The Newcomers Podcast 🎙️

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 sixth #IWD2025 episode, I'm speaking with Sindhu Mahadevan, Quality Assurance Team Lead, Vital Bio, and creator of This Immigrant Life newsletter.Sindhu moved from India to to the United States as an international student. After nine years in Uncle Sam's country, she moved to Canada as a permanent resident.The immigration journey comes with an interesting emotional burden that shapes how an immigrant engages with their everyday life. And for individuals on a temporary status, the uncertainty often has them in a state of existential anxiety:* Will I get kicked out if I lose my job? * How do I go on PTO even though I am feeling burnt out?In her words, “Canada was where I truly felt at home. People will say immigration is just paperwork, you shouldn't let it define you...I think it sounds good for the movies, but it makes a huge difference what that scrap of paper says.”In this conversation, Sindhu and I chat about the differences between the immigration systems of Canada and the United States. We also explore:* The renegotiation of identity that comes with being an immigrant* Her relationship with borders* Finding belonging in Canada* How to approach Canadian immigration in 2025, * Plus a vetted list of immigration experts you can follow on LinkedIn.Official Links👋🏽 Follow Sindhu on LinkedIn👉🏽 Sign up for Sindhu’s This Immigrant Life newsletter📰 Read about Sindhu’s story on CBC Canada🗣️ Follow Sindhu’s vetted list of immigrant experts:* Matthew McDonald* Kubeir Kamal* Veronica Sepehr* Madhur Parashar 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 fifth #IWD2025 episode, I'm speaking with Fatemeh Alhosseini, Executive Director at Impakt Foundation. Resilience as a function of the system, personalized support, narrative therapy as a tool for cultural immersion, Fatemeh left me with a lot to think about after this conversation. And I think it’ll be same for you.Fatemeh moved to Canada from Iran 10 years ago as an international student. After an MA in Developmental Psychology, and then a PhD in same with a focus on resilience, she joined Impakt Foundation as the Executive Director.In this conversation, Fatemeh and I chat about Impakt Foundation’s “for newcomers, by newcomers” model. We also explore: * Moving to Canada 10 years ago to study* Why we immigrants need to get involved in building and implementing immigrant settlement and support programs* Why she chose to work at Impakt Foundation* The Impakt Foundation origin story (The Tailor Project)* Why resilience isn’t a personal feature, and more good stuff.Official Links👋🏽 Follow Fatemeh on LinkedIn🫶🏽 Learn more about Impakt Foundation💖 Learn more about The Tailor Project 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 fourth #IWD2025 episode, I'm speaking with Shamira Madhany, Managing Director & Deputy Executive Director at World Education Services (WES).“We're having the wrong conversation about immigration.” If there's one person qualified to say this, It's Shamira. Her family came to Canada from Kenya in the early 1970s, fleeing potential political instability after Idi Amin expelled Ugandan Asians.Despite being well-educated with business experience, Shamira's father couldn't find employment in his field. Her father took a job at a golf club (cleaning, picking up towels), while her mother worked in a factory.This experience led to Shamira's life mission—solving the disconnect between Canada's need for workers and the barriers preventing high-skilled immigrants from getting jobs.In her words, “I don’t want to give out umbrellas anymore because it’s too tiring. I want to change the climate.”In this conversation, Shamira and I explore how it felt watching her parents struggle to find their footing after immigrating to Canada. We also chat about:* Why she joined WES* The economic impact of immigrant underemployment* The cost of workforce shortages to Canadian businesses* The biggest issue with the Canadian immigration system* How we can connect the macro (immigration policy) with the micro (the immigrant experience* The work she and a host of other amazing souls are doing to make it easier for high-skilled immigrants to get the jobs they deserve, and more good stuff. Official Links👋🏽 Follow Shamira on LinkedIn🫶🏽 Learn more about WES 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 third #IWD2025 episode, I’m speaking with Kateryna Havrylova, Co-Owner and CEO, Best Solution Windows & Doors.Helplessness, panic, worry, uncertainty, guilt, longing...Kateryna has probably felt all these