What happens when a family story takes you on an unexpected journey? In this episode of Immigrantly, I sit down with Jake Warren, founder of Message Heard and the creator of Finding Natasha, a profoundly personal podcast about tracking down the woman who saved his mother’s life decades ago in the Soviet Union.

Jake’s mother, a young British ballerina, had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train in Russia. But her dream quickly turned into a nightmare when she fell gravely ill, abandoned in an isolation ward until Natasha, a fellow dancer, risked everything to help her escape. Decades later, Jake embarks on a quest to find this woman, uncovering powerful themes of fate, memory, and the ripple effects of human kindness.

Join me as we explore the intersection of storytelling, history, and identity and reflect on the ways in which we all have someone in our past worth finding.

We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.

Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! 

You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: [email protected]

Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound

Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.

For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected]

Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Bilt Rewards- go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get started

What happens when a country built by immigrants starts redefining who belongs? In this episode, I sit down with Claudia Yoli Ferla, a Venezuelan-born Latina and the Executive Director of Move Texas to discuss the latest political chaos surrounding immigration, voting rights, and civic engagement.

From the new administration's executive orders threatening birthright citizenship to mass deportations, we tackle the fear-mongering narratives shaping policy and why they don’t hold up. Claudia, a DACA recipient, and TPS holder shares how young voters reject political apathy and mobilize for real change.

We’re calling out the myths, exposing the power plays, and showing how you can fight back at the ballot box, in the streets, or by simply sharing this episode.

We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.

Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! 

You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: [email protected]

Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound

Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.

For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected]

Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Bilt Rewards- go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get started

Some stories demand to be told. This one, in particular, struck me deeply.

I sat down with Nancy Wang, a storyteller, artist, and author of Red Altar, to talk about her ancestors—Chinese immigrants who helped build California’s fishing industry against all odds. Their ingenuity, their fight against racist laws, and their sheer will to survive felt eerily familiar.

As we spoke, I found myself reflecting on the weight of legacy. How many immigrant stories like Nancy’s have been erased? How many sacrifices did it take for communities like hers and mine to thrive in a country that often tries to erase our presence?

Nancy shared how her ancestors were banned from fishing during the day, forcing them to innovate by using fire baskets to catch squid at night. They were resilient, determined, and unwilling to be erased. As she spoke, I couldn’t help but think of today’s immigrants facing exclusion and finding ways to survive.

This episode is more than history; it’s about the living, breathing legacy of immigrants in America. It’s about resilience, the cost of belonging, and why telling these stories matters now more than ever.

Listen in, and let’s make sure these stories don’t stay hidden

📖 Check out Nancy’s book at https://www.ethnohtec.org

We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.

Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! 

You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: [email protected]

Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound

Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.

For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected]

Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, we’ve tackled deep emotions and intricate journeys of faith, and today, we’re diving into the profound yet personal concept of legacy.

Legacy—it sounds monumental, right? But does it have to be? For me, crafting a legacy sometimes feels like another overwhelming to-do list. Yet, what if the legacy isn’t about grandeur but embracing our stories and connections in the here and now?

That’s where today’s guest, Shawna Wells, comes in! Shawna is the brilliant mind behind Legacy, Lyrics & Life, a podcast that explores how music intertwines with personal narratives to shape the legacies we’re building daily. She flips the script on traditional ideas, redefining legacy as fluid, radical, and deeply human.

We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.

Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! 

You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: [email protected]

Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound

Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.

For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected]

Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

This episode is sponsored by Bilt-go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get started.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talking about religion makes me uncomfortable. Maybe it’s because I practice a faith that’s often misunderstood in this country. But in this episode, I decided to face that discomfort head-on. I sat down with Minister Lydia Sohn, a progressive Christian leader and writer, to have an honest, vulnerable, and surprisingly fun conversation about faith, identity, and shared humanity.

We talked about big questions: How do we reconcile religion with doubt? Can faith coexist with progressiveness? And how do we connect with others when our beliefs are so different? Lydia also shared her experiences as a woman, immigrant, and minister navigating a complex spiritual and cultural landscape.

This conversation is for anyone who’s ever wrestled with belonging, meaning, or what it means to be human. Join me as I step out of my comfort zone and explore the intersections of faith, compassion, and community.

We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.

Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! 

You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: [email protected]

Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound

Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.

For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected]

Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

This episode is sponsored by Bilt-go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get started

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Bilt Rewards-go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get started

Start the year with powerful insights! In this episode, I reflect on Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire (catchy or cop-out?) and chat with Anita Rao, host of Embodied.

