Shows
Navigating IndiaThe Art of TranslationIn this episode, I am joined by N. Kalyan Raman, a celebrated translator of modern and contemporary Tamil fiction and poetry into English. Our conversation will explore his journey as a translator, the Tamil literary milieu, the process of text selection, the power and significance of translation, the dynamic between author and translator, the challenges faced by translators, and the broader goal of fostering a more robust literary discourse around translated works.References:N Kalyan Raman: Website, X, Published WorksAshokamitran, Sundara Ramaswamy, D. Jayakanthan, Subramania Bharati, Perumal Murugan, Vaasanthi, Devibharathi, PoomaniHeart Lamp: Selected...
2025-08-1359 min
CME/CEDifferentiating Neuromodulation Therapies: VNS, DBS, ECT, TMS
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0900 minCME/CEEpilepsy: Beyond Seizure Impact
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0900 minCME/CEVNS: Beyond Seizure Control
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0900 minCME/CEQoL Matters: Brain Stem Stimulation in Patients With Unipolar Depression
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0900 minCME/CEOptimizing VNS Parameters: Keys to Therapeutic Success
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0900 minCMEOptimizing VNS Parameters: Keys to Therapeutic Success
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minReachMD CMEDifferentiating Neuromodulation Therapies: VNS, DBS, ECT, TMSCME credits: 0.50
Valid until: 09-07-2026
Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/differentiating-neuromodulation-therapies-vns-dbs-ect-tms/35793/
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minReachMD CMEEpilepsy: Beyond Seizure ImpactCME credits: 0.50
Valid until: 09-07-2026
Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/epilepsy-beyond-seizure-impact/35794/
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0906 minReachMD CMEVNS: Beyond Seizure ControlCME credits: 0.50
Valid until: 09-07-2026
Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/vns-beyond-seizure-control/35795/
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minReachMD CMEQoL Matters: Brain Stem Stimulation in Patients With Unipolar DepressionCME credits: 0.50
Valid until: 09-07-2026
Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/qol-matters-brain-stem-stimulation-in-patients-with-unipolar-depression/35796/
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0904 minReachMD CMEOptimizing VNS Parameters: Keys to Therapeutic SuccessCME credits: 0.50
Valid until: 09-07-2026
Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/optimizing-vns-parameters-keys-to-therapeutic-success/35797/
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minCME/CEDifferentiating Neuromodulation Therapies: VNS, DBS, ECT, TMS
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minCME/CEEpilepsy: Beyond Seizure Impact
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0906 minCME/CEVNS: Beyond Seizure Control
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minCME/CEQoL Matters: Brain Stem Stimulation in Patients With Unipolar Depression
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0904 minReachMD CMEDifferentiating Neuromodulation Therapies: VNS, DBS, ECT, TMSCME credits: 0.50
Valid until: 09-07-2026
Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/differentiating-neuromodulation-therapies-vns-dbs-ect-tms/35793/
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minCMEQoL Matters: Brain Stem Stimulation in Patients With Unipolar Depression
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0904 minCMEVNS: Beyond Seizure Control
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minCMEEpilepsy: Beyond Seizure Impact
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0906 minCMEDifferentiating Neuromodulation Therapies: VNS, DBS, ECT, TMS
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minCMEOptimizing VNS Parameters: Keys to Therapeutic Success
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minCMEQoL Matters: Brain Stem Stimulation in Patients With Unipolar Depression
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0904 minCMEVNS: Beyond Seizure Control
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minCMEDifferentiating Neuromodulation Therapies: VNS, DBS, ECT, TMS
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minReachMD CMEOptimizing VNS Parameters: Keys to Therapeutic SuccessCME credits: 0.50
Valid until: 09-07-2026
Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/optimizing-vns-parameters-keys-to-therapeutic-success/35797/
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minReachMD CMEQoL Matters: Brain Stem Stimulation in Patients With Unipolar DepressionCME credits: 0.50
Valid until: 09-07-2026
Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/qol-matters-brain-stem-stimulation-in-patients-with-unipolar-depression/35796/
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0904 minReachMD CMEVNS: Beyond Seizure ControlCME credits: 0.50
Valid until: 09-07-2026
Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/vns-beyond-seizure-control/35795/
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minReachMD CMEEpilepsy: Beyond Seizure ImpactCME credits: 0.50
Valid until: 09-07-2026
Claim your CME credit at https://reachmd.com/programs/cme/epilepsy-beyond-seizure-impact/35794/
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0906 minCME/CEOptimizing VNS Parameters: Keys to Therapeutic Success
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0905 minCMEEpilepsy: Beyond Seizure Impact
Guest: Raman Sankar, MD, PhD
Guest: Scott Aaronson, MD
This series of bite-sized episodes contains important information on using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Drs. Raman Sankar and Scott Aaronson discuss best practices for identifying and treating patients as well as programming strategies for VNS.
