Shafi Hossain is a Bangladesh-born comedian who moved to the United States for college. Now, he calls New York City his home. He’s been navigating the comedy scene for years, with features on festivals like World Series of Comedy and 208 Comedy Fest. His humor and comedic style address cultural dichotomies through personal anecdotes. Produced & Hosted by: Saadia Khan; Written: Sarah Doh, Saadia Khan; Editing: Tom Whelan; Music: Evan Ray Suzuki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...
Oct 06, 2020•35 min•Season 8Ep. 96
Shariq Ahmad is the Chairman of the Edison Democratic Organization, the fifth-largest municipal Democratic party in NJ & representative of the group, South Asians, for Biden. Saadia & Shariq talk about why we must vote in the 2020 Election, Joe Biden’s political approach, & how to engage young people and progressives. Produced & Hosted by Saadia Khan Written by Sarah Doh, Saadia Khan Edited by Tom Whelan Music by Evan Ray Suzuki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...
Sep 29, 2020•56 min•Season 8Ep. 95
Dr. Meera Shah is the Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, in New York. Meera is a tireless advocate for accessible, safe abortions. She has recently published a book called, “You’re The Only One I’ve Told: The Stories Behind Abortion” which aims to humanize abortions. Each experience reflects the uniqueness of circumstances of the person seeking an abortion. Produced & Hosted by Saadia Khan Written by Sarah Doh, Saadia Khan Edited by Tom Whelan Music by Evan Ray Suzuk...
Sep 22, 2020•47 min•Season 8Ep. 94
Paola Mendoza is a critically acclaimed filmmaker, author, a human rights activist who carries her Colombian heritage and immigrant identity with pride and perspective. Paola knows what it is like to feel exhausted and disillusioned as if this country is not for her but against her. But she also knows resilience like it’s her middle name. She is a fierce feminist who is raising her son to be one. She recently co-authored a YA novel "Sanctuary". Our conversation was deep, profoundly honest, and i...
Sep 15, 2020•40 min•Season 8Ep. 93
Season 8 launches with a great conversation with Majo Molfino. Majo is taking back the narrative that has been assigned to women for centuries. Her work centers around dismantling tendencies that hold women back from stepping into their power. According to her, these are the “good girl myths.” Myths that societally condition women into acting “good” instead of achieving their most powerful selves. Now, she has released a book that helps women undo these tendencies, titled “Break the Good Girl My...
Sep 08, 2020•45 min•Season 8Ep. 92
Today we have a very special guest who is merging the vogue field of technological design with that of social impact. He is reimagining products so they can be accessible and user friendly for all, those who are physically disabled and physically abled. Amin Hasani has his hands in many pots but most notably is the founder, or as I see it, the mind and the machine, behind Blue Heart Hero, a local Brooklyn organization that provides 3D solutions for amputees. Considering where he is now and the t...
Aug 28, 2020•33 min•Season 7Ep. 91
When COVID hit the United States, and DACA decisions were in limbo, the Immigrantly team sought to learn how the two events were being felt by undocumented immigrant communities - in particular, undocumented Asian Pacific Islanders. With guidance from API organizations like RAISE and notable research platforms, we found ourselves absorbed and humbled by this group's unique socio-political existence. Today's episode is as much a conversation on the complicated portrayal of undocumented Asian Amer...
Aug 25, 2020•37 min•Season 7Ep. 90
On the anniversary of Pakistan’s independence from British colonial rule, sit down with Immigrantly as we give you a brief history lesson on British colonialism over India and Pakistan. How exactly did it start? What were the political implications of British colonialism? What was life like under colonial rule? What did it create for generations to come? In this incredibly informative episode, Immigrantly, in collaboration with Their Stories, breaks down the Colonial subcontinent and analyzes th...
Aug 14, 2020•27 min•Season 7Ep. 89
Shreya Tanisha is a multi-media artist and the founder of , a London-based film and theatre company promoting artists of color. We spoke about our nomadic lives, discrimination based on race and color within the art world, how patriarchy manifests itself in the Western cultures & what's next for Shreya. Produced by Saadia Khan Written by Yudi Liu, Saadia Khan Edited by Tom Whelan Music by Evan Ray Suzuki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 11, 2020•56 min•Season 7Ep. 88
Asifa Lahore is Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen. She is a proud British-Pakistani, Muslim, Transgender, Disabled artist, and performer. However, it’s important to understand that Asifa cannot be reduced to her identities. She embraces every part of her, finding the beauty in the intersections of who she is and creating art that validates those who have been misunderstood. Art that gives visibility to the stories that were never meant to fit into any binary. Produced by Saadia Khan Written ...
Aug 04, 2020•47 min•Season 7Ep. 87
Maytha Alhassen is a multi-hyphenated career woman and activist. She is a staff writer on Hulu's show Ramy. She also teaches, she is a yogi and reporter, and the list goes on. Her journey is as fascinating as her bold sense of purpose, and along the way, she taught us a few things about artistry, vision, and healing. Produced by Saadia Khan Written by Yudi Liu, Saadia Khan Edited by Tom Whelan Music by Evan Ray Suzuki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 28, 2020•1 hr•Season 7Ep. 86
Our today's guest is Maliha Abidi. She is an artist who uses her work to shed light on critical social issues and celebrate the women who are leading them. Last year, she compiled these portraits to honor 50 inspirational Pakistani women from various walks of life in a book titled, Pakistan for Women. She represents the Generation Z mindset in the most eloquent manner. Produced by Saadia Khan Written by Sarah Doh, Saadia Khan Edited by Tom Whalen Music by Evan Ray Suzuki Learn more about your ad...
Jul 21, 2020•46 min•Season 7Ep. 85
Zohran Kwame Mamdani is an Indian-Ugandan New Yorker, housing counselor, a democratic socialist, and a candidate to represent Astoria, NY in the State Assembly. Zohran ran his campaign for the State Assembly on the grounds of guaranteeing housing to all New Yorkers, desegregate the schools, fund and fix the MTA, and apply critical changes to the criminal justice system such as eliminating cash bail and banning solitary confinement. Check it out. Produced by Saadia Khan Written by Sarah Doh, Saad...
Jul 14, 2020•43 min•Season 7Ep. 84
Today's guest, DJ Bembona is taking the New York music scene by storm. Her sets are known for their infectious Afro-diasporic tracks. At the core of her work, she is an activist. She uses her sounds to empower by bridging the gap between communities of color, activism, and generations. Her sets offer a space for healing, movement, joy, and liberation for black and brown communities. When she’s not DJ Bembona, she is Xiomara. A Brooklyn-Native who continues to advocate for marginalized communitie...
Jul 07, 2020•37 min•Season 7Ep. 83
Welcome back to Season 7 of Immigrantly. Our today’s guest is Shruti Ganguly. She is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has been featured globally, at festivals like Sundance, Venice, and AFI. Shruti recently launched her own production company honto88 and its clients are just as impressive, including media outlets like MTV. Behind the glitz and the glam is just your neighborly, city girl with intense wonder and drive. Shruti believes in creating art that is brave and purposeful, which shows ...
Jun 30, 2020•49 min•Season 7Ep. 82
81 Episodes later, we are gearing up to release our 7th Season of Immigrantly on June 30th. 81 conversations that have challenged the archaic stereotypes of what it means to be an immigrant, a child of immigrants, a person of color, and everything in between. And we’re far from being done. We have so many more conversations that we’re excited to share with you. Thanks for coming on this journey with us. We can’t wait for you to hear Season 7. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...
Jun 19, 2020•5 min
The focus of today’s episode is on the entertainment industry. Leading the battle from within for inclusion and accountability is Sue Obeidi, director of MPAC’s (Muslim Public Affairs Council) Hollywood Bureau, our guest today on Immigrantly. We spoke to Sue about her role at MPAC, Hollywood's representation of minority communities, tips on how consumers can become mindful of the content they are watching. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 16, 2020•38 min•Season 6Ep. 81
How do we navigate spaces in which we can have access to some privileges but not others? How can anyone claim their identity without first recognizing their entitlement? Today, We will do a deep dive on these topics with Layla Saad. She is an esteemed writer, speaker, and podcast host. Layla is the author of the New York Times Bestselling book, Me and White Supremacy, providing the tools to go inwards as you begin to unpack how you benefit from and further white supremacy. It’s not only for whit...
Jun 09, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 6Ep. 80
Today on Immigrantly, we welcome an exceptional guest who is all about the environment and fighting for mother earth as our home. Gelareh Darabi is an environmental correspondent for the National Geographic Channel and Al Jazeera. She grew up with lakes, forests, islands as her playground and now fights for their health and existence today. She is an activist, a journalist, a filmmaker, yet what I see as most core to her identity is her familial connection to this planet. I am inspired by Gelare...
Jun 05, 2020•43 min•Season 6Ep. 79
A first-time candidate running for office to represent Queens in the House of Representatives, Sandra Choi joins a wave of progressive newcomers, hoping to ignite change at the most direct level. A lifelong Queens resident, Sandra is running her campaign on economic and social equality. These issues are close to her heart because they are her lived experiences. A child of immigrants, she grew up working class. She and her brother were raised by her grandmother, who lived with Parkinson’s disease...
May 26, 2020•40 min•Season 6Ep. 78
Catherine Kapphahn’s mother, Marijana, died of ovarian cancer when Catherine was only 22. she found herself cut off from the past she never really knew. Born and raised in America, Catherine realized that she knew very little of her Croatian mother’s early life. As Catherine searches for clues to her mother’s elusive history, she discovers that Marijana was orphaned during WWII, nearly died as a teenager, and escaped from Communist Yugoslavia to Rome, and then South America. Through travel and m...
May 19, 2020•48 min•Season 6Ep. 77
Our guest for today's show is Yara Elmjouie. Yara’s production “In Real Life” is structured in short documentaries on conversations around food, from its flavors to its history to its sociopolitical implications. These episodes are abundant in wacky dishes and comical relief, just as they are tuned to discussions on what food means to identity and community. Besides his evident passion for cooking and sharing that passion with others, Yara is also politically involved. His journalism is imbued w...
May 12, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 6Ep. 76
Our guest for today's show is Iram Parveen Bilal. She is a creator. A Physics-Olympian-turned-filmmaker, she wears eight rings on her body and appreciates honesty. She is an enabler who focuses on thought-provoking stories that are socially impactful and envision an inclusive world. All of these statements were provided by her. When someone uses these words to describe themself, you know that the art they produce is going to be interesting and thought-provoking. What more could you expect from s...
May 05, 2020•47 min•Season 6Ep. 75
Aysha Khan is an award-winning journalist whose work is rapidly changing the narrative around Muslims in America and around the world. What’s most impressive about her work is its justice-oriented nature. Aysha has dove headfirst into controversial, uncomfortable subjects that uplift the voices of marginalized communities. It’s daring and brave. Her work has covered federal anti-extremism programs, Muslim women spiritual abuse, a Uighur woman for her father's release from detention in China, and...
Apr 28, 2020•40 min•Season 6Ep. 74
Today we welcome a special guest, one who you might say shares a similar role as me, talking to people, researching stories, and broadcasting them to the public. His name is Latif Nasser. Most visibly, Nasser is the Director of Research at WNYC’s Radiolab, and he recently launched a podcast series called "The Other Latif" about his namesake, a detainee at Guantanamo held for his alleged involvement with al-Qaeda and the Taliban. For those who are finding they now have a bit more free time on the...
Apr 21, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 6Ep. 73
Our today’s guest is She is someone who has lived through some of history’s most defining moments. Her early childhood took place in the heels of the Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979. She remembers attending school and swearing her allegiance to revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhullah Khomeini and being encouraged by her teacher to report her parents if they did “bad things” like listening to music, drinking wine, and speaking poorly of Khomeini. But at the age of six, this course of life was ...
Apr 14, 2020•49 min•Season 6Ep. 72
We are kicking off April with a new season of Immigrantly. You probably noticed, we took a small hiatus in recognition that so much is happening around us and like you, we needed time to adjust, root down, and grapple with what this nation and the globe is experiencing. I think everyone is feeling a mixed bag of emotions. Some are anxious, fearful even. Others are exhausted physically and emotionally. And there are those who are hopeful, hopeful that this is a reset button, a forced acknowledgme...
Apr 07, 2020•20 min•Season 6Ep. 71
is an acclaimed actress known for her provocative performances in a wide range of memorable roles on film and television. She has starred in over 20 feature films and many TV shows and has earned a loyal, international following. She is also a seasoned voice-over artist. Perhaps best known to mainstream film audiences for starring opposite Albert Brooks in Warner Bros’ LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD, Sheetal has become a favorite in the independent film world. She won 3 Best Actress nods...
Mar 24, 2020•50 min•Season 5Ep. 70
Saima Mir is a powerful writer who uses her personal stories to challenge notions surrounding patriarchy, Islam, and parenting. As a result, she has produced narratives that explain the intersection of identities, religion, and politics. Her writing simultaneously educates and empowers the communities she is writing for. But even a reader who doesn’t share her background will find something to relate to because Saima writes in a way that draws on the universal themes of what it means to be human...
Mar 17, 2020•45 min•Season 5Ep. 69
Regina Jackson and Saira Rao are the co-founders of Race2Dinner, an organization that allows specifically white women to address their racism through a sit-down dinner they pay for. It’s innovative, and it pushes past social boundaries to get to the heart of the matter. Saadia talks to Saira and Regina about how they define racism in America, their encounter with white supremacy, and what led them to start Race2Dinner. In the process, Saadia hints at her take on the controversial topic of racism...
Mar 10, 2020•42 min•Season 5Ep. 68
