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The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)

The Immigrant Experience in America (TIEIA)

Auteur(s): Simone W. Johnson Smith
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 The Immigrant Experience In America Podcast amplifies and humanizes the experiences of immigrants living in The United States of America and around the world. We are building a human library of immigrant stories. Connect with us at thebridgeconcepts.org to add yours to our library. Are you an immigrant, expat, international professional, international student new to the United States (or another country) and struggling to make sense of your new environment? Culture shock and adjustment challenges impact many of approximately 218 million migrants moving across the globe (UN, 2024). Are you feeling misunderstood and out of touch because you are struggling to understand the unstated rules of the new culture? That's what we do each week on The Immigrant Experience in America. Every episode is an in-depth look at adjustment challenges, navigating the pitfalls of immigrant life, and becoming a third culture person. I was inspired to start this podcast by my own experience as an immigrant American who legally migrated to the United States but yet has frequent experiences of a love-hate relationship of America with its immigrant population and as a result of a larger vacuum surrounding the positive contributions of immigrants to American Life. We will sit down with successful immigrant Americans to discuss how they navigated the complexity of being an immigrant-American to achieve their American Dream. This is a spot for us to get real - peel back the layers, if you will, of what it means to be an immigrant living away from their birth country. Our intention is to serve as a bridge from your culture to the American (or other country) culture – giving you a roadmap of tools and language to understand the unstated rules of the new country/culture, wherever you find yourself in the world. Disclaimer: The Immigrant Experience in America podcast is produced in my personal capacity. The views and opinions shared by me and my guests are our own and do not reflect the views, policies, or positions of the U.S. government or USCIS.2021 Simone W. Johnson Smith Sciences sociales
Épisodes
  • From Nigeria to Nursing Professor: Idongesit Obeya (Ep. 199) - Part 1

    From Nigeria to Nursing Professor: Idongesit Obeya (Ep. 199) - Part 1
    Oct 28 2025
    Key Themes

    1. Identity & Belonging

      • The tension of "you've arrived here, now who are you?" Many immigrants carry a dual identity: rooted in a homeland + building a future elsewhere.

      • Letting go of perfection: striving to fit in often causes people to lose parts of what made them uniquely strong.

      • Belonging isn't only about external acceptance. It begins internally — how you carry yourself, how you reconcile "old home" and "new home."

    2. Financial Literacy in a New Context

      • Systems you took for granted in your home country (banking, credit, retirement, investments) often work differently or not at all here.

      • Language of finance and culture: Understanding the rules is one thing; feeling comfortable playing the game is another.

      • Your immigrant status (first or second generation) is not a barrier — but lack of tailored support or advice is.

    3. Cultural Transition & Adaptation

      • Adapting doesn't mean assimilation. Your former cultural values are inputs, not mistakes to erase.

      • Work-life balance can shift in surprising ways when you move across cultures — expectations, definitions of success, even rest change.

      • Boundaries become crucial. Setting them early prevents overwhelm and identity drift.

    4. High Achievement & Hidden Costs

      • For high-achieving immigrants, success often comes with hidden stress: needing to prove, over‐performing, feeling isolated.

      • There's a trap in "doing everything" and never pausing to ask "is this what I want?"

      • Forgiveness and rest are underrated. The culture of achievement here sometimes doesn't give you permission to just be.

    Major Takeaways

    • You don't have to choose between "origin" and "destination". Use both. Your background gives strengths (perspective, resilience) you might be ignoring.

    • Step into the financial system with curiosity, not fear. Ask: What can I learn? What do I need to protect? What am I aiming for?

    • Boundaries = freedom, not restriction. Saying no to what drains you makes room for what nourishes you.

    • Culture shift is more marathon than sprint. Some parts integrate fast, others slowly. Accept mis‐steps as part of the process.

    • Achievement without alignment leads to burnout. Checking boxes doesn't always equal satisfaction. Clarify values, not just goals.

    • Belonging is active. It's a daily choice: engaging with community, voice, identity. It's not passive acceptance.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Immigrant Experience in America

    Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3OmWxJZ
    Official Site: https://bit.ly/3OmWAWg

    📱Listen to more episodes on:
    💼 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3OK7xCN
    💼 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DKXsiE
    💼 Amazon: https://amzn.to/43VG4Cn

    📱Support our Patreon: https://bit.ly/3KwUiTz

    📱Connect with Simone!
    💼 Website: https://www.thebridgeconcepts.org

    📱 Follow us on Social Media:
    💼 LinkedIn: / simonewjohnson
    💼 Instagram: / theimmigrantexperiencepodcast
    💼 TikTok: / theimmigrantexperience

    📱 Share your story with us:
    💼 simone.8.johnson@gmail.com

    Disclaimer: The Immigrant Experience in America podcast is produced in my personal capacity. The views and opinions shared by me and my guests are our own and do not reflect the views, policies, or positions of the U.S. government or USCIS.

    Please note: I do not provide immigration legal services or case-specific guidance. My work focuses on cultural adjustment, financial empowerment, and personal growth.
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    31 min
  • From Panama to Pastoral Leadership: Dr. Renaldo White's Journey of Faith, Culture & Resilience (Ep. 198) - Part 3

    From Panama to Pastoral Leadership: Dr. Renaldo White's Journey of Faith, Culture & Resilience (Ep. 198) - Part 3
    Oct 22 2025
    In this four‑part conversation on The Immigrant Experience in America, host Simone W. Johnson‑Smith sits down with Dr. Reynaldo White, a Panamanian‑born pastor, educator, author, musician, and community advocate whose life journey traverses Panama, Miami, and rural Alabama. Dr. White recounts his upbringing in extreme poverty near the Panama Canal and his family's move to the United States when his father joined the U.S. Army. He reflects on learning English and navigating identity in Miami, then describes the cultural adjustment of pastoring in Alabama—a state where racial categories rarely include Afro‑Latinos and where his Spanish‑language congregation received hate mail and threats. Despite this hostility, he and his wife built a multicultural church that eventually included nineteen nationalities. When church board members balked at purchasing a property, the Whites bought it themselves and later expanded it to 12,000 square feet to host both international and local congregations. The episode explores Dr. White's academic and professional path—from earning degrees in music performance and serving as a concert pianist who toured 69 countries, to completing a Ph.D. in educational leadership and teaching English Language Learners. He shares how his students encouraged him to write his childhood stories, which became bilingual books funding a school for former child addicts in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. White speaks candidly about family life: his daughter's pregnancy crisis and the premature birth of his granddaughter at 23 weeks, followed by a miraculous recovery he attributes to prayer; adopting two sons with severe autism and raising them with discipline and love; fostering additional children; and the challenges that arise when biological parents reappear years later. He emphasises that parenting requires consistency and community support, urging listeners to embrace the African proverb "it takes a village to raise a child." Throughout the conversation, Dr. White weaves in themes of faith, resilience, and service. He advocates for military training as a pathway to discipline and career opportunities, recounts the benefits his own sons gained from Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT), and contrasts the efficiency of Miami's immigrant community with the slow growth and isolation of rural Alabama. The episode closes with Dr. White's call to build inclusive communities, support immigrant voices, and join his efforts—whether by reading his books, supporting the Nairobi school, or visiting his church in Alabama. Guest Bio Dr. Reynaldo White is a Panamanian‑American pastor, educator, author, and former concert pianist. Born near the Panama Canal, he immigrated to Miami as a child and later served in the U.S. Army. He holds degrees in music performance (bachelor's and master's) and a Ph.D. in educational leadership. Dr. White has performed for two U.S. presidents and toured 69 countries as a concert pianist, but he gave up touring to raise his adopted sons with autism. Now based in Alabama, he pastors Harvest International Ministry, teaches English Language Learners, and writes bilingual books—memoirs and children's stories—that chronicle his immigrant journey and support a school for former child addicts in Nairobi, Kenya. He and his wife Jennifer are parents of three biological daughters, two adopted sons, foster children, and a granddaughter whose survival inspires their faith. Key Takeaways Resilience in the face of prejudice: Dr. White and his congregation endured hate mail and police harassment when they founded a Spanish‑language church in Alabama. Their perseverance led to a thriving multicultural ministry that highlights the power of inclusion. Community parenting: The Whites relied on a network of surrogate grandparents and friends to help raise their adopted sons. Dr. White urges parents to "go back to the village" and involve trusted community members in child‑rearing, especially for children with special needs. The power of discipline and structure: Raising two autistic sons taught Dr. White the importance of consistency. He advocates for clear boundaries and believes military training equips young adults with discipline and transferable skills for civilian careers. Faith and miracles: His granddaughter's premature birth and survival after collapsed lungs reinforced his belief in the power of prayer. This personal miracle underpins his ministry and his commitment to supporting families facing similar crises. Multifaceted identity: Dr. White embraces his identity as both Black and Latino, pushing back against the idea that one must choose. He compares cultural contexts—from Panama and Miami to rural Alabama—and finds pride in each facet of his heritage. From music to ministry: Before entering full‑time ministry, Dr. White performed globally as a concert pianist and holds advanced music degrees. He envisions returning to ...
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    30 min
  • From Panama to Pastoral Leadership: Dr. Renaldo White's Journey of Faith, Culture & Resilience (Ep. 197) - Part 2

    From Panama to Pastoral Leadership: Dr. Renaldo White's Journey of Faith, Culture & Resilience (Ep. 197) - Part 2
    Oct 15 2025
    Episode Summary In this extended conversation from The Immigrant Experience in America, host Simone W. Johnson-Smith talks with Dr. Reynaldo White—a Panamanian‑born pastor, educator, author, and former concert pianist now living in Alabama. Over three parts, they explore Dr. White's journey from growing up in poverty near the Panama Canal to serving as a pastor and community leader in the American South. He explains how his Ph.D. in educational leadership and his bilingual books opened doors both in Alabama and abroad. The episode traces the evolution of his writing career—starting as stories for his students, transforming into memoirs, children's books, and Spanish‑language texts—and how those books now fund a school for former child addicts in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. White also shares deeply personal stories: his family's decision to carry a pregnancy to term despite grim medical odds, the miraculous survival of his granddaughter born at 23 weeks, and his belief that prayer played a key role in her recovery. The conversation delves into parenting and discipline as Dr. White recounts adopting two boys with severe autism, drawing lessons about consistency, love, and community support. He describes how military service provided structure for his sons and other young men, detailing the path from basic training to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and the career opportunities that follow. Dr. White also reflects on his years as a concert pianist performing in 69 countries and how he stepped back from touring to care for his family and devote himself to teaching and ministry. The episode closes with a call to remember that communities thrive when they help raise each other's children and with an invitation to share and support immigrant stories. Guest Bio Dr. Reynaldo White is a Panamanian‑American pastor, educator, author, and musician. After immigrating to Miami as a child when his father joined the U.S. Army, he earned degrees in music performance and educational leadership (Ph.D.) and served as a concert pianist, performing in 69 countries. Dr. White now pastors a church in Alabama and teaches English Language Learners. He has authored more than fifteen books—memoirs, children's books, and bilingual editions—that chronicle immigrant life and support a Nairobi school. He and his wife Jennifer are parents and foster parents to several children, including two adopted sons with autism and a granddaughter whose premature birth inspired renewed faith. Key Takeaways Navigating culture in Alabama: Dr. White describes serving in a state that often sees race only in terms of "black" and "white," leaving Afro‑Latinos invisible. He stresses the need for leadership and understanding in such communities. Stories into books: Encouraged by students, he wrote childhood tales that became memoirs and children's books in English and Spanish. His writing not only preserves immigrant narratives but also funds education abroad. Faith and miracles: Dr. White recounts the premature birth of his granddaughter at 23 weeks and the prayerful journey that led to her survival. The experience deepened his faith and reinforced his belief in miracles. Discipline and structure: Raising adopted sons with severe autism taught him the value of consistency. He advocates for clear boundaries and recommends military training for young adults seeking discipline and career skills. Adoption and fostering: He and his wife adopted two boys with autism and later took in foster children. Dr. White shares the challenges of meeting special needs and the blessings of watching the children thrive. Community parenting: Echoing the proverb "it takes a village," he urges parents to lean on trusted community members. He believes strong communities can transform children's lives and relieve overwhelmed parents. Music and ministry: Before focusing on education and ministry, Dr. White toured as a concert pianist. He hopes to return to performance now that his sons are grown, blending his artistic and pastoral callings. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Immigrant Experience in America Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3OmWxJZ Official Site: https://bit.ly/3OmWAWg 📱Listen to more episodes on: 💼 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3OK7xCN 💼 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DKXsiE 💼 Amazon: https://amzn.to/43VG4Cn 📱Support our Patreon: https://bit.ly/3KwUiTz 📱Connect with Simone! 💼 Website: https://www.thebridgeconcepts.org 📱 Follow us on Social Media: 💼 LinkedIn: / simonewjohnson 💼 Instagram: / theimmigrantexperiencepodcast 💼 TikTok: / theimmigrantexperience 📱 Share your story with us: 💼 simone.8.johnson@gmail.com Disclaimer: The Immigrant Experience in America podcast is produced in my personal capacity. The views and opinions shared by me and my guests are our own and do not reflect the views...
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    28 min
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