Labyrinth of the First Gen: Exploring Identity, Migration, First-Gen Entrepreneurship

In this episode of Labyrinth of the First Gen , we sit down with the Electronic Sound Collective, a genre-defying music group born from NYC’s immigrant roots. These first-generation artists blend diasporic rhythms, Afro-Latin influences, and electronic sounds to create music that is both healing and revolutionary. From playing underground shows during uncertain times to intentionally creating musi...

Discover the transformative story of Ingrid Hu Dahl —educator, queer artist, and author of Sun Shining on Morning Snow . In this powerful episode of Labyrinth of the First Gen , Ingrid shares her journey as a first-generation, mixed-race daughter raised in a bilingual home, navigating identity & belonging , grief, and cultural healing. 🎸 From her days as a touring musician to founding Rock ’n...

In the season finale of Labyrinth of the First Gen , host Weyu Shameka is joined by Nisani Walser , a Garífuna American from Brooklyn, NY, to explore the journey of reconnecting with one’s cultural roots . Nisani shares her experience rediscovering her Garífuna heritage through language, travel, and family stories, reflecting on how visiting ancestral lands fosters identity & belonging . Curre...

In this episode of Labyrinth of the First Gen , we sit down with Fernando, a celebrated musician, educator, and cultural ambassador dedicated to preserving and promoting Afro-Brazilian culture. Fernando shares his journey from learning traditional instruments to advocating for social justice and cultural pride in the United States, highlighting how music can bridge communities and celebrate identi...

In this episode of Labyrinth of the First Gen , we sit down with Maya Doig-Acuña (she/they) , an Afro-Panamanian storyteller navigating the intersections of identity, culture, and belonging . Maya reflects on her family’s immigration journey, growing up in Brooklyn, and the ways she maintains and celebrates her Afro-Panamanian heritage . Through intimate stories and academic insights, Maya illumin...

Labyrinth & Ceremonia Hair Products Discount Code: LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRSTGEN at checkout ceremonia.com/LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRSTGEN Leave us a voice note: https://www.speakpipe.com/LabyrinthFirstGen Sign up for our newsletter: labyrinthofthegen.com Follow us on Instagram: @LabyrinthoftheFirstGen This is a Bilingual Episode: English & Spanish Episode Description: In this bilingual episode of Labyrin...

Labyrinth & Ceremonia Hair Products Discount Code at check out  LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRTSTGEN  ceremonia.com/LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRSTGEN Leave us a voice note  at https://www.speakpipe.com/LabyrinthFirstGen Sign up for our newsletter on  labyrinthofthegen.com Follow us on Instagram   @LabyrinthoftheFirstGen In this bilingual episode of Labyrinth of the First Gen , host Weyu Shameka talks with Mercedes, a...

Labyrinth & Ceremonia Hair Products Discount Code at check out  LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRTSTGEN  ceremonia.com/LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRSTGEN Leave us a voice note  at https://www.speakpipe.com/LabyrinthFirstGen Sign up for our newsletter on  labyrinthofthegen.com Follow us on Instagram   @LabyrinthoftheFirstGen In this inspiring episode of Labyrinth of the First Gen , host Weyu Shameka talks with Catalina, a...

Labyrinth & Ceremonia Hair Products Discount Code at check out  LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRTSTGEN  ceremonia.com/LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRSTGEN Leave us a voice note  at https://www.speakpipe.com/LabyrinthFirstGen Sign up for our newsletter on  labyrinthofthegen.com Follow us on Instagram   @LabyrinthoftheFirstGen In this heartfelt episode of Labyrinth of the First Gen , we sit down with Bruna, a Brazilian Engl...

Labyrinth & Ceremonia Hair Products Discount Code at check out  LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRTSTGEN  ceremonia.com/LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRSTGEN Leave us a voice note  at https://www.speakpipe.com/LabyrinthFirstGen Sign up for our newsletter on  labyrinthofthegen.com Follow us on Instagram   @LabyrinthoftheFirstGen In this powerful collaboration episode of Labyrinth of the First Gen , hosts Randie and Mikey of B...

Labyrinth & Ceremonia Hair Products Discount Code at check out  LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRTSTGEN  ceremonia.com/LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRSTGEN Leave us a voice note  at https://www.speakpipe.com/LabyrinthFirstGen Sign up for our newsletter on  labyrinthofthegen.com Follow us on Instagram   @LabyrinthoftheFirstGen Patreon Link  patreon.com/LabyrinthoftheFirstGen Episode Description In this powerful episode, Sea...

