In this episode, I’m speaking with Roy Ratnavel, a retired financial services executive and the author of the #1 Canadian national bestselling book Prisoner #1056.

Roy’s philosophy for life seems simple but I think it’s a hard one for most of us to adopt: fix yourself before you fix the world. If you’re a good husband, you raise good kids. Good households create good communities. Strong communities build strong societies. Strong societies make stronger countries.

And I think Canada needs a lot of this at the moment. Everything is ground up, not top down. The government can’t control what goes on in your head or within the four walls of your home. No regulation can stop that. So it comes down to individuals—not as a selfish notion, but as a recognition that you need to fix your flaws before pointing out others’ shortcomings.

Roy spent a decade after arriving in Canada blaming everyone else for his struggles. At 31, he realized he was the problem. He went to war with the man in the mirror, sought therapy for PTSD, and completely changed his approach to life.

Roy and I chat about my biggest lessons from reading his book. We also explore:

• Why the 2010 Winter Olympics was the most Canadian he’d ever felt

• How Canada can unite people across differences

• Why we need to lower the barrier but not the bar

• Moral exhibitionism vs. real solutions

• Lying to yourself versus being honest about mistakes

In this episode, I’m speaking with Nisrine Maktabi, a trauma-informed coach and registered psychotherapist with over a decade of experience supporting newcomers, international students, and multicultural professionals in Canada and globally.

Nisrine usually works with newcomers and second-generation immigrants, helping them work through something most immigrants don’t recognize as trauma: people-pleasing.

Surprised? I was too. She says people-pleasing isn’t about being nice or accommodating. It’s a survival response called “fawning”—your nervous system’s way of keeping you safe by making others happy. For children of immigrants especially, people-pleasing becomes how they survive in families where belonging feels conditional.

Conditional on you operating within the rigid rules about behavior, identity, and cultural adherence.

Nisrine and I chat about why your nervous system adapts to keep you safe. We also explore:

• The coconut effect and why strict parenting backfires

• Canada’s systemic barriers for highly educated newcomers

• Why discrimination triggers old wounds, and how to process them

• How to connect your children to their roots without imprisoning them

In this episode, I’m speaking with Kristina McPherson, who moved from Jamaica to Canada in 2014, and now runs As Told By Canadian Immigrants, where she’s the guide she wishes she had before she moved to Canada.

There’s a lot to unpack in this episode, but the part I can’t stop thinking about is when Kristina talks about “post-immigration stress disorder,” a term she coined to describe what many immigrants go through as they try to settle into their new home. I believe it’s also called Ulysses Syndrome.

There’s the constant anxiety. There’s the uncertainty that has you feeling unsettled. There’s the mental load of running two parallel tracks—getting through today while worrying if you’ll even be here tomorrow.

For Kristina, it was LMIA complications. Provincial nominee programs that wouldn’t work in time. Express Entry launching with 800-point cutoffs. Submitting her PR application two months before her work permit expired, then living on implied status for months.

During that time, Christina lived with two pots, two plates, two glasses. Everything she owned fit in a suitcase. Because if immigration forced her to leave, she wanted it to be easy.

Kristina and I chat about the emotional toll of living in limbo for years. We also explore:

• Living two and a half years out of a suitcase

• Why she started “As Told by Canadian Immigrants”

• Why we need to put boundaries around how one consumes immigration information on social media

• Being ‘in-betweeners’ caught between cultures

In this episode, I'm speaking with Paul Bakhmut, who moved from Ukraine to Edmonton, Canada 15 years ago as an international student and is now running for mayor.

Paul is big on first impressions. And he still remembers his first impression of Edmonton: no bus from the airport to the city. You had to drive or find a cab. Even now, the bus only goes to the train station, not downtown.

His vision for Edmonton in two years if he wins? A city that looks and feels alive, not one littered with "for lease" signs. A place that feels safe, not just in police statistics but in actual lived experience.

But Paul is practical in how he expects to achieve all these goals. He accepts that Edmonton needs to get more competitive with business taxes and become an open, smart, and fun city that attracts businesses and sets a cultural tone that values what newcomers bring.

In this conversation, Paul and I chat about how his view of Canada has changed over the past 15 years. We also explore:

• Why Alberta’s immigration boom creates challenges and opportunities

• Why the city’s own hiring practices matter for the broader market

• Why he still believes in the promise of Canada after 15 years

• The importance of judging newcomers on merit, not credentials

• The city’s role in setting the cultural tone on hiring newcomers

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In this episode, I’m speaking with Keely Cronin, Co-Founder of WorkSpark, where they support professionals who have migrated to Canada as well as anyone looking to make a mid-career transition.

One conversation she has over and over again with the folks she coaches is the gap, or more like valley between your qualifications, experience, skillset, and the infamous first survival job most newcomers have to start with in Canada.

