That Second-Gen Life with Semhar

Where The In-Between Becomes Your Superpower

That Second-Gen Life with Semhar is where diaspora experiences, career growth, social good, and global impact intersect. Hosted by Semhar Araia, an Eritrean-American diaspora engagement expert, CEO, and global advisor, this podcast is for those navigating second-generation experiences, driving diaspora impact, and finding their place as changemakers, leaders, or allies. Each episode delivers real talk, career strategies, and unfiltered insights on balancing cultures, advancing professionally, and building opportunities where they don’t yet exist. Subscribe now for thought-provoking conversations, diaspora hot takes, and exclusive AMAs and workshops that help you lead with purpose. semhar.substack.com

  1. #18: How the Diaspora Leadership Program Changes Your Life - a Look at Week One

    10/17/2025

    #18: How the Diaspora Leadership Program Changes Your Life - a Look at Week One

    After a whirlwind September, I sat down to record another podcast episode of That Second Gen Life with Semhar and I would love for you to tune in. Join me as I share a recap of our first week of the Diaspora Leadership Program and the surprising discover I had after teaching this course for 10 years. I share: * Why session one feels like an invitation to yourself * How defining your diaspora vision in module two sparks the big questions we deserve to ask * What I am seeing across our cohort, from recent grads to near-retirees, and how each person arrives at powerful clarity * A look ahead to sessions two and three, where we shape audience, message, and real-world strategy for impact You will hear a candid recap, takeaways you can apply right away, and an energizing reminder to use your time, talent, and treasure for good. 🎧 Listen to the episode and let me know your favorite insight in the comments. If this episode resonates, add your name to the Diaspora Leadership Program waitlist for October 2026 and stay in the loop on upcoming TDA events, trainings and advisory sessions. We are creating the spaces we wish existed, together, and I thank you for joining us on this journey. With gratitude,Semhar P.S. Curious about the Diaspora Leadership Program curriculum and modules? Visit thediasporaacademy.com/dlp for details and the waitlist. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semhar.substack.com/subscribe

    7 min
  2. #16: Yes, Living in the Diaspora Is a Personal Journey

    07/10/2025

    #16: Yes, Living in the Diaspora Is a Personal Journey

    Every time I sit down to record an episode, I think of you. You might be the daughter or son of immigrants, trying to figure out how to hold your family's story and still make room for your own. Maybe you're a second-generation leader feeling stuck or unsure of what’s next. Or maybe you're someone who’s quietly carrying the weight of your community, doing your best to keep everything and everyone together. This week’s episode is straight from the heart. It was one of my weekly IG lives, which I’m doing for the month of July, but I wanted to share it with you, our TSGL community. That Second-Gen Life with Semhar is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I know many of you may feel like you’re being pulled in multiple directions or facing pressure from too many different points. We show up, we give, we serve. But we don’t always know how to take care of ourselves in the process. So I share some of the reasons why the diaspora life is actually a personal journey, including: * The pressure of family and cultural expectations * What it looks like to listen to your own voice * The difference between honoring your community and losing yourself * And how to lead with love, not fear “Pursuing your own journey has to be done as honestly to who you are as possible.” If you’ve been holding your breath, trying to do it all, sit back and consider what I’m saying. You cannot do it alone, perfectly or how everyone else wants you to do it. In the diaspora, we listen, we don’t judge. 🎧 Listen to the newest episode of That Second-Gen Life with Semhar and let me know what speaks to you. #TDADiasporas #CreateTheSpaces #ThatSecondGenLife #DiasporaLeadership #Diaspora This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semhar.substack.com/subscribe

    41 min
  3. #14: Born Into Power: How Eritrea’s Independence and Africa Day Shaped My Story

    05/26/2025

    #14: Born Into Power: How Eritrea’s Independence and Africa Day Shaped My Story

    What does it mean to honor your roots while building your future? What happens when a phone call changes everything you thought was just a dream? In our latest episode of That Second Gen Life, I’m getting deeply personal. I hit record while out of town during a powerful weekend—one filled with meaning, memory, and movement. It’s not just Memorial Day for me. It’s a Pan-African, Independence Day, and birthday weekend all rolled into one. That Second-Gen Life with Semhar is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. May 24 is Eritrea’s Independence Day, and for me, it will always be marked by the moment I heard my mother say, “Eritrea is free.” I was just 13, when I received a phone call from my mother that I would never forget. I didn’t know then how much those words would shape me, but they did—and they still do. Then comes May 25: Africa Day. Established in 1963 with the founding of the Organization of African Unity, Africa Day is about more than flags and declarations. It’s a celebration of freedom. Of sovereignty. Of global connection. And in 2012, when the African Union officially recognized the African diaspora as the sixth region of the continent, it affirmed something we already knew: we are part of this story, and this story is part of us. In this episode, I reflect on: * The legacy of Eritrea’s hard-won independence—and why it matters globally. * The evolution of Africa Day, from continental unity to a global celebration of African people and power. * The AU’s groundbreaking recognition of the diaspora and what that means for our collective future. * The under-told history of the Pan-African Women’s Organization, which predates the AU and reminds us that African women have always led. This episode isn’t just for Eritreans. It’s for every member of the African diaspora who wonders where they fit, what their role is, and how to reconnect with heritage in a meaningful way. From east to west, north to south, and across oceans—Africa Day touches us all. 🎧 Listen now to this powerful Africa Day episode of That Second Gen Life with Semhar. Let it remind you of your place in our shared story. If you’re ready to explore your own diaspora path and take action, sign up for Diaspora Leadership Program at www.thediasporaacademy.com/dlp. Let’s help you create the spaces you wish existed. #TDADiasporas #CreateTheSpaces #Diaspora #AfricaDay #DiasporaLeadership #EritreaIndependence #PanAfricanism #DiasporaPhilanthropy #SecondGenVoices This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit semhar.substack.com/subscribe

    12 min

About

That Second-Gen Life with Semhar is where diaspora experiences, career growth, social good, and global impact intersect. Hosted by Semhar Araia, an Eritrean-American diaspora engagement expert, CEO, and global advisor, this podcast is for those navigating second-generation experiences, driving diaspora impact, and finding their place as changemakers, leaders, or allies. Each episode delivers real talk, career strategies, and unfiltered insights on balancing cultures, advancing professionally, and building opportunities where they don’t yet exist. Subscribe now for thought-provoking conversations, diaspora hot takes, and exclusive AMAs and workshops that help you lead with purpose. semhar.substack.com