Gen POC

Here's a bonus episode while you wait for Season 3! Jeffrey Bissoy has spent the last year and a half building The Plugged App, a start-up helping Black creatives and innovators find jobs and opportunities in addition to marketing their art and products. Coming from the world of journalism, radio, and podcasting, Jeffrey continues to use his storytelling background as he transitions to tech. Listen now to hear more about the making of The Plugged App.You can pledge to support The Plugged App on Kickstarter until March 27th, 2021. Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

This week's guest on Gen BIPOC is Ankita's cousin, Saumya Singh. Saumya wanted the opportunity to fully embarrass Ankita on her own show, so she decided to grill Ankita on her life and podcast. They discuss the ups and downs of their relationship, Ankita's new job, and their favorite Gen BIPOC moments. Tune in to hear Saumya spill some of Ankita's secrets. Bad news: this is the last episode of Season 2Good news: Gen BIPOC will be back in 2021 with Season 3Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

This week's guest on Gen BIPOC is Asma Mohammed Nizami, who works to empower Muslim women and girls at @RevivingSisterhood, and also had a hand in building the nation's first permanent memorial to survivors of sexual violence. Because we contain multitudes, Asma and I also discuss banana bread, abolition, biodatas, pandemic weddings, and hating politicians (like Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey).If you're able, Asma would appreciate you donating to ZACAH, which “strives to provide support for residents of Minnesota facing poverty and the threat of displacement and unsheltered homelessness, especially from marginalized religious, socioeconomic and ethnic communities.” Visit www.zacah.org to donate.Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

In this episode, we hear from Raven Ziegler (Wamblí Okas'a Wiŋ). Raven is an enrolled member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe (Kul Wicasa Oyate), South Dakota. Tune in to hear her talk about her life growing up on the reservation before moving to Minneapolis, her background in organizing and human rights, and her thoughts on dismantling the colonial empire. Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

This week's guest is Manasi Arya. Manasi is an artist and special education teacher living in Indiana. In addition to focusing on South Asian influence in her work, she makes sure to share plenty of tips and tricks on how to paint, create digital art, and start your own business. She also discusses her work with her students, and how she's been able to use her art skills to teach. Check out her work at @ArtWithManasi on Instagram and TikTok.Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

This week on Gen BIPOC, I chatted with Tori Hong. Tori is a Hmong, Korean, and queer Minneapolis-based artist. She's previously worked on MPD 150's performance review of the Minneapolis Police Department. A muralist herself, she also discusses the murals that appeared around Minneapolis after George Floyd's death. Tune in to hear about Tori's journey as an artist, an abolitionist, and a queer woman of color trying to make sense of the world.Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!*In the episode, Tori briefly discusses a mural that she has been commissioned to complete. The other collaborators on the mural are Katie Robinson, Hayden Minh, and Lisa Marie Brimmer.

This week I chatted with Alana Carmickle and Heaven Williams. Alana and Heaven, along with Sophia Hysaw and Meredith Kauffman, created EquiTeens in Kenosha, Wisconsin this past summer as sophomores in high school. EquiTeens was formed to mobilize teens in Kenosha after George Floyd was killed in May. Their group organized further after Jacob Blake was shot seven times in their city three months later. Tune in to this episode of Gen BIPOC to hear Alana and Heaven talk about EquiTeens, Kenosha, and teen activism. Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

Kathy Santamaría-Méndez's story is all about beating the odds. Kathy came to the United States with her family from El Salvador, and discusses the Salvadoran migration experience, border crossings from Central America, and generational trauma. She also gave birth to her son at 15, graduated college at 20, and started law school this fall at 21. Tune in to this week’s episode of Gen BIPOC to hear Kathy’s story, with the occasional appearance of her son, Aaron. If you’re able, Kathy would appreciate you donating to and looking into the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC). Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

This week on Gen BIPOC, I had a conversation with Aliya Manjee. Now an attorney on the hill in Washington, D.C., Aliya talks about being raised in a strict Pakistani and Muslim household, and how that led her to law school. Tune in to this week’s episode of Gen BIPOC to hear Aliya’s thoughts about imposter syndrome, arranged marriage, fashion, and more. If you’re able, Aliya would appreciate you donating to and looking into Street Law Inc. and BLOC. You can visit their Instagram accounts at @StreetLawInc and @BLOCbyBLOCmke Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

