Nuances: Beyond first impressions with the Asian diaspora

See full show notes for references & additional info. Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Ep. 8: For the Record Introduction & content warnings We were here Other sources than official records Power in numbers Who's missing? Official vs unofficial stance on queerness Court documents Decolonizing history Porn, erotic art Conclusion Discussion with co-host Dr. Izat El Amoor Outro Did you enjoy this episode?

Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Content warnings Introduction Performing gender in Indonesia, Philippines, Japan Cross-dressing in theater in Korea, China, India, Japan Gender bender icons from China, Vietnam, Korea Gender boundaries in premodern China, Japan and Iran Conclusion Discussion with co-host Stella Gold Did you enjoy this episode?

Your host LAZOU is a chronically ill girlie and is dealing with a lot of brain fog and fatigue these last 2 weeks, so episode 7 will be out next week. Don't worry, I'm fine, I just need rest. However, I do have something to share in the meantime, and that's a feed drop of my interview on the show Immigrantly. Feed drops are a way we podcasters collaborate and introduce our audiences to each other's show because our shows share common interests.  If you enjoy Nuances: Our Asian Stories, you will likely also enjoy Saadia Khan's work with Immigrantly.  Follow Immigrantly on your favorite podcast platform here. If you don't already, you can follow @nuancespod on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, Threads and BlueSky. Does anyone use BlueSky?    

Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series of Nuances: Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Introduction & content warnings China & the missionaries China, Britain, and the Opium Wars Japan, gun boat diplomacy, and rapid modernization Thailand, Iran, Turkey Regulating prostitution Conclusion Discussion with co-host Cece Acknowledgments Guest co-host: Cece is a Canadian born Chinese transgender trans model, advocate, poet, and public speaker who is using her voice to lift up the marginalized, fill in the gaps, and instigate journeys of discovery Did you enjoy this episode?

Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Introduction & content warnings Why is this series focusing on premodern Asia? The West isn't the only imperial power From the Silk Road to the Age of Exploration British colonization of India, Section 377 & vagrancy Laws Premodern Chinese law about sexual crimes (w. Prof. CunCun Wu) Portuguese vs British India (w. Prof. Anjali Arondekar) Spanish colonization of the Philippines French colonization of Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos Discussion with co-host Stella Acknowledgments Guest co-host: Stella is a writer, editor, and co-host for the Brazn Azn podcast along with the lovely Virginia Duan.  Did you enjoy this episode?

This week's feed drop will have familiar voices!  Remember Karen Zheng, who co-hosted Ep. 2 But Where Are The Lesbians? with me? Well, this time she's interviewing me on her podcast, Mx Asian American!

Did you enjoy the last episode "5. Gods, Sex and the Patriarchy"? I'll be back with episode 6 of Queering Premodern Asia very soon! A new opportunity to interview another scholar came up and I couldn't pass it up. I think it would greatly add to the remaining episodes, hence the wait. But I didn't want to leave you hanging so in the meantime, I'm doing a few feed swaps with podcasts that I think you might enjoy if you're enjoying this series.    Warning: this episode has explicit content and is definitely not suitable for work or young ears.   We've been focusing on premodern queer history on this show, but the Fruitbowl podcast is an oral history of queer sex today. The first 4 seasons of fruitbowl were interviews with queer individuals sharing their coming of age stories and their journey discovering their sexual identity. The current season is a compilation of the past interviews that outline the common threads in these diverse stories. The episode I'm sharing today is S2E2 with Aditya who grew up in India, and eventually moved to NYC.   Episode description: Raised in Hyderbad, India, Aditya didn't come out until his second year of college in New Delhi. Luckily his family and friends accepted him, but an awkward experience he had at a bath house in Hong Kong served as a reminder that queer people can often be as racist and socially elitist as straight people. Over the years, Aditya has learned to follow his instincts as he has navigated his journey from India to New York City. It hasn't been easy, but he eventually found his tribe.  If you enjoy this episode, feel free to subscribe to Fruitbowl wherever you listen or connect with them on Instagram.   NUANCES CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou Subscribe to Lazou's Substack

If you enjoy this show and would like to help me spread the word about it, or support it financially, you can find out more at ⁠nuancespod.com/support⁠. View the full show notes⁠⁠. Subscribe to ⁠LAZOU's substack⁠. GUEST BIO Shreya Sharma, pronouns she and her, is a podcast marketer by day who finds herself immersed in questions about intersectional identity by night. Thankfully for her, she is a writer too. She occasionally publishes her love affairs with sounds and audio on the Shreya's Audio Affairs newsletter on Substack.. Instagram CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and 5th season of the podcast Nuances: Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. 4. LOVE, MARRIAGE & THEIR CASUAL RELATIONSHIP Introduction & content warnings Marrying for love China China - Male-Male marriages in Fujian China - Marrying ghosts Iran - the many forms of love How the definition of love and marriage evolved in Korea and Japan Vietnamese village customs Female agency in South East Asia (Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines The only people without marriage When did love and marriage tie the knot? Discussion with Dr. Badie What monogamous people can learn from polyamorous folks Outro If you enjoy this show and would like to help me spread the word about it, or support it financially, you can find out more at nuancespod.com/support If you'd like to leave a review, these are the places you can do so write a review GUEST BIO Dr. Manijeh Badiee (she/her/hers) is an Iranian, queer, bisexual, polyamorous, neurospicy, cisgender femme professor, psychologist, and CEO of Poly Therapist Psychology Corporation.. Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Web CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