2025-07-0906 min
WGTD's The Morning Show with Greg Berg8/7/24 "I lived to tell the world"Elizabeth Mehren, author of "I lived to tell the world: Stories from Survivors of Holocaust, Genocide, and the Atrocities of War." This book springs out of a Portland, OR based non-profit project called "The Immigrant Story," begun by Sankar Raman, which sought to gather stories of the immigrants among us in order to give insight into their normal daily lives. In the gathering of these stories, it became apparent that a number of these immigrants had managed to escape from truly horrifying circumstances- and had not only survived, but also thrived. Thirteen of these inspiring stories are gathered together...
2024-08-0750 min
Many Roads to HereIt Takes a Yes from One PersonThis episode brings together two remarkable women, both public servants. Sophorn Cheang is the director of Business Oregon, the economic development agency for the state of Oregon. Toc Soneoulay-Gillespie is the director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement for the state. They’ve worked together throughout their careers, and their relationship is one of friendship and mutual respect. They spoke about what it feels like to finally be inside the halls of power, with the opportunity to make a difference. Together they reflected on the promises and struggles of serving in government, got real about how immigration pol...
2024-07-2146 min
Many Roads to HereLife is a Work in ProgressWhat does a mental health journey look like? How can art, music, and therapy bring us to better self understanding and self love? In this episode, Portland Community
College student Jose Perez Salazar interviews Joaquin Lopez, one of the creative laureates of Portland, Oregon. They discuss the healing power of art, what it means to listen to your parents’ music, and how Lopez found meaning in staging and singing Latino gay stories. This is our first conversation co-produced by a first-generation student.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. Many thanks to...
2024-06-0634 min
Many Roads to HereThe Immigrant Story Live Podcast IIWelcome to The Immigrant Story Live, where we feature stories from the stage. In each episode of this new series we weave together three stories that were originallyperformed at an Immigrant Story Live Event.
For episode two of this series, you’ll hear from three storytellers — Ghassan Bin Hammam, Rama Youssef, and Meghna Damani – who each found themselves trapped in situations they never could have expected.
A warning to our listening, this episode contains descriptions of violence and suicidal ideation, so please take care while listening.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Im...
2024-05-1748 min
Many Roads to HerePioneering Pilot Breaks BarriersAs a young woman growing up in a conservative society, Safia Ferozi overcame intense expectations and restrictions placed on women to become Afghanistan’s second female Air Force pilot. Before her country and her life were turned upside down, she was a trailblazing commander, leading an Air Force squadron of 200. Safia was forced to flee when the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Now she is one of 250 Afghan pilots grounded in the U.S., no longer able to fly.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced by Elayna Yussen, wit...
2024-01-1029 min
Many Roads to HereMusic that Lifts the SpiritWhen you think of courageous living, playing music is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But Dijana Ihas, a professional musician and refugee of war, learned how to transform her viola skills into a remarkable display of bravery. As bombs rained down over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early 1990s, Dijana and several other musicians risked their lives to host hundreds of concerts.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced by Mae Ghylin, with audio editing by Gregg Palmer and executive producer Sankar Raman.
...
