Modern Minorities

“It was not nostalgia — I kept waiting for that to hit. I was worried about — what if New York doesn't live up to it? Because then where do I go from here? Kay Sohini is an Indian comics-maker living in New York City. She's the author of the graphic novel THIS BEAUTIFUL, RIDICULOUS CITY . But Kay's a lot more than a comics creator - she's a writer, researcher, and artist. Kay grew up in Kolkata, where she fell in love with American culture - through TV and literature - as a contrast to her life in India. Kay eventually left India, got her PhD in English from Stony Brook University, and drew her doctoral dissertation — "Drawing Unbelonging" — as a comic. Since then her work has been published in The Washington Post, The Nib, and more. Her work focuses on utilizing comics in the scholarly examination of healthcare justice, environmental humanities, resisting disinformation, and creating an equitable future for all.  “This Beautiful Ridiculous City” is getting glowing reviews from NPR, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, The Financial Times and more. Kay shares some of her journey from India to America, from Kolkata to New York, but we actually talked a lot about the business - and art of comics - in the US, France, and India. Kay's a very thoughtful, observant and direct artist and thinker. Kay's work isn't just deeply personal — it also challenges bigger ideas through personal narratives — with themes of marginalization, intersectionality, and the power dynamics embedded in our language and culture. Kay's work will move you in a way few comics can.  LEARN ABOUT KAY kaysohini.com instagram.com/kaysohini goodreads.com/book/show/212294437-this-beautiful-ridiculous-city MENTIONS Alison Bechdel: goodreads.com/author/show/54223321.Alison_Bechdel Deb JJ Lee: goodreads.com/book/show/60316964-in-limbo BOOK: Ginseng Roots (Craig Thompson): goodreads.com/book/show/216971212-ginseng-roots BOOK: Unflattening (Nick Sousanis): goodreads.com/book/show/23503006-unflattening BOOK: Kari (Amruta Patil): goodreads.com/book/show/3174768-kari BOOK: Munnu: A Boy From Kashmir (Malik Sajad): goodreads.com/book/show/25394441-munnu BOOK: Skin (Mieke Versyp, Sabien Clement): goodreads.com/book/show/214387878-skin COMEDIAN: Zarna Garg wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarna_Garg BOOK: Summit of the Gods (Jirō Taniguchi): goodreads.com/series/55939-the-summit-of-the-gods SHOW: When Life Gives You Tangerines: imdb.com/title/tt26471411/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“ We might need only 10% of the population to have a tipping point into a brighter future — to change lives for the better at scale by recognizing your potential to calm others. We're in this thing together.”  Life right now seems chaotic, but there's a method to the madness — welcome to the challenge of our generations. It sucks, it's not fair, it's been going on too long, and it feels like we're sacrificing our children to some golem of change—with no relief in sight. We need something to believe in and something to do about it, so longtime friend of the pod - and personal mentor Bob Gilbreath shares what works for him in a recent essay from his Substack, the Workaround.This hit me in a moment when I needed it most. It might help you handle the stress, and maybe even convince you to be the tiny pair of butterfly wings that delivers positive change. LEARN MORE: behearty.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“ It was always in me — my grandparents were almost like these mystical figures, and they did really great things. So I was always like, ‘Why can't I discover more of that side of me?' ” Brian Velasquez Reid is co-founder + CFO of Dear Flor, the first Filipina-owned cannabis brand — bringing Filipino culture to the world, one flavor at a time. And he happens to be co-founder with recent FrieMMd of the pod Lisa Angulo Reid. Basically, Lisa said we had to have a chat with Brian, and we're really glad we did. Brian and Lisa met at a Philippine Society of Boston College picnic way back when in the 90s, or the olden days as the kids call it. Brian's originally from New Jersey, but now a proud New Yorker - him and Lisa have raised their family in Greenwich Village for years now. He actually got his start on some of Wall Street's top firms and became one of the first Filipino Americans to be a founding partner at a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund, as well as lots of other big deal roles in the financial world. Brian also serves as Treasurer of the FilAm Democrats of NY and is on the executive board of the Filipino American Historical Society of Metro New York. You'll enjoy this candid conversation with two guys raising families and coming to terms with our heritage, and what it means for the next generation of American.s And we didn't even talk about punk rock, heavy metal, dungeons and dragons or comic books too much... LEARN MORE: DearFlor.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“ When you migrate to America, your patience actually slowly thins because everything becomes so easy — I need to go back to where I was so I can appreciate the privilege that I have where I am now.” Lydia Querian is the founder of Daily Malong, a brand dedicated to empowering Filipino artisans and bringing Indigenous Filipino heritage to the global fashion scene. As the president of KulArts, a premier platform for contemporary and tribal Pilipino art, and the founder of Gongster's Paradise, a unique festival centered on kulintang music, Lydia is a key figure in preserving and promoting Filipino culture through art and entrepreneurship. With a professional background in fashion design, marketing, and community leadership, Lydia's experience spans organizations such as iHeartMedia, Divine Creative Studio, and the American Center of Philippine Arts. Her work has been featured at New York Fashion Week and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, showcasing her ability to merge cultural traditions with modern trends. Lydia delves into her personal journey of reconnecting with her heritage and how she uses her platform to support the Filipino diaspora. She shares her insights on the intersection of art, activism, and entrepreneurship and the role Indigenous traditions play in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future. This conversation was hosted by FrieMMd of the Pod Lisa Angulo Reid —sharing conversations with Filipino and Asian American changemakers. Lisa also happens to be the Co-Founder & CEO of Dear Flor - the first infused gummy with classic Filipino flavors. Learn more @ DearFlor.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“ It's a message of resilience in the face of adversity — a sandbox, where every person has a story, an important point of view — folks doing something different who can be interesting, wonderful, and celebrated.”  A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, we saw Star Wars for the first time — and everything changed, for so many of us. Let's be honest, it has been a long and winding relationship with all the space wizards and laser swords over the years — from Ahsoka to BB-8, from Yoda to Zahn, and everything in between. So for this May the Fourth, we got together many FrieMMds of the Pod, old and new, who all have Star Wars stories because like the Force that binds all living things in the universe. And like any good story, Star Wars holds a mirror to the moment we're in, especially now. ANDOR anyone? Joining our wretched hive of scum and villainy who are creative and geeky in all the right ways... Josh Ridenour: co-host of the Rabbit Fighters podcast, Quarantined Comics frequent flyer,, and the former number one Weezer fan from Alabama. ⁠creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/rabbit-fighters⁠ Lisa Angulo Reid: our latest MM co-host, and co-founder of DearFlor - the first Filipino owned cannabis brand, bringing Filipino culture to the world, one flavor at a time - DearFlor.com Ainsley Waller: award-winning creative director - back from our 2021 chat on Robins coming out - who blends their passion for sci-fi, fantasy, & fashion history - ainsleyrivers.com MENTIONS ANDOR FTW: theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/22/andor-how-a-star-wars-deep-cut-became-one-of-the-best-tv-shows-of-the-year SW = Vietnam? ⁠reddit.com/r/movies/comments/d5glo0/george_lucas_explaining_how_the_heroes_of_star/⁠ SUPERIOR SEQUELS: Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy - https://www.goodreads.com/series/42348-star-wars-the-thrawn-trilogy HOTH WEAR (Overpriced): ⁠columbia.com/starwars⁠ MUPPETS: Fozziebacca & Friends: muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars_Muppets_action_figures TEE (Aces High): norselegionstore.com/collections/shirts/products/tie-pilot-t-shirt-and-patch VID (What if Ep.1 was good good)? ⁠youtube.com/watch?v=VgICnbC2-_Y POD (Josh & Raman): Weezer OK Spreadsheet : creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/rabbit-fighters/episodes/20---Weezer-OK-Spreadsheet-e2oqla0 POD (Ainsley & Raman): Holy Bi-Robin! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/holy-bi-robin-tim-drake-comes-out/id1507595726?i=1000538532578 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Even though this is a book about snake girls and lizard boys — it's about universal experiences: we can't change what's happening, but you never know when being kind will change somebody else. ,” Jonathan Hill's an award-winning cartoonist, illustrator, and educator in Portland, Oregon — and a returning guest - to celebrate the launch of his latest graphic novel: “Lizard Boy 2: The Most Perfect Summer Ever.” While the sci-fi title might have you scratching your head, this YA sequel is actually a beautiful, compelling story of self-acceptance, community, and family — we can't recommend it enough for parents and kids alike, as well as it's prequel “Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy.” Jonathan is HALF Vietnamese American - and while the story is about an immigrant family, community acceptance, and belonging - Jonathan's work, his characters and their journey are important for all of us to be reading at this particular moment in our nation.  Jonathan's work has been published by Walker Books, First Second, and Oni Press - and featured at ABC New Voices, YALSA and JLG selections, and won awards like the 2012 Carla Cohen Free Speech Award, the 2021 Believer Book Award for Graphic Literature, and the 2022 Junior Library Guild Selection. Jonathan's also an accomplished cartoonist with clients like Microsoft, the Portland Trailblazers, the Viet Nam Literature Project, the Inlander, Fantagraphics Books, Dark Horse Comics, Tor.com, The Believer Magazine, Literary Arts, and Powell's City of Books. AND he's been the staff illustrator to The Asian Reporter since 2007. Jonathan also teaches comics and visual narrative - having taught at the Pacific Northwest College, the Oregon College of Art and Craft. He graduated as valedictorian from the prestigious Savannah College of Art & Design, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Literary Arts and chairs the Youth Programs Advisory Council.  Jonathan's an important voice, creating important work for not just our kids, but for all of us to be learning from — so be sure to check out his work. LEARN MORE oneofthejohns.com/one-of-the-johns instagram.com/oneofthejohns BOOK 1: Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy - penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714742/tales-of-a-seventh-grade-lizard-boy-a-graphic-novel-by-jonathan-hill-illustrated-by-jonathan-hill/ BOOK 2: Lizard Boy 2: The Most Perfect Summer Ever - penguinrandomhouse.com/books/774237/lizard-boy-2-the-most-perfect-summer-ever-by-jonathan-hill-illustrated-by-jonathan-hill/9781536216479/ MENTIONS OUR FIRST CHAT (May 2023): podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-hills-tales-of-belonging/id1507595726?i=1000613932953 COMIC: Speechless: A Graphic Novel (Aron Nels Steinke): goodreads.com/book/show/210563340 MUSIC: Neko Case - https://www.allmusic.com/artist/neko-case-mn0000381371 MUSIC:  Kim Deal's New Album - https://kimdeal.bandcamp.com/album/nobody-loves-you-more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“They want your immigrant voice — they don't want to hear about me just growing up, even though that's the truth, right? And then I realized I could clearly make a living just performing for my people.” Keith Pedro is a renowned Canadian comedian who has garnered worldwide acclaim through his captivating live performances. In 2022, he was honored with a Juno Award nomination for his Comedy Album, "TRILLIPINO," in the category of Comedy Album of the Year. He has made a name for himself as one of the standout performers on "Roast Battle Canada," earning a Canadian Screen Award nomination for his work on the show. Keith has been recognized by Complex as one of the top Canadian comedians in the industry. His stand-up comedy has been showcased on Kevin Hart's LOL Network, and has made numerous appearances on television, including MTV, CBC, FuseTV, and more. Keith is a regular performer at the Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival and the CBC Halifax and Winnipeg Comedy Festivals. He has also made notable appearances on the hit TV show "Degrassi the Next Generation." Keith's dynamic and versatile comedy style ranges from crowd work to relatable written material, and his live performances are not to be missed. LEARN MORE keithpedro.com/ instagram.com/keithpedro youtube.com/user/keithpedrocomedy tiktok.com/@keith.pedro open.spotify.com/artist/6nDuqILZ3e43OB3Q1sGul9 This conversation was hosted by FrieMMd of the Pod Lisa Angulo Reid —sharing conversations with Filipino and Asian American changemakers. Lisa also happens to be the Co-Founder & CEO of Dear Flor - the first infused gummy with classic Filipino flavors. Learn more @ DearFlor.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“When everything changed recently, we promised ourselves we would not get wrapped into the daily news. Yes, we're paying attention, but  it's going to happen - and the coping mechanisms have never changed.” Suresh is a Malaysian-born, London-raised, gay media exec in NY, who over the years, has become an important voice about authenticity, discipline, and hard work. Suresh is direct, honest and reflective — in an industry full of a lot of talk. With everything going on in the world today, you'll hopefully find as much relief in this conversation with a new friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“ I certainly learned about how media works — our faces and our stories weren't included. That was my bat signal to make that change.” Nicole Ponseca is a pioneering voice in the culinary world and one of the most respected thought leaders in the Hospitality and Filipino community. Nicole has proven herself on the NYC scene with critically acclaimed restaurants, Maharlika and Jeepney. She revolutionized perceptions of Filipino food in the United States, turning bold and authentic flavors into a movement that resonated with diners, critics, and food enthusiasts alike. Her debut cookbook, I Am a Filipino, is a James Beard Award finalist and hailed as a definitive work on Filipino cuisine, celebrated as a cookbook of the year and top lists from The New Yorker, NY Times, LA Times, Saveur, Food and Wine, Chicago Tribune and more. Nicole's unconventional career journey began in advertising, but but found her true calling in food and culture. By night, she spent a decade in every restaurant role imaginable—hostess, server, bartender, manager—learning the ins and outs of the industry to fulfill her mission. Namely, the creation of Maharlika and Jeepney, two groundbreaking establishments that introduced Filipino dishes like Kamayan feasts to the mainstream and became cultural hubs for the Filipino community and a signal that Filipino food was claiming its seat at the culinary table. You'll enjoy this conversation blending storytelling, food, and culture This conversation was hosted by FrieMMd of the Pod Lisa Angulo Reid —sharing conversations with Filipino and Asian American changemakers. Lisa also happens to be the Co-Founder & CEO of Dear Flor - the first infused gummy with classic Filipino flavors. Learn more @ DearFlor.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Food is our love language. It's those types of food memories that are straight from the motherland — these are the things we carry with us.” Did you know April was Filipino Food Month? While we've all got a Filipino friend (or three), can you name more than one Filipino food besides those amazing tiny spring rolls (Lumpia FTW)? Either way, we've got something special for you. Co-host Lisa Angulo Reid (DearFlor.com) put up the Halo-halo Signal and got some amazing Filipino favorite food and restaurant recos from around the country, and unpacks the really really for the rest of us. FILIPINO FOOD MENTIONS Filipino Food & Terms to Know: Lumpia – Thin, crispy spring rolls filled with meat and veggies. Pancit – Stir-fried noodles with julienned carrots, celery, cabbage, and your choice of pork, shrimp, or chicken. Sinigang – A tangy, comforting tamarind-based soup with tomato, onion, and often pork, shrimp, or fish. Caldereta – Hearty beef stew with tomato sauce, liver paste, black pepper, and olives. Pinakbet – A vegetable stew made with eggplant, bitter melon, tomatoes, green beans, and squash, flavored with shrimp paste. Often topped with crispy pork belly (bagnet). Lechon Liempo – Roasted pork belly stuffed with lemongrass, garlic, and onions, slow-cooked until the skin is perfectly crispy. Halo-Halo – A colorful shaved ice dessert with sweet beans, jackfruit, coconut, and palm fruit, topped with ube (purple yam) ice cream and leche flan. Kare-Kare – A rich peanut-based stew featuring oxtail or fried pork belly, served with shrimp paste (bagoong). Dinuguan – Known as "chocolate meat," this savory stew is made of pork and offal simmered in pork blood, vinegar, and garlic. Carinderia (Turo-Turo) – Casual eateries with dishes displayed in steam tables—just point at what you want! FILIPINO FOOD VOICES & THEIR PICKS Lydia Querian (@ellekarayan) – Broke Da Mouth (HI) – Oxtail Adobo (brokedamouthgrindz.co) Brian Velasquez Reid (@breid40ohz) – Naks NYC – Lechon Liempo (naks.nyc) Nicole Ponseca (@nicoleponseca) – Orient Valley (CA) – NYT Best-selling cookbook (amzn.to/4iTosiQ) Geraldine Mae Cueva (@ohhhmygeeg) – Lasita (LA) – Mushroom Sisig: A sizzling dish traditionally made with pork jowl and ears, replaced here with mushrooms. (lasita-la.com) Patricia Dingalasan (@patriciadinglasancomedy) – Kabisera (NYC) – Lumpia Shanghai: Mini crispy spring rolls with seasoned pork. Susie Quesada (@ramarfoods) – Alda's Kitchen (CA) – Silog Breakfast Plates: A combo of garlic fried rice, egg, and meats like tocino (sweet cured pork) or longganisa (Filipino sausage). (aldaskitchenandbakery.com) Aebbey (@chicagotestkitchen) – Ruby's Fast Food (Chicago) – Sisig & Pancit Palabok: A noodle dish with a bright orange annatto-based sauce, topped with shrimp, pork, crispy chicharrón, and boiled egg. (rubysfastfoodchicago.com) Ron Dizon (@teofilocoffeecompany) – Teofilo Coffee (Long Beach) – Filipino-imported coffee (teofilocoffeecompany.com) This conversation was co-hosted by FrieMMd of the Pod Lisa Angulo Reid —sharing conversations with Filipino and Asian American changemakers. Lisa also happens to be the Co-Founder & CEO of Dear Flor - the first infused gummy with classic Filipino flavors. Learn more @ DearFlor.