Between Worlds: Navigating Identity and the Stories We Carry | Lina Bahlawan & Yemi Adefulu

What happens when two people from vastly different cultures come together not just to share stories, but to write a book about the in-between spaces of identity?

n this Hearth 2 Heart episode, host Gayathri Shukla speaks with Lina Bahlawan and Yemi Adefulu, co-authors of Adventures of a Migrant Heart, about the surprising friendship that sparked their book—and the deeper lessons it holds for reimagining inclusion. Together, they explore:
- Why storytelling with someone (not just about someone) creates a new kind of empathy
- How curiosity and compassion can disrupt stereotypes—without losing complexity
- The power of unlikely friendships to bridge global perspectives and lived experience
- Why choosing collaboration over competition is a radical act, especially in systems shaped by scarcity
This episode is a refreshing reminder that sometimes, the best way to understand someone else’s story… is to co-write a new one.

Resources mentioned:
https://www.amazon.ca/Adventures-Migrant-Heart-Yemi-Adefulu/dp/196761668X
https://www.yemiadefulu.com/
https://www.campfirekinship.com/