The View From A Broad
The View From A Broad
Podcast Description
Hi welcome to The View From A Broad. I'm Teresa Norton and this podcast dives into my past, revisiting columns I wrote for the South China Morning Post between 1993 and 2000 during my 40 years living in Hong Kong. These often funny, sometimes tender, occasionally provocative musings cover everything from marriage and working motherhood, to national identity and global events. As a weekly columnist I aimed to capture the quirks of human interactions, carve up a few sacred cows and tell it like it is... but did I? In the 30 years since those columns were written much has changed and... so have I. In each episode I read a column and talk to a guest about how the piece stands up today - what still rings true and what feels out of sync with today’s world. They then share a true story from their past that's been unearthed by something in the column. The result is an engaging and honest conversation about the evolution of social norms, culture and humor, re-examining the past through the lens of today’s values. By looking back with compassion and curiosity, my hope is that The View From A Broad encourages reflection on how our perspectives have changed... or not... and why.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes such as marriage, motherhood, national identity, and social norms, examining how these topics have evolved over time. Episodes include discussions on the impact of caregiving, freedom of speech, and cultural differences, with examples like the humorous exploration of a fictional charity committee and heartfelt reflections on Alzheimer’s and personal growth.

Hi welcome to The View From A Broad. I’m Teresa Norton and this podcast dives into my past, revisiting columns I wrote for the South China Morning Post between 1993 and 2000 during my 40 years living in Hong Kong.
These often funny, sometimes tender, occasionally provocative musings cover everything from marriage and working motherhood, to national identity and global events. As a weekly columnist I aimed to capture the quirks of human interactions, carve up a few sacred cows and tell it like it is… but did I? In the 30 years since those columns were written much has changed and… so have I.
In each episode I read a column and talk to a guest about how the piece stands up today – what still rings true and what feels out of sync with today’s world. They then share a true story from their past that’s been unearthed by something in the column.
The result is an engaging and honest conversation about the evolution of social norms, culture and humor, re-examining the past through the lens of today’s values.
By looking back with compassion and curiosity, my hope is that The View From A Broad encourages reflection on how our perspectives have changed… or not… and why.
This episode begins with a mega sale of appliances at a factory in Hong Kong where Teresa found herself communing with fellow bargain hunters who were waiting in a VERY long line… about 30 years ago.
What unfolds is a conversation with her guest, Belina Raffy, about a time when smart phones didn't distract strangers from making conversation, how living abroad encourages adaptability in connecting with people from different backgrounds, and the scary situation Teresa found herself in as a result of NOT talking to a stranger in a New York subway.
Belina, who is a comedy teacher, international conference speaker, complexity coach, CEO and janitor, focuses her energy on making the world a better place in which to collaborate with delight, to navigate complexity in order to discover exciting possibilities, and to communicate difficult issues with more humanity, love, and laughter.
She shares about upcoming workshops she's running that blend comedy, complexity coaching, and compassion practices and you can learn more about them here: https://www.gigglingwithearth.com
#teresanorton #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth

Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.