August 20, 2025 • 26 mins
What does it really take to earn the American Dream? Olga Kay, a 16-year-old Russian circus performer turned entrepreneur, and Svetlana Newsome, who arrived with $300 and lion-hearted grit, peel back the curtain on a system with 4 million pending cases and punishing wait times. From family-splitting delays to decades-long legal loops, this episode exposes how immigration builds resilience—but at an extraordinary human cost.
Timestamps:
- (00:00) Introduction: Who Survives America’s Immigration Gauntlet?
- (00:38) Meet Olga & Svetlana: Hustle Overcomes Borders
- (01:13) The Dream Sold vs. The Reality Lived
- (01:51) From Circus to Start-Up: Stories That Defy the Odds
- (02:54) Invisible Sacrifices: The True Price of Waiting
- (10:11) Legal Gridlock: Inside the Citizenship Backlog
Connect:
Olga Kay: https://mooshwalks.com/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/olgakay
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olgakay/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@olgakay
- X: https://x.com/OlgaKay
Svetlana Newsome: https://thelightfreedom.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelightfreedom/
📢 Solving America’s Problems Podcast – Real Solutions For Real Issues
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jerremy (00:00):
Dave Conley, what are we discussing in this episode?
Dave (00:06):
In this week's episode of Solving America's Problems, what
if the very trials that breaksystems built unbreakable citizens?
We dive into the realities of firstgeneration immigration where the promise
of opportunity collides with yearsof waiting fear and systemic hurdles
that leave millions in limbo withgreen card backlog stretching decades,
courts drowning Under 4 million pendingcases, the path to citizenship becomes
(00:28):
an endurance test, one that demandsextraordinary resilience and produces some
of the nation's most devoted Americans.
Our guests this week knowthis journey firsthand.
Olga, Kay left a Russian circus at 16to pursue opportunities in America.
Becoming a YouTube star.
And now founder of Moosh Walksa children's brand built on the
growth mindset and resiliencethat powered her own journey.
(00:50):
Sve Lana Newsom arrived in Americafrom Kazakhstan with $300 in a dream
surviving profound loss and transformingher life into spiritual service.
Earning a doctorate and todayguiding world leaders through
their own transformational journey.
That's this week on solving America'sproblems from circus tense to citizenship,
what it really takes to becomeAmerican with Olga and Svetlana Newso.
Jerremy (01:13):
America sells the world's greatest promise.
Come here, work hard, become one of us.
14% of everyone living inAmerica was not born here.
That's one in seven ofyour neighbors coworkers.
The people making this country run.
But here's what they donot tell you at the border.
Green card weights canstretch 20 years citizenship.
(01:38):
It's a marathon through a minefieldwhile immigration courts collapse under
more than 4 million pending cases.
I'm Jerremy Alexander Newsom herewith my co-host Dave Conley and this.
Solving America's problems.
Our guest today did not just survivethe gauntlet, they conquered it.
Olga Kay went from performing inthe Russian circus with Ringling
(02:00):
Brothers to becoming a YouTubepioneer, entertaining millions and
now runs Moosh, walks a children'sbrand, empowering the next generation.
Solana Newsom arrived with just$300 to her name, rebuilt her
life after a devastating loss, andemerged as a spiritual teacher.
And healer to world leaders
Jerremy & Svetlana (02:21):
thanks so much for being on the show.
Olga Kay (02:25):
Jerremy.
I wanna cry already.
Jerremy & Svetlana (02:27):
You, you're already excited, huh?
Olga Kay (02:29):
I'm
Jerremy & Svetlana (02:29):
Yeah.
Excited.
Olga Kay (02:30):
inside.
This has been a journey and you justreminded me how hard it has been,
and I'm so glad we're all here.
Jerremy & Svetlana (02:36):
Yeah.
Likewise.
I think that's pretty common withindividuals that we speak to regarding
anything, but most specifically,those that come to this country.
And make it because it is a lot of work.
It's very struggling,it's very challenging.
So do this for me.
I'll have Solana startFirst, paint us a picture.
What did America mean to you beforeyou arrived, and how has that vision
(03:00):
changed now that you're a citizen?
Thank you, Jerremy for thisbeautiful and powerful question.
America growing up felt like adistant sound, a distant voice
that was for someone else, it feltlike the beautiful of luxury and
(03:24):
abundance and all possibilities.
But it was not for me orfor anyone else that I knew.
And fortunately the growing up inKazakhstan, the time started to shift.
The energies between Americaand Russia started to shift.
The Soviet Union collapsed andthings became just a tiny bit closer.
(03:49):
And then when the opportunity revealeditself to come to America, and it was
obvious that I had to jump into thatopportunity and create some of myself.
And that's really my only prayer waswhen I was a little girl from God, is
to just gimme an opportunity in life.
That's how I wanted because lookingat my family, at my neighbors, I
(04:14):
knew what my life would be therewas simply was no opportunity to do
anything greater or anything better.
In order to exceed, especiallyduring those times, you had to be a
part of some kind of mafia, a partof some kind of really dark space.
Otherwise, a person that had goodcould not succeed in that environment.
(04:40):
I remember coming to UnitedStates the very first time.
Two things really just blew my mind.
The first I saw this lady,she was in her sixties, was a
long nails and a short hair.
She was wearing this beautifulpurple outfit and she was alive,
she was vibrant, she was leaving.
