What if the key to a thriving workforce and stronger communities lies in removing barriers that keep refugees from contributing to the full extent of their abilities and gifts? In this episode, Suzanne speaks with Jina Krause-Vilmar about what economic inclusion really means for immigrants and refugees. Jina shares her personal story as the daughter of Indian immigrants raised by a fiercely determined single mother, some of the lessons she learned throughout her childhood, and what happens when we deny people the right to work. They also talk about workforce barriers; policy changes that can make it easier for refugees to resume their careers in their new homes; and the power of livelihood to strengthen identity, dignity, and belonging. Jina’s insights are both practical and deeply human, and will encourage you to reflect on the universal human desire to feel useful. This episode is about resilience, but even more, it’s about recognizing the profound level of skill and talent that refugees bring to every community they join. 

Topics:

• How Jina’s upbringing shaped her views on home, strength, and belonging
• The vital link between livelihood, dignity, and identity for refugees
• Why refugee women face unique challenges and lead bold transformations
• Common myths about refugee skills and the systemic barriers they face
• How workforce inclusion benefits not just individuals, but entire economies

Episode Resources:

• The Malala Fund and Charmaghz Mobile Library on giving women more economic inclusion and options

Resources:

• Podcast show notes
• Donate now
• Follow USA for UNHCR on Instagram
• Connect with Suzanne on LinkedIn

In this episode of Not Really Strangers, Suzanne sits down with Colin Browne—newly appointed board member at USA for UNHCR. His experience as a former global supply chain leader, and someone who’s lived in nine countries, offers a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on displacement. From a powerful refugee simulation in Hong Kong to the role businesses can play in humanitarian crises, Colin shares what connects us, why the private sector matters, and why he believes we’re not really strangers.

Topics Discussed:

• How a 24-hour immersive simulation reshaped Colin’s understanding of the refugee experience
• The surprising ways global supply chains intersect with displacement crises
• Why most refugees are hosted in low- and middle-income countries, not wealthy nations—and what that means for humanitarian response
• The critical role the private sector can play alongside governments in addressing global crises
• Why the phrase Not Really Strangers reflects our shared humanity, no matter our backgrounds

Episode Resources

• Report: Nearly 2 million refugees at risk as Uganda emergency funds dwindle and services cut
• Report: Refugees generated a stunning 2.7 percent of Poland’s GDP in 2024, study shows
• Crossroads Foundation Hong Kong

Resources:

• Podcast show notes
• Donate now
• Follow USA for UNHCR on Instagram
• Connect with Suzanne on LinkedIn

In this episode, host Suzanne Ehlers speaks with Dr. Thoại Ngô, an internationally recognized scientist and the Chair of the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health at Columbia University. Thoại’s work lies at the intersection of global public health, gender equality and sustainable development, and he has dedicated his career to improving health and social outcomes for young people and marginalized communities around the world. From founding the GIRL Center at the Population Council to launching the Adolescent Data Hub, his leadership has shaped how the global community understands and responds to issues like adolescent well-being, climate justice and migration. In this conversation, Thoại shares both his professional expertise and his personal story as a former refugee from Vietnam, reminding us how resilience, imagination and community can dissolve distance and build a more just future.

Topics Discussed:

• Thoại’s personal story of being displaced from Vietnam at age 12 and resettling in the U.S.
• How home can be both a place and a web of relationships, stretching between New York City and Vietnam
• The intersection of public health, forced displacement and climate migration
• Why migration should be seen as a solution, not a threat, to global challenges like aging populations and labor shortages
• Faith communities and the surprising role they’ve played in refugee resettlement and welcome
• Thoại’s reflections on “stranger” as an opportunity for curiosity, connection, and discovery

Episode Resources:

• GIRL Center at the Population Council
• Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health at Columbia University

Resources:

• Podcast show notes
• Donate now
• Follow USA for UNHCR on Instagram
• Connect with Suzanne on LinkedIn

I’m deeply honored to have restaurateur and writer Lien Ta on the show today. I found her Instagram during the pandemic and I’m grateful to say that she’s now a friend. In our conversation, Lien shares what it means to her to belong and how we build spaces that help others feel they belong too. We talk about her parents' harrowing journey as Vietnamese refugees and how this has impacted their family through generations. Lien shares how connection emerged as her most essential value, one that shaped her life in hospitality and continues to guide her next chapter. We also explore what it means to be a “stranger,” and how the simple act of asking a question or noticing a detail can bridge worlds. This conversation highlights grief and generosity, family legacy and found community, plus the courage it takes to see and be seen and the powerful trust that grows in between.

Topics:

• Lien’s childhood dreams of cozy sitcom bedrooms and how this helped her create a sanctuary for herself in Silver Lake, believing that home can be something we construct for ourselves, often for the first time.
• Lien’s family’s escape from Vietnam, fleeing by boat, then their time in Thai refugee camps, and their eventual resettlement in the U.S.
• How, through therapy, Lien rediscovered her core values after burnout during the pandemic and why connection now anchors her relationships, career, and creativity.
• From All Day Baby to Here’s Looking At You, Lien opens up about the intentional ways she designed her spaces to be spaces where strangers become community.
• What the hospitality and restaurant industries have taught Lien about trust, grief, and generosity – especially after loss. 

Resources:

• Podcast show notes
• Donate now
• Follow USA for UNHCR on Instagram
• Connect with Suzanne on LinkedIn

In this episode, I talk with actor, musician, and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Kat Graham about her deep personal connection to refugees. Kat shares both sides of her family’s stories of displacement from Liberia to the Holocaust, the moments that have stayed with her from visiting camps around the world, and why she believes small acts of giving can create lasting change. We also discuss the power of education, art, and shared humanity and why refugees are never really strangers.

Topics discussed:

• Kat’s personal connection to refugee issues through her own family’s history from a Liberian father and a Jewish mother whose family survived the Holocaust
• The resilience and generosity that Kat has witnessed in refugee camps in Syria, Jordan, Sudan and more and how it puts the abundance in refugee camps on display 
• Why education and creative expression are vital for displaced children and how this was really shown to Kat via a school visit in the middle east 
• The story behind Kat performing Peace Talks at the Nansen Refugee Awards and the moments that stood out to Kat the most 

Resources:

• Podcast show notes
• Donate now
• Follow USA for UNHCR on Instagram
• Connect with Suzanne on LinkedIn

Discover just how connected the refugee experience is to our everyday lives, and to the social issues that matter to us most. Join host Suzanne Ehlers, Executive Director and CEO of USA for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, as she and her eclectic guests share personal stories and frontline insights. We’re more connected than we may think.

The podcast will be launching this fall, subscribe now to never miss an update!

Resources:

• Podcast show notes
• Donate now
• Follow USA for UNHCR on Instagram
• Connect with Suzanne on LinkedIn