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. You're going to like this one!

Broken English

Asta (Lithuania)

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!

Rusalina (Romania)

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. Check out his book on Amazon for more of the story!

Charbel (Lebanon)

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.

Dhenu (India/Immigration Attorney)

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!

Liina (Estonia)

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. Her work is truly one of a kind. Make sure to follow her on Instagram!  She had previously written her reason for coming here and I wanted to share it with you! My Reason  It has never occurred to me that I would travel abroad and live in another country until I was about 17 years old. My High School graduation was approaching and the time had come to decide where I will be pursuing my higher education. I did not know what specific college or university I wanted to go but I have always known that I wanted to pursue an art career. Along with studying in regular high schools I have been attending the High Art School in Moscow, Russia. It was my favorite place and the only school I have actually liked. The decision to study abroad and to study in the United States was mutual between my parents and myself. My father sold our apartment to have funds for sponsoring my life and education in America. I was accepted and granted a scholarship from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Immediately after approval of my visa and finalized traveling paperwork, I was getting ready to start my new journey pursuing my family’s nurtured “American Dream”.  No one in my family are artists or have any special talents in the arts. However many members of my family have an acute awareness of the surrounding political climate and the reality of living in Russia. My parents knew that pursuing an independent art career in my home country would most likely have led me to poor and ostracized existence. My mother and especially my father are big admirers and fans of the American culture. They have always shown love and sympathy for the western lifestyle and, most importantly, for the idea of empowered civil rights and freedom of speech granted to American citizens. As a young adult I was in a whole-hearted agreement with my family to leave Russia and study at a university in the United States. I left Russia 6 years ago. I have never been back since I left. I have not seen my dad or my grandmothers or the rest of my family in 6 years. Only my Mom has been able to pay me visits every year and share the news from home. I miss my family and friends very much. Talking to them on a phone or texting is a different experience than seeing in person. Not being able to feel, touch, smell or embrace loved ones for a long time is excruciatingly difficult. The complicated political relationship between the US and Russia makes travel between the two countries difficult and that reflects back on shared negativity towards taking international journeys especially for Russians. On the bright side immigration facilitates me with fulfilling the higher purpose of me and my family’s whole sacrifice: to become a free artist/woman. I have always wanted to live my life the way I want to, be able to support myself, establish my own family, make friends, and grow to be a strong, kind and open-hearted woman. I will fight to pursue my goal of becoming an American citizen and to provide my family and parents with a better future.  I have to mention that a number of people who are great artists, teachers, and compassionate individuals partook in making my life in their county a reality and, most importantly, accepted me as part of their family: Mary Lou Zelazny, Tony Fitzpatrick, Susanna Coffey, Chris Batte, Fiona and Raymond McEntee and many of my other dear friends and supporters. As for an immigrant, my new “family” is my wealth and a precious asset that I have been gifted in this world.

Yulia (Russia)

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!

Fiona (Ireland/Immigration Attorney)

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! brokenenglishpodcast@gmail.com

Anonymous (Iran)

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. 

Izabela (Poland)

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.

Maik (Germany)

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. This interview is outrageously informative and yet were only scratching the surface. Jake will be back! 

Jake (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!

Beata (Poland/Immigration attorney)

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!

Alicia (Dominican Republic)

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!

Miriam (Myanmar)

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!

Max (Haiti)

Broken English is a mobile podcast hosted by me, Andrew Mahar in and around Chicago, Illinois. This first season is a mixture of interviews from people who have immigrated to the U.S. ranging from Mexico to South Africa to Turkey to Bolivia. 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.

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Broken English

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