#65 Why We’re All Becoming Third Culture Kids with Chris O'Shaugnessy

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes Chris O’Shaughnessy, international speaker, author, and advocate for third culture kids (TCKs) - children who grow up in a culture different from their parents’ or passport country and who often attend international schools. The episode explores how the TCK experience is becoming increasingly relevant for students everywhere. Chris and Seth discuss how growing up with multiple cultural inputs and frequent transitions shapes identity, empathy, conflict resolution, and resilience—and why these same themes are essential in today’s rapidly changing world. The episode highlights how we can build the small “weights” of resilience into classrooms and homes, helping students better navigate discomfort, conflict, and complexity.

Key Topics Discussed:

• What defines a third culture kid and why their experiences matter beyond international schools
• Identity formation and the challenge of answering “Where are you from?” in a globalized world
• How relational resilience is undermined by both transience and technology
• The cost of avoidance and the rise of “relationship disposability”
• Why adaptability is a critical life skill and how to help students build it
• The need for intentional inefficiencies to build resilience in the age of convenience
• How rethinking culture as a non-zero-sum game creates more compassionate global citizens

Guest Bio:
Chris O’Shaughnessy is a speaker, author, and passionate advocate for international and third culture kid communities. With a background in both performance and global education, Chris brings humor and insight to topics like identity, cross-cultural communication, and resilience. He has worked with international schools, diplomatic organizations, and corporate groups around the world.

Host Bio:
Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for global, digital, and cultural competencies in education. Through live virtual programs and thought leadership, he helps students and educators explore the interconnectedness of people, cultures, and systems.

Episode Links:

• Chris O’s website: www.chris-o.com
• Chris’s podcast Diesel & Clooney Unpack the World
• Book: Arrivals, Departures, and the Adventures In-Between by Chris O’Shaughnessy

Host Links:

Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.