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The Immigrant Experience in America

The Immigrant Experience in America

By: Simone W. Johnson Smith
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 Are you a professional new to the United States and struggling to monetize the expertise you brought across the seas – struggling with your skills going to waste? Are you feeling misunderstood and out of touch because you are struggling to understand the unstated rules of the American culture? What if you could hang out with new Americans, new immigrants who are busy professionals, hear about their experiences and advice, then take an insight or two to inspire your own journey as a new resident or American? That’s what we do each week on The Immigrant Experience in America hosted by Simone W. Johnson Smith –– mother of Saige, wife of Jimmy, former U.S. Diplomat, Life Coach, Creative and Activator –– every episode is an in-depth look at the positive contributions immigrants are making to the American culture, marketplace and life. I was inspired to start this podcast by my own experience as an immigrant American who legally migrated to the United States but yet has frequent experiences of a love-hate relationship of America with its immigrant population and as a result of a larger vacuum surrounding the positive contributions of immigrants to American Life. We will sit down with successful immigrant Americans to discuss how they navigated the complexity of being an immigrant-American to achieve their American Dream. This is a spot for us to get real - peel back the layers, if you will, of what it means to be an immigrant in America. Our intention is to serve as a bridge from your culture to the American culture – giving you a roadmap of tools and language to understand the unstated rules of the American culture.2021 Simone W. Johnson Smith Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Ep 185: Shadows of Tehran: Healing, Identity & the Power of Story with Nick Berg (Part 3)

    Ep 185: Shadows of Tehran: Healing, Identity & the Power of Story with Nick Berg (Part 3)
    Jun 5 2025

    In the final chapter of this unforgettable three-part series, Nick Berg and host Simone Johnson dive deep into the healing journey that followed a life of war, exile, and dual identity.
    Nick opens up about the process of writing Shadows of Tehran—his fictionalized autobiography—as a form of healing and advocacy, reconnecting with his roots while confronting painful truths.


    He speaks candidly about the emotional legacy of his past, how he found peace through storytelling, and why he believes that sharing immigrant stories—especially those shaped by conflict—is essential to collective healing and understanding.


    This episode is a moving testament to resilience, redemption, and the power of claiming your story.

    Connect with Nick Berg:

    🌐 Official Website: https://www.pnberg.com/
    💼 About Nick Berg: https://www.pnberg.com/about-nick-berg/
    💼 Contact: https://www.pnberg.com/contact-nick-berg-author-of-shadows-of-tehran/
    💼 Press & Media: https://www.pnberg.com/nick-berg-press-media/
    💼 Charity Work: https://www.pnberg.com/nick-berg-charities/
    💼 Blog: The Warrior’s Way
    https://www.pnberg.com/shadows-of-tehran-blog/the-warriors-way-blog/

    📚 Books by Nick Berg
    🔥 Shadows of Tehran: Forged in Conflict – From Iranian Rebel to American Soldier: https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Tehran-Conflict-Iranian-American/dp/B0DMHKHY6L

    🔥 Other Works:
    Secrets to a Successful Commercial Software (COTS) Implementation
    The Culture of Open: Transforming Your Business Through Transparency, Truth and Trust
    https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/nick-berg/1458879/

    📱 Social Media Profiles
    Instagram: @nick.berg3
    Goodreads: Nick Berg

    ______________________________________________________

    The Immigrant Experience in America

    Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3OmWxJZ
    Official Site: https://bit.ly/3OmWAWg

    📱Listen on:
    💼 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3OK7xCN
    💼 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DKXsiE
    💼 Amazon: https://amzn.to/43VG4Cn

    📱Support our Patreon: https://bit.ly/3KwUiTz

    📱Connect with Simone!
    💼 Website: https://www.thebridgeconcepts.org
    💼 LinkedIn: / simonewjohnson
    💼 Instagram: / theimmigrantexperiencepodcast
    💼 TikTok: / theimmigrantexperience

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    23 mins
  • Ep 184: Shadows of Tehran: From Soldier to Storyteller with Nick Berg (Part 2)

    Ep 184: Shadows of Tehran: From Soldier to Storyteller with Nick Berg (Part 2)
    May 29 2025
    In Part 2 of this gripping conversation, host Simone Johnson continues her discussion with Nick Berg—author of Shadows of Tehran and U.S. Special Operations veteran—as he reflects on life in the military, what it meant to serve the very country he once viewed from afar, and how those experiences shaped his evolving identity. Nick shares powerful insights into his missions across conflict zones in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Bosnia, the psychological toll of war, and how his training pushed him beyond the limits of fear and survival. This episode explores the intersection of patriotism, trauma, and transformation as Nick transitions from a soldier to a storyteller—and begins writing the narrative that would become Shadows of Tehran. _________________ Connect with Nick Berg: Homepage: pnberg.comAbout Nick Berg: BiographyContact: Reach OutPress & Media: Media CoverageCharity Work: Nick Berg CharitiesBlog: The Warrior’s Way 📚 Books by Nick Berg Shadows of Tehran: Forged in Conflict – From Iranian Rebel to American Soldier Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org Other Works: Secrets to a Successful Commercial Software (COTS) ImplementationThe Culture of Open: Transforming Your Business Through Transparency, Truth and TrustAvailable on ThriftBooksBarnes & Noble+2Bookshop+2Amazon+2ThriftBooks 📱 Social Media Profiles Instagram: @nick.berg3Goodreads: Nick Berg The Immigrant Experience in America Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Official Site Listen on: Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3OK7xCN Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DKXsiE Amazon: https://amzn.to/43VG4Cn Support our Patreon Connect with Simone! WebsiteFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077396568671LinkedIn: / simonewjohnson Instagram: / theimmigrantexperiencepodcast TikTok: / theimmigrantexperience
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    20 mins
  • Ep 183: Shadows of Tehran: From Revolution to Resilience with Nick Berg (Part 1)

    Ep 183: Shadows of Tehran: From Revolution to Resilience with Nick Berg (Part 1)
    May 21 2025
    In this powerful and emotional episode of The Immigrant Experience in America, host Simone Johnson sits down with Nick Berg—author, U.S. Army veteran, and self-described "citizen of the earth"—as he shares his remarkable journey from Tehran to America. Born to an Iranian mother and American father, Nick’s story spans continents, cultures, revolutions, and wars. Nick Berg is an American-Iranian author and former U.S. Special Operations soldier, best known for his autobiographical novel Shadows of Tehran. His work explores themes of resilience, cultural conflict, and transformation. In this deeply personal conversation, he opens up about growing up during the Iranian Revolution, navigating identity as a biracial, bicultural child, escaping government persecution, learning English from scratch, and ultimately serving in the U.S. Army for over a decade—including Special Operations deployments to conflict zones like Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Bosnia. Nick’s upcoming novel, Shadows of Tehran, is a fictionalized autobiography that captures these experiences through a gripping narrative of resilience, rebellion, and redemption. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Nick’s upbringing in Iran and the cultural shock of arriving in America How the Iranian Revolution upended life overnight What it means to be a “third culture” person—and why he never felt fully Iranian or American His early days in Detroit and learning to navigate America’s racial dynamics How the U.S. Army became both refuge and purpose A surprising and emotional discovery: reconnecting with his CIA-officer father decades later Insights into Shadows of Tehran, his upcoming book blending truth and fiction 💬 Notable Quotes: 🔥 “In Iran, I was the American boy. In America, I was the Iranian guy. I belonged nowhere—and everywhere.” 🔥 “Joining the military wasn’t just about serving. It was about trying to belong and trying to help people who couldn’t help themselves.” 🔥 “No matter where you go in the world—color, culture, class—we all want the same thing: to take care of our families and live a life of meaning.” Connect with Nick Berg: 🌐 Official Website Homepage: pnberg.com About Nick Berg: Biography Contact: Reach Out Press & Media: Media Coverage Charity Work: Nick Berg Charities Blog: The Warrior’s Way 📚 Books by Nick Berg Shadows of Tehran: Forged in Conflict – From Iranian Rebel to American Soldier Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org Other Works: Secrets to a Successful Commercial Software (COTS) Implementation The Culture of Open: Transforming Your Business Through Transparency, Truth and Trust Available on ThriftBooksBarnes & Noble+2Bookshop+2Amazon+2ThriftBooks 📱 Social Media Profiles Instagram: @nick.berg3 Goodreads: Nick Berg The Immigrant Experience in America Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Official Site Listen on: Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3OK7xCN Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DKXsiE Amazon: https://amzn.to/43VG4Cn Support our Patreon Connect with Simone! Website Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077396568671 LinkedIn: / simonewjohnson Instagram: / theimmigrantexperiencepodcast TikTok: / theimmigrantexperience
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
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