Banterly

In this special episode, I am diving deep into the impact of storytelling and the incredible strength of collective action, and what better time to do it than during Latine Heritage Month, as we celebrate the unyielding spirit of Latine empowerment? Brenda Gonzalez is the co-host of the podcast Tamarindo, which is, as she calls it, a “socially conscious podcast with a Latino vibe” that covers ever...

Today, in honor of Latino Heritage Month, we're revisiting one of my all-time favorite episodes. The episode was first released in January 2023. I chat with Carmen Rita Wong, a true superstar, in this episode. Carmen's done it all – she's been a journalist, a businesswoman, and a financial expert. She's worked with big names like CNN, CBS, and NBC and written for magazines like Glamour and Good Ho...

Aizzah Fatima is a Muslim-American actress and filmmaker. Her one-woman play, Dirty Paki Lingerie, about the stereotypes faced by Muslim American women, has toured around the world, including in Canada, Pakistan, and the UK, to rave reviews. Imagine a rom-com that breaks new ground by delving into the lives of a Muslim American family striving to assimilate into American culture. That's precisely...

In this episode, I sit down with Sadia Azmat, a British Indian writer and comedian who unapologetically shares her experiences with sexuality and identity. She cohosted a podcast for BBC called "No Country for Young Women." Recently, she published a book called "Sex Bomb," which explores sexuality and her identity as a Muslim woman  As a young Muslim girl growing up in Pakistan, my understanding o...

Why does the concept of a love marriage remain taboo, especially within the South Asian community? The struggle for the right to choose one's partner, the right to love freely, and the right to carve our destinies persists. Today, we will peel back the layers of this intricate issue, exploring the cultural nuances, societal pressures, and personal anecdotes that shape our perceptions of love, marr...

Today's episode features Anisha Singh, the Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition – the most prominent Sikh civil rights organization in the U.S. Wondering what Anisha does? She's been at the forefront of combatting hate crimes and ensuring the Sikh community's rights are upheld nationwide. With a background working with big names like the Planned Parenthood Federation and the Center for America...

What does class identity mean to you? Is it confined to the digits on a financial statement, or does it weave a complex tapestry that intertwines with race, ethnicity, and immigration status? Today I am joined by Jonathan Menjivar, the host of the Classy podcast, the groundbreaking podcast here to dissect and decode the enigma of class identity. In 'Classy,' Jonathan navigates those unspoken narra...

In this second part of our two-episode series on kidnappings, media coverage, and the Latino community, I am finally dissecting the term "Missing White Girl Syndrome"---where did the phrase come from, why are white women overrepresented in missing person cases, and what can be done to address the disparity? Alongside Immigrantly's research, you'll hear from Liz Alarcón, our collaborator's founder...

Today's episode is about the disappearance of Sofia Juarez the day before her 5th birthday and the TikTok video 18 years later that reignited the search for her. This narrative-style story will slightly differ from Immigrantly’s usual content, but it’s for a good reason. Sofia Juarez’s case is related to "Missing White Girl Syndrome,"—a term used to describe the overrepresentation of missing white...

The 1947 Indian partition was one of the most colossal migrations in recorded history, leaving behind a devastating toll. Over 2 million lives were lost, 75,000 women were subjected to unimaginable acts of violence, and a staggering 14 million individuals were forcibly uprooted from their homes. These numbers paint a haunting picture of the immense human tragedy that unfolded during that time. Tod...

Today, we are shaking things up! Rather than releasing our usual episode, we have a special treat for you. Get ready to dive into an enlightening episode of "The Trail Ahead" podcast, where athletes and environmental advocates Faith E. Briggs and Addie Thompson embark on thought-provoking conversations at the intersection of race, environment, history, and culture. Faith and Addie sit down with Ah...

My today's guest is Smriti Mundhra, the founder of Meralta Films, a production company based in both Los Angeles and Mumbai. Her talent and dedication have earned her numerous accolades, including an Oscar nomination for her 2019 film, "St. Louis Superman." This powerful documentary follows the inspiring journey of Bruce Franks Jr, a Missouri politician, in the aftermath of the Ferguson riots. How...

