Welcome to Immigrant Conversations , the podcast where we explore the untold stories behind migration — stories of courage, sacrifice, and transformation. In this powerful episode, Mehran speaks with Mohammed Diouf Heubo, a life coach and immigration and wellness advocate who fled political persecution in Cameroon. His migration journey took him through dangerous terrain, harrowing experiences in U.S. detention centers, and ultimately, to a place of healing and purpose. In this episode we explor...
Jun 30, 2025•34 min•Ep. 60
In this special Mother’s Day episode of Immigrant Conversations, host Mehran sits down with Marcela Rada Trujillo and Kerstin Kirchsteiger— two inspiring immigrant professionals and mothers — for an honest fireside chat about the realities of raising children in a new country. We explore the unexpected freedoms of parenting outside cultural norms, the heartbreak of raising kids far from extended family, and the emotional toll of navigating motherhood in intercultural relationships . While immigr...
May 11, 2025•55 min
Immigrant conversations Guest is Richard Hsung, born and raised in China to a Chinese mother who considered America home. Together, they migrate to the States. Richard studied chemistry and became a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. One day he made a promise to his ailing mother, a promise that helps his mom die peacefully but leaves him with a huge responsibility that causes tremendous pain but also healing. Biography: Richard P. (Perkins) Hsung was born in China and immigrated ...
May 03, 2025•33 min
Is home the place we are born, or the refuge we find? Can it be both? In this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we explore the meaning of "home" and discuss the challenges faced by refugees, including misconceptions about their experiences. Dr. Diya Abdo, a second-generation Palestinian refugee, shares her powerful story of migration and how she transformed her personal journey into advocacy for displaced communities. Key Topics in This Episode: >Dr. Abdo’s Migration Journey as a second-gen...
Feb 15, 2025•29 min
Are you an aspiring leader looking to enhance your influence especially when you are the minority? Do you struggle with belonging in rooms where decisions are made? If so, this episode is for you! If so, this episode is for you. Mehran Sorourian the Immigrant Conversations host sits with Dr. Mira Brancu and talk about being a minority as an aspiring leader. "Are you an aspiring leader striving to enhance your influence, especially in spaces where you’re the minority? Do you struggle with finding...
Jan 28, 2025•38 min
"Are you grieving the loss of a loved one, a job, or your home country? Are you seeking new tools and strategies to process your grief and recover more effectively? If so, this episode is for you. In this deeply insightful conversation, Mehran Sorourian, host of Immigrant Conversations, sits down with Kiana Naimi to explore the complex emotions of grief and recovery. Together, they discuss practical approaches to healing, how to navigate the grieving process, and how to embrace personal growth a...
Dec 17, 2024•38 min
The son of Chinese immigrants, Dr. James Lin is a math professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). In 1986, he took an unexpected step and taught the first-ever Asian American Studies course at UCSD. Despite being a math professor, Dr. Lin’s passion for social justice and ethnic studies led him to break boundaries. Two years later, he succeeded in obtaining Academic Senate approval for a Minor in Asian American Studies, marking a significant milestone in academic history. Dr. Li...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Ever wondered if certain nationalities have an easier path to migration? In this compelling episode of Immigrant Conversations, we delve into the inspiring journey of Sujata Yellaepeddi, who was born and raised in India before making the life-changing move to the United States. Sujata shares the personal challenges she faced in finding peace and a sense of belonging in her new San Diego home, as well as the hurdles her family encountered throughout their immigration journey. Her story sheds ligh...
Aug 17, 2024•55 min
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 lea...
Jul 26, 2024•59 min
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...
Jul 25, 2024•46 min
In this deeply personal episode of Immigrant Conversations, host Mehran Sorourian opens up about her two-and-a-half-year break, experiencing five significant losses, and battling debilitating depression. She shares her emotional healing journey and the unique challenges that immigrants face in processing grief. Whether you’re navigating loss yourself or supporting a grieving loved one, this episode offers insights into the immigrant grief process, mental health struggles, and practical ways to s...
