Oakland x Asian x Mom Podcast

Sarah interviews Cheryl's two sons, Zaccai and Santiago, about their first trip ever to Philippines - the homeland of their ancestors. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oaklandasianmom/message

Aimee Eng, former Board Member of the Oakland Unified School Board, joins us to speak about her family's roots of living and serving in Oakland over multiple generations. Aimee's rich familial and personal history includes anecdotes about public service, allies who supported her family, and treasured Oakland favorites. She also shares about the joys and challenges of her decade long tenure on the school board. We appreciate Aimee's expressiveness and energy as well as her resilience and grace. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oaklandasianmom/message

Send us your questions or feedback via voice message or answer the Q&A in the Spotify app. Thank you! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oaklandasianmom/message

Meet Lauren, a fellow friend from Sama Sama Cooperative and an early childhood arts educator by day and illustrator/mark-maker in life. Lauren, who has deep roots in the Bay Area (and a geographic affinity for San Pablo Ave in particular) shares her wisdom on how to nurture creativity in both little ones and the "little me's" inside of us grown ups. Along the way, she has made intentional time and space to reclaim her Filipino cultural heritage and continues to find delight in the everyday life of parenting her own child. We think you will get inspired to take your own child's at all ages and stages) invitations to put down the screen and play more. And by the end of the episode, I bet you will feel very soothed by her stories and calming voice. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oaklandasianmom/message

Sarah and I catch up as we are in summer mode, swapping observations and random thoughts that go from stunningly comfortable overalls to Korean - Filipino couplings (or the lack thereof) to childhood "benevolent lies" to Expose (yup, the 80-90s Top 40 girl band). We're all over the place which is exactly what summer sometimes feels like. Thanks for hanging with us. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oaklandasianmom/message

On this mini episode, Sarah finds a way to talk about BTS (yet again), then we segue into the kindness of strangers, the ethics of keeping a library book after the due date, old bikes and candy, beans as dessert, different ways to prepare rice + coconut, and the basics of kimchi. Thanks for listening! Learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinuguan --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oaklandasianmom/message

Florence is a multiracial new mom and journalist-in-training whose work has been published in The Oaklandside. Originally from the bordertown of El Centro, Calif., Florence settled in Oakland just a few years ago but has longtime family roots here. Florence made two big life changes during the pandemic - becoming a mom and switching careers - and shares what that experience has been like with authenticity and humor, including hilarious stories about pumping breastmilk as a busy journalism grad student. True to her journalist spirit, Florence is full of stories about the wonder and beauty of human connection and community here in Oakland. Happy listening! Check out Florence's work here: https://oaklandside.org/author/florence-middleton/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oaklandasianmom/message

We share our thoughts on everyday parenting topics such as bedtime, sleepovers, and chores...and reflect about our own childhood experiences vs how we parent our own kids. We have some in the moment revelations too:) We apologize for the abrupt ending as we need to update our Zoom account! LOL. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oaklandasianmom/message

In this next mini episode we share our thoughts on how we get stuff on the cheap or for free and the tactics we use to avoid annoying fees. And of course, there's all the randomness that goes along with our conversation, including my discovery of a surprising life skill that Sarah has yet to learn. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

