Quiero un Panino con Cheese - A Podcast for TCKs and Multicultural Families

Gaia Striano - Parenting Across Borders, Cultures, and Languages
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Ever tried answering the question “Where are you from?” and gave a 10-minute monologue? Ever caught yourself switching between three languages in the middle of a sentence? Ever wondered what home really means when you’ve had more than one? If so, welcome to Quiero un Panino con Cheese, the podcast for parents, kids, and families living the beautiful chaos of multicultural life. Season 2 will be hosted by Gaia Striano, a TCK mom who has raised 3 TCKs across borders, cultures, and languages.   This show explores the joys and challenges of Third Culture Kids—kids who grow up between cultures, languages, and identities.

  1. FEB 18

    Why a Global Mindset Matters - with Bernard Asnong, Author of "Be Awesome Be Global"

    Send a text In this episode, I sit down with Bernard Asnong, author of Be Awesome Be Global, for a thought-provoking conversation about identity, belonging, and what it really means to live beyond borders. As always, I begin with the question: “Where are you from?” — and quickly unpack how complex that simple question becomes when you’ve lived across multiple countries and cultures. Bernard reflects on what “home” means to him today and how mobility shapes identity. We dive into the origin of the book — the series of life moments that made him realize this story needed to be told — and explore the bold title itself. What does “awesome” truly mean?  A powerful thread throughout our conversation is friendship — and the surprising realization that we often underestimate the work and intentionality required to sustain meaningful relationships across borders and life transitions. We also discuss: The concept of a Global Mindset, including Intellectual, Psychological, and Social CapitalWhy Third Culture Kids (TCKs) can make exceptional leaders and managersHow Bernard’s global upbringing influenced his academic and professional path — from hospitality to Human ResourcesWhether travel is necessary to become globally mindedThe role of sustainability, responsibility, and empathy in shaping a truly global outlookWhy programs like Erasmus Programme matter so much (with a bit of laughter along the way).We also touch on practical advice for anyone who wants a more global life but feels geographically or professionally “stuck,” and what “thinking globally” really means when making career choices today. Bernard shares how he hopes readers feel after finishing Be Awesome Be Global: more open, more curious, more connected — and perhaps a little braver about embracing a world bigger than borders. This episode is a reflective, honest, and timely conversation about identity, empathy, leadership, and the kind of mindset the future demands. Bernard can be found on LinkedIn and Instagram His book, Be Awesome Be Global, can be found on Amazon Please hit the follow button and enter this crazy, multilingual, international world and explore these questions and so much more as I open up about my personal experiences over a cup of coffee, Americano, espresso, cafe con leche, or whatever gets you moving! For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

    37 min

  2. FEB 11

    Season 2 Teaser! Welcome back

    Send a text Season 2 of Quiero un Panino con Cheese is almost here. After a heartfelt and meaningful first season, I want to express my deep gratitude to my co-host, Hazel, whose energy and care helped shape this podcast. Due to professional commitments, she won’t be continuing into season two, and I wish her nothing but the very best. This new season marks a fresh chapter. I’ll be hosting solo, with a stronger focus on guest conversations featuring TCKs, parents, educators, creatives, and multicultural voices from around the world. Together, we’ll explore identity, belonging, home, language, family, and the beautifully complex realities of living between cultures. Season 2 is about expanding the table and continuing the conversation—and I’d love for you to be part of it. New episodes are coming soon. Stay curious. Please hit the follow button and enter this crazy, multilingual, international world and explore these questions and so much more as I open up about my personal experiences over a cup of coffee, Americano, espresso, cafe con leche, or whatever gets you moving! For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

