Who We Are | Stories of Colonialism and Cultural Reclamation

About Who We Are | Stories of Colonialism and Cultural Reclamation

A multicultural storytelling podcast for people of the global majority, hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share healing and liberation stories of cultural and spiritual reclamation in the wake of colonialism, exploring social justice, belonging and identity through reclaiming our own narratives. We centre stories from women and the queer community.

Publisher

Maya Kalaria

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 Aug 2025

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Lebanon ft. Samira Bechara

   Today's guest is Samira Bechara (https://substack.com/@criticalastrology). Samira's father was born in Lebanon and her mother was born in the United States. Samira was born in the Seattle area and recently moved to Lebanon, where she now resides. In this fascinating episode, Samira shares how it was to grow up in the US as a brown Lebanese girl during the time of 9/11, and how even though her family was Christian, she received racist and Islamophobic comments from people around her. She talks about how this Islamophobia was also perpetuated within her own family, and how she connects with her Christian roots as someone who is liberating herself from colonial systems. We discuss how keeping what is important and helpful within certain belief systems is as important as letting go of what no longer serves us. Samira shares what it's like living in Lebanon and some of the challenges that exist there, pointing out the disconnect between the area that is being actively demolished and the quiet community where she lives. We talk about holding compassion for people who have to live through this fragmentation and trauma, and how Samira feels passionate about contributing to a more liberated, just world through her work and the choices she makes as a human being on a daily basis. Other topics we discuss include Samira's ancestors who had mystical gifts, how certain aspects of Christianity has been co-opted by empire, building intimacy through accountability, celebrating other people's authentic selves and much more in this multidimensional conversation.

2. 

   12 Aug 2026

   Peru ft. Melany del Carpio

   Welcome to who we are, a multicultural storytelling podcast hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share decolonization stories and healing journeys of cultural reclamation, finding identity and belonging in the wake of colonialism. We explore social justice through reclaiming our own narratives, and centre stories from women and the queer community. Today's guest is Melany del Carpio Melany’s parents were both born in Lima, Peru. She was born in Castro Valley, California and currently lives in Oakley, CA, on indigenous Ohlone Lands. In this episode, we talk about how time reveals all, including how indigenous Inca structures have stood the test of time compared to Spanish ones, proving the quality and depth of their relationship to the earth and the sciences. We talk about how Catholicism, first introduced and imposed through torturous methods, still endures, yet there is still a returning to indigenous ways in Peru. Melany describes how colorism and anti-blackness still impacts the people of Peru, and her own privilege within that due to her mixed ancestry. We talk about how holding nuance and complexity is increasingly important as we reclaim our cultural roots and sit with the discomfort of how our own people still oppress others. We talk about how tactics from the same colonial playbook have influenced all of us, no matter where we’re from, and how much lateral harm still happens in our communities unless we do the deeply uncomfortable yet richly rewarding inner work to liberate ourselves from these patterns. One of the biggest takeaways for me was how similar our experiences were, as a Peruvian woman in the US and an Indian woman in the UK. How much kinship and comradery there has been between myself and Melany, as well as all of the guests so far, and how it’s time to lean into that sense of global family even further.

3. 

   14 Jun 2026

   The Romani People ft. Bre

   Welcome to who we are, a multicultural storytelling podcast hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share decolonization stories and healing journeys of cultural reclamation, finding identity and belonging in the wake of colonialism. We explore social justice through reclaiming our own narratives. In this necessary and eye-opening episode, Bre shares her journey of uncovering the mystery behind her maternal family's Romani roots and how she is consciously reclaiming this important part of her heritage. We discuss the centuries of oppression that Romani people have faced, including slavery, the Romani Holocaust, forced sterilization and the societal prejudice which has often denied them access to basic healthcare, water and other human rights. The Romani left India around 1,500 years ago. As an Indian woman myself, whose family left India around a century ago and have been moving ever since, we talk about the flawed, often colonial logic behind this prejudice and how in this increasingly globalised world, there are very few of us who have not migrated. Join us for this deeply personal yet universal episode - we'd love to know what you think.