And I just remember that backhome, members, my grandmother,
(05:02):
my neighbors, they were allpreparing to die in their fifties.
They were saving money for the funeral.
At that time, it was the ending.
And here it was a golden age era.
It was just the beginning.
I was like, oh my goodness,you can have that.
You can live like that.
And then the second observation thattook place was when men treated women
(05:26):
the possibility of true love and aspace of admiration and equality.
And it wasn't just being aservant in a family any longer,
and therefore I knew that.
is the country where allthe dreams come true.
And if you really put your intention andyour energy, your education, and you want
(05:52):
become greater, everything is available.
Amazing.
Beautiful.
Just hold the mic just a couplemore inches from your face.
Perfect.
Olga, about you?
Rockstar?
Olga Kay (06:03):
Wow, that's a powerful story.
So I was 16 years old and accordingto my mom, I always wanted to live in
America ever since I was a little girl.
I don't have a memory of that, but Idid grow up in a tiny village in Crimea.
And when Soviet Union fellapart, we had to do something.
So we, I call it, ran away withthe Russian circus and we joined
(06:26):
my aunt on the road in RussianCircus, and we started traveling.
I was 14 years old and withintwo years I went all over Russia.
Every month I traveled to a new place,and then we stopped at Moscow for a
couple of months, and that's when wegot discovered to come to America.
(06:46):
And I remember thinking,I'm about to turn 16.
I'm gonna go to America.
We have two year contract withthe Ringling Brothers Circus.
I'm just gonna go there and I'm gonnacome back because I love Russia.
I love traveling in a Russiancircus, but it would be really
cool to see a new country.
And I immigrated here.
So my journey to immigration was.
(07:08):
Very easy.
In the beginning, I got paperworkfrom a very big company.
I got my social security,I got my working visa.
I was getting paid $250 a week, which Ifeel like my family would only see that
much money in two or three months of work.
And right before we left myvillage, I remember we were
(07:31):
getting paid in bags of sugar andbags of grass that we can give to
Jerremy & Svetlana (07:36):
Wow.
Olga Kay (07:37):
and then we turn it into milk and cheese and butter
and trade with our neighbors.
So this was this whole new world for me.
But like I said, I never reallythought I'm gonna stay here.
I thought I'm gonna go back.
And from the age of 16 to 18,I've learned how to speak English.
I've learned how to drive a car.
(07:57):
I was getting paid $250 a weekand I had my first bank account.
And when I turned 18, I realized that.
I don't even know what I'll do in Russia.
None of those things were even availableto me, and I had no idea I needed those
things to feel like a and capable of.
(08:18):
bigger things.
And I remember realizing I will dowhatever it takes to stay in this
country at 18, even though my familywas still left behind in Russia and
figure out what the next steps were.
And then I got another contractwith another family circus, and
that's when I quickly realizedthat circuses in America are just.
(08:40):
Carnies and you are not as respected andyou have to work so much harder when you
work for family circuses versus a bigcorporation or like wrangling brothers.
that's when I started realizing thatI have to come up with a new way to
live in America, use my skill andtalent, and build a better life.
And I immigrated, I moved thento Los Angeles and I started my
(09:05):
journey, which led me to so manydifferent things and opportunities.
But that's how I got here.
And I do, I have similarfeeling about the country.
I remember thinking if I work hard.
It will be rewarded because inRussia and Ukraine, Crimea, at that
time I was watching my family workso hard and getting nowhere, and
(09:29):
my mom had two different collegedegrees and she couldn't get a job.
And I remember thinking, I willnever follow the academia route.
I will just use my talent and mystreet, wisdom and build myself
in this country the best I can.
Jerremy & Svetlana (09:46):
Wow.
Those are really cool stories.
Dave and I will neveruse the word village.
Like both of you talk, have such fondmemories about that, like using that term,
it's really endearing, but also at theexact same time, very revealing meaning
you chose something bigger, you chosesomething more, and coming to this country
was definitely a huge leap of faith.
(10:09):
we'll start with you, Olga,and then we'll go to s Laa.
Thinking about the immigration processthat you went through, where did it help
you where did it make things harder?
Olga Kay (10:20):
Yeah, a little picture of the process.
So I came here with Ringling Brothers.
I had my visa that coveredmy job for that company.
After that I had an agent who got me adifferent visa, which is oh one visa.
It's the most extraordinaryvisa for the best people out
there with the best skills.
With that visa, you have aneasier route into a green card.
(10:45):
However, that agent later wason the run with the FBI, and
luckily I didn't continue myimmigration journey through him.
He's still part of my fileand it still hunts me today.
And that's how difficult it is.
I became an American citizen in 2016,so it's been almost 10 years now.
(11:09):
And it still hunts me that he'spart of my file and he since
went to jail, passed away.
He's gone.
But it still hunts me and my family thatperson was part of my immigration journey.
But what happened after I was in arelationship with another juggler, I was
a juggler in the circus and we were livingtogether and our goal at that time was get
(11:31):
a visa so I can start traveling, leavingAmerica and travel with him on cruise
ships because that was his frame of work.
And a lawyer at that timetold us it's September 11th
time, you will not get a visa.
Everything is backed up.
If you guys already living together,you might as well just get married.
And we're like, okay, we'll get married.
(11:52):
So I got married and I got mygreen card through marriage.
However, when I was applying for mycitizenship, I got denied because
of this agent, who was my agentwhen I was 17, I had to act fast
and figure out what to do next.
