The I In Immigrant

Elton Skendaj grew up under communist rule in Albania, where there was limited freedom of speech, resources, and access to information.

Despite growing up under repressive authoritarian rule, Elton's curiosity about the world never diminished. His interests led him to becoming a professor of Peace Studies at Manchester University in Northeast Indiana. He now serves an Assistant Teaching Professor and the Associate Director of the Democracy and Governance Program at Georgetown University.

In his conversation with Ahmed, he talks about growing up in Albania, his journey to the United States, and the challenges and perks of being bicultural.

Kidane Amare Sarko is a Fort Wayne resident who immigrated from Ethiopia in pursuit of education.

In his conversation with Ahmed he talks about how he ended up here, homesickness, switching career paths, and why he's so passionate about public health education.

Ifedapo, AKA Mike, lives in Michigan with his wife and four children. Originally from Nigeria, Ifedapo made his way to the United States by way of England, where he had been pursuing his education.

Nigeria is very diverse, with over 370 ethnic groups and more than 500 languages. Ifadepo spoke with Ahmed about what it means to him to be Nigerian. His wife, who hails from Wisconsin, also joined in on the conversation to talk about their relationship, what it means to "blend in", and raising biracial children during a time of racial and social justice reckonings.

If you ask Bedrija where she's from, she might chuckle and tell you "it's complicated."

Bedrija was born in Bosnia, but war and conflict drove her and her family to Croatia where she spent her formative years. Ultimately she moved to the United States, settling in Chicago.

Bedrija spoke with Ahmed about the circumstances that led to her family's departure from their homeland, diaspora, and why she still considers Bosnia home after all these years.

Ismail and Brittany are a married couple who reside in Oregon. Both are from Somalia and Maine respectively and have found a mutual love for building community wherever they go.

In this episode of The I In Immigrant, Ahmed talks with the pair about their history, acceptance, how two parents with two very different cultural backgrounds are choosing to raise their children, and their perspectives on racial injustice issues in the United States.

Barbara Bell is a lot of things. She’s an immigrant. Latina. Brazilian. Black. A newlywed. And VERY tenacious.

Barbara is finding her place in Fort Wayne, IN and talked with Ahmed about her journey to where she is today. In this episode we hear about her college experiences, learning English, and her thoughts on the black experience in America.

When YeWin Latt and Minn Myint Nan Tin came to Indiana roughly 30 years ago they were refugees fleeing Burma’s authoritarian government.

Flash forward to present-day Fort Wayne, which now has one of the most concentrated Burmese populations in the country. YeWin and Minn have also become pillars in the refugee community, seeking to build meaningful connections and educate others about the history and current state of their home country.

In this interview, YeWin and Minn give listeners a primer on the ongoing conflicts in Burma, how they ended up in northeast Indiana, and the values that they hope to instill in their children.

Divorce and a cancer diagnosis are two of the most life-altering events any person can go through. Now, imagine going through both within a short time frame, in a new country away from your family and friends, all while trying to navigate the American healthcare system. Those were the cards that we dealt to Joey Kowailw (Ko-wall-ee-oh) when he moved from Leicester, England all the way to Northeast Indiana 14 years ago. To kick off the second season of The I In Immigrant Joey talks with Ahmed about finding his way in the United States, finding solace in logic, and where he can get a decent cup of tea.

In the final episode of season one, Ahmed asks show producer Katy Anderson where she's from and what she gained from the podcast. They chat about the season's guests, topics, and universal themes that come from immigrants' experiences. They also give a teaser for the next season of The I In Immigrant.

Paula Avila immigrated from Mexico to Fort Wayne when she was eight years old. Four years prior to that, she and her younger siblings were left in the care of relatives while her parents moved to the United States to start building a new life for their family.

She didn't see her parents during those four years, and when she was eventually reunited with them in America she says they felt like strangers.

In this episode, Ahmed and Paula talk about the complexities of culture, and her rebuilding her relationship with her parents In America.