Immigrantly

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 journey with us. We can’t wait for you to hear Season 7. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, our guest today on Immigrantly. We spoke to Sue about her role at MPAC, Hollywood's representation of minority communities, tips on how consumers can become mindful of the content they are watching. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do we navigate spaces in which we can have access to some privileges but not others? How can anyone claim their identity without first recognizing their entitlement? 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 supremacy. It’s not only for white people. The exercises are formatted so that anyone who benefits from white privilege can do the work as well. Outside of the book, Layla is the host of the “Good Ancestor Podcast,” where she facilitates conversations on the intersections of race, feminism, identity, spirituality, and leadership to foster social change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 what I see as most core to her identity is her familial connection to this planet. I am inspired by Gelareh’s passion and the way it drives her work. I hope for those listening that Gelareh’s story and this conversation draws you to your feet and that you feel a newfound appreciation for our earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. A child of immigrants, she grew up working class. She and her brother were raised by her grandmother, who lived with Parkinson’s disease, while her parents worked nonstop to make ends meet. And now, she’s channeling those experiences to advocate for the most vulnerable in her home borough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Catherine Kapphahn’s mother, Marijana, died of ovarian cancer when Catherine was only 22. she found herself cut off from the past she never really knew. Born and raised in America, Catherine realized that she knew very little of her Croatian mother’s early life. As Catherine searches for clues to her mother’s elusive history, she discovers that Marijana was orphaned during WWII, nearly died as a teenager, and escaped from Communist Yugoslavia to Rome, and then South America. Through travel and memory, history and imagination, Catherine resurrects the relatives she's never known. But how does collective memory exist between mothers and daughters? And what does it mean to find wholeness? These are the questions that Catherine explores in her book, Immigrant Daughter: Stories You Never Told Me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 cooking and sharing that passion with others, Yara is also politically involved. His journalism is imbued with themes of heritage and culture, how immigrants preserve and redefine theirs in the larger context of America and this global world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest for today's show is Iram Parveen Bilal. She is a creator. A Physics-Olympian-turned-filmmaker, she wears eight rings on her body and appreciates honesty. She is an enabler who focuses on thought-provoking stories that are socially impactful and envision an inclusive world. All of these statements were provided by her. When someone uses these words to describe themself, you know that the art they produce is going to be interesting and thought-provoking. What more could you expect from someone who believes that “genuine curiosity is the antidote to fear?” Iram’s films have addressed issues like feudalism, youth movements, cultural stigma, generational ties, and poverty. The interdisciplinary nature of her work has received praise for tackling these complex issues while incorporating an exciting degree of mystery and thrill.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 mosque for a special FBI assignment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aysha Khan 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. Aysha has dove headfirst into controversial, uncomfortable subjects that uplift the voices of marginalized communities. It’s daring and brave. Her work has covered federal anti-extremism programs, Muslim women spiritual abuse, a Uighur woman for her father's release from detention in China, and Muslim-led funds. 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, cultural, religious, and social landscape of American Muslims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we welcome a 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" about his namesake, a detainee at Guantanamo held for his alleged involvement with al-Qaeda and the Taliban. For those who are finding they now have a bit more free time on their hands, it’s the perfect midday pick me up. Pour yourself some tea and be carried away. This story will no doubt transport you through other dimensions, thoughts, and emotions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our today’s guest is She is someone who 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. She remembers attending school and swearing her allegiance to revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhullah Khomeini and being encouraged by her teacher to report her parents if they did “bad things” like listening to music, drinking wine, and speaking poorly of Khomeini. But at the age of six, this course of life was altered when her family uprooted them to a suburb of Los Angeles. Reeling with culture shock and speaking no English, she had to learn to construct a new life and identity in this new country that was rapidly-changing to reflect the ideals of the Reagan administration. Nineteen years later, after a life-altering moment, she returned to Iran to rebuild her relationship with the culture and identity that was lost. A little while later, she wrote a memoir, to document her experiences. Parnaz shares her journey of self-discovery with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are kicking off April with a new season of Immigrantly. You probably noticed, we took a small hiatus in recognition that so much is happening around us and like you, we needed time to adjust, root down, and grapple with what this nation and the globe is experiencing. I think everyone is feeling a mixed bag of emotions. Some are anxious, fearful even. Others are exhausted physically and emotionally. And there are those who are hopeful, hopeful that this is a reset button, a forced acknowledgment of what has escaped our gratitude. In all, it’s a weird time and a weird way of being. Life at the moment contradicts the robotic, hectic schedule we have turned to and normalized as productivity. To those New Yorkers still in the city, I am with you. I am learning how to be present with myself and inside my home as we let the health professionals lead the charge against this pandemic. That being said, COVID 19 isn’t the only news percolating. And we can’t let these other stories go unnoticed. 