Immigration Stories: We The Aliens Podcast artwork

Immigration Stories: We The Aliens Podcast

70 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago -

We The Aliens podcast hosts conversations with IMMIGRANTS from all over the world who came to the US and found their path to the American Dream. No matter what their status is - undocumented, DACA recipient, permanent resident (green card holder), naturalized citizen - all are welcome here. We talk about the challenges of leaving the home country, finding the legal path, finding a way to belong in the new world, building a career, finding love, and sustaining the family traditions. We talk about IMMIGRATION as a process of growth and self-discovery, adaptation, overcoming cultural shocks, and fighting racial and ethnic stereotypes. We talk about the great contributions that immigrants make to the American economy, culture, science, and society. We also feature stories of the first-gens, FIRST GENERATION American-born, the third culture kids, who have their own set of struggles growing in between the cultures of their parents' home country and America. We talk about their battle to find their identity and carve their path while redefining what American is. We talk about philosophy, psychology, culture, language, and history. We also talk about the news of the day, things that we all worry about. If you love NPR, This American Life, The Daily, and Pod Save America, if you read Forbes, LA Times, The Atlantic, and New York Times, if you watch John Oliver, Bill Maher, Stephen Colbert, and/or Trevor Noah, if you are a Twitter and Clubhouse addict because you want to be closer to people, if you, your spouse, your parent, or your grandma is an immigrant-alien and you know that you and they came to this country to build, and you can’t stand discrimination and belittling of their lives and contributions, - this podcast is for you.

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Episodes

55. Will Data Make Small Business Big? (w/Hicham Oudghiri. Part 2)

May 27, 2021 17:32 - 52 minutes - 50.3 MB

My guest this week is Hicham Oudghiri, a Morrocan-American entrepreneur. The founder of Enigma, a startup that creates a data infrastructure that will help businesses make informed decisions mostly about other businesses. One of their focus points is specifically small business lending, which is notoriously difficult. And Enigma is aiming to change that and has made some progress there - among their clients are PayPal, American Express, and Capital One. This is part two of my conversation ...

54. The Value Proposition Of An Open Mind (w/Hicham Oudghiri. Part 1)

May 24, 2021 20:20 - 48 minutes - 46.9 MB

My guest this week is Hicham Oudghiri, a Morrocan-American entrepreneur. The founder of Enigma, a startup that creates a data infrastructure that will help businesses make informed decisions mostly about other businesses. One of their focus points is specifically small business lending, which is notoriously difficult. And Enigma is aiming to change that and has made some progress there - among their clients are PayPal, American Express, and Capital One. Hicham is my second high-tech guest ...

53. The Infinite Crypto Machine (w/Camila Russo. Part 2)

May 22, 2021 12:12 - 33 minutes - 33.1 MB

My guest this week is Camila Russo, a Chilean-American financial journalist. She cut her teeth at Bloomberg News. And in 2020 she founded The Defiant, a crypto news platform. She has also written a book, the first history of Ethereum, called The Infinite Machine.  In this Part 2 of the conversation, Camila and I talk about how she made the transition from writing about the traditional markets to covering crypto and how she has since placed her bets on decentralized finance. Check out Par...

53. The Infinite Crypto Machine (w/Camila Russo. Part 2)

May 22, 2021 12:12

My guest this week is Camila Russo, a Chilean-American financial journalist. She cut her teeth at Bloomberg News. And in 2020 she founded The Defiant, a crypto news platform. She has also written a book, the first history of Ethereum, called The Infinite Machine.  In this Part 2 of the conversation, Camila and I talk about how she made the transition from writing about the traditional markets to covering crypto and how she has since placed her bets on decentralized finance. Check out Par...

52. From Bloomberg To Crypto (w/Camila Russo. Part 1)

May 17, 2021 20:21 - 35 minutes - 35.3 MB

Camila Russo is a Chilean-American financial journalist. In 2020 she founded The Defiant, a media platform that has quickly become one of the most trusted and respected news sources in the world of decentralized finance, more known as crypto.  You’ve heard of crypto. You’ve heard of Bitcoin. You’ve heard of Doge. If you’re into sports you’ve probably heard of the digital collectible sports cards. You may have even heard of the mysterious non-fungible tokens, the NFTs. It’s the cutting edge...

