feel like you belong
  • Home
  • News
  • Blog
  • Television Show About the Television Show
  • Whadja Say? About "Whadja Say?" Glossary
  • What's Up? About "What's Up?"
  • What's So Funny? About "What's So Funny?"
  • Meet the Crew Behind The Scenes
  • Contact

feel like you belong

  • Home/
  • News/
  • Blog/
  • Television Show/
    • Television Show
    • About the Television Show
  • Whadja Say?/
    • Whadja Say?
    • About "Whadja Say?"
    • Glossary
  • What's Up?/
    • What's Up?
    • About "What's Up?"
  • What's So Funny?/
    • What's So Funny?
    • About "What's So Funny?"
  • About Us/
    • Meet the Crew
    • Behind The Scenes
  • Contact/
banner.jpg

feel like you belong

sharing the life stories of immigrants, expatriates, and refugees to the United States

Television Show

Feel Like You Belong TV is your source for real stories about the real people we call migrants. They may be the seasonal workers who traverse the country picking our daily produce.* They may be the expatriates who come on temporary assignment for their multinational companies. Or they may be the intrepid** souls who have committed to calling these United States their new homeland.

People have been migrating since time immemorial.*** They have moved for safety from earthquakes and drought. From war and disease. From persecution and economic hardship. They have the same characteristics as our immigrant forebears who gave up the familiarity and comfort of home in order to take risks and build a better life.

Join us here every week with these heroic storytellers and learn about what it is that still makes America a destination for entrepreneurs and risk-takers. The people who moved themselves and their families across deserts and oceans. People who add to each new generation’s vibrancy**** and can-do spirit. Welcome to Feel Like You Belong. 

feel like you belong

  • Home/
  • News/
  • Blog/
  • Television Show/
    • Television Show
    • About the Television Show
  • Whadja Say?/
    • Whadja Say?
    • About "Whadja Say?"
    • Glossary
  • What's Up?/
    • What's Up?
    • About "What's Up?"
  • What's So Funny?/
    • What's So Funny?
    • About "What's So Funny?"
  • About Us/
    • Meet the Crew
    • Behind The Scenes
  • Contact/
December 21, 2015

Arturo González Vargas: From Mexico, with Love, Art, and Compassion

December 21, 2015/ Alan Headbloom

If you ever needed convincing that Arturo González Vargas was passionate about the power of non-profits to transform lives, spend just five minutes with this young man to dispel any doubts.  For 18 months, the Grand Rapids Community had the privilege of sharing his wisdom, energy, and optimism for all things empowerment.  An Atlas Fellow from Monterrey, Mexico, Gonzalez Vargas worked as a tireless advocate for Kids Food Basket, an organization providing daily nutrition to thousands of school children in Western Michigan.

December 21, 2015/ Alan Headbloom/
Arturo González Vargas, Feel Like You Belong, Alan Headbloom, Talk show, Immigration, Mexico, Atlas Corp, Atlas Corps, Kids Food Basket, Philanthropy, ESL, discussion, art education, art, education, volunteer

Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

October 26, 2015

Takunda Mavima: Second Chance, One Choice

October 26, 2015/ Alan Headbloom

Three years ago, Takunda Mavima had the world by the tail.  He was an immigrant child whose family had worked its way into Middle America. He was an honors student who’d recently attended his senior prom.  With a scholarship to Grand Valley State University, he was poised to enroll in the pre-pharmacy program and chase his professional dreams.  Then, a night of drinking turned his life literally upside down.  In this interview, we look at tragedy, forgiveness, and a rise from the ashes.

October 26, 2015/ Alan Headbloom/
Feel Like You Belong, Alan Headbloom, immigrants, Talk show, discussion, Zimbabwe, Takunda Mavima, friends, alcohol, talk, drunk driving, car, crash, fatal accident, black, prison, remorse, support, choices, One Choice, Wyoming High School, speech, decisions, St. John Vianney, party, prom, senior, high school, college, Grand Valley State University, Michigan, international, ESL, USA

Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

February 10, 2014

Sook Wilkinson: Psychologist

February 10, 2014/ Alan Headbloom

Alan interviews Sook Wilkinson. To keep up to date on our shows follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or check out our website at Feellikeyoubelong.com

 Psychologist Sook Wilkinson dedicated herself to understanding the complexities of international adoption and wrote two books on the subject. Now retired from clinical practice, she is a member of the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, advocating for the state's largest growing minority.

