Immigrant Conversations

Mehran Sorourian
  • 4.9 (47)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY
Immigrant Conversations

Welcome to Immigrant Conversations, the podcast that brings you inspiring stories from immigrants who have turned challenges into triumphs. Join Mehran Sorourian, a Middle Eastern immigrant woman as she dives deep into the experiences of first-generation and diaspora individuals, exploring their unique journeys, cultural identities, and the hurdles they’ve overcome. We discuss everything from immigrant entrepreneurship, cross cultural experiences, as well as the dark side of migration such as isolation, bias, and more. We aim to provide a platform for voices that often go unheard and aim to bring people closer together. Join us as we explore topics ranging from immigrant entrepreneurship, first-generation struggles, and cross-cultural experiences to the impact of immigration policies and advocacy. Whether you are an immigrant, a descendant of immigrants, or simply interested in compelling human stories, "Immigrant Conversations" offers a unique perspective on the immigrant experience. Tune in to discover how individuals from diverse backgrounds overcome obstacles, achieve success, and enrich our communities with their unique perspectives and talents. Subscribe now to "Immigrant Conversations" on your favorite podcast platform, and be inspired by the extraordinary journeys of those who have built new lives from the ground up.

  1. Different Ways to Process Your Grief with Kiana Naimi

    12/18/2024

    Different Ways to Process Your Grief with Kiana Naimi

    Are you grieving the loss of a loved one, a job, or your country of origin and in need of new tools and ideas to process your grief more effectively so that you can live a better life? If so, this episode is for you. Mehran Sorourian the Immigrant Conversations host sits with Kiana Naimi and talks about grief and recovery. Bio: Kiana Naimi is an Iranian_American Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California that specializes in grief and loss. Kiana has earned her Master's in Social Welfare from UCLA and has worked with diverse populations throughout her clinical experience. She currently provides therapy to individuals across the lifespan who have experienced various losses via Telehealth, her practice is called Soulh psychotherapy. www.Soulhpsychotherapy.com The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss by Mary-Frances O'Connor Key words: Grief Processing, Immigrant Journey, Iranian American, Clinical Social Worker, Trauma Informed, Dual Process Model, Disenfranchised Grief, Grieving Brain, Kubler Ross, Five Stages Of Grief, Resilience, Migration Stories, Emotional Healing, Support Groups, Grief Models, Neuroscience Of Grief, Loss And Healing, Coping Mechanisms, Cultural Adaptation, Mental Health Awareness

    38 min
  2. Perpetual Foreigners with Dr. Jim Lin

    12/18/2024

    Perpetual Foreigners with Dr. Jim Lin

    The son of Chinese immigrants, Dr. James Lin is a math professor at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). He taught the first Asian American Studies course there in 1986. Despite venturing outside of his field (and keeping this a secret from his fellow math professors!), two years later he obtained Academic Senate approval for a Minor in Asian American Studies. Once the Minor was approved, he teamed up with the Chicano Studies and African American Studies faculty to gain Academic Senate approval for an Ethnic Studies Department in 1990. This week, we will hear from him about his journey, experiences, and the work he has done creating this important program. Jim's past interviews: https://youtu.be/1BxdlT2RC2g?si=JRfoQ3w2v5Xq7JoG Immigrant Conversations - 00:00:00 " Jim and I know each other through Toastmaster 00:01:02 " My father built the first modern airplane by a Chinese in China 00:11:18 " Lin family says I'm the lucky baby because within days of being born 00:20:18 " By the time I was 15, I had studied 8000 hours of math 00:27:03 " At 15, I scored perfect score on the math SAT 00:32:53 " You mentioned as an adult that there were a lot of somewhat isolating feelings 00:41:39 " The public doesn't know much about your immigration, Mehran 00:50:57 " UCSD faculty opposed creating a race-based ethnic studies minor 00:58:54 " Jim Mehran: I was inspired by a book called see no stranger Keywords: migration, Chinese-American, aviation pioneer, academic success, cultural identity, Asian American Studies, UCSD, resilience, podcast Jim's Biography: Jim is a Chinese-American who has made significant contributions to both academia and cultural representation. Born in Manhattan shortly after his parents emigrated from China, Jim's early life was marked by rigorous academic discipline and cultural challenges. He excelled in mathematics, earning a PhD from Princeton and becoming a full professor at UCSD by the age of 30. Jim played a crucial role in establishing the Asian American Studies minor at UCSD, which later became a full department. His work has been instrumental in promoting cultural awareness and education. Jim continues to inspire through his storytelling and dedication to fostering understanding and inclusion.