51. Non-Obvious Life (w/Rohit Bhargava. Part 2)

May 13, 2021 17:00 - 30 minutes - 30 MB

Rohit Bhargava, Indian-American Wall Street Journal bestselling author, speaker, and self-described near-futurist. Rohit is a branding expert. He spent 15 years in leadership roles at two world-renowned ad agencies: Leo Burnett and Ogilvy.  His ideas have been implemented by such giants as the World Bank, NASA, Intel, Disney, Colgate, Coca-Cola, NBC Universal, American Express, and many others. Rohit also teaches Marketing and Storytelling at Georgetown University. Rohit is the founder...

50. Do Not Compare (w/Rohit Bhargava. Part 1)

May 12, 2021 20:03 - 40 minutes - 39.7 MB

Rohit Bhargava, Indian-American Wall Street Journal bestselling author, speaker, and self-described near-futurist. Rohit is a branding expert. He spent 15 years in leadership roles at two world-renowned ad agencies: Leo Burnett and Ogilvy.  His ideas have been implemented by such giants as the World Bank, NASA, Intel, Disney, Colgate, Coca-Cola, NBC Universal, American Express and many others. Rohit also teaches Marketing and Storytelling at Georgetown University.   Rohit is the foun...

49. Just Say Grace (w/Grace Ramirez. Part 2)

May 08, 2021 02:49 - 31 minutes - 30.8 MB

My guest this week is Grace Ramirez, Chef Grace. And this is part two of our conversation.  If you have not listened to part one - check it out wherever you’re listening right now. Grace shares her immigration journey from Venezuela to the US and from being a TV producer to being in front of the camera and then further into the kitchen.  And this is where we pick up in today’s episode.  Besides writing cookbooks and hosting TV shows, Grace has been an ambassador for Zacapa rum. And she...

48. From Master Chef to World Central Kitchen (w/Grace Ramirez. Part 1)

May 04, 2021 18:02 - 44 minutes - 42.8 MB

48. From Master Chef to World Central Kitchen (w/Grace Ramirez. Part 1) This week on the podcast - Grace Ramirez, Chef Grace, the first Venezuelan-American on the show. She has written books and hosted TV shows, all around the world. She started her career on season one of Master Chef and for the last few years, she has been actively working with Chef Jose Andres’s World Central Kitchen. First, in Puerto Rico in 2017, then the Bahamas and Venezuela, and for the last year - New York.  D...

47. Hug Your Way Into The NBA (w/Erwin Valencia. Part 2)

April 29, 2021 19:48 - 36 minutes - 35.9 MB

My guest this week is Erwin Valencia. Erwin is the Director of Training and Conditioning with the NEW YORK KNICKS. Erwin is a Philippino-American physical therapist, strength coach, sports scientist, mindfulness coach, social entrepreneur, international speaker, and mentor. He is a true Citizen of the World.  It’s hard to even compress his biography into a reasonable sentence. From Non-Profit Rehabilitation Programs in the Philippines to sports clinics of NYC, on to Major League Baseball...

46. Top Shot (w/Erwin Valencia. Part 1)

April 26, 2021 18:21 - 37 minutes - 36.3 MB

My guest this week is Erwin Valencia. Erwin is the Director of Training and Conditioning with the NEW YORK KNICKS!! NBA, in da house, my friends! Erwin is a Philippino-American physical therapist, strength coach, sports scientist, mindfulness coach, social entrepreneur, international speaker, and mentor. He is a true Citizen of the World.  It’s hard to even compress his biography into a reasonable sentence. From Non-Profit Rehabilitation Programs in the Philippines to sports clinics of N...

45. Digital Intimacy On Clubhouse (w/Michael Ronen. Part 2)

April 15, 2021 04:49 - 19 minutes - 20.3 MB

Michael Ronen is a futurist, experience designer, and digital event producer. He is the founder of Wonderland - an Immersive Design Agency. Michael’s background is in theater and throughout his life he has been creating projects and environments that allow for empathy and intimacy. He is on a mission to help people realize their human potential in full. And of course I relate to that idea.   He is the freshest off the boat guest we’ve had on the podcast. Michael has just moved to the US ...

