Get ready to be inspired and informed in this podcast episode as I sit down with Saket Soni, a labor organizer and human rights activist making a significant impact in the fight for workers' rights. Originally from Delhi, India, Saket is the author of a new book called “The Great Escape: A True Story of Forced Labor and Immigrant Dreams in America,” a gripping true story that shines a light on the hidden world of forced labor and immigrant dreams in America. With his firsthand experience and unflinching dedication to justice, Saket gives us an eye-opening glimpse into the lives of those who have been forgotten by society. Join me for an enlightening and entertaining conversation as we delve into the urgent need for workers' rights and the captivating story of The Great Escape. Don't miss out on this episode because you’re in for a wild ride with Saket Soni. You can buy the book here. Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Please share the love and leave us a review on  to help more people find us!  Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Michaela Strauther & Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I  Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmed Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds      

I am thrilled to present an exciting bonus episode to you. Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a live podcast event on February 19th, celebrating South Asian culture at the NHL New Jersey Devils game in New Jersey. It was a fantastic experience, and I had the opportunity to interview the incredibly talented Sway Bhatia. For those who may not be familiar with Sway, she is a young actress who has captured our hearts with her roles in popular shows like The Mighty Ducks Game Changers and Succession. In addition, she is a multi-talented artist who sings, dances, plays the drums, skates, and does sketch comedy – all while being a teenager. I am genuinely amazed by her talent and her work ethic. Please note that the acoustics are not perfect, but the content is so great that I couldn't resist sharing it with all of you. How about this: Before I spoke with Sway, we also had a chance to hear briefly from Donny Khan - Donny is the Senior Director of Hockey Development & Strategic Collaboration at the NHL, and he spoke about the vital work the NHL is doing to reach out to more diverse audiences…in North America and overseas. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode with Sway Bhatia – a true inspiration.   Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Please share the love and leave us a review on  to help more people find us!  Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmed Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds  

 Here at Immigrantly, I believe in creating a safe space for authentic storytelling. Most stories are built on our platform but sometimes from other sources. And today, we are doing just that. We will share an episode called Coming Home from a podcast we love from the UCLA Labor Center called Re: Work. A group of undocumented youth cross the border from the US into Mexico to cross back and turn themselves into border patrol. Why would you do something that would so blatantly risk you ever being able to come into this country again? We follow the story of one courageous young person, Luis Leon, and the journey that took him from a small town in North Carolina to the border crossing in Laredo, TX. Find Re: Work wherever you get your podcasts.  the link to the Re-Work podcast! Be sure to give them a review and follow the podcast. Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Please share the love and leave us a review on  to help more people find us!     

My today's guests are a fantastic duo. Lilliana Vazquez is a Puerto Rican and Mexican TV personality, style expert, and interviewer. You may recognize her as a former contributor on the Today show, the former host of E! news, or as a correspondent for Access Daily and Access Hollywood. She is outspoken about the stakes of being a Latina in a field where she is often in the minority.  Her co-host is more of a behind-the-camera type of guy; Joseph Carrillo is a celebrity makeup artist and facial masseur. You've seen his talent with a blending brush and an elegant eye shadow palette before, even if you didn't know it then—because his client history includes Lizzo, Priyanka Chopra, Teyana Taylor, and Paris Hilton. His makeup looks and beauty tips have been featured in Harper's Bazaar, Allure, Vogue, and the New York Times. So, what brought these two together to create a great podcast for you to tune into? We find out during this conversation! You can listen to the podcast . Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Please share the love and leave us a review on  to help more people find us!  Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Michaela Strauther & Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I  Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmed Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds    

Today, In honor of Black History month and to pay homage to the African contribution to American food, I am re-releasing another gem from the immigrantly vault. It’s my interview with Stephen Satterfield. This conversation profoundly impacted how I view African cuisine in America. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did when it happened and even now as I revisit it with all of you.    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 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 Content Writer: Saadia Khan & Yudi Liu I Editorial review: Shei Yu I  Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmed Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds  

My guest is Micha Cooper Edwards. She is the founder and CEO of Soleil Space and Soleil Entertainment. At her core, Micha is a visionary media entrepreneur—her expertise span over 15 years in media and across many markets. Micha has led international campaigns for iconic brands like NIKE, Jordan, and PepsiCo, as well as social impact efforts and corporate partnerships for Netflix and HBO documentaries. As an independent producer in Hollywood and a native of Trinidad and Tobago, Micha felt the weight of underrepresentation, and that's how Soleil came about. We spoke about representation, why Micha prefers to use the term transculutralism instead of multiculturalism, and what lies ahead.  Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Yudi Liu & Saadia Khan I Editorial Review: Shei Yu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds  

Between “ghosting,” “Icks,” and the question of whether or not to swipe right, the dating world isn’t the same as it used to be. Forty-eight percent of adults aged 18 to 29 have used a dating app before, hoping to find that special thing called love — or maybe just something casual. But how do we feel about swiping left on someone so quickly? And have dating apps actually made it harder to find meaningful relationships? The Immigrantly team wanted to discuss all the ooey-gooey details of dating apps, love, and relationships this Valentine's Day. I got together with two team members, Kayla and Shei, to get their experiences and opinions on modern dating. Listen to this episode to join the conversation! Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Living in New Jersey is about to become more affordable under the new ANCHOR property tax relief program created by Governor Murphy and the Legislature. The State will soon deliver over $2 billion in tax relief to more than two million homeowners and renters. Eligible New Jerseyans can receive up to $1,500. Apply today. Even if you didn't qualify under the previous program, you may now. The deadline is February 28th. Visit: anchor.nj.gov Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Michaela Strauther I Editorial Review: Shei Yu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds              

Immigrantly family, today I’ll be chatting with Mari Uchida. She is a photographer, director, a fiercely creative artist whose work has been seen in the New York Times, Time Out New York, The Lincoln Center of Performing Arts, Broadway World, and other platforms. Her subjects are photographed against varied backdrops, from city streets to the performing stage.  She uses photography to highlight people left out of the frame. We spoke about the art of photography, why she chose it, and why her craft has led her to projects, including the inaugural Broadway Asian Men calendar “Unapologetically Asian” with East Side Stories and Collaborazians.   Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Living in New Jersey is about to become more affordable under the new ANCHOR property tax relief program created by Governor Murphy and the Legislature. The State will soon deliver over $2 billion in tax relief to more than two million homeowners and renters. Eligible New Jerseyans can receive up to $1,500. Apply today. Even if you didn't qualify under the previous program, you may now. The deadline is February 28th. Visit: anchor.nj.gov Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Yudi Liu I Editorial Review: Shei Yu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds

Today's guest, Dr. Mimi Khuc, is a writer, teacher, and scholar of things unwell, a pedagogy that examines humans' relationship to the world and themselves as one with differential unwellness because of the structures around them. Mimi is a Professor of Asian American studies and disability studies. Presently, she lectures at Georgetown University and is the 2023 Activist in Residence at FLOURISH at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Beyond academia, Mimi is the managing editor of the Asian American Literary Review and has appeared for talks organized by institutions like the ACLU, Ford Foundation, and Catapult. Before this conversation with Mimi, the term unwell was no more than a descriptor to me. I hadn’t realized that there is an entire study and practice dedicated to centering unwellness beyond the human body. Mimi and I chatted about current wellness trends and how they harm productivity structures. We connected this to ableist notions of resilience and grit, especially in immigrant communities. And finally, we also talked about ways to take care of ourselves and each other amidst this messiness. It was a thought-provoking, unique, and entertaining discussion. Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Living in New Jersey is about to become more affordable under the new ANCHOR property tax relief program created by Governor Murphy and the Legislature. The State will soon deliver over $2 billion in tax relief to more than two million homeowners and renters. Eligible New Jerseyans can receive up to $1,500. Apply today. Even if you didn't qualify under the previous program, you may now. The deadline is February 28th. Visit: anchor.nj.gov Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Yudi Liu I Editorial Review: Shei Yu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds

Today's guest is Mangesh Hattikudur. He is a podcaster and co-founder of Kaleidoscope, a podcast production company. He’s also the co-host of the podcast Part-Time Genius, the former senior vice president of iHeartRadio, and the co-founder of the magazine Mental Floss. But it is his more recent podcast that we’ll be talking about today. Toward the end of 2022, Mangesh released Skyline Drive, a podcast where he dives into astrology and tries to understand what we find so alluring about the stars. Everyone from BTS fans to Ronald Reagan has found comfort in astrology, and Mangesh does a great job of exploring why.    Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Living in New Jersey is about to become more affordable under the new ANCHOR property tax relief program created by Governor Murphy and the Legislature. The State will soon deliver over $2 billion in tax relief to more than two million homeowners and renters. Eligible New Jerseyans can receive up to $1,500. Apply today. Even if you didn't qualify under the previous program, you may now. The deadline is February 28th. Visit: anchor.nj.gov Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Michaela StrautherI Editorial Review: Shei Yu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds

Carmen Rita Wong is a journalist, entrepreneur, and personal finance expert. Once the host of a TV program called On The Money, Carmen has worked with CNN, CBS, and NBC, and she was a financial advice columnist for four different magazines, including Glamour and Good Housekeeping. She is also the author of five books, including the most recent memoir, "Why Didn't You Tell Me"? Carmen's mother was Dominican, but Carmen spent the first 31 years of her life believing she was also half-Chinese through her father, whom she calls Papi Wong. In this memoir, she discusses the whirlwind of her identity and the complex relationship with her mother.   Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Living in New Jersey is about to become more affordable under the new ANCHOR property tax relief program created by Governor Murphy and the Legislature. The State will soon deliver over $2 billion in tax relief to more than two million homeowners and renters. Eligible New Jerseyans can receive up to $1,500. Apply today. Even if you didn't qualify under the previous program, you may now. The deadline is January thirty-first. Visit: anchor.nj.gov Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Michaela StrautherI Editorial Review: Shei Yu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds    

Today I’m joined by Amy S Choi and Rebecca Lehrer, co-founders and co-hosts of The Mash-Up American podcast, which features stories and interviews on the things that make us who we are: culture, relationships, and identity. I feel a kindred spirit for these two since Immigrantly bears many similarities. Starting in 2013, The Mash-Up American has been telling stories, from zany ones on ginger being the old-school viagra to thorny topics like sickness & death. Underlying these tales is the commitment to navigating the complexities of what they call “mash-up identity.” The interview is focused on their most recent series on grief. We talk about grief, how we can understand it without over-pathologizing the sentiment, and why it’s both universal and personal. What I loved most about the conversation was that we explored, kept it light, and kept it honest.   Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Yudi Liu & Saadia Khan I Editorial Review: Yudi Liu &Shei Yu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds    

Welcome listeners. As some of you may know, our team is taking a much-needed break to rest and recuperate so that we can come back on January 10th, reinvigorated to share some awesome Immigrantly content with all of you. In the meantime, I am sharing a special episode from “Before me”. It is a five-part documentary produced by Self-Evident about journalist Lisa Phu chronicling her mother’s journey from Cambodia to America over the course of decades. Don’t forget to subscribe to them wherever you listen to podcasts. Enjoy! For most of her life, Lisa told a story about how her mom and family first came to the United States. Some of it was right, some of it was wrong; none of it was actually ever told to her by the people who had lived it. After Lisa gave birth to her first child, her mom flew across the country to care for them both. And during that visit, she finally shared the real story with Lisa. About growing up in Cambodia, fleeing genocide by the Khmer Rouge, surviving as a gold dealer in Vietnam, building a home in America while navigating the fallout and traumas of war… and carrying the future of her children throughout the journey. You can listen to Before Me wherever you listen to podcasts. Created, written, and produced by Lisa Phu Edited by Julia Shu Fact checking by Harsha Nahata and Tiffany Bui Sound design by James Boo Additional support from Cathy Erway Original theme music by Avery Stewart Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions Audio engineering by Dave Waldron and Timothy Lou Ly Cover art and show name created by Christine Carpenter Audience engagement by Rekha Radhakrishnan Thanks to Ben Kiernan for participating in the research and reporting process Huge thanks and gratitude to Lan Phu “Before Me” is a Self Evident Media production. The show’s Executive Producers are James Boo, Lisa Phu, and Ken Ikeda. This project is also supported in part by the and the City and Borough of Juneau. Thanks to the  for the residency they provided for this project.

There is nothing Immigrantly loves more than switching up the narrative--and that's why today, we're sharing some controversial opinions, or "hot-takes," about the holiday season. Before we begin 2023, I wanted to get together with Yudi and Michaela from the Immigrantly team to talk about everything from pumpkin spice flavors to Love Actually. And the best part is, we have some hot takes from you all, too--our listeners! How do your opinions compare to ours? Listen to this episode to find out! No matter what holiday you may (or may not) celebrate, we hope this episode inspires some exciting conversations for you, too. Enjoy the holidays, and have a happy New Year! Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Editorial Review: Yudi Liu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds    

What does following your passion look like? How many aspiring actresses, dancers, writers, podcasters and artists have been told that their powers won’t make them any money? How many of them stop chasing their creative dreams altogether? Well, my next guest did the very thing that many people would be terrified of doing. Today, I'm interviewing Maya Fuji, a Japanese American artist who dropped out of graduate school to follow her passion for art. Leaving school to do what you love takes guts, which is why I'm so excited to talk to Maya. She's had a pretty amazing journey so far. Maya has held solo exhibitions in two San Francisco art galleries this year alone. The first one was in May at Voss Gallery, and the second opened just recently at Swim Gallery in November. Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Michaela Strauther and Saadia Khan I Editorial Review: Yudi Liu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds    

