Immigrant Stories | The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants

Welcome to episode 165 of The American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!Kathy Guillory shares her journey from growing up in the former Soviet Union to immigrating to the United States at nine years old and eventually building a life as a marketing consultant, mother, and children’s book author. Her first children’s book, The Adventures of Belle Bear, brings pieces of her own immigration story to life while helping children embrace what makes them different.In this episode, Kathy reflects on her family’s life in the Republic of Georgia during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Although her family had lived there for three generations, their Russian and Armenian heritage made them outsiders as nationalism grew. After her grandfather lost his job and property the family had built was confiscated, they left on tourist visas and eventually made their way to Los Angeles. Kathy opens up about arriving in the United States, learning English, navigating school as the only Russian-speaking student in her class, and experiencing the feeling of being different at such a young age.With Love, HeidyConnect with Kathy:WebsiteBuy The BookSign up now and join our exclusive community on Substack!!! 💛Check out the full list of different ways you can support the podcast.  *This podcast is sponsored by Far From Home PodcastKaza Law ImmigrationBarbara Perez Law360 Immigration Law For sponsorship opportunities, send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Make a one-time donation here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=2C3JDALUGTS6EReady to start a podcast similar to this one? I created the framework - The V.O.I.C.E. Method to help you become a podcaster in 6 weeks or less! This framework is straightforward, no guessing what comes next, and no overwhelm! This course covers everything from podcast hosting sites and editing software to podcast SEO, equipment, and more! Buy the course for only $197 here.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 164 of The American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!Santee shares her journey from growing up in Jamaica to moving to the United States at six years old and learning how to navigate a completely new culture, school system, and way of life. Today, she is a singer, writer, podcast host, and creative who has chosen to build a life around faith, purpose, and following a path that looks different from the traditional expectations she grew up with.In this episode, Santee reflects on her childhood in Jamaica, growing up primarily with her mother while her father lived and worked in the United States as he went through the naturalization process. She opens up about arriving in Georgia with the expectation that America would feel like paradise, only to experience culture shock, bullying because of her accent, differences in education and discipline, and the challenge of finding where she belonged.Santee takes us through her experience navigating school and college as an immigrant child whose parents were educated but unfamiliar with the American education system. She shares the pressure she felt to make her parents’ sacrifices worth it, the expectations surrounding college and traditional careers, and the moment she realized she needed to choose a path that aligned with her own purpose rather than simply following what was expected of her. With Love, Heidy Connect with Santee:Instagram Sign up now and join our exclusive community on Substack!!! 💛Check out the full list of different ways you can support the podcast.  *This podcast is sponsored by Far From Home PodcastKaza Law ImmigrationBarbara Perez Law360 Immigration Law For sponsorship opportunities, send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] a one-time donation here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=2C3JDALUGTS6EReady to start a podcast similar to this one? I created the framework - The V.O.I.C.E. Method to help you become a podcaster in 6 weeks or less! This framework is straightforward, no guessing what comes next, and no overwhelm! This course covers everything from podcast hosting sites and editing software to podcast SEO, equipment, and more! Buy the course for only $197 here.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 163 of The American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time! In this episode, Bianca reflects on her upbringing in Dallas, Texas as the daughter of Haitian immigrants, and how her multicultural environment shaped her identity. She opens up about her parents’ immigration journey, her experience growing up between Haitian Creole and Spanish-speaking communities, and how these early influences gave her a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and resilience. She also discusses pivotal moments that led her toward a career in law, including a seventh-grade classroom experience that sparked her interest in advocacy and justice. Bianca shares the challenges of law school as a first-generation student, the pressure of navigating unfamiliar academic systems, and how she rebuilt her confidence while staying committed to her goals. She shares her passion for making immigration law more accessible and transparent, and how her work is rooted in debunking misconceptions about immigration while supporting clients who continue to believe in the American Dream despite systemic challenges. Bianca also highlights how her immigrant identity informs her work ethic, empathy, and commitment to creating flexible systems that support families. With Love, Heidy Connect with Bianca Jordan: Website Instagram Sign up now and join our exclusive community on Substack!!! 💛   Check out the full list of different ways you can support the podcast.  *This podcast is sponsored by  Far From Home Podcast Kaza Law Immigration Barbara Perez Law 360 Immigration Law   For sponsorship opportunities, send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Make a one-time donation here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=2C3JDALUGTS6E Ready to start a podcast similar to this one? I created the framework - The V.O.I.C.E. Method to help you become a podcaster in 6 weeks or less! This framework is straightforward, no guessing what comes next, and no overwhelm! This course covers everything from podcast hosting sites and editing software to podcast SEO, equipment, and more! Buy the course for only $197 here.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 162 of The American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!In this episode, Elsie reflects on her childhood in El Salvador and the sensory-rich memories that continue to shape her identity and connection to home. She opens up about immigrating to Los Angeles at the age of nine, the sudden transition her family experienced, and the cultural shock of adapting to life in the United States while learning a new language and navigating unfamiliar systems.She shares the emotional challenges of feeling different in school, struggling with belonging, and balancing her Salvadoran identity with American culture. These experiences deeply shaped her resilience, creativity, and determination to carve out her own path in spaces where Latina voices were often underrepresented.Elsie takes us through her journey from studying theater at Loyola Marymount University and pursuing acting in Los Angeles to becoming one of the earliest pioneers in podcasting. She shares how she launched one of the first yoga podcasts in 2006 and eventually became a respected creative and content strategist with nearly two decades of experience in the industry.She also discusses her passion for helping creators reconnect with their voice and build sustainable, independent media businesses. Elsie reflects on the importance of amplifying diverse stories and how her immigrant identity continues to influence the work she creates and the communities she serves.With Love, Heidy Connect with Elsie Escobar:InstagramThreadsWebsite https://www.multimodalee.com/about/ Sign up now and join our exclusive community on Substack!!! 💛 Check out the full list of different ways you can support the podcast.  *This podcast is sponsored by Far From Home PodcastKaza Law ImmigrationBarbara Perez Law360 Immigration LawFor sponsorship opportunities, send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] a one-time donation here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=2C3JDALUGTS6E Ready to start a podcast similar to this one? I created the framework - The V.O.I.C.E. Method to help you become a podcaster in 6 weeks or less! This framework is straightforward, no guessing what comes next, and no overwhelm! This course covers everything from podcast hosting sites and editing software to podcast SEO, equipment, and more! Buy the course for only $197 here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to episode 161 of The American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time! In this episode, Sonia reflects on her background and the early experiences that shaped her perspective as an immigrant navigating new systems, expectations, and opportunities. She opens up about the challenges of adapting to a new culture and professional environment, and how those early experiences pushed her to develop resilience, independence, and a strong sense of purpose. She also discusses key moments in her personal and professional growth, including discovering the world of SEO and digital marketing and learning how to turn technical skills into a meaningful, sustainable career path. These experiences helped her build confidence and clarity in her direction, especially as she carved out space for herself in a competitive industry. With Love, Heidy   Connect with Sonia: LinkedIn Instagram   Sign up now and join our exclusive community on Substack!!! 💛 Check out the full list of different ways you can support the podcast.    *This podcast is sponsored by  Far From Home Podcast Kaza Law Immigration Barbara Perez Law 360 Immigration Law For sponsorship opportunities, send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Make a one-time donation here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=2C3JDALUGTS6E   Because a podcaster in 6-weeks or less with The V.O.I.C.E. Method Podcast Launch Course! Learn everything from tech, podcast hosting sites, editing, Podcast SEO, and more! Find out more information here. And if you refer a client to me and they sign up for the 1:1 Podcast Launch Strategy, you will receive $50! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.