This week on Gen BIPOC, I chat with Liam John Harrington. Liam is a musician who discusses reclaiming his Indigenous roots as a result of being physically distant from the Akimel O’otham tribe in Arizona, and after losing his mom in 2013. He also talks about dropping out of college after being diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, and how he’s navigated his disability over the years. If you’re able, Liam would appreciate you donating to and looking into Dig Deep and Honor the Earth. You can visit their Instagram accounts at @digdeepwater and @honortheearth Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

To kick off season two of Gen BIPOC, I interview my friend and former coworker, Bryanna Williamson. Bryanna grew up wanting to be a humanitarian, is passionate about social justice, and is on a mission to improve representation in children’s books. Born and raised in Minneapolis, she also shares her thoughts on the Uprising, police violence, mutual aid, and more. Moving forward, Gen BIPOC will highlight organizations dear to the interviewees. If you’re able, Bryanna would appreciate you donating and looking into Speak Up Book Club, Black Women Speak, or the Givens Foundation for African American Literature. Visit genbipocpod.com for more, and follow @GenBIPOCPod on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

This week on Gen POC, my friend Brenda Sanchez decided to put me in the hot seat and ask me some questions! Tune in to the last episode of the season to get to know your host and hear me talk about starting a podcast, life on the campaign trail, and some scattered thoughts. As always, thanks for the love and the listens. I’m excited to share the second season with you all soon!

In 2017, Archit Baskaran published a story on Medium.com describing his experience being a survivor of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His experiences motivated him to launch a social movement and nonprofit organization called We Are Saath. Listen to this week’s episode of Gen POC to hear about the ways in which Archit and his team work to shift the narrative around mental health in the South Asian community.

A child of Ethiopian immigrants, Leah Asmelash felt a calling to become a writer from a young age. Earlier this year, Leah graduated college and landed her dream job as a journalist for CNN in Atlanta. Tune in to this week’s episode of Gen POC to hear about Leah’s experiences in journalism, and the ways in which she pushes boundaries through her writing.

Have you ever wondered who threaded Ilhan Omar’s eyebrows before she became the first Somali-American woman to be sworn into Congress? Look no further. This week, I talk to a fellow Desi girl, Abeer Syedah. Additional topics of conversation include, but are not limited to, chai, cultural appropriation, libraries, chicken tikka masala, and the end of the world. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear one of the most memorable conversations I’ve ever had.

This week on Gen POC, I talk to Iván Ruvalcaba, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma during his senior year of high school. Almost seven years later, Iván now works as a licensed professional counselor in Southeast Wisconsin. In a field typically dominated by white women, there is an increased need of men of color to work as mental healthcare professionals. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear how Iván’s diagnosis, growing up in suburban Wisconsin, and being a DACA recipient led him to the mental health field.

A quick internet search will produce a long list of Amanda Koonjbeharry’s accomplishments so far. Most notably, Amanda worked alongside several people to combat sex trafficking when Minneapolis hosted the Superbowl in 2018. This week on Gen POC, Amanda opens up about her upbringing as an Indo-Guyanese woman in Minnesota, and the events that motivated her to dedicate her life to public service.

This week on Gen POC, I chat with River Bunkley. In addition to his day job, River is working to grow The Black Renaissance Group -- an organization he started with two friends to support Black enterprises throughout the country. Oh, and he also launched a project through the Obama Foundation’s Community Leadership Corps. Tune in to this week’s episode of Gen POC to hear about River’s thoughts on entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and being young.

Kat St. Martin-Norburg was adopted from China when she was 11 months old. She’s also been organizing since she was 14. Now an 18-year-old college student, Kat talks about her organizing experience and the ways in which it gave her the tools she needed to speak about her identity as a Chinese-American adoptee.

Young candidates across the country are stepping up to run for office. Last fall, Cheniqua Johnson ran a historic campaign for the Minnesota House of Representatives at the age of 22. Tune in to this week’s episode of Gen POC to hear more about her journey! Most importantly, don’t forget to vote tomorrow :)

For my first episode of Gen POC, I interviewed my friend and colleague, Cearah Hamilton. In addition to her involvement with politics and government, Cearah hosts a radio show, participates in pageants, and remains constantly optimistic. It seemed fitting to chat with someone who knows a thing or two about the world of entertainment. I hope you enjoy the first episode!