Broken English

Broken English is a mobile podcast hosted by me, Andrew Mahar at Que4 Radio here in Chicago, Illinois. This past year We've transitioned from being a guerrilla style recording podcast to a live radio show that is then released as a podcast afterward. Season 2's sound quality is better but the stories are still just as riveting. With the Trump administration creating such a negative connotation around the word “Immigrant” now more than ever, immigrants need a voice to share their side of the story. Broken English is here to be that voice. Don't forget to subscribe for new episodes!

Asta (Lithuania) 05/21/2020

Asta (Lithuania) Asta is a therapist from Lithuania with an incredible story of hard work and perseverance. She runs her own clinic and personally specializes in eating disorders. At 16 she was training to work at a suicide hotline while simultaneously starting her own anti-drug group in her high school. She is truly fulfilling her goals here in Chicago. You're going to like this one! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/14510951

Rusalina (Romania) 04/29/2020

Rusalina (Romania) This episode I sat down with Rusalina from Romania. She is an incredibly interesting woman, physician and performing arts enthusiast here in Chicago. Rusalina's journey has led her to opening her own conceptual preventative medical practice that focuses less on pumping people full of medicine and more about getting to the root cause patient's issues. You're going to like this one! Check out Vitallina Preventative and Integrative Care if you're in Chicago! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/14198882

Charbel (Lebanon) 03/11/2020

Charbel (Lebanon) Charbel is an author, father and survivor of the Lebanese civil war. After a childhood of pursuing a professional soccer career, Charbel found himself leaving his war torn home country Lebanon with his family in search of a more peaceful life in the United States. Since coming here he has become an author of several books about about his favorite soccer club, Manchester United and now an autobiography called "Growing Up Blowing Up" about his life during the civil war. /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/13507385

Dhenu (India/Immigration Attorney) 02/12/2020

Dhenu (India/Immigration Attorney) I sat down with Dhenu from India on this episode. We talk about Indian culture, the half dozen languages she (and apparently most Indians) speak and what brought her to become an immigration attorney. She currently owns and operates her own law firm in downtown Chicago and talks in depth about getting that business off the ground. /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/13117916

Liina (Estonia) 02/05/2020

Liina (Estonia) From being a famous (in Estonia) actress to becoming a touring band photographer and mother, Liina Raud has an incredible life story that I'm excited to share. She was originally a hair dresser and through an incredible string of luck, she made her way into the spotlight and married an Estonian cultural icon. They made their way to the U.S. in search of a more diverse world for their children to grow up in. Let me know what you think! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/13023611

Yulia (Russia) 01/28/2020

Yulia (Russia) Yulia is a working artist from Moscow with an incredible story. We dive into Russia's perspective of the US and what our culture has brought to them. Her family has made heartwarming sacrifices for her to be here and she's rising to the occasion. Make sure to follow her on Instagram! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/12912425

Fiona (Ireland/Immigration Attorney) 01/15/2020

Fiona (Ireland/Immigration Attorney) Fiona is an Irish immigrant, children's book author and immigration attorney who runs her own firm. She is incredibly knowledgable and her story of how she ended up here is nothing short of incredible. Check out her new immigration based children's book Our American Dream out in stores now! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/12744104

Anonymous (Iran) 12/16/2019

Anonymous (Iran) This episode is truly incredible. My guest this episode opted to remain anonymous but is a PhD holder from Iran that absolutely knows his stuff. He runs and moderates a 4000+ member support group for Iranian immigrants fighting their way through the visa system here in the US. He called in from his car and explains the new federal green card policy along with how tech companies are abusing the US visa terms. Let me know what you think! [email protected] /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/12411629

Izabela (Poland) 12/05/2019

Izabela (Poland) This episode was a blast to record. Izabela works as a social worker now here in Chicago but has bounced around professions throughout her life. She came here to visit in college and couldn't get enough so now she's back. I wouldn't be doing the conversation justice if I didn't mention her take on childbearing. She was great to talk to and I think you'll appreciate her insight. /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/12291560

Maik (Germany) 10/25/2019

Maik (Germany) This episode I sit down with Maik from Germany. His life experience having grown up under democratic socialism truly gives him a different perspective on the direction the U.S. my be headed. He's a serial entrepreneur with a diverse background in reality, software development, engineering, small business management and even being a DJ. I really learned a lot with this one and I think you're going to enjoy it. /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/11776541

Jake (Immigration Attorney) 09/25/2019

Jake (Immigration Attorney) This episode is a JAMMED full of information for people wanting to know more about the immigration process. Jake is a full time immigration attorney who has dedicated his life to helping people through the process. This conversation completely changed the way I look at the immigration process. With this episode, Broken English begins it's switch to not only a story telling show but a resource for immigrants to find the help they need. Jake will be back! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/11389283

Beata (Poland/Immigration attorney) 08/29/2019

Beata (Poland/Immigration attorney) This episode I sat down with Beata from Poland! She is an immigration attorney who touches on everything from her story of coming here when she was nine and missing a friend's birthday party to move to the US to a tad of immigration legal advice. You'll laugh, learn some things and you'll definitely enjoy yourself. Don't forget to subscribe! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/11039894

Alicia (Dominican Republic) 08/08/2019

Alicia (Dominican Republic) This episode I sit down with an incredibly interesting woman named Alicia (that I mispronounce like a dummy in the beginning) from the Dominican Republic. Her family has a rich heritage throughout D.R. including her grandfather being the very first veterinarian in the country and what it's like to live under a true dictator. It was an eye opening episode that really sheds light on the issues Dominican Republic has faced. Alicia came very well prepared and I can't thank her enough for doing the show! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/10814603

Miriam (Myanmar) 07/17/2019

Miriam (Myanmar) This episode was flat out incredible. I sat down with Miriam, a 19 year old refugee from Myanmar. Her and her family's story is nothing short of unbelievable. Born into a civil war, Miriam's family fled to Malaysia and went into hiding. RefugeeOne helped orchestrate Miriam's refugee status and get her family here to Chicago. To this day, she still helps keep her family afloat on her ability to speak english. It's a story of overcoming every odd you could think of. I am positive you'll enjoy this one! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/10551707

Max (Haiti) 07/11/2019

Max (Haiti) This episode I sat down with a stand up comedian from Haiti named Max. I learned so much about Haitian culture from Max this time around and had a lot of fun recording this. From rolling black outs to storing 2 weeks worth of water on your roof and everything in between. Hope you enjoy! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/10479500

Claudia (Mexico) 06/26/2019

Claudia (Mexico) This week I sat down with a member of Northern Illinois Justice For Our Neighbors name Claudia and got her story of coming here from Mexico. It is a truly moving story that I am excited to share. /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/10294586

Harman (India) 06/19/2019

Harman (India) This episode was recorded in Harman's apartment last fall while the show was transitioning from a stand alone podcast to a weekly radio show. Harman really opens up about his family's experience here in the U.S. and what changing schools as an indian immigrant was like. /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/10202516

Noe (Mexico) 06/12/2019

Noe (Mexico) Noe is a stand up comedian here in Chicago that moved all the way from rural Mexico to Atlanta and made his way to Chicago to pursue comedy. /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/10128937

Graciela (Venezuela) 04/24/2019

Graciela (Venezuela) I sit down with Graciela from Venezuela Live a Que4 Radio /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/9508997

Hongming (China) 06/12/2017

Hongming (China) This is the 10th and final episode of Season 1 and I've got Hongming Liu from China on the show! This episode is all over the place and we cover everything from old Chinese stories to child labor factories and philosophy. He's a brilliant man who came to Chicago on a student visa and got his PhD and JD at DePaul University. He now works as a patten attorney and finds time to do stand up comedy as a hobby. He clears up a few stereotypes and really explains Chinese culture that only be told by someone who lived it. If you're a returning listener I want to personally thank you for coming back and listening to more of these incredible stories. If this is your first time listening, welcome and I hope you enjoy it! Follow Broken English on Facebook and Twitter for updates on Season 2! See you in a few months! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/5439584

Josefina (Argentina) 06/05/2017

Josefina (Argentina) For our 9th episode I sit down with a woman from Argentina named Josefina! Her incredible story starts off in Buenos Aires and ends in Naperville, IL. While in Argentina she convinced her company to send her the U.S. and she learned English from a friend before moving here. It's an incredible story of innovation, hard work and failed bribery. I had great time recording this episode and I'm sure you will like it as well. Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/5417880

Beryl (South Africa) 05/21/2017

Beryl (South Africa) I have another South African on the show this week! They just keep volunteering and I couldn't be happier. This was a fun interview with Beryl who is from Johannesburg, South Arica. She moved here after living in Europe for a few years and hasn't looked back since. She paid for her plane ticket here with money won gambling on horses and lived on a horse training facility in Tampa, Florida when she first moved here. A minister helped her create a new life in the US by teaching her how to live illegally. She essentially had a fake identity once she acquired a Social Security Number and a bank account. She had to change her entire backstory to get jobs and work her way up through companies. We talk racism, Trump, Immigration Reform, 9/11, and what it takes to survive in America. Thanks again for listening to this show, it means the world to my guests and I. /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/5375924

Ali (Iran) 05/15/2017

Ali (Iran) This time around I interview my first Middle Eastern guest named Ali from Iran. Ali immigrated here as a teenager and ended up in Massachusetts. He and his family got his Green Card through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. They were randomly picked lottery style to move here so they packed up and headed the US. It's a heartfelt story of a young ambitious comedian now chasing his dreams in Chicago. Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/5355761

Ramiro (Argentina) 05/08/2017

Ramiro (Argentina) This week we've got an excellent interview where I sit down with Ramiro Lynch from Argentina. His parents where political activists and he found himself studying criminal law before moving to the US for his work. Immigrating to the Chicago suburbs and trusting strangers while learning the language was an everyday task for Ramiro in his path to becoming an American. It's an episode of love, loss and finding a home. Thanks again for listening to these incredible firsthand immigration stories week after week. Please feel free to let us know how I'm doing through our website brokenenglishpodcast.com /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/5335992

Megan and Murray (South Africa) 05/01/2017

Megan and Murray (South Africa) I've got another insightful episode of Broken English for you! This time (actually a few months ago) I sit down with a couple from South Africa and get their immigration story about moving to Chicago from Johannesburg, South Africa. Their firsthand account of their move is a bit different from the others we've heard from so far and I get to learn a little bit more about the Green Card process. Thanks for listening and don't forget to check out the website brokenenglishpodcast.com /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/5309940

Fernando (Bolivia) 04/24/2017

Fernando (Bolivia) Hey! Another episode here and this time it's a co-worker of mine named Fernando from Bolivia. He immigrated here as a teenager without knowing a single word of english and lives here in Chicago holding down a job with me. We talk of other immigrant bullies at school, how cocaine isn't as popular as I thought it was down there and his plans for the future here in America. It was recorded back in the summer before Trump was elected so if the references sound dated... They are! Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/5292663

Adam Burke (Ireland, UK) 04/17/2017

Adam Burke (Ireland, UK) Adam Burke is a Stand Up Comedian and regular on NPR who was born in Australia, raised in Ireland during their civil war and lived in London to then immigrated to the US in his mid-twenties. It's a great episode full of soldiers, heartbreak and weird accents. We talk politics, border ideologies and immigration officers thinking Australia is French Polynesia. Thanks again for listening! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/5271501

Alet (South Africa) 04/10/2017

Alet (South Africa) This episode I sit down with a woman who immigrated from South Africa named Alet and talk about her experience moving to Chicago as an Au Pair. She shares a little bit into the life of living in South Africa along with the hardships of living in the United States without any of her family. It's a tale of a little girl who grew up watching America on her TV and following her dreams has led her to actually living here. Thanks for listening to Broken English: Firsthand Immigration Stories! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/5249175

Miguel (Mexico) 03/29/2017

Miguel (Mexico) Hey! Welcome to the first episode of Broken English: Firsthand Immigration Stories! This episode I sit down with a friend of mine who illegally immigrated to the US from Mexico at the age of 12 and has slowly become an official resident. The story is filled with laughter and struggle as Miguel describes an incredible journey from the heart of Mexico all the way to Chicago with his parents. Being my first episode I learn quite a bit about what it takes the average person to make it across the southern border. I must say, it's not for the faint of heart. *Warning! This was recorded before Trump was elected so the interview may seem dated as far as the election portion goes.* Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/brokenenglish/id/5213515

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