Podcasts about abdi nor iftin

OA1092 plus T3BE49 - we continue our conversation with Somali-American author and advocate Abdi Nor Iftin. Then, it's answer time for T3BE question 48, and our new question 49! Play along on BlueSky! Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do! If you'd like to support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at patreon.com/law!

OA1091 - We are honored to welcome Somali-American author and advocate Abdi Nor Iftin for the first of a 2-part Thanksgiving episode dedicated with gratitude to the incredible efforts that so many naturalized Americans have made to be a part of this country. Abdi has recorded the full story of his life in his book Call Me American, in which he details the long journey from his escape from being forced into service as a child soldier in war-torn Somalia to his years as a refugee in Kenya before winning the U.S. diversity visa lottery and building a thoroughly American life in one of the last states you might expect. In this extended interview we get to know Abdi as he shares his story and his unique perspective on what the current American moment means for him and his community.  Call Me American: A Memoir,: Abdi Nor Iftin (2018) “Now is the time to buckle up and fight, not to flee,” Abdi Nor Iftin, The Forecaster (11/19/24) “Abdi and the Golden Ticket,”  This American Life (7/3/2015) Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do! If you'd like to support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at patreon.com/law!

In this enlightening episode of "Walk Talk Listen, Abdi Iftin, a remarkable storyteller and author, discusses his journey from war-torn Somalia to a new life in the United States. This episode delves deep into themes of resilience, hope, and navigating the uncertainties that life presents. Abdi shares poignant memories of his childhood in Mogadishu, painting a vivid picture of life amidst conflict and the challenges he faced growing up in a war zone. We discover how Abdi's passion for storytelling became a lifeline, and he recounts the perilous journey that brought him to the U.S., highlighting the moments of uncertainty and the incredible resilience required to navigate such a path. Maurice and Abdi discuss the cultural and personal adjustments Abdi had to make upon arriving in the United States, including the new challenges he faced and how he overcame them. Abdi offers inspiring advice for anyone facing their own uncertainties, emphasizing the importance of hope, perseverance, and the power of community support. Abdi Nor Iftin was born in Mogadishu to nomadic parents and survived famine, war, and child soldiering. Teaching himself English through American action films, Abdi became a guerrilla journalist, sharing his life stories through the series "Messages from Mogadishu" on NPR, the BBC, and This American Life, and was shortlisted for a Peabody Award. After surviving a bombing at his house in 2009, Abdi fled to Kenya, where he and his brother lived as refugees. In an incredible stroke of luck, he won entrance to the U.S. in the 2014 annual visa lottery, although his journey to America was fraught with challenges that nearly stranded him in Nairobi. Now based in Maine, Abdi is a bestselling and award-winning author with ten years of experience in refugee resettlement and currently works as the communications specialist at Church World Service. As an advocate for the rights of newly arrived immigrants, he is dedicated to uniting people through his stories of survival and resilience. Abdi became a United States citizen in 2020 and graduated from Boston College with a degree in Political Science in 2022 and now pursuing his law degree. He is also a regular columnist for the Portland Press Herald.   For more information on Abdi's work at CWS, check this link. Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Abdi and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.  Connect with Abdi: Instagram, Facebook and  Twitter. Share your thoughts on this episode at innovationhub@cwsglobal.org. Your feedback is invaluable to us. Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Twitter and Instagram. Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives. Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All" featuring CWS, and as well as the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Today we are interviewing Somali American author Abdi Nor Iftin! Abdi is author of the book Call Me American, and you may have heard him on This American Life ("Abdi and the Golden Ticket") or on NPR or the BBC. Abdi Iftin was a refugee who won the US Diversity Visa lottery program while living as a refugee in Kenya and moved to the United States. Fascinated with the US since watching American movies as a child, Abdi Iftin talks about his journey becoming fully American and fighting prejudice because of his identity. He also talks his thoughts on the global displacement crisis and how we can be a better global community, as well as his upcoming documentary! More information about Abdi Iftin and links to buy Call Me American can be found here: https://www.callmeamerican.com/ What did you think of Abdi Iftin's thoughts on how we can reframe the language we use to talk about refugees (or people seeking refuge)? We want to hear from YOU! Liked this episode? Let us know! Subscribe and leave us a review below! Connect With Us If you or someone you know would like to share their personal refugee story, send us an email at seekingrefugepodcast@gmail.com or connect with us on any of these social media platforms: https://twitter.com/refugepodcast https://instagram.com/seekingrefugepodcast https://fb.me/seekingrefugepodcast Our Team: Jackie Burnett (Host/Editor) Aidan Thomason (Producer/Co-Editor) Claire Mattes (Producer) Esha Hegde Diana Clark Anusha Ghosh Victoria Halsey Rohit Swain Patrick Anderson Emily Jensen Saanvi Somani Music: Opening Track: Ketsa - Where We Are (http://bit.ly/2nKJWaW) Closing Track: Above and Below - Never Forget (http://bit.ly/2nNfw7Q)

Abdi Nor Iftin has been featured on various radio and TV stations sharing his life story of growing up in a country torn by civial war and immigrating to the United States in 2014. His new book Call Me American was released in 2018 and is a finalist for New England's Bookseller's Association book awards. Abdi is interviewed by author and educator Kate Kennedy. Kate taught writing at Portland High School, was the director of the Southern Maine Writing Project, and is the author of Skin, A Memoir and End Over End.

Abdi Nor Iftin has been featured on various radio and TV stations sharing his life story of growing up in a country torn by civial war and immigrating to the United States in 2014. His new book Call Me American was released in 2018 and is a finalist for New England's Bookseller's Association book awards. Abdi is interviewed by author and educator Kate Kennedy. Kate taught writing at Portland High School, was the director of the Southern Maine Writing Project, and is the author of Skin, A Memoir and End Over End.

Abdi Nor Iftin is a reporter and the author of “Call Me American,” a memoir of his immigration to the United States. Growing up in Mogadishu, Somalia, Iftin learned English by watching action movies. When U.S. Marines landed in the 1990s to get involved in the civil conflict, Iftin felt it was an arrival of real-life action heroes and grew fascinated with American culture. Sporting hip-hop clothes and dance moves, he became known as “Abdi American.” In 2006, as conflict again emerged in Somalia, Iftin risked his life posting secret dispatches to NPR. He eventually fled to Nairobi, Kenya as he became a target. In an eventual stroke of luck, he won entrance to the U.S. in the annual visa lottery, though his route to America—which was documented on the radio show This American Life—did not come easily. Iftin is now a US citizen. His naturalization ceremony took place in Portland on Jan. 17, 2019. He lives in Yarmouth and writes a regular column for the Forecaster. He is also working on a documentary about his life story. Iftin was interviewed by Portland Press Herald reporter Eric Russell.

We cover: * Finding hope in orange juice * What is the American Dream * Dealing with the perception of being less than human And much more When the civil war in Somalia began, Abdi Nor Iftin was five; he and his brother became the sole providers for the family while they also attended a madrassa. Amidst the daily shelling and the famine, Abdi had one escape: American movies and music. At neighborhood showings of Rambo, Commando, and The Terminator, Abdi learned of America, and taught himself English, and began to dream of a life in the United States. In his memoir Call Me American, Iftin recounts his harrowing, extraordinary, and uplifting story. His love of western culture and music earned him the name “Abdi American.” This became a liability when Islamic extremism took hold of Somalia. Evading conscription by al-Shabaab while secretly filing stories for NPR under penalty of death, he stayed in Somalia until he had no choice but to flee. He smuggled himself into Kenya, where a different but grinding life of hopelessness awaited. He spent days hiding silently in an apartment from raids by Kenyan police, once passing time reading memoirs and watching more movies. And then, a stroke of incredible luck: he won the Diversity Visa Lottery. Now a proud and legal resident of Maine, Abdi is advocating for the refugee rights he is also a community navigator. He's on the advising council for Refugee International with some of America's most distinguished diplomats and prominent international human rights leaders. Abdi was a TexdAmoskeag 2019 speaker. On January 17th 2020, Abdi's long life dream came true after he was sworn in as a naturalized American citizen in Portland, Maine. For the first ever, Abdi is voting in the US elections and exercising his American rights, one which many Americans take for granted. But for Abdi it is liberating to have a voice in America. Today's America and the travel/immigration ban worry Abdi, a Muslim, a former refugee and a displaced person. Abdi's dramatic, deeply stirring memoir is truly a story for our time: a vivid portrait of the desperation refugees seek to escape and a reminder of why western democracies still beckon to those looking to make a better life. Stay connected with Abdi Website: Callmeamerican.com Catch up on past conversations as well as see the entire lineup of contributors at the "A Handful of Hope" website: https://jessebrisendine.lpages.co/a-handful-of-hope (https://jessebrisendine.lpages.co/a-handful-of-hope) Stay connected with Jesse: Website: https://jessebrisendine.com/ (https://jessebrisendine.com/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessebrisendine (https://www.facebook.com/jessebrisendine) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JesseBrisendineCoaching/ (https://www.facebook.com/JesseBrisendineCoaching/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessebrisendine/ (https://www.instagram.com/jessebrisendine/) Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessebris (https://twitter.com/jessebris) Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JesseBrisendine (https://www.youtube.com/user/JesseBrisendine) Grab Your Free Copy of The Happiness Guide:  https://jessebrisendine.leadpages.co/happiness-guide/ (https://jessebrisendine.leadpages.co/happiness-guide/)

Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello relive some of their greatest escapes; writer and former sideshow performer Tessa Fontaine explains how learning to eat fire helped mend her broken heart; comedian and actor Moses Storm riffs on why he and his mom once had the same platinum blonde hairdo; memoirist and green card lottery winner Abdi Nor Iftin recounts his journey from war-torn Somalia to rural Maine; and singer-songwriter Laura Veirs performs “Margaret Sands” from her album "The Lookout."

Author Abdi Nor Iftin discusses his harrowing adolescence as a refugee in Somalia and Kenya, the unexpected injustices he discovered living in the United States and his memoir, Call Me American, recently adapted for middle-graders and young adults.

This week Ali talks to Abdi Nor Iftin, bestselling author of “Call Me American: A Memoir.” Originally from Somalia, Abdi left the dangers of his home country only to be confronted with the harsh realities of racism in the U.S.   Abdi spoke to Ali about improving the visibility and accessibility of Black immigrant stories, and his advice to non-Black folks who want to be better advocates for their Black and immigrant neighbors.

When the civil war in Somalia began, Abdi Nor Iftin was five; he attended a madrassa while providing for his family. Amidst the daily shelling and the famine, Abdi had one escape: American movies and music. He learned of America, and taught himself English, and began to dream of a life in the United States. In Call Me American, Abdi recounts his harrowing, extraordinary, and uplifting story. His love of western culture and music earned him the name “Abdi American.” This became a liability when Islamic extremism took hold of Somalia. Evading conscription by al-Shabaab while secretly filing stories for NPR under penalty of death, he stayed in Somalia until he had no choice but to flee to Kenyan. And then, a stroke of incredible luck: he won the Diversity Visa Lottery. Now a proud and legal resident of Maine and on the path to citizenship this year, Abdi will become one of us.Call Me AmericanKnopf, June 2018A World Without Books was created to help writers connect with readers during the pandemic. This Micro-Podcast provides authors a platform to share stories about writing, discuss current projects, and consider life without books. Listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you podcast.Without Books®, a division of Heritage Future, is an author-centric book initiative. Our resources support authors. We also provide access to millions of books.

When the civil war in Somalia began, Abdi Nor Iftin was five; he attended a madrassa while providing for his family. Amidst the daily shelling and the famine, Abdi had one escape: American movies and music. He learned of America, and taught himself English, and began to dream of a life in the United States. In Call Me American, Abdi recounts his harrowing, extraordinary, and uplifting story. His love of western culture and music earned him the name “Abdi American.” This became a liability when Islamic extremism took hold of Somalia. Evading conscription by al-Shabaab while secretly filing stories for NPR under penalty of death, he stayed in Somalia until he had no choice but to flee to Kenyan. And then, a stroke of incredible luck: he won the Diversity Visa Lottery. Now a proud and legal resident of Maine and on the path to citizenship this year, Abdi will become one of us.* * *Call Me AmericanKnopf, June 2018

This week’s episode is sponsored by Penguin Young Readers Group, publishers of Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram (https://www.kirkusreviews.com/contest/darius-the-great/). In our lead interview, bestselling novelist Max Brooks discusses Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre (Dey Street, June 16). Then Kirkus’ editors make their weekly reading recommendations, with books by Ben Clanton, Abdi Nor Iftin, Robert Kolker, and Connie Schultz.

Abdi was born into a war zone in Mogadishu, Somalia, thirty years ago. He learned English from movies and told everyone he was going to be an American someday. In 2011 he left Somalia and became a refugee when he was being forced to choose between being a soldier or being killed. Once in neighboring Kenya, there was just more fear and no peace for refugees from Somalia. Times were bleak, but Abdi got lucky and won the diversity visa lottery from the US government for a green card. (For more information listen to this link: "Abdi and the Golden Ticket," an interview from 2015 with Ira Glass on This American Life). Today Abdi is a translator for Catholic Charities, is a student of Political Science at USM, and speaks at public events all around the state of Maine. If you find his stories compelling, keep your eyes out, he is writing a book about his unbelievable life experiences. Music: "Faraskaagi Laga Badi" ("Your Horse Lost the Race"), a favorite of his father's.

Producer/Host: Amy Browne Audio recorded by: Matt Murphy Production assistance: Zoe Sifnakis “Immigration Law in These Challenging Times”, a talk sponsored by the MDI Racial Equity Working Group, recorded at the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor on February 12th. The panelists were Anna Welch, Sam L Cohen Refugee and Human Rights Clinical Professor at the University of Maine School of Law, and Felix Hagenimana, Asylum Outreach Attorney with the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project. The moderator was Dave Feldman, of the MDI Racial Equity Working Group, and faculty member at the College of the Atlantic. There are 2 more upcoming events in the MDI Racial Equity Working Group’s Winter Speakers Series: On March 18th, Myron Beasley, Associate Professor of American Studies at Bates College will give a presentation on “Dreamers, Dreams and Tall Tales: Malaga and Maine’s ‘Unspoken’ History”. And on April 15th, Abdi Nor Iftin, will speak about his memoir “Call Me American”, based on his childhood in war-torn Mogadishu and his eventual escape. Both events will be held at the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor at 7pm. Click here for more information About the host: Amy Browne started out at WERU as a volunteer news & public affairs producer in 2000, co-hosting/co-producing RadioActive with Meredith DeFrancesco. She joined the team of Voices producers a few years later, and has been WERU’s News & Public Affairs Manager since January, 2006. In addition to RadioActive, Voices and Maine Currents, she also produced and hosted the WERU News Report for several years. She has produced segments for national programs including Free Speech Radio News, This Way Out, Making Contact, Workers Independent News, Pacifica PeaceWatch, and Live Wire News, and has contributed to Democracy Now and the WBAI News Report. She is the recipient of the 2014 Excellence in Environmental Journalism Award from the Sierra Club of Maine, and the First Place 2017 Radio News Award from the Maine Association of Broadcasters.

Producer/Host: Amy Browne Audio recorded by: Matt Murphy Production assistance: Zoe Sifnakis “Immigration Law in These Challenging Times”, a talk sponsored by the MDI Racial Equity Working Group, recorded at the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor on February 12th. The panelists were Anna Welch, Sam L Cohen Refugee and Human Rights Clinical Professor at the University of Maine School of Law, and Felix Hagenimana, Asylum Outreach Attorney with the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project. The moderator was Dave Feldman, of the MDI Racial Equity Working Group, and faculty member at the College of the Atlantic. There are 2 more upcoming events in the MDI Racial Equity Working Group's Winter Speakers Series: On March 18th, Myron Beasley, Associate Professor of American Studies at Bates College will give a presentation on “Dreamers, Dreams and Tall Tales: Malaga and Maine's ‘Unspoken' History”. And on April 15th, Abdi Nor Iftin, will speak about his memoir “Call Me American”, based on his childhood in war-torn Mogadishu and his eventual escape. Both events will be held at the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor at 7pm. Click here for more information About the host: Amy Browne started out at WERU as a volunteer news & public affairs producer in 2000, co-hosting/co-producing RadioActive with Meredith DeFrancesco. She joined the team of Voices producers a few years later, and has been WERU’s News & Public Affairs Manager since January, 2006. In addition to RadioActive, Voices and Maine Currents, she also produced and hosted the WERU News Report for several years. She has produced segments for national programs including Free Speech Radio News, This Way Out, Making Contact, Workers Independent News, Pacifica PeaceWatch, and Live Wire News, and has contributed to Democracy Now and the WBAI News Report. She is the recipient of the 2014 Excellence in Environmental Journalism Award from the Sierra Club of Maine, and the First Place 2017 Radio News Award from the Maine Association of Broadcasters. The post Maine Currents Special 2/25/20: Immigration Law in These Challenging Times first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Darrin sits down with Abdi Nor Iftin, a radio journalist, public speaker and the author of Call Me American, the true story of his heroic survival in war-ravaged Mogadishu and his incredible journey to a new life in America.  

In the early 1990s, Abdi Nor Iftin was a child. Just like other children across the globe, he loved playing outdoors, bickered with his brother and dreamed of being a Hollywood star. Unlike most other children, however, Abdi was starving – simply because he was living in Somalia during a time of drought and civil war. Abdi lived through the unthinkable, but he was one of the fortunate ones; he survived. Rescued from the brink by perseverance, luck and humanitarian aid, he’s now a successful author living in the U.S. with a story he’s eager to tell. “I want the world to know both what I went through and how I was helped,” Abdi says. “Maybe then, we can prevent these tragedies from happening again.

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with John Higley about how he started EQO. John shares why zebra mussels are a huge problem and what his team is building to prevent them from spreading. Founder of EQO, John honed his skills in cancer research. Now he's using that technology to protect and save the environment. Some Questions Kreig asks John: - What are zebra mussels? (7:02) - What happens when zebra mussels are out of control? (7:57) - What is the big vision for EQO? (18:36) - Can you turn this into a billion dollar company? (30:49) - You built a solid company with product-market fit and paying clients, why did you decide to raise money? (37:38) - What drives you as an entrepreneur? (40:28) - What do you look for in a candidate you are interviewing? (46:57) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About John’s background, how he became an entrepreneur, and why he started EQO (4:15) - What zebra mussels are and why you should care about them (7:11) - How EQO services work (25:39) - Be coachable and humble enough to listen to other people (42:36) - Never work with friends (44:24) - Hire carefully. There is no room for drama in an early stage company. (47:03) - There is no such thing as a self-made person (52:38) Connect with John Higley: LinkedIn EQO Also Mentioned on This Show... John’s favorite quote: “All truth is simple ... is that not doubly a lie?” ―Friedrich Nietzsche John’s book recommendation: Call Me American by Abdi Nor Iftin

I am finally releasing my interview with author Abdi Nor Iftin. If you've been following my podcast and blog posts, this man needs no introduction. We sat down at the Bisbeens and Rice space in...Bisbee Live is an interview show, showcasing artists from Bisbee, Arizona, as well as interviews with artists coming through the area. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bajaaz/message

Somali expat and debut author Abdi Nor Iftin is the pen behind one of the most anticipated – and most timely – nonfiction releases of 2018. Iftin’s long and harrowing […]

Somali expat and debut author Abdi Nor Iftin is the pen behind one of the most anticipated – and most timely – nonfiction releases of 2018. Iftin’s long and harrowing journey to America, as part of the U.S. Government’s embattled Diversity Visa Program, came to the attention of audiences around the world through a viral BBC Radio mini-series. Iftin’s larger-than-life […]

Somali expat and debut author Abdi Nor Iftin is the pen behind one of the most anticipated – and most timely – nonfiction releases of 2018. Iftin’s long and harrowing journey to America, as part of the U.S. Government’s embattled Diversity Visa Program, came to the attention of audiences around the world through a viral […]

Abdi Nor Iftin is a journalist, translator, and author living in Maine. But his writing journey didn’t start there. Abdi’s recent book, Call Me American, chronicles his life growing up in the African country of Somalia, and the transition from the peaceful pastoral place it was to the war-torn area it became. One of the escapes he found early on was learning English through American movies, which eventually led him to master the language well enough to become a legit secret war correspondent for outlets like National Public Radio and others. After fleeing to Kenya to further escape the violence and military recruitment, he earned a green card to the U.S. through the Diversity Visa Lottery. Here, he was interviewed on This American Life about the program and his life as a refugee, and the conversation touched so many people that he eventually came to write about it in his memoir, which debuted earlier this year. When he isn’t touring parts of the U.S. as a respected and published author, Abdi works with the Somali refugee program in Maine, serving as a translator, to help others find similar opportunities to what he’s been able to find through his own storytelling and writing career.

Here is another passage from Abdi Nor Iftin's book, Call Me American. I thought this section of chapter 4 was particularly interesting, as it is the start of his journey into a fascination with...Bisbee Live is an interview show, showcasing artists from Bisbee, Arizona, as well as interviews with artists coming through the area. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bajaaz/message

I've been enjoying the monsoon rains here. My ocotillos are looking thick and beautiful. The creosote bushes are pungent and keep me up at night, simply because I don't want to stop smelling them!...Bisbee Live is an interview show, showcasing artists from Bisbee, Arizona, as well as interviews with artists coming through the area. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bajaaz/message

Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello relive their “great escapes;” writer Tessa Fontaine explains how learning to eat fire as a part of America's last traveling sideshow helped mend her broken heart; comedian and actor Moses Storm riffs on a childhood spent living in a bus with his missionary family; memoirist and visa lottery winner Abdi Nor Iftin recounts his journey from war-torn Somalia to rural Maine; and singer-songwriter Laura Veirs performs the T.S. Eliot-inspired “Margaret Sands” from her latest album “The Lookout.”

No two immigration experiences are the same, and Iftin’s amazing story of chance, courage, and resilience began years before he came to the U.S. Growing up in Mogadishu, he was five in 1991 when Somalia plunged into civil war. He escaped the hunger and militia attacks temporarily by watching American movies and listening to American pop music. But as he learned English, reinvented himself as "Abdi American,” and reported for NPR, he drew the enmity of the radical Islamist group al-Shabaab and was forced to take refuge in Kenya. Then, after a harrowing sequence of events that nearly stranded him in Nairobi, Iftin was granted a visa to enter this country. He now lives in Maine and works as an interpreter for newly-arrived Somalis.https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781524732196This event is supported by the Young African Professionals (YAP) Network. YAP is a network of more than 10,000 young African professionals in the D.C. Metro area, which provides a forum for professionals interested in Africa to engage with contemporary leaders in business, technology, philanthropy and social entrepreneurship; to network and discover opportunities among Africans; support Arts and culture from the African Diaspora; and promote entrepreneurial activities among members. More information about YAP can be found on their website at yapdc.orgLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tommy talks with Abdi Nor Iftin, the author of “Call Me American,” about his incredible story of survival in war-ravaged Somalia and literally winning the lottery to make it to America. 

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to another edition go The Avid Reader. Today our guest is Abdi Nor Iftin, author of Call Me American: A Memoir published just last week by Alfred Knopf. This book is the story of a miracle, a series of miracles, set against a backdrop of pain, suffering and horror. Abdi fell in love with America as a child. He learned English from Arnold Shwarzeneger and Michael Jackson, from Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone. When the first waves of U.S. Marines landed, in Mogadishu to take on the cruel and lawless warlords, Abdi was one of the first to cheer the arrival of those heroes that he recognized from the movies. He was wearing American clothes, knew American dance moves and even took on American as his surname. Then, the Americans left, radical al-Shabaab took over and Western Culture was forbidden and things became deadly once again. Abdi, through a series of fortuitous and incredible coincidences and twists of fates, made his way to America. It’s much more enlightening to hear how all this happened through his voice, so welcome Abdi and thanks so much for joining us today.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to another edition go The Avid Reader. Today our guest is Abdi Nor Iftin, author of Call Me American: A Memoir published just last week by Alfred Knopf. This book is the story of a miracle, a series of miracles, set against a backdrop of pain, suffering and horror. Abdi fell in love with America as a child. He learned English from Arnold Shwarzeneger and Michael Jackson, from Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone. When the first waves of U.S. Marines landed, in Mogadishu to take on the cruel and lawless warlords, Abdi was one of the first to cheer the arrival of those heroes that he recognized from the movies. He was wearing American clothes, knew American dance moves and even took on American as his surname. Then, the Americans left, radical al-Shabaab took over and Western Culture was forbidden and things became deadly once again. Abdi, through a series of fortuitous and incredible coincidences and twists of fates, made his way to America. It’s much more enlightening to hear how all this happened through his voice, so welcome Abdi and thanks so much for joining us today.

A young Somali refugee struggles to live the American dream in the USA's whitest state, during the rise of Donald Trump. Is the dream still possible? In December 2014, in 'Abdi and the Golden Ticket,' the BBC's Leo Hornak followed Somali refugee Abdi Nor Iftin as he battled to make it to America through the US green card lottery. Since then, Abdi been trying to make a new life for himself in the US state of Maine, striving to become a 'real American'. He hopes to get educated and start a career, but the pressures of supporting a family in Mogadishu make this seem ever more difficult. And then there is the plan to have his brother Hassan join him. The state of Maine remains almost entirely white, and amid growing public fear of Muslims and immigration, Abdi's American dream runs into obstacles that he never expected. Using personal conversations and audio diaries recorded over three years, 'Abdi in America' documents the highs and lows of one man's struggle to become American. (Photo: Somali refugee Abdi Nor, in Maine, standing next to a United States flag)

A young Somali refugee struggles to live the American dream in the USA's whitest state, during the rise of Donald Trump. Is the dream still possible? In December 2014, in 'Abdi and the Golden Ticket,' the BBC's Leo Hornak followed Somali refugee Abdi Nor Iftin as he battled to make it to America through the US green card lottery. Since then, Abdi been trying to make a new life for himself in the US state of Maine, striving to become a 'real American'. He hopes to get educated and start a career, but the pressures of supporting a family in Mogadishu make this seem ever more difficult. And then there is the plan to have his brother Hassan join him. The state of Maine remains almost entirely white, and amid growing public fear of Muslims and immigration, Abdi's American dream runs into obstacles that he never expected. Using personal conversations and audio diaries recorded over three years, 'Abdi in America' documents the highs and lows of one man's struggle to become American. Producer - Michael Gallagher.

Storytellers included Kate Dalton, Abdi Nor Iftin, Karmo Sanders, Tina Smith, and Brendon Whitney