This week I chatted with Alana Carmickle and Heaven Williams. Alana and Heaven, along with Sophia Hysaw and Meredith Kauffman, created EquiTeens in Kenosha, Wisconsin this past summer as sophomores in high school. EquiTeens was formed to mobilize teens in Kenosha after George Floyd was killed in May. Their group organized further after Jacob Blake was shot seven times in their city three months later. Tune in to this episode of Gen BIPOC to hear Alana and Heaven talk about EquiTeens, Kenosha, and teen activism. Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

Kathy Santamaría-Méndez's story is all about beating the odds. Kathy came to the United States with her family from El Salvador, and discusses the Salvadoran migration experience, border crossings from Central America, and generational trauma. She also gave birth to her son at 15, graduated college at 20, and started law school this fall at 21. Tune in to this week’s episode of Gen BIPOC to hear Kathy’s story, with the occasional appearance of her son, Aaron. If you’re able, Kathy would appreciate you donating to and looking into the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC). Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

This week on Gen BIPOC, I had a conversation with Aliya Manjee. Now an attorney on the hill in Washington, D.C., Aliya talks about being raised in a strict Pakistani and Muslim household, and how that led her to law school. Tune in to this week’s episode of Gen BIPOC to hear Aliya’s thoughts about imposter syndrome, arranged marriage, fashion, and more. If you’re able, Aliya would appreciate you donating to and looking into Street Law Inc. and BLOC. You can visit their Instagram accounts at @StreetLawInc and @BLOCbyBLOCmke Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

This week on Gen BIPOC, I chat with Liam John Harrington. Liam is a musician who discusses reclaiming his Indigenous roots as a result of being physically distant from the Akimel O’otham tribe in Arizona, and after losing his mom in 2013. He also talks about dropping out of college after being diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, and how he’s navigated his disability over the years. If you’re able, Liam would appreciate you donating to and looking into Dig Deep and Honor the Earth. You can visit their Instagram accounts at @digdeepwater and @honortheearth Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

To kick off season two of Gen BIPOC, I interview my friend and former coworker, Bryanna Williamson. Bryanna grew up wanting to be a humanitarian, is passionate about social justice, and is on a mission to improve representation in children’s books. Born and raised in Minneapolis, she also shares her thoughts on the Uprising, police violence, mutual aid, and more. Moving forward, Gen BIPOC will highlight organizations dear to the interviewees. If you’re able, Bryanna would appreciate you donating and looking into Speak Up Book Club, Black Women Speak, or the Givens Foundation for African American Literature. Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

This week on Gen BIPOC, my friend Brenda Sanchez decided to put me in the hot seat and ask me some questions! Tune in to the last episode of the season to get to know your host and hear me talk about starting a podcast, life on the campaign trail, and some scattered thoughts. As always, thanks for the love and the listens. I’m excited to share the second season with you all soon!

In 2017, Archit Baskaran published a story on Medium.com describing his experience being a survivor of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His experiences motivated him to launch a social movement and nonprofit organization called We Are Saath. Listen to this week’s episode of Gen POC to hear about the ways in which Archit and his team work to shift the narrative around mental health in the South Asian community.

A child of Ethiopian immigrants, Leah Asmelash felt a calling to become a writer from a young age. Earlier this year, Leah graduated college and landed her dream job as a journalist for CNN in Atlanta. Tune in to this week’s episode of Gen BIPOC to hear about Leah’s experiences in journalism, and the ways in which she pushes boundaries through her writing.

Have you ever wondered who threaded Ilhan Omar’s eyebrows before she became the first Somali-American woman to be sworn into Congress? Look no further. This week, I talk to a fellow Desi girl, Abeer Syedah. Additional topics of conversation include, but are not limited to, chai, cultural appropriation, libraries, chicken tikka masala, and the end of the world. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear one of the most memorable conversations I’ve ever had.

This week on Gen BIPOC, I talk to Iván Ruvalcaba, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma during his senior year of high school. Almost seven years later, Iván now works as a licensed professional counselor in Southeast Wisconsin. In a field typically dominated by white women, there is an increased need of men of color to work as mental healthcare professionals. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear how Iván’s diagnosis, growing up in suburban Wisconsin, and being a DACA recipient led him to the mental health field.