iScholar Dive with Hoang and Eshani

About iScholar Dive with Hoang and Eshani

Welcome to "iScholar Dive with Hoang and Eshani," the podcast where we dive into insightful conversations with international scholars who have made the United States their academic home. Join us as we explore their unique journeys, challenges, and triumphs while working and studying in the US. Our mission is to foster a welcoming and supportive community for international students, and these scholars' stories are a source of inspiration and guidance. Tune in to gain valuable insights and build connections in this vibrant, global academic landscape.

Publisher

Hoang Nguyen and Eshani Hettiarachchi

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Oct 2023

Latest episode

8 May 2026

Latest episodes

30 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 May 2026

   Back and Forth Between Cambodia and the U.S.: Challana’s International Journey

   In this episode of iScholar Dive with Hoang and Eshani, we dive into the inspiring journey of Challana Tea, a PhD student in Chemistry and Biochemistry who grew up in Phnom Penh and has moved back and forth between Cambodia and the U.S. four times. He began his academic path studying pharmacological chemistry and is now completing his PhD at the University of California, San Diego, with graduation expected in a few months. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about growth, perseverance, and Challana’s global journey.

2. 

   13 Mar 2026

   From Russia to the U.S.: Ayuna’s Academic and Career Journey

   How do you go from learning English to building a professional career in a new country? Ayuna shares her journey from Russia to the United States, transitioning from document management to biology. She began with English and community college classes before pursuing her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at UC San Diego. Listen to her story of resilience, learning, and the opportunities that shaped her path into the U.S. industry workforce.

3. 

   12 Feb 2026

   Starting from Scratch Again and Again: Silvia’s Journey as a First-Gen Scientist and Podcaster Across continents

   This is our first episode featuring a fellow podcaster. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Silvia Vicenzi, who is now working in the business sector in industry. Silvia completed her bachelor’s degree in Italy, moved to the UK for an internship, pursued her master’s degree in Sweden, and then completed her PhD in Australia. After a postdoctoral position, she is now living and working in the United States. Beyond her scientific career, Silvia is also a podcaster, where she shares stories aimed at diversifying academia through Diversity and Science Lecture series. As a first-generation scholar, she not only broke new ground as the first in her family to pursue higher education, but also had to start from scratch multiple times while moving across countries for different roles. Let’s listen to her story.

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

139

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100

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

Quality

26

Social presence

0

YouTube

64

Engagement

60

Contact iScholar Dive with Hoang and Eshani

Guest appearances

Books guests

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