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 in...

 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...

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 succ...

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 th...

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...

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 la...

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 f...

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. I...

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 subseq...

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 st...

Pilisam or Sam for short, is a proud Bronx transplant. His mother, a diplomat, brought his sister and him over and as a green card holder, he braved the overpriced educational system, then proceeded to meet his wife at a soup kitchen he volunteered at - because if you didn't know, immigrants also like to give back. Listening to Pilisam explain being Black in America vs Black in Togo and how he lea...

Jay welcomed me to his workplace near Grand Central, with multiple conference rooms, new-age office decor, and lots of snacks. Jay grew up as the eldest of three boys, in Iran, amongst a family who encouraged him to follow his dreams. So it was no surprise that he took an education and work opportunity that landed him in Singapore for five years and soon after he followed another opportunity to pr...

On a rainy Fall day in a not so quiet bookstore, Kadiatou shared with us herstory. Born to Malian professors, who emigrated to Gabon, she was supposed to be born in Mali, due to the xenophobia faced by West Africans in Gabon, however her born day, had other plans. Similarly, her life's trajectory could have placed her living in France with other Francophone African nations or in Houston or Dallas...

There is no doubt after this interview that Sherry is a global citizen of the world. Sherry was born in Mumbai, then moved to the Middle East with her high school sweetie, she graced Kuwait and Jordan with her presence and even decided to move to Delhi for a while. A few years ago, she moved with her husband and son to New Jersey, and she quickly became my day one at our new job. This episode is a...

There is nothing more comforting then speaking to someone who shares a culture that you can relate to at an intimate level. Therefore speaking to Gabriel was pure joy, his stories reminded me of some of my own and it was easy to hear what he had to say and how he said it. Understanding why his parents came to the United States, the reasons that propelled them to send him to Ghana, and what his "gr...

In this episode, Dali and I get down and dirty into West African educational prowess, Black love,  and first language obstacles faced as an immigrant child in a white America.  We delve deep into the communities around us that we connect with and what our society deems as "Okay" for the status quo of a Black woman in America.