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Are you ready to discover a powerful new way to support your clients—and yourself? In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon sits down with Tamar Blue, founder of MentalHappy, a revolutionary platform that empowers therapists, coaches, and mental health advocates to create secure, community-driven support groups online. Whether you're a provider looking to scale your services or someone seeking a safe space to heal and connect, this conversation is packed with insight, innovation, and heart. Don't miss this inspiring story of how one woman turned a passion for peer support into a movement that's changing lives. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Watch on YouTube Use the promo code “GORDON” to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Google Ads for Therapists Consulting with Gordon Mental Health Wear TN About MentalHappy MentalHappy began in 2016 as a small support group on a social media site, where the team quickly recognized the limitations of using platforms not designed for group support—such as inadequate tools, privacy concerns, and a lack of structure. Comprised of mental health providers, advocates, and facilitators, the founding team experienced these challenges firsthand and set out to create a better solution. The result was MentalHappy: a purpose-built platform designed to simplify group management, enhance engagement, and expand access to emotional support. Rooted in the belief that community care is health care, MentalHappy empowers individuals and organizations to create and manage support groups more effectively. Today, the platform hosts thousands of active groups dedicated to emotional well-being. Through fostering connection, reducing barriers to care, and supporting mental health on a global scale, MentalHappy is redefining how people find strength in community. Website LinkedIn Twitter (X) Facebook Instagram YouTube
Rat King, Evansville, Indiana's own stoner/doom metal band, has been making waves in the local music scene with their unique blend of heavy riffs and atmospheric soundscapes. Comprised of talented musicians who are passionate about their craft, Rat King has garnered a dedicated following of fans who eagerly anticipate each new release and live performance. With intricate guitar work, thunderous drums, and haunting vocals, their music transports listeners to a dark and immersive world that is both captivating and exhilarating. Their raw energy on stage coupled with their tight musical arrangements have solidified Rat King as a force to be reckoned with in the underground metal community. Keep an eye out for this rising band as they continue to make their mark on the music world. @ratkingdoom Bandcamp: http://ratkingdoom.bandcamp.comMetal Archive: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Rat_King/3540425823Official Links:Stay tuned in the show for some ads from all of our sponsors, links are listed below. The more you help them out, the more it helps Flamekeeper out! Please keep in mind that if you rate and review the show the algorithm seems to like that, and if you like the show, please share and recommend it to anyone else in your circle who likes metal. Much love and respect. MRJ.Stay tuned in the show for some ads from all of our sponsors, links are listed below. The more you help them out, the more it helps Flamekeeper™ out! Links to our Sponsors & Partners:Ageless Art Tattoo & Piercing - Clarksville/New Albany:http://www.agelessartclarksville.comhttp://www.agelessartna.comElectric Ladyland:http://Electricladyland420.comPizza DoNisi/MAG BAR:https://pizzadonisi.com/http://magbaroldlouisville.comShadebeast:http://shadebeast.comand use PROMO CODE: "SITH LORD" at check out for a 10% Discount!Creeping Death Designs:http://www.creepingdeathdesigns.comand use PROMO CODE: "METALFORGE10" at check out for a 10% Discount!Record Labels:Unchained Tapes:http://www.unchainedtapes.bigcartel.comand use PROMO CODE: "METALFORGE10" at check out for a 10% Discount!Mercenary Press:http://www.mercenarypress.bigcartel.comand use PROMO CODE: "METALFORGE" at check out for a 10% Discount!Coming soon: fkr™!Other shows you can listen to:Night Demon Heavy Metal Podcast:http://www.nightdemon.nethttps://open.spotify.com/show/2ozLCAGQ4LdqJwMmeBYJ7k?si=OvvfZsNYRPqywwb86SzrVAZines:Soulgrinder Zine:http://www.facebook.com/soulgrinder.zineOFFICAL LINKS OF THE METAL FORGE®/FLAMEKEEPERhttp://www.metalforgeradio.comhttps://www.flamekeeper.vip FB/IG/TW/TikTok/YouTube - @metalforgeradioFlamekeeper Podcast Network: http://www.youtube.com@flamekeeperpnThe Metal Forge®The Alehorn™Ossont & Battery™UNSLEEVED™Jason Gardner's Heavy Metal Wasteland™:https://www.facebook.com/FlamekeeperPodcastsThe Metal Forge® Playlist on Spotify:2020https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1yvwNW58ctDIpRzqdUqs6y?si=efcfdf26507b40d52021https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4NamyLbKQ4NRdqFhLo1jGU?si=0798122add2349322022https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ZWFkf5RV8tDLCbobWmr1h?si=b23a47ce870f4fd82023https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Jf0nkVFUMbNmhfpxLWb7w?si=3ef101d3a4fb48e32024https://open.spotify.com/playlist/02lPZ2EBiX7IQ05hmH237f?si=d3108244290b4f2cAll Rights Reserved. Any unauthorized reproduction/duplication is expressly forbidden without prior written consent and is punishable by law. Metal Forge Intro I copyright 2020 The Metal Forge® Published by UNTIL I GET IT RIGHT MUSIC/ASCAP. Metal Forge Intro II copyright 2023 The Metal Forge® Published by UNTIL I GET IT RIGHT MUSIC/ASCAP. The Metal Forge®, please contact metalforgeradio@gmail.com for any and all other info. All other music is owned by writers/publishers respectively and is used with permission for means of promotion.©2019-2025 The Metal Forge®
*The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.In a weekend post, the US President stated “I love King Charles. Sounds good to me!,” in response to a report that King Charles is going to offer, during an upcoming visit to the UK, for the United States to join the Commonwealth of Nations. Comprised of 56 countries, the UKC is overseen by “His Majesty King Charles III… an important unifying role that personally reinforces the links by which the Commonwealth joins people together from around the world.”Of interest here is not so much the treasonous implication, or headlines like “Is Trump Trying to Undo The American Revolution?” but the manner in which his supporters have reacted: it's just a joke, he's trolling, he's a genius pointing out that the US is already a corporation, etc. They fail to explain why such a treasonous implication would be an acceptable joke when he's already supposedly fighting globalism, or how trolling the King of England somehow is NOT noticed by the Crown itself - only MAGA supporters online - or how the man of saying anything on social media is suddenly a man of sly, deceptive, intelligence-agency-like codes like some 17th letter of the alphabet. The reality is, most likely, you are being trolled. From Alex Jones being replaced by a clone to Russia blowing up “adrenochrome factories,” the whole thing actually is a terrible joke: threatening and censuring universities over legal protests if they don't give unique protection to Jewish students despite Muslims students being the primary target of discrimination nationwide, financing the war machine of a foreign country while cutting all other foreign aid, giving special privileges to certain groups of American businesses, promoting the North American Union, continuing to promote the use of mRNA, and now pushing electric cars.The whole thing is similar to the anti-war movement and counterculture of the 1960s-1970s. Whereas the anti-war movement was professional and serious, it was replaced by armies of naive and vulnerable people obsessed with drugs, sex, and military sponsored rock music and entertainment. The anti-globalist movement has likewise been diverted by the modern MAGA-hippies, armies of self-righteous, understandably upset, Americans who genuinely are fighting for the right thing in the wrong place at the wrong time - getting information from the Internet, i.e. resources pushed by intelligence agencies probably. Whereas the Democrats secretly work to expand globalism, Trump is doing so openly. Wheres hippies ‘let loose', the new hippies want secret codes and symbols to interpret. The right-wing influencers being paid to promote soda and fake Epstein documents are as fake as the left-wing influencers being paid to push pharmaceutical products or push transgenderism. It's pay to play, and rather than everything being a Psyop, these people are simply sell outs. -FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKMAIN WEBSITECashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tst-radio--5328407/support.
On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Arc of Set The Sun! Comprised of friends Arc and Eris, Set The Sun is a modern metal outfit whose sound blends elements of electronic, metalcore, progressive rock, numetal, and industrial for a cinematic and emotive listening experience. The duo collaborates with other talented musicians they reference as "The Collective," which includes the likes of Ryan Clark (Demon Hunter), Clint Lowery (Sevendust), DJ Lethal (Limp Bizkit), Michael Lessard (The Contortionist), and producer Forrester Savell, among others. In July 2022, Set The Sun dropped their debut EP entitled In Absentia, Vol. 1. That initial release resonated with heavy music fans, and included songs like "The Way Back" (featuring DJ Lethal & TELLE) and "Invisible" (featuring Ryan Clark). In November 2023, Set The Sun released their debut LP entitled At War. Featuring everything from the emotional tribute track to Chester Bennington in "A Better Way To Bleed," to the thunderous chorus in "The Truth" with Clint Lowery, and the introspective "The Impossible," the debut record was a hit with modern rock fans. Numerous songs from the record went on to rack up hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify alone. By the end of 2023, Set The Sun's catalog topped 1 million streams. That momentum has continued into 2025 for Set The Sun. After dropping a handful of remixed and reimagined songs in 2024, Set The Sun again teamed up with Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter for a joint release with their latest single "Falling Apart." Released on February 7th, "Falling Apart" has already amassed north of 261,000 streams on Spotify alone, while the accompanying music video has over 113,000 views on YouTube. In this episode, Arc talks with Mike about the early success of "Falling Apart," what it's been like to team up with dream collaborators like the aforementioned Ryan Clark and Clint Lowery, among others, his love for Hans Zimmer and film scores, incorporating that epic and cinematic experience into Set The Sun's music, new music in the works, chasing your dreams, and more. This episode also features the new single "Falling Apart" from Set The Sun and Demon Hunter, available where you get your music! Follow Set The Sun on Instagram @setthesunband. To stay up-to-date with Set The Sun, visit https://www.setthesun.com/. Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod. Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.
MOONRIIVR is a band known for creating lush, cinematic, and atmospheric music inspired by timeless classics, yet uniquely personal in style. Comprised of seasoned musicians Gavin Gardiner and "Champagne" James Robertson, the duo brings a wealth of experience from the Southern Ontario music scene, blending indie rock, folk, jazz, and country influences. Their debut album, Vol. 1, and its follow-up, The Tascam Sessions, showcase their musical alchemy and innovative expression. We're treated to a sample of that magic in this Hidden Track Story, as the duo shares a bonus pair of live performances with us as part of this episode! The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support! Subscribe to the Hidden Track podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer
Action/Adventure (A/A) is a pop-punk band hailing from Chicago ready to shatter decades-long stereotypes of the scene. Comprised solely of BIPOC, their mission is to create #PopPunkInColor and ensure pop punk is a genre where everyone is represented on and off stage. Matt Vettese talks to Brompton Jackson about: -Making the emo and pop punk scene a safer space for BIPOC and Queer people -Challenges of writing music with so many people involved -What virality has done for the band and more! Check out more from Action/Adventure: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7uBCPmZFHJzrQDlxHNsFwF Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/action-adventure/535629554 https://actadvband.com/ Check out more from Matt Vettese: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mattvettese TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mattvettese -- If you loved the show please remember to follow!
Greg Prato makes his return to the Booked On Rock podcast. His latest book is Bang Your Head, Feel The Noize: The Quiet Riot Story. Comprised of quotes from interviews past and present and featuring many rare vintage photos, Greg examines all eras of the band: their '70s period which featured guitar legend Randy Rhoads in their line-up, through the blockbuster Metal Health period of the early 80s, and all the way to the modern day version of the group. We cover those eras in this episode!Purchase a copy of Bang Your Head, Feel The Noize: The Quiet Riot StoryFollow Greg Prato on X Episode Playlist ---------- BookedOnRock.com The Booked On Rock Store The Booked On Rock YouTube Channel Follow The Booked On Rock with Eric Senich:FACEBOOKINSTAGRAMTIKTOKX Find Your Nearest Independent Bookstore Contact The Booked On Rock Podcast: thebookedonrockpodcast@gmail.com The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe
How Can I Watch The NASCAR Xfinity Series on The CW?LIVE Xfinity Series races – Available on Broadcast only (streaming replays available the next day on The CW App)LIVE practice & qualifying races – Available on The CW AppLIVE Driver Cam (in-car cameras) – Available on The CW AppHow to Watch:The CW will air NASCAR Xfinity Series races, LIVE on broadcast ONLY. To find your local CW station, use our station finder. The full 2025 race schedule can be found here. Missed the Race? You can stream the full race replays the next day on The CW app.Practice & qualifying races stream LIVE on The CW App.LIVE NASCAR Driver Cam (available in-car cameras) from the Xfinity Series races will also stream live on The CW App.ABOUT PARKER KLIGERMAN AND THE 2025 NASCAR INFINITY SEASON The CW Network announced its broadcast team for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Veteran broadcaster Adam Alexander will serve as lead play-by-play announcer and will be joined by Daytona 500 champion Jamie McMurray and NASCAR driver Parker Kligerman as race analysts. Dillon Welch and Kim Coon will serve as pit reporters, and Carla Gebhart will host the studio show "NASCAR Countdown Live" before every race.The CW's coverage of the 2025 Xfinity Series season begins on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Daytona International Speedway, with "NASCAR Countdown Live" (4 to 5 p.m. ET) followed by the race (5 to 8 p.m. ET). For the first time in series history, all 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races will be available on free, over-the-air broadcast television with additional content available through The CW's digital platforms. All 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and ancillary content will be fully produced by the Emmy® Award-winning NASCAR Productions group, in close collaboration with The CW.Parker Kligerman is a NASCAR driver and media personality with a career spanning all three of NASCAR's premier series. With three wins, 39 top-five finishes, and 105 top-10 finishes, he recently retired from the Xfinity Series after a two-year run as the marquee driver for Big Machine Racing, earning the team their first and second playoff berths. Since 2015, Kligerman has served as an analyst and pit reporter for NBC Sports. He has also created original motorsports programming and is currently the co-host of "The Money Lap" podcast. Comprised primarily of NASCAR's younger, up-and-coming drivers, the Xfinity Series features the sport's future stars often competing side-by-side against NASCAR's biggest names - many of whom earned their stripes and won championships in the Xfinity Series. NASCAR Xfinity Series races in some of the nation's largest markets - from Chicago to Dallas to Miami - and at the sport" most iconic tracks, including Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and the series championship at Phoenix Raceway.PARKER KLIGERMAN BIO Parker Kligerman is a NASCAR driver and broadcast analyst. The Connecticut native raced full-time for Big Machine Racing in the Xfinity Series in 2023 and 2024, making the playoffs both seasons. He owns three Truck Series victories, with his most recent coming in 2022 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Kligerman also serves as a NASCAR analyst for The CW. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/i-am-refocused-radio--2671113/support.
Rob Janicke is the author of Slacker: 1991, Teen Spirit Angst, and the Generation It Created. Rob explores the role of music and culture, from the early 90s alternative and grunge movement, and the impact it had on the generations that followed. Comprised of history, research, and interviews with musicians, industry execs, writers, sociologists, therapists, and Rob's point of view as a writer, indie-record label owner, and fan, this is an intriguing look back at an amazing year and time in rock history. Purchase a copy of Slacker: 1991, Teen Spirit Angst, and the Generation It Created Order A Limited 1st Print Run Edition/Signed Copy of Slacker: 1991, Teen Spirit Angst, and the Generation It CreatedVisit Rob Janicke's websiteVisit Rob Janicke's Generation Riff blogFollow the Grunge Bible Instagram page Listen To Rob Janicke's Curated "Slacker Songs" Playlist ---------- BookedOnRock.com The Booked On Rock Store The Booked On Rock YouTube Channel Follow The Booked On Rock with Eric Senich:FACEBOOKINSTAGRAMTIKTOKX Find Your Nearest Independent Bookstore Contact The Booked On Rock Podcast: thebookedonrockpodcast@gmail.com The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe
Hawaii-based writer Chris McKinney has edited Honolulu Noir, the latest in the Akashic Noir series of location-based dark short stories. Comprised of stories about the people of the city, written by those who know this place best. The volume opens with a story featuring Chang Apana, the Native Hawaiian/Chinese real-life cop who was the inspiration for the controversial Charlie Chan. It ends with a supernatural journey from the Philippines to Hawaii. In between, readers will find multicultural tales of invasion (whether yakuza, ISIS recruiters, or vampires), madness, addiction, and murder—all the stuff that many people don't know happens here. Unbeknownst to the rest of the country, Honolulu can be a very dangerous place. Here, even the alluring crystal-blue waters might kill you.
Indigo Dreamers are performing live on Wednesday 1/29/25 at 12:30PM on the Community Stage at The South Florida Fair.Indigo Dreamers is an enchanting soulful-pop duo based in Delray Beach, Florida. Comprised of the talented husband and wife team, Jamie and Pouya, this dynamic duo has been gracing the stage together for over a decade. Their music is a mesmerizing blend of soaring vocals, innovative bass work, and meticulously crafted arrangements, all woven together into a unique musical tapestry that touches hearts. Indigo Dreamers maintain an active presence in the South Florida music scene and perform wherever their music takes them, whether is be over land or overseas. Their journey as Indigo Dreamers remains a captivating one, weaving together stories and melodies that inspire and resonate deeply with their ever-growing audience.Take some zany and serious journeys with The Pipeman aka Dean K. Piper, CST on The Adventures of Pipeman also known as Pipeman Radio syndicated globally “Where Who Knows And Anything Goes”. Check out our segment Positively Pipeman dedicated to Business, Motivation, Spiritual, and Health & Wellness. Check out our segment Pipeman in the Pit dedicated to Music, Artistry and Entertainment Subscribe to The Adventures of Pipeman at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-adventures-of-pipeman--941822/support Would you like to be a sponsor of the show?Would you like to have your business, products, services, merch, programs, books, music or any other professional or artistic endeavors promoted on the show?Would you like interviewed as a professional or music guest on The Adventures of Pipeman, Positively Pipeman and/or Pipeman in the Pit?Would you like to host your own Radio Show, Streaming TV Show, or Podcast? Contact the Pipeman:Phone/Text Contact – 561-506-4031Email Contact – dean@talk4media.com Follow @pipemanradio on all social media outletsVisit Pipeman Radio on the Web at linktr.ee/pipemanradio, theadventuresofpipeman.com and pipemanradio.com. Download The Pipeman Radio APPThe Adventures of Pipeman is broadcast live Wednesdays at 1PM ET and Music & Positive Interviews daily at 8AM ET on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) and replays on K4HD Radio (www.k4hd.com) – Hollywood Talk Radio part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). The Adventures of Pipeman TV Show is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).
Indigo Dreamers are performing live on Wednesday 1/29/25 at 12:30PM on the Community Stage at The South Florida Fair.Indigo Dreamers is an enchanting soulful-pop duo based in Delray Beach, Florida. Comprised of the talented husband and wife team, Jamie and Pouya, this dynamic duo has been gracing the stage together for over a decade. Their music is a mesmerizing blend of soaring vocals, innovative bass work, and meticulously crafted arrangements, all woven together into a unique musical tapestry that touches hearts. Indigo Dreamers maintain an active presence in the South Florida music scene and perform wherever their music takes them, whether is be over land or overseas. Their journey as Indigo Dreamers remains a captivating one, weaving together stories and melodies that inspire and resonate deeply with their ever-growing audience.Take some zany and serious journeys with The Pipeman aka Dean K. Piper, CST on The Adventures of Pipeman also known as Pipeman Radio syndicated globally “Where Who Knows And Anything Goes”. Check out our segment Positively Pipeman dedicated to Business, Motivation, Spiritual, and Health & Wellness. Check out our segment Pipeman in the Pit dedicated to Music, Artistry and Entertainment Subscribe to The Adventures of Pipeman at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-adventures-of-pipeman--941822/support Would you like to be a sponsor of the show?Would you like to have your business, products, services, merch, programs, books, music or any other professional or artistic endeavors promoted on the show?Would you like interviewed as a professional or music guest on The Adventures of Pipeman, Positively Pipeman and/or Pipeman in the Pit?Would you like to host your own Radio Show, Streaming TV Show, or Podcast? Contact the Pipeman:Phone/Text Contact – 561-506-4031Email Contact – dean@talk4media.com Follow @pipemanradio on all social media outletsVisit Pipeman Radio on the Web at linktr.ee/pipemanradio, theadventuresofpipeman.com and pipemanradio.com. Download The Pipeman Radio APPThe Adventures of Pipeman is broadcast live Wednesdays at 1PM ET and Music & Positive Interviews daily at 8AM ET on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) and replays on K4HD Radio (www.k4hd.com) – Hollywood Talk Radio part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). The Adventures of Pipeman TV Show is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).
You probably don't know what The Pooh's Adventures Wiki is, but as of this episode, it has over 80,000 pages. Comprised mostly of fanon crossovers with other popular media franchises and embarassing self-inserts, this is a wiki where eventually all of popular culture can exist parallel to Tigger. This week, The F Plus enters the Ryaniverse.
An ‘02 Volkswagen Passat with a cassette player, making the suit look good, and a low key YouTube cut. Alec Kersenboom (The Charities, The Emkays) "Wick Records is proud to present the debut single from SoCal's newest hit-makers, The Emkays. Comprised of songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist extraordinaires Alec Kersenboom and Anthony Masino (Lee Fields, Thee Sacred Souls, Jensine Benitez, Junior Scaife, et al), the group delivers a pair of pop nuggets that draw from the deeper end of the British Invasion spectrum. Similar to some the American teen combos that were blaring out of suburban garages throughout the mid-sixties, The Emkays deliver their brand of anglophilic rock with a soulful earnestness that was absent from many of their British counterparts. The irony of which notwithstanding, The Emkays shine like the North Star, ready to guide a whole new generation of kids to their side of the pond." Excerpt from https://shopdaptonerecords.com The Charities: Bandcamp: https://thecharities.bandcamp.com Instagram: @the.charities Website: https://linktr.ee/the_charities Records: https://hitiderecordings.com/products/itsyourturn Merch: https://thecharities.bandcamp.com/merch The Emkays: Bandcamp: https://theemkays.bandcamp.com Instagram: @the.emkays Records: https://shopdaptonerecords.com/products/the-emkays The Vineyard: Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSn17dSz8kST_j_EH00O4MQ/videos
On this episode we talk with best-selling veteran authors about their fascinating books. We start with a brand-new release, “We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History” from Special Forces veteran, journalist and author Jack Murphy, who takes a deep dive into historical events that have never been written about before.Murphy describes his interviews with veterans who conducted ops you'll never read about in the history books ... like the time a team parachuted into position with a nuclear bomb in a backpack!Get “We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History” here:https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1NWe also revisit our conversation with covert DoD Task Force and Special Operations veteran Adam Gamal, who authored “The Unit: My Life Fighting Terrorists as One of America's Most Secret Military Operatives”. (See Eye on Veterans March 29 episode).This personal memoir recounts his time on the military's most covert unit … a team so classified that even its actual name cannot be released. Comprised of elite Special Operations soldiers, deep cover Intelligence assets and others with unique skills, The Unit, offers us a rare glimpse at what it takes to fight terrorists around the world. Get “The Unit: My Life Fighting Terrorists as One of America's Most Secret Military Operatives” here:https://www.amazon.com/Unit-Inside-Americas-Secret-Military-ebook/dp/B09Y457JN5Finally, we talk with Brad Taylor, a former commander of the Army's elite team Delta Force. Now a best-selling, action-adventure novelist, he describes his latest book “Dead Man's Hand”.Although this story of a pending nuclear attack by Russia is fictional, Taylor's exceptional writing fuses together historical events, insight into Putin's regime and terror groups that really exist in today's modern world.Get “Dead Man's Hand” here:https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Mans-Hand-Logan-Novel-ebook/dp/B0C2Q5TJB2Contact CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggsphil@connectingvets.comFollow on X:@philbriggsVet@EyeOnVeterans@connectingvets See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Simplifying Business Strategies for Meaningful ImpactIn a recent episode of "The Thoughtful Entrepreneur," host Josh engages in a compelling conversation with Kaitlyn Cook, a business strategy specialist and executive coach. Kaitlyn, the founder of a consulting firm, shares her expertise in helping CEOs, particularly those generating 6 to 7 figures in revenue, transition to the 8-figure mark while making a meaningful impact in their industries. This blog post delves into the key themes and actionable insights from their discussion, providing valuable guidance for leaders aiming to simplify their business strategies and foster a positive work environment.Kaitlyn's mission is to assist CEOs in merging their business strategies with their core vision and purpose. She emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with the fundamental "why" behind their businesses. This involves clarifying the company's mission and vision, identifying strategic steps, and simplifying business operations to maintain focus on the essence of the business. With over a decade of experience in the business world and two decades in finance, Kaitlyn advocates for a streamlined approach that keeps the essence of the business at the forefront. She encourages CEOs to simplify their focus by asking critical questions about their business's purpose and target customers, offering one-on-one coaching, consulting, courses, and workshops to facilitate this process.Josh invites Kaitlyn to share actionable insights for leaders looking to alleviate pressure and foster a positive work environment. Kaitlyn highlights a profound realization: CEOs are not responsible for their team members' happiness. Instead, they are responsible for creating a safe and supportive work environment. She suggests practical tips for leaders, such as conducting regular self-check-ins, being open and vulnerable, and encouraging team autonomy. As the conversation progresses, Josh and Kaitlyn discuss the importance of planning for the upcoming year, with Kaitlyn suggesting that leaders engage in deep work, such as mind mapping, to visualize their goals for 2025. By focusing on both external metrics and internal growth, leaders can navigate the complexities of business with clarity and purpose. Kaitlyn Cook's insights provide valuable guidance for CEOs and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact in their industries.About Kaitlyn Cook:Kaitlyn Cook is a visionary business strategist and entrepreneur who has worked with over 10,000 businesses worldwide, helping them grow, thrive, and redefine success on their own terms. With a unique blend of business acumen and heart-centered strategy, Kaitlyn specializes in simplifying complex business challenges, merging passion with profit, and empowering business owners to unlock exponential growth while maintaining authenticity. Her journey from living on $7 a day in Bangkok to becoming a top 1% rated expert on Upwork exemplifies her belief in resilience, innovation, and the power of visionary thinking. Having successfully transformed businesses across industries—ranging from wellness to technology—Kaitlyn's approach is driven by one simple question: What if? By helping entrepreneurs ask better questions and craft compelling visions for the future, she has facilitated dramatic revenue growth, operational excellence, and lasting impact for her clients. Her mission? To inspire business owners to succeed in ways that align with their values and vision—without burning out. Kaitlyn's work is not just about increasing profit margins; it's about fostering sustainable growth that empowers leaders to live the life they envision for themselves and their teams.About The KCC - Kaitlyn Cook Coaching:At KCC, the team empowers businesses on their journey to become industry leaders through a proven 6-step formula for success. Comprised of seasoned...
*Tes and Yud Kislev: Part 1* Lkvod the Auspicious days Tes and Yud Kislev, marking the birth, Histalkus and Geula of the Mitteler Rebbe, Below you will find the link to the voice file, which includes facts, stories and teachings about the Mitteler Rebbe. Comprised of 5 short voice files, which were originally posted in our “Zichronos of the Rebbe" Group. Listening time is about 38 min. Due to its length you may need to download it to a computer.
Send us a textValletta's fusion of blackened arena rock and melancholic grunge n' roll creates a sound that defies easy classification. Their upcoming debut album Summer promises to dismantle metal conventions with its raw, electrifying energy, pushing the genre into new, uncharted territories.Comprised of seasoned musicians, Valletta's lineup includes drummer Justin Valletta and bassist/backing vocalist Donald Boyd (both from Mo'ynoq), guitarist/lead vocalist Keenan Carroll (Lord Almighty, ex-Barishi), and guitarist/backing vocalist Will Goodyear (Hopesfall, Prayer for Cleansing, ex-Between The Buried and Me). With their diverse musical backgrounds, each member brings something unique to the table, culminating in a sound that's fresh, innovative, and unrelentingly powerful.The band's debut full-length Summer promises to take their musicianship to the next level. Featuring 12 tracks, the album is built on the foundation of heavy riffs, soaring melodies, and a dynamic exploration of contrasts—elements that make Valletta's sound so distinctive.In discussing the creative process behind Summer, the band offered insight into the album's thematic exploration of contrasts:“The new album has been a real exploration in tearing down walls that we had previously built up over the years. Each of us comes from different musical backgrounds, and there's been a strong sense of letting go and allowing the music to unfold, regardless of how uncomfortable it may be. That's been the beauty of this journey we've started together, and it's been a great ride so far!During the writing process, a constant theme that emerged was the idea of duality. From heavier, grimier riffs to beautiful, stoic melodies. From slower, muddy depths to faster, anthemic leads. From frozen wastelands to summer nights, we've been on a journey to explore our limitations musically and emotionally. Spin that shit up!”Summer will be available on October 4 via Forcefield Records in CD, vinyl, and digital formats, delivering a sonic experience that's sure to leave a lasting impact.www.BetterHelp.com/TheBarnhttp://www.betterhelp.com/TheBarn http://www.betterhelp.com/TheBarnThis episode is sponsored by www.betterhelp.com/TheBarn and brought to you as always by The Barn Media Group. YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@TheBarnPodcastNetwork SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/show/09neXeCS8I0U8OZJroUGd4?si=2f9b8dfa5d2c4504 APPLE https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1625411141 I HEART RADIO https://www.iheart.com/podcast/97160034/ AMAZON https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7aff7d00-c41b-4154-94cf-221a808e3595/the-barn
On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Devitalized! Hailing from Massachusetts, Devitalized is a deathcore band that also incorporates elements of metalcore and hardcore for their own unique sound. Comprised of John-Paul Ratta (Vocals), Joseph Ratta (Lead/Rhythm Guitar), Thomas Jones Jr (Bass Guitar), Dawson Medeiros (Lead Guitar), and Andrew Bailey (Drums), Devitalized released their debut album entitled State of Aggression on 5/17/24. The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Robbie Litchfield (Saving Vice) at his Hell Here Studios in New York. The 8-song debut showcases both the brutality and musicality of Devitalized, who continue to build their name and fan base with energetic live shows. Additionally, State of Aggression also includes the song "Godslayer," which features Tom Barber (Darko, Chelsea Grin). On this episode, Tom, JP, and Dawson speak with Mike about how they got into heavy music, the sound and inception of Devitalized, making State of Aggression with Robbie Litchfield, the support and collaboration of Tom Barber, and more. This episode of the pod also features the song "Flesh Pit" from Devitalized off their debut record State of Aggression, available where you get your music! Follow Devitalized on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/devitalizedma/. To stay up-to-date with the latest shows and news from Devitalized, visit https://devitalizedofficial.com/. Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod. Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.
Marking the Birth of the Rebbe Rashab in the year 5621 (late 1860), we present an audio elaborating on the Rebbe Rashab's life and activities. Comprised of 15 short voice files, which were originally posted in our “Zichronos of the Rebbe" Group. Listening time is about almost 2 full hours. Due to its length, you may need to download it to a computer.
When Donald Trump first become president, he took a go-slow approach on the spread of environmental regulation. A group called the Environmental Protection Network got together to opposed this approach. Comprised of former EPA employees, it's gearing up again. Here with what it plans, network executive director Michelle Roos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When Donald Trump first become president, he took a go-slow approach on the spread of environmental regulation. A group called the Environmental Protection Network got together to opposed this approach. Comprised of former EPA employees, it's gearing up again. Here with what it plans, network executive director Michelle Roos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
I spoke to Kennedy Rice about his journey with starting Panther Revival. Rice and I met at Compost Heap music festival and became friends through the national music community that Compost Heap brings to touring and local musicians. Rice and I talk about our experiences with relating to afrofuturism, new punk culture and today's politics with helping black voices have a presence in underground punk scenes. Learn more on Dreams Not Memes Podcast. Bio: Originating in the northeast Texas city of Greenville, Panther Revival live by their motto: Power to the Panther. Comprised of Kennedy Rice (vocals/guitar), Chris Edwards (drums) and Sam Boatner (bass), their righteous anger and focused desperation channeled itself into the release of their Punkerton Records debut, the full-length album "Animality". Described as "Body Count meets AFI meets La Dispute", Panther Revival brings a socially conscious voice against a darkly furious backdrop. The trio has been bringing their unique energy to various shows and festivals, screaming about the issues important to them (and even leaving stage during their set to mosh with the crowd!). With the release of their sophomore album, recorded in Arizona with producer Matt LeFevers, Panther Revival has no intentions of settling. Always and forever, Power to the Panther. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3cJtGHqIozwiBkE47q28CE?autoplay=true Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pantherrevival/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dreamsnotmemes/support
Maggie spoke with Quincy Jones in early December 2008 about his book, The Complete Quincy Jones My Journey & Passions. We discussed some of his favorite musical collaborations including Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis and discuss the idea of mentorship and why it's so important to "pass it on" Quincy Delight Jones Jr. March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024 was an American record producer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer.. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received many accolades including 28 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for seven Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards.About the book: Everything you love about American popular culture is Quincy Jones. As an artist and impresario Quincy Jones has been the creative catalyst for over 60 years of American cultural phenomena orchestrating the sounds of Frank Sinatra, setting the ambiance for Steven Spielberg, cultivating the talent of Michael Jackson, and introducing to the world Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith - to name a few. The Complete Quincy Jones examines the diverse virtuosity of Quincy Jones, celebrating his prolific contribution to American art and culture. Comprised of personal interviews and recollections with Jones, this collection peers behind the veil of celebrity, with extraordinary access to his creative inspirations and labors. Through private notebooks, correspondence, and photographs Jones offers unprecedented introspection into the depths of his creativity and the histories of his ventures. From the volumes of his memorabilia, Jones emerges as a contemplative and dynamic maestro, thriving on intuition and ceaselessly pursuing the soul of his art.Quincy Jones is an American record producer, conductor, arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. God Bless Quincy Jones, there will never be another you! Source: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Complete-Quincy-Jones/Quincy-Jones/9781933784670Source: https://www.qwest.tv/Source: https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/quincy-jonesSource: https://rockhall.com/inductees/quincy-jones/Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.Send us a textSupport the show@profileswithmaggielepique@maggielepique
Contaminated Site Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN): Internet Seminar Video Archives
The NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) is hosting a Risk e-Learning webinar series focused on using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to advance environmental health research. The series will feature SRP-funded researchers, collaborators, and other subject-matter experts who aim to better understand and address environmental health issues by applying AI and machine learning approaches to complex issues. Recent advances in AI and machine learning methods show promise to improve the accuracy and efficiency of environmental health research. Over the course of three sessions, presenters will discuss how they use AI and machine learning approaches to improve chemical analysis, characterize chemical risk, understand microbial ecosystems, develop technologies for contaminant removal, and more. In the first session, AI & ML Applications to Understand Chemical Mixtures, Properties, and Exposures and their Relationship to Human Health, speakers will discuss how they apply machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to understand chemical exposures and their effects on human health. To learn about and register for the other sessions in this webinar series, please see the SRP website. Naomi Halas, Ph.D., and Ankit Patel, Ph.D., will share updates on their work combining surface-enhanced spectroscopies (Raman and Infrared Absorption) with machine learning algorithms with the goal of developing simple and ultimately low-cost methods for the detection and identification of environmental toxins. As part of their discussion, they will share several approaches, including the use of machine learning algorithms to detect individual constituents in complex mixtures and the use of facial recognition strategies to identify specific chemical toxins in human placenta. Jacob Kvasnicka, Ph.D., will present on a project he supported while he was a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University SRP Center's Risk and Geospatial Sciences Core. There, his work involved developing an ML framework for predicting safe exposure levels to chemicals to avoid cancerous and reproductive/developmental effects. Most chemicals lack toxicity data related to human health, and this study uses ML to fill this gap, greatly expanding the ability to characterize chemical risks and impacts. Trey Saddler will give attendees an overview of ToxPipe — a platform for performing retrieval augmented generation (RAG) over toxicological data. Comprised of a web interface, agentic workflows, and connections to various data sources, ToxPipe enables toxicologists to explore diverse datasets and generate toxicological narratives for a wide range of compounds. Speakers:Naomi Halas, Ph.D., and Ankit Patel, Ph.D., Rice UniversityJacob Kvasnicka, Ph.D., U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyTrey Saddler, NIEHS, Division of Translational ToxicologyModerator: David Reif, Ph.D., NIEHS, Division of Translational Toxicology To view this archive online or download the slides associated with this seminar, please visit http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/SRP-ML-AI1_110424/
Contaminated Site Clean-Up Information (CLU-IN): Internet Seminar Audio Archives
The NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) is hosting a Risk e-Learning webinar series focused on using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to advance environmental health research. The series will feature SRP-funded researchers, collaborators, and other subject-matter experts who aim to better understand and address environmental health issues by applying AI and machine learning approaches to complex issues. Recent advances in AI and machine learning methods show promise to improve the accuracy and efficiency of environmental health research. Over the course of three sessions, presenters will discuss how they use AI and machine learning approaches to improve chemical analysis, characterize chemical risk, understand microbial ecosystems, develop technologies for contaminant removal, and more. In the first session, AI & ML Applications to Understand Chemical Mixtures, Properties, and Exposures and their Relationship to Human Health, speakers will discuss how they apply machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to understand chemical exposures and their effects on human health. To learn about and register for the other sessions in this webinar series, please see the SRP website. Naomi Halas, Ph.D., and Ankit Patel, Ph.D., will share updates on their work combining surface-enhanced spectroscopies (Raman and Infrared Absorption) with machine learning algorithms with the goal of developing simple and ultimately low-cost methods for the detection and identification of environmental toxins. As part of their discussion, they will share several approaches, including the use of machine learning algorithms to detect individual constituents in complex mixtures and the use of facial recognition strategies to identify specific chemical toxins in human placenta. Jacob Kvasnicka, Ph.D., will present on a project he supported while he was a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University SRP Center's Risk and Geospatial Sciences Core. There, his work involved developing an ML framework for predicting safe exposure levels to chemicals to avoid cancerous and reproductive/developmental effects. Most chemicals lack toxicity data related to human health, and this study uses ML to fill this gap, greatly expanding the ability to characterize chemical risks and impacts. Trey Saddler will give attendees an overview of ToxPipe — a platform for performing retrieval augmented generation (RAG) over toxicological data. Comprised of a web interface, agentic workflows, and connections to various data sources, ToxPipe enables toxicologists to explore diverse datasets and generate toxicological narratives for a wide range of compounds. Speakers:Naomi Halas, Ph.D., and Ankit Patel, Ph.D., Rice UniversityJacob Kvasnicka, Ph.D., U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyTrey Saddler, NIEHS, Division of Translational ToxicologyModerator: David Reif, Ph.D., NIEHS, Division of Translational Toxicology To view this archive online or download the slides associated with this seminar, please visit http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/SRP-ML-AI1_110424/
