Born in Indonesia and raised in Warkworth, Francisca reflects on what it was like growing up as one of very few Asian kids in her community, and how that shaped her relationship with her Indonesian identity. As she plans her wedding, she’s finding herself thinking more deeply about the parts of her culture she wants to reclaim and eventually pass on to her own children.

We also hear how a university lecture led her into addiction treatment, what residential rehabilitation actually looks like behind the stereotypes, and why the intensity of that work is very different from the version we often see on screen.

Francisca also shares what happened when plans to move to the UK turned into a year of full-time travel, and why she’s preparing to head overseas again.

Along the way, the conversation moves through adult friendship, Bali tourism, identity, café culture, and the small rituals that make life feel good.

A proper Banana Lab yarn 🍌 — funny, thoughtful, and occasionally very real.

In this episode of Banana Lab, we sit down with Mariah to explore her journey from the Philippines to New Zealand, growing up in Lower Hutt, and building a career that aligns with her values.

Mariah shares the realities of adapting to a new country at a young age, navigating university and the job market, moving to Auckland for new opportunities, and eventually finding purpose in a marketing career within the medical sector.

Along the way, we dive into food, travel, New Zealand's hospitality scene, the Michelin Guide, and why work can become such a big part of our identity—especially in many Asian cultures. It's an honest conversation about career, culture, belonging, and creating a meaningful life beyond your job.

In this episode:

• Growing up Filipino in New Zealand
• Culture shock and life in Lower Hutt
• University, career challenges and moving to Auckland
• Finding purpose in marketing
• Identity beyond work
• Filipino and Kiwi food culture
• Auckland's restaurant scene
• New Zealand's Michelin Guide
• Travel stories from Canada and plans for Europe

Whether you're an immigrant, a foodie, a creative professional, or simply navigating your own career journey, there's something in this conversation for you.

In this episode, Alex and Romy sit down with Andrea Halal to explore her remarkable journey from growing up in Baguio, Philippines, to building a new life in New Zealand.

Andrea shares the experiences that shaped her - from losing her father at just 10 years old, to leaving a toxic workplace, winning an unexpected trip to New Zealand, and ultimately making the leap to follow a feeling she couldn't ignore.

Along the way, we also chat about Filipino food, coffee culture, marketing, taking calculated risks, and what it really means to build a life from scratch.

This is a conversation about courage, identity, resilience, and choosing the life you want - even when it doesn't make logical sense.

Growing up in Kaitaia as the only Asian kid, David watched his parents build a takeaway business from almost nothing before carving out his own unconventional career. From music school and culinary training to teaching in America and eventually becoming a self-taught photographer, every chapter of his journey was driven by curiosity rather than certainty.

We also discuss creative careers, Asian family expectations, freelancing, entrepreneurship, and what it really means to stay busy for the right reasons.

In this episode, Diana reflects on her journey as an immigrant, the challenges of building a new life, and how difficult experiences shaped her resilience rather than defining her. We also explore her career in the creative industry, her perspective on AI and authenticity, why curiosity has become one of her greatest strengths, and how music and exercise helped her navigate one of the most difficult periods of her life.

More than anything, this is a conversation about perspective. Looking back, Diana no longer sees hardship as something to escape, but as something that shaped who she is today.

If you've ever questioned where you belong, wondered how people rebuild after adversity, or found yourself chasing the next milestone, this episode is a thoughtful reminder that perhaps life isn't about the pursuit of happiness—it's about the happiness of pursuing. 🍌

Youjin reflects on arriving in New Zealand without speaking English, learning the language through cartoons and friendships, and growing up as the eldest daughter in an immigrant family. She shares the responsibility she felt translating for her parents and becoming the “fixer” in her family, as well as the resentment she experienced growing up and how living abroad later helped her better understand the challenges her parents had faced as immigrants.

We also talk about Youjin’s career in experiential marketing, her relationship with photography, discovering running, and why she decided to move to Germany before turning 30. She shares stories from working in a café, learning German, travelling around Europe, navigating cultural differences, and transporting a rescue dog from Greece to Germany.

The conversation also explores the complicated experience of growing up between cultures. Youjin reflects on not always feeling Korean enough to fit into Korean communities, standing out when visiting Korea, navigating questions around relationships and family expectations, and learning to stay curious without changing herself simply to fit in.

Ultimately, Youjin’s year abroad challenged the idea that moving somewhere else will automatically create a better life. She reflects on comparison, gratitude, faith, perspective, and learning to find joy by being content with what she has.

Topics include:

• Growing up Korean in New Zealand
• Being the eldest child in an immigrant family
• Translating for parents and family responsibility
• Experiential marketing and photography
• Moving to Germany on a working holiday
• Learning German and working abroad
• Travel and cultural differences
• Korean Kiwi identity and belonging
• Family expectations and relationships
• Faith, gratitude and finding contentment
• Returning home and adjusting to ordinary life

A warm, reflective and funny conversation about immigration, family, identity, adventure, and learning that sometimes the biggest change isn’t where you live, but how you see the life you already have. 

We talk about growing up Korean in New Zealand, arriving without speaking English, boarding school life, and how a conversation with a maths tutor led him into pharmacy.

Jin also reflects on discovering YouTube during COVID, documenting life through vlogs, and why he decided to spend 14 months living in Korea to experience both the good and the bad sides of a country he still considers home.

Along the way, we dive into solo travel across Asia and Europe, life in Seoul, cultural differences between Korea and New Zealand, and how the experience changed the way he approaches life.

