Shows
BanterlyBelonging Without Imitation: A Year-End ReflectionAs the year comes to a close, Immigrantly host Saadia Khan reflects on belonging, faith, and identity without assimilation. In this solo year-end episode, Saadia shares why she doesn’t celebrate Christmas, having grown up in Pakistan surrounded by nearly three million Christians who do, and how witnessing joy across difference has shaped her understanding of respect, pluralism, and belonging. She reflects on holding on to her Muslim identity on her own terms, without turning it into an assimilation exercise. Saadia also looks back on an unexpected but transformative 2025 for Immigrantly Media: launching the Love-ly relationships podcast with Mehak, producing ov...
2025-12-2311 minBanterlyListening to Kashmir Through a Kashmiri FilmmakerIn this episode of Immigrantly, host Saadia Khan speaks with Kashmiri filmmaker Arfat Sheikh, Director of Saffron Kingdom, about growing up in Kashmir, intergenerational trauma, and the cost of telling stories that are often silenced. Moving beyond the India–Pakistan framing, the conversation centers Kashmiri lived experience, touching on exile, disappearance, diaspora, and why Kashmiri storytelling is always political, even when it’s deeply human. This episode invites listeners to decenter inherited narratives and listen to Kashmir through the voice of someone who has lived it. Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can find more...
2025-12-1651 minBanterlyA Daughter 's Search for TruthIn this powerful conversation, journalist and author Karin Jensen takes us inside the real-life story behind her memoir The Strength of Water. Her mother’s life stretched from a Chinese laundry in 1920s Detroit to a village in wartime China, to navigating racism, domestic work, and reinvention in mid-century America. Karin shares how she pieced together silences, uncovered buried memories, and learned to hold complexity, contradiction, and compassion all at once. If you’ve ever wondered what your parents carried so you could stand where you stand, this one will stay with you long after you listen. Join us as we crea...
2025-12-0946 minBanterlyJokes That Go There: Lana Salah on Comedy Without ApologyIn this deeply human and sharply funny conversation, Palestinian American comedian Lana Salah joins Saadia in the studio for an unfiltered exploration of comedy, identity, loss, and truth-telling in a world that often prefers silence. Lana, an engineer-turned-comedian whose life spans the Bay Area, the Middle East, and now Los Angeles, breaks down how humor becomes cultural critique, emotional survival, and a form of resistance. From navigating rooms where her Palestinian identity is met with discomfort, to balancing factual vs. emotional truth onstage, to turning the heaviness of genocide, grief, and personal history into art, Lana holds nothing back. Saadia...
2025-12-0253 minBanterlyFlipping the Thanksgiving Script — Immigrant StyleThanksgiving is marketed as a serene celebration of gratitude, family, and food, but Saadia’s immigrant household tells a different story. In this extended solo episode, she unpacks the chaos that unfolds when her husband and daughters take over the kitchen, the tradition-defying choice to cook lamb instead of turkey, and the reality of observing the holiday completely sober (which, spoiler: makes everything more intense). Saadia uses her own experiences to reflect on how immigrants reshape American holidays, how gratitude can coexist with frustration, and why acknowledging the messy parts of tradition might actually make them more meaningful. A funny, th...
2025-11-2509 minBanterlyWho Needs a Time Machine? I Changed CountriesWhat does it mean to belong in America without proving your worth? Why are immigrants still expected to be extraordinary just to be seen as enough? And what happens when we stop performing successfully and simply allow ourselves to be human? In this deeply resonant conversation, host Saadia Khan is joined by Bilal Lakhani, Pakistani-American journalist, writer, and host of the podcast pehchaan, to explore identity, home, immigrant guilt, and the often-unspoken emotional cost of leaving the place you love. Bilal shares how moving from Karachi to the United States led to clinical depression, why raising his daughter changed his...
2025-11-1848 minBanterlyReproductive Care, Eugenics And the Myth of Too Many PeopleWhat if the story you’ve been told about “overpopulation” is a lie? Historian Dr. Lina-Maria Murillo, author of Fighting for Control: Power, Reproductive Care, and Race in the U.S.–Mexico Borderlands, joins Saadia Khan to unravel a century of reproductive politics that have shaped how we talk about abortion, contraception, and “desirability.” The episode exposes how eugenics quietly evolved into modern population-control policies and why blaming poor folks for “too many children” masks the real crisis: resource hoarding and racial capitalism. From Mexican border clinics to U.S. legislative battles, this conversation challenges everything we think we know about reproducti...
2025-11-1149 minBanterlyThe Quiet After SnowfallAward-winning novelist Shobha Rao joins Saadia Khan to talk about the stories that define and defy us. In this wide-ranging conversation, Shobha reflects on immigrating to the U.S. at age seven, learning English through Little House on the Prairie, and how the quiet of her first snowfall changed her forever. Her latest book, Indian Country, connects the legacies of British colonialism and American expansion while weaving a tender meditation on marriage, identity, and the longing for home. Shobha shares how failure shaped her writing, why language can both limit and liberate, and what “mutating through love” truly means. Join us a...
2025-11-0442 minBanterlyWhat We Are Called: The Language That Keeps Immigrants OutDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter, Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com In this powerful solo episode of Immigrantly, host Saadia Khan shares why she is angry and why she is paying close attention to the words we use around immigration. Prompted by a recent ProPublica investigation by journalist Hannah Allam, Saadia explores how government agencies like ICE use terms like “removable,” “alien,” and “target” to strip immigrants of their humanity. From media n...
2025-10-2813 minBanterlyGrief, Memory And the Art of EnoughDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter, Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com What does “enough” really mean? In this profoundly personal conversation, Saadia Khan sits down with Jaime Roque, musician, storyteller, and host of Recurrent. This Getty podcast uncovers the hidden stories behind monuments, places, and people. Born to Mexican immigrant parents, Jaime grew up between California’s Central Valley and Los Angeles, surrounded by music, community, and the sounds of his fa...
2025-10-2145 minBanterlyWhy We Don’t Act And How to Change ThatDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter, Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com Most of us mean well. So why don’t we act when it matters? In this episode, Saadia Khan sits down with philosophers Alex Madva (Cal Poly Pomona) and Michael Brownstein (John Jay College, CUNY), co-authors of Somebody Should Do Something from MIT Press. The episode unpacks the gap between good intentions and meaningful action, exploring why moral inertia is...
2025-10-1459 minBanterlyHow Priyanka Ganjoo Built Kulfi Beauty’s Inclusive VisionDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter, Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com What does it take to disrupt an industry built on exclusion? In this episode of Immigrantly, host Saadia Khan sits down with Priyanka Ganjoo, founder of Kulfi Beauty, to talk about reshaping the beauty narrative. From her journey at Estée Lauder and Ipsy to building a South Asian-centered brand that thrives at Sephora and beyond, Priyanka shares how s...
