The Newcomers Podcast 🎙️

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Victoria Patenaude, a communications coach who helps immigrants find their voice. Literally.For most immigrants, especially the non-native English speakers, they think the reason they struggle to express themselves clearly is due to a limited vocabulary, poor grammar, or a bad accent. Well, Victoria thinks otherwise.And she's not just talking as a coach, she has the lived experience. Victoria grew up constantly code-switching between Polish, Greek, and English cultural contexts. By her twenties, she was what she calls “a very careful person.”That hypervigilance followed her through university and through moves between Quebec and the United States. Even as a successful professional with advanced degrees, she still carried the emotional burden of never feeling quite confident in her communication. Her breakthrough came when she realized confidence isn't something you earn through perfect pronunciation. It's a choice you can make right now, regardless of your skill level. Now she helps other immigrants break free from the same patterns.In this conversation, Victoria and I chat about a teenage years embarrassment that led years of anxiety whenever she tried to speak French. We also explore:* How we pass on our immigration-induced anxiety to our kids* The science behind her method of coaching* Practical tips you can try out for building language confidence* And why we need to stop assuming negative intent when we have cultural misunderstandingsOfficial Links✅ Connect with Victoria Patenaude on LinkedIn✅ Work with Victoria on your communication skills✅ Check out her TEDx talk on Why We’re Connected To The Internet, But Not Each OtherOne 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

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with the amazing journo, Alyanna Denise Chua, who moved from Philippines to Canada in 2019 to study at University of Toronto.One of my biggest gripes with the dominant immigrant conversation is we often seem to disregard the human in the loop. Policies change overnight (for good reasons they say), and suddenly folks who have followed all the rules find themselves stranded.That is Alyanna's story. She moved to Canada, paid 10X the fees of domestic students to study, excelled academically, gained Canadian work experience, and integrated into the country.She did everything the immigration system told her to do. But by the time she graduated, Canada had moved the goalposts. The same pathway that led to permanent residency now led to... uncertainty.In this conversation, Alyanna and I explore what it felt like to watch the rules change. We also explore:* Missing home while building a new life* Immigrating as a student vs. a PR* Why Canada's rhetoric shifted from “we want you to stay” to “study doesn't guarantee residency”* The unfairness of retroactive rule changes* How Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie inspired her journalism careerOfficial Links✅ Connect with Alyanna Denise Chua on LinkedIn✅ Read her piece on The Walrus; Pay Tuition, Follow the Rules, Then Pack Your BagsOne 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

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Gabriela Gutierrez, who's lived in seven cities across four countries.Gabriela believes that the gift of immigration is the opportunity to become a better version of yourself for the world. A kinder human. A more resilient human. An individual who's a bridge between cultures.I personally think being an immigrant is a superpower. But Back to Gabriela. This philosophy has guided her as she's journeyed from Honduras to Spain to Canada and now the United States.And it’s why she insists that before you move to a new country, you should “Connect with your purpose. If you're thinking about immigrating, why? What motivates you to be there? How do you see yourself in five years in that new country, in that new city?” In this conversation, Gabriela and I chat about watching her MBA classmates do great things while she was making minimum wage in Canada. We also explore:* Why she’s kept her minimum wage stub 10 years later* How to deal with immigrant imposter syndrome * Why she thinks immigration is a net-positive to the world* Why focusing on what you control is the best thing you can do for yourself while settling into your new countryOfficial Links✅ Connect with Gabriela Gutierrez on LinkedIn✅ Sign up for Gabriela’s Personal Growth newsletterOne 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

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with the beautiful ball of positive light called Dennis Agbegha, who resigned from Big Oil and moved to Canada.Dennis is what you would call a super-connector. And while many folks in his shoes would probably worry about not being accepted, Dennis approaches it differently. When he walks into any room, he tries to answer one question, “How can I love and serve these people?”And in his experience, people start seeing him as “one of us” more often than not. I don't think this is naive optimism or toxic positivity. Dennis had to deal with a divorce while settling into Canada, went through the usual immigrant struggles, and dealt with the feeling of being the “other.” But he's refused to carry that as a burden.His approach is simple. Focus on the universal human fundamentals; love, kindness, and service. And let everything else be background noise. The result is he's never met a room he couldn't eventually belong in.In this conversation, Dennis opens up about dealing with a divorce while settling in. We also chat about:* The back-and-forth years and what they taught him* Why cultural obedience can limit immigrants* How to judge beliefs by usefulness, not absolute truth* Why the “spaces weren't made for us” mindset can trap you* Why settling is more than just a change of locationOfficial Links✅ Connect with Dennis Agbegha 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

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Chris Friesen, Chief Operating Officer at Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) about Canada's need for a long-term vision for immigration and why the current system is failing everyone involved. Chris calls Canada a "giant global cohesion experiment." And despite all the challenges that come with our immigration approach in recent years, he thinks we're doing a lot of things well that other countries envy. The challenge now is getting past the current moment where everything feels "grindy." His preferred approach to the immigration conversation? A all-hands-on deck Canadian conversation about immigration. Not screaming or accusing each other on social media. Not electoral soundbites (we recorded this episode before the election). But an informed discussion that considers all the nuances about the kind of country we want to be. The solutions Chris proposes aren't complicated, but require political will. A 10-year population growth strategy. National credential recognition. Better success indicators. Proactive rather than reactive planning. And most importantly, rebuilding public trust by communicating what immigration actually delivers for Canada.In this conversation, Chris and I chat about the economic realities of Canada’s population numbers. We also explore:* Moving beyond “us vs. them” to inclusive nation building* Why we need a national vision for immigration beyond reactive policies* How the temporary resident system became a runaway train* The difference between nation building and short-term labor market needs* Building welcoming communities that work for everyoneOfficial Links✅ Connect with Chris Friesen on LinkedIn✅ Newcomer in BC? Check out ISSofBC immigrant settlement 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

