Pass The Mic Season 2
Our second season for Pass the Mic focuses on the employment experiences of migrants and former refugees in Aotearoa, featuring brilliant guests with much to say on the topic. New episodes coming out every Monday.
Episodes
Xavier Walsh’s research examines workplace personal grievances through the lens of tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, discussing the effects of capitalism and colonisation on employment systems.
As Co-President of Unite Union and a PhD student in Māori Studies at Waipapa Taumata Rau — University of Auckland, Xavier advocates for hospitality and entertainment workers across the motu, fighting for fairer working conditions.
Beyo...
Dr. Sherrie Lee is a career coach who helps people unlock the power of networking, grow their confidence across cultures, and navigate the job market with purpose.
For Sherrie, career development is a lifelong journey. She believes support for migrant, ethnic, and refugee-background communities must be intentional and consistent, not an afterthought. For her, it’s about recognising and celebrating the knowledge, skills, and the exp...
Meet Sun, an amazing individual, who is creating fairer, more inclusive workplaces in Aotearoa. Her advocacy shines a light on the challenges neurodivergent migrant and Asian women face, encouraging awareness, support and understanding.
Originally from Korea, Sun’s experience across different workplaces, and her ADHD and autism diagnoses, inspired her to champion change. Her voice is helping shape a future where every person fee...
When Eslam Gadallah moved to Aotearoa, she dreamed of continuing her work as a family doctor. But when that wasn’t possible, she faced the challenge of starting over.
With resilience and support, Eslam found a new path and a career she loves. Her story reminds us that even when life takes unexpected turns, it’s possible to begin again.
Dr. Hend Zaki has a passion to uplift women of colour to thrive professionally. Having founded the Women of Colour in the Public Sector Network (WOCPSN), she supports leaders to create environments where everyone can succeed.
Originally from Egypt, Hend believes that everyone has a role to play in building welcoming, safe, and inclusive spaces where people feel valued and empowered.
Arpita Das left a fast-track leadership career in India to start over in Aotearoa, working as a volunteer, social worker, and trainer. For her, work is more than a pay check, it’s about identity, wellbeing, and belonging.
In this episode, we talk about meaningful employment and building community.
Liliana arrived from Colombia with great credentials and experience, but like many migrants she faced challenges. She had to take low-paid jobs and return to study just to get by.
And after many attempts, Liliana is now in a role where she feels welcome, included, and valued as a migrant. Through resilience and community, she kept moving forward.
In this episode, she shares her journey from underemployment to finding a plac...
In our latest episode, we speak with Kodrean Eashae, founder and CEO of Voice of Aroha, an inclusive platform dedicated to representing diverse communities across Aotearoa.
After arriving from Iraq, Kodrean became the first Advisor for Refugee Background Students at Victoria University and served on Kāpuia, the Government’s Ministerial Advisory Group.
He shares his journey and talks about why creating inclusive workplaces matters...
Dr. Carlos Cheung is a current Member of Parliament for the National Party and the elected representative for Mt Roskill.
Originally coming to Aotearoa as an international student, Carlos chose to stay and build his future here. Over the years, he has worked across several different sectors — giving him firsthand experience of changing careers.
In this episode, we hear Carlos’ story and his insights on employment in Aotearo...
What does it really take to go from a student visa to permanent residency in Aotearoa?
In this episode of Pass the Mic, we hear from two guests with very different journeys:
Olga Fomina arrived from Russia full of hope. With three degrees, fluency in four languages, and a wealth of experience, she still found herself struggling to land meaningful work.
Mohammad Babakhani came to Aotearoa from Iran to study engineering and e...
In this episode, we sit down with Anjum Rahman, founder of Inclusive Aotearoa Collective Tāhono. She explores how migrant workers of colour are still facing discrimination when job hunting and even once employed.
Back in 2020, Anjum led powerful research into belonging in Aotearoa, gathering stories from migrant workers, exposing the everyday barriers people face when trying to participate fully in society.
Her work connects and em...
Ehtisham Ahmed believes a refugee’s journey can buildincredible resilience, and in turn that strength makes them valuable contributors to the workforce.
As a former refugee himself, Ehtisham understands firsthandthe challenges of starting over especially when it comes to finding meaningfulemployment.
In this episode of the #PassTheMic podcast, Ehtisham shareshis journey and reflections on what meaningful employment really means.
Like many newcomers, Eugene Velasco started in low-paid work when arriving in Aotearoa New Zealand. As a non-binary Filipino they now advocate for the rights of othersand shine a light on migrant exploitation and its far-reaching consequences.
In 2024, they were honoured with the Filipino-Kiwi Hero Migrant Advocate Award for their unwavering mahi for the Tauiwi community.
Ricardo Menéndez March is a dedicated activist and Member of Parliament for the Green Party. His own experiences working low-wage jobs as a migrant shaped his deep understanding of the barriers in Aotearoa’s employment sector. His advocacy centres on policy and regulation, pushing for fairer systems that protect the rights of migrants and former refugees. Ricardo champions a future where every worker, no matter where they come from...
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