2023-11-0142 min
Many Roads to HereThe Immigrant Story Live PodcastIntroducing, The Immigrant Story Live, our new series that brings you voices from the stage. In 2019, the Immigrant Story began hosting live storytelling events in the Portland, Oregon area, bringing together musicians and storytellers from around the world for evenings of celebration and reflection. Every year, The Immigrant Story produces 2 new live events, and in the four years since its launch, has hosted 10 shows with 26 storytellers from 22 different countries. In our new series, we present selections from these events in themed, 45-minute episodes.
In our first episode, you’ll hear from three storytellers, Mariamou Abdoulaye, Hussein Al-Baiaty, and...
2023-09-1347 min
Many Roads to HereCaught Between War and PaperworkRaised in Yemen amidst intense civil turmoil, Ghassan bin Hammam made a life-changing decision to leave for the United States to start a new life with his family. Believing he had left behind the destruction and instability of Yemen, he was unaware that the very conflict he fled would indefinitely separate him from his new home.
This episode is part of the I Am an American series, generously funded by Anne Naito-Campbell. For more episodes in the series, please visit our website.
This episode was produced by Natalia Lopez and with audio editing and post p...
2023-08-2529 min
Many Roads to HereCall Me Dr. Olive BukuruWhen Olive Bukuru was six months old her and her family fled their home country of Burundi in search of a safe life. They ended up in a refugee camp in Tanzania where Olive fell in love with learning and became determined to pursue her education, something that was not encouraged for girls in the area.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story.
This episode was produced by Emily Ker with audio editing and post production done by Gregg Palmer. The original interview was conducted by our executive producer Sankar Raman i...
2023-07-0629 min
Many Roads to HereI Am An American - Panel DiscussionPanelists explored their experiences as Asian American women, offering personal reflections as well as highlighting current xenophobia and intolerance against Asian Americans in Oregon and across the United States. Each of the speakers is leading community efforts to empower diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities statewide. This episode was arranged in conjunction with the exhibition, I Am An American, that was on view at the Oregon Historical Society.
Esteemed panelists include:
Dr. Jane Vogel Mantiri is a retired psychologist who specialized in trauma, actor, and activist. She is the founder of Advance Gender Eq...
2023-06-0839 min
Many Roads to HereFinally Free to Make Music AgainAhmad Fanoos spent the first 57 years of his life searching for the freedom to play music.
In Afghanistan, where singing and playing music were banned under the Taliban, Ahmad could not safely pursue his passion. Over time, music led him and his family across careers and borders.
Between Taliban regimes, Ahmad became a guest star and judge for one of Afghanistan’s most popular TV music shows. He also inspired his own children to pursue music professionally — including his son Elham, who completed his master’s degree in 2021 at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
The music you hear...
2023-04-1224 min
Many Roads to HereYou Know What, This Is Me, Okay?Franke Tokem Powell was born in Central Africa, in the city of Douala, Cameroon. Growing up in the 90’s, Franke did not feel that he’d ever be accepted for who he was. At the age of 18, after years of repressing his queer identity and in the face of an unexpected loss, he was ready to leave home in search of community and acceptance.
This episode was produced by Natalia Lopez and with audio editing and post production by Todd Baize. The original interview was conducted by our executive producer, Sankar Raman, in March of 2022.
Many thanks to St. Andrew Luthe...
2023-03-2437 min
Many Roads to HerePatriotism Despite incarcerationJanice Okamoto was just a baby, only a few months old, when she was sent to Minidoka with her family. Her father was a musician, and like all the other incarcerees, he was permitted to bring only what he could carry in two suitcases. This meant leaving behind everything in their house, including his beloved musical instruments. Janice’s father could not bear the thought of living without music, so he brought a harmonica in his pocket. After three years, the Okamoto family was released from the camp in northern Idaho. They were given a train ticket to Portland, and $20. Ba...
2023-02-1024 min
Many Roads to HereSomething Greater in LifeVasyl Matsyuk, a Yale Divinity student, grew up in the fully Democratic Ukraine only to see it ravaged by a war with Russia that began a year ago in February. The Russian conflict has long roots. Under the previous Soviet regime before Ukraine became a sovereign nation, Vasyl’s parents and grandparents had endured years of religious discrimination and hardship as Protestants. Now, Vasyl is grappling with how his religious studies inform the harsh realities facing relatives and friends as they defend themselves against bombs and missiles in a country he only knew as peaceful and free.
