PODCAST · society
Immigrant Conversations
by Mehran
Welcome to Immigrant Conversations, the podcast that brings you inspiring stories from immigrants who have turned challenges into triumphs. Join Mehran Sorourian, a Middle Eastern immigrant woman as she dives deep into the experiences of first-generation and diaspora individuals, exploring their unique journeys, cultural identities, and the hurdles they’ve overcome. We discuss everything from immigrant entrepreneurship, cross cultural experiences, as well as the dark side of migration such as isolation, bias, and more. We aim to provide a platform for voices that often go unheard and aim to bring people closer together.Join us as we explore topics ranging from immigrant entrepreneurship, first-generation struggles, and cross-cultural experiences to the impact of immigration policies and advocacy. Whether you are an immigrant, a descendant of immigrants, or simply interested in compelling human stories, "Immigrant Conversations" offers a unique perspective on the immigrant experience.
Episodes
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Mental Health in Refugee Communities with Aisha Koroma
In episode 63 of Immigrant Conversations, Mehran Sorourian hosts Aisha Koroma, a Sierra Leonean-born refugee, licensed psychotherapist, and founder of the Safe Space Project. Aisha arrived in the U.S. as a young teen after surviving trauma during her refugee journey. Today, she serves as…
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Immigration, AI, and the Fight for Justice with Bartlomiej Skorupa
What happens when technology, philanthropy, and AI meet the immigrant journey? In this episode of Immigrant Conversations, host Mehran sits down with Bartlomiej “Bart” Skorupa—Polish immigrant, social entrepreneur, investor, and one of Dell’s 25 World Change-makers. We explore: •Bart’s inspiring...
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Life Under the Taliban: Women’s Rights, Culture, and Courage with Anita Omary
On the fourth anniversary of Taliban returning to power in Afghanistan, Mehran, host of Immigrant Conversations podcast, speaks with Anita Omary, an Afghan advocate who came to the U.S. just two years ago with a mission to fight for women’s rights. Anita offers a rare and personal perspective on:...
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Mohammed Diouf, story of Political Asylee
Welcome to Immigrant Conversations, the podcast where we explore the untold stories behind migration — stories of courage, sacrifice, and transformation. In this powerful episode, Mehran speaks with Mohammed Diouf Heubo, a life coach and immigration and wellness advocate who fled political...
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Motherhood and Migration with Marcela Rada Trujillo & Kerstin Kirchsteiger
In this special Mother’s Day episode of Immigrant Conversations, host Mehran sits down with Marcela Rada Trujillo and Kerstin Kirchsteiger— two inspiring immigrant professionals and mothers — for an honest fireside chat about the realities of raising children in a new country. We explore the...
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My Mother's Memoire with Richard Hsung
Immigrant conversations Guest is Richard Hsung, born and raised in China to a Chinese mother who considered America home. Together, they migrate to the States. Richard studied chemistry and became a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. One day he made a promise to his ailing mother…
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Where Is Home? Exploring Identity & Belonging with Dr. Diya Abdo
Is home the place we are born, or the refuge we find? Can it be both? In this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we explore the meaning of "home" and discuss the challenges faced by refugees, including misconceptions about their experiences. Dr. Diya Abdo, a second-generation Palestinian…
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Redefining Your Leadership Identity as an Immigrant with Dr. Mira Brancu
Are you an aspiring leader looking to enhance your influence especially when you are the minority? Do you struggle with belonging in rooms where decisions are made? If so, this episode is for you! If so, this episode is for you. Mehran Sorourian the Immigrant Conversations host sits with Dr. Mira...
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Processing Grief: Cultural Perspectives & Healing Strategies with Kiana Naimi
"Are you grieving the loss of a loved one, a job, or your home country? Are you seeking new tools and strategies to process your grief and recover more effectively? If so, this episode is for you. In this deeply insightful conversation, Mehran Sorourian, host of Immigrant Conversations, sits down...
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The ‘Perpetual Foreigner’ Stereotype & Its Impact with Dr. Jim Lin
The son of Chinese immigrants, Dr. James Lin is a math professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). In 1986, he took an unexpected step and taught the first-ever Asian American Studies course at UCSD. Despite being a math professor, Dr. Lin’s passion for social justice and ethnic...
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Navigating Uncertainty: Immigrant Journeys & Resilience with Sujata Yellaepeddi
Ever wondered if certain nationalities have an easier path to migration? In this compelling episode of Immigrant Conversations, we delve into the inspiring journey of Sujata Yellaepeddi, who was born and raised in India before making the life-changing move to the United States. Sujata shares the...
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Unpacking Microaggressions and Cultural Adaptation with Samara Hakim
As an immigrant or a person of color, have you ever felt that a comment was triggering? You couldn’t necessarily point out what it was about it, but it certainly didn’t feel right. In this episode of immigrant conversations, we will talk about microaggressions. How to identify them and what to do...
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Immigrants guide to Racist comments with Maame Afon Yelbert-Sai
Some conversations are hard to have for immigrants especially when it comes to racism and sexism. They could be easily misunderstood for lack of communication skills or cultural differences. They might be unaware of ways to respond when racist comments are made. That’s why I invited Maame Afon...
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Overcoming Loss and Finding Healing: Mehran’s Personal Story
In this deeply personal episode of Immigrant Conversations, host Mehran Sorourian opens up about her two-and-a-half-year break, experiencing five significant losses, and battling debilitating depression. She shares her emotional healing journey and the unique challenges that immigrants face in...
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Neuroscience of Change with Reut Schwartz-Hebron
n this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we dive into the art of making difficult changes—especially when it comes to navigating cultural differences, beliefs, and assumptions. How do you successfully negotiate change, both with yourself and others? Our guest, Reut Schwartz-Hebron, an immigrant...
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LGBTQ+ Immigrants & The Journey of "Coming Out" with Dr. Pavna Sodhi
"In this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we sit down with Dr. Pavna Sodhi to discuss the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community—particularly within BIPOC immigrant communities. We explore the complex process of coming out, the role of family, community, and the host culture in this journey,...
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Language Inclusion & Overcoming Microaggressions in the Workplace with Meenakshi Iyer
In this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we sit down with Meenakshi Iyer to discuss the challenges immigrants face in professional settings, especially when it comes to language and accents. Immigrants often encounter microaggressions related to their language skills and how they speak…
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EZ45 Tips to Speak with Confidence with Mehran Sorourian
Mehran is a communication coach helping countless immigrants and minorities improve their communication skills at work. In this episode, I, Mehran the host of the Empowering conversationZ podcast share the story of the very first time I spoke English with a native English speaker. How it felt…
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EZ44 How to Deal with Imposter Syndrome with Kim Meninger
Have you ever felt like you don’t belong, that you are an imposter waiting to be found? If so, this episode is for you. We have Kim Meninger who's an expert in the area of imposter syndrome with years of training corporate women and men on the podcast. She shares her experience about: -What...
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EZ43 Grow Professionally by Implementing These Techniques with Fabiola Fujiwara
Migrated at 18, faced an identity crisis as a Japanese Brazilian living in Utah, tried many jobs, pivoted multiple times until she found her desirable career. My guest this week is Fabiola Fujiwara. She is an HR professional with 10+ years of experience in developing, implementing, and...
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EZ42 What Makes Leaving Abusive Relationship Difficult with Bahareh Sahebi
Migrated despite her will, slept on cardboard boxes, and left her house at the age of 15 because she couldn’t tolerate her abusive father anymore. My guest this week is Dr.Bahareh Sahebi who talks about her migration journey and the different elements that make leaving abusive relationships...
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EZ41 Setting Achievable Balanced Goals
Setting goals can be hard for us immigrants. Most of us haven't learned how to set them right and how to achieve them. That's why in this episode, Mehran, Empowering conversationZ host talks about a personal experience that made her aware of setting balanced goals in life. and the culprit behind...
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EZ40 HR Addressing Immigrant’s Common Issues
Immigrants rarely are aware of their rights and the resources available to them. Most often they choose silence for cultural and personal reasons feeling unsatisfied at work. In this episode Sarah Calfee, an experienced Human Resource professional with over 20years of experience, educates our...
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EZ39 Outcasted, Happy, and Confident
Evelyn Perez migrated to the United States from Guatemala at a very young age after crossing the Rio Grande River. In this episode, she talks about her immigration journey, the nights she locked the doors to stay safe while her mom worked, the days she had to try to fit in and many incidents that...
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EZ38 Educational Platform I Build During Pandemic
In this special episode, Mehran talks about her newfound cause and how the pandemic helped her find it & bring it to life. -The struggles of building an educational platform -How can the audience support her cause -How immigrant educators can benefit from this platform If you have any questions…
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EZ37 Foot Voting with Ilya Somin
Mehran, your host, has the honor to share with you another immigrant story. My guest today is Ilya Somin who migrated as a young child with his parents from Russia. In this episode, as always we will talk a little about Ilya's migration journey, what foot voting means, and how as an immigrant you...
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EZ36 Suicide is Personal
800,000 people lose their lives to suicide every year. Aside from its statistics and its increasing rate, suicide is personal for Mehran. In this episode, Mehran, the podcast host talks about her personal encounter with suicide, the pain of losing someone to suicide, and the 7 lessons she learned...
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EZ35 Immigrants & First Professional Job
In this episode, Empowering conversationZ hosts Jane Leu Upwardly Global Founder and Jina Krause-Vilmar the current President and CEO. Together they talk about: -Upwardly Global story and the meaning behind its name, -How supported over 18000 immigrants and what it can do for you and your family,...
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EZ34 Job Search effectively as Immigrant
How lonely do you feel as an immigrant? -Did you have difficulty finding your first employment in the U.S? -Are you looking for meaningful connections to serve as your allies? -Are you currently looking? If so, listen to this episode of Empowering conversationZ where Haleemat Fa-Yusuf talks about...
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EZ32 Undocumented Mama's Wildest Dreams with Maria Estrada
She burst into tears as she talks about her biggest dream. A dream so big and unimaginable that aches her heart. For most of us, her dream is our everyday life. Empowering conversationZ guest this week was Maria Estrada, a trauma nurse, and a firm believer in humanity instead of documents. In…
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EZ31 A Dose Of Hope
In this special episode of Empowering conversationZ, we are reflecting back on one year of living through the pandemic. I take you to our early lockdown days, our fears, and what I learned from hundreds of immigrants I interacted with since then. I talk about their hidden immunity in overcoming…
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EZ30 Developing Courage and Taking Risks
As we are celebrating one year anniversary of the show, I am sharing the process, the fears, and the thing that got me to start the show a year ago. Listen and see how the thing can help you initiate something great! and if you want to know about the obstacles along the way listen to some of the...
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EZ29 Talking with We the Alien's Podcast host
With her law degree and a passion for the film industry, she moved to Los Angeles with a Fulbright scholarship hoping to go back despite her dad’s last-minute shocking advice. 10 years later, she is an independent film producer and writer of several documentaries as well as a podcaster on…
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EZ28 Managing Covid Trauma for Immigrants
Covid has been traumatic for all of us especially immigrants coming from collective cultures. With over 20 years of psychotherapeutic and research experience with first and second-generation immigrants, Dr. Pavna Sodhi weighs in on what immigrants need to do to create mental resilience and manage...
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EZ27 It Started From A Comment
Came from India to solely support his family and his 11 brothers and sisters. To help them financially so that they could attend college. Once here, he was isolated and rejected for his color, his heavy accent, and was ready to go back home when someone made a comment that changed many things for...
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EZ26 Unheard Experiences of Deaf immigrant
He was born deaf and migrated to Canada as an adult because he felt his country limited his growth for his physical disability. Once in Canada he was provided with opportunities to learn multiple languages and earn his PhD in special education. Now he teaches various courses on deaf culture and...
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EZ25 Refuge for Rape Victim with Tabitha Mpamira
Being the victim of sexual violence at a very young age, seeing the impact of the Rwandan genocide, and being discriminated against in her new home for her identity could be enough to traumatize someone for life but Empowering conversationZ guest chose to heal and create a refuge for others to...
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Updates And Changes
Mehran shares the opportunities and the struggles she has encountered since she started the Empowering conversationZ podcast and its coincidence with the pandemic. She updates her audience on the changes they will see in the next 3 months and the reason behind her decision. 📧To make sure you…
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EZ24 Immigrants & Bad Bosses
It is hard to be stuck with a bad boss in this tough economy especially as an immigrant without support. That’s why Mehran, Career and communication coach for immigrants will address issues immigrants face in dealing with “bad bosses” especially the 3 most toxic ones: The people pleaser, the...
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EZ23 Lioness Hungry for Opportunity
Hungry for opportunity, she moved from Brazil to United States leaving behind her successful business back home. Once in the states she worked at Amazon “cutting tomatoes”, for which she was teased by friends and family, but her persistence paid off. This week Empowering conversationZ guest is...
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EZ22 Creating Your Leadership Advantage
She spent her wedding gift on moving to the states and fulfilling her dream of higher education. She faced many obstacles but she kept one motto in her life. My guest this week is Mastaneh Sharafi, an immigrant from Iran. Mastaneh has a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences and is a Registered Dietitian....
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EZ21 Struggles to Lawful Residency
With her ailing mother’s encouragement, she packed her two suitcases and moved from Colombia to an empty apartment in North Carolina. She struggled to gather her life before her daughters arrived, but she learned to dry her tears and move on with her life. My guest this week is Maria Isabel...
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EZ20 Beyond In-Person vs. Virtual Schooling
If you are a parent concerned about your children’s virtual learning, this episode is for you. In this special episode, Mehran your host is providing you with research-backed information to help you make an informed decision regarding an In-person vs. Virtual learning. Additionally, she will...
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EZ19 Refugee Standing on Two Feet
Coming from a high profile affluent family, she fled Afghanistan with nothing but a bag of clothes. Following the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, she first moved to Germany in 1979, and later to Chicago at the age of 17. Currently, she is residing in San Diego, CA where she works as a speech and...
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EZ18 J.P Millon on Decoding Cultures
With 35 years of experience as a healthcare executive, he is a board member to CVS Health and 7 other companies. Being involved in acquisitions and mergers up to a billion-dollar in the states and around the world, he an advisor and consultant to many new ventures in the US and Europe especially...
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EZ17 America has a Talent
Turkey’s got talent semi-finalist Temi Hason joined Empowering conversationZ podcast this week to share her taxing immigration journey. Temi traveled between the United States and Turkey 4 times in a short time to maintain lawful status. Being betrayed by lawyers and sponsors, she learned a…
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EZ16 Aftermath of Accepting Verbal Contract
Cultural awareness plays an essential role in one's professional growth. In this special episode, Mehran educates her audience on different aspects of culture that impacted Layla’s growth and how the new awareness lead her to become an effective leader. In this episode, she talks about...
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EZ15 Frederic Chereau on Accent and Culture
My guest this week is president and CEO of LogicBio Therapeutics. With 25 years of experience in the life sciences industry, he is an immigrant from France. In this episode, Frederic Chereau talks about his journey, his cultural differences as a team leader, and how his English affected the...
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EZ14 From Stay Home Mom to Independent Immigrant; Tragedy changed her life
Azita Khatami’s story is an empowering tale of a typical stay home mother from the middle east. Back home, her husband provided financially while she was responsible for everything kids and house related. After they won the green card lottery and moved to the States, they happily maintained their...
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EZ13 Magda Marquet on Compassionate Leadership
San Diego business journal names her one of the architects of the local life science sector. As the first woman inducted into the Connect Entrepreneur Hall of fame, Dr. Magda Marquet is an accomplished immigrant from France. In this interview, you will hear -Magda's immigration story -Her path to...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Immigrant Conversations, the podcast that brings you inspiring stories from immigrants who have turned challenges into triumphs. Join Mehran Sorourian, a Middle Eastern immigrant woman as she dives deep into the experiences of first-generation and diaspora individuals, exploring their unique journeys, cultural identities, and the hurdles they’ve overcome. We discuss everything from immigrant entrepreneurship, cross cultural experiences, as well as the dark side of migration such as isolation, bias, and more. We aim to provide a platform for voices that often go unheard and aim to bring people closer together.Join us as we explore topics ranging from immigrant entrepreneurship, first-generation struggles, and cross-cultural experiences to the impact of immigration policies and advocacy. Whether you are an immigrant, a descendant of immigrants, or simply interested in compelling human stories, "Immigrant Conversations" offers a unique perspective on the immigrant experience.
HOSTED BY
Mehran
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Immigrant Conversations have?
Immigrant Conversations currently has 63 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Immigrant Conversations about?
Welcome to Immigrant Conversations, the podcast that brings you inspiring stories from immigrants who have turned challenges into triumphs. Join Mehran Sorourian, a Middle Eastern immigrant woman as she dives deep into the experiences of first-generation and diaspora individuals, exploring their...
How often does Immigrant Conversations release new episodes?
Immigrant Conversations has 63 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Immigrant Conversations?
You can listen to Immigrant Conversations on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Immigrant Conversations?
Immigrant Conversations is created and hosted by Mehran.
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