I Am An Immigrant

Jul 29 2024 24 ep. 32 mins 5

I Am An Immigrant Podcast artwork

Most of us have a picture in our minds when we hear the word 'immigrant'. For some it sounds like a dirty word. For others, it means someone who needs help. Or an inspiring hero making a 'contribution'. Whatever picture you conjure, this weekly interview podcast with your host Christine Bacon is here to transform that into something way more interesting. Guests are a mixture of celebrities, public figures and regular Janes and they all share the unique experience of moving across borders and making a life for themselves in the UK.
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3.6 Ada: The 'japa' syndrome

Jul 29 2024 38 mins

Ada is from Nigeria and has lived in the UK for over 20 years. She has worked in a number of fields, has a legal background and is also a trained early years practitioner. We talked about the Nigerian phenomenon of 'japa', Ada's inner tomboy and how the UK's so-called 'hostile environment' policies have impacted her life here.I Am An Immigrant is an ice&fire theatre production

3.5 Maggie Gellersjö: There's no danger on the roof

Jul 19 2024 27 mins

Maggie, the first Scandinavian on the podcast, is from Sweden and first came to the UK in 2006 on a whim after her studies, like so many back in the EU free movement days. She landed mysteriously in Exeter and has lived there ever since. Maggie and I accompanied by her dog Cass, talked about having no plan, Maggie’s passion for spreadsheets and the best Swedish sayings.&nbs

3.4 Mr Mahmoud: I won’t stop until I clear my name

Jul 04 2024 25 mins

Mr Mahmoud asked me not to use his real name. He is from Pakistan and came to the UK as a student in 2006 when he was in his mid 20s. He completed a Masters in Law and was in the middle of doing a Legal Practice Course in 2015 and just a few months away from being eligible for indefinite leave to remain here, when a letter from the Home Office accusing him of cheating on an English

3.3 Lara Parizotto: I’m tired of asking for rights, please

Jun 27 2024 44 mins

Lara Parizotto is, to her knowledge, the first Brazilian born person to be elected as a local councillor in the UK. She moved to the UK from Brazil temporarily at the age of 11 and returned here in order to pursue further education at the age of 17. She soon discovered that the immigration rules meant that she would have to put her plans on hold for a while. We talked about ho

3.2 Mitya Savelau: I saw the planet as my opportunity

Jun 20 2024 35 mins

Mitya Savelau is a campaigner and an actor who was born and bred in Belarus and has also lived in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and the USA. He made the move to the UK around 5 years ago. We talked about finding the perfect job with Change.org, how it feels to be prevented from returning to his native Belarus and how the pandemic gave him the time and space to take the plunge

3.1 Sergio Maggiolo: I love an audience and an audience loves me

Jun 13 2024 38 mins

Sergio Maggiolo is a performer, director and theatre-maker from Peru who has lived in the UK for 10 years. Over a bottle of wine on a sunny evening in May, we got into themes such as being a Peruvian soap opera star, the early days of Grinder when he was living in New Jersey and how it feels when a border guard greets you with the word ‘Welcome.’Follow Sergio here https://www.i

2.6 Tawona Sitholé: My Uncle and Ambition Brought Me Here

Jul 24 2022 25 mins

Tawona Sitholé, like a lot of artists, does many things. Better known as Ganyamatope (his ancestral family name), he is a poet, playwright, storyteller and musician. He was born in Zimbabwe just before independence and moved to the UK aged 21. He has research and teaching roles in the school of education and medical school, at the University of Glasgow. Other educational role

2.5 Leena Nammari: Unapologetically Palestinian

Jul 17 2022 39 mins

Leena Nammari is a Palestinian artist printmaker based in Scotland. Her work has been part of group and solo exhibitions within Scotland and in Europe more widely. Leena’s installation, It Will Live can be seen on the façade of the Studio venue at the Edinburgh International festival between August 12 and 27. . We talked about Leena’s favourite Scottish words, the essential he

2.4 Madison Nonoa: You Can Choose To Get Back On The Horse

Jul 10 2022 39 mins

Madison Nonoa is an opera singer. She was born and bred in New Zealand and made the big move to the UK in 2017 to complete a degree in opera at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She is based in the UK and performs around the world. Madison will sing in a concert of songs by Brahms with Edinburgh pianists Malcolm Martineau & Steven Osborne on August 13th. We tal

2.3 Mavin Khoo: Just Call Me An Artist

Jul 03 2022 47 mins

Mavin Khoo is a dancer and coach. He was born in Malaysia and moved between there and India from the age of 10-17. After a short stint in New York, he landed in the UK aged 18. His career has taken him all over the world. He is currently an Associate and Rehearsal Director at the Akram Kahn Dance Company. Their show Jungle Book Reimagined will play at the Edinburgh International Fe