Twisted Storytellers

Ali Al Arithy was driven to success by a teacher who said he couldn’t succeed.

The daughter of immigrants - Episode 2 Shahad Atiya’s American values conflict with her parent’s cultural traditions. She tells the story of how she made difficult life choices.

Claire Gasamagera, a survivor of the Rwandan Genocide speaks out about the harrowing reality that brought her to America.

Jane Garcia, The American daughter of an illiterate Tejana mother, navigates life through the foster care system with the help of a social worker.

Dreamer Nestor Gomez shares the trials of growing up undocumented in the United States and his journey to get a green card and attain citizenship.

Carlos Nielbock, A war baby raised in Germany by his mother, comes to search for his birth father in Detroit and never leaves.

Hamissi Mamba tries to obtain a visa to join his wife and newborn twins in the United States and after two years arrives to start a new life with his family.

Korean-American Catherine Ryu remembers when her sister’s serious medical condition brought her family closer together.

In episode five Lucia Wylie-Eggert tells a story about a specific moment in elementary school when she was forced to learn about racial identity in the United States.

Maxie Jones is waiting for his sister to arrive at the courthouse when he’s asked by a different couple to stand for their wedding. “I went in there with them. I signed my name,” he says. After the first ceremony, Jones jokes with the judge that he will be back momentarily to witness his sister’s wedding. “And the judge was like, ‘not today,’” he recalls. “The judge said, ‘you can only witness for one couple per day.’”

Henrietta Ivy tells a story about meeting Hilary Clinton at the Cobo Convention Center in downtown Detroit.

In episode 2, Amir Baghdadchi describes an attempt to smuggle Italian bologna in to the United States and a tense encounter with TSA agents. It's on a return trip to London that Baghdadchi is asked to show his passport which “is an anxious moment for everyone,” he says. “You watch the agent look at you, look at your picture, look at you, look at your picture, and just praying ‘please god, let me look like myself.'” It’s through this experience, and others like it, that Baghdadchi learns to perfect the art of international travel.

Season two kicks off with a story about Satori's love of foot massages and how that led to a moment of emotional healing. It was during a conversation with a friend that Satori was referred to a pedicurist she describes as “part-time cop, full-time feet.” What begins as an uncomfortable encounter between Satori and a foot masseur ultimately becomes a therapy session for both.

Redemption after the depths of despair.

A daughter recounts the painful, yet whimsical struggles of growing up in a home afflicted with mental illness.

Vanessa Boyd tells a story of "How a boiler room operator learned to rescue herself."

Ethriam Brammer takes us back into his childhood to unravel memories of his father.

Transformation amidst poverty, violence, fear, and hopelessness.

Two interecting stories about Detroiters' ongoing water struggle and the late activist Charity Hick.

Detroiter Monica Sholar weaves a hilarious and heartfelt tale about her decision to become a step-mom.