I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on The Journey Podcast with David Hackett, where we explored some of the most meaningful threads from my life and work as an immigrant, coach, and podcast host.

In this episode, I share how my own journey from Jamaica to the U.S. shaped the way I see the world, and the work I now do to support others navigating similar paths.

We dive into a rich conversation around:

- International affairs and global travel
- The emotional layers of the immigrant experience
- Mental health in immigrant communities
- Bilingualism, identity, and the beauty of language
- High- vs. low-context cultures and the stories we carry
- Spirituality, assimilation, and finding your voice in a foreign land

Whether you’re living between cultures, working across borders, or simply curious about the complexity of identity and belonging, I hope my story offers something that resonates.

🎧 Tune in and let me know what part of the conversation speaks to you most.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkGXmewJgrA&list=PLoyoNf5zuWSjT48I-PJLLdRYICPHhlc1-&index=4&t=2s

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The Immigrant Experience in America

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

📱Listen 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
💼 LinkedIn: / simonewjohnson
💼 Instagram: / theimmigrantexperiencepodcast
💼 TikTok: / theimmigrantexperience

In Part 2 of my conversation with Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown on The Carry On Friends Podcast, we go even deeper.

I share how navigating the immigrant journey as an immigrant woman has reshaped my understanding of identity, resilience, and power.

We talk about the tension between assimilation and authenticity, and what it really means to create belonging without betraying yourself.

This episode is for anyone who’s had to shrink to survive, but is ready to grow, take up space, and lead with clarity and courage.

If you’ve ever questioned your belonging, struggled with cultural boundaries, or wanted to step more fully into your voice, this one is for you.

Tune in and let’s continue the conversation. 🌍💬

Watch the original YouTube video of our conversation here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdkEjCk_3Es&list=PLloo1R4UZiU4MX488pKdyG4wEjMSekwgZ

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Carry On Friends: The Carribean American Podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLloo1R4UZiU4MX488pKdyG4wEjMSekwgZ

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The Immigrant Experience in America

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

📱Listen 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
💼 LinkedIn: / simonewjohnson
💼 Instagram: / theimmigrantexperiencepodcast
💼 TikTok: / theimmigrantexperience

I recently had the honor of being interviewed by Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown on The Carry On Friends Podcast, where we explored the nuanced reality of what it means to live and lead, as a third culture immigrant.

In this conversation, I shared how my journey shaped the way I navigate identity, culture shock, parenting, and boundaries in both personal and professional spaces.

We spoke about the mental and emotional toll of existing between cultures and the quiet pressure so many of us feel to shrink or silence ourselves just to fit in.

We also discussed what it means to redefine success on your own terms and the courage it takes to stay rooted in your values while adapting to a new environment.

Whether you’re navigating life abroad, raising children in a culture different from your own, or figuring out how to honor your identity while building a career, this one’s for you.

🎧 Tune in and let me know what resonates most with your journey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdkEjCk_3Es&list=PLloo1R4UZiU4MX488pKdyG4wEjMSekwgZ

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Carry On Friends: The Caribbean American Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLloo1R4UZiU4MX488pKdyG4wEjMSekwgZ

______________________________________________________

The Immigrant Experience in America

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

📱Listen 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
💼 LinkedIn: / simonewjohnson
💼 Instagram: / theimmigrantexperiencepodcast
💼 TikTok: / theimmigrantexperience

In this continuation of our conversation, I sit down once again with the deeply creative and reflective Maanarak of Grey, an artist and podcast host originally from the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean.

In Part 2, we explore how art, storytelling, and stillness have helped her process the transitions of immigration, what it means to live between cultures, to grieve a place that still feels like home, and to reimagine belonging in unfamiliar spaces.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and remember that creativity can be both a compass and a lifeline in times of transition.

Tune in and listen to how one woman’s story holds space for many of us navigating the immigrant experience, quietly, powerfully, and on our own terms.

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Connect with Maanarak:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KreashonHub
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreashon.hub
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kreashon
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kreashon/

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The Immigrant Experience in America

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

📱Listen 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
💼 LinkedIn: / simonewjohnson
💼 Instagram: / theimmigrantexperiencepodcast
💼 TikTok: / theimmigrantexperience

In this episode of The Immigrant Experience in America, I sit down with the thoughtful and creative Maanarak of Grey, an artist and podcast host originally from Bonaire in the Caribbean.

