Love Letters To Immigrants

In this episode, Elizabeth sits down with entrepreneur and attorney Alex Gertsburg to explore his journey from Soviet-era Moldova to the United States at just four years old. Alex shares what it meant for his parents to leave everything behind during a brief emigration window for Jewish families in 1979, arriving in Cleveland with nothing but courage and determination. From growing up feeling different to building a successful legal and entrepreneurial career, he reflects on resilience, identity, and the quiet strength immigrant families carry. Together, they discuss assimilation, imposter syndrome, naturalization, America’s shifting immigration climate, and why protecting your confidence may be the most important survival skill of all. This episode is a reminder that immigration is not a headline. It is a human story. Resources I Am an Immigranthttps://iamimmigrant.comA storytelling and advocacy platform amplifying immigrant voices. National Immigration Law Centerhttps://www.nilc.orgAdvances and defends the rights of low-income immigrants through policy and legal advocacy. National Immigration Forumhttps://immigrationforum.orgPromotes inclusive immigration policy and public education initiatives. ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Projecthttps://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rightsProtects immigrants’ civil liberties through litigation and advocacy. Freedom for Immigrantshttps://www.freedomforimmigrants.orgAdvocates to end immigration detention and supports people in detention. Georgia Asylum and Immigration Networkhttps://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/volunteer/organization.392822-Georgia_Asylum_Immigration_NetworkProvides free immigration legal services and support for immigrant survivors in Georgia. Timecode Chapters 00:00 Introduction and shifting from fear to love02:35 Leaving Moldova during Soviet-era emigration05:00 Starting over in Cleveland08:00 Growing up feeling different13:30 Immigrant parent sacrifice and hustle18:30 The current immigration climate22:00 Immigration law as transformational work24:30 The ripple effect of saving one life29:45 Naturalization and becoming American34:00 History, pendulum swings, and hope36:30 A love letter to immigrant children40:20 Closing reflections

In this episode of Love Letters to Immigrants, Elizabeth Garvish sits down with Oleg Karakash, a Ukrainian immigrant who has been sharing his family’s journey across borders with honesty, warmth, and remarkable perspective. After leaving Ukraine with his wife and two daughters, Oleg reflects on what it means to rebuild life from scratch, arriving in the United States with very little and learning to trust both community and uncertainty. He talks about the people who showed up when his family needed help most, the challenge of navigating temporary immigration status, and the emotional weight of not knowing what comes next. Throughout the conversation, Oleg returns to the idea of gratitude, not just for moments of safety or success, but for loss, disruption, and change. He shares how redefining home as a state of being rather than a physical place has given his family freedom and resilience as they continue to move forward. The episode closes with a Love Letter to an Immigrant, offering encouragement to anyone facing an uncertain future and reminding listeners that even the hardest chapters can open new doors. Chapters 00:00 Immigration is a human story 01:00 Meet Oleg Karkarash 02:33 Leaving Ukraine and choosing safety 05:29 Arriving in the US through Uniting for Ukraine 06:38 Finding community and support in Iowa 09:55 Acts of kindness that made survival possible 12:25 Gratitude as a way of life 16:23 Redefining the meaning of home 20:19 Freedom, perspective, and choice 23:51 Letting life unfold across borders 26:44 A love letter to an immigrant 30:31 Turning empathy into action Resources If this episode resonated with you and you want to turn empathy into action, check out Minneapolis Mutual Aid, a community-based support offering direct aid, resources, and solidarity for immigrants and marginalized communities.

Welcome to the first episode of Love Letters to Immigrants, a storytelling podcast centered on the human side of immigration. Host Elizabeth Garvish sits down with award-winning TV and film producer and entrepreneur Jenny Feterovich, who immigrated to the United States from the Soviet Union as a teenager through Operation Exodus. Jenny shares what it was like to leave home at 13, grow up in the Midwest, navigate discrimination, and take on adult responsibilities far too early. Together, Elizabeth and Jenny explore how immigration reshapes family dynamics, why immigrants are not “addicted to certainty,” and how agility, humility, and courage can become lifelong strengths. The episode closes with a deeply moving Love Letter to an Immigrant, written for the hardest days, when the journey feels unbearable. Chapters 00:00 Immigration is a human story 01:00 Meet Jenny Feterovich 02:46 Leaving the Soviet Union and Operation Exodus 06:53 Arriving in America at 14 08:59 Growing up too fast as an immigrant 12:03 Lessons that shaped Jenny’s life 16:07 Fear, politics, and belonging 25:09 Moments of kindness that mattered 28:57 A love letter to an immigrant 33:36 Turning empathy into action Resources If this episode resonated with you and you want to turn empathy into action, check out ⁠Minneapolis Mutual Aid⁠, a community-based support offering direct aid, resources, and solidarity for immigrants and marginalized communities.