The Immigrant Experience in America

De: Simone W. Johnson Smith
  • Resumen

  • 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
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Episodios
  • Exploring Identity, Cultural Conflict, and the Struggle for Visibility with Suhein Beck with Suhein Beck (Part 3)
    Apr 30 2025

    Welcome to Part 3 of this podcast episode.

    In this episode, Suhein shares her compelling journey of navigating complex cultural identities as an immigrant in America, the challenges of balancing two worlds, and her journey toward reclaiming her Circassian heritage.

    From confronting racial assumptions to launching a skincare business rooted in family tradition, Suhein unpacks the layers of assimilation, resilience, and the drive for cultural visibility.

    💔 Key Themes Explored:

    • Suhein reflects on her experiences growing up as a Circassian immigrant in America, the tension of fitting into American culture, and the unique challenges of being both part of the dominant racial group and an outsider due to her ethnicity and faith.
    • The concept of "whiteness" as a tool for survival in a society that values assimilation, and how racial and cultural identity shifts when others learn of her non-European background.
    • The pain and healing found in reconnecting with her ancestors, including the legacy of Circassians and her grandfather's skincare product, Olaj, which she has turned into a business to honor her heritage.

    💬 Memorable Quotes:

    • "Whenever possible, I have exploited my whiteness, my blonde, my blue-eyed, whenever possible, and it is currency. I am ashamed to say how powerful that currency is."
    • "Home is where you feel safe. And I just don’t have that. I feel more alien now more than ever."

    👑 About Suhein Beck:
    Suhein Beck is known as The Culture Cultivator. She is a dynamic Speaker, Author, and Entrepreneur, and a proud Circassian with roots tracing back to the legendary Amazon Women of the Caucasus.


    Currently, Suhein is on an International Speaking Tour & Campaign where she draws from her rich Circassian heritage to challenge societal norms and ignite transformative leadership. Her mission is to inspire others to adopt a personal Code of Honor, reclaim their identity, and embody resilience in the face of adversity.


    In this episode, she courageously shares her deeply personal story—from surviving the trauma of domestic violence and racism in America to facing the difficult decisions of choosing between financial gain and her own integrity.


    Through her honesty, vulnerability, and fierce sense of purpose, Suhein shows us what it truly means to be an Immigrant, an Exile, a Refugee—and a Warrior.

    Suhein’s Links:

    • www.SUHEIN.com
    • www.ELAJnaturally.com
    • info@suhein.com

    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
    • TikTok

    Más Menos
    32 m
  • Generational Trauma, Resilience, and the Immigrant Experience with Suhein Beck (Part 2)
    Apr 23 2025

    Welcome to Part 2 of this podcast episode.

    In this deeply moving episode, Suhein Beck continues sharing her journey as a Circassian immigrant navigating multiple identities while living through the challenges of exile, trauma, and the quest for belonging.

    She reflects on the complexities of her heritage, the emotional toll of being displaced, and how these experiences shaped her family’s resilience and drive. From escaping gangs in New Jersey to navigating the intricacies of American culture, Suhein’s story is a testament to survival, adaptation, and the strength it takes to find home after being uprooted.

    💔 Key Themes Explored:

    • Caucasian Misunderstanding: Suhein educates listeners on the true meaning of "Caucasian," explaining how the term has been misappropriated and disconnected from its original roots in the Caucasus Mountains.
    • Immigrant Struggles and Survival: She recounts her family’s early days in the U.S. and the harsh realities they faced, from gang threats to the pressure of running a family business in a new land.
    • Generational Trauma: Suhein speaks about the lasting impact of displacement, the constant feeling of not being safe, and how it shaped her worldview.
    • Language Loss and Revival: Suhein discusses the challenges her people faced with losing their native Circassian language and the ongoing efforts to bring it back.
    • The Immigrant Mentality: The immigrant experience instills a mentality of constant preparation, the ability to start over, and the refusal to let fear dictate one’s life.


    🔥Resources Mentioned:

    • The Unseen Truth by Dr. Elizabeth Sarah Lewis
    • Scholars: Dr. John Colarusso, Dr. Adrienne Mayer, Dr. Janine Davis Kimball
    • Circassian Language and Cultural Revival


    💬 Memorable Quotes:

    • “Fear is a luxury. If you have time to be afraid, you have luxury. We don’t have luxury.”
    • “I am a ghost from an ancient civilization you’ve never heard of.”
    • “Once you are a refugee, an exile, or an immigrant, you understand that at any given moment, anywhere, an earthquake, a disaster, or a change in the political landscape can uproot everything. You become mentally prepared to start over.”

    ✨ Listen now and share with someone who needs permission to pause, soften, and start again from the inside out.

    📌 Stay tuned for Part 3, where we explore practical ways to build inner safety and expand your capacity to heal.

    👑 About Suhein Beck:
    Suhein Beck is known as The Culture Cultivator. She is a dynamic Speaker, Author, and Entrepreneur, and a proud Circassian with roots tracing back to the legendary Amazon Women of the Caucasus.


    Currently, Suhein is on an International Speaking Tour & Campaign where she draws from her rich Circassian heritage to challenge societal norms and ignite transformative leadership. Her mission is to inspire others to adopt a personal Code of Honor, reclaim their identity, and embody resilience in the face of adversity.


    In this episode, she courageously shares her deeply personal story—from surviving the trauma of domestic violence and racism in America to facing the difficult decisions of choosing between financial gain and her own integrity.


    Through her honesty, vulnerability, and fierce sense of purpose, Suhein shows us what it truly means to be an Immigrant, an Exile, a Refugee—and a Warrior.


    Suhein’s Links:

    • www.SUHEIN.com
    • www.ELAJnaturally.com
    • info@suhein.com

    The Immigrant Experience in America

    • 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
      • TikTok
    Más Menos
    31 m
  • Ep. 180: Exile, Identity, and the Amazon Warrior Spirit with Suhein Beck (Part 1)
    Apr 16 2025

    In this powerful and soul-stirring episode, host Simone Johnson Smith sits down with the incredible Suhein Beck, known to many as The Culture Cultivator. What unfolds is not just a conversation—it's a masterclass in resilience, identity, and the ongoing search for belonging.

    Suhein Beck is a dynamic Speaker, Author, and Entrepreneur, a proud Circassian with ancestral roots tracing back to the legendary Amazon Women of the Caucasus. She’s currently leading an International Speaking Tour & Campaign that challenges mainstream narratives and inspires transformational leaders to develop their own higher standards and adopt a personal Code of Honor.

    🔥 In This Episode:

    Suhein opens up about her extraordinary healing journey, from growing up amid violence, domestic terrorism, and racism in New Jersey, to wrestling with the generational trauma of genocide and exile. Her story bridges continents, cultures, and centuries as she shares what it means to live in exile—not just from a homeland, but from a sense of safety and belonging.

    💔 Key Themes Explored:
    • 🔥 Growing up in the crossfire of gangs and mafias—and how she survived
    • 🌍 What it means to be an exile, a refugee, an immigrant—all at once
    • 🧬 Healing from inherited trauma and breaking generational cycles
    • 💼 Becoming an entrepreneur while being guided by an unwavering personal Code of Honor
    • 🛡️ Choosing courage over comfort, again and again
    • 🌀 Finding identity in displacement—and the strength to rebuild, over and over

    💬 Memorable Quotes:

    “You can be born into exile and still rise into your purpose.”
    “We weren’t just displaced by force—we were raised in a war of silence.”

    👑 About Suhein Beck:

    Suhein Beck is known as The Culture Cultivator. She is a dynamic Speaker, Author, and Entrepreneur, and a proud Circassian with roots tracing back to the legendary Amazon Women of the Caucasus.

    Currently, Suhein is on an International Speaking Tour & Campaign where she draws from her rich Circassian heritage to challenge societal norms and ignite transformative leadership. Her mission is to inspire others to adopt a personal Code of Honor, reclaim their identity, and embody resilience in the face of adversity.

    In this episode, she courageously shares her deeply personal story—from surviving the trauma of domestic violence and racism in America to facing the difficult decisions of choosing between financial gain and her own integrity.

    Through her honesty, vulnerability, and fierce sense of purpose, Suhein shows us what it truly means to be an Immigrant, an Exile, a Refugee—and a Warrior.

    Suhein’s Links:

    • www.SUHEIN.com
    • www.ELAJnaturally.com
    • info@suhein.com

    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
    • TikTok

    Más Menos
    30 m
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Absolutely fascinating!

Loved it! Absolutely fascinating discussion. a real eye opener. Very engaging discussion that explains the subtleties of the prevailing American culture and misunderstandings sndcissues that may arise when engaging other cultures with different value systems. Can't wait to listen to Part 2.

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