In this episode, Abdi Aden shares his incredible journey from Somalia to Australia, detailing the impact of the civil war on his life and the challenges he faced as a refugee.

He discusses how he found purpose through motivational speaking, the challenges he faced due to societal expectations and discrimination, and how he overcame them by embracing his identity and building genuine connections with young people.

Abdi emphasizes the importance of treating youth with respect and positivity, and shares valuable insights on navigating cultural differences and disarming prejudice.

He concludes with empowering advice for immigrants and refugees, encouraging them to embrace their uniqueness as a strength and overcome the fear of judgment.

Chapters:

(00:00) Journey from Somalia to Australia

(05:08) The Impact of War and Refugee Experience

(09:07) Survival and Resilience in Refugee Camps

(12:20) Navigating Identity and Belonging

(14:15) The Struggles of Rebuilding Life

(20:20) Finding Purpose through Teaching and Speaking

(23:40) Lessons in Kindness and Community

(27:10) The Importance of Education and Opportunity

(30:00) Embracing Life's Challenges

(32:00) The Power of Storytelling and Sharing Experiences

(33:08) Overcoming Societal Expectations

(36:10) The Journey to Becoming a Youth Worker

(37:55) Building Genuine Connections with Youth

(39:20) Disarming Prejudice and Stereotypes

(40:40) Embracing Identity and Difference

(41:50) Advice for Immigrants and Refugees

(42:30) Overcoming the Fear of Judgment

(43:00) Gradual Exposure to Vulnerability

(43:30) The Struggle with Vulnerability and Shame

(44:00) The Importance of Sharing Success

(45:00) Redefining the Term 'Refugee'

(46:00) Finding Home in Australia

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Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

In this conversation, Natalia Gomez shares her transformative journey from Colombia to Australia, discussing her motivations for leaving her home country, including the cultural dissonance she experienced with Colombia’s ‘machista’ norms. She recounts the challenges of securing a skill-aligned job, preparing for the Australia Veterinary Exam, and requalifying as a veterinarian in Australia. She opens up about her experiences studying with ADHD, the sacrifices she made to achieve her goals, and the importance of creating support systems. She offers practical advice for those looking to requalify and highlights the significance of motivation and overcoming fear throughout the process. Ultimately, Natalia's story is one of perseverance, embracing discomfort, and pursuing fulfilment in a new land.

Chapters

00:00 Leaving Colombia

03:10 Cultural Dissonance

07:35 The Struggles of Immigrating

12:30 Requalifying as a Veterinarian

18:45 Navigating Life with ADHD and Study Challenges

22:50 The Cost of Sacrifice: Health vs. Success

24:50 Creating Support Systems for Overseas Vets

27:00 Overcoming the Fear of Requalification

28:20 Step-by-Step: The Path to Registration

29:15 Finding Motivation in Difficult Times

30:20 The Courage of Migrants

31:15 Embracing Discomfort for Belonging

Resource mentioned:

You’ve got this, by Dominic Bertolucci

Connect with Natalia:

Natalia’s website ‘Brainybilby’: https://brainybilby.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliathevet/

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Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

In this episode, Emma Bellamy-Dodd interviews Gloria Tabi, founder of Everyday inclusion and Enable Women Africa, about her journey from Ghana to Australia and her fight against systemic racism. Gloria shares how colonial legacies and the search for opportunity shaped her migration, and describes the invisible barriers she faced in Australia’s workplaces despite her qualifications. She discusses how researching race structures helped her move past self-blame and highlights the personal and political impact of hair discrimination, explaining how Black women often feel pressure to hide their natural hair. Gloria recounts the fear and eventual empowerment of wearing her natural hair openly, and her commitment to ensuring young Black girls can embrace their identity without shame.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Gloria Tabi's Journey

02:15 Experiencing Racism in Australia

06:30 Transitioning to Advocacy

10:05 Hair Discrimination as a Form of Racism

13:50 Embracing Natural Identity

17:10 The Struggles of Identity and Professional Spaces

21:35 Systemic Change for Inclusion

26:05 Celebrating Natural Hair and Empowerment

30:00 Personal Actions Against Racism

33:20 Navigating Hair Discrimination

36:40 Books That Inspire and Empower

40:10 The Power of Adaptability and Resilience

43:50 Finding Home and Belonging

Resources mentioned:

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Traces of History by Patrick Wolfe

Gloria’s upcoming book: Enough

Connect with Gloria:

Gloria’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriatabi/

Gloria’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gloriabinks/

Gloria’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gloria.tabi.binks

Everyday Inclusion: https://www.everydayinclusion.com.au/

Vote for Gloria at the Legacy International Pageant:

https://legacyinternationalpageant.com/gloria-tabi

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Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.