44. A Move In Time Of Plague (w/Michael Ronen. Part 1)

April 07, 2021 19:44 - 35 minutes - 35 MB

  Michael Ronen is a futurist, experience designer, and digital event producer. He is the founder of Wonderland - an Immersive Design Agency. Michael’s background is in theater and throughout his life he has been creating projects and environments that allow for empathy and intimacy. He is on a mission to help people realize their human potential in full. And of course I relate to that idea.   He is the freshest off the boat guest we’ve had on the podcast. Michael has just moved to the...

43. Smell The Roses (w/Nurit Katz. Part 2)

April 02, 2021 03:46 - 30 minutes - 30.5 MB

Nurit Katz is UCLA’s first Chief Sustainability Officer. She also teaches at UCLA Extension’s Sustainability Certificate Program. And she is a first-generation American, a proud daughter of a Serbian-Croatian Israeli immigrant. In this episode, we talk about how to get people and most important organizations and companies to think and care more about sustainability. And I was pleasantly surprised by Nurits outlook because I have a tendency to get into “all is lost” mode and there is a lot ...

42. What Sustainability Is and Is Not (w/Nurit Katz. Part 1)

March 29, 2021 22:31 - 25 minutes - 25.8 MB

Nurit is UCLA’s first Chief Sustainability Officer.  She also teaches at UCLA Extension’s Sustainability Certificate Program. And she is a first-generation American, a proud daughter of a Serbian/Croatian Israeli immigrant.   We talk about what sustainability is and is not. And how immigrant perspective can be of value here. Here are a few links from Nurit: UCLA Sustainability: https://www.sustain.ucla.edu/ UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge: https://grandchallenges.ucla.edu/susta...

41. Don’t Forget To Grieve, While You’re Counting Your Blessings (w/Paulina Isabel Almarosa. Part 2)

March 25, 2021 21:10

My guest this week is Paulina Isabel Almarosa. And this is part two of my conversation with her. Check out part one where Paulina shared her experience of growing up undocumented.  I want to put a trigger warning right here as we do talk about grief but I also want to invite you to open your mind and take a listen. And the reason is that we all have losses in our lives, and this year, we all lost something. And the thing with grief is that avoiding it doesn’t help, like any emotion it will...

40. The American Nightmare, Not The Dream (w/Paulina Isabel Almarosa. Part 1)

March 22, 2021 14:00

Paulina Isabel Almarosa is a licensed social worker and the founder of Latinx Grief. Paulina works with a very touchy subject. I’d say, the touchiest of subjects - grief.   FIND PAULINA: https://www.instagram.com/latinxgrief/ FIND WE THE ALIENS PODCAST:  www.WeTheAliensPod.com YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and on Clubhouse   Let us know what you think about the show. Call our Google Voice at (213) 973-3813 and leave a message or email to wtapodconnect@gmail....

39. Don’t Get Into Professional Photography (w/Dean Zulich. Part 2)

March 18, 2021 14:00 - 36 minutes - 35.8 MB

Dean Zulich is a fashion and commercial photographer originally from Bosnia. Among his clients are NIKE, UN, Playboy, and ESPN. His work has appeared all over the media - Marie Claire, Vogue, The New York Times, Boston Globe.  Make sure to check out part one of the interview where Dean shares his war experience and his thoughts on capitalism vs. socialism.  He got catapulted into the world of fashion photography by a reality TV show The Shot that he entered right after college. The show ...

38. The Long And Winding Road (w/Dean Zulich. Part 1)

March 15, 2021 14:00 - 36 minutes - 35.8 MB

Dean Zulich is a rockstar photographer. Among his clients are NIKE, UN, Playboy, and ESPN.   His work has appeared in Vogue, New York Times, Boston Globe, and many other publications.  He has traveled the world taking pictures and teaching photography. Dean is Bosnian. He was born and raised in Yugoslavia and in this episode, he shares his story of fighting and escaping the war that followed the collapsing of his country.    FIND DEAN: https://www.deanzulich.com/ https://www....

