Immigrantly

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 advises on climate strategies and is a recognized public figure for climate advocacy. She has consulted global and regional organizations like Human Rights Watch and BAFTA on how to adopt intersectional-feminist principles in their climate policies. Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod | Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Associate Producer: Kinza Muzahir I Content Writer: Yudi Liu I Sound Designer & Editor: Bronte Cook I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds Athletic Greens is the sponsor of this episode. To get your discount, go to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 writer and scholar. His debut book, Latinos of Asia: How Filipino Americans Break the Rules of Race, has been recognized by the Los Angeles Times and NPR. His upcoming book, "Brown and Gay in L.A.," is slotted to release this September. It chronicles the struggle gay men of color face to be seen by their families and the broader society. Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod | Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Associate Producer: Kinza Muzahir I Content Writer: Ashley Lanuza I Sound Designer & Editor: Bronte Cook I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds Athletic Greens is the sponsor of this episode to get your discount! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: writer, publisher, producer, former sommelier, and social entrepreneur. For example, his docuseries on Netflix, "High on the Hog," traces the foundation of American cooking from Texas to Africa and peels the layers of generations across time and geography. In today's episode, beyond flavors & taste, Stephen and I do a deep dive into the journey of African American cuisine in the U.S. and how food can be a catalyst for change. Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod | Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Associate Producer: Kinza Muzahir I Content Writer: Saadia Khan & Yudi Liu I Sound Designer & Editor: Bronte Cook I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds Athletic Greens is the sponsor of this episode. Go to Magic Spoon also sponsors the episode. Go to /IMMIGRANTLY to grab a variety pack and try it today! And be sure to use our promo code IMMIGRANTLY at checkout to save five dollars off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 debut at NHL. Born in Australia and raised in Osaka, he moved to Prince Edward Island of Canada in his teens. In response to a reporter, Jordan once explained, “In Japan, they don’t think they have hockey over there, but they actually do.” I spoke with him about the responsibilities of performing at this elite level, his family’s role in his hockey career, why we see skewed representation, and the socialization around sports. Jordan is undoubtedly rising the ranks and stirring up the playing field. His passion for hockey is palpable, and I’m so excited to share it with you all. Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Associate Producer: Kinza Muzahir I Content Writer: Yudi Liu I Sound Designer & Editor: Bronte Cook I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds. Athletic Greens is the sponsor of this episode. Go to to get your discount. Magic Spoon also sponsors the episode. Go to /IMMIGRANTLY to grab a variety pack and try it today! And be sure to use our promo code IMMIGRANTLY at checkout to save five dollars off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 scored a 6-2 victory against the Pittsburg Penguins. The crowd roared in celebration– and so did the internet. Because at that particular game, Aisha Visram, our today's guest, was the second woman to work behind the bench at a regular-season NHL game. The first was Jodi Van Rees. Aisha's feat sparked conversation around gender and ethnic representation in hockey. Aisha and I sat down to talk about what it means to be a woman in a male-dominated sport, what authentic representation looks like, and why certain positions (including the athletic trainer position) are examined through a gendered lens. Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod | Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts I Content Writer: Ashley Lanuza & Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Bronte Cook I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds Athletic Greens is the sponsor of this episode. Go to to get your discount. Magic Spoon also sponsors the episode. Go to /IMMIGRANTLY to grab a variety pack and try it today! And be sure to use our promo code IMMIGRANTLY at checkout to save five dollars off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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” discoveries. Cleaned up, minimalistic design labels are often employed to give the familiar and unfamiliar look and conceal what one can argue is a recolonization of the Global South by the Global North. The U.S.-based academic Rumya Putcha tells us why this hipster Indian food is problematic, while Vidya Balachander, current South Asia editor at Whetstone, helps us unpack the idea of the global supermarket. We’d love for you to be part of the Immigrantly community. Join us on Instagram: @Immigrantlypod Find us on Twitter: @immigrantly_pod Support us via our If you enjoy listening to Immigrantly, please share the love and leave us a review so that more people can find us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 mean to explore sports beyond the jock culture and from an academic lens? We have invited Dr. Stanley Thanaraj, a socio-anthropologist, and professor at the City College of New York, to answer these questions. His research and interests land on race, gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, and sports in America. While my knowledge of sports is amateur at best, I was fascinated by how Dr. Stan applies race theory, masculinity studies, diaspora studies, and more to this nearly-universal pastime. We’d love for you to be part of the Immigrantly community. Join us on Instagram: @Immigrantlypod Find us on Twitter: @immigrantly_pod Support us via our If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please share the love and leave us a review so that more people can find us! Host: Saadia Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Content Writer: Ashley Lanuza & Saadia Khan l Sound design & Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Epidemic Sounds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 she co-wrote a recent article with fellow city reporter Clifford Michel. Titled "NYC to Pick Up Two State Senate Seats Under Albany Redistricting Plan," the report dives into redistricting efforts in Brooklyn and Queens that will change the district's constituent makeup. Josefa is here to explain the basics of redistricting and why we should care! We’d love for you to be part of the Immigrantly community. Join us on Instagram: @Immigrantlypod Find us on Twitter: @immigrantly_pod Support us via our If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please share the love and leave us a review so that more people can find us. Host: Saadia Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Content Writer: Ashley Lanuza & Saadia Khan l Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Rephonic Sounds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 recognized by many as a thought leader and activist in immigration policy. His experiences are far from just intersectional; they demonstrate essential truths on how we can address and reconcile our identities with the contradictions we see across sectors in this country. One of the most exciting ways to support us is becoming a member of our . For the price of an overpriced oat milk latte, you'll get special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. Host: Saadia Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Content Writer: Yudi Liu l Sound design & Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Rephonic Sounds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 "Best Global Music Performance". Her music is usually described as “Neo Sufi” as it heavily draws from the stylistic and structural components of Sufi music. She uses things like repetition, meters, or the use of specific instruments. But make no mistake, Arooj’s music has no set genre. You can hear hints of jazz, minimalism, and South Asian classical weaved into her songs. Her music is captivating and haunting at times, it feels like it sucks you into the emotion of the song. Her third studio album, Vulture Prince, was released last April, receiving heavy praise from publications like Pitchfork, NPR, and Al Jazeera. Her music was recently featured on Coke Studio Pakistan Season 14-Coke Studio is a very popular Pakistani television show where established and emerging musicians from across all sorts of genres showcase their talents.. We’re so excited to talk to Arooj about artistic expression and the way emotions like love, grief, and longing are conveyed through music. One of the most exciting ways to support us is by becoming a member of our . For the price of an overpriced oat milk latte, you're entitled to special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi l Content Writer: Sarah Doh l Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt l Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar You can find us on Twitter & IG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 proposes that it’s also an opportunity for rediscovery and empowerment. Maria’s expertise stems from her exposure to family law and her passion for life coaching. One of the most exciting ways to support us is by becoming a member of our . For the price of an overpriced oat milk latte, you're entitled to special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi l Content Writer: Ashley Lanuza l Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt l Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar You can find us on Twitter & IG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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 milk latte, you can get special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. You can find us on Twitter @immigrantly_pod & IG @immigrantlypod. Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi l Content Writer: Ashley Lanuza l Sound Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 with ability and disability. Then, we apply those concepts to the world of dating, unpacking questions that may be top of mind for some and regrettably novel for others. Our guest Felicia Jadczak breaks it all down for us. Felicia is a tech guru, yes-woman, radical speaker, and consultant for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. She is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of She Geeks Out, an organization committed to helping companies create and foster inclusivity in the workforce and workplace. One of the most exciting ways to support us is by becoming a member of our . For the price of an overpriced oat milk latte, you're entitled to special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. Host: Saadia Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi l Content Writer: Anoushka Rai & Yudi Liu l Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt l Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar You can find us on Twitter & IG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Health and Health Disparities. We talked about implicit assumptions about pain, pre and post-migration stressors, trauma, and the human body, and how this can manifest internally and interpersonally. 