The Newcomers Podcast 🎙️

In this episode, I’m speaking with Jennifer Aikoroje, host of the Inside Your Finance podcast. Jennifer and I explore what happens when you’re too young to grasp the full weight of immigration, when you don’t have the words to explain the churning feelings inside you. But then you grow up. You become an immigrant yourself. And suddenly, your parents’ impossible choices start to make sense.She talks about that moment when her dad left her in Canada and returned to Nigeria for two more years. As a teenager, she felt like he had abandoned her. Now she gets it. Especially after making sure she secured a job before she moved to the United Kingdom.But we don’t only talk about heavy stuff.Jennifer and I also chat about:Taking professional risks when you don’t feel readyWhy showing up beats being perfectImmigrating to the UK as an adult and the lessons she learned

In this episode, I’m speaking with Imole Ashogbon, a fractional HR consultant who helps small and mid-sized businesses, executives, and HR teams when they need senior-level HR leadership, without the cost of a full-time executive.Imole and I explore a nagging question I have about Canada’s much-talked about productivity decline: Are we declining in productivity because we lack talent OR because our broken systems aren’t able to take advantage of all the talent we have seating around in Canada?Imole thinks we’ve created a strange contradiction. We bring in immigrants through Express Entry (a competitive immigration pathway meant to attract young, educated, upwardly mobile individuals.) Then we act like we’re doing them a favor. Like immigration is charity work. It’s not.45% of recent immigrants have university degrees but work in jobs that don’t require post-secondary education. Which is an absurd waste of talent in my opinion.Imole and I chat about:Why businesses need to culturally integrate just as much as immigrantsWhy immigration is investment, not aidHow to build systems that actually deploy immigrant talentThe misalignment between immigration policy, employment strategy, and economic growth targets

In this episode, I’m speaking with Jerry Onyegide, who built a tax business by accident, just from answering questions about Canadian taxes on Twitter for years.Jerry never intended to formalize his knowledge. He’d see misinformation about Canadian taxes, correct it with detailed explanations, and move on with his day. People stopped arguing and started asking more questions. Eventually someone told him, “You need to formalize this. We don’t have anyone in the community who explains taxes this way.”And that’s how he launched Tax Whiz. Still, he was surprised by the number of people who booked consultations.Jerry and I discuss common tax mistakes immigrants make. We also explore:How his service differs from traditional tax consultantsThe confusing Canadian tax systemWhy your tax planning needs to start in January instead of May

In this episode, I’m speaking with Roy Ratnavel, a retired financial services executive and the author of the #1 Canadian national bestselling book Prisoner #1056.Roy’s philosophy for life seems simple but I think it’s a hard one for most of us to adopt: fix yourself before you fix the world. If you’re a good husband, you raise good kids. Good households create good communities. Strong communities build strong societies. Strong societies make stronger countries.And I think Canada needs a lot of this at the moment. Everything is ground up, not top down. The government can’t control what goes on in your head or within the four walls of your home. No regulation can stop that. So it comes down to individuals—not as a selfish notion, but as a recognition that you need to fix your flaws before pointing out others’ shortcomings.Roy spent a decade after arriving in Canada blaming everyone else for his struggles. At 31, he realized he was the problem. He went to war with the man in the mirror, sought therapy for PTSD, and completely changed his approach to life.Roy and I chat about my biggest lessons from reading his book. We also explore:Why the 2010 Winter Olympics was the most Canadian he’d ever feltHow Canada can unite people across differencesWhy we need to lower the barrier but not the barMoral exhibitionism vs. real solutionsLying to yourself versus being honest about mistakes