2025-10-0748 minBanterlyHow Sarita Ekya Built NYC’s Most Iconic Mac & Cheese SpotDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter, Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com What happens when an engineer trades equations for macaroni? Immigrantly host Saadia Khan sits down with Sarita Ekya, co-founder of S’MAC, the iconic East Village spot that turned mac & cheese into a cultural phenomenon. In this episode, Sarita shares her experiences growing up as an immigrant kid in Canada, taking a leap of faith in New York City, an...
2025-09-3047 minBanterlyTiff Soga on Fashion, Culture And ControversyDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter, Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com In this thought-provoking episode of Immigrantly, host Saadia Khan sits down with Tiff Soga, Managing Editor at Who What Wear, for a raw conversation on fashion’s future. The interview peels back the glossy surface of the industry to reveal the politics, power dynamics, and cultural narratives woven into what we wear. Soga, who entered the fashion world through a...
2025-09-2358 minBanterlyIntuition, Fear And Finding Identity Beyond WorkIn this solo episode of Immigrantly, Saadia Khan reflects on the power of intuition, the challenge of separating her identity from the company she built, and why messy, unpolished stories matter. Drawing from her Eastern cultural roots, Saadia explores how intuition has long guided her personal life, yet often feels harder to trust in her role as an entrepreneur. She unpacks how fear can masquerade as intuition, what it means to stop equating her self-worth with Immigrantly’s ups and downs, and the tools she’s using to reconnect with her intuitive voice. If you’ve ever felt torn between who yo...
2025-09-1611 minBanterlyWhy Intuition Matters More Than You ThinkIn this gripping episode of Immigrantly, Saadia Khan sits down with Mory Fontanez, intuitive coach, author of “Higher Self: Reclaiming the Power of Your Intuition”, and daughter of Iranian immigrants, to dig into the messy, fascinating truth about our inner voice. Their conversation moves from the personal to the cultural to the global: what happens when fear masquerades as intuition, how immigrant stories shape the way we listen to ourselves, why Western culture sidelines instinct while Eastern traditions revere it, and what it means to reclaim your higher self in a world designed to keep us in fear. Saadia pushes Mory...
2025-09-0244 minBanterlyFaith, Film And the Power of Telling Muslim Stories Our WayDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com Award-winning filmmaker Nijla Mumin joins Saadia Khan for an unfiltered conversation on art, identity, and the freedom to hold multitudes. From the personal truths behind her debut feature Jinn (released in 2018) to the uphill battle for funding authentic Muslim stories, Nijla shares why representation can’t be one-size-fits-all and how media can shift power. A must-listen for film lovers, cul...
2025-08-1950 minBanterlyLaw, Loyalty And A Billion Dollar SecretDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com Launching this September from Pushkin Industries, a new investigative podcast hosted by journalist Lidia Jean Kott uncovers the true story of Tina Wong, a Chinese American mother in 1980s Manhattan who was pulled into a billion-dollar heroin trafficking scheme. In this exclusive preview, Lidia joins host Saadia Khan to discuss the podcast's backstory, the complex moral terrain of friendship...
2025-08-1242 minBanterlyHot Takes & Dumpling Folds With Irene LiDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com What does it mean to cook with care, lead with equity, and challenge the rules of authenticity? In this episode, chef and entrepreneur Irene Li joins Saadia Khan for a powerful conversation about identity, food systems, and the evolving meaning of tradition. As the youngest-ever James Beard Leadership Award winner and co-founder of Mei Mei Dumplings, Irene has redefined...
2025-08-0553 minBanterlyMangoes, Chaat & Belonging: A Summer StoryDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com In this solo episode, Saadia Khan reflects on a summer of sensory memories, identity reckonings, and quiet realizations. From savoring mangoes and parathas in a sweltering Pakistan to noticing who gets pulled aside at airport security, she unpacks what it means to belong, especially when systems say otherwise. The episode revisits powerful moments from past episodes featuring Rajeev Balasubramanyam...
2025-07-2909 minBanterlyWhy Rajeev Balasubramanyam Says Identity Will Be Our DownfallDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe What happens when you stop chasing success, stop clinging to culture, and start questioning your own sense of self? In this introspective and provocative episode, host Saadia Khan sits down with philosopher, author, and content creator Rajeev Balasubramanyam to unpack everything from immigrant ambition to ego, burnout, respect, and the illusion of identity. Rajeev, known for his calm yet incisive Instagram...
2025-07-2248 minBanterlySacred & Seen: Sangeetha Kowsik on Art, Inclusion and Spiritual PluralismDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe What happens when you blend Arabic calligraphy with Hindu iconography? This week on Immigrantly, host Saadia Khan sits down with artist, chaplain, and designer Sangeetha Kowsik, the visionary behind Ihsan Ishan Design. From working with Jennifer Lopez and leading design at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to becoming a Hindu chaplain at NYU, Sangeetha’s journey is a testament to spiritual...
2025-07-1545 minBanterlyWho Gets to Be American? A History of Birthright Citizenship on TrialDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe What does it really mean to be an American? In this riveting episode of Immigrantly, host Saadia Khan takes us on a powerful journey from the landmark 1898 Supreme Court case of Wong Kim Ark to Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. Through historical context, legal nuance, and racial reckoning, Saadia explores the...
2025-07-0841 minBanterlyOutward And Inward Conversations with Zohran Mamdani (July 2020)Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe In this special re-release, host Saadia Khan sits down with Zohran Kwame Mamdani, recorded back in 2020, just after his groundbreaking win in the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly. At the time, Zohran was a first-time candidate who unseated a 10-year incumbent in Queens, fueled by grassroots energy and a bold progressive vision. Fast forward to today, and Zohran has jus...
2025-07-0140 minBanterlyPlot Twists, Politics & Love StoriesDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe Host Saadia Khan sits down with writer and historian Nishant Batsha to unpack how a pre-med dropout became a fiction powerhouse. From tracing Indian indenture across Fiji and Trinidad to crafting love stories set against political upheaval, Nishant’s novels explore what it means to belong when history keeps forgetting you. They talk about identity, migration, romance, and the radical act...
2025-06-2452 minBanterlyReverse Immigration, Siestas & Sound DesignDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Immigrantly to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. What happens when a digital nomad, a podcaster, and an outsider all converge in one person? Meet Jeremiah Tittle, CEO of Next Chapter Podcasts, whose journey from DC to Ibiza unpa...
2025-06-1746 minBanterlyInheriting Narratives (July 2024)Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Immigrantly to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. A quick note before we start. For Immigrant Heritage Month, we are revisiting one of those conversations that stays with you. Today's guest is Emily Kwong, a dedicated journalist and storytelle...
2025-06-1046 minBanterlyFood Is Never Just FoodDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Immigrantly to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. We love to romanticize food as a universal connector. But behind every plate is a story of power, privilege, and who gets to define what’s “authentic.” Chef and food activis...
2025-06-0350 minBanterlySo Many Stars, So Many Ways to Be FreeDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe What does it mean to belong when your identity defies borders, binaries, and expectations? In this powerful episode, Uruguayan American author and cultural force Caro De Robertis joins host Saadia Khan to explore the deeply personal and political stories behind ‘So Many Stars’’, an oral history honoring queer and trans elders of color. Caro reflects on estrangement, resilience, chosen f...
2025-05-2046 minBanterlyTwo Passports and a PunchlineDon't forget to subscribe to our newsletter Hyphenly; it's our no-fluff love letter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes! Link below https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe This week on Immigrantly, Saadia KhanI sits down with the brilliant and hilarious Derek Smith. He is a comedian, actor, and creator of @letsdoubledutch. Derek’s lived all over Chicago, Amsterdam, and London, and he’s bringing his globally inspired comedy back to the U.S. for the first time. They talk about everything from learning to belong in a...
2025-05-1350 minBanterlyAutopsies, Fame, and Scandal: Inside the Life of Thomas NoguchiWhat happens when a Japanese immigrant becomes Hollywood’s most powerful and controversial coroner? In this gripping conversation, Saadia sits down with historian and author Anne Soon Choi to unpack the life of Dr. Thomas Noguchi, LA’s former Chief Medical Examiner and the man behind some of the most infamous autopsies in American history—Marilyn Monroe, Robert F. Kennedy, and Natalie Wood, to name a few. But this story isn’t just about celebrity deaths. It’s about race, politics, media spectacle, and how one immigrant used science and savvy to claim space in a system never built for him. We al...
2025-05-0648 minBanterlyRedefining Home: The Journey Back to Mexico (August 2024)While host Saadia Khan recovers from laryngitis, Immigrantly brings back a standout episode from August 2024 featuring journalists Antonia Cerejido and Lorena Ríos. Originally recorded in the lead-up to the 2024 elections, this conversation explores politics, identity, and the storytelling power that shapes public discourse. Though some references to candidates and timelines reflect the moment, the themes remain strikingly relevant today. With a fresh perspective, this rerun reveals how clearly these two saw the road ahead. It is a must-listen for anyone reflecting on how far we’ve come and where we might be headed. Join us as we create new int...
2025-04-2940 minBanterlyThe Stories We Whisper, The Sounds We MissWhat does it mean to lean into your culture while living in a place that flattens it? In this richly textured episode, Saadia Khan sits down with Sudanese-American journalist and host of The Stoop, Hana Baba, for a wide-ranging conversation on identity, diaspora, and the soundscapes of belonging. From the cacophony of Sudanese weddings to the quiet codes of immigrant survival in the U.S., Hana explores the power of folk tales, scent, and sound as tools of cultural preservation and personal healing. The conversation unpacks the dangers of single narratives, the burden of "positive" stereotypes, and why leaning into...
2025-04-2248 minBanterlySpeaking Imperfectly, Belonging FullyDo you speak more than one language—but feel truly fluent in none? You’re not alone. In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Saadia Khan is joined by Angela Lin, founder of Real You Mandarin, to explore how language shapes our identities, relationships, and sense of belonging. Angela, a Taiwanese American polyglot, believes language learning should center on cultural connection—not grammatical perfection. We unpack what it means to “feel” fluent, how multilinguals navigate identity through code-switching, and why speaking imperfectly can still be powerful. Angela shares how her platform is changing the game for Mandarin learners who want to express...
2025-04-1544 minBanterlyFrom Spinning Beats to Saving Earth (May 2024)April is Earth Month — a time to reflect on the state of our planet, address urgent environmental issues, strategize action, and hold ourselves and others accountable. In that spirit, we’re bringing back an essential conversation from the Immigrantly vault. This episode with futurist and climate optimist Amer Jandali originally aired on May 28, 2024. Some references may sound a bit dated, but the message is as fresh and relevant as ever. Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can get more information at http://immigrantlypod.com. Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple...
2025-04-0840 minBanterlyDesigned to Exclude: How Policy Shaped the Fate of Mexican Immigrants in TexasWhat if the barriers to success weren’t personal but structural, intentional, and decades in the making? In this episode of Immigrantly, host Saadia Khan sits down with demographers Jennifer Hook and James Bachmeier, authors of a groundbreaking new book, Texas-Style Exclusion: Mexican Americans and the Legacy of Limited Opportunity, that traces how Mexican immigrant families in Texas were systematically excluded from public education and opportunity throughout the 20th century—and how those policies still resonate today. We unpack why Texas created systems to exploit labor while blocking social mobility, how educational inequality was baked into policy, not culture, what comp...
2025-04-0151 minBanterlyToo Foreign for Home, Too Foreign for HereIdentity isn’t always a box you check; it’s a journey. In this episode of Immigrantly, host Saadia Khan sits down with Beatriz Nour, the creator of Inbetweenish, a podcast that unpacks the complexities of belonging across cultures, languages, and traditions. Beatriz shares her personal story of navigating three cultures, four languages, and two religions, reflecting on the struggles and privileges of being in between. From growing up as a minority in Egypt to questioning her Arab identity and redefining what home truly means, Beatriz challenges the idea of fixed identities and explores what we gain when we embrace flui...
2025-03-2543 minBanterlyWriting Like Nobody’s WatchingWhat happens when we step outside our own understanding of identity and embrace the messy, beautiful, and sometimes contradictory stories that shape us? In this episode of Immigrantly, host Saadia Khan sits down with writer and television executive Nayantara Roy to explore the intersections of storytelling, belonging, and cultural memory. From navigating multiple worlds as an immigrant to uncovering the power of secrets in fiction, Nayantara shares insights from her acclaimed novel, The Magnificent Ruins, and her upcoming book, Sisters of a Halved Heart (coming Spring 2026). She also discusses the complexities of code-switching, the joy of language, and how her...
2025-03-1844 minBanterlyHearing 'No' Like An ImmigrantHow do you go from fleeing your home country to building a Luxury Fashion Empire? Dr. Neri Karra did just that—without the fluff, the nonsense, or selling out. In this episode of Immigrantly, I sit down with Neri to talk about how she built a global brand, teaches at Oxford, and still finds time to write about immigrant entrepreneurship experiences in her book "Pioneers: Eight Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs." We’re unpacking The wild journey from refugee camp to fashion powerhouse Why hearing “No” a thousand times makes you sharper The truth about “sustainable” fashion (and why she’s not...
2025-03-1151 minBanterlyRiding Along with Kareem Rahma: Creating 'Keep The Meter Running' and More (April 2023)I am excited to re-drop one of my favorite episodes featuring the incredible Kareem Rahma! When we first recorded this chat, Kareem was all about "Keep the Meter Running." Now, he's taken his journey to new heights with "Subway Takes." It's a series of short videos created by Kareem Rahma that offer his opinions on brands and pop culture, and he is gearing up to launch his very own podcast. This conversation is packed with unexpected twists and insights that you'll love. So, dive in now, and be sure to come back for a brand new Immigrantly episode with engaging...
2025-03-0438 minBanterlyHelicopters, Justice & Magic Tricks??What does serving in the U.S. military while challenging its norms mean? In this episode of Immigrantly, Saadia Khan sits down with Lieutenant Julie Roland, an active-duty naval aviator and law school graduate who advocates for systemic change. Julie takes us behind the scenes of military life, its hierarchies, recruitment strategies, and the challenges of gender equity in a male-dominated space. She also shares her insights on reimagining military recruitment to address sexual assault, the complex role of the U.S. military in global politics, and the nuanced patriotism that comes with service. Beyond the uniform, Julie is a c...
2025-02-2544 minBanterlyLost & Found: Search for A Soviet Guardian AngelWhat happens when a family story takes you on an unexpected journey? In this episode of Immigrantly, I sit down with Jake Warren, founder of Message Heard and the creator of Finding Natasha, a profoundly personal podcast about tracking down the woman who saved his mother’s life decades ago in the Soviet Union. Jake’s mother, a young British ballerina, had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train in Russia. But her dream quickly turned into a nightmare when she fell gravely ill, abandoned in an isolation ward until Natasha, a fellow dancer, risked everything to help her escape. Decades later, Jake...
2025-02-1856 minBanterlyBirthright, Borders & Bullsh*t!What happens when a country built by immigrants starts redefining who belongs? In this episode, I sit down with Claudia Yoli Ferla, a Venezuelan-born Latina and the Executive Director of Move Texas to discuss the latest political chaos surrounding immigration, voting rights, and civic engagement. From the new administration's executive orders threatening birthright citizenship to mass deportations, we tackle the fear-mongering narratives shaping policy and why they don’t hold up. Claudia, a DACA recipient, and TPS holder shares how young voters reject political apathy and mobilize for real change. Is the American Dream just a marketing gimmick? Why do pol...
2025-02-1148 minBanterlyForgotten StoriesThis episode is sponsored by Bilt Rewards- go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get started Some stories demand to be told. This one, in particular, struck me deeply. I sat down with Nancy Wang, a storyteller, artist, and author of Red Altar, to talk about her ancestors—Chinese immigrants who helped build California’s fishing industry against all odds. Their ingenuity, their fight against racist laws, and their sheer will to survive felt eerily familiar. As we spoke, I found myself reflecting on the weight of legacy. How many immigrant stories like Nancy’s have been erased? How many sacrifices did it...
2025-02-0447 minBanterlyWhat's Your Legacy?This year, we’ve tackled deep emotions and intricate journeys of faith, and today, we’re diving into the profound yet personal concept of legacy. Legacy—it sounds monumental, right? But does it have to be? For me, crafting a legacy sometimes feels like another overwhelming to-do list. Yet, what if the legacy isn’t about grandeur but embracing our stories and connections in the here and now? That’s where today’s guest, Shawna Wells, comes in! Shawna is the brilliant mind behind Legacy, Lyrics & Life, a podcast that explores how music intertwines with personal narratives to shape the legacies we’r...
2025-01-2848 minBanterlyWhen a Christian Minister and a Muslim Podcaster Walk Into a Studio…Talking about religion makes me uncomfortable. Maybe it’s because I practice a faith that’s often misunderstood in this country. But in this episode, I decided to face that discomfort head-on. I sat down with Minister Lydia Sohn, a progressive Christian leader and writer, to have an honest, vulnerable, and surprisingly fun conversation about faith, identity, and shared humanity. We talked about big questions: How do we reconcile religion with doubt? Can faith coexist with progressiveness? And how do we connect with others when our beliefs are so different? Lydia also shared her experiences as a woman, immigrant, and mini...
2025-01-2148 minBanterlyImmigrantly 2025: Working through the Arc of the Emotions with Anita RaoStart the year with powerful insights! In this episode, I reflect on Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire (catchy or cop-out?) and chat with Anita Rao, host of Embodied. We explore working through emotions instead of discharging them and building emotional intelligence; we talk about Anita embracing her mixed-race identity and rethinking how we judge immigrant parents. It’s an unfiltered, inspiring conversation that sets the tone for 2025 Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, accurate insights into the immigrant identity in America. Immigr...
2025-01-1450 minBanterlyPonchos, Panther, and Purpose: Bambadjan Bamba Redefines BelongingCan you believe it? This is the final Immigrantly episode of 2024! As I reflect on this incredible year, I’m grateful for the meaningful stories and conversations we’ve shared. Together, we’ve leaned into curiosity, allyship, and learning, and I can’t wait to bring you even more inspiring voices in 2025. Mark your calendars—our first episode of the new year drops on January 14th! But before we step into the future, I’m thrilled to end the year with an unforgettable guest, Bambadjan Bamba. You may know him from Black Panther or The Good Place, but his story goes far bey...
2024-12-2448 minBanterlyI Just Want A ShowToday’s guest is Julio Salgado. Through his bold and unapologetic work, Julio challenges the status quo and uplifts voices that are too often silenced. As a queer, undocumented creator, he uses his art to reimagine visibility, joy, and resistance. In this conversation, we connected on our immigrant experiences, love for art, and his beautiful, poetic way of describing the U.S. If you’re feeling the weight of the year or just looking for a spark of inspiration, this episode is for you. Join me as I sit down with Julio and explore his incredible journey, challenges, and how he u...
2024-12-1746 minBanterlyTearing Down Tribes: Aymann Ismail on Love, Religion, and LegacyToday, I'm thrilled to reconnect with Aymann Ismail, award-winning journalist and the visionary behind the PBS documentary American Muslims: A History Revealed. Beyond the groundbreaking stories from the series, our conversation takes a deeply personal turn. Aymann opens up about his new book, 'Becoming Baba,' which explores his journey of self-discovery, his experiences with dating, and how they've shaped his perspectives on love and identity. We also discuss the values he hopes to instill in his children, weaving together reflections on faith, culture, and what it means to leave a meaningful legacy. We revisit stories from the documentary, including...
2024-12-1053 minBanterlySobriety, Identity & Cat ChatsI’m so excited to share my conversation with Adam Macias on this episode of Immigrantly. Adam is a comedian, writer, and podcaster whose sobriety journey is just one fascinating chapter in his story. We talked about everything—from how he uses humor to connect with people to his thoughts on Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate and how young men today navigate their identities in such interesting and complex ways. Oh, and did I mention we bonded over our mutual love for cats? Adam’s got one, too, and we couldn’t resist swapping stories about our furry friends. This episode...
2024-12-0342 minBanterlyFeed Drop: Turkeys, Touchdowns, and Tradition: John Madden’s Thanksgiving Legacy-Sportly Thanksgiving SpecialToday, I am bringing you something a little different. As we gather with loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I am excited to share a special episode from Sportly, one of our sibling podcasts here at Immigrantly Media. Thanksgiving is more than just turkey and pie—it’s about family, connection, and tradition. And for many, Thanksgiving Day football has become a quintessential part of the celebration. In this episode, Sportly dives into why football holds such a special place in the holiday, how it ties into themes of community and togetherness, and how John Madden’s larger-than-life presence helped...
2024-11-2618 minBanterlyAI at the BorderIn this compelling episode of Immigrantly, we’re joined by Petra Molnar, a renowned lawyer and anthropologist whose work sits at the intersection of migration, technology, and human rights. As Associate Director of the Refugee Law Lab at York University and a Faculty Associate at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, Petra critically examines the role of AI and other technologies in reshaping migration experiences. She’s the co-creator of the Migration and Technology Monitor, which exposes the real-world impacts of digital surveillance on those crossing borders. Petra’s recent book, The Walls Have Eyes: Surviving Migration in the A...
2024-11-1948 minBanterlyFinding Stillness in a Fast Moving WorldIn this episode, I’m joined by the incredibly talented Delsy, a Guatemalan-American therapist, visual artist, and co-host of the Tamarindo Podcast. She’s also the creative force behind the Ocu-Pasión Podcast, where she amplifies the voices of Latin American artists and visionaries. But Delsy doesn’t just live in the audio space—she co-founded Encuentro: Creative Retreat, a nurturing haven for artists and cultural creators, blending workshops with healing practices to inspire and rejuvenate. We dive deep into Delsy’s journey of weaving art with mental health, the impact of storytelling on personal growth, and finding pockets of peace amids...
2024-11-1254 minBanterlyElection Day Musings: Frustration, Hope, and Showing UpToday, on Election Day, Saadia Khan shares an honest conversation about the weight of this election cycle. She reflects on the disconnection many feel with the current political landscape, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the moral complexities that define our time. Saadia emphasizes why showing up is crucial—not just for us but for those who can’t vote. Join her for a candid discussion about the power of dissent, engagement, and the need for sustained change. Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, accurate insi...
2024-11-0508 minBanterlyCultivating Pacing ReplenishingIn this episode, I explore women's pressures while juggling multiple roles, all while hearing the constant message that we should be able to “have it all.” But is that even realistic? For women, especially entrepreneurs, and women of color, the challenges are undeniable—limited resources, systemic barriers, and the constant need to prove ourselves. Joining me is Amina Altai, a holistic leadership coach and the author of the insightful book 'The Ambition Trap'. Amina’s unique blend of business strategy, wellness, and mindfulness helps women align their careers with their values and well-being. We’ll discuss finding balance, redefining success, the toxici...
2024-10-2246 minBanterlyThe Many Faces of AmericaIn today’s episode, I’m joined by the phenomenal Sarah Jones, a Tony Award-winning actress and master of transformation. From outspoken grandmas to Gen Z influencers, Sarah’s ability to embody different characters is unmatched. We’ll explore her creative process, how she channels these voices, and what it all means for understanding identity and belonging in America. This conversation is equal parts entertaining and thought-provoking! Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, accurate insights into the immigrant identity in America. Immigrantly has garnered significant recognit...
2024-10-1547 minBanterlyUnboxedToday, I’m talking with Myra Flynn—an incredible singer-songwriter, storyteller, and host of Homegoings. Myra’s work resonates deeply with me because she tackles something that’s so relatable: the struggle to define yourself when the world insists on squeezing you into a box. Whether it’s the “model minority” myth or other stereotypes, she’s pushing back against those limiting roles and creating space for stories that go beyond surface-level labels. We explore her journey as a woman of color in the music industry, the inspiration behind Homegoings, and how she navigates the tension between owning her truth and resisting ot...
2024-10-0850 minBanterly'The Future Has So Much For Us'Today’s episode is a heartfelt dive into the meaning of ‘home.’ As immigrants, many of us grapple with the idea that home isn’t just one place—it’s a collection of spaces, memories, and feelings that shape who we are. Our guest today, Robert Hartwell, a celebrated Broadway performer, has taken this concept to new heights—quite literally—as he embarks on restoring a historic home. For Robert, this is more than just a renovation project. It’s a deeply personal journey of reclaiming space, honoring history, and carving out a future filled with hope and resilience. In this conversation...
2024-10-0142 minBanterlyUnscripted: Samuel Jamier on Race, Adoption, and Asian Representation in CinemaIn this episode of Immigrantly, we explore the world of cinema, representation, and identity with Samuel Jamier, the Executive Director of the New York Asian Film Festival. Samuel's story is a remarkable transformation from his early life as a shy Korean adoptee in Brittany, France, to becoming a trailblazer in the film industry. He opens up about the complicated dynamics with his foster parents, navigating racial tensions in French society, and his evolving understanding of identity as an Asian growing up in a predominantly white environment. Join Samuel and me as we uncover how these experiences shaped his journey from...
2024-09-2432 minBanterlyThe Art of Pretend: Karla Cornejo Villavicencio On Her Frst Work Of Fiction, Girlhood, and Pop SongsThis week, in celebration of Latino Heritage Month, we’re bringing you a special conversation with the brilliant Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, author of The Undocumented Americans, and her fiction debut, Catalina. Our Nationly producer, Sofia Sanchez, leads this thoughtful interview as a guest host, where they delve into Karla's first novel, ‘Catalina.’ Recently nominated for the National Book Award, the debut novel captures “a year in the life of the unforgettable Catalina Ituralde, a wickedly wry and heartbreakingly vulnerable student at an elite college.” Inspired by autobiographical music, second-wave girlhood, and dark humor, the conversation explores how “Catalina” is written with the cute...
2024-09-1746 minBanterlyModel Minority MakeoverIn this thought-provoking episode, I speak with Dr. Ann Anlin Cheng, a renowned scholar and author whose work pushes the boundaries of understanding race, aesthetics, and cultural history. Known for her groundbreaking books, The Melancholy of Race, Second Skin, and her recent publication, Ordinary Disasters, Dr. Cheng challenges conventional narratives around the model minority myth and how it intertwines with race, gender, and identity. She and I explore the nuanced relationship between beauty, art, and the human experience, unpacking how cultural constructs shape our perceptions of ourselves and others. It's a transformative conversation that invites you to see the world—an...
