

The Newcomers Podcast đď¸
Dozie Anyaegbunam
Interviews with immigrants and stakeholders involved in the immigration process where we explore the immigration journey, raising kids in a new culture, cultural adaptation, integration, identity, and everything in-between.
thenewcomerspod.com
thenewcomerspod.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 22, 2025 ⢠40min
E115: Shriya Ghate knows what's great about immigration
Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Shriya Ghate, who moved from India to the UK, back to India, and finally to Canada.Shriya and I explore a theme that's often ignored; the starting line is different for immigrants. And for immigrant women, it's often miles behind everyone else.She talks about being seated at a networking event for women, and as she listens to the challenges faced by women who grew up in Canada, she realizes that before she can even think about networking or getting better at small talk, she has to first figure out the basics:* Where to buy food* How to pay for the bus * How to feel safe in a new placeBut it's not all gloomy. Shriya believes starting over is also a chance to build a new life with some intention. An opportunity to decide who you want to be as a professional and as a person, away from the cultural expectations of your home country.Shriya and I explore the lessons sheâs gathered from immigrating twice. We also chat about:* The difference between moving as a student vs. a permanent resident.* The psychological burden of the immigrant job search.* Why Canada felt more like home than the UK.* How to find your place in the world after leaving home* Why small talk can be a hurdle for many immigrantsDozieâs NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this weekâs conversation:* Progress compounds but it comes from showing up, fully prepared or not. The feeling of not being ready, of not knowing what to say, or do, or wear can be paralyzing. But they say courage is action in the face of fear. And itâs one thing you have to embody as an immigrant. Show up and learn by doing.* Cultural norms around social interactions are real. So give yourself some grace. Is small talk hard? Thatâs okay. Donât beat yourself up about it. But keep an open mind to learning the new social norms or create ways to navigate them.Official Linksâ
Connect with Shriya Ghate on LinkedInOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Aug 15, 2025 ⢠43min
E114: Stefana Sopco knows how exhausting it can be to fit in
Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Stefana Sopco, who moved from Romania to the Netherlands seven years ago. Stefana had never thought of leaving Romania. But after her husband moved to the Netherlands for better job opportunities, she reluctantly followed; with âŹ80 in her pocket and a lot of anxiety. Now, this isn't a zero to hero story. What I loved about Stefana is how she absolutely refuses to romanticize the immigrant experience. She reminds me of Anam Zakaria of Qissa. She talks about the depression, the anxiety, and the identity crisis that comes with trying to find belonging and acceptance in a foreign culture. Like Stefana, maybe we all need to stop trying to fit into boxes that weren't made for us. Because life is usually much better once we accept ourselvesâstrange accent and all.In this conversation, Stefana and I chat about the impact immigration can have on oneâs mental health. We also explore:* Why immigrants find it easier to make friends with other immigrants* Accepting herself and its benefits* The permanence of being an in-betweener* The guilt and heartbreak that comes with watching your parents age from afarDozieâs NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this weekâs conversation:* Every immigrantâs biggest fear is getting the dreaded call that something has happened to their parents. And then depending on when you last travelled back home to see them, youâll lash yourself with guilt for months or years. * It can be exhausting trying to perform as someone else because you are desperate to fit in. I donât think thereâs anything like being perfectly integrated, except you are a 4yo kid. * You are never going to fully belong to your new country or the old one. I am not sure, but maybe accepting that is the best thing we can do for ourselves. That liminal space is not a problem to solve. Itâs an identity that weâll carry forever.Official Linksâ
Connect with Stefana Sopco on LinkedInOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Aug 14, 2025 ⢠31min
E113: Neel Parekh knows what's great about moving to Rwanda
Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Neel Parekh, the Founder and CEO of MaidThisÂŽ & MaidThisÂŽ Franchise, which helps homeowners and short-term rental hosts (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) with their cleaner needs. I'm usually curious about two kinds of immigrants; second-gen immigrants because I am trying to understand some of the challenges my kids might face, and immigrants who migrate from the Global West to the Global South. Neel ticks both boxes. His parents moved from India to the United States in the early 80s. And then after seven years of backpacking and running his cleaning business remotely, Neel decided to settle down in Rwanda for a bit. Neel and I chat about the differences between the Western âgo go goâ culture and Rwandaâs pace where nothing feels as urgent. We also explore:* Falling in love with Rwanda* Building community as an immigrant* Growing up in an immigrant household and now understanding his parents better* Why heâs thinking of splitting his time between East Africa and Los AngelesDozieâs NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this weekâs conversation:* I wish I spent more time trying to learn or at least have an idea of Canadaâs communication style before I moved. Neel talks about moving from Americaâs low-context culture (direct, literal communication) to Rwanda's high-context culture (implied meanings, indirect answers) and the friction it came with. I suspect that a lot of the frustrations we encounter early-on in a new country are usually miscommunication issues.* Maybe itâs time to accept that most people are never going to understand the immigrant experience until theyâve lived through it. Iâm saying this because part of why I launched this publication was to also help non-immigrants sorta understand their immigrant neighbours better. But I guess experience is the best teacher in most situations, immigration included.Official Linksâ