See the FULL SHOW NOTES for references, links & more. Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Introduction & content warnings Third Gender as spiritual leaders/ people with special powers Asog Babaylans (Philippines) Manangbali (Malaysian Borneo) Hijras (South Asia) Bissu (South Sulawesi, Indonesia) Bayasa (Central Sulawesi, Indonesia) RatoNale/Seaworm Priest (West Sumba, Indonesia) Balian and Basir (Kalimantan, Indonesia) Sexuality as fluid Chigo (Japan) Beyond the Western model Gay & Lesbian non-equivalence Baklâ (Philippines) Heterosexuals and Lesbians in Thailand vs. the West Kathoey (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia) Gender ambiguity in premodern Muslim societies 5 genders of the Bugis culture (Indonesia) Intersex Outro Discussion with TONIE Featured Song: More Than My Body by TONIE Guest scholars: Sachi Schmidt-Hori, professor of Japanese literature & culture at Dartmouth College. Wu CunCun, ⁠⁠professor of Chinese literature at the University of Hong Kong⁠⁠. Guest co-host TONIE is doing their very best to make you cry, in all the best ways. The LA-native writes and produces each synth-pop track from the comfort of their skylit home studio in Brooklyn, NY — a perfect backdrop for the emotional vulnerability that colors their lyrics. Proudly Vietnamese American, nonbinary, and themselves! TONIE can be reached on Instagram & TikTok and their website Itstonie.com Connect with Nuances: Our Asian Stories on Instagram, TikTok, Threads or YouTube --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Introduction & content warnings China – Literacy as a barrier (Prof. Wu) China – Li Yu's "The Fragrant Companion" (read by Karen) China – Lesbian consort in the Ming dynasty (Prof. Wu) China – Wu Zao China – Golden Orchid Societies Korea – Deposed Crown Princess Sun Bin Japan – Lesbian sex toys Iran – The cross-dressed woman (Niloofar Rasooli) Discussion with Karen References - in the shownotes on nuancespod.com Episode transcript: COMING SOON Guest scholar:  Niloofar Rasooli, doctoral fellow at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Wu CunCun, ⁠professor of Chinese literature at the University of Hong Kong⁠. Guest co-host bio: Karen Zheng is a first-generation, queer, Chinese-American poet. Her poetry has been featured in Sine Theta Magazine, Honey Literary, Benningham Review, Harbor Review and elsewhere. She has received fellowships from the Breadloaf Writers' Conference, Roots. Wounds. Words, Chicago Storystudio, and The Poetry Lab. She has been a finalist for Harbor Review's Washburn Chapbook Prize. In her free time, she hosts the Mx. Asian American podcast and Tucked in Bed podcast. Find out more about her on her website and listen to Mx. Asian American here and here.  You can also follow us on all social media: @nuancespod --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Ep. 1: In search of Prince Charming and his King Introduction & content warnings Official records (Prof. Wu) China - The Half-eaten peach (read by Edmond) China - Lord Longyang (read by Edmond) China - Passion of the cut sleeve China - Duke Jing (read by Prof. Wu) Korea - King Mokjong & King Gongmin Vietnam - King Khai Dinh Pakistan - Shah Hussain & Madhu Laal Discussion with Edmond - thoughts on the stories Discussion with Edmond - cultural significance Discussion with Edmond - queerness & our Asian parents Beyond the gentry class (prof. Wu) Episode transcript: COMING SOON Guest scholar: Wu CunCun, professor of Chinese literature at the University of Hong Kong. She specializes in gender & sexuality in late Imperial Chinese literature and culture. She is widely published in both English and Chinese. Guest co-host bio: Corpus Christi, Texas native Edmond Chan (Historical violin family instruments) has performed with many early music ensembles and orchestras in the United States, Europe, and Hong Kong, some of which include Tempesta di Mare: Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra, Brandywine Baroque, the Dryden Ensemble, the Washington National Cathedral Baroque Orchestra, Holland Baroque, l'arte del mondo Köln, and the Early Music Society of Hong Kong. He is first prize winner in the 2022 International Clara Schumann Competition, and second prize winner in the 2022 France Music Competition. Edmond holds a master's degree in Baroque violin from the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht: Utrechts Conservatorium in the Netherlands where he studied with Antoinette Lohmann. His master's thesis entitled “The Fashionable Violinist: Fashion and How to Hold the Violin in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries” explores the relationship between 17th and 18th century clothing and period violin performance, and how this relationship can better inform historical violinists (and historical musicians in general) on performance practice techniques. Edmond also holds an Artist's Certificate in Baroque violin from the Koninklijk Conservatorium den Haag where he studied with Kati Debretzeni and Walter Reiter. Edmond has taught and lectured at conservatories and universities in Europe and the United States along with workshops in Ecuador and Hong Kong. When Edmond is not teaching, performing, or continuing his research into historical clothing, he enjoys cooking, swimming, running, going on bike rides, and playing board/card/computer games with friends and family. @brqvlnfoodie on  Instagram | TikTok --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Full transcript here | Support the show here. In search of our queer Asian roots The idea for this series came about a year ago, inspired by my interviews with the queer Asian community. Many of the guests shared a desire to connect more with their culture, but also a feeling of being rejected by it because of their queerness, like Cece S1 E07⁠ Queer representation in the media has primarily centered white narratives which is often not relatable to queer Asian folks, like Josh explains in S1 E06 A lot of families see queerness as a Western concept that is incompatible with their Asian heritage or cultural tradition, especially the part of our culture that expects us to get married and have kids. Like Travis says on S3 E06 My queer guests also often feel like queer spaces aren't safe for them, as those are typically very white spaces and often have very overt anti-Asian sentiment. Edmond talks about this in S1 E08 Another issue our queer Asian community faces is fetishization, as well as misogyny in their Asian family circles. Like Sally, S1 E09 For some of my guests, it was religion, more specifically Christianity, that made it hard for their parents to accept their queerness. Like Dani S3 E05 A common theme I also picked up in those conversations is how lonely it was for them as young people trying to navigate their queerness. Like Tonie S1 E03 I was really struck by how little I knew of these experiences. As a straight woman, I lived decades completely oblivious of these experiences. But the more I heard, the more I wanted to encourage my fellow straight folks to be curious, to care, and to engage with these stories.  One day, I was scrolling on TikTok when I saw a video about how in 1651, there was a Chinese play that featured lesbian characters. It immediately piqued my interest. If that story was out there in a hit play in 1651, what else is out there? Could history bridge the gap between our current diasporic existence and conversations that seem too futuristic for our parents? More importantly, what if we could validate the idea that queerness and cultural pride are not alien concepts, but in fact intertwined in our past?  And thus began my journey.  For my Queer Asian listeners, my hope is that this series will help you feel more connected to your Asian roots, and bring hope & healing as you laugh and cry with us on this journey.  For my fellow straight folks, I hope it makes you curious to learn more. Because I don't think creating a society that is more inclusive of queer folks should fall squarely on our queer community's shoulders. In a society where cis-hetero folks like us are the norm, we'd get much further if more of us pitched in. And we can start by listening. And for the activists and educators listening, I hope this series helps you reflect on the language you use in your activism, whether it perpetuates orientalist tropes, and how we might do better together.  Episodes: 1. In search of Prince Charming (and his King)  2. But Where are the lesbians?  3. 50 Shades of Gender 4. Love, marriage & their casual relationship  5. Gods, sex, and the patriarchy  6. The West: savior or demonizer?  The LGBTQIA+ terms, often doesn't map quite neatly onto other cultures or eras. In the West, queerness is seen as part of your core identity.  But this was not the case in premodern Asia at all. Who you slept with did not put you in a different “gay” category. We think of Lesbians as the female version of Gays. That equivalence also didn't exist. In some cultures, the English language doesn't have the appropriate terms to describe their gender constructs. I learned so much from researching this series and I can't wait for you to go on that journey too.  Queering Premodern Asia drops on June 2nd, 2024.  Hosted by @itslazou, featuring queer Asian guest co-hosts and scholars. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or go to nuancespod.com to learn more. You can also follow us on all social media: @nuancespod --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

My gender identity and who I'm attracted to is nature, right?  Well, actually it's complicated.  Everything I thought I knew about love, gender and sexuality has been turned upside down. Hi, my name is LAZOU and I'm the host of Nuances: Our Asian Stories. Typically it's an interview show but I'm switching things up for season 5 with a limited series called Queering Premodern Asia. Why? Because before the modern era, there was a LOT of sexual diversity in Asia. But I bet your Asian parents didn't know that. How do I know? ¼ of my interviews were with queer Asians and one theme that often came up is feeling a disconnect with their Asian culture because queerness is taboo in their family. But being queer wasn't always taboo in Asia and there's a lot of research to back this up. It's all out there but unless you're in that field, you probably don't know about it. This is where this series comes in.  Prof. Wu CunCun: “We have 24 official Chinese history and 23 have special catalog about the emperor's male favorite” There's the prince charmings and the Kings who adored them in China, Vietnam, and Korea, dating back to 500 BC. There's the premodern Japanese version of BTS that had monks wrapped around their *cough* finger. The sufi poet and his lover who became one and are still celebrated every year with a festival in pakistan. A lesbian play written in China in 1651. Cross-dressing women in premodern Iran. Korean princesses who slept with their maids. Gender fluid deities in the Philippines and India. There's even a god of same sex love in China. There's so many stories and I can't wait for you to hear them.  Join me and my queer guest host to uncover the hidden roots of our queer Asian history. Whether you're straight like me or queer, I promise you it will be fascinating.  Queering Premodern Asia drops on June 2nd, 2024.  Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or go to nuancespod.com to learn more. You can also follow us on all social media: @nuancespod --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIODr. Sophia Yen is a Co-Founder of Pandia Health, expert online women's hormonal healthcare: from birth control to menopause and more. She graduated MIT, UCSF Medical School, and UC Berkeley with an MPH. With 20+ years in medicine, she's also a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford Medical School in Adolescent Medicine. Her passion is making women's lives better She's also the Mother of 2 future sheheroes and wife of a feminist. Taiwanese-American married to a Korean-American (feel free to cut the last 2 lines or edit as you will). Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Web MENTIONEDPlan C Pills - Abortion AccessInequality in Maternal OutcomesMaternity leave in MexicoMaternity leave in CanadaMaternity leave in the U.S.Dr. Rebecca Gomperts from the NetherlandsCalculate your BMITAKEAWAYSSex Ed is more than just "how to not get pregnant". And. Ladies, you deserve satisfaction too. Emergency contraception: Plan B only works well if your BMI is

For more detailed shownotes including transcripts, go to nuancespod.com If you enjoy this show and would like to show some love, go to nuancespod.com/support ABOUT THIS EPISODE Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month! Wow, that was a mouthful. Who's idea was it to group us all together in such a long acronym? It's a long story but let me know if you'd like me to do a deep dive on that next time. If you're in Canada, Happy Asian Heritage Month. At least the Canadians knew scope creep was a thing.  TOPICS: Unequal representation in AANHPI celebrations. Why May? Intersectionality: Asian Settler Colonialism. Upcoming series on "queerness" in premodern Asia. Episode recommendations that feature underrepresented Asian perspectives. EPISODES FEATURED Kiran Kaur Gill (Sikh American) S3 E08: Kiran Kaur Gill on fighting Turban Myths with occupationally relevant training programs at the TSA, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies. Dani Saldo (Queer Filipino Canadian) S3 E05: Dani Saldo is a hot, talented, disabled bisexual pop-star on the rise, who had to break up with her old (able-bodied) self. Rita Phetmixay (Lao American) S3 E09: Rita Phetmixay: No such thing as boundaries in Asian culture – the Lao diaspora, owning the narrative, and healing intergenerational trauma with compassion. Soo Jin Lee (Korean American) S4 E1: Soo Jin Lee was never told she was undocumented, but she somehow knew. Also: therapy isn't the only way to heal. Manijeh Moradian (Iranian American) S3 E03: Dr. Manijeh Moradian on why Iran isn't always considered part of Asia, and how the West may be misinterpreting what Iranians truly want out of the current feminist revolution Travis Nguyen (Vietnamese American) S3 E06: Travis Nguyen, interpreter & translator, on working with the deaf & deaf/blind communities, how intergenerational trauma manifests in day-to-day life, and more. Qasim Rashid (Pakistani American) S2 E4: Qasim Rashid on how Islam inspires him to advocate for women, for the poor, and even for his haters, and how he remains focused in a world full of injustice. AUSLIN (Hmong American) S1 E05: AUSLIN, the artist supermom who's breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma she experienced as a Hmong American growing up in Wisconsin. Offering Rain (Queer Ecuadorian and Indian American) S2 E09: Offering Rain on reclaiming their Ecuadorian and Indian roots as a mixed-raced multimedia artist, and the importance of early access to the arts to increase diversity in the creative fields. Rahul Borkar (Indian American) S1 E02: Rahul Borkar on being a music artist and producer from Louisville, KY Scott Okamoto (Japanese American) S3 E07: Scott Okamoto on losing faith and becoming an English professor at an evangelical school. Cece Chow (Trans Chinese Canadian) S4 E07: Trans Day of Visibility special with Cece Chow & her son Gideon – the wholesome Asian trans representation you needed to hear. NEXT WEEK I'll be back with episode recs for mothers day but also a new guest, Dr. Sophia Yen! We'll be talking about women's health, making periods optional, best to worst methods of contraception, menopause, and what is missing from sex education.  MENTIONED Essay by Chinese Hawaiian Asians & Asian Settler Colonialism in Hawaii USA: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month Canada: Asian Heritage Month CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