    2 min

  3. 12/31/2025

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

    Send a text As the year comes to a close, we’re also wrapping up Season 1 of Quiero un Panino con Cheese — and what a year it’s been.  This episode serves as a year-end recap, where we share our honest thoughts on what 2025 has meant for us personally and creatively, the lessons we’ve learned along the way, and how this podcast has grown since its very first episode. From meaningful conversations to unexpected laughs, Season 1 has been full of moments we’ll never forget. We would also like to give special thanks to all the amazing guests who have taken the time to share their wisdom with us during some wonderful conversations. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into our dynamic as hosts — because as you can tell from the very first moments of this episode,  we clearly never have any fun while recording 😉. Our chemistry, humor, and candid conversations have been at the heart of this show, and this episode is no different. As we close out the season, we also share what we’re hoping for in 2026 — both for ourselves and for the future of the podcast. New topics, deeper conversations, and a lineup of exciting guests are already in the works. After this episode, we’ll be taking a short break in January to regroup, gather our thoughts, and creatively reset. This pause will allow us to come back refreshed, inspired, and ready to bring you even more meaningful episodes in the next season. Most importantly, we want to hear from you, our listeners. Your support, feedback, and engagement have meant everything to us this season. What topics would you like us to explore next? Are there conversations you feel don’t get talked about enough? Guests you’d like us to bring on? Join us for this special season finale, celebrate the end of the year with us, and help shape what’s next for Quiero un Panino con Cheese. 🎙️✨ Happy New Year — and we’ll see you in the next season! Please hit the follow button and enter this crazy, multilingual, international world and explore these questions and so much more as I open up about my personal experiences over a cup of coffee, Americano, espresso, cafe con leche, or whatever gets you moving! For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

    38 min

  4. 12/17/2025

    Planes, Trains, amd Automobiles

    Send a text Traveling—especially during the holiday season—can be exciting, chaotic, and downright stressful all at once. In this episode of Quiero un Panino con Cheese, Hazel and Gaia dive headfirst into the highs and lows of travel, sharing their personal tips, quirks, and very real anxieties when it comes to getting from point A to point B. In a lighthearted and funny conversation, they break down how each of them approaches travel, from the planning and preparation beforehand to the emotional rollercoaster that comes with taking off. Hazel and Gaia also explore how differently they feel about traveling, touching on what excites them, what overwhelms them, and how their personalities show up once a trip is on the calendar. The episode doesn’t shy away from the stressors either—they open up about their biggest fears, travel mishaps, and the little things that can spiral into full-blown anxiety while on the move. Along the way, they share practical travel tips they’ve picked up through experience, as well as relatable moments that will have you laughing and nodding along. So, if you’re gearing up for a holiday trip—or traveling anytime soon—and could use some laughs, reassurance, and honest travel talk, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in for helpful insights, shared experiences, and a good giggle before your next adventure. Please hit the follow button and enter this crazy, multilingual, international world and explore these questions and so much more as I open up about my personal experiences over a cup of coffee, Americano, espresso, cafe con leche, or whatever gets you moving! For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

    38 min

  5. 12/03/2025

    Happy Holidays???

    Send a text In this light-hearted episode, Hazel and Gaia dive into the joys and challenges of navigating the holiday season as part of a multicultural, globally-scattered family. With relatives spread across countries and time zones—and traditions coming from multiple cultures—the holidays can quickly become complicated. They explore:  Traditions vs. Flexibility: How much should you hold onto long-standing customs, and when is it okay to let them go?Creating Your Own Holidays: The moment when carving out new rituals becomes healthier than trying to meet family expectations.Evolving Customs: Which traditions they’ve embraced over the years, and which ones naturally faded as they moved from place to place.Handling Pressure and Surprises: Through humor and personal stories, they share how they’ve managed cultural misunderstandings, family demands, and the emotional load of the season.The episode keeps things warm and fun, offering relatable insights for anyone juggling different backgrounds or trying to craft meaningful holidays in a globalized world. Grab a hot chocolate—or some mulled wine—and enjoy the laughs. Please hit the follow button and enter this crazy, multilingual, international world and explore these questions and so much more as I open up about my personal experiences over a cup of coffee, Americano, espresso, cafe con leche, or whatever gets you moving! For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