Yoshitoshi Radio, the new radio show from Sharam, puts a strong emphasis on Yoshitoshi, the label that Sharam has helmed for over twenty years and which to this day operates on the cutting edge of dance music. Comprised of live DJ sets, studio mixes, and guest mixes from Yoshitoshi artists, the program serves up underground house and techno mixes packed to the brim with promos, exclusive material, and world premieres. You heard it first on Yoshitoshi Radio. -
A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. Important Links: Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride Instagram Hmong Innovating Politics Instagram Hmong Innovating Politics Website Transcript: Cheryl: Good evening, everyone. You are tuned in to APEX Express. I'm your host, Cheryl Truong and tonight is an AACRE night. What is AACRE might be asking. Comprised of 11 grassroots, social justice groups, the Asian Americans for civil rights and Equality Network– AACRE– leverages the power of its network to focus on longterm movement building and support for Asian Americans committed to the fight for social justice. Speaking of AACRE groups. APEX Express is proud to be apart of the AACRE Network. Joining us for tonight's show from Yokuts also known as Fresno, california is my special, big hearted friend Shai Chang from Hmong Innovating Politics. Also known as HIP. Shai, do you mind introducing yourself? Who are you, who are your people, and where do you come from? Shai Chang: Yes, thank you so much for having me on the show. My name is Shai pronouns are they and them. I'm located in Yokuts Valley, currently in Fresno, California. I'm actually working with Hmong Innovating Politics located both in Sacramento and Fresno. I'm in the Fresno. And officially, just recently in October, I got my name title changed to be the Trans and Queer Fresno Community Organizer. So I am so ecstatic to be doing the trans and queer work in the Central Valley, yeah, born and raised in Fresno, Hmong, Southeast Asian, and really, actually I was born in a house. The rest of my siblings were born in the hospital. We were actually, the reason why was because we were trying to go to the hospital and my dad was like, Oh, wait for me, wait for me, wait for me, and couldn't wait any longer. Cheryl: And then you just popped out. You couldn't wait any longer. Did your dad make it in time? Shai Chang: I think my dad made it in time, but only in time for us to come out. Cheryl: I didn't know that about you, Shai, that you were a home birth. How many siblings do you have? Shai Chang: I have five other siblings. We were all born one year apart. Honestly, like, growing up, I really loved the idea of, Oh, we're all born one year apart. It's so nice. My siblings were so close. And now I'm looking back, Oh my gosh, my mom. Oh Cheryl: my gosh. are any of your siblings also trans or queer? Shai Chang: No, um, one of them is queer, but, the rest of my family is, actually very progressive and a great ally to me. So I've been very privileged and blessed. Cheryl: Do you think that's a common Hmong queer experience to have supportive and progressive parents? Shai Chang: so I'm not actually out to my parents or my grandparents or my uncles or some of my aunts. I am out to my siblings and so I think it's very interesting and I'm still grappling along with that as well. I think there is internal work to be done. It's that both I think it's, this is a reality of some things. It's that outside of the community, I'm queer and trans and at home, I'm very much having to play a role. My dad is a shaman and so he does do, they do come from a lot more like traditional values and conservative values. And at the same time, they are progressive on things. I think that they understand racial issues. But not gender issues. So you can wear, for example, I would say like my aunt, she it's like progressive and the most conservative ways, so it's like. Oh yeah, I'm totally okay that you're gay, Shai, but if my kids wore earrings, that's too feminine. Cheryl: Thanks for sharing that shy. It's sounds like you've had to navigate a lot of different spaces, also expectations. I'm curious, what was it like growing up queer in Fresno? Shai Chang: I think that it has really shaped me because I feel like I came into my queerness and my transness so late. I feel like I came into being who and knowing who I am or what I am so late into my life. It wasn't until I was much more exposed into the organizing work over in the Bay Area. And so obviously big props to Lavender Phoenix. Cheryl: Love them. Shout out Lavender Phoenix. Shai Chang: And just really seeing so many of the organizers really live and their truth and who they are. And I. And having to also trying to figure out what that means for myself as well. Also knowing that How many other like Hmong trans queer folks are also might be going through the same thing as well. And so there is a definitely a strong sense of unwelcome this or not even unwelcome this, but not the intentional welcome. Right. When we think of radical welcome. From Lavender Phoenix, there is a lack of radical welcomeness within our Hmong community, and so, especially for trans and queer folks, and it wasn't until just this year that there's a in the Hmong community, there's 18 clans, or our last names, and there's an organization over in the Midwest, over in Minnesota, Minneapolis that just then wrote a letter in Hmong talking about the recognition that, Hey we recognize that we have not been intentional in inviting like trans and queer people into our community. So like one, it was super validating and two, that's just like the bare minimum. Okay. They recognize it, but what did they do? Right. Nothing. And so, or, you know, for me I didn't really see much, but also that's so different. Like that, that lived experience over in Minnesota is so different from the lived experiences in California for our Hmong community. And yeah. Cheryl: Yeah Shine you're bringing up so many things. You're so absolutely right. There is such a different between. Merely tolerating transness and queerness, such as you know, in the story you shared earlier but your aunt and her kid wearing earrings. And then also with the vagueness and The lack of action and accountability in the . Minneapolis letter. Versus the radical, welcoming. Of trans and queer folk, such as, is done in Lavender Phoenix, which. For folks who don't know is also an AACRE group. that organizes is around building trans and queer AAPI power in the bay area. And I also love. That you called in that, of course there are differences in the lived experiences for the Hmong community in Minneapolis. Versus California. Because I also think that that's super true to in the in lived experiences for trans and queer as in the bay, Area. You know, such as, what Lavender Phoenix does. Versus the transness and queerness that is experienced in the central valley, which is of course where a majority of Hmong Americans in California live. Which is also actually a great segue to talk about the amazing work that HIP does and the work that you lead with QHIP, which is for listeners who don't know. Is short for Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride. Do you mind telling us what QHIP is and what led to its fruition. Shai Chang: Yes, thank you so much. Back in 2018, I actually was, that's when Hmong Innovating Politics actually branched out to Fresno. And that's when I was like, Oh, I've heard about you all, like in the organizing work over in Sacramento. I will love to get involved. And literally that weekend that they came in Mytao one of the original organizers for, to, to branch out into Fresno, she actually messaged me, it's Hey, I have this application that's due on Sunday. It's Seeding Change. Can you apply for it? I was like, Yeah, sure, of course. It's Friday. Also, how did you get my number? Ha ha ha ha ha., and so, like, it was just a great She actually got my number through, like, different connections here and there, and then that's how she got my number, and then she contacted me, and she talked Yeah, and so, that's how I got involved with HIP, was through Seeding Change. I've already been trying to organize in the Fresno community around , Hmong and trans and queer issues, and, , Leadership has always, always been a very big issue. Just finding other trans and queer leaders, and I was very lucky, it was such a very strange time that one of my were One of my friends, um, friends now, but then, uh, actually it's like this other random person came into Fresno and was like, Hey, I just got back from, Texas, and I am in Fresno. Like, I was born and raised in Fresno, I moved away, came back, and wanted to organize around trans and queer issues. I was like, no way! So, on top of that, Mytao, later in the summer, was able to organize to get us, funding, and so we got 3, 000 just to organize for trans and queer issues, and in the next two to three months, um, we got 20 people to start showing up. We met every single week. Wow! And then on top of that, we were hanging out for another two to three hours. So I honestly, we all use obviously like our own personal funding, our own like, like vehicles, transportation, pick it up folks just so that we can meet and really being housed in like HIP's office. And. To really honor HIP, we were also trying to think of our name for our own space because I think it came from actually like being, and I, I really also want to share that like quip, the reason I'm like, why QHIP? Why QHIP? Why not join any of the, like the trans and queer spaces? Let me be very clear about why not join any of the other gay spaces in Fresno? So, and,, Fresno historically has been a very white cis space. male gay space. And so that's really also we want to highlight that. There is like also trans spaces that just came more recently as well, Trans-E-Motion. But before that , we were actually then like, okay, let's go and be a part of these organizing spaces as like our little group, right? And we show up to these spaces and they're asking, what's your name? , who are you all? What's your name? Are you gay little Asian boys? And so I share the stories. As to, like, how much it speaks volume to the microaggressions, the internal racism that exists, and as well as how much, like, work is done. Like, why we need this space so much, right? When we show up to these spaces, we are not feeling that sense of belonging, that radical welcoming. And so, Yeah, we just started organizing from there and then obviously we were being housed and so HIP was like, okay So do you want to spin off and do your own organizations? Who are you and What's your five year plan and the whole time we're like “What?!” I've never thought about a five year plan, you know, and got, yeah, that's her name. And also Katie Moua, who's working with us as our , program director, you know. And so, we finally actually just this year became a program under HIP. So originally we were like a support group. We were just holding space and we just hit our five year last year and after seeing so much transition and leadership,, we just know that for, sustainability is that we need to make sure that we're holding it somewhere and so HIP was able to hold that program space for us. And so that's just where and where we're at right now. Cheryl: Thank you so much for sharing the origin storyof QHIP. It's really inspiring to meto hear how organizations come to be? And. All of the community effort and community members that came together, recognizing a need and supported each other through it all. It really shows the power of mutual care and collective organizing. We're going to take a quick music break, but there'll be more on the incredible organizing workbeing done by QHIP for trans and queer Hmong folk in the central valley when we return. Up next. We'll be listening to “GRLGNG” by Rocky Rivera. So stay tuned. We'll be right back. Here's “GRLGNG” by Rocky Rivera. And we're back. You're listening to apex express on 94.1 KPFA and 89.3 KPFB in Berkeley and also streaming online at kpfa.org. That last track was “GRLGNG” by Rocky Rivera. We're here with Shai chang lead organizer of Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride (QHIP). A program by Hmong Innovating Politics, also known as hip. So far Shai has shared some powerful, personal stories about growing up queer and trans in a more conservative central valley. And how essential programs like QHIP are for helping trans and queer Hmong Americans. I thrive in such places which are often hard to find. We've learned about how QHIP. Came to be and how it was created by and for the community through effort and also through. I would say great courage. So Shai. Can you tell us a little bit more about the programming that QHIP does? Shai Chang: Thank you so much for asking. A lot of the work that we do is rooted in healing justice. when we first came together, we just knew that. There's so much trauma that we had. Um, so I, I say this because one, we were like, okay, like, should we open it up to, like, other Asian Pacific Islanders? Should we do like a Southeast Asian, queer, trans work? And then, I was like, let's look at the space we're in currently. Who is in here with us? Like, how can we say that we're a lot of the time, it's, I think it's frustrating that it's always like, API, API, right? And there's no other Pacific Islanders in this space. Um, so it's like to say that Hmong people are here and it's okay for us to focus on Hmong communities. On top of that, we have so much particular trauma that if we then invite other folks into the space and they have their own intersectional trauma, how can we also hold space for them when we're also then trying to figure out our own, like. issues. And so, uh, not realizing that these were like rooted in healing justice. We just knew that we just needed space for ourselves and to heal and, and heal in different ways. And so in one of those ways, like, how can we heal and also have fun? And one of the organizers around that has been One of the events we did was Sports Day. Um, I was like, okay, how does Sports Day relate to healing, you know? And it's like, of course it does, right? We know that many times, like, trans and queer folks are not allowed to have fun in sports, are not allowed to be queer enough, like, they're too queer, um, that they're not allowed to be Performing to mask, to fan, and like in queer, like in sports. And so, we know and we recognize that it's so important for us to actually be able to live in these spaces as well. For us to reclaim these opportunities for ourselves. And so, um, It has shown up in many different ways. And so every single, almost every year we, we do something like that together. And so, uh, we did one in Sacramento and they're all like, this is where the BIPOC people have been at. Uh, because there is like a queer and like sports, like, uh, outing that is over there, but it's always like predominantly white, and so when all of the people of color started showing up, I'm like, oh! Uh, and so it's so funny. It's so funny. Like, that we get to actually practice community, care, and love, and intentionality, and really finding space of joy for one another, especially If you want to like play volleyball, hit the ball back into a twerk, you know, like we've seen our Southeast Asian Filipinos, like Cheryl: I love that image of just like this pack of like Hmong queer and trans folk just like rolling up, you know, I just love that image so, so much. And I love that point too. Like what does sports have to do with queer being queer and trans? And it has so much. It starts in those like little things, those little sports outings, being able to hit a volleyball and go into a twerk. That's healing justice. Wow. That is so incredible. You mentioned that when QHIP first started, it was around 20 people. What would you say like the age demographic is? of the people in QHIP. Shai Chang: So when we first started, no one was over 30. We had folks from high school, and we had folks, um, in like, uh, like over 18, um, and, uh, no one was over 30. Yeah, so we had a very young group and we can just see how like hip has also adapted into that as well It's not like we have always been really young organizers and so When you were talking about the budding and the seedings like that's what we do We train and we right now we are wanting to bring up and train other trans and queer leaders that really also want to be a part of the space too because One, like, to be very honest and transparent, if I'm gone, Quint is gone. That's what I mean by the sustainability of leadership. Like, I'm the one who's holding this work right now. And because we have just recently expanded over to Sacramento to have Christine also hold that space, like, oh my god, Once I'm gone, it's gone, right? And so so we actually Went um, we had a booth at the Hmong New Year's. It was a queer and trans booth It's super queer super trans and we were anticipating lots of pushback And so folks we actually just asked like our friends who I mean like I already didn't have like queer friends already And so we asked our friends to just come and be in the booth with us, come organize with us, and then words kind of spread out around that, like, oh, there's this thing, they're doing this thing, and so folks came and volunteered. And I need to share this story because, like, we were all anticipating people to come to our booth and push back. Um, we've, there's like Christian monk folks there have come and done push back in the past, but there has never been like a trans and queer booth. Like a Hmong trans queer booth and so folks, we have like a photo booth in the back and the way that you can take brief pictures is that you just signed the board that I support Hmong LBTQ and really there was so much overwhelming love and support for us that many of the times like our own like folks, our own trans and queer folks, they had to take a pause and like, yeah, Actually, I need to take a break, right? I think this overwhelming sense of love and care from community and so this is where it grew and this is where and how we grew and also knowing at the same time that like there's so much multiple layers in this conversation, I'm sorry. Um, so it's like One, there is so many overwhelming support, yes, and that's how many people came and started to know about us and started organizing along with us. And the other piece and part of it too is that right now and where I'm at now is that I'm trying to organize for trans and queer spaces for Hmong folks, and I'm really trying to invite community to come and be part of us, and at the same time, not seeing folks show up. Um, and so like when we had our organizing program, our 7, 8, 9 month long organizing program, first time this year, opening it up for like, community to apply and be part of, like, 4 folks applied, and they were all allies, um, and so I, yeah, I didn't want to take that away from them as well, and so these are the people that applied, and these are the people that like, I will be working with, right? And so when we went to the Pride Parade, and other, like, trans and queer Hmong folks showed up, and they're like, Oh, is this an organizing program? And I was like, Yeah, it is! And they're like, Oh, I should've applied! And I was like, Yeah, you should've! And so, We, Christina and I, we really had to sit in with that, and it's like, why is that? Why is that, like, a really challenging place? Um, and we really lean in back into that, like, in the Hmong community, there is such a lack of welcomeness. There is such a lack of belongingness, like, many times in the Fresno, and this is just, like, trans queer people in general, in the Central Valley, is that For you to be trans and queer, it's for you to move away from home. Um, go to the Bay Area, go to L. A. And so, um, in our name, Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride, Intersectional from Kimberly Crenshaw, is really where we are highlighting that you can be queer and you can be Hmong. And Many of the times it's so hard for us to show up in like our own community because there's like so much layers of like anti blackness, like patriarchy, uh, lots of gender justice that needs to be done, transformative and healing justice that needs to be done and I appreciate Lambda Phoenix for being so bold and I'm also sitting over here. It's like how can I be bold and I think about, like, for us, like, we were already ostracized by our own community, some, many of the times, like, unwelcomed, and for us to then fight to be in our own community, it's such a big fight already, and then, like, folks would then welcome us, and then, okay, let's talk about police brutality. Right? How much of that would then also, um, be welcomed as well? And so really to be trans and queer is for us to be anti imperialist, anti capitalist, you know, anti, um, anti racism, right? And so Yeah, so like that's that's just so the realm that we're like like Hmong and trans queer folks are living in and so our next steps for our quip is for really us to build our sense of belonging. We're going to be launching our campaign Love is Love or Luya Lu um to really highlight um that that piece of belongingness within our Hmong and transqueer community that we do need to find a sense of belonging, that we don't need to be part of like our Hmong community to really find community, that we can have our own community and still be part Hmong and still be transqueer. Cheryl: I love that so much,, the I in quip intersectional is you can be queer and mom. And I think that is so brilliant. And I wonder the whole that also that piece you shared about how a lot of, you know, queer and trans, trans People of the Central Valley leave to go to larger cities, more liberal quote unquote spaces. I wonder, too, if that's part of the reason why there was low signups for your organizing program, because so much of the trans and queer among folk that are in quip are all really young and are still reliant on living in the same household as their family. Shai Chang: Yeah, thank you so much for highlighting that. Yes, that is so, so, so true. Um, I also really want to highlight that it's so hard on our femme and women folk, our transqueer femme and women folk, um, because in our experiences as a young person for them, they were the babysitters. Um, they were the caregiver and the caretaker of their family. And so many of the times it's that, you know, They could not join us in these particular spaces because they constantly had to ask for permission from their family just to be with us. Um, so, can I go? I was like, oh no, I need you to watch the house, or watch the babies, watch, watch your siblings. Um, I need you to take care of this, or X, Y, and Z, and so. It's a lot of, like, it's a lot of the patriarchy coming up in this multi layer, like, this multi layer level of oppression, multi layer level of, like, Experiences that Hmong and transqueer, , women and femme folks go through. And so really wanting to highlight that. Cheryl: So, of course, like I'm hearing the family dynamics, the patriarchy. What do you think are the other struggles that queer and trans Hmong youth currently face in Central California? Shai Chang: you know, the Central Valley is very poor., and so, lot of trans folks actually have a hard time in transition. There's only like one doctor that comes once in a long while that like really does affirmative care. And so we're trying to grow our affirmative care resource and our doctors list. And so now I think we've probably grown I think maybe like two or three in the Citra Valley. And I mean Central Valley from like Stockton to like Bakersfield, like there is no, like, it's hard to find affirmative care. And many of the times folks are, if they're wanting like gender affirming care, they have to go into the bigger cities. And so there has been in the past transportation. So obviously when we're doing like, it's, you know, Affirmative care surgery. It's a very, very big thing. And so transportation on top of like housing for rest is a very big thing as well. And so there was funding that folks have been organized to do transportation as well as housing to take care of them. What does what does aftercare look like? And so I think there's like those kind of layers like racism, Obviously, transphobia, , homophobia, and I think it just speaks to a lot, you know, about like the, there's like a lot of, and there is gender based violence in our community, quite a bit, right? When you think about patriarchy, of course, it's