Broken English

Asta (Lithuania)

May 21, 2020 12:51 - 1 hour - 86.4 MB

Asta is a therapist from Lithuania with an incredible story of hard work and perseverance. She runs her own clinic and personally specializes in eating disorders. At 16 she was training to work at a suicide hotline while simultaneously starting her own anti-drug group in her high school. You're going to like this one!

Rusalina (Romania)

April 29, 2020 11:54 - 1 hour - 93.2 MB

This episode I sat down with Rusalina from Romania. She is an incredibly interesting woman, physician and performing arts enthusiast here in Chicago. Rusalina's journey has led her to opening her own conceptual preventative medical practice that focuses less on pumping people full of medicine and more about getting to the root cause patient's issues. You're going to like this one! Check out Vitallina Preventative and Integrative Care if you're in Chicago!

Charbel (Lebanon)

March 11, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 78.1 MB

Charbel is an author, father and survivor of the Lebanese civil war. After a childhood of pursuing a professional soccer career, Charbel found himself leaving his war torn home country Lebanon with his family in search of a more peaceful life in the United States. Since coming here he has become an author of several books about about his favorite soccer club, Manchester United and now an autobiography called "Growing Up Blowing Up" about his life during the civil war. Check out his book on A...

Dhenu (India/Immigration Attorney)

February 12, 2020 06:30 - 1 hour - 89.3 MB

I sat down with Dhenu from India on this episode. We talk about Indian culture, the half dozen languages she (and apparently most Indians) speak and what brought her to become an immigration attorney. She currently owns and operates her own law firm in downtown Chicago and talks in depth about getting that business off the ground.

Liina (Estonia)

February 05, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 96.6 MB

From being a famous (in Estonia) actress to becoming a touring band photographer and mother, Liina Raud has an incredible life story that I'm excited to share. She was originally a hair dresser and through an incredible string of luck, she made her way into the spotlight and married an Estonian cultural icon. They made their way to the U.S. in search of a more diverse world for their children to grow up in. Let me know what you think!

Yulia (Russia)

January 28, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 92.3 MB

Yulia is a working artist from Moscow with an incredible story. We dive into Russia's perspective of the US and what our culture has brought to them. Her family has made heartwarming sacrifices for her to be here and she's rising to the occasion. Her work is truly one of a kind. Make sure to follow her on Instagram! She had previously written her reason for coming here and I wanted to share it with you! My Reason It has never occurred to me that I would travel abroad and live in ano...

Fiona (Ireland/Immigration Attorney)

January 15, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 92.5 MB

Fiona is an Irish immigrant, children's book author and immigration attorney who runs her own firm. She is incredibly knowledgable and her story of how she ended up here is nothing short of incredible. Check out her new immigration based children's book Our American Dream out in stores now!

Anonymous (Iran)

December 16, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 96.4 MB

This episode is truly incredible. My guest this episode opted to remain anonymous but is a PhD holder from Iran that absolutely knows his stuff. He runs and moderates a 4000+ member support group for Iranian immigrants fighting their way through the visa system here in the US. He called in from his car and explains the new federal green card policy along with how tech companies are abusing the US visa terms. Let me know what you think! [email protected]

Izabela (Poland)

December 05, 2019 14:28 - 1 hour - 94 MB

This episode was a blast to record. Izabela works as a social worker now here in Chicago but has bounced around professions throughout her life. She came here to visit in college and couldn't get enough so now she's back. I wouldn't be doing the conversation justice if I didn't mention her take on childbearing. She was great to talk to and I think you'll appreciate her insight.

Maik (Germany)

October 25, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 84.7 MB

This episode I sit down with Maik from Germany. His life experience having grown up under democratic socialism truly gives him a different perspective on the direction the U.S. my be headed. He's a serial entrepreneur with a diverse background in reality, software development, engineering, small business management and even being a DJ. I really learned a lot with this one and I think you're going to enjoy it.

Jake (Immigration Attorney)

September 25, 2019 12:01 - 1 hour - 89.6 MB

This episode is a JAMMED full of information for people wanting to know more about the immigration process. Jake is a full time immigration attorney who has dedicated his life to helping people through the process. This conversation completely changed the way I look at the immigration process. With this episode, Broken English begins it's switch to not only a story telling show but a resource for immigrants to find the help they need. This interview is outrageously informative and yet were o...

Beata (Poland/Immigration attorney)

August 29, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 90.5 MB

This episode I sat down with Beata from Poland! She is an immigration attorney who touches on everything from her story of coming here when she was nine and missing a friend's birthday party to move to the US to a tad of immigration legal advice. You'll laugh, learn some things and you'll definitely enjoy yourself. Don't forget to subscribe!

Alicia (Dominican Republic)

August 08, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 94 MB

This episode I sit down with an incredibly interesting woman named Alicia (that I mispronounce like a dummy in the beginning) from the Dominican Republic. Her family has a rich heritage throughout D.R. including her grandfather being the very first veterinarian in the country and what it's like to live under a true dictator. It was an eye opening episode that really sheds light on the issues Dominican Republic has faced. Alicia came very well prepared and I can't thank her enough for doing t...

Miriam (Myanmar)

July 17, 2019 05:30 - 1 hour - 86.7 MB

This episode was flat out incredible. I sat down with Miriam, a 19 year old refugee from Myanmar. Her and her family's story is nothing short of unbelievable. Born into a civil war, Miriam's family fled to Malaysia and went into hiding. RefugeeOne helped orchestrate Miriam's refugee status and get her family here to Chicago. To this day, she still helps keep her family afloat on her ability to speak english. It's a story of overcoming every odd you could think of. I am positive you'll enjoy ...

Max (Haiti)

July 11, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 92.6 MB

This episode I sat down with a stand up comedian from Haiti named Max. I learned so much about Haitian culture from Max this time around and had a lot of fun recording this. From rolling black outs to storing 2 weeks worth of water on your roof and everything in between. Hope you enjoy!

Claudia (Mexico)

June 26, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 67.2 MB

This week I sat down with a member of Northern Illinois Justice For Our Neighbors name Claudia and got her story of coming here from Mexico. It is a truly moving story that I am excited to share. We go over proper terminology for immigrants and where immigrants can seek legal help through Justice For Our Neighbors. I learned a lot and I hope will too!

Harman (India)

June 19, 2019 07:30 - 1 hour - 74.6 MB

This episode was recorded in Harman's apartment last fall while the show was transitioning from a stand alone podcast to a weekly radio show. Harman really opens up about his family's experience here in the U.S. and what changing schools as an indian immigrant was like. Parts of the story are sadly tragic yet full of life lessons. We dive into a more philosophical discussion about approaching life and it's challenges and overwhelming emotions. I had a great time recording this episode. Ha...

Noe (Mexico)

June 12, 2019 09:00 - 1 hour - 79.5 MB

Noe is a stand up comedian here in Chicago that moved all the way from rural Mexico to Atlanta and made his way to Chicago to pursue comedy. From following another Spanish speaking student around to translate for him to hiding his acting/comedy career from his family, Noe has had quite the journey. I had a blast with this episode and I hope you enjoy it.

Graciela (Venezuela)

April 24, 2019 09:00 - 1 hour - 93.9 MB

Welcome back! Season 2 is under way and our first guest is Graciela from Venezuela. She is a good friend of mine and I loved recording this episode. Broken English is now being recorded as a live radio show! Que4 Radio here in Chicago has picked up the show and it's now recorded live every Wednesday at 6pm Central Time on Que4.org and then released as podcast. The sound quality is higher, the Que4 studio is incredible to work in and Broken English on the right path. Thank you for your suppor...

Hongming (China)

June 12, 2017 11:01 - 1 hour - 91.9 MB

This is the 10th and final episode of Season 1 and I've got Hongming Liu from China on the show! This episode is all over the place and we cover everything from old Chinese stories to child labor factories and philosophy. He's a brilliant man who came to Chicago on a student visa and got his PhD and JD at DePaul University. He now works as a patten attorney and finds time to do stand up comedy as a hobby. He clears up a few stereotypes and really explains Chinese culture that only be told by...

