Welcome back to Interviews with Immigrants — the podcast that cuts through the politics and celebrates the heart, humor, and humanity behind real immigrant journeys. I’m your host Andrea Szew, immigration attorney and the face behind Szew Law Group, where thousands turn each month for US immigration guidance — but this show is about life, legacy, and the stories that deserve to be told.

In this episode, I sit down with chess legend Susan Polgar — the real-life trailblazer who was changing the game long before Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit made chess a global phenomenon ♟️👑. Born in Hungary 🇭🇺, Susan takes us from learning chess at just four years old to becoming the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title through traditional norms — breaking barriers in a world that wasn’t built for her.

We talk about the Polgar experiment — her father’s belief that “geniuses are made, not born” — and what it was really like growing up under that intense training. Susan shares the challenges she faced as a young girl competing against men, the resistance she encountered, and how she pushed through to redefine what women could achieve in chess.

She also opens up about her move to the United States 🇺🇸, the cultural shock of how little respect chess had here, and why she made it her mission to change that — not just by winning, but by teaching, mentoring, and building opportunities for the next generation of players, especially girls.

You’ll hear powerful insights on breaking stereotypes before they take hold, the pressure of being “the first,” and how her immigrant journey shaped her mindset, resilience, and legacy. And yes — we talk about The Queen’s Gambit and how Susan’s real-life story compares to the fictional Beth Harmon.

🎧 Available to listen everywhere:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19YtPoXvb47f1M9aGpA6FJ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interviews-with-immigrants/id1792940158?uo=4
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/db753d20-2dff-4a26-87a6-7721e442d9ec

If this episode made you think, inspired you, or gave you a new perspective on chess or immigration, please share it, leave a review, and subscribe so you don’t miss more powerful stories on Interviews with Immigrants.

🎧 New to the show? Start here on YouTube:
Brazilian comedian Jade Catta-Preta 🇧🇷🎤 — https://youtu.be/m5rP4HL-FgA
Mexican-American chef Aarón Sánchez 🇲🇽🔥 — https://youtu.be/iF2gwzmaQJ4
Hong Kong-native fashion creator Leo Chan 🇭🇰🗽 — https://youtu.be/X7UwahYAQtc
Argentinian-born actor & restauranteur Guillermo Zapata 🇦🇷🍷 — https://youtu.be/cYFrMfsgL3I
From India 🇮🇳 to Michelin: Chef Sujan Sarkar — https://youtu.be/9lvVQfmdMTY

Connect with Szew Law Group & Andrea:
👉 Twitter: https://twitter.com/szewlaw?lang=en
👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/szewlaw/
👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/szewlawgroup/
👉 Website: https://www.szewlaw.com/

📧 Need Immigration Help?
Email: info@szewlaw.com
☎️ Call: (310) 477-0047
💬 WhatsApp: https://wa.me/message/YRQOCMEPEULUL1
📅 Schedule: https://szewlaw.com/contact/

#SusanPolgar #QueensGambit #Chess #WomenInChess #ChessGrandmaster #ChessLife #ChessCommunity #ChessHistory #GothamChess #BotezLive #AnnaCramling #ChessInterview #ImmigrantStories #InterviewsWithImmigrants #WomenWhoLead #Trailblazer #BreakingBarriers #ChessPlayers #ChessCulture #USImmigration #ImmigrantJourney #SuccessStory #HungaryToUSA #FemaleEmpowerment

🏃‍♂️🇰🇪➡️🇺🇸 From Barefoot in Kenya to 5 Olympics: Bernard Lagat’s Immigrant Story 🥇✨

Welcome back to Interviews with Immigrants — the podcast that cuts through the politics and celebrates the heart, humor, and humanity behind real immigrant journeys. I’m your host Andrea Szew, immigration attorney and the face behind Szew Law Group, where thousands turn each month for U.S. immigration guidance — but this show is about life, legacy, and the stories that deserve to be told.

