Immigrant Stories | The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants

Welcome to episode 79 of The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!

Dr. John Mesa was born in Colombia. He shares about moving to Venezuela during the oil boom with his family and living there for a few years before returning to Colombia. From a young age, Dr. Mesa knew he wanted to be a plastic surgeon but knew it had to be in the US. This is because in Colombia, in order to become a doctor, one has to attend a private university, but Dr. Mesa knew his parents couldn’t afford it. 

He shares his journey of becoming a board-certified plastic surgeon - a process that should take about 13 years, took him 18 years to complete because of all the hurdles and barriers placed in front of him. But overall, he persevered and didn’t give up! 

With Love, Heidy

Connect with Dr. John Mesa:

Website

Instagram

TikTok

Check out this podcast community onSubstack!! 

*This podcast is sponsored bySoVerve Marketing Group*

Want to sponsor this podcast? Send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Or you can make a one-time donationhere

I volunteer with Bethany Christian Services for their refugee resettlement program. They have a wish list for basic things that families usually need when they arrive in the United States. If you'd like to donate items, the wish list is here.

Start your podcast with my six-week podcast course! It has EVERYTHING you need to launch your podcast the simple way - more information at myStan Store!

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Welcome to episode 78 of The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!

Rooya was born in Afghanistan and remembers they had electricity at one point, and then they didn’t. During the time that communism was taking over, she remembers if people were caught fleeing or speaking out against communism, they were executed. 

She shares their journey, going across the desert for three days and four nights to get to Pakistan at age six. Rooya and her family lived in Pakistan for three years before making it to the US. Once in the US, she had to learn to write, read, and speak English. This was a challenge for her because she was proud of being a good student, but then, at nine, she had to start all over again. 

Listen in as Rooya shares her incredible journey of coming to the US - thinking that they would be here for a few years and once things settled back home, they would return. 

With Love, Heidy

Connect with Rooya Ayubi:

Website

Instagram

Check out this podcast community on Substack!! 

*This podcast is sponsored by SoVerve Marketing Group*

Want to sponsor this podcast? Send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Or you can make a one-time donation here

I volunteer with Bethany Christian Services for their refugee resettlement program. They have a wish list for basic things that families usually need when they arrive in the United States. If you'd like to donate items, the wish list is here.

Start your podcast with my six-week podcast course! It has EVERYTHING you need to launch your podcast the simple way - more information at my Stan Store!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 77 of The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!

Ranjeet is a coach and mentor who guides professionals into achieving their American Dream by obtaining an EB1A green card (aka Einstein visa) just like he did. He grew up with a journalist mother and a banker father in India. They valued education a great deal, which fueled his passion for learning. 

Ranjeet came to the US to complete his second master's degree, so he has one master's degree in India and another here. Listen in as he talks about adapting to living in the US after moving in his 40s and how he helps professionals navigate the EB1A green card process. 

With Love, Heidy

Connect with Ranjeet Mudholkar:

Website

Instagram

Forbes Profile

Check out this podcast community on Substack!! 

https://substack.com/@theamericandreampodcast

*This podcast is sponsored by SoVerve Marketing Group*

Want to sponsor this podcast? Send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Or you can make a one-time donation here

I volunteer with Bethany Christian Services for their refugee resettlement program. They have a wish list for basic things that families usually need when they arrive in the United States. If you'd like to donate items, the wish list is here.

Start your podcast with my six-week podcast course! It has EVERYTHING you need to launch your podcast the simple way - more information at my Stan Store!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 76 of The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!

Today, I bring you the founder and blogger of This Latina Travel - Bianca Alba! Bianca shares about growing up in the DMV area or DC, Maryland, Virginia - which, before this episode, I had no idea was referred to this way. She shares her experience of obtaining a full-ride scholarship to college and thinking as a first-gen Latina, she had to become a doctor but then changed majors and received her master's degree in public health. 

Bianca shares about visiting Bolivia for the first time 11 years after moving to the US. She didn’t know Bolivia since she and her mom moved when Bianca was six months old. 

And lastly, we talked about how her job granted her the opportunity to move to Puerto Rico, where she currently lives. 

With Love, Heidy

Connect with Bianca Alba:

Website

Instagram

Podcast

Check out this podcast community on Substack!! 

