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/

---

Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with...