If you enjoy this show and would like to help me spread the word about it, or support it financially, you can find out more at nuancespod.com/support GUEST BIO Jenny is a professional chef and food writer, researcher, and educator who studies food as the foundation for human meaning-making and identity formation. She holds a Master of Education from Harvard University and is currently a Fulbright-National Geographic Fellow in Singapore, researching food security in the context of hawker centres. Jenny is an IACP-winning photographer, James Beard Awards-nominated writer, and has been named an industry Game Changer by Food & Wine and a Trailblazing Activist by the World's 50 Best. In pre-pandemic 2020, she also gave a TEDx titled, How Food Can Be A Source of Identity, Intimacy, and Vulnerability.. Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Web MENTIONED Reem's Billie Eilish's book flops Jenny's TEDx Talk TAKEAWAYS The people we advocate for should be the ones dictating what advocacy looks like for their cause. Food is inherently political. Most books don't sell well - something to keep in mind if you're going to invest time and energy writing one. The U.S. has many of the pieces that could be leveraged for a more equitable future but we've been brainwashed to fear socialism. Aligning our business practices with our values can have significant positive impact within our own spheres of influence. Immigrant parents often struggle with their kids choosing a career that isn't seen as "moving up in the world" and while their fears around financial stability are understandable, there is an element of classism there that we need to acknowledge and work on. Recipes using grams are much easier to replicate accurately than those using cups and arbitrary units like "one onion". The US gallon isn't the same as the Imperial gallon. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIO Gideon is a 17 year old Canadian high school student, raised by two mothers. He strives to provide a balanced youthful perspective; formed from his diverse friend group and unique life experience. He's spent 12 years studying Mandarin under a Mandarin bilingual program and 3 years studying French whilst speaking Cantonese and English at home. Throughout all his studies he has been exposed and connected to many different East-Asian and North American cultures and holds it as a central part of his identity. MENTIONED S4 E07: Trans Day of Visibility special with Cece Chow & her son Gideon – the wholesome Asian trans representation you needed to hear. GDPR TikTok Ban CONTACT ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠Web⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠ Featured Song Bloom Without Me by LAZOU --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Today is Trans Day of Visibility (March 31). I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than to share this wholesome portrait of Cece Chow, an Asian trans woman who transitioned later in life, with support from their ex-spouse and kids, and who finally feels at home in her own body. GUEST BIO Cece Chow is an autistic, ADHD, disabled, Canadian born Chinese trans woman, parent, model, and transgender rights advocate. She strongly believes that representation changes lives and is dedicated to creating positive Asian trans representation so that trans kiddos will see a future for themselves and so that adults who grew up the way she did will see that it is possible to come out later in life and find joy in authenticity. Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn DEFINITIONS Gender dysphoria: A sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity. This sense of unease or dissatisfaction may be so intense it can lead to depression and anxiety and have a harmful impact on daily life. CPTSD: Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) can result from experiencing chronic trauma, such as prolonged child abuse or domestic violence. It's closely related to PTSD and borderline personality disorder. MENTIONED Cece's S1 E07 episode What anti-trans bills passed in 2024? (US) 66% of NYT stories about trans issues failed to quote a trans person Alberta restrictions on transgender youth access to care CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

If you enjoy this show and would like to help me spread the word about it, or support it financially, you can find out more at nuancespod.com/support GUEST BIO Prof. Sachi Schmidt-Hori is interested in investigating how gender, sexuality, corporeality, and power are represented and negotiated in pre-seventeenth-century Japanese narratives and illustrations. Her first book, Tales of Idolized Boys: Male-Male Love in Medieval Japanese Narratives (University of Hawai`i Press, 2021) is on medieval chigo monogatari (Buddhist acolyte tales), which often depict romantic relationships between Buddhist priests and adolescent boys. These tales challenge a host of normative and moral standards we (academics, especially) internalize, including such ideas as "sexual orientation," "transgenerational sex," and "sexual agency." Her current project is on the literary representations of "milk kinships" in pre-seventeenth Japanese tales, in cluding the Tale of Ochikubo, the Tale of Genji, the Tales of the Heike. She is also the director of the Springboard Japan Project, a multi-purpose open-access forum for Japan Studies. Web MENTIONED YOASOBI (J-Pop duo) The Tale of Ochikubo (Ochikubo Monogatari) The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) Tales of Idolized Boys: Male-Male Love in Medieval Japanese Buddhist Narratives TAKEAWAYS The equation of your career/life choices is for you to solve. It doesn't have to make sense to anyone else if it makes sense for you. You can seek out spaces where being you is a plus instead of a minus. Don't settle. If you're not a white man, emulating white men probably won't help. Be goofy :-) Language shapes our discussions. Identity is seen as static, whereas actions are choices that we could change in the future, not immutable character traits. How integrity is perceived is one of many things that can vary widely outside the West. In Japan, parenting is about taming the child's ego. In the U.S., parenting is about nurturing the child's ego. Do not talk to cats and babies in Japan. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

If you enjoy this show and would like to help me spread the word about it, or support it financially, you can find out more at nuancespod.com/supportGUEST BIOEr-Gene is a Korean-American violinist and college professor who lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas. As an immigrant, she was always interested in assimilation as a survival strategy until she discovered Florence Price, the first Black American woman composer whose compositions were performed by major symphony orchestras. Since then, she has championed Price's music and continues to investigate ways classical music can participate in global conversations around diversity, social justice, and equity.. Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | Web MENTIONEDFlorence PriceEr-Gene Kahng performing Florence Price's concertosRandall GoosbyDoenjang JjigaeTAKEAWAYSPeople from so-called progressive states like California often make assumptions about the South but fail to realize the same issues exist at home.Exposure to classical music early and ability to afford lessons is a key determinant of one's chances of making it into an orchestra. Diversity efforts need to start there.History is far from static because it only shows the perspective of those who wrote it. Whose perspective might have been left out?To be in community is not only to receive, but also to give back. CONTACTInstagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | TwitterHost: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

If you enjoy this show and would like to help me spread the word about it, or support it financially, you can find out more at nuancespod.com/supportGUEST BIOEdward Yoo Pokropski is one of the Executive Producers of the Asian Comedy Fest and Emmy Nominated Senior Writer/Producer at NBCUniversal. He is also a comedian touring his storytelling show, Case 84: Adopted in the U.S.A.. The show touches on how the media shapes our view and misconceptions about adoption. . Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Web MENTIONEDAlso-Known-As (AKA)Case 84: Adopted in the USA in Minneapolis 3/23/24TAKEAWAYSEveryone has an accent. Part of decentering whiteness is to no longer center certain types of accents and look down on othersIt's better to try, fail, and do better next time, than to not do anything at all. We don't make choices based on whether it's an Asian thing to do. Breaking the mold or fitting into a stereotype is often not the intention driving our choices, but a side effect of being ourselves.When we have limited time to to tell a story, we build on existing understandings as a shortcut. We just gotta make sure that those foundation pieces are solid.Writing for kids is a lot harder than it sounds. You have to be family friendly, educational, and still exciting and fun.There's never been a better time to create art.CONTACTInstagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | TwitterHost: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