    1h 6m
  3. Navigating Uncertain Moments with Sujata Yellaepeddi

    08/17/2024

    Navigating Uncertain Moments with Sujata Yellaepeddi

    Ever wondered if certain nationalities have an easier path to migration? In this compelling episode of Immigrant Conversations, we explore the inspiring journey of Sujata Yellaepeddi, who was born and raised in India before moving to the United States. Sujata shares the challenges she faced in finding peace and belonging in her San Diego home, and the hurdles her family encountered along the way. From the missed opportunities her son experienced due to visa restrictions to the heart-wrenching ordeal of being stranded in a foreign country without her parents, Sujata's story is one of resilience and perseverance. Tune in as we discuss the realities of the immigrant experience, the impact of visa limitations on family life, and the emotional journey of building a new life far from home. Whether you're an immigrant, have immigrant roots, or are interested in the complexities of migration, this episode is a must-listen. Keywords: migration, immigrant experience, visa challenges, family separation, resilience, India to USA, San Diego immigrant, podcast Sujata's Biography: Sujata Yellaepeddi was born and raised in India, surrounded by the warmth and support of a very loving family. In 2008, she made a significant life change by moving to the United States with her family, seeking new opportunities and challenges. Sujata's academic journey is marked by her pursuit of excellence, culminating in two master's degrees in computer science. Her strong educational background has been instrumental in securing a successful career in the United States, where she currently holds the position of Senior Manager at a leading software company. In 2011, Sujata's life took a transformative turn when she joined Toastmasters, an organization dedicated to improving public speaking and leadership skills. Her involvement with Toastmasters proved to be a pivotal experience, helping her develop confidence and communication skills that have been invaluable both personally and professionally. Sujata's dedication to leadership and personal growth led her to serve as the District Director of Toastmasters District 5, a role she recently completed. District 5, which covers San Diego and Yuma, Arizona, flourished under her guidance, benefiting from her vision and commitment to fostering a supportive and empowering community. Today, Sujata continues to excel in her professional career while also inspiring others through her journey of growth, resilience, and leadership.

    55 min
  4. Unpacking Microaggressions and Cultural Adaptation with Samara Hakim

    07/26/2024

    Unpacking Microaggressions and Cultural Adaptation with Samara Hakim

    As an immigrant or a person of color, have you ever felt that a comment was triggering? You couldn’t necessarily point out what it was about it, but it certainly didn’t feel right. In this episode of immigrant conversations, we will talk about microaggressions. How to identify them and what to do about them? We also talk about different forms of bias that immigrants and people of color experience and so much more. Biography: Samara Hakim, JD, is an international culture and inclusion thought leader, data strategist, speaker, writer, coach, and facilitator. For over a decade, Samara has equipped leaders with the mindset and skills to work with those who are different, by mitigating bias and integrating culture into business practices and metrics. She has extensive experience in communication, conflict transformation, diversity, equity, inclusion, implicit bias mitigation, and culture transformation. Samara is a dynamic speaker who engages people to think beyond their comfort zone and to work across differences. She draws on a range of experiences including her work across cultures, her legal career, and her personal background. Samara has worked on projects across many ecosystems, in multiple languages, at various levels in an organization, for multiple industries, in for-profits and non-profits, start-ups, and educational institutions. She has worked with Fortune 500 and 100 companies, including culture transformation, DEI integration, inclusive leadership, global marketing/sales, antiracism, leading courageous conversations, team building, and inclusive procurement. Among others, clients have included American Honda, Qualcomm, BD (previously Carefusion), San Diego Gas & Electric Co., San Diego County District Attorney's Office, RNDC Anheuser Busch, Irvine Co., Thales USA, Constellation Brands, GSD&M, UCSD, ASU, SDSU, MAAC, Stanford University, Spectrum Health, American University of Beirut, Rady School of Management, Asylum Access, KPBS, ResMed, Toyota, and iRobot. Samara thrives on working with people from all walks of life. She has coached leaders across all levels of an organization, in the private, public, and non-profit sectors, to exceed their goals and to thrive in their career journey and impact. Samara has been a member of Forbes Coaches Council for 3 years. Samara is the DEIB Director for NAWBO San Diego Board. She is a mentor in the SDSU Mentor Program, USD Kroc School Mentorship Program, and in Rising Women Leaders of San Diego. She sits on the Emerging Leaders Board and is a member of the Economic Development and Advocacy Advisory Council of the North San Diego Business Chamber. Samara was a consultant/instructor for Stella Labs, an accelerator for women entrepreneurs. She trains on Bias/Cultural Humility through the Academy of Professional Excellence at SDSU. She was a lead consultant/trainer for the National Conflict Resolution Center. Prior to founding CulturGrit, she was Director of Operations/Senior Advisor at a firm later acquired by Ernst & Young. Samara was honored with the 2019 American Honda Premier Partner Award, the 2018 Women of Excellence Award by Diversity Professional Magazine and the NAWBO San Diego 2021 Women’s Advocate BRAVA Award. Samara’s work has been copyrighted; she has been featured in books and in several media outlets and podcasts. Among her certifications, Samara holds an Advanced Certificate in Intercultural Management from the University of Notre Dame. She received a Juris Doctor from the University of Oregon School of Law and a BA in History and a BA in Political Science from the University of Portland. You can learn more or reach her through Key words: Immigrant Stories, Microaggressions, Diversity Equity Inclusion, Cultural Competence, Immigrant Challenges, Cultural Adaptation, Immigrant Resilience, Navigating New Cultures, Immigrant Identity, Cultural Values, Legal Profession, Intercultural Marriage, Cultural Negotiation, Immigrant Success, Cultural Collectivism