37. Life Is Unfair. Is It A Civil Rights Matter? (w/Ehsan Zaffar - Part 2)

March 12, 2021 00:22 - 25 minutes - 26 MB

This is part two of my interview with Ehsan Zaffar and if you’re tuning in here I highly recommend that after listening to this episode you go to the previous one and listen to the fascinating story of Ehsan’s family’s escape from war-torn Kuwait. Some crazy stuff there. In today’s episode we talk about Ehsan’s passion - inequality, well, fight against inequality to be more precise.  Ehsan is a civil rights lawyer, a professor, and an author. He is also the director of the Center on Ineq...

36. Through The Desert. (w/Ehsan Zaffar. Part 1)

March 08, 2021 20:55 - 31 minutes - 31.3 MB

Ehsan Zaffar is a civil rights lawyer, a professor, and an author.   As a Senior Advisor on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at the Department of Homeland Security, he advises on matters of freedom of religion, fighting violence against women, and LGBTQ rights.   Ehsan teaches at Georgetown University, George Mason University, George Washington University, and Temple Universities.   He serves on the Executive Board of ACLU California and on the Advisory Board for Team Rubicon, an...

36. Ehsan Zaffar. Part 1. Through The Desert.

March 08, 2021 20:55 - 31 minutes - 31.3 MB

Ehsan Zaffar is a civil rights lawyer, a professor, and an author.   As a Senior Advisor on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at the Department of Homeland Security, he advises on matters of freedom of religion, fighting violence against women, and LGBTQ rights.   Ehsan teaches at Georgetown University, George Mason University, George Washington University, and Temple Universities.   He serves on the Executive Board of ACLU California and on the Advisory Board for Team Rubicon, an...

35. Zara Barrie. Part.2. American Elitism and How To Get Your First Book Deal.

March 04, 2021 22:36 - 31 minutes - 31.4 MB

This is part two of My conversation with Zara Barrie. She is a first-generation British-American. She is the former Senior Sex & Dating writer for Elite Daily. And last year her first book came out, GIRL STOP PASSING OUT IN YOUR MAKEUP. And we’re not talking about makeup at all. We talk about elitism, diversity, and how to get your first book published.  Since it’s part two of the conversation - we jump in right at the place where we talk about career stuff. If you want to hear about Zara’...

35. American Elitism and How To Get Your First Book Deal. (w/Zara Barrie. Part.2)

March 04, 2021 22:36 - 31 minutes - 31.4 MB

This is part two of My conversation with Zara Barrie. She is a first-generation British-American. She is the former Senior Sex & Dating writer for Elite Daily. And last year her first book came out, GIRL STOP PASSING OUT IN YOUR MAKEUP. And we’re not talking about makeup at all. We talk about elitism, diversity, and how to get your first book published.  Since it’s part two of the conversation - we jump in right at the place where we talk about career stuff. If you want to hear about Zara’...

34. Zara Barrie. Part 1. British Count.

March 02, 2021 18:27 - 46 minutes - 44.9 MB

 Zara Barrie is a first-generation British-American. I know what you’re thinking. Brits don’t count. Guess what, they do. Even Canadians count as immigrants. We do not discriminate here, not by distance, not by language. A lost home feels the same to everyone.  Zara is the former Senior Sex & Dating writer for Elite Daily. She has penned over three thousand articles.  And recently launched www.CrazyBadBabesClub.com, a wellness publication for bad girls.  Together with Dayna Troisi she ...

34. British Count. (w/Zara Barrie. Part 1)

March 02, 2021 18:27 - 46 minutes - 44.9 MB

 Zara Barrie is a first-generation British-American. I know what you’re thinking. Brits don’t count. Guess what, they do. Even Canadians count as immigrants. We do not discriminate here, not by distance, not by language. A lost home feels the same to everyone.  Zara is the former Senior Sex & Dating writer for Elite Daily. She has penned over three thousand articles.  And recently launched www.CrazyBadBabesClub.com, a wellness publication for bad girls.  Together with Dayna Troisi she ...

33. The Nitty-Gritty of COVID-19. (w/Dr. Otto Yang. Part 2)

March 01, 2021 05:17 - 54 minutes - 52.3 MB

This is part two of My conversation with Dr. Otto Yang, who is the associate chief of the infectious disease at UCLA.  Dr. Yang is a first-generation Taiwanese-American. He grew up in a family of scientists. He graduated from Brown University and Harvard. And for the last 20+ years, Dr. Yang has been specializing in T cell immunology and HIV. And since the beginning of the pandemic, he has repurposed his lab to study the immune response to COVID-19. We talked about Dr.Yang’s research in ...

33. Dr. Otto Yang. Pt.2. The Nitty-Gritty of COVID-19.

March 01, 2021 05:17 - 54 minutes - 52.3 MB

This is part two of My conversation with Dr. Otto Yang, who is the associate chief of the infectious disease at UCLA.  Dr. Yang is a first-generation Taiwanese-American. He grew up in a family of scientists. He graduated from Brown University and Harvard. And for the last 20+ years, Dr. Yang has been specializing in T cell immunology and HIV. And since the beginning of the pandemic, he has repurposed his lab to study the immune response to COVID-19. We talked about Dr.Yang’s research in ...

32. COVID-19, Science, and Dictatorships. (w/Dr. Otto Yang. Part 1)

February 22, 2021 15:00 - 46 minutes - 44.9 MB

Dr. Otto Yang is a first-generation Taiwanese-American and the associate chief of infectious disease at UCLA.  Dr. Yang has a background in clinical infectious diseases, and his laboratory specializes in immunology and HIV infection. That experience and background put Dr.Yang in a unique position at the beginning of the pandemic - and he has repurposed his lab to study COVID19 and how our immune system responds to it. His research was covered in a somewhat controversial way by The New York...

32. Dr. Otto Yang. Pt.1. COVID-19, Science, and Dictatorships.

February 22, 2021 15:00 - 46 minutes - 44.9 MB

Dr. Otto Yang is a first-generation Taiwanese-American and the associate chief of infectious disease at UCLA.  Dr. Yang has a background in clinical infectious diseases, and his laboratory specializes in immunology and HIV infection. That experience and background put Dr.Yang in a unique position at the beginning of the pandemic - and he has repurposed his lab to study COVID19 and how our immune system responds to it. His research was covered in a somewhat controversial way by The New York...

31. Ariel Cohen. Part 2. Russia: The Unfalling Empire.

February 18, 2021 15:00 - 28 minutes - 28.5 MB

Ariel shared an amazing and very personal story of what it was like to live in the Soviet Union as a Jewish person and what it took to escape. How at the age of 15 he was pressured to denounce his parents as traitors, and what happened when he refused. In today’s episode, we talk about how what is happening in Russia today is intrinsically connected to the collapse of the Soviet Union hence the title of the episode The Unfalling Empire. For those of you who don’t follow Russian politics ...

31. Russia: The Unfalling Empire. (w/Ariel Cohen. Part 2)

February 18, 2021 15:00 - 28 minutes - 28.5 MB

Ariel shared an amazing and very personal story of what it was like to live in the Soviet Union as a Jewish person and what it took to escape. How at the age of 15 he was pressured to denounce his parents as traitors, and what happened when he refused. In today’s episode, we talk about how what is happening in Russia today is intrinsically connected to the collapse of the Soviet Union hence the title of the episode The Unfalling Empire. For those of you who don’t follow Russian politics ...

30. Ariel Cohen. Part 1. Refusenik Story.

February 15, 2021 18:40 - 38 minutes - 38 MB

Ariel Cohen is a political analyst and strategist, writer, and commentator. He is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Eurasia Center, he is also a Senior Fellow at the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC). Dr. Cohen consults for Fortune 500 companies and international law firms. You’ve seen him on CNN, NBC, CBS, FOX, C-SPAN, and BBC, you’ve heard him on the radio, you’ve read his columns in Forbes and other publications. He is a leading expert on Eastern Europe and the Middle E...

30. Refusenik Story. (w/Ariel Cohen. Part 1)

February 15, 2021 18:40 - 38 minutes - 38 MB

Ariel Cohen is a political analyst and strategist, writer, and commentator. He is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Eurasia Center, he is also a Senior Fellow at the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC). Dr. Cohen consults for Fortune 500 companies and international law firms. You’ve seen him on CNN, NBC, CBS, FOX, C-SPAN, and BBC, you’ve heard him on the radio, you’ve read his columns in Forbes and other publications. He is a leading expert on Eastern Europe and the Middle E...

