From Home to Here – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of From Home to Here, Komal sit's down with Jackie Nguyen, a first-generation daughter of a Vietnam War refugee and former Broadway actor who made a bold pivot into entrepreneurship during the pandemic. Jackie spent over 10 years in New York City, performing on Broadway, but when the arts came to a halt, she found herself on a new path that led to the creation of Café Cà Phê, Kansas City’s first Vietnamese coffee shop.

Jackie shares her inspiring immigrant journey, the challenges of transitioning from the stage to owning a business, and how Café Cà Phê amplifies the Asian American narrative while uplifting marginalized communities. With a mission rooted in culture and inclusivity, Café Cà Phê has become more than just a place for great coffee—it’s a celebration of identity, resilience, and community in the Midwest.

Tune in to hear Jackie’s incredible story of reinvention, determination, and the power of cultural representation.

PRODUCED BY FIREDUP STUDIOS x EYE OF AN IMMIGRANT X ULOM APP

In the premiere episode of From Home to Here, join us as we explore the journeys of Komal Kaur and Zik Nwanganga, two passionate advocates for immigrant voices.

Komal Kaur, Executive Director and Founder of Eye of An Immigrant, was born and raised in Queens, New York, to immigrant parents from Punjab, India. In 2017, she moved to Olathe, Kansas, where her personal experiences as a daughter of immigrants ignited a deep passion for public advocacy. Her dedication to elevating the stories of immigrants inspired her to transform the organization’s storytelling campaign into this powerful podcast.

Zik Nwanganga, the talented producer behind From Home to Here, immigrated to the United States from Nigeria as an international student. As the CEO and Founder of Fired Up Studios, Zik is dedicated to helping organizations tell their unique stories. With his technical expertise and love for storytelling, Zik brings a dynamic and engaging touch to the podcast, ensuring that each episode resonates with our listeners.

Tune in to hear their stories, learn about their work, and discover the driving forces behind their commitment to immigrant advocacy.

Eye of An Immigrant x FiredUp Studios x Ulom App

🎙️ From Home to Here is launching its very first episode! 🎉

We’re kicking off this journey by exploring the joys and complexities of growing up in a big family with Komal and Zik. Our founder, Komal, reflects on her mom's touching words: "If there's space in your heart, there's space in your home." 💕

Get ready to hear stories that will warm your heart and connect you to the immigrant experience like never before.

Tune in to our premiere episode and join us in celebrating the power of family and community. #FromHomeToHere #BigFamilyLove #EOAI #ImmigrantStories #PodcastLaunch

In this powerful episode of From Home to Here, we sit down with Aman Malhotra, the Senior Director of Revenue Operations at myKaarma and Co-Founder of KC Bhangra. With her extensive experience in building teams for startups, Aman brings a unique perspective to the conversation about identity and belonging.

Join us as she shares her personal journey, including her father’s story of leaving Punjab and the challenges faced in a new country. Aman opens up about navigating the complexities of the school system, encountering racist remarks, and the struggles she faced in high school as she worked to redefine her identity amidst various challenges.

As a passionate advocate for community and culture, Aman also discusses her role as the Director of Marketing on the Eye of an Immigrant Board of Directors and her commitment to teaching North Indian folk dance to the next generation at KC Bhangra.

Tune in for a heartfelt discussion that explores the intersection of culture, community, and the ongoing quest for belonging. Whether you're navigating your own identity journey or simply seeking inspiration, this episode is not to be missed!

Listen now and discover the power of storytelling in shaping our identities.

PRODUCED BY FIRED UP STUDIOS x EYE OF AN IMMIGRANT x ULOM APP

In this powerful episode of From Home to Here, host Alejandra Villalobos McAnderson speaks with Mariana Figueroa and Christian Anderaos, two immigrants whose passion for soccer brought them to the United States. Mariana, a dedicated advocate for women’s soccer, shares her journey from Cali, Colombia, to Kansas City, where she now works as KC Current’s Community Relations Coordinator. She highlights the cultural obstacles she faced and the pride she feels in using sports to inspire youth and promote inclusivity.

