Special Episode: “The Door We Guard: Why Earlier Immigrants Sometimes Gatekeep — And What We’re Really Protecting”

Happy Easter and welcome back to Big Roles, Quiet Minds. Today’s question is something a lot of us have felt but don’t always say out loud: do immigrants who arrived earlier sometimes gatekeep those who come later? It’s complicated. People who’ve been here longer often went through real struggle, so it can feel like they’ve “earned” their place. But when that turns into drawing lines, it creates tension instead of connection. Newcomers bring fresh perspectives, not shortcuts. So maybe it’s less about who came first, and more about how we make space for each other. Let’s talk about it.***This episode was inspired by one of our listeners. Special thanks to Mishka, a Filipino nurse based in Australia, for sparking the idea.