Where We Land

Alex Liu, also known as the rapper LEX the Lexicon Artist grew up in Taiwan, but moved to the U.S. for college and has been here ever since. We spoke with Alex about how their multi-cultural background makes its way into their music, trying to please your parents vs living life on your own terms, and how acting helped them pursue their childhood dream of becoming a rapper. Alex's new album Toxpsyc...

In this episode we talk about the daunting task of raising multicultural children, how hard it feels to try to keep your cultural background alive for your kids when you’re living in a different country, and how much to push them towards it (or not). We also share our own experiences being raised as multicultural kids ourselves.  Additionally, we talk about the culture shock of school uniforms and...

Noemí Enchautegui de Jesús is a Senior Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at American University in Washington DC. She has a PhD in Community Psychology from NYU, and she’s developed and taught a course on the Psychology of Immigration. Though she was born in New York, Noemi was raised in Puerto Rico.  We spoke with Noemi about the difficult situations unaccompanied migrant chil...

In this episode we discuss the movie Past Lives (2023) and break down all the immigrant aspects of the film, as well as share how we related to its representation of the immigrant experience. We also talk about the two love stories portrayed in the movie that highlight the question: what if? WATCH on YouTube! REACH OUT: Want to share your immigration stories or have a question? We'd love to hear f...

Gilbert Lawand is a stand up comedian and comedy producer from Atlanta, Georgia. Gilbert was born in Iraq and grew up in the American South, which he says gave him plenty of material for his career as a comic. We spoke with Gilbert about what it was like going to a YMCA that was still segregated, what prompted his pivot from accounting to comedy, plus, a wild encounter he had with the KKK when he...

In this episode we discuss being bilingual: how it used to be viewed as something that could set kids back, why it’s viewed more positively now, and our own personal experiences with speaking two languages. We also talk about the Disney+ hit Andor, going to the theater, smoothies and voltage converters. WATCH on YouTube! REACH OUT: Want to share your immigration stories or have a question? We'd lo...

In this special episode we’re bringing you our conversation with Shawna Wells. She’s the host of the podcast Legacy, Lyrics, and Life, and she is also the founder of Seven Gen Legacy, where she coaches leaders on how to align their work with their personal goals. She helps people navigate their legacy by understanding the lessons and gifts passed down through generations, and identifying the gifts...

In this episode we take a look at Code-switching, a term coined in the 1950’s that is still widely used today. We discuss what it is, our experiences with it and what it costs. We also talk about espresso martinis, theft, over the counter medication, Wonderbread and early bird specials. WATCH on YouTube! REACH OUT: Want to share your immigration stories or have a question? We'd love to hear from y...

Nelly Ortiz is an award-winning tech leader, international speaker and certified Design Thinking Coach. Nelly was born in the US to immigrant parents from Colombia, but her first stay in the US was brief: her family moved back to Colombia before her first birthday. We talked to Nelly about always being on the move vs staying in one place and planting deep roots, cultural differences in dating, and...

In this episode we discuss the difficulties of dating as an immigrant. On the one hand, cultural differences can challenge the dating norms we’re used to, and the uncertainty of your future immigration status can be tricky to navigate when looking for long-term partnership. We also talk about condos, terrible drivers and horses –both of the Peruvian Paso and carriage drawing variety. WATCH on YouT...

In this episode, we’re bringing you our conversation with Dr. Nancy Foner. Dr. Foner is a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Sociology at Hunter College. She has studied immigration, race, and ethnicity in the U.S. and Europe for over 50 years. Dr. Foner brings with her a wealth of knowledge about how immigration reshapes societies and how those dynamics shape themes we talk about all the time on...

In this episode we discuss the guilt immigrants sometimes feel towards the people back home or towards their country of origin after they leave.  We also talk about wearing makeup to school, mangos, kid’s snacks and cachangas! Want to share your immigration stories or have a question? We'd love to hear from you. Shoot Us an email: WhereWeLandPod@gmail.com *Follow WWL on IG: @wherewelandpod *Follow...

