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- Art as Psychedelic Therapy, Sports Piracy, Three-Day Weddings, and Chinamaxxing: This Week at Immigrantly Media
Art as Psychedelic Therapy, Sports Piracy, Three-Day Weddings, and Chinamaxxing: This Week at Immigrantly Media
Dear Hyphenly Readers,
I sound like a broken record, but the news has been hell. Rising costs, endless wars, famine, and crime. It’s hard to feel hope sometimes. Do we still get to celebrate our achievements and special holidays when the world feels like it’s on fire? Saadia discussed the nuances of holding joy and grief at the same time.
Sometimes, all I can do is scroll endlessly, hoping the algorithm gives me reasons to feel optimistic. But the world of social media throws so many terms and trends your way it’s difficult to keep up. If you haven’t heard of Chinamaxxing, don’t worry. Us being chronically online means we can break down internet trends for you. Here’s a glimpse into last week’s edition:
IMMIGRANTLY
What if reading the right book or watching the right film could transform how you see the world, the same way psychedelics do? In this episode, Saadia Khan sits down with Ramzi Fawaz, professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, queer theorist, comic book scholar, and host of 'Nerd from the Future'. Ramzi's upcoming book “How to Think Like a Multiverse” makes a bold argument: that the humanities' art, literature, and media can function as psychedelic therapy, cracking open the way we think, feel, and relate to one another.
You can connect with Saadia on X @swkkhan or email her at [email protected] to share your thoughts about the episode.
SPORTLY
In 2025, one of the largest illegal sports streaming networks in the world was taken down in a coordinated international operation involving law enforcement across multiple countries. Domains were seized. Arrests were made. For a moment, it looked like the system worked. But then, almost immediately, the streams came back. In this episode, Kavitha tells the story of StreamEast - and why shutting it down didn’t actually solve anything. From blackout restrictions and rising subscription costs to the global cat-and-mouse game between piracy sites and authorities, this is the story of a system that doesn’t stay down for long.
You can reach the host, Kavitha, at [email protected]
LOVE-LY
Do Whatever Your Wife Tells You: A Comedian Converts to Islam with Tommy Mellor
Listen on Spotify and Apple
Length: 37 mins
This week, Mehak (@whathemehak) sits down with comedian Tommy Mellor (@tommymellor). He shares the story of how a one-kilometer Bumble radius led him to his now-wife, a Pakistani woman who initially agreed to the date, thinking a comedian might make for a good story to tell her friends. That story turned into a cross-cultural love story that took him all the way to Lahore for a three-day wedding — where he got his shoes stolen, was fed sweets by strangers, signed a marriage certificate behind a curtain, and somehow ended his first night as a married man sleeping next to his cousin.
You can connect with Mehak @whatthemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG
If you feel lost in life and want to reclaim your identity, BOYOT (Belong On Your Own Terms) is the next step. It’s our new app, designed to help you think through identity, culture, ambition, relationships, and the stories we carry. It’s got guided reflections, prompts, and frameworks developed over years of conversations on Immigrantly. Try it out and give us a review!
Until next time,
Team Hyphenly
Hyphenly curates the latest news, art, and businesses from immigrants around the world. Have a tip or story we should feature? We’d love to hear from you.
Visit us at www.immigrantlypod.com.
X @Immigrantly_pod
TikTok @immigrantly
YouTube @Immigrantlypods
LinkedIn @immigrantly-media
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This newsletter was curated by Suhasini Patni.
Hyphenly curates the latest news, art, and businesses from immigrants around the world. Have a tip or story we should feature? We’d love to hear from you.
Visit us at www.immigrantlypod.com