attached. I think in the media of the times, community needs to also see that patriarchy also impacts, patriarchy impacts all genders. Right. , it forces more, males and men to be more masculine, really pushing them away from what it means for them to actually have, like, quote unquote feelings, or being feminine, or, um, there's a lot of big drinking problem in our Hmong community as well, and so, there's lots of, like, over drinking and binge drinking, and so, yeah, there's also deeply rooted issues that are also, uh, showing up in the community as well. Cheryl: Wow, there's a lot. And it sounds like there's so much infrastructure and resources that are still, that still need to be developed. Central California is still developing their resources for trans and queer, especially trans and queer Hmong folk. My question then, Shai, because you, because I do agree, like if the moment you leave, QHIP is gone. How are you dealing? Because this is a lot of work. How do you deal with all of this responsibility? Shai Chang: I lean into hip. I have to. Um, to be very honest, I had a really hard time. I think last year, um, we had a really hard time when I was just like, I feel so alone. I went to this like conference. This was called creating change. It's their national, like LBGTQ conference and over in San Francisco and like February, July and went to that conference and then came back home. I was like the only trans, you know, I was the only person on the train back home. Right? And so it feels so isolating. It feels so alone sometimes. And I brought this up to HIP and we all just cried and we're like, This is not okay, right? And so that's when we started to see what programming for quip actually looks like and recognizing that something needs to happen. We need to build more. And so I also really want to highlight that it takes time and it takes It takes time and commitment to want to build with people. Um, and we were able to really build space for our trans and queer community here because we were so committed to wanting to build something here. Um, and so it is very alone, like, and also it's really to recognize that we are not alone. Um, I think Lambda Phoenix has done such a great job in really being able to model what that means and what that looks like. And literally asking for help. Um, it's not to say that I'm not good at delegating. It's not to say I'm not good at delegating. I'm just really bad at breaking down, like, these roles and responsibilities for me to then Invite other folks in to also to support me to help, you know, to make the movement go and grow together. And we're so used to doing this work alone. I'm so used to doing this work alone that I feel like I have to do everything together. I have to be the creative artist, the social media campaign manager. The comms manager, coalition building, I, I feel like I have to be then like the, the organizer, the program manager, the development, the HR, um, the supervisor, and, and at the same time as a, you know, not as a young person anymore, but like young enough still 29, is that I'm still also learning what organizing is and what organizing means. And so, um, it means all of us. It needs all of us. Cheryl: That's actually such an important dimension too, because as , you're all developing this in the works, you're also learning along the way. , I guess maybe to end our conversation. I want to know, because you bring up the welcomeness, the radical welcomeness you've learned from Lavender Phoenix and how Revolutionary that has been in your praxis of trans and queer organizing for Hmong folk. What does radical welcoming look like for you for quip moving forward in the next couple of years? What would you want it to look like? Shai Chang: What it will look like for quip is that Um, next year we're going to be launching a campaign and then continuing the Love is Love or Lu is Lu Ya Lu campaign and really highlighting the sense of belonging that needs to be built up in our Hmong community. Um, as much as we're fighting for trans justice, racial justice, and gender justice, and trans queer justice, and like, those are like the big words, and all of those things, and what does that mean? And it starts at the small, it starts at the small, like, if we don't even feel that sense of belonging within our own community, if we don't even feel that sense of belonging within our own selves, small like the sports day, it's not going to actually build in that piece of justice in the long term. And so it's so important that, um, we build in that radical welcomeness through all layers. And it can look very different. It doesn't have to be like, Oh, welcome. Verbatim welcome. This means that we are doing it every single time at every single point, at every single way. It looks like having dinners. Um, it looks like having fun. It looks like karaoke. It looks like listening to each other's story, passion mic, open mic nights, poetry slams, and sports days, and Really going out to vote together. It really looks and shines in all the different ways and really being in coalition with one another is how we're going to get there and build there. And so, yeah, Cheryl: that was the perfect answer, Adrian Murray Brown writes about this all the time. Small is all. Radical welcoming in all areas of this work. I think that's just so beautiful. We are actually going to take another music break. But learn how to plug into quips work when we get back. So don't go anywhere. Up next is taking names by Rocky Ibarra. And we're back. You are tuned in to apex express on 94.1 KPFA and 89.3. KPMB in Berkeley and online@kpfa.work. You were just listening to you taking names by Rocky Berra. Before we close off the show shy. Do you mind letting our listeners know how they can stay in touch with Quip and learn about all of your upcoming programming? Shai Chang: Yeah, I would say follow us on our social media, Facebook and Instagram. That's a great place to begin, um, and continue to share and highlight us. , we are trying to post more. And you can follow us at qhip. ca at qhip. ca or quip. california. ca. Yeah, um, I think that's a great place to begin and then you all always can message me there. Um, yes. Cheryl: Thank you shy. All of those links to equip socials we'll be linked in our show notes. And so before we close off for the night, do you have any last words, you'd like to share to any trans. Queer, mung folk who might be listening right now. Shai Chang: Yes. Um, lean into your leadership. Lean into it. I know that you're so scared of, like, wanting to be in a leader because it feels like there's so much responsibility that comes with it. And know that you are not alone. In it. You are not alone in this leadership. You are never alone. There's so much people who have paved the way and so much people who are still here with us today. And so, I am here and we can learn and lean into each other and really actually create spaces of love. Like, how do we lean into love and not into our leadership? Right? And so, you don't have to feel like you are leaning into your leadership alone. But leaning into community and leaning into love. Cheryl: Thanks, everyone. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time. Cheryl Truong: Apex express is produced by Miko Lee, Paige Chung, Jalena Keane-Lee, Preeti Mangala Shekar. Shekar, Anuj Vaidya, Kiki Rivera, Swati Rayasam, Nate Tan, Hien Nguyen, Nikki Chan, and Cheryl Truong Tonight's show was produced by me, cheryl. Thanks to the team at KPFA for all of their support. And thank you for listening! The post APEX Express – October 24, 2024 – Trans & Queer Hmong Rise: Organizing in Central California appeared first on KPFA.
This week on Beale Street Caravan, we feature the electrifying sounds of international rock n' roll band, Making Movies. The band was nominated in 2019 for the Latin Grammy Album of the Year for their collaboration with Ruben Blades on the song “No Te Calles”. Comprised of Panamanian brothers Enrique and Diego Chi, along with Juan-Carlos Chaurand from Mexico, and Duncan Burnett from Kansas, the band's sound is one that represents all of the Americas, together. Grammy nominated blues man, Guy Davis, will also be with us to deliver an installment of the Blues Hall of Fame, an exploration of the lives of the pioneers and innovators enshrined in the Blues Hall of Fame.
Keith and Glen join us for a lively conversation about reconnecting with music—this time through the lens of what some (including us!) might call a supergroup. These talented musicians have found harmony not only in their sound but also by creating space for each other's creative ideas, families, opinions, and lifestyles. Their band, Newbridge, delivers a powerful blend of Americana, folk, and roots-rock straight from Halifax, Nova Scotia. The lineup features Canadian music veterans Keith Maddison (Maddison Avenue), Glen Nicholson (In-Flight Safety), Jeff Mosher (The Mellotones, Matt Andersen), Warren Robert (Myles Goodwyn, Pogey), and Robbie Crowell (Sturgill Simpson, Deer Tick, Midland, Matt Mays)—each bringing a wealth of experience and a shared drive to craft a distinctive sound. The group's musical journey took them to Nashville, TN, where they recorded their debut album at the legendary Creative Workshop Studio (CWS), with production helmed by the multi-talented Robbie Crowell. Originally built in 1971, CWS has played host to icons like Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, the Doobie Brothers, and Rod Stewart, and served as the setting for the influential music documentary Heartworn Highways. In this episode, the band reflects on their time in Nashville—complete with stories of Keith's kids as temporary roommates—and shares how mutual respect has been the secret ingredient to creating stellar new music. Expect plenty of laughs, insights, and captivating stories throughout this conversation! Us on the web: www.mikeandkristen.ca Instagram: www.instagram.com/mike_and_kristen/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikeandkristencreative Shoot us a message! Say hello, tell us who you think we should have on the podcast, and your deepest and darkest secrets: mikeandkristencreative@gmail.com Review our book "You and Me" on Amazon (it helps a lot!!): https://amzn.to/3qqNCMo Intro song: "The Walk" Outro song: "The Jam" both by Mike's band The Town Heroes - www.thetownheroes.com Mike's site: www.michaelsryan.com Kristen's site: www.kristenherringtonart.com Newbridge's IG: https://www.instagram.com/newbridgemusic/
Listen on your favorite podcast service: https://pods.to/wesoundcrazy Stream songs from the episode on our official We Sound Crazy playlists: https://lnkfi.re/8I8Drkfz Join us for an inspiring episode of as we welcome the incredible Americana duo, The War and Treaty! Comprised of husband-and-wife team Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, this dynamic pair has been captivating audiences with their soulful blend of country, Americana, and soul music. In this episode, they share their heartfelt journey—from their individual backgrounds to the serendipitous moment that brought them together as a band. Discover how their unique experiences and powerful chemistry have shaped their music and artistry. We'll dive deep into their creative process and explore the delicate balance they navigate between genres. Plus, hear about their breakout success collaborating with rising star Zach Bryan. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to their sound, you won't want to miss this candid conversation filled with personal stories, musical insights, and the passion that drives The War and Treaty. We Sound Crazy is your backstage pass to all things music and culture. Special thanks to our We Sound Crazy team! Director: Aaron Walton Camera Op: Tiffany Young, Aaron Walton Editing: Lamont Baldwin Producer: Michael "Roux" Johnson Assistant: Brittany Guydon Photography: Mario Charles Thank you to all of our listeners, as well as our partners at Visit Music City. Special thanks to The War and Treaty! Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere you get your favorite podcast. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok! Follow We Sound Crazy on Social Media: ~ Facebook: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscfacebook ~ Instagram: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscinstagram ~ Twitter: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctwitter ~ TikTok: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wsctiktok ~ Email: https://ffm.link/wsc-signup Subscribe to We Sound Crazy on YouTube: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/wscyoutube-subscribe Visit the official We Sound Crazy website: https://wesoundcrazy.ffm.to/officialwebsite #WeSoundCrazy #TheWarAndTreaty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Paul Alexander Liberty Hour – We the people were screwed over, we have been lied to monstrously, and these bitches stole 5 trillion in wealth and killed innocent, healthy people along the way by their created medical response of isolation, denial of antibiotics, DNR orders, the multiple toxic drugs we rammed down the throats of our parents, our elderly, our loved ones. These murderous medical doctors who made big money...
Dancing into the key, leaving the ska at the door, and looking for the high five. Jamie Allensworth (Allensworth, Orgone) "”Allensworth” is a Southern California Soul quintet that fuses rock and soul into a melting pot of true life anthemic stories. The authentic sound derives from the bands diverse cultures and surroundings. Comprised of musicians from Northern and Southern California Allensworth unites their influences from the Bay area to LA back down to Huntington Beach." Excerpt from https://allensworth.bandcamp.com Jamie Allensworth: Bandcamp: https://allensworth.bandcamp.com Instagram: @allensworthmusic Website: https://www.jamieallensworth.com The Vineyard: Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSn17dSz8kST_j_EH00O4MQ/videos
A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. Important Resources QTViet Cafe website Instagram Facebook Register for QTViet Cafe's 8 Year Anniversary Bilingual Letter for a Free Palestine (English/Viet) Transcript Cheryl Truong: Good evening! You were currently tuned in to APEX Express. I'm your host Cheryl Truong, and tonight is an AACRE night. What is AACRE, you might be asking. Comprised of 11 grassroots, social justice groups, the Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality Network — AACRE — leverages the power of its network to focus on long-term movement building and support for Asian Americans committed to social justice. Speaking of AACRE groups, APEX Express is proud to be a part of the AACRE network. Tonight. We have some special guests from a collective near and dear to my heart. Hải Võ and Jean Jean Phạm from QTViệt Cafe. QTViệt Cafe is a project of Asian refugees United, which is one of the 11 Asian American social justice groups within the AACRE network. Hải, do you want to kick us off by introducing yourself? And QTViệt Cafe? Hai Vo: Co chào mọi người! Hi everyone. Thanks Cheryl for inviting QTViệt Cafe to be here today. My name is Hải. I go by my name. It means ocean in Việt. And just so excited to be here today. , I'm part of the Queer Trans Việt Cafe Collective. We are a cultural organizing hub by and for queer and trans Việt folks for our freedom and liberation. And we do that through the creative arts, ancestral life ways, and, connecting intergenerationally with our parents, our elders, families, and friends. We'll be celebrating eight years, and I've been a part of it in the beginning when Mơ asked me to help advise and start the project. What started out as an idea to essentially really bring us together and meet other queer and trans Việt people, and with a little bit of SEED funding from the Impact Hub and Youth Impact Hub Oakland project and fellowship, we've been able to not just grow our numbers, but also really more importantly, My healing and then our collective healing. Just so grateful to be here. And I'm just so excited that Jean, you can join us. Jean is just amazing all around, such a thoughtful intuitive person, designer, friend, just all around beauty of an artist. Thank you for introducing me to the world of visual art and just so many things that you've just been exploring over the years. So, yeah, I'll pass it over. Jean Pham: Oh my god, thanks Hải. That's honestly too generous. And thanks for inviting us here, Cheryl. That's really awesome that we have this opportunity to share about QTViệt Cafe and our work. My name is Jean. I use they/ them pronouns. I've been a part of of QTViệt Cafe since 2018 when I first moved here to the Bay Area and honestly was looking for queer and trans Việt Namese community, which although I grew up in Orange County, I have always found it very difficult to relate and find other QTViets I've been a part of the various programming and events that QTViệt has put on, including our Healers and Artists cohort. I think my role in QTViệt Cafe is honestly to just , go with the flow. I try to make myself available as much as I can. I try to help with designing things. A big cornerstone of QTViệt Cafe is repairing our connection with our ancestral and cultural heritage in a way that still celebrates and maintains our queerness and transness at the forefront. A lot of this I found has been through the culinary arts, which to me was a big point of growth. Literally using taste and smell to connect us with memory and feeling and healing. QTViệt Cafe is honestly such a special place here. It started in Oakland here in the East Bay, but we have members all across the Bay Area and even outwards in different states and locales. So it's been a pretty amazing journey to see how vast the QTViet Cafe network has expanded and definitely excited to talk about it. So yeah, I'll just check there. Again, thanks for having us. Cheryl Truong: Thanks so much for sharing that, and especially the culinary aspect of QTV, I think is really what makes y'all so, so special. And honing that ancestral connection through food, too, is something I noticed that you all do , extremely well. Hai brings up that we're celebrating eight years of QTV at Cafe, coming up very, very soon, which is such a long time to celebrate trans and queer Việt Namese magic. I want to know what does this milestone mean to you, maybe it tastes a certain way, maybe it smells like nuoc mam or something like that. Jean Pham: Yeah, eight years is a long time. I think it's longer than any relationship I've ever had. , I've always found the QTViet Cafe such a beautiful, open space. It's very different from any organization I've ever been a part of. There's been times when, I've been overwhelmed and had to step away, but I've always just been invited back and I've been given that grace to be as involved as I want to. There's something we practice it's called penguin theory where we try to support the inner penguins like who you know move in advance of work but also have space for us to be modular. We built this bastion of work here in a Bay and I've eight years I think really to me starts or begins this journey of connecting with a greater diasporic queer and trans Việt Namese collective. So, last year was a big points in our journey as QTViet cafe, because we were able to. a fundraise and take about a dozen members to go back to Việt Nam and connect with Queer and Trans Việt Namese in Saigon. And that was just honestly, such like a unbelievable thing. Totally out of my imagination that we were able to do it. But now it really peaks our imagination of yes, , there's queer and trans Việt Namese people all over the world. Next year marks the 50th year since the Việt Nam War had ended, and there's diasporic queer and trans Việt Namese all across the U. S., but also France and Germany, Australia, Japan. We were able to form these meaningful connections here in the East Bay, but I think what I'm thinking about now is how do we take these lessons we've learned in community building and creating our own traditions and connecting with other locales, like in the queer and trans people in Australia , LA or New York or Texas of which, they do exist. There are other collectives, queer and trans Vietnamese there, but, how do we further unite the different threads of Diasporic Viets, and so it's kind of a very hard question to answer, but I think, again, we have such a strong organizing and magic that I think People that we connect with, they get why does work is important and it's what's what's needed right now. To build these strong points of relationships and solidarity across different locales internationally and outside of our own safe collective spaces. Hai Vo: Yeah, I resonate with everything that Jean shared. I think for me, eight years of continuing to gather and to organize and to be with one another means that the vision of a cultural healing hub, by and for queer and trans people to learn our ancestral ways, to be creative with one another, to heal with our elders still resonates like it still matters. I'm getting emotional about it because I just been thinking a lot about, this question. We're approaching 10 years and even 12 years. And I keep asking myself, as a queer Việt person, am I more free? Am I more liberated? I think I want to be asking myself that question deeply in the next phase of my life. Having gone through a journey on my own to explore my own gender, sexuality and be more loving of my trans femness and explore my art around food and food waste and being a diasporic cultural food worker, but also explore my eco- femme writing and erotica. Those things are really exciting for me, but also when we started QTViet Cafe, I came to peace with potentially being estranged from my parents. I noticed that a lot in our community, like that's a possibility. After my mom passed in 2018 and inviting my dad to, you know, I've invited my parents every year to come to QTViet, they haven't. Me inviting my dad to bring a picture of my mom for the altar. For me, like, okay, that's the cultural organizing piece. But deep down, I just really wanted to celebrate my mom and I just wanted my dad to be there. And to like witness how I've grown, witness my friends and family, witness the chosen family that I've built over time. And my dad came and my dad stayed through the program. My dad donated. My dad could have chosen not to go. My dad could have left the program. My dad could have not donated. If anything, he could have probably done a lot of things Not in support of what we do. And not to say that this happens with every person or every family, but I think that for me, that's the power in trying to heal our relationships with ourselves and our families and with each other. Every year I hear more struggles, as queer and trans Việt people, and I also hear more joys and liberations, and so I think for me, yeah, eight years means that, we still are surviving, and we are still thriving any way that we can. Whether that's through our foodways, our practice of trying to continue the language, whether it's connecting on our different art forms, I'm hopeful. Eight years means being more of ourselves, and it means being able to experience one another being more of ourselves. In my relationship with my dad, I've been able to be more honest. I see my dad as more honest, and I hope that by doing this cultural organizing work and arts as a way to practice healing justice, I want more of us to see each other as human. Queer, trans, Việt-ness is not a sickness or a disease. But also our parents are more than that role, that they're humans who experience war and trauma and are also healing too. And so, I think, that's a big part of what eight years means to me. Eight years also means we have, like, hundreds of recipes. I still haven't written out all the recipes, but in my mental Rolodex, we have lots of recipes, lots of songs, lots of poems, visual , art pieces, photos, videos. We just have so much art that expresses the queer trans Việt experience, especially the diaspora. I'm excited to, create more of it and also help archive that and document that and celebrate that as we approach, 10, 12 years and into the farther future. My example is specific to my dad, but I think that we all heal in different ways with ourselves and our relationship to body and spirit, our relationship to other family, other friends, how we relate to each other, how we relate to the world. I see that in, in every one of us. Jean Pham: Everything Hai is saying is so important and beautiful. The landscape that QTViet formed in eight years ago was in many ways very different from now. There's a lot more shift in their communities too. Eight years ago, for example, I grew up in Orange County. Little Saigon, outside of Việt Nam, it's the densest Việt Namese population, where in San Jose, it's like the largest Việt Namese populations outside of Việt Nam . Still at their core like very deeply conservative locales. And, it's one of the reasons why I was seeking community in the eight years since then I think we've seen a kind of a shift. Our generation of Việt Namese diasporic students, descendants, inhabitants, we're challenging the politics, reckoning of, what does it mean for us, who descendants of refugees, people who hold all these different complexities, who also struggling to find our own space, what does it mean for us to, create and shape our own