Faced with the consequences of her decisions, Paulina grows estranged from her family — but meets Gina, a cousin who left the community decades before. And Paulina turns to her ultimate battle: the fight for her children in court.

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Dive deeper: There is no monolithic “Romani American experience,” not even in California — there are a multitude of them. See opinion pieces by Romani writers in conjunction with the Foretold podcast here.

In the beginning, Faith thought Paulina was giving her a hot news tip about psychics and scams. Years of investigation revealed something else.

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Dive deeper: “I would not exist if my ancestors had not practiced Drabarimos,” or spiritual medicine,  spiritualist and filmmaker George Eli writes. He delves into how he got into his line of work and why his community and heritage have become so misunderstood.

Now that Paulina has left her family, she has a choice to make: Does she take her custody case through the Romani judicial system? Or does she turn to the American courts, trusting the system she has always been taught to fear?

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Dive deeper: There is no monolithic “Romani American experience,” not even in California — there are a multitude of them. See opinion pieces by Romani writers in conjunction with the Foretold podcast here.

As a young mother, Paulina grows disillusioned with her home life and yearns for independence and a space she can call her own. Once she opens a new psychic shop, she meets a couple of new clients who give her a peek into their outside world — and there’s no going back. 

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Dive deeper: There is no monolithic “Romani American experience,” not even in California — there are a multitude of them. Author and activist Nicoleta Bitu shares more on how fighting oppression and patriarchy led her to her own Romani feminism.

Now married, Paulina moves in with Bobby’s family in Orange County and is met with a host of expectations: cooking, cleaning, serving, working at the psychic shop and having children. This kind of family dynamic has helped keep the Romani culture alive across the centuries. But it still catches Paulina by surprise.

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Dive deeper: There is no monolithic “Romani American experience,” not even in California — there are a multitude of them. See opinion pieces by Romani writers in conjunction with the Foretold podcast here.

Before Paulina was born, her future seemed predestined: She’d marry her relative and close family friend, Bobby. They were a match written in the stars. And their wedding only augured more good things to come. Or so she thought.

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Dive deeper: There is no monolithic “Romani American experience,” not even in California — there are a multitude of them. Author Oksana Marafioti shares her recollections of how arriving in Los Angeles as a teenager led her to celebrate her Romani roots. 

We go back to where it all began: Morro Bay. Paulina shows Faith her hometown, where she recounts a childhood in a tightknit family, vibrant parties and an education cut short.

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Read the episode transcript. 

Dive deeper: There is no monolithic “Romani American experience,” not even in California — there are a multitude of them. Author Oksana Marafioti shares her recollections of how arriving in Los Angeles as a teenager led her to celebrate her Romani roots. 

In the fall of 2019, reporter Faith E. Pinho received a tip from Paulina Stevens. Paulina said she had grown up in an insular Romani community in California, where she was raised to be a wife, mother and fortuneteller — until she decided to break away. This opens the door to a story spanning multiple continents, hundreds of years and complex, even metaphysical, realities.

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Dive deeper: Our Romani cultural consultant's op-ed describing how her heritage fits into her own life.

At 12 years old, Paulina Stevens could predict the course of her entire life. Growing up in a traditional Romani family, Paulina was destined to become a wife, mother and fortuneteller. Married at 17 and a mother by 19, Paulina settled into a predetermined life... until she decided to change the course of fate. "Foretold" is a gripping journey of self-discovery as Paulina navigates the consequences of her decision to leave her community and redefine her identity. Taking listeners beyond stereotypes and myths, “Foretold” explores the history and context of Romani culture, and Paulina’s place in it. Follow and listen to “Foretold” at latimes.com/foretold. Coming April 11th.

A conversation with actor Simu Liu about defying tropes as Marvel’s first Asian superhero, feeling empowered on the set of “Shang-Chi” after his experience with “Kim’s Convenience,” and the importance of being the “masters of our own narrative.” Guest photo by Miller Mobley.

