ISABELLA MCDONNELL
Founder & Host

Isabella is a third culture kid[1] who has been examining ideas of home and identity her whole life, as her own story of belonging spans five countries and six languages.

She launched the Xeno podcast to create a space for those who might see themselves as culturally complex[2] in a world that is increasingly hostile to those who are considered different. It’s about transforming the perceived “us vs. them” dichotomy into a more nuanced conversation about our shared humanity and need for belonging.

[1]: Third culture kids: “Children who spend their formative years in places that are not their parents’ homeland[s].” (Source: Ruth Hill Useem).

[2]: How she self-identifies: "cultural complexity" is a lived experience where one's chosen identity does not neatly fit into one culture or attach to one physical place or group.