
From the archive: Foreign mothers, foreign tongues: ‘In another universe, she could have been my friend’
From The Audio Long Read by The Guardian
April 15, 2026 · 35 min
About this episode
Dina Nayeri reflects on her relationship with her mother and the cultural clashes they experienced as she raises her own daughter.
We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2023: Having grown up in different cultures with different expectations, my mother and I have often clashed. But as my daughter grows older, I have come to see our relationship in a different light Written and read by Dina Nayeri. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
People in this episode
Guest: Dina Nayeri
Topics covered
- mother-daughter relationship
- cultural differences
- personal growth
- identity
- family dynamics
Keywords
- foreign mothers
- foreign tongues
- cultural expectations
- relationship
- personal narrative
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Guardian
More episodes of The Audio Long Read
- ‘Should we leave them to die?’ The battle over how to save orangutans from the curse of palm oil · June 12, 2026 · 42 min
- From the archive: Sold to the Trump family: one of the last undeveloped islands in the Mediterranean · June 10, 2026 · 21 min
- Prisoner number 804: the plot to erase Imran Khan · June 8, 2026 · 48 min
- ‘I couldn’t breathe’: the sinister spread of France’s killer seaweed · June 5, 2026 · 32 min
- Three abandoned children, two missing parents and a 40-year mystery · June 3, 2026 · 48 min
- After a hard-fought victory to legalise medical cannabis in the UK, why is it still so hard to access? · June 1, 2026 · 30 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Audio Long Read podcast page.