emotions and more in the past two years. A routine family vacation for her husband's birthday turned into an extended stay in Poland when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, 2022.Her city (Kharkiv) was among the first to be occupied by Russian forces. And so with her 3yo and husband in tow, Kateryna moved to Germany after some months in Poland, then Germany, then back to Poland, and then Canada.Canada was supposed to be a 10-day visit to spend time with some familiar faces. However, the family made the spontaneous decision to stay because Canada felt welcoming and safe. For the first time in a while, Kateryna wasn't afraid anymore.In this conversation, Kateryna and I explore the impact of the war on her 3yo son and her relationship with her parents and grandmother. We also chat about:* Her unfounded fears of integration* Becoming antifragile * Why she feels safe in Canada* Losing her car import business and starting afresh* Tips for newcomers to Canada, and more good stuff. Kateryna is a superhero!Official Links👋🏽 Follow Kateryna on LinkedIn🫶🏽 Check out Kateryna’s new business, Best Solution Windows & DoorsFREE Immigration WebinarIn a time when Canada's immigration plan emphasizes skilled, bilingual newcomers with in-Canada experience, make sure you’re positioned for long-term success! Join Veronica Sepehr of Westdale Immigration for a 30-minute power-packed session where she’ll answer any pressing immigration questions you might have and break down key updates that could impact your preferred immigration pathway.Here’s what she’ll cover:📌 New Prioritized Categories for Express Entry – Focusing on what they mean for Education & STEM professionals📌 Why French Matters – Boosting your chances for temporary & permanent residence📌 2025 Immigration Trends – Key updates (OWP, CEC, PNP, RCIP)Sign up HERE | Only 18 seats left out of 30. 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 second #IWD2025 episode, I’m speaking with Wunmi Adekanmbi, lecturer and biochemist researcher turned immigrant tech talent advocate, and Founder of Immigrant Techies Alberta.There's this quote on Wunmi's LinkedIn profile that exemplifies how she approaches the immigrant journey and her life in general:“There are no paths anywhere, paths are made by walking.” Antonio MachadoWunmi moved to Canada in 2011 with high expectations as a highly skilled biochemist lecturer and researcher. “I came here with the mindset of Canada is looking for me because I had been handpicked by Canada to bring all my awesome skill set here,” she says. But after three years of trying break into academia in Canada, she had to change tack and reinvent herself.Her experience of career disruption plus the frustrating waste of immigrant talent Canada has been famous for in the past decade led to the birth of Immigrant Techies Alberta, a tech enthusiast group for highly-skilled immigrants (and those who share similar interests) who are already in or are interested in pivoting to tech careers and startups.In this conversation, Wunmi and I explore her immigration journey and all the lessons it came with. We also chat about:* The psychological toll of career disruptions* Why immigrants need to manage or run the immigrant settlement services* Her biggest wins with Immigrant Techies Alberta* Why we mustn’t settle for less, and a ton of other good stuff.Official Links👋🏽 Follow Wunmi on LinkedIn🫶🏽 Join the Immigrant Techies Alberta group 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.In our first #IWD2025 episode, I’m speaking with Maroro Zinyemba, Zimbabwean-Canadian, and Dean, Faculty of Skills & Foundational Learning, NorQuest College, Edmonton, Alberta. "Home to me is where your roots are. So no matter where in the world you end up... you are rooted somewhere in something." As an immigrant, the concept of identity, home, language, and heritage can be a challenging conversation, especially if you have kids. How do you pass on your cultural values, nuances and all the subtleties of your identity to your kids? How do you keep your mother tongue going strong within the family? Remember, the kids are only interested in surviving playground politics and will learn the language and cultural nuances that help them make friends.In this conversation, Maroro and I explore the concept of home and how context influences her identity. We also chat about:* The challenges of passing on our language to our kids* Why ecosystems or community structures are key to passing on the language* Language as a form of identity* The fluidity of the immigrant identity, and more good