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When Yumna "Yumi" Yassin left Damascus at age 13, she had no idea what life in Alabama would hold. From learning English and building friendships to navigating faith, identity, and belonging as a Muslim woman in the South. Her story is one of courage, reflection, and heart.

In this episode of From Where to Here, host Alexandra Lloyd sits down with Yumi to explore:

• What it felt like to move from Syria to the U.S. during the war
• How she found her voice learning a new language
• The emotional connection between Arabic and identity
• Her honest take on faith, hijab, and misconceptions about Islam
• How culture shows up through food, family, and friendship

Yumi opens up about feeling caught between two worlds, honoring her roots while shaping her own path. Her warmth and insight remind us that faith and culture aren’t boxes to fit in, they’re bridges that connect us all.

🎧 Tune in for a powerful, human story about language, faith, and finding home, wherever you are.

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Sponsor Spotlight: Birmingham Breadworks
=================================
This episode is brought to you by Birmingham Breadworks. They have been serving up artisan sourdough, European-style pastries, and scratch-made meals since 2014. With a focus on fresh, preservative-free ingredients, their spacious, light-filled café is a local favorite. They’re also committed to sustainability, proudly holding a Gold Level Earth Aware Team (E.A.T.) certification. Stop by for handmade bread, sandwiches, and house-roasted coffee in a space that feels like home!

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Growing up across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Cass learned to feel at home in difference and to see cultural fluidity as a strength. Her story traces how global events like 9/11 shaped perceptions of identity and belonging, and how being mixed race taught her to navigate worlds with empathy and awareness.

Now a leader in tech and host of the podcast How She Got Here, Cass shares how living between cultures became her superpower: helping her lead diverse teams, bridge perspectives, and champion representation for women in tech.

In this conversation, Cass opens up about overcoming fear and perfectionism to launch her own podcast, redefining confidence as the simple act of showing up, even when you don’t feel ready.

Takeaways:

• Cultural fluidity builds resilience and empathy
• Confidence grows from keeping promises to yourself
• Representation matters, especially in spaces that lack it
• Difference isn’t a flaw; it’s the spark that connects us

=========================================

🔗 Links & How to Connect with Cassandra Cross

=========================================

Connect with her:

• How She Got Here’s LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/how-she-got-here/ 
• Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandraccross 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howshegotherepodcast 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@howshegothere 
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@howshegothere 
• Website: https://cassandracross.com/hsgh-podcast/ 

Mentions:

• Support Cass’s fundraising: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=60238760&fr_id=109969&pg=personal 
• “Hapa” meaning: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/hapa 
• “STEM” definition and purpose: https://stemeducationguide.com/what-is-stem/ 
• Parable of the Sower (book): https://www.amazon.com/Parable-Sower-powerful-dystopian-future/dp/1472263669 

=======================================
Sponsor Feature: Red Cat Coffee House
=======================================
This episode is brought to you by Red Cat Coffee House and their Landmark Series Coffees. You can find the coffee blends online at https://theredcatcoffeehouse.com/shop/, at your Red Cat locations, or at your local Piggly Wiggly.

----------
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In this episode of From Where to Here, Alexandra sits down with Dr. John Maddox, a professor of Spanish and Portuguese at UAB, to explore the intersections of language, culture, history, and identity. Dr. Maddox shares how an inspiring Spanish teacher set him on a lifelong path in languages, how games and stories made learning accessible, and why perfection in language learning is a myth. The conversation spans from classrooms in Georgia to study abroad in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Brazil, weaving in insights about colonialism, race, and the African diaspora. Together, they uncover the untold stories of Brazilian history, especially the overlooked role of Black women in shaping culture, language, and resilience, and reflect on how embracing mistakes, differences, and shared humanity can connect us more deeply across borders.

Takeaways

1. The spark of a teacher matters. A high school Spanish teacher using games, stories, and immersion inspired Dr. Maddox’s lifelong passion for languages.
2. Language learning thrives on imperfection. Mistakes aren’t failures — they are stepping stones to fluency and connection.
3. Portuguese and Spanish are sibling languages. Though often seen as rivals, their shared histories shaped cultures on both sides of the Atlantic.
4. Brazil’s history is inseparable from slavery. It was the largest slave-based society in the Americas, and its cultural fabric still carries this legacy.
5. Black women shaped Brazilian culture in profound ways. From domestic and community roles to preserving oral traditions and influencing literature, their impact endures.
6. Colonial myths still echo today. Narratives like Brazil being a “racial democracy” obscure ongoing inequalities tied to race and history.
7. Puerto Rican identity offers parallels. Like Quebec, Puerto Rico maintains strong cultural pride through language and resilience despite political and colonial complexities.
8. Shared humanity is the antidote to division. Dr. Maddox emphasizes empathy, curiosity, and seeing cultural diversity as a source of growth, not separation.

