The Newcomers Podcast

Denys Smushko moved to Canada within six months. He then spent one year in Olds, a town in Central Alberta, working with a group of Ukrainians at a hardware store.Talk about a soft landing. But things got hairy once he decided to go to school. It even got more complicated when it was time to get a job. Denys describes struggling with self-doubt, questioning himself, and thinking he wasn’t good enough. Today, Denys helps other immigrants settle in via the RBC Newcomers program. He joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:* His honeymoon phase and the subsequent reality check* The stuff he sees immigrants get wrong when trying to settle in* His how to hit the ground running playbook * Job hunting in Canada vs. back home in Ukraine* The RBC Newcomers program, how they help immigrants, and more. Enjoy!Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.Did you read it? If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

“I thought it would take 3 - 4 months to get a job when I started applying. But I got my first offer within two weeks and the second offer by the third week.”This episode with Tosin Thomas, Head of Marketing at Financial Cents, was a masterclass on getting hired as an immigrant before you set foot on Canadian soil.We talk about:* Getting the first job offer (she thought it was a scam when the email came in)* How she set up her resume* Her approach to upskilling herself * The importance of prepping for your career switch early* And how to handle the interviewing stage.I’ll leave you with this quote from the interview:“Be confident to accept yourself for who you are. The fact you have an accent doesn’t make you any less. If the individual on the other side sees you any less, its on them, not on you. And that’s somebody you probably shouldn’t be working with.” I know the above quote can be a problematic heuristic when one is desperate for a job to cover the mounting bills. But keep your chin up. You’ve got this. Enjoy!Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.Did you read it?If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Former elementary ESL teacher, college instructor, mother, and founder of the handcrafted decorative pillow company Smithy Home Couture, Smithe Sodine is an Amazon. And she reminds me so much of my Mom, who passed away five years ago. Smithe moved to Florida from Haiti as a 16 yo. She couldn’t really speak English at the time, and she remembers sleeping off in class because there’s only so much stress the teenage brain can take when trying to learn Math or any other subject in a new language. So it’s heartwarming to see she went on to become an elementary English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. She joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about: * The danger of ignoring acculturation* Dealing with the negative perception of Haiti* Her Haitian heritage* Her approach to dealing with cultural differences* Moving as a teenager, and moreEnjoy!Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.Did you read it?If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Imagine for a moment you are on the metro headed to work. Suddenly, the bus lurches to a stop, and the driver makes an announcement in Dutch. And everyone hurriedly gets down. You try to ask them, but everyone seems to be in a hurry to get off the bus.What would you do? I would probably get off the bus scared and all. Nkechi Runsewe was no different. “They say everyone in The Netherlands speaks English. But the system is designed for those who speak or can read Dutch.”On this episode of The Newcomers Podcast, Nkechi and I chat about:* The overwhelming supermarket moment* Going to a country as a tourist vs. going there as a local* Dealing with change* The amazing Nigerian community in Amsterdam and how they helped her settle in* The tradeoffs when choosing between putting her kids in the Dutch school system vs. the International school system* The importance of replacing the traditions you took for granted back home with new onesEnjoy!Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.Did you read it? If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

And I agree. The journey changes you, so I like to call immigrants “the in-betweeners.” You are in between cultures. I wonder what I would call Kateryna Makysmenko, who’s lived in four countries since she turned 16. On this episode of The Newcomers Podcast, Kateryna and I explore:* The legendary Canadian kindness* Moving as a tourist vs. moving as an immigrant* How moving often means she’s built an automated settling-in routine* Her first night as a student in Poland vs. her first night as a working professional in Canada* Why your first month is crucial to easing into your new countryEnjoy!Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it helpful.Did you read it?If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Ann shares her experience of moving to Finland and the challenges she faced in integrating into Finnish society. She discusses the overwhelm that led her to start a YouTube channel and the reasons she chose Finland as her destination. Ann talks about the culture shock she experienced and the difficulties in making Finnish friends. She also highlights the importance of learning the Finnish language and the impact it has on building relationships. Ann reflects on what she misses about Nigeria and the cultural differences between the two countries. She concludes by emphasizing the need for long-term goals and planning when considering immigration to Finland. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

