Beautiful Journey

Beautiful Journey

Welcome to Beautiful Journey, a powerful and uplifting podcast series presented by FirstGen, a Michelson Philanthropies initiative dedicated to empowering immigrant women through storytelling and programming that facilitates their pathways to success. As one of FirstGen's flagship programs, Beautiful Journey is hosted by Alya Michelson and combines two of her deepest passions—uplifting immigrant women and journalism— Beautiful Journey features a mix of podcast interviews that focus on lessons from courageous and inspiring women building their lives in a new country. Through the art of storytelling, each month, we will present the many different adventures, difficulties, successes, and lessons that these women have encountered throughout their beautiful journey. We will also discuss the phenomenon that despite the isolation and need to reach out for help, female immigrants tend to lean towards their national groups to feel secure and welcome, and this is an attempt to create a safe community. Each story will be as unique as the women interviewed to present a raw and authentic experience for the listener.

Episodes

October 31, 2023 20 mins

In this episode of Beautiful Journey, host Alya Michelson welcomes Sylwia Wiesenberg, a beauty entrepreneur and the founder of BAWDY Beauty, DOPE Naturally, and TONIQUE Fitness.

Sylwia's story is one of resilience and determination. Born in Poland, she embarked on a global adventure to pursue her college education. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, she built a successful career in finance and advertising befor...

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In this inspiring episode of "Beautiful Journey," Host Alya Michelson joins Lola Adeyemo, CEO & founder of EQImindset, who embarked on a life-changing adventure from Nigeria to the United States to pursue a university degree. But her journey was about more than academics; it was a transformative experience that revealed unexpected lessons along the way.

Lola shares her inspiring story of resilience and self-d...

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In this fascinating new episode of "Beautiful Journey," host Alya Michelson joins Ksenia Turkova, a Voice of America journalist who has worked in TV and radio for over 20 years.

Alya talks with Ksenia about their early days in Moscow, where both worked as journalists for different media companies. They discuss Ksenia's radio work in Kyiv just before the Revolution of Dignity, a series of protests in Ukraine from late ...

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