In this episode, I’m speaking with Nisrine Maktabi, a trauma-informed coach and registered psychotherapist with over a decade of experience supporting newcomers, international students, and multicultural professionals in Canada and globally.Nisrine usually works with newcomers and second-generation immigrants, helping them work through something most immigrants don’t recognize as trauma: people-pleasing.Surprised? I was too. She says people-pleasing isn’t about being nice or accommodating. It’s a survival response called “fawning”—your nervous system’s way of keeping you safe by making others happy. For children of immigrants especially, people-pleasing becomes how they survive in families where belonging feels conditional.Conditional on you operating within the rigid rules about behavior, identity, and cultural adherence.Nisrine and I chat about why your nervous system adapts to keep you safe. We also explore: The coconut effect and why strict parenting backfiresCanada’s systemic barriers for highly educated newcomersWhy discrimination triggers old wounds, and how to process themHow to connect your children to their roots without imprisoning them

In this episode, I’m speaking with Kristina McPherson, who moved from Jamaica to Canada in 2014, and now runs As Told By Canadian Immigrants, where she’s the guide she wishes she had before she moved to Canada.There’s a lot to unpack in this episode, but the part I can’t stop thinking about is when Kristina talks about “post-immigration stress disorder,” a term she coined to describe what many immigrants go through as they try to settle into their new home. I believe it’s also called Ulysses Syndrome.There’s the constant anxiety. There’s the uncertainty that has you feeling unsettled. There’s the mental load of running two parallel tracks—getting through today while worrying if you’ll even be here tomorrow.For Kristina, it was LMIA complications. Provincial nominee programs that wouldn’t work in time. Express Entry launching with 800-point cutoffs. Submitting her PR application two months before her work permit expired, then living on implied status for months.During that time, Christina lived with two pots, two plates, two glasses. Everything she owned fit in a suitcase. Because if immigration forced her to leave, she wanted it to be easy.Kristina and I chat about the emotional toll of living in limbo for years. We also explore: Living two and a half years out of a suitcaseWhy she started “As Told by Canadian Immigrants”Why we need to put boundaries around how one consumes immigration information on social mediaBeing ‘in-betweeners’ caught between cultures

In this episode, I'm speaking with Paul Bakhmut, who moved from Ukraine to Edmonton, Canada 15 years ago as an international student and is now running for mayor. Paul is big on first impressions. And he still remembers his first impression of Edmonton: no bus from the airport to the city. You had to drive or find a cab. Even now, the bus only goes to the train station, not downtown. His vision for Edmonton in two years if he wins? A city that looks and feels alive, not one littered with "for lease" signs. A place that feels safe, not just in police statistics but in actual lived experience. But Paul is practical in how he expects to achieve all these goals. He accepts that Edmonton needs to get more competitive with business taxes and become an open, smart, and fun city that attracts businesses and sets a cultural tone that values what newcomers bring.In this conversation, Paul and I chat about how his view of Canada has changed over the past 15 years. We also explore:Why Alberta’s immigration boom creates challenges and opportunitiesWhy the city’s own hiring practices matter for the broader marketWhy he still believes in the promise of Canada after 15 yearsThe importance of judging newcomers on merit, not credentialsThe city’s role in setting the cultural tone on hiring newcomers

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I’m speaking with Keely Cronin, Co-Founder of WorkSpark, where they support professionals who have migrated to Canada as well as anyone looking to make a mid-career transition. One conversation she has over and over again with the folks she coaches is the gap, or more like valley between your qualifications, experience, skillset, and the infamous first survival job most newcomers have to start with in Canada. Keely’s point of view is even if you’re a deep-sea engineer working at Tim Hortons, you should see that time as valuable Canadian experience. And as roles that immerse you in everyday Canadian culture. Which means you should put them on your resume and frame them as work experience that shows you have soft skills to fit into your potential new job like a glove.In this conversation, Keely and I chat about the soft skills you develop in such jobs. We also explore:* Why she thinks Canada’s immigration narrative doesn’t match reality* Culture and self-promotion* Why moving countries makes you a baby again (but with baggage)* Why it’s a good idea to experience Canada before job hunting ( but them bills don’t wait though)Dozie’s NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:* During the immigration process, the focus is usually on what the immigrant brings to Canada. However, once we land, the narrative seems to shift to all Canada is giving you. This weird shift seems to be creating an environment where the public doesn’t recognize the talent or contributions of immigrants to the economy and the country.* Structural barriers need policy solutions, not resilient individuals. We should celebrate resilience. But…individual resilience and networking can only go so far. Issues like inconsistent credential recognition across provinces and unclear processes need government fixes. * Moving to a new country literally resets you to ground zero. You are like a baby experiencing the world again. Except this time around you carry the burden of your previous life’s experiences and expectations. Accept this reality. That’s the first step towards turning this mental burden into a strength.Official Links✅ Connect with Keely Cronin on LinkedIn✅ Schedule a free career assessmentOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Or 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

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Mher Mardoyan, a career coach who's been helping newcomers to Canada find jobs with a 90%+ success rate.With the rise and rise of AI in job applications, it's beginning to seem like traditional online job applications are a losing game for newcomers to Canada. Because for every job posting, there are thousands of applicants and only a tiny weeny number get called in for interviews. Mher thinks its about 2%.The way out, Mher believes, is the hidden job market. This is where majority of the hiring happens. And the only way to access these opportunities is through networking and referrals.Because people help people they know and trust, not strangers asking for favors.In this conversation, Mher and I chat about his seven-step coaching process. We also explore:* Why applying for jobs should be your last resort, not your first* The importance of celebrating small wins during your job search* His one tip for standing out in today's competitive job market* Why investing in your career pays off faster than waiting for free helpDozie’s NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:* Networking is like banking; you first deposit then you withdraw. That someone accepted your connection request on LinkedIn doesn’t mean you should ask them if they can help you find a job immediately. I personally think it’s cringe. Spend some time investing in the relationship. And in due time, you’ll build up enough social credit that allows you ask for help with your job hunt or a referral.* Tell your story. Mher thinks if your story demonstrates how you save employers time, money or increase profit, you’ll be in demand. Methinks same too.* Job hunting in today’s market is emotionally exhausting. Take breaks. Celebrate small wins. Ask for help.Official Links✅ Connect with Mher Mardoyan on LinkedIn✅ Book a career consultationOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.Or 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

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I am speaking with Ben Joffe, a French native who's lived and worked across Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, United States, Germany, and currently Portugal. Ben also speaks fluent French, English, Japanese, pretty bad Korean and Chinese, and average Portuguese (thanks to high school Spanish classes).Talk about being a global citizen. This lived experience means Ben has developed a great understanding of how much our default cultural programming defines how we see and interact with the world. Having your default cultural programming turned on is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it’s important we recognize that we all have these underlying prompts which influence our language structure, our views on material success, personal relationships, and more. Especially when we move to a new country.In this conversation, Ben and I explore why some cultures lead with “what do you do?” while others consider that question rude. We also chat about:* Local comedy and why it’s a great way to understand cultural nuances and codes* Why he’s more focused on teaching his kid curiosity than nationality* The phone call that changed his understanding of Korean culture* Why he doesn't identify as an immigrant or expat despite living in 7+ countriesDozie’s NotesA few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:* The same word can mean different things depending on where you are from. A major barrier to cross-cultural understanding isn’t a lack of shared language but the hidden cultural codes behind words. A term like “friendship” or “car” has a completely different meaning in Korea, the U.S, or France. Learn to ask “What do you mean?” whenever possible.* Cultural fluency which then leads to proper integration is an everyday activity. To truly understand a new country or society requires deliberate effort. Learn the language, watch local stand-up comedy, volunteer, engage in local activities. Being a passive observer rarely helps.* Your multicultural identity is additive. A multicultural identity is not about losing a piece of one culture to gain another. Instead, it’s you adding new layers to your identity that end up creating a human that’s more than the sum of their parts.Official Links✅ Connect with Ben Joffe on LinkedIn✅ Check out Ben’s vibe coding course✅ Consider reading The Culture Code by Clotaire RapailleOne 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