Many Roads to Her...
2023-02-0325 min
Many Roads to HereA Different Kind of Inner CallingBalamurali Balu, who goes by Bala, immigrated to the United States from Southern India. He completed his PhD at Georgia Tech. Landed his dream job at Intel in Portland, Oregon. Married the woman he loved. And had two young daughters.
He was what his family called “settled”, living the life his parents had always wanted for him.
But six years into his career, he was burnt out and he missed doing the thing he loved most in this world. So, he quit.
Today, Bala pursues music full-time where he scores large Tamil film industry projects and presents his new work at The...
2023-01-2724 min
Many Roads to Here200% AmericanMitzi Asai Loftus and her son Toby talk frankly about her memories of growing up in Hood River, Oregon; her childhood incarceration in a Japanese-American internment camp; dating and racism; changing and reclaiming names; and what it means to grow up mixed-race. Please note this episode contains mentions of suicide as well as racial slurs against Asian-Americans.
Mitzi was born in Hood River, Oregon. Her parents, immigrants from Japan, owned orchards there. But when Mitzi was ten, she was forced from her home and taken to an internment camp in California and then in Wyoming, as part of the U.S...
2023-01-2143 min
Many Roads to HereOut of the ShadowsSindy Avila Gutierrez was born in Morelos, Mexico. At the age of two, she was brought to the United States to live with her parents in Oregon. Arriving without formal paperwork, Sindy's family was considered "undocumented." Without any legal protections, they faced hardships and uncertainty. These experiences fueled a fire in Sindy, who became an advocacy leader in the growing movement for DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, to give undocumented immigrants like her greater legal protections and opportunities in the United States.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced by N...
2023-01-1420 min
Many Roads to HereSo Many People, So Many MiraclesTwenty-one-year-old Samir Mustafic was in the small orchard behind his home in Bosnia when Serbian bombs rained down upon his family’s property. His mother and sister died in the bombing on June 30, 1993, 14 months into the Bosnian war. Mustafic’s injuries were so severe that few gave him any chance of survival. But a series of unlikely events—miracles or coincidences, depending on one’s perspective—sent him to the United States for treatment. Doctors in Roseburg, Ore., worried at first that there was little they could do to assure him a productive life. But today Mustafic is a software architect f...
2023-01-0441 min
Many Roads to HereI Create So It Cannot Be ErasedPortland artist Roberta Wong is the daughter and granddaughter of Chinese immigrants. She grew up partly in Chinatown, itself a product of segregation. She spent her childhood developing close ties to her heritage. As she grew up, she experienced racism firsthand, as well as the decline of Chinatown and the cultural history that is maintained there. Through art and volunteerism, Roberta now seeks to combat the stereotypes and erasure that continue to harm the Asian-American community.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. Many thanks to the Japanese American Museum of Oregon for allowing us to...
2022-12-1428 min
Many Roads to HereChanging the System from WithinChanpone Sinlapasai was born in Laos during a bloody civil war, and narrowly escaped to the US with her family at just four years old. Her experiences growing up in the United States have now propelled her into a staunch advocate of immigrant rights in her community.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced by Natalia Lopez
Audio editing was done by Gregg Palmer. Our executive producer is Sankar Raman.
This episode is made possible by a generous contribution by Oregon Cultural Trust.
For more episodes, https://theimmigrantstory.org/category/episode/ or sub...
2022-11-1122 min
Many Roads to HereWar Doesn't Stop in IraqGhaith Shahib fled Iraq as the United States prepared to invade his country. Instead of finishing high school, he left home on a harrowing journey across the globe in search of safety and a life away from conflict. It’s been years now since Ghaith has felt the confrontation of war in his daily life, but an unexpected incident in the relative comfort of the city he now calls home, brings a new perspective on what it means to be a victim of war.