2024-09-1046 minBanterlyFrom Headlines to Chaat Dog: Pervaiz Shallwani’s Flavorful Journey (2023)I’m so excited to bring you a re-release of one of my favorite episodes featuring the incredible Pervaiz Shallwani, the founder of Chaat Dog. Pervaiz’s journey from being a journalist to creating Chaat Dog—a delicious fusion of South Asian chaat and the classic American hot dog—truly captivated me. Since we last chatted, Pervaiz has been making waves in New York City’s food scene, with Chaat Dog popping up all over and drawing in food enthusiasts from everywhere. If you missed our conversation the first time around now’s the perfect chance to catch up and hear from th...
2024-09-0344 minBanterlyLeveling Up: Shahjehan Khan & Rafay Rashid on Fame and SobrietyI’m beyond excited about today’s episode because we’re catching up with someone who’s been on quite a journey since you last heard from him. Shahjehan Khan, my cohost from our season of Immigrantly on Love and Relationships, is back—and he’s got some incredible stories to share. From appearing on Succession to taking on iconic roles in Mortal Kombat, Shahjehan has been leveling up in the entertainment world, and I can’t wait for you to hear all about it. But that’s not all—joining us is the amazingly talented Rafay Rashid, an experimental musician with a ra...
2024-08-2733 minBanterlyRebels In the MakingAs the host of Immigrantly, I’m always looking for voices that challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of our understanding of identity and resistance. In this episode, I’m thrilled to introduce two extraordinary women whose work does precisely that. Join me as I dive into the inspiring stories of Laura Vergara, a Queer Colombian feminist organizer, and Ayat Mneina, a Libyan researcher and writer. Laura is at the forefront of redefining girlhood through the Stories of Girls' Resistance initiative, amplifying the everyday acts of defiance against patriarchy and violence across the globe. Ayat brings her deep comm...
2024-08-2029 min
ImmigrantlyFeed Drop: Nuances Podcast Conversation with Soo Jin LeeThis summer, I’m sharing original Immigrantly content and highlighting creators who have inspired me. Recently, I shared an episode of The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos, and today, I’m excited to bring you another gem—an episode of the Nuances podcast.If you’re a regular Immigrantly listener, you might recall my interview with Sherry Lyn Lee, also known as Lazou, the host of Nuances. The episode was titled "From Tech to Tunes." Her podcast, Nuances, is an award-nominated audio space where guests from various Asian ethnic groups, careers, countries, and communities delve into the comp...
2024-08-1355 minBanterlyFeed Drop: Nuances Podcast Conversation with Soo Jin LeeThis summer, I’m sharing original Immigrantly content and highlighting creators who have inspired me. Recently, I shared an episode of The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos, and today, I’m excited to bring you another gem—an episode of the Nuances podcast. If you’re a regular Immigrantly listener, you might recall my interview with Sherry Lyn Lee, also known as Lazou, the host of Nuances. The episode was titled "From Tech to Tunes." Her podcast, Nuances, is an award-nominated audio space where guests from various Asian ethnic groups, careers, countries, and communities delve into the complexities of our cult...
2024-08-1355 minBanterlyRedefining Home: The Journey Back to MexicoAs the 2024 Presidential Elections approach, reductive narratives around immigrant identities are on the rise. Despite over 70 million first and second-generation immigrants in America, they continue to face vilification. Politicians echo alarming calls for mass deportations, but few capture the humanity of the immigrant experience. In this episode, my guests and I explore these issues and the often-overlooked stories of those who return to their homeland. Joining me are Antonia Cerejido and Lorena Rios, the brilliant minds behind the podcast Imperfect Paradise, Return to Mexico. They share the powerful journey of Daniel Zamora, an undocumented immigrant sent back to Mexico, revealing...
2024-08-0640 minBanterly'Our Norms Are Changing Rapidly'In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Mila Atmos, the fabulous host of Future Hindsight. Mila is renowned for her deep understanding of civic engagement and democratic participation. She has spent years amplifying the voices of changemakers and thought leaders who shape our society. But who is Mila Atmos beyond the microphone? This conversation delves into the lesser-known aspects of her life and career. Did you know Mila was born in Indonesia and raised in Germany before moving to the U.S.? Like me, she embarked on her podcasting journey during the 2016 elections. Mila and I explore...
2024-07-2339 minBanterlyNaming Hope: The Story Behind 'Nada’Today on Immigrantly, I’m excited to welcome the incredible Dr. Amra Sabic-El-Rayess. Amra is an Associate Professor at Columbia University, focusing on essential topics like social cohesion, the radicalization process, and how communities can hurt each other. But beyond her academic work, Amra has an incredible personal story—she survived the Bosnian war and genocide in the 1990s. She wrote a powerful book about her experience called "The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival." For those who may not know, the Bosnian Genocide happened between 1992 and 1995 and involved horrific ethnic cleansing and mass kill...
2024-07-1645 minBanterlyInheriting NarrativesToday's guest is Emily Kwong, a dedicated journalist and storyteller renowned for her outstanding work at NPR. Emily's reporting spans a broad spectrum, from climate change and science to compelling human interest stories that shed light on the rich tapestry of immigrant communities. Her keen insights and propensity to capture the essence of human experiences have garnered widespread acclaim in journalism. I've been deeply engaged with Emily's latest podcast, 'Inheriting,' which delves into Asian American and Pacific-Islander families. Through her exploration of how historical events reverberate across generations, Emily creates a narrative that feels intimate and profound, akin to...
2024-07-0947 minBanterlyFourth of July Special: The Freedom ConundrumAs we approach the 4th of July, we’re diving into the multifaceted concept of freedom. For many immigrants and diverse groups, true liberation remains elusive, overshadowed by systemic inequalities and societal barriers. What does freedom mean in a country that touts itself as the land of the free yet often makes many of us feel otherwise? Join my team members, Adiba Hussain, Sara Baig, Sereen Qader, and I, as we represent diverse backgrounds and experiences and share our reflections on freedom (or lack thereof), identity, and the ongoing journey toward true equality. Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates th...
2024-07-0214 minBanterly"The Plays Are Smarter Than I Ever Was"Frequent listeners of Immigrantly know that I often delve into the differences between individualistic and collectivist societies. This contrast becomes particularly striking when considering how people in individualistic cultures often face grief and struggles in isolation. Immigrants can deeply resonate with the emotional toll this solitude brings and the vital role of community and support. Today's guest has brilliantly explored these struggles through her Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "Cost of Living," which poignantly captures the complexities of human connection and the profound effects of isolation. Joining me today is Martyna Majok, the 2018 Pulitzer Prize winner for "Cost of Living." A distinguished g...
2024-06-2440 minBanterlyFrom Tech To TunesToday’s guest is Lazou (Sherry-Lynn Lee), a multi-faceted talent who embodies the rich tapestry of a “Sino-Mauritian-Canadian-American producer, writer, and artist.” Raised in the vibrant culture of Mauritius, Lazou initially carved out a successful, nearly decade-long career in Silicon Valley as a software engineer and data scientist. However, her true passion led her to make a bold leap into the world of music and media. Her songwriting is a testament to her linguistic versatility, with enchanting melodies in English, French, and Mauritian Creole. Lazou is also the brilliant mind behind the 'Nuances' podcast, a platform that explores the diverse experi...
2024-06-1845 minBanterlyFeed Drop: Future Hindsight podcast-Hajar YazdihaAs we prepare for the Nationly and Sportly podcasts launch and Immigrantly's newest episodes, we are sharing an episode by our friends at the Future Hindsight episode. In this Future Hindsight episode, host Mila Atmos is joined by Hajar Yazdiha for a conversation on the role of collective memory in the myth-making of American exceptionalism. Collective memory is how we remember history and becomes central to our idea of who we are as a people. It’s a storytelling process and the most central story to who we are as a people. The civil rights movement has become one of the...
2024-06-1139 minBanterlyUnearthing the Untold Stories of the South Asian Diaspora in HarlemIn this episode, I sit down with Vivek Bald, a filmmaker, writer, and scholar dedicated to uncovering the hidden histories of the South Asian diaspora. For the past twenty-five years, Vivek has explored the migration patterns and cultural impact of South Asians in the US and Britain through his documentaries, books, and academic work at MIT’s Comparative Media Studies Department. His latest documentary, “In Search of Bengali Harlem,” which premiered in early March, reveals the forgotten history of Bengali migrants who settled in Harlem during the 1920s, integrating into Black and Hispanic communities. Key Takeaways History of South Asian Migrat...
2024-06-0439 minBanterlyFrom Spinning Beats to Saving EarthAmer Jandali is the founder of 'Future Meets Present,' a social design agency dedicated to building a sustainable future. Before diving into climate activism, Amer had an exciting career as a DJ in New Mexico, where he even opened for famous acts like LMFAO (yes, the Party Rock Anthem duo). He later moved from Las Cruces to New York City to pursue a master's degree in design for social innovation. Today, he teaches sustainable business models at Parsons and social entrepreneurship at John Jay College. Join us as we discuss his journey from DJing to designing a greener future...
2024-05-2841 minBanterlyExploring Realism with a Smattering of HumorToday’s guest is someone I recently started to follow on Twitter, X whatever you call it, and I started reading her debut essay collection, “The Way You Make Me Feel: LOVE IN BLACK AND BROWN.” I am in awe of her calm honesty and unique writing style; she blends humor and realism with aplomb. Nina Sharma is a writer who focuses on humor writing. She is a Barnard alum and now teaches first-year students there. Her work has been showcased in publications such as The New Yorker and Women’s Studies Quarterly. Through her workshops and writing columns, she explores...
2024-05-2135 minBanterlyUnveiling the Salvadoran Narrative: The US Foreign Policy & Its ImpactToday's guest, Daniel Alvarenga, journalist and podcast host, delves into his life as a Salvadoran American and the extensive influence of U.S. foreign policy on Central America. Raised in a Salvadoran household, he recounts his parents' migration during El Salvador's civil war and its profound impact on his worldview. Daniel addresses prevalent misconceptions about Central Americans, particularly stereotypes linked to violence, and underscores the importance of grasping the historical and political nuances behind Central American migration. In his podcast "Humo, Murder and Silence en El Salvador," Alvarenga exposes systemic failures and the harsh realities faced by families of the...
2024-05-1444 minBanterlyDecoding Depictions in Call of DutyJoin me on Immigrantly as I delve into the intricate world of gaming and representation, a topic that is not only fascinating but also highly relevant in today’s diverse gaming landscape. In this episode, I am joined by University of Chicago professors Alireza Doostdar and Ghent Hayek, who share insights from their groundbreaking project, ‘Gaming Islam.’ We explore the portrayal of South West Asian, North African, and Muslim individuals in the iconic video game Call of Duty. Discover why representation matters in gaming and how initiatives like ‘Gaming Islam’ reshape the industry’s landscape. It’s a thought-provoking discussion on the power o...
2024-05-0744 minBanterly"Happiness Is Like A Leaky Tire"In this week's episode of Immigrantly, I dive head-first into the expansive realm of happiness. Is happiness a fleeting moment or a sustained state of being? Can it be actively cultivated, or is it an innate aspect of human existence? How do our backgrounds, personalities, and choices influence our perceptions of happiness? Our guest, Laurie Santos, a distinguished cognitive science and psychology professor at Yale, is here to shed light on these questions. With her groundbreaking course, Psychology and the Good Life, Laurie has pioneered an approach to happiness education that has captivated audiences worldwide. We discuss cultural considerations when...
2024-04-3043 minBanterlySurviving the Messed-Up SystemHey folks, join me for a chat with Yusuf Dahl, who's been through it all, from facing a potential 60-year sentence at 18 to hustling to founding his own company, Milwaukee Metro Management. And get this: he's not just any entrepreneur - he's a Princeton grad and former Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lafayette College. We'll dive into his rollercoaster ride from prison to Princeton, talk about the messed-up prison system, and how he's changing the game for communities like the one he grew up in. Trust me, you won't want to miss this incredible story of survival and triumph...
2024-04-2339 minBanterlyWhen AI Meets Feminist EthicsToday's episode is a special treat for all you tech enthusiasts, Black Mirror binge-watchers, and fans of the Terminator franchise! I am delving deep into the realm of artificial intelligence, but with a twist – through the lens of feminist ethics. I sit down with the brilliant Dr. Kerry McInerney, a scholar and AI ethicist whose work sheds light on the intersection of feminism, race, and technology. She is currently a Research Associate at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence and a research fellow at AI Now Institute. Her scholarly writing has appeared in multiple journals, and in 2021, she re...
2024-04-1642 minBanterlyWhen Is It Ok to Call Someone ResilientDo you ever feel that the term 'resilience 'needs to capture the essence of our experiences? I sure do! Join me for a critical discussion on this topic. And guess what? I've got a special guest in the house—Vinita Srivastava, a seasoned multimedia producer, researcher, podcaster, and writer. She and I dive into her latest project, the 'Don't Call Me Resilient' podcast. Through our conversations, we challenge predominant perspectives on race, resilience, and inclusivity. You don't want to miss it. Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners wi...
2024-04-0940 minBanterlyWhat We Mean When We Talk About GenocideThe use of 'Genocide' in discussions about Gaza has captured global attention, stirring a complex debate around its implications. In this episode, Ernesto Verdeja, a Professor of peace studies and global politics, joins me in dissecting the meaning and application of this term within the Israel-Palestine situation. We aim to understand the term, the criteria for its use, and the divergent viewpoints on its relevance to current events in Gaza. This conversation offers a thoughtful exploration of a highly charged topic, clarifying a term that carries significant weight in international discourse. This is a nuanced analysis with hopes that it...