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Living in the US was like a hand in a glove for me — I just came here and loved it. Now, my opinion is slowly changing - seeing everything that's happening. But I still miss it because it  made me the person I am today.” Vaib's a friend of a friend - we were told we should meet because we'd get along. We covered a lot of ground — the political difference between India and America, the role of activism, the role of fear in activism in our modern era, and some of his own healthcare advocacy interests. Given everything going on right now - which we've lately avoided on this pod, it just felt like a very necessary conversation for the moment we're in — so just felt nice to unpack things on my mind, including what my own role is in the current era that we're in in America. No answers, no expectations, just a ranging conversation with a new friend with a similar but different perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It's important we bring our whole self — that's how you create trust, you bring that vulnerability. I had to learn to let my guard down, and it's made me a better leader.” Susie Quesada is President of Ramar Foods - one of the oldest leading manufacturers of Filipino foods in America. While Ramar is news to most of us - it's not to the 4M+ Filipino Americans out there - and we've all got a Filipino friend (or more than a few). While Susie Quesada grew up in the family's business - starting work at the age of 8 - she actually pursued a career in public education. She later rejoined Ramar full time in 2005 in various positions before assuming the role of President in 2013. For her - it's all about the legacy that her grandmother and father started. This conversation was hosted by FrieMMd of the Pod Lisa Angulo Reid —sharing conversations with Filipino and Asian American changemakers. Lisa also happens to be the Co-Founder & CEO of Dear Flor - the first infused gummy with classic Filipino flavors. Learn more @ DearFlor.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“There was literally nothing I could do to fit in — and at some point, I decided to not bother trying. It really encouraged an independence that has carried me through the rest of my life and career.” David Yin, is an exec working at the intersection of consumer health and technology - who through happenstance, became a kindred spirit on so many conversations, about work, life, and even comic books. While David's Texas born, he's anything but a Texan, having built a career and life on both coasts of NY and SF. While we've already had a few chai walk and talks, sharing more than a few things in common from our Southern upbringings to wrestling with the professional lives and intellectual curiosities to just a love for all things nerdy - this was a lot of fun to reflect with a new old friend on not just where we're from and where we're going, but to also reflect on everything we've learned and have been thinking about along the way... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Just because your parents wanted the best for you in one way doesn't mean that you rebelling doesn't mean you still can't give back to them by living a good life.” Michael Wong is basically a cultural anthropologist for Asian America. A Seattle-based commentator, Michael's best known for Asian Verified on Instagram + TikTok, and also writes a monthly column for The Stranger, a Seattle newspaper. This is the first of many conversation with Filipino entrepreneurs GUEST-hosted by new FrieMMd of the Pod, past guest, and Filipina entrepreneur Lisa Angulo Reid.  LEARN MORE instagram.com/asianverified thestranger.com/collections/79782549/asian-verified GUEST HOST (Lisa Reid): https://dearflor.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“ A lot of women are living in uncertainty about their health — so most of us are in a really weird situationship with our health. And that to me is quite sad.” Dr. Varuna Srinivasan is the Founder & CEO of Fluid Health — she is a sexual health expert, writer, and speaker based in Brooklyn. For the past decade, Varuna has worked on improving reproductive health access with organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Planned Parenthood, and more. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Paper, Health, and Parents, and has been recognized by the NHS, Bumble, and even Serena Williams. Varuna + Fluid Health's mission is to leverage education and technology to provide inclusive and personalized sexual health care. Varuna's actually a “friend of a FrieMMd of the Pod” - first introduced to us by past guest Dr. Nzinga Harrison - Hi Nzinga. You'll enjoy this conversation that follows many cups of chai - chatting work, life entrepreneurship, India, and family. LEARN MORE myfluidhealth.com/ instagram.com/drvarunasrinivasan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Day in and day out, you work with these people — doctors, engineers and developers from India — I felt compelled to tell the story of a diaspora in this broken immigration system.” Vidyut Latay — an award-winning documentary filmmaker - and director of ALIEN: AMERICAN DREAM DENIED - a new documentary (on Amazon Prime) that spotlights the emotional journey of high-skilled, documented immigrants as they seek permanence in a country that benefits from their talent, but denies them a home. Immigration continues to be a hot-button topic in today's political climate —from H1-Bs to greencards as paths to citizenship — for highly-skilled foreign tech workers — which many of us only have a surface-level understanding of, despite it impacting so many of our friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors. Raman will be moderating a panel / screening of ALIEN on March 2, 2025 at Ridgefield Library in Connecticut (registration link below).  Vidyut was also director of her debut groundbreaking documentary "Beyond Silence" — which screened on PBS, at film festivals around the world, won awards, was part of UCLA curriculum, and was also invited to the Incloodu Deaf Arts Festival — England's  first media and arts festival for the hard of hearing. Vidyut's also worked on award-winning documentaries like  "Waiting for Superman" and "Kailash" and back in India, she was an executive producer for India's premier television networks - Zee TV and Zoom. You'll enjoy this far-ranging conversation on not just immigration, but how Vidyat meets her calling to address meaningful social issues through documentary filmmaking. LEARN MORE vidyutlatay.com FILM: primevideo.com/detail/Alien-American-Dream-Denied/0POGXJDM96X5YYZ4XQLTB9CR9S SCREENING (3/2): ridgefieldlibrary.librarymarket.com/event/hold-documentary-alien-111504 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we wrap 2024, here's the year's “minority voices for all our majority ears.” While it's certainly been a long and winding year, we hope our conversations have shared some relief and perspective. So why not give us the gift of a fresh 5-star review? apple.co/2Le6lpM Featuring the voices of Kamala Harris, Isaac Saul, Edel Rodriguez, Kris Stith, Ed Rigaud, Najoh Tita-Reid, John Pepper, Ursula Jones, Linda Clement-Holmes, Bonnie Wan, Bernice Ang, Manreet Sodhi Someshwar, Seif Hamid, Claire Yoon-Elvers, Andrew Tarvin, Veera Hiranandani, Mariko Tamaki, Sudha Ranganathan, Ida Abdalkhani, Wendy Nguyen, Nir Eyal, Kathy Macleoud, Lisa Angulo Reid, Chris Schmicker, Vanessa Huynh, and Pedro Martin. Heard something you liked? Be sure to go back and check out each guest's full episode. And special thanks to YOU for your continued support of our podcast and amazing guests!  As we march ahead into a very interesting 2025, let us know what YOU think - himom@modmypod.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“She asked, ‘do you go by Peter or Pedro? You're writing a memoir - shouldn't, you know?' I'm writing a story about myself and I don't know myself — so I'm going to take the journey with the character.” ” Pedro Martín is creator of MEXIKID, a graphic memoir about Pedro's Mexican-American childhood and family in the 1970s - specifically a road trip to Mexico to their legendary abuelito - who may or may not have been part of the Mexican revolution. Mexikid has received tons of critical acclaim —  listed as a top book of the year by NPR, the NY Times, The Guardian, the Boston Globe, Amazon, the NY Public Library and more — and it's won ALL the awards, from the Newbery, the Eiser, the Harvey, and more. Once you've read it, you can see why. Pedro - who sometimes goes by Peter - grew up the son of sharecroppers in California, and now lives in Kansas City, where he was an artist for Hallmark for 27 years - working on lots of really interesting projects, including the company's foray into animation - including creating the Asteroid Andy cartoon shorts. Peter shares a really deep conversation on not just origins - but that of his storytelling journey. We can't enough great things about Mexikid - this book may just be one of our top holiday picks - for any adult or kid in your life.  LEARN ABOUT PEDRO pedromartinbooks.com instagram.com/mexikidstories BOOK: Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir - goodreads.com/book/show/63249742-mexikid MENTIONS FILM: Paper Moon (1973) - imdb.com/title/tt0070510 PERSON: wikipedia.org/wiki/Viggo_Mortensen SHOW: Asteroid Andy - lostmediaarchive.fandom.com/wiki/Missing_Asteroid_Andy_Shorts_(2008%3F_-_2011) BOOK: The Road, Cormac McCarthy (graphic novel adaptation) - www.goodreads.com/book/show/207003520-the-road FILM: Captain Fantastic (2016): imdb.com/title/tt3553976 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 “Growing up, emotional support was non-existent. Rightfully so, because they went through hell and back - their entire journey of having to escape and redoing life in a foreign country. There was no time to look back.” Vanessa Huynh is a rising professional in Chicago - who Raman met in NY on an “intergenerational” panel, where Vanessa was one of the “younger folk” at our event. And while there are some slight differences in how we processed growing up between two worlds, Vanessa's a fellow old soul in her acceptance - and take on how her parents had to process and present the world to her growing up - so much more than bridging the cultural divide. Hoping this very personal, non-political conversation can provide a respite from all the other noise around us... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vice President Kamala Harris' speech from Howard University on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the morning after, I'll leave some fresh comments at the top of the episode. It was crushingly hard to tell my daughter before she went off to school. We're probably all asking ourselves, how did we get here?  So easier to just re-air this Quarantined Comics episode from August 2022 about the vibrant and harrowing graphic novel Berlin, by Jason Lutes, which I've actually referenced in many conversations over the past few months. It's a small distraction in an eerily prescient conversation about a comic book written about Germany in the 1930s. And if that's too heavy right now, head over to YouTube and watch “day drinking” clips with Seth Meyers — the ones with Rihanna and Dua Lipa are works of art.  To paraphrase Mehdi Hasan: While a majority of our fellow Americans may have voted for an unhinged demagogue — the rest of us need to stick together. Solidarity is about to become the most important word in our political vocabulary. We need each other. And so, for the next four years, solidarity is the name of the game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“ Growing up in Hawaii is a really, really special experience — natural beauty, family and community. But you're really trying to fit into a local culture that has such a complex relationship with Caucasian people.” Chris Schmicker is a a Honolulu-born and New York City-based writer and brand marketer who's currently working on a debut short fiction collection set in contemporary Hawaii. Chris is Hapa — half Japanese & Chinese, half Swiss & Irish — we first met on our previously aired ANA AMAM panel. Growing up on an island - literally, and migrating to the mainland, Chris has many different, but similar experiences, which he brings to life in a very thoughtful way. Navigating our personal, sometimes terrible, sometimes convenient superpowers of code-switching was something we discussed navigating on the personal and professional fronts, growing comfortable into the adults we'd one day become.  LEARN MORE https://www.chrisschmicker.com/ MENTIONS PERSON: Martha Stewart: wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Stewart BOOK: Sharks in the Time of Saviors (Kawai Strong Washburn): goodreads.com/book/show/45892255-sharks-in-the-time-of-saviors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We wanted something that was familiar, but also Filipino — the whole culture of the older sister that knows and gives advice without judgment.” Lisa Angulo Reid the co-founder and CEO of Dear Flor, the first Filipina-owned cannabis company that makes gummies that are 100% vegan with 100% Filipino flavors like ube, calamansi, and buko pandan. Founded by Lisa and her husband Brian, Dear Flor's mission is to bring Filipino culture to the world, one flavor at a time. Sharon + Lisa are OG Chiefs, but Lisa + Raman only met a few months ago at an industry event (AMAM FTW) where they bonded over nerdiness and marketing.  Lisa's journey into entrepreneurship began after a successful 20+ year career in advertising and marketing, where she led transformative campaigns for some of the world's most loved and trusted brands. She's also an advocate for Asian women leaders and spearheaded NYC's inaugural Philippine American History Month celebration which featured Filipina trailblazers Loida Nicolas Lewis and Nicole Ponseca. You'll enjoy this conversation among new friends about growing up in the south, building a personal business, and relating what we do to both our parents - and our kids.  LEARN MORE dearflor.com instagram.com/lovedearflor MENTIONS CHARACTER: Sookie Stackhouse - wikipedia.org/wiki/Sookie_Stackhouse PERSON: Susie-quesada (Ramar foods) - bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/profiles-strategies/2018/09/the-teacher-who-took-over-a-frozen-food-empire.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I didn't ask my dad many questions, and now I'll never know. And I could call my mom up right now, but I'm not going to do that because - ‘the culture' - we don't really ask each other personal questions.” Kathy MacLeod is an illustrator and cartoonist - the author of CONTINENTAL DRIFTER, her debut graphic novel - a memoir about a youth split between growing up in Bangkok, and her first summer camp experience in Maine. CONTINENTAL DRIFTER is a coming of age story about a girl caught between two worlds - her home of Thailand, where her mom is from, and her discovery - and reconciliation with reality of - the  exotic, idyllic America of her father. Kathy's work was an accidental discovery (and a happy surprise) - a classic childhood story of seeking belonging, but not being sure where we can find it. While it's a fun graphic novel geared for kids, at times it can be a heavy drama of understanding for all of us. It's really tender, and it has a lot of heart. Kathy's work has appeared in The Believer, Catapult, The Hairpin, and Lucky Peach. After spending most of her life in Bangkok, Thailand (with a four-year interlude at Wesleyan University), Kathy is currently living in Berlin, Germany. While our chat didn't cover much about her work, we covered a lot about the stories we each carry with us about the relationships we have with our families.  LEARN MORE instagram.com/kathy_macleod BOOK: Continental Drifter - goodreads.com/book/show/111672623-continental-drifter MENTIONS BOOK: Blankets (Craig Thompson): goodreads.com/book/show/25179.Blankets BOOK: Ducks (Kate Beaton): goodreads.com/en/book/show/59069071-ducks SHOW: Felicity: imdb.com/title/tt0134247/ BOOKS: Ramona Quimby (Beverly Cleary): goodreads.com/series/40341-ramona-quimby PERSON: Chanel Miller - wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanel_Miller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Distraction is not a technology problem or a moral failing. The vast majority of distraction is simply that you have not learned the skill of dealing with discomfort. Master internal triggers, or they will become your master.” Nir Eyal is a best-selling author and instructor working at the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. In a research-driven conversation about his latest book “INDISTRACTABLE - How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life,” we learn about what really drives distraction — which is less about flashy external stimuli, and more about our own internal discomfort. The good news is, it's not out of reach, by better understanding our internal triggers - it just might be possible to get back to a focus that feels so far gone. The good news is, It's not out of reach, and Nir shares some great tips to get started.  Indistractable received critical acclaim, winning the Outstanding Works of Literature Award as well as being named one of the Best Business and Leadership Books by The Globe and Mail and Amazon, and among the Best Personal Development Books of the Year by Audible. Nir is also the author of “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” — his books have resonated with readers worldwide, selling over 1 million copies in over 30 languages.  