S9 Ep113: "I Am Always Enough Just Being"
Sahaj Kohli is the brains and energy behind Brown Girl Therapy, a mental health platform that is the first and largest of its kind. What started as a passion project turned into a worldwide community for first and second-generation immigrants who seek a space to understand and affirm their emotional and mental experiences.  Producer & Host: Saadia Khan. Content writer: Yudi Liu/Saadia Khan Edit...
42m Feb 09, 2021
42m
S9 Ep112: "What Would Hafez Say?"
Nilo Tabrizy is a video journalist for the New York Times. Before that, she produced for Vice News and wrote for Al Jazeera. From an interview with Iran’s Foreign Minister on the Nuclear Deal to reporting on family separation at the border, Nilo lends ordinary faces to crucial voices. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan. Content writer: Yudi Liu/Saadia Khan. Editor: Tom Whelan Music: Evan Ray Suzuki ...
41m Feb 02, 2021
41m
S9 Ep111: Hyphenated Identity
Sabreet Kang Rajeev is the author of the bestselling memoir, “Generation Zero: Reclaiming My Parents American Dream.” She is a second-generation Indian American. Sabreet is also a full-time social science researcher and is currently completing her doctorate at the University of Baltimore. We spoke about the American dream myth, classism within the South Asian community & the erasure of the blue...
49m Jan 26, 2021
49m
S9 Ep110: The Psychology of Power: Trump, the Public, & Media Reluctance
Brandy X Lee is the President of the World Mental Health Coalition and a Psychiatrist with Yale University. She has written Op-eds for outlets like the New York Times, the Independent, and Politico. Bandy's NYT Best Selling book "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" describes the dangers that Donald Trump's mental health poses to the nation & individual well-being. We spoke about President Trump...
49m Jan 19, 2021
49m
S9 Ep109: "Brown Folks with Silly Names"
Wajahat Ali is a Pakistani American journalist, author, public speaker, parent & someone who chooses change over disillusionment; his socio-political commentary is every bit biting and hopeful. We spoke about his Muslim identity, the controversy surrounding his OpEd for The Atlantic, "A Muslim Among Israeli Settlers", & his idea of perception vs. reality.
1hr 1m Jan 12, 2021
1hr 1m
S9 Ep108: Queer and Trans Migration: Narrative Activism and the Politics of Likability.
Season 9 launches with our interview with two fantastic guests. Eithne Luibheid & Karma Chavez are the editors of "Queer and Trans Migration: Dynamics of illegalization, Detention, and Deportation," a thought-provoking collection of the personal narratives of queer and trans migrants as well as activists. The interview covers a vast array of issues, including the intersectionality of migration ...
46m Jan 05, 2021
46m
Season 9 Trailer
With a new Season, Immigrantly is making a promise: we’re going to continue to shine a light on the nuances of this human experience. This time, we're not holding back. We spoke with a wide range of guests including, journalist Wajahat Ali (NYT, The Atlantic,) professors Eithne Luibheid, Karma Chavez, and psychiatrist Bandy X Lee.  Our conversations will continue to push boundaries that address...
3m Jan 01, 2021
3m
S8 Ep107: Christmas Culture(s)
Immigrantly does an anecdotal dive on Christmas from the perspective of the American immigrant. Sit down with us as we hear three different perspectives on this holiday that holds one of the prime seats as a staple of American culture.  Producer & Host Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content writer Sarah Doh Editor Tom Whelan
26m Dec 22, 2020
26m
S8 Ep106: "You Always Have to Stand Up for Yourself"
Our today's guest is Moumita Ahmed. She is a movement organizer, community activist, civic leader, & a candidate for the New York City Council, District 24. We spoke about a host of issues, including climate change, the NY housing crisis, optimism in the midst of all the chaos, and why recycling may not be as effective as we think.
46m Dec 15, 2020
46m
S8 Ep105: Let's Talk Immigration Policy: The President & the Shadow System
Our today's guests are Cristina Rodriguez & Adam Cox. Cristina is a Professor of Law at Yale Law School. Adam is the Robert A. Kindler Professor of Law at NYU School of Law, where he teaches & writes about immigration law, constitutional law, and democracy. They’re the authors of “The President & Immigration Law,” which analyzes the historical and structural sources that explain the President’s...
59m Dec 08, 2020
59m
S8 Ep104: Immigrant Laborers: What They Don't Teach You in School
Today on Immigrantly, in collaboration with Julia Wang & Kathy Lu from Immigrant History Initiative & Catherine Ceniza Choy, a Professor of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley, we unveil immigrant laborers' narratives in the U.S, from the Chinese laborers who built the Transcontinental Railroad to the Mexican migrant workers employed by the Bracero program to the thousands of Filipino nurses serving...
30m Dec 01, 2020
30m
S8 Ep103: Let's Talk about Thanksgiving
n collaboration with activist Naelyn Pike (San Carlos Apache Tribe), a spokesperson for Apache Stronghold, an organization that fights to protect Indigenous land, Immigrantly breaks down the truth behind the glorified “Thanksgiving Day” story. We talk about the real history behind this story, along with the themes that play out in the present-day struggle for Indigenous sovereignty. Producer &...
24m Nov 24, 2020
24m
S8 Ep102: Journalistic Integrity in the Age of Sensationalism
Laila Al-Arian is a journalist and the Executive Producer of AJ Fault Lines, a Peabody and Emmy award-winning documentary series covering the US and its role around the world. The conversation mainly focuses on the controversy surrounding the NYTimes Podcast "Caliphate" and how journalists in the US present one-dimensional narratives about marginalized communities esp Muslims.
39m Nov 17, 2020
39m
S8 Ep101: The Refugee Crisis: We Have To Do More
Krish O Mara has spent decades in public service, including being a clerk for Chief Judge Michael Boudin, advisor for Secretaries of State Clinton and Kerry, & Michelle Obama as the First Lady’s policy director. Her work has largely focused on public and foreign affairs concerning immigration and refugees. That has carried over to her current role as the President and CEO of the Lutheran Immigr...
47m Nov 10, 2020
47m
S8 Ep100: Decolonizing Yoga
Susanna Barkataki is a renowned yoga speaker, teacher, and therapist. Her mission is to explore and integrate yogic values into our every day and build awareness, equity, and diversity within the yoga community. Susanna Barkataki is the Director of Education for Ignite Yoga and Wellness Institute and the creator of the Honor (Don't Appropriate) Yoga Summit. 
1hr 1m Oct 27, 2020
1hr 1m
S8 Ep99: A Life of Honesty: Being South Asian and Gay
Vaibhav is a dental surgeon and public health researcher who grew up in  Delhi, India. He currently works as an independent consultant on global health issues & language access for Asian American minorities, primarily working with U.S. Census Bureau and nonpartisan organizations that mobilize Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) electoral and civic participation. Vaibhav is an openly ...
47m Oct 27, 2020
47m
S8 Ep98: Breaking From Negative Core Beliefs
Imam Khalid Latif is University Chaplain at NYU.  He was the first Muslim chaplain at both NYU and Princeton. He was nominated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to be the youngest chaplain for the NYPD in history. Khalid has consulted with the U.S. State Department, various institutions, corporations, mosques, and other communities worldwide. He is also the co-founder of Honest Chops, the first organi...
58m Oct 20, 2020
58m
S8 Ep97: "Politics of Authenticity"
Hari Kunzru is a British-Indian novelist and journalist. He is the author of the novels The Impressionist, Transmission, My Revolutions, Gods Without Men, and White Tears. His most recent work is Red Pill, a novel that explores the idea of searching for order in a world that frames madness as truth. His podcast "Into the Zone" talks about opposites.  Produced & Hosted by Saadia Khan; Written: S...
54m Oct 13, 2020
54m
S8 Ep96: Comedy in the Age of Wokeness
Shafi Hossain is a Bangladesh-born comedian who moved to the United States for college. Now, he calls New York City his home. He’s been navigating the comedy scene for years, with features on festivals like World Series of Comedy and 208 Comedy Fest. His humor and comedic style address cultural dichotomies through personal anecdotes. Produced & Hosted: Saadia Khan; Written: Sarah Doh, Saadia K...
34m Oct 06, 2020
34m
S8 Ep95: 2020 Election: What's at Stake?
Shariq Ahmad is the Chairman of the Edison Democratic Organization, the fifth-largest municipal Democratic party in NJ & representative of the group, South Asians, for Biden. Saadia & Shariq talk about why we must vote in the 2020 Election, Joe Biden’s political approach, & how to engage young people and progressives. Produced & Hosted by Saadia Khan Written by Sarah Doh, Saadia Khan Edited b...
55m Sep 29, 2020
55m
S8 Ep94: Meeting Abortion with Compassion
Dr. Meera Shah is the Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, in New York. Meera is a tireless advocate for accessible, safe abortions. She has recently published a book called “You’re The Only One I’ve Told: The Stories Behind Abortion,” which aims to humanize abortions. Each experience reflects the uniqueness of circumstances of the person seeking an abortion. Produced & ...
46m Sep 22, 2020
46m
S8 Ep93: I Couldn't Just Create Art for Art's Sake"
Paola Mendoza is a critically acclaimed filmmaker, author, a human rights activist who carries her Colombian heritage and immigrant identity with pride and perspective. She knows what it is like to feel exhausted and disillusioned as if this country is not for her but against her. But she also knows resilience like it’s her middle name. She recently co-authored a YA novel "Sanctuary". Our conve...
39m Sep 15, 2020
39m
S8 Ep92: "Are You Choosing it or are You Defaulting into it?"
Season 8 launches with a great conversation with Majo Molfino.She is taking back the narrative that has been assigned to women for centuries. Her work centers around dismantling tendencies that hold women back from stepping into their power. According to her, these are the “good girl myths.” Her book titled “Break the Good Girl Myth.” helps women undo these tendencies, Host and Producer Saadi...
44m Sep 08, 2020
44m
S7 Ep91: "One More Push: Defining Advocacy through Technology"
Today we have a very special guest who is merging the vogue field of technological design with that of social impact. Amin Hasani has his hands in many pots but most notably is the founder, or as I see it, the mind and the machine, behind Blue Heart Hero, a local Brooklyn organization that provides 3D solutions for amputees. Hosted & Produced by Saadia Khan Written by Yudi Liu, Saadia Khan ...
32m Aug 28, 2020
32m
S7 Ep90: A Double Edged Sword Existence
When COVID hit the United States, & DACA decisions were in limbo, the Immigrantly team sought to learn how the two events were being felt by undocumented immigrant communities esp undocumented APIs. With guidance from RAISE, today's episode is as much a conversation on the complicated portrayal of undocumented Asian Americans as it is a microphone for some of these unheard voices. Host Saadia K...
36m Aug 25, 2020
36m
S7 Ep89: Let's Talk British Colonialism
On the anniversary of Pakistan’s independence from British Colonial rule, sit down with Immigrantly as we give you a brief history lesson on British Colonialism over India and Pakistan. Learn about how exactly it played out and the livelihoods that it disrupted and stole. Hear the story of someone who lived under British colonial rule, narrated by his granddaughter, Yusra Hussain. Produced and ...
26m Aug 14, 2020
26m
S7 Ep88: A Perpetual State of Irony
Shreya Tanisha is a multi-media artist and the founder of MZL Productions, a London-based film and theatre company promoting artists of color. We spoke about our nomadic lives, discrimination based on race and color within the art world, how patriarchy manifests itself in the Western cultures & what's next for Shreya. Produced by Saadia Khan Written by Sarah Doh, Saadia Khan Edited by To...
55m Aug 11, 2020
55m
S7 Ep87: "We're Different Chapters of the Same Book"
Asifa Lahore is Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen. She is a proud British-Pakistani, Muslim, Transgender, Disabled artist, and performer. However, it’s essential to understand that Asifa cannot be reduced to her identities. She embraces every part of her, finding the beauty in the intersections of who she is and creating art that validates those who have been misunderstood. Produced by Saa...
46m Aug 04, 2020
46m
S7 Ep86: Her Bold Sense of Purpose
Maytha Alhassen is a multi-hyphenated career woman and activist. She writes, she teaches, she is a yogi and reporter, and the list goes on. Her journey is as fascinating as her bold sense of purpose, and along the way, she taught us a few things about artistry, vision, and healing. Produced by Saadia Khan Written by Yudi Liu, Saadia Khan Edited by Tom Whalen Music by Evan Ray Suzuki
59m Jul 28, 2020
59m
S7 Ep85: "Listen to What Your Kids Are Saying"
Our today's guest is Maliha Abidi. She is an artist who uses her work to shed light on critical social issues and celebrate the women who are leading them. Last year, she compiled these portraits to honor 50 inspirational Pakistani women from various walks of life in a book titled, "Pakistan for Women." She represents the Generation Z mindset in the most eloquent manner. Produced by Saadia Kh...
45m Jul 21, 2020
45m
S7 Ep84: Outward and Inward Conversations
Zohran Kwame Mamdani is an Indian-Ugandan New Yorker, housing counselor, a democratic socialist, and a candidate to represent Astoria in the State Assembly.  Zohran ran his campaign for the State Assembly on the grounds of guaranteeing housing to all New Yorkers, desegregate the schools, fund and fix the MTA, and apply critical changes to the criminal justice system. Produced by Saadia Khan W...
42m Jul 14, 2020
42m
S7 Ep83: "Decolonizing Self-Love"
Today's guest, DJ Bembona, is taking the New York music scene by storm. Her sets are known for their infectious Afro-diasporic tracks. At the core of her work, she is an activist. She uses her sounds to empower by bridging the gap between communities of color, activism, and generations. Her sets offer a space for healing, movement, joy, and liberation for black and brown communities—a Brooklyn-...
36m Jul 07, 2020
36m
S7 Ep82: "A Time For Reflection"
Season 7 of Immigrantly launches today. Our guest is Shruti Ganguly. She is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has been featured globally at festivals like Sundance, Venice, and AFI. Shruti recently launched her own production company Honto88 and its clients are just as impressive, including media outlets like MTV. Behind the glitz and the glam is just your neighborly, city girl with intens...
48m Jun 30, 2020
48m
Season 7 Trailer
81 Episodes later, we are gearing up to release our 7th Season of Immigrantly on June 30th. 81 conversations that have challenged the archaic stereotypes of what it means to be an immigrant, a child of immigrants, a person of color, and everything in between. And we’re far from being done. We have so many more conversations that we’re excited to share with you. Thanks for coming on this journe...
4m Jun 19, 2020
4m
S6 Ep81: Underrepresentation in Hollywood
The focus of today’s episode is on the Entertainment Industry. Leading the battle from within for inclusion and accountability is Sue Obeidi, director of MPAC’s (Muslim Public Affairs Council) Hollywood Bureau, and she is our guest on Immigrantly. We spoke to Sue about her role at MPAC, Hollywood's representation of minority communities, and tips on how consumers can become mindful of the conte...
37m Jun 16, 2020
37m
S6 Ep80: "How [are] you involved in White Supremacy?"
How do we navigate spaces in which we can have access to some privileges but not others? Today, We will do a deep dive on these topics with Layla Saad. She is an esteemed writer, speaker, and podcast host. Layla is the author of the New York Times Bestselling book,  "Me and White Supremacy", providing the tools to go inwards as you begin to unpack how you benefit from and further white suprema...
1hr Jun 09, 2020
1hr
S6 Ep79: Mother Nature is telling us Something
Today on Immigrantly, we welcome an exceptional guest who is all about the environment and fighting for mother earth as our home. Gelareh Darabi is an environmental correspondent for the National Geographic Channel and Al Jazeera. She grew up with lakes, forests, islands as her playground and now fights for their health and existence today. She is an activist, a journalist, a filmmaker, yet wha...
42m Jun 05, 2020
42m
Unapologetically Progressive
A first-time candidate running for office to represent Queens in the House of Representatives, Sandra Choi joins a wave of progressive newcomers, hoping to ignite change at the most direct level. A lifelong Queens resident, Sandra is running her campaign on economic and social equality. These issues are close to her heart because they are her lived experiences. And now, she’s channeling those e...
39m May 26, 2020
39m
S6 Ep77: Unspoken Words
How does collective memory exist between mothers and daughters? And what does it mean to find wholeness? These are the questions that Catherine Kapphahn explores in her book, Immigrant Daughter: Stories You Never Told Me. We spoke about her mom Marijana, Catherine's fascination with her mom's Croatian heritage & her journey of writing this book.
47m May 19, 2020
47m
S6 Ep76: Entry Point to Cultures
Our guest for today's show is Yara Elmjouie. Yara’s production “In Real Life”  is structured in short documentaries on conversations around food, from its flavors to its history to its sociopolitical implications. These episodes are abundant in wacky dishes and comical relief, just as they are tuned to discussions on what food means to identity and community. Besides his evident passion for coo...
1hr 1m May 12, 2020
1hr 1m
S6 Ep75: Our Tehzeeb
Our guest for today's show is Iram Parveen Bilal. A Physics-Olympian-turned-filmmaker, she is an enabler who focuses on thought-provoking stories that are socially impactful and envision an inclusive world. Her latest film is "I’ll Meet You There,” a story that follows the father-daughter journey of Majeed, a Chicago policeman, and Dua, his teenage ballerina daughter as he goes undercover in a...
46m May 05, 2020
46m
S6 Ep74: Everyone Has A Voice
Our today's guest is Aysha Khan. She is an award-winning journalist whose work is rapidly changing the narrative around Muslims in America and around the world.  What’s most impressive about her work is its justice-oriented nature. She is also the founder of the newsletter, “Creeping Sharia,” which compiles the latest and greatest journalism on Muslims to help you understand the political, cult...
39m Apr 28, 2020
39m
S6 Ep73: My Namesake
Today we welcome a very special guest, one who you might say shares a similar role as me, talking to people, researching stories, and broadcasting them to the public. His name is Latif Nasser. Most visibly, Nasser is the Director of Research at WNYC’s Radiolab, and he recently launched a podcast series called “The Other Latif” which is about his notorious but unintended namesake, a detainee at ...
1hr 1m Apr 21, 2020
1hr 1m
S6 Ep72: "Maybe We Need to Tell Fuller Stories"
Our today’s guest is Parnaz Foroutan. She is has lived through some of history’s most defining moments. Her early childhood took place in the heels of the Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979. But at the age of six, this course of life was altered when her family uprooted them to a suburb of Los Angeles. Nineteen years later, after a life-altering moment, she returned to Iran to rebuild her rela...
48m Apr 14, 2020
48m
S6 Ep71: "A Choice to Destroy Lives"
We are kicking off April with a new season of Immigrantly. Today’s episode will be on DACA and the urgent details surrounding its Supreme Court case. We will explore the program’s recent past, its current status, and its future prognosis. Of course, with any lesson of the historical sort, we need primary voices! So scattered in this episode are audio snippets of brave DACA recipients who hope ...
19m Apr 07, 2020
19m
S5 Ep70: "What Do Your Mom and Dad Call You?"
Sheetal Sheth is an acclaimed actress known for her provocative performances in a wide range of memorable roles on film and television. Perhaps best known to mainstream film audiences for starring opposite Albert Brooks in Warner Bros’ LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD, Sheetal has become a favorite in the independent film world. She is currently in post-production on the feature, HUMMINGB...
49m Mar 24, 2020
49m
S5 Ep69: "I Make My Own Choices."
Saima Mir is a persuasive writer who uses her personal stories to challenge notions surrounding patriarchy, Islam, and parenting. As a result, she has produced narratives that explain the intersection of identities, religion, and politics. Saima writes in a way that draws on the universal themes of what it means to be human. Saadia and Saima talk about her writing, motherhood, the anti-mom bia...
44m Mar 17, 2020
44m
S5 Ep68: "Raise Your Hand If You're A Racist"
Regina Jackson and Saira Rao are the co-founders of Race2Dinner, an organization that allows specifically white women to address their racism through a sit-down dinner they pay for. It’s innovative, and it pushes past social boundaries to get to the heart of the matter. Saadia talks to Saira and Regina about how they define racism in America, their encounter with white supremacy and what led th...
41m Mar 10, 2020
41m
S5 Ep67: "Inherent Love of Exploration"
Xiao Wang is the co-founder of the Seattle-based startup, Boundless. Boundless is an immigration company with a mission to empower families to navigate the complex immigration system. Xiao holds a BA/MS from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Xiao moved with his family from China to the United States when he was a child. Xiao & Saadia spoke about Xiao's childhood, th...
48m Mar 03, 2020
48m
S5 Ep66: “I Have Lived Both Sides"
Wardah Khalid is a policy analyst, activist, and speaker on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and Islam in America. We talked about her passion for political advocacy, her view on Muslim involvement in US Politics, why she chose to wear hijab later in life & sweet stuff like chocolate, barfi & gulab Jamun. https://www.gofundme.com/f/immigrantly-podcast https://www.gofundme.com/f/immigr...
45m Feb 25, 2020
45m