I had goosebumps listening to Ayo Owodunni as he told me the story of Election Day…Gosh. Yes, it was an experiment. Yes, he didn’t expect to win. Yes, they had no idea what they were doing. But listening to his backstory, this win was years in the making. He joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:* Overcoming his fear of knocking on doors* The power of systems* The value of building immigrant communities* Stamping out the suffering Olympics mentality of older immigrants* The four types of networks you need to succeed as an immigrant, and more. Ayo Owodunni is an inspiration. Nuff said.Resources* His book on Inclusive Leadership - The Immigrant View is a great read on helping immigrants thrive in any organization. * You can follow him on LinkedIn here.* He also has a new book coming out soon titled “Dear Immigrant, Soar!”Enjoy!Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it useful.Did you read it?If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

The Canadian wait time for almost anything is the stuff of legends. But despite how frustrating it can be, I love how Anna Otroshchenko, COO of Orofy Inc., deals with hiccups like this. Talking to her felt like I had booked a session with a therapist on the mindset an immigrant needs to adopt when trying to settle into a new country.She joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:* Feeling at home in Canada* How to settle in quickly * Canadian culture vs. Ukrainian culture* Her views on the meaning of “home.” This was a fun one. If there’s one thing you should learn from Anna as an immigrant, it’s always to remember that we are in control.No matter how chaotic things might feel, focus on what you can control, take baby steps, and you’ll find your way to the sunlight. Enjoy!Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it useful.Did you read it?If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

There are a ton of reasons we, as immigrants, feel compelled to work all the time.* You just spent all your savings moving to a new country* You probably took a couple of steps down the career ladder* You’ve got black tax to remit every other month.Lola, the Afroedmontonian, is on a mission to change that. She joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:* The ‘Deadmonton Myth”* One of her most embarrassing moments during her first week in Edmonton* The abrupt end to the honeymoon phase of her immigration journey* Launching the Afroedmontonian during her maternity leave* Inspiring immigrants to let loose and enjoy themselves* Why you should move to Edmonton if you are planning to immigrate to Canada, and more.Enjoy!Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it useful.ResourcesAnd if you’re looking to visit Edmonton sometime this year, we’ve collaborated with Lola to curate a calendar of events happening in Edmonton through the rest of 2024:Did you read it?If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Siamak Riahi, Founder and CEO of Riahi Patents, likens the early days of his immigration journey to standing in the middle of a tornado and being thrown from one place to another by the strong winds. Despite feeling that way in the early days, Siamak has gone on to move a whopping 14 times across different cities and from the United States to Canada.He joins me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:* Underestimating our support system* The importance of community* How each move changes us* Switching from an academic career path to entrepreneurship* Dealing with the immigrant survival mentality, and more.This was a masterclass on how to approach immigrating mentally, especially if you are moving to a new country at a much older age.Enjoy!Did you find this interesting? Please share with someone else who might find it useful. Did you read it?If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Dotun Bamisaiye moved to Canada long before moving to the Great White North became a thing. Back then, he would be the only one speaking Yoruba on his train ride to work. Today, he says the train ride hosts a medley of Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo, and other African languages. He joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:* Leaving Nigeria reluctantly* The black nod* The danger of a single story* Finding a job when most Canadian employers weren't looking to hire Nigerians* How best to prep for the Canadian tax season and more. ResourcesIf you’re looking to do your taxes, Dotun is a great guy to speak to about the best tax planning and compliance approach. He also offers a personal tax course for people new to Canada who want to understand Canadian taxation and how to plan for income tax. * Canadian Tax in 60 MinsEnjoy!Thanks for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this episode inspired you, please do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. You can also share it with an immigrant who might find it helpful.Did you read it? We launched a new section called Restart, which features long reads about the good, the bad, and the human side of starting afresh in a new country.We’ve also launched a section called The Pantry, a collection of tips, how-tos, stories, and jokes about the immigrant experience.If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

And our conversation didn't disappoint. He joined me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:* Moving to Canada as a 16yo* The Canadian Uber joke* Then moving back to Nigeria to help set up Andela* Launching the first online MBA in Nigeria* The beauty of the Nigerian hustle* And the three skills he thinks every immigrant needs to succeed. Some resources he shared during the conversation:* Tobi Oluwole’s LinkedIn storytelling course* $100m Offers by Alex Hormozi* The Millionaire Fast Lane by MJ Demarco* The Power of Self Discipline by Brian TracyEnjoy!Thanks for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this episode inspired you, please do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with an immigrant who might find it helpful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

