189: "Oh You Came On A Boat?"
Today's episode is in collaboration with the Oyate Group, a community-driven foundation dedicated to empowering youth and small businesses across New York City with career support and critical resources. One of their initiatives is the "Beyond Rising" internship program in partnership with the "Center for Engaged Community Learning."   From a competitive pool of candidates who identify as undoc...
27m Sep 13, 2022
27m
188: What Do Books Really Teach Us?
Our guest, Elaine Castillo, is the author of the newly released book "How to Read Now: Essays," which attempts to observe American books and movies through a BIPOC lens. Elaine takes a close look at TV shows like "The Watchmen" and writings from Joan Didion to explore the politics of reading and how to read with intent.  Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she graduated from UC...
42m Sep 06, 2022
42m
187: Human Rights be Damned-Part Two
Today's episode is the second part of our two-part series. If you are tuning in now, please be sure to listen to the first part of this series titled "Human Rights be Damned-Part One." In the episode, I had a stimulating and insightful conversation with our guest, Rana Ayyub, the widely known Washington journalist and columnist. In our discussion, we talked about the human rights violations occ...
35m Aug 30, 2022
35m
186: Human Rights be Damned-Part One
Welcome to Immigrantly's fall guest lineup. In part one of a two-episode series, my  Rana Ayyub, an Indian journalist and opinion columnist with The Washington Post, joins me to discuss the inherent paradox in geopolitics, one which prioritizes strategic allyship over human rights. As a child, Rana witnessed the demolition of mosques and riots. Then, she worked as a relief worker during the Guj...
39m Aug 23, 2022
39m
Special: Define the United States in a Word or a Phrase
Dear Immigrantly family, as you know, we are not releasing any new episodes this week; our fall lineup starts next week, August 23rd, with our conversation with Rana Ayyub. Nevertheless, I have exciting and fun audio to share today. In April this year, one of our previous guests and patrons, Paula Wood, hosted a fundraiser for us at her house. At the fundraiser, we asked the guests to define th...
5m Aug 16, 2022
5m
S14 Ep185: My Parents, TikTok & I
Today's guest, Thea Pham, shares her journey in discovering and defining what mental health means to her, how it fits in the complicated puzzle of her upbringing, and why she has felt immense emotional and psychological strains being the first generation. As an accomplished biotech entrepreneur, Thea was the youngest in her class to graduate with a Ph.D. in neuroscience at UCLA and currently wo...
51m Aug 09, 2022
51m
S14 Ep184: Before They Were Your Parents
For Neda Toloui-Semnani, our today's guest, understanding who her parents were and what motivated them to participate in the 1979 Iranian Revolution as young Iranian activists became a crucial step to making sense of her own present. Born to a nation marked by political upheaval and now a Brooklyn-based emmy-winning writer & reporter, Neda is no stranger to the fabrics of social change and the ...
40m Aug 02, 2022
40m
S14 Ep183: Once Upon An Abubakr in Hollywood (2021)
Today I am sharing another gem from the Immigrantly vault. It’s our conversation with Abubakr Ali. He is an actor, writer, and singer. Last year, he landed a significant role in the upcoming Netflix series Grendel as the anti-hero, Hunter Rose. This opportunity is historic because Abubakr is the first Arab Muslim actor to lead in a comic book adaptation. As he steps into the spotlight, Abubakr ...
39m Jul 26, 2022
39m
S14 Ep182: Who Gets To Be a Citizen of the United States? (with Ramtin Arablouei)
Today we have a fellow podcaster in our midst. Ramtin Arablouei is the co-host and co-producer of NPR's podcast Throughline. This show explores history through creative, immersive storytelling designed to reintroduce history to new audiences.  Ramtin embodies this perspective personally and professionally. Born in Iran, he immigrated to the U.S. with his family as a child and later graduated fr...
57m Jul 19, 2022
57m
S14 Ep181: Meeting Abortion with Compassion (2020)
The first time I introduced today's episode was in September 2020, when we recorded the interview on abortion access with Dr. Meera Shah. She is the Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic in New York and the author of "You're the Only One I have Told: The Stories Behind Abortion." Meera is a tireless advocate for accessible, safe abortions. The episode was released only a fe...