*This podcast is sponsored by SoVerve Marketing Group*

Want to sponsor this podcast? Send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Or you can make a one-time donation here

I volunteer with Bethany Christian Services for their refugee resettlement program. They have a wish list for basic things that families usually need when they arrive in the United States. If you'd like to donate items, the wish list is here.

Start your podcast with my six-week podcast course! It has EVERYTHING you need to launch your podcast the simple way - more information at my Stan Store!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 75 of The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!

Today, I spoke with Kristy, the host of The Master Delegator Podcast and owner of a virtual assistant agency. Kristy is from the Philippines, and she moved to the U.S. after meeting her husband on a Christian dating app. 

She started her business back home in the Philippines, and she was able to continue her agency after moving. Kristy helps entrepreneurs find virtual assistants to help them within their companies. 

She shares her experience of coming to the US on a K1 Visa, aka the fiance visa. 

With Love, Heidy

Connect with Kristy Yoder:

Website

Instagram

Check out this podcast community on Substack!! 

*This podcast is sponsored by SoVerve Marketing Group*

Want to sponsor this podcast? Send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Or you can make a one-time donation here

I volunteer with Bethany Christian Services for their refugee resettlement program. They have a wish list for basic things that families usually need when they arrive in the United States. If you'd like to donate items, the wish list is here.

Start your podcast with my six-week podcast course! It has EVERYTHING you need to launch your podcast the simple way - more information at my Stan Store!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 74 of The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!

Happy New Year! Today is the first episode of 2025 and the new format, where I’m releasing episodes every Tuesday! I’m excited to bring you content on a weekly basis since the show is growing, and I’m so excited for this growth. Also, the podcast is officially sponsored! This past November, I gained the show's first sponsor; their information is below. 

Alright, let’s get into the episode. Today’s story is from Diana Rubi. Diana is a creator born in Mexico but raised here in the US. She shares her story of her family’s decision to come to the US and how her dad’s employer sponsored him and the family for residency. Lastly, we talk about her creative endeavors.  

With Love, Heidy

Connect with Diana Rubi:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amigascollective/ 

Check out this podcast community on Substack!! 

*This podcast is sponsored by SoVerve Marketing Group*

Want to sponsor this podcast? Send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Or you can make a one-time donation here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=2C3JDALUGTS6E

I volunteer with Bethany Christian Services for their refugee resettlement program. They have a wish list for basic things that families usually need when they arrive in the United States. If you'd like to donate items, the wish list is here.

Start your podcast with my six-week podcast course! It has EVERYTHING you need to launch your podcast the simple way - more information at my Stan Store! https://stan.store/heidydelacruz

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 73 of The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!

Today, I’m bringing you my conversation with Dr. Griselda Martinez. Dr. Martinez is a business coach for women entrepreneurs and hosts the podcast “Unexpectedly Successful,” where she shares guests’ success stories. 

She shared with me about her childhood in Mexico - recounting her freedom of playing outside with her siblings from sunrise to sunset. Dr. Martinez ended up moving to the US as an exchange student following the death of her mother. She goes into detail about the positive relationship she had with her adoptive family in Louisiana. Indeed, a unique experience. 

Lastly, after pursuing her doctoral degree in New Mexico, she became a permanent resident after navigating various visas in the US. I truly think you’ll enjoy Dr. Martinez’s heartfelt story. 

With Love, Heidy

Connect with Dr. Griselda Martinez:

Website: https://www.drgriselda.com/ 

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/66x3kimKtCA4dSHE51IOEj?si=83c13781e7354a27  

Check out this podcast community on Substack!! There, you can comment on the episodes, interact with other listeners of the show, and receive new episodes right in your inbox!

https://substack.com/@theamericandreampodcast

I volunteer with Bethany Christian Services for their refugee resettlement program. They have a wish list for basic things that families usually need when they arrive in the United States. If you'd like to donate items, the wish list is here.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for the show. Send me an email, and I will send you the advertisement packages. Thank you. 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to start your own podcast? – My six-week podcast course has EVERYTHING you need to launch your podcast the simple way - more information at my Stan Store! https://stan.store/heidydelacruz

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 72 of The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!