Nir's writing and work has been featured in The New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Harvard Business Review, The M.I.T. Technology Review, Time Magazine, Psychology Today. Nir co-founded and sold two tech companies since 2003, and invests in habit-forming products that improve users' lives including Eventbrite (NYSE:EB), Anchor.fm (acquired by Spotify), Kahoot!, Canva, Homelight, Product Hunt, Marco Polo, Byte Foods, FocusMate, Dynamicare, Wise App, and Sunnyside. Nir previously taught in the Business and Design schools at Stanford University, and Nir attended The Stanford Graduate School of Business and Emory University. This is an episode from friend-of-the-pod Sharad Lal's podcast “HOW TO LIVE” - for lots more great conversations with Sharad and thought leaders, subscribe to How To Live wherever you get your favorite podcasts, or visit howtolive.life  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“You need to get people registered, you need to get them informed, you need them voting. This is not the work of just one cycle, but this is the work of a generation.” Wendy Nguyen is Founder and President of AsianAmericansRise.com — a political advocacy nonprofit focused on civic engagement from the Asian American community. Right now, Wendy and her team are most focused on registering voters - and turning out the Asian vote in swing states like Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina — and in key congressional races across the country. We're all concerned about how close this election is going to be, so we'd strongly encourage you to make a donation - large or small - at AsianAmericansRise.com. Their org is 100% volunteer run, so your dollars will go directly getting out the Asian American vote. And with voter registration deadlines fast-approaching, and so much on the line - gun safety, climate change, healthcare access, voting rights and more - coming down to a handful of votes in just a handful of counties this November, every little bit helps ASAP... LEARN MORE: AsianAmericansRise.com DONATE: gofundme.com/f/registerasianvoters2024 Long before Wendy's work turning out the vote — she was a long-time advocate for AAPI political representation, having co-founded Stand with Asian Americans back in March 2021 in the early days of the Stop Asian Hate movement. She's super passionate about the cause and has a big picture, long-term vision for how our community can come together to drive change. And it's really cool seeing such a focused, performance-marketing approach that can have a big impact. On top of all that Wendy has two other really important day-jobs, that of a bay area CMO, and that of a mom. Like us, you'll be blown away by her heart, candor, practicality, and proactiveness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 ” I was in survival mode for so long — then I finally dealt with it - shedding all the old stories I told myself that society put on — those stories stick with us and form our identity without us even realizing it.” Ida Abdalkhani is a longtime FrieMMd of the pod, and a co-host on Raman's other podcast, “Learnings from Leaders.” Ida is many things...an entrepreneur, marketer, board member, speaker, professor, patent-holder, yoga instructor, published author, and many more things to come. We actually met early in our careers, and our paths have crossed again and again. Ida was one of first “Model” Minorities guests way back when in 2020 — when the world was VERY different. And since then, lots has changed not just everywhere, but in Ida's life. in a short time Ida dealt with more change and crisis than most of us deal with in decades. And that's given Ida some new perspective, so we wanted to catch up and understand what was different. You'll enjoy this candid conversation between old friends reflecting on the change that is around all of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 ”I've come to my parents with challenges and they say, keep working hard, keep pushing through it — they're so used to working 12 hour days, making ends meet — it's interesting to see them understanding my career.” Raman recently moderated a community conversation on "Building Bridges across Generations" for the inaugural Asians in Marketing and More summit - where we explored the personal and professional expectations of work and family across different generations. We explored how we, as a professional community can support the next generation of leaders. Moderating the panel was a real treat - especially in sharing stories on stage - and getting to know fellow purpose-driven Asian business leaders.  FEATURING: Amrita Dutta-Gupta (GNC), Chris Schmicker (Shopify), Vanessa Huynh (LabCorp), Paresh Jha (LinkedIn), David Yin (Capital Y Consulting), Lisa Reid (Dear Flor), Jill Kelly (WPP), Jennifer Chen (Connatix), Ranjana Choudhry (Inmar), Aniko DeLaney (Fordham University), Julie Lee (TDW+Co), Elliot Lum (Association of National Advertisers) MENTIONS FILMS: The Joy Luck Club, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Crazy Rich Asians BOOKS: Dava Shastri's Last Day, Sharks in the Time of Saviors, The Night Diary, The Whole Story of Half a Girl SHOWS: Never Have I Ever, Pachinko, Physical: 100 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I was not gonna follow rules if they didn't make any sense to me. There's a healthy sense of curiosity and a willingness to challenge the status quo.” Sudha Ranganathan is an emotionally intelligent leader. Drew Tarvin is a humor engineer. Both are P&G Alumni, and old friends of Raman's from different parts of his life. This is a bonus conversation from Raman (+Drew's) other podcast, Learnings from Leaders. Having worked at companies like Linkedin, Paypal, Affinnova,and Procter & Gamble - in the US and Asia, Sudha's career has spanned engineering, marketing, and product strategy - but what she really excels at is managing and coaching others. You'll enjoy this candid conversation diving deep into the significance of emotional intelligence and psychological safety in the workplace — with learnings from her early experiences and struggles as a new leader to her proactive approach to personal development. And comic books may or may not have come up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“He bears witness - in a very disarming way - what's really going on in this country.” “It's often expressed without a single word, vivid enough that It hits a bit differently — It's not sugar coated —  this is what they're up against.” BURMA CHRONICLES is the 2007 graphic travelogue by French-Canadian cartoonist Guy Delisle — which presents a personal and distinctively humorous glimpse into a political hotspot on the other side of the world, where the Delisle balances his ex-pat home-husbandry, the spinning politics a quasi-authoritarian state, and finding a way as a foreign cartoonist amidst a South Asian junta This is another very special Quarantined CoMMics crossover episode - covering a graphic novel with a very unique Modern Minorities take. Joining is longtime FrieMMd of the Pod (+Ramans other, other podcast co-host) DREW TARVIN, Humor Engineer, who much like the author of this week's comic, happens to be a dude who's a funny-jobbed, home-husbanding ex-pat dad in a foreign land. LEARN MORE BOOK: goodreads.com/book/show/5596923-burma-chronicles BURMA: wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar DREW: AndrewTarvin.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ROAMING is the graphic novel winner of three 2024 EISNER awards for best graphic novel, best writer, and best penciller/inker - by cousins Mariko + Jillian Tamaki. It's a book about three young women touring New York City in the late aughts, and it's both a love letter to New York City and a nostalgic look at the relationship between three friends who are about to follow very different paths in life. You can't read this book and not see yourself in it at a younger, more awkward phase of your life - whether or not you've even spent any time in NYC.  This is another episode from Raman's other podcast, Quarantined Comics. And as you already know from our LAST episode - we're big Tamaki fans. We've actually covered some of Mariko's other award-winning work like Skim, This One Summer, and more on other episodes of Quarantined Comics. So be sure to check out ALL of Mariko Tamaki's work wherever you get your favorite books LEARN MORE BOOK: Roaming: goodreads.com/book/show/62207006-roaming NEWS: comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/ MARIKO: instagram.com/marikotamaki AUTHOR: goodreads.com/author/show/483588.Mariko_Tamaki BOOK: This One Summer: goodreads.com/book/show/18465566-this-one-summer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The idea that a person can't relate to something because it's not directly about them is a misunderstanding of who's been reading books this whole time." Mariko Tamaki is an award-winning Canadian comics creator and writer — known for works like Skim and This One Summer (with her cousin Jillian Tamaki). Her latest novel is Cold, a haunting YA novel about four students who knew too much and said too little. AND Mariko's also the Co-founder & Editor of Surely Books - a comics imprint of LGBTQIA+ creators. Mariko's ALSO known for comics like Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Emiko Superstar, and several prose works of fiction and nonfiction. AND since 2016, Mariko's been writing for Marvel & DC comics - on powerful books like I Am Not Stafire, and Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass. Mariko's also only the second woman to write Detective Comics - the 1000+ issue flagship DC series about the Dark Knight. If you can't tell by now, one of us has been a BIG Mariko Tamaki fan for awhile, and after hearing her approach to writing and sharing personal stories, you soon will be too.  This is a replay of an earlier chat from 2022 - we're airing it in honor of Marikos' winning of the Eisner Award (among comics most prestigious honors) - for the 2023 graphic novel ROAMING - which she co-created with her cousin Jillian. We'll be airing the Quarantined Comics episode on Roaming next!  BOOK: Roaming: goodreads.com/book/show/62207006-roaming NEWS: comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/ LEARN ABOUT MARIKO TAMAKI & HER WORK: twitter.com/marikotamaki instagram.com/marikotamaki goodreads.com/author/show/483588.Mariko_Tamaki Surely Books: abramsbooks.com/imprints/surely This One Summer: goodreads.com/book/show/18465566-this-one-summer Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me: goodreads.com/book/show/40864841-laura-dean-keeps-breaking-up-with-me Skim: goodreads.com/book/show/2418888.Skim MENTIONS Heather Gold: heathergold.com/about-heather-gold Jillian Tamaki: jilliantamaki.com Lauren Tamaki: laurentamaki.com Gene Luen Yang: geneyang.com BOOK: Stone Fruit (Lee Lai): goodreads.com/en/book/show/55678434 BOOK: Shadow Life (Hiromi Goto, Ann Xu): goodreads.com/en/book/show/51591596 Alice Munro: wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Munro Timothy Findley: wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Findley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The normalization of things being taken away. You see all the things going on in Tehran in 1979 — you see them here as well, which makes it a sad, scary, and timeless tale.” PERSEPOLIS, by Marjane Satrapi is an award winning, now banned graphic autobiography from the early 2000s about a young girl growing up in Iran, and becoming a woman overseas, returning home, and dealing with everything in between.Originally published in French, Persepolis has sold millions of copies worldwide, and Satrapi also produced an award-winning film of the same name. In Persepolis, we meet young Marjane “Marji” Satrapi growing up in Tehran just before and during the Iranian Revolution of 1979, as well as thru the start of the Iran + Iraq War in the 1980s. Her parents are secular, upper-middle class activists, who worry for their precocious daughter's safety in the increasingly conservative and dangerous Iran, so send her off to Austria to become a teenager. Her teen years are fraught with all the drama you can expect from such an experience, but Marji - now becoming a young woman - always maintains the experience of an outsider looking in - with her feet in both worlds. Marji eventually returns to Iran to find that not only has her mother country changed, but she as well. This book was a surprise and illuminating for us in many ways, making us question - what would WE do in such a situation? This conversation is originally from from Quarantined Comics, where Raman + friends read comics that are so much more than just superheroes. PERSEPOLIS is a very Modern Minorities appropriate work, especially for the times we're living in, which you'll get to here us reflect on. Longtime friend of THAT pod Joshua joins from his most excellent podcast RABBIT FIGHTERS, where they pretty much do the same thing, but about movies and music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“What happens after we've survived? What's our responsibility to somebody suffering more than I am? For kids it's like, ‘Let's just go over and help them — like, why wouldn't we?' “ Veera Hiranandani is an award-winning author of several books for young people - one of the most recent of which is THE NIGHT DIARY - a must read. While the novel is a historical fiction geared for adolescents and young adults, it's a a heart-warming read that will pull you into a singular story through the eyes of a young girl experiencing one of history's greatest traumas.. Veera went on to win the prestigious Newbery Award for the book, as well as the 2019 Walter Dean Myers Honor Award, the 2018 Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children's Literature, and several other honors and state reading list awards. Veera's work speaks to the power of stories to spark conversations. Veera's written a number of other award-winning books - including “How to Find What You're Not Looking For,” and “The Whole Story of Half a Girl. ”Her latest novel - AMIL & THE AFTER, is a follow-up to The Night Diary and it does what not many other books do - it examines the immediate AFTERMATH of a generational - and historical trauma. Again, through the eyes of a child. Veera's journey - and story is a one that crosses cultures and generations - and it's interesting to see how she pulls at the threads of her life to inform her work, and ask lots of hard whys - and why nots. LEARN MORE veerahiranandani.com instagram.com/veerawrites BOOK: The Night Diary (2018): goodreads.com/book/show/35464020-the-night-diary BOOK: How to Find What You're Not Looking For (2021) goodreads.com/book/show/56912931-how-to-find-what-you-re-not-looking-for BOOK The Whole Story of Half a Girl (2012) goodreads.com/book/show/11164727-the-whole-story-of-half-a-girl BOOK: Amil & the After (2024): goodreads.com/book/show/139400607-amil-and-the-after MENTIONS:  BOOKS: All-of-a-Kind Family Series (Sydney Taylor): goodreads.com/series/49417-all-of-a-kind-family BOOK: the Namesake (Jhumpa Lahiri) - goodreads.com/book/show/33917.The_Namesake ACTOR: Irfan Khan - imdb.com/name/nm0451234/ BOOK: Moon Palace (Paul Auster): goodreads.com/book/show/447.Moon_Palace Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“It's so easy to go onto the next thing - but take that moment to stop and celebrate small and big wins.” Summer is here, which probably means many of us are thinking about our next trip. As we continue our pod sabbatical / vacation, Raman's other podcast LEARNINGS FROM LEADERS continues a series on one of his favorite pastimes: TRAVEL — turning our focus to the strange and foreign land known as the United States of America. Joining him is co-host Drew Tarvin - author of “The United States of Laughter” - as they share stories and learnings from their travels to all 50 American states, in the first of a TWO-part series, covering from Alabama to Montana, with some occasional plugs for a big conference from last year =) LEARN MORE BOOK: United States of Laughter (Drew Tarvin): goodreads.com/book/show/36269422-the-united-states-of-laughter SONG: Home (Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeroes):youtube.com/watch?v=DHEOF_rcND8 CO-HOST: drewtarvin.com OTHER POD: pgalums.com/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

”I'm grateful she doesn't have that crazy addiction - they are getting a new relationship with technology. Smartphones and social media have basically caused a great rewiring of childhood.” As parents today, Blippi & Taylor Swift aren't all we have to worry about. When it comes to our (young kids), it's near impossible to avoid TV, tablets, and video games - we're increasingly anxious about the role of smartphones, social media, and ultimately their mental health. For many of us these devices and apps start creeping into elementary school, and with middle and high school right around the corner, a thoughtful vigilance is required at home and school. Longtime friends of the pods Claire Yoon Elvers & Seif Hamid join Raman for an important chat we ALL need to be having in our communities with our fellow parents.  Author Jonathan Haidt's recent book — THE ANXIOUS GENERATION The Anxious Generation — has ignited some much needed conversations - online, and in communities. provides hard evidence to show the linkage between smartphones/social media to the decline in adolescent mental health. It's the data we needed to support what many of us already knew. And like many other parents we're chewing on this with mixed emotions - excited that the conversation is front and center with the potential to spark change over time. Yet also feeling a bit stuck given we're in the throes of parenting tweens/teens NOW. We don't pretend to have the answers to ANY of this, but it's a conversation we ALL need to be having with each other, because the companies behind these technologies aren't incentivized to help. While there is some cautious optimism that our governments will help (shoutout to NY governor Kathy Hochul), we have to be have to be raising these issues in our homes, schools, and communities. We hope this open and honest conversation inspires you to start your own, and is the first of many... LEARN MORE BOOK: the Anxious Generation: goodreads.com/book/show/171681821-the-anxious-generation ARTICLE: End The Phone-Based Childhood Now: theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/teen-childhood-smartphone-use-mental-health-effects/677722/ INTERVIEW (Daily Show): youtube.com/watch?v=tcr0yg7Mvg8 NY NEWS: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/30/new-york-smartphone-school-ban-bill CLAIRE & SEIF - PAST POD APPEARANCES Claire Yoon Elvers (Jan'22): podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/claire-elvers-wayfairs-head-of-global-brand/id1509346585?i=1000547310780 Seif Hamid (Oct'20): podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seif-hamid-and-sound-as-a-ny-arab/id1507595726?i=1000495612657 Ramadan (Apr'21): podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ramadan-mubarak-for-us-all/id1507595726?i=1000556141573 Seif + Arab of the Future (Jan'21) podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-arab-of-the-future-vols-1-4-culture-clashes-everywhere/id1516509265?i=1000505705732 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Make the time to scratch beneath the surface in each state. Spending time with the people - in the cities, in the towns, at the restaurants - you're always going to uncover something.” Summer marches on, and we're making plans to get out and about. Hear part TWO of Raman's USA Travel series (from his other pod LEARNINGS FROM LEADERS) - covering the second half of stories and learnings from Raman + co-host Drew's travels across America - from Nebraska to Wyoming. The only way to truly understand all that is this big, wonderful, and diverse country of ours is to get out into it - and go beyond your comfort zone. Be sure to check out part one for more on the United States of Laughter - and Learnings... LEARN MORE BOOK: United States of Laughter (Drew Tarvin): goodreads.com/book/show/36269422-the-united-states-of-laughter SONG: Home (Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeroes):youtube.com/watch?v=DHEOF_rcND8 CO-HOST: drewtarvin.com OTHER POD: pgalums.com/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

