Episode 20: Affection Has Accents
What if love isn’t a universal language but a cultural dialect?
In this episode, Hostion and Andrea explore how love is experienced, expressed, and misunderstood across cultures. From individualistic and collectivist lenses to public vs. private affection, they unpack how family systems, language, history, and migration shape what love looks like in practice.
Drawing on anthropology, psychology, lived experience, and a healthy dose of humour, the conversation challenges Western assumptions about romance and emotional expression. The hosts explore why “I love you” can feel essential in one culture and excessive or even uncomfortable in another, and how mismatched expectations often masquerade as emotional distance.
Whether you’re navigating intercultural relationships, reflecting on your own upbringing, or rethinking what love means altogether, this episode offers insight, compassion, and a few laugh-out-loud moments along the way.
Episode Sources
Unraveling Love: An Anthropological Perspective - Number Analytics
Love and Ethics: An Anthropological Guide - Number Analytics
Love Across Cultures: A Comparative Study of Verbal and Nonverbal Communication of Affection in Text Messages Among American and East Asian College Students - UCLA
Exploring Affection: How Different Cultures Show Love - Betterhelp
Cultural Love Languages: Expressions of Affection Worldwide - ReachLink
How Love Is Beautifully Expressed Across Different Cultures - Vocal Media
The Art of Intercultural Love Communication - Number Analytics
Quiz Sources
B.C. ranked one of the least romantic provinces in Canada - Vancouver Is Awesome
How Much Chocolate Do People Buy on Valentine's Day? - Alibaba