In this conversation with Bookbed, I discuss the cultural foundations of Southeast Asian storytelling, the practical role of Cultural Intelligence, and why stories often travel farther when they remain rooted in the values that shaped them.
On February 19, 2026, Bookbed published “Rooted, Not Rewritten: An Interview with Storytelling Advocate Ned Legaspi,” a conversation with writer Nitoy Gonzales about Cultural Intelligence, Southeast Asian storytelling, and the ideas behind Culturally Intelligent Storytelling for Southeast Asian Creators.
Unlike event coverage, this interview focused directly on the argument at the heart of the book: stories do not need to abandon their cultural logic in order to connect with people from other backgrounds.
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