Topics include:

• Growing up Korean in New Zealand
 • Community pharmacy and healthcare
 • Content creation and YouTube
 • Living in Korea for 14 months
 • Solo travel and bucket-list destinations
 • Identity and belonging between two countries
 • Korea vs New Zealand lifestyle and culture

A warm and funny conversation about career, creativity, travel and what it means to feel connected to more than one place.

Born in the Philippines and raised in Hamilton, Ashley reflects on moving to Auckland for university, transitioning into full-time work, and navigating the pressures of hustle culture and adulthood.

We talk about reconnecting with her Filipino roots, the challenges of balancing cultures, and how her family’s sacrifices and work ethic have shaped the way she approaches life today.

The conversation also touches on community, faith, food, favourite spots around Auckland, and the importance of slowing down, resting well, and learning to embrace who you are.

Warm, thoughtful, and full of relatable young adult moments, this episode is a conversation about identity, growth, belonging, and what it means to feel at home in yourself.

Topics include:

• Growing up Filipino in New Zealand
 • Hamilton vs Auckland life
 • Transitioning from university into the workforce
 • Hustle culture and work-life balance
 • Faith, family and community
 • Reconnecting with Filipino identity
 • Food, culture and finding belonging

Inna shares her journey from the Philippines to New Zealand, reflecting on immigration challenges, identity, career pivots and finding belonging.

We also discuss life as a Filipino woman in construction, queer identity, travel, and the realities of building a life in a new country.

A warm and honest conversation about resilience, community and home.

Alwyn reflects on growing up between Malaysia and New Zealand, adapting between cultures, and how New Zealand eventually became home.

We also talk about the creative industry, commercial photography, marathon training, and the differences in work-life culture between Malaysia and New Zealand.

A relaxed and thoughtful conversation about creativity, identity, and balance.

Sophie shares her experience working in hospitality for over a decade, and the decision to transition into a career in marketing.

We discuss burnout, work-life balance, and the challenges of prioritising yourself.

Sophie also reflects on her move from Korea to New Zealand, learning English through lived experience, and adapting to a new environment.

A thoughtful conversation about career change, identity, and building a new path.

Romy reflects on growing up as a Korean New Zealander, navigating identity, sexuality, and significant mental health challenges from a young age.

She shares her experience with addiction, spending 18 months in rehabilitation, and the journey towards recovery.

Now working as a mental health and addiction practitioner, Romy discusses representation, cultural stigma, and the importance of compassion in supporting others.

A powerful and honest conversation about identity, recovery, and purpose.

Sophie shares her experience growing up half Japanese and half Pākehā, and the challenges of navigating identity between cultures.

We explore belonging, language, family dynamics, and the feeling of being “in between.”

She also reflects on therapy, boundaries, and personal growth, as well as her journey into photography and building a creative career.

A thoughtful conversation about identity, growth, and finding your place between worlds.

Janet shares her experience growing up as a 1.5 generation Korean New Zealander and how that shaped her sense of identity and belonging.

We discuss the realities of working in emergency medicine, the emotional challenges of facing life-and-death situations, and the importance of compassion in healthcare.

This conversation explores culture, identity, and the human side of medicine.

We explore adoption, identity, assimilation, and the emotional impact of being perceived through appearance. Lola also reflects on social media, insecurity, and the boundaries she’s had to build to protect her mental health.

A thoughtful conversation about belonging, blurred lines, and learning to define identity on your own terms.

Nancy reflects on arriving in Aotearoa as a child with only a few English words, learning to adapt to a new culture, and discovering strength in being different.  

She shares the story of her parents’ sacrifices, the experiences that shaped her resilience, and the unconventional path that led her from finance to Harvard — and ultimately into politics.

We explore identity, representation, family, public service, and what it means to help build a country where diverse communities feel seen and connected.

A thoughtful and inspiring conversation about leadership, belonging, and creating pathways for others.

Maria shares her path into music (later than most people expect), how she’s navigated identity as a 1.5 generation Korean in Aotearoa, and what it feels like to grow up being told you’re “Korean” while not fully feeling at home anywhere.  

Along the way, we get plenty of laughs — from early culture shocks and Kiwi food first impressions to rapid-fire favourites (including a hard no to making her own kimchi 😅).  

A warm, funny, and honest conversation about music, belonging, and making space for who you are.

Alex shares his journey growing up Asian in Aotearoa, navigating identity and expectations, and discovering creativity as both refuge and purpose.

The conversation dives into childhood stories, school experiences, the pressure to perform, finding belonging, and the quiet realities behind building creative work.

Together, Romy and Alex explore the unique mix of humour, chaos, emotion, and reflection that shapes the Asian New Zealand experience.

This is one of the most personal episodes yet — warm, funny, and incredibly relatable.

Together they explore:

• childhood stories and chaotic teenage moments

• identity, belonging, and living between cultures

• the Asian New Zealand experience

• millennial hobbies (yes, including tennis)

• confidence, community, and finding your voice

• and the now-legendary line: “We don’t have a boat… but we’ll find one.”

This episode blends humour with honesty — perfect for anyone navigating identity, bicultural life, or the Asian Kiwi experience.

Follow along for more stories, reflections, and chaotic good energy from the Banana Lab community.

Join us as we start this journey of sharing the unique experiences of Asian New Zealanders. 

We'll talk about all things mental health, personal development, cultural identity, intersectionality and changing the world!