”Being a writer is just bloody hard work and passion. It is a kind of madness, which compels you every day to go to say, ‘OK, let's do it again today' “ Manreet Sodhi Someshwar's the author of nine novels - including the Long Walk Home, Radiance of a Thousand Suns, and most recently the Partition Trilogy - a historical fiction novel series which Raman is a BIG fan of. Manreet's  articles and essays have appeared in the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, and the South China Morning Post, among others. She has taught for the New York Public Library and the City College of New York - and she's a former corporate citizen having done stints in Asia, and a parent grappling with the world our kids will inherit. Manreet's recently complete Partition Trilogy - a series of 3 books titled Lahore, Hyderabad, and Kashmir - are a historical fiction set during, before, and immediately after the Partition - and independence of - India and Pakistan of 1947. Partition is among the the great humanitarian disasters of the 20th century - and the largest mass migration in history The history of Partition is a topic near and dear to Raman - and impacts and informs much of what is happening today, in both Asia, and the United States - from the tensions between India and Pakistan, and the rise of nationalism / extremism in our politics around the world. Manreet's unique voice focuses not just on the personal musings of these larger than life historical figures - like India's founding fathers Gandhi & Nehru, but she also breathes life into characters who represent the stats and figures that we sometimes gloss over when we hear of a tragedy (including the role - and subversion of women by history). We talked a lot about the weaponization of history, and how storytelling - and fact-checking - have to work hand in hand. You'll enjoy this candid and thoughtful conversation with Manreet, who's using her creative drive to make a statement for the world today - including the next generation.  LEARN ABOUT MANREET Lahore (book): goodreads.com/en/book/show/59617445 instagram.com/manreetsomeshwar goodreads.com/author/list/265630.Manreet_Sodhi_Someshwar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"It truly is a matter of exploring, discovery, knowing your boundaries - to gradually get there. The key is to keep your eye on the North Star - what is it that makes you come alive?” In this personal conversation from Raman's other podcast “Learnings from Leaders” - Raman chats with Bernice Ang, an Executive Coach who helps senior leaders design a purpose-centered personal brand, enabling them to integrate their work and personal lives so they can thrive, not just survive. Bernice started her career in Brand Management in P&G Asia Pacific. From there, she took on several Global Marketing leadership roles in the US with Coca-Cola, Pepsico, and Mars-Wrigley. Five years ago, Bernice left her corporate career to pursue her dream of becoming an Executive Coach. Today, Bernice is among the top 4% of professional coaches who holds a Master Certified Coach designation, the highest credential awarded by the International Coach Federation. Bernice also helped co-found the P&G Alumni Network Coaching program, ringing together Professionally certified Executive Coaches with proven track records. You'll enjoy this candid and very personal conversation about IKIGAI - the Japanese concept which encourages people to discover what truly matters to them - to live a life filled with purpose and joy. LEARN MORE berniceang.com/ coaching.pgalums.com pgalums.com/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"How do you express what you want in a way that activates you, is unignorable, and automatically aligns your beliefs, your values, and how you show up in the world?” Bonnie Wan knows what it feels like to struggle with burnout and uncertainty about where to go next. As a celebrated advertising strategist she spent years helping brands like Pepsi and BMW get clarity on their values and purpose, but she one day found herself mired and directionless in her own life–a “recovering perfectionist” with a crumbling marriage, a big job, and three young children. So she put her “work brain” to work - and sketched out a creative brief (one of the key tools of the ad trade) for herself, granting clarity on what was missing and what she really wanted in her life. Not only did “the Life Brief” save Bonnie's marriage, recenter her parenting, and catapult her career (she was named Ad Age's Chief Strategy Officer last year)—it has since gone on to help thousands of others through her speaking at Apple, Bain & Co, Change.org, Google, Goop, Jane Goodall's “Activating Hope” Summit, SXSW and more. Her new book — “THE LIFE BRIEF: A Playbook for No-Regrets Living “ — creates a clear guide for anyone to break through life's clutter and create deeper meaning through three simple stages: Get Messy. Get Clear. Get Active. This is a perfect conversation to help so many of us who seem to “have it all” yet feel restless or rudderless.  LEARN ABOUT BONNIE Thelifebrief.com BOOK: goodreads.com/en/book/show/176443602   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Some have to carry more weight than others - everybody's got to do their part to try to lighten their load." Linda Clement-Holmes served as P&G's Chief Diversity Officer AND P&G's Chief Information Officer - significantly elevating early efforts in corporate Diversity & Inclusion. Starting as a systems analyst in 1983, Linda has led a global career as an “executive of firsts” - the first Black female Senior VP, and later President. Linda's been named one of Computerworld's Premier 100 IT Leaders, Black Enterprise magazine's Top Executives, and Working Mother's “Working Mothers of the Year,” among many other honors. Linda is an active active Board leader among many business and community organizations, is a graduate of Purdue University, and a proud mother of two accomplished sons. In this candid conversation about authenticity and courage, Linda speaks about her personal - and professional - experiences in race, and comments on the unique moment we face today. Linda shares how she works everyday to lighten the load of others, and gets everyone to do their part.  For Black History Month, we're sharing conversations from Raman's other podcast “Learnings from Leaders” where we have candid mentorship style conversations - with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, many of whom are alums of Procter & Gamble - where many industry leaders got their start with a foundation of purpose, values, and principles.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Making improvements is challenging. But we can't give up and we've got to learn how to do it better.” “Speak, engage, help, be helped. Be part of society. Be an optimist towards the fact that people can change, that people can learn.”  John Pepper and Ursula Burns sit down for a candid conversation on race, understanding and the state of our society's devolving discourse. Ursula Burns was one of Americas first Black female CEOs, and John Pepper was the former Chairman of both P&G and the Walt Disney Company. This is a conversation among two of corporate America's most celebrated CEOS - longtime friends - have been having for years - and wanted to bring us along for the journey.  For Black History Month, we're sharing conversations from Raman's other podcast “Learnings from Leaders” where we have candid mentorship style conversations - with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, many of whom are alums of Procter & Gamble - where many industry leaders got their start with a foundation of purpose, values, and principles.  LEARN MORE John Pepper: https://pepperspectives.blogspot.com/ Ursula Burns: https://hbr.org/2021/07/im-here-because-im-as-good-as-you Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Don't take the straight ladder, go up and across to build your toolkit.” Najoh Tita-Reid is a Black leader of marketing reinvention who's maintained feet on both sides of the world - literally. Najoh spent many years as a Black American living in Europe with her husband and two kids. Najoh's worked across in multinational roles across leading brands like Mars, Logitech, Hero, Bayer, and Merck, after having spent 19 years at P&G - rising through the ranks of marketing and sales. Najoh earned an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a BA in English from Spelman College. She also completed the Executive Leadership Program at IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Woman's Executive Leadership Program at Simmons University and the Design Thinking program at the Stanford School of Design. As a member of The Executive Leadership Council, she serves on the International Steering Committee and the Community Service Committee. Najoh's a longtime mentee of John Pepper (P&G + Disney's former Chairman) who first made the introduction - and you'll enjoy this candid conversation from the perspective of an American on the outside looking in. For Black History Month, we're sharing conversations from Raman's other podcast “Learnings from Leaders” where we have candid mentorship style conversations - with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, many of whom are alums of Procter & Gamble - where many industry leaders got their start with a foundation of purpose, values, and principles.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"People are willing to risk a lot to show their support for our freedoms." Ed Rigaud was the first President & CEO of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which pays tribute to all efforts to abolish human enslavement and secure freedom for all people. This conversation's actually from June of 2020, when we were in the midst of a long overdue conversation about race in America. It was a great chat about coming up as a Black professional in the 60s and 70s, and a reflection on where we are today.  Ed was P&G's second-ever Black Vice President - spanning a 36-year career at the company in 1965 - during which he was the R&D Technical Brand Manager who helped create Pringles. Ed was later the first Black co-owner + lead investor of the Cincinnati Reds, as well as CEO of EnovaPremier, and CEO of Legacy Acquisition. Ed has served on numerous company boards, has received appointments from the Governor of Ohio, and a sitting US President. He's a husband, father, grandfather, accomplished artist and guitar player. In this candid conversation on race, work, and life - Ed shares his thoughts as a Black man growing up in Louisiana, rising through the ranks of corporate America in the 60s and 70s, and reflections on the current climate. Ed believes that his number one mission is to help those who have been consistently under-represented to achieve higher levels of freedom…especially in the areas of education, economic empowerment, and inclusion. For Black History Month, we're sharing conversations from Raman's other podcast “Learnings from Leaders” where we have candid mentorship style conversations - with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, many of whom are alums of Procter & Gamble - where many industry leaders got their start with a foundation of purpose, values, and principles.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I used to have this dream where I would be laying down, looking up, about to die - I used to make all my decisions -  how I dress, how I presented myself to be opposite of that because I didn't want that to happen for me.” Kris Stith is a DC native who has won awards in photography, painting, and podcasting. He is now freelancing as an Art Director / Creative Director in Los Angeles. Previously, he was an Art Director at AFSCME, and creative consultant for NAACP. He has always been a twin (double the trouble, double the flavor). In addition, Kris is the co-hosts of Beyond Hood and Evil, a comedic podcast about the Black experience exploring the themes of community, responsibility, professionalism and ethics as it relates to making it out the hood.Creatively, Kris aspires to deliver quality solutions for even the most nebulous asks. Using tangibility, transparency, and traction as his foundational principles Kris has been able to engage and activate audiences for some of America's most trusted institutions and emerging brands. Kris' Clients and collaborators include: NAACP, NFLPA, AFL-CIO, the Biden Campaign, the Clinton Campaign, Intuit, JP Morgan Chase, AFSCME, the Democracy Alliance, Color of Change, International Association for the Study of Pain, UNAC, NUHHCE, the Mussar Institute, American University, Mimconnect, Fighting for Our Vote, ONE / OFF, the Dap Project, the Pinkline Project among others. LEARN ABOUT KRIS stithworks.com behance.net/KStithWorks instagram.com/Kris.Stith beyondhoodandevil.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The book was originally a memoir about coming to America - my history and how it connects to what's happening right now. Trump sounds just like the things Castro said — this is pretty dangerous.” Edel Rodriguez is a Cuban American artist, activist and author who's created more than 200 magazine covers for the likes of Time, The New Yorker, Newsweek and Der Spiegel - which are singular and striking given our current political climate. Edel's latest work is the graphic memoir "Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey" - telling the story of his childhood in Cuba and his family's decision in 1980 to join a hazardous flotilla of refugees, the Mariel boatlift. This may be one of the best (comic) books Raman read in 2023, so naturally we reached out for a chat.  In WORM - which is a term Castro used for Cubans who chose to leave the country - Edel uses his own life to capture what it's like to grow up under an authoritarian government and to sound a caution - from the runup to the 2016 US election to January 6, 2020 — to the future we are facing THIS election year. In our conversation we go deep into - and beyond Edel's personal story - to get at the why for his activism and storytelling approach... LEARN ABOUT EDEL edelr.com BOOK: Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey - goodreads.com/en/book/show/57771211 COVERS: https://illoz.com/edel/portfolios/Magazine-Covers/ instagram.com/edelrodriguezstudio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We don't understand people we disagree with, and being challenged by the news is something people find refreshing. I figured I couldn't be the only person out there who wanted that — and it turns out I'm not.” So it's a new year, and it's going to be an interesting one, so what better way to start 2024 by an introduction to a different perspective? Longtime FrieMMd of the Pod Rajiv Satyal - beyond being a world-class entertainer and comedian - also hosts the TanGent show, featuring conversations from fields of entertainment, politics, business, religion, and tech. Rajiv recently sat down with journalist Isaac Saul, whose newsletter and podcast TANGLE NEWS is an increasingly relevant source of independent, non-partisan source summarizing the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day. Rajiv and Isaac covered a lot of topics including the political makeup of Tangle's audience, and how our news sources really dictate our outlook and discourse. It's a down the middle approach that might give you some pause. So wherever you're coming from, we hope you'll enjoy this candid conversation about how and where we get our news for a very important year to come... LEARN MORE Tangle News: ReadTangle.com Isaac Saul: isaacsaul.com Rajiv Satyal: rajivsatyal.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As 2023 comes to a close, we revisited some of our favorite moments from all this past year's Modern Minorities conversations this past year. Minority voices for ALL of our majority ears. Heard someone you liked? Be sure to go back and check out any of our past episodes, leave us a 5-star review on Apple/Spotify, and send us a note about your favorite MMoment — it keeps up going: himom@modmypod.com ...so grab a (final) drink for the year, share with a friend (or three), and remember, we're ALL Modern Minorities.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“People are interconnected in India, there's an interdependence that doesn't exist here — a connectedness, togetherness.” To continue our chat on India ahead of Raman's return trip, we connected with his other “Learning from Leaders” podcast co-hosts Sharad Lal and Rajiv Satyal. Sharad is speaker and coach based in Singapore who Raman worked with in Asia a lifetime ago, and Rajiv is a longtime FrieMMd of the pod - and a stand-up comic and entertainer in Los Angeles. In recent years both have done a ton of work on the subcontinent, so had a unique professional and perspective we couldn't miss. India's gone through more change in recent decades than the west has in a century. India isn't just a modern superpower - it's becoming a geopolitical swing vote - and of course there's all the cultural wonder and awe folks have romanticized over the years, but now also with all the social and political growing pains one would expect from such a...colorful country. By chatting with some old friends, we hope to get a better feel for what to expect... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“India just, it's so drastic, the gap between those who have and those who don't. But they also have a lot of joy. There's billions who live in fundamentally different ways from how we live and you can't get a sense of that until you're around it.” Ahead of Raman's return to India - his first time back in nearly two decades - he wanted to reconnect with some childhood friends - Barun Singh and Sonali Kulkarni. Barun is a tech and sustainability entrepreneur, and Sonali is a physician and public health advocate. India's gone through more change in recent decades than the west has in a century. India isn't just a modern superpower - it's becoming a geopolitical swing vote - and of course there's all the cultural wonder and awe folks have romanticized over the years, but now also with all the social and political growing pains one would expect from such a...colorful country. By chatting with some old friends, we hope to get a better feel for what to expect... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Seek things that challenge you to think differently, in a new and better way. Seek to understand and empower the people closest to the real knowledge source, the people that do the work every day. Instead of being right, do right.” David Taylor & A.G. Lafley are two of P&G's Emeritus CEOs, who joined Raman on-stage at the recent recent P&G Alumni Global Conference in Washington DC for a candid conversation going beyond their personal stories - or even the stories of the day - to discuss their approaches to some of the broad challenges we have to face together, to meet the moment. This is NOT a Modern Minorities conversation. Raman's third podcast (not about comics) is “Learnings from Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast” (pgalums.com/podcast) - where Raman and his P&G Alumni pals sit down with top leaders in business about not just their professional experiences, but their purpose, values, and principles in their personal lives Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices