Arrivals: Stories from first-generation immigrant women

Arrivals Media

Moving to a new country is so much more than what we typically see or talk about. "Arrivals" features first-generation immigrant women sharing their stories of starting from scratch. Discover honest conversations about the tension between where we come from, where we are going, why we stay, and how it expands our lives. Substack: https://substack.com/@arrivalspod Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/arrivalspod/

  1. Jun 25

    From the U.S. to the Netherlands: Building a life and business in The Hague

    Kristen grew up in California. Michael is from the Netherlands. After meeting in Washington, D.C., they decided to leave the U.S. during the pandemic and build a new life together in The Hague. In this episode, we talk about navigating a bicultural marriage, changing careers, launching their storytelling and communications studio, The Other West Coast, and Michael's work restoring historic buildings. Kristen also shares the story behind her podcast, Beb & Bob: Collateral Damage, which uncovers a surprising connection between her grandfather, an American World War II pilot, and a bombing in the Netherlands. Links mentioned in this episode: The Other West Coast: https://www.otherwestcoast.nl/ Beb & Bob: Collateral Damage: https://bebbob.nl/ Superfeed: https://superfeed.fm/ The historic restoration project Michael discusses: https://www.binnenhofrenovatie.nl/

    1h 10m

  2. Jun 17

    From Iran to the US: Helen Fagan on Why Leadership Begins Within

    Dr. Helen Fagan has spent decades helping leaders better understand themselves and the impact they have on others. A transformational leadership scholar, executive coach, author, speaker, and founder of Helen Fagan & Associates, her work sits at the intersection of emotional intelligence, neuroscience, and human-centered leadership. Born in Iran and raised between cultures, Helen immigrated to the US as a teenager during a period of political upheaval. In this episode, she reflects on building a life in the US, the pressure to fit in, and the years she spent hiding parts of her identity to belong. Helen shares why self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership, how belonging begins within, and what it means to lead with authenticity, courage, and compassion. We also discuss her transition from healthcare to academia and entrepreneurship, the lessons behind her book Lead Like People Matter, and why she believes the way we treat people ultimately shapes what we can accomplish together. Dr. Fagan is a former faculty member at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she taught for a decade, and currently teaches in the graduate leadership program at Doane University. She is a board-certified executive coach, TEDx speaker, podcast host, and award-winning educator whose work has influenced leaders and organizations worldwide. In this conversation, we explore identity, belonging, leadership, resilience, and the lifelong work of becoming more fully ourselves. Where to find Helen:  https://helenfagan.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drhelenfagan/Book: Lead Like People Matter: https://www.amazon.com/Lead-Like-People-Matter-Intelligence/dp/B0FM9SD4QP Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7jxZvgKwVt8dUwyU2Mfutu?si=08916fce2495460b Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drhelenfagan/Latest TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PANSXqq75HU&t=622sTED talk from 13 years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCrZimA5bKs

    1 hr

  3. Jun 3

    "El mundo es para valientes": Una vida entre Argentina, Dublín y México con Laura Sánchez | Episodio en español

    En este primer episodio en español de Arrivals, María Laura Sánchez, emprendedora argentina y fundadora de una startup que utiliza inteligencia artificial para impulsar la economía circular en América Latina, comparte cómo una vida guiada por la curiosidad la llevó de Argentina a la India, después a Dublín y, finalmente, a la Ciudad de México, donde decidió dejar atrás la seguridad del mundo corporativo para construir algo propio. Hablamos sobre migración, maternidad, identidad, sostenibilidad y el desafío de reinventarse una y otra vez. También conversamos sobre cómo la llegada de sus hijos transformó su forma de ver la ciudad donde vive, su trabajo y las diferencias culturales entre Europa y Latinoamérica. Esta es una conversación sobre muchos cambios, sobre estar lejos y cerca de la familia, sobre el emprendimiento y la valentía de seguir tu propia curiosidad. In this first episode in Spanish, María Laura Sánchez, an entrepreneur from Argentina and founder of a startup that uses AI to advance the circular economy across Latin America, shares how a life guided by curiosity took her from Argentina to India, then to Dublin, and eventually to Mexico City, where she chose to leave the security of the corporate world to build something of her own. We talk about immigration, motherhood, identity, sustainability, and the challenge of reinventing yourself again and again. We also discuss how becoming a mother transformed the way she sees the city she lives in, her work, and the cultural differences between Europe and Latin America. This is a conversation about change, about being both far from and close to family, about entrepreneurship, and about the courage to follow your own curiosity.

    53 min

  4. May 21

    From Brazil to Québec: Starting over, changing careers, and refusing to fit into one box

    When she was little, Rubia wanted to be an astronomer and study the universe. Years later, she became a journalist and learned to tell stories. Today, she works in data, following a path that made sense for her, even when it didn’t look traditional from the outside. Starting over in a new country wasn’t easy, but she kept going, building a career she cared about and a life abroad she dreamed of. She’s now in a place where she no longer feels the need to hide parts of who she is. In this episode, we talk about career changes, immigration, and what it means to keep going without shrinking yourself to fit expectations.

    1h 5m

  5. May 14

    Returning home after 20 years abroad: A more intentional life in France

    Cecile Eskenazi is a French-American product leader and mom of three who spent over 20 years living abroad, building her career across Germany, the UK, and the U.S., including roles at Meta and LinkedIn in Silicon Valley. In this episode, we talk about what it means to return home after decades as an expat, moving back to France, navigating identity, and adjusting to a place that feels both familiar and completely new. We also talk about the emotional cost of living far from family, raising kids between cultures, and that moving back doesn’t always mean what you expect. Cecile also shares how burnout, health challenges, and the pressure of working in tech led her to rethink her priorities and step away from the pace of Silicon Valley. She’s recently launched Live Well with Cecile, a knowledge hub that helps people improve their health through simple, realistic habits. Her first resource is a free Sleep Playbook with practical strategies to get better rest. Where to find Cecile: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecileeskenazi/ More about her work and the Sleep Playbook here: http://livewellwithcecile.com

    51 min

  6. May 8

    From Prague to NYC: Lucie Kim on a life of curiosity and embracing human complexity

    Lucie Kim is a Creative Director, artist, and adjunct professor at The New School. As the founder of the branding practice MyOrb, she builds identities for global lifestyle and luxury brands, while her creative platform, Clementine, facilitates dialogues on how we find meaning in the everyday. In this episode, we discuss: Moving from Prague to Germany and eventually NYC, and the suitcase-ready mentality. A look at Lucie’s family history, including her grandmother’s role reporting live during the 1968 Russian invasion of Prague. The intentional (and often difficult) process of raising a multilingual child in a bicultural household. Why Lucie views creativity as a practice of listening and a tool for navigating human complexity. Where to find Lucie: MyOrb Clementine Lucie's LinkedIn

    56 min

  7. Apr 23

    Breaking Iranian Stereotypes: Sheila’s Story on Creativity, Joy, and Kindness

    Sheila is a Design Operations leader by day and a storyteller by night, but she refuses to let those titles define the boundaries of her life. As the creator of Small Talk with Sheila, she has built a platform centered on the "rom-com" philosophy: the belief that our lives are allowed to be messy, our energy should be "main character," and that every story deserves to be told fully and on our own terms. In this episode, we explore Sheila’s deep reinvention. From navigating a divorce to balancing the weight of immigrant expectations, she shares how she learned to stop over-explaining her choices and start owning her voice. We discuss her "tiny but mighty" approach to taking up space in the tech world, the power of a mother’s support during the hardest times, and the nuance of being an Iranian- American woman in a world that often leans on stereotypes. Listen to Small Talk with Sheila Episode highlights: Sheila’s immigrant background and personal story The motivation behind starting her podcast Small Talk with Sheila Balancing cultural expectations with personal authenticity The importance of storytelling in building connection Sheila's views on stereotypes about Iranians and immigrants Her relationship with her parents and the sacrifices they made

    50 min

  8. Apr 16

    From Osaka to Silicon Valley: Strategic career pivots and embracing the human element in the age of AI

    Yuri Goto’s journey to the Bay Area was a decade-long strategy that required breaking through traditional cultural expectations. Now a Solution Engineer at Snowflake, Yuri delivers AI Data Cloud strategy to major enterprises, but her path to tech in California involved navigating the corporate worlds of IBM and Salesforce in Japan and managing a seven-year long-distance marriage before engineering her own relocation to the U.S. In this episode, we discuss the Japanese business tradition of solo relocation (Tanshin-funin), the necessity of human storytelling in a tech-driven world, and the discipline required to maintain a high-performance career. Yuri talks about her own resilience to hit major professional milestones while navigating the personal realities of IVF and a miscarriage. Beyond her work, Yuri is a mother and a professional Zumba instructor dedicated to building wellness communities. We explore why she’s been sharing her story more within her own community and how she built a reputation as a positive and resilient person.  Where to find Yuri: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurigoto/ Zumba Classes: https://www.zumba.com/en-US/p/yurig In this episode, we cover:  Yuri’s background and cultural heritage The impact that Japanese traditions had on her own life and death perceptions Her Immigration journey from Japan to China and the US Career development in the tech industry without a technical background Balancing long-distance relationships and marriage Motherhood, IVF, and navigating healthcare in the US Skills for navigating the AI era with empathy and authenticity

    59 min
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5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Moving to a new country is so much more than what we typically see or talk about. "Arrivals" features first-generation immigrant women sharing their stories of starting from scratch. Discover honest conversations about the tension between where we come from, where we are going, why we stay, and how it expands our lives. Substack: https://substack.com/@arrivalspod Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/arrivalspod/

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