Immigrant Conversations

In episode 63 of Immigrant Conversations, Mehran Sorourian hosts Aisha Koroma, a Sierra Leonean-born refugee, licensed psychotherapist, and founder of the Safe Space Project. Aisha arrived in the U.S. as a young teen after surviving trauma during her refugee journey. Today, she serves as Assistant Director of Social Integration at HIAS, Refugee Congress Delegate for D.C., and leads global mental h...

What happens when technology, philanthropy, and AI meet the immigrant journey? In this episode of Immigrant Conversations , host Mehran sits down with Bartlomiej “Bart” Skorupa—Polish immigrant, social entrepreneur, investor, and one of Dell’s 25 World Change-makers. We explore: •Bart’s inspiring immigrant journey from Poland and the lessons it holds for the future of America •Whether America is s...

On the fourth anniversary of Taliban returning to power in Afghanistan, Mehran, host of Immigrant Conversations podcast, speaks with Anita Omary, an Afghan advocate who came to the U.S. just two years ago with a mission to fight for women’s rights. Anita offers a rare and personal perspective on: What women’s rights looked like in Afghanistan before and after the Taliban takeover Why the support o...

Welcome to Immigrant Conversations , the podcast where we explore the untold stories behind migration — stories of courage, sacrifice, and transformation. In this powerful episode, Mehran speaks with Mohammed Diouf Heubo, a life coach and immigration and wellness advocate who fled political persecution in Cameroon. His migration journey took him through dangerous terrain, harrowing experiences in...

In this special Mother’s Day episode of Immigrant Conversations, host Mehran sits down with Marcela Rada Trujillo and Kerstin Kirchsteiger— two inspiring immigrant professionals and mothers — for an honest fireside chat about the realities of raising children in a new country. We explore the unexpected freedoms of parenting outside cultural norms, the heartbreak of raising kids far from extended f...

Immigrant conversations Guest is Richard Hsung, born and raised in China to a Chinese mother who considered America home. Together, they migrate to the States. Richard studied chemistry and became a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. One day he made a promise to his ailing mother, a promise that helps his mom die peacefully but leaves him with a huge responsibility that causes treme...

Is home the place we are born, or the refuge we find? Can it be both? In this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we explore the meaning of "home" and discuss the challenges faced by refugees, including misconceptions about their experiences. Dr. Diya Abdo, a second-generation Palestinian refugee, shares her powerful story of migration and how she transformed her personal journey into advocacy for...

Are you an aspiring leader looking to enhance your influence especially when you are the minority? Do you struggle with belonging in rooms where decisions are made? If so, this episode is for you! If so, this episode is for you. Mehran Sorourian the Immigrant Conversations host sits with Dr. Mira Brancu and talk about being a minority as an aspiring leader. "Are you an aspiring leader striving to...

The son of Chinese immigrants, Dr. James Lin is a math professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). In 1986, he took an unexpected step and taught the first-ever Asian American Studies course at UCSD. Despite being a math professor, Dr. Lin’s passion for social justice and ethnic studies led him to break boundaries. Two years later, he succeeded in obtaining Academic Senate approva...

"Are you grieving the loss of a loved one, a job, or your home country? Are you seeking new tools and strategies to process your grief and recover more effectively? If so, this episode is for you. In this deeply insightful conversation, Mehran Sorourian, host of Immigrant Conversations, sits down with Kiana Naimi to explore the complex emotions of grief and recovery. Together, they discuss practic...

Ever wondered if certain nationalities have an easier path to migration? In this compelling episode of Immigrant Conversations, we delve into the inspiring journey of Sujata Yellaepeddi, who was born and raised in India before making the life-changing move to the United States. Sujata shares the personal challenges she faced in finding peace and a sense of belonging in her new San Diego home, as w...

As an immigrant or a person of color, have you ever felt that a comment was triggering? You couldn’t necessarily point out what it was about it, but it certainly didn’t feel right. In this episode of immigrant conversations, we will talk about microaggressions. How to identify them and what to do about them? We also talk about different forms of bias that immigrants and people of color experience...

