‘A Better Life?’ podcast tells immigrant stories from the coronavirus pandemic
Feet in 2 Worlds, a project that trains and supports immigrant journalists, announces the launch of “A Better Life?”, the latest season of their award-winning podcast.
Premiering August 20th, “A Better Life?” www.abetterlifepodcast.com explores how the coronavirus pandemic and America’s failed response to COVID-19 has reshaped immigrants’ lives and their relationship to the United States. Each episode tells a different immigrant story and examines how the crisis has challenged or changed that person’s ideas of what it means to be American. “A Better Life?” also includes conversations with immigrant elders — grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles — to hear how they are coping during this time, and what have they learned over the years that can help the rest of us survive today’s challenges.
This 10-part series is hosted by Zahir Janmohamed, the co-creator and host of the highly acclaimed “Racist Sandwich” podcast, and produced by Mia Warren, creator of the “Feeling My Flo” podcast and a former producer at StoryCorps. Both Mia and Zahir are the children of immigrants. Original music for the podcast was composed by Fareed Sajan.
“We can learn a lot when we step aside and let immigrants tell their own stories,” said Zahir Janmohamed. “These are stories of hope, of longing, and of love. They are also stories of people whose very idea of America is being challenged by Covid-19.”
The series tells a range of stories from across the country — from undocumented hotel housekeepers in Phoenix whose immigration status makes them particularly vulnerable to deportation during a pandemic, to a Korean immigrant who is facing the difficult decision of whether to move back to the country she left more than 40 years ago.
Feet in 2 Worlds has won multiple journalism awards, including the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service in Radio Journalism and the New America Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Digital Media Award from the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) for the Food in 2 Worlds podcast series, and multiple Ippies Awards, honoring excellence in New York’s ethnic and community media.
Each season of the Feet in 2 Worlds podcast showcases the work of emerging and established immigrant journalists and Black journalists, telling stories behind the headlines about immigration.
“As we witness the disproportionate and devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on immigrants and communities of color across the U.S., it’s more important than ever to tell immigrant stories,” said John Rudolph, Executive Producer and founder of Feet in 2 Worlds. “Over the years, our podcast has been an important way for immigrant journalists to showcase their work. We look forward to continuing the conversation with our audience.”
“A Better Life?” from Feet in 2 Worlds is available on all major distribution platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Himalaya, Pocket Casts, Spotify and Stitcher.
Feet in 2 Worlds
Since its debut fifteen years ago, Feet in 2 Worlds has brought the work of immigrant journalists from communities across the U.S. to public radio and online news sites.
Areas of interest include food in immigrant communities, climate change, the role of immigrant voters in U.S. elections, the U.S./Mexico border, and arts and culture.
Hundreds of immigrant journalists have gone through Feet in 2 Worlds’ unique and highly successful training programs — including fellowships, workshops, and internships — enhancing their skills and advancing their careers. Feet in 2 Worlds alumni have gone on to jobs at WNYC, The New York Times, Buzzfeed, The Associated Press, WHYY, WDET, PRI and many other news organizations.
Feet in 2 Worlds is supported by The Ford Foundation, the David and Katherine Moore Family Foundation, the Ralph E. Ogden Foundation, the J.M. Kaplan Fund, The Listening Post Collective, an anonymous donor and readers like you.