If you enjoy this show and would like to help me spread the word about it, or support it financially, you can find out more at nuancespod.com/support GUEST BIO Ryan Alexander Holmes [何仁安] is an actor and content creator based out of Los Angeles, CA. Having garnered a sizable presence on social media by using his platform to embrace his mixed Chinese/African American background through comedic story telling and poignant writings about his family's perseverance, Ryan has made it his goal to encourage others of mixed ethnic/cultural backgrounds to fully embrace who they are and to show the world there is unimaginable strength in discovering harmony in multiculturalism. His acting credits include For the People on ABC, Dear White People on Netflix, The Morning Show on AppleTV+ and Back on The Strip, where he stars alongside Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes. Instagram | TikTok DEFINITIONS D.A.R.E.: Drug Abuse Resistance Education is a program in which police officers make visits to elementary school classrooms, warning children that drugs are harmful and should be refused. It was created as a part of Reagan's so-called war on drugs initiative. Its effectiveness is highly contested and some studies show it can be counterproductive. TAKEAWAYS If you are Asian, then you look Asian. Just like if you are American, then you look American. It is not our job to educate white people about their racist behavior. It is our job to hold our own community accountable by having non-judgmental conversations about racism that is embedded in our culture. If you're an artist, then you create art, people see themselves reflected in it, and it makes them feel connected to other humans. That's pretty magical if you think about it. Keeping in mind that the industry is a box can be helpful to remember when your art doesn't fit in. How can we celebrate our cultures in more inclusive ways that don't implicitly put others down? How do we decolonize our culture? CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIO Paul Y. Song is an MD, entrepreneur and health activist. He is currently CEO of NKGen Biotech. Dr. Song served as the very first visiting fellow on healthcare policy in the California Department of Insurance in 2013. His last clinical role was Asst. Professor at the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He currently serves on several boards including: the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago Mercy Corps, The Center for Health and Democracy, Gideon's Promise, and Progressive Democrats of America. Dr. Song graduated with honors from the University of Chicago and received his M.D. degree from George Washington University. He completed his residency in radiation oncology at the University of Chicago.. Instagram DEFINITIONS Single-payer healthcare: A type of universal healthcare in which the costs of essential healthcare for all residents are covered by a single public system (hence "single-payer"). Single-payer systems may contract for healthcare services from private organizations (as is the case in Canada) or may own and employ healthcare resources and personnel (as is the case in the United Kingdom). Medicare: A government national health insurance program in the United States. It primarily provides health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older, as well as for disabled people. MENTIONED Natural Killer Cells - Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Physicians for a National Health Program Courage CA TAKEAWAYS Alliances are powerful. Finding common goals across movements can amplify each of their individual causes more effectively. A single payer system isn't just better for patients, but also for doctors, who won't have to spend resources fighting insurance companies, or worrying about malpractice insurance. In reality, US patients are not really free to choose their providers. Most of the time, the insurance provider is the one dictating who you have access to, and what medication you're allowed to take under their coverage. As long as our politicians remain beholden to the insurance lobby, we will not get universal healthcare. A new therapy using the patient's own natural killer cells may be the key for Alzheimers, Parkinsons and Cancer patients. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIO Soo Jin Lee is a licensed therapist, the author of 'Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity,' and a guiding force at the Yellow Chair Collective. Her journey from an undocumented immigrant to a mental health advocate shapes her unique approach to healing. When not writing or in session, she's reconnecting with nature on a hike. Let's dive into her story!. Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Web DEFINITIONS DREAM act:short for The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, is a United States legislative proposal to grant temporary conditional residency, with the right to work, to illegal immigrants who entered the United States as minors—and, if they later satisfy further qualifications, they would attain permanent residency. It was first introduced in 2001 and has been reintroduced multiple times since, but has never gotten majority votes from either house of the U.S. congress. In 2012, President Obama signed an executive branch memorandum called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative, DACA for short, which provided a temporary reprieve from deportation to qualified unauthorized immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. In 2017, the Trump administration announced the program's termination. MENTIONED "Where I Belong: Healing Trauma & Embracing Asian American Identity" TAKEAWAYS Undocumented migrants take great risks to come here because they believe in the American dream so much, but often have no chance of getting a work visa if they are poor or uneducated. People will do anything if it means a better future for their kids. Undocumented migrants are often very self-conscious about their status and eager to prove they are hard working, and self-sufficient. They are diligent about paying their taxes and steer clear of anything resembling government aid. Many, like Soo Jin's father, even create businesses that employ Americans. This is not the portrayal we see in the news very often, but it is an important one. Undocumented migrants can be smart professionals, they can be Asian, they can be entrepreneurs and employers. They aren't a monolith. Mental health and wellness can and should look different depending on who you are and what you value. Especially for our elders, healing can come from sharing memories, teaching the next generation their family recipes or their favorite games, instead of going to therapy and talking about their traumas. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

If you love the Nuances Podcast, you might also enjoy: 6 Degrees of Cats is a cat-themed culture, history and occasionally science podcast that investigates the surprising intersections between human and felinekind. Season 2 of 6 Degrees of Cats premieres on Halloween 2023! Follow @6degreesofcats on Instagram | TikTok | Twitter Follow @nuancespod on Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter | ⁠YouTube | Threads --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

https://nuancespod.com/2023/09/24/amanda-b/ GUEST BIO Amanda B. is the executive producer and host of 6 Degrees of Cats, a cat-themed culture, history and occasionally science podcast that investigates the surprising intersections between human and feline kind, with the help of a interdisciplinary roster of guest experts. She has worked internationally in the fields of clinical research, public health, social impact and tech, and is a trained advocate for violence survivors and youth mental health. As a musician, Amanda composes and plays lead guitar in Leathered, an NYC-based rock 'n' roll band and has supported major artists on live broadcasts and stages in the U.S. and Europe. Amanda also freelances as a producer of live and virtual professional development programming for clients such as The Podcast Academy. She can be followed on Instagram and Twitter @6degreesofcats and @leathered4ever.. Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn DEFINITIONS Rust Belt: a region of the United States that experienced industrial decline starting in the 1950s Tabula rasa: Blank slate Cisgendered: a person whose gender identity corresponds with the sex registered for them at birth; not transgender. Trauma-informed: Trauma informed, which is a buzzword, simply means that I have training and education, understanding the neurobiological holistic impacts of Big T trauma, which is different than the way we use the word trauma in our common language, on the way we expect people to react. MENTIONED RAINN OkaySo Right to Be Womankind Center for Anti-Violence Education Restore NY (fka Black Women's Blueprint) Anti-Violence Project Kimberlé Crenshaw TAKEAWAYS The reasons behind toxic masculinity is different for men with oppressed identities, versus men who are part of the majority, and we need to acknowledge that difference if we want to meaningfully address the problem. Consent is not something that you give once and is valid forever. Consent has to be given every single time. If you wouldn't ask the same question to a non-adoptee, then don't ask it to an adoptee either. By the same token, if you wouldn't ask a question to a white dude, (eg. where are you really from), then don't ask it from a POC either. It comes off as ignorant. We do our most compelling work when we embrace who we are and all our quirks. See Amanda's 6 degrees of cats or Ivy Le's FOGO: Fear of Going Outside CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

https://nuancespod.com/2023/09/17/charles-levan/ GUEST BIO Established in 2002, Charles Levan, C.E.O/Owner of Blue Buddha Entertainment, LLC specializes in sync placement for independent artists and labels, serving as a premier conduit for contemporary groundbreaking artists and repertoire. Past sync placements include: Shrinking, Found, All American, This Is Us, Supreme Models, & Grey's Anatomy to name a few. With over 27 years of experience in the music industry, Charles' passion in the sync space is coupled with a focus on artist development, helping artists hone their musical craft in an ever-changing entertainment world. Starting out at The Right Stuff/EMI-Capitol Records (North America), in the Marketing & Radio Promotions Department. Charles' most notable work includes marketing Al Green's platinum-selling Greatest Hits album and other high profile reissues. Charles balances his work life through an extreme passion for music, basketball, working out and mediation to stay spiritually grounded. . Instagram | YouTube | Web DEFINITIONS Wet behind the ears: Lacking experience/immature AAPI: Asian American Pacific Islander Sync: Synchronizing music to another medium such as video or even podcasts. Music supervisor: A music expert who typically offers music suggestions to be used in a scene, and is also responsible for clearing the licenses from all stakeholders for the song to be used. MENTIONED S1 E11 - Dr. Ashley Chung-Fat-Yim Spotify developing AI trained on host voice TAKEAWAYS Even in industries that are white dominated, there are some good mentors out there who can actually shield you from a lot of the discrimination. So make every effort you can to find those supporters who will use their privilege to back you when you need them to! When you have the opportunity to work with a mentor, showing up and developing that relationship makes it more rewarding for both parties. As someone who has been mentoring podcasters and music producer, I 100% agree with that. Because East Asians often have baby face, they are often assumed to be younger and less experienced than they actually are. So if you find yourself thinking an Asian colleague is likely too young or too inexperienced, it's good to quickly check yourself and make sure you haven't been fooled by the genes we stole from the fountain of youth. We're not a monolith so our experiences vary widely. That's expected and one does not invalidate the other. Charles, as an Asian American cis-straight man, has a different experience from Tonie (S1E3) who is non-binary, or Summer Swee Singh (S2E6) who's a woman, or Dani Saldo (S3E5) who is a disabled woman. We exist across a broad range of experiences. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