29. Asra Nomani talks about Daniel Pearl.

January 11, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 66.9 MB

My guest is a journalist, activist, and author Asra Nomani. She is a former The Wall Street Journal correspondent. She has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, Time, People, Salon.com, and many other publications. She taught journalism at Georgetown University. You’ve heard her on NPR and seen her on CNN, Fox News, and Bill Maher’s show talking about Muslim extremism and Muslim reformism. Asra is the co-founder of the Muslim Reform Movement.    Asra was born in India. She...

29. Daniel Pearl's Story and Legacy. (w/Asra Nomani. Part 2)

January 11, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 66.9 MB

My guest is a journalist, activist, and author Asra Nomani. She is a former The Wall Street Journal correspondent. She has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, Time, People, Salon.com, and many other publications. She taught journalism at Georgetown University. You’ve heard her on NPR and seen her on CNN, Fox News, and Bill Maher’s show talking about Muslim extremism and Muslim reformism. Asra is the co-founder of the Muslim Reform Movement.    Asra was born in India. She...

28. Asra Nomani. Hyderabad to Morgantown, West Virginia.

January 04, 2021 22:59 - 1 hour - 60.6 MB

My guest is a journalist, activist, and author Asra Nomani. She is a former The Wall Street Journal correspondent. She has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, Time, People, Salon.com, and many other publications. She taught journalism at Georgetown University. You’ve heard her on NPR and seen her on CNN, Fox News, and Bill Maher’s show talking about Muslim extremism and Muslim reformism. Asra is the co-founder of the Muslim Reform Movement.    Asra was born in India and ...

28. From Hyderabad to The Wall Street Journal. (w/Asra Nomani. Part 1)

January 04, 2021 22:59 - 1 hour - 60.6 MB

My guest is a journalist, activist, and author Asra Nomani. She is a former The Wall Street Journal correspondent. She has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, Time, People, Salon.com, and many other publications. She taught journalism at Georgetown University. You’ve heard her on NPR and seen her on CNN, Fox News, and Bill Maher’s show talking about Muslim extremism and Muslim reformism. Asra is the co-founder of the Muslim Reform Movement.    Asra was born in India and ...

27. The Year's End Episode

December 28, 2020 17:00 - 19 minutes - 20.3 MB

The Year’s End Episode, it’s a mix of a recap and touching base with the guests of the podcast.   Francis Cholle’s book Squircle became a Wall Street Journal bestseller. Kinga Philipps was featured on the EPIX show ENSLAVED that is set to broadcast all over the world. Inbal Lessner’s show SEDUCED: Inside The NXIVM Cult beat HBO's The Vow with critics. Che Guerrero released a new comedy album. Sandra Zanella is about to publish a book and move to Dubai. Sara Stanizai has grown h...

26. Winter Holiday Edition.

December 21, 2020 22:54 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MB

This is the first winter holiday celebration on We The Aliens, the audio home for all the aliens. It’s a Russian party. To get over with it once and for all, Sasha talks about the Russian drinking rules, three things to know about vodka, and the traditional order of toasts. PSA it’s “ZA ZDOROVYE,” not “NA ZDOROVYE.”  Sasha introduces the guests of the party, our listeners - immigrants and immigrant allies, who share their holiday stories.    SHARE YOUR WINTER HOLIDAY STORY - Call our...

25. Karel Flores. Mexico City to New York.

December 14, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 84.3 MB

This week on the podcast - Karel Flores - one of the most beloved salsa dancers and in-demand salsa teachers out there.   Some of you know that I’m slightly obsessed with salsa and bachata dancing but this conversation is not just about dance, because besides being a stellar salsera, Karel is also an activist.    Karel is a force. She was born and raised in Mexico City. For years she was part of the famous NYC Yamulee dance company and now she is running her own Karel Flores army of ...

24. Sara Stanizai. Afghani in Los Angeles.

December 07, 2020 16:00 - 53 minutes - 49 MB

Sara Stanizai is a therapist who doesn’t have a therapist vibe. As she puts it, “not your nice-white-lady” therapist.  Sara is the founder of Prospect Therapy which is an LGBTQ+ affirming psychotherapy practice. She and her colleagues work with “overachievers,” “black sheep,” and the queer community. We talk about how being a daughter of Afghani refugees, Muslim and queer, and growing up in post 9/11 America equipped Sara for her work in a unique way.  We also talk about identity and a...

23. Tamara Mena. Leon to Los Angeles.

November 30, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 67.1 MB

This week on Thursday, December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. And my guest today is Tamara Mena. She is an actress, model, bilingual TV host, and Instagram influencer. She is also a survivor and motivational speaker.  She came to the US as a teenager, only a few years later she survived a terrible car accident that left her paralyzed chest down.  We talk about how whether it’s immigration status or disability that make us alien, we all search for a way to belon...

22. Adrian Feliciano. Dominican in Austin.

November 25, 2020 17:18 - 1 hour - 72.9 MB

AJ Feliciano is the Head of The Roost podcast network based in Austin that is part of the WarnerMedia owned Rooster Teeth Productions. The Roost is a video-centric podcast network with more than 70 shows with tens of millions of monthly downloads.   It was fun to talk shop with AJ - we touched on how big players coming into the industry changes how independent podcasters will have to think of their work and business and he shared some of his thinking that’s behind running a podcast net...

21. Yunyun Winnie Gu. Shanghai to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

November 16, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 81.9 MB

Yunyun Winnie Gu is a student from China. She has studied art and architecture, and now she is a graduate student of education at Lehigh University. She is the creator of an Instagram project called Third Culture Chinese that gained 60K followers in the two years since it was created and where Winnie posts her comics talking about being a third culture kid, cultural shock, identity crisis, and other issues familiar to most immigrants. Besides her project, we talk about China and how Winnie...

20. Damien Fahrenfort. Cape Town to Los Angeles.

November 09, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 71.6 MB

Damien Fahrenfort is a South-African professional surfer, famous and one may even say notorious for his blog Dooma’s Rumors that is no longer active but that for years was a source of controversy in the world of professional surfing. Damien now lives in Los Angeles and in the last 10 years has gone from content creation at Quicksilver to launching the US version of the surf magazine STAB to running an apparel boutique in Venice Beach. He is now an athlete manager to two World Championship To...

19. Greeny Camberos. Dia De Muertos Special.

November 03, 2020 11:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MB

This is Dia De Muertos episode. I talk a little bit about the history of the holiday and then I talk to Greeny Camberos, a Mexican-American artist based in Los Angeles who creates amazing Dia De Muertos themed art - dresses, and crowns, and body art and all kinds of beautiful things. Check out her Instagram @coronoaschingonas which translates as “badass crowns,” which they totally are.    #WeTheAliens #HereToStay #ImmigrantsMakeAmericaGreat   www.WeTheAliensPod.com Follow us on ...

18. Horacio Marquinez. Panama to LA and New Haven.

November 02, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 95.1 MB

Panamanian-American cinematographer Horacio Marquinez has shot over 30 feature films in the US and all over the world. Including one of my personal favorites - Bobcat Goldthwait's - World’s Greatest Dad. And we talk about what it was like to work with the king of clowns, Robin Williams. We also talk about the shadow of tragedy that is hanging over that film. And here’s the first disclaimer of this episode - we mention suicide. And right away spoiler alert - if you haven’t watched the movie W...

17. Angeles Almuna. Santiago to Miami.

October 29, 2020 21:08 - 1 hour - 95 MB

Her face is on a mural in Miami Design District, some know her as the “Best Dressed Photographer of the New York Fashion Week,” and she knows a thing or two about castanets. Angeles Almuna is also a breast cancer survivor. We talk about immigration, passion, search, art, fashion, dance, love, heartbreak, perseverance and so so much more. Angeles also tells her stories of meeting fashion stars, such as Zac Posen, Alexis Bittar, Iris Apfel, and attending a Christmas Party at the Obama White Ho...

17. Angeles Almuna. From Chile to Miami.

October 29, 2020 21:08 - 1 hour - 95 MB

Her face is on a mural in Miami Design District, some know her as the “Best Dressed Photographer of the New York Fashion Week,” and she knows a thing or two about castanets. Angeles Almuna is also a breast cancer survivor. We talk about immigration, passion, search, art, fashion, dance, love, heartbreak, perseverance and so so much more. Angeles also tells her stories of meeting fashion stars, such as Zac Posen, Alexis Bittar, Iris Apfel, and attending a Christmas Party at the Obama White Ho...

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