Celebrating Migrant Journeys on International Podcast Day

Today, over 70 countries are hosting virtual events for International Podcast Day. While you can find a podcast on almost any topic, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of our favorite migrant journeys as told through The Moth’s podcast, a non-profit group dedicated to storytelling.

We pulled together five stories about sacrifice, community, and hope illustrated through the ups and downs of moving abroad. These stories have resonated with us because they remind us of our own lives and that of our customers, the journey to a better everyday life.

About International Podcast Day

International Podcast Day began in 2014 as National Podcast Day in the United States. For the past five years, the event has been able to engage and feature podcasters from nearly 70 countries and garnered recognition from platforms like the New York Times and ESPN.

For us, International Podcast Day represents an opportunity to continue amplifying the voices of millions around the world who’ve left their homes in search of something more.

Moth Stories: The Migrant Journey Through Podcast

Sandwiches & Neighbors by Oanh Ngo Usadi

“It occurred to me, that appreciation of anything unfamiliar, of a neighbor, of a sandwich, requires time and an open mind.”

Oanh and her family moved to a small Texas town from Vietnam. They discovered that things like running a sandwich shop in a predominately white town, living next to their landlord, or lawn care were harder than they expected. However, through lessons learned and a period of acclamation, even difficult things can be worth it.

Dancing Through Life by Diana Thompson

“Choosing to have the life she wants, no matter what. And I think to myself, if I ever turn 61 with half of her courage, I’ll be so lucky.”

Two Syrian women – Diana and her mother – took traditional Scottish dance lessons to feel closer to their new culture. Diana learned much more than choreography, though. She learned to recognize her mother’s strength.

100 People Who Love You, No Matter What by Zahra Noorbakhsh

“Four school buses drove my mom’s family to the airport to meet us at one o’clock in the morning.”

Zahra, a first-generation Iranian-American, had only ever spoken with her family in Iran over the phone. She never understood what her mother sacrificed until she visited Iran and met her extended family – all 100 of them.

A Country Worth Queuing For by Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan

“The home that people tell you to go to. For me that would be India, somewhere I haven’t been to in 14 years, where I would be more foreign than I am here.”

Some things are worth waiting for. Chandrika, an Indian immigrant, had to wait in line behind 350 people to renew her visa.  As she waited, she was able to reflect on why Dublin mattered to her and how, at this point, India was no longer her home.

When People Ask Me Where I’m From by Beth Gebresilasie

“l learned to find permanence in impermanence.”

Moving away from friends is never easy – especially when you’re moving across the world from Sudan to the US. But after years of actively isolating herself, Beth started making friends at her internship and realizing everything she had been missing out on.

These stories are part of a longer podcast episode that can be found online at www.themoth.org/podcast and on iTunes, RSS, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. The individual stories can only be found online at www.themoth.org/stories.

We hope that you enjoy them as much as we have!