https://nuancespod.com/2023/09/10/samantha-ong/ GUEST BIO Samantha Ong is an entrepreneur, business owner, and mother to two young girls based in Toronto, Canada. Samantha founded Joeydolls in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate around the world during the pandemic lockdowns. Her goal is to help young children feel proud of their heritage and feel valued in society by creating diverse Asian cultural dolls that celebrate every culture. As the founder and CEO of Joeydolls, Samantha is on a mission to provide a representation of Asian culture in a cute and playful way and also deconstruct both racism and colorism. Joeydolls are designed to be a child's friend for life, with soft and cuddly bodies, and culturally accurate attire. She hopes the dolls will help create more awareness and education around Asian culture and diversity.. Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Web DEFINITIONS MENTIONED Children notice race several years before adults want to talk about it TAKEAWAYS Better done than perfect. At some point perfectionism gets in the way of the positive impact you could already be having on your community. Kids internalize concepts of race and belonging as early as 10 months old, so feeling represented as early as possible is important. Entrepreneurship keeps you on your toes, no matter how prepared, so might as well jump in if you have an idea you believe in. Telling expecting parents you hope their kids have certain physical features is hurtful. Colorism in Asian culture is very real. If you see this in your family, gently remind them that the child will be loved and welcome no matter what they look like. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

https://nuancespod.com/2023/09/03/ivy-le/ GUEST BIO Ivy Le is a Vietnamese American comedian, actress, and writer based in Austin, Texas. She is the creator of the critically-acclaimed Spotify Studios podcast FOGO: Fear of Going Outside, a nature show by the most reluctant host ever. FOGO is featured on Delta flights and recommended by The Guardian, CBC, Oprah and, inexplicably, Outside. She hosts the only queer comedy open mic in Austin, and performs at comedy festivals all over the country. She is also mom to two as-yet untraumatized kids.. Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | YouTube | Web DEFINITIONS CPTSD: Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) can result from experiencing chronic trauma, such as prolonged child abuse or domestic violence. It's closely related to PTSD and borderline personality disorder. ADHD: ADHD is a long-term (chronic) brain condition that causes executive dysfunction, which means it disrupts a person's ability to manage their own emotions, thoughts and actions. Heteronormativity: When heterosexuality (cis-man & woman) is the norm, and any other sexual orientation or gender identity is seen as outside the norm, and hence has less privilege. MENTIONED Kim's Convenience ""Come to Me, Daddy"" by BedPost Confessions Ali Siddiq TAKEAWAYS Representation can get in the way of real institutional progress if we're not demanding more than just visible representation on screen, but also behind the scenes at all levels of organizations. Each child is our collective responsibility to raise as a society, and community support can help us all thrive together rather than struggling in isolation. Texas is a lot more diverse than its politicians make it out to be. We do not need to assimilate into America. We are America and we're defining what America is. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