    43 min

  6. 11/19/2025

    Expat Guilt - with Elisabeth Hutman, multilingual psychotherapist

    Send a text In this episode, we sit down with Elisabeth Hutman, a multilingual psychologist based in Madrid, to explore a topic many expats quietly struggle with: expat guilt. Together, we unpack questions such as: Do people even realize when they’re experiencing expat guilt?What are the signs, and how can we recognize it in ourselves?How is expat guilt tied to our sense of identity?Are certain cultures more susceptible to it?What role does empathy play in shaping these feelings?Are there different forms of expat guilt?And most importantly: What tools or techniques can help us cope with being far from family and home?Elisabeth offers deep insights and practical advice as we shed light on an emotional experience many expats and immigrants don’t even realize they’re carrying. If you're living abroad and struggling with hard-to-name feelings, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. You can find Elisabeth on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/homeforemotions/?hl=en You can also reach out to her directly at hutman.elisabeth@gmail.com Please hit the follow button and enter this crazy, multilingual, international world and explore these questions and so much more as I open up about my personal experiences over a cup of coffee, Americano, espresso, cafe con leche, or whatever gets you moving! For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

    33 min

  7. 11/05/2025

    The Life of an "Embassy Kid" - with author J.K. Amerson López

    Send a text Today we sit down with J.K. Amerson López, author of Embassy Kid: An American Foreign Service Family Memoir — the first book to tell the story of Foreign Service life from the perspective of a child. Kelly, as she likes to be called, shares vivid memories of growing up as the eldest daughter of a U.S. Foreign Service officer during a turbulent era beginning in the late 1950s. From moving between countries to adapting to new cultures, she reflects on what it meant for her and her family to be known as “Embassy People” and how those experiences shaped her identity. In this heartfelt and eye-opening conversation, Kelly opens up about: What it was really like to be an “Embassy Kid”The challenges and adventures of living abroadThe reverse culture shock of returning to the U.S.How growing up across cultures influenced her and shaped the person she is todayThis episode offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the Foreign Service experience — through the eyes of someone who lived it from childhood. You can follow Kelly on Instagram at realembassykid and you can read more about her life and adventures on her blog at www.embassykid.com  Her book Embassy Kid: An American Foreign Service Memoir, is available on AMAZON Please hit the follow button and enter this crazy, multilingual, international world and explore these questions and so much more as I open up about my personal experiences over a cup of coffee, Americano, espresso, cafe con leche, or whatever gets you moving! For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

    42 min

  8. 10/22/2025

    Parenting and Educating Across Borders with Kat Simison – Brewster Madrid

    Send a text In this inspiring episode, we chat with the wonderful Kat Simison from Brewster Madrid. Kat wears many hats — she’s Brewster’s Director of Enrollment and External Affairs, an educator, and a mom raising a daughter between two homes: Spain and the USA. Our conversation dives deep into what it means to raise and educate children across cultures. Kat shares insightful stories that weave together her personal journey as a parent of a bi-cultural, bilingual child and her professional role supporting internationally minded students at Brewster — many of whom are Third Culture Kids (TCKs) navigating complex cultural identities. Some highlights from our discussion include: 🌍 Kat’s strategies for raising a bilingual and bi-cultural child💬 The importance of understanding the personal stories behind each student, especially TCKs🤝 The challenges and culture clashes that can arise in a diverse school community — and how schools like Brewster help families navigate them✈️ Kat’s own experiences with Reverse Culture Shock💪 The “TCK superpowers” she sees in multicultural students and how they thrive in global environmentsThis episode is full of warmth, humor, and wisdom. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply curious about cross-cultural life, Kat’s reflections will resonate deeply. Tune in to learn, laugh, and be inspired by the stories of raising and educating across borders! More information on Brewster Madrid can be found on their website: https://www.brewstermadrid.com/ Kat Simison can be reached directly at kat.simison@brewstermadrid.com Additional information can be requested at admissions@brewstermadrid.com Please hit the follow button and enter this crazy, multilingual, international world and explore these questions and so much more as I open up about my personal experiences over a cup of coffee, Americano, espresso, cafe con leche, or whatever gets you moving! For more, please follow me also on Instagram at Quiero un Panino con Cheese

    36 min
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Ever tried answering the question “Where are you from?” and gave a 10-minute monologue? Ever caught yourself switching between three languages in the middle of a sentence? Ever wondered what home really means when you’ve had more than one? If so, welcome to Quiero un Panino con Cheese, the podcast for parents, kids, and families living the beautiful chaos of multicultural life. Season 2 will be hosted by Gaia Striano, a TCK mom who has raised 3 TCKs across borders, cultures, and languages.   This show explores the joys and challenges of Third Culture Kids—kids who grow up between cultures, languages, and identities.

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