Immigrantly

How do you go from fleeing your home country to building a Luxury Fashion Empire? Dr. Neri Karra did just that—without the fluff, the nonsense, or selling out. In this episode of Immigrantly, I sit down with Neri to talk about how she built a global brand, teaches at Oxford, and still finds time to write about immigrant entrepreneurship experiences in her book "Pioneers: Eight Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs."We’re unpacking  The wild journey from refugee camp to fashion powerhouse Why hearing “No” a thousand times makes you sharper The truth about “sustainable” fashion (and why she’s not buying it) How ambition and kindness can work together This one’s got wisdom, wit, and just the right amount of Oprah!We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: saadia@immigrantlypod.comHost & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic SoundImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.comRemember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am excited to re-drop one of my favorite episodes featuring the incredible Kareem Rahma! When we first recorded this chat, Kareem was all about "Keep the Meter Running." Now, he's taken his journey to new heights with "Subway Takes." It's a series of short videos created by Kareem Rahma that offer his opinions on brands and pop culture, and he is gearing up to launch his very own podcast. This conversation is packed with unexpected twists and insights that you'll love. So, dive in now, and be sure to come back for a brand new Immigrantly episode with engaging guests and fresh perspectives. We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: saadia@immigrantlypod.comHost & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic SoundImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.comRemember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does serving in the U.S. military while challenging its norms mean? In this episode of Immigrantly, Saadia Khan sits down with Lieutenant Julie Roland, an active-duty naval aviator and law school graduate who advocates for systemic change. Julie takes us behind the scenes of military life, its hierarchies, recruitment strategies, and the challenges of gender equity in a male-dominated space. She also shares her insights on reimagining military recruitment to address sexual assault, the complex role of the U.S. military in global politics, and the nuanced patriotism that comes with service.Beyond the uniform, Julie is a community advocate and magician (yes, really!). Listen in as she unpacks the intersections of duty, justice, and personal identity.We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: saadia@immigrantlypod.comHost & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic SoundImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.comRemember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.Links:Vet Voice Foundation – Elevating veterans' voices in civic engagement and policy advocacy.VoteVets – A progressive veterans' organization advocating for responsible foreign policy and support for veterans.Meals on Wheels – Delivering meals to seniors, including veterans in need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a family story takes you on an unexpected journey? In this episode of Immigrantly, I sit down with Jake Warren, founder of Message Heard and the creator of Finding Natasha, a profoundly personal podcast about tracking down the woman who saved his mother’s life decades ago in the Soviet Union.Jake’s mother, a young British ballerina, had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train in Russia. But her dream quickly turned into a nightmare when she fell gravely ill, abandoned in an isolation ward until Natasha, a fellow dancer, risked everything to help her escape. Decades later, Jake embarks on a quest to find this woman, uncovering powerful themes of fate, memory, and the ripple effects of human kindness.Join me as we explore the intersection of storytelling, history, and identity and reflect on the ways in which we all have someone in our past worth finding.We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: saadia@immigrantlypod.comHost & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic SoundImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.comRemember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Bilt Rewards- go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get startedWhat happens when a country built by immigrants starts redefining who belongs? In this episode, I sit down with Claudia Yoli Ferla, a Venezuelan-born Latina and the Executive Director of Move Texas to discuss the latest political chaos surrounding immigration, voting rights, and civic engagement.From the new administration's executive orders threatening birthright citizenship to mass deportations, we tackle the fear-mongering narratives shaping policy and why they don’t hold up. Claudia, a DACA recipient, and TPS holder shares how young voters reject political apathy and mobilize for real change.  Is the American Dream just a marketing gimmick? Why do politicians keep using immigrants as political pawns? Can young, diverse voters flip the script in Texas? We’re calling out the myths, exposing the power plays, and showing how you can fight back at the ballot box, in the streets, or by simply sharing this episode.We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: saadia@immigrantlypod.comHost & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic SoundImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.comRemember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Bilt Rewards- go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get startedSome stories demand to be told. This one, in particular, struck me deeply.I sat down with Nancy Wang, a storyteller, artist, and author of Red Altar, to talk about her ancestors—Chinese immigrants who helped build California’s fishing industry against all odds. Their ingenuity, their fight against racist laws, and their sheer will to survive felt eerily familiar.As we spoke, I found myself reflecting on the weight of legacy. How many immigrant stories like Nancy’s have been erased? How many sacrifices did it take for communities like hers and mine to thrive in a country that often tries to erase our presence?Nancy shared how her ancestors were banned from fishing during the day, forcing them to innovate by using fire baskets to catch squid at night. They were resilient, determined, and unwilling to be erased. As she spoke, I couldn’t help but think of today’s immigrants facing exclusion and finding ways to survive.This episode is more than history; it’s about the living, breathing legacy of immigrants in America. It’s about resilience, the cost of belonging, and why telling these stories matters now more than ever.Listen in, and let’s make sure these stories don’t stay hidden📖 Check out Nancy’s book at https://www.ethnohtec.orgWe invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: saadia@immigrantlypod.comHost & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic SoundImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.comRemember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, we’ve tackled deep emotions and intricate journeys of faith, and today, we’re diving into the profound yet personal concept of legacy.Legacy—it sounds monumental, right? But does it have to be? For me, crafting a legacy sometimes feels like another overwhelming to-do list. Yet, what if the legacy isn’t about grandeur but embracing our stories and connections in the here and now?That’s where today’s guest, Shawna Wells, comes in! Shawna is the brilliant mind behind Legacy, Lyrics & Life, a podcast that explores how music intertwines with personal narratives to shape the legacies we’re building daily. She flips the script on traditional ideas, redefining legacy as fluid, radical, and deeply human.We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: saadia@immigrantlypod.comHost & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic SoundImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.comRemember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.This episode is sponsored by Bilt-go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talking about religion makes me uncomfortable. Maybe it’s because I practice a faith that’s often misunderstood in this country. But in this episode, I decided to face that discomfort head-on. I sat down with Minister Lydia Sohn, a progressive Christian leader and writer, to have an honest, vulnerable, and surprisingly fun conversation about faith, identity, and shared humanity.We talked about big questions: How do we reconcile religion with doubt? Can faith coexist with progressiveness? And how do we connect with others when our beliefs are so different? Lydia also shared her experiences as a woman, immigrant, and minister navigating a complex spiritual and cultural landscape.This conversation is for anyone who’s ever wrestled with belonging, meaning, or what it means to be human. Join me as I step out of my comfort zone and explore the intersections of faith, compassion, and community.We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: saadia@immigrantlypod.comHost & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic SoundImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.comRemember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content.This episode is sponsored by Bilt-go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get started Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Bilt Rewards-go to JoinBilt.com/Immigrantly to get startedStart the year with powerful insights! In this episode, I reflect on Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire (catchy or cop-out?) and chat with Anita Rao, host of Embodied.We explore working through emotions instead of discharging them and building emotional intelligence; we talk about Anita embracing her mixed-race identity and rethinking how we judge immigrant parents. It’s an unfiltered, inspiring conversation that sets the tone for 2025Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, accurate insights into the immigrant identity in America. Immigrantly has garnered significant recognition and has been featured in renowned media outlets such as the Nieman Storyboard, The Guardian, The Slowdown, and CNN.We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: saadia@immigrantlypod.comHost & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic SoundImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.comRemember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you believe it? This is the final Immigrantly episode of 2024! As I reflect on this incredible year, I’m grateful for the meaningful stories and conversations we’ve shared. Together, we’ve leaned into curiosity, allyship, and learning, and I can’t wait to bring you even more inspiring voices in 2025. Mark your calendars—our first episode of the new year drops on January 14th!But before we step into the future, I’m thrilled to end the year with an unforgettable guest, Bambadjan Bamba. You may know him from Black Panther or The Good Place, but his story goes far beyond the screen. Bambadjan is a passionate advocate for immigrant rights and a proud DACA recipient whose journey challenges us to rethink belonging and resilience. He’s also the creative force behind Bogolonfini, an Afrocentric streetwear brand featuring the stunning Afro Poncho Collection, which he describes as Afro-futuristic.In this episode, Bambadjan and I dive into the intersections of his art, activism, and identity. We talk about his experiences as an immigrant, his mission to amplify underrepresented voices, and how he’s redefining what it means to be American.So, let’s close out 2024 with a robust conversation. To those celebrating, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!Immigrantly is a weekly podcast that celebrates the extraordinariness of immigrant life. We do this by providing our listeners with authentic, accurate insights into the immigrant identity in America. Immigrantly has garnered significant recognition and has been featured in renowned media outlets such as the Nieman Storyboard, The Guardian, The Slowdown, and CNN.We invite you to join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. For more information, visit http://immigrantlypod.com.Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! You can connect with Saadia on Twitter @swkkhan Email: saadia@immigrantlypod.comHost & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic SoundImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production.For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at info@immigrantlypod.comRemember to subscribe to our Apple podcast channel for insightful podcasts. You can also follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices