From Where to Here

Send us Fan Mail When Yumna "Yumi" Yassin left Damascus at age 13, she had no idea what life in Alabama would hold. From learning English and building friendships to navigating faith, identity, and belonging as a Muslim woman in the South. Her story is one of courage, reflection, and heart. In this episode of From Where to Here , host Alexandra Lloyd sits down with Yumi to explore: What...

Send us Fan Mail Growing up across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Cass learned to feel at home in difference and to see cultural fluidity as a strength. Her story traces how global events like 9/11 shaped perceptions of identity and belonging, and how being mixed race taught her to navigate worlds with empathy and awareness. Now a leader in tech and host of the podcast How She Got Here , Cass...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of From Where to Here , Alexandra sits down with Dr. John Maddox , a professor of Spanish and Portuguese at UAB, to explore the intersections of language, culture, history, and identity. Dr. Maddox shares how an inspiring Spanish teacher set him on a lifelong path in languages, how games and stories made learning accessible, and why perfection in language learning...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for an intimate conversation with Juliana Madrid , a Colombian business operations director who transformed a simple dream of perfecting her English into a beautiful cross-cultural love story. Discover how she navigated building relationships, career success, and family traditions while bridging two very different worlds. Her honest insights about cultural stereotypes, the...

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply personal solo episode, host Alexandra Lloyd shares her real-life story of moving from Montreal, Canada, to Birmingham, Alabama, for love. What began as a spontaneous connection on a tropical island turned into a long-distance relationship, a K1 visa journey, and a completely new life in a new country. Alexandra opens up about: How she met her now-husband on vacation...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt and honest episode of From Where to Here, Alexandra sits down with Astrid, a tropical plant expert from Mérida, Venezuela, now thriving in Birmingham with Vivatia Plant Care Services and Botanical Workshop. Astrid shares her moving journey of resilience — from growing up under a dictatorship marked by frequent power outages to grieving the deep friendships and co...

Send us Fan Mail Afghanistan is more than a country in conflict — it’s a place of resilience, culture, and untold stories. Shabir Kabiri shares his powerful journey from Kabul to the U.S., reflecting on what it means to call two countries home, the impact of decades of conflict on Afghan identity, and a message to those who only know Afghanistan through the news. Listen in as he challenges misconc...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of From Where to Here , host Alexandra Lloyd sits down with Diana Martínez García, an immigrant rights advocate and cultural connector who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border as a child. From navigating two identities to lobbying in D.C. for DACA, Diana shares her journey of resilience, advocacy, and uplifting young Latinas in Alabama through her work with Virt...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️🌍 What do people really know about cultures, languages, and Québec? We hit the streets of Birmingham to find out! 🇨🇦🤔 From Charles Barkley to ranch dressing obsessions, this Vox Pop is full of surprises! From Charles Barkley to poutine—this Vox Pop had everything ! 😆🍟🇨🇦 Some answers were spot on, and others… well, let’s just say Québec needs better PR. 😂 What was your favor...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of From Where to Here , we dive deep into the personal and cultural experiences that shape one’s connection to the French language and Québécois culture. Chris shares his unique journey, from the moment he fell in love with French to his exploration of his French ancestry and his deep connection to Québec. Get ready for an insightful conversation filled with storie...

Send us Fan Mail The Art of Learning a New Language as an Adult | From Where to Here Podcast 🎙️ Learning a new language as an adult can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode of From Where to Here, I dive into the myths, challenges, and strategies behind language learning as an adult. From personal experiences to research-backed insights, you’ll walk away with a new perspecti...

Send us Fan Mail From Ukraine to Alabama: The Sweet Journey of Cake Honeys and Finding Home Through Food | From Where to Here Podcast 🎙️ What does it take to rebuild a life from scratch in a new country? In this episode of From Where to Here , host Alexandra Lloyd sits down with Lisa Strelnikova , a Ukrainian immigrant and owner of Cake Honey’s , to explore the emotional journey of adapting to a n...

Send us Fan Mail From Germany to the South: Navigating Culture, Language, and Business with Johannes Eff | From Where to Here Podcast 🎙️ What’s it really like to move from Germany to the Southern U.S.? In this episode of From Where to Here, host Alexandra Lloyd sits down with Johannes Eff, a German professional who relocated to Alabama for work. He shares his experiences adapting to American cultu...

Send us Fan Mail Hi, I’m Alexandra Lloyd, a French Canadian who made Birmingham, Alabama, my home in 2017. Welcome to From Here to Here, a podcast where we explore the rich diversity of languages, cultures, and the stories that connect us all.  Each month, I'll sit down with guests from different backgrounds and sometimes from around the world to talk about their cultures, their languages, an...