worlds, or to even resist against some of the things we were taught. I've been in QTViệt Cafe for most of my 20s, and I really feel the collective has honestly raised me in many ways that changed me for the better. I remember, one of my first QTViệt Cafe meetings, everyone was just cooking. I came in, like, on time. I was coming from a very different environment in terms of political organizing, where it's very we have a set agenda, everything's really disciplined. In QTViet Cafe spaces, we spend most, like, an hour or two just kind of checking in with each other, making sure everyone just felt okay and present, and able to move. A big part of it is still just being in community, cooking with each other, sharing recipes, and that's so central to the work. It's a slower pace, but I also felt like it's also ingenuous. It's really about building relationships and families. So many of us have complicated relationships with our blood families and. within QTViet Cafe spaces, sometimes we do talk about it, and sometimes there is space for us to explore that form of hardship, but people just understand. If we come in a space as a queer and trans Viet, there are certain experiences that are almost unfortunately, , universal, or you can just deeply feel. And everyone just almost telepathically holds that space for each other in a very, like, beautiful way. Cheryl Truong: You bring up how last year you were all able to go to Việt Nam, to the motherland. What is the landscape there? Like politically, emotionally, spiritually. Jean Pham: Yeah, last year we went in October, it was almost a week before Halloween I believe, and we had been preparing for this journey for half a year and it was actually delayed. Originally there were plans for , queer and trans Việt Namese. to go Việt Nam together in 2020. But because of the onset of the lockdown, these plans were not scrapped, but just put on pause until we could travel in a meaningful and safe way. I would say the landscape in Việt Nam with the queer and trans, community we met, it was a big shock to me. It was, very loving, you know, like When I told my parents I was going my mom sent me this large message about how dangerous Việt Nam is, it's like a third world country, that people are gonna try to scam me or steal my belongings and that I should always be on guard, that even my friends can't necessarily be trusted because they might be fooled too. And I didn't necessarily believe her all the way, right? I think I thought she was being a little bit just overprotective. And when I met people in Việt Nam, no, it was like the exact opposite. Everyone was very curious, where are you from? Why are you here? We met with a collective called the Bạc Xỉu Collective. Bạc Xỉu is a type of Việtnamese coffee. I thought it was interesting that both our collectives are named after community spaces that revolve around coffee. The Bạc Xỉu Collective were very, like, loving and open to us. They were just so curious that our group existed. A lot of them practice the art of drag, but they also had members who were involved with very different art forms, pretty similar to us. I think one of the questions I was trying to reckon with was, what does it mean to explore your queerness and transness, when you're not confronted with whiteness in the way that we are as people living in America. Obviously, white supremacy is global, but I felt it's such a new way to be queer in Việt Nam, if that makes sense. One of the highlights from meeting the collective was one of the first nights when we had rented this apartment suite and we invited a lot of the locals to come over and we just had a nice little kiki moment. We had brought over gifts. Hải is always very hospitable and gracious and prepared. Hải brought this entire suitcase full of seeds of gifts of prints of artwork that we had created and we exchanged it with them and they also just had a moment where we went around in a circle just shared who we are. It was bilingual. I was really nervous. I was like looking up on Google Translate, how to say something very, it was just like, Hi, my name is Jean. I'm from California. This is something I know how to say, but I was just so nervous in the moment that I was using Google Translate for it. But everyone was so nice. Local people in Việt Nam can speak, especially young people have a level of fluency in English so we were able to communicate pretty effectively, despite some of the language barriers. But I remember they were just interested and wanted to learn more. I honestly wish I could have stayed longer and just been in that moment forever. I think the last thing I'll add: we just had a little like cute little party moment and I was like, what music do I put on? And so I just put on my regular music that I put on for, folks at home, like all like the gay boys and stuff I hang out with. And I just found that everyone, like Rihanna is universal. Like you put on Rihanna and no matter where you are in the world, people will freak out which I thought was so hilarious. Hai Vo: A thousand percent agree. I loved everything that you shared, Gene. That question around, yeah, I love that you brought up that question. As someone who grew up a part of my life in the diaspora, white supremacy and whiteness, it's just, it just happened. It's just every day. Most of the Bạc Xỉu Collective is a lot younger than our group. Most of the country actually is very young. I think a good percentage, if the majority of the country is under 25. I bring that up because I think that there's a level of a cultural revolution happening around art in general in Việt Nam in my experience in the last, let's say last like six years that I've been going almost every other year. And then to be able to meet other queer and trans Viet folks who were born, grew up there, live there, to hear them say things like, Yeah, I want to do drag and I want to do drag forever and this is what's going to free me and liberate me. , that's like very inspiring. I think in many ways, those of us who grew up here or, had time here in the diaspora, whiteness kind of, distracts, makes distractions, , and so , to, hear these young queer, Việt, local folks be so adamant and, and really, , trying, like, they're going to shows, they're making their own shows, they start doing their own events, asking for tickets and working with local shops and local bars to make their dreams happen. The one maybe kind of interesting thing that I want to share that I thought about in your question, Jean, is we met Bạc Xỉu Collective at a time when I went back, with Mơ, also part of QTViet Cafe, end of 2022. And up until that point, I had done visits back starting 2018 after my mom passed and, I wanted this trip to be a bit of a pre trip, kind of a research trip, and getting ready for the bigger trip with the dozen of us that Jean mentioned,. So, the night after we landed, we were introduced to the Bạc Xỉu Collective. A lot of these local Việt drag artists started this collective because they were in houses that had folks who were other than Việt, of them white European folks, and so they just were like, we want to create our own all Việt drag house, and do this show all in Việt. You know, make it bilingual, but centered on Việt-ness. , I think that's what we're trying to do. In the diaspora. I think there's different nuances in the places, but to be able to hear a queer drag Việt show Mostly like 95 percent Việt, and for most of the the space that we were at, was mostly Việt, I was like, oh, this is what it feels like to be at home. It was both and both comforting, exciting, my creative curiosity was going, but also there were moments where I was like, I don't understand that, you know? I think they experienced their own challenges as artists over there , in trying to center their Việt-nesa and then we have our challenges here too. but they have a lot of freedom and access and connection to their Việt-ness because that's our motherland. During our time there where I was able to bring, parts of our altar that we bring and we practice here as part of our gatherings to honor our ancestors and, It was interesting, before that kiki that Jean mentioned I was asked if I could share about the altar, and then for some reason, I think at the end of the night I realized I didn't share, and then after we danced and catwalked, Some people started leaving. Some of the collective members, noticed the altar, and then they started bowing and recognizing Chị Phụng and Xuân Diệu, and they were wondering who put it together. I think it was just me noticing them knowing what this is, where I didn't have to explain. Them just honoring them, just taking a minute, like, it was like a minute of our hundreds of minutes that we had together that night. But I just started getting emotional and crying that night because this is a moment where I don't have to explain. There's my kin who get it. And they looked at me after and they're like, well, you're crying. And I'm like, yeah, I'm crying because this practice, this ritual I feel only a few of us get it in the diaspora. What seems so special here in the diaspora is actually just very normal. They were like, yeah, this is what I know about Chị Phụng and you should look up these other queer ancestors that I didn't know about. And I'm like, oh my God, this is one of the reasons why I wanna be here. So better understand our people. They were like, yeah, look at this up. Look at this up. Like look this, look up this person. Two nights later when we had our show together, we brought elements of the same altar, but Bạc Xỉu also brought things. They brought, their contributions and offerings to the altar, and food. It was a collaborative ritual that we had together and before the show as part of the hype up and the prep. We got to cúng mǎ to honor our ancestors and I'll never forget that moment to be able to practice ritual in addition to the show where we're sharing our expressive creative arts. Everyone knew the importance of why we were doing that and that we come from a deep lineage of queer trans, have probably paved the way and fought for their existence and for our existence to be here. I think that spiritually, that's a way that I felt like I was able to connect over there. I'd also say in your question, Cheryl, I think the last time I heard the the government approves same sex marriage. I would say culturally, it's a whole other story. I think because of colonization, imperialism, um, queerness and transness has been erased. And so I think that why it's so important for us to do this work in the diaspora because, our parents and our elders, they have left a motherland and so there's a gap in culture and understanding, and, it's a harder struggle to justify that actually, no, we have queer, trans, Việt history, and we come from a lineage of queer folks, and I think that for me that cultural work is so important because by sharing the history of our people, by sharing our creative expression, by sharing the struggles of, who we are both here in the diaspora and also in Việt Nam. And a lot of those struggles are around the same things. Family acceptance, belonging, economic justice, employment, , access to resources, access to healthcare, jobs. Those things are actually very similar , in my meeting, in my connecting with queer folks there. Those systems that are, creating those struggles are the same, like they're the same capitalist, Corporate imperialist systems. What I'm hopeful for is that what we're doing as queer and trans Việt folks in the diaspora, connecting with queer and trans Việt folks who are in Việt Nam know– I want to imagine a world without borders. For me the art and the creativity and trying to transform the struggles that we all experience as queer and trans people to stories and actually life ways of resilience. I'm hoping changing hearts and minds. Will ultimately transform practice and policy. The government might be saying one thing, but at home, it's actually a different story. That's why our work is important to try to change heart and minds. I want to get to a place where my dad would be like, okay, yeah, same sex marriage. My child and their friends, are members of the community who are respectful and joyful and wanting to contribute to society, just as much as our, just as much as our queer trans, Việt ancestors have to. Cheryl Truong: Thank you so much for bringing us here, Hai. You've highlighted some really important point. Colonization capitalism, white supremacy. These are, systems of oppression that while they manifest differently, as you say, they are global in nature and. In escapable and then impact is both here in America and also in Vietnam. The motherland, like the forces at play are very much the same. I really appreciate the insights that both of you have shared, especially in response to Jean's extremely evocative question about what it means to explore queerness and transness when you're not confronted with whiteness. Hai,, your story about the altar and Bạc Xỉu Collective connection to ancestral practices and rituals. They're embracing of our trans and queer Viet histories. And how. How it creates this deep sense of kinship. I think these are powerful reflections. The diaspora. You know, as you say. As a result of imperialism and capitalism. Makes us a bit disconnected from these wisdoms at the motherland and what you share truly clarifies. And sharpens. What's up the forces at play and the vast systemic issues that we're confronting. But also, it really deepens my admiration for. The extremely revolutionary work that QTVIet Cafe is doing to bridge this gap and are in our world, filled with borders. Okay. We're going to take a quick music break. But stay tuned. We'll be right back. Cheryl Truong: And we're back. You were listening to apex express on 94.1, FM KPFA and online@kpfa.org. You were just listening to change the world by baby Chris. We are still here with Hai Vo and Jean Pham from QTViet Cafe. For the first half of our show, we were reflecting on what eight years of QTV at cafe means and also learning. And also about the trip that they took together as a collective to Vietnam last year to learn more about trans and queer. Experience of local Vietnamese of local Viet. And of course, as the artists that they all are, they created a film about it. Let's get back to the show. Speaking of changing hearts and minds, tell me about this documentary that you all created when you were in Việt Nam. Hai Vo: I think the idea started because, so my parents and my brother left as boat people in 86 and I was born In Iowa in 87 after being sponsored by a Presbyterian Church. I went for the first time to Việt Nam when I was 7 and again when I was 12. I remember my parents were obsessed with camcorders. I don't know if you all have this but, there's still so many VHS tapes that I think I need to digitize, But I think the spirit of homeland trips being documented in my family is such a thing. When I was thinking about this trip, 2018, when I started coming back when I was 12, it wasn't until 22 years later, when I was 34, that I came back after my mom passed. Going back, I was , curious about how people document their experience going back to the homeland and these days with reels and social media, people doing daily blogs and just all the things, I was curious. But I think there's an element of that kind of old school, just document everything. And then coming back here a few weeks later, just over dinner, just see everything unedited. Um, so, yeah, that was part of the inspiration and then fortunately, 1 of our collective members, and, and members Tracy Nguyen and folks with the Sunkist SunKissed,they've been documenting the QTViet Cafe experience since the beginning, really. So much of what's on YouTube and online of our work is, through their documentation. Basically was like, Sal, I don't have a lot of money. We don't have a lot of money, but here's a little bit of money that I fundraise so far and we can keep fundraising as part of the collective effort. What do you say about trying to document this experience with us? I think what's so powerful about the collective is by it for us. Knowing that Sal and other folks who practice videography and film are already part of the collective and are already interested in a trip, I think, it's easier to share and connect on the goal of connecting with other queer and trans folks. We've never done a trip like this and then two, we've never documented a trip like this. Everything was new. And we were going into it. We had like ideas of how we wanted to film this and there were some proposals and we Filmed some of the activities that we had before the trip like some of our planning retreats and some of our fundraising events. Sal did some interviews of how we felt before in all the feelings of like anxious and excited, nervous. And I ultimately was just like, Sal, here's our best agenda, here's like a guide of what each day will look like. Ultimately, I want to give all of us a creative permission just experience this trip and to let's do our best to document it. And as long as we're truthful and honest. As long as we can just share our full humanhood, whatever happens on the other side, I think will be amazing. After that, it just had a little bit of relief knowing that. Honestly, we were inspired by Videos that other queer trans folks were doing in Việt Nam. It's like abstract and editorial and like voiceover and like, it's just like, just put it out there. That was part of our inspo. I think just as much as, our identities and sexualities and gender are fluid, I wanted to encourage, the film and documentation to be just as fluid. Fortunately, we had folks who were filming and doing sound, and with the support of , everyone in the collective, we're all taking photos and doing videos. We're, hoping to just share honestly and report not just our experience, but also share the struggles that we experienced as queer and trans people, the struggles that queer and trans people, in Việt Nam experience to the power of what it means to collaborate together and, um, do something historic and do a first event there ever. we hope to share our post trip reflections of what it's meant for us. Jean Pham: Yeah, it was just like a fun process for us to take upon this trip and each of us in our own way, document it. QTViet Cafe has different disciplines of artists– filmmakers, photographers, writers, dancers, and so forth, that one of the things we were also asked to do was, to take our own photos and to share it throughout the entire process. For me it was a different experience because this is my first time going to Việt Nam. My parents came here in 89 and I was born in 95. I guess if you're not a part of the diasporic Việt Namese American population, there are certain, like, ideas held about Việt Nam that some people from the older generation have about, Việt Nam as , a socialist country. And also, like, what it means for people who are refugees to be reckoned with, how their country has transformed. And so I've never gone back to Việt Nam because my parents honestly thought this is like a lost country. It's not home for us anymore. And so a lot of ideas about Việt Nam and what it is now, we're, Reproduced and given to me and of course, like it's a lot of unpacking too, right? Because I honestly don't believe a lot of these held ideas that they have about Việt Nam. And it was important for me to want to experience that. Việt Nam for myself, in a way where I could truly see what the country is and not in a way that necessarily demonizes it or even romanticizes it. A lot of like diasporic poetry and art and writing I feel kind of like hinges or teeters that like point of almost romanticizing their ancestral country. And I think it's important for us to unpack all these like held beliefs and biases. In college, I did a lot of poetry, slam poetry, and I always recognized the language barrier is a big part of access, not being able to fully understand or communicate with our parents is a tension that many like second or third generation Americans face. The way that I think QTViet Cafe interacts with that is pretty ingenious, but also very, what one should do, which is just simply to learn the language. We need to teach each other the language so that we can communicate with each other in Việt Namese. That was another big part of our preparation too. Some collective members. held Việt Namese classes for us to talk to each other, talk to locals, talk to other queer folks. And also the language is important because as much as we have our own lingo and slang as queer and trans communities here, so do they in Việt Nam, in Việt Namese. With the documentary, not everyone has the same experience, right? For me, it was my first time. So I was trying to visit places where my parents grew up, trying to see the city from my own eyes. Some people had a lot more connection with Việt Nam and had visited it, Việt Nam and Saigon many times before. So in a documentary, there are certain members of the collective that have like more keyed interviews that kind of talk about that difference because even within our collective, we're not monolithic in terms of our experiences and you can see the different ways like we're shaped by it. I think the last thing I'll share with you is definitely, and Hai, and I kind of talked about this. It's in conversation pretty often, but a lot of eateries, Việt Namese restaurants in the US are kind of stuck in time because a lot of them are, restaurants that are Staffed and created by diasporic Việt Namese refugees. The food has like definitely developed a lot in Việt Nam. And so has the language. It almost feels like, you know, us in a diaspora, us here in California, we're in like a time bubble. And going to Việt Nam breaks that. And lets us experience what does Việt Nam look like now in like 2024, 2023. Now that it has like modernized. You know, most people, most queer and trans Việt Namese people we've met were either in underground economies or they're gig workers or they're freelance workers. I think there's a lot of parallels between the ways that queer and trans people move here and also in Việt Nam. Although there is definitely like that point of us visiting Việt Nam as Americans. or people who have American passports, there is a class dynamic to it. So yeah, it, I would say part of the complication is There are things we were trying to resolve within our own bodies by going back to Việt Nam, but also things we had to reckon with, like the differences too, and how, I think for me, one of the most jarring things was realizing that in Saigon, there are provinces or like neighborhood, entire neighborhoods that are home to just people who immigrated out from their countries and had access to a larger degree of wealth and who are actively perhaps displacing Saigonese locals and realizing that if I wasn't careful, then these are structural issues that can be created if we don't examine our place like in context. Yeah. And I'll check there. Yeah. Cheryl Truong: Thanks so much for sharing Jean and Hai. That's just about all the time we have left tonight. For those interested in seeing the premiere of their Đồng Quể documentary, learning more about QTViet Cafe. And or celebrating eight years of queer trans Viet magic, please join QTViet Cafe on September 1st in Oakland, California. They will be having an exciting celebration. ? Hai, how can people learn more? Hai Vo: Yeah, we're excited to invite everyone to our eight year anniversary. We're premiering Đồng Quể, which is the film of their Việt Nam trip. We are planning to have it, on Sunday, September 1st. 5 to 9 at Firehouse Oakland in Chinatown. And, yeah, we're live on the tickets and registration. It'll be up on our IG, @qtvietcafe, it'll be up on our Facebook, it'll be up on our website. Folks can also subscribe to our newsletter too via our website. Yeah, September 1st, Sunday, evening time, 5 to 9, Chinatown at Firehouse in Oakland. Cheryl Truong: Thank you all. So thank you both so much for being here for coming on the show. And for our listeners, please join us September 1st at the firehouse in Oakland. You hear all of these stories, these intimate details at Jean and Hai have shared with us income to live. For those interested in learning more. QTViet Cafe's socials Facebook, Instagram website, all that good stuff will be in the show notes as well as a link to their registration form. As well as their bilingual letter for a free Palestine. That was written in collaboration with members of QTViet Cafe, the Dallas, Asian American historical society, and also various other community supporters. This letter is bilingual. It starts off with dear family. And is meant to catalyze an intergenerational conversation about Palestine. Everyone has a different relationship story to our families and lineage, so this resource is a conversation starter so please check it out. It'll also be in the show notes. Thank you all so much for listening and I'll see you next time. . Apex express is produced by Miko Lee, Paige Chung, Jalena Keane-Lee, Preeti Mangala Shekar. Shekar, Anuj Vaidya, Kiki Rivera, Swati Rayasam, Nate Tan, Hien Nguyen, Nikki Chan, and Cheryl Truong Tonight's show was produced by me, cheryl. Thanks to the team at KPFA for all of their support. And thank you for listening! The post APEX Express – August 22, 2024 – 8 Years of QTViet Cafe! appeared first on KPFA.