A conversation with comedian and actor Maz Jobrani about centering his Iranian American identity in his standup, toeing the line with stereotypes onstage, and immigrating to California as a child when his family fled the Iranian Revolution. Guest photo by Storm Santos. 

A conversation with model, actor and dancer Leyna Bloom about making history as the first trans cover model for a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, embracing her Black and Filipina identity, and reconnecting with her mother — who was deported more than 20 years ago. Guest photo by Zenobia.

A conversation with comedian and filmmaker Hari Kondabolu about taking on "The Simpsons" with his documentary “The Problem With Apu,” where he draws the line between activism and comedy, and why he’s cool with white people walking out of his shows. Guest photo by Rob Holysz.

A conversation with Maitreyi Ramakrishnan of the Netflix comedy series “Never Have I Ever” about her Tamil Canadian identity, having Mindy Kaling as a boss and breaking ground by playing a flawed Asian American lead on TV. Guest photo by Yasara Gunawardena / Netflix.

A conversation with Emmy-nominated actor Lucy Liu about fame, art, motherhood and standing up for herself on the set of "Charlie’s Angels." Guest photo by Sophy Holland.

A conversation with comedian and writer Jenny Yang about giving ourselves permission to create, her past life as a labor organizer and how growing up among other Asian Americans taught her she could do it all.

A conversation with chef and food media personality Sohla El-Waylly about cooking Bangladeshi food with her mom, appropriation vs appreciation and microaggressions in food media. Guest photo by Jingyu Lin. 

A conversation with actor John Cho about fatherhood, the complexities of fame and unpacking the stories our parents tell us.

A conversation with writer Nicole Chung about challenging the narrative of her adoption story in her memoir “All You Can Ever Know,” processing grief and why it’s so hard to talk about racism. Guest photo by Erica Tappis.

A conversation with media personality and entrepreneur Angela Yee about the future of “The Breakfast Club," her Black and Chinese upbringing, gaining success as a woman in a male-dominated industry and how to talk to people you don’t agree with.

A conversation with musician and Dalit rights activist Thenmozhi Soundararajan about "coming out" as an "untouchable," using art for social progress and the movement for caste liberation in the U.S.

More reading:

Even in the U.S. he couldn't escape the label 'untouchable'

A conversation with sociologist and writer Anthony Ocampo about creating spaces for gay men from immigrant families, honoring Filipino nurses and expanding our definition of “Asian American."

A conversation with drag queen Jujubee about finding freedom through drag, fighting the patriarchy in queer spaces, and repping Laotian culture on 'Drag Race.’

A conversation with “Pachinko” and “Free Food for Millionaires” author Min Jin Lee on quitting a legal career to write novels, how history has failed us and being “extra Asian” in the face of racism. Guest photo by Elena Seibert.

A conversation with rapper Ruby Ibarra about writing the Filipina American experience into her lyrics, finding her (multilingual) voice in hip-hop, and her day job as a scientist fighting COVID-19. Guest photo by Donna Ibarra.

A conversation with award-winning “Killing Eve” actor Sandra Oh about speaking out against anti-Asian hate, engaging identity in her film and TV roles and why it’s an honor just to be Asian. Guest photo by James White.

In the first season of our podcast hosted by reporters from the L.A. Times, we spoke to Vice President Kamala Harris, actor John Cho and director Lulu Wang, among others. In our second season we'll bring you more intimate, hard-hitting conversations exploring the vast spectrum of the Asian American experience with actors, authors, musicians, activists and more. Season 2 premieres May 11, with new episodes dropping every Tuesday through August. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts.

A conversation with CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang about what it's like in the White House briefing room, covering anti-Asian racism during the pandemic and how standing up to bullies as a child prepared her for a career in journalism.

A conversation with Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) about the massive protests around the country demanding racial justice, the homophobia he faced running for office as a gay Asian man in the 1990s, and the conversations he had with his parents before entering the political arena.

A conversation with Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris about the recent rise in anti-Asian hate, how government leaders should address racism in America, and growing up with Indian and Jamaican roots in Northern California.

A conversation with “Top Chef” host, model and writer Padma Lakshmi about growing up Indian American in the San Gabriel Valley, cultural appropriation vs. appreciation in food, and her new Hulu show “Taste the Nation."

This week, as we take a break from Asian Enough, we want to share an episode of another podcast we’ve been listening to: It’s Been A Minute, which is hosted by Sam Sanders and made by our friends over at NPR. On this episode, Sanders talks to former "The Daily Show" correspondent and comedian Hasan Minhaj about growing up as a second-generation Indian American Muslim in California, finding joy in family, and what faith means to him today. If you like It's Been A Minute, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510317/its-been-a-minute-with-sam-sanders

A conversation with journalist, filmmaker and activist Jose Antonio Vargas about why coming out as undocumented was harder than coming out as gay, the complexities of Asian American identity, and how to confront racism in our own communities.

[Advertisement] Asian Enough is presented by "Little America," now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+, in the TV app, on all iOS devices, and TV App supported devices.

A conversation with director Jon M. Chu about seeing yourself as the center of a story, how the internet changed visibility for Asian Americans, and life after "Crazy Rich Asians."

[Advertisement] Asian Enough is presented by "Little America," now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+, in the TV app, on all iOS devices, and TV App supported devices.

A conversation with actor Sung Kang about growing up in Georgia, finding Han's swagger in the “Fast & Furious” franchise and wrestling with the unexpected complications of fame.

[Advertisement] Asian Enough is presented by "Little America," now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+, in the TV app, on all iOS devices, and TV App supported devices.

A conversation with actor Dante Basco about becoming a Filipino American icon in “Hook,” how Rufio's Lost Boys were like a gang, and helping the next generation of Asian Americans tell their stories.

[Advertisement] Asian Enough is presented by "Little America," now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+, in the TV app, on all iOS devices, and TV App supported devices.

A conversation with rapper Dumbfoundead, a.k.a. Jonathan Park, about Asians in hip-hop, why he isn't more famous, and his family’s journey from South Korea to Argentina to Los Angeles.

[Advertisement] Asian Enough is presented by "Little America," now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+, in the TV app, on all iOS devices, and TV App supported devices.

A conversation with chef Niki Nakayama, owner of n/naka restaurant in L.A., about authenticity in food, creating the satirical menu for “Always Be My Maybe” and getting her grilled cheese sandwich fix in Japan.

[Advertisement] Asian Enough is presented by "Little America," now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+, in the TV app, on all iOS devices, and TV App supported devices.

A conversation with civil rights attorney Rabia Chaudry about race and the “Serial” podcast, defying cultural expectations, and defending Muslim Americans after 9/11.

[Advertisement] Asian Enough is presented by "Little America," now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+, in the TV app, on all iOS devices, and TV App supported devices.

A conversation with chef and Food Network star Jet Tila about growing up in L.A.'s historic Bangkok Market, Thai food in America and driving jackfruit trees around Mexico with his dad.

[Advertisement] Asian Enough is presented by "Little America," now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+, in the TV app, on all iOS devices, and TV App supported devices.

A conversation with ESPN sports journalist Mina Kimes about the Asian athletes Asian Americans love to root for, identifying as hapa, and why racist trolls don’t bother her.

A conversation with comedian Margaret Cho about race in comedy, growing up in a queer bookstore in San Francisco and that time her parents smoked weed.

A conversation with novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen about cultural authenticity, inherited trauma and the “Crazy Rich Asians” effect.

A conversation with L.A. Times health reporter Soumya Karlamangla about talking to your parents about coronavirus, the pandemic's impact on the Asian American community and the rise of COVID-19-related discrimination.

A conversation with director Lulu Wang about Asian American identity, fighting for an inclusive Hollywood, and an update on the family secret that inspired "The Farewell."

A conversation with actor John Cho about fatherhood, the complexities of fame and unpacking the stories our parents tell us.

Asian Enough is a podcast about being Asian American -- the joys, the complications and everything else. It premieres on March 17th.