Today's guest is author, actress, producer, and TV host Padma Lakshmi.

You might know her as the host and judge of Top Chef,

the writer of one of your favorite cookbooks, or as the creator and host

of the recently released and very timely Hulu docuseries Taste the Nation.

With Taste the Nation, Padma celebrates the food and experiences of American immigrants

and indigenous people, so in addition to making me incredibly hungry,

it really got me thinking. There was one quote in the pilot that I found particularly

inspiring. I can't remember the exact words, but it was something like,

if we try to understand each other's foods and cultures, we can open up doors.

I really enjoyed talking with Padma and I hope you enjoyed the episode.

Ladies and gentlemen, you are listening to On Qualified with your host,

Ana Ferris.

I know that you have been so active in the human rights world.

Am I corrected at start with the ACLU and then you became a goodwill ambassador?

Yes, well I then have Women's Health Foundation that I started with my doctor for

prematurely about 10 years ago. I've been doing that work in women's reproductive health and

also the politics of it frankly. That led me, I didn't have to be election to the ACLU because I

saw how much immigrants were being vilified in this country. There was so much negativity

and just misinformation and racism coming out of the White House that I wanted to do something,

not only because I'm an immigrant too, but because I just thought it was wrong, it was always my

feeling that immigrants really built this nation whether they're Scottish or Iranian or

whatever the newest wave is, right? Serious. But I just didn't feel it was right. So I started working

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