On this episode, Cheryl and Sarah attempt to discuss a few of our favorite things…except it turns out Cheryl doesn't play favorites! Or does she? Though we started out with this prompt, our wide-ranging conversation led us to chat about dimsum (including some controversial takes!), our mutual love of Trader Joe's, Paxton Hall-Yoshida, tiny ears, Sarah vs. United Airlines, and the Oakland Thai restaurant scene. Special links to: Fun with Dumb Shawarmaji (grab a jar of toum!) Portal Sticky Rice Champa (get the house special fish!) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Happy 2023. For the start of this new year, OAM will be hosting a series of mini-episodes on random, but relevant topics. TBH, these conversations between Sarah and I are really just recordings of our usual banter with a sprinkling of what's been on our mind and in our texts this week. For our first conversation, Sarah starts us off with the age ol' question about the quintessential Asian condiment: Soy Sauce. We recorded this episode a few days before the lunar new year weekend, a time when many in our API communities look forward to food, traditions, and celebration. Thus like many of you, we were shocked, heartbroken, and deeply saddened to hear about the tragedies in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay. We mourn the loss of lives - many who were beloved elders -- and continue to hope and pray for peace in our communities. Take good care everyone. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Our friend Nancy was profoundly moved by the way food served as a source of recovery, healing, and community-building during her mother's experience with cancer. After almost a decade of planning and dreaming, she launched Purpose and Hope, an Oakland-based small business that serves nutritionally dense, handcrafted soup. Nancy shares about how her family's Chinese heritage helps inform her use of ingredients from a medicinal standpoint, the ups and downs of running a small business, and the community partnerships she has forged to provide soup to low income and food insecure women experiencing cancer. Listen in to hear about the beauty of beets, Hatch green chiles, and a very moving story of how Nancy nurtured and grew a precious truth about the power and beauty of food. Connect with Nancy on Instagram @purposeandhope Order healthy, handcrafted soup for yourself or your loved ones at www.purposeandhope.com Become a Soup Sponsor at https://www.patreon.com/purposeandhope You can also learn more about Nancy's journey running one of Alameda County's first microenterprise home kitchens through this excellent coverage from Oaklandside: https://oaklandside.org/2021/09/07/oakland-soup-company-purpose-and-hope-wants-to-comfort-and-nourish-the-east-bay/ https://oaklandside.org/2022/09/06/alameda-county-mehko-rules-purpose-and-hope-nancy-chang/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Welcome to our Oakland Asian Dad friend, Miguel! We spoke with Miguel about growing up in the Philippines, coming to the States, and raising Asian American daughters here in Oakland. Miguel and his partner are raising their kids in a multicultural and multilingual household with intentionality about paying equal attention to the multiple identities represented in their family. We touched on the issue of raising kids with similar characteristics as ourselves, and how we hope our daughters have deep confidence in themselves and take up space pn their own terms. We hope this will be an inspirational and humorous perspective on parenting the next generation of young women. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Hi everyone! This is our 2nd episode on the topic of Adoption - a bonus episode since Sarah and I remembered that Tracy, our mutual friend, was adopted! Tracy, adopted as a newborn, tells us about her journey from her birth at a Thai refugee camp then immigrating to the state of Alabama and finally settling in Oakland, CA where she has made her home for the past 40+ years. Tracy shares stories about finding her biological family by literally word of mouth and about living with them for a month long stay. Tracy also sheds light what it had been like living mutli-generationally and how supporting and loving family members —from a grandson to a grandmother — has blessed and affirmed who she is. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

We get the chance to debrief with Sarah and former guest, Jeannie, about their recent travels back to Korea and the Philippines. For both, It was a multi-generational family trip and one that sparked a desire for deeper connection to their homelands. Sarah and Jeannie share about meaningful family time as well as the joys and complexities of navigating cross-cultural interactions all while having everyone from their kids to grandmothers in tow. Needless to say, their travel stories are inspiring for the lasting imprint it has made on everyone who went.  You can connect with and support Jeannie's work here:  For psychotherapy inquiries: sweetmangotherapy.com For consultation & speaking: drcelestial.com Book: tinyurl.com/ci4iobook --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

We invited Glynis, an honorary Oakland Asian Mom by way of Austin, Texas, to speak about her beautiful adoption story. Glynis was born in the Philippines and was adopted at the age of 1 by white parents at a Manila-based adoption agency. She shares sweet memories of how she learned about her adoption story, of feeling fully embraced by her family, and  what it was like taking a trip back to Manila as an adult to the exact place where her parents met her. She shares experiences of navigating potentially confusing situations when out with her white parents and how 23 and Me sparked some wonderings about her biological mother. Glynis also reflects on how having her own biological kids has sweetened family life too. It's easy to see how  Glynis' journey has shaped her sense of self, her gift of graciousness, and her openness to being "adopted" by friends and diverse communities.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

"This was a story that really wanted to be told, that wouldn't let me go." On this episode, we talk to first-time author Jane Kuo about her first book, In the Beautiful Country, about a young girl from Taiwan immigrating to Southern California in the 1980s and building a new and very different life. The book is loosely based on Jane's own immigration journey. Jane talks to us about the transition from working as a nurse to becoming a writer, and the different muscles she had to use to write, edit, publish, and publicize the book. We loved this beautiful book - it was deeply moving and lovely account of the life of a working class Asian immigrant family, and highly recommend everyone check it out. You can connect with Jane at www.janekuo.com and @janekuowrites, and check out her op-ed in the LA Times. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

