No Country for Moving

How about we try something for a change. Let’s take back the cultural appropriation of Native American prints and styles and actually give the credit where credit is due. And that is why this next guest was exactly what we all needed.

Reno Tsosie, founded Hashké, a modern menswear company that takes from Navajo culture and amplifies Navajo storytelling through the brand. Hashké is supported by indigenous designers and artists and aims to create an ecosystem of indigenous creators.

While you listen, I invite you to close your eyes and be taken to the great Southwest’s open skies and see just how he was inspired to make his brand. All in all, I grew a lot in this episode and I hope you will too.

Disclaimer this interview occurred in December of 2020.

 Chef Jazz and Atlantis of One Life Wellness have been so kind to share with me (and now you) their passion for community fridges in Harlem and how it all began from start to finish.

Do you want to start a community fridge in your own hometown? This episode will give you the tips on the how tos and why nots.

Pro Tip: Don’t give anything you wouldn’t give your own family member.

Fact: A food Swamp is where high calorie food fast food  and junk food are more readily available. Do you live near a food swamp?

Disclaimer: this was recorded in March of 2021 and Community Fridge 120 is no longer a physical fridge but distributes food to other fridges and supplies mutual aid movements through One Life Wellness.

Have you ever looked back at your life choices and wondered why you made them? How did you arrive where you are now and how you wished you had made different decision? I feel it’s a familiar feeling that we all have had at some point in our life. 

Sometimes it's comforting to read how one person's journey was made with the best intentions and they still managed to arrive at a point of success. And that is exactly what you will learn from Dung Duong's story. As a Vietnamese migrant who survived a treacherous crossing fleeing his homeland as a child, to arrive in America and overcome poverty to become a investor and optic engineer. Stories like these encourage us to strive and even if we do not reach our goals, at the very least be okay with the fact the choices we have made.

The Migrant Kitchen is more than just a restaurant run by two entrepreneurs but a home to migrant workers. The philosophy is based on feeding those who are left behind. The fusion of Middle Eastern and Latin American food is paying homage to the two founders Daniel Dorado and Nasser Jaber.

Speaking to Nasser, was eye opening. From learning about how Middle Eastern history is not often taught by those from the Middle East but through the white gaze and his experience as a Palestinian living in Palestine and Israel.

It's fair to say that before this interview, Ben and I only knew each other by name so when he graciously agreed to be interviewed, I was impressed by his pose, his poignant cultural comparisons of the USA and Israel and perspective as a member of the LGTBQIA. After learning what brought Ben to the states, it's clear he has lived many lives and has many more to live. Ben is a designer, ex-military and proud citizen of Tel Aviv, a city where the party never stops and gay clubs do not exist but co-exist- figure that!

When I sat down to speak to Otilia in her apartment, I anxiously pondered what we would speak about, as it was one of my earlier interviews and I wasn't quite prepared. To my surprise, the breadth of what she shared about adapting to new cultures while moving I could relate to. From being othered in Sweden to immigration policies that singled out her family members, Otilia's story is incredibly layered and reminds us all, that the unheard voices of emigrants and immigrants come in all colors.

Gloria's story is a striking one, growing up Indian and Thai and being educated in Western schools, has enabled her the superpower of being a cultural chameleon. Upon her arrival in NYC, driven by her passion for the arts and the opportunity to go to school she fell in love with the city. Although her dreams were soon dashed by a series of  events that would impact her future, from applying for an artist visa to not being able to pay for her tuition, Gloria's journey to NYC was not an easy one but has made her the strongest people I know. 

To learn more about Gloria visit her website and to buy her art, that ranges from alcohol ink & resin, homewares, and jewelry visit her Etsy

I believe it is safe to say, that there is biased information out there around Russia socially and geopolitically.  One may even presume that the Cold War-era disdain for the nation runs through the very veins of America. With the US elections ending now is the time to listen to the voices of those who hail from nations we don't normally hear from whether they hold our belief system or not. In this episode, Veronika shares with us, her perspective as a Russian immigrant with graduate education in Florida and NYC while she scales the corporate ladder. She shares with us the people she has met that inspired her, and the difficulties she has faced after leaving Moscow around English learning, managing our complicated healthcare system, and finding a home in a difficult NYC even though she misses her family the stern faces of Moscow.

*Important to note this episode was recorded over 10 months ago and Veronika, has a more stable visa and outlook on life.

When Dasha moved to the US from Ukraine it was not a choice she made on her own. Crimea, the region she called home, had been annexed by Russia and it was not a peaceful takeover. In the years following, Dasha lived her life like the daughter of a politician running on an "anti-corruption" campaign. When the campaign took a turn, she was sent to the US and landed in Decatur, Georgia. In the subsequent years, she moved to Boston and then NYC. This interview took place in her room in Manhattan where we meet for the second time, and she shares with me her story. 

Katherine takes us through her family's decision to move from Bogotá to the US through an inciteful reflection on the push and pull factors and sacrifices that her grandmother and mother have made to make her the woman she is today. She is passionate, communicative, and inspiring and reminds me how rich and textured each immigrant's story is and how the fabric of America is deeply embedded with stories like hers.