stuff.Official Links👋🏽 Follow Maroro on LinkedIn♀️Get involved in #IWD2025 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 Bryan Caplan, Professor of Economics at George Mason University and New York Times bestselling author. He’s the author of Open Borders, one of the best books on immigration in my opinion, The Myth of the Rational Voter, named "the best political book of the year" by the New York Times, and Build, Baby, Build.It is human nature to find someone or something else to blame for our problems. And it's been a well-played hand in the Canadian immigration debate in the past ten months or more.But as Bryan says, 'Shouldn't we be focused on addressing the real problems? If we have a housing problem, focus on deregulating the housing sector and build more housing. If the problem is crime, then improve law enforcement rather than blame the newcomers.'In this conversation, Bryan and I chat about the economic gains from immigration. We also explored:* Scapegoating versus tackling the real problems* Lessons from the Gulf Monarchies approach to immigration* The Canadian immigration conversation* Why Open Borders is back in print, and a lot of other good stuff. Official Links👋🏽 Follow Bryan on X📚 Buy the Open Borders book📚 Buy the Build, Baby, Build book📰 Read Bryan’s blog Bet On It 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 Feyi Fawehinmi, accountant, writer and author of Formation: The Making of Nigeria from Jihad to Amalgamation.When Feyi moved to London in 2004 to study, there were relatively few Nigerians in the United Kingdom compared to today. Most of the folks he met came either as students or through work permits that tied them to specific employers.21 years later, all that has changed. Different immigration programs such as the Highly Skilled Migrant Program (HSMP) that ended in 2008 meant more Nigerians, including folks who felt they had "hit a ceiling" in Nigeria's job market, moved to the United Kingdom without the limitations of a work or study permit.In this conversation, Feyi and I explore what his immigration journey has been like. We also chat about: * Why time is key to integration and building a stable life* Dealing with the loss of status and starting over* Why integration should happen on your own terms* Why newcomers need to be ruthless in the company they keep, and a lot of good stuff. Official Links👋🏽 Follow Feyi on X📚 Buy the Formation: The Making of Nigeria from Jihad to Amalgamation book🖊️ Read Agùntáṣǫólò Notes 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 Noha Tanahi, Settlement Services Manager at TIEs (The Immigrant Education Society). Noha moved to Canada from Egypt looking for a fresh start 20 years ago. But it didn’t take long to start missing home. “I started missing Egypt as I landed at the Montreal airport,” she says.Settling in didn't get any easier. She landed in Montreal, moved to Calgary, then Fort McMurray, then back to Calgary. Stressed, frustrated, and angry, Noha called a shelter for women asking for space so she could leave her home. That phone call changed her life.In this conversation, Noha and I explore the concept of being a newborn when you move to a new country. We also chat about: * How settling into a new country often veers from the perfect script we have in our heads* The loneliness that comes with settling down especially if you don’t stay in a city long enough to make friends* Getting fired from her first job after eight hours* Volunteering and how it led her to her job* Her work at TIES and why she would do her job for freeOfficial Links👋🏽 Follow Noha 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

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 Maryanne Aghalu, who moved to Canada in 2016 for her MSc, leaving a blossoming career in consulting behind. Maryanne was so sure she was going to go back to Nigeria. Choosing to come to Canada was possible because PwC Nigeria gave her a two-year study leave. “I was going to study, get some international work experience, and then head back,” she says. Well, she’s still here. In this conversation, Maryanne and I chat about deciding to stay back in Canada. We also explore:* Spending her maternity leave in Nigeria* What home means to her now* Underestimating how much immigrating changes us* The cultural gifts we owe our kids, and more good stuff.Something to ponder on: We unconsciously adopt the cultural nuances of our new country but we often only notice how much we’ve integrated when we go back to visit. Official Links👋🏽 Follow Maryanne 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