This summer's “It” meal might just be the new “girl dinner.” Comprised of chic cult classics — a Caesar salad, order of french fries and dirty martini — the holy trinity of summer noshing has taken the internet, and local eateries, by storm. In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Monday, Security firm CEO Robert Tucker will be named the next commissioner of the FDNY today, according to sources. Authorities abruptly shut down the Dominican Day Parade in Manhattan on Sunday when a massive, unruly crowd swarmed the Midtown route and a teen slashed a 65-year-old man across the face, law enforcement sources said. And in Decision 2024, Democrats are playing up their sunnier outlook with the Harris-Walz ticket, promoting the idea that voters can be inspired to support someone and not just cast their ballot against the other side. The Trump campaign argues their candidate is reflecting the dour mood of the country and dismisses the idea that a growing contrast in tone and upbeat attitude will decide the presidency.
In this episode of the "Turn On the Music Podcast," we feature the captivating music of Trousdale, a dynamic female band known for their powerful harmonies and heartfelt lyrics. Comprised of Quinn D'Andrea, Georgia Greene, and Lauren Jones, Trousdale is often compared to The Chicks and The Staves but draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists like Crosby, Stills & Nash, Kacey Musgraves, and HAIM.Join us as we delve into their 2023 album, "Out of My Mind," and its deluxe version, released in July 2024, featuring live versions of their songs. We discuss the band's mission to empower young women through their music, spreading messages of self-acceptance and love.In this episode, you'll hear Trousdale's mesmerizing tracks, including:Crisis - Cory WongGolden - Cory WongWouldn't It Be NiceDo Re MiBad Blood (NPR Live Sessions)Wouldn't Come Back (NPR Live Sessions)For Months Now (NPR Live Sessions)Love (NPR Sessions)If I'm HonestTune in to "Turn On the Music Podcast" and immerse yourself in the inspiring and empowering world of Trousdale. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more musical journeys!Trousdale | WebsiteTrousdale | Amazon MusicTrousdale | Apple MusicTrousdale | YoutubeTrousdale | InstagramTrousdale | SpotifySocial Media Links:https://linktr.ee/turnonthemusicWelcome to Turn On the Music Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of music and explore its many facets. Whether you're a casual listener or a die-hard music aficionado, this podcast is your go-to destination for insightful discussions, fascinating interviews, and captivating stories about the artists, genres, and trends shaping the musical landscape.Join your host Kyle and CJ, along with a rotating panel of music enthusiasts and industry experts, as we dissect the latest hits, uncover hidden gems, and reminisce about timeless classics. From pop to rock, hip-hop to jazz, and everything in between, we celebrate the diversity of musical expression and its profound impact on our lives.Each episode, we'll take you on a journey through the rich tapestry of music history, exploring the cultural significance of iconic albums, dissecting the lyrics of your favorite songs, and uncovering the untold stories behind the music. Whether you're seeking recommendations for your next playlist or craving in-depth analysis of music theory, Turn On the Music Podcast has something for everyone.So, tune in, turn up the volume, and let's embark on a sonic adventure together. Whether you're commuting to work, relaxing at home, or hitting the road on a weekend getaway, Turn On the Music Podcast is the perfect soundtrack to your life. Let's make some noise and turn on the music!
Rebrand Podcast: Marketing Campaigns Explained by the Brand & Agency
Hamish Campbell, VP Executive Creative Director at Pearlfisher, delves into how General Mills brought together iconic brands like Gushers, Fruit by the Foot, and Fruit Roll-Ups, and showcase their strategy by building a portfolio of beloved fruit snacks. General Mills partnered with Pearlfisher to breathe new life into these classics. The result? An exciting new chapter in snack history that's sure to delight and connect with a new generation. Today, Hamish discusses how General Mills comprised Gushers, Fruit By The Foot, and Fruit Roll-Ups brands. Show NotesConnect With: Hamish Campbell: Website // LinkedIn // TwitterScott Harkey: Email // LinkedIn // TwitterI Hear Everything: IHearEverything.com // LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
"If I got money every time you're on my mind, I swear I'd have more money than a single dime."Do lyrics need to rhyme? Can a song be both funny and profound? Is there a right way to build a composition?In this episode, Emmeline sits down with urban boy band, The Kid Brothers (TKB), to tackle these questions and more through the lens of their brand new single, "Divine." Comprised of Eddie, Shawn, and Sasha, TKB has been releasing fun, dance-able jams since 2021--but the release of "Divine" marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band. They talk about learning instruments from YouTube videos, using social media to connect with fans, and taking performance far more seriously than they take themselves. They also share some of the challenges of writing songs as a collaborative unit, and how they've learned to empower each other and play to each member's strengths. Plus, hear how one groovy bass line can be the beginning of the next summer hit--and why Sabrina Carpenter might be the inspiration behind "Divine."To learn more about The Kid Brothers, or to follow their musical journey, follow the band on Instagram or check out their official website.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.
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Rhythm Tribe, the electrifying family band known for their vibrant Neo Soul and Latin Fusion rock sound is poised to set the music scene ablaze with their latest releases and upcoming live shows, including concerts at two of Los Angeles' most iconic venues, the Viper Room and Whisky A-Go-Go this summer! Comprised of the dynamic trio Thomas Guzman-Sanchez, Mason Guzman-Sanchez, and Brisa Guzman-Sanchez, along with other close family friends rounding out the ensemble, Rhythm Tribe is more than just a band – they are a musical legacy. This summer, Rhythm Tribe will unveil their much-anticipated new music, a collection that promises to push the boundaries of Latin rock with infectious rhythms, heartfelt lyrics, and an unmistakable familial synergy. Beginning with their first single “You'll Be There / Estaras Alli,” which is a fusion of Puerto Rican Aguinaldo, Martillo, Bomba, and Neo Soul. This single is now competing for “Song of the Year” and “Best Tropical Song” in the 2025 Latin Grammy's. The vocalist Brisa Guzman-Sanchez takes both Spanish and English lyrics creating something emotional and heart throbbing. “You'll Be There / Estaras Alli” encapsulates that unexpected last shared moment with a loved one. Each track is a testament to their unique sound, blending traditional influences with contemporary flair. Their music is a celebration of cultural heritage and modern innovation, designed to resonate with audiences of all ages. Their new sound combines the unique guitar artistry of Thomas and Mason Guzman-Sanchez, held together with the insatiable rhythms of Esau Garcia. Rhythm Tribe has added Karthik Suresh on both Upright and Electric Bass and Drummer, Louie Pereira, to make a powerful musical sextet. Rhythm Tribe is not just another band; they are a living, breathing embodiment of musical evolution. Their performances are a family affair, filled with genuine emotion, tight harmonies, and an undeniable chemistry that can only come from shared blood and shared passion. As they gear up for their summer and fall shows, Rhythm Tribe invites you to experience the raw, authentic power of a family united. Want to watch: YouTube Meisterkhan Pod (Please Subscribe)
A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. Important Resources: APSC 4 Action Toolkit Asian Prisoner Support Committee Website | Instagram Purchase Arrival: Freedom Writings of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Transcript: Cheryl: Good evening! You were currently tuned in to APEX Express. I'm your host Cheryl Truong, and tonight is an AACRE night. What is AACRE, you might be asking. Comprised of 11 grassroots, social justicegroups, the Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality Network — AACRE — leverages the power of its network to focus on long-term movement building and support for Asian Americans committed to social justice. Speaking of AACRE groups, APEX Express is proud to be a part of the AACRE network. Tonight. I have the incredible honor to introduce you all to some very special friends of mine, members of the Asian Prisoner Support Committee APSC, which is also one of the 11 groups with the AACRE network. These individuals are among the most incredible people I've had the privilege to know. And tonight we'll be delving it to their stories and the important initiative that they're leading which is called #PardonAPSC4? Their journey is not only one of immense resilience and courage, but also a Testament to the importance of community care and how community based approaches keep us safe way more than surveillance institutions or police ever will. So join us as they share their stories and also stick around to learn more about APSC's newest anthology, Arrival: freedom, writings of Asian and Pacific Islanders, where you can actually find some of their art and writings in physical form. So to start here with us, are Maria, Peejay, Bun, and Ke who put the four in APSC4. Peejay, do you mind kicking us all off with what the #PardonAPSC4 for campaign is all about? Peejay: So APSC 4 are staff members at APSC and we all do different work at A PSC but our primary is helping our community. In general, fighting deportation, helping folks come home and reintegrate to society and supporting them with other needs that they may have, right? Mainly just to become successful citizen and. APSC4, despite our work, we all have backgrounds in incarceration, we're impacted, which means we're also at risk for deportation. And the campaign is born out of a desire to keep us home to fight our own deportation. And so we need the Governor Newsom to actually issue a pardon so that we can continue to do this work and stay with our family. Because otherwise, they would eventually, deport us. And as immigration is a very hard thing to deal with, and there's not a lot of options, especially with folks with convictions. And pardonness for us is like mainly the only thing that can help us stay home. And APS v4 mainly is to, it's a campaign to ask community members to support us, that mean elected official, that mean community members that you know, family members, anyone who's willing to support us, and basically uplift our campaign as well as reach out to elected and to Governor Newsom and encourage him to pardon us so that we can stay home and do this work. Cheryl: Thanks Peejay. You're literally hearing about the campaign directly from the people who are leading the way. So we know about APSC 4. We've heard a little bit about their campaign. But I also want you all to know about the people within APSC 4. And this is very in theme, especially with APSC's upcoming anthology Arrival, which captures stories of Asian American Pacific Islander individuals inside prisons, or who have been detained by ICE or have been recently released from ICE or prisons and as well as stories from impacted family members. So until you all get your hands on that, which is available for purchase now at Eastwind Books of Berkeley Berkeley. Which you can get at asiabookcenter.com. I would love to introduce you all to the beautiful, incredible, inspiring people of APSC 4. everyone's nodding their head. It's really cute. So let's start with,, maybe Ke, do you want to introduce yourself? Let our listeners know, who are you? Who are your people? Where do you come from? Ke: Hi, my name is Ke Lam. My first, that's my full name is Nip Ke Lam which means in finishing my father's business in my language. So I'm Chinese Vietnamese. I also am a refugee baby who came here when I was four years old to America. So my people are all the impacted folks, all the juvenile lifers. And everyone that's trying to make a change in their life and looKeng for a second chance. Cheryl: Thank you so much. I love that. Maria, do you want to introduce yourself next? Who are you? Who are your people? Maria: Hi, my name is Maria Legarda and I'm the reentry consultant for APSC. My people are impacted folks, incarceration, immigration, detention, the survivors and, the resilient women who are still inside, those are my people. And my APC family and the community members who work towards change to improve our communities. People just didn't decide one day to commit crimes, right? There's always a reason behind because of events that led to that. People that make changes in the community to help it make it better for them to have that. Those are my people too. You know what else? I forgot what the question was. Cheryl: Maria, you answered. Everything perfectly. The question was who are you and who are your people? And you answered it by giving a huge list of who your people are and I think that's very definitive of who you are as a person. But is there anything else you want to add to that, Maria? Maria: I think that covered it all. Cheryl: Beautiful. All right, Peejay, do you want to introduce yourself? Peejay: So I am Peejay, real name is Borey Ai, but I go by Peejay, and Peejay has been in my life for many years longer than I can remember, but it has shifted and shaped in different forms, but I answer to both now, and I am a child refugee, I'm Cambodian, my family escaped the Khmer Rouge when it happens, and then I immigrate to Thailand to find refuge, and my mom and my dad met there, and so I was conceived and was born in Thailand, came to the United States when I was five, and yeah, and then got in trouble, trying to resettle into the, to the new environment, new culture, and I end up in prison. I share that to say that my people are folks who are impacted, people who I can relate to, and my experiences, so the refugee folks community And, my elders at CERI, obviously APSC and AACRE are all my community members and anyone who is in a fight, like where I'm learning, as I sit in a lot of different coalition spaces, doing my work, as an advocacy with APSC, and I've learned that a lot of community members are sharing the same work, sharing the same values, sharing the same goals, and the people that I'm in community with, so they are my people. And yeah, just like with Marie, like anyone who's striving to make changes to better our community members who are impacted is my community. Cheryl: And last but not least Bun. Bun: Hey, y'all! Thank you. My name is Chanton Bun, but I just go by Bun. I'm a, I was born during the genocide in Cambodia. I grew up in the refugee camps. Came to the U. S. when I was about six or seven years old. I'm formerly incarcerated. I'm a father of three boys. Grandfather Yeah, I'm the reentry coordinator here at Asian Prince Support Committee. And I also mentor at risk youth in our community. My folks are the incarcerated, the formerly incarcerated, the community the youth that is growing in our community now. And just supporting our community through a lot of these traumas that we still Cheryl: It's so interesting hearing all of you introduce yourself because I work a lot with the APSC four members just through AACRE. But and I just learned that bun is a grandfather. Bun: Yeah, I was gonna say that I'm not that old, but I am a grandfather. Cheryl: All right now is that we've had the chance to hear from each of you about your backgrounds and the communities that you represent and the people that you carry with you. I would like to delve a bit deeper into your personal stories. Each of you have faced unique challenges and experiences that have shaped who you are today. Could you each share with our listeners a bit about some of the hardships that you have all encountered along your journey? Bun: Oh, I can go. Yeah. Growing up yeah, I grew up in the refugee camps. So I was faced with like starvation not knowing what safety was, there was, living in the refugee camps. There were so many I saw so many people hurt or walKeng in almost dead. I think I was numb to it coming to this country. I was faced with bullying a lot and being discriminated against. Being poor wasn't really. And I didn't realize we were poor because in the refugee camp, we were poor. So like coming here, we had, we had a roof on our head and food and, family all around the fear of, somebody coming into our house, just taKeng our stuff or, doing what they want because we were in refugee camps when I came to the United States. I didn't realize we were poor for a long time. But the bullying and the discrimination was really hard. I remember even the school discriminated against us because I guess they didn't know where we're from. One of my memory was me and my cousins and an uncle, we went to school and we all wore slippers. They called our parents to come pick us up and say, you guys cannot wear slippers. You need shoes. And like our parents didn't realize that we're like that's what we wear for shoes. So that's one of the first like memories. I knew that we didn't understand the U. S. And then, you know, Keds around the neighborhood. We're just picKeng on us because we didn't speak English or we didn't understand the rules we were, and then it was just like a bunch of us Keds. Cause when I came to LA, I lived in an apartment with about 25 of us living there because our cousins and stuff, all we came from Texas, our cousins were here. And we just wanted to be together because we've been separated for a while. And all we knew was me, my uncles, and my cousin, we walked everywhere together. Some of us caught on caught English earlier, so we understood more, some didn't. So we're just guiding each other. And then when we were bullied Our parents told us to just take it. And we knew that in, in the refugee camp we had no power. We took whatever they wanted. I remember getting robbed like three times a week and they're taKeng our pots and pans. So like keeping quiet was a thing. So we just kept quiet and we didn't trust authorities at all. Never complained to the principal or the teacher at all, but then we grew into That, that, that, that fear grew into anger and the need was protection. So the boys in, in, in my family is nah, we're not taKeng this no more. And we just started defending ourself, fighting and just or my thought, and I'm pretty sure like all my, my, my uncles and my cousin's thoughts were like, we got to protect. Each other because we can't walk home crying all the time or we can't walk home seeing our cousin walk home crying. So we just said the next time we're going to fight back and whatever the consequences and the cost. The consequences of coming home, like the teacher calling like, Hey, you're going to fight. That's what the consequences because our parents was like against fighting against violence. But, the consequences of getting detention in class wasn't, that wasn't nothing to us. We were scared of coming home, but that, that led into a lifestyle of violence, a lifestyle of feeling that I need protect myself from everything and don't matter what the situation was. And, it tumbled into joining gangs for protection and in the gang lifestyle. overtook that fear and we just, gravitated to it because it gave us strength. It gave us a sense of, sense of brotherhood, a sense of safety, a sense of I'm not going to get hurt no more. So that's how my life spiraled. Cheryl: Yeah, the interesting thing about radio is that y'all can't see their faces when Bun was telling the story, literally everyone in this room right now, we're nodding their heads, and y'all can't see that because it doesn't translate into radio. Ke, I saw you nodding your head a lot. Do you want to share your story? Ke: My story is very similar to probably Bun's and Peejay's being come here as a refugee baby. I don't remember my whole journey to America. I just remember my journey in America. I just, I remember growing, we moved around a lot in California. We came into San Francisco, moved around. I remember home for me was the barrier, but predominantly San Francisco. And we moved all over the city. We lived in Chinatown, 100th Point, Petro Hill, Sunset. I remember as a Ked parents separated when I was about six. No, in and out of relationship when I was seven. So they, they basically wasn't around for me or each other. They dealt with, dealing with trauma. My mom lost her parents on the way to America. Yeah. My mom's parents was actually murdered by pirates in the open South China sea. So she dealt with that and she did not deal with that to cope with that. So she, she did what she did best. And that's, is finding an end jobs and then dealing with a husband who was abusive. And so we live when we moved to patrol Hill. We got our place got robbed all the time. We ended up having to put bars on our doors and our windows. I remember my mom would say, don't go outside. Knows anytime of the day. So I basically was like in a prison in our little apartment. And I had to run this. I remember trying to go to school one time by myself and I got jumped multiple times. I remember they, they do rocks at me. They do run eggs at me. They push me push me down. They didn't let their dogs chase after me. So the funny joke about that, I said, I was grateful for them because they actually made me really good at track and field, so I was able to run real fast and jump fences, so that was, I like, I was grateful for that. But I took, the route to school was only five minute walk, but it took me 30 minutes every day to, one each way to come to go to school and come home, just so I could avoid my bullies. I remember one time they actually caught up to me when I was like eight years old, and I had to, I had really no choice but to fight. And after that day, after they jumped me, after I fought one of those guys, I remember I was standing over the Ked that I fought, and I saw the parent just yelling at me like how you let that chink, that Chinese Ked, that chink beat you up. And then I saw his friend walKeng up to me like they about to assault me, and I'm like, I'm about, I'm, I'm about to get messed up, but instead they congratulated me. They said good job, welcome to the neighborhood. And so I'm like, from that day on, I normalized violence. Violence is the way to solve your problems, and it's also the way to be accepted in the neighborhood. And that's, and that opened my eyes to, everywhere I looked, there was violence, all different forms of violence. My mom was gone all the time. She was never home. I became a parent. My mom had my second, third oldest my brother. And I end up becoming a parent at eight years old, raising my little brother for a whole year by myself because the neighbor was some old elderly Asian couple just didn't care about him. He had diaper rashes and I just took care of him. I built a lot of resentment towards my mom. I'm like, you abandoned us. You abandoned me. You abandoned my brother. What Kend of mother are you? I remember I went out, I stole diapers, stole formulas, stole food, also begged for money at the streets not in the neighborhood, but, different parts of the cities and yeah, it just, I, it felt, I felt like my mom didn't care. My dad was never around, he was out of the picture, so I didn't even think about him. My teenage years. I became really good at sports, played a lot of sports growing up. At the age of 15, we moved to Richmond, California, where I got introduced to the gang lifestyle. I didn't know nothing about gangs. It was the first time I actually grew up, I went to a school where there was a lot of Asians. In San Francisco, all the schools I went to were predominantly Blacks and Mexican and Pacific Islanders. And I didn't know, certain words meant certain things, and then I learned what a blood and a crib is. I didn't know what that was, because I remember growing up in San Francisco, we used the word, the term blood all the time as a form of, like family. And so when I went to Richard and they were like, what's up? I was like, what's up, blood? And they were like, just cuz. I'm like, cousin? I was confused. I didn't like, I didn't know what that meant. But then I didn't know that by me hanging out with them that their enemies also became my enemies. And and then I remember if I walked around by myself, their enemy would try to attack me thinKeng I was one of them, which I wasn't. And so I became a wannabe at the time and I like associate with them. I started KecKeng with them. But one thing that drew me really close to the gang, the Asian gang, was that our story was very similar to each other. They understood my story, understood this story. We all struggled. I remember growing up, I had to be a translator for my parents, my mom. She would take me out of school and I resented her for that. Why? I didn't want to learn English. And so that was, and that just came on as I got older. That resentment came and then I committed my crime when I was 17 years old because I was trying to show my homeboys like you got to show me love. I'm gonna be there. I want to be the best I could be. I wanted a name for myself. I wanted that respect. And I didn't think about the consequences at the time. My life was on, it was on the road down destruction. So I didn't care about myself and I didn't care about nobody else and I didn't care about my siblings either at the time. And so that's what ended up happening to me before, growing up as a Ked. Cheryl: What about you, Peejay? Peejay: Yeah, I think what Keechi said, like my life And Bun and his similar, like I came here when I was five and then like I got bullied right away, right? Like at the earlier stage. And at the time I didn't even, I didn't even understand it, even know what it is. And I think like this one story Kend really highlighted my introduction to bullying. I was in the park, a bunch of Keds laughed at me, right? They're laughing, right? And so I'm like, at the time I didn't know they were laughing at me. They were just laughing. And so I laughed. I thought they were laughing, because we're friends or something, right? They liked me. So I laughed too. I didn't know what that was laughing about, but one of the Keds got angry and came up and punched me in the face. I realized, he punched me in the face, he was screaming and yelling at me, I didn't know what he was saying but I understood right then and there he wasn't laughing with me, he was laughing at me. So what happened, I laughed too, so it got him angry, learned right away, What like bully was right and then I wasn't like well accepted, share the same story of like most Southeast Asian community, we get spit on we get beat up, in school and things like that. But I think the message I got, most deeply about I'm not wanted, is, we talked about that the Cleveland elementary school shooting, that was where I was with the first school shooting in the United States where Southeast Asian community was targeted by, And I lost my cousin during a school shooting. But that was like a big statement, some dude showed up in the, in the playground, climbing up the roof with an AK 47 and shooting at us, right? They were like telling me, that's a big statement you're not wanted, for me it was like, I grew up in a very bad environment as it is, where there's a lot of gangs, there's a lot of violence, a lot of shooting, a lot of, stuff happening in the neighborhood and then, getting constantly bullied all the time and, spit on and tell you that you're not wanted to go back to your country. And then when that happened, I just shut down, I didn't believe that my environment is safe anymore. And I, obviously when you're in a refugee camp, like when I go you don't feel safe, you know what safety is, right? So I grew up never feeling safe, right? And I was moving around. And so that led me to gangs, right? Like he, I joined a gang. I felt the love in the gang. The bully stopped, and they started giving me hugs, showing me love and as someone who craves acceptance, since the day you step into a new country, just wanting to belong somewhere that felt really good, and I was a Ked. I was like, man, I felt so good. Like I felt like I belong somewhere. Like people care about me. This is my family. And for me, like that, that bought me into this idea, like this is what most of my life is about. I'm going to give everything for these, for the homies. And, the Ke, I agreed to commit a crime, At 14 and end up in the prison system as one of the youngest juvenile lifer, and I was pretty much raised in the system. I think I spent more time in prison than I've been home, been out on the street. So everything I learned, in prison, right? And then I came home as an adult after 20 something years. And not like trying to just, as an adult in a new society with not a lot of experience. So fortunately, people like he, people like Bun, Maria, who does this work, that's why APC4 Reentry Program is so important, right? Because people like me didn't know how to use a cell phone, didn't know how to turn on a computer, didn't do a lot of stuff, right? I've learned a lot of stuff in prison. So I have a lot of advantage as I was investing in myself and doing my programming to earn my parole, but even still this stuff, I didn't know, and I imagine people it was worse than both of I was to have some knowledge and have a lot of access that I did, but I'll show you, I'll show you to say it's hard, it's hard in our work, help transition. I remember he took me shopping, show me how to use Bart, how to use public transportation. The trajectory of my life would have much been different. If I grew up in a different environment, like that's something I was clear about. And so now like we try to create those environment for our community because we'll know better. We learn from our past experience and now like giving back to our community. Is, for me, it's like, for me, like this work is my life, like it's my life because I've lived through it, like someone saved my life, I didn't want to make it home without people showing up, doing this work. So I feel like for me giving back and continuing this work is part of the commitment. Creating change and giving back, but I feel like I was meant to do this, like I, I came home with a purpose, I went to prison with absolutely no clue, just trying to survive. And I came home with a purpose. I feel like I have some Kend of meaning in my life. So that's Kend the short summary of my life. I like my connection to APS C is my work and my work is my life. Cheryl: (Peejay I think your genuine passion for what you do really shows, and I'm sure our listeners can feel it too.) Maria, please. We would love to hear your story. . Maria: For me. Unlike Peejay, Ke, and Bun, I wasn't a refugee, during the war. I immigrated to the U. S. During the time when the economic the economy in the Philippines is not doing great. I was born during the time of the Marcus dictatorship. That was during Ferdinand Marcus regime in the Philippines where we were under his dictatorship for 30 years. During that time, growing up. I had siblings and my younger sister became ill, with my parents being gone all the time taKeng care of my sister. It was a difficult childhood, from what we were used to, and just the changes. In our lives. And at that time, my parents did the best that they could to support us, all three of us, but because they don't know actually what was going on with my sister, right? It was difficult for a parent to see their child. Child suffering, and she was young. She was only four. So at that time, I was left to take care of my brother. And it was the two of us, fending for ourselves. It took a toll on my parents, and the time spent with me and my brother and my sister were very limited. And I felt abandoned. This was our life before, my sister got sick. We were happy. We're going on vacations summer. By the beach, even if it's just, right there, you go to the beach with your chocolates and you just hop on the, the side of it's the islands, right? So we had fun. We just stopped doing all those things. And the only thing we knew was my sister was sick. That was it. My parents didn't know how to explain something that they don't know either what was going on. So I guess that my expectation is such a young age is, my parents were in my world. So expecting them to tell us like what was going on and the feeling of that abandonment and that unworthiness being unloved and cared for really was there, it's just there, but I never manifested it because I didn't know how to, but I knew what I was feeling inside. And so when parents fought my sister's condition got worse and eventually at the age of 10, she passed away, so my parents would, my parents, other than the heartache, the heartbreak of losing a child was left with huge financial debt. In, in our culture, the eldest takes care of the family, right? So at that time I was going to school my parents provided for us that we can still go to school. It was hard. We managed it. We went through a lot, but in the end my parents did the best that they can for me and my brother. So I, I had the opportunity, to come to the U S. And I came here by myself without any contingency, any plan, but the idea that maybe when I get there, then I'll figure it out because I see a lot of people leaving the Philippines, coming over here, finding work. So I'll also do that. And that was the trend during that time. In the 90s, a lot of people were immigrating to the U. S. to find like a better life, right? And so when I came during that time I mentioned that longing, the attention, that abandonment. And so I was here alone and I met someone. I met someone and everything that I needed, that person listened to me. He cared. He loves me. He actually, somebody does actually care how I feel. And so I never thought that he would be the person to hurt me. And so we were talKeng like really getting to know each other. And then six months, we decided to meet. And on the day we met, I became a victim of sexual assault. And Again, the, it was worse, there were, I don't even have words for how, I felt after the betrayal because my whole world just shattered, and being alone here, it wasn't, it's not like the Me Too movement that we have now. Back then, we don't speak of it. And one thing I did at that time that I tell the women now, the young women, it is not your fault because I met him. Do I really know him? No. Growing up in a culture where you just don't go out with somebody you don't know, right? That was the time then people were meeting chat rooms, online dating. So I carried that guilt with me that it was my fault. For a long time, it took me a long time to really process that it wasn't my fault. It was done to me. I didn't ask for it. But I carried that. So drugs were the only thing that I was able to cope with because it made me numb. It made me forget. It gave me that false sense of power that I can take control back of my life. Not knowing that once I use drugs, I, it, I become numb to it all. And that eventually led me to incarceration. And so now after years of self introspection and just understanding what has, what the challenges and, the difficulties and all the heartbreaks that I had went through in life, going to self help groups and hearing the other survivors overcome it And stepping out of that that it was my fault, having to hear that the first time is what broke me free from that. Now, in my line of work, I can easily recognize it, because I was there. I know how it felt. And I always I've been, blessed to be able to grant that space, that safety space for our folks, men and women, when they share their struggles, because I've been there. I know what it's like. So I do, I'm passionate about my work because I've seen how I've turned things around. I saw myself, how I picked myself back up. I saw myself when I was really down that at the end of the day when people around you care enough to get to know you more than your past, you're going to get through it, and my, work in APSC And Ke would be the I came out of detention and Ke was one of the first one of the first people that I met other than Nia, Nia was a volunteer at that time with APSC and being undocumented it was hard for me to get anything. So Ke was there from the beginning. This is what you need to do. Don't worry. I'm going to walk you through it. And without Ke. guiding me through those steps it would have been much harder. It was already hard, but this was going to be extremely harder if he didn't give me the guidance. He didn't know what was going to happen, but he knew something to guide me. So that's why that's how I Eventually got to work with APSE because the first time they had their internship program, I think five minutes into posting it, I already submitted my application because I knew that the journey that I was taKeng on at that time as an undocumented immigrant, I know that there's going to be ways that I'm gonna, I have to find another way. Because I'm not the only one, and I know a lot of women coming home, men and women that are coming home are going to need their IDs, are going to need their social security, are going to need all their documentation, and who's best to explore them, right? Than me. Why? Because right now, this is where God has me, right? He has me on this path to help people. So let's get it done. And so that's why I stay with my APSC because I believe in what they do for a community because they started with me. Cheryl: Maria!. That is such a beautiful point. And I think that last sentence that you shared is really why I admire the work of APC. So, so incredibly much, like not only is it work. For. Impacted folk. But it's also led for and by impacted folk who really understand the experiences of what it's like. And when your work is led by those who have truly experienced the impact firsthand. You approach people with a level of empathy that makes a real difference. And I'm listening to the things that you've all shared. You know, it's clear that what often matters most are the things that people like me who have never been behind bars often take for granted, you know, it's things like. You know your stories of needing Ke to. Teach you how to navigate BART? How do you secure your ID? What's a. Social security number. And the emotional support that comes with helping someone reintegrate into society. I truly don't know where a community would be without the incredible work that you all do with APC for. Now I'm eager to learn more about the impactful work that you're doing within our community. What has been some of the most rewarding aspects of your work in. Reentry support and mentorship. Time is a factor. So maybe we could hear from maybe two of you. Bun: I think the most rewarding about re entry for me is, Watching the person I'm helping know that they have support, in my life there was nothing out there to support us other than gangs. But just. Watching them know that they have support, empowering them and their family to understand the system understand a person when they're coming home with family relations, and also relationships with their Keds because a lot of us have been incarcerated for so long. Just that, like he always say the first 90 days are important to show them the support that they really need because like myself, I was lost. I was like a loss, the last person coming home. I didn't even know how to cross the street. It took somebody to come take me to cross the street and walk me down the street because I wouldn't do what I was like, I can't do it. It's terrifying. But yeah just. A lot of folks often think like reentry is like a, no, we have to go get you a job, get you this. And those are important too. But the important thing is the little things like, teaching, teaching somebody how to answer their phone, teach them how to, setting up their calendar, teaching them across the street, walKeng, maKeng decisions when we're ordering stuff, taKeng them shopping, letting them shop for themselves. So these are the little things that. A lot of us and especially myself, I could speak for having anxiety, it was a really big anxiety of learning how to navigate society when I came home. I think a lot of our folks in reentry and. And it's crazy. Often, like when we take them on everybody in RedsKens is thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm like, what are you thanKeng me for? This is what you deserve, and then you'll hear it. They'll thank us all day. And we want to relate to them. This is what you deserve. This is what all of us deserve when we're coming home. This is what all of us deserve when we're growing up in our communities is this support from people that looks like you. People come from the same background, people that understand you. That's what really give me a lot of joy when I do my work is to seeing folks know that they do have support from folks that have been through it and folks that look like them, folks that's been through things like them. So that's my biggest joy when I do this work, Ke: I like to jump in real quick I remember when I came home before all the rest of my colleagues here. I had no one like no one knew how to navigate the system. No, I like I came home with a loss of status. So I didn't know that I wasn't American that, I got released from immigration. And it just Kecked me out. And then it's I want to go get an ID. And it's we need two form of IDs. And I'm like, what do you need? They need, they said, we need a birth certificate or a passport. And I said, I have neither, no, neither one. And they said, what about a green card? I said my green card is no good no more. According to what they told me. So I'm like, I have no former I. D. I couldn't get I. D. And it took me a while to get I. D. And just learning how to navigate barred and everything. It was I have a lot of gray hairs behind it. I have my head on, so you can't see, but it was really difficult to navigate. And then it's I had no one that looked like me that went through that process, right? And there was no program for A. P. I. folks that's coming out to have that support. And I'm so grateful for Asian Prison Support Committee for giving me that, for opening that door for me to learn this process, but also to receive the help. And I think for me, the highlight like Bun named a lot of the great stuff. I think for me, the it's my way of maKeng amends for the harm that I caused. That's why I do this work. I can, I could have left this job for a really good trade job, get great money, maKeng six figures a year, but I'm like, I need to get back, because that, this is my way of healing myself, not just the other person, it's just, it's Kend selfish to say that. But I if I can't heal myself, how can I help heal the next person? And that's why I do this work. And I remember one of the guys I picked up from immigration, he's he had a choice of his family and us, formerly incarcerated folks, to pick him up. And he's I'm grateful for you guys to pick me up. And I'm like, why? He said, because you guys understand me. You guys understand if my family came, it would have been a such a disconnect with them because they wouldn't understand it was like you have to do this, you have to do that. And then this is what you should do is but for us like we know what to do, and then we understand like choices, being incarcerated for decades and coming out like choices is really difficult for us, people tell what do you want, and we like, I don't know. We was limited to what we had inside. And so that's why I keep doing this work. Like with the rest of them, it's like giving back, but also at the same time healing. We're on this healing journey together. Cheryl: I know I only said two people, but I really watched the way Maria's eyes fricKen sparkled when I asked this question. Maria, I want to know what has been the most rewarding part of worKeng at APSC? Maria: Am I that I'm easily read? No, because the one thing and he and by with no we had a client, she had a drug past these two, she was, she had a, oh my god, I said that backwards past drug use. And she worked on actually worKeng on getting her substance abuse, counseling. So we help her get through it online classes register for her use gift cards to get that online classes paid like every avenue that we could think of we helped her get that in the same time. She was trying to get custody of all her children. And so walKeng her through her online classes and being there by her side, like just cheering her on, you can do this. And so with her heart and mind into it, she was able to do it. She graduated. She finished it. And at the same time it was just getting hit with left and right with different problems, around getting custody of her child children. But because she has the support of a PSE. She said, I would have never been able to get through all this if not for your weekly calls that you check up on us. It doesn't matter whether it's me, whether it's Ke, Bun, because it's a, it's an effort, a team effort, right? Me and Bun would go there when she needed us, as a support. And so when she finally finished her school she was able to go to an internship. And now she works for another nonprofit organization, and she actually refers clients to us now because she became a substance use counselor. And then on top of that, gained custody of her three Keds. How much more work an AP has to do, right? With family reunification, that's what it's all about. It doesn't matter what your past was, it matters like how you're going to move forward. Yeah, your past, they're always going to bring it up, right? Because you have a record. But what they're not going to be able to take away from you is what you go from this point on, from that abusive relationship, and you were able to take it out, and you're able to do something with your life and get your Keds back, and now you have a home for them. That's what the work is about. It's not just about helping people, when they first come home, but it's that care that you nurture them in their journey. That's why our job is not eight to five, unfortunately, and it doesn't, our job doesn't stop after six months. They become family to us and that's really what APSC is about, and that's one of the joys seeing her graduate, become a counselor and have her Keds back. So that's our APSC, one of our stories, our re entry stories that really we talk about it all the time. Cheryl: I could speak the praises of the incredible work that APSC 4. Does forever. But until then we have to take a quick music break. To our listeners. If you take anything away after hearing these stories, it's that we need to collectively demand that governor Newsome, pardons APSC 4 for. Formerly incarcerated leaders like the APSC four are at the heart of our movement. They're compassion and resiliance inspire us all to create change in our communities. And yet despite their work and transformation. Maria Key bun and PJ remain in this immigration limbo and are at risk of being detained by ice and deported. Uh, deporting APS. Core staff would devastate our community. So please join me in urging governor Newsome to take action now to pardon APC for. To protect them from deportation by going to this link. bit.ly/APSC4 for all in capital letters. It'll also be linked in our show notes. Once again, the link is bit.ly/APSC4 this is an all capital letters. This is a direct link to the APC for action toolkit, which will give you different action items you can do to join us in. The fight to part in APC for. There's a call script for governor Gavin Newsome. Demanding the protection of APC for there are sample tweets you can send out. There is a petition. You can sign there also graphics you can share on social media. So please, please check out this link. You could even do this during our music break. Once again, the link is bit.ly/APSC4 N all capital letters. When we come back, we're going to be tackling broader issues and systemic change. So don't go anywhere. Cheryl: And we're back. You were listening to apex express on 94.1, FM KPFA and online@kpfa.org. You were just listening to change the world by baby Chris. We have currently with members of APS C. Maria Key PJ and bun. And the first half of the show, we delved into their personal stories, struggles and advocacy efforts. But in order to give you all a comprehensive understanding of their stories. We need to talk about the broader systemic dynamics that are at play. So let's dive back in. Bun: For me immigration need to look at what we've been through and also what California said, we got a second chance. We earned our second chance. We have proven that we are change, and we, APSE4, have proven that coming back to the community, we are an asset to our community. I think they need to really look into that. Folks that have been have proved themselves through the board, through finishing their term, that we all deserve a second chance. If a citizen deserves a second chance, why not us? And what is the difference, other than we were born somewhere else? Our lives, our family, our communities here. So yeah, they need to really look into what a second chance Ke: mean. I don't think there's anyone in the world that has not made a bad choice in their life or a mistake. Like to be defined by the worst day of your life for the rest of your life. Like, how is that just, especially in a country that is You know, the pillar of human rights, we say who built America, immigrants built America. How do we make America great again? We save our immigrant and refugee community. That's how we make America great again. It's not by, I look at it when you put people through the immigration system, it's like slavery all over again. Prisons, no different. It's like slavery all over again. If we talk about humanity, we talk about a just system. We talk about second chances. We talk about people. These are people that are incarcerated, not numbers, not products. not just a person that made a terrible choice, these are people, mother, father, grandfather, aunties until we start seeing people as people, we will continue to dehumanize them. And yeah, yes, we made some bad choices in our life. But at the same time, like Bunce said, we are redeemable. Just give us that second chance to show you. And that's what APSC's Board has been doing. We've been showing everyone that we, yeah, we own it. We, yeah, we take accountability for what we've done. At the same time we're showing you that we're not that same person anymore. And put it out there for everyone is yes, look at, don't always look at the harm that people cause, but look at the reason why they made that choice. And if you understand where they came from, it'll tell you why they did what they did, but also you give them that chance, they can show you that they can make a difference. Yeah, I know like Peejay: the way I see life now, and this is Kend of like mind boggling to me because a lot of people like are conservative or very smart. We're educated. And then, to me, it's if you truly value peace, right? You truly value people's lives. Community, right? You have to treat everyone equally, the same, right? We start treating people differently, you create division, that's how you divide us. California isn't supposed to be a state that is full of division, it's supposed to be, the value is that we're all together, right? We're from all walks of life, and a melting pot, right? Of cultural and diversity, and that's what makes it so amazing and beautiful, and you can find anything here in California from any part of the world. Like we made California an amazing place, right? So then, like, when you see about the anti Asian hate, like, all the movement about solidarity, then you turn around and say, okay we're going to treat these people differently and just deport them because they committed a crime, but then we're going to say, like, all these other people, they redeemed themselves, too, but we're going to give them another chance, to me, that would make no sense, right? You're creating division, we're people, we should treat everybody the same. And we all have, it's not like we didn't earn it, we're not talKeng about giving people a chance to give a chance we're giving people a chance to earn a chance. And then we have proven ourselves. And I think that's a testament, like I'm going to keep living my life the way I live my life. I'm going to keep pushing and helping people because that's what I'm meant to do. And I don't think that's going to change me no matter what people think of me, but I think if people really put money where their mouth is, then they should really more solidarity, like watching people differently when we're trying to bring people together. I don't know. That's, maybe that's too simple, but to me, it's no brainer, if you want to pull us all dirty, then do it. Stop talKeng about it, Cheryl: maria, did you have anything you wanted to add? Maria: I second everything that Bun, Ke, and Peejay mentioned, second chance is, to me, it's, we weren't born here, right? But, our community is we're helping our community become safe. We're helping our community thrive, and I'll look at that. Cheryl: I Maria: got distracted, but they would someone that never had a conviction, what are you doing to help your community thrive? So the only difference between me, but he and Peejay is that we had a conviction. But we're here to serve our community, and yet at any given day, he can just pick us up and deport us. And then what happens, who's going to continue to work, because like I said, our jobs not eight to five, and it doesn't last a six month program. It's a lifetime. No. So who's willing to pick up that responsibility, because we are. So I hope that, in the near future, like the policies and the immigration see past the conviction. And see us that we matter, took us a long time to regain that work to believe in our own worth, because we're now we know what our value is, and we fight for our freedom to stay here to not get sent back to a country we've never been in, because now we know what our value is. We know our community values us, our family holds us dear. And without our work in the community, who's going to save the children, the youth, who's going to help the elders, who's going to bridge that gap, because there are more and more people that's going to be in and out of the system. And who's going to help them. And that's, that's my hope that, one day they see us as equals, and not just. immigrants who are not born here. Cheryl: I hope that by this, after hearing all of these incredible stories of APSC4, you all know how important and integral that Boone, Peejay, Maria, Ke are to our community. I know just from my own experience that They are core members of my own community, and I don't know where our community would be without them. Learn more about PartinAPSC4 in the show notes. I want to thank all of you so much for coming on our show tonight. Thank you all so much for being here, for sharing your stories, and for continuing this really incredible work that y'all are doing. Yeah, we'll see you on the next show. Thanks, everyone! Thank you, have a good night! Ke: Alright, bye! And that's the end of our show. Learn more about the incredible work being done by Apsu for, by checking out the show notes. Don't forget that the APC for action toolkit is also available at the link bit dot Lee slash APC. that's the number for all capital letters. And it's also available in our show notes as well. And also don't forget to check out the new anthology published by Asian prisoner support committee. APC called arrival freedom, writings of Asian and Pacific Islanders. This anthology was several years in the making. And offer us an intimate insight into the lived experiences of AAPI communities, entangled within the criminal legal system and immigration. From tales of resilience, amiss adversity to profound reflections on identity and belonging, arrival explores themes of war, memory, prison, transformation, healing, and the pursuit of home. This is available for purchase at Eastwind books of Berkeley. www.asia book, center.com. Cheryl Truong: Apex express is produced by Miko Lee, Paige Chung, Jalena Keane-Lee, Preeti Mangala Shekar. Shekar, Anuj Vaidya, Kiki Rivera, Swati Rayasam, Nate Tan, Hien Nguyen, Nikki Chan, and Cheryl Truong Tonight's show was produced by me, cheryl. Thanks to the team at KPFA for all of their support. And thank you for listening! The post APEX Express – July 11, 2024 appeared first on KPFA.
The tenth installment of Flow State Podcast is here and this time Harry is joined in the studio by rising stars in the hip-hop world, Coast Contra. Comprised of rappers Rio Loz, Eric Jamal, Ras Austin, and Taj Austin, Coast Contra is best known for their viral video Never Freestyle. Gaining notoriety for their debut album, Apt. 505, and The Old Way Mixtape, Coast Contra has opened for Dave Chappelle at the Hollywood Bowl, appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and traveled through North America on their own headlining tour. In this episode they talk to Harry about their journey as a brotherhood, the methods they use to create, and why staying independent means so much to them. After discussing the nuances of freestyle and off-top rapping, Coast Contra and Harry close the episode out with a cypher session. Coast Contra -AYO (Official Video) https://youtu.be/fDsmk7u8EQg?si=PbMuFpIB2zTUlDe8 Never Freestyle https://youtu.be/IdNxeepSpuk?si=rO_wBvm9iKHVx9X6 Apt. 505 https://coastcontra.lnk.to/apt505 The Old Way https://www.even.biz/releases/the-old-way Method Man - All I Need ft. Mary J Blige https://youtu.be/XW1HNWqdVbk?si=GVYaj9t4t8ysmIgZ Alan Jones https://ajampdx.com/ Whiplash https://www.sonyclassics.com/whiplash/ Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill https://bookshop.org/a/102858/9780143110163 The Magic of Thinking Big https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-magic-of-thinking-big-the-true-secret-of-success-david-j-schwartz/20264087?ean=9780593713235 Harry Mack - Napoleon Hill https://youtu.be/A12Q43RqP7s?si=AbyItPk0brZbCRTe The Colture Playbook by Ty Baisden https://coltureplaybook.com/ Show Notes 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:20 Who is Coast Contra? 00:03:15 Evolved Nostalgia 00:04:52 First Influences in Music 00:07:48 Choosing a Career in Music 00:13:18 Rio Loz's Colombian Origins and Bilingual Rapping 00:17:24 Apt. 505 00:31:29 Never Freestyle 00:40:42 Freestyling and Off The Top 00:47:11 Staying Independent 00:55:12 Striking A Balance 01:00:22 Closing Rap
On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with guitarist Jared Michael of GrayWeather! Comprised of Michael, Brandon Steputat, Mike Sahm and Rick Orozco, GrayWeather is a band with roots to the Pacific Northwest that combines elements of metal, active rock, progressive metal, and more to create their own blend of emotionally charged, heavy music. On April 12th, GrayWeather dropped their debut record entitled The Soma Collective. Featuring the band's 2023 debut single "White Rabbit," their latest single "Parasite" featuring Courtney LaPlante (Spiritbox), as well as a heartfelt tribute to their friend and former bandmate Molly with the song "Pirouette," The Soma Collective is a fantastic, atmospheric debut that's been years in the making for GrayWeather. On this episode, Jared talks with Mike about how he got into music, eventually picking up the guitar, paying tribute to Molly with the band's name and "Pirouette," working with LaPlante on "Parasite," what it's like being the guitar tech for Periphery, the hard work and perseverance it took to put together The Soma Collective, and more. This episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman also features the aforementioned "Pirouette" from GrayWeather's debut record The Soma Collective, available where you get your music! Follow Jared on Instagram @_jared_michael_. Follow GrayWeather on Instagram @grywthr. To stay up-to-date with GrayWeather, visit https://linktr.ee/grywthr. Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod. Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!! In this special episode of the podcast, Franco takes the solo hosting reins, but he's far from alone. Multiple members of the GiGi's Playhouse Hillsborough Youth Board join the show! Comprised entirely of teenagers, the Hillsborough #GenerationG Youth Board is leading the way on inclusion and acceptance for the next generation. They sit down with Franco to discuss how their initial involvement as volunteers sparked a greater passion, and how they're working to promote inclusion, understanding, and plenty of fun and lively events in their community! They even share how something as simple as (so-so) face painting can help promote kindness and acceptance! This episode is both entertaining and inspiring -- you won't want to miss it! Watch the video version of this episode here.
Dina Dwyer-Owens Co Chair of Dwyer Group is interviewed by David Cogan of Eliances Heroes radio show amfm. Dwyer Group is comprised of the well known brands of Molly Maids, Mr Rooter, 5 Star Painting and more. She talks about her book on Values which she created initially as an initiative at her company. Dwyer-Owens also tells David about the experience of being on the hit TV series Undercover Boss.
Welcome to Bleed Blue Network - where passion meets precision in coverage of University of Kentucky Athletics. We are more than just a media network; we are a community of dedicated fans committed to delivering the latest news, analysis, and insights on everything Kentucky Wildcats.At Bleed Blue Network, we believe in the power of fandom. Our mission is simple: to provide unparalleled coverage of University of Kentucky Athletics straight from the heart of the Big Blue Nation. From thrilling victories to heartbreaking defeats, we're here every step of the way, cheering on our beloved Wildcats.What sets us apart? Our team. Comprised of die-hard fans and seasoned sports enthusiasts, we bring a unique blend of expertise and genuine love for the game to every piece of content we produce. Whether it's breaking news, in-depth analysis, or exclusive interviews, you can count on us to keep you informed and entertained.But Bleed Blue Network is more than just a platform for news and analysis. We're a hub for fans to connect, engage, and share their passion for University of Kentucky Athletics. Join us as we celebrate the rich history, tradition, and spirit of the Wildcats, uniting fans from all corners of the globe in support of our team.So, whether you bleed blue or just love the game, Bleed Blue Network is your ultimate destination for all things University of Kentucky Athletics. Join us, and let's cheer on the Wildcats together!
On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Sunburnt! Comprised of Justin Tyler (vocals, guitar), Alex Pombar (bass), and Will Brown (guitar), Sunburnt is a pop punk trio from Southern California that stormed onto the scene in 2023 with their own unique blend of pop punk, alternative, pop, and hardcore. Having played music together for 15 years, the resurgence of pop punk and emo in recent years reignited the fire for Sunburnt to transition from performing cover songs in the genre to creating their own new tunes under a new name. On January 26th, Sunburnt dropped their debut EP entitled In Front of Me, a collection of the singles they dropped since emerging onto the scene. In addition to the positive online reception Sunburnt has seen via streams and playlist adds, the band has also played the famed Viper Room in Los Angeles, and has a SoCal run of shows lined up this spring, including a 4/19 gig at the House of Blues in San Diego. On this episode, Justin and Alex of Sunburnt talk with Mike about how they first got into music, their early days playing together and following Warper Tour, the resurgence of pop punk and emo since the pandemic, working with Jayden Seeley, forming their own sound with Sunburnt, and more. This episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman also features the song "In Front of Me" from Sunburnt, available where you get your music! Follow Sunburnt on Instagram @wearesunburnt. To stay up-to-date with band, visit https://sunburnt.komi.io/. Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod. Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.
The Red Pears are a three-piece band hailing from El Monte, Ca. Comprised of childhood friends Henry Vargas (vocals/guitar), Jose Corona (Drums) and Patrick Juarez (Bass), the trio are celebrating their fourth album, Better Late Than Never (out April 12th via Daycare Records). The three share the inspiration behind the new record and how a newfound freeness in production allowed them to toggle between listening with their hearts and employing technical input. We learn how cooperative comradery drives the inspiration of The Red Pears and the why a kindred conscientious serves as the glue in their writing, recording, and touring. They discuss the contrast of extensive touring and structureless home life, their upcoming shows at The Forum and Coachella and we hear a few tunes. Episode supported by Distrokid Episode supported by Izotope Episode supported by Thunder Road Guitars
Greg talks about the Germantown, MD band Clutch, whose album Blast Tyrant was released 20 years ago last week. Comprised of its original lineup since 1991, the hard rock band has developed a loyal fanbase nationwide.Songs:Clutch - “Worm Drink”Clutch - “Earth Rocker (Live)”Jay notes another milestone as the PBS program Austin City Limits is about to begin its 50th season. The live music experience has produced some famous performances and is a beloved destination for many artists mid-tour. Each season features the top 13 meticulously documented performances from a season of 24-30 concerts. Artists are allowed to play whatever song they want and are given permission to participate in the mix and edit of the production. The past fifty years have brought a who's who to the stage and we listen to a handful of past performances.Songs:Kendrick Lamar - “For Free, Live from Austin City Limits”Flaco Jimenez - “Ranchero, Live from Austin City Limits”Eric Johnson - “Cliffs of Dover, Live from Austin City Limits”Nick is curious about the state of AI generated songs and decided the best way is to dive right in. Ai, Ai, Ai challenges an AI Song generating service to impress our hosts. This week we're diving into Suno.ai. You'll have to listen to hear how it goes…Song: Deerhoof - “The Perfect Me”
A special place in Jewish history is reserved for the Machal fighters of 1948. These were primarily World War II veterans, who volunteered to fight for Israel during its War of Independence, and their participation served a key role in Israel's victory. Comprised mostly of Jews, but included non-Jews as well, they formed the nucleus of Israel's nascent air force, navy, and filled many specialized roles in the army. One of the most important members of this volunteer corps was Al Schwimmer, an American Jewish veteran who organized a group of pilots and experienced aviation personnel on Israel's behalf. He also organized the purchase of planes for Israel's Air Force, transported the planes to Czechoslovakia, and then used the planes to bring badly needed weapons and ammunition to fight for Israel's survival. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: yehuda@yehudageberer.com
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