Maanarak shares her journey as an immigrant, what it’s been like leaving behind the comfort of home and adjusting to life in a new environment.

From the warmth of island culture to the challenges of navigating unfamiliar social norms, her story is filled with quiet strength and deep reflection.

We discuss:

- The origin behind Maanarak's name
- Living in the island of Bonaire
- Her culture shock and adjustment to living abroad
- What she misses most about life in Bonaire
- The tension between staying rooted in your culture while adapting to a new one
- How her immigrant journey influences her creative work and advocacy
- The importance of building spaces where diverse identities feel seen and celebrated

This conversation is a powerful reminder that migration is not just about relocation, it’s about rediscovery, resilience, and reclaiming your voice.

🎧 Tune in to hear Maanarak’s story and join us in celebrating the depth and beauty of the immigrant experience.

Connect with Maanarak:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KreashonHub
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreashon.hub
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kreashon
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kreashon/

In this episode of The Immigrant Experience in America, I sit down with Erika Warner, a Latina entrepreneur, educator, founder of Inglés Pa’ Mi Gente, and mom.

Erika’s journey began when she immigrated to the U.S. as a child, navigating the emotional and linguistic challenges of learning English in a world that didn’t feel like home.

Today, she runs a thriving six-figure business teaching English to Spanish-speaking immigrants, people who share her story and her struggle.

But Erika’s success didn’t happen overnight. Her story is one of slow, determined progress: raising a family, carving out space in a new culture, and building a business that gives voice to a community often overlooked.

In this powerful conversation, we explore:

💬 What it means to live between two worlds as an immigrant parent
🌱 Raising children while raising yourself
🎯 Turning lived experience into a mission-led business
🔥 Balancing burnout, guilt, and ambition as a working mom
📈 How she grew from kitchen-table videos to 230K+ followers and a top-charting podcast

Erika’s story is a reminder that immigrant success doesn’t always follow a straight line, but it’s always worth celebrating.

Tune in to hear her truth, her grit, and her wisdom.

#ImmigrantVoices #LatinaEntrepreneur #MotherhoodAndBusiness #InglesPaMiGente #SimoneSpeaks #ImmigrantExperience #ThirdCultureStories #WorkingMomTruths #PodcastConversation

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Connect with Erika:

Website: https://inglespamigente.com/
Instagram: @inglespamigente
Podcast: https://inglespamigente.com/podcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Ingl%C3%A9spamigente

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The Immigrant Experience in America

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

📱Listen 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
💼 LinkedIn: / simonewjohnson
💼 Instagram: / theimmigrantexperiencepodcast
💼 TikTok: / theimmigrantexperience

In the final chapter of this unforgettable three-part series, Nick Berg and host Simone Johnson dive deep into the healing journey that followed a life of war, exile, and dual identity.
Nick opens up about the process of writing Shadows of Tehran—his fictionalized autobiography—as a form of healing and advocacy, reconnecting with his roots while confronting painful truths.

He speaks candidly about the emotional legacy of his past, how he found peace through storytelling, and why he believes that sharing immigrant stories—especially those shaped by conflict—is essential to collective healing and understanding.

This episode is a moving testament to resilience, redemption, and the power of claiming your story.

Connect with Nick Berg:

🌐 Official Website: https://www.pnberg.com/
💼 About Nick Berg: https://www.pnberg.com/about-nick-berg/
💼 Contact: https://www.pnberg.com/contact-nick-berg-author-of-shadows-of-tehran/
💼 Press & Media: https://www.pnberg.com/nick-berg-press-media/
💼 Charity Work: https://www.pnberg.com/nick-berg-charities/
💼 Blog: The Warrior’s Way
https://www.pnberg.com/shadows-of-tehran-blog/the-warriors-way-blog/

📚 Books by Nick Berg
🔥 Shadows of Tehran: Forged in Conflict – From Iranian Rebel to American Soldier: https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Tehran-Conflict-Iranian-American/dp/B0DMHKHY6L

🔥 Other Works:
Secrets to a Successful Commercial Software (COTS) Implementation
The Culture of Open: Transforming Your Business Through Transparency, Truth and Trust
https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/nick-berg/1458879/

📱 Social Media Profiles
Instagram: @nick.berg3
Goodreads: Nick Berg

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The Immigrant Experience in America

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

📱Listen 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
💼 LinkedIn: / simonewjohnson
💼 Instagram: / theimmigrantexperiencepodcast
💼 TikTok: / theimmigrantexperience