    59 min
  5. EZ33 Immigrants guide to Racist comments by Maame Afon Yelbert-Sai

    07/25/2024

    EZ33 Immigrants guide to Racist comments by Maame Afon Yelbert-Sai

    Some conversations are hard to have for immigrants especially when it comes to racism and sexism. They could be easily misunderstood for lack of communication skills or cultural differences. They might be unaware of ways to respond when racist comments are made. That’s why I invited Maame Afon Yelbert-Sai who is an internationally recognized thought leader, passionate activist on anti-racism and anti-sexism work. As an immigrant, she is sharing with us -Ways to educate ourselves and increase our awareness. -How to define the boundaries between ignorance and racism/sexism. -How to have race-related conversations in our personal and professional lives. her bio: Exuberantly embracing her calling as a consummate connector and networker, Maame Afon enjoys her work as an activist, facilitator, executive/life coach, and mentor, supporting leaders internationally. She is an internationally recognized thought leader, passionate advocate for women and girls and a leadership development enthusiast. She is also a recording artist who uses music to promote social change and philanthropy. Maame Afon currently serves as the board chair of African Women’s Development Fund, USA and We Care Solar, and sits on the board and advisory council of other international organizations including Cocoa360, Ghana Bamboo Bikes, Days for Girls-Ghana, Moremi Initiative, Street Business School, Women Leaders for the World, and Nurturing Minds/SEGA among others. She holds a B.A. in French and Spanish and an M.A. in human rights, gender, and international development. She was named among 100 African Women in Development by Donors for Africa (2020) and has been recognized as one of the 18 African Feminists to know by For Harriet (2015). She has also been featured in AfroElle Magazine (2015) and the #Pretty-Period Campaign that celebrates black women. In 2019 she was featured in Leading Ladies Africa (LLA) as part of the release of her #RightNowAfrica single. Maame Afon is the recipient of several fellowships namely, 2020 Perennial Fellow, 2019 Rise Up Leader, 2017 Hive Global Leader, 2016 Cordes Fellow, and 2009 Woman Leader for the World. Furthermore, Maame Afon contributed her story to We Will Lead Africa - Volume Two: Women (African Everyday Leadership Stories) – 32 stories by 36 contributors, available now on Amazon. She is currently working on a full chapter titled “Steward Transformation” as part of her contribution to “The Palgrave Handbook of Learning for Transformation.” As a Whole Woman, she brings all of who she is to her work as Chief Steward of MILT (Management for Impact Leadership and Transformation), the organization she founded in 2017. She also enjoys her calling as mother and wife, raising her three children with her husband. Social Media Handles Website: www.themiltedge.com | www.maameafon.com FB: Maame Alice Yelbert-Sai; @themiltedge IG: @MaameAfon @themiltedge T: @Maameafon @themiltedge Subscribe to Empowering conversationZ podcast on your favorite app: https://www.mehrans.com/empowering-conversationz follow us on Instagram: @mehran.sorourian or FB https://www.facebook.com/Empowering.conversationZ.podcast

    46 min
  6. Six Griefs, Depression, and Healing Journey as an Immigrant by Mehran Sorourian

    07/11/2024

    Six Griefs, Depression, and Healing Journey as an Immigrant by Mehran Sorourian

    In this episode Mehran, the Immigrant Conversations host, talks about her two-and-a-half-year break, five losses she experienced, her debilitating depression, and her healing journey. Listen to this highly personal episode where you learn about the grief process for an immigrant and what you can do next time your friend or loved one is grieving. Learn more about Mehran: https://www.mehrans.com/about Complex Grief: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/complicated-grief/symptoms-causes/syc-20360374 Grief books I enjoyed reading: -Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant -The Friend by Sigrid Nunez -I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One by Brook Noel and Pamela Blair PhD -Finding Me by Viola Davis

    41 min
  7. EZ48Neuroscience of Change with Reut Schwartz-Hebron

    03/16/2022

    EZ48Neuroscience of Change with Reut Schwartz-Hebron

    How to make difficult changes, especially regarding your culture, beliefs, and assumptions? Learn to negotiate. Both with yourself and with others. Listen to this episode and learn from Reut Schwartz-Hebron, an immigrant from Israel who initially worked as an HR director and was blindsided by the non-verbal cues she received at work and more. She is currently the author of two books: Outswim the sharks and The art and science of changing people who don’t want to change and the certifying Partner with KCI. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when new episodes air: https://mehrans.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6dfc4750bd3f20b3caae4503f&id=0329b857f8 List of episodes: https://www.mehrans.com/empowering-conversationz Contact Mehran: Mehran@MehranS.com Reut Schwartz-Hebron Bio: In her role as Certifying Partner with KCI, Reut has trained and certified hundreds of HR leaders, coaches, consultants, and other change professionals to use powerful Neuroscience-based models for guiding people through difficult change. She started her career at the rank of a Lieutenant Commander working with elite training teams in the Israeli military, and was the first woman consultant to be offered a prestigious field position with a combat unit. She has a BA in Psychology, an MBA in Business and Organizational Development, and has been collaborating with Neuroscientists for the last 17 years to develop a neuroscience-based Unlearning Model. While she supports coaches and change leaders to use a wide range of Neuroscience-based models, she is internationally renowned as one of the top experts in this specific field of guiding people to unlearn and relearn as part of making transitions and transformations.  For the past 25 years Reut coached and consulted in organizations that range from Fortune 500s such as NIKE, Avaya, GSK, Comcast, and Philips Medical to medium sized companies in a large variety of industries including financial, high-tech, telecom, universities, hospitals and other health organizations, retail, manufacturing, and government agencies. She is a published author of books and numerous articles, but perhaps most importantly, she is a mother, a wife, a sister, and an avid supporter of human rights.  To learn more about Reut’s work and the Certification in Applied Neuroscience, please visit: www.KCIcertification.com