=============================================
🔗 Links & How to Connect with Dr. John Maddox
=============================================
📍Get in Touch with Dr. John Maddox:
- https://ua-birmingham.academia.edu/Maddox

📍Links:
- Puerto Rico - zafacón (Instagram post): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIqv1i6xVne/?igsh=ZzRkYzN3MzNkanJo

- Slavery and the Portuguese Language (podcast): https://tinyurl.com/bdx73kt7

📍Book Recommendations
- Black Notebooks, Niyi Afolabi -  https://tinyurl.com/ppfmyjdu

- Machado de Assis, Blackness and the Americas - https://www.amazon.com/Machado-Blackness-Americas-Afro-Latinx-Futures/dp/1438498810

- Child of the Dark, Carolina Maria de Jesus - https://www.amazon.com/Child-Dark-Diary-Carolina-Maria/dp/0451529103

- Africans in Brazil, a Pan-African Perspective, Abdias do Nascimento - https://tinyurl.com/2hmvztye

- Changó, Decolonizing the African Diaspora, Manuel Zapata Olivella - https://shorturl.at/a3VF3

=================================
Sponsor Spotlight: Birmingham Breadworks
=================================
This episode is brought to you by Birmingham Breadworks. They have been serving up artisan sourdough, European-style pastries, and scratch-made meals since 2014. With a focus on fresh, preservative-free ingredients, their spacious, light-filled café is a local favorite. They’re also committed to sustainability, proudly holding a Gold Level Earth Aware Team (E.A.T.) certification. Stop by for handmade bread, sandwiches, and house-roasted coffee in a space that feels like ho

----------
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Join us for an intimate conversation with Juliana Madrid, a Colombian business operations director who transformed a simple dream of perfecting her English into a beautiful cross-cultural love story. Discover how she navigated building relationships, career success, and family traditions while bridging two very different worlds. Her honest insights about cultural stereotypes, the reality of immigrant life, and creating "home" in multiple countries will inspire anyone considering a major life change or curious about Latin American culture.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The "No Dar Papaya" mindset is essential for success - Juliana reveals how this Colombian expression (don't give opportunities to be taken advantage of) guided her from choosing Birmingham over Miami to sitting front row in every class.
  
  
• Colombian family closeness creates a practical support system that makes American independence shocking - Living with parents until marriage and having affordable household help means learning to cook and do laundry at 30 was a real culture shock.
  
  
• Breaking the Colombian expectation of having children requires channeling nurturing energy elsewhere - Juliana shows how she became "Mama Juli" at work while her family's unconditional support made this choice possible without cultural judgment.

===================================
🔗 How to Connect with Juliana Madrid
===================================
📍 Get in Touch with Juliana: https://www.instagram.com/julmadrid/

=================================
Sponsor Spotlight: Red Cat Coffee House
=================================
This episode is brought to you by Red Cat Coffee House and their Landmark Series Coffees. You can find the coffee blends online at https://theredcatcoffeehouse.com/shop/ at your Red Cat locations, or at your local Piggly Wiggly.

----------
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow
Follow From Where to Here on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen so you don’t miss a conversation.

📱 More language & culture, daily.
Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @fromwheretoherepod

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In this deeply personal solo episode, host Alexandra Lloyd shares her real-life story of moving from Montreal, Canada, to Birmingham, Alabama, for love. What began as a spontaneous connection on a tropical island turned into a long-distance relationship, a K1 visa journey, and a completely new life in a new country.

Alexandra opens up about:

• How she met her now-husband on vacation in the Cayman Islands
• The emotional highs and lows of long-distance love
• Getting engaged and navigating the complex K1 fiancé visa process
• What it really felt like to move abroad and start over from scratch
• Losing her sense of identity and independence after leaving everything behind
• The emotional and cultural challenges of adapting to a new environment
• Rebuilding her life, finding community, and rediscovering her purpose
• Learning to express herself in a second language, even through love and conflict
• Personal growth, therapy, and the slow process of finding balance and belonging

This episode is both a love story and a candid exploration of what it means to let go of who you were to become who you’re meant to be.