4. 

   18 Apr 2026

   The Dominican Republic ft. Dra. CarolLaine M García

   Welcome to who we are, a multicultural storytelling podcast hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share decolonization stories and healing journeys of cultural reclamation, finding identity and belonging in the wake of colonialism. We explore social justice through reclaiming our own narratives. In this complex and powerful episode, CarolLaine shares her family’s story, and how many lineages flow through her, from West African, Spanish, Portuguese and Indigenous Taíno, creating a living legacy of the colonial history of her land and people. She shares how this complexity impacted her, and how she came to deeply accept and work with all of these parts of herself as well as finding balance between her scientific, academic mind and her intuitive self. To find out more about CarolLaine’s work, see here (https://www.drcarollainemgarcia.com/).

5. 

   12 Mar 2026

   Indonesia ft. Hannah Kendaru

   A gentle note - this episode contains some mentions of sexual assault. Welcome to who we are, a multicultural storytelling podcast hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share decolonization stories and healing journeys of cultural reclamation, finding identity and belonging in the wake of colonialism. We explore social justice through reclaiming our own narratives. In this fascinating episode, Hannah eloquently captures the distinction between historical and intergenerational trauma, weaving her personal history between the two. As someone whose parents are Indonesian and white British, she speaks powerfully of the relationship between the colonizer and the colonized parts within herself, of truth and forgiveness, and how she learned to move through these challenges into heart-led action. We speak about the current colonial energies affecting Bali, where Hannah lived for a while, and how corrosive yet now-needed western tourism continues to be for the people of the land. Hannah's work can be found here (https://inspire-breathwork.org/).

6. 

   29 Jan 2026

   Mexico & Guatemala ft. Magalí Morales

   A gentle note - this episode contains some mentions of sexual assault. Welcome to who we are, a multicultural storytelling podcast hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share decolonization stories and healing journeys of cultural reclamation, finding identity and belonging in the wake of colonialism. We explore social justice through reclaiming our own narratives. In this rich and powerful episode, Magalí talks us through the colonial history of her ancestral lands and peoples, sharing both collective and familial stories across generations. She shares her own experiences of life as a woman of colour in America (Turtle Island) and how a harrowing incident while studying in England as a young woman became a defining moment in her life. Join us for a candid, beautiful, deeply spiritual and complex journey of colonial harm, loss, abuse, healing and - ultimately - what it means to love each other as well as our collective home, Mother Earth.

7. 

   20 Dec 2025

   Cambodia ft. Dany Srey-Snow

   Welcome to who we are, a multicultural storytelling podcast hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share decolonization stories and healing journeys of cultural reclamation, finding identity and belonging in the wake of colonialism. We explore social justice through reclaiming our own narratives. In this deeply moving episode, Dany vulnerably shares the painful and courageous story of her family's journey from Cambodia to America/Turtle Island, as refugees escaping the Cambodian genocide. We unpack the many layers of emotions that are held inside the body through the generations as a consequence of carrying this heavy history, including grief, anger and the messier emotions that are hard to tie a neat bow around. Dany shares some of the challenges of growing up in the US as a girl of Cambodian descent, and how she is working to heal herself from the physical to the spiritual level to help create a healthier, more healed world for herself and others. You can find Dany's work here (https://sreydanyco.com/) and @sreydanysnow (instagram.com/sreydanysnow)

8. 

   21 Nov 2025

   The Philippines ft. Glecie Caballero

   A gentle note - this episode contains some mentions of sexual abuse. Welcome to who we are, a multicultural storytelling podcast hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share decolonization stories and healing journeys of cultural reclamation, finding identity and belonging in the wake of colonialism. We explore social justice through reclaiming our own narratives. In this powerful episode, Glecie not only shares how detrimental the impact of colonization was on her family, but also how the patriarchal and colonial Catholic culture in which she was consequently raised taught her to silence her truth and her voice. This led to years of silence both before, during and after experiencing childhood sexual abuse. Glecie shares how it felt to finally share her truth with her family, and how she started to decolonize her mind, body, spirit and feminine sexual energy through rediscovering her voice, power, and indigenous ancestral practices. You can find Glecie's work at @thebastosbruha (instagram.com/thebastosbruha)

9. 

