Six Podcast Episodes About The American Immigrant Experience

The Supreme Court rulings on DACA and asylum seekers, the temporary suspension of work visas and the Muslim ban are all part of the tumultuous cycle of “breaking news” about US immigration policy.  But beyond the headlines there are quieter, more personal stories of the immigrant American experience that podcasts are custom made to tell.  
Check out these six podcast episodes that explore the topic with depth, nuance, and even a little humor.

Subtitle

“In quarantine with Joe Wong”

Joe Wong is a brilliant bilingual comedian. In the US, he does stand-up. In his native China he hosts a popular TV game show. Recently his comedy has become more political: he is confronting US racial tensions head-on. In quarantine, Joe is writing a book, cooking for his son (to his son’s dismay), and decrying virus-related anti-Asian hate crimes.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Radio Diaries

“Juan’s Diaries: Undocumented, Then and Now”

Back in the 1990s, Juan crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, and settled with his family next to the Rio Grande river in Texas. We gave him a cassette recorder to document his life there for NPR. Almost two decades later, Radio Diaries gave Juan another recorder to report on his life as an adult. In many ways, Juan has achieved the American Dream – he has a house, a good job, and three American kids. But…he’s still undocumented.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Resettled

“Culture”

On this episode of Resettled, host Ahmed Badr tries to answer the question of how refugees preserve their cultures when integration is a primary focus of resettlement. For Chef Hamidullah Noori, he expresses his Afghan culture through food and poetry.  But it’s not just a lifestyle for Noori, it’s his livelihood as well. In the spring of 2019, Chef Noori opened The Mantu, a high scale Afghan restaurant featuring specialty dishes from his homeland.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Otherhood

“X-Rated Immigrant Story”

Host Rupa Shenoy presents the story of actor and comedian Jimmy O. Yang (Silicon Valley, Crazy Rich Asians) who wrote a book about all the embarrassing things he did while trying to find his identity — including drug use and strip club visits. His parents read it. Let’s just say … there was fallout. 

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Immigrantly

“Maybe We Need To Tell Fuller Stories”

Parnaz Foroutan is the author of The Girl from the Garden, for which she received the PEN USA Emerging Voices fellowship. She talks with Immigrantly host, Saadia Khan, about her early childhood which took place on the heels of the Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979 her family’s move to the suburbs of Los Angeles. Nineteen years later, after a life-altering moment, she returned to Iran to rebuild her relationship with the culture and identity that was lost.  

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Beginner

“If I Bend That Far, I’ll Break”

Pakistani-American and podcast wunderkind, Misha Euceph finds another immigrant group that’s found some sense of belonging in America  – Jewish Americans. In the first part of the episode Misha learns about food and elements of language that have become part of the American vernacular, as well how the Reform Jewish Movement enabled Jewish immigrants to adapt to life in America while preserving parts of Jewish culture. Towards the end of the episode Misha has a candid but endearing conversation with her parents about their own evolving standards for assimilation.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify