Mango & Peppers

Annie (she/her) is an ancestor in the making. By the way that she talks about community organizing and appreciation for the Hmong culture, you’d think she’s been a grassroots organizer for decades - which is why we were so humbled to learn that she just graduated high school this past summer. Her youthful spirit and hunger for change is what makes Annie so inspiring. She has a gusto for wanting to make the world a more loving and accepting place for queer Hmong people. Keep listening to hear more about Annie’s story and what she hopes for the future of our community.-Bio: Annie is an incoming freshman at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She identifies herself as a Queer Hmong Womxn who spends her time organizing and volunteering with the Coalition of Asian American Leaders. Annie is an advocate for Education Equity and Youth Leadership and Advocacy.

Naikta (she/her) is a trailblazer and a modern Hmong womxn dancing to the beat of her own drum. We were privileged enough to sit down with Naikta and hear her journey to independence away from the typical Hmong womxn typical that too many are culturally pressured to adhere by. Listen on to hear what she loves about being Hmong and how she deals with critics who’d rather see her fall in line than define her own future.

It’s safe to say that Hmong people love love. We write songs about love, make movies about love, and cry about love (or sometimes the lack thereof). But aside from the fantasy of love, what does it actually take to make love last? What’s the secret to a happy relationship? We decided to ask two people whose relationship we admire to get their insight. In an exclusive interview, you’ll be able to get a sneak peek at what the couple calls their annual “State of the Union” address, where they ask each other intimate questions about their relationship. Listen as Michelle (She/They) and Kevin (He/Him) reflect on what’s working and what needs work so they can have a lasting partnership.

As indigenous people of Southeast Asia, Hmong folks have an innate nature to adapt to the changing world and find ways to thrive which, has naturally made us hustlers. Join us on this journey in reflecting on recent events in Hmong entrepreneurship and meet with Charlotte Phravoraxay, social entrepreneur and founder of Soul Sisters MN. Get to know the wonderful Charlotte as she shares her dreams of creating a world built on connectivity, trust, and vulnerability.-About Charlotte:Charlotte is a Hmong-American womxn who is passionate about healing her community. She’s a self-love enthusiast; an ear to listen, a shoulder to lean on, and has the heart of a sister.She’s the founder of Soul Sisters MN, which is a womxn empowerment group with the goal to embrace vulnerability and create genuine connections. In her spare time you can find her journaling, being a foodie, or buried in a new book.

We headed to the streets to march and demand justice for George Floyd and Black lives everywhere. Along the way, the stars aligned and connected us with community organizer and all-around amazing human being, LyLy Vang-Yang. She’s been at the forefront in political organizing, the fight for reproductive justice, police abolition... basically anything that will make this world a better place, she’s probably worked on. So, we knew we had to introduce you to her. We sat down with LyLy to ask some important questions about her astrology chart, power, and how being Hmong has influenced her community organizing. Tune in to hear LyLy’s story!

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and we can't be any more excited. From discussing Mindy Kaling's new Netflix show to reflecting on our connection to this month, join us in today's episode as we talk through it all. In addition, we have a special guest and dear friend, Justina who will join also us on the conversation and share with you her journey to understanding both her Hmong and Black identities.

How are you? We checked in with each other from our respective social distancing pods. Tune in to see how we are practicing self care during this time, and listen to us play some revealing/embarrassing Q&A games, yet again, for your entertainment.

Guess who’s back (back again)?! Happy New Year from your girls at Mango & Peppers. We realize it’s been quite a while since we last posted but we’re happy to announce we are back on for Season 2. When we first created this space, our initial intention was to spark dialogue and build community regardless of where we were. This season, we plan to continue that AND MORE. In Season 2, we will be featuring guests of Southeast Asian millennial identities as a way to showcase the breadth and depth of the lives of twenty-somethings in the modern age. As many of us are still navigating the intersection between refugee and immigrant identities in ourselves and in our families as well as adapting to western practices, the ways in which our lives have been shaped looks radically different. The opportunities that were offered to us were not all the same and the choices we’ve had to make in our lives were based on our circumstances.

Bad dates are a normal part of the dating process and sometimes, make for some pretty hilarious moments. Come reminiscence with us as we spill the tea on some of our not-so-great dating experiences.

We’ve been talking a lot about healthy relationships and it led to conversations about what has shaped our views when it comes to this topic. ⁣⁣⁣⁣What we both found out was that we experienced some form of bullying in our early years that still impacts us today. We found ourselves in one way or another, trying to appease our bully despite how terrible it made us feel. So, in this episode we want to open up the conversation about bullying and how we’ve experienced it with our peers and family members and what we’ve learned.⁣Also, we want to hear from you! What advice would you give to young people who are currently in this situation?

As children of refugees, we are often taught to act on survival which has made us acquire some interesting habits (to say the least). Join us in our conversation as we verbally process our practices around healthy living and explore our relationship to food. In this episode, you will also hear how we have learned to manage and set expectations with family.

Sometimes, our intentions may not impact others in the way we thought it would. There are times when you are looked down upon because you made a decision to get out of an unhealthy environment. Join us this week as we talk through our experiences in unlearning toxic behavior. -Theme music provided by: Uru Ent “Ball Toss (Pov Poj)” ft. Lieutenant Jaddy and Supryze

It seems like everyone is following Marie Kondo’s advice and finding the things that sparks joy in their lives and getting rid of the things that don’t. But what happens if you don’t have a clue what sparks joy in your life? In this episode, we discuss how we cope with being stuck in a world driven by the word “passion” both in our personal and professional lives. Join us as we talk about sweet topics of the week: Jeannie Mai’s IG TV show and Joey Thao, Ariana Grande’s newest stylist on her Sweetner tour and delve into the Salty topic of the week: the sex scandal that is shaking up South Korea right now. Trigger Warning: Sexual assualt, rape and abuse. — Theme music provided by: Uru Ent “Ball Toss (Pov Poj)” ft. Lieutenant Jaddy and Supryze

Women’s health: although it might be awkward, its necessary to talk about. From pap smears to birth control to talking to our loved ones about our choices, we share our journey’s to taking control of our bodies.-Theme music provided by: Uru Ent “Ball Toss (Pov Poj)” ft. Lieutenant Jaddy and Supryze

Episode 102: Who am i bringing with me to my next chapter of life? Join us today as we talk through our sweet and salty topics of the week and do a deep dive into the trials and tribulations we’ve had in maintaining our friendships in our early twenties. Theme music provided by: Uru Ent “Ball Toss (Pov Poj)” ft. Lieutenant Jaddy and Supryze

Today is Valentine’s Day and we hope that you take this day to celebrate a very important person in your life… YOU! In this episode we share our experiences learning to love ourselves and discuss some ways we have incorporated self love into our daily lives. Theme music provided by: Uru Ent “Ball Toss (Pov Poj)” ft. Lieutenant Jaddy and Supryze

Grab a snack and kickback! In this episode, you will get to know us as we play “never have i ever,” talk about our favorite asian snacks *heh heh, the battle of the Korean Daniels (Daniel Henney and Daniel Dae Kim) and our motivations for starting Mango and Peppers.