   22 Oct 2025

   Cambodia ft. Paulina Davie

   Welcome to who we are, a multicultural storytelling podcast hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share decolonization stories and healing journeys of cultural reclamation, finding identity and belonging in the wake of colonialism. We explore social justice through reclaiming our own narratives. In this episode, Paulina shares the challenges and deep value of having such a rich yet heavy ancestral heritage, given Cambodia’s traumatic history. She tells us what it was like growing up in California to parents of Cambodian descent, and how she was perceived when she went back to visit Cambodia on a solo trip. We talk about the complexity of straddling two worlds yet feeling like we never truly belong in either, and how Paulina has found deep compassion for herself, her parents and other people through her journey of healing. Find Paulina’s work here (https://paulinadavie.com/) and @paulinadavie (https://www.instagram.com/paulinadavie/)

10. 

    24 Sept 2025

    China ft. Mengwen Cao

    Welcome to who we are, a multicultural storytelling podcast hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share decolonization stories and healing journeys of cultural reclamation, finding identity and belonging in the wake of colonialism. We explore social justice through reclaiming our own narratives. In this episode, Meng shares some poignant stories from their family members and ancestors, as well as one of the Chinese mythological stories that shaped them. We explore what it means to be someone who was born on their ancestral lands, but now lives in the United States, where Asian people are still considered an ethnic minority and have to face the persecution and violence that this can bring. We touch on how European ‘influence’ left its mark on some of the prevailing cultural mindsets that still impact people today, and how Meng is ultimately reclaiming their body, mind and spirit from systems of oppression. We speak of opening our hearts and embodying wisdom, which is something Meng does so powerfully. Find Meng's work here (https://mengwencao.com/) and @mengwencao (instagram.com/mengwencao)

11. 

    18 Aug 2025

    The Philippines ft. Isabel Bagsik

    Welcome to who we are, a multicultural storytelling podcast hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share decolonization stories and healing journeys of cultural reclamation, finding identity and belonging in the wake of colonialism. We explore social justice through reclaiming our own narratives. In this episode we explore the goddess mythology around Mayon volcano from Isabel’s ancestral lands. She shares more about growing up in America as a Filipina and how she started learning about the colonization of the Philippines. We dive deeper into how she started reclaiming her culture and heritage, as well as some of the nuances of being brought up in so-called ‘developed’ countries. We discuss the Christian colonization of the Philippines and how that’s impacted the culture. and we end with words of encouragement for those who may also feel removed from their ancestral cultures and lands and are working on reclaiming their roots. You can find Isabel's work here (https://unconventionalbliss.com/) and @unconventionalbliss (instagram.com/unconventionalbliss)

12. 

    3 Aug 2025

    The Philippines & India ft. Laxmi Hussain

    Welcome to who we are, a multicultural storytelling podcast hosted by Maya Kalaria. We share decolonization stories and healing journeys of cultural reclamation, finding identity and belonging in the wake of colonialism. We explore social justice through reclaiming our own narratives. In this episode we explore Laxmi’s connection to her ancestry on both her maternal and paternal side, and how fragmentation through colonization and migration impacted these connections. She shares how her parents met, what they did and how she grew up. We explore how she’s reclaiming her roots and which side she feels culturally closest to, as well as aspects of colonization she has struggled with. We end by speaking about the world she wishes to help create for those who come after us. You can find Laxmi's work here (https://www.thislakshmi.com/about) and @thislakshmi (instagram.com/thislakshmi)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

4.6 / 5

9 ratings

Contact Who We Are | Stories of Colonialism and Cultural Reclamation

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.