Today, I’m sharing my conversation with author Sindy F., who wrote If I Denounce My Accent. This novel is based on true events, and I finished it on our holiday vacation in the Dominican Republic. There was something different about reading a book about the Dominican culture and experience while being in the Dominican Republic.

Sindy talks about moving from the Dominican Republic to New Jersey at the age of 14 without knowing how to speak English. She shares about her first culture shock and the writing process of her novel. Sindy says the writing process for her was like a love letter to herself. She shares topics that are usually taboo to talk about in the Dominican culture. I’m so excited to share her story with you today. 

With Love, Heidy

Connect with Sindy:

Website: https://sindyf.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sindyfe_/ 

Check out this podcast community on Substack!! There, you can comment on the episodes, interact with other listeners of the show, and receive new episodes right in your inbox!

https://substack.com/@theamericandreampodcast

I volunteer with Bethany Christian Services for their refugee resettlement program. They have a wish list for basic things that families usually need when they arrive in the United States. If you'd like to donate items, the wish list is here.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for the show. Send me an email, and I will send you the advertisement packages. Thank you. 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to start your own podcast? – My six-week podcast course has EVERYTHING you need to launch your podcast the simple way - more information at my Stan Store! https://stan.store/heidydelacruz

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 71 of The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!

Today, I spoke with Kathy, a transformational coach, about her unique experience as a first-generation child of immigrant parents from two different countries. Kathy shares heartfelt stories about her upbringing, cultural identity, and navigating life as an immigrant child.

Kathy’s mother, a Chinese refugee from Vietnam, and her father, originally from Taiwan, met in Connecticut before moving to Morgan Hill, California, to open an American fast-food restaurant. 

Kathy opens up about growing up as one of the few Asian families in a predominantly white small town and on the struggle of belonging, both in the U.S. and when visiting her parents’ home countries. She shares anecdotes about her trips to Taiwan, emphasizing the safety, hospitality, and cultural richness she experienced and the challenges of being labeled as "different." 

This seems to be a common theme among us who are children of immigrants. 

With Love, Heidy

Connect with Kathy:

Website: https://www.kathymou.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Kathy.mou/ 

Check out this podcast community on Substack!! There, you can comment on the episodes, interact with other listeners of the show, and receive new episodes right in your inbox!

https://substack.com/@theamericandreampodcast

I volunteer with Bethany Christian Services for their refugee resettlement program. They have a wish list for basic things that families usually need when they arrive in the United States. If you'd like to donate items, the wish list is here.

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for the show. Send me an email, and I will send you the advertisement packages. Thank you. 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to start your own podcast? – My six-week podcast course has EVERYTHING you need to launch your podcast the simple way - more information at my Stan Store! https://stan.store/heidydelacruz

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 70 of The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!

Today’s guest is Marta Spirk, a Brazilian immigrant who moved to the U.S. at 23, nine months after having her triplets. Marta has worked as a freelance court interpreter and is now a visibility strategist and recording artist with two published books and a podcast. Her passion for learning English was fueled by her exposure to music during childhood, which led to various achievements, including singing the national anthem at a Nuggets game.

Upon moving to the U.S., Marta faced cultural differences, particularly around domestic responsibilities, which were different from those in Brazil. Adjusting to these changes proved challenging, highlighting contrasts between American and Brazilian customs. A return visit to Brazil brought mixed emotions as she navigated family dynamics and committed to overcoming challenges in America. 

With Love, Heidy

Connect with Martha:

Website: https://www.martaspirk.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martaspirk/ 

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/16cEQiwSFsB5kTprwCDtRK 

Book Review: https://heidydelacruz.com/the-empowered-woman/ 

Check out this podcast community on Substack!! There, you can comment on the episodes, interact with other listeners of the show, and receive new episodes right in your inbox!

https://substack.com/@theamericandreampodcast

I volunteer with Bethany Christian Services for their refugee resettlement program. They have a wish list for basic things that families usually need when they arrive in the United States. If you'd like to donate items, the wish list is here.

Want to advertise your business or sponsor an episode? Please email me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected].⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to start your own podcast? – My six-week podcast course has EVERYTHING you need to launch your podcast the simple way - more information at my Stan Store! https://stan.store/heidydelacruz

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.