Remember the magic of growing up in a multilingual household? Join me and my special guest host, my mom Marla Najam, as we stroll down memory lane, navigating the linguistic labyrinth of our home, with English reigning supreme, giving way to Bengali during family visits. We also tackle my own attempts at learning Hindi in college - a journey filled with more than a few bumps in the road. Delve into some of the more gripping aspects of cultural identity as we discuss my mom's life experiences in India and England and her encounters with celebrities like George Harrison. We also tackle the complicated subject of cultural appropriation, particularly as it pertains to practices like yoga and chakras in California. But it's not all serious talk; we delve into the world of Dungeons and Dragons and the joys of role-playing, drawing inspiration from South Asian mythology and even sharing a laugh about my usually reserved dad playing a barbarian character! In the final part of our conversation, the lively debate continues as we discuss our favorite stories and argue over the ultimate food pairing - chutney vs ketchup. Our guest host, Omar, joins us and shares his favorite Omar story, his passion for cooking and foreign cuisines, and even a chance encounter with George Harrison. As we wrap up the episode, we reflect on storytelling's power to unite people, share a few laughs, and express heartfelt thanks to our sponsors and patrons. Tune in for an enriching conversation about cultural identity, language, and life's unexpected adventures! [END SHOW NOTES]