Coming To America

About Coming To America

Welcome to "Coming to America," a podcast that explores the extraordinary journeys of individuals who left their homelands behind to chase the American dream. In a world where "America" symbolizes not just a nation but a profound idea and a beacon of hope, we delve into the personal narratives of immigrants who embarked on an incredible adventure. In this imperfect union known as the USA, people from diverse backgrounds and cultures find common ground, forge new identities, and contribute to the rich tapestry of American life. Through intimate conversations and heartfelt accounts, we bring you the experiences, challenges, triumphs, and aspirations of those who dared to dream beyond borders. Join us as we celebrate the resilience, diversity, and shared humanity that define the American story. From the pursuit of freedom to the pursuit of happiness, "Coming to America" reveals the universal essence of the American dream and the unique journeys that make it a reality.

Publisher

Ed Halla

Category

business · society & culture · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Oct 2023

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

35 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026

   E35 - South Korean in the USA

   In Episode 35 of Coming to America, I sit down with Tom Sollitt, a South Korean international adoptee who was adopted at 18 months old and raised in Oregon. Tom's immigrant story is very different from most we've featured. He didn't choose to come to America, doesn't have traceable records of his biological parents, and grew up separated from the language and culture of the country where he was born. We talk about the complicated history of international adoption from South Korea, Tom's involvement with adoptee activism, and the ethical concerns he and other adoptees have raised about the international adoption system and access to their own records. Tom also shares what happened when he returned to South Korea as an adult and lived there from 2009 to 2016 — teaching English, experiencing Korean culture firsthand, and discovering what it felt like to blend into a society where nobody automatically saw him as different. Today, Tom is a brand strategist, community events producer, and candidate for Portland City Council District 3. We discuss his approach to local politics, listening to community voices, and even the debate over 39th Avenue vs. Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   E34- Burundian in the USA

   In this episode of the “Coming to America” podcast, the host interviews Wilson Kubwayo, a Burundian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. in 2008 and now serves as a business faculty member at Portland Community College and founder of WK Social, a digital marketing agency. Wilson shares leaving Burundi as a toddler, growing up in a refugee camp in Tanzania until age 12, and how camp life, rations, and emerging self-sufficiency shaped his humility and resilience. He discusses colonial-era ethnic divisions affecting Burundi/Rwanda, then recounts resettling in Tucson, Arizona, facing language barriers, bullying, recession-era hardship, and learning that refugees repay travel loans. The family moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for meatpacking work and stability, leading to homeownership. Wilson studied business and philosophy, started a youth nonprofit, left a job after being denied time off, earned an MBA, moved to Portland in 2018, bought a duplex in 2020, and created a quarterly Black professionals networking mixer centered on storytelling. He advises newcomers to learn their history, refine their values, and build pathways for others.

3. 

   18 Aug 2026

   E33- Norwegian in the USA

   In this episode of Coming to America, the host talks with Grace Moen, an Oslo-born freelance journalist and event producer who moved to Portland with her parents in 1991. They discuss Norway’s geography and economic model (fjords, hydropower, oil policy, and the sovereign wealth fund), social trust, and the country’s push for electric vehicles. Grace shares how her American mother and Norwegian father built a Norwegian-speaking home in Oregon, spent summers in Norway, and navigated the “in-between” identity of immigrants. She reflects on living in San Francisco during the tech boom, returning to Portland for community and arts, and how Oslo invested in transit and public waterfronts. Grace also describes earning an online Harvard journalism master’s during the pandemic, focusing on prison healthcare, and contrasts U.S. punishment-driven incarceration with Norway’s rehabilitation-centered prison design. The episode closes with ways to connect through Grieg Lodge, scholarships, and Portland’s May 17th Constitution Day celebration. https://www.grieglodge.org/ https://www.gracemoen.com

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

53

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

92

Contact Coming To America

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.