Wise Immigrants

Miss Immigrant USA

Wise Immigrants Podcast shares powerful stories of immigrants, leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, and community builders who are shaping America. Produced by co-founders of Miss Immigrant USA, each episode highlights real journeys, challenges, success, culture, identity, leadership, and civic impact. Our mission is to amplify immigrant voices, inspire confidence, and show that immigrants are not only part of the American story — we help write it. With Love, Magdalena & Sha

Episodes

  1. 9h ago

    A Salvadoran American Story of Voice and Belonging - Effie Phillips-Staley for Congress NY-17

    Effie Guadalupe Phillips-Staley’s story begins with identity, family, and the courage to step into spaces where voices like hers have not always been fully seen or heard. Her Salvadoran American background is not just a personal detail; it is part of the larger American story of families, sacrifice, cultural memory, and the desire to build something meaningful for the next generation. In this episode of Wise Immigrants by Miss Immigrant USA, we speak with Effie Phillips-Staley, who joined us as a candidate for U.S. Congress in New York’s 17th Congressional District. The conversation explores immigrant identity, public service, representation, women’s leadership, belonging, and what it means to bring personal history into civic life. This episode matters because representation is not only about a name on a ballot. It is about who feels invited into democracy, who sees their story reflected, and who believes their voice belongs in public decisions. Effie’s journey opens a wider conversation about Latino identity, family values, community leadership, and the responsibility of public service in a changing America. At Miss Immigrant USA, we believe immigrant identity deserves visibility in civic spaces. Through Wise Immigrants, we create conversations that help communities understand leaders as human beings first — people shaped by family, culture, struggle, purpose, and service. Watch the video podcast with Effie Phillips-Staley at:https://www.missimmigrantusa.com/podcast/ Please like this episode, follow the podcast, share it with someone who cares about immigrant stories, and leave us a review. Your support helps Miss Immigrant USA continue building a public-benefit platform for immigrant visibility, civic education, cultural representation, and community impact. This episode is presented for civic education and public-interest storytelling. Appearance on Wise Immigrants by Miss Immigrant USA does not imply endorsement, campaign support, fundraising support, contribution, or political recommendation.

    A Salvadoran American Story of Voice and Belonging - Effie Phillips-Staley for Congress NY-17
  2. 1d ago

    From Ambulance Calls to Albany: Omar Mohamad for NY State Senate District 23

    Omar Mohamad’s story begins with service — not the polished kind that starts on a campaign stage, but the kind that happens in real neighborhoods, during emergencies, when families need someone to show up. His life has been shaped by South Brooklyn, Staten Island, immigrant family roots, working people, and the frontline experiences that come from seeing hardship up close. In this episode of Wise Immigrants by Miss Immigrant USA, we speak with Omar Mohamad, who joined us as a candidate for New York State Senate District 23. The conversation moves beyond politics and becomes a deeper discussion about public service, affordability, immigrant identity, working families, dignity, and what it means to use your voice for people who often feel ignored. Omar’s story connects strongly with the mission of Miss Immigrant USA because immigrant identity is not only about where someone comes from. It is about courage, contribution, belonging, and the decision to participate in public life. Through this interview, we explore how personal history can become civic responsibility, and how communities become stronger when more voices are invited into the conversation. Wise Immigrants by Miss Immigrant USA is a public-interest podcast platform created to spotlight immigrant voices, civic leaders, candidates, professionals, entrepreneurs, and community advocates shaping the future of America through leadership, storytelling, and service. Watch the video podcast with Omar Mohamad at:https://www.missimmigrantusa.com/podcast/ Please support this public-benefit storytelling work by following the podcast, liking the episode, sharing it with your community, and leaving us a review. Your support helps us amplify immigrant identity, civic education, and community leadership across the United States. This episode is presented for civic education and public-interest storytelling. Appearance on Wise Immigrants by Miss Immigrant USA does not imply endorsement, campaign support, fundraising support, contribution, or political recommendation.

    From Ambulance Calls to Albany: Omar Mohamad for NY State Senate District 23
  3. 2d ago

    Kyle Little: From Fitness to Congress, Community Strength & Belonging in NJ-12

    What does it mean to run — not only in fitness, but in public life? In this episode of the WISE Immigrants Podcast by Miss Immigrant USA, Magdalena Kulisz speaks with Kyle Little, candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. Kyle is a fitness entrepreneur, small business owner, college professor, and New Jersey native. In this conversation, he shares why he decided to run for Congress, what shaped his leadership, and how his background in fitness, education, and community service connects to his vision for strengthening communities. This episode goes beyond politics. Kyle speaks about affordability, housing, student loan debt, childcare, healthcare, public education, small businesses, voting rights, gerrymandering, and the concerns he hears from young people in New Jersey. He also discusses identity and representation as a Black openly gay man, and reflects on Bayard Rustin, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the March on Washington, and the continuing meaning of civil rights and voting rights in America. At Miss Immigrant USA, when we say “immigrant,” we are not speaking only about legal status. We are speaking about roots, culture, family history, movement, contribution, adaptation, and belonging. This conversation with Kyle Little opens a larger civic question: Who gets to feel seen, heard, and represented in America? Kyle reminds us that strong communities are built like strong bodies — with discipline, endurance, education, support, and the courage to keep going. This episode is part of Miss Immigrant USA / WISE Immigrants’ nonpartisan civic-education work, helping communities better understand democracy, leadership, representation, public service, and belonging. Disclaimer: Miss Immigrant USA / WISE Immigrants is a nonpartisan civic and cultural platform. This episode is for public education, community awareness, and civic engagement. It does not endorse or oppose any candidate, campaign, political party, or political committee. Listen to the full conversation and join us in exploring immigrant identity, democracy, civic participation, and the meaning of belonging in America.

    Kyle Little: From Fitness to Congress, Community Strength & Belonging in NJ-12

About

Wise Immigrants Podcast shares powerful stories of immigrants, leaders, entrepreneurs, public servants, and community builders who are shaping America. Produced by co-founders of Miss Immigrant USA, each episode highlights real journeys, challenges, success, culture, identity, leadership, and civic impact. Our mission is to amplify immigrant voices, inspire confidence, and show that immigrants are not only part of the American story — we help write it. With Love, Magdalena & Sha