An Immigrant’s Life

Maylee Keo is an artist in pursuit of true connections. Her journey is a tapestry of self-discovery, weaving through vibrant murals, art, and music. These creations are her refuge from the digital world, a place where she learns about herself and her unique neurodiversity. But her art is more than a personal escape. It's a bridge that connects others to the rich tapestry of South East Asian cu...

Michael Barreda's story is a powerful journey from addiction to redemption. It all began in high school when a friend introduced him to oxycontin, setting off a dangerous spiral. 💔  He sought professional help and even survived a suicide attempt, but addiction's grip was relentless. His family suffered alongside him as he battled his demons. Yet, their love never wavered. ❤️  After a tumu...

Discover Phoebe Quizon extraordinary journey from her hometown of Batangas, known for blacksmithing, to becoming a skilled jeweler in New York City. Her path was anything but straightforward. After college, she moved to Israel to be with her mother, leaving behind her beloved Lola, who had become her mother figure when her mom moved to Israel.   In Israel, she met her now ex-husband, and together,...

Jackie, a passionate fan art artist hailing from Newark, NJ. Growing up, anime was her constant companion thanks to her sister's influence, a fascination which she carried through adulthood. Life wasn't always easy. Sheltered by her protective mother and surviving a near kidnapping as a child, Jackie saw the world through innocent eyes until she encountered the harsh realities of microaggr...

Ray Lumokso is a native of Queens, New York, wears multiple hats as a Chemical Engineer, a Creative, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple belt. During his college years, he showcased his versatility as a multi-instrumentalist, as a member of three different bands. This helps him made friends and also served as a stress-reliever from the rigors of engineering school.      One captivating facet of his b...

Aliana Reyes, an incredibly talented tattoo artist who specializes in Anime tattoos. Aliana's journey is a remarkable one. Working in the medical field during the pandemic, she witnessed firsthand the inadequate attention hospitals paid towards the welfare of their patients and staff. It was during this time that she took a step back and reevaluated her path in life. It was her best friend who...

Meet Mohit Kanyan, the ultimate go-getter! Born in Haryana, India, he ventured to Delhi for his studies and then crossed oceans to Canada as an international student pursuing his master's degree.     Surprisingly, he found the Canadian school system easier than the rigorous Indian one! While studying, he took on the role of Franchise Manager at a painting company, mastering the art of running...

Brenda Chuinkam is a fashion blogger, hails from Gabon but was brought up in the US and spent her formative years in Cameroon. As the daughter of a diplomat, she enjoyed certain privileges but also faced the pressure of excelling academically due to her family's expectations. Her upbringing in strict boarding schools stifled her naturally outgoing and vibrant nature, leading her to adopt intro...

Caezar Adesina is a Visual contemporary artist whose journey began against the backdrop of a strict yet understanding military upbringing in Oshun State, Nigeria. After navigating the challenges of earning a college degree, a transformative opportunity arose when his brother invited him to Lagos. There, he embarked on a path of growth, refining his drawing prowess. Eager for more, he ventured to C...

Berivan Altu n, the visionary behind 'Roj Floral Studio.' Her journey growing up in Turkey was marred by prejudice in the hands of her peers and her teachers due to her Kurdish heritage. This narrative continued even after her family's move to London. Separated from her mother for five arduous years due to immigration issues, she encountered the trials of assimilation in her new homela...

Allan Matudio, a visual artist, was born and raised in Côte-des-Neiges (Manila of Montreal), to Filipino immigrant parents. Growing up, he experienced two contrasting environments - one where he felt embraced by the Filipino community, while the other subjected him to microaggressions and racism by his classmates in his predominantly white private school.  Driven by a deep passion for science and...

Growing up in Byaroza, Belarus, sports were a big part of Kseniya Poznyak’s childhood. Starting with basketball, she later found her calling in volleyball due to limited opportunities in her small town. Despite initial doubts, she embraced the sport and excelled, leading her to Azerbaijan and opening doors to a world of exploration.     Competing across Europe and the Philippines, Kseniya's lo...

Raeland Mendoza is a creative director, was raised in the non-diverse suburbs of Edmonton. However, thanks to his open-minded parents and a passion for basketball, he managed to create the diverse community he yearned for. Through this community, he also gained access to various subcultures such as fashion and music, which he easily fell in love with. His love for fashion stemmed from his family b...

After two amazing years in London, Aziza Yussupova, the photographer behind @anvrvn.ph, found out she was expecting. Concerned about language barriers during her pregnancy, Aziza and her family decided to move back to Kazakhstan, where they could consult doctors in their native language and be closer to their extended family.      Raised to embrace both freedom and heritage, Aziza navigates the ch...

Born and raised in the vibrant city of Lagos, Nigeria, Lola Oduwole of “Afro Edmontonian” is a proud firstborn of a Nigerian family. Her parents always had high expectations from her, urging her to be the role model for her siblings, and bear the weight of the "Black Tax." A responsibility she embraced with open arms.  While She had a thriving career in Lagos, destiny called her to Edmonto...

Saloni Jain , a Digital Marketing Specialist/Content Creator, made the bold choice to move from India to Ottawa, Canada, despite having lived a privileged life.    In this episode, we highlight her struggles during her initial days as an international student in Canada. We also delve into her wild first days trying to look for a place to stay, her journey of adapting from the bustling city of Mumb...

A multidisciplinary artist from Montreal, Johnny F. Kim is ethnically Cambodian yet has a Jewish middle name, which creates confusion to people he meets.           He appeared on the podcast to discuss his upbringing in the Montreal projects, where he was exposed to a diverse neighborhood where racism was regrettably accepted as a sign of affection. Additionally, we discussed how his parents'...

After experiencing burnout and frustration with the state of American healthcare as a nurse, Geleen, owner of “Shop Halo Halo”    turned to baking to relieve stress and found solace in recreating traditional Filipino treats. As she shared her creations with friends and family, word quickly spread about her delectable desserts. Soon enough, Geleen's hobby turned into a full-fledged business ven...

Natalia Galicza, a journalist for Deseret Magazine, who has been making waves in the industry with her thought-provoking articles. Born and raised in South Florida to Hungarian and Brazilian parents, Natalia now resides in Utah for work. She recently joined our podcast to talk about her article "Freedom, just north of hope," which delves into the struggles Haitian immigrants face while liv...

I am excited to share with you the story of AP Nguyen, a talented choreographer and creative director born and raised in Montreal. Despite having suffering from Imposter syndrome and having old parents who were conservative at first, he pursued his dream of becoming a full-time dancer.  He is grateful for their support, as Asian parents usually have high expectations of their children taking care...

I had the pleasure of having a thoughtful conversation with Anya Keyes an artist and pharmacist originally from Kyiv, Ukraine that now resides in Portland, US. Our discussion delved into her experiences growing up in Ukraine and her current life in the US. We talked about her love for being a mother and living in a multigenerational home, but how she still craves peace and tranquility, which she f...

Nolan Yuma is a writer and host of “Without Borders” He came on the podcast to talk about his experiences as a third-culture kid, not feeling "White guilt" and “checking his privilege”, how American culture influences Spanish culture, experiencing sexual harassment's double standards, his funny and interesting book "Living with the In-Laws," figuring out when cultural tradition...

Victoria Fils-Aimé is the owner of “A Stitch At A Time”     She came on the podcast to talk about how, when she was 19 years old, she moved from Haiti to Montreal in search of a better future. But just as she was settling into her new life, the pandemic struck, leaving her feeling stuck. She then took a brief vacation to Haiti to visit her family, but while she was there, they were attacked at the...

Daniel Mullings is a Professional basketball player and a mental coach. He came on to talk about working hard and remaining true to yourself, being raised by an immigrant single mother and the lessons he learned from her that he is now using to raise his own daughter, what he loves about being a dad, winning for his people, winning the 2014 NCAA Western Athletic Conference Basketball Player of the...

Divya Sharma is a student of University of Manitoba studying Global Political Economy.  She came on the podcast to talk about why equity is more significant than equality, the propensity of indigenous people and immigrants to share resources, how her grandpa instills in her the value of volunteering back in India through the concept of Seva, the ridiculousness of the IELTS exam, how we can elimina...