=================================
Sponsor Spotlight: Birmingham Breadworks
=================================
This episode is brought to you by Birmingham Breadworks. They have been serving up artisan sourdough, European-style pastries, and scratch-made meals since 2014. With a focus on fresh, preservative-free ingredients, their spacious, light-filled café is a local favorite. They’re also committed to sustainability, proudly holding a Gold Level Earth Aware Team (E.A.T.) certification. Stop by for handmade bread, sandwiches, and house-roasted coffee in a space that feels like home!

----------
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow
Follow From Where to Here on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen so you don’t miss a conversation.

📱 More language & culture, daily.
Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @fromwheretoherepod

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In this heartfelt and honest episode of From Where to Here, Alexandra sits down with Astrid, a tropical plant expert from Mérida, Venezuela, now thriving in Birmingham with Vivatia Plant Care Services and Botanical Workshop. Astrid shares her moving journey of resilience — from growing up under a dictatorship marked by frequent power outages to grieving the deep friendships and community she left behind.

Amid stories of cultural shifts and workplace adaptations, Astrid opens up about the joys and struggles of adjusting to life in the U.S. — all while discovering, with humor and self-awareness, that she might just be a hippie at heart. This episode is a rich blend of vulnerability, culture, greenery, and the kind of candid storytelling that stays with you.

===================================
🔗 Links & How to Connect with Astrid Jerez
===================================
📍 Get in Touch with Astrid:
- Vivatia Plant Care Services and Botanical Workshop: https://www.instagram.com/vivatiaplants/ & https://www.vivatiaplants.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/astridajerez/

📍Resources:
- https://www.domestika.org/en for online courses

=================================
Sponsor Feature: Red Cat Coffee House
=================================
This episode is brought to you by Red Cat Coffee House and their Landmark Series Coffees. You can find the coffee blends online at https://theredcatcoffeehouse.com/shop/ at your Red Cat locations, or at your local Piggly Wiggly.

----------
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow
Follow From Where to Here on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen so you don’t miss a conversation.

📱 More language & culture, daily.
Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @fromwheretoherepod

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Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.

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Afghanistan is more than a country in conflict — it’s a place of resilience, culture, and untold stories. Shabir Kabiri shares his powerful journey from Kabul to the U.S., reflecting on what it means to call two countries home, the impact of decades of conflict on Afghan identity, and a message to those who only know Afghanistan through the news. Listen in as he challenges misconceptions and shines a light on the strength and spirit of Afghan culture.

===================================
🔗 Links & How to Connect with Shabir Kabiri
===================================

📍 Get in Touch with Shabir:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shabir.kabiri/?hl=en
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/ShabirKabiri
📍Resources:
- Finest Supermarket (VA): https://www.instagram.com/finesthalalsupermarket/?hl=en

=================================
Sponsor Spotlight: Birmingham Breadworks
=================================
This episode is brought to you by Birmingham Breadworks. They have been serving up artisan sourdough, European-style pastries, and scratch-made meals since 2014. With a focus on fresh, preservative-free ingredients, their spacious, light-filled café is a local favorite. They’re also committed to sustainability, proudly holding a Gold Level Earth Aware Team (E.A.T.) certification. Stop by for handmade bread, sandwiches, and house-roasted coffee in a space that feels like home!
=================================

----------
📩 Let’s stay connected.
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In this powerful episode of From Where to Here, host Alexandra Lloyd sits down with Diana Martínez García, an immigrant rights advocate and cultural connector who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border as a child. From navigating two identities to lobbying in D.C. for DACA, Diana shares her journey of resilience, advocacy, and uplifting young Latinas in Alabama through her work with Virtual Promotoras.

We explore what it means to belong in two cultures, break down stereotypes about Mexican identity, and dive into the unspoken challenges immigrant communities face—especially around access to healthcare and reproductive education.

Whether you're passionate about social justice, Latinx voices, or simply love stories that inspire change, this episode will stay with you.

🌶️ Key Takeaways

Advocacy begins with personal experience — Diana’s story shows how lived experience can be a powerful tool for change, especially in shaping policy and creating access to resources.

Cultural identity is complex and non-linear — We explore how Diana navigates feeling “too Mexican for the U.S., too American for Mexico,” and what true belonging looks like.

Reproductive health conversations matter — Through Virtual Promotoras, Diana is creating safe spaces for young Latinas to learn about their bodies, their rights, and their futures.