Many Roads to Here is expanding. We’re looking for radio producers, especially those from immigrant commu...
2022-10-2830 min
Many Roads to HereHere From the Very BeginningKambiz GhaneaBassiri is one of the nation’s leading scholars of Islam in the United States. In this conversation, he sat down with writer and educator Flamur Vehapi to talk about the often ignored presence of Muslims in American history, from Revolution-era figures to Beyonce’s children’s names.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. Many thanks to Kambiz and Flamur for their time and wisdom, and to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon for allowing us to record there. This episode is part of the I Am an American series, generously funded by Anne Nai...
2022-10-1429 min
Many Roads to HereIt Is a Genuine ReconciliationEmmanuel Turaturanye was born and raised in a small town in Rwanda called Ngoma. His whole life he was taught by his parents to love and respect everyone, regardless of their background. At an early age, he learned that wasn’t true for everyone. Out of the 11 people in his household, he was one of three that survived when the Rwandan genocide took the lives of hundreds of thousands of Tutsis in the spring of 1994. Here is his journey of survival and forgiveness.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced by Giulia Fiao...
2022-09-2734 min
Many Roads to HereThere is Surviving and There is LivingSaron Khut was only ten years old when he and his family fled the Khmer Rouge-led genocide in Cambodia. His mother’s strength and a key decision one scary night to take a risk for freedom has guided his sense of purpose ever since.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story, a nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon. This episode was written by Degen Larkin and Fran Silverman. Our audio editing was done by Degen Larkin assisted by Gregg Palmer and Richard March. Original music by Corey Larkin. The original interview was conducted in Fall of 2020 by Gar...
2022-08-3130 min
Many Roads to HereThat Little Girl Got a ShockOriginally from Taiwan, Janet Liu's family spent years trying to build a home together in the United States despite restrictive immigration policies at that time. Janet had always wanted an opportunity to build a relationship with her father, who had left to study in the United States when she was only four years old. After six years, they were finally able to reunify and connect, until a single unexpected day shattered Janet’s family.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story.
This episode was produced by Natalia Lopez with audio editing by Rick March and assisted by...
2022-04-2630 min
Many Roads to HereI was a child of revolutionSara Houranpay describes herself as a child of the revolution. She grew up during the Iranian Revolution. Her family fled to the United States, hoping for greater freedom. But they instead found themselves again at the center of conflict, when the protests of summer 2020 threatened their family livelihood.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story.
This episode was produced by Mae Ghylin with audio editing by Rick March and assisted by Greg Palmer. The original interview was conducted by our Executive producer, Sankar Raman. Thank you to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon for the use...
2022-04-0635 min
Many Roads to HereLiving In a Gilded CageIn the early 1900s, Rani Bagai’s grandparents arrived in California ready to start a new life. But citizenship requirements and prejudice against Indian-Americans made settling in more difficult. In this conversation, historian Johanna Ogden speaks with Rani about her grandparents’ fraught immigration history, anti-colonial movements on the American West Coast, and how the goalposts for American citizenship in the 20th century kept getting moved. Jo is an independent historian who focuses on South Asian history in Oregon, especially the formation of the Ghadar party. These two women talked in June 2021 at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon.
For sensitive liste...
2022-03-2236 min
Many Roads to HereOpera Was Never on the RadarGrowing up in the bohemian beach town of Encinitas, near San Diego, California, Priti Gandhi showed early interest in music and performance. But she was a first born child in an Indian immigrant family that placed high value on job security, so a career in the arts was not even a consideration. In college, Priti signed up for voice lessons to counter the demands of her journalism courses. The moment her voice instructor introduced her to opera, her path in life changed.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced and edited by El...
2022-03-0824 min
Many Roads to HereThis Is All of Me, and I Claim It AllWelcome to Many Roads In Conversation, where we look deeply at issues affecting communities within the United States. This inaugural series focuses on the roots of anti-Asian violence. Joining us for the third episode are Dmae Lo Roberts and Patti Duncan, who talk about growing up mixed race in America, as well as the politics, terminology, and gender issues surrounding mixed race families. Dmae is a writer, media and theater artist and is the executive producer of MediaRites, a nonprofit based in Portland. Patti is an associate professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University.
Our audio e...
2022-02-0248 min
Many Roads to HereA Resilient Daughter of the Arab SpringRama Youssef was 12 years old when she left Syria, escaping violence caused by the beginning of the Syrian Civil War. But life didn’t get easier for Rama when she arrived in the United States. Conflict followed her from a young age and she had to learn how to overcome fear and trauma to create a new life.
A content warning: this episode contains descriptions of war and violence that may be sensitive to some listeners.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This episode was produced by Emily Denny. Audio editing was done by Richard Mar...
2022-01-1824 min
Many Roads to HereMay Be Awkward, but It Has to Be SaidBelise Nishimwe was 5 years old when she arrived in the U.S. She was born in a Tanzanian refugee camp, the daughter of genocide survivors.
In 2007, her family moved to the United States as refugees. Their new home would be Portland, Oregon.
In her first moments in the United States, Belise noticed a man writing. She was captivated by the movement of the pen. This pen would become a metaphor for Belise’s life. She would go from struggling to learn English to becoming an award winning poet.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story. This ep...
2021-12-1521 min
Many Roads to HereJewish Children Please Stand UpLeslie and Eva Aigner’s childhood were marked by horror. Born in different parts of Czechoslovakia as Nazi soldiers took hold, the two took very different paths to survival; both were saved by their families’ strength, shocking kindness by strangers at key moments, and their own inner audacity to survive.
Leslie Aigner died in August of 2021. We are grateful to be able to share his story with you. To learn more about the Aigner’s experiences, read Elizabeth Mehren’s story “Miracles, Memories and a Message” on our website.
Many thanks to Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education for collabora...
2021-12-0338 min
Many Roads to HereWe Need a Willed RememberingWelcome to Many Roads In Conversation, where we look deeply at issues affecting communities within the United States. This inaugural series focuses on the roots of anti-Asian violence. Joining us for the second episode are Peggy Nagae and Chris Ling, who talk about major civil rights cases and legislation in American history.
In this episode, we will hear two voices in dialogue, talking through major cases in the Supreme Court and how legislation has affected Asian-American civil rights, including Executive Order 9066, which incarcerated Japanese Americans during World War II.
In Conversation today are Peggy Nagae and Chris Ling. Both worked a...
2021-08-1036 min
Many Roads to HereA Modern OdysseyFarzad Larki was born in Iran prior to the Revolution. He grew up in a comfortable middle class family, but when the Shah was overthrown, everything changed. Between 1979 and 1996, Farzad, his parents, and his siblings all emigrated to the U.S., though each family member traveled a very different path. Farzad’s journey was the longest. From Southern Iran to Portland, Oregon, Farzad’s voyage spanned eleven years and six countries. He traveled by foot, donkey, car, and plane. There were many opportunities to stop along the way, but he had his sights set on the U.S. and the freed...
2021-08-0328 min
Many Roads to HereThe Hard Way is What Saves YouIn middle school, Yamini Rajan dealt with bullying, isolation, and a sick parent. Her mental health suffered, and destructive habits and self-harm nearly ended her life. As she healed, she committed to telling others about her story. Now Yamini helps start conversations about mental health in immigrant communities. A note to listeners: this episode contains references to suicide and self-harm.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story, in collaboration with Portland Radio Project. This episode was produced by Caitlin Dwyer. Monica Salazar conducted the original interview in Winter 2019. Our audio editing was done by Rick March a...
2021-06-3018 min
Many Roads to HereYes, I am a RohingyaReza Uddin was born in the epicenter of the Burmese government’s ethnic cleansing campaign against Rohingya Muslims. For the first years of his life, Reza wasn’t aware of the institutionalized discrimination against the Rohingya. And then, when Reza was in high school, the Burmese government began denying citizenship to its Rohingya population. When he graduated college, Reza’s father gave him a piece of advice: leave Burma, and don’t come back.