Chris, originally from São Paulo, Brazil, discusses his path as a professional indoor soccer player for the Kansas City Comets and founder of Playmaker Soccer Academy. Known as the "Tasmanian Devil" on the field, Chris also serves as a Portuguese broadcaster for KC Current. Both guests dive into the challenges of adapting to a new country, the strength they draw from their roots, and their shared commitment to giving back to the community.

Mariana and Chris reflect on the cultural values and traditions they've brought from home, as well as their dreams of creating pathways for future generations in sports and education. This episode is a celebration of resilience, cultural pride, and the unifying power of soccer.

PRODUCED BY FIREDUP STUDIOS x EYE OF AN IMMIGRANT x ULOM APP

Chandler Johnson brings a perspective on immigration and identity that’s rarely highlighted in mainstream conversations. While many immigrant stories start with a family’s conscious decision to move to a new country, Chandler's story is shaped by a much longer, more complex history—one marked by displacement through the transatlantic slave trade, gaps in family history, and growing up in a mixed-race household. Today, we’re going to explore that story and the role that race and perception play in navigating life, identity, and home!

Neutrality may feel safe, but in reality, it often upholds the very systems we hope to change. In this episode of From Home to Here, Katie and Shivani explore the nuances of allyship—what it means, why it matters, and how to practice it with intention in our daily lives.

Together, they discuss: Why neutrality isn’t truly neutral, the difference between performative and authentic allyship, and practical ways to show up for others, even when it’s uncomfortable.

 Meet the mother-daughter duo who founded the local gem, Cafe Corazon in Kansas City. As a reflection of Miel, Dulcinea, and Curtis, Miel's husband and Dulcinea's father, Café Corazón reflects their families deep roots with the aim to give the bean a voice, introduce yerba mate to the midwest and to create a safe space for people of color as well as space where those who do not know their culture can be introduced to the smells, colors and flavors of Latin America! They embody what it means to bring community together and uplift one another, you don't want to miss this!

Born and raised in Kansas City, Paul Chandi is the first-generation son of Indian immigrants and the founder of Detail Doctors, an automotive protection company he’s been building since 2019. In this episode, Paul shares the crossroads moment where he had to choose between pursuing a college degree or committing fully to his growing business. He walks us through the pressures of being a child of immigrants, the weight of honoring his parents' sacrifices, and how staying connected to his Punjabi roots keeps him grounded. It’s a story of risk, resilience, and redefining success on your own terms.

🎧 From Home to Here shares the stories of immigrants and children of immigrants in Kansas City and beyond — shifting narratives, breaking silence, and building community.

PRODUCED BY EYE OF AN IMMIGRANT x FIREDUP STUDIOS

In this week's powerful episode, Edgar J. Palacios and Alex sit down with host Brandon McAnderson for a deeply vulnerable conversation about identity, healing, and the importance of building community within ourselves.

Edgar, born in Florida to Nicaraguan parents and a leading voice in educational equity, reflects on what it means to show up for others while learning to show up for himself.

Alex, born in Mexico and a practitioner of Indigenous Medicine and Energy Work, shares how ancestral wisdom and sacred remembrance guide their work and personal healing.

With roots in the Dominican Republic, Brandon brings curiosity and heart to this dialogue, weaving their stories together with intentionality and grace.

Together, they explore the intersections of leadership, mental health, and cultural identity—offering reflections that are honest, tender, and necessary.

🔊 Tune in for:
– Redefining community and leadership
– Healing across generations
– Navigating identity as first- and second-gen children of immigrants
– The power of stillness, embodiment, and sacred space

This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and remember: the most important relationship we have is the one we cultivate with ourselves.

PRODUCED BY EYE OF AN IMMIGRANT x FIREDUP STUDIOS