Culture has a price tag.
And we pay it every time we decide what to buy.

In this episode of Canadian Salad, we explore how culture shapes our buying decisions and what choosing new or used quietly signals about identity, status, and belonging. Drawing from personal stories, cultural research, and cross-cultural dialogue, we unpack how individualistic cultures emphasize self-expression, while collectivist cultures often prioritize social acceptance and status.

From thrift stores and hand-me-downs to luxury brands and “saving face,” this conversation reveals how consumption is rarely just about money. It’s about values, power, and the unspoken rules we inherit. We also examine how secondhand shopping is being reinterpreted globally, sometimes as sustainability, sometimes as strategy, and sometimes as survival.

This episode invites listeners to question what we’re really paying for when we shop and who gets to decide what counts.

Keywords: culture and consumption, new vs used, consumer culture, thrift shopping, collectivist cultures, individualistic cultures, secondhand goods, buying decisions, status and belonging

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
A Janklin Production.

Holiday gatherings are more than meals and invitations. They’re cultural events shaped by time, dress, greeting rituals, and unspoken rules we often don’t realize we’re following.

In this episode, Andrea and Hostion explore the culture of gatherings through real stories, laughter, karaoke confessions, and cross-cultural insights. From punctuality and dress codes to hugging, kissing, and showing up with “banana hands,” they unpack how different cultures gather, why misunderstandings happen, and how curiosity can soften the awkward moments.

A warm, funny, and thoughtful conversation for anyone heading into holiday gatherings with mixed feelings and an open heart.

Let us know what you think of this episode! Text us!

Go to Canadian Salad Website for all sources cited in this episode.

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And please refer us to your friends, family and that racist uncle that just doesn't get it.

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
A Janklin Production.

Colonialism is officially on trial — and the world can’t look away.

In this episode, Andrea and Hostion unpack a monumental move by African nations pushing to recognize colonialism as a crime against humanity in international law. Through personal stories, history made human, and deeply reflective conversation, they explore how colonial legacies still shape our lives today — from language to identity to global inequality. They end with a powerful message of hope: a world healed through accountability, solidarity, and shared responsibility.

A grounding, illuminating, and surprisingly uplifting conversation about what justice could look like when we finally listen to the voices long ignored.

Let us know what you think of this episode! Text us!

Go to Canadian Salad Website for all sources cited in this episode.

Sign up for our newsletter to stay connected: https://www.canadiansalad.ca/contact

And please refer us to your friends, family and that racist uncle that just doesn't get it.

Follow us on TikTok and Instagram

Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.
A Janklin Production.