On this episode, we talk to fellow Oakland Asian mom Celia about the journey and hopes of raising Asian American sons. The three of us have known each other for a long time, and this was a particularly meaningful conversation. We talk about how our upbringing in Asian immigrant families has shaped how we parent, how living in the Bay Area helps to affirm and strengthen our sons' identities , and about raising sons in majority Asian schools and schools where they are the minority. We also talk about how important it is to help our sons develop a strong sense of self and pride in who they are to equip them as Asian American men. Make sure you listen to the full episode so you know what Celia's Asian mom super power is - it's a good one. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Welcome to the OAM's next series which focuses on "Raising Asian American Sons" and who better to interview that our own partners. For the first time, Sarah and I invite our hubbies (Stephen, Sarah's husband and James, Cheryl's) and our mutual friend, Greg, to talk about...what else (no surprise) parenting, identity, and community. We asked these fathers to share about their experiences growing up and how those experiences have influenced what kind of relationship they want with their own sons. These guys were open and vulnerable and overall really good sports! We loved their dad-joke energy and we think you will also love hearing their fatherly insights and the tenderness they show their sons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

This our third and final episode in our series talking to Asian American faith leaders. To close out the series, we interview Emily, a Taiwanese mom who talks about her journey of following her God-led curiosities in life that brought her to the Bay Area and to serve as a Methodist pastor. Emily shares how she has come to see her leadership style as a mix of vulnerability, audacity, and being her authentic self. She also recounts ways she has subtly worked to increase awareness about issues of race and justice by inviting congregants to widen their perspectives. Throughout our conversation, Emily's sense of warmth, graciousness, and humility shines through and we appreciate how she really embodies her value of centering and prioritizing community, family, and being in relationship with one another.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

This is our second episode in a three-part series talking to Asian American moms who are faith and spiritual leaders in Oakland and the East Bay. In this episode, we talk to Erina (@erinakimeubanks), a second generation Korean American mom of Black and Korean kids. Erina is a co-pastor, with her husband, of Bethel Community Church (@bethelcommunitysl) in San Leandro. We learn about how Bethel was an aging congregation on the brink of closure when Erina and her husband were invited to be part of reviving the community. Erina talks to us about how copastoring models a move away from hierarchy to shared leadership, collaboration, and cocreation, how she infuses pastoral care with Korean American values of hospitality, and how to engage church communities in racial and social justice work by starting with the question of how to be a good neighbor. Learn more about - and contribute - to the Shuumi Land Tax: https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/shuumi-land-tax/ Thank you to New Hope Covenant Church in Oakland for sponsoring this episode as part of its True Home grant. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

For our first episode of Season 2, we invited a friend of ours, Gala, who works at the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. Gala shares about her experiences working at Interfaith, offers wisdom on pursuing a decolonized faith and humbly speaks about the challenges of integrating anti-racist practices into her personal and community life. We appreciate Gala's candor, humility, and reflective spirit and the reminder of how our favorite song can be nourishing to our spirit and bodies. For the resources that Gala mentions, check out the links added in these episode notes: Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity:https://www.im4humanintegrity.org/ Coming Full Circle - The process of decolonization among post-1965 Filipino Americans Professor Leny Strobel: https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Full-Circle-Decolonization-Post-1965/dp/1522842373 SamaSama Cooperative: https://samasamacooperative.org/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

In this Season One closer, Cheryl and Sarah take questions from you, our loyal listeners. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

We're branching out a bit geographically for this episode and talking to Diana, a multiracial Asian and white mom hailing from Hayward. Diana talks to us about her work as an academic librarian at Cal State East Bay (RIP CSU Hayward), how she got involved with SURJ, which organizes white people for racial justice, and what it's like being a multiracial woman in that space. We also heard about Diana's childhood in Dixon, California, about her identity as a yonsei (4th gen Japanese American), and the cultural breaks caused by internment. We appreciated hearing about how Diana lives with deep and thoughtful intentionality about cultivating connections with her Japanese American heritage and committing to an antiracist family life. To learn more about SURJ, visit https://www.surjbayarea.org/ And check out the delicious Japanese food at Sapporo in Hayward: https://www.sapporohayward.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