    41 min
  8. EZ47LGBTQ & the process of "coming out" with Dr.Pavna Sodhi

    03/02/2022

    EZ47LGBTQ & the process of "coming out" with Dr.Pavna Sodhi

    In this episode, I talk with Dr. Pavna Sodhi about the challenges of the LGBTQ community, the process of Coming out, the role of family, community, and the host culture in the process. Common issues LGBTQ and their families face especially as an immigrant in BIPOC communities, the Role of host culture in the process, how to educate our children, and a lot more… https://positivespacenetwork.ca/ https://egale.ca/ https://www.rainbowrefugee.com/ https://lgbtq.wvu.edu/state-and-national-resources/-resources-for-queer-and-transgender-black-indigenous-people-of-color https://www.samhsa.gov/behavioral-health-equity/lgbt https://www.strongfamilyalliance.org/parent-guide/ Dr.Sodhi’s last episode: https://www.mehrans.com/empowering-conversationz/episode/c2a4e1fa/ez28-managing-covid-trauma-for-immigrants List of books for children: https://www.readbrightly.com/9-great-lgbtq-books-kids/ & https://www.familyequality.org/family-support/lgbtq-books/early-elementary/ Dr. Pavna Sodhi Bio: With over 20 years of psychotherapeutic and research experience, Dr. Pavna Sodhi (she/her) has interacted with a multitude of populations in both clinical and academic spaces. Her professional background and personal narrative offer a unique research perspective regarding culturally responsive trauma work, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) communities, and immigrant mental health. Her research has been featured in national and international scholarly journals and books. In 2017, she wrote, Exploring Immigrant and Sexual Minority Mental Health: Reconsidering Multiculturalism (Routledge). Content from her book is supported by first- and second-generation immigrant narratives, who share their experiences of migration, trauma, overt/covert racism, identity formation, and mental health concerns. She is currently authoring a book regarding decolonizing mental health and trauma-informed practices. Insta : @sunotherapy Website: www.pavnaksodhi.com Twitter: @DrPavnaKSodhi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavna-k-sodhi-67b81615/?originalSubdomain=ca Book: https://www.routledge.com/Exploring-Immigrant-and-Sexual-Minority-Mental-Health-Reconsidering-Multiculturalism/Sodhi/p/book/9780415841870

    44 min
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4.9
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

Welcome to Immigrant Conversations, the podcast that brings you inspiring stories from immigrants who have turned challenges into triumphs. Join Mehran Sorourian, a Middle Eastern immigrant woman as she dives deep into the experiences of first-generation and diaspora individuals, exploring their unique journeys, cultural identities, and the hurdles they’ve overcome. We discuss everything from immigrant entrepreneurship, cross cultural experiences, as well as the dark side of migration such as isolation, bias, and more. We aim to provide a platform for voices that often go unheard and aim to bring people closer together. Join us as we explore topics ranging from immigrant entrepreneurship, first-generation struggles, and cross-cultural experiences to the impact of immigration policies and advocacy. Whether you are an immigrant, a descendant of immigrants, or simply interested in compelling human stories, "Immigrant Conversations" offers a unique perspective on the immigrant experience. Tune in to discover how individuals from diverse backgrounds overcome obstacles, achieve success, and enrich our communities with their unique perspectives and talents. Subscribe now to "Immigrant Conversations" on your favorite podcast platform, and be inspired by the extraordinary journeys of those who have built new lives from the ground up.

Information

  • Creator
    Mehran Sorourian
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Immigrant Conversations

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