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- Heated Rivalry, Frictionmaxxing, Kashmiri Filmmaking and Reports From El Paso: This Week at Immigrantly
Heated Rivalry, Frictionmaxxing, Kashmiri Filmmaking and Reports From El Paso: This Week at Immigrantly
Dear Hyphenly Readers,
Unless you’re completely off the grid, you’ve probably heard of Heated Rivalry. The gay sports romance novel that follows two enemies-to-lovers hockey players has taken over social media. Even we at Immigrantly, are not impervious to the world of Game Changers. This week, both Kavitha (the host of Sportly) and Mehak (the host of Lovely) talk about Heated Rivalry from different lenses: can this blockbuster show make hockey more inclusive? And why do cisgendered women love a gay romance? Tune in to join the conversation!
Outside of the Heated Rivalry universe, we have an interview with Kashmiri filmmaker Arfat Sheikh, who talks about the innately political nature of storytelling in Kashmir and the third episode of Borderly, where host Mario Carrillo sits down with Patrick Gabaldon, an El Paso–born artist and public defender. Find both the episodes on our Immigrantly channel.
IMMIGRANTLY
In this episode of Immigrantly, host Saadia Khan speaks with Kashmiri filmmaker Arfat Sheikh, Director of Saffron Kingdom, about growing up in Kashmir, intergenerational trauma, and the cost of telling stories that are often silenced. Moving beyond the India–Pakistan framing, the conversation centers Kashmiri lived experience, touching on exile, disappearance, diaspora, and why Kashmiri storytelling is always political, even when it’s deeply human.
You can connect with Saadia on X @swkkhan or email her at [email protected] to share your thoughts about the episode.
SPORTLY
What started as a quiet adaptation of a romance novel turned into a full-blown cultural moment—one that pulled queer love, masculinity, and hockey’s long-standing blind spots into the spotlight. NHL teams referenced it. Fans debated it. Players quietly recognized themselves in it. Kavitha Davidson is joined by sports historian Dr. Amira Rose Davis and journalist Dr. Jessica Luther to break down why Heated Rivalry landed so hard, what it reveals about hockey’s culture of silence, and whether pop culture moments like this can actually move a sport forward or just make it uncomfortable for a minute.
You can reach the host, Kavitha, at [email protected]
LOVE-LY
This episode covers everything from personal dating updates to the rise of "Friction-maxxing"—the radical art of choosing the inconvenient path for the sake of deeper relationships and a life that actually feels real. We also dissect why the internet is collectively losing it over Tamara’s 365 Buttons project and how a simple jar of crafts became the ultimate symbol of staying in your own lane.
You can connect with Mehak @whatthemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG
BORDERLY
In the first two episodes of Borderly, we explored the history, journalism, and lived realities of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. In Episode 3, we turn to art as memory, resistance, and belonging. Host Mario Carrillo sits down with Patrick Gabaldon, an El Paso–born artist and public defender whose vibrant work reshapes how the border is seen, felt, and remembered. From cactus portraits and desert color palettes to murals at the El Paso airport, Patrick’s art challenges the flat, fear-driven narratives often attached to border cities.
Join us in creating new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can find more information at https://immigrantlypod.com/
Join our Immigrantly #bingo challenge for 2026 to widen your perspectives. How many of these can you scratch off today?
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.
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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