===================================
🔗 Links & How to Diana Martínez García
===================================

📍 Follow & Connect with Diana Martínez García:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_risasyrizos/
• Study email: [email protected] 

📍 Recommended Resources from This Episode: 

• DACA Program: https://www.uscis.gov/DACA
• Salud Taqueria: https://www.saludbham.com/
• El Girasol: https://orderelgirasol.com/
• DREAM Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/365
• Bracero Program: https://guides.loc.gov/latinx-civil-rights/bracero-program 
• HB56 Law: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2024RS/HB56-int.pdf 

=================================
Sponsor Feature: Red Cat Coffee House
=================================
This episode is brought to you by Red Cat Coffee House and their Landmark Series Coffees. You can find the coffee blends online at https://theredcatcoffeehouse.com/shop/, at your Red Cat locations, or at your local Piggly Wiggly.

----------
📩 Let’s stay connected.
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🎙️🌍 What do people really know about cultures, languages, and Québec? We hit the streets of Birmingham to find out! 🇨🇦🤔 From Charles Barkley to ranch dressing obsessions, this Vox Pop is full of surprises!

From Charles Barkley to poutine—this Vox Pop had everything! 😆🍟🇨🇦 Some answers were spot on, and others… well, let’s just say Québec needs better PR. 😂 What was your favorite response? 

Make sure to check out episode 04 with Chris Bertrand to learn more about his interest in the Québec culture and language.

Big thanks to everyone who took part in our vox pop! Your voices, stories, and insights made this possible.

----------
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In this episode of From Where to Here, we dive deep into the personal and cultural experiences that shape one’s connection to the French language and Québécois culture. Chris shares his unique journey, from the moment he fell in love with French to his exploration of his French ancestry and his deep connection to Québec. Get ready for an insightful conversation filled with stories, culture, and practical tips on staying fluent in a language.

Here’s what you’ll be learning in this episode:

• Engaging with the local French community: How to dive in and embrace the culture around you.
• The beauty and diversity of accents: Understanding the variety and richness of French accents.
• The moment Chris fell in love with French: Discover the life-changing experience that ignited his passion for the language.
• Secrets to staying fluent: Tips and strategies to keep your language skills sharp.
• The connection between French language and Québec culture: Why Québec holds a special place in Chris’s heart.
• Host family experience: Learn how living with a host family provides ultimate cultural immersion.
• Navigating language and culture across state lines: Chris’s long-distance relationship and how language plays a role.
• Speaking French in places once ruled by France: The experience of speaking French in historical contexts.
• Uncovering French roots: The journey to discovering Chris’s French ancestry and the connection to his identity.
• European DLF grading scale: An explanation of the European grading system and its impact on language learning.
• Homemade poutine taste test: A fun dive into the delicious world of poutine.
• Cold places, warm dishes: The comfort food culture of colder climates.
• Book resources for language learners: Chris’s top picks for books and resources to continue your learning.
• Surprising facts about Québec: What every American should know about Québec that might surprise them.
• Preserving Québec’s language: A personal connection to the preservation of French in Québec.
• Debunking misconceptions about Québec: Unraveling the biggest myths and misunderstandings.
• Switching between languages: How different situations call for different languages and expressions.
• Teaching French to kids: A hypothetical approach to raising bilingual children.
• Want to learn French and Québec culture?: Chris’s advice for getting started on your own journey.
• Should the U.S. embrace bilingualism more?: A thought-provoking discussion on bilingualism in America.

Tune in for a mix of personal stories, practical tips, and a lot of fun as we explore Chris’s journey with French and Québec culture!

=================================
🔗 Links & References
=================================
📍 The Federation of Alliances Françaises: https://www.afusa.org/
📍 Libby: https://libbyapp.com/interview/welcome#doYouHaveACard
📍 Facebook Group of Frenchies in Alabama: https://www.facebook.com/groups/frenchiesinbhm
📍 Loi 101 (Law 101): https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bill-101
📍DeepL app: https://www.deepl.com/en/app

=================================
Sponsor Spotlight: Birmingham Breadworks
=================================
This episode is brought to you by Birmingham Breadworks. They have been serving up artisan sourdough, European-style pastries, and scratch-made meals since 2014. With a focus on fresh, preservative-free ingredients, their spacious, light-filled café is a local favorite. They’re also committed to sustainability, proudly holding a Gold Level Earth Aware Team (E.A.T.) certification. Stop by for handmade bread, sandwiches, and house-roasted coffee in a space that&

----------
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Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.

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📱 More language & culture, daily.
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