Keely’s point of view is even if you’re a deep-sea engineer working at Tim Hortons, you should see that time as valuable Canadian experience. And as roles that immerse you in everyday Canadian culture.

Which means you should put them on your resume and frame them as work experience that shows you have soft skills to fit into your potential new job like a glove.

In this conversation, Keely and I chat about the soft skills you develop in such jobs. We also explore:

* Why she thinks Canada’s immigration narrative doesn’t match reality

* Culture and self-promotion

* Why moving countries makes you a baby again (but with baggage)

* Why it’s a good idea to experience Canada before job hunting ( but them bills don’t wait though)

Dozie’s Notes

A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:

* During the immigration process, the focus is usually on what the immigrant brings to Canada. However, once we land, the narrative seems to shift to all Canada is giving you. This weird shift seems to be creating an environment where the public doesn’t recognize the talent or contributions of immigrants to the economy and the country.

* Structural barriers need policy solutions, not resilient individuals. We should celebrate resilience. But…individual resilience and networking can only go so far. Issues like inconsistent credential recognition across provinces and unclear processes need government fixes.

* Moving to a new country literally resets you to ground zero. You are like a baby experiencing the world again. Except this time around you carry the burden of your previous life’s experiences and expectations. Accept this reality. That’s the first step towards turning this mental burden into a strength.

Official Links

✅ Connect with Keely Cronin on LinkedIn

✅ Schedule a free career assessment

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In this episode, I'm speaking with Mher Mardoyan, a career coach who's been helping newcomers to Canada find jobs with a 90%+ success rate.

With the rise and rise of AI in job applications, it's beginning to seem like traditional online job applications are a losing game for newcomers to Canada. Because for every job posting, there are thousands of applicants and only a tiny weeny number get called in for interviews. Mher thinks its about 2%.

The way out, Mher believes, is the hidden job market. This is where majority of the hiring happens. And the only way to access these opportunities is through networking and referrals.

Because people help people they know and trust, not strangers asking for favors.

In this conversation, Mher and I chat about his seven-step coaching process. We also explore:

* Why applying for jobs should be your last resort, not your first

* The importance of celebrating small wins during your job search

* His one tip for standing out in today's competitive job market

* Why investing in your career pays off faster than waiting for free help

Dozie’s Notes

A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:

* Networking is like banking; you first deposit then you withdraw. That someone accepted your connection request on LinkedIn doesn’t mean you should ask them if they can help you find a job immediately. I personally think it’s cringe. Spend some time investing in the relationship. And in due time, you’ll build up enough social credit that allows you ask for help with your job hunt or a referral.

* Tell your story. Mher thinks if your story demonstrates how you save employers time, money or increase profit, you’ll be in demand. Methinks same too.

* Job hunting in today’s market is emotionally exhausting. Take breaks. Celebrate small wins. Ask for help.

Official Links

✅ Connect with Mher Mardoyan on LinkedIn

✅ Book a career consultation

One Ask

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Or join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

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In this episode, I am speaking with Ben Joffe, a French native who's lived and worked across Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, United States, Germany, and currently Portugal. Ben also speaks fluent French, English, Japanese, pretty bad Korean and Chinese, and average Portuguese (thanks to high school Spanish classes).

Talk about being a global citizen. This lived experience means Ben has developed a great understanding of how much our default cultural programming defines how we see and interact with the world.

Having your default cultural programming turned on is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it’s important we recognize that we all have these underlying prompts which influence our language structure, our views on material success, personal relationships, and more. Especially when we move to a new country.

In this conversation, Ben and I explore why some cultures lead with “what do you do?” while others consider that question rude. We also chat about:

* Local comedy and why it’s a great way to understand cultural nuances and codes

* Why he’s more focused on teaching his kid curiosity than nationality

* The phone call that changed his understanding of Korean culture

* Why he doesn't identify as an immigrant or expat despite living in 7+ countries

Dozie’s Notes

A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:

* The same word can mean different things depending on where you are from. A major barrier to cross-cultural understanding isn’t a lack of shared language but the hidden cultural codes behind words. A term like “friendship” or “car” has a completely different meaning in Korea, the U.S, or France. Learn to ask “What do you mean?” whenever possible.

* Cultural fluency which then leads to proper integration is an everyday activity. To truly understand a new country or society requires deliberate effort. Learn the language, watch local stand-up comedy, volunteer, engage in local activities. Being a passive observer rarely helps.

* Your multicultural identity is additive. A multicultural identity is not about losing a piece of one culture to gain another. Instead, it’s you adding new layers to your identity that end up creating a human that’s more than the sum of their parts.

Official Links

✅ Connect with Ben Joffe on LinkedIn

✅ Check out Ben’s vibe coding course

✅ Consider reading The Culture Code by Clotaire Rapaille

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In this episode, I'm speaking with Gabriela Casineanu, author of Job Fairs: How to Get the Most of Your Participation, and founder of Introverts Academy.

A big part of why I wanted to chat with Gabriela is because I believe that when you move, you temporarily become an introvert. She did disagree with my theory. She thinks immigrants or newcomers become quiet or withdrawn because when you face a lot of rejection while job hunting, you become shy or afraid to speak up.

There's more. And she breaks it down in great detail. But you have to listen to the episode.

In this conversation, Gabriela and I chat about detaching your identity from your profession. We also explore:

* Why immigration is an opportunity to ask yourself what you really want to do

* Her one-word advice for immigrants struggling to integrate

* How to focus on what you can control in the job search process

* The importance of bringing your “human side” to the job search, not just your diploma or degree

Dozie’s Notes

A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:

* A lot of us move physically but don’t move mentally. In that case, you really haven’t immigrated. Integration starts when you become curious and adopt a beginners mind. That’s how you start learning the rules of your new home.

* Proactive connection beats passive application. Sending resumes are great but they can only get you so far. Reach out, book informational interviews, volunteer at conferences. These tactics help you build visibility, trust, and launches you into the hidden job market where there's less competition.

* "Reframing" is the ultimate immigrant hack. Learn to reframe your challenges. By changing a negative statement (I hate networking) into a curious question (Who can I ask for information?), you alter your energy state, your actions, and the outcomes.

Official Links

✅ Connect with Gabriela Casineanu on LinkedIn

✅ Learn more about Introverts Academy

✅ Get the Job Fairs: How to Get the Most of Your Participation book for FREE to learn more about reframing

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In this episode, I'm speaking to Sweta Regmi, who's lived in Canada for over two decades.

Two decades is a while, and Sweta says if she were to compress all she's learned over those years into one piece of advice for new immigrants, it would be "ASK FOR HELP."

I agree. I learned this the hard way. And maybe someday I'll tell that story. But yes, ask for help. Don't try to figure it out all on your own. But there are caveats here. As Sweta puts it, "Watch out for folks who who project their own limitations onto you, like someone who tells you that making six figures is impossible."

I think the key message Sweta is passing on here is find people who have lived the life you want to live. This isn't about finding someone with a PhD or a fancy title, but someone with relatable, lived experience who can offer genuine guidance.

In this conversation, Sweta and I chat about the importance of finding mentors who are honest about their struggles. We also explore:

* Why she sees her 25-year journey in Canada as beautiful

* The origin story behind her business, TeachnDo

* Why she resisted celebrating Canadian holidays at first, and what changed her mind

* Why you shouldn’t compromise your identity just because you want to fit in

Dozie’s Notes

A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:

* Not judging anyone, but those little compromises you make to fit in can often backfire. Integrate all right, but don’t erode your sense of self in the process. You have a heritage that’s beautiful in its own right.

* Continuing from above, moving means you can curate the culture you want to uphold or live by. You can choose to discard the negative aspects of your heritage or home culture (like gender biases in Sweta’s case) and replace them with the positive elements from your new culture. The result is a new personalized way of life. Sounds utopian, but it’s doable.

* The source of your advice can make or break you. I would go further to say the folks you speak to within the first two weeks in the country can limit or propel you forward.

Official Links

✅ Connect with Sweta Regmi on LinkedIn

✅ Check out the free career resources on the TeachnDo website

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In this episode, I'm speaking with Shriya Ghate, who moved from India to the UK, back to India, and finally to Canada.

Shriya and I explore a theme that's often ignored; the starting line is different for immigrants. And for immigrant women, it's often miles behind everyone else.

She talks about being seated at a networking event for women, and as she listens to the challenges faced by women who grew up in Canada, she realizes that before she can even think about networking or getting better at small talk, she has to first figure out the basics:

* Where to buy food

* How to pay for the bus

* How to feel safe in a new place

But it's not all gloomy. Shriya believes starting over is also a chance to build a new life with some intention. An opportunity to decide who you want to be as a professional and as a person, away from the cultural expectations of your home country.

Shriya and I explore the lessons she’s gathered from immigrating twice. We also chat about:

* The difference between moving as a student vs. a permanent resident.

* The psychological burden of the immigrant job search.

* Why Canada felt more like home than the UK.

* How to find your place in the world after leaving home

* Why small talk can be a hurdle for many immigrants

Dozie’s Notes

A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:

* Progress compounds but it comes from showing up, fully prepared or not. The feeling of not being ready, of not knowing what to say, or do, or wear can be paralyzing. But they say courage is action in the face of fear. And it’s one thing you have to embody as an immigrant. Show up and learn by doing.

* Cultural norms around social interactions are real. So give yourself some grace. Is small talk hard? That’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up about it. But keep an open mind to learning the new social norms or create ways to navigate them.

Official Links

✅ Connect with Shriya Ghate on LinkedIn

One Ask

If you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.