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Welcome to Episode 1 of the Language Legacy Project Series, a 5-part community storytelling initiative capturing the powerful conversations between youth from Alabama and elders from immigrant and refugee communities.
In this first episode, a young teen sits down with an elder who left Taiwan at 18, uncovering a deeply personal story about language, identity, family, and the journey of making a new place feel like home. Through guided storytelling and cultural exploration, they dive into memories of childhood in Taiwan, learning English in the U.S., navigating cultural misunderstandings, and the rich traditions passed down through the generations.
You’ll hear stories of:
✨ Growing up in a multigenerational Taiwanese household
✨ Facing the challenges of learning a new language and culture
✨ The emotional realities of immigrating as a teenager
✨ Why idioms, tones, and tiny language differences matter
✨ How Mandarin and cultural traditions are being passed on to her granddaughter
✨ The humor behind a Mandarin filler word that caused a major English misunderstanding
✨ The warmth of Chinese New Year celebrations, storytelling, food, and family rituals
About the Language Legacy Project:
Language Legacy is a youth-and-elders interview series designed to preserve linguistic and cultural heritage through storytelling. Alabama teenagers interview elders from immigrant and refugee backgrounds to capture their language memories, idioms, childhood stories, and first-language expressions. These conversations are then edited into short video stories and shared across online platforms to foster intergenerational understanding, cultural appreciation, and community connection.
Through this project, we hope to:
🌏 Bridge generational gaps through the power of storytelling
🌏 Elevate and preserve the lived experiences of elders
🌏 Celebrate the richness of languages and cultural identities
🌏 Empower youth as interviewers, listeners, and cultural documentarians
If you’re inspired by stories of culture, identity, migration, and language... This episode is the perfect place to begin.
🎧 Watch/Listen now and join us for Episode 1 of 5.
New stories from the Language Legacy Project are coming soon.
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🏆 You can help From Where to Here win a Signal Award
Voting is open until October 15th and takes 30 seconds. If this show has ever made you feel a little less alone, cast your vote at https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/
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Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.
✨ Get My Latest Free Resource
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📱 More language & culture, daily.
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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:
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
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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!
----------
🏆 You can help From Where to Here win a Signal Award
Voting is open until October 15th and takes 30 seconds. If this show has ever made you feel a little less alone, cast your vote at https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/
(Can't find the show? Search "From Where to Here" in the search bar)
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.
✨ Get My Latest Free Resource
Do you live between cultures, languages, or versions of yourself? Take the free In-Between Index quiz and find out exactly where you land. →
quiz.fromwheretoherepod.com
🎧 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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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:
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🔗 Links & How to Connect with Cassandra Cross
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Connect with her:
Mentions:
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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.
----------
🏆 You can help From Where to Here win a Signal Award
Voting is open until October 15th and takes 30 seconds. If this show has ever made you feel a little less alone, cast your vote at https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/
(Can't find the show? Search "From Where to Here" in the search bar)
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.
✨ Get My Latest Free Resource
Do you live between cultures, languages, or versions of yourself? Take the free In-Between Index quiz and find out exactly where you land. →
quiz.fromwheretoherepod.com
🎧 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
🤎 If this episode meant something to you…
Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.
Send us Fan Mail
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
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🔗 Links & How to Connect with Dr. John Maddox
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📍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
----------
🏆 You can help From Where to Here win a Signal Award
Voting is open until October 15th and takes 30 seconds. If this show has ever made you feel a little less alone, cast your vote at https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/
(Can't find the show? Search "From Where to Here" in the search bar)
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.
✨ Get My Latest Free Resource
Do you live between cultures, languages, or versions of yourself? Take the free In-Between Index quiz and find out exactly where you land. →
quiz.fromwheretoherepod.com
🎧 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
🤎 If this episode meant something to you…
Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.
Send us Fan Mail
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:
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🔗 How to Connect with Juliana Madrid
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📍 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.
----------
🏆 You can help From Where to Here win a Signal Award
Voting is open until October 15th and takes 30 seconds. If this show has ever made you feel a little less alone, cast your vote at https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/
(Can't find the show? Search "From Where to Here" in the search bar)
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.
✨ Get My Latest Free Resource
Do you live between cultures, languages, or versions of yourself? Take the free In-Between Index quiz and find out exactly where you land. →
quiz.fromwheretoherepod.com
🎧 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
🤎 If this episode meant something to you…
Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.
Send us Fan Mail
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:
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!
----------
🏆 You can help From Where to Here win a Signal Award
Voting is open until October 15th and takes 30 seconds. If this show has ever made you feel a little less alone, cast your vote at https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/
(Can't find the show? Search "From Where to Here" in the search bar)
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.
✨ Get My Latest Free Resource
Do you live between cultures, languages, or versions of yourself? Take the free In-Between Index quiz and find out exactly where you land. →
quiz.fromwheretoherepod.com
🎧 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
🤎 If this episode meant something to you…
Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.
Send us Fan Mail
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.
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🔗 Links & How to Connect with Astrid Jerez
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📍 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.
----------
🏆 You can help From Where to Here win a Signal Award
Voting is open until October 15th and takes 30 seconds. If this show has ever made you feel a little less alone, cast your vote at https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/
(Can't find the show? Search "From Where to Here" in the search bar)
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.
✨ Get My Latest Free Resource
Do you live between cultures, languages, or versions of yourself? Take the free In-Between Index quiz and find out exactly where you land. →
quiz.fromwheretoherepod.com
🎧 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
🤎 If this episode meant something to you…
Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.
Send us Fan Mail
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!
=================================
----------
🏆 You can help From Where to Here win a Signal Award
Voting is open until October 15th and takes 30 seconds. If this show has ever made you feel a little less alone, cast your vote at https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/
(Can't find the show? Search "From Where to Here" in the search bar)
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.
✨ Get My Latest Free Resource
Do you live between cultures, languages, or versions of yourself? Take the free In-Between Index quiz and find out exactly where you land. →
quiz.fromwheretoherepod.com
🎧 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
🤎 If this episode meant something to you…
Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.
Send us Fan Mail
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:
📍 Recommended Resources from This Episode:
=================================
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.
----------
🏆 You can help From Where to Here win a Signal Award
Voting is open until October 15th and takes 30 seconds. If this show has ever made you feel a little less alone, cast your vote at https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/
(Can't find the show? Search "From Where to Here" in the search bar)
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.
✨ Get My Latest Free Resource
Do you live between cultures, languages, or versions of yourself? Take the free In-Between Index quiz and find out exactly where you land. →
quiz.fromwheretoherepod.com
🎧 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
🤎 If this episode meant something to you…
Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.
Send us Fan Mail
🎙️🌍 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.
----------
🏆 You can help From Where to Here win a Signal Award
Voting is open until October 15th and takes 30 seconds. If this show has ever made you feel a little less alone, cast your vote at https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/
(Can't find the show? Search "From Where to Here" in the search bar)
📩 Let’s stay connected.
Join my email list list for thoughtful reflections, resources, and behind-the-scenes moments I only share there.
✨ Get My Latest Free Resource
Do you live between cultures, languages, or versions of yourself? Take the free In-Between Index quiz and find out exactly where you land. →
quiz.fromwheretoherepod.com
🎧 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
🤎 If this episode meant something to you…
Leave a review or share it with someone who’d love it too.
From the publisher's feed
From Where to Here explores cultural exchange, languages, and connection. Hosted by French Canadian Alexandra Lloyd, each episode shares heartfelt stories and inspiring journeys…