2026 Episodes
LISTEN and explore our Facts & Acts
Episode Eight - June 18, 2026
International Student with
a Global Pespective
Katarzyna Michalik, a Prescott College doctorate student, shares her incredible story and her thoughts on the importance of developing and maintaining a global perspective. Her intercontinental view impacts her studies, journalism, and how she raises her children. Most importantly, she brings her rich outlook to her engagement in the community.
Listeners will also hear her thoughts about international students, their challenges, and the rich perspective they have to offer our community.
FACT ONE:
Arizona Universities have a history of including international students to their campuses. According to the Higher Education Immigration Portal, 5.9% of their student bodies were from other countries. These students contribute their global perspectives as well as economically to our Arizona communities. Read more about their contributions at the following site.
https://www.higheredimmigrationportal.org/state/arizona/
FACT TWO:
For the same site, listeners will learn that in 2025 our Arizona campuses saw a decrease in the number of international students.
ACT:
Be curious! If you meet an international student or anyone in the community who started life in a different country, ask questions. Learn about life in their country. Their viewpoints. This will be an opportunity for you to grow and become more global in your understanding of the world. It could also be the first step to makie a new friend!
Episode SEVEN - May 18, 2026
Embracing Her Delicious Heritage
Eriko Hirokawa shares her journey from Kyoto, Japan, to Prescott, Arizona. Her route was anything but direct. She initially came to the US to pursue her studies and unexpectedly entered the restaurant industry.
Throughout her journey, she encountered challenges stemming from cultural differences, particularly with language. Nevertheless, owning and operating her Japanese restaurant has enabled her to celebrate her heritage while living in Prescott.
Visit Unsui Japanese Restaurant soon!
FACT ONE:
There are many languages spoken by Arizona residents in addition to English. According to our resource, Japanese is the 17th most common non-English language spoken in homes in this state. Not surprisingly, Spanish and Navajo are the most commonly spoken languages in homes other than English.
This is from the Statistical Atlas.
FACT TWO:
Learn more about Thailand's gastrodiplomacy and its campaign to introduce the world to Thai cuisine, including Pad Thai. Read how other countries have also enjoyed the benefits of gastrodiplomacy.
This information is from the USC Center on Public Diplomacy.
ACT:
Try one of the many dumplings from around the world by visiting Unsui and the other international restaurants in the Prescott area. There's Banh Bot Loc (Vietnam), Cha Siu Bao (China), Empanadas (South America), and Gyoza (Japan).
Episode SIX - April 18, 2026
Roots of Community
Dr. Cirien Saadeh teaches at Prescott College, inspiring students to view journalism through the lens of community building. Her experience ranges from the strong communities in Minneapolis to family stories and visits to Jordan.
How have her ancestral stories shaped her commitment to fostering belonging right here in our local neighborhoods? Discover some of the amazing resources offered Northern Arizonans from the town -- and college -- here in Prescott.
See our Resources Page for the cookbook and map referenced in Episode 06!
FACT ONE:
The stereotype of the typical immigrant as an unskilled laborer is a vast exaggeration. Nearly 34% of foreign-born workers are in occupations that require certifications or degrees beyond high school:
About 18% of foreign-born workers are employed in education & health-care combined as of 2024. Professional and business services count for 4.7 million workers (15.4%).
Construction follows with 3.5 million workers (11.4%). Many of these are licensed trades.
These are figures from USA Facts.org.
FACT TWO:
Immigrants make up 11% of all teachers, while 22% of post-secondary educators in the US are foreign-born.
[This is from George Mason University.]
ACT:
Thank a teacher! And if you have one who brings a perspective from a place, culture or even time that is different from yours, let them know they are welcome and valued here. Life would be so lonely if we only spoke to the mirror, don't you think?
Episode FIVE - March 18, 2026
Why Stories Matter
David Damian Figueroa was born on the US side of the border and has spent much of his life working with -- and highlighting the stories of -- his immigrant neighbors.
In his CAMINA interview, David Damian shares his own story for a change. What did this former farm worker, music publicist, advocate and documentary film-maker learn from the tears of breakfast potatoes?
FACT ONE:
One in Six Americans has Hispanic/Latino heritage, we said in the podcast. In fact, that was a few years ago. By 2020, the Hispanic population reached more than 19%, or nearly one in every 5 Americans. This and more interesting statistics comes from the Pew Research Center.
FACT TWO:
In 2020–22, around 32 percent of crop farmworkers were U.S. born, 7 percent were naturalized American citizens, 19 percent were other authorized immigrants (primarily permanent residents or green-card holders), and the remaining 42 percent held no work authorization. This figure comes from the US Department of Agriculture.
ACT:
If you find a screening of David Damian Figueroa's latest documentary, Samaritans, check it out. He posts on substack and there is more about this trio of stories HERE.
His 2014 film, Food Chains, about migrant workers standing up to the corporate supermarkets who profit from their labor without protecting their safety, is available on Tubi for free HERE.
Episode FOUR - Feb. 18, 2026
Children Crossing
There are scenes from this story that stay in your mind long after the podcast ends. Rita was only 10, but when her mother arranged for Rita, her sister and two young cousins to travel across the border with their grandmother to live with her in Arizona, she had no idea what could happen.
She left Mexico a child and arrived in Arizona as a responsible young woman.
ACT:
If you, your employees, family or friends are DACA recipients, remind everyone that paperwork is VERY delayed. It's important to file at least 150 days early.
If you are moved to help others with this process, the National Immigration Law Center accepts donations at the website listed among our recources at the end of this page.
FACT ONE:
According to the US government, since 2021 apprehensions at American ports of entry at the southwest borders, “…have exceeded 130,000 each year. In the first 10 months of 2024, apprehensions of UAC numbered 87,475.” -- Congress.gov
FACT TWO:
In Latin America, three countries are home to 59% of people living in poverty in Latin America. These are Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico. This is according to the World Bank, which defines poverty as having an income of less than $3.65 per day (as of 2023). The graphic below is a link to Our World In Data.
Episode THREE - Jan. 18, 2026
The Power of Language: Growing Up Bilingual
What would it be like if the people at home spoke a strange and mysterious language, their accents marking your family as different even more than their clothing or food?
For some first-generation American kids, learning to love the language of their parents is a step toward accepting themselves.
ACT:
If you notice someone making an effort to communicate in English, help them out.
Bonus points for learning at least a few phrases in their language! Sometimes a different language offers a different perspective that can be helpful in our own lives.
FACT ONE:
Nearly 75% of Americans speak English as the only language at home, according to the US Census.
FACT TWO:
The homes with more languages, though, have a LOT more diversity, with roughly 350 different languages spoken in the US.
Among those that spoke a language other than English in 2018-2022, Spanish (61.1%), Chinese (which includes all dialects) (5.1%), and Tagalog (including Filipino) (2.5%) were the three most spoken languages at home
Source: US Census press release, 2023
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/language-at-home-acs-5-year.html