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 milk latte, you can get special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. You can find us on Twitter @immigrantly_pod & IG @immigrantlypod. Host: Saadia Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi l Content Writer: Yudi Liu l Editor: Bronte Cook l Sound Editor l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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 milk latte, you can get special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. You can find us on Twitter @immigrantly_pod & IG @immigrantlypod. Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi l Content Writer: Anoushka Rai & Yudi Liu l Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt from Rifelion Media l Sound Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 milk latte, you get special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. You can find us on Twitter @immigrantly_pod & IG @immigrantlypod Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi l Content Writer: Sarah Doh l Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt l Editor: Bronte Cook l Sound Editor: Chris Boecker l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 industry, and underfunded schooling. Not only are these essential conversations to have— ones that decrease the rate of emotional, mental, and physical risks that may come from sexual activity—but it's vital for our immigrant communities, where sex may be a taboo topic. You can find Justine at www.JustineFonte.com 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 milk latte, you're entitled to special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. You can find us on Twitter @immigrantly_pod & IG @immigrantlypod Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi l Content Writer: Ashley L. Lanuza l Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt from Rifelion Media l Sound Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sujata Day, the producer of Definition Please and actress on Insecure and Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, 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 film? An inspiring patchwork of perseverance, networking, mentorship, talent, and humor, Sujata is stirring up the Hollywood pot. We're tuned into hearing how it's going. While some are afraid to ask for what they need, Sujata has discovered that it takes forward conversations, relationship building, and wealth of confidence and support to get from point a to z, a personal story to a hit debut and Netflix streamed film. She speaks to Saadia and Shajehan about growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, her connection with her older brother, and the critical pieces of her identity naturally embedded in her work. One of the most exciting ways to support us is becoming a member of our Patreon by going to patreon.com/immigrantly. For the price of an overpriced oat milk latte, you're entitled to special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. You can find us on Twitter & IG Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi l Content Writer: Yudi Liu l Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt l Sound Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Carrillo, host of the podcast, Letter to My Ex. On this special Valentine's episode, we sit down with Joanna and explore how writing out our tears may be the anecdote to getting over someone. It's even more special as you'll get to hear from our very own Immigrantly team on how they coped with their heartaches. One of the most exciting ways to support us is becoming a member of our . For the price of an overpriced oat milk latte, you're entitled to special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. You can follow us on Twitter @immigrantly_pod & IG @immigrantlypod Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan Narrators: Anoushka Rai, Ashley Lanuza, Kylee C. Roberts, Ashley Suarez Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Creative Producer: Kylee C. Roberts Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi Content writer: Ashley Lanuza Sound & Content Editor: Bronte Cook Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we tackle self-love through a cultural lens. Our guest Tanzila "Taz" Ahmed, is a political strategist, storyteller, and artist based in Los Angeles. She creates at the intersection of counternarratives and culture-shifting as a South Asian American Muslim 2nd-gen woman. She's turned out over 500,000 Asian American voters, recorded five years of the award-winning #GoodMuslimBadMuslim podcast, and makes #MuslimVDay cards annually. Her essays are published in the anthologies New Moon, Pretty Bitches, Good Girls Marry Doctors, Love Inshallah and her poetry commissioned by the Center for Cultural Power, PolicyLink, KPCC's Unheard LA, and more. A protest sign she designed is in the Smithsonian Museum of American History. You can subscribe to Taz's substack . You can find us on social media on Instagram and Twitter . You can support Immigrantly by subscribing to our . You can buy Taz's #MuslimVDay cards on . Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan Producers: Saadia Khan & Kylee C. Roberts Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt Content writer: Anoushka Rai Sound & Content Editor: Bronte Cook Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 health. We talked about decoding orgasms, sex toys & self-love. You can support Immigrantly by subscribing to our . You can also enter for a chance to win a Lioness gift card by doing the following: Follow on IG @lionesshealth, @annaisaverage Follow Immigrantly on IG and Twitter Subscribe to Immigrantly podcast on any streaming platform. Leave a comment on our IG post, and tell us what you're excited about in 2022? Host: Saadia Khan Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Creative Producer: Kylee C. Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu Sound & Content Editor: Bronte Cook Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar Special Thanks to our Development Producer Aleeza Kazmi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 and her deadpan humor at Butterboy Comedy, a weekly stand-up co-hosted with Maeve Higgins and Jo Firestone. You can find us on social media on Instagram and Twitter . You can support Immigrantly by subscribing to our . Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Creative Producer: Kylee C. Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu Feature Editorial Review: Asad Butt Sound & Content Editor: Bronte Cook Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar Special Thanks to our Development Producer Aleeza Kazmi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saadia & Shahjehan sit down for a completely unscripted, unfiltered conversation to test their chemistry as co-hosts for season 13. In short, it is there. They exchange their own dating stories, including the failures and uncomfortable moments. In addition, they find common ground in their Desi culture along with the differences they experienced as they navigated the dating world. Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan Producers: Saadia khan & Kylee C. Roberts Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt Sound Editor: Bronte Cook Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki Other Music: Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's official: Immigrantly Podcast is on its 13th season! So 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. In addition, we'll be exploring how different political and sociological factors affect the relationships we create with each other. 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, creativity, and mental health in the twenty years following 9/11 as a Pakistani American Muslim. Saadia and Shahjehan will be joined by, among others, comedian Aparna Nancherla, Political Strategist and the co-host of Good Muslims Bad Muslim podcast, Tanzila Ahmed, Frances Tang of Awkward Essentials, and many more as we do our best to share honest, thoughtful, and even painful stories that deserve all of our attention and appreciation because let's face it, real love is hard work, no matter who or how you choose to love, and even if there wasn't much choice in the case. Get ready to laugh, cry, and reflect. The first episode of the season will launch on January 18th, 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we are speaking with an Afghan journalist facing threats under a Taliban regime that is becoming more hostile towards the press every day. To protect him, we have concealed all aspects of his identity, including altering his voice, to prevent any person from seeking to harm him. Therefore, we will also call him Follad Ahangar, not his real name. Our goal through this episode is to give you a more holistic view of what's happening on the ground. We want to reiterate here that while we are concerned about the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, given their record of human rights violations such as summary justice, strict rules, especially against women, and curbing free press, we also recognize that the chain of violence in Afghanistan, which has continued for the last forty years, has to end. So we should be asking ourselves what does an ordinary Afghan wants? How do we hold the Taliban accountable without penalizing the Afghan population crippled with food insecurity, human rights violations, climate change, and more? And finally, What does the path forward look like? This concludes Season 12. Season 13, all about LOVE, will launch on January 18th, 2022. From the Immigrantly team, Have a happy New Year! Producer, Content Editor & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content Writers: Aleeza Kazmi, Rebecca Liebson Editor: Bronte Cook Rabab Music: Qais Essar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. In this article, Tanvi interviewed four women, from community leaders to activists, to paint a portrait of how migrant communities in New York City push through unjust circumstances. To tell us what their progress has been like since the article was published, we have Goma Yonjan and Arlette Cepeda. Goma is a nail salon worker who migrated to New York more than fifteen years ago. Arlette is a visual artist and photographer born in the United States and grew up in the Dominican Republic. In her exhibit, “Essential Immigrant Stories,” she captured the sense of loss during the pandemic within her tight-knit Staten Island community. (Tanvi’s article came from a collaboration with three news publications: The Fuller Project, the City, and Documented) Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Ashley Lanuza Editor: Bronte Cook Introduction Song: Goma Yonjan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our today's guest Paula Wood is a multifaceted woman. She's an artist, a mother, a former editor, and an activist. This conversation brings charm and groundedness because Paula is deeply relatable. We talked about the way our proximity to it shapes our understanding of history, whether history and current events have any objectivity to them, collective denial in privileged groups, and the role of vulnerability in the revolution. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content Writer: Sarah Doh Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. She is the author of "Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream", and "Modern HERstory". Her most recent book, "Read This To Get Smarter", is inspired by her viral 30-sec microlearning series, Smarter In Seconds. 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 Kazmi Editor: Tom Whelan Follow us on Twitter and IG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Writer: Yudi Liu Editor: Bronte Cook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a common narrative - for immigrants to compensate for positions below their training and education. 