“Growing up in Indonesia for me was a bit difficult… I couldn’t really be myself there. I’m gay, but I couldn’t really be gay… so I had to move out of my country. I want to live as myself.” — Onat

On this episode of The Culture Date, I sat down with Onat, an Indonesian creative living in London, to talk about culture, identity, and what it means to leave home in order to live authentically.

We discuss growing up under cultural and religious expectations, the pressure to hide parts of yourself, and the emotional weight of realizing that freedom might exist elsewhere.

Onat shares how moving to London gave him the space to express himself openly, build community, and redefine what home means on his own terms.

This conversation explores the deeper question many people face across the world:
How much does culture shape who we’re allowed to be—and what does it take to choose yourself anyway?

If you’ve ever felt constrained by expectations, or curious about how identity shifts across borders, this episode will resonate.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube