Immigrant Squared

Oksana is the youngest of 12 children, and a daughter of Ukrainian refugees. Growing up in Rochester, NY Oksana was immersed into the Ukrainian culture at home but had to follow the American culture outside. Hence she did not feel like she fit into either. In college being surrounded by multicultural students helped her understand herself better and that it was ok to be a blend. As she got older she embraced the Ukrainian side more than her siblings.  In her mid twenties, she had an opportunity to go to Ukraine and spend time working there. Oksana authored the book "Sunflowers Bend But Rarely Break" The book tells the story of her parents' early life as forced laborers in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust, when Slavs were also considered sub-human.  You can read Oksana's blog ⁠https://medium.com/@oksanakukurudza⁠ Purchase her book ⁠https://sunflowersrarelybreak.com/⁠ Follow her ⁠https://www.instagram.com/okukurudza2/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/oksana-kukurudza/⁠   #immigrantstories #ukarine #naziGermany #holocaust #immigrantsquaredpodcast

Kamini, a child of Indian immigrants, grew up in a predominantly white community in Connecticut, where she struggled to fit in. Her parents worked hard to provide for their family while striving to maintain a balance between their Indian heritage and the American culture their children were growing up in. They supported Kamini and engaged in difficult conversations when she felt different, which greatly benefited her. Despite feeling different from her peers who attended church on Sundays, Kamini participated in the family tradition of Sunday prayers at home. As a parent herself, she now encourages her children to embrace their multicultural background. Kamini advises investing in people who accept and celebrate cultural diversity. In her work as a life coach, Kamini emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, kindness over judgment, and recognizing our common humanity. She acknowledges that seeking help is often taboo in immigrant and refugee communities. To make it less daunting, Kamini suggests reframing the idea of seeking help as gaining different perspectives from others who have faced similar situations. This approach empowers individuals to view seeking advice not as a weakness but as an opportunity to learn from others while ultimately making their own choices.     If you want to get in touch with Kamini www.kaminiwood.com www.instagram.com/itsauthenticme www.linkedin.com/in/kaminiwood   Kamini Wood is the founder and CEO of Live Joy Your Way and the AuthenticMe® RiseUp program. An international best-selling author Kamini’s mission is to guide her clients in nurturing their mental, emotional, physical and strategic  plans for their lives.  Recognizing the profound impact of self leadership and inner dialogs on external outcomes, she works collaboratively with her clients  to address both external goals and challenges, as well as the internal responses, thoughts and  behaviors that may hinder their desired results. Internal obstacles that get in the way include lack of boundaries, people-pleasing, over giving, over functioning, hyper achievement, perfectionism, procrastination, burnout, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome as well as  other false beliefs about self. Kamini is based out of North Carolina but serves clients all over the word virtually.   #childrenofimmigrants #immigrantsfromindia #immigrantstories #immigrantsquared #refugeestories #immigrantmentalhealth

During these times when antisemitism is at an all times high worldwide, its important to learn where it all started. In this episode Dr. Vivien Sieber shares her family's struggle during the Holocaust, which led her to write the book, "Kino and Kinder: A Family's Journey in the Shadow of the Holocaust". The book revolves around Paula Ticho's family, who owned a cinema in Vienna until it was forcibly taken over due to Nazi antisemitism. Faced with threats from Hitler's regime, Paula sends her son Peter to England for safety and becomes a matron caring for Jewish girls evacuated from Europe during the war. The book delves into the survivors' experiences, including Paula's son's internment and naval service, and her fight to reclaim ownership of the cinema. It spans locations like Brno, Vienna, London, Newcastle, Windermere, the Isle of Man, and Canada, offering insight into pre-war Central Europe and post-war London.  www.viviensieber.eu You can find Dr. Vivien Sieber's book on Amazon To hear the stories of some of the girls from the hostel, listen to this podcast   #holocauststories #kindertransport #ww2refugees #worldwartworefugees #holocaustrefugees #kinoandkinder

Join me for season 2 of the Immigrant Squared Podcast

Eric is a visionary entrepreneur whose path led him from Vienna, Austria, to Madrid, Spain, and ultimately to the bustling entrepreneurial landscape of Miami, Florida. Eric's story unfolds with his pivotal role in expanding a consulting firm, a journey that saw him establishing a branch in his hometown and later replicating this success in the United States. As an entrepreneur at heart, Eric ventured into various side businesses before taking the leap into full-time entrepreneurship in April 2023. The podcast delves into the challenges Eric faced, such as navigating the tumultuous job market in Spain in 2011 and contrasting it with the entrepreneurial-friendly environment of the United States. Eric shares insights into the nuances of starting a business, revealing that, contrary to common belief, legal assistance isn't always imperative, as he discovered while forming a one-member LLC. One of the podcast's highlights is Eric's perspective on the ease of building a company in the U.S., where fewer regulations provide a conducive environment for innovation. He also reflects on the rich tapestry of cultures within the American entrepreneurial community, which contributed to his seamless integration. Beyond business success, Eric's company extends its impact globally by not only assisting U.S. companies but also creating job opportunities abroad—a testament to the social consciousness embedded in his firm.  If you are in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area and would like to connect with Eric, you can find him on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericfiklocki/ Checkout his company's website http://www.techsquads.com #entrepreneursinmiami #miamientrepreneurs #immigrantsfromaustria #consultinginmiami #immigrantsquaredpodcast #alisadel #immigrantstories #immigrantentrepreneurs #techsquads

Collin is a documentary photographer, and a child of immigrants. He is also the author of "Finding American- Stories of Immigration from all 50 States". In this thought-provoking discussion, Colin shares the inspiration behind 'Finding American,' offering a glimpse into the research, personal experiences, and encounters that shaped the book. The 2016 Presidential elections in the US, and the rhetoric that came out about immigrants, concerned Colin. He decided to embark on a journey throughout the US to tell the stories of immigrants.   Our conversation explores the unique perspectives and stories that Colin discovered along the way from identity and belonging to the rich tapestry of cultures that define the American landscape. In South Dakota, one family from Myanmar moved to work in a Turkey plant. This led to four more families moving, and opening a restaurant. In Alaska, Colin met a mountain climber who moved from Mexico for the snowy mountains of Anchorage. Many people Colin met, immigrated for love.   Listen to the episode for a sneak peek to the stories in the book and the journey of writing it.   Connect with Colin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colinboydshafer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findingamerican/ His website: https://findingamerican.com/ Buy his book: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-American-Stories-Immigration-States/dp/1773272217   #alisadel #Immigrantsquaredpodcast #immigrantstories #immigrantstoriesbook #findingamericanbook #immigrantsintheUS   Connect with me Website www.alisadel.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/

Marc grew up in Albania and immigrated to the US when he was 17. Marc came as an exchange student and decided to stay and pursue higher education. After graduating, he got married and worked on several businesses. Throughout his immigration journey in the US, Marc was on his own and did not have a safety net. At times, he had to sleep outside, he was hungry, and he struggled to combine work with school. He learned the value of making mistakes and learning along the way. Marc advises other immigrants not to come to the US alone without a support system. You can read his blog on https://ogparent.com/blog/  #ImmigrantsFromAlbania #immigrantsquaredpodcast #alisadel

נסטיה עלתה לישראל עם אמא שלה ב1993 בהפלגה באודסה שבאוקראינה לנמל חיפה. כחלק מהמאמץ להסתגל, נסטיה שינתה את השם שלה לענת. היום היא לא רק גאה להיות נסטיה, אבל היא גם מדברת עם הילדים שלה ברוסית.  לפני מעל לחצי שנה נסטיה התחילה פרויקט שמתעסק בתרבות פוסט סובייטית בבתים ישראלים. היא מבקרת בבתים של מהגרות מברית המועצות לשעבר ומתעדת דברים שנשארו כמו רהיטים, כלי מטבח וכו׳ אם תרצו להשתתף בפרויקט של נסטיה צרו איתה קשר דרך האינסטגראם @ha.mehageret #המהגרת #משרדהקליטהוהעלייה #דוראחדוחצי #עוליםחדשים #מהגרתבריבוע

David was born and raised in Saigon, Vietnam in the midst of the Vietnam War. All of David's family members were able to flee Saigon to the US before it fell to the communists. He was left behind with his mother and brother. David shared the struggles of living under communist rule in Saigon, the journey on canoes to escape, torture on Thai boats, refugee camps in Malaysia, and eventually arriving in the US. What helped him feel grounded is staying true to his core value even when trying to fit in to local society. David's advice for immigrants and refugees is to be kinder to themselves and emphasize the importance of talking about mental health.   #Vietnamwar #fallofsaigon #vietnameserefugees #refugeecamps #refugeesinmalaysia #communistvietnam #refugeementalhealth #immigrantmentalhealth

Rony immigrated to Israel from Russia when he was seven years old. He insisted I interview him during the current war in Israel because he needed the distraction. You will hear some pauses as Rony had to run to a bomb shelter in the middle of our interview.   Rony mentioned that growing up as an immigrant in Israel, he chose to blend in with local society but kept the traditions of his culture of origin through music. Today, Rony is an entrepreneur and has several social initiatives to help immigrants. He believes that when you combine the hard-working attitude of the immigrants from former soviet republics and the Israeli Hi-Tech eco system, good things develop.   If you want to help kids in Israel and facilitate virtual activities and distracting them from the war, reach out to him via Facebook www.facebook.com/rony.comm   #immigrantstories #immigrantsinisrael #prayforisrael #israelunderattack #hitechimmigrantsisrael #immigrantsquared #alisadel #startupnation #lobbyofthemillion

Suzy immigrated to the US from Armenia at the age of two. Up until recently, she never thought of herself as an immigrant. Suzy struggled with her sense of belonging between the American and Armenian communities. At times, she was seen as not being American enough or Armenian enough. Now, Suzy embraces both cultures, and she writes poetry about being a multicultural and multilingual child of immigrants.   Check out her poetry and sign up for her newsletter Instagram: suzyspoet Substack: You're a Masterpiecehttps://open.substack.com/pub/suzyspoet?r=2hme7f&utm_medium=ios   #armenia #immigrantsfromArmenia #immigrantstories #immigrantsquaredpodcast #alisadel

Amina came from Pakistan when she was five years old. She struggled to settle down in the US and always felt lost between the two countries. Fellow immigrants Amina met along the way helped her feel comfortable and confident with her identity. At George Washington University, Amina is part of the Pakistani student association to remain in touch with her culture. Amina thinks that sharing her culture, hospitality, and diversity of ethnic groups and languages in Pakistan,  is the best way to combat hatred. #immigrantsfromPakistan #GWUniveristy #GWuniversityImmigrants #immigrantstories #alisadel  #immigrantsquaredpodcast

Golara came to the U.S. 12 years ago on a diversity visa from Iran. Her Masters in Organizational Development at American University helped her understand her journey. She feels at home wherever she goes and embraces her tricultural background. Golara also hosts dinner parties and cooks food from her cultures of origin to feel more connected and authentic.   Golara authored a book called Immigrant: Courage Required which follows her on an average day as she goes about her new life and work. But, in truth, this day is anything but normal as we are immersed in flashback after flashback to her previous life in Iran and the early days of her life in the U.S.   You can connect with Golara on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/g_o_l_a_r_a/ And purchase her book on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Immigrant-Courage-Required-Golara-Haghtalab/dp/1636764975/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3D6LSGMVIBONY&keywords=immigrant+courage+required+by+golara+haghtalab&qid=1660581919&sprefix=immigrant+courage+required+by+golara+haghtalab%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-1   Connect with me on: My website ⁠www.alisadel.com⁠ LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel⁠ Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_⁠ Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/⁠   #immigrantsquaredpodcast #immigrantsfromiran #immigrantstories #ImmigrantCourageRequired #alisadel #americanuniversityalumni #immigrantsatamericanuniversity #americanuniversitywashingtondc

Rocio came to the US two years ago as a refugee due to political persecution in El Salvador, after already being an asylee in the US many years ago during the civil war in El Salvador. Rocio has been an entrepreneur her entire life, and now she helps female entrepreneurs advance their businesses in El Salvador. As a refugee in the US, Rocio continues to promote her various businesses, such as coffee, shoe, and candy brands.   Follow the entrepreneurs on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/yohagosv/ Website https://yohagoelsalvador.com/ Listen to their podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/4cRaHfzi19CS3ogKbrHeKr?si=84789cd103184099     Connect with me on: My website ⁠www.alisadel.com⁠ LinkedIn ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel⁠ Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_⁠ Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/⁠   #immigrantentrepreneurs #refugeeentrepreneurs #immigrantsfromElSalvador #immigrantstories #refugeestories #skyisthelimit #immigrantsquaredpodcast #alisadel

Anna has covered immigration and refugee stories extensively as a journalist. Throughout her travels, she was struck by the idea of how the papers you hold affect the way that you move through the world. When she moved to Turkey, she fell in love with a Syrian journalist who is now her husband. Together they had to move to Iraq due to immigration issues, and eventually, he was able to get asylum in the UK.   Anna is the author of "Love Across Border," and she gave us a sneak peek into one of the love stories in her book. She documents love stories that have been affected by freedom of movement. You can buy her book anywhere you buy books and follow her on social media.   Book https://a.co/d/dIwIH2Z Instagram https://www.instagram.com/annalekasmiller/?hl=en Twitter @annalekasmiller TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@annalekasmiller   Connect with me on: My website www.alisadel.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/   #loveacrossborders #immigrantlovestories #refugeelovestories #alisadel #immigrantsquaredpodcast

Amina and Ekaterina shared their respective stories of statelessness. The struggles stateless individuals face, recent developments in policy in the US, and a glimpse of hope for the future with the Stateless Protection Act and the USCIS announcement.   Amina was born and raised in the US. She shared how gender discrimination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia led him to struggle with being stateless. Ekaterina is part of an ethnic minority in the former Soviet Union and has struggled with statelessness for over 20 years.   To learn more about United Stateless and read about recent developments in the US as well as how climate change affects statelessness:  Website www.unitedstateless.org     Webinar about the Stateless Protection Act :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlNPI3QjADc&t=1s   USCIS announcement:   https://www.unitedstateless.org/post/u-s-stateless-advocates-celebrate-huge-win   The Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Announces New Approach to Address the Impacts of Climate Change on Migration and Displacement - United States Department of State   Connect with me on: My website www.alisadel.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/   #beingstateless #unitedstatesless #immigrantstories #immigrantsquaredpodcast #alisadel #climatechange&migration #USCIS #USCongress #StatelessProtectionAct #SenatorBenCardin #RepresentativeJamieRaskin #S.5330/H.R.9671

Danya is a child of immigrants from Syria and currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. Danya's parents came to the US to seek a better life, but Danya and her siblings faced bullying. Today, Danya has her own law firm and continues to learn how to own her identity and use it to her advantage. Danya wishes that people were more empathetic toward children of immigrants. #childofimmigrants #immigrantsfromsyria #immigrantstories #immigrantsquaredpodcast #syrianattorney #alisadel Connect with Danya on: FB: https://www.facebook.com/DanyaShakfeh Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danyashakfeh/ Website: https://www.MotivaLaw.com Connect with me on: My website www.alisadel.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/

Maryna was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and immigrated to the US with only 300$ in her pocket. Despite fulfilling her American dream, she still misses her home country, Ukraine. Maryna is the President of United Help Ukraine, a non-profit organization that was founded in March 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and the war began. Over a year after the full-fledged attack on Ukraine started in February 2022, the organization continues to work tirelessly to provide supplies and services to the people of Ukraine. Please checkout their website and consider donating to their cause, or volunteering with them. www.unitedhelpukraine.org  #immigrantstories #alisadel #immigrantsquared #unitedhelpukraine #helpukrainianrefugees

Vanda left Croatia in 1991 during the war and sought refuge in Germany. After she integrated into German society, Vanda joined a political party and became a spokesperson for immigration policy. Helping immigrants and refugees has been top of mind for Vanda, and through networking in Washington DC she met Wendy who has similar goals. Together Vanda and Wendy founded One Journey Festival which is hosted annually on the grounds of the National Cathedral. The festival is a celebration of refugees, its family-friendly, and connects individuals through the common languages of humanity: food, technology, music, arts, and sports.   Join the festival this year on Saturday, June 24th, 11am-6pm. Get your tickets here. Learn more about One Journey and follow them on social media Website: https://www.onejourneyfestival.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-journey-festival/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1journeyfestival/ If you would like to share your story  on the podcast or collaborate with me please email me at info@alisadel.com visit my website www.alisadel.com or contact me on social media LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/alisadel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alisadel_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlisAdelFoundation/

Communism and instability in Albania led Denida's father to move the family to Greece. Denida shared what kinds of candies she tasted for the first time in Greece, and what brought her to the US. She believes that immigrants should not forget where they came from, and her advice is to integrate the best parts of both cultures. "If an immigrant girl from a small country like Albania made it to have a company in the US, then you can achieve everything" - Denida Grow