National Immigration Law Center Freedom to Thrive Podcast
The National Immigration Law Center's Freedom to Thrive podcast with host Hector Flores returns for Season 3. Each episode goes beyond the headlines to center the lived experiences of immigrants and their loved ones through honest, powerful conversations with artists, organizers, activists, and unexpected allies. Together, we explore where culture and power meet, belonging takes root, and solidarity is put into action. No matter how much money we have, what we look like, or where we were born, everyone must have the freedom to thrive.
Episodes
Host Hector Flores is joined by Hawa Hassan, a Somali-born chef, former model, entrepreneur, and James Beard Award-winning cookbook author. She reflects on stepping away from modeling and reclaiming her own story through food, from the smell of cinnamon and chai to her mother's spiced pasta sauce. She shares the resilience and generosity she found exploring places like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, and El Salvador ...
Our host, Hector Flores, speaks with Lumbee hoop dancer and filmmaker Eric Michael Hernandez about discovering his identity through traditional hoop dance and what it means to carry two cultures that don't always fit the boxes people expect. Together, they explore misconceptions surrounding Native American identity, the bridges being built between Native American and Latino communities, and the harsh reality of Native people being ...
Host Hector Flores talks with Philadelphia-based comedian, journalist, and content creator Che Guerrero about growing up undocumented for nearly 30 years, navigating work and relationships, and the role humor has played in his life. Che discusses how immigration status can shape everyday experiences and explains how he uses comedy to connect with audiences and encourage civic participation.
Freedom to Thrive is back with Haitian singer-songwriter Paul Beaubrun, who joins host Hector Flores to talk about leaving Port-au-Prince for Brooklyn at 17, his years living as a TPS recipient, and how his storied musical family's activist legacy shaped both his life and his new album, Vertières, including why he believes revolution has to start from within.
NILC's Senior Policy Counsel Jennifer Ibañez Whitlock breaks down what TP...
Multidisciplinary artist Safwat Saleem joins host Hector Flores to discuss immigration, Pakistani American identity, belonging, fatherhood, and the role of art in preserving family history. Safwat shares his nearly 20-year journey to U.S. citizenship, how he documents and humanizes the immigrant experience through creative projects, and what it means to raise children between cultures.
Fashion designer and Cindy Castro New York founder Cindy Castro joins host Hector Flores for an inspiring conversation about fashion, immigration, culture, and entrepreneurship. Castro shares her journey of building a sustainable fashion brand, overcoming challenges as an immigrant entrepreneur, and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities in the fashion industry. Discover how grit, innovation, and cultural identity ...
Emerging Chef James Beard Award winner Adrian Torres joins host Hector Flores for a conversation about food, culinary innovation, identity, and courage. Adrian reflects on the emotional moment he shared his story as a DACA recipient at the James Beard Awards, discusses new dishes he's developing as Executive Chef of Maximo restaurant, and shares how mentors, culture, community, and perseverance helped shape his journey.
Xochimilca recording artist and activist Xiuhtezcatl, joins host Hector Flores for a conversation about activism, art, and challenging systems of power. Drawing from his experiences as both an organizer and artist, Xiuhtezcatl explores how colonialism, politics, and other systemic forces shape social and environmental challenges affecting Indigenous communities and people worldwide.
Comedian, actor, and writer Jenny Yang kicks off Season 3 with host Hector Flores for a conversation about her Good Egg Immigrant Grocery Store Comedy Tour. Jenny shares how she's bringing stand-up shows to immigrant-owned grocery stores across the country to raise money for local immigrant rights organizations while making people laugh. She also opens up about the failed IVF cycle that inspired the tour's name, what it was like gr...
Join us as we wrap up Season 2 of the Freedom To Thrive: Resistance, Justice and Resilience podcast, featuring Grammy Award–winning artist Lila Downs. Host Hector Flores talks with Lila about music, her Indigenous roots, migration, and resistance.
From Oaxaca to Minnesota, Lila reflects on identity, ancestry, and her new album Cambias Mi Mundo (You Change My World), which includes a collaboration with rapper Snow Tha Product.
...Today, award-winning Somali multimedia artist Ifrah Mansour joins our host Hector Flores for a thoughtful conversation about life in Minneapolis during these challenging times. Ifrah reflects on how the community has rallied together to support and protect their Somali neighbors. From surviving civil war and displacement to creating art that shelters memory and healing, Ifrah shares how culture, storytelling, and care help communit...
Host Hector Flores is joined by comedian TJ (Tanael Joachim) for a conversation about comedy, immigration, and resilience. TJ reflects on growing up Haitian in America and how humor became both a coping mechanism and a tool for resistance. This episode reminds us that storytelling and laughter can build solidarity, inspire resistance, and fuel hope.
Storytelling is essential for survival. In this episode, host Hector Flores sits down with Pulitzer Prize–winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen to explore refugeedom, trauma, identity, humor, and the power of narrative in the fight against authoritarianism. From the refugee experience to the dangers of “authenticity,” Viet challenges us to tell better stories not just about ourselves, but about who we stand up for.
In this episode of Freedom to Thrive: Resistance, Justice and Resilience, host Hector Flores is joined by world-renowned artist and activist Dread Scott. Together, they discuss his work challenging white supremacy, censorship, immigration raids, and state violence. Dread Scott reminds us that courage is contagious and art can help lead us fight.
Civil rights and labor icon Dolores Huerta delivers a masterclass in organizing, voting, collective power, and finding inspiration to keep fighting in dark times. She shares behind the scenes stories of her decades fighting for farmworker justice to protecting democracy. She is a powerful reminder we the people are the spring and WE have the power.
Freedom to Thrive returns with a powerful conversation bridging country music, justice, and community. This week, Hector sits down with rising country artist Bryan Andrews to talk about music, working-class roots, and why speaking up for immigrant families matters now more than ever. We’re also joined by organizer and strategist Eliana Fernandez, who breaks down what communities can do to stay informed, supported, and protect...
In this powerful Freedom to Thrive episode, Hector sits down with venerated human rights lawyer and Time Magazine honoree Efrén Olivares, NILC’s Vice President of Litigation and Legal Strategy. From childhood memories on the U.S. Mexico border to stopping the midnight deportation of unaccompanied children, Efren shares stories of justice, resistance, and the immigrant experience that shaped him. A conversation full of ...
In this episode of NILC’s Freedom to Thrive, host Hector Flores sits down with Palestinian comedian, actor, and show creator Mo Amer to talk about his immigration journey, his identity, and how he transforms his lived experiences into art. From Houston to Palestine and on to Netflix breakthroughs, Mo shares stories of resilience, family, and finding freedom through storytelling.
If you love immigrant stories, comedy, or behin...
Freedom to Thrive: Resistance, Justice, Resilience Podcast is back with Season 2, and we’re kicking things off with a powerful first episode: “Comedy is Resistance.” Our new host, Hector Flores, an LA-based artist and founding member of Las Cafeteras, welcomes acclaimed comedian and writer Cristela Alonzo, fresh off her third Netflix comedy special, to explore how laughter fuels activism. From growing up on the bo...
Welcome to this episode of the Freedom to Thrive podcast, hosted by Héctor Flores of the band Las Cafeteras. Join us as Héctor engages in a powerful conversation with Kica Matos, a dedicated activist and President of the National Immigration Law Center. Together, they explore themes of resilience and solidarity in the fight for immigrant and human rights.
In this heartfelt episode, discover the pivotal moments that shaped Kica&rsqu...
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