For the full show notes, go to https://nuancespod.com/2023/08/27/nastassia-jagatsingh GUEST BIO Nastassia is a 31 Indo-Mauritian Montrealer currently based in so-called Vancouver. After a little under a decade in the banking and ESL teaching spaces, she's exploring non-traditional avenues for work and embracing slow living as she learns to live with chronic illness. During the “summer of racial reckoning” she, like many, turned to social media spaces and literature to make sense of the world around her. Since then, she's been reading and writing at the intersections of indenture, diasporic Brownness and disability while cultivating a keen interest in the millennial/Gen Z zeitgeist. She's also a photographer, an aspiring bookstagrammer and is working on her first book! . Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Web DEFINITIONS Creole Mauritians: mostly descendants of African slaves, or racially mixed Mauritians who are also Christians. Creole: A stable natural language that has been created through the mixing of two other languages. Kaya: A Mauritian artist who pioneered the Seggae genre, which mixed Mauritian Sega with Reggae influences. He was arrested for smoking marijuana at a concert and died in police custody in 1999. He was our George Floyd. Substack: A blogging/newsletter platform that allows writers to monetize their content through subscriptions. MENTIONED "People Change" by Vivek Shraya Death of Mauritian artist Kaya, 1999 "Anti-Blackness is hiding in plain sight" by Nastassia Jagatsingh "Hunger" by Roxane Gay "Le Sari Vert" by Ananda Devi US physicians in Canada TAKEAWAYS It's important to talk to people in your community and ask rather than assume what their experience has been like. Believing that Western countries were better is white supremacist thinking and something we're both trying to deconstruct. Although Mauritius has very few whites, white people still hold a lot of economic & social power, and are treated as such. Beyond the US, the 2020 BLM protests had the worldwide effect of giving people the vocabulary and the tools to start the painful process of confronting and healing from racial trauma. Canada is often touted as an immigrant-friendly country, but it actually is really hard for immigrants to find jobs if they did not study in Canada. Behaviors commonly associated with rape culture include victim blaming, slut-shaming, sexual objectification, trivializing rape, denial of widespread rape, refusing to acknowledge the harm caused by sexual violence, etc. This is a huge problem in Mauritius, but it exists everywhere. If you see this in your community, speak up and let them know that it's not okay. Looking good doesn't matter if you don't feel good. Brown kids are given so many signals so early on that lighter skin is the standard of beauty. Comments like ""don't go in the sun"" or ""oh she's lighter now, she's more pretty"" are so harmful. Again, if you hear these comments, gently educate your circles on why these are harmful. SONG "Where Do We Go" by 23rd Hour. Written by LAZOU & Edi Jon Yuk CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIO June Chua loves to tell stories in a myriad of ways. She's an award-winning filmmaker with more than 20 years experience in journalism, writing, editing, broadcasting and communications. She also helps artists with their proposals and grants. She's now developing a creative nonfiction project - a collection of poems & stories. In 2015, she decided to resign from her life in Canada, selling her things, giving away books and moving to Berlin--alone. It would mark a 2nd migration. Her family moved from Malaysia to Canada in the 70s. Instagram | LinkedIn | Web DEFINITIONS Laksa: A spicy noodle dish popular in Southeast Asia. Stipendium: A scholarship (in German) Sandra Oh: A Canadian & American actor of Korean descent. She's Dr. Christina Yang in Grey's Anatomy and the star of the BBC spy thriller "Killing Eve". Mr. Miyagi: A fictional character in the Karate Kid franchise. MENTIONED 9-Man by Ursula Liang Moon Is The Oldest TV by Nam June Paik Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8. Lee My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki Forever Chinatown TAKEAWAYS Immigrant parents struggling to survive often do not have time or bandwidth to provide emotional support Art is not created in a vacuum. It is always a reflection of its time, and its creator. We often deny ourselves the life we want because we think that's the right thing, the honorable thing, the expected thing to do. But if we peel back the layers, sometimes all we have are excuses and fear. Feeling beautiful is not about external looks, but about feeling comfortable in our own bodies, and our own power. Quiet time alone (and or therapy i might add), can help us untangle what we really want, what is really possible, and every other obstacle or expectation that we've taken for granted as fact without questioning Full show notes: https://nuancespod.com/2023/08/20/june-chua/ CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIORita is a 2nd generation Lao Isaan (pronounced E-sahn) American holistic mental health & wellness professional based in Los Angeles. She is also the creator/host of the Healing Out Lao'd podcast, which explores the intersections of Lao diaspora storytelling, healing, and tools for sustainability. Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook | Web DEFINITIONSPho: Vietnamese soup dish consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat.Laos: Country in South East Asia bordered by Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar & ChinaMENTIONEDLina VLaab (Vegan recipe)Laab Diip (Raw beef salad)Pho Lao Thum Mak Hoong (Lao Papaya Salad)S3 E03: Dr. Manijeh MoradianLegacy of Wars Virtual LibraryTAKEAWAYSLaos is the most bombed country per capita, and it was bombed by the US during its secret war on Laos and Cambodia at the same time as its war on Vietnam.Being able to name previous generations' trauma responses, such as being overly protective, or overly frugal, and how they shaped our behavior patterns (eg. lack of agency/trust) can help us finally heal and stop the cycle of intergenerational trauma. Moving from a place where you're the only Asian or only anything, to a place where you're surrounded by your people can be jarring at first. In Asian cultures, setting boundaries can sometimes feel rigid. The way to soften these black and white definitions is to learn to communicate our love and desire to please, while still also communicating our own needs.While our culture was shaped by the people who created it and the norms at the time, we in the present have a chance to shape it for our current time.Patriotism is more nuanced than unconditional love for the country. For many, it comes with pride, joy, but also grief and a feeling of responsibility. Losing part of our identity is hard, but it can also bring a lot of growth as we expand how we define ourselves.It's easy to blame other people or circumstances, but no matter what the situation is, we are ultimately responsible for managing our feelings, and setting healthy boundaries. CONTACTInstagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | TwitterHost: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIOKiran Kaur Gill is the executive director at SALDEF, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, where she oversees and executes programs related to policy, research, education, civic engagement, and youth leadership in the Sikh American community. Prior to her executive role, she volunteered at SALDEF to create and conduct Sikh awareness training around the country for schools, law enforcement, and state and local governments. She worked with the New Jersey Attorney General's office to develop statewide curricula and helped establish the SikhLEAD New Jersey program, which encourages civic engagement. among Sikh students. Additionally, Ms. Gill ran her own company PARS Environmental Incorporated from 2003 to 2017. Ms. Gill served as a board member of The One Project, an interfaith and community coalition organized to address social needs through education and volunteerism, and was the president and founding member of the Inspiring South Asian American Women. Her leadership and business acumen has won her numerous accolades. Full bio at nuancespod.com. Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Web DEFINITIONSTSA: Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security that was created as a response to 9/11Gurdwara: A place of worship for SikhsMENTIONEDSher SinghSALDEFTurban MythsTAKEAWAYSMost Americans know very little of Sikhism and associate their turban to Bin Laden Sikhs & Muslims became victims of Islamophobic hate crimes after 9/11. As leaders, we can redefine our workplace so everyone thrives. Getting to know even just the basics of a community's culture goes a long way to prevent misunderstandings and reduce fear and distrust. Trainings using relevant hypothetical situations, facilitated by people who are local to the community, or have ground knowledge of the day-to-day situations faced by the trainees are most effective. Preserving our culture does not mean we have to keep the bad parts too. Providing access to mental health resources that are culturally sensitive and timely are a key component to creating safer communitiesCONTACTInstagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | TwitterHost: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIO Scott Okamoto is a former English professor and ex-Evangelical writer, musician, and home chef. His newly released book is called Asian American Apostate: Losing Religion and Finding Myself at an Evangelical University. In the book, Scott tells his story of losing all faith while teaching at an evangelical university. Through this process, he dug deep into his roots as a 4th generation Japanese American and found community, art, music, and a life worth living. Scott also has a podcast called Chapel Probation. Instagram | Twitter | Web DEFINITIONS Religious Deconstruction - a process in which people re-examine their faith and previously held beliefs, sometimes to the point of leaving the religion. Religious Deconstruction - a process in which people re-examine their faith and previously held beliefs, sometimes to the point of leaving the religion. Heart Mountain is a historic site sharing the stories of WW2 Japanese American prisoners. Reparations: $20,000 checks paid in the 1990s to some 82,000 surviving Japanese American individuals who was detained in the camps. Camp residents lost some $400 million in property during their incarceration. MENTIONED TAKEAWAYS Japanese Incarceration Camps are still glossed over in history classes. We need to demand that it be taught like Germany teaches about the Nazis. Many felt embarrassed about their incarceration and tried to be exemplary patriots after their release in order to avoid being sent to camps again. Representation helped many Japanese Americans feel like it was ok to talk about the camps. Redlining and other discriminatory practices affect all of us. You don't win people over with facts and arguments, but by building relationships with them. Many of the views of evangelicals are not actually rooted in the bible. Religious texts are updated by flawed humans. Deconstructing is easier if you have a good support system and community outside of religion. You don't have to understand someone's experience to show compassion. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIO Travis Giuse Nguyen (he/él) is an interpreter and translator born and raised in Southeast Texas. The son of a Vietnamese fisherman in the U.S. and the long-time resident of two minority-majority cities (Port Arthur and Houston), syncretism is the defining attribute of Travis's lived experience. In his free time, Travis practices self-care by playing boleros on his trusty ukulele, singing, sewing, and caring for his plants.. Instagram | TikTok DEFINITIONS ASL: American sign language Hakka, Hokkien, Cantonese are languages originating from Southern China. Neurotypical/allistic people do not have autistic or other neurologically atypical patterns of thought or behavior. People who have ADHD, ASD are neurodivergent. MENTIONED Ocean Vuong Protactile TAKEAWAYS We naturally internalize traumatic experiences, and they shape how we view the world and interact with it, whether we are cognizant of it or not. When multi-lingual people get dementia, they will lose the last language they learned first. As people who hear, we have access to a lot of auditory information that we glean in passing everywhere we go because people around us communicate in a language we can understand. That is not a privilege that deaf people have, because very few people around them use sign language. Even if you don't know sign language, don't be intimidated to interact with deaf people. Many of us do not speak our cultural language because our parents were wrongly told that teaching us anything other than English would prevent us from becoming fluent in English. Getting to know people who have different lived experiences can help you see your blindspots. Discussing politics/religion only leads to arguments if we don't know how to talk about them. Self-determination is a myth. While we do have choices, our views, our taste, our personality is inevitably shaped by the people and media that surround us. Pulling yourself by your bootstrap is also a myth. No one can claim to be entirely self-made. No one can be part of society without using resources that they didn't create themselves. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIO Dani is a Filipino Canadian artist who creates music that effortlessly laments on young love and self-discovery. Moody, melancholic, and dreamy coming of age instrumentation complement the oozing nostalgia of her honest, hyper vulnerable, and conversational lyrics. Dani's song "All I Need" was featured on Anna Kendrick's movie, "Alice Darling", and several of her collaborations have been used in Netflix's Love is Blind and MTV's Teen Mom OGg. Artist cuts include Jillian May, Harley Huke, as well as Arcana's viral hit Stockholm syndrome performed by the dance studio ALiEN in Korea. Dani's debut ep, "everything I couldn't say", comes out early next year and it explores her experiences with grief, disability, love, and mental health. Instagram | TikTok | Web For full definitions, mentioned links, takeaways, transcript & video with captions: ⁠https://nuancespod.com/2023/07/15/s3e5-dani-saldo/(opens in a new tab)⁠ DEFINITIONS Pancit Fibromyalgia Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) Ableism Grind culture ODSP Sensory friendly MENTIONED S2E1: Masaru Tanabe S2E3: Tiffany Chou (Depo Market) IKEA Philippines - Hapag | Paskong Pinoy Serie Starter guide to more accessible, sensory friendly events Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice Andrew Gurza Rachel Romu TAKEAWAYS If you are a parent struggling with your child's queerness because of your religion or other beliefs, just remember that whatever discomfort you're feeling, your child is likely going through much worse. Commit to learning more and continue to provide a safe space for your child to be themselves at home. Feeling secure in your queerness and knowing that you are more than just your queerness can make it easier to talk about it with loved ones. Becoming disabled comes with a lot of grief over your old self and a lot of unlearning your own internalized ableism. Rest is healing. If you do not allow your body to rest, your body will make you do so eventually. So listen to your body and rest. The cost of living is much higher for disabled individuals. Accessible options often cost more. This is yet another example of ableism in society. Disabled people have an income cap, but billionaires don't. This is by design because capitalism is inherently ableist. People with disabilities often feel like they are a burden to those close to them. If that is you, please know that you don't have to do anything to be deserving of love and kindness. Disabled people can be hot. If that sounds weird to you, it's because we all have internalized ableism. But the good news is, this is fixable with better representation. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIO Teresa Suydam is a lost bird songwriter and producer of Indigenous and Filipino descent who makes cinematic pop infused with honey-like vocals. Based out of Denver, Colorado, Teresa chases their own culture and identity with their music, and is a safe haven to other multicultural individuals who don't feel at home in their own skin. In 2022, Teresa's music video for "Take Me to the Water" was nominated for the Native American Music Awards (NAMA).. Instagram | TikTok | Web DEFINITIONS Smudging is a cultural ceremony practiced by Native peoples. It involves burning sacred herbs like tobacco, sweetgrass, sage, and cedar for medicinal, practical, and spiritual purposes. The smoke carries prayers and healing powers. A vessel holds the herbs, and the smoke is guided over the body using a feather (preferably eagle) or hand. Smudging a room involves directing smoke while praying for positive energy and removing negative energy. Ashes are placed outside to symbolize removing negative energy from our lives. Smudging is a cultural ceremony practiced by Native peoples. It involves burning sacred herbs like tobacco, sweetgrass, sage, and cedar for medicinal, practical, and spiritual purposes. The smoke carries prayers and healing powers. A vessel holds the herbs, and the smoke is guided over the body using a feather (preferably eagle) or hand. Smudging a room involves directing smoke while praying for positive energy and removing negative energy. Ashes are placed outside to symbolize removing negative energy from our lives. A powwow is a ceremony held by Native American peoples involving feasting, singing, and dancing. Side note: You may have heard or used the term "powwow" to refer to meetings that are completely unrelated to the original Indigenous context. This is an example of cultural appropriation and is offensive to Native Americans because it strips the word from its great cultural importance. TAKEAWAYS When your people have been driven to near extinction by colonialism and constantly subjugated to brutal treatment, being alive today and occupying space is a form of resistance in itself. For people who have grown up with no connection to their roots, it can take a while to warm up to the idea but with the unrelenting, gentle support of their mentors, Teresa did start to learn more about their cultures. Sometimes we don't know what we've been missing until we experience it. Teresa had this experience both when connecting with their cultures and when reconnecting with their biological mom and described it as feeling more like themselves, more whole, and more at peace with who they are. Learning can feel overwhelming when we know next to nothing, be it a language, a culture, or music production. But it gets easier if we start small and give ourselves some grace to make mistakes in order to learn. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

If you've ever wondered why Iran sometimes is, sometimes isn't considered part of Asia, this episode has the answer. Because of the revolution in Iran, I really wanted to talk to a woman from the Iranian American diaspora and had the privilege of talking to Women's, Gender & Sexuality studies professor, Dr. Manijeh Moradian. Manijeh talks about how the U.S. - Iran relationship evolved over decades from the ‘50s to the ‘79 revolution, and beyond. She also shares her thoughts on Western involvement and media coverage of the current feminist Iranian revolution, and what the Iranian people really want. GUEST BIO Manijeh Moradian is assistant professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University. Her book, This Flame Within: Iranian Revolutionaries in the United States, was published by Duke University Press in December 2022. She has published widely including in American Quarterly, Journal of Asian American Studies, Scholar & Feminist online, and Women's Studies Quarterly. She is a founding member of the Raha Iranian Feminist Collective and on the editorial board of the Jadaliyya.com Iran Page. DEFINITIONS Coup d'état, a.k.a coup, is an illegal and overt attempt by the military or other government elites to unseat the incumbent leader. Western hegemony: domination of the west over other countries through economic, political and military power. The While colonialism used direct military control or hegemony to control or influence a colony, neocolonialism uses economic, political, cultural, or other pressures to control or influence other countries, especially former colonies or dependencies. Shah:the leading figure (or king) of an Iranian monarchy Hijab: headcovering worn by Muslim women MENTIONED This Flame Within: Iranian Revolutionaries in the United States, by Manijeh Moradian Ghosts of Revolution, by Shahla Talebi Fesenjan recipe Feminists for Jina TAKEAWAYS Many of the stereotypes we know are more recent than we think and they happened quickly, seemingly overnight. Pitting minorities against each other is a common way for oppressors to keep the status quo. Iran distanced itself from Asia to avoid being subjugated by Europe. Instead of always working through our governments, we can think of ways to create solidarity between our local grassroots movements across borders. Asian Americans are Americans too, and our marketability should not be restricted to the Asian diaspora, but rather America at large. Women's liberation does not mean assimilating into western culture. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

GUEST BIO Cherie Hu is the founder of the music-tech research organization Water & Music. Water & Music's mission is to make the music industry more innovative, cooperative, and transparent, by building a collaborative data and education hub that consistently beats the market on identifying trends in music, technology, and culture. Previously, Cherie penned hundreds of articles on music and tech as a freelance writer for publications including Billboard, Forbes, Pitchfork, and Variety. She has spoken as an expert commentator on CNBC and SiriusXM Volume; as a guest lecturer at institutions like Harvard University, New York University, and Northeastern University; and as a moderator, panelist or keynoter at over 30 conferences around the world.. Twitter | LinkedIn | Web DEFINITIONS Merch: merchandise sold by music artists, eg. t-shirts. Bear market: market in which prices are falling, encouraging selling. Beat (journalism): area of specialization for reporters where their newsgathering efforts are focussed on specific subjects or locations. IRL: in real life (as opposed to virtually) AI: artificial intelligence ChatGPT: AI chatbot notable for its ability to adapt to desired length, format, style, level of detail, and language used Midjourney: Ai tool that generates pictures based on text prompts. Deepfake: synthetic media that has been digitally manipulated to impersonate one person's likeness convincingly. DAW: digital audio workstation, software used to record & process sounds. Splice: cloud-based music creation platform mostly known for its sample library. Blockchain/Crypto/NFTs MENTIONED What's The (Far) Future Of Music Listening? By Cherie Hu TAKEAWAYS Understand what you are committing to before picking a career and make sure it works for you. Being unapologetically yourself can help you stand out and carve out a niche for yourself. Partner with peers to create win-win situations that help you both grow. When trying to understand trends, it's helpful to ask whose perspective is being left out, and whether that information could move the conversation forward. AI will likely transform most jobs in some way, but the key is to find out what human skills are still irreplaceable. A company's incentives will dictate its policies on AI usage to automate tasks. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Nuances: beyond first impressions with the Asian diaspora is a podcast exploring diverse intersectional identities, career paths and more. Support the show:nuancespod.com/support Join our discord: nuancespod.com/community GUEST BIO Mimi Chen is a long time radio DJ who has been heard in Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles. She is currently at KCSN 88.5FM in Los Angeles. In her spare time, she acts and has co-founded several tech companies. One is a conversational AI company. The more current company, Vlipside, is an metaverse company. It isn't every day that you get to talk to a trailblazer in the radio industry.. Instagram | TikTok | Web DEFINITIONS The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. TAKEAWAYS You deserve a raise & promotion if you've been at your job for several years. Ask for it. There are lots of opportunities out there and you deserve to be treated well everywhere you go. Your job does not have to be terrible for you to leave. You don't have to live off your craft. Day jobs or side gigs that generate consistent income are great. Not all POC face the same kind of discrimination. We need to learn from and support one another. Working moms often feel guilty. If that's you, remember that you're doing your best and give yourself some grace Career milestones are great but will not make you happy. Find happiness outside of work. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Season 3 coming this Sunday! Support: https://nuancespod.com/support Connect: Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

What's the history behind AAPI heritage month? When did it start? Who were the first Asians to reach the Americas? Find out in this episode! The Nuances Podcast is now one year old! Two seasons and 25 nuanced conversations in, we're only just getting started. Host LAZOU shares some insight on the show's goals and reflects on the impact of the podcast. For books, movies, events mentioned in the show, go to nuancespod.com to see this episode's show notes. SUPPORT nuancespod.com/support JOIN OUR DISCORD nuancespod.com/community CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Hosts: Lazou & Ariadne Mila --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuances-podcast/support

DESCRIPTION Winemaker Justine Osilla walks us through the various career opportunities in wine, and how she is creating the support network and community of diverse wine professionals she wishes existed when she first started. If you've ever wondered what wine would pair well with sashimi, Vietnamese spring rolls, Mongolian beef, sinigang, adobo, or kare-kare, be sure to listen to the full episode. GUEST BIO Justine Osilla was raised by a traditional Filipino family that taught me their narrow definition of success—the one that implies you can only be happy, successful, and fulfilled if you're a nurse, doctor, engineer, or lawyer. Little did they know, a different career would be calling for me. As a daughter of a wine enthusiast, Justine frequently visited Napa and Paso Robles and started developing a palate at a young age. It was this interest that unanticipatedly turned into my career. My family thought wine was an unconventional path. “I've never seen a woman winemaker, let alone a Filipino winemaker,” her dad said. They came around because Justine was able to make them feel passionate by unashamedly sharing what she loves & being inclusive despite their doubts. Justine has worked in the wine industry for over 6 years as a vineyard sugar tester, winemaking/harvest intern, hospitality, cellar worker, phenolics researcher, wholesale assistant, customer care representative, and social media marketing director. As Justine pursues her goal of having my own wine label this year, my mission is always to make wine education more accessible and advocate for women and diversity in wine. Instagram DEFINITIONS PA: physician's assistant Green card: U.S. permanent resident card. Cisgender or cis: a person whose gender identity corresponds with the sex registered for them at birth; not transgender. TAKEAWAYS There are so many careers out there, we do not need to pick one and stick with it for life. There are many professional groups that are now bringing about much needed diversity in the wine industry, but there's still a long way to go. Organizing and advocating for yourselves can be a great way to both find community and advance your careers together. Don't be afraid to experiment with business models, such as co-ops, that are more employee friendly. We don't need "greencard jobs" if we're already here. PS: If you enjoy this episode, you might also like S1 E6. SUPPORT THE PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/nuances-podcast/support CONTACT: Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Hosts: Lazou & Ariadne Mila --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nuances-podcast/support

GUEST BIO Nicolas Kee Mew is a Sino-Mauritian-British award-winning care home manager based in London. He was recently awarded the British Citizen Award Medal at the Palace of Westminster and has won several national dementia awards. When he is not taking care care of patients, he is raising awareness or fundraising for dementia research.. Instagram | Facebook DEFINITIONS Hakka: Chinese ethnic group, and language spoken by the group. A-levels: Standardized exams administered by Cambridge University (U.K.), similar to the Advanced Placement (AP) programs in the U.S. TAKEAWAYS Your high school grades are not the end all be all. Asking people what support looks like to them instead of taking over and telling them what to do is likely a more productive strategy. Dementia is a fatal illness that still has no cure. But it can be prevented or delayed through lifestyle changes. Recognizing early signs of dementia and seeking diagnosis is key in order to start treatment as soon as possible. There are two types of professional care to consider. Home care, and care (nursing/retirement) homes. SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you would like to buy me a coffee about once a month, you can make a small monthly donation: https://anchor.fm/nuances-podcast/support Don't worry, I don't need a fancy coffee - anything amount will be immensely appreciated. It will help offset the cost of consistently producing engaging, high-quality episodes for you to enjoy. And if you can't support right now, it's okay, don't feel bad! Still happy you're here. CONTACT Website | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | Twitter Hosts: Lazou & Ariadne Mila se2jn6YQiu580jDvqYjS --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nuances-podcast/support

GUEST BIOWaddy Dacay is from the island of Kauai, Hawaii. He attended Kapiolani Community College on Oahu in 1973 then went to art school in 1976 in Oakland CA at California College of Arts and Crafts, now called California College of the Arts. He graduated BFA in 1978 and got a job in Palo Alto doing technical illustrations for two years. Then he took another position with Lockheed Martin as a technical illustrator and transitioned into 3D animation for 15 year, joined Electronic Arts in 1995 for another 15 years and finished his remaining 7 years at Bandai Namco Gaming as a Senior Marketing Artist.. Instagram | WebDEFINITIONS Kokua: To cooperate and pitch in without regard for self and to have consideration for others. Pidgin: A grammatically simplified means of communication that develops between two or more groups of people that do not have a language in common: typically, its vocabulary and grammar are limited and often drawn from several languages. Creole: A mother tongue formed from the contact of two languages through an earlier pidgin stage. May Day/ Lei Day: A statewide celebration in Hawaii that begins in the morning of May first every year and continues into the next day.TAKEAWAYS Having a rare and highly sought after skillset can sometimes shield minorities from some workplace discrimination. When in unfamiliar places, we tend to seek other people like us, who share our experiences. Reacting defensively isn't the only way to assert and protect your own beliefs and sense of identity. Listening and understanding other viewpoints doesn't mean you agree with them. Arguing is not always productive. So engage with open ears and hearts, and pick your battles carefully. Art is everywhere you look. Art isn't just fine arts. Tech breakthroughs are always a challenge to navigate, but often, the only choice is to adapt like Waddy did. We are now at the cusp of a similarly far-reaching breakthrough with AI and ChatGPT. CONTACTInstagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | TwitterHosts: Lazou & Ariadne Mila --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nuances-podcast/support

DESCRIPTION Rod had every intention of following the traditional path and become an automotive engineer in Indiana. But he chose to follow his passion instead. We talk about breaking the news to his family, how his parents struggled to understand what being a professional musician really means, and how the BLM protests have inspired him to reclaim his youth and be more vocal about his experiences. We touch on Asian expectations and stereotypes, and why he thinks we're overdue for an Asian American Bruce Springsteen or a Japanese Country star. We also get a glimpse of how cool an uncle Rod is. This episode is brimming with full circle moments, fun anecdotes, and hope for the future. GUEST BIO Rod Kim is an American songwriter (and occasional actor) based in Los Angeles, CA. Some of his recent credits include the Philadelphia Phillies mascots' theme song, music for the official YouTube Audio Library, the end credit theme for "Pretty Outrageous" as well as music for the YouTube channels NerdSync, Yo Mama and many more. In addition to songwriting and composing, Rod is a YouTuber who has collaborated with Ron Wasserman (Power Rangers, X-Men: The Animated Series), Michael and Patty Silversher (Disney's Talespin, Gummi Bears) and Ryan Elder (Rick and Morty). Instagram | TikTok | Web MENTIONED IN THE SHOW: Youtube links: Where are you really from? Movies: Big Fat Greek Wedding Shang Chi Encanto Turning Red Joy Luck Club Crazy Rich Asians Blinded by the Light Get Out TV: Fresh Off The Boat The Amber Ruffin Show TAKEAWAYS If it feels wrong for you, it might be. Shortcomings are often fixable if you can leave your ego at the door. It's not the milestones you hit, but the daily choices you make that define you in the end. Two people can go through the same event but have different experiences. Use your privilege for good. Call out all the isms in your circles, because that's where you have the most influence. Diversity needs to come from behind the camera, in writers rooms, all throughout the creative process in order to tell authentic, nuanced, relatable, and truly diverse stories. Oppression isn't a contest. Help fix it for everyone instead of arguing about who is more oppressed. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Hosts: Lazou & Ariadne Mila --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nuances-podcast/support

. GUEST BIO As AIR APPARENT, San Francisco-based artist and producer Neil Sethi makes exuberant electronic pop that invites both escapism and self-discovery. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Sethi grew up on Bollywood and Hindu spiritual music, early 2000s Atlanta rap, and explosive nu-metal. Since releasing his first tracks in 2017, the independent Indian American musician has swiftly gained buzz for his expansive take on EDM that draws from influences like James Blake, Mitski, Kaytranada, and Jai Wolf. After landing placements on Spotify's Beats of Tomorrow playlist and making his live debut at last year's Joy Ruckus Club 4 festival, Sethi released his debut album, Chromatic, in August 2022. On the ‘80s electronic-influenced project, Sethi captures the highs and lows of a romantic relationship and steps into a bolder, more colorful era of Air Apparent. . Instagram | TikTok | Web DEFINITIONS BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, People of Color AAPI: Asian American or Pacific Islander Twitter Spaces: Live audio feature on Twitter CS: Computer science TAKEAWAYS Children face racism as early as kindergarten. Kids often forget about it but their parents remember. We saw this in Lisa's episode as well in S1 E4. Moving to a more diverse neighborhood can mean lower tolerance for racism, and hence a much more enjoyable experience for kids. While the American south may lack the nuanced understanding or interest in conversations about race, there is a genuine interest in engaging in a positive way. Finding others who share our experiences in our field of interest, being inspired by each other, supporting each other, and growing together is a powerful way to grow. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Hosts: Lazou & Ariadne Mila --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/nuances-podcast/support

GUEST BIO Jess Pillay is an Indo-Fijian-American independent singer/songwriter and podcaster from the Pacific Northwest. Growing up in Seattle with Indo-Fijian roots, she spent most of her life feeling like a cultural orphan, but music gave her a sense of identity and purpose. Now in her 30s, she's deeply passionate about racial and gender equity and always looks for ways to explore these subjects through her creative work. Her goal is to use her art to create community and to help others find their own voices. . Instagram | Web DEFINITIONS Being Gaslit means being manipulated into questioning your own sanity using psychological methods. It comes from a 1944 movie called Gaslight. DMs stands for direct message, which is the chat feature on instagram and other social media. TAKEAWAYS When religion and culture are so intertwined, joining a different religion can be seen as a rejection of your own culture and create family tension. Seeing the very food that got you rejected as a kid be appropriated and become the latest trend is a jarring experience that many Asian Americans have experienced. We're more likely to create change in our own circles where we are already accepted and valued, and hence can have the most influence. Consent is an important part of allyship because it ensures you're not causing more pain to the people you are trying to help. People's advice reflects their privilege. Valuing your religion does not mean you need to rely on it entirely for support. Religious communities often have good intent but are ill-equipped to help. Seek appropriate support from other channels. Therapy and religion can go hand in hand and can actually help people who are going through a faith crisis reconnect with their faith in a more healthy way. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Hosts: Lazou & Ariadne Mila

GUEST BIO Offering Rain is an NYC born and based multi-media artist and organizer working in the realms of audio, poetry, painting and design. They utilize their artistic practice in hopes of refreshing the earth like rain through multicultural sound and poetic lyricism. Their previous work has been exhibited at Art on the Ave NYC, Soho House, Knockdown Center and Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance. As a DJ, they have worked in collaboration with HBO Max, mutual.love, Kajal Magazine and their music has been featured on Euphoria, Genera+ion and Walker.. Instagram | TikTok | Web DEFINITIONS Desi: someone who comes from or whose family comes from India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh but who lives in another country Masking: hiding your authentic self in an effort to gain greater social acceptance. Code switching LGBTQIA+ Queer TAKEAWAYS Hollywood's caricatures of Indian people created negative stereotypes that cause many Desi kids to be bullied and shamed for their ethnicity. Surrounding ourselves with a supportive community is key to reclaiming our whole identities and finding happiness. Mixed-race kids need the adults in their lives to claim them fully, but also to celebrate their mixed identity by showing interest in the other Events celebrating our ethnicities could also do the same to be more inclusive and welcoming to mixed-race members. Music and art are vehicles of connection. They often are the first experience of representation for people who have felt different their whole life. The arts would be more diverse if more people had access and exposure at a young age. Increasing access to creative tools and spaces is key to Although they received little media attention, there are many diaspora artists that have been paving the way for decades. Feed the fire in you, fan your own flames, people will catch on eventually. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Hosts: Lazou & Ariadne Mila

GUEST BIO Judy Leia is a Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter creating cinematic darkpop that blends her ethereal, sultry vocals with a hybrid production of orchestral and electronic elements. Her unique sound can be described as: "Lana Del Rey meets Hans Zimmer in a dystopian film. She began learning piano at age 5 and wrote her first song at age 11 to process the gravity of surviving war. This experience often informs the haunting melodies and somber lyrics in her songs. She enjoys finding inspiration in film scores and her favorite composers include Ramin Djawadi, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Max Richter, and Pasek & Paul. Ever passionate and curious, Judy Leia is currently in the studio creating more songs. Instagram | Web DEFINITIONS Dammam is the fifth-most populous city in Saudi Arabia. PC: politically correct Sync: refers to synchronizing music to another medium, such as a movie, or a game. TAKEAWAYS We often fear bringing shame to our community more than we fear failing. If a cultural food isn't for you, you can respectfully decline without being judgmental of people who enjoy it. Age brings self awareness, which itself brings out more authentic art. Self love and acceptance help us distinguish between useful feedback and well-meaning opinions that are irrelevant to our artistic vision. People giving feedback aren't always good at articulating their thoughts. Take it with a grain of salt. There's a difference between tweaking your art reach more people and creating your artistic identity around viral trends. The latter is not sustainable. If you have a less common name, it might be a good idea to tell people how to pronounce it on your website. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Hosts: Lazou & Ariadne Mila