VPM, Virginia’s home for public media, today announced the debut of “Resettled,” a six-part podcast showcasing stories of refugees as they adjust to their new lives in Virginia.
Premiering July 3, “Resettled” weaves together personal stories with useful teaching moments about the resettlement process. Each thematic episode brings the listener into the daily lives of refugees through field interviews (at home, work and school), personally-recorded audio diaries and reflective studio interviews.
“Resettled” is hosted by Ahmed Badr, a writer, social entrepreneur, poet and former refugee from Iraq. He is the former host of the “A Way Home Together” podcast, which explores migration policy through personal stories of people on the move, and the founder of Narratio, a global platform for youth empowerment through creative expression. His work has been featured by Instagram, NPR, The Huffington Post, Adobe, United Nations, and others.
“‘Resettled’ is powerful in that it showcases the process of resettlement through remarkable detail, nuance and care. By simultaneously humanizing the process and the people directly experiencing it, this podcast hopes to engage with the multilayered complexity of the refugee resettlement program and invite a more accessible approach towards its exploration,” said Badr.
“Resettled” is available on all major distribution platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Himalaya, NPR One, Pocket Casts, Spotify and Stitcher.
“With our further expansion into on-demand audio, our audience now has another source of content where they can connect to what matters,” said Steve Humble, Chief Content Officer at VPM. “With our documentation of the experience of refugees who are new to Virginia, we aim to tell a richer, more complete story of our region that we know will resonate with listeners all over the world.”
“Resettled” Episode Dates and Descriptions
July 3, Episode 1: Arrival
What happens when you first arrive in the United States? Meet the LahPai family and the people helping them resettle in a new country, a new culture and a new life.
July 3, Episode 2: Education
What does academic success look like for a refugee? There are 51 countries and 57 languages represented in Harrisonburg, Virginia’s public schools. As a Muslim teen from Iraq, Fatimah is navigating high school with the support and pride of her community.
July 3, Episode 3: Health
How do you take care of others when you need to heal yourself? After experiencing depression spurred by memories of fleeing his country and living in a refugee camp, Ahmed Alysra now helps others face their traumas.
July 10, Episode 4: Jobs
How do you start a career when you have to start from zero? Dadi Neopaney was a leader in his refugee camp and even worked for the United Nations, but found few job opportunities when he arrived from Bhutan. We follow Dadi from being a roadside flagger in a Statue of Liberty costume to earning his master’s degree in social work.
July 17, Episode 5: Culture
How do you preserve your culture when integration is a primary focus of resettlement? Chef Hamidullah Noori launches his “American dream” – an upscale restaurant featuring dishes from his Afghan homeland – and does what he can to keep it alive.
July 24, Episode 6: Resettled
When do you actually feel resettled? When are you no longer considered a refugee? Does the United States ever become … home? “Resettled” participants share their thoughts.