New Immigrant Stories Episodes

This week on White Label American, join us for an inspiring chat with Nnenna—a lawyer, entrepreneur, and founder of Òrentéh, revolutionizing period care for Nigerian and African women. Her journey spans Lagos, Ibadan, Port-Harcourt, Abriba, and Texas, highlighting the resilience and richness of the African diaspora. Discover why she chose law over nursing, defied conventions to find her own path, and balanced motherhood with her career. Plus, you'll hear about our long-lasting friendship and the vibrant Abriba community. Tune in for a conversation about embracing yourself and your dreams. Share this episode with two friends who will love Nnenna's story!

Join Raphael and Zenith as they explore immigrant life from Zambia’s Copperbelt to the US, diving into culture shocks, childhood sports, Tonga naming traditions, practical tips on leveraging local resources (like libraries), the NFL, Super Bowl, and the legacy of family and cows in Zambian Tonga culture. Discover Assorted Immigrant Stories Podcast and learn about the power of community, everyday wisdom, and keeping heritage alive across continents.

Join host Raphael and chaos connoisseur Ashwin as they dive into the year's top movies like "Sinners" and unpack that wild “Weapons” ending. They'll debate must-see TV and music, and even share a Humans of New York tale that'll tug at your heartstrings. 2025 in review: From epic films to tech blunders like “Bugonia” and the Signal chat leak, Raphael and Ashwin are here to make you laugh, ponder, and maybe even shed a tear. Plus, hear their thoughts on tech billionaires needing a lesson in email etiquette, and catch what they're excited for in 2026—GTA 6, anyone? Perfect if you're looking for friendly banter and insightful chats!

Voodoo, also known as Juju or Oru, has faced stigma for centuries, often used to suppress African spirituality. In this episode, Baudelaire Ceus unveils his latest project, "The Vodou Project," a captivating documentary that traces the journey of voodoo from Benin to New Orleans, Cuba, and Haiti. Discover the rich history and vibrant culture of voodoo and why embracing curiosity over fear can be enlightening.Join us for a fun and insightful conversation. Support Baudelaire's work to help end the cycle of misunderstanding and celebrate African heritage!

Baudelaire Ceus is a professional podcaster and the child of Haitian immigrants. For the past three years, he’s been sharing stories through the Atlas Obscura Podcast, which dives into fascinating but lesser-known places around the globe. Baudelaire has a special passion for highlighting locations within the African Diaspora, from Los Angeles to Haiti to Benin and everywhere in between.

Tom Máthé is an introspective storyteller with roots in New Hampshire, Hungary and Transylvania, Tom is not just a writer; he's also a filmmaker, bartender, and educator. He shares a wealth of diverse experiences and insights, diving into his distinctive writing process and the challenges he faces.

In this insightful episode of the White Label American Podcast, we delve into the layers of the 2024 election, exploring its profound impact on Black & minority communities. Our discussion covers various issues, including political dynamics, global conflicts, and the representation of power and gender in leadership. We also share lighthearted Thanksgiving moments, adding a touch of warmth to the conversation. Join us as we call for change and reflect on the significance of representation and leadership in shaping our future. Check out upcoming events from Ashwin on Dec 3rd, and look out for Stephanie's YouTube channel.

Cav Manning shares his personal journey, highlighting the impact of cultural backgrounds on his life. This episode also explores the vibrant dance, music, and poetry that have come to define Cav Manning aka Comrade Cav. Tune in and come on this inspiring journey that will also take you to Tokyo. There's a bonus conversation behind the paywall.

In this heartwarming 6th anniversary episode, we celebrate six incredible years of our podcast with an extraordinary guest my six-year-old daughter! Join us as she shares delightful stories about her recent birthday, her favorite movies, and the sports she loves watching at the Olympics, like gymnastics and basketball. We also dive into her favorite activities with her dad, making this episode a perfect blend of nostalgia, joy, and family fun. Tune in for a memorable celebration of our journey and the wonderful moments that make it all worthwhile.

This episode was originally recorded in April 2021.Welcome to another episode of "White Label American." Nigeria just marked its 64th anniversary (Oct 1st, 1960), so we've pulled a gem from the archives for you. Host Raphael Harry chats with Maurice Tam

You thought the Olympics were over? Think again! We're back with the Paralympics, celebrating the world's biggest sporting event. Join our award-winning podcaster Dominic and super sports fan Zenith, as they shower love on these incredible athletes. Enjoy the episode!

Rokhaya and I shall be on a panel at the 6th Afros and Audio Podcast Festival happening in Baltimore Oct 18-21. Use promo code rhy24afau to get yourself a 10% discount. Today, I sit down with the multifaceted Rokhaya Ndiaye—a seasoned voice acting coach, nomad entrepreneur, and CEO of "Rokaya Flow." In this episode, we'll delve into Rokhaya's remarkable journey, from meeting her husband in Jamaica in 2017 to embarking on an inspiring career in voice acting and coaching after a job loss in 2019. ...

This was an incredible conversation with the amazing Paula Sima. We dove deep into her fascinating journey from Tanzania to the UK and Malaysia, exploring food, culture, and the beauty of embracing new environments. Paula shared her passion for hospitality, her vibrant family traditions, and the inspiring story behind her podcast, Talk Shit with P. We also had some fun moments reminiscing about eclipse viewings and unforgettable childhood memories. Don't miss out on this episode; it's full of in...

The month of June commences with a distinguished guest, Kwesi Foli, the host and founder of the African Time Podcast. Kwesi expounds on the embracing of dual identities, discovering cultural affinities, navigating his creative evolution, and the tribulations associated with being a fervent supporter of the Black Stars national team. This recording was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and we trust that you found it to be the same. We always value your feedback. Please use the links provided bel...

I'm sorry for not releasing an episode last week. Remember Ep 169? It was related to that. I'm excited to release my first solo episode with Grace Nkem (who appeared in Ep 166 & 167). Grace discusses important topics such as her concerns about the impact of AI technology on society and culture, as well as the commercialization of art. We also talk about her passion for pre-Christian, pre-colonial Igbo sculpture and its influence on early abstract painting, and her experiences with art and sculpt...

With Mother's Day being celebrated earlier in many parts of the world before the United States, I couldn't resist sharing one of my dream episodes - a recording with my incredible mother, Emelia Harry Akponwei. In this heartwarming episode, she opens up about her passion for dancing, her health challenges, love for Ijaw musicians, her favorite American food, and so much more. We dive into topics like humility, forgiveness, respect, trauma, history in Ghana, Nigerian-Ghanaian relations, blended f...

Raphael Harry wraps up the year with a personal reflection on gratitude. He expresses deep appreciation for the diverse array of guests who have shared their stories on the podcast. Reflecting on listener feedback, he notes an unexpected connection that led to love and discusses the impact of storytelling. Delving into his personal experiences outside of podcasting, Raphael shares insights into the TV shows and music that have resonated with him throughout the year. As he looks forward to 2024, ...

On our latest episode, we have a lineup of three incredible creatives: Amir Bey, Grace Nkem, and Obinna Elechi. They will captivate you with their inspiring stories, starting from their birth cities to their childhood memories and early sources of inspiration. Brace yourself as we take down the artificial walls that confine creativity! Our journey begins in Port Harcourt Nigeria, Tver Russia, New York, and Ann Arbor Michigan, but it doesn't stop there. We explore the boundless world beyond these...

On this special Thanksgiving episode of our podcast, we have the privilege of being joined by two incredible guests from Brooklyn and Queens. We are truly grateful for our amazing listeners who make this all possible. At this moment, we want to know what you're thankful for. Our first guest is none other than Mimi Jacks, also known as Improper Mimi, a highly esteemed podcaster and storyteller. Through her podcast, Improper Mimi, she strives to empower women in every area of their lives - whether...

I am thrilled to present the second part of my conversation with Jonaed Iqbal, the founder of NoDegree.com and NoDegree Podcast. Join us as we delve deeper into Jonaed's incredible journey from being the "good immigrant kid" to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Discover how he empowers his clients to pursue their dreams and passions while achieving their career goals. Our conversation takes us through the bustling streets of New York and the vibrant culture of Bangladesh. We also explore Jonae...

In this episode, titled "Immigrant Odyssey: Thriving in Unexpected Career Avenues", Raphael, engages in a dynamic conversation with guest Jonaed Iqbal, founder of Nodegree.com and the Nodegree podcast. Join us as we unpack the empowering narratives of immigrants and redefine paths to success.In this engaging episode, we delve into various captivating topics such as the significance of family in Bangladesh, unforgettable childhood moments, the multifaceted role of sports beyond mere entertai...

What a delightful episode it was when we had the pleasure of having Kala, the mother of our unofficial cohost and beloved podcast favorite Ashwin, join us for our first mother and son episode. In this episode, we embarked on a journey of learning, discussing my struggles with pronunciations, and so much more. Our conversation touched upon various topics, including Kala's childhood, her family history, and the surprising universality of arranged marriages. We also explored the concept of labels l...

Welcome back to another exciting episode of White Label American! In today's special episode, we have the privilege of hosting three incredible guests from the Nigerian diaspora community in Texas. They will be sharing their past memories and experiences of celebrating Nigeria's independence and reflecting on how those experiences shape their present perspectives. Join us as we explore the intriguing question of whether national pride truly exists or if it's merely a conflation of gratitude for ...

In this edition of White Label American, the reins of hosting are handed over to Julienne B. Ryan, the first guest host of the podcast. As a humorous speaker and inspirational storyteller, listeners can check out her book, The Learned-it-in-Queens Communications Playbook: Winning Against Digital Distraction. The last time we recorded an episode was just before the global pandemic hit in 2019. Our conversation touched on my journey into podcasting, Julienne's experience in writing and improving c...