Alex Klotz is an entrepreneur and marketing professional living in NYC. He is the founder of a retail business called Brooklyn Frenchy , which seeks to bring a piece of French culture to Brooklyn.  We spoke with Alex about meeting his American wife in China, juggling two languages in one household, and the French words we use in English without even noticing (déjà vu, anyone?). Want to share your...

In this episode, we discuss the challenges of explaining who you are as an immigrant. It’s a fine balance between wanting to share yourself with others and avoiding being negatively labeled. We also talk about mispronouncing words, binders vs notebooks, the World Cup and the Super Bowl! Want to share your immigration stories or have a question? We'd love to hear from you. Shoot Us an email: WhereW...

In this episode, we’re bringing you our conversation with Aimee Hilado. Aimee is a licensed clinical social worker as well as an expert in immigrant and refugee mental health. She’s spent more than a decade working with newcomers, helping them navigate trauma, resettlement, and the challenges of starting over in a new country. Aimee shares what Americans can do to support newcomers during these ti...

In this episode we discuss our experiences trying to blend cultures with a partner from another country. While Luciana has been married to an American for eight years, Claudia has far less experience on this one. And yet we still both had a lot to say. We also talk about handshakes vs kisses on cheeks, sex ed, and going to the opera. Want to share your immigration stories or have a question? We'd...

Meenakshi Chakraverti is from Bengal, India, but has been living in the United States for more than 40 years. She has a Masters in Public Administration from Princeton University, a PhD in Social Anthropology from Cornell University, and two grown daughters.  Meenakshi has taught at the University of California, San Diego as well as Princeton University, and she directed the Leadership Institute a...

In this episode we discuss how settling into a new country requires some effort, especially if you want to make it feel like home, and soon. We also talk about parties with a scheduled time to leave, cold vs warm milk, and the magic of hot cocoa on a snowy day. Want to share your immigration stories or have a question? We'd love to hear from you. Shoot Us an email: WhereWeLandPod@gmail.com *Follow...

Danielle Vaughan is the eldest daughter of immigrant parents from Peru. Though she was born in the US she was raised in Peru from the age of six until she left for college at Stanford. Surprisingly, that wouldn’t be her last time living in Peru or her last time moving back to the U.S.  We talked with Danielle about the important role her mother has played in shaping her life, exposing her kids to...

In this episode, we discuss what happens to your relationships with the friends and family you leave behind when you immigrate. How do these relationships evolve and take on new meaning? How do you keep them going? Why do some fall off? And do they all have to change? We also talk about not going home for Christmas, having lunch in your cubicle and the 1960s classic film Pollyanna. Want to share y...

Abdi Iftin grew up in war-torn Somalia and moved to Kenya to escape, but was still in danger. He miraculously won the US visa lottery in 2013 and now lives in Maine. He has authored the acclaimed memoir, Call Me American . Abdi is a writer, public speaker, and advocate for immigrants and refugees. We spoke with Abdi about avoiding capture during Somalia’s tribal wars, winning a Green Card to the U...

In this episode, we discuss the parts of our identity we sometimes shed when we immigrate in order to fit in at a new place, and then later in life (sometimes much, much later) we decide we miss those parts of us and try to get them back or reclaim them, if you will. We also talk about ceviche, forced napping in kindergarten, and quite a bit about donkeys. Want to share your immigration stories or...

Michelle MiJung Kim is a powerful voice in social justice, corporate equity, and activism. She is the award winning author of The Wake Up , closing the gap between good intentions and real change. She's also the CEO and Co-founder of Awaken, where she has guided countless Fortune 500 companies, tech giants, and non profits on their path toward real equity and inclusion. She is the host of the new...

Welcome to the first episode of Where We Land ! Luciana and Claudia talk about their own immigration journeys and how they got here. Luciana remembers their parents describing their move to America as “a trip to Disneyland,” Claudia recalls the shock of realizing little Claudia spoke Spanish with an American accent, and they discuss the difference between school lunch and real lunch. Want to share...

Join sisters Luciana and Claudia as they dive into the very honest and sometimes wild journeys of immigrants navigating life in the U.S. Having moved from Peru to California as kids, then back to Peru, and finally returning to the U.S. as adults, they bring unique insight and humor to every conversation. Luciana and Claudia share their own experiences, and also chat with fellow immigrants who have...