My green card was expiring.
(12:13):
I've been in this country for almost15 years at this point and realizing
that, oh, this could be the endand I don't know what to do next.
Jerremy & Svetlana (12:23):
Whoa.
What about you, Phila?
I came in states on a J one Visa.
It was a work and travel program at thattime, and I believe it still exists.
And if you were in a university,you could enter into the program and
come to America for three months.
Through the summer and work.
(12:44):
And that was my firstexperience of America.
I remember going back home telling mymom, I will be going to America again
because I have window for one moreyear, but I will not be coming back.
I do not know what the journey willbe, but it will take me a lifetime
to create what it will take mefive years to create in America.
(13:04):
And it was very difficult sayinggoodbye because it was saying goodbye
and going to now when my grandfatherwas sick at that time and he was my,
like my father, knew he would be dyingand I would not be able to go and
be with him or visited the funeral.
So it was a very difficult goodbye andit took me a very long time to understand
(13:24):
what it took from my mother to let me go.
It's not only until I became amother, I could understand the power
that you send out your child withand the prayer and hopes and beliefs
that everything will turn out okay.
And yes, I was on a visa and I had a job.
And second time I came to Las Vegasand I got a job in a fashion show mall.
(13:48):
I was in the retails.
I got a second job.
I was sending money back home tosupport my family and everything was
going well until my visa expired.
And there was a time toreally think what to do?
What is next?
Because there are very littleopportunities when you do not have money.
(14:10):
When you are still new in a country andyour visa expires, the lawyers fees are
astronomical To go to college, you cannottruly afford to pay for the college.
And then you, even if you are workingtwo, three jobs, the college fees
as a immigrant are still insane.
So what happened is my visa collapsedand I started illegally in the country.
(14:32):
So I was a legal immigrant.
Thankfully my employer at the timeeither didn't pick it up or just closed
the eyes on the expiration of the visa.
I still had my, social security.
I was paying the taxes and I was working.
Long story short, a few yearslater, I met an incredible
man that was my first husband.
(14:55):
dated for a little while and we knewthat we were going to be together.
We wanted to be together,we wanted to build a family.
He proposed, I got married andthat is how I was able to get.
My green card.
one thing is that I remember I knewof so many different abilities and
programs that were available forwealthy people that if you had $500,000,
(15:18):
that you can get that EB five visaand you can invest in the states.
And there was so many opportunities.
And I remember just walking like with thetears in my eyes, wishing that someone
would just believe in me, worry me thatmoney, or see the potential cause I
was willing to give everything for thisopportunity and it wasn't available.
(15:43):
And the only thing thatwas left is an illegal.
Dave (15:48):
It's amazing.
Olga Kay (15:49):
I wanna add something to this as well.
one thing that not many peopletalk about is how long it takes
to get some kind of paperwork toeven go back to see your family.
I was in a similar position where Icame here at 16 just like Yu Laa, I
didn't realize what a sacrifice myparents made until I became a mother
(16:11):
and realizing that my kid is gonna say,oh, I'm just gonna move to France, and
then I'm not able to come and visit him.
It would just break my heart.
So what they did, and again,they thought, I'm gonna come
back, but I just never came back.
And what happened for me, I was inthis country for three years working
under a contract so I could not leave.
(16:32):
So at this point I'm going from 16 to 19.
I can't leave the country becauseI'm doing shows every night.
And after that, I startedchanging my immigration status.
Then I can't leave the countrybecause I'm changing my status.
You're just not allowed to leave.
You can leave the country,but you cannot come back in.
So you have to wait for yourstatus to clear and you pretty
(16:54):
much have to wait for your greencard, which is another two years.
Long story short, after that, I didn'thave enough money to go back to Russia.
So then I had another year ortwo where I just couldn't go.
And I remember seven years afterleaving my family, mother called
me and she said, I feel like I'mgonna die and I will not see you.
Can you figure out a wayto come and visit me?
(17:17):
And I remember going back.
Seven years later, I was in mytwenties now a whole different person
than my family remember me being.
And I didn't know howto talk to my family.
I was visiting them for the firsttime and I have this whole other
life that I've been living andthey're still, expect me to be the
(17:39):
16-year-old girl who's coming back.
anyways, it took a couple of daysto get comfortable again and find
our language again as a family.
But I remember thinking, I have tomake sure to visit them once a year
so I don't forget who my family is.
Jerremy & Svetlana (17:57):
Yeah.
I love these very powerful andemotional stories, and thank you
for sharing them with not onlyus, but all of our listeners.
And since we're here,in this energy, right?
America granted you a wonderfulopportunity, but at what personal cost?
Some of you are both sharing thatnow, but what is one sacrifice
that you rarely share publicly?
(18:18):
Maybe something that you haven't thoughtof for a while or something that most
people like Dave and myself, who were bornhere might not even recognize or realize.
Let's start with whoever,
Olga Kay (18:28):
Whoever's ready to speak first,
Jerremy & Svetlana: whoever's ready to speak. (18:30):
undefined
Exactly.
Olga Kay (18:32):
so with Lana, go ahead.
Jerremy & Svetlana (18:34):
I feel like definitely being in a realization that the sacrifice
of the family was so big, and I feel likein other countries, the structures in
Kazakhstan and Russia, Ukraine, the familystructure is very close very intertwined.
