Ep. 170: A Russian-American Experience: Anya Gillinson (Part 2)
The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)
Release Date: 12/25/2024
Ep 190: My Interview on Carry on Friends Podcast - From Culture Shock to Confidence: My Third Culture Journey (Part 2)
The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)
In Part 2 of my conversation with Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown on The Carry On Friends Podcast, we go even deeper. I share how navigating the immigrant journey as an immigrant woman has reshaped my understanding of identity, resilience, and power. We talk about the tension between assimilation and authenticity, and what it really means to create belonging without betraying yourself. This episode is for anyone who’s had to shrink to survive, but is ready to grow, take up space, and lead with clarity and courage. If you’ve ever questioned your belonging, struggled with cultural boundaries, or...
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Ep 189: My Interview on Carry on Friends Podcast - From Culture Shock to Confidence: My Third Culture Journey (Part 1)
The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)
I recently had the honor of being interviewed by Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown on The Carry On Friends Podcast, where we explored the nuanced reality of what it means to live and lead, as a third culture immigrant. In this conversation, I shared how my journey shaped the way I navigate identity, culture shock, parenting, and boundaries in both personal and professional spaces. We spoke about the mental and emotional toll of existing between cultures and the quiet pressure so many of us feel to shrink or silence ourselves just to fit in. We also discussed what it means to redefine success on your...
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Ep 188: Rooted in Two Worlds: Maanarak of Grey on Culture Shock, Belonging, and Creativity Across Borders (Part 2)
The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)
In this continuation of our conversation, I sit down once again with the deeply creative and reflective Maanarak of Grey, an artist and podcast host originally from the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean. In Part 2, we explore how art, storytelling, and stillness have helped her process the transitions of immigration, what it means to live between cultures, to grieve a place that still feels like home, and to reimagine belonging in unfamiliar spaces. This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and remember that creativity can be both a compass and a lifeline in times of transition....
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Ep 187: Rooted in Two Worlds: Maanarak of Grey on Culture Shock, Belonging, and Creativity Across Borders (Part 1)
The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)
In this episode of The Immigrant Experience in America, I sit down with the thoughtful and creative Maanarak of Grey, an artist and podcast host originally from Bonaire in the Caribbean. Maanarak shares her journey as an immigrant, what it’s been like leaving behind the comfort of home and adjusting to life in a new environment. From the warmth of island culture to the challenges of navigating unfamiliar social norms, her story is filled with quiet strength and deep reflection. We discuss: - The origin behind Maanarak's name - Living in the island of Bonaire - Her culture shock and...
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Ep 186: From Struggle to Six Figures: Erika Warner on Building a Mission-Driven Life as an Immigrant Mom
The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)
In this episode of The Immigrant Experience in America, I sit down with Erika Warner, a Latina entrepreneur, educator, founder of Inglés Pa’ Mi Gente, and mom. Erika’s journey began when she immigrated to the U.S. as a child, navigating the emotional and linguistic challenges of learning English in a world that didn’t feel like home. Today, she runs a thriving six-figure business teaching English to Spanish-speaking immigrants, people who share her story and her struggle. But Erika’s success didn’t happen overnight. Her story is one of slow, determined progress: raising a...
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Ep 185: Shadows of Tehran: Healing, Identity & the Power of Story with Nick Berg (Part 3)
The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)
In the final chapter of this unforgettable three-part series, Nick Berg and host Simone Johnson dive deep into the healing journey that followed a life of war, exile, and dual identity. Nick opens up about the process of writing Shadows of Tehran—his fictionalized autobiography—as a form of healing and advocacy, reconnecting with his roots while confronting painful truths. He speaks candidly about the emotional legacy of his past, how he found peace through storytelling, and why he believes that sharing immigrant stories—especially those shaped by conflict—is essential to collective...
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Ep 184: Shadows of Tehran: From Soldier to Storyteller with Nick Berg (Part 2)
The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)
In Part 2 of this gripping conversation, host Simone Johnson continues her discussion with Nick Berg—author of Shadows of Tehran and U.S. Special Operations veteran—as he reflects on life in the military, what it meant to serve the very country he once viewed from afar, and how those experiences shaped his evolving identity. Nick shares powerful insights into his missions across conflict zones in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Bosnia, the psychological toll of war, and how his training pushed him beyond the limits of fear and survival. This episode explores the intersection of patriotism,...
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Ep 183: Shadows of Tehran: From Revolution to Resilience with Nick Berg (Part 1)
The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)
In this powerful and emotional episode of The Immigrant Experience in America, host Simone Johnson sits down with Nick Berg—author, U.S. Army veteran, and self-described "citizen of the earth"—as he shares his remarkable journey from Tehran to America. Born to an Iranian mother and American father, Nick’s story spans continents, cultures, revolutions, and wars. Nick Berg is an American-Iranian author and former U.S. Special Operations soldier, best known for his autobiographical novel Shadows of Tehran. His work explores themes of resilience, cultural conflict, and...
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Ep 182: Exploring Identity, Cultural Conflict, and the Struggle for Visibility with Suhein Beck (Part 3)
The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)
Welcome to Part 3 of this podcast episode. In this episode, Suhein shares her compelling journey of navigating complex cultural identities as an immigrant in America, the challenges of balancing two worlds, and her journey toward reclaiming her Circassian heritage. From confronting racial assumptions to launching a skincare business rooted in family tradition, Suhein unpacks the layers of assimilation, resilience, and the drive for cultural visibility. 💔 Key Themes Explored: Suhein reflects on her experiences growing up as a Circassian immigrant in America, the tension of...
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Ep 181: Generational Trauma, Resilience, and the Immigrant Experience with Suhein Beck (Part 2)
The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)
Welcome to Part 2 of this podcast episode. In this deeply moving episode, Suhein Beck continues sharing her journey as a Circassian immigrant navigating multiple identities while living through the challenges of exile, trauma, and the quest for belonging. She reflects on the complexities of her heritage, the emotional toll of being displaced, and how these experiences shaped her family’s resilience and drive. From escaping gangs in New Jersey to navigating the intricacies of American culture, Suhein’s story is a testament to survival, adaptation, and the strength it takes to...
info_outlineAnya Gillinson was born in Moscow, Russia, into the family of a renowned physician and a concert pianist. When she was thirteen years old, her father was killed during a botched robbery on his first and last visit to New York. Two years after his death, Anya moved to New York with her mother and younger sister and went on to graduate from high school, college, and eventually law school.
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