Josefina (Argentina)

June 05, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 69.7 MB

For our 9th episode I sit down with a woman from Argentina named Josefina! Her incredible story starts off in Buenos Aires and ends in Naperville, IL. While in Argentina she convinced her company to send her the U.S. and she learned English from a friend before moving here. It's an incredible story of innovation, hard work and failed bribery. I had great time recording this episode and I'm sure you will like it as well. Thanks for listening!

Beryl (South Africa)

May 21, 2017 20:14 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MB

I have another South African on the show this week! They just keep volunteering and I couldn't be happier. This was a fun interview with Beryl who is from Johannesburg, South Arica. She moved here after living in Europe for a few years and hasn't looked back since. She paid for her plane ticket here with money won gambling on horses and lived on a horse training facility in Tampa, Florida when she first moved here. A minister helped her create a new life in the US by teaching her how to live...

Ali (Iran)

May 15, 2017 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47 MB

This time around I interview my first Middle Eastern guest named Ali from Iran. Ali immigrated here as a teenager and ended up in Massachusetts. He and his family got his Green Card through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. They were randomly picked lottery style to move here so they packed up and headed the US. It's a heartfelt story of a young ambitious comedian now chasing his dreams in Chicago. Thanks for listening!

Ramiro (Argentina)

May 08, 2017 05:30 - 1 hour - 58.1 MB

This week we've got an excellent interview where I sit down with Ramiro Lynch from Argentina. His parents where political activists and he found himself studying criminal law before moving to the US for his work. Immigrating to the Chicago suburbs and trusting strangers while learning the language was an everyday task for Ramiro in his path to becoming an American. It's an episode of love, loss and finding a home. Thanks again for listening to these incredible firsthand immigration stories w...

Megan and Murray (South Africa)

May 01, 2017 08:00 - 45 minutes - 41.2 MB

I've got another insightful episode of Broken English for you! This time (actually a few months ago) I sit down with a couple from South Africa and get their immigration story about moving to Chicago from Johannesburg, South Africa. Their firsthand account of their move is a bit different from the others we've heard from so far and I get to learn a little bit more about the Green Card process. Thanks for listening and don't forget to check out the website brokenenglishpodcast.com

Fernando (Bolivia)

April 24, 2017 08:00 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MB

Hey! Another episode here and this time it's a co-worker of mine named Fernando from Bolivia. He immigrated here as a teenager without knowing a single word of english and lives here in Chicago holding down a job with me. We talk of other immigrant bullies at school, how cocaine isn't as popular as I thought it was down there and his plans for the future here in America. It was recorded back in the summer before Trump was elected so if the references sound dated... They are! Thanks for liste...

Adam Burke (Ireland, UK)

April 17, 2017 09:00 - 1 hour - 94.9 MB

Adam Burke is a Stand Up Comedian and regular on NPR who was born in Australia, raised in Ireland during their civil war and lived in London to then immigrated to the US in his mid-twenties. It's a great episode full of soldiers, heartbreak and weird accents. We talk politics, border ideologies and immigration officers thinking Australia is French Polynesia. Thanks again for listening!

Alet (South Africa)

April 10, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 59.4 MB

This episode I sit down with a woman who immigrated from South Africa named Alet and talk about her experience moving to Chicago as an Au Pair. She shares a little bit into the life of living in South Africa along with the hardships of living in the United States without any of her family. It's a tale of a little girl who grew up watching America on her TV and following her dreams has led her to actually living here. Thanks for listening to Broken English: Firsthand Immigration Stor...

Miguel (Mexico)

March 29, 2017 02:27 - 56 minutes - 51.7 MB

Hey! Welcome to the first episode of Broken English: Firsthand Immigration Stories! This episode I sit down with a friend of mine who illegally immigrated to the US from Mexico at the age of 12 and has slowly become an official resident. The story is filled with laughter and struggle as Miguel describes an incredible journey from the heart of Mexico all the way to Chicago with his parents. Being my first episode I learn quite a bit about what it takes the average person to make it ac...

Episodes