Leave us a voice note to share your favorite moments in the episode https://www.speakpipe.com/LabyrinthFirstGen Sign up for our newsletter on the website https://labyrinthfirstgen.com/blog/ Follow us on Instagram @LabyrinthoftheFirstGen Donate to the Labyrinth of the First-Gen In this episode of Labyrinth of the First Gen podcast, we kick off Season 3 with the story of three Bolivian brothers who...

Labyrinth & Ceremonia Hair Products Discount Code at check out LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRTSTGEN ceremonia.com/LABYRINTHOFTHEFIRSTGEN Leave us a voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/LabyrinthFirstGen Sign up for our newsletter on labyrinthofthegen.com Follow us on Instagram   @LabyrinthoftheFirstGen Patreon Link patreon.com/LabyrinthoftheFirstGen Get ready for Season 3 of Labyrinth of the First Gen ,...

Uncover the US Virgin Islands' fight for self-determination in the gripping season finale of "Labyrinth of the First Gen" podcast. Titled "The Journey Towards Self-Determination: US Virgin Islands' Perspective," this episode offers a powerful blend of personal narrative, historical context, and expert analysis. Dr. Sekou, a well-known professor and activist from the Islands, is interviewed providi...

This Episode is Bilingual Spanish & English This episode features Dorothy Bell Ferrer, a writer, part-time professor at the City University of New York, and a doctoral candidate in Spanish, Latin American, and Caribbean literature at the University of Puerto Rico. Dorothy talks about her journey and experiences as a writer, her approach to identity, and how it influences her writing. Support this...

In this episode of 'Labyrinth of the First Gen, Weyu interviews Rokhaya, a Senegal-born mompreneur based in Jamaica who moved from Canada with a vision to build her own business and break generational curses. Rokhaya shares her experiences of transitioning from a high-paying corporate job to running her own business, adapting to a new culture, battling obstacles, and building patience. Support thi...

In this episode of Labyrinth of the First Gen, we delve deep into the foundations, challenges, and future visions of the organization, One L.U.V (Love, Unity, and Victory), working tirelessly to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. Through the narratives of One L.U.V board members, Jamal, Jae, and Bobby, we explore topics like generational differences within t...

In this episode, we have a conversation with Jae (he, him; they, them), Bobby (he, him, his), and Jamal (he, him, his) who are the president, social media manager, and board members of One L.U.V (which stands for Love, Unity, and Victory). One L.U.V is an organization focusing on activism, visibility, and allyship education for the black LGBTQ+ community based in St Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands,...

Labyrinth of the First Gen continues the conversation with Collective Ilé, an anti-racism organization working in Puerto Rico. Kimberly and Mayra their work on organizing black identity on census data, how the Black Lives Matter movement and tumultuous events of 2020 influenced their approach, and the community's changing self-perception on race in Puerto Rico. Support this podcast at — https://re...

Myra and Kimberly are Puerto Rican women from Colectivo Ilé, an organization that has been campaigning against racism in Puerto Rico for the past 25 years. The focus in this part is on their understanding of race in the context of Puerto Rico, both historically and politically, and how this influences their work. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/labyrinth-of-the-first-gen/exclusive-...

33-minute listen-Episode is bilingual (English, Spanish) This episode features an in-depth interview with Ingrid Gamboa, activist, and founder of Iseri Ibagari, a public health center for the Garifuna population in Livingston, Guatemala. She discusses her role in various public health initiatives and the founding of Isiri Ibagri, a health education community center. Support this podcast at — https...

45-minute listen In this episode, we meet Gloria Rowe, an Afro-Jamaican writer from Guatemala. Gloria discusses the history and contributions of Jamaicans in Guatemala, from their arrival in the 19th century to their present-day status as a vibrant and important part of Guatemalan society. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/labyrinth-of-the-first-gen/exclusive-content Advertising Inqu...

36-minute listen-Episode is bilingual (English, Spanish) In this episode, we interview Diana Martinez De Franzua a Garifuna restaurant owner of Las Tres Garifunas in Livingston, Guatemala. Diana is passionate about using food to connect people to Garifuna/Black culture and heritage in Central America. She is also a vocal advocate for social justice for black women in Latin America. Diana talks abo...

Season 2 for Labyrinth of the First Gen Launches in October 2023  When I think of first-generation I think about how it does not mean one thing. To be first-generation means that you navigated and continue to navigate the labyrinth without a roadmap and carve a path out of the maze with little to no guidance. Season two called Paths Created and Barriers Broken will highlight the expansive definiti...

33-minute Listen Across the African Diaspora, Black land rights are being violated. At the peak of black land ownership after the civil war, African American farmers owned 16 million acres of land. Today, the cumulative value of African-American land loss due to land dispossession is $326 billion. Black land dispossession in the United States is not an isolated incident. Land dispossession also oc...