There’s so much stuff to unpack in this conversation with Suhas Pai, the Co-founder and CTO of Hudson Labs. Have you ever heard of the honeymoon phase of immigration? The phase of your immigration journey where everything seems rosy and romantic? And then reality hits you like a truck loaded with sourdough flour. Or his take on how the pressure of home ownership in North America affects how we approach money. It’s hard to ignore that point. Suhas moved from India to The Netherlands as a student, and then, 8+ years later, he moved to Canada. You’ll enjoy his insights on:* Canada’s diversity and its approach to immigration* The cultural differences between Canada and The Netherlands* The European approach to credit and how that’s defined him* Why he doesn’t want to own a car or a big house, and more. Enjoy!Thanks for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this episode inspired you, please do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with an immigrant who might find it helpful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Being an immigrant means we always feel we are on the clock. We have goals we need to hit within specific time frames. And if you're African, you also have black tax playing a harmonic orchestra in your head all the time. Gulsun Demirezen is no stranger to struggling to level up as an immigrant. We talk about the feeling of never feeling settled in a new country. We also explore: * Dealing with grief when you’re far away from home* How being on a work visa can have you feeling like you’ve got a return date* Her lessons after six years as an immigrant, and much more. Enjoy. Thanks for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this episode inspired you, please do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with an immigrant who might find it helpful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Sahar Rahmani could run rings around you all day if you both talked about cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and data science. But that didn’t stop her from feeling overwhelmed by the milk aisle on her first visit to a supermarket in Canada.She ended up calling a friend to ask which was the one closest to what they had back home in Iran. I had a similar experience - only mine was with Benylin, the cough expectorant. It’s wild how the things we take for granted back in our home countries suddenly become tripwires as we go through the motions of settling into our new country. But that’s not the only thing Sahar and I talk about. We also explore:* The importance of finding your community* Passing on the beauty of your culture to your kids* Her saddest moments as an immigrant in Canada* The one thing she would have done differently* The tradeoffs she has had to make, and much more. Enjoy!Thanks for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this episode inspired you, please do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with an immigrant who might find it useful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Grit. That's the feeling you leave with when you speak with Tunde Omotoye. The brilliant founder of SchooliplyHQ to chat about:* Settling into Canada as an international student* Launching a startup focused on helping international students* Red flags to look out for when hiring an immigration consultant* Life changing moments as an immigrant, and much more.Enjoy!Thanks for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this episode inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with an immigrant who might find it useful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Community is everything. And Grand Komanda is no stranger to the beauty of tapping into your community as an immigrant. In this episode, we chat about:* The origins of the Nigerian-Canadian comedy club* The things he misses most about Nigeria* Tips for Nigerian/African acts looking to immigrate to Canada* Using his immigrant experience as fuel for his jokes.Enjoy!Thank you for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this podcast inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Experienced adman, Osibo Imhoitsike, joins me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about moving his family out of Nigeria. We also explore:* The various triggers that led to migrating to Canada* Dealing with the stress of living apart from his family * Walking away from a career on the up* His biggest cultural shock.Enjoy!Thank you for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this podcast inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Embrace your uniqueness as an immigrant. It's your superpower. Ingrid Polini, CEO of SafetyDocs Global, embodies that statement. Startup mentor, business owner, and podcast host, Ingrid understands what it means to be an immigrant founder. She joins me on The Newcomers Podcast to chat about:* Dealing with Canadian Experience as an immigrant founder.* People thinking you know less because you speak in a different accent.* Collective vs. individualistic cultures.* How culture influences business.* Her secret sauce for networking in Canada. This episode was short and sweet. Enjoy!Thank you for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this podcast inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

Vlogger, content strategist, and agency owner, Folasade Daini, a former veterinarian turned brand storyteller, is one of the most authentic and enigmatic personalities I have interviewed on this pod. We chat about:* The tax system * Missing her siblings and Naija food* The different phases of settling into a new country* Cultural differences an immigrant has to adjust to* Her sweet daughter* And the one thing she would have done differently.Enjoy!Thank you for listening to The Newcomers Podcast. If this podcast inspired you, do me a huge favor and tell one person to subscribe. Or share with someone who might find it useful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com