13. Balancing identities & being in touch with roots

How do you “balance” both sides of your identity?

On this episode, I chat with my friend Shalini about her experience growing up in Chicago while being in touch with her Indian roots. We chat about living in San Francisco (where we met!), and now and her recent soul-searching about where to go next—home to Chicago where her mom is, or stay in SF?

We also chat about how, as first-gens, we can sometimes feel pressure to embody a delicate balance between being Asian and being American — because if we're “too” Asian we're seen as “fobby” and if we're “too American” we're seen as “white-washed.” What's the right balance, if there even is one?

Plus, some insider scoop—Shalini shares a bit about her experience working for Dil Mil, the well-known dating app created by and for South Asians.