When Sarah and I first brainstormed who we wanted to interview on our podcast, Jodi was on top of our wish list! We couldn't quite narrow down one topic to talk about with Jodi...so we decided to ask her to speak about things we know she is passionate about: intentional living among the poor, working abroad, integrating values of simplicity and generosity in her family life. Jodi has recently been reflecting on the different dimensions of vocation and beautifully describes a "divine dance" of how her actions and work flow out of contemplation and love. Her sharing really gives reasons to pause and ask ourselves, "What gives life to our own actions and vocation?" Jodi assures us that figuring out the answers to these questions is definitely a worthwhile discovery in the midst of motherhood and that finding quietness and solitude may help along the way. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

"We're not people you would think would start a nonprofit." In this episode, we talk to our friend Amy, a San Francisco Asian Mom and the founder and executive director of Jubilee Immigration Advocates, a nonprofit providing free and low cost immigration legal services in the Bay Area. Amy talks about being a somewhat atypical nonprofit founder and exec director, her value for collaborative leadership, and how professional mentors have helped her embrace her own background coming from a family of working class immigrants from China and Hong Kong, and as a working mom. We also discuss how all of us have come to treasure our identities as Asian American women - sometimes careful and conscientious, but also passionate and risk-taking. You can learn more about Jubilee Immigration Advocates at jubileelegal.org. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

We invite Natalie, a work colleague of Cheryl's, to share about her Samoan culture and background and how she ended up in the prevention and mental health field. Natalie, who leads the Pacific Islander Wellness Initiative (PIWI), speaks proudly about her Samoan heritage: how her identity is so interwoven with her sense of home and how growing up in the islands made an impact on her view of community and connection. Natalie also talks about the Samoan values of love, listening, and reverence. She also shares the joys of being a mom of two young adults and the quirks of being able to communicate in Samoan at home. We appreciate Natalie's commitment to uplift Pacific Islander needs and strengths in her work towards wellness and the way she embodies the warmth and beauty of her people where ever she goes. If you are interested in learning about the Pacific Islander Wellness Initiative (PIWI) that Natalie mentions, check them out here: https://ramsinc.org/prevention/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

On this episode, we talk to our very pregnant friend Michelle about all of the hopes and expectations that accompany first time motherhood, including navigating a multiethnic and multilingual partnership with her Oakland born-and-raised husband. This was a sweet and nostalgic episode for Cheryl and Sarah, as we recalled our own journeys to motherhood, and funny stories around birth and first time parenting. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

We welcome Andrea, a mom we met when all our kids went to preschool together, to speak about growing up in a mixed family that spans generations and places: Hawaii, Japan, Peru and the Bay Area. Andrea, an long time educator of Oakland Unified School District, shares about how her early experiences related to language and immigration shaped her passion for language justice and heart for newcomers. Working in education for 20+ years, Andrea has made an indelible impact on a generation of OUSD students she has taught. She shares some fun teacher stories that speak to her longevity -- stories full of meaningful run-ins with former students that reflect the depth of her impact and care. Andrea drops some pearls of wisdom for young professionals who seek a career in education...wisdom that can really apply to all of us in professions in which we use not only our critical thinking skills but also our emotional energy. Lastly, we also hear about how motherhood shifted her work boundaries and how her daily routine as an Oakland teacher has made Oakland feel like home. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

In this episode, we talk with Tram, who came to the US as a refugee from Vietnam at 3 years old about her professional transitions -- Tram was an editor at Colorlines, one of the first print magazines that focused on communities of color, authored a book called We are All Suspects Now post-9/11, and is currently working in public heath policy. Tram shares how her activism work covering racial justice issues and promoting health equity has shaped her thoughts about raising her mixed-race child who is of Vietnamese, Black, and Mexican American decent. She is especially proud her son's process of exploring the many sides of his identity at such a young age. We also think her Asian mom superpower of "graceful fierceness" shines through when speaking about the strength she has gained from motherhood. Throughout our conversations, all of us connect about experiencing "Oakland moments." You know, those moments that typify what it means to live here: whether it's a meeting a stranger who you feel like you've known forever or randomly meeting a famous person's cousin during the work day. We realize that as big as Oakland may be, there is something very intimate about our Town. Tram describes it beautifully when she says Oakland is a place where "kindred spirits" meet. So to all our fellow Oakland-ers out there (past and present), we are proud to call you family. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

On episode 14, we talk to a modern hero - a frontline medical worker during the pandemic, our friend and neighbor Esther. Esther talks to us about working as a doctor in a community medical clinic in Oakland Chinatown both before and during the pandemic, and the ways in which she practices self care and how her patients watch out for her wellbeing as well. We also touch upon Esther's immigration journey, from Taiwan to Canada to the Bay Area, and pepper her with questions about being Canadian, including the use of zed. Thanks for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

We invite our friend, Yu-Shuan, a 1.5 gen Taiwanese American, to share about her ever-evolving faith journey. Yu-Shuan is the founder of Sacred Roots Oakland, a collective that "seeks to center people of color - Black, Indigenous, API, immigrants, queer, and womxn - in pursuit of shared healing and liberation." We learn about how Yu-Shuan's own sacred roots and mystic giftings were shaped by her childhood experiences in Taiwan, her work as a long time Christian campus minister, and her leaning into spirit-led curiosities. By nature, Yu-Shuan is deeply loving as much as she is playful, which you can sense when she talks about her two sons and her Asian mom superpower. She is also a brave spiritual-seeker and wise cultivator of spaces centered on cultural healing and teaching. After listening to Yu-Shuan's story, we think it just *might* spark a sense of curiosity and reflection about your own spiritual journey. http://sacredrootsoakland.org/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

What were family vacations like when you were a kid? In this mini-episode, we reminisce about memorable childhood trips, talk about the planning and route mapping it took before yelp and GPS were a thing, and how we showed off the beauty of the Golden State to visitors! Somehow, we get a little off-topic and spend a good chunk time talking about food (no surprise!)...from Asian food cravings while on vacation to swapping stories about the most random places in the world we've eaten Chinese food to Asian moms and aunties smuggling cooked meats while traveling internationally! We also touch upon the logistics and planning it takes now that we have families of our own. And as much as Covid has put a pause on far-away travels, we feel blessed that we can still spend quality time with the extended family stay-cationing in the Bay Area and commit to taking that classic picture of our families with the Golden Gate Bridge as its backdrop. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

On this episode, we meet our friend Shuli, the brains, heart, and soul behind Asian Lit for Kids, an Instagram account featuring quality Asian American children's literature. Shuli talks to us about what motivated her to start the account, and the need for more stories about our community, written in our own voices. We also talk about what Shuli loves about Oakland and Malaysia, thoughtfully raising pan-Asian kids, and the book she will someday write, and how Asian moms can't help but bring something when they come over even when they are explicitly asked not to! Though Shuli has a lot on her plate as a mom, full-time educator, and running Asian Lit for Kids, it's clear that she is really leaning into her passions and gifts. On a technical note, you may hear a tuba-like sound throughout this recording, which we tried to troubleshoot and finally found out it was an ill-fitting cell phone charger, so we hope you find that somewhat amusing. Thank you for listening, and you can follow both @AsianLitforKids and @OaklandAsianMom on Instagram. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Most of the world knows Russell Jeung as the co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, producer of the Oak Park Story, and college professor of Asian American studies. While, we, in the neighborhood, know him as the church Uncle and Asian Dad who likes to give out free food (especially his yummy hamburgers), hang out with unhoused neighbors, and organize young people to pick up trash. We enjoy hearing about Russell's parenting and family life that is centered on faith, social justice, and compassion and his heartfelt reflections on his son's gifts and wisdom. Despite his self-described social awkwardness, Russell has an uncanny ability of connecting with others, putting young people to work, and making acts of community service become profound teachable moments for all who participate. We also have fun hearing all the stories (and there are many!) that come with a lifelong commitment to pursuing justice, living simply, and loving deeply. Oakland is lucky to have the sticker-official "Asian Dad" living in our Town and we can't wait til he retires so our streets can be extra clean, our estuary litter-free, and our bellies full of ice cream. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

We speak to our mutual and dear friend Wendy on this episode of OAM. All three of us have sweet spots for each other's kiddos and often bond over how to incorporate our culture in our family life. Inviting Wendy to be on the show really came out of our own personal desires to hear more about her profession as a Special Education teacher in public schools and her experiences of work in different seasons of life: Wendy has been a working-mom, a stay-at-home mom, and most recently a mom-to-a-newborn during early Covid times.  Honestly, it was a nice break for all of us to be able to talk about how our own family histories influenced our thoughts about work and our burgeoning Asian mom superpowers. It was also more fun to have a real conversation without our kids around! What we didn't get to do on the show is acknowledge that all work -- at the office and at home -- is work, labors of mommy love, even if not paid.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