Jul 11, 2024•41 min
n this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we dive into the art of making difficult changes—especially when it comes to navigating cultural differences, beliefs, and assumptions. How do you successfully negotiate change, both with yourself and others? Our guest, Reut Schwartz-Hebron, an immigrant from Israel, shares her journey from working as an HR director, where she was blindsided by non-verbal cues and workplace dynamics, to becoming a seasoned expert in change management. Learn about: >T...
Mar 17, 2022•41 min
"In this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we sit down with Dr. Pavna Sodhi to discuss the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community—particularly within BIPOC immigrant communities. We explore the complex process of coming out, the role of family, community, and the host culture in this journey, and the unique struggles LGBTQ+ individuals face in these contexts. Dr. Sodhi shares her insights on: >The emotional and social challenges LGBTQ+ individuals and their families experience, especially...
Mar 02, 2022•44 min
In this episode of Immigrant Conversations, we sit down with Meenakshi Iyer to discuss the challenges immigrants face in professional settings, especially when it comes to language and accents. Immigrants often encounter microaggressions related to their language skills and how they speak, leading to discrimination and bias. Meenakshi shares insights on: >Why it's essential to celebrate cultural diversity and how cultural identity enhances professional environments. >The importance of lang...
Feb 16, 2022•46 min
Mehran is a communication coach helping countless immigrants and minorities improve their communication skills at work. In this episode, I, Mehran the host of the Empowering conversationZ podcast share the story of the very first time I spoke English with a native English speaker. How it felt, the shame, and how I became fluent in English plus the 4 tips that I give my clients on improving their language while using the wisdom from my previous guests and many conversations I've had with successf...
Feb 02, 2022•18 min
Have you ever felt like you don’t belong, that you are an imposter waiting to be found? If so, this episode is for you. We have Kim Meninger who's an expert in the area of imposter syndrome with years of training corporate women and men on the podcast. She shares her experience about: -What imposter syndrome is, -The history behind it, -Who suffers from it, -How men and women suffer from it differently -The underlying racism - and what can we do about it. Both as an individual and as a manager. ...
Jan 17, 2022•40 min
Migrated at 18, faced an identity crisis as a Japanese Brazilian living in Utah, tried many jobs, pivoted multiple times until she found her desirable career. My guest this week is Fabiola Fujiwara. She is an HR professional with 10+ years of experience in developing, implementing, and administrating corporate policies and procedures. Fabiola shares with our audience her migration journey as well as the many valuable insights as an HR professional. One must listen to this episode if they don't k...
Jan 02, 2022•41 min
Migrated despite her will, slept on cardboard boxes, and left her house at the age of 15 because she couldn’t tolerate her abusive father anymore. My guest this week is Dr.Bahareh Sahebi who talks about her migration journey and the different elements that make leaving abusive relationships difficult especially for immigrants. She also educates us on the steps to take to prepare. Dr. Bahareh Sahebi Bio: https://www.family-institute.org/therapists-locations/staff/bahareh-sahebi Doctor of Psycholo...
Dec 16, 2021•54 min
Setting goals can be hard for us immigrants. Most of us haven't learned how to set them right and how to achieve them. That's why in this episode, Mehran, Empowering conversationZ host talks about a personal experience that made her aware of setting balanced goals in life. and the culprit behind her failure in reaching her 40th birthday goals. In this episode, you will hear about the importance of goal setting. several techniques in setting goals. achieving them while living a balanced life. As ...
Dec 02, 2021•27 min
Immigrants rarely are aware of their rights and the resources available to them. Most often they choose silence for cultural and personal reasons feeling unsatisfied at work. In this episode Sarah Calfee, an experienced Human Resource professional with over 20years of experience, educates our listeners on the following topics: -When to seek HR help and when to start searching for your next job -How can immigrants discuss difficult conversations with HR -Different strategies to speak up You can c...
Nov 16, 2021•56 min
Evelyn Perez migrated to the United States from Guatemala at a very young age after crossing the Rio Grande River. In this episode, she talks about her immigration journey, the nights she locked the doors to stay safe while her mom worked, the days she had to try to fit in and many incidents that made her feel like an outcast both as a child and as an adult. One of the main parts of the conversation was her divorce process. How her immigrant family finally supported her decision despite their cu...
Nov 02, 2021•43 min
In this special episode, Mehran talks about her newfound cause and how the pandemic helped her find it & bring it to life. -The struggles of building an educational platform -How can the audience support her cause -How immigrant educators can benefit from this platform If you have any questions or suggestions send her an email [email protected] Website of her platform: https://khoshhaulam.com/ Join their newsletter to learn more and receive coupons.
Oct 16, 2021•18 min
Mehran, your host, has the honor to share with you another immigrant story. My guest today is Ilya Somin who migrated as a young child with his parents from Russia. In this episode, as always we will talk a little about Ilya's migration journey, what foot voting means, and how as an immigrant you can get a better education for your child or have a greater impact on your community. in the end, we will hear about Ilya’s opinion on Afghanistan and what he is doing to help Afghan refugees. Link to K...
Oct 02, 2021•45 min
800,000 people lose their lives to suicide every year. Aside from its statistics and its increasing rate, suicide is personal for Mehran. In this episode, Mehran, the podcast host talks about her personal encounter with suicide, the pain of losing someone to suicide, and the 7 lessons she learned from the journey. Below are the promised links: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/suicide-prevention https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression https://www.reuters.co...
Jun 02, 2021•25 min
In this episode, Empowering conversationZ hosts Jane Leu Upwardly Global Founder and Jina Krause-Vilmar the current President and CEO. Together they talk about: -Upwardly Global story and the meaning behind its name, -How supported over 18000 immigrants and what it can do for you and your family, -The different ways male and female immigrants transition to the workforce, -And ways immigrants can network in order to reach their professional goals. Jane Leu is Upwardly Global’s founder. An interna...
May 16, 2021•49 min
How lonely do you feel as an immigrant? -Did you have difficulty finding your first employment in the U.S? -Are you looking for meaningful connections to serve as your allies? -Are you currently looking? If so, listen to this episode of Empowering conversationZ where Haleemat Fa-Yusuf talks about her journey in the States and how one organization became the pillars of her success. She will also talk about what in her experience is important to find a meaningful job here in the states. Bio: Halee...
May 01, 2021•42 min
She burst into tears as she talks about her biggest dream. A dream so big and unimaginable that aches her heart. For most of us, her dream is our everyday life. Empowering conversationZ guest this week was Maria Estrada, a trauma nurse, and a firm believer in humanity instead of documents. In this episode, she talks about the pains of not belonging, the pains of being rejected and disrespected during her migration journey, and also the many strengths she developed through time. Bio: Maria Estrad...
Apr 01, 2021•54 min
In this special episode of Empowering conversationZ, we are reflecting back on one year of living through the pandemic. I take you to our early lockdown days, our fears, and what I learned from hundreds of immigrants I interacted with since then. I talk about their hidden immunity in overcoming the obstacles Covid-19 created for us. And I share a trick to stay hopeful and positive during the most difficult times. As you know, we just turned one year old. If you haven’t listened to the past 30+ e...
Mar 15, 2021•20 min
As we are celebrating one year anniversary of the show, I am sharing the process, the fears, and the thing that got me to start the show a year ago. Listen and see how the thing can help you initiate something great! and if you want to know about the obstacles along the way listen to some of the difficulties along the way listen to https://www.mehrans.com/empowering-conversationz/episode/c421e15c/updates-and-changes I am extra thankful to Dr. D my guest on the first episode, Dr. Nelson Chau my g...
Mar 08, 2021•24 min
With her law degree and a passion for the film industry, she moved to Los Angeles with a Fulbright scholarship hoping to go back despite her dad’s last-minute shocking advice. 10 years later, she is an independent film producer and writer of several documentaries as well as a podcaster on immigrant stories. In this episode, she talks about her journey and her difficulties as an immigrant in the film industry along with her passion for podcasting. Bio: Sasha was born and raised in Moscow, Russia....
Mar 02, 2021•39 min
