The Newcomers Podcast 🎙️

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 Donovan Francis, who traded the sunny beaches of Jamaica for the frozen skies of Edmonton, Alberta. But that's not all.Donovan moved to Canada as a communication professional. I mean, he was a television host for a quasi-government organization back in Jamaica. “Things were good. But we wanted to see someplace else," Francis explains. “Jamaica is a small place and there's just this big world out there.“But the transition wasn’t seamless. It took nearly a year to return to a communications role similar to what he had back home. But this superhero wasn’t done. He went ahead to chase a long-held dream of becoming a lawyer. And after seven unsuccessful law school applications, he got into Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto.In this conversation, Donovan and I explore what it’s like to start afresh. We also chat about:* How taking “whatever jobs present themselves” allows immigrants to find stability in those early days* Why food and music are great ways to pass on our cultural heritage* Spending a year in East Africa with the family to help the children connect with their roots* Canada’s cultural diversity and its benefitsOfficial Links✅ Connect with Donovan on LinkedIn✅ Book a free 30 minute immigration strategy callOne 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 Uche Joel Ughonu, who moved from Lagos, Nigeria to Halifax, Canada in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.Moving during the pandemic created what I call the “double isolation” effect (where a newcomer dealt with the combined isolation of being new to Canada plus the restrictions that came with the pandemic) for most immigrants, Uche included.And so, in my opinion, I'm not surprised Uche Joel has gone ahead to join forces with Banke Falade to build the Nigerian Canadian Life community. Together, these two amazing humans are building a safe space for Nigerians in Canada.A space without the burden and status-led incentives I think come with the usual formal community associations.In this conversation, Uche and I chat about what it's like to run a community for immigrants. We also explore:* What it felt like to move to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic* Their goals for the community* His biggest lessons from running the community* Why formal community associations have the wrong incentives * Why he can’t be there for everyone, and a lot of good stuffOfficial Links✅ Connect with Uche Joel on LinkedIn✅ Connect with Banke Falade on LinkedIn✅ Check out the Nigerian Canadian Life communityOne 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

Derek Sivers, author of 'Useful Not True' and a globe-trotting entrepreneur, shares his unique perspectives on culture and identity as an immigrant. He discusses why he left the U.S., viewing the world as his home filled with potential connections. Sivers emphasizes the idea of seeing people from diverse backgrounds as 'cousins we haven't met yet.' He also explores raising children in multicultural contexts and offers insights on keeping a flexible mindset while settling into new environments.

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 Nadine Niba, a passionate community builder and an author in the making.Nadine moved to Canada about 10 years ago, and in that time, she's worked with three of the big four consulting firms. So if there's anyone qualified to speak about the experience of working as a Black woman and immigrant in Canada, it's Nadine.While a lot of work has been done, Nadine thinks that Black women need less mentors, more sponsors. And I agree, because Black women are some of the most educated women you'll ever meet.In this conversation, Nadine and I explore being Black and female in the Canadian workplace. We also chat about:* Why immigrants need to stop selling themselves short in the job market* Not being afraid to speak her truth* Why we need to do a better job of educating potential immigrants back home* How a sponsor changed her career trajectory, and more good stuffOfficial Links✅ Connect with Nadine on LinkedIn ✅ Chat with Nadine One 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 to Dikachi Chizim, who moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to Freiberg, Germany, for an MBA.Germany isn't the typical destination for skilled Nigerian immigrants, especially in the past five years. According to Dikachi, even the Germans she met in Freiberg, a town of over 40,000 in Eastern Germany, were surprised she moved to their town to study. “Well, I came to study because tuition was free,” she says. But the culture shock was dramatic. Now, this isn't surprising if you've been to both or any of the two cities. Lagos and Freiberg are different in every measurable way. From population to density to the economy to the urban character to the language. “I was lost,” Dikachi says. Getting a student job became the unlikely path to understanding the language and how the country worked.In this conversation, Dikachi and I chat about dealing with the contrast between Nigerian "African time" and famed German punctuality. We also explore:* How her workplace became more valuable for integration than her international student community* Passing her Nigerian cultural heritage to her German-born daughter* The surprising differences between Eastern and Southern Germany's social climate* Why optimism might be an immigrant's most valuable assetOfficial Links✅ Follow Dikachi on LinkedIn✅ Sign up for Dikachi’s Thinking Out Loud newsletterOne 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 Tunji Banwo, who along with his bags, took his 11 years project management experience and moved from Nigeria to the UK. He soon found out that moving to a new country is one thing. Building a career there is another challenge entirely. Cultural differences, workplace dynamics, and the dreaded "UK experience" barrier made the journey anything but easy.In this conversation, Tunji and I explore him feeling like a misfit, struggling to be recognized, and the pressure to quickly assimilate. We also chat about:* Overcoming the "UK experience" hurdle when job hunting* Adjusting to the new workplace interactions and social norms* Discrimination, bias, and how media shapes societal perceptions* Tips for project managers intending to move to the UK, and a ton of other great stuffOfficial Links👋🏽 Follow Tunji on LinkedIn📖 Buy Tunji’s book, No Blacks, No Whites, where he addresses issues of discrimination and bias in society 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 Nella Gatumo, a lawyer who moved from Nairobi, Kenya to London, England for work.One of the hardest things to rebuild as an immigrant is that invisible support system that you always took for granted. The brother you could call when things were topsy-turvy, the comfort of knowing what your colleague meant when they used a turn-of-phrase, the door that was always open with your Mom's smile waiting for you once you walked past the curtains.This need to adapt and integrate means you suddenly find yourself second-guessing every interaction, every word you say, and everything you do. And through it all, life continues relentlessly back home.As Nella puts it, “Life actually moves on. It doesn't stop from where you left it. People grow up. People die. People change.”In this conversation, Nella and I explore the persistent duality we immigrants inhabit. We also chat about:* Weighing the emotional costs of moving against career gains* Making friends in London* The famous British communication style* Missing important milestones back home* The emotional labor of maintaining meaningful connections with family from thousands of miles away, and a ton of other good stuff.Official Links👋🏽 Follow Nella on LinkedIn👋🏽 Follow Nella on X 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 Iqbal Chowdhury, a Research and Teaching Assistant at Dalhousie University, Canada, whose academic work on immigrant integration and mental well-being is deeply informed by his personal journey to Canada.When we talk about immigration, we often focus on the logistics or the challenges, such as finding a home or similar. Now these are important. But I think the the psychological journey of rebuilding your identity in a new country is probably more important.And Iqbal’s research reveals how economic stability serves as the first steps towards cultural integration and belonging. You need economic security before you can truly engage with your new community. Iqbal explains the troubling phenomenon of the "healthy immigrant effect" and how it deteriorates over time as newcomers struggle to find suitable employment that match their qualifications. This disconnect between expectations and reality ends up affecting the immigrant's mental health and integration process.In this conversation, Iqbal and I chat about the stark contrast between our imagined and actual immigration experiences. We also explore:* The work we need to do as immigrants to accept our multiple identities* The importance of maintaining connections with one's cultural community while building new relationships* How language barriers create cascading challenges in professional and social settings* Finding the delicate balance between integrating into a new culture while honoring your heritage* Plus, Iqbal shares practical advice for prospective immigrants to better prepare mentally for the journey aheadOfficial Links👋🏽 Follow Iqbal on LinkedIn📚 Read about Iqbal’s research 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 Urmi Hossain, who after 14 years in Canada, still identifies as an Italian-Bengali living in Canada rather than Canadian.In her words, “I feel like I'm betraying my origins if I put Canadian because I only became Canadian later on in my life.”I find her position so fascinating because she's one of the few immigrants I've met who don't struggle with the state of in-betweenness - where you feel like you're suspended between your former culture and the new one.To Urmi, Canada will always be her second home, the first place where she felt she could be comfortable in her dual identity. The first place where she met people who were navigating multiple cultural identities like herself. People who spoke more than one language. Unlike Italy where her friends were ‘strictly Italian.’But...Urmi still thinks she probably is going to retire to Italy.In this conversation, Urmi and I chat about Canada’s multiculturalism and how it helps people like her feel at home. We also explore:* What do we mean when we say “Canadian culture”* The quality of Canadian coffee vs. Italian coffee* Choosing to move to Canada* Why she’ll probably retire to Italy at some point, and more good stuff.Official Links👋🏽 Follow Urmi on LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

To celebrate #IWD2025, The Newcomers Podcast will be publishing daily episodes between March 2nd - 8th celebrating a female immigrant. Come celebrate with us as we tell the stories of some of the many amazing immigrant heroines.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.For our seventh and final #IWD2025 episode, I'm speaking with Rehana Malik-Mbanga, CEO, Stimbok Corporation, and Founder, When African Women Talk (WAWT).As immigrants, we often tiptoe around the emotional and psychological toll immigration places on us. As Rehana puts it, “You are under immense pressure to achieve. You didn't come here to fail.”Aside that, you are also expected to constantly represent your community in good light. And so we end up always in defense mode, always looking to swat away stereotypes and show that we are capable of being good, of being smart, of being worthy of recognition.It’s exhausting.To combat this and create a safe space where Black women can be themselves, Rehana founded WAWT.In this conversation, Rehana and I chat about What it was like to move to Edmonton, Alberta 10+ years ago. We also explore:* The idea of our “immigration age”* The importance of rejecting victimhood narratives* Creating genuine relationships through intentional community-building* Launching WAWT and how her mission for the community changed along the way* The diverse experiences of Black immigrants in Canada, and more great stuff.Official Links👋🏽 Connect with Rehana on LinkedIn👉🏽 Apply to join WAWT📰 Read the current issue of the WAWT magazine This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com