In this episode, I sit down with Bernard Lagat, one of the greatest middle- and long-distance runners of all time. Born in Kenya, Bernard takes us from barefoot runs to wearing a used pair of Nikes from his sister Mary — the woman who changed everything — all the way to five Olympic Games, World Championship titles, and representing two countries on the world’s biggest stage.

🎙️ In this episode, we talk about…

👟 Growing up barefoot in rural Kenya and receiving his first pair of Nikes from the sister who changed everything
🏡 Life as the 5th of 10 children and the values of family, faith, and community that shaped him
🇺🇸 Arriving in America with big expectations — and being picked up in a beat-up Ford Bronco instead of a limo 🦌
🎓 Buying into excellence at Washington State University and learning what it really means to be “all in”
🏁 Going inside his mind during the legendary Athens 2004 Olympic finish against Hicham El Guerrouj
📄 Winning the Diversity Visa lottery and becoming a U.S. permanent resident and citizen
🇰🇪➡️🇺🇸 Representing two countries on the world stage and navigating identity, belonging, and pride
🔥 Defying age and expectations with a 52-second lap at the U.S. Olympic Trials at 41 years old
💬 Rapid-fire fun: rivals, getting lost on a run in Madrid, and who should play Bernard in a movie
💛 The legacy he hopes the next generation of immigrants takes from his journey

⏱️ Key Moments in This Episode

00:00 Running as culture, tradition, and way of life
02:24 Growing up as the 5th of 10 kids in rural Kenya
04:40 The first pair of Nikes — and the sister who changed everything 👟
19:04 Expecting a limo… arriving to a Ford Bronco and deer crossing signs 🦌
33:42 Bernard “calls the race” — inside the Athens 2004 Olympic finish 🏁
38:06 Winning the Diversity Visa and becoming a U.S. permanent resident 🇺🇸
46:48 The iconic 41-year-old, 52-second lap at the U.S. Trials 🔥
51:18 Rapid-fire fun: Denzel vs. Chris Rock, getting lost in Madrid, and more 😂
53:05 The legacy Bernard hopes immigrants take from his story 💛

If this episode made you laugh, reflect, or see immigration a little differently, please share it, leave a review, and subscribe so you don’t miss the incredible voices featured this season on Interviews with Immigrants.

🎧 Behind every immigration story is a celebration of humanity.

🎧 New to the show? Start here:
Brazilian comedian Jade Catta-Preta 🇧🇷🎤 — https://youtu.be/m5rP4HL-FgA
Mexican-American chef Aarón Sánchez 🇲🇽🔥 — https://youtu.be/iF2gwzmaQJ4
Hong Kong-native fashion creator Leo Chan 🇭🇰🗽 — https://youtu.be/X7UwahYAQtc
Argentinian-born actor & restauranteur Guillermo Zapata 🇦🇷🍷 — https://youtu.be/cYFrMfsgL3I
From India 🇮🇳 to Michelin: Chef Sujan Sarkar on Reinventing Indian Cuisine in America - https://youtu.be/9lvVQfmdMTY

📧 Need Immigration Help?
Email: info@szewlaw.com
☎️ Call: (310) 477-0047
💬 WhatsApp: https://wa.me/message/YRQOCMEPEULUL1
📅 Schedule: https://szewlaw.com/contact/

#InterviewsWithImmigrants #BernardLagat #ImmigrantStories #Olympics #Kenya #TeamUSA #TrackAndField #Running

DISCLAIMER: This video and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. The information in this video should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. the information presented in this video does not create an attorney/client relationship nor is it a solicitation to offer legal advice. You should seek legal advice from Andrea Szew directly by contacting her through email or other means noted above, or from another attorney before taking any legal action.

What happens when you arrive in America with no roadmap, a bold culinary vision, and a commitment to do things the right way?

In this delicious episode of Interviews with Immigrants, Michelin-starred chef Sujan Sarkar opens up about reshaping how America understands Indian cuisine—one restaurant, one region, and one flavor profile at a time.

