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 David Moscrop, host of The David Moscrop Show, and author of Too Dumb for Democracy? Why We Make Bad Political Decisions and How We Can Make Better Ones. David’s piece on the dangers of a cynical immigrant debate had me theorizing some dark scenarios. But the bigger question that I had and one we also explored in our conversation was:Shouldn’t we be asking our politicians much harder questions? And are we solving for the real issues or looking for the next available scapegoat? The cynical utilitarian arguments sounds sexy. But we need to push for a better Canadian immigrant conversation because in the end, we all share commons struggles regardless of where we come from. In this conversation, David and I explore the politics of resource scarcity and scapegoating. We also chat about:* How building community and solidarity can break down the arbitrary divisions certain narratives encourage* The dehumanizing immigrant conversation and why it’s a dangerous path to take* The need to balance technical immigration policy discussions with human rights and a sense of dignity* The power and limitations of personal stories, and a lot of good stuff.Official Links👋🏽 Follow David on LinkedIn🎬 David’s YouTube channel🖊️ Sign up for David’s Substack📚 Buy the Too Dumb for Democracy book 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 Matthew McDonald - RCIC consultant, immigrant, and an all-round great human.The immigrant conversation is a human conversation, then an economic one. But when you read some of the phrasing people use when describing immigrants, you would be forgiven if you imagined UCI numbers walking around Canada instead of humans.Matthew McDonald, RCIC, is one of the few who buck the trend and bring the human into the immigration process. He describes his job as 80% emotional support, 20% legal advice.Matthew moved to Argentina from Canada two years ago with his husband. And the process of settling into a new country has been a great lesson on what his clients experience when they move to Canada.In this conversation, we explored his experience settling into his new home. We also chatted about:* Why it’s hard to make friends as an immigrant * How we can have a better Canadian immigrant conversation* Adding humans to the Canadian immigration process* The relationship between social integration and professional integration.Biggest takeaway: We need big ideas about how we make immigrants feel part of the Canadian society. And Matthew has got some.Official Links👋🏽 Follow Matthew on LinkedIn ☕ Schedule a virtual coffee with MatthewICYMI 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 Olia Stasiuk, Founder of Bonzai AI, author, and all-round superhero. We immigrants - especially if you are one of the privileged ones like myself who didn’t have to learn a new language when we moved - underestimate how hard it is to deal with the double whammy of trying to settle into a new country, new culture, and new lifestyle while trying to learn a new language at the same time.Olia had to deal with that double whammy. Did she have doubts? Yes. Did she feel hurt when people corrected her? Yes. But that didn't stop her. Olia has gone from struggling to communicate to finding her footing, writing an Amazon bestselling book, and launching an AI startup that's made Canada's Top 100 AI Startups two years in a row.In this conversation, Olia and I explored working through her limitations. We also chatted about:* The difference between living and working in the United States and Canada as an immigrant* The concept of the immigrant identity* Why moving to a new country is like gaining a superpower* Her go-to tip for anyone looking to immigrate, and a ton of good stuff. My biggest takeaway: Cultural integration is a choice and we can often feel that we need to shed our old identity to adopt the new identity. But you are better off finding a way to integrate both identities. That’s your superpower. That’s what makes you unique. Official Links👋🏽 Follow Olia on LinkedIn👌🏽 Learn more about Bonzai AI 📚 Get yourself a copy of the 66 Days SUCCESS FormulaICYMI 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 Alfred Kainga, the funniest comic I've listened to in a long while. No jokes. But it took some work to get to where he is today. Here’s a clip from one of his recent shows:Alfred moved to the United States as a 19yo and worked hard at honing his craft after his day job. After years of pushing hard to break through the noise, Rudy Rush passed his name to Kevin Hart as an upcoming comic who could open for Kevin on his 2016 Comedy Central show.Everything changed for Alfred after that gig.In this conversation, we chat about adjusting to life in the United States. We also explored:* Dealing with survival mode* Why he’s never regretted immigrating to the United States even though he originally wanted to move to South Africa* The American diet* And a ton of jokes along the way.This was a hilarious conversation.Official Links👋🏽 Follow Alfred on Instagram👌🏽 Follow Alfred on TikTokICYMI 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 the passionately curious Onyeka Okonkwo, a risk manager at KPMG UK, and a money coach.As an immigrant, it's easy to feel the need to show up and represent your home country's brand. To be great. To be of good behaviour. To show that your people are worth it.Especially now. Especially with all that's going on in the world at this time. When immigrants have become the next best thing to blame for all that's wrong with society.It can be tiring.So, I think we should take Onyeka Okonkwo’s advice…learn to give ourselves some grace. Give yourself permission to fail. To try again. To make mistakes. To live. To love. To enjoy everyday.Onyeka joined me on The Newcomers to chat about why she left Nigeria. We also talked about:* Working in Lagos vs. working in London* Finding her footing in her new home * Her approach to dealing with all the stuff immigrating to a new country throws at you* The burden of black tax* Learning to advocate for herself, and more. Again, give yourself some grace, dear immigrant. You’ve got this. Official Links👋🏽 Follow Onyeka on LinkedIn🖊️ Sign up for Onyeka’s Financial Life Workshop 🎬 Onyeka’s YouTube channel 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 Milan Sanghani — Founder of EdMission, and an immigrant entrepreneur on a mission to make it easier for students looking to move abroad for a higher education.But Milan wasn't always on this path. Nine years ago, all Milan thought about was a research-based MSc in drug metabolism. But after failing to get into schools in Canada, Australia, United States, and a couple of other countries, he started using all the learnings he had picked up trying and failing to get admissions to schools abroad to help prospective students in India with their higher education plans. Milan finally moved to Canada in 2021 mid-pandemic to study Entrepreneurship at Carleton University, Ottawa. In this conversation, we chat about his journey from international student to edtech entrepreneur, moving amidst the pandemic, and how he thinks we can improve the Canadian international students program.He also shared:* How to avoid fraudulent ghost agents* Settling into Canada and dealing with the lack of trust during the lockdown* Common misconceptions international students have* And the mindset you need to have to succeed as an international student. My biggest takeaway: Your best source of information are sources like the IRCC website (I know this is a nightmare to navigate) and the university website. Official Links👋🏽 Follow Milan on LinkedIn👌🏽 Learn more about EdMission 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 Ozoz Sokoh, a Nigerian food writer, explorer, educator, and author of Chop Chop: Cooking the Food of Nigeria.The late Quincy Jones once said, "Music is the melody of the gods." I agree, and I would add that food is the flavor of the gods.Food is everything. What and how we eat says a lot about us. More importantly, it tells a little about our history, and, in some cases, it’s one of the motifs we use as an expression of our culture and our traditions.For immigrants, food carries an ever deeper meaning. Not to be dramatic, but it’s a link to the past [taste/nostalgia], a bridge to the future [the evolution of said meal in a new place], and a way to hold on to identity in the murky world of being an immigrant.In this conversation, we chat about food as identity. We also explored:* How cooking or eating familiar dishes bring a sense of home and belonging, even in unfamiliar environments* Why understanding the essence and history of a dish is important * Why recording the history of a meal is key to preserving the cultural heritage of a people* The roles institutional bias and racism in food media play in hindering the representation of certain cuisines, and more good stuff. But that’s not all the good stuff. She’s also shared some zesty food recipes.Five Nigerian recipes you can try this Christmas holidays* Nigerian pepper soup: One of my personal favorites. I think it tastes better with goat meat. But you decide. * Agbalumo Carrot Cake: You’ll probably need to check the African store nearby for agbalumo. * Cassava and Coconut Salad: Ozoz has taken a popular Nigerian street food, Abacha, and turned it into something that not only looks delicious, but might have a broader appeal. I’m definitely trying this out over the holidays.* Zobo: Everyone has to try Zobo at least once in their life.* Yedem’blong: This is one meal I’m going to need help putting together. But it does sound enticing. Kolanut with pepper sauce. Who’s got some adventure in them? Official Links👋🏽 Follow Ozoz on Instagram🖊️ Sign up for her Kitchen Butterfly newsletter for more re-imagined Nigerian recipes 📚 Buy her book here 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 Izunna Dike, immigrant, chef, and all-round jolly fellow. When we move to a new country, the traditional dishes we bring along with us change over time, shaped by the realities of ingredients availability, the need to adapt the meal to our new friend’s palate, and experimentation.If properly harnessed, these culinary transformations can serve as an entry point into understanding the people who cook the food. For Izunna Dike, it was no different. The interesting thing was Izunna didn't always cook when he lived in Nigeria aside from random requests by his parents to knock together a meal for them. After moving to the UK as a teenager, and spending a year without eating Nigerian food due to his living circumstances, Izunna started to cook as a way to hold onto his heritage.And he’s never looked back. Cooking become a way for him to write a love letter to home while experimenting with hybrid meals. In this conversation, we chat about the relationship between food and culture. We also explored:* How he replicates Nigerian flavors in Canada* The three Nigerian dishes he would make if he was asked to cook for a global audience* How he balances authenticity and adaptation when fusing Nigerian flavors with flavors from other cultures, and a lot more good stuff.P.S. Did you know that if you added Cameroonian pepper to your mashed potatoes it would taste much much better? Try it this holiday season and let me know.Official Links👋🏽 Follow Izunna on X🤌🏽 Follow Izunna on Instagram🎬 Izunna’s YouTube channel 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 Douglas Price — award-winning music teacher and composer turned personal finance educator, and author of Seventeen To Millionaire.When planning to immigrate to Canada, we often spend a considerable amount of time learning about schools, where to find a house, the cost of groceries, the best cities to find a job, rental costs, and more. We rarely bother trying to understand how the Canadian financial system works.It doesn't help that once you land and walk into a bank to open an account, the banks stuff a credit card into your palms and ask you to review dozens of forms and sign. So it's not surprising that when we ignore the one thing that underpins most of the factors mentioned above, we experience a significant drop in financial confidence as we battle with our settling-in checklist. Check out Interac Corp’s survey on newcomer's financial confidence.I was no different. And if I could go back in time, the one biggest thing I would have done differently is to buy the book, Seventeen to a Millionaire by Douglas Price. Yes, it was written for a seventeen-year-old in Canada. But I dare say as a newcomer to Canada, we are all like 17yos when it comes to understanding the nuts and bolts of the Canadian financial system.In this conversation, we chat about his book and why it’s a MUST-READ for newcomers. We also talked about:* The golden rules of making money in Canada* How to approach the world of credit* Why he thinks the TFSA is one of the best tools for saving and investing money* The money truths he’s learned while working on the book* And the backstory of how the book came to lifeEnjoy. P.S. Seventeen to Millionaire is currently #1 on Amazon’s Personal Financial Planning book list and was chosen by Moneysense contributors, influencers, and money experts as one of the top 25 timeless personal finance books.Official Links📚 Buy Seventeen To Millionaire on Amazon👌🏽 Learn more about Douglas’s approach to money 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 Tope Fajingbesi, ex-Global Chief Financial Officer of Ashoka, and Founder of She-EO, a company focused on helping women of African descent develop resilience, grow, and become catalysts for positive change. For many immigrants, speaking a second language is a core part of their identity. In some cases, they speak as many as four languages. For example, I am fluent in English and my native tongue Igbo. I also understand a smattering of Hausa (the language spoken in the Northern part of Nigeria) and French. But once we move to a new country, we seem to do a poor job of transferring these gifts to our kids. Tope Fajingbesi thinks we are doing worse than a poor job. She believes we are robbing our kids. We are robbing them of the language. We are robbing them of their cultural heritage. We are robbing them of a core part of their identity.And I think she makes a great point. In this conversation, the farmer lady and I chat about the immigrant identity. We also explored * How she deals with unconscious bias * Food as a way to build community* The immigrant mentality* Why she thinks America hasn’t changed in the past 22 years she’s lived there* And why we must be deliberate as immigrants. Enjoy!Official Links👋🏽 Follow Tope on LinkedIn🔗 Learn more about She-EO This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com