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In this episode, Doreen Cumberford and Megan Norton-Newbanks sit down with Sa-Eun Park, also known as San Shine, a belonging coach and spiritual entrepreneur based in Incheon, Korea. San shares her powerful story of growing up cross-culturally—moving from Korea to Saudi Arabia, then Austria, and later, the U.S.—and how these experiences shaped her journey with belonging, identity, and self-acceptance.
Key Topics & Takeaways
- The Wound of Uprootedness:
San discusses the impact of being separated from her family at a young age and growing up across multiple cultures, and how this led to a lifelong search for belonging. - Inner Boardroom Method:
San introduces her unique approach to self-acceptance by creating an "inner boardroom," inviting listeners to listen compassionately to the many voices within themselves shaped by cross-cultural experiences. - Belonging as a Superpower:
The conversation explores the idea that the ability to hold multiple cultural identities is not just a challenge, but a superpower for empathy and connection. - Authenticity and Wholeness:
How embracing all parts of ourselves, even the conflicted or fragmented ones, leads to a fuller sense of authenticity and belonging. - The Human Kintsugi:
San is developing a new framework—“The Human Kintsugi”—inspired by the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. It’s about turning life’s fractures into sources of beauty and strength. - Senses and Belonging:
The importance of using our senses, especially intuition, to recognize belonging and polarization in spaces we inhabit. - Community in a Changing World:
A discussion on how the meaning of community is shifting with technology, and why self-belonging is foundational for creating connections with others.
Memorable Quotes
- “Those voices are there to guide you to the wholeness in you.” – San Shine
- “Belonging is about returning to yourself and remembering who you already are.”
Practical Tips
- Practice the Inner Boardroom:
Sit with your different identities and listen to each one with compassion, as you would to children with different needs. - Create Your Own Healing Rituals:
Physical objects—like a heart with country flags—can help visually acknowledge and integrate all the cultures and experiences in your life. - Explore Playlists:
Curate music that resonates with your sense of belonging, or helps you connect with different versions of yourself.
Connect with Today’s Guest:
Founder and CEO of Octopus and Stitch Consulting
Resources Mentioned
- The concept of “Human Kintsugi”
- Megan Norton-Newbanks’ book: Belonging Across Borders
- Repatriation Playlist (referenced in the episode; available in show notes)
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You can map the move. You cannot map the metamorphosis. Nomadic Diaries explores the interior journey of expat life — the belonging, the identity shifts, the repatriation, and everything that travels with you that can't be packed in a suitcase. This episode may be part of our Re-Entry Series (30 episodes on coming home) or The Belonging Project (29 episodes on belonging across cultures). Browse the full catalog at nomadicdiariespodcast.com and please share or leave a review if this episode resonated.