February 10, 2014/ Alan Headbloom/
Race, Identity, Culture, Grand Rapids, Michigan, English, Immigration, Feel Like You Belong, Talk show, American Culture

Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.

February 03, 2014

Reyna Grande: Award-Winning Author

February 03, 2014/ Alan Headbloom

The youngest of three children, Reyna Grande was born into poverty in Iguala, Mexico and raised through early childhood by her grandparents after her parents immigrated illegally into the United States in search of work to feed their family.  Her coming-of-age story will inspire all of us who identify with the underdog who doesn't give up.  Join us as we talk with the plucky young woman who went on to become an American citizen, mother of two, and award-winning author.

February 03, 2014/ Alan Headbloom/
race, identity, culture, Grand Rapids, Michigan, English, Immigration, Feel Like You Belong, Talk show, American culture, mexico, coming-of-age, Reyna Grande

Alan Headbloom

Alan advises Americans how to be global citizens and expats how to fit in to Michigan culture without annoying their native coworkers and clients. He also tweets and blogs at the intersection of language and culture. Over decades, he's traveled, studied, or lived on six continents, putting strange foods into his mouth and emitting strange sounds from it. His use of English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Swedish, Hausa, and Japanese all improve with alcohol use. He gives invited public presentations on culture and unsolicited private advice on English grammar and usage; the latter isn't always appreciated. Visit his website for information on consulting, coaching, or speaking engagements.


  • Home/
  • News/
  • Blog/
  • Television Show/
    • Television Show
    • About the Television Show
  • Whadja Say?/
    • Whadja Say?
    • About "Whadja Say?"
    • Glossary
  • What's Up?/
    • What's Up?
    • About "What's Up?"
  • What's So Funny?/
    • What's So Funny?
    • About "What's So Funny?"
  • About Us/
    • Meet the Crew
    • Behind The Scenes
  • Contact/

feel like you belong

Feel Like You Belong is a sometimes serious, sometimes funny, always “touch-your-heart” real conversation about fitting into the American culture. It introduces guests who have made the immigrant journey to the United States. The stories–of both struggle and success–will help newcomers feel more confident in sharing their opinions and expertise, more likely to want to stay in the U.S., be more productive in their jobs, and fully invest in their communities.

eNewsletter Sign-Up

new shows

Television Show
Duc Nguyen Abrahamson: Doing Business with Asia-Pacific
Duc Nguyen Abrahamson: Doing Business with Asia-Pacific
about 4 years ago
Sughnen Yongo: Africans, African Americans, and the Culture of Hair
Sughnen Yongo: Africans, African Americans, and the Culture of Hair
about 4 years ago
Luzia Leme Tartari: Finding Home
Luzia Leme Tartari: Finding Home
about 4 years ago
Robyn Afrik: Promoting Inclusion
Robyn Afrik: Promoting Inclusion
about 4 years ago
Ney-T: Healing Through Music
Ney-T: Healing Through Music
about 4 years ago

new blog posts

Blog
Racism or Prejudice?
about 4 years ago
The Naked Pronunciation Lesson
about 5 years ago
(No More) Ole and Lena
about 5 years ago
Stop Saying That: Columbus Discovered America
about 5 years ago
Stop Saying That: All Lives Matter
about 5 years ago

New What's Up? 

What's Up?
Parent Party: Pronouncing "par"
about 4 years ago
No "itch" in Michigan
about 4 years ago
Vowel Contrast 10–11
about 4 years ago
Cuppa Joe
about 4 years ago
Defining "Racism"
about 4 years ago

New What's So Funny? 

What's So Funny?
Beautiful Wedding
about 4 years ago
Time Travel
about 4 years ago
Lifesavers
about 4 years ago
The History of Glue
about 4 years ago
Smoke Shop
about 4 years ago