The Rohingya refugee crisis is ongoing. There are a number of groups working in the refugee camps that accept donations, including BRAC, Action Against Hunger, and the UN ref...
2021-06-1118 min
Clear Choices PodcastSankar Raman on the Importance of Sharing Immigrant StoriesImmigration. America is a country made up of immigrants. My parents are immigrants and probably many of your parents or grandparents are as well. It is an important topic and my guest today is the stories of immigrants. Sankar Raman, an immigrant himself who came to America to attend college, ended up working and retiring here. It was around the time of the 2016 election that Sankar was preparing to relax and enjoy his retirement. When he heard the anti-immigration rhetoric and the theme of scapegoating immigrants and immigrants of color, he knew he could not sit back and watch...
2021-05-0531 min
Many Roads to HereI’m From Here, Where Are You From?It took Dr. Elizabeth Flores through high school, college, and medical school to really understand herself. Born in America, raised in Mexico, her identity is wrapped up in both places. As it turned out, the physical United States was never her final destination.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story, in collaboration with Portland Radio Project. This episode was written by Stephanie Vallance and Emily Denny. Our audio editing was done by Kent Randles, assisted by Gordon Graham. The original interview was conducted in Winter 2020 by Britany Cano-Briceno. Our executive producer is Sankar Raman.
Many Roads t...
2021-05-0524 min
GlobalPDX: Speaking ChangeS1E10 - Combatting Hate Crimes: The Immigrant StoryIn this time of intense reckoning with our nation's history of racially motivated violence and discrimination against America's immigrants, one Oregon non-profit is working tirelessly to confront such intolerance by telling the stories of Oregon's immigrants. In this episode of the GlobalPDX Podcast we welcome Sankar Raman (Founder and Board President of The Immigrant Story) who expresses his motivation for sharing the voices of immigrant people, connecting a community through storytelling, and how the beautifully crafted narratives can be at once art and activism. April is genocide awareness month, creating a particularly poignant moment for appreciating our neighbors w...
2021-04-2629 min
Many Roads to HereThe Silence is Really Loud for MeIntroducing Many Roads in Conversation, where we look deeply at issues affecting ethnic and migrant communities within the United States. This inaugural three-part series will focus on the roots of anti-Asian violence. Joining us for the first episode of the series are Jennifer Fang, director of education at the Japanese American museum of Oregon, and Eliza Canty-Jones, editor of the Oregon Historical Quarterly. In this conversation, they talk through the issues raised by recent hate crimes against Asian-Americans, including historical restrictions on Asian immigration and how modern liberation movements might address acts of hate.
Many Roads to Here is a p...
2021-04-1331 min
Many Roads to HereI Can Survive AnythingTsering Dolma was forced to interrupt her life twice, first, when she had to flee Tibet for Nepal when the Chinese took control and then again when her father made a decision she didn’t know about. But she never gave up on a desire to advance her education even while living her life in exile in the U.S.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story, in collaboration with Portland Radio Project. This episode was written by Degen Larkin and Fran Silverman. Our audio editing was done by Rick March and Kent Randles, assisted by Gord...
2021-03-3121 min
Many Roads to HereRejecting Expectations, Embracing PassionJoe Kye fell in love with music in elementary school. But becoming a career musician was never on the table. After arriving in the U.S. from South Korea, Joe was expected to pursue a life of stability and recognition. Pursuing passion required money, connections, and a secure immigration status— all things Joe did not have.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story, in collaboration with Portland Radio Project. This episode was written and produced by Allison Merkel and edited by Fran Silverman. Rick March edited the audio, assisted by Gordon Graham. All music used in th...
2021-03-0326 min
Many Roads to HereMy Community Sustains MeRuth Zuñiga grew up in a rural, evangelical Christian town in Costa Rica. Both restricted and supported by her community, she eventually set out on her own, becoming a psychologist and professor in the U.S. Her commitment to serving others, and to her family, led to unexpected new connections in Idaho, Alaska, and Oregon.
Many Roads to Here is a production of The Immigrant Story, in collaboration with Portland Radio Project. This episode was written by Caitlin Dwyer, and Monica Salazar. Rick March edited the audio, assisted by Gordon Graham. The original interview was conducted in Spring of 2020 by H...