2024-04-0246 minBanterlyPreserving Inclusion Amidst Political BacklashAs we witness institutions like the University of Florida and major corporations like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan scaling back their DEI efforts due to political pressures, are we allowing divisive rhetoric to overshadow the importance of creating inclusive environments where everyone feels valued? My guest today, Netta Jenkins, is a leader in the DEI space. She embodies the spirit of challenging norms and advocating for change. Raised by immigrant parents from Liberia and having grown up in Rhode Island, Netta talks about her childhood experiences that led her to choose a career in DEI. We discussed what will be...
2024-03-1944 minBanterlyBeyond Skin Deep: Exploring the Complexities of BeautyToday, I am diving deep into the multifaceted world of beauty – an intensely personal and profoundly public topic. The beauty landscape has undergone a seismic shift from societal perceptions to self-reflection in the age of social media and video calls. In a world where self-scrutiny is constant, have we become more conscious of our own uniqueness? Are we conditioned to view ourselves through an augmented lens, even in reality? Today, we will unpack these questions and try to gain insights into the complex interplay of beauty, technology, and societal norms. My guest, Dr. John Mesa, MD, answers some of these ques...
2024-03-1232 minBanterly“I Am Not From Here, Not From There”Meet Ana Sheila Victorino – she's an amazing human being! Ana's all about well-being and empowerment. She co-founded "Bask & Being" for workplace wellness and hosted the Tamarindo Podcast. This podcast discusses politics, culture, and self-development and has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Latino USA, Latina Magazine, Variety Magazine's Entertainment and Tech Summit, and Hip Latina. Today, Ana shares her journey back to Mexico, how speaking Spanish more fluently shaped her identity, and how invested she feels in American society given her dual nation status. Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing ou...
2024-03-0536 minBanterly“Obviously, A Republican Feels For Me”Today’s episode features the remarkable Negin Farsad!, a brilliant writer and comedian known for her hilarious wit and astute commentary. You might recognize Negin as the host of the popular podcast "Fake the Nation," where she engages in lively discussions about culture, politics, and everything. With an impressive lineup of guests, including luminaries like Samantha Bee and Margaret Cho, Negin fearlessly tackles complex topics with humor and intelligence. In this episode, we dive deep into the art of conversation and the power of humor to address societal issues. We explore Negin's unique perspective on diversity in entertainment, her journey in...
2024-02-2749 min
BanterlyFeed Drop: Grown, A Podcast by The MothGrown is a podcast about the in-between: the nebulous, the liminal, the just plain weird time between those awkward teenage years and full-on adulthood. Join co-hosts Aleeza Kazmi and Alfonso “Fonzo” Lacayo as they present true stories that deal with the challenges and joys of growing up. Episodes drop every two weeks!
2024-02-2302 minBanterlyThe Food MashupI'm excited to chat with the impressive Chef Jesus Diaz. From starting in a Florida sushi joint to becoming a household name on Despierta America, his journey is remarkable. With a cookbook, cooking attire line, two Emmy wins, and even a dance show victory under his belt, Chef Jesus is a force to be reckoned with. In this episode, we unpack his incredible story and learn what makes his cuisine and journey unique. Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, unvarnished insights into the immigrant identity...
2024-02-2033 minBanterlyCooking Up Love, One Recipe At a TimeJoin me as I uncover the heartwarming tale of Send Chinatown Love, a nonprofit born out of the unity of New York City's Chinatown during the pandemic. Elaine Mao and Christoph Grosse share insights into their mission beyond restaurants, tackling hate crimes, and supporting the elderly. We do a deep dive into their latest project, the "Made Here" cookbook, featuring a plethora of unique recipes from Chinatown and beyond. Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, unvarnished insights into the immigrant identity in America. Immigrantly has g...
2024-02-1334 minBanterlyI Must Belong HereIn today's episode, I am joined by Supinder Wraich, a trailblazing Canadian writer and actress. You might recognize her from her standout performance as "Aqsa" in the Peabody award-winning series "Sort of," which is currently in its gripping third and final season on HBO. Supinder not only captivates audiences on screen but has also left an indelible mark as the creator and star of her mini-series, 'the 410,' released in 2019. As she gears up for the premiere of "Allegiance" on CBC this February, Supinder is breaking down stereotypes and reshaping the narrative for actors of color in the West. Immigrantly...
2024-02-0641 minBanterlyFeed Drop: The Mash-Up Americans Podcast - Lisa LingIn January 2023, I sat down with Amy Choi and Rebecca Lehrer, the cohosts of The Mash-Up Americans podcast. Our conversation centered on their series on grief. We discussed grief, how we can understand it without over-pathologizing the sentiment, and why it’s both universal and personal. The most remarkable about the conversation is that we kept it light and honest.” Today, I am so psyched to share an episode from their podcast- their interview with Lisa Ling. The celebrated journalist, executive producer, TV host, author, and mother sits with Rebecca and Amy to share her journey to heal her familial bond...
2024-01-3057 minBanterlyFeed Drop: The Trail Ahead Podcast-Ahmad Hijazi on Thru-hiking, Feeling at Home in Nature, and Arab Representation in the OutdoorsToday, we are shaking things up! Rather than releasing our usual episode, we have a special treat for you. Get ready to dive into an enlightening episode of "The Trail Ahead" podcast, where athletes and environmental advocates Faith E. Briggs and Addie Thompson embark on thought-provoking conversations at the intersection of race, environment, history, and culture. Faith and Addie sit down with Ahmad Hijazi, a remarkable first-generation Lebanese-American thru-hiker and mountaineer, in this captivating installment. Ahmad shares his unique perspective on Arab-American representation in the outdoors. In this episode, they also debrief with the writer, producer, professor, and Executive Producer...
2023-07-251h 24
BanterlyIce-Breaking: Immigrantly Goes Live with Sway Bhatia at NHL EventI am thrilled to present an exciting bonus episode to you. Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting 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...
2023-03-1521 minBanterlyPleasure Through The Personal LensWe 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...
2022-02-0148 minBanterlySeason 13 Trailer: "Love On The Brain"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...
2022-01-0402 minBanterlyThe Alien Chronicles is changing its name to "Immigrantly”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.
2019-08-3002 minBanterlyImmigrantly Podcast TrailerLooking to engage in deeply personal conversations on race, multiculturalism, politics, and the general messiness of being human? Hosted by Saadia Khan, Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that dares to ask guests what they think of America and hope for America by calling upon the past and current socio-political discourse. We seek to understand race & identity against other significant backdrops like mental health, love & relationships, food, and religion. Our episodes deconstruct the immigrant status, one that has many narratives—goofy, brave, and above all, relatable. Immigrantly will challenge us to reconsider what we've stopped noticing and the stories we've forgotten, fr...
2018-10-2601 min