49m Jul 12, 2022
49m
S14 Ep180: We're Not Doing Reproductive Justice Right (Yet)
On June 24th, 2022, the hyper-conservative Supreme Court overturned Roe Vs. Wade and took away a woman's constitutional right to abortion. Thirteen states with trigger laws will ban abortion instantly. As a woman & a mother of two girls, I am angry, annoyed, devastated, and more uncertain about the safety of my kids now than ever before. It feels unreal that my daughters will have fewer rights ...
31m Jul 05, 2022
31m
S14 Ep179: What Happened to Haitian Migrants in Del Rio, Texas?
In September 2021, when the images of border patrol agents whipping a group of Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas, came to light, national outrage broke out. But as all news cycles go, the rage eventually died out. The publications moved on to other stories, and the social media posts changed.  But the reality is, there was so much more to the story.  What happened to these migrants after they ...
51m Jun 28, 2022
51m
S14 Ep178: The Elephant in the Room: Climate Change
Thimali Kodikara is the series producer of "Mothers of Invention," hosted by former Irish president Mary Robinson and comedian-writer Maeve Higgins. Their platform uncovers stories of climate justice heroes, focused on Black, Brown, and Indigenous women holding up the microphone to climate action in the boardroom, at marches, with their peers, and beyond. In addition to her podcast, Thimali adv...
56m Jun 21, 2022
56m
S14 Ep177: "To Be Brown & Gay" (with Dr. Anthony Ocampo)
Today's guest, Dr. Anthony Ocampo, was raised in Los Angeles as the only son of two Filipino immigrants. He attended Stanford University for Comparative Race and Ethnicity and later received his master's in Modern Thought and Literature. He eventually received his Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Ocampo focuses on race, immigration, and LGBTQ issues as a writ...
48m Jun 14, 2022
48m
S14 Ep176: Tracing the Roots of American Food (with Stephen Satterfield)
Our guest, Stephen Satterfield, has dedicated his career to organizing, activating, and educating people about the origins and cultures of food.  He founded Whetstone Radio Collective, a food magazine and media company that explores the history of American cuisine through the lens of cultural, socioeconomic, and human connections. Stephen's work disrupts the food canon in more ways than a few: ...
45m Jun 07, 2022
45m
S14 Ep175: On the Ice with LA Kings’ Defenseman Jordan Spence
In honor of May being the Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (API), the National Hockey League (NHL) and Immigrantly joined forces to bring you two special episodes celebrating the role of the API community in hockey. Today's guest is Jordan Spence. He is a defenseman for the Los Angeles Kings. Now 21, Jordan picked up the puck at 5 years old, and just recently had his history-making de...
28m May 31, 2022
28m
S14 Ep174: Behind NHL Bench (with Aisha Visram)
In honor of May being the Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (API), the National Hockey League (NHL) and Immigrantly joined forces to bring you two special episodes celebrating the role of the API community in hockey. Today's guest is Aisha Visram. She is Head Trainer for the L.A. Kings' American Hockey League affiliate in Ontario, California. On January 13, 2022, the Los Angeles Kings s...
40m May 24, 2022
40m
S14 Ep174: How Indian Food Became Frustratingly Hip
Today we are sharing an episode from "Bad Table Manners," a podcast that pushes the boundaries of food storytelling in South Asia, produced by our friends at Whetstone Radio Collective. Enjoy! Thanks to the cool-ification of Indian food, traditional ingredients from the subcontinent, like turmeric and ghee, are now repackaged and resold in Western and Westernized markets as if they were “new” d...
34m May 17, 2022
34m
S14 Ep173: Buzzer Beaters & Desi Hoop Dreams
Sports are undoubtedly one of the most prominent cultural phenomena in the US. They enjoy tremendous popularity and are considered a means to promote fair play, teamwork & camaraderie. But how have our perceptions of the games and players evolved? What does it mean to be a South Asian Basketball player on the court? How do race and identity intersect within the sports realm? And what does it me...
56m May 10, 2022
56m
S172: Thou Shalt Not Redistrict
Our guest is Josefa Velasquez, a senior reporter for The City, a digital publication focused on the New York area. Josefa has been featured in The Guardian, The New York Times, Business Insider, New York Magazine, and Politico, to name a few.  We're bringing her onto this season of Immigrantly because of a recent article she co-wrote with fellow city reporter Clifford Michel. Titled "NYC to Pic...
45m May 03, 2022
45m
S14 Ep171: Immigration & the Politics of Reconciliation (with Ali Noorani)
Season 14 of Immigrantly, titled “People’s Choice,” launches today. Our first guest of the season is Ali Noorani, the president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. Prior, he was the director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Advocacy Coalition. As the author of two books, one of which  - "Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants" was recently published, Ali is reco...
41m Apr 26, 2022
41m
S13 Ep170: Music that Transcends Boundaries (with Arooj Aftab)
For season 13 finale, our guest is someone who defies the conventional boundaries of musical expression. Arooj Aftab, is a Grammy-winning Pakistani singer, composer, producer, and editor whose music has gained international recognition for its infusion of many genres. Her song, “Mohabbat,” was featured on Barack Obama’s list of favorite songs for the Summer of 2021 & won the 2022 Grammy for "Be...
36m Apr 12, 2022
36m
S13 Ep169: Divorce Done Right
Our guest today is Maria Akopyan. Maria is a family lawyer, divorce coach, and the founder of Dignified Divorce Coaching. Born in Armenia and immigrated to Los Angeles, California at only ten months old, Maria focuses on helping recently divorced women smoothly transition to a single life in a healthy, positive way. Her work challenges the notion that divorce is lonely and painful. Maria propos...
37m Apr 05, 2022
37m
S13 Ep168: Let’s Talk About Sex Cleanup (with Frances Tang)
Our guest today is Frances Tang, the founder, CEO, of Awkward Essentials, an innovative personal hygiene company. Their most well-known product is called the dripstick, a post-sex cleanup tool that absorbs excess fluid leftover from a partner. During her work in developing this product, Frances immediately became passionate about deconstructing taboo conversations about sex. One of the most exc...
29m Mar 29, 2022
29m
S13 Ep167: The Uncommon Narratives About Dating
Dating can be a rocky ride at the best of times, especially in this day and age when narratives and how-tos are thrust upon us by the media, culture, and even friends. It becomes hard to filter what we want out of a relationship from what society expects us to enjoy. And then there is the issue of ignoring narratives that aren't as common or flashy. Today's episode looks at power and privilege ...
41m Mar 22, 2022
41m
S13 Ep166: Combatting Intimate Partner Violence in Relationships
Today's guest, Dr. Bushra Sabri, teaches at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing & is a recognized expert in exposure to violence and psychosocial outcomes caused by experiencing health inequities among minority and immigrant women. She currently leads Its WeWomenPlus, a research study for immigrant women's health, safety, and empowerment funded by the National Institute on Minority Healt...
42m Mar 18, 2022
42m
S13 Ep165: Arranged Vs. Love Marriage
Today's guest is family in all senses of the word. Tina Khan (A.K.A Shahjehan khan's mom) describes her journey into marriage and how love is nurtured in her life. Tina shares stories of heartbreak, love letters, & socio-cultural distinction in the context of arranged marriage, with great sage and sass. This episode will make you feel all the feels. So let's jump right in!!   One of the most ex...
45m Mar 15, 2022
45m
S13 Ep164: Breaking Down Polyamory with Jessica Fern
Our guest today is trailblazing a unique approach towards navigating relationships. Jessica Fern is the author of The book takes its readers into an exploration of the relationship between attachment theory and consensual non-monogamy.      One of the most exciting ways to support us is by becoming a member of our Patreon by going to patreon.com/immigrantly. For the price of an overpriced oat m...
37m Mar 08, 2022
37m
S13 Ep163: I’m (Sex) Positive: Disrupting Health Education with Justine Ang Fonte
Did you attend a sex-ed class in middle or high school? If the answer is no, you're not alone. In the United States, only twenty-four states mandate sex education, which leaves nearly half of the country inadequately educated on their sexual health. Justine Ang Fonte, M.Ed, MPH, makes it their mission to provide comprehensive sex-ed, intersecting it with the impacts of colonization, the porn in...
44m Mar 01, 2022
44m
S13 Ep162: Sibling Love & Immigrant Identity in Hollywood with Sujata Day
Sujata Day, the producer of and actress on and , joins us in the studio to discuss her work, a product of what is personal and public. Influenced by heritage, family bonds, and inborn passions,   Sujata attributes this specific voice to the Black and Brown collaboration in the entertainment space. So how did she take control of her career, move away from secondary characters to starring in her ...
40m Feb 22, 2022
40m
S13 Ep161: To All The Ones I Loved Before
Dear Listener, have you ever had your heart broken? Whether by an ex or a friend, every one of us has felt our stomach drop and our heart collapse into a million shards. The moment feels devastating, and the days that follow are almost unbearable. You feel alone when the world you once knew turns darker and colder. But don't worry—we get it, and so does Joanna Carillo, host of the podcast, Lett...
39m Feb 15, 2022
39m
Self-Love on Valentine's Day
Today we tackle self-love through a cultural lens. Our guest Tanzila "Taz" Ahmed, plays at the intersections of pop and politics through various mediums and actions. Taz is an essayist, poet, podcaster, and screenwriter. She was featured in Oprah magazine; by doing what she truly loved, living in her purpose. For the past five years, Taz co-hosted the now concluded The #GoodMuslimBadMuslim Podc...
41m Feb 08, 2022
41m
S13 Ep159: Pleasure Through The Personal Lens
We explore self-love through sexual empowerment. Our today's guest is Anna Lee. Anna is the owner of the wellness company Lioness. Lioness is the first and only intelligent vibrator on the market. But beyond its niche, Lioness is a telling legacy of Anna's journey from a complicated childhood where sex was associated with pain & shame into a position of innovation focused on female pleasure and...
48m Feb 01, 2022
48m
S13 Ep158: The Comedic Anxieties of Dating (with Aparna Nancherla)
Today, joining us to speak on dating, comedy, finding, and being the source of inspiration is the oh-so wondrous, deeply hilarious, and boldly thoughtful actress and comedian Aparna Nancherla. She has appeared on several Late Night talk shows, Comedy Central, Inside Amy Schumer, and acted in plays like Crashing and The Great North's animated series. And if you are in New York City, catch Aparna...
54m Jan 25, 2022
54m
S13 Ep157: Hybrid Dating?
Saadia and Shahjehan sit down for a completely unscripted, unfiltered conversation to test their chemistry as co-hosts for season 13. They exchange their own dating stories, including the failures and uncomfortable moments. Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan Producers: Saadia Khan & Kylee C. Roberts Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt Sound Editor: Bronte Cook
31m Jan 18, 2022
31m
S13: Season 13 Trailer: "Love On The Brain"
For Season 13, LOVE is in the air. We're going to explore all things relationships. Our conversations are going to tackle the constructs we've built around relationships. To help us tackle these topics and more, we've decided to bring on a guest co-host for Season 13. Shahjehan Khan is the host of King of The World, an audio series from Rifelion Media reflecting on coming of age, identity, crea...
3m Jan 04, 2022
3m
S12 Ep156: A Future for Afghanistan: By Its People, For Its People.
Today we are speaking with an Afghan journalist facing threats under a Taliban regime that is becoming more hostile towards the press every day. We have concealed all aspects of his identity to protect him, including altering his voice. Our goal is to give you a more holistic view of what's happening on the ground. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts...
45m Dec 21, 2021
45m
S12 Ep155: Hidden Stories In The Age Of Covid
Today, Tanvi Misra, an award-winning independent journalist focused on migration, urban policy, and criminal justice, returns to talk about the process and concentrate on her collaborative article “We Have to Survive,” which represents the advocacy found in immigrant communities. Also to tell us of their progress since the article was published, we have Goma Yonjan & Arlette Cepeda.
53m Dec 14, 2021
53m
S12 Ep154: "The More I Knew, The Less I Knew"
Our today's guest Paula Wood is a multifaceted woman. She's an artist, a mother, a former editor, and an activist. What brings charm and groundedness to this conversation is that Paula is deeply relatable. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content Writer: Sarah Doh Editor: Tom Whelan
42m Dec 07, 2021
42m
S12 Ep153: From Podcasts To TikTok: We Are Always Learning
We are so excited to have Blair Imani join us today. Blair is an author, educator, and influencer living at the intersections of Black, Bisexual, and Muslim identity. Joining us today is Aleeza Kazmi, one of our Immigrantly content writers.  This episode is sponsored by Stamps.com Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer & Cohost: Aleeza K...
47m Nov 30, 2021
47m
S12 Ep152: Fun and Follies of Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving, Immigrantly colleagues are bringing you a fusion episode, largely reflection-oriented, on the fun and follies of Thanksgiving. Saadia Khan, Yudi Liu & Kylee Roberts share their relationship with Thanksgiving, what they ascribe to, and how they observe this complicated holiday. Enjoy! Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content Writ...
33m Nov 25, 2021
33m
S12 Ep151: One Step Back, Two Steps Forward
The conundrum of being overqualified yet foreign was something Alexandra Mori experienced when she first moved to Vancouver. Now she is a regional vice president of the Bank of Montreal. Saadia & Alexandra speak on this process, what shocked them about their new environment, the learnings and longings experienced. This episode is sponsored by BMO Financial Group. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan...
37m Nov 23, 2021
37m
S12 Ep150: One is Not the Whole: Representing Afghanistan
Today we are so excited to have Khaled Hosseini on Immigrantly. Khaled Hosseini is the author of the New York Times bestsellers "The Kite Runner," "A Thousand Splendid Suns," and "And the Mountains Echoed." For this conversation, we are passing the mic to one of our content writers, Aleeza Kazmi. Producer & Narrator: Saadia Khan Associate Producer: Kylee Roberts Content Writer & Host: Aleeza ...
46m Nov 16, 2021
46m
S12 Ep149: There Is No Problem A Book Can't Solve
Ever made eye contact with someone reading on the subway? Uli Beutter Cohen has. As the creator of Subway Book Review, Uli shares *that* moment that ignited her quest to document people and books. Now her platform, which combines digital, oral, and written storytelling, spans over 20 countries.  Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu  Editor: Bront...
34m Nov 09, 2021
34m
S12 Ep148: American Liberals: A Culture of Complicity
Saadia sits down with recurring guest, Saira Rao and her publisher, Jessica Regel, for a very real conversation on the state of social justice issues. To put it simply: No, things have not gotten better. They break down the culture of (white) liberal complicity that comes from having a Democratic president. They discuss whether the term "diversity" has become a meaningless word and explore the ...
49m Nov 02, 2021
49m
S12 Ep147: "Intentional Disruption"
Shahjehan Khan is a voice-over artist, actor, musician & a podcaster. He is currently the host of King of the World podcast, a seven-part podcast series about American-Muslim life post-9/11. This episode is sponsored by Stamps.com Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Aleeza Kazmi Editor: Bronte Cook Rabab Music: Qais Essar
48m Oct 26, 2021
48m
S12 Ep146: Once Upon An Abubakr In Hollywood
Our today's guest Abubakr Ali is an actor, writer, and singer.  He recently landed a significant role in the upcoming Netflix series Grendel as the anti-hero, Hunter Rose.  This episode is brought to you by Talem Consulting. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content write: Yudi Liu  Editor: Tom Whelan
44m Oct 19, 2021
44m
S12 Ep145: Opening Up Nerd Culture
Jamie Broadnax is the founder of an online community, Black Girl Nerds, which she created in 2012 for self-identifying women nerds of color. We talk about interesting matters such as the perception and reality of nerd culture and how the Bechdel test can be expanded to include women of color. This episode is sponsored by Stamps.com. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content E...
41m Oct 12, 2021
41m
S12 Ep144: Where Are You Really From?
Hari Kondobalu is our guest today. He is a comedian, writer, podcaster, & filmmaker who is best known for his outspoken 2017 documentary “The Problem with Apu'' which calls out "The Simpsons" for its controversial portrayal of Indians in its character Apu.  This episode is brought to you by Stamps.com Follow us on Twitter @immigrantly_pod and IG @immigrantlypod.com Producer & Host: Saadia Kh...
41m Oct 05, 2021
41m
S12 Ep143: Lights On Broadway
Today, on Immigrantly, we speak with Dharon E. Jones. He is a highly talented musical theatre performer from Brooklyn who played Riff in West Side Story. Jones is also a multifaceted artist, performer, and content creator. This episode is sponsored by PODGO. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Sarah Doh Editor: Bronte Cook
41m Sep 28, 2021
41m