On today's episode, I have the incredible Ivy Le, the creator of the podcast FOGO that explores nature through the eyes of the “most reluctant host” you've ever encountered. Join us as we unravel the secrets behind Ivy's unique approach to hosting and discover the true meaning of FOGO. But that's not all – Ivy's talents extend far beyond podcasting. She is a stand-up comedian, reporter, actress, a...

As most of you know, I pose a thought-provoking question to my guests at the end of every episode: How would they define America in a single word or sentence? Today, in celebration of the 4th of July, I decided to turn the tables and pose the same question to our incredible team because we wanted to share our unique thoughts and hopes for America with you.  So this particular episode enhances your...

Today's guest is the extraordinary Anna Hossnieh, a comedy producer at iHeartRadio and co-host of the thought-provoking podcast Ethnically Ambiguous. Join me as we dive deep into Anna's world, exploring her obsession with reality TV, her comedic journey, and her unique experiences growing up as a child of Iranian immigrants. We also discover the inspirations that have shaped her creative path and...

Join me as I chat with the wonderfully funny Lucie Pohl, the voice actor behind Overwatch 2 hero Mercy. We explore her comedic background, including her show "Hi, Hitler" and her connection to playwright Bertolt Brecht. After my interview on her podcast, Immigrant Jam, I am psyched to uncover the person behind the characters and delve into Lucie's fascinating story. Don't miss this engaging conver...

Join me on today's episode as we dive into the world of Helena Wadia, an accomplished journalist whose work has graced the pages of Evening Standard, NME, BBC, Channel 5 News, and London Live. If you need to get more familiar with these outlets, don't worry! Helena's podcast, Media Storm, is where her journalistic spirit truly shines. Together with co-host Mathilda Mallinson, they uncover underrep...

In this episode, join me as I sit down with Raha Francis, a business and legal strategist turned consultant. But we're not diving into the typical professional journey today. Instead, we explore the depths of what it means to be human beyond our careers and how our "emotional identities" are influenced by the cultures we grow up in. Raha's story begins in Dubai, where she was born to South Asian p...

In today’s lively episode, prepare to challenge the conventional wisdom about work! I enjoyed chatting with the incredible Simone Stolzoff, author of the captivating book "The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work." Simone's expertise has appeared in publications like The New York Times, Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Wall Street Journal.  Join me on this exhilarating journey as we di...

In this captivating episode, I invite you to join us as we delve into the extraordinary life and work of Eshe Lewis. As a researcher focusing on the experiences of Afro-descendant women in Peru, Eshe has dedicated herself to illuminating their stories and challenges. Alongside her role as the host of the fifth season of the podcast Sapiens, she leads the innovative Sapiens Public School Training P...

Those who know me know that as someone who has always been open about my mental health journey, starting conversations about mental health is crucial. That's why, when Mental Health Awareness Month arrived, I jumped at the opportunity to reshare a great conversation with you from the Immigrantly vault. In 2021, I interviewed the founder of Brown Girl Therapy, Sahaj Kohli.  Brown Girl Therapy began...

I'm so excited to introduce today's guest, V.V. Ganeshananthan, who also goes by Sugi. She's a novelist whose work has appeared in many leading newspapers and journals, including Granta, The Atlantic Monthly, and The Washington Post. We had a great conversation about her recent novel Brotherless Night and her debut novel Love Marriage. Both of these books are about families impacted by Sri Lankan...

I'm particularly excited to have Shin Yu Pai with me today. I've been a fan of her poetry for a while now, and it's truly an honor to have her on the show. Shin Yu recently started producing and hosting her own podcast, and we chatted about how she got started and what inspired her to take on this new endeavor.  What I loved most about our conversation was getting to know the person behind the poe...

I'm thrilled to have Asad Butt, my friend, and co-host of our other podcast Invisible Hate, on the show today. Asad has been in the business, entrepreneurial, and media world for a while now, and like me, his personal and career goals have been primarily shaped by a post-9/11 America.  Asad started Rifelion in 2020 to promote diverse voices in podcasting, and we talked about his award-winning docu...

My guest today is Meklit Hadero, the Ethiopian-born, San Francisco-based artist. She is best known for her innovative Ethio-Jazz vocals and electric performance style. Even if you were to listen for a few minutes, you’d notice a genre-bending nature to her songs. Her songs weave together jazz, folk, Eastern African influences, and what Meklit calls everyday sounds.  She has performed worldwide, fr...