Advertise on podcast: Voices of Exchange

In the second episode of our three part arc on ExchangeAlumni working with augmented reality, or, AR, we spoke with Julia Beabout, the CEO and creative director of an award-winning AR creative studio. We continue our dive into the transformative power of the technology with ExchangeAlumni Grady Hart, Julia’s partner on the augmented reality project, Monumental Conversations. Grady - an ExchangeAlumni of the Mandela Washington Reciprocal Exchange program and a community partnerships coordinator in Richmond, Virginia - talks about learning about systemic racism in his own community for the first time and how that spurred him to right some of the wrongs of the past by raising the voices of those who have traditionally not had a voice.

In Richmond, Virginia, ExchangeAlumni Julia Beabout and Grady Hart teamed up to create Monumental Conversations, an augmented reality project that centers on the undertold stories of Black resilience and excellence in Richmond. Little did they know how the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd would transform their project. In this second of three episodes on the power of AR on Voices of Exchange, we hear how Julia got a deeper look at racism and its effect on a community, how her international exchange experience in China through the Critical Language Scholarship led her to the Monumental Conversations project with Grady, and more.

For Isabelle Foster, her return to the U.S. during the pandemic could have marked an end to a budding project. Yet the physical distance from her team created a new perspective that was perfect for those pulled miles apart: TavAR, an augmented reality (AR) app that brings communities closer to their roots and welcomes tourists to new places and stories. In the first of three episodes on Voices of Exchange, we hear how Fulbright ExchangeAlumni Isabelle Foster, David Franco, and Tania Vargas are using AR to build resilience and preserve culture, and the ripple effects of their efforts. Everyone has a story to tell. On Voices of Exchange, join us this season to hear how augmented reality can redefine a place; see American identity through non-immigrant eyes; explore climate activism in tribal nations and elsewhere; and, experience how hip-hop artist-educators are promoting multilateral relations.

Welcome to Season 3 of Voices of Exchange, a podcast that delivers unforgettable first-person stories from people transformed by international exchange. This season we’re exploring how augmented reality is unlocking rural communities; how diversity and inclusion overlap in America and the world; and how artist-educators in hip hop culture are fostering creative exchanges to promote multilateral relations. This podcast is brought to you by the Office of Alumni Affairs in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). New episodes will be released every two weeks on all major podcast platforms. You can also listen to Voices of Exchange on our website at alumni.state.gov/voicesofexchange and follow us on Instagram @voicesofexchange.

Voices of Exchange highlights the remarkable stories of U.S and international ExchangeAlumni whose lives have been transformed by international exchange. Over the past two seasons, we've embarked on a journey of unexpected discoveries - from a NASA scientist inspired by Star Trek, to a poet turned diplomat, to an airline cabin crew member turned podcaster and entrepreneur. Now, we want to hear from you! As we look forward to next season, we'd like to know: What was your favorite Voices of Exchange episode? What stories do you want to hear more of? Do you have other questions or feedback for us? Send us an email at [email protected] or message us on social media @VoicesofExchange to help us improve the podcast! And, if you enjoy our show, don’t forget to rate and review us on whatever platform you listen on.

Join us for the season closer of Voices of Exchange, featuring Dr. Swati Mohan, NASA aerospace engineer and U.S. Speaker Program ExchangeAlumni, this Thursday, February 10 at 8:00 a.m. ET. Celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science with Dr. Mohan’s journey from Bengaluru, India to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, her viral moment as the lead for the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover landing, and why she is a big proponent of encouraging other women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

A chance encounter during his International Visitor Leadership Program, or IVLP exchange, gave Imtiaz Asin a new perspective on life. While traveling in the U.S., Imtiaz experienced tolerance, cultural awareness, and diversity within the melting pot of cultures. When he returned to Canada, Imtiaz brought these lessons back to his community where he is the Vice President of the largest Muslim organization, the B.C. Muslim Association. In this episode, we hear how Imtiaz is re-energizing old ideologies, how he is empowering women and the next generation of leaders, and why he believes tolerance comes from the heart.

A chance meeting led EdTech founder, entrepreneur, podcast host, and ExchangeAlumni Nidhi Nidhi to her first experience with the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). But it wasn’t the first time curiosity led Nidhi to new experiences. In this episode of Voices of Exchange, travel with Nidhi from India to Singapore, Switzerland, and the U.S. to discover the ties that bind us, how Nidhi challenged societal norms, and how she is empowering young girls to take risks.

We’ve learned a lot in 2021 since we launched Voices of Exchange, and this special episode is dedicated to our favorite moments from seasons one and two.

Social entrepreneur and ExchangeAlumni Ian Tarimo likes to call himself an Ambassador for Exchange. That’s how strongly Ian, winner of the 2021 Mandela Washington Fellowship Leadership Impact Award and co-founder of Tai Tanzania, believes in the power of exchange programs. Ian also believes in democracy and fighting corruption, but it was his visit to the U.S. for the Mandela Washington Fellowship program that gave him a deeper understanding of the global issues we all face and more.

Poet, Foreign Service Officer, and U.S. Speaker Program Exchange Alumni Indran Amirthanayagam was born in Ceylon, a country that -- in name anyway -- no longer exists. In this episode of Voices of Exchange, Indran recalls how this feeling of loss for Sri Lanka’s former way of life inspired many of his writings and led him to call himself the “border-crosser.” To Indran, it’s all about shedding old skin and learning new things - or, giving and gaining, while pushing linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Sitting at her 9-to-5 desk job in corporate finance, Mariya Ilyas loved her job, but craved something more. Her time in college had taught her the concept of community, resilience, and giving back, and - despite resistance from her family - Mariya accepted the opportunity to become a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Istanbul, Turkey, where she eventually discovered the power that lay in her hyphenated-identity. This episode is a story of resiliency, self-sacrifice, and belonging. Join us to hear more about Mariya’s ExchangeAlumni experience and how it also led her to an encounter with the “Wishing Tree.”