Connect with Neel Parekh on Twitterâ
Chat with Neel about franchising One AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Aug 13, 2025 ⢠44min
E112: Miracle Inameti-Archibong understands what it means to be an immigrant
Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Miracle Inameti-Archibong, who moved from Nigeria to the United Kingdom 18 years ago.We don't often talk about the costs of immigration. And by costs here, I don't mean the financial costs (I think we all have a fair idea of that most times and we somehow hope the move means that won't matter in the long run).I'm talking about realizing that your kids will never had what you had growing up; the beautiful chaos of Christmas mornings with cousins everywhere, the ability to drop by without notice at your sister's home; the ability to just exist within family without having to organize, plan, or explain yourself.This conversation with Miracle left me with more questions than answers.In this conversation, Miracle and I chat about the cultural code-switching that never stops. We also explore:* How she found her voice in the corporate world* Parenting in-between cultures* The subtle ways cultural misunderstandings knock your confidence* The difference between existing and thrivingDozieâs Notes A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this weekâs conversation:* Overt racism is bad, but itâs not the thing that usually wears immigrants down. Itâs the small misunderstandings, the cultural references you miss, the microaggressions, the fact that you have to explain your background over and over again, and the subtle signals that you don't quite belong here.* The biggest cost of immigration, especially for those of us who grew up in collective cultures, is how moving across countries breaks down family connections across generations. * The biggest paradox of being an immigrant is you can succeed by conventional metrics (career, financial stability, opportunities for your kids) while simultaneously losing something irreplaceable (extended family connections, cultural belonging, community rituals).Official Linksâ
Connect with Miracle Inameti-Archibong on LinkedInâ
Book Miracle to come speak about all things SEO and digital marketingOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Aug 1, 2025 ⢠53min
E111: Anam Zakaria & Haroon Khalid are done with glorifying the immigrant struggle
Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Anam Zakaria and Haroon Khalid of Qissa, one of the most interesting immigrant storytelling platforms I have come across in recent months.Qissa's flagship project, "Driving Canada," started as casual conversations with Uber drivers as Anam and Haroon navigated doctors appointments, daycare, and all the stuff new parents have to deal with. Almost all the drivers were immigrants. Almost all were overqualified. Almost all had stories about the systemic barriers that shoved them into the gig economy.The shitty thing about all this is you sometimes see people term this struggle as a "rite of passage." We call it resilience. And instead of pushing for policy changes that fix the system, we celebrate the immigrants ability to survive it. With no care for its toll on the individuals, their loved ones, their community, and Canada.In this conversation, Anam, Haroon, and I explore the cost of resilience. We also chat about:* Why most immigrant settlement programs serve yesterdayâs immigrants, not todayâs* Why we need to fix the system instead of glorifying the struggle* Launching Qissa* The power of storiesOfficial Linksâ
Connect with Anam Zakaria on LinkedInâ
Connect with Haroon Khalid on LinkedInâ
Read the Driving Canada ReportOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bittersweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Jul 25, 2025 ⢠42min
E110: Windmill Microlending helped 14K+ immigrants get back to work. They want to do more
Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Robert Ndoping and Oumar Dicko of Windmill Microlending, Canada. When Robert and Oumar tell you that Windmill has funded over 14,000 skilled immigrants to get re-credentialed in their professions, with an average loan size of $10,183, totaling nearly $146 million in approved loans, and a repayment rate of 95%âŚYou'll probably go, âWow, that's impressive.âWhen you hear the story of the ENT surgeon driving Uber in Toronto while kids wait months for surgery, you realize that it isn't just impressive, it's necessary. There are a lot of things Canada does right about immigrant settlement. But there are also a lot of areas in which we could do better. The skilled immigrant credential recognition is one of those areas. And Windmill Microlending is proof that Canada wins when we make sure skilled immigrants can contribute to the economy as fast as possible. Because for every 10,000 clients Windmill empowers, an additional $3.6 billion in lifetime tax revenue is generated for Canada.In this conversation, Oumar, Robert, and I chat about Windmill Microlendingâs loan model. We also explore:* Walking the talk when it comes to skilled immigrant settlement* Why the work is personal for both of them* The human impact of their work* Why we need to move the immigrant conversation from âimmigrant strugglingâ to âuntapped potentialâ* Why immigrants donât need savingOfficial Linksâ
