Operation Amigos

In 2010 a massive earthquake hit the island nation of Haiti, killing hundreds of thousands and displacing 5 million. Williamson Sintyl miraculously survived the earthquake, even after hours trapped under three floors of rubble. Join us as he tells his story of survival, emerging stronger, and building something even bigger than he'd imagined afterward. 

Are there any differences among how we support people with physical ailments, like cancer, and how we help others who are going through mental illness, or making their way through a grieving process? Dr. Christine Hibbert helps us understand what it's like to go through all three (sometimes all at once!), and how to best love and support those who do, without making their burdens heavier. 

Ahmad Alnassar was born in Jordan and has lived in many places in the world since that time, including Utah. He is currently a student at Brigham Young University, an Operation Amigos intern, and a good and kind human being. Join us as we learn more about Muslims and Arabs, what it's like to be both in a homogenous place like Utah, and what we can expect if we form personal connections with Muslims instead of simply relying on the evening news for information.

Ismée Williams and Alex Villasante (along with Mayra Cuevas) are the founders and organizers of the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival, the biggest gathering of Latinx authors ever organized. Listen as we talk to these ladies about their backgrounds, the countries and cultures they grew up in and around, and how these influences helped shape their identities as humans and writers. 

From her childhood in Venezuela, to law school in Provo, Utah, to migrant camps at the U.S./Mexico border, Carolina Núñez has had a life inextricably linked to the plight of immigrants from many places. Join us as Dean Núñez shares fond memories of her two homes, heartbreaking stories from her life's work, and advice to all the rest of us on how we can help. 

I'm Megan and my husband Ryan and I are the hosts of Operation Amigos, a podcast where we listen to stories from people who may be misunderstood or stereotyped in different ways. But how did this all come about? Who are we? And who are we to THINK we should do this podcast? Come find out!