From growing up near Kolkata dreaming of fashion school…
To cooking in London’s elite kitchens…
To moving to the U.S. on an extraordinary ability O visa and building restaurants across the country…

Sujan’s journey is a masterclass in reinvention, cultural pride, and the immigrant hustle.

We talk about:
🇮🇳 Why he calls himself “an Indian chef cooking in America” — and not an “Indian-American chef”
🍽 The birth of “new Indian” cuisine and why diners embraced it
🌶 How food, like people, “immigrates” to the U.S.
🧑‍🍳 The immigrant roots of restaurant kitchens — and doing things legally & ethically
🌱 Vegan & vegetarian Indian cuisine and why it matters
🏆 Earning a Michelin star and redefining what Indian dining can be in America

This episode is thoughtful, flavorful, and packed with cultural insight. Whether you’re a foodie, an immigrant, or someone who’s ever had to build a life from scratch—this one’s for you.

🎧 Also available to listen everywhere:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19YtPoXvb47f1M9aGpA6FJ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interviews-with-immigrants/id1792940158?uo=4
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/db753d20-2dff-4a26-87a6-7721e442d9ec

⏱ Episode Chapters:
02:02 Chef Sujan’s journey from West Bengal to London
07:55 Why America wasn’t the original plan
09:48 Culture shocks & the immigrant kitchen reality
11:40 Doing immigration & hiring the right way
13:58 “New Indian Cuisine” — familiar ingredients, traditional flavors
17:03 Introducing Americans to Indian food
20:21 Regional Indian flavors & vegan menus
24:18 Why he keeps his Indian identity strong
27:14 Indienne vs. Nadu — modern vs. regional Indian cuisine
31:17 Indian coffee culture & expanding the brand
33:01 Cooking across continents
34:07 Advice for immigrants coming to America
35:33 Assimilation vs. losing your roots
38:16 Who inspires Sujan
42:18 Why Indian food will explode in the U.S.
44:59 The taste test: khichdi & comfort food
48:11 Final thoughts & gratitude

📍 Visit Chef Sujan’s Restaurants:
Indienne (Chicago) — https://www.indiennechicago.com/
Nadu (Chicago) — https://www.naduchicago.com/
Bar Bar (Los Angeles) — https://www.baarbaarla.com/
Sifir (Chicago) - https://www.sifrchicago.com/

📲 Follow Sujan: @chefsujans

🎧 New to the show? Start here:
Brazilian comedian Jade Catta-Preta 🇧🇷🎤 — https://youtu.be/m5rP4HL-FgA
Mexican-American chef Aarón Sánchez 🇲🇽🔥 — https://youtu.be/iF2gwzmaQJ4
Hong Kong-native fashion creator Leo Chan 🇭🇰🗽 — https://youtu.be/X7UwahYAQtc
Argentinian-born actor & restauranteur Guillermo Zapata 🇦🇷🍷 — https://youtu.be/cYFrMfsgL3I

📧 Need Immigration Help?
Email: info@szewlaw.com
☎️ Call: (310) 477-0047
💬 WhatsApp: https://wa.me/message/YRQOCMEPEULUL1
📅 Schedule: https://szewlaw.com/contact/

DISCLAIMER: This video and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. The information in this video should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. the information presented in this video does not create an attorney/client relationship nor is it a solicitation to offer legal advice. You should seek legal advice from Andrea Szew directly by contacting her through email or other means noted above, or from another attorney before taking any legal action.

#ChefSujanSarkar #IndianCuisine #MichelinStar #IndienneChicago #NaduChicago #ImmigrantStories #ImmigrantJourney #AmericanDream #InterviewsWithImmigrantsPodcast #IndianFoodUSA #ModernIndianCuisine #ChicagoFoodScene #VeganIndianFood #FoodCulture #ImmigrantChef #FromIndiaToAmerica #RestaurantLife #FoodImmigration #ImmigrantHustle #GritAndGrace #IndianChef #CulturalCuisine #FusionFood #FoodiesOfYouTube #FineDining #MichelinChefs #IndiaToUSA #FoodStorytelling #ChefInterviews