What if the immigrant story you’ve heard is only half the truth?

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Shiva Reddy—sommelier, food columnist for CBC Vancouver, and host of the acclaimed docuseries Not Your Butter Chicken. We talk about identity, heritage, and the power of food to connect us to our culture and the women who shaped it.

Shiva shares the deeply personal story behind the series, inspired by her mother’s dementia and her own journey to reclaim the flavors and traditions of her Indo-Fijian roots. From hustling samosas as a teen to becoming a celebrated wine expert, Shiva’s story is full of resilience, tenderness, and a lot of flavor.

You’ll hear about:

🍛 The role of sewa and community in South Asian culture
🧵 Why the stories of immigrant women often go untold
🍷 Her unique philosophy on wine

This conversation left me thinking about the women in my own family—the ones who passed down recipes, love, and history through food. I hope it does the same for you.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Watch Shiva's new docuseries, Not Your Butter Chicken, now on CBC Gem and Telus
• Try Shiva’s dal recipe at exploreinmykitchen.com

SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

If you love this podcast and want to give me your support, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This goes a long way in helping me get in front of other culinary adventurers like you.

Just open up the Apple Podcasts app and go to “In My Kitchen with Paula”. Or, in this episode, click on the 3 dots in the right corner and click on “Go To Show”. At the bottom of the show page, you can rate and review.

SAY HELLO

In My Kitchen creates connections one dish at a time, by exploring culture through food. I do this through unique culinary workshops, speaking engagements, and of course, this podcast.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me in one of three ways:

• DM me on Instagram at @inmykitchenpaula
• Email me at paula@inmykitchen.ca
• Click to text me directly. Include your email address and I'll share my free travel planning tool!

What if you could supercharge your travel experiences, with just a little perspective?

In this episode I wrap up the four-part series 'Flavourful Bonds' by delving into the character strengths of humility, gratitude, and legacy within the culinary traditions of Pakistan, Mexico, and Croatia. I share personal anecdotes, cultural insights, and practical exercises to help travelers and food enthusiasts recognize and practice these strengths through food.

You will learn about:

✈️ How these strength helps us to have a more immersive travel experience
🍲 Traditional dishes like Peka, Sarma and pasticada
💫 Paula’s personal story around what it means to be humble

SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

If you love this podcast and want to give me your support, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This goes a long way in helping me get in front of other culinary adventurers like you.

Just open up the Apple Podcasts app and go to “In My Kitchen with Paula”. Or, in this episode, click on the 3 dots in the right corner and click on “Go To Show”. At the bottom of the show page, you can rate and review.

SAY HELLO

In My Kitchen creates connections one dish at a time, by exploring culture through food. I do this through unique culinary workshops, speaking engagements, and of course, this podcast.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me in one of three ways:

• DM me on Instagram at @inmykitchenpaula
• Email me at paula@inmykitchen.ca
• Click to text me directly. Include your email address and I'll share my free travel planning tool!

How do food and culinary traditions reflect resilience, forgiveness, and hope?

In this episode I look at the character strengths of forgiveness, hope and perspective through the lens of food in Pakistan and also Vietnam and Portugal. Three countries that have experienced upheaval and rupture. Through personal stories and culinary traditions I illustrate how these strengths manifest in the kitchen and during travels, emphasizing the importance of food in preserving memory, fostering connection, and enabling healing.

You will hear reflections on:
🌏Partition of India in 1947: Devastation and the birth of Pakistani cuisine
🐟The Portuguese Saudade and bacalhau
🍲The story of Pho
🙏🏼A special dinner with Sadie

HELPFUL LINKS

💪🏼 VIA Character Strengths Survey
🧳 Download my free Travel Planning Tool

SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

If you love this podcast and want to give me your support, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This goes a long way in helping me get in front of other culinary adventurers like you.

Just open up the Apple Podcasts app and go to “In My Kitchen with Paula”. Or, in this episode, click on the 3 dots in the right corner and click on “Go To Show”. At the bottom of the show page, you can rate and review.

SAY HELLO

In My Kitchen creates connections one dish at a time, by exploring culture through food. I do this through unique culinary workshops, speaking engagements, and of course, this podcast.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me in one of three ways:

• DM me on Instagram at @inmykitchenpaula
• Email me at paula@inmykitchen.ca
• Click to text me directly. Include your email address and I'll share my free travel planning tool!

How do honesty, integrity, and fairness shape our culinary adventures and deepen our connections across cultures?

Join me in episode two of 'Flavourful Bonds' as I explore these character strengths through stories and culinary experiences from around the world. Learn how honesty varies in different cultures, the importance of culinary integrity in places like Italy and Pakistan, and how fairness is shown in community-based tourism and traditional meals. This episode invites You to reflect on your values and the impact of your presence, transforming you from mere tourists to guests who honor the tables you are invited to.

You will hear reflections on:
🌎Exploring Honesty in Different Cultures
🥘Integrity: Living Our Values Through Food
🫶🏼Fairness: Sharing Space and Respecting Differences
📝Reflecting on Our Travels and Values

HELPFUL LINKS

📝 Nosheen's Nihari (Pakistani Beef Shank Stew)
💪🏼 VIA Character Strengths Survey
🧳 Download my free Travel Planning Tool

SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

If you love this podcast and want to give me your support, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This goes a long way in helping me get in front of other culinary adventurers like you.

Just open up the Apple Podcasts app and go to “In My Kitchen with Paula”. Or, in this episode, click on the 3 dots in the right corner and click on “Go To Show”. At the bottom of the show page, you can rate and review.

SAY HELLO

In My Kitchen creates connections one dish at a time, by exploring culture through food. I do this through unique culinary workshops, speaking engagements, and of course, this podcast.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me in one of three ways:

• DM me on Instagram at @inmykitchenpaula
• Email me at paula@inmykitchen.ca
• Click to text me directly. Include your email address and I'll share my free travel planning tool!

Haver you ever wondered how food can create deeper, meaningful relationships?

In this first episode of our special four-part series, Flavourful Bonds, we delve into the VIA character strengths and how they manifest in different cultures. This week, we're kicking off with 'Kindness Served Warm' and exploring love, kindness, and gratitude through memorable meals and personal stories.

We’ll travel from my own kitchen to the homes of Suha, Naomi and visit Japan, and the warm hearts of New Zealanders. You’ll not only hear about diverse culinary traditions but also practice some reflections and a powerful exercise to boost your well-being. Ready to discover how food can be a universal language of kindness?

We Talk About

💫The Soul of Hospitality: Love, Kindness, and Gratitude
🇯🇵Hospitality in Japan: Omotenashi
🇳🇿Hospitality in New Zealand: Manaakitanga
🍴Reflecting on Our Own Kitchen Tables
🙏🏼The Power of a Gratitude Letter

HELPFUL LINKS

✍️ Take the VIA Character Strength Survey
🧳 Download my free Travel Planning Tool

SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

If you love this podcast and want to give me your support, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This goes a long way in helping me get in front of other culinary adventurers like you.

Just open up the Apple Podcasts app and go to “In My Kitchen with Paula”. Or, in this episode, click on the 3 dots in the right corner and click on “Go To Show”. At the bottom of the show page, you can rate and review.

SAY HELLO

In My Kitchen creates connections one dish at a time, by exploring culture through food. I do this through unique culinary workshops, speaking engagements, and of course, this podcast.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me in one of three ways:

• DM me on Instagram at @inmykitchenpaula
• Email me at paula@inmykitchen.ca
• Click to text me directly. Include your email address and I'll share my free travel planning tool!

What if your best travel companion isn’t your passport—but your personality?

In this solo episode, host Paula Mohammed continues the conversation on character strengths—those deeply personal yet often overlooked qualities that shape how we connect, cook, and travel.

Building on episode 33, Paula explores how our signature strengths like curiosity, kindness, and humor show up in everyday moments—from bustling street markets to quiet shared meals with strangers.

She shares personal stories, including a dog bite in Portugal (yes, really) and a watermelon dinner on a Greek ferry, to illustrate how mindfulness and character strengths can guide us through both joyful and challenging moments.

We talk about:

🧭 How character strengths like humility and zest can deepen our travel experiences
🐾 Why mindfulness + strengths can turn reactive moments into intentional ones
⚡ Paula’s go-to tools for navigating “hot buttons” and cultural differences

Whether you're planning your next trip or reflecting on your last, this episode is a reminder that the best tools for connection—and growth—are already within you.


HELPFUL LINKS

✍️Take the VIA Character Strength Survey

🧳 Sign up for the In My Kitchen Newsletter

SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

If you love this podcast and want to give me your support, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This goes a long way in helping me get in front of other culinary adventurers like you.

Just open up the Apple Podcasts app and go to “In My Kitchen with Paula”. Or, in this episode, click on the 3 dots in the right corner and click on “Go To Show”. At the bottom of the show page, you can rate and review.

SAY HELLO

In My Kitchen creates connections one dish at a time, by exploring culture through food. I do this through unique culinary workshops, speaking engagements, and of course, this podcast.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me in one of three ways:

• DM me on Instagram at @inmykitchenpaula
• Email me at paula@inmykitchen.ca
• Click to text me directly. Include your email address and I'll share my free travel planning tool!

Ever wondered what makes you truly shine?

In this episode we go on an exciting journey to discover our unique character strengths using the VIA Character Strengths framework. Developed by positive psychologists Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson, this framework identifies 24 universal strengths that help individuals not just get by, but truly flourish.

We Talk About:

😀How knowing and applying these strengths can boost happiness, enhance resilience, and enrich our connections through food and travel.

💫Actionable tips, stories, and the magic of using your personal 'seasoning blend' to navigate life's adventures with joy and intention.

⚡How to Discover your Character Strengths

🛑Managing “Hot Buttons” and Strengths

HELPFUL LINKS

✍️Take the VIA Character Strength Survey

🧳 Sign Up For our Newsletter

SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

If you love this podcast and want to give me your support, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This goes a long way in helping me get in front of other culinary adventurers like you.

Just open up the Apple Podcasts app and go to “In My Kitchen with Paula”. Or, in this episode, click on the 3 dots in the right corner and click on “Go To Show”. At the bottom of the show page, you can rate and review.

SAY HELLO

In My Kitchen creates connections one dish at a time, by exploring culture through food. I do this through unique culinary workshops, speaking engagements, and of course, this podcast.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me in one of three ways:

• DM me on Instagram at @inmykitchenpaula
• Email me at paula@inmykitchen.ca
• Click to text me directly. Include your email address and I'll share my free travel planning tool!

What if the best way to experience the world was to live in it—one month at a time?

In this episode, we meet Michael Motamedi: former MasterChef Canada contestant, marketer-turned-full-time traveler, and passionate culinary explorer. For the past three years, Michael has been traveling the globe with his wife and young daughter—living in one city at a time, uncovering local food gems, and sharing stories through his podcast No Fixed Address and viral food videos.

From pig nipples in Spain to baby eel breakfasts in Barcelona, Michael’s adventures are anything but ordinary. But beneath the fun is a deeper message: that food is a universal language, and community, not convenience, is what really nourishes us.
We talk about:

🌎 How selling everything led to a nomadic, food-filled life with a toddler
🍽️ Why tinned baby eels, fish juice, and Anthony Bourdain changed his view of food
💬 What it means to truly live in a place—beyond tourism, with real locals

Whether you're craving off-the-grid food stories or dreaming of a lifestyle less ordinary, this episode is a reminder to pause, savour, and rethink what truly fills you up.

HELPFUL LINKS

📸 Follow Michael on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok
🎧 Tune into Michael's podcast No Fixed Address
🧳 Download my free Travel Planning Tool

SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

If you love this podcast and want to give me your support, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. This goes a long way in helping me get in front of other culinary adventurers like you.

Just open up the Apple Podcasts app and go to “In My Kitchen with Paula”. Or, in this episode, click on the 3 dots in the right corner and click on “Go To Show”. At the bottom of the show page, you can rate and review.

SAY HELLO

In My Kitchen creates connections one dish at a time, by exploring culture through food. I do this through unique culinary workshops, speaking engagements, and of course, this podcast.

I'd love to hear from you! Connect with me in one of three ways:

• DM me on Instagram at @inmykitchenpaula
• Email me at paula@inmykitchen.ca
• Click to text me directly. Include your email address and I'll share my free travel planning tool!