Losing that, becoming all by yourself,figuring life all on your own, recognizing
(18:59):
that your parents have no idea or anyblueprint of what your life is going to
be like, they cannot guide you recognizingthat people in America cannot really
guide you because they have no clueof what it takes build yourself and
to become something in this country.
(19:20):
And therefore, the big sacrificeis a growing up that needs
to happen extremely fast.
You absolutely cannot mess up in anyshape or form because if you mess up in
any way, you are going to be get departedand you are going right back home.
You have to figure yourself out.
You have to stay in a space ofhonor of wisdom, and it's hard.
(19:44):
It's hard for a very young person in thevery beginning, but definitely having no
guidance and being so far away from thefamily when you lived with your family,
majority of your life is a huge sacrifice,
Olga Kay (20:00):
Let's see if I can add something.
I think Solana, you said it perfectly.
It's you lose that and you're right.
Family also doesn'trealize how hard it is here
Jerremy & Svetlana (20:10):
right?
Olga Kay (20:11):
they think about America.
You're getting paid now you'regetting paid way more than we
Jerremy & Svetlana (20:16):
You're making so much money, you're fine.
Olga Kay (20:18):
You are fine.
And you, but then you have to realizeeverything is so much more expensive
and legal fees are astronomical here.
And back to my immigration story.
I came here legally, everythingwas great, but then as I was
applying for my citizenship I didit myself without any lawyers.
And I remember not hearing back and I'mlike, something is going on with my case.
(20:41):
It's been a while.
Something is not right.
I keep calling.
They keep telling me like, you haveto wait for the official letter.
They would not sayanything over the phone.
And I remember gettingthat official letter.
There was so many pages saying thatmy citizenship was denied due to.
This agent that I had 10 yearsprior to this case, and I remember
(21:04):
thinking, okay, what's next?
I can't, there's no one, there'sno phone number to call back
and clarify what's going on.
So I had to, I remember overnight andluckily at that time I had some savings
and overnight, that was over 10 yearsago, I had to come up with $5,000, find a
lawyer and see if we can restart my case.
And other thing not many people talkabout is how many lawyers are such
(21:29):
fraud when it comes to immigration?
Jerremy & Svetlana (21:32):
Thank you.
Olga Kay (21:33):
paying $5,000 and this person restarted my case.
And then we were still waiting.
I remember saying, Hey, mygreen card is about to expire.
I need to get some kind of paperworkback saying that it's okay or
extension for my green card.
And he was saying it would be another$7,000 if we wanna expedite it.
(21:54):
And obviously I didn't wanna do this.
At that time I was traveling so muchfor different conferences and I came
back from New York and I opened thisletter and it says, congratulations,
you now will be an American.
Come to this place.
I was traveling for two weeks,so it said, come tomorrow.
And I'm like, oh my gosh, what if Istayed in New York a little longer?
I would've missed this letter.
(22:15):
And if you don't show up for yourappointment, you then wait for three to
five extra years to get an appointment.
And there's no one to talk to.
You just have to hope thepaperwork is doing its work.
Jerremy & Svetlana (22:27):
Wow.
Yeah that's wild.
so you said thank you to Olga whenshe mentioned that about a lot
of lawyers being scam artists.
Do you have more information on that?
Many of that?
So many of them.
I got scammed by two and finally Juanwas able to pull something together.
That's all to say
Olga Kay (22:45):
I
Jerremy & Svetlana (22:46):
to find.
And actually how much did it,
Olga Kay (22:48):
to get scanned?
So many times.
Jerremy & Svetlana (22:50):
yeah, so first time it was $5,000.
really all you do for the first coupleyears, you work for the legal fees.
just, I lived with five other It was fiveof us in one bedroom apartment for two
years, and we were saving everything.
We were working two through threejobs and it was all going to the legal
(23:13):
fees and we were sharing the rent.
That ended up being like $150 a person.
Olga Kay (23:18):
are the lucky ones.
Jerremy & Svetlana (23:19):
Exactly.
Olga Kay (23:20):
came in here and we didn't have to escape prosecution
and really work under the table.
Minimum wage where you cannot evensave up for any type of legal fees.
Jerremy & Svetlana (23:33):
So what kept you both going?
You're here in the land of freedom you'refacing of these invisible barriers that
you weren't told about, that you weren'taware of, that no one guided you through.
be so persistent?
Because there was no other choice.
(23:56):
The going back into nothingness,into no hope, least for me,
into no life was not an option.
I was willing to suffer, tostruggle to go without, to.
Cry nights and days todo whatever it takes.
(24:18):
Just to have this opportunity to makesomething of myself, I would do the
same thing back home in a different way.
Still struggle, still very hard andthere was absolutely no promise that
it would change in any point of life.
Olga Kay (24:38):
For me I feel like when I.
Got to this country.
I was 16.
I was still forming as an adult.
I became a completely differentperson who is optimistic, loves life.
And I feel like in Russia I was moreserious and I was more afraid of things.
So going back for me wouldmean going back to being afraid
(25:01):
and not be a go-getter, be a
Jerremy & Svetlana (25:03):
Yeah.
Olga Kay (25:04):
for me.
That's how different, when I speakRussian, I'm a different person.
When I speak English, I am just bubbly.
I love everything.
Everything is possible.
Everyone can achieve anything.
In Russia, I would've been,I don't have education.
I'm a nobody.
I don't know what I'll do here.
Where in America, not sayingthat non-educational no education
(25:27):
gets you far in America, but inAmerica you can build a dream.
Where in Russia.
Everyone looks at the paperworkbefore they give you an opportunity.
Alex (25:37):
"We've heard the raw truths behind those immigration dreams—the
family separations, the midnightscrambles, and the unbreakable spirit
that turns hurdles into triumphs.
But what if the survivors ofthis system could redesign it?
Coming up in our next segment, Olga andSvetlana share bold ideas for reform
that could change everything, from visaoverhauls to a citizenship credit score.
(26:02):
You won't want to miss how theyenvision a better path forward."
Dave Conley, what are we discussing in this episode?
Dave (00:06):
In this week's episode of Solving America's Problems, what
if the very trials that breaksystems built unbreakable citizens?
We dive into the realities of firstgeneration immigration where the promise
of opportunity collides with yearsof waiting fear and systemic hurdles
that leave millions in limbo withgreen card backlog stretching decades,
courts drowning Under 4 million pendingcases, the path to citizenship becomes
(00:28):
an endurance test, one that demandsextraordinary resilience and produces some
of the nation's most devoted Americans.
Our guests this week knowthis journey firsthand.
Olga, Kay left a Russian circus at 16to pursue opportunities in America.
Becoming a YouTube star.
And now founder of Moosh Walksa children's brand built on the
growth mindset and resiliencethat powered her own journey.
(00:50):
Sve Lana Newsom arrived in Americafrom Kazakhstan with $300 in a dream
surviving profound loss and transformingher life into spiritual service.
Earning a doctorate and todayguiding world leaders through
their own transformational journey.
That's this week on solving America'sproblems from circus tense to citizenship,
what it really takes to becomeAmerican with Olga and Svetlana Newso.
Jerremy (01:13):
America sells the world's greatest promise.
Come here, work hard, become one of us.
14% of everyone living inAmerica was not born here.
That's one in seven ofyour neighbors coworkers.
The people making this country run.
But here's what they donot tell you at the border.
Green card weights canstretch 20 years citizenship.
(01:38):
It's a marathon through a minefieldwhile immigration courts collapse under
more than 4 million pending cases.
I'm Jerremy Alexander Newsom herewith my co-host Dave Conley and this.
Solving America's problems.
Our guest today did not just survivethe gauntlet, they conquered it.
Olga Kay went from performing inthe Russian circus with Ringling
(02:00):
Brothers to becoming a YouTubepioneer, entertaining millions and
now runs Moosh, walks a children'sbrand, empowering the next generation.
Solana Newsom arrived with just$300 to her name, rebuilt her
life after a devastating loss, andemerged as a spiritual teacher.
And healer to world leaders
Jerremy & Svetlana (02:21):
thanks so much for being on the show.
Olga Kay (02:25):
Jerremy.
I wanna cry already.
Jerremy & Svetlana (02:27):
You, you're already excited, huh?
Olga Kay (02:29):
I'm
Jerremy & Svetlana (02:29):
Yeah.
Excited.
Olga Kay (02:30):
inside.
This has been a journey and you justreminded me how hard it has been,
and I'm so glad we're all here.
Jerremy & Svetlana (02:36):
Yeah.
Likewise.
I think that's pretty common withindividuals that we speak to regarding
anything, but most specifically,those that come to this country.
And make it because it is a lot of work.
It's very struggling,it's very challenging.
So do this for me.
I'll have Solana startFirst, paint us a picture.
What did America mean to you beforeyou arrived, and how has that vision
(03:00):
changed now that you're a citizen?
Thank you, Jerremy for thisbeautiful and powerful question.
America growing up felt like adistant sound, a distant voice
that was for someone else, it feltlike the beautiful of luxury and
(03:24):
abundance and all possibilities.
But it was not for me orfor anyone else that I knew.
And fortunately the growing up inKazakhstan, the time started to shift.
The energies between Americaand Russia started to shift.
The Soviet Union collapsed andthings became just a tiny bit closer.
(03:49):
And then when the opportunity revealeditself to come to America, and it was
obvious that I had to jump into thatopportunity and create some of myself.
And that's really my only prayer waswhen I was a little girl from God, is
to just gimme an opportunity in life.
That's how I wanted because lookingat my family, at my neighbors, I
(04:14):
knew what my life would be therewas simply was no opportunity to do
anything greater or anything better.
In order to exceed, especiallyduring those times, you had to be a
part of some kind of mafia, a partof some kind of really dark space.
Otherwise, a person that had goodcould not succeed in that environment.
(04:40):
I remember coming to UnitedStates the very first time.
Two things really just blew my mind.
The first I saw this lady,she was in her sixties, was a
long nails and a short hair.
She was wearing this beautifulpurple outfit and she was alive,
she was vibrant, she was leaving.
And I just remember that backhome, members, my grandmother,
(05:02):
my neighbors, they were allpreparing to die in their fifties.
They were saving money for the funeral.
At that time, it was the ending.
And here it was a golden age era.
It was just the beginning.
I was like, oh my goodness,you can have that.
You can live like that.
And then the second observation thattook place was when men treated women
(05:26):
the possibility of true love and aspace of admiration and equality.
And it wasn't just being aservant in a family any longer,
and therefore I knew that.
is the country where allthe dreams come true.
And if you really put your intention andyour energy, your education, and you want
(05:52):
become greater, everything is available.
Amazing.
Beautiful.
Just hold the mic just a couplemore inches from your face.
Perfect.
Olga, about you?
Rockstar?
Olga Kay (06:03):
Wow, that's a powerful story.
So I was 16 years old and accordingto my mom, I always wanted to live in
America ever since I was a little girl.
I don't have a memory of that, but Idid grow up in a tiny village in Crimea.
And when Soviet Union fellapart, we had to do something.
So we, I call it, ran away withthe Russian circus and we joined
(06:26):
my aunt on the road in RussianCircus, and we started traveling.
I was 14 years old and withintwo years I went all over Russia.
Every month I traveled to a new place,and then we stopped at Moscow for a
couple of months, and that's when wegot discovered to come to America.
(06:46):
And I remember thinking,I'm about to turn 16.
I'm gonna go to America.
We have two year contract withthe Ringling Brothers Circus.
I'm just gonna go there and I'm gonnacome back because I love Russia.
I love traveling in a Russiancircus, but it would be really
cool to see a new country.
And I immigrated here.
So my journey to immigration was.
(07:08):
Very easy.
In the beginning, I got paperworkfrom a very big company.
I got my social security,I got my working visa.
I was getting paid $250 a week, which Ifeel like my family would only see that
much money in two or three months of work.
And right before we left myvillage, I remember we were
(07:31):
getting paid in bags of sugar andbags of grass that we can give to
Jerremy & Svetlana (07:36):
Wow.
Olga Kay (07:37):
and then we turn it into milk and cheese and butter
and trade with our neighbors.
So this was this whole new world for me.
But like I said, I never reallythought I'm gonna stay here.
I thought I'm gonna go back.
And from the age of 16 to 18,I've learned how to speak English.
I've learned how to drive a car.
(07:57):
I was getting paid $250 a weekand I had my first bank account.
And when I turned 18, I realized that.
I don't even know what I'll do in Russia.
None of those things were even availableto me, and I had no idea I needed those
things to feel like a and capable of.
(08:18):
bigger things.
And I remember realizing I will dowhatever it takes to stay in this
country at 18, even though my familywas still left behind in Russia and
figure out what the next steps were.
And then I got another contractwith another family circus, and
that's when I quickly realizedthat circuses in America are just.
(08:40):
Carnies and you are not as respected andyou have to work so much harder when you
work for family circuses versus a bigcorporation or like wrangling brothers.
that's when I started realizing thatI have to come up with a new way to
live in America, use my skill andtalent, and build a better life.
And I immigrated, I moved thento Los Angeles and I started my
(09:05):
journey, which led me to so manydifferent things and opportunities.
But that's how I got here.
And I do, I have similarfeeling about the country.
I remember thinking if I work hard.
It will be rewarded because inRussia and Ukraine, Crimea, at that
time I was watching my family workso hard and getting nowhere, and
(09:29):
my mom had two different collegedegrees and she couldn't get a job.
And I remember thinking, I willnever follow the academia route.
I will just use my talent and mystreet, wisdom and build myself
in this country the best I can.
Jerremy & Svetlana (09:46):
Wow.
Those are really cool stories.
Dave and I will neveruse the word village.
Like both of you talk, have such fondmemories about that, like using that term,
it's really endearing, but also at theexact same time, very revealing meaning
you chose something bigger, you chosesomething more, and coming to this country
was definitely a huge leap of faith.
(10:09):
we'll start with you, Olga,and then we'll go to s Laa.
Thinking about the immigration processthat you went through, where did it help
you where did it make things harder?
Olga Kay (10:20):
Yeah, a little picture of the process.
So I came here with Ringling Brothers.
I had my visa that coveredmy job for that company.
After that I had an agent who got me adifferent visa, which is oh one visa.
It's the most extraordinaryvisa for the best people out
there with the best skills.
With that visa, you have aneasier route into a green card.
(10:45):
However, that agent later wason the run with the FBI, and
luckily I didn't continue myimmigration journey through him.
He's still part of my fileand it still hunts me today.
And that's how difficult it is.
I became an American citizen in 2016,so it's been almost 10 years now.
(11:09):
And it still hunts me that he'spart of my file and he since
went to jail, passed away.
He's gone.
But it still hunts me and my family thatperson was part of my immigration journey.
But what happened after I was in arelationship with another juggler, I was
a juggler in the circus and we were livingtogether and our goal at that time was get
(11:31):
a visa so I can start traveling, leavingAmerica and travel with him on cruise
ships because that was his frame of work.
And a lawyer at that timetold us it's September 11th
time, you will not get a visa.
Everything is backed up.
If you guys already living together,you might as well just get married.
And we're like, okay, we'll get married.
(11:52):
So I got married and I got mygreen card through marriage.
However, when I was applying for mycitizenship, I got denied because
of this agent, who was my agentwhen I was 17, I had to act fast
and figure out what to do next.
My green card was expiring.
(12:13):
I've been in this country for almost15 years at this point and realizing
that, oh, this could be the endand I don't know what to do next.
Jerremy & Svetlana (12:23):
Whoa.
What about you, Phila?
I came in states on a J one Visa.
It was a work and travel program at thattime, and I believe it still exists.
And if you were in a university,you could enter into the program and
come to America for three months.
Through the summer and work.
(12:44):
And that was my firstexperience of America.
I remember going back home telling mymom, I will be going to America again
because I have window for one moreyear, but I will not be coming back.
I do not know what the journey willbe, but it will take me a lifetime
to create what it will take mefive years to create in America.
(13:04):
And it was very difficult sayinggoodbye because it was saying goodbye
and going to now when my grandfatherwas sick at that time and he was my,
like my father, knew he would be dyingand I would not be able to go and
be with him or visited the funeral.
So it was a very difficult goodbye andit took me a very long time to understand
(13:24):
what it took from my mother to let me go.
It's not only until I became amother, I could understand the power
that you send out your child withand the prayer and hopes and beliefs
that everything will turn out okay.
And yes, I was on a visa and I had a job.
And second time I came to Las Vegasand I got a job in a fashion show mall.
(13:48):
I was in the retails.
I got a second job.
I was sending money back home tosupport my family and everything was
going well until my visa expired.
And there was a time toreally think what to do?
What is next?
Because there are very littleopportunities when you do not have money.
(14:10):
When you are still new in a country andyour visa expires, the lawyers fees are
astronomical To go to college, you cannottruly afford to pay for the college.
And then you, even if you are workingtwo, three jobs, the college fees
as a immigrant are still insane.
So what happened is my visa collapsedand I started illegally in the country.
(14:32):
So I was a legal immigrant.
Thankfully my employer at the timeeither didn't pick it up or just closed
the eyes on the expiration of the visa.
I still had my, social security.
I was paying the taxes and I was working.
Long story short, a few yearslater, I met an incredible
man that was my first husband.
(14:55):
dated for a little while and we knewthat we were going to be together.
We wanted to be together,we wanted to build a family.
He proposed, I got married andthat is how I was able to get.
My green card.
one thing is that I remember I knewof so many different abilities and
programs that were available forwealthy people that if you had $500,000,
(15:18):
that you can get that EB five visaand you can invest in the states.
And there was so many opportunities.
And I remember just walking like with thetears in my eyes, wishing that someone
would just believe in me, worry me thatmoney, or see the potential cause I
was willing to give everything for thisopportunity and it wasn't available.
(15:43):
And the only thing thatwas left is an illegal.
Dave (15:48):
It's amazing.
Olga Kay (15:49):
I wanna add something to this as well.
one thing that not many peopletalk about is how long it takes
to get some kind of paperwork toeven go back to see your family.
I was in a similar position where Icame here at 16 just like Yu Laa, I
didn't realize what a sacrifice myparents made until I became a mother
(16:11):
and realizing that my kid is gonna say,oh, I'm just gonna move to France, and
then I'm not able to come and visit him.
It would just break my heart.
So what they did, and again,they thought, I'm gonna come
back, but I just never came back.
And what happened for me, I was inthis country for three years working
under a contract so I could not leave.
(16:32):
So at this point I'm going from 16 to 19.
I can't leave the country becauseI'm doing shows every night.
And after that, I startedchanging my immigration status.
Then I can't leave the countrybecause I'm changing my status.
You're just not allowed to leave.
You can leave the country,but you cannot come back in.
So you have to wait for yourstatus to clear and you pretty
(16:54):
much have to wait for your greencard, which is another two years.
Long story short, after that, I didn'thave enough money to go back to Russia.
So then I had another year ortwo where I just couldn't go.
And I remember seven years afterleaving my family, mother called
me and she said, I feel like I'mgonna die and I will not see you.
Can you figure out a wayto come and visit me?
(17:17):
And I remember going back.
Seven years later, I was in mytwenties now a whole different person
than my family remember me being.
And I didn't know howto talk to my family.
I was visiting them for the firsttime and I have this whole other
life that I've been living andthey're still, expect me to be the
(17:39):
16-year-old girl who's coming back.
anyways, it took a couple of daysto get comfortable again and find
our language again as a family.
But I remember thinking, I have tomake sure to visit them once a year
so I don't forget who my family is.
Jerremy & Svetlana (17:57):
Yeah.
I love these very powerful andemotional stories, and thank you
for sharing them with not onlyus, but all of our listeners.
And since we're here,in this energy, right?
America granted you a wonderfulopportunity, but at what personal cost?
Some of you are both sharing thatnow, but what is one sacrifice
that you rarely share publicly?
(18:18):
Maybe something that you haven't thoughtof for a while or something that most
people like Dave and myself, who were bornhere might not even recognize or realize.
Let's start with whoever,
Olga Kay (18:28):
Whoever's ready to speak first,
Jerremy & Svetlana: whoever's ready to speak. (18:30):
undefined
Exactly.
Olga Kay (18:32):
so with Lana, go ahead.
Jerremy & Svetlana (18:34):
I feel like definitely being in a realization that the sacrifice
of the family was so big, and I feel likein other countries, the structures in
Kazakhstan and Russia, Ukraine, the familystructure is very close very intertwined.
Losing that, becoming all by yourself,figuring life all on your own, recognizing
(18:59):
that your parents have no idea or anyblueprint of what your life is going to
be like, they cannot guide you recognizingthat people in America cannot really
guide you because they have no clueof what it takes build yourself and
to become something in this country.
(19:20):
And therefore, the big sacrificeis a growing up that needs
to happen extremely fast.
You absolutely cannot mess up in anyshape or form because if you mess up in
any way, you are going to be get departedand you are going right back home.
You have to figure yourself out.
You have to stay in a space ofhonor of wisdom, and it's hard.
(19:44):
It's hard for a very young person in thevery beginning, but definitely having no
guidance and being so far away from thefamily when you lived with your family,
majority of your life is a huge sacrifice,
Olga Kay (20:00):
Let's see if I can add something.
I think Solana, you said it perfectly.
It's you lose that and you're right.
Family also doesn'trealize how hard it is here
Jerremy & Svetlana (20:10):
right?
Olga Kay (20:11):
they think about America.
You're getting paid now you'regetting paid way more than we
Jerremy & Svetlana (20:16):
You're making so much money, you're fine.
Olga Kay (20:18):
You are fine.
And you, but then you have to realizeeverything is so much more expensive
and legal fees are astronomical here.
And back to my immigration story.
I came here legally, everythingwas great, but then as I was
applying for my citizenship I didit myself without any lawyers.
And I remember not hearing back and I'mlike, something is going on with my case.
(20:41):
It's been a while.
Something is not right.
I keep calling.
They keep telling me like, you haveto wait for the official letter.
They would not sayanything over the phone.
And I remember gettingthat official letter.
There was so many pages saying thatmy citizenship was denied due to.
This agent that I had 10 yearsprior to this case, and I remember
(21:04):
thinking, okay, what's next?
I can't, there's no one, there'sno phone number to call back
and clarify what's going on.
So I had to, I remember overnight andluckily at that time I had some savings
and overnight, that was over 10 yearsago, I had to come up with $5,000, find a
lawyer and see if we can restart my case.
And other thing not many people talkabout is how many lawyers are such
(21:29):
fraud when it comes to immigration?
Jerremy & Svetlana (21:32):
Thank you.
Olga Kay (21:33):
paying $5,000 and this person restarted my case.
And then we were still waiting.
I remember saying, Hey, mygreen card is about to expire.
I need to get some kind of paperworkback saying that it's okay or
extension for my green card.
And he was saying it would be another$7,000 if we wanna expedite it.
(21:54):
And obviously I didn't wanna do this.
At that time I was traveling so muchfor different conferences and I came
back from New York and I opened thisletter and it says, congratulations,
you now will be an American.
Come to this place.
I was traveling for two weeks,so it said, come tomorrow.
And I'm like, oh my gosh, what if Istayed in New York a little longer?
I would've missed this letter.
(22:15):
And if you don't show up for yourappointment, you then wait for three to
five extra years to get an appointment.
And there's no one to talk to.
You just have to hope thepaperwork is doing its work.
Jerremy & Svetlana (22:27):
Wow.
Yeah that's wild.
so you said thank you to Olga whenshe mentioned that about a lot
of lawyers being scam artists.
Do you have more information on that?
Many of that?
So many of them.
I got scammed by two and finally Juanwas able to pull something together.
That's all to say
Olga Kay (22:45):
I
Jerremy & Svetlana (22:46):
to find.
And actually how much did it,
Olga Kay (22:48):
to get scanned?
So many times.
Jerremy & Svetlana (22:50):
yeah, so first time it was $5,000.
really all you do for the first coupleyears, you work for the legal fees.
just, I lived with five other It was fiveof us in one bedroom apartment for two
years, and we were saving everything.
We were working two through threejobs and it was all going to the legal
(23:13):
fees and we were sharing the rent.
That ended up being like $150 a person.
Olga Kay (23:18):
are the lucky ones.
Jerremy & Svetlana (23:19):
Exactly.
Olga Kay (23:20):
came in here and we didn't have to escape prosecution
and really work under the table.
Minimum wage where you cannot evensave up for any type of legal fees.
Jerremy & Svetlana (23:33):
So what kept you both going?
You're here in the land of freedom you'refacing of these invisible barriers that
you weren't told about, that you weren'taware of, that no one guided you through.
be so persistent?
Because there was no other choice.
(23:56):
The going back into nothingness,into no hope, least for me,
into no life was not an option.
I was willing to suffer, tostruggle to go without, to.
Cry nights and days todo whatever it takes.
(24:18):
Just to have this opportunity to makesomething of myself, I would do the
same thing back home in a different way.
Still struggle, still very hard andthere was absolutely no promise that
it would change in any point of life.
Olga Kay (24:38):
For me I feel like when I.
Got to this country.
I was 16.
I was still forming as an adult.
I became a completely differentperson who is optimistic, loves life.
And I feel like in Russia I was moreserious and I was more afraid of things.
So going back for me wouldmean going back to being afraid
(25:01):
and not be a go-getter, be a
Jerremy & Svetlana (25:03):
Yeah.
Olga Kay (25:04):
for me.
That's how different, when I speakRussian, I'm a different person.
When I speak English, I am just bubbly.
I love everything.
Everything is possible.
Everyone can achieve anything.
In Russia, I would've been,I don't have education.
I'm a nobody.
I don't know what I'll do here.
Where in America, not sayingthat non-educational no education
(25:27):
gets you far in America, but inAmerica you can build a dream.
Where in Russia.
Everyone looks at the paperworkbefore they give you an opportunity.
Alex (25:37):
"We've heard the raw truths behind those immigration dreams—the
family separations, the midnightscrambles, and the unbreakable spirit
that turns hurdles into triumphs.
But what if the survivors ofthis system could redesign it?
Coming up in our next segment, Olga andSvetlana share bold ideas for reform
that could change everything, from visaoverhauls to a citizenship credit score.
(26:02):
You won't want to miss how theyenvision a better path forward."
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