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 and 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 Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Aleeza is a first-generation Afghan and Pakistani American. Producer & Narrator: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content Writer & Host: Aleeza Kazmi Editor: Bronte Cook Rabab Music: Qais Essar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Uli explains what is behind a book (a reader and author), how books paradoxically offer both escapes and life lessons, and why they are foolproof, the one medium of connection where there is always a solution. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu Editor: Bronte Cook Follow us on Twitter and IG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 dynamics of representation within the publishing industry. This episode is sponsored by Stamps.com Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content write: Sarah Doh Editor: Bronte Cook Music Credit: Just Dance, Follow us on Twitter @immigrantly_pod and IG @immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shahjehan Khan is a voice-over artist, actor, musician & podcaster. He is currently the host of the podcast, a seven-part podcast series about American-Muslim life post-9/11. Special thanks to Noorjehan Khan for the episode title. This episode is sponsored by Stamps.com Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Aleeza Kazmi Editor: Bronte Cook Rubab Music: Qais Essar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our today's guest is an actor, writer, and singer. He recently landed a significant role in the upcoming Netflix series as the anti-hero, Hunter Rose. This opportunity is historic because he is the first Arab Muslim actor to lead in a comic book adaptation. We talked about what this casting means for him, how he has navigated the world of acting, the contradictions in media and theater, & what it means to partake and challenge these social norms. This episode is brought to you by Talem Consulting. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Head to to get 10% off of your first month. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content write: Yudi Liu Editor: Tom Whelan Follow us on Twitter @immigrantly_pod and IG @immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie Broadnax is the founder of an online community, , which she created in 2012 for self-identifying women nerds of color. Since then, Black Girl Nerds has transformed into a multimedia platform and podcast dedicated to changing the narrative around geek culture for people of color. We talked about exciting 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 Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hari Kondobalu is our guest today. He is a comedian, writer, podcaster, & filmmaker who is best known for his outspoken 2017 documentary which calls out "The Simpsons" for its controversial portrayal of Indians in its character Apu. This episode is brought to you by Stamps.com Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content write: Yudi Liu Editor: Tom Whelan Follow us on Twitter @immigrantly_pod and IG @immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. His resume includes walking NY Fashion Week, performing beautiful choreography in music videos, and appearing in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” While his resume is quite impressive, we mainly discussed the world of theatre and the importance of storytelling on stage. This episode is sponsored by PODGO. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Sarah Doh Editor: Bronte Cook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is Anna Qu. She writes to make sense of cultural diasporas and the immigrant experience, including her own. Anna grew up in New York, earned her MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Sarah Lawrence College, & currently resides in Brooklyn. Her work, which has appeared in publications like Poets & Writers and Jezebel, recasts the narratives ascribed to immigrants with honesty and grit. made its debut this August month. This episode is sponsored by PODGO. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer & Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Season 12 of Immigrantly, we explore the narratives that haven’t been widely covered across media. Why are we still coming up short in telling fully inclusive stories? Is it time to pivot away from mighty media giants and start making our own stories? What does representation look like in an increasingly digital age? These are some of the questions we hope to tackle in Season 12. We have an exciting lineup of guests, including Broadway stars, authors, and movie directors, to help us find the answers. But before we dive into this new theme, we thought we should look back at how we have explored media representation on Immigrantly in the past. This episode is sponsored by Misen. Be sure to click on the link "https://bit.ly/3mWH8UT" to get your Misen knife! Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Content Editor: Kylee Roberts Content writer/Editor: Sarah Doh, Yudi Liu & Aleeza Kazmi Editor: Bronte Cook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Professor Josef Sorett. He is an expert in Religious and African American studies at Columbia University. We talked about the boundaries between secular and sacred, how religion has influenced Black culture from hip hop music to social movements, and why returning to the junctions of religion and culture can be a source of reconciliation and investment in what is common. This episode is sponsored by Db. Click on the link below to get 10%off your purchase. https://bit.ly/37cP8YP Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu Editor: Kylee Roberts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marla Louissaint, whose performance credentials include “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and “Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr, Rosewater” sits down with host and producer Saadia, along with Marla's longtime friend & Immigrantly associate producer, Kylee, to reflect on the road to becoming an ex-Jehovah’s Witness and the Founder/President of an