Connect with Robert Ndoping on LinkedInâ
Connect with Oumar Dicko on LinkedInâ
Read Windmillâs Impact Report ⤾One AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Jul 18, 2025 ⢠43min
E109: O'Nell Agossa doesn't mind if you don't understand him
Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with O'Nell Agossa, who moved to Canada from Benin as a nine year old. At 13, a lady on a bus told O'Nell to âgo back to where you're coming from.â But he's refused to give that experience the power to define who he was or who he has grown up to be. Instead, he thinks that the confusion others feel is not your problem to solve. You don't owe anyone an explanation of who you are. You don't need to fit into their narrow categorizations that make them feel comfortable. You just need to be.In this conversation, OâNell and I explore curiosity as a way of life and why heâs writing a book about the trait. We also chat about:* Why the immigrant experience is about hope and renewal* Immigrants as bridges between worlds* The weight immigrant parents carry* Why you don't need to ask permission to belongOfficial Linksâ
Connect with OâNell Agossa on LinkedInâ
Follow along as he prepares to publish his book, Curiosity and IOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Jul 11, 2025 ⢠42min
E108: Kelly Boyi is embracing ambition and rejecting complacency
Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Kelly Boyi, who left Canada for the United States after 12 years of building a life here.First off, this isn't a "Canada bad, America good" story. Kelly spent over a decade in Canada. His entire family lives here. He credits Canada for giving him his first job, first relationship, and first house.But when you're an ambitious individual watching the best minds from UofT and Waterloo migrate south, when you hear that you could get better pay while working with folks building potential rocket ships, you would be forgiven for getting a tad introspective.I also like that Kelly didn't mince words about our flaws as a country. Look, Canada is a fantastic country. But we aren't moving forward if we don't get good at having uncomfortable conversations about the kind of country we want to build for those coming after us.In this conversation, Kelly and I explore why loving Canada isnât enough to stay anymore. We also chat about:* The grant systemâs interesting âapply earlyâ secret* Why Canadian monopolies and bureaucracy are stifling innovation and ambition* The famous Silicon Valley âenergyâ* Why you canât afford to be complacent as an immigrantOfficial Linksâ
Connect with Kelly Boyi on LinkedInâ
Speak to Kelly for career coaching and other related servicesOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Jul 2, 2025 ⢠46min
E107: Ritika Saraswat thinks intl students need to stop obsessing over the Canadian PR
Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I am speaking with Ritika Saraswat, Founder & CEO of Re-Defined, a members-only community for international students by international students. The past 18 months haven't been exactly fair to international students in Canada. They've been blamed, labelled, and threatened. They've had to deal with policy changes, uncertainty, and expiring permits. And while all that sounds depressing, Ritika has a refreshing take on all the chaos: Come to Canada. Learn. Make new friends. Build connections. And if you get the chance to stay and contribute, great. If not, take what you've learned back home. I know this is easier said than done. You probably have nothing to go back to back home. You probably can't even afford to relocate back home. But where there's a will, there sometimes is a way.In this conversation, Ritika and I chat about why international students need to focus on what they control. We also explore:* How to get feedback from your Canadian colleagues or counterparts* Why playing the long game matters more when planning to immigrate* Why you canât afford feeling like a victim as an immigrant* What sheâs learned after seven years in Canada* Why she thinks immigrants have a responsibility to come prepared, do their research, and contribute to their new societyOfficial Linksâ
Connect with Ritika Saraswat on LinkedInâ
Join the Re-Defined communityOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Jun 27, 2025 ⢠50min
E106: Aishwarya Khanduja says 'Canada doesn't have the resources for me to thrive'
Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking to Aishwarya Khanduja, who moved from India to Canada at age 12, learned English watching Hannah Montana during her first Canadian summer, and has permanently left Canada to build her venture fund in New York.This conversation left me with a bittersweet feel. Canada keeps losing its best and brightest to the south of the border. It sucks because we aren't just losing talent. We are losing the future.And it's a worrying trend that seems to be accelerating by the day. We talk a big game about immigration being a talent pipeline. But it means nothing if the immigrants end up leaving for other countries because their chances of succeeding are higher outside Canada. As Aishwarya puts it, "Canada doesn't have the resources for me to thrive." This is what the Canadian brain drain looks like up close.In this conversation, Aishwarya and I chat about what Canada loses when builders leave. We also explore:* How immigration helps build anti-fragile societies* What you need to qualify for the O-1 visa * Why sheâs all for building a life she doesnât have to escape from* Watching her parents sacrifice everything and start from zeroOfficial Linksâ
Connect with Aishwarya Khanduja on LinkedInâ
Follow Aishwarya Khanduja on Twitterâ
Explore her personal blogâ
Check out what sheâs building with AnalogueOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com