Some conversations are hard to have for immigrants especially when it comes to racism and sexism. They could be easily misunderstood for lack of communication skills or cultural differences. They might be unaware of ways to respond when racist comments are made. That’s why I invited Maame Afon Yelbert-Sai who is an internationally recognized thought leader, passionate activist on anti-racism and a...

In this deeply personal episode of Immigrant Conversations, host Mehran Sorourian opens up about her two-and-a-half-year break, experiencing five significant losses, and battling debilitating depression. She shares her emotional healing journey and the unique challenges that immigrants face in processing grief. Whether you’re navigating loss yourself or supporting a grieving loved one, this episod...

n this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we dive into the art of making difficult changes—especially when it comes to navigating cultural differences, beliefs, and assumptions. How do you successfully negotiate change, both with yourself and others? Our guest, Reut Schwartz-Hebron, an immigrant from Israel, shares her journey from working as an HR director, where she was blindsided by non-verbal...

"In this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we sit down with Dr. Pavna Sodhi to discuss the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community—particularly within BIPOC immigrant communities. We explore the complex process of coming out, the role of family, community, and the host culture in this journey, and the unique struggles LGBTQ+ individuals face in these contexts. Dr. Sodhi shares her insights on:...

In this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we sit down with Meenakshi Iyer to discuss the challenges immigrants face in professional settings, especially when it comes to language and accents. Immigrants often encounter microaggressions related to their language skills and how they speak, leading to discrimination and bias. Meenakshi shares insights on: >Why it's essential to celebrate cultural d...

Mehran is a communication coach helping countless immigrants and minorities improve their communication skills at work. In this episode, I, Mehran the host of the Empowering conversationZ podcast share the story of the very first time I spoke English with a native English speaker. How it felt, the shame, and how I became fluent in English plus the 4 tips that I give my clients on improving their l...

Have you ever felt like you don’t belong, that you are an imposter waiting to be found? If so, this episode is for you. We have Kim Meninger who's an expert in the area of imposter syndrome with years of training corporate women and men on the podcast. She shares her experience about: -What imposter syndrome is, -The history behind it, -Who suffers from it, -How men and women suffer from it differ...

Migrated at 18, faced an identity crisis as a Japanese Brazilian living in Utah, tried many jobs, pivoted multiple times until she found her desirable career. My guest this week is Fabiola Fujiwara. She is an HR professional with 10+ years of experience in developing, implementing, and administrating corporate policies and procedures. Fabiola shares with our audience her migration journey as well...

Migrated despite her will, slept on cardboard boxes, and left her house at the age of 15 because she couldn’t tolerate her abusive father anymore. My guest this week is Dr. Bahareh Sahebi who talks about her migration journey and the different elements that make leaving abusive relationships difficult especially for immigrants. She also educates us on the steps to take to prepare. Dr. Bahareh Sahe...

Setting goals can be hard for us immigrants. Most of us haven't learned how to set them right and how to achieve them. That's why in this episode, Mehran, Empowering conversationZ host talks about a personal experience that made her aware of setting balanced goals in life. and the culprit behind her failure in reaching her 40th birthday goals. In this episode, you will hear about the importance of...

Immigrants rarely are aware of their rights and the resources available to them. Most often they choose silence for cultural and personal reasons feeling unsatisfied at work. In this episode Sarah Calfee, an experienced Human Resource professional with over 20years of experience, educates our listeners on the following topics: -When to seek HR help and when to start searching for your next job -Ho...

Evelyn Perez migrated to the United States from Guatemala at a very young age after crossing the Rio Grande River. In this episode, she talks about her immigration journey, the nights she locked the doors to stay safe while her mom worked, the days she had to try to fit in and many incidents that made her feel like an outcast both as a child and as an adult. One of the main parts of the conversati...

In this special episode, Mehran talks about her newfound cause and how the pandemic helped her find it & bring it to life. -The struggles of building an educational platform -How can the audience support her cause -How immigrant educators can benefit from this platform If you have any questions or suggestions send her an email Mehran@MehranS.com Website of her platform: https://khoshhaulam.com/ Jo...