abolitionist nonprofit called "Claim Our Space Now." Db sponsors this episode. Click on the link below to get 10%off your purchase. https://bit.ly/37cP8YP Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Sarah Doh Editor: Breanna Steggell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Immigrantly, we explore the relationship between the environment and religion through a physical vessel that is the Church of Holy Communion on West 20th & 6th Ave New York. The episode reviews the Churches many past lives, including a fitness center and an elite nightclub. Through this historical-social lens, Immigrantly is asking the questions we all have considered: what is a religion to us, and how has it shifted over the years in both a spatial and spiritual sense? This episode is sponsored by Db. Click on the link below to get 10%off your purchase. https://bit.ly/37cP8YP Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest Nouri Sardar is a Muslim poet, filmmaker, & co-host of the 786 Boulevard podcast. However, he stands as a change agent at the intersection of religion and social justice at a more fundamental level. This episode is sponsored by Citizenpath. Go to citizenpath.com and use coupon code "Immigrantly" to get 15% off. This episode is sponsored by Db. Click on the link below to get 10%off your purchase. https://bit.ly/37cP8YP Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our today's guest is Faisal Devji. Faisal is a historian who specializes in studies of Islam, globalization, violence, and ethics. He is a professor at St. Antony’s College at the University of Oxford. His multidisciplinary work grounds empirical historical issues in philosophical questions. Some of his published work includes "Landscapes of the Jihad: Militancy, Morality, Modernity," which explores the ethical content of jihad, and "The Impossible Indian: Gandhi and the Temptations of Violence," which presents Gandhi as a hard-hitting political thinker rather than an idealistic pacifist. This episode is sponsored by Indiana University's (IU) "Muslim Voices Project" & IU Inner Asia and Uralic National Resource Center (IAUNRC) Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Sarah Doh Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mira Sethi is an actor and a writer. Sethi has worked as a books editor at The Wall Street Journal. She has written op-eds for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Guardian. She regularly appears in mainstream Pakistani drama series on television. Her debut book, ," is a collection of short stories in Pakistan. This episode is sponsored by Citizenpath. Go to citizenpath.com and use coupon code "Immigrantly" to get 15% off. This episode is sponsored by HelloFresh. To get an $80 discount on your First Box, click on the link below and use the code in the show notes. Link: https://hellofresh-ca.o5kg.net/c/2544961/791027/7893 Code: HFAFF80 Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In partnership with Indiana University's "Muslim Voices Project," the Immigrantly team explores the relationship between spirituality and mental health. One of the writers, Sarah, sat down with two practicing Muslims from very different backgrounds to tackle the question of "What role does God play in your mental health?" The professional opinion of Jabir Tarin complements these conversations. Jabir is a marriage and family therapist at the , a psychological and spiritual community wellness center advancing the professional practice of psychology rooted in Islamic principles. Special shout-out to for Surah Maryam's recitation. The episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Special offer for Immigrantly listeners, get 10% off your first month at Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer: Kylee Roberts Content writer & co-Host: Sarah Doh Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arij Mikati is the Managing Director of Leadership & Culture at the Pillars Fund. She works on creating & supporting opportunities that advance storytelling & cultural change work. For example, the Pillars Fund teamed up with and the Ford Foundation to create fellowships for Muslim storytellers. Arij’s work and its impact are felt in antiracism, coalition building, and solidarity action. The episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Special offer for Immigrantly listeners, get 10% off your first month at The episode is also sponsored by Citizenpath. Go to citizenpath.com and use coupon code "Immigrantly" to get 15% off. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Yudi Liu Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we are speaking with the founder of South Bronx Mutual Aid, Ariadna Phillips. Ariadna is a bilingual educator and a seasoned community organizer based in the Bronx, NY. South Bronx Mutual Aid serves the Bronx autonomous free fridge community. The episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Special offer for Immigrantly listeners, get 10% off your first month at The episode is also sponsored by Citizenpath. Go to citizenpath.com and use coupon code "Immigrantly" to get 15% off. Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Sarah Doh Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 11 premiers as we begin our exploration of spirituality & religion in the modern world. Today we unpack Christianity. As the long-standing dominant religion, it’s impossible to deny the Christian influences on American culture. Kathy Khang gives a progressive take on Christianity. Kathy is a writer, speaker, yoga teacher, & lover of Jesus. She is also an activist who utilizes her faith to empower people to use their voices. The episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Special offer for Immigrantly listeners, get 10% off your first month at Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Associate Producer: Kylee Roberts Content writer: Sarah Doh Editor: Tom Whelan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices