There are different types of immigrants in the U.S. In this episode, the hosts discussed what they are and how Bel became a permanent resident. They also poked fun at each one by tackling different "Balikbayan" (Filipino immigrant) traits—which can either be annoying or inspiring to their families and friends.

Parent(s) who move abroad for greener pastures is not uncommon to Filipino families. But do we truly understand their drive for success, their sacrifices, and their longing? Jam is a mother of two and an admirable person to interview. In this episode, she shared how much it meant to her to be closer to her daughter. Her loving and genuine personality comes out throughout the episode as she shared words of wisdom for anyone struggling with showing affection and discussed her dream of her...

Resilience - the word has been thrown time again to describe Filipinos when faced with the strongest typhoons. Join Bel, Lennette, and Mark as they talk about how you can overcome these challenges - by sharing personal stories of struggles and triumphs.

We all know that it is the time of year again, where some of us make our resolutions for next year. And while most people can stick with them - many find themselves falling off track by January or February when things get tough, and they cannot keep up anymore because life always seems so much more challenging than we realized in December! But don’t worry; in this episode, we will share what we learned to be more successful in achieving our goals.

What makes Christmas different in the Philippines? How do we celebrate Christmas when we're so far away from home? For Filipino immigrants, Christmas is when we feel more sad and homesick. It can be especially challenging to feel like we're part of the celebrations back home. But even though we're away from our families and loved ones, we still create our own little Christmas traditions that make us feel close to home.

Filipinos, it's time to break the mold! In this episode, we're going to talk about all things love and relationships. We will go beyond the stereotypes and debunk misconceptions about Filipinas who marry or date men of different racial backgrounds. Lennette and Bel will share their firsthand experiences and thoughts on what it's like to date outside of their culture.

Why is it important to think before we speak? Not many people realize or understand that because our words have weight, it leaves a lasting impact on others. It has the power to break or shape someone. In this episode, we'll talk about why we should be careful with our words and give some tips on how we could speak with mindfulness. Science Direct Article: Do Words Hurt? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304395909004564 Medical Journal:...

Do you sometimes find yourself in difficult conversations where the other person disagrees with what's true for them? You can improve your communication skills by learning to convey your thoughts and read expressions when dealing with sensitive issues or difficult people. Tune in if just like us - having these types of discussions can be nerve-wracking! We talked about personal experiences wherein we struggled to verbalize our feelings and what we have found helpful when talking things over.

If you've never had the opportunity to talk with someone who is adopted, this is for you. In this episode, Bel talks about her experience growing up unknowingly as an adoptee and how this experience changed her. This episode is part two of a 2-part series in celebration of National Adoption Month - where two adoptees reflect on their discovery, upbringing, and how being adopted can impact different people in different ways. If you are an adoptee and struggling, have questions, or would like...

Today's episode is part 1 of a two-part series in celebration of National Adoption Month. MJ described growing up feeling different and constantly asking her Mom about herself and why she doesn't resemble anyone in the family. Listen as she talked about the circumstances which led to her finding out the truth of her adoption at an early age, what it's like growing up as an adoptee, and how she delved deeper to find out her roots.

No person should ever suffer through an abusive relationship. In this episode, Rowena reveals her wounds for the first time as she describes the day she ran away from her live-in partner, who had constantly threatened her life. Listen to a story of strength and courage, as Rowena never let her traumatic experience beat her down, enduring by arming herself with more faith in God and others.

As Filipino migrants, we've all heard assumptions about what our life is like abroad. These misconceptions have implications and may often lead to discord among friends or family members. In this episode, we tackled the true and often hard facts about living abroad. Thanks to the help of a group of fellow Filipinos from New York who gave their opinions and experiences, we came up with lists to help debunk these assumptions.

"It's not easy," she said.  Lennette recounted her journey from a single Catholic woman to a now-married woman of the Islamic faith. She disclosed the choices and sacrifices she had to make, the changes she had to get used to, and why judging without understanding a person's reasons for choosing love over religion may cause more harm than good.  This episode's topic imparts why mutual respect is essential for a lasting relationship, especially in interfaith and interracial...

It's hard to get approved for a US visa from certain countries, including the Philippines. But does having a visa guarantee you entry to the country where you are going? Sadly, in certain situations, that's a big fat "NO." Our host, Mark, shares this hard truth in this episode as he retold what happened that day when he faced scrutiny by US Immigration officers, what triggered them to be suspicious of him, and why they had to lock him up in a holding facility before deporting him back to the...

What makes a man love a woman? And what qualities make a foreign man fall in love with a Filipina?  Bel's husband, Kevin, grew up in Hawaii - where there is a large Filipino community - so he is no stranger to our culture. Life in Hawaii is still much different though than life in the Philippines, where Bel grew up with practices and values she strongly identifies. In this episode, he shares how he met Bel, what it was like to visit her in the Philippines, and what he loves about her and our...

Have you ever found yourself outside your comfort zone and stepping into uncharted territory? What do you do when you have to leave the familiar for an unfamiliar country and culture? Pretty scary, right?  Saying a teary farewell to your family and friends is not even half the struggle compared to turning your back to your accustomed life, and building a new life from scratch. In this episode, we shared our struggles leaving the Philippines for the first time; and why we had to migrate to a...

Why hello there, fellow podcast listeners! We introduce episode one of the podcast to talk of our vision for the show, including concerns - pouring our views and putting ourselves out there despite fears of social media backlash. What started as a fun project for the three of us to create something out of our norm; ended up inspiring us to share life stories or immigration experiences to help others who may be juggling through a rough time in their life. Have questions, comments, or...

Bel, Mark and Nette talk about love, friendships and everything under the sun. Join them every Thursday on Taralets Talk!