2021-02-1031 min
Many Roads to HereThere is still work to doDivine Irambona loves to challenge herself. Maybe because her life was a struggle from the moment she was born. Her mother died shortly after giving birth to Divine, in a Tanzanian refugee camp. She grew up walking miles to get to school and faced horrifying prejudice when she immigrated to the U.S.
To get to where she is today, Divine has turned to instincts and courage to survive, as well as the promise of her name. Irambona, or “to be seen,” given to Divine as her mother’s final wish, serves as a guidebook to her life.
This episode was writ...
2021-01-0627 min
Many Roads to HereSay Goodbye to All Your ProblemsIt’s 2010 and Johana Amani is 10 years old. She is speeding through the Congo in the middle of the night on the back of a stranger’s motorcycle. She and her mother and younger sister fleeing from domestic abuse and the political influence of her father. As they flee, Johana’s mother looks back at her two young daughters and says, “Look through the mirror and say goodbye to all your problems.”
Although Johana Amani’s struggles did not end here, she has embraced her story with courage. She has gone from the Congo to Nairobi, Kenya to Portland, Oregon, where she re...
2020-12-1624 min
Many Roads to HereIn Search of Blue Jean DreamsGrowing up poor in the mountains of Romania, Anna Giurgiev dreamed of a young man in strange blue pants. She didn’t know that this dream boy was her future husband, clad in denim, a fabric she had never seen. She didn’t know that their lives would be restricted by Romanian communism, or that he would try to defect without telling her. She didn’t know they would be separated for months and watched by police. She did not know that she would become a nurse and raise their children in the United States. All she knew, as a teenag...
2020-10-1525 min
Many Roads to HereThere Is a Hopeful TomorrowThings were going well for Jenny Munezero in Portland, Oregon. She was working in a rewarding career and engaged to a man she adored. But as the two families moved forward with wedding plans, and worked out the details of her dowry, Jenny found herself struggling to keep up with the details of the Burundi customs. Two months after she was born there, war broke out. Her parents, fearful for their lives in the genocide, fled, leaving Jenny behind. Much of how she survived still remains a mystery. There was a lot she didn’t know about herself -- until sh...
2020-10-0221 min
Finding Fertile Ground: Communicate for ChangeSankar Raman, Collector of Immigrant StoriesSankar Raman immigrated to the U.S. from India to attend graduate school. After a successful career in high tech, he now applies his technical knowledge, managerial skills, and pragmatic mind to founding and leading The Immigrant Story, a nonprofit organization that fosters empathy and builds a more inclusive community by sharing immigrant stories. You can reach Sankar at sankar@theimmigrantstory.org.I’ve been volunteering this year with The Immigrant Story, working on a storytelling event featuring people from Mexico and Guatemala who entered the United States undocumented, and we just launched that event on Saturday. Yo...
2020-09-1556 min
Many Roads to HereWhen I’m Playing, I’m Just HeatThe first time Denzel Mendoza came out as undocumented he was on stage in front of a crowd of strangers. That night, he didn’t just play his trombone, he let out the raw emotions of doubts, fears and hardship that had followed him throughout his life, letting himself be truly seen, for the first time, at this random jazz house show in Portland. After that night, life began to move quickly. A few years later, Mendoza shared his undocumented identity publicly once again, but this time the crowd wasn’t filled with strangers, it was filled with celebrities, and it was...
2020-08-2731 min
81 All Out - A Cricket PodcastSeries Preview – South Africa embark on Mission: (Almost) ImpossibleWe preview the upcoming 3-Test series between India and South Africa – where points count for the World Test Championship.
Talking Points:
A rivalry that often goes under the radar
South Africa's historically impressive record in Asia
An inexperienced batting line-up coming up against the world's best side
A chance for Markram, Bavuma and de Kock to step it up
The Rabada threat
The prospect of Maharaj and Muthusamy spinning India out
Bumrah's absence
Rohit's presence at the top of the order...
2019-09-2950 min