Melissa Brega & Becky Steffen
The Shape of a Person: Immigrant Stories
Immigration has been in the news a lot these days, but this podcast hopes to focus on the people and humanity behind the headlines. The two hosts have made careers out of teaching English to non-native speakers, all the while marveling at the stories of these amazing people who find themselves in an ESL classroom in the suburbs of Houston, TX, the most diverse city in the country. “The Shape of a Person” features weekly guests who share their stories and laughter with their teachers as well as with you, the audience. New episodes drop on Friday.
Author
Melissa Brega & Becky Steffen
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
May 8, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
Rubi from Mexico 08.05.2026 51:30
Rubi is studious and intelligent but also bubbly and fun! Her delightful story is a great way to close out this season of the podcast!
Lucy from Brazil 01.05.2026 50:42
Our guest today was Lucy. She is warm and thoughtful. It is clear she thinks and feels deeply, and it was a true pleasure to speak with her.
Roberto from Mexico 24.04.2026 47:12
We were thrilled to welcome Roberto to the podcast. He is brilliant and funny, and just like all the members of his family, he is quite the over-achiever!
Hien from Vietnam 17.04.2026 45:43
In this week's episode, we interviewed the amazing Hien! And let me tell you, she is unstoppable. Please enjoy her inspiring story!
Maricarmen from Mexico 10.04.2026 45:22
Maricarmen is this week's guest, and what fun we had! She is a dedicated and diligent student, but she is also hilarious and positively delightful.
Delia from Nicaragua 03.04.2026 35:30
This week, we welcomed Delia to the podcast studio! She is warm, kind, and exudes positivity. In other words, she was the perfect guest to kick off the spring semester episodes! Enjoy!
Gaby from Mexico 28.11.2025 52:45
We adore Gaby! She's so full of warmth and fun. She's a great student and a kind friend, and she's the perfect person to close out this season of the podcast (well, at least the fall semester half of it anyway...)
Imtiaz from Pakistan 21.11.2025 44:38
Imtiaz is everyone's favorite conversation partner in class. He is always full of new and exciting information! His journey to our campus took several turns in his quest to learn and grow as a professional chef. We're so grateful he took time out of his crazy schedule to chat with us!
Ana from Mexico 14.11.2025 50:08
Ana is so accomplished but assures us that we, too, can do hard things - it doesn't take magic or super powers but commitment and discipline. Get ready to be inspired!
Alexey from Russia 07.11.2025 47:02
Alexey is truly one of a kind, and we are so grateful he agreed to be a guest on the podcast. He's an incredibly organized and deep thinker, and he loves to solve problems. Please enjoy his AMAZING interview. (side note, "amazing" is Alexey's favorite English word)
Andrea from Mexico 31.10.2025 46:59
We loved interviewing Andrea because she speaks so openly and candidly about how difficult moving to a new country and forging a new community can be. It takes time and effort and patience. She also makes us laugh a lot, and we're sure she'll do the same for you!
Duda from Brazil 24.10.2025 44:38
We are so happy to be back with a new season of The Shape of a Person! This week, we welcomed Duda to the podcast, and she was the perfect first guest. She's full of adventure and possibility, and we know you'll enjoy hearing her stories just as much as we did!
Joao from Mexico 09.05.2025 47:46
This week, we had the pleasure of interviewing Joao. He teaches us about the value of a parent’s sacrificial love, which he received from his mother and now embodies for his children. He is thoughtful and devoted, and we know you will enjoy his story as much as we do.
Andrea from Colombia 02.05.2025 48:16
What a joy it was speaking to Andrea! She exudes peace, calm, and positivity. We're certain she will inspire you the same way she did us.
Denisse from Panama 25.04.2025 40:06
Denisse is delightful. She is full of personality and fun. We loved learning about her background as well as her plans for the future. Enjoy!
Marcos from Brazil 18.04.2025 47:40
This week we speak with Marcos. He reminds us to never give up, whether starting a business or finishing a marathon. He is also a true gentleman.
Pedro from Mexico 11.04.2025 46:43
This week's episode features our dear Pedro. Pedro is warm and generous and takes care of his friends, always. He also made us double over with laughter. Enjoy!
Melina from Honduras 04.04.2025 42:41
In today's episode, we speak with Melina. Her story is a powerful reminder to be open to life's blessings as well as its challenges. She is truly inspiring.
Iris from Mexico 28.03.2025 46:21
In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Iris from Mexico. She discusses her initial resistance to leaving her home country but shares the many lessons she has learned along the way.
Tanya from Russia 21.03.2025 40:18
In this episode, we spoke with the incredible Tanya. She is brilliant and thoughtful and tells us all about her family's journey to the US from Moscow, Russia. We learned so much from Tanya and could have talked to her for hours more. Enjoy!
Samandra from Colombia 14.03.2025 47:04
This week we interview Samandra about how her life has completely changed in recent years and how she welcomes the change with excitement and fearlessness.
Carlos from Argentina 07.03.2025 46:55
This week we talk to Carlos about how he migrated from Argentina to Spain and eventually the United States.
The Shape of a Person - Trailer 02.03.2025 3:03
Immigration has been in the news a lot these days, but this podcast hopes to focus on the people and humanity behind the headlines. We have made careers out of teaching English to non-native speakers, all the while marveling at the stories of these amazing people who find themselves in an ESL classroom in the suburbs of Houston, TX, the most diverse city in the country. “The Shape of a Person” fea...
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