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this emotional episode, I'm speaking with Stephanie Kubi, who went from having her entire life planned out to becoming undocumented overnight. All this happened while she was six months pregnant with her first kid.Stephanie had done everything by the book. “I had applied for renewal. Nobody got back to me. I had applied for restoration. Nobody got back to me... I was literally applying based on all that. And even when they didn't get back to me, I was like, in case it's a loss in the system, let's apply for restoration,” she says.One day, she's preparing for maternity leave, setting up a nursery, planning for her delivery. The next day, she's holding a deportation notice, wondering if she'll have to choose between leaving everything behind or staying and figuring out what went wrong with the system.In this conversation, Stephanie and I chat about the constant anxiety. We also explore:* The hidden costs of immigration uncertainty beyond the legal fees* The psychological toll of being the “responsible” firstborn who suddenly can't control anything* Finding your village when you need it most* The fragile nature of the immigrant dream, even when you follow all the rules to the bookOfficial Links✅ Connect with Stephanie Kubi on LinkedIn✅ Check out the Kubi Kollective 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

Please forward this to ONE friend today and tell them to subscribe here.In this episode, I'm speaking with Clint Boodram, Regional Manager, Business Development for Western Canada at TD Bank. Clint moved to Canada from Trinidad when he was in Grade 9, over 40 years ago. On landing in Toronto, everything looked normal. But on the plane ride to Edmonton, “I found myself surrounded by people I saw on TV,” he says. Immigrating to Alberta at that time meant Clint literally knew every Black person in his community. “I remember walking around going to different events, just going to the gym, hanging out. I kind of knew every Black person," he says. Fast forward to today, Clint struggles to keep up with the new faces he comes across daily. While he's proud of the progress the Black community has made, Clint remains committed to building a welcoming support system for newcomers. His goal? “All I want people to remember is that if they need anything, they can call Clint.”In this conversation, Clint and I explore the concept of systemic change as a marathon, not a sprint. We also chat about:* Transitioning to high school in Canada * Raising kids * Community building and holding space for the next generation* Why we can’t recreate the home we often miss* Cultural adaptation without losing your identityOfficial Links✅ Connect with Clint Boodram 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

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking with Dots Oyebolu, a paid media professional who moved from Nigeria to Canada and insists immigrants need to think differently about success.The immigrant journey often comes with unsaid rules about what success looks like. Pursue certain kinds of jobs. Buy a house as soon as possible. Get a good car. You know, just fit in.Well, not for Dots. For him, following the ascribed survival routes end up limiting what's possible for immigrants. And while it's hard to break free of the herd mentality and the cultural pressures, “we live somebody else's life,” he says.Now, I think I agree to some extent. However, I also acknowledge that the psychological toll of trying to integrate into a new country makes this doubly hard for an immigrant. It's much simpler to just go with the crowd and reduce the stress of settling in as much as you can.But there's also value in being finding our own path, being open-minded, and being willing to look foolish.In this conversation, Dotun and I chat about his view of identity especially from the lenses of an immigrant. We also explore:* The limitations of cultural obedience* The need to play the long-term game* Why we need to move beyond our obsession with real estate* The balance between adapting vs. changingOfficial Links✅ Connect with Dots Oyebolu on LinkedIn✅ Check out Dots podcast on marketingOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking with Bukky Wonda, who moved from Nigeria to Canada about 11 years ago, and has gone on to become a successful tech founder in the immigration space.When trying to settle into a new country, finding optimistic people can make all the difference. As Bukky explains, “Immigration is so difficult that you don't want to find people who all they come and do to you is make things worse... Find people who are optimistic, who have agency, who are persistent.”I believe this mindset has been key to her success, from landing her first job at CIBC as a financial advisor rather than starting at entry-level positions to pivoting into entrepreneurship.In this conversation, Bukky and I chat about what it was like to move and settle in Canada 11 years ago. We also explore:* Her transition from accounting to immigration tech founder* Why she describes herself as a “happenstance entrepreneur”* Tips for anyone planning to immigrate to Canada in 2025/2026* Why preparation matters when you’re looking to immigrateOfficial Links✅ Connect with Bukky on LinkedIn✅ Request Bukky’s immigration servicesOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking with Lauren Mostowyk, Head of Integrated Marketing and Communications at Interac, about the company's recent survey on newcomers' financial experiences in Canada.Asides from rebuilding social capital, one of the hardest things to rebuild as a newcomer is financial confidence. You know, the idea that you are in control of your bills, you understand how the financial system works, and you are working towards your long term financial goals.The startling thing for me here was that while 61% of newcomers feel financially confident when they arrive in Canada, that confidence is cut in half within one month.And that's quite worrying. We get in folks who can contribute to the country's growth. And within 30 days, they start feeling like they're floundering, probably due to a combination of the typical grueling Canadian job hunt, the need to prove to a potential landlord that you can pay your rent, and the steady hum of everyday expenses.As Lauren puts it, “We don't talk enough about how much of your happiness is driven by your financial confidence.”In this conversation, Lauren and I talk about why Interac is best positioned to help newcomers in this regard. We also chat about:* Why financial education underpins everything else* Practical strategies for those preparing to move to Canada* The biggest financial barriers for newcomers* How Interac is helping reduce financial stress for newcomersOfficial Links✅ Connect with Lauren Mostowyk on LinkedIn✅ Read about the Interac survey✅ Check out the Credit Canada Butterfly App✅ Find a job through ACCES EmploymentOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com