In this mini-episode, we ask ourselves a question we posed to a past guest (Jane of Episode 9): "What would we be doing if we weren't a social worker or attorney?" We came up with a few alternate professions, circled back to the Asian immigrant sacrifice narrative, chatted about semi-famous creatives we know while adding to our list of Filipino celebrities. A bit of a free-flowing conversation and one that made us think about pursuing our "old" dreams now...or one day...maybe? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

On this episode, we talk to our new friend Jane, a Korean American public interest attorney and mother of young kids. Jane works for a local nonprofit in our neighborhood, representing Latinx clients with their immigration needs. Jane talks about entering this space with cultural humility, as well as how her own story as an immigrant and a child of immigrants bridges language and cultural gaps with the community she serves. I also loved hearing how she talks to her kids about her work and experience as a working mom during the pandemic. We also talk about what would Jane do if she wasn't an attorney, which launched us into a whole different conversation...including Jane's favorite Fruitvale taco truck. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

In honor of Father's Day, we interview Oakland Asian Dad and Uncle, Albert, who shares about the pressures (and academic secrets) of growing up in Cupertino, CA and how that experience has influenced his own parenting style. Albert, who has Taiwanese/Chinese/Filipino roots, also talks about the challenges and joys of raising his three kids in the Fruitvale and offers some meaningful advice to Asian American families living in Oakland...all while befriending the Baby Tiger within him. We both were touched by the stories Albert shared, especially his insights about how our kids are truly living out what it means to form diverse friendships and live out unique and beautiful experiences that are different from our own childhoods. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

We're talking to our friend and neighbor Ja Young about raising multiracial and multiethnic (Korean! Black! White! Filipino! Chinese!) kids, what we love about our people, the joy and complexity of passing down culture and language, including the grief and inadequacy that we sometimes feel as mothers trying to raise children deeply rooted in and proud of who they are. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Join us as we talk to a Korean American mother, Suzy, and her teenage Korean/Chinese (with Vietnam roots) daughter, Sierra, from the Fruitvale about their relationship over the years and how their "fiery" dynamic has led to much mutual love, appreciation, and admiration. For all us mothers who have young kids and wonder..."what will our relationship look like in the near future..?," this is a sweet conversation that gives us some foreshadowing of what may come. And Suzy, this is for you: #ooo!thatcroptopisalittleshort --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Super librarian/local celebrity Annabelle from the Cesar Chavez branch of the Oakland Public Library joins us to talk about how she became a librarian, what she misses about her work because of Covid, a bit of Cesar Chavez library history, being asked by patrons "where are you from?," how she incorporates reading in her child's life, and her mom's well-meaning but questionable advice about staying safe. And, we grill her about why the Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook is NOT available at the Oakland Public Library! Stay tuned. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Our reflections about friendships nowadays, over time, and over seasons of life... pre and post covid. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Meet Cheryl's mom, Auntie Cora, who shares her story about coming to the U.S. as a newly married person, being a working mom for over 30 years, and reflections on taking care of her grandchildren in her home (which is lovingly known as "Nona's school.") --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Our guest, East Bay mom Jeannie Celestial, PhD, co-author of The Filipino Instantpot Cookbook, talks about the origins of her love for food & veggies, how community & family has shaped her cooking journey, and sharing Filipino recipes with the world. She mentions that you can reach out to her by IG (jeanniecelestial) or join the Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook (Facebook.com/Filipinoinstantpotcookbook) community on FB for support and more info. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Cheryl and Sarah share what has brought them joy during the pandemic. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Get to know us, Cheryl and Sarah (your hosts), how we met, and why we wanted to start this podcast. [Correction: Cheryl mentions that an actor, H.S., is half Filipino. She was off and apologizes. H.S.'s grandfather was half Filipino/half African American. Cheryl wants to add the note that this grandfather was on the mom's side.] --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

Listen to Cheryl, Angela, Jill and Jody share about their couples' group, affectionately called the Oakland Love Lab. These couples have been providing support and space for each other for ten years. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message

A very mini intro about our podcast! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaklandasianmom/message