My today's guest is Gerson Lanza. Born and raised in Honduras, Gerson is a tap dancer and an educator. He is pursuing his Master of Fine Arts in Dance at the University of Maryland. And earlier this year, he finished the coveted Strathmore Artist in Residence Program as part of the Class of 2022. Gerson and I spoke about his passion for tap dancing, the less-known history of tap dancing, and how we can make the space more inclusive.   Join the conversation: Instagram | Twitter |  Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Michaela Strauther and Saadia Khan I Editorial Review: Yudi Liu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds    

Music has been an integral part of my life; from classical and popular music to rock, you will find an entire gamut on my Spotify playlist. Whenever I feel sad or happy, worried or excited, I put on my favorite track to either calm myself down or lift myself. I don’t know about you, but music has this innate quality that allows people to get in touch with their inner and complicated emotions. It's as if various musical scores are synthesizing the hard-to-articulate thoughts into bite-sized, easily digestible nuggets.   Given my music appreciation, one might think that I listen to or at least know more about hip-hop, mainly due to the global influence of hip-hop culture on music styles, fashion, technology, art, entertainment, language, dance, education, politics, media, and more, but unfortunately, I don’t know much. To satiate my thirst for learning, talk about hip-hop, and discuss food and music in general, we have Zainab Hasnain, a DJ, music producer, and writer based in Brooklyn, New York, who previously worked at Spotify. Born in Pakistan and raised in the states, she plays weekly gigs and headlines shows, including recently DJing for actor Riz Ahmed in Brooklyn. She also writes for many music journals and magazines, interviewing up-and-coming artists in NYC’s hip-hop scene and new artists from around the country. She’s been DJing under the moniker ZEEMUFFIN for over ten years. 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 Content Writer: Saadia Khan & Ziya Jaffrey I Editorial Review: Yudi Liu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds    

How do we harness the power of authentic storytelling to recreate narratives about immigrants? I sat down with Liz Robbins, the director of journalism partnerships at "Define American," to discuss this and other pertinent questions. We also talked about a recent report she co-authored with Sarah E Lowe and Victoria Bouloubasis —“Reimagining Immigrant News: North Carolina’s Case for the Nation.” The information was the outcome of a year-long project in collaboration with the Media Ecosystems Analysis Group and the University of Florida’s Center for Public Interest Communications. The research focused on evaluating the role of news outlets in producing accurate, nuanced portrayals of immigrants and how the stories about immigrants impact public attitudes. In the interview, Liz and I discuss in depth the results of the report, the surprises and learnings, and where we go from here.    Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod |  Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Yudi Liu & Saadia Khan I Editorial Review: Yudi Liu I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds  

Before turning off your phone for a Thanksgiving digital detox or because the turkey requires your undivided intention, spend a moment with the Immigrantly team and me. Today's episode is on the history of yams and their genetically unrelated, culturally conflated counterpart — sweet potatoes. I'm joined by our content writers, Michaela Strauther and Yudi Liu, as we reflect on the joys and quirks of this holiday while paying heed to the complex history that underlines its traditions, from the facts we tell about this day to the food we eat at the table. Everything is never as simple as it appears, which is very much the case with our society's confusion around yams and sweet potatoes. If it isn't clear already, they are not the same. How so? Listen to find out. After, I hope everyone leans into the things that bring them joy and gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! 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 Content Writer: Yudi Liu, Michaela Strauther I Editorial Review: Yudi Liu  I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds  

 Why is it that we stumble when we discuss sexuality? It should be a joyous topic rather than one fraught with shame, confusion, and invisibility. Even as we get more shows and movies attempting to tackle stigmas around sexuality and identity, non-white and immigrant communities are often left out of this representation. My today's guest, Dr. Varuna Srinivasan, a sexual health professional, and queer advocate, is switching up the narrative.   She is the founder of Tara Health Media, an online resource for sexual education that emphasizes intersectional and inclusive knowledge. She has also written articles for Parents, Well and Good, Inverse, The Lily, Allure, and Health, where she covers everything from her coming-out journey to anti-racism in sex education.   Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod |  Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Michaela Strauther I Editorial Review: Yudi Liu I Sound Designer & Editor: Manni Simon I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds