Uprooting Passion Series
The Uprooting Passion Series (2023-2025) was dedicated to telling the story of how our roots shape the stories of our lives. Hear from the incredible individuals who shared their journeys in the interviews below.
Reframing the Past Through African Agency with Lucio A. Bianchi
Lucio Antonio Bianchi is a San Antonio-born, Italian-raised doctoral researcher...
Read MoreTurning Burnout into a Thriving Business with Ilaria Colasanti
Ilaria Colasanti is an Italian entrepreneur born and raised on...
Read MoreAsking ‘What Can I Do?’ for Venezuela with Donnatella Bove Parra
Donnatella Bove Parra is an Italian-Venezuelan born and raised in...
Read MoreVardon Hamdiu’s on Building Bridges in the Digital Age with Sparkable
Vardon Hamdiu is the Swiss-Albanian Co-Founder of the revolutionary social...
Read MoreSandra Kambikambi on Building MyScape and Creating Generational Wealth in Zambia
Sandra Kambikambi is on a deeply rooted mission to transform...
Read MoreKachusha Nkosha’s Tough Roots and Fierce Purpose in Global Health
Fierce and driven, Kachusha Nkosha is a global health expert...
Read MoreWhat is Home? Alex Poppe on Her New Memoir, ‘Breakfast Wine’
Sally “Alex” Poppe has worked in conflict zones like Iraq,...
Read MoreFrom Grit to Governance in Tech with Jonathan Alphonse
Jonathan Alphonse is a Haitian-Canadian-American with a myriad of cultural...
Read MoreExploring Ethics in the Digital World with Rockwell Clancy
Rockwell (Rocky) Clancy is a Doctor of Philosophy with a...
Read MoreConnecting Youth to Opportunity with Giorgia Calvaresi
Giorgia Calvaresi is an Italian entrepreneur based in Brussels. With...
Read MoreThe Power of ‘Jugaad’ and Rebuilding Trust Online with Swapneel Mehta
Swapneel Mehta is the Mumbai-born and raised Founder of SimPPL-...
Read MoreHow Travel and Adaptability Shaped Rajita Dang’s Global Career
Rajita Dang is an Indo-Canadian, born in India and raised...
Read MorePushing Boundaries Across Continents with Salif Tankoano
Coding prodigy and self-starter Salif Tankoano was born and raised...
Read MoreA Life of Variety and Global Impact with Sarmed Rashid
Sarmed Rashid has demonstrated a diverse and impressive career spanning...
Read MoreHow Laura Pioli Transferred Roots in Writing to Authentic Dialogue on LinkedIn
Laura Pioli is an Italian-raised, UK-based Senior Digital Marketing Expert...
Read MoreBuilding Networks, Careers, and Confidence with Max Hill
Long Island native Max Hill is a seasoned financial analyst...
Read MoreA Journey of Tradition and Transformation in Fashion with Diina Engelbert
Diina Engelbert is a Namibian-born fashion designer and CEO of...
Read MoreFrom Ancient Sites to Phygital Worlds with Anna Paterlini
Anna Paterlini is the Co-Founder of NEWU, a creative consulting...
Read MoreSustainable Archaeology and Human Connection with Martin Joseph
Martin Joseph is a New York-born archaeology student at the...
Read MoreTurning Uncertainty into Adversity with Reydel Castillo
Born in New York and raised across the United States...
Read MoreSelling Confidence in the Barbershop with Eric García
Eric García is a Richmond-raised Army Veteran based in Austin,...
Read MoreFollowing the Light of New Opportunities with Sowaida Nezami
Sowaida Nezami is a computer science major and current Master’s...
Read MoreHow Family Values Shaped Jerry Calabrese’s Success at McDonald’s
Before Jerry Calabrese became one of the leading experts in...
Read MoreFrom the Army to Archaeology with Camilo Bayona-Mañosca
Camilo Bayona-Mañosca is a Colombian-born, Canadian-raised U.S. Army Veteran who...
Read MoreThe Healing Power of Aloe- Serenity Discko’s Mission for Digital Wellness
Serenity Discko is the Founder of Aloe Bud, a self-care...
Read MoreGuarding the Past and Shaping the Future with Ashley Kippley
Ashley Kippley is a current Sustainability and Built Heritage Intern...
Read MoreTurning Latvian Legacy into Global Empowerment with Ieva Jākobsone
Ieva Jākobsone is a Latvian-born businesswoman, entrepreneur, professor, and EU...
Read MorePlanting Seeds of Change in Nigeria with Umar Shiru
Umar Shiru is an Employee and Labour relations manager with...
Read MoreGrowing Up Multicultural & Sustainable Agriculture Inspired by the RGV with Suzanne El-Haj
Suzanne El-Haj is a Palestinian and Argentinian-American from the Rio...
Read MoreFrom Healing Hands to Empowered Voices in Afghanistan with Mahboba Islami
Mahboba Islami is one of the strongest women I know....
Read MoreCapturing Emotion from the Phoenix Streets with Franc’s Photography
Franc Sebantu is an emerging street photographer in Phoenix, Arizona....
Read MorePeter Merlo on Music and Marketing in the Age of AI
Peter Merlo is a Chicago-area musician, songwriter, and marketing specialist....
Read MoreJenna Bonfiglio on Developing Diverse Mental Health Solutions from her Hearing Loss Journey
Jenna Bonfiglio is my longest best friend, my little sister....
Read More‘Pain into Paper’ with Chicago native Jordan McDaniels
In the fourth episode of my Uprooting Passion series, I...
Read MoreCaffeologie and a Slow-Brew Lifestyle in Puerto Rico with Amaris Mercado
In this interview, Amaris shares the beauty of slow-paced living...
Read MoreElisa Aceri on Natural Beginnings in Ethiopia and The Best Travel Advice
For the second episode of my ‘Uprooting Passions’ series, I...
Read MoreHow to Stay Faithful to Your Roots With Julissa Quiñonez
Can you talk about your family’s history and where you...
Read MoreLife with Memory Disease: The Soul Remembers What the Brain Forgets
We hear about Alzheimer’s and dementia more than ever as...
Read More5 Things I Learned After 1 Year of Living with my Italian Nonna
For the last semester of my undergrad, I moved in...
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