The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show on radio and podcast, I’m your host, Paul Vogelzang. Today’s show is brought to you by Acorns.  Acorns makes it easy for everyone to start saving and investing. Today, we’re tackling one of the most important and misunderstood issues of our time: immigration. 

Now, immigration is a word that can stir up a lot of emotions and controversy. It’s a subject that often divides people, politicians, and headlines, but what if I told you that much of what we believe about immigration—about its effects on our jobs, our economy, and our culture—isn’t backed by the facts?

Our guest today is someone who’s spent nearly two decades researching this very topic. His name is Zeke Hernandez, a professor at the prestigious Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and his new book The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers flips the script on how we think about immigration. This isn’t just a book about policy, but about people—their stories, their contributions, and the undeniable data that shows how immigrants are not just filling gaps in our workforce, but are driving innovation, creating jobs, and making our communities stronger.

In today’s conversation, we’ll dig into the myths and the reality. Is immigration really a zero-sum game where one group has to lose for the other to gain? What happens when we shift our focus from fear to facts, from seeing immigrants as competitors to recognizing them as catalysts for growth?

Zeke’s work challenges us to broaden our understanding. He’ll share eye-opening statistics, compelling real-life examples, and a clear, nonpartisan look at how newcomers—from the engineers behind your favorite tech gadgets to the chefs behind the dishes we love—are essential to a thriving society.

And as many of our listeners know, this show is about celebrating every stage of life and every story that adds value to our world, especially for those of us aged 50 and above. Immigration isn’t just an issue for younger generations—it directly impacts retirees, businesses, and the future of our communities.

So, whether you’re curious, skeptical, or simply ready to hear a new perspective on a long-debated issue, stick with us. You might just walk away seeing things in a whole new light.

My thanks to Acorns for sponsoring today’s show.  Acorns makes it easy for everyone to start saving and investing

My thanks to our guest today Zeke Hernandez, author of the excellent new bookThe Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers. My thanks to Sam Heninger, executive producer and my thanks to you our wonderful audience here on radio and podcast.  Be well, be safe and let’s talk about better.  The Not Old Better Show on radio and podcast.  Thanks everbody and we’ll see you next week.

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