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 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

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 Hugo Onuoha, who moved to the UK twice –first as a student, then years later as a working professional with his family.Prior to this episode, I've always believed that immigrating as a student makes it a bit easier to settle in, integrate, and get going. Hugo's story challenged that belief. This is why I now say that the immigrant isn't a monolith. Everyone's story is different.During his first stay in the UK, he experienced such intense homesickness that he shortened his degree program from four years to three just to return to Nigeria faster. Yet surprisingly, seven years later, he found himself drawn back to the same country – this time with a completely different experience and outlook.I also found it particularly fascinating that unlike many immigrants, including his wife, he doesn't pine for Nigerian food, weather, or culture. As he puts it, “Apart from family, I don't really miss much.”In this conversation, Hugo and I chat about the economic realities that had me reconsidering the UK. We also explore:* What it means to create your identity beyond national boundaries* Finding gratitude in the immigrant journey* Maintaining relationships with family and friends back home* His first vs. second “missionary journey”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 with Fikru Kebede , an Ethiopian artist who moved to Canada as a refugee after ethnic and religious conflicts made it impossible for him to continue his life and artistic career in his homeland. One of my biggest takeaways from our conversation is how Fikru handles negative experiences. When faced with discrimination on the public transit, rather than feeling like a victim, he chose to focus on spreading positive energy instead of absorbing and transferring the frustration to another person. “When you manifest positive vibes, you receive positivity,” he explains. This philosophy has helped him navigate the challenges of building a new life in a country where, as he puts it, "everyone lives on their sides" rather than in the communal way he was accustomed to in Ethiopia.In this conversation, Fikru and I chat about adapting to the Canadian way of life. We also explore:* Being realistic about one’s expectations as an immigrant* How his artistic style is evolving in Canada* The differences between the Ethiopian and Western painting styles* How Impakt Foundation changed his life* Finding internal peace through audiobooksOfficial Links✅ Connect with Fikru on LinkedIn✅ Explore Fikru’s work ✅ Read about Impakt Foundation’s approach to newcomer supportOne 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 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