We explore working through emotions instead of discharging them and building emotional intelligence; we talk about Anita embracing her mixed-race identity and rethinking how we judge immigrant parents. It’s an unfiltered, inspiring conversation that sets the tone for 2025

Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, accurate insights into the immigrant identity in America. Immigrantly has garnered significant recognition and has been featured in renowned media outlets such as the Nieman Storyboard, The Guardian, The Slowdown, and CNN.

We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.

Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! 

You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: [email protected]

Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound

Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.

For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected]

Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you believe it? This is the final Immigrantly episode of 2024! As I reflect on this incredible year, I’m grateful for the meaningful stories and conversations we’ve shared. Together, we’ve leaned into curiosity, allyship, and learning, and I can’t wait to bring you even more inspiring voices in 2025. Mark your calendars—our first episode of the new year drops on January 14th!

But before we step into the future, I’m thrilled to end the year with an unforgettable guest, Bambadjan Bamba. You may know him from Black Panther or The Good Place, but his story goes far beyond the screen. Bambadjan is a passionate advocate for immigrant rights and a proud DACA recipient whose journey challenges us to rethink belonging and resilience. He’s also the creative force behind Bogolonfini, an Afrocentric streetwear brand featuring the stunning Afro Poncho Collection, which he describes as Afro-futuristic.

In this episode, Bambadjan and I dive into the intersections of his art, activism, and identity. We talk about his experiences as an immigrant, his mission to amplify underrepresented voices, and how he’s redefining what it means to be American.

So, let’s close out 2024 with a robust conversation. To those celebrating, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, accurate insights into the immigrant identity in America. Immigrantly has garnered significant recognition and has been featured in renowned media outlets such as the Nieman Storyboard, The Guardian, The Slowdown, and CNN.

We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.

Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! 

You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: [email protected]

Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound

Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.

For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected]

Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Julio Salgado. Through his bold and unapologetic work, Julio challenges the status quo and uplifts voices that are too often silenced. As a queer, undocumented creator, he uses his art to reimagine visibility, joy, and resistance.

In this conversation, we connected on our immigrant experiences, love for art, and his beautiful, poetic way of describing the U.S.

If you’re feeling the weight of the year or just looking for a spark of inspiration, this episode is for you. Join me as I sit down with Julio and explore his incredible journey, challenges, and how he uses his voice to create space for joy and change.

Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, accurate insights into the immigrant identity in America. Immigrantly has garnered significant recognition and has been featured in renowned media outlets such as the Nieman Storyboard, The Guardian, The Slowdown, and CNN.

We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.

Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! 

You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: [email protected]

Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound

Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.

For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected]

Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I'm thrilled to reconnect with Aymann Ismail, award-winning journalist and the visionary behind the PBS documentary American Muslims: A History Revealed. Beyond the groundbreaking stories from the series, our conversation takes a deeply personal turn.

Aymann opens up about his new book, 'Becoming Baba,' which explores his journey of self-discovery, his experiences with dating, and how they've shaped his perspectives on love and identity. We also discuss the values he hopes to instill in his children, weaving together reflections on faith, culture, and what it means to leave a meaningful legacy.

We revisit stories from the documentary, including the extraordinary tale of Yarrow Mamout, a Muslim enslaved in the 1700s who became a respected figure in Georgetown. Yarrow's story powerfully reminds us of Islam's long history in America and the contributions of Black Muslims to our shared heritage.

Exciting News!! Aymann Ismail's new book, Becoming Baba, is now available for pre-sale! Reserve your copy here.

Join us for this heartfelt and thought-provoking discussion about identity, love, and our dreams for future generations.

Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, accurate insights into the immigrant identity in America. Immigrantly has garnered significant recognition and has been featured in renowned media outlets such as the Nieman Storyboard, The Guardian, The Slowdown, and CNN.

We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. More information is available at http://immigrantlypod.com.

Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! 

You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: [email protected]

Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound

Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.

For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected]

Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m so excited to share my conversation with Adam Macias on this episode of Immigrantly. Adam is a comedian, writer, and podcaster whose sobriety journey is just one fascinating chapter in his story. We talked about everything—from how he uses humor to connect with people to his thoughts on Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate and how young men today navigate their identities in such interesting and complex ways.

Oh, and did I mention we bonded over our mutual love for cats? Adam’s got one, too, and we couldn’t resist swapping stories about our furry friends. This episode is full of laughter, reflection, and a little bit of feline love—don’t miss it!

Hit play and join the fun!

Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, accurate insights into the immigrant identity in America. Immigrantly has garnered significant recognition and has been featured in renowned media outlets such as the Nieman Storyboard, The Guardian, The Slowdown, and CNN.

We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. More information is available at http://immigrantlypod.com.

Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! 

You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: [email protected]

Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound

Immigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.

For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected]

Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices