural Shocks as an Indian in Colombia | Cheek Kisses, Banana Soup & Pampered Pets

    10/23/2025

    Cultural Shocks as an Indian in Colombia | Cheek Kisses, Banana Soup & Pampered Pets

    ¡Hola Masala! This week, we're diving into the cultural surprises I experienced as an Indian visiting Colombia. ✨ With our big move to Colombia coming up soon, it felt like the perfect time to reflect on the delightful (and sometimes bewildering!) moments from my first two trips. From unexpected greetings to surprising culinary traditions, Colombia never failed to keep me on my toes. Which cultural differences surprise you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 👇 📱 Want more? We've created 10 Instagram Reels exploring these same cultural shocks. Check them out here: https://www.instagram.com/masalaofcultures/ Join us as we explore relationships, cultures, and life experiences—one spicy story at a time. Nandri, Vanakkam! 😄

    22 min
  4. Why Is Love Taboo in India? | A Colombian Reacting to 3 Tamil Romantic Movies

    09/18/2025

    Why Is Love Taboo in India? | A Colombian Reacting to 3 Tamil Romantic Movies

    Hola Masala! This week, we're highlighting three Tamil movies that explore various aspects of love within the Indian context. Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya, Alai Paayuthey, and OK Kanmani! ❤️ In this series, we compare how movies and TV series from Colombia and India shape our expectations of love, gender roles, and emotional expression. 💬 We tackle questions like: – Why is love such a taboo topic in India? – Life before and after marriage. – Is it a sin to live together before marriage? 🎁 PLUS: A few laughs, cultural clashes, and surprising realizations. 📚 And don’t forget to check our favorite relationship book picks here: https://www.masalaofcultures.com/guides/4-best-relationship-books?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=s4e7 Join us as we explore Relationships, Cultures & Life Experiences—one spicy story at a time. Nandri, Vanakkam! 😄

    32 min
  5. What Pasion de Gavilanes can Teach Indians About Love!

    06/05/2025

    What Pasion de Gavilanes can Teach Indians About Love!

    Hola Masala! Check our latest guide on the 20 Best Games for Couples, covering online, console, board, and card games: https://www.masalaofcultures.com/guides/best-games-for-couples?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=s4e6 🎮 This week, we're going full novela mode as we dive into Pasión de Gavilanes—a legendary Colombian telenovela that redefined how Latin America saw men, desire, and romantic love. ❤️ In this episode, we compare how media from Colombia and India shape our expectations of love, gender roles, and emotional expression. 💬 We ask questions like: – Why do some cultures sexualize men while others don’t? – How does drama on screen change how we see love in real life? – Would an Indian version of Pasión de Gavilanes even be allowed? 🎁 PLUS: A few laughs, cultural clashes, and surprising realizations. 📚 And don’t forget to check our favorite relationship book picks here: https://www.masalaofcultures.com/guides/4-best-relationship-books?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=s4e6 Join us as we explore Relationships, Cultures & Life Experiences—one spicy story at a time. Nandri, Vanakkam! 😄

    26 min
  6. Why Self Work is Non-Negotiable

    05/10/2025

    Why Self Work is Non-Negotiable

    Hola Masala! We're glad to meet you again on a new video. In this episode, we discuss why self-work is indispensable in relationships, the importance of adapting and sacrificing, the role our habits and preferences play in our daily lives, and more. We also share three tips to overcome these difficulties in intercultural relationships. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:52 Realizations and Cultural Differences 03:23 Adapting and Evolving in Relationships 06:40 Challenges and Communication 14:12 Tips for a Healthy Intercultural Relationship 20:18 Conclusion and Recommendations We hope you find value and join us for more episodes on Relationships, Cultures, and Life Experiences. Check out our 4 most favorite books on relationships, love, and marriage in this guide: https://www.masalaofcultures.com/guides/4-best-relationship-books?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=s4e5 Nandri, Vanakkam 😄

    19 min
  7. Mindsets We Changed to Be Together

    03/17/2025

    Mindsets We Changed to Be Together

    Hola Masala! Here's the fourth episode of season 4. In this episode, we discuss the mindsets we had to shed to be together as an intercultural couple. We discuss three central mindset shifts that helped us navigate the complexities of an interracial relationship. 00:00 Intro 00:45 About Us 02:07 Mindset 1: Let Go of Stereotypes 05:08 Stereotypes of Colombia 09:05 Stereotypes of India 13:20 Mindset 2: Love Alone is Enough 16:50 Having the Hard Conversations 21:10 Mindset 3: Building a Third Culture 23:45 "Fitting In a Culture" 26:50 Sharing Our Vulnerability 30:00 Our New Website 30:38 Outro We hope you find value and join us for more episodes on Relationships, Cultures, and Life Experiences. Learn the differences between Intercultural, Multicultural, Cross-cultural, and Interracial Relationships in our blog post: Intercultural, Multicultural, Cross-cultural, and Interracial Relationships Explained Nandri, Vanakkam 😄

    31 min
  8. How We Almost Missed Our Honeymoon to the Philippines

    02/09/2025

    How We Almost Missed Our Honeymoon to the Philippines

    Hola Masala! We are back with the third episode of season 4. International travel is difficult, especially when you have only a couple of weeks to plan it. That's what happened when we tried to plan our honeymoon trip to the Philippines. We almost missed it! In this episode, we discuss what went wrong and how you can avoid the same mistakes when planning an international trip. We also did a few things right that ultimately made our travel perfect, and we will share about that as well. We hope you find value and join us for more episodes on Relationships, Cultures, and Life Experiences. Also, remember to check out our website, which contains informational blog posts, guides, and podcasts on intercultural relationships -https://masalaofcultures.com! Nandri, Vanakkam 😄

    22 min
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About

Welcome to Masala of Cultures - a show by Luisa (Colombia) and Aswin (India). We are a multicultural couple living more than 16,000 kilometers away from each other. We are creating this content to share our experiences of learning and living each others’ cultures. We are sure that you will find value and get to know more about our diverse and colorful world. Join us to connect and grow through differences!

Information

  • Creator
    Luisa and Aswin
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Luisa and Aswin
  • Show Website
    Masala of Cultures