Zozan Balci is a researcher and author who explores the lived experiences of mixed heritage individuals navigating cultural in-betweenness. Born in Germany to Italian and Turkish migrant parents, Zozan lost her ability to speak Turkish as a child - a loss that sparked years of reflection and ultimately became the foundation of her PhD research. In this conversation, Zozan shares powerful stories from her book about the emotional weight of being “ambiguously Brown,” the invasive “Where are you from?” question, and how “in-betweeners” often erase parts of themselves to fit into dominant cultures. She discusses the racialization of cultural identity, the deep connection between language and relationships, and why well-meaning practices of inclusion can emphasise differences and eventually harm children. Zozan also introduces her documentary project “Say Our Names,” which addresses the everyday microaggression of name mispronunciation, and shares practical strategies for creating micro-inclusions. This episode challenges listeners to sit with discomfort, question their assumptions about belonging, and recognise that mixedness isn’t a deficit - it’s a rich, valid identity deserving of recognition and respect.

Chapters:

• 0:00 - Introduction & Welcome

• 1:41 – The Personal Story Behind the Research

• 5:00 – The Experience of “Ambiguous Brownness”

• 10:00 – Feeling Not Enough of Anything

• 15:51 – Why People Reject or Embrace Heritage Languages

• 20:00 – Language as Connection, Not Asset

• 24:59 – Race, Visibility, and Identity

• 25:00 – Normalizing Mixedness

• 30:00 – The Exhausting Emotional Labor

• 33:30 – Say Our Names Documentary

• 40:00 – Empowering Multilingual Students in Classrooms

• 45:00 – Resisting Academic Conformity

• 50:00 – The Myth of Objectivity in Social Science

• 52:30 – Final Words of Wisdom

• 55:29 – Dr. Rukia Odero’s Wisdom

• 56:50 – What Does “Migrant” Mean?

• 58:40 – What Is Home?

• 1:00:00 – Before and After: Finding Authentic Voice

• 1:02:33 – What’s Next: Micro-Inclusion & Closing

Resources mentioned:

• Book: Erased Voices and Unspoken Heritage: Language, Identity and Belonging in the Lives of Cultural In-betweeners, by Zozan Balci. Available in Routledge.

• Thesis: To Speak or Not to Speak? The Dilemma of Heritage Language and Identity for the Culturally Hybrid Generation, by Zozan Balci. Available here: https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/147366/2/02whole.pdf

• Documentary: “Say Our Names” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz2PUakvfH8 -

• TV Show: “Kim’s Convenience” (Canadian TV show about a Korean migrant family recommended for its honest, funny take on identity).

Connect with Zozan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drzozanbalci/

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This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.