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 students who hope that sharing their experience will garner awareness and mobilize communities into action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

is an acclaimed actress known for her provocative performances in a wide range of memorable roles on film and television. She has starred in over 20 feature films and many TV shows and has earned a loyal, international following. She is also a seasoned voice-over artist. 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 won 3 Best Actress nods in the festival circuit for THE WORLD UNSEEN, one for her role in WINGS OF HOPE, and most recently for GRIN, which she also produced. In 2012, fans voted her ‘Favorite Movie Actress’ in AfterEllen’s Visibility Awards. She is currently in post-production on the feature, HUMMINGBIRD, which she produced as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saima Mir is a powerful 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. Her writing simultaneously educates and empowers the communities she is writing for. But even a reader who doesn’t share her background will find something to relate to because 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, how moms are discriminated against in the workplace and how to reclaim agency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 them to start Race2Dinner. In the process, Saadia hints at her take on the controversial topic of racism in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Xiao Wang is the co-founder and CEO of the Seattle-based startup, Boundless. Boundless is an immigration company with a mission to “empower families to navigate the immigration system more confidently, rapidly, and affordably.” In 2018, they received the Torch Award for “Business of the Year” from the Better Business Bureau. Xiao’s credentials include leadership roles at Amazon Go, Providence Equity, NYC Department of Education, and McKinsey. Xiao holds a BA/MS from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. On top of that, he’s an immigrant himself; his family relocated from China to the United States when he was a child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wardah Khalid is a policy analyst, activist, and speaker on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, refugees/immigration, and Islam in America. She currently works on Capitol Hill as an APAICS Congressional Fellow. She is the Founder and President of the , a national civic education, and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening American Muslim engagement with Congress. We talked about her passion for political advocacy, Muslim involvement in US Politics, Muslim tropes & sweet stuff like chocolate, barfi & Gulab Jamun. Here’s a link to our Patreon and GoFundMe accounts. Your support is greatly appreciated! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shamim Sarif is a British novelist and filmmaker. Her work often focuses on various aspects of identity; including gender, race, and sexuality. It often draws upon her own personal experience with cross-cultural, non-heterosexual love. Sarif described her film, I can’t think straight to be semi-autobiographical. With her partner Kattan, she runs Enlightenment Productions based in London. Her next project is Polarized; a love story between two women from very different sides of post-Trump America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special minisode focuses on America’s immigration history in the context of family separation. It debunks the notion that the concept of family separation is new. The episode showcases how children have been separated from their families time and time again throughout America’s history. In each of the instances, Saadia explores how people of color, often children, were violently separated to fulfill economic and political agendas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annie Tan is a Chinese American Special Education teacher, writer, activist, and storyteller from Chinatown, in New York. Annie has been featured in the New York Times, the Huffington Post, and The Moth Radio Hour on NPR. She will be featured in the upcoming PBS documentary series "Asian Americans." Her work centers around public education, teachers unions, tenants' rights, and Asian American issues. Previously a teacher in Chicago, Annie, now teaches Latinx and Asian students in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. After school, Annie tells stories on stages about being Chinese American and a daughter of immigrants, teaching, activism, and her family's story in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nusrat Alam and Jo'rell Whitfield are changemakers. They are the co-founders of I am Perspective (IAP). IAP aims to create a united society by fostering empathy, awareness, growth, and genuine human connection through open and honest dialogue between all races, genders, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds, and political views in a free, safe, non-judgmental space. Nusrat Alam, a second-generation Bengali American, grew up in Queens, NY. Currently, Nusrat is working on her first book, "Tin Huts to Palaces," exploring her life and perspective as an American Born Confused Desi (ABCD). Jo'rell is an international award-winning spoken word artist who has transformed over 15 years of experience into an entrepreneurial career of writing, performing, and teaching poetry. He has won countless poetry slam competitions and has been featured everywhere from open mic venue and historic venues, to high schools, colleges, and universities in over 50 cities around the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Simran Jeet Singh is a writer, a religious scholar, activist, and author. He regularly speaks on issues of diversity, equity, hate, violence, race, and religion, inspiring others around him. He also frequently offers his perspectives to television, radio, and print media, and today he is on Immigrantly to share his story with Saadia Khan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all have an idea of what an American dream is, but how would you define an American nightmare? Aarti and her family encountered every obstacle that an immigrant family can run into in America. She is the author of a memoir; Here We Are American Dreams, American Nightmares. Aarti’s work has always been personal; she went from being a community organizer with a bullhorn defending the rights of immigrants to now speaking to millions as a Silicon Valley correspondent for National Public Radio. Her activism work before joining NPR was honored by the Union Square and Legal Aid Society. She received her Masters from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and she was also the youngest recipient of the Charles H. Revson Fellowship at Columbia University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mairav Zonszein is a second-generation Israeli American journalist and editor who writes about Israel-Palestine conflict and its role in U.S. politics. She was born and raised in NY., but she has spent most of her adult life in Israel. Saadia talks to Mairav about her experiences as an American Immigrant in Israel. Her publications include The Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New York Review of Books, The Intercept, VICE News, Foreign Policy, and many more. She is a changemaker who is fighting for equal rights for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saks Afridi is a New York-based Pakistani American artist who explores the dichotomy of being an insider/outsider. Through his work, he recreates the historical and cultural narratives to highlight social issues. Saks collaborates with weavers, painters, and food vendors to address the problems around identity, Islamophobia, drone warfare, and social justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Qinza Najm is a Pakistani-American visual artist whose interdisciplinary artistic practice explores gendered violence and female subjectivity. Her work has been featured in Artnet News, the Huffington Post, N.Y. Daily News, International Business Week, Buzzfeed, and Herald. Saadia spoke to Qinza about her evolution from a psychologist and a professor at a prestigious University to a freelance artist in NY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode is centered around an incredible immigration love story. An Italian-born Designer/Media Advertiser, Francesco Bertocci, meets his future wife, Lucy Harris, an American who went to Rome to teach English after college. They fall in love, get married, and the rest, as they say, is history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A little late, but we’re still excited to share a Thanksgiving Special. Come and reflect with us on this year’s Thanksgiving and make plans with us to celebrate next year’s Thanksgiving in a more honest and inclusive way. In this episode, Lisa Genn and Saadia Khan talk about their Thanksgiving day and looking forward how they can celebrate this day while acknowledging its history and honoring Native Americans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahmed Ali Akbar is a writer, journalist, and the host of "See Something, Say Something", an incredible podcast where Ahmed talks to Muslims from across different industries and talks about culture, current events, and being Muslim in America. Ahmed talks about the things that "American Muslims are talking about right now," which can range from mass incarceration to memes. I am very excited to have him on my show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Asad Dandia is a young Brooklynite who is reinventing the way people approach religion esp, Islam. Asad was born and raised in Brooklyn and graduated from New York University (NYU) with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work in 2016; his focus was on community organizing. He is currently a graduate student at Columbia University's Middle East Institute, pursuing an MA in Islamic Studies. We spoke about nexus between Islamic Theology and Asad's work as a podcaster and blogger affecting change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kim Yi Dionne is an Assistant Professor in the Political Science department at the University of California–Riverside. She is also an editor of the Washington Post’s Monkey Cage, a blog devoted to making political science findings more accessible to the public, allowing us to have thorough conversations with integrity to the facts. At work, Kim teaches courses on African politics and ethnic politics and recently wrote a book called Doomed Interventions, on the failure of global responses to AIDS in Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fahamu Pecou is an interdisciplinary artist and scholar whose work combines observations on hip hop, fine art, and popular culture. He takes on such complicated topics as black masculinity, stereotypes, and potential in his work with a deft touch that leaves a profound impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kulsoom Abdullah is a Data Scientist. She has a Masters and a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and if this wasn't enough, she is also a Pakistani American Weightlifter who competed in the 2011 World Championship. Kulsoom represents Pakistan for the world and the U.S. for national-level tournaments. She made history by being the first fully covered Muslim woman contestant. We talk about her work and her passion for weightlifting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donny Khan is the Senior Marketing Director at National Hockey League (NHL). Donny immigrated to America from Pakistan as a young teen and has been National Hockey League Senior Director of Marketing for eleven years. Donny helped create NHL’s national and international brand from the ground up. He won the Sports Emmy award in 2009 and 2011, created NHL’s most successful marketing campaign for 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and has been recognized by major media outlets like the Today Show and the Washington Post. I sat down with Donny to talk about his American Dream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our today's guest is Dina Nayeri. She is the author of The "Ungrateful Refugee," Dina's first nonfiction book. Her essay of the same name was one of the most widely shared 2017 Long Reads in The Guardian. Dina is a former refugee who fled Iran with her family in the 80s. The book is a part memoir and also chronicles the lives of other refugees. Dina holds a BA from Princeton, an MBA from Harvard, and an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Preeti Mistry is the co-author of the Juhu Beach Club Cookbook based on her restaurant Juhu Beach Club in Oakland, CA. Her cooking was featured on CNN's Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain, and she was a contestant on Top Chef Season 6. Preeti Mistry is outspoken, bold, and she proudly accepts all the different layers of her identity. She identifies as a brown queer immigrant woman chef who challenges the historically male white dominance of the culinary industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An immigrant comes to New York City and makes it big with a simple idea. Known as Dosa man, Thiru Kumar has fans all over the world, from California to Japan. His name is listed on 42 countries guidebooks. His was the first vegan dosa cart in the World. Thiru Kumar's cart is situated at the southwest corner of Washington Square Park in New York. I sat down with Thiru Kumar to talk about his life as a small business owner and an immigrant in the US. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we speak with Farah Kathwari. Farah is a Kashmiri American who is strongly connected with her Kashmiri heritage while she maintains a strong sense of her American identity. Her career has spanned different industries, including interior design, retail, merchandising, marketing, and philanthropy. Currently, she serves as a board member of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission, Steering committee member of Indivisible Westchester, NY, committee member of Human Rights Watch, NY, and a board member of Refugees international. She is a fellow Podcaster. Farah talks about her activism, the Kashmir crisis, and her father's legacy. We recorded this episode a couple of weeks ago, and therefore there are references to the Democratic Presidential Debate held on Sept 12th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we’re going to be talking to Nisha Sharma. In 2018, Nisha released her first book; a novel called My So-Called Bollywood Life to great acclaim. Nisha excellently draws upon traditional Bollywood themes to tell you the story of Indian-American teen Winnie Mehta as she deals with heartbreak and new love, and her passion for film. Nisha just recently released the first book of her new series, The Singh Trilogy. She’s an active blogger, has a full-time job, and recently won the RITA award for Best Young Adult Romance this year. You can support us by donating to our gofundme Our music is composed by Basim Usmani, one of the lead vocalists on the band The Kominas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Haider Warriach is a physician, writer, & clinical researcher. He is the author of Modern Death: How Medicine Changed the end of Life, and State of the Heart - Exploring the History, Science and Future of Cardiac Disease. His articles have featured in NYtimes, The Guardian, Vox and many more. Dr. Warraich recently sat down with Terry Gross to discuss breakthroughs in heart health. We are very excited to talk to him about his work and his experiences as an immigrant living in the US. You can support us by donating to our gofundme Our music is composed by Basim Usmani, one of the lead vocalists on the band The Kominas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 4 starts with our interview with Rowaida Abdelaziz. She is a New York-based reporter at the HuffPost where she focuses on Islamophobia and social justice issues within the Muslim community. We talk about Islamophobia, the role of diversity in journalism and much more. You can support the podcast by donating to our gofundme. Music for Immigrantly is composed by Basim Usmani, one of the lead vocalists of the punk band "The Kominas." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This fall, the Alien Chronicles is changing its name to Immigrantly. The name Immigrantly is more representative of our broader aspirations, to explore the intersectionality of racial identity, culture, and class through the lens of immigrant experiences. Our new name marks the beginning of a new journey, and I’m excited to embark on it together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Haya Emaan is one of the few professionally-trained chefs from Pakistan. She started her career at a renowned Hotel, Avari towers in Karachi and proceeded to graduate from The Culinary Institute of America. She graduated top of her class and trailed at some of the most prominent restaurants such as Morimoto, Joel Robuchon, LeBernardin, Cosme, Per se, Restaurant Ramsay and Zuma before joining the Michelin starred Jean Georges. Haya took a sabbatical year to travel in 2018 during which she studied food and culture throughout Europe and Asia. She is now part of the world-renowned team at Eleven Madison Park. You can support our podcast by donating to the gofundme. Here's the link Our music is composed by Basim Usmani, one of the lead vocalists of the punk band "The Kominas." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sana Saeed is a host and producer at Al Jazeera. Prior to working at AJ+, Al Jazeera’s online channel, Sana had pieces featured in publications such as the New York Times, The Guardian, Salon, Huffington Post, and Elle, amongst many others. Her work has tackled a wide range of topics, with everything from foreign policy to life as a Muslim in the west, to sexuality and civil liberties. We talk about Kashmir, diversity in journalism and much more. You can support our podcast by donating to the gofundme. Here's the link Our music is composed by Basim Usmani, one of the lead vocalists of the punk band "The Kominas." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elad Nehorai has spent most of his adult life creating and nurturing communities. From the time he started a small online arts magazine (before such a thing was common) in college, to his efforts as an online marketer for startups, to his work with Hevria, a community for creative Jews, and Torah Trumps Hate, a community for progressive orthodox Jews, Elad cares about nothing more than connecting people who are desperately looking for a community that doesn't exist in the physical world. Elad is also a prolific writer. He is a columnist for the Forward, a blogger, and has been published in places like the Guardian and Haaretz. You can support our podcast by donating to the gofundme. Here's the link Our music is composed by Basim Usmani, one of the lead vocalists of the punk band "The Kominas." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I’m speaking with Grace Talusan, the author of the memoir The Body Papers. Grace is a professor at Tufts University in Boston, and the Body Papers is her first book. In 2017, the yet unpublished manuscript of the Body Papers won the 2017 Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing. It has been incredibly well received and has been written up by such publications as the New York Times, the Boston Globe, and Nylon Magazine. Grace’s story is one about overcoming abuse and trauma and coming to terms with her immigrant and Filipino-American identity. She carefully and intentionally navigates topics that are often set aside into the realm of the unspoken and creates a space where more stories like hers can be shared. You can support our podcast by donating to the gofundme. Here's the link Our music is composed by Basim Usmani, one of the lead vocalists of the punk band "The Kominas." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Born and raised in Iran, and having attended the University of Tehran where she received a BS in Industrial Design, Shiva is an entrepreneur. She later moved to the US, where she received her Masters in Industrial Design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Shiva currently lives in Portland, Oregon, where she is working on a host of projects including in-it, a video-based social media campaign that’s intended to help individuals spread awareness about issues they are passionate about. I’m excited to have Shiva on the show today to discuss her work, as well as the continuing development of Iran-US relations. You can support our podcast by donating to the gofundme. Here's the link Our music is composed by Basim Usmani, one of the lead vocalists of the punk band "The Kominas." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Aragón is an entrepreneur who specializes in multidisciplinary design and branding. Intriguingly, Jon is also a preacher, which is a rather unconventional combination in my opinion. As a second-generation Colombian-American and as a part of the Afro-Latinx community, Jon’s background allows him to offer a unique perspective when approaching design and problem-solving. Jon’s spiritual identity wholly informs his work as a designer; he sees himself as a servant of Christ and works with the goal and intention of using his talents to assist organizations and individuals to the best of his ability. Jon has named his own design company “Jon Doulos”, with “Doulos” meaning slave or servant in Greek. Jon serves on the teaching and preaching team at his church and mentors young men, empowering them to perceive and pursue their calling. Jon is also the co-founder of Native Supply, a clothing brand whos apparel takes contemporary street style and meshes it with messages relating to one’s devotion to God You can support our podcast by donating to the gofundme. Here's the link Our music is composed by Basim Usmani, one of the lead vocalists of the punk band "The Kominas." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aymann Ismail is an award-winning podcast host, video editor, photographer, and writer at Slate whose work focuses on identity and religion. As a kid of Egyptian Immigrants, Ayman's early childhood experiences reflect reconciling with the duality of his identity. He wrote and produced "Who's Afraid of Aymann Ismail?" a video series that negates stereotypes of both American Muslims, and those are scared of them. He currently hosts "Man Up," a weekly interview podcast about men, relationships, family, race, and sex. You can support our podcast by donating to the gofundme. Here's the link Our music is composed by Basim Usmani, one of the lead vocalists of the punk band "The Kominas" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yousef Bashir is the author of the memoir “The Words of My Father.” Yousef’s story is one that showcases the inherent complexities of what it means to be a Palestinian American, particularly one that grew up in the Gaza Strip. From a young age, he was brought face to face with the harsh realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and that experience has very much informed the work that he does today. In an op-ed that he wrote in the New York Times this spring, Yousef says that his father taught him “that seeking peace is not only a prayer but also an obligation.” As an adult, Yousef works every day to fulfill this obligation, whether that is through his work on Capitol Hill or as a member of the Palestinian Diplomatic Delegation to the United States. You can support our podcast by donating to the gofundme. Here's the link Our music is composed by Basim Usmani, one of the lead vocalists of the punk band "The Kominas" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices