Podcasts about Lunar New Year

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. Tonight's APEX Express show is focused on food justice and Asian America. First, Host Miko Lee talks with artist Macy Tran about their work on food as a form of resistance, and then she speaks with researcher Dr. Milkie Vu around her work on food insecurity and Asian American communities.   Show TRANSCRIPT [00:00:00] Opening: Apex Express Asian Pacific expression. Community and cultural coverage, music and calendar, new visions and voices, coming to you with an Asian Pacific Islander point of view. It's time to get on board the Apex Express.   [00:00:30] Miko Lee: Welcome to Apex Express. I'm your host, Miko Lee, and tonight we're talking about food justice and Asian America. First, we talk with artist Macy Tran about their work on food as a form of resistance, and then we speak with researcher Dr. Milkie Vu around her work on food insecurity and Asian American communities. Join us tonight as we delve into food justice. Welcome to Apex Express, Macy Tran, I'm so happy to meet you.    [00:01:03] Macy Tran: I'm happy to meet you as well, Miko. Thanks for having me.   [00:01:06] Miko Lee: I just wanna start with the question I ask all of my guests, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?    [00:01:13] Macy Tran: I come from a legacy of powerful Vietnamese people who were born and raised in Vietnam and now are part of the diaspora in Minnesota. I come from food peoples and healers and chefs and creatives of all sorts who have learned how to make ends meet and to adapt and to work with what they have. I come from a long line of people who have loved through food and who have used food as a means of cultural preservation and education and survival, which has now been passed on to me. There's so much to say about who I come from. My grandparents have stories of survival and resilience throughout the American War in Vietnam. And it's only because of just their love and the decisions they've made on behalf of their love that I am here today. My parents own a restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Vietnamese restaurant called Pho 79/Caravelle That has a 40 plus year legacy of serving Chinese and Vietnamese food to the Minneapolis community. It started with my grandma's brother, and then it passed down to my grandma. And now my grandma has since passed and has passed it down to my father and my mother. And so I like to say that it's restaurant people who raised me. I grew up sleeping in the booths and all of the aunties, even though they weren't blood aunties were my aunties. Because our survival was just so foundationally just predicated on food and what we served and shared with others, and also what we ate at home and the celebrations that we would have both at the restaurant and at home. This is really what makes me.    [00:03:20] Miko Lee: Thank you for sharing. Do you wanna talk more about the legacy part?   [00:03:24] Macy Tran: I carry a legacy of peoples who really know the importance of food and the way we use food to care and support each other. Even in the most hard of times when my family was. On a boat with 200 other people and didn't know if they were going to survive when they kind of landed abroad. The shores of Indonesia, food has been with them throughout it all, and it is how I was raised to love and care for people. I see the ways that food is not just a means for sustenance, but also as joy, as creativity, as love, and I carry all of those, decisions and skills with me.    [00:04:19] Miko Lee: Thank you so much. I learned first about your book when I read a piece that you wrote for 18 million Rising, and I'm wondering if you could just talk about how that piece around food as a form of resistance, how did that come about?   [00:04:33] Macy Tran: I have a friend who works with 18 million Rising, and since the federal occupation in Minneapolis, I've been doing a lot of food justice organizing here. And it has been a way in which I have seen and expressed just the skills and love that I give to my community. I was just feeling compelled to give food. That was what I knew. In the past two months as my friends have been going out on the streets following ICE agents around legally observing, I have felt that my role in this movement is to feed frontline folks who are out doing the work and also feeding our community during a time in which it's very scary and difficult to leave your home without fear of being abducted. In Minneapolis we have created systems of, food resource sharing that have been really powerful to witness and experience and to get engaged with. And so one way that I've been doing it is I've been cooking community meals most Sundays, sometimes Saturdays that feed 200 plus people.   [00:05:47] I am providing delicious food for my friends who are out on the streets and coming home and hungry and cold. And I also helped facilitate and organize a food distribution at my parents' restaurant after the murder of Alex Preti I really wanted to not just be involved in like acting and responding to what was happening but as an artist, as a creative, I felt the need for also remembering and preserving and reflecting about what's been going on in Minneapolis. I kept being pulled in all these different directions and was organizing over here and supporting this community and doing this. And then when my friend reached out to me at 18 million Rising,. It was such a great opportunity for me to really reflect on my practice of food as resistance and food as justice. I've been a food writer in the Twin Cities for about the past three years. Food, events, I mostly cover restaurant stories and festivals and theater and all that sort of stuff in the BIPOC community here in the Twin Cities. And I realized writing this piece that this was the first time in a while, that I had written something actually for myself from my heart that was in my voice. Without an editor saying, no, you have to say it this way. No, we have to cut that part out. No, you use too many words here, and so I really took this piece as an opportunity to share what my life was like here in my own words and my own experiences. And just use it as a moment to really reflect and share the things that I'm learning and the way that I am practicing and using food as a bridge to healing and transformation during this time in which we are ripe for needing that.   [00:07:47] Miko Lee: Can you roll back a little bit and talk to me about how you got started as an organizer? What, when you first learned about social justice work and what pulled you in?   [00:07:56] Macy Tran: It definitely wasn't the way that I was raised. I was born in the us my parents were born in Vietnam and then came over to the US and they really raised me with the mentality of you just put your head down and you work hard and you don't really get involved. And like, yeah, you care for others, but mostly you care for your family. I was actually someone who was always butting heads with my family because I was like, do you not see all of these issues that are happening in the world? Like the issue, the systems that were implicated in. We have to care beyond just ourselves, and we would always butt heads about that.   [00:08:33] Miko Lee: At what age did that start?    [00:08:35] Macy Tran: Oh, probably when I was a teenager. around that time I was finding my voice. and it wasn't until college that I really started putting words and frameworks and theory into what I have already witnessed in my family and my community, which is just community care and the ways that facilitates justice and transformation I would say since college that I really started actively organizing primarily on campus. I went to a smaller liberal arts school. So organizing and just getting involved in our community in that way was pretty easy. And like after I graduated college, I spent five years in Southeast Asia, one year in Vietnam, and then four years in Thailand where I was primarily working at the intersections of education and refugee justice and environmental justice. I got to meet all sorts of organizers and activists from across the region who have taught me. Really everything, a lot of what I know about organizing and what it means to show up specifically within a Southeast Asian context and how to use kind of my feet in both worlds, both my American political identity and my Southeast Asian political identity.   [00:09:59] And to merge those for the better and for my community. So I would say that. I've always had a big heart ever since I was little. And actually my parents were always like, you are too trusting. You people are gonna take advantage of you in the world. And I was like, I just wanna live in this world with so much love. And the way that they taught me to do that was. Through food and through reliability and just what it means to show up consistently for my people. And so in some ways it was all baked into me, even though they might not see that and they might not have raised me in that way. I see the ways in which they have sacrificed for love and nourished their families through food and made incredibly scary risks for the freedom of their family and for their people, and for a new life. And I just feel like I'm walking in their footsteps, doing the same even if they might not feel that way.    [00:11:09] Miko Lee: So did you have to talk your family and the restaurant into getting involved in the food support work for activists in Minnesota?   [00:11:18] Macy Tran: it wasn't a challenging conversation to have and I was surprised by that.    [00:11:22] Miko Lee: Oh, great.    [00:11:23] Macy Tran: Um, yeah, my parents have been, actually, this is the most politically active and vocal I have seen them. It's really incredible. I would say that for a lot of actually the Vietnamese community that I've been witnessing in Minneapolis, like they're saying things that I never thought that they would say. They're putting analysis like what together? The Vietnamese community is, I would say, skews at least the older generation, I should say. The older generation of Viet folks skews pretty right wing, conservative Republican, Trump supporting. And I'm just seeing dissent for the first time. It's not always like that explicit, but it is, I would say in the past what I've seen is just like. When kind of rightwing or more Republican opinions come up, if people disagree with that, it's just like you're just quiet. But now I'm seeing a way in which like people are responding, commenting on social media, like posting publicly about it. It's just been really, really powerful. When I first started organizing in response to the federal occupation, my parents were really quite worried and they did not want me to get involved. And they didn't really understand why I felt compelled to do this. And then when Alex Prety was murdered, I. It was actually my auntie, my mom's youngest sister that brought up the idea of a food distribution because she was feeling like I just wanna do something and like, what is an avenue in which we can do something? Well, we have this restaurant. Mm-hmm. And so she proposed it to my parents first, which Oh    [00:13:05] Miko Lee: wow.   [00:13:06] Macy Tran: Love, shout out to her because    [00:13:09] Miko Lee: Thank you, auntie.    [00:13:10] Macy Tran: She did right. She did the hard work for me. I think I would've been a little more hesitant or would've taken a little bit more time to just process, like how to go about asking them, because there's just a different power dynamic there. Sure. But because my auntie is more of a peer mm-hmm. And she had this idea and she has also worked at the restaurant mm-hmm. For many, many years of her life. I think it really spoke to my parents and I think it really was a moment for them to connect the ways that this restaurant is so important to not only our family and how we show up in community, but also to our community in Minneapolis. Mm-hmm. I have traveled all across the world and have met people who have eaten at Pho 79 and have told me stories of getting engaged there, of getting a tattoo of the, like restaurant on their, on their arm. The, the logo. Yeah, the logo. It's crazy, you know, like people, and I've also heard generations of families like growing up on my parents' food. Mm-hmm. As we share food with people and they support our business, it's only because of our community that we've been able to survive this far you know?. My parents came to Minnesota with nothing, and it's only because of the kindness of other Minnesotans and other Vietnamese Minnesotans that we were able to get anywhere.   [00:14:35] In this moment they saw that and they saw that. We can, we have these resources. This won't be hard for us. We have everything here that we need. This is the channel in which we can work in. And yeah, they were just ready to do it. I think also my parents were ready to take a risk because the business was not doing well, we weren't, there were not people coming out to eat. Everyone was scared to go out to eat. People were not really spending money. And this was really ever since the pandemic and the way that has impacted the restaurant industry and particularly immigrant businesses, and then also the George Floyd uprisings and the way that just the, violence and also the transformation that happened to the street that we were on Eat Street. It just really changed the ways people saw that corridor, that business corridor. And it was a really big business impact. And so my dad was just, I think, in a place where he was really willing to take a risk and a stand for what he believed in. And my mom as well. As a way to also just like. Really be present in community and show that, hey, like we are out here and we believe in loving our community and seeing the ways that people are showing up for our community as and for our business as well. And honestly, since the food distribution business has been steady and I think. My parents are, I mean, they're definitely feeling relieved, but I'm just feeling so grateful that they stood on their values, you know, and they stood grounded in that. And as a result, like the community is reciprocating. and that is such a beautiful thing that I don't, I think my dad took a risk not knowing what would happen, because more exposure is not always good. And I've been telling him that, you know, especially with the Vietnamese community being, of, of his genera generation being more right wing and more conservative. He recognizes that and he recognizes that we had to do something. So I feel so proud of them for just being really chill and okay, and actually impassioned and compelled to do something.   [00:16:57] Miko Lee: It sounds like it brought you a little bit closer with your family too.    [00:17:00] Macy Tran: Definitely. Definitely did. Yeah. I feel like me and my family have never really been able to sit at a table and talk about politics and what's going on in the world without one of us just like getting activated or feeling defensive or not seeing each other. It is a terrible thing what has happened and what continues to happen in our city, under federal occupation and so much beauty and creativity and love has come from it. And I even feel that at the most micro scale between me and my parents.    [00:17:39] Miko Lee: Can you, share with us that are not located in Minnesota, what the experience is like of this federal occupation on a day to day? Like, we're talking today on March 2nd, and I say that because our world, everything's changing every day and this is gonna air on a separate day. So I wanna name that. So right now, what is it like when you're just walking through the streets in downtown Minneapolis ?   [00:18:01] Macy Tran: Yeah. It's interesting because when you ask me this, I think about my experience like a month ago and how different it was and it felt to walk around a month ago compared to now. A month ago. It. I was seeing a neighbor on every corner of major streets, like looking for ice. You know, I was seeing car caravans, honking and following ICE agents. It's interesting 'cause like I actually just had a friend visit from Milwaukee and. She was nervous about ice. She's Asian American as well, and she was like, should I be scared? What's actually going on? And I told her, actually, yes, what's going on is scary and violent. And I feel so safe because I am meeting neighbors I have never met before. I'm making small talk with people who are just. Out on the streets walking their dog in a way that they would not normally, I'm talking to business owners, we're talking about the impacts of this occupation. Everywhere I go, there were eyes and that felt really powerful and strong. And now that operation Metro Surge is technically over they are supposed to be withdrawing ICE agents from the city. I would say there is definitely a decrease in the number of ICE agents in our city. Activity is much slower. However I would say out in the suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul, they are seeing action and enforcement from ICE agents. That is. Either at the, kind of the same amount that we were receiving or escalated. The concentration is higher out in the suburbs And so even though things were quieter in the city, they were elsewhere. And    [00:19:57] Miko Lee: yeah, I just saw videos this morning of protesters that were peacefully marching that just got tackled. Actually by Minnesota Sheriff's department working in conjunction with ice. I know every state in every region is a little bit different. But I thought that was something that Governor Waltz was working on right?    [00:20:15] Macy Tran: So actually the city ordinance that you are talking about is actually on a Minneapolis City level. So that was a decision made by Mayor Fray. Oh, that's only city. So it's only MPD, Minneapolis Police Department, who is not supposed to assist in, federal and right. Federal enforcement. However, on a county level, that's different. I see. So sheriffs might be working with, I know it's like, so complic, what a mess complicated. I    [00:20:41] Miko Lee: know. This is the same, I mean, this is the same everywhere, right? Mm-hmm. It's all broken down. Okay. So, so I think I hear you saying that ICE has kind of moved on with the targeted big city approach and they're going out into the suburbs instead. Is that right?    [00:20:57] Macy Tran: Yes. There are still protestors, and observers going every day to the Whipple building. The Whipple building is where ICE agents are coming from, and so they have definitely recorded a decrease in the number of ICE vehicles. So the volume isn't as high, but the cars are still coming and we're still seeing enforcement and violence in our neighborhoods. Just the other day, just a few streets down, a person was abducted in our neighborhood in Minneapolis. And because the volume isn't as high, they're not as easily able to track. And so they're working a lot more under the radar. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And their tactics have become just a lot more. Under the radar as well. In the early days in January, it was really easy to identify ICE out-of-state license plate, tinted windows. Big vehicles like super easy. Nowadays they're putting like coexist bumper stickers and little things on their dashboards and like, you know, driving little sedans and it's definitely not as easy and they're moving a lot more covertly. And because Operation Metro Surge has technically decreased and because many of our frontline activists have been working at this for months and are getting tired. Mm-hmm. There is a really interesting transition period happening here. Mm-hmm. Where I think we're all trying to align on what is the next.   [00:22:31] What's the next step? Mm-hmm. How? How are we, what is the best way to move given that this is the way that ICE is operating now? Yeah,    [00:22:40] Miko Lee: right. Just    [00:22:41] Macy Tran: under reflection. Mm-hmm.    [00:22:42] Miko Lee: Under such sneaky circumstances, like what they recently did in New York at Columbia, showing up at Columbia University with a missing child picture of a little kid. And that's how they got entry into the dorms, which is so wrong to terrible get a student. So that's actually illegal to like misrepresent being a police officer when they're not, they're a nice officer and    [00:23:05] Macy Tran: mm-hmm.    [00:23:06] Miko Lee: Showing a photo, I mean, it's so awful.    [00:23:08] Macy Tran: Mm-hmm.    [00:23:09] Miko Lee: I'm wondering how people that don't live in Minnesota can get involved.   [00:23:14] Macy Tran: Hmm. The, greatest frontier currently that is in need of support is rent support. There are, probably hundreds of maybe thousands of people who are likely at risk of eviction in the Twin Cities, because they have not been able to work for the past two months without fear of being abducted. We're calling on Governor Waltz for an eviction moratorium, which would prevent folks from being evicted. Governor Waltz is the only person who really has jurisdiction to implement an immediate rental moratorium, and he's done that before during the pandemic, and so we're trying to make arguments that this is. A state of emergency people are like not able, they weren't able to work. Like people are going to get evicted putting calls to his office, sending emails. So that's one way to get involved from abroad, uh, or not abroad outside of Minnesota, but also abroad if you're abroad And listening to this. The other way was, is that there's a lot of hyper-local organizing that is happening within Minneapolis that I can speak to every. Neighborhood and corner, I feel like, of Minneapolis is being accounted for usually by a team of just volunteer mutual aid groups who are fundraising for rent, who are fundraising for groceries who are fundraising for utilities.   [00:24:45] And these are all like live fundraising pages on the internet. And if you have even just 10, $20 to spare to help a Minneapolis resident, um, not get evicted in the next month. Um, every dollar matters. In this moment, rent is due. Soon, we're just at the beginning of March. And if folks aren't able to pay rent now and they haven't been able to pay rent in the last couple of months, like this is only going to have a snowball effect. We cannot risk vulnerable neighbors migrants, immigrants being, like more of them being unhoused at this moment. We already in our city have so many unhoused people who are not being cared for by our city officials, who are having their encampments being taken down and who are already not receiving adequate support. Our system cannot handle an influx of more unhoused people and we can prevent this. I would say that is kind of the biggest frontier at the moment in terms of what I'm seeing organizing on the ground.    [00:26:01] Miko Lee: Would you have links that you could share with us definitely for rent support. That would be really great if, and I'll definitely, I'll add them to the Apex Express show notes so folks that wanna get involved can contribute and help support community. You wrote in your piece about books, lovely books and podcasts and things that inspired you, which I always love hearing about those things. And one of the books you wrote about was Rice and Baguette, A History of Food in Vietnam. Can you talk a little bit about it, how it deepened your understanding of food legacies and resistance?    [00:26:33] Macy Tran: Mm So I read that book while I was living in Vietnam actually. So it was really cool for me to, what I love about that book, it's a little like academic. I will say that it is a food history like you are reading history, you know, it's a little bit like dense at some points, um, for    [00:26:49] Miko Lee: the real foodie audience.    [00:26:51] Macy Tran: For real. I'm like, if, yeah, exactly. And luckily that's me. I was into it. What I loved about it were, the legends, like there were some what I, so in Vietnam when I was living there, something that I loved and was learning more was that like Vietnamese people have so many legends about folk legends about food, like the origins of the watermelon,, the origins of our bunte cake, which is the cake that we eat, the sticky rice cake we eat during, lunar New Year. There are so many Food origin stories that I just did not grow up being raised on. And so, this book talked about some of like, how did pho even get started, you know, is pho even truly Vietnamese? It's, that's a debate I'm not gonna have right now. But. I loved just hearing the greater context in which all of this existed, especially not growing up with those stories and being,    [00:27:55] Miko Lee: Hey, wait, what is the origin of watermelon?    [00:27:58] Macy Tran: So it's this like funny little. Story where, this prince essentially gets banished to an island with his wife. And then on this random island, he finds this like incredible fruit, the watermelon, and he's like, whoa, this is so delicious. I want I must show this to the people back at home, but they won't have me because I'm banished. And then he basically floats the watermelon back to the mainland and they find it and they're like, oh my gosh, this is so incredible. We must, invite this man back to the mainland.    [00:28:38] Miko Lee: How did they know it was from him? Did he like carve his name in the watermelon?    [00:28:43] Macy Tran: I don't know. It's actually been a while since I've heard this story, so I could be just like. You know, I don't know all the details. That's    [00:28:50] Miko Lee: okay. That's always better anyway.   [00:28:53] Macy Tran: just stories like that. I love to hear them. I also learned about what it was like to eat and cook during foreign occupation when, oh, you know, the French were colonizers mm-hmm. When the Chinese were colonizers. Mm-hmm. And just the incredible Vietnamese food ways that emerged from those periods of colonization. Mm-hmm. They were both brutal and violent and also full of adaptation and creativity and survival foods. And so the book just talked about all of that, and I just love knowing those stories that help me know the ways in which our people have been able to survive for this long and are now free under, foreign  occupation.    [00:29:40] Miko Lee: Speaking of, you mentioned creativity and adaptability, and you are a multihyphenate person, as an artist, as an organizer, as a writer, as a visual artist, collage maker, I'm wondering how your artistry impacts your organizing and vice versa. How do they speak to each other? How do they influence each other?    [00:30:01] Macy Tran: Hmm. I am someone who, when there is an issue or a problem that arises, I'm often just confronting it with what can I do? What can I like feasibly do? How can I show up? And I think my artistic practices actually help me slow down. Even the ways that I can show up in community and do things in community, I'm very responsive. I'm always like, okay let's do a thing. Let's organize it. Let's get our hands dirty. I am out there, I am organizing people, you know, like tangibly. And I think the ways that my artistic practices partner with that is that my artistic practices help me reflect and remember and deepen and find spiritual grounding and purpose. my art is a way that I bridge conversations with my ancestors and I bridge what it means to know myself and be a person, a community member, a Vietnamese American daughter in this moment, right? And it reminds me of the skills that I have and wanna bring to the world. It also helps me create different narratives for understanding what's happening and. For finding creative solutions and for collaborating with others. So I think I would honestly be so burnt out and exhausted and sad if it were not for my artistic practices. I think it's because of my artistic practices that I find energy, that I find belonging, that I find meaning in the work that I'm doing.    [00:31:51] Miko Lee: I love that answer. Can you share, because you brought this up, can you share about a conversation or an interaction you've had with an ancestor and how that's influenced you recently?   [00:32:03] Macy Tran: Hmm. That's such a great question. I'm going to tie this answer into Lunar New Year because, lunar New Year is a time in which our material world and the spiritual world really can converge in a meaningful way, at least for me. And every year when I celebrate Lunar New Year, I will do something different. I deepen my practices. I just kind of deepen what I know about. Folk tradition and ancestor worship. And every year I learned new things and I wanna try new things. And so this year was the first year that I built a public altar space in my living room. Usually I just have it in my bedroom or in a small corner of my home somewhere that's like usually private. But I built like. It wasn't like a tiny little altar, like it was big, you know, like I had photos of all my relatives on there. I had flowers, I had five kinds of fruits. I had, you know, little, every time I ate a meal, I was putting a meal aside for my family to eat with me. And, Some cultures you don't eat the food that you leave on the altar, but in my family we do. And the reason for that is because we get to become one with our ancestors. We get to embody what our ancestors are and eat as well and their spirits, and so this past Lunar New Year, I actually threw a, I had celebrations on both sides of the family. And then I organized a new year party for my chosen family who came from all walks of life. And the prompt for the party, it was a potluck. The prompt for the potluck was cook something or bring something that your ancestors would be just delighted to eat on the altar. And so we    [00:34:00] Miko Lee: love that.    [00:34:01] Macy Tran: Oh yeah. It was so sweet. People came out with their best work, I should say, like the food was fantastic. Our ancestors were eating well, and I was sitting there. And this altar was full of tiny little plates of food, beautiful flowers. I also asked people to bring pictures, photos of their ancestors or people that they wanna honor. Incense were lit. The room was filled with incense smoke, and I was just, there was a moment where I was just, kinda in the corner of the room just watching, you know, and I had a feeling like, wow, all of our ancestors are hanging out right now. Not only are me and my chosen family, you know, building a community and belonging for ourselves but also like. I could have never, and probably they could have never predicted that my friend's like Jewish grandpa was hanging out with my Vietnamese grandmother and grandfather, you know, or yeah, my friends like grandparents from Antigua are now hanging out with like my family members and it's, it was just a moment where I just felt not just the joy.   [00:35:16] And love in the space of connecting with my real, like my friends in that moment. But also just the miraculousness of what it meant to hold all of our ancestors in that space. And so, after that I ended up writing a piece on my substack, actually as a letter to my ancestors. I, I kept the altar up for a week, a week and a half. And on the last day I was ready to take it down and move it back upstairs into my room. But on the last day, I thought, I'm gonna light the incense one more time. And have my ancestors in the space as I write this piece to them. There were so many things I wanted to say to them. And also at the same time, I felt like as I was writing, they were saying things to me, this is what I have to teach you in this moment, is kind of what they were saying to me. This is like, this is what it's like to celebrate that under occupation. This is what it was like when we thought it wasn't even possible to celebrate Tet. Like we had literally nothing but rice and water and yet we still did, and my grandma recently passed a I mean, it's not so recent anymore, but it's been just over a year now. And she was like, One of the first like major deaths of the elder generation in my family. And Tet was the time that I could commune with her and share love with her. And, I could just feel her presence in the space and I would even, memories felt like a way that she was talking to me. The memory of just the crackle of her sesame balls, like she made the best sesame balls. They were like. Thin and crispy and fluffy, but also like so like they were not skimping on the mung bean on the inside. It was fantastic. So I'm just like, I haven't had a sesame ball from her in over a year, but I can remember how it tastes and feels, and my mouth and that memory itself is a message from her. To remember what has fed me through so many years, and how important it is to just remember the, not only just the foods that we eat, but the people that have loved that food into existence. And now me, you know,    [00:37:38] Miko Lee: have you made it the dish, the sesame balls.    [00:37:43] Macy Tran: I actually have her recipe books, so I planned to I just didn't have time, this past Tet, but me and my brother were going to, and then I think we decided we wanted to do it on just like on a lower key day, like instead of like in the midst of just like so much family celebration, there was so much to prepare and we were like, let's just plan a low key weekend where it's just me and you and there's no timeline and we don't have to get this anywhere and they don't have to be perfect. Like    [00:38:14] Miko Lee: that sounds lovely. So it's personal and it's family and Exactly. And if for a one year anniversary, death anniversary is coming up, that might be a great time to honor her.    [00:38:22] Macy Tran: Exactly. Exactly.    [00:38:24] Miko Lee: I'm wondering what was like some standout dishes from that lovely event to you?    [00:38:29] Macy Tran: Ooh. I mean, I will talk about the dish I made.   [00:38:33] Miko Lee: Okay.    [00:38:36] Macy Tran: Which I thought was fantastic and I think my friends also thought were delicious. Was delicious. Um, but a dish that is commonly eaten during the lunar new year for Vietnamese people is a tit ka, which is a caramelized, braised pork belly. This caramelized, braised pork was stewing for probably three hours. Wow. And so, yeah, and I used coconut water with it. I didn't like, straight up coconut water and it    [00:39:04] Miko Lee: no Coca-Cola.    [00:39:06] Macy Tran: No Coca-Cola not in this one. And I just made a huge, huge pot and it was basically almost all gone by the end of the night. So that was like a really good feeling. Um, my brother made an incredible duck heart lap. He works at Diane's Place, actually, it's a famous Hmong restaurant in Minneapolis. And they processed duck on the menu. And so he had like access to all these duck organs and he made an incredible loup that he brought to the party. And my, one of my little sisters, Iris, she's Puerto Rican and she made like tostones, like fried plantains and then she also made Puerto Rican rice, and she, she made like three or four dishes. So like, people really went above and beyond for their ancestors. I could really, I mean, it was probably like 20 people who came to this party, so there were so many dishes and they were all. So good. So I, I don't wanna, once I get into it, I'm gonna go into it, so I'm not gonna chat your ear off.    [00:40:13] Miko Lee: Sounds lovely. Sounds yummy. Mm-hmm. And my last question is, I'm wondering what manifestation for the year of the horse you have for yourself.    [00:40:23] Macy Tran: The 18 million rising essay that I wrote came, it was right before the lunar new year that it got published. And it came during a time where I was already thinking a lot about my creative practice and how in, in relationship my creative practice in relationship with also the ways that I organize and the ways that I cook and, organize around food. And when this opportunity for this essay emerged and just the way it has been received has been such an honor, like, because I haven't written for myself, you know, in so long and like really with my own voice I just didn't realize that people were going to resonate with it so much and find like an invitation to engage in food justice themselves and their own ancestry. And also the ways that it made them think about food and their relationship to food. And it was such a blessing for me to receive that resonance from people, you know, and to receive, just the stories that I've heard and the way it spoke to them. And I felt like that has been a blessing for me to just really expand my creative practice and be more public with it. I'm like, dang, if this little thing that I wrote impacted people in the way that they think about the world, like. I have so many more ideas I wanna share and like be in partnership with others about.   [00:41:57] And I just launched my Substack, right after the Lunar New Year and I was like, all right, you're the fire horse. Let's freaking go. I am ready, I am running. So, I just wanna be creating so much and like act manifesting and actualizing a lot of the dreams that I have, my creative dreams that I have continued to put on the back burner. Things about hosting supper clubs and doing more work around my parents' restaurant, like helping them create narrative around the restaurant and sharing our restaurant story with people. And just using my words and experiences as a way to connect with the world and also be open to the ways that people wanna connect with me. So that's kind of the ways that I'm, I'm seeing this year unfold already, and it's already started with a bang. I also wanna add that year of the fire horse for me is just a lot about movement and progress. And so in this sense movement, I think of social movements and the ways that social this particular social movement against ICE in our city will fundamentally. Impact us for the next lunar year. It happened right at the beginning of the lunar New Year and it's going to have deep effects into the year, and we will forever be changed by this. And I am so excited to see the ways in which we harness this energy for transformation, for care into something that's really meaningful.   [00:43:37] Miko Lee: Thank you so much for joining us on Apex Express. It was a delight to talk with you.    [00:43:42] Macy Tran: Thank you, Miko. This was so great. Thanks for having me.   [00:43:45] Miko Lee: Next up, listen to researcher professor, Dr. Milkie Vu, speak on her exploration on Asian Americans and food insecurities. Welcome, Dr. Milkie Vu, assistant professor at Northwestern. Welcome so much to Apex Express.    [00:44:04] Dr. Milkie Vu: Thank you. I'm delighted to be here.    [00:44:07] Miko Lee: Dr. Milkie is a mixed methods researcher focusing on community engagement and health issues, and I'm excited to talk with you today. I wanna start by first asking the question that I ask all of my guests, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?   [00:44:24] Dr. Milkie Vu: My people are the Vietnamese community, and when I think of my people, the first word that comes to my mind is resilience. I was raised in Vietnam. I speak Vietnamese fluently and I embrace my culture very deeply. I carry the memory of my parents and grandparents who have lived to colonization multiple world. And the challenge of post-war poverty and the ability to, endure all these hardship is the legacy that I bring with me and in my day to day life it acts as a personal life of hope for me and then professionally in the. Work that I do is really a foundation and it drives my dedication and commitment to working on health solution with Asian American and immigrant communities who have similar stories of hardship, but also perseverance.   [00:45:19] Miko Lee: Thank you so much. I really appreciate how your background has informed the work that you're doing, and I wonder if you could talk a little bit more about this study, this scoping review on food insecurity among Asian Americans. Can you one first start off by breaking down what a scoping review is.   [00:45:37] Dr. Milkie Vu: Yeah, I'm happy to talk about that. So a scoping review is essentially a methodology that we use to be able to summarize existing scientific literature and try to understand how this literature. Answer research questions that we have.   [00:45:56] Miko Lee: Can you tell me what inspired this study?    [00:45:59] Dr. Milkie Vu: I've done community engaged research with, Asian American population for over a decade. In doing so, I have come to realize , as an anecdotal evidence, how food insecurity is a issue in the community. And yet that's very little that has been, done in terms of research or policy that target this problem., So for example, the US Department of Agriculture, will publish annually a report on food insecurity in America and it will include several, racial and ethnic populations, but Asian Americans are frequently ommitted from that report. So, you know, at the national level, that data doesn't exist, which then, makes it very difficult to understand what is the severity of the problem and what are some of the solutions that could be done to address them. So that's why we were interested in doing a deeper dive into summarizing the literature too be able to see what has been done about this problem and what are some of the barriers that exist, towards food security for community members, and what are some of the literature gaps? Our review was published in 2024 was the first scientific review of the literature on food insecurity among Asian Americans.    [00:47:27] Miko Lee: And what did your study uncover?    [00:47:31] Dr. Milkie Vu: We documented several important findings. There is a lack of existing data on this problem. Due to this myth of Asian Americans being the model minority. Assuming that Asian Americans are uniformly successful socioeconomically and thus not experiencing, any challenge including food insecurity. One of the things that we found is the importance of data disaggregation and looking at food insecurity in different Asian origin groups. We found that food insecurity really varied. So for example, if you look at some groups like Japanese Americans, we found the prevalence of between two to 11% of the population reporting food insecurity. But then if you look at some of the Southeast Asian groups, for example, Filipinos or Hmong American or Vietnamese, the rates are much higher. So the studies that we found report, between eight to 41% of food insecurity and among Filipino population. Close to 48% for more Hmong American, and then between 14 or 28% for Vietnamese Americans, so much higher than the rates for other groups.   [00:48:48] Data Dion is important and there shouldn't be this grouping of different Asian groups in research because then it really erased like the struggles specific communities with food insecurity. I think the other finding that was really important is looking at more systemic or structural barriers that prevent people from being food secure. Our review found that limited English proficiency is a important driver of food insecurity. The lack of appropriate language services, whether that's food pantry or for things like snap navigation. These could be important target point infusion policy or interventions that could help address food insecurity, community members. We also look at a couple of qualitative studies that found really interesting things. So for example, even when Asian American community members do use food assistance programs like snap, the benefits are often not sufficient. And they have a negative experience. There's also fear of how that might negatively impact the immigration status or application. Those are important barriers that should be acknowledge.   [00:50:08] Miko Lee: Some of these numbers are so high. You mentioned 48% with Hmong folks with, it's just so surprising, and I wonder if there's a sense of the why some of these communities have a higher food insecurity than others.    [00:50:21] Dr. Milkie Vu: Yeah, one of the things that we did point out in the conclusion was the need for just more studies focusing on these, smaller Asian groups or smaller Asian population that are done in like the appropriate language to be. From some of the experience I've had, part of it is probably shaped by, the historical conditions to which some of these, communities might have come to the us. For example, thinking about my community Vietnamese, coming to America as refugees, fleeing persecution or free fleeing war and how that, historical conditions might create structural and socioeconomic challenge in Britain, in the community. I am also curious about is the availability of service and program that are linguistically appropriate or, providing culturally relevant food for these communities. So those are important points that we can hypothesize, but obviously more research is needed to understand, the root cause of these challenge and how to address them.   [00:51:28] Miko Lee: And were you focused on specific regions or this was national?    [00:51:34] Dr. Milkie Vu: I'm really glad that you asked about this. So the review itself is, summarizing all published literature focusing on Asian Americans. All of the studies take place in the us. A lot of the, studies probably focus on data that are from the coast. So either on Asian American, on the east coast or the west coast. , But we looked at the study like from a nationwide angle and I'm also happy to talk about some of the new committee organizations in Chicago looking at food insecurity and community-based solutions to address that among Asian Americans. Part of the motivation for the follow-up study was just thinking about the lack of data focusing on the Midwest or Chicago where I live.    [00:52:20] Miko Lee: Please, I'd love to hear more about that . [00:52:23] Dr. Milkie Vu: The COVID pandemic, had brought a lot challenges for food insecurity. For people nationwide in general, but then for Asian American, there's also this, so what I call like the double, almost like a double pandemic, like the waves of entire Asian violence and hate crimes. And so thinking about how that impact food insecurity in general among, Asian American community members. About two years ago, we interviewed around, 13 organizations in Chicago. All of them are either community based organizations, social services or food pantry, working with, primarily with Asian American community members, from diverse groups: korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, south Asian, Mongolian, et cetera throughout Chicago. And the question that we asked them was, thinking about what programs they have offered during the COVID pandemic that aim at reducing food insecurity among community members. How did they implement this program? Who are some of the vulnerable populations served by the program? How did the pandemic as far as anti-Asian racism impact the program organization? That was the first study that looked at how community organization in Chicago help address this issue of insecurity on this, the COVID pandemic.   [00:53:57] Miko Lee: And so what is the next step for this study or what is the next piece that you're working on as connected to this?    [00:54:05] Dr. Milkie Vu: Yeah. Think about the role of the community organization as grassroots organizations that work from the ground up , as opposed to more top down program structure. They're doing a lot of the heavy lifting to help community members address food insecurity, because they know the community very well. They are able to provide the in language service that community members need. They're also trusted by community members. So a lot of the time,, certain populations especially say if those with limited their English proficiency or, more newly arrived immigrants, might feel more comfortable going here as opposed to going to this organization as opposed to, another one that are more generic and don't have the staff that speak the right language. I think the other thing is, staff with the similar cultural backgrounds are able to understand. There was one quote from the study that I did in Chicago. That stuck with me. When we tell them you could go to the food bank, the American food is not quite tailored to their taste. So they will get a big chunk of cheese and they will be like, what is this? Nobody wants to eat this. Again, thinking about the role of committee organization as so important in knowing the language, knowing the cultural preferences. And then just thinking of ways that we can further support, the programs and operations that they do. This is a really challenging time for nonprofits, social service organization, both in terms of providing food as well as other social service to Asian American and immigrant communities. How can research from a place like, researchers, from academia like me, are able to partner with them to further the service that they do and be able to find the funding that support them and community members. I think that's the important step for me.   [00:56:02] Miko Lee: Dr. Vu, how can folks find out more about your work?    [00:56:06] Dr. Milkie Vu: Yeah, In order to understand more about the work that we do, so we have a website, for our lab that frequently include, you know, like our current projects as well as publications. So you can go to site, so SI ts.northwestern.edu/vu group. and you'll be able to find more information about the research that we published. We've also recently, in the beginning of the year start, to find ways to disseminate research on social media. So we also have a Facebook group for our lab that disseminates our research findings as well as include information about the community members and partners Other trainees in the lab that make this work possible. The labs Facebook group is at facebook.com/maybe give research. and then you can always reach out to me via my email milkie.vu@northwestern.edu So I'm glad to connect with people who have similar research interests or would like to learn more about the work that we do.   [00:57:06] Miko Lee: Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your information about your important work that you're doing on research with Asian American community. Appreciate hearing from you.    [00:57:15] Dr. Milkie Vu: Thank you so much.   [00:57:18] Miko Lee: Please check out our website, kpfa.org/program/apexexpress to find out more about our show and our guests tonight. We thank all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting, keep organizing, keep creating, and sharing your visions with the world because your voices are important. Apex Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Cheryl Truong, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preti Mangala-Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by me Miko Lee, and edited by Ayame Keane-Lee. Have a great night.   The post APEX Express – 6.4.26 – Food Justice appeared first on KPFA.

Amanda Jones sits down with Vivian Cao, founder and president of the Kern Asian Chamber, for a conversation about culture, community, entrepreneurship, and the growing presence of Asian-owned businesses in Kern County. Vivian shares the inspiration behind creating the chamber, the importance of representation, and how social media, food, and community events are helping connect people across cultures. The two also discuss Lunar New Year traditions, the Year of the Fire Horse, local restaurants, the rise of Korean BBQ and Asian cuisine in Bakersfield, and how small businesses are shaping the future of the community. From advocacy and networking to food festivals and cultural celebrations, this episode highlights the passion behind building spaces where everyone feels welcome. Check Out The Kern Asian Chamber:  website instagram facebook  

In 2026, Asia Pacific's travel boom is reshaping airport strategy. While January saw a slight demand dip due to Lunar New Year shifting to February, IATA confirms a 5.2% global seat capacity expansion by March, signalling robust growth. This surge, with passenger numbers projected to double by 2043, forces airports to modernise aggressively. But as with many industry sectors turning to transforming to capture unpredictable market opportunities, a cornerstone of any transformation is being to tap the data that exists at their fingertips. Cxociety Research discourse with the C-suite community suggests that central to achieving any lasting transformation is achieving a unified, data-driven operation. In the case of the travel industry, it is moving away from siloed airside, terminal, and landside management. COOs are adopting AI for predictive disruption management and embedding energy optimisation to cut OPEX by up to 15%. The modern airport is no longer a transit hub but an intelligent, seamless, and ecosystem.In this PodChats for FutureCOO, we are joined by Philippe Arsonneau, Senior Vice President of Infrastructure Segment, Schneider Electric, who will help us make the case for unified, data-driven operations.1.       Given that many airports currently run airside, terminal, and landside operations separately, what is our roadmap to intelligently unify these functions for complete situational awareness?2.       With AI able to analyse millions of signals simultaneously, how can we best deploy it to predict disruptions and reduce delays, thereby improving passenger flow during peak travel seasons?3.       How can we leverage AI-embedded energy management across all our buildings and assets to achieve up to 15% OPEX reduction while shrinking our carbon footprint?4.       What new revenue opportunities can AI and data analytics unlock for our airport retailers, and how do we integrate these with passenger movement data?5.       With passenger numbers forecast to double by 2043, how will our current infrastructure and technology scaling plans accommodate this long-term growth without compromising service?6.       What interdependency models must we develop between airlines, ground handlers, and retailers to manage the growing complexities and traveller volumes smoothly?7.       No discussion around modernisation and transformation can continue without addressing the security aspects of an operation. As airport modernise, how do we balance the need for seamless digital travel experiences (biometrics, wayfinding) with robust cybersecurity and passenger privacy?8.       Based on IATA's January 2026 load factor of 83.9% for Asia Pacific, what key performance indicators should we track to continuously optimise both operational efficiency and passenger satisfaction throughout the terminal?9.       What is your advice for airport operators striving to transform and modernising their operations in 2026?

In this episode, we kick things off by examining the latest quarterly results from a major multimodal carrier that signal improving fundamentals in the truckload market. Listen in to learn how Schneider National exceeded Wall Street expectations with better-than-expected earnings and revenue growth despite disruptive winter weather and fuel volatility. The company's strong execution on cost discipline and productivity initiatives allowed it to capitalize on a structurally healthier freight environment marked by ongoing supply rationalization. Next, we explore a blockbuster development in autonomous trucking as Aurora Innovation and Hirschbach Motor Lines dramatically expand their partnership to deploy 500 driverless trucks powered by Aurora's virtual driver technology. With deliveries beginning in 2027, this massive fleet expansion will generate an estimated 500 million autonomous miles and establish a multi-year revenue stream worth hundreds of millions of dollars for Aurora under its innovative Driver as a Service model. Finally, we unpack a puzzling paradox in the ocean freight sector where trans-Pacific container rates continue climbing despite traditionally low seasonal demand due to the ongoing Strait of Hormuz blockade by U.S. forces. The Persian Gulf crisis has sent oil prices to record highs and pushed diesel well over $5 per gallon, keeping ocean freight costs elevated during what is normally the weakest pricing period of the year following the post-Lunar New Year lull. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining the latest quarterly results from a major multimodal carrier that signal improving fundamentals in the truckload market. Listen in to learn how Schneider National exceeded Wall Street expectations with better-than-expected earnings and revenue growth despite disruptive winter weather and fuel volatility. The company's strong execution on cost discipline and productivity initiatives allowed it to capitalize on a structurally healthier freight environment marked by ongoing supply rationalization. Next, we explore a blockbuster development in autonomous trucking as Aurora Innovation and Hirschbach Motor Lines dramatically expand their partnership to deploy 500 driverless trucks powered by Aurora's virtual driver technology. With deliveries beginning in 2027, this massive fleet expansion will generate an estimated 500 million autonomous miles and establish a multi-year revenue stream worth hundreds of millions of dollars for Aurora under its innovative Driver as a Service model. Finally, we unpack a puzzling paradox in the ocean freight sector where trans-Pacific container rates continue climbing despite traditionally low seasonal demand due to the ongoing Strait of Hormuz blockade by U.S. forces. The Persian Gulf crisis has sent oil prices to record highs and pushed diesel well over $5 per gallon, keeping ocean freight costs elevated during what is normally the weakest pricing period of the year following the post-Lunar New Year lull. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

33 Stunden Bahn-Abenteuer in Südostasien: Reisfelder ziehen vorbei, wartende Mofaschwärme, Küste, Berge und irgendwann die Tropen. Legendäre Orte wie die alte Kaiserstadt Hué und die Küstenperle Hoi An liegen auf unserem Weg, bevor wir Saigon erreichen - eine der spannendsten Städte Asiens. Saigon oder auch Ho Chi Minh City ist größer und heißer als das nördliche Hanoi. Der Independence Palace mit seinen Bunkern und seiner sozialistischen Pracht. Das so wichtige Kriegsreste-Museum. Das sehr schöne Museum of Fine Arts und natürlich das nahe Mekongdelta: Mit schmalen Booten schippert man über grünes Fluss-Wasser, durch Stille und tropische Pflanzenwälder, in denen das Sonnenlicht bricht. All das plus viele kleine Momente und viele Bahnreise-Tipps gibt es in dieser Folge von unserer Reisen-Reisen-Chefin und uns für euch!—

The weather is getting better, and I have bikes on hand... it's time to explore more of Seattle by bike! On this edition we start kind of big - crossing Lake Washington via the floating bridge by bike. Plus bonus Lunar New Year festivals! Lake Washington Crossing Mercer Island to Pioneer Square Floating bridge and testing light rail Bonus lunar new year soundscapes!

What do you do when your kids come home asking about another religion—or want to participate in a cultural celebration you don't fully understand?From Holi festivals to Ramadan dinners to Lunar New Year traditions, today's families are constantly encountering beliefs and practices outside their own. And for Christian parents, that can raise real questions:Is it okay to participate?Where's the line between appreciation and compromise?How do we guide our kids without shutting down their curiosity?In this episode, we're not offering a one-size-fits-all answer—but we are helping you think through it. Together, we explore the difference between culture and religion, what the Bible shows us about engaging other beliefs, and how to raise kids who are both grounded in their faith and open-hearted toward others.TakeawaysWhy conversations about other religions can feel uncomfortable (and why that's okay)Real-life examples: Holi, Ramadan, Hanukkah, and Lunar New YearThe difference between cultural participation and religious affirmationNot every cultural experience equals spiritual compromiseThere's often a difference between observing, participating, and worshipingYour role isn't to shield your kids from every difference—but to help them process itChristianity doesn't shrink when examined—it holds upChapters00:00 – Opening: Why Kids Asking About Other Religions Can Feel Tricky04:00 – Real-Life Experiences (Holi, Ramadan, Lunar New Year, Hanukkah)11:00 – What the Bible Shows About Culture and Faith20:00 – Untangling Culture vs. Religion30:00 – Where Do You Draw the Line?40:00 – Helping Kids Stay Curious and Grounded50:00 – Setting Boundaries for Different Ages56:00 – Final Thoughts: Faith That Holds Up

The New Moon in Aries makes it feel as though the year is finally getting underway. Although the Lunar New Year begins with the New Moon in Pisces, Aries transits often feel more decisive, bringing a stronger impulse for new beginnings.This lunation encourages you to start something new in your life—especially as the days following lead into Akṣaya Tritiya, traditionally one of the most auspicious times of the year for initiating important actions. The New Moon occurs in Aśvinī, the lunar mansion I call “the swift one.” True to its nature, it supports fresh starts after the endings that typically accompany the previous Pisces cycle.There is an important lesson embedded in this time of year: every new beginning requires letting go of an old way of being. As one part of the zodiac closes, another opens. While earlier in the year we are often completing what was previously begun, this period brings new opportunities we are eager to engage with.That said, there are still several caveats to keep in mind. Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune are all gathered closely together in Pisces, forming a dense cluster that may make it feel as though the past is lingering. Even as new beginnings appear, some endings may still be unfolding, leaving us feeling temporarily stuck.Despite this, the Sun's exaltation in Aries is something to celebrate. Whatever is still resolving behind the scenes, you may at least feel a growing sense of confidence about your next step.One final caution: a New Moon in Aśvinī can encourage impulsive action. If you feel eager to move forward—perhaps because you've felt held back for too long—it may be wise to pause before rushing ahead.By all means, begin something as this new energy enters your life again, but consider waiting until April 19, when both the Sun and Moon are exalted, and the Moon has begun waxing once more. Until then, the dark phase of the Moon—the New Moon itself—is better suited to planting seeds rather than acting too quickly.

New Hampshire's Attorney General's office investigates a shooting in Northfield, missing second airman rescued in Iran, and the Quincy School Committee to vote to make Lunar New Year a school holiday. Stay in "The Loop" with WBZ NewsRadio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johnny Mac presents five good news stories: In Scotland, hikers rescued four dogs after they fell through snow near a cliff, and a rope-lowered rescuer recovered Aggie, a five-year-old spaniel, from a hole after a cold night at 3,000 feet. In Thailand, police disguised as Lunar New Year lion dancers tackled a 33-year-old repeat offender suspected of stealing about $81,000 in Buddhist objects and two 12-inch statues. In California, over 90 fish stocks have been nearly rebuilt after 25 years of regulations including a trawl ban, a $46 million vessel buyback, and catch-share monitoring; NOAA also reports 94% of US ocean and Gulf stocks aren't being overfished. A 69-year-old swimmer's $2,000 titanium prosthetic leg was found 10 months later and returned via Facebook. In Austria, the “King of the Freaks” set a Guinness record by passing 10 uninflated balloons through his nose and out his mouth in one minute.John also hosts Daily Comedy NewsUnlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media!  For Apple users, hit the banner which says Uninterrupted Listening on your Apple podcasts app. Subscribe now for exclusive shows like 'Palace Intrigue,' and get bonus content from Deep Crown (our exclusive Palace Insider!) Or get 'Daily Comedy News,' and '5 Good News Stories' with no commercials! Plans start at $4.99 per month, or save 20% with a yearly plan at $49.99. Join today and help support the show!Get more info from Caloroga Shark Media and if you have any comments, suggestions, or just want to get in touch our email is info@caloroga.com

The story of Soleil Ho starts with their grandparents. In this episode, meet and get to know the food writer and COYOTE Media Collective member who's been on my radar since they replaced longtime Chronicle food writer and mysterious human Michael Bauer. In Part 1, we dive into Soleil's family story. It begins two generations back, when their grandparents came to the US from Vietnam in the Seventies. They were refugees from the US war in their homeland. On Soleil's mom side, the grandparents brought Soleil's mom and seven other children from Vũng Tàu to Freeport, Illinois. They had first ended up in a refugee camp in Arkansas. It wasn't easy finding a new home for such a large family, but an older refugee from Nazi Germany who lived in Freeport took them in. Soleil's mom was around 10 years old when she got to Freeport. Soleil's dad's family comes from Central Vietnam. After the Viet Cong took over, they put his dad (Soleil's paternal grandfather) in a re-education camp, where he remained for around 10 years. After that, he was released and was able to flee his homeland for the US to join his family (also a large one). They also ended up in Illinois, where Soleil's parents eventually met. The story of how their parents met goes something like this: The Illinois Vietnamese scene was relatively small, and folks mostly knew one another. By Soleil's description, their maternal grandfather was "the guy," meaning he threw parties and made connections. So their parents' families just hung together, sometimes at big parties like at Lunar New Year, and there was always a lot of food. It was a shotgun wedding, with Soleil present in fetal form. They have a younger sister and their parents are now divorced. Soleil was born in 1987 in Illinois. Their mom had moved to Chicago to go to school there. Their earliest memories take place in Chicago, in fact. With two young parents working a lot to support their family, Soleil and their sister spent a lot of time with their maternal grandparents. They remember learning to make sandwiches in their grandparents' kitchen. Another early memory that I find fascinating and a little funny is of Michael Jordan individually wrapped hot dogs. It was Chicagoland in the Nineties, so it makes perfect sense that Bulls merch was everywhere. And that extended to food, remarkably. There's one memory from preschool involving contraband Gummy Bears. Fun stuff. As Soleil got a little older, they developed a love of vampires. In art classes, when asked to draw hand turkeys or Santas, Soleil would do so, but they would add fangs and bloody teeth. Fast-forwarding a bit, Soleil says that around the time they went off to college, they realized that the family had moved around 20 times. They moved to New York City when Soleil was eight. Their mom worked in fashion and lived on the east side of Manhattan. From there, they moved to Brooklyn. When I express awe at living in NYC in the Nineties, Soleil is quick to point out that this was Giuliani's New York. Policies of that administration transformed much of the city, especially Manhattan. We'll just leave it at that. It was around this time that Soleil started to develop a "taste in food," as they say. Their mom was now a single mom, working a lot, and like many families, they had the drawer full of take-out menus. Through this, Soleil learned about various Chinese cuisines, Indian food, and dishes from many other cultures, all represented right there in the kitchen. After Brooklyn came a short stint in Long Island before returning to Brooklyn, where Soleil went to high school. They compare that school to Lowell here, where you have to test to get in and "all the smart kids" go. With a quick, feeble calculation in my head, I ask whether Soleil starting high school around 9/11. They confirm and share their story of that day—suffice to say that they saw the whole thing happen in real time. I ask whether they're scarred from 9/11. Soleil says that, yes they are, but mostly existentially. Then they pivot to talking about how it brought about an end to illusion about the world, which is a net good thing. But seeing 9/11 in the greater context of conflict around the world really opened their eyes. (Our second guest that day, Honey, seen in the first photo with Soleil above, took issue with a canine passer-by, which I've left in the recording because duh.) September 11 led to Soleil's becoming an activist anti-war person, starting in 2003 with Iraq. Rather than being scarred by 9/11, it allowed them to put their own life into context. As a Vietnamese person with a French first name, they started questioning things like: Why was it so easy for the US to go to war after 9/11, first in Afghanistan and later in Iraq? When it came time for college, Soleil says that they wanted to "get as far the fuck away from New York as" they could, which for them meant Iowa and Grinnell College. They chose the school to be closer to their grandparents, who still lived in nearby Illinois, and because Grinnell essentially billed itself as a place for folks to figure it out, so to speak. By the time Soleil graduated college four years later, the sub-prime crash had happened and the subsequent recession had begun. They worked on a farm, which was hard but helped them better understand food systems. And then they moved to Minneapolis and began working in a restaurant, where we wrap up Part 1. Check back Thursday for Part 2 and the rest of Soleil Ho's story, including how they helped found COYOTE Media Collective. We recorded this episode at Strawberry Creek Park in Berkeley in March 2026. Photography by Jeff Hunt

On an all-new Speed Dates episode, it's Lunar New Year but host Joel Kim Booster and one of his best friends Poppy Liu (Hacks, iCarly, Better Call Saul) are going to push through, as they discuss their first big break as (sort of) twins on Sunnyside, Poppy's load-bearing love of fairy smut, why she'll only date people that are fully cooked, how her life has changed now that she's a mom to a beautiful baby bleep, and how democracy itself chose Poppy to be Joel's (potential) egg donor.    Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video clips and full episodes.  Merch available at SiriusXMStore.com/BadDates.   Joel Kim Booster: Scrubs Season 10, Psychosexual, Fire Island, Loot Season 3 Poppy Liu: @poppyliu on socials, I Love Boosters out May 22, Hacks on HBO Max Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Bad Dates ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Animals, disguises, and terrible decisions. This one gets messy. In this episode of Live, Laugh, Larceny: A True Petty Crime Podcast, Trevin and Amanda dive into petty crime, strange science, and chaotic storytelling. Trevin resists a new “Ocean Wave” light projector before realizing it might actually help his executive function, while Amanda attends a Valentine's party that quickly turns into a drunken adventure involving aerial hoops and questionable decisions. Killer Facts explores the internet's favorite amphibian, the axolotl, and why it's suddenly everywhere, while Trevin shares a bizarre scientific development involving early research into “butt-breathing” and human trials. For stories, Amanda takes us to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, where a group of teens — some dressed in Care Bear onesies — break into an abandoned Radisson hotel during a chaotic sleepover night. Trevin heads to Bangkok, Thailand, where a police commander's jewels are stolen multiple times, leading authorities to go undercover in disguise — including a traditional lion costume tied to Lunar New Year — in an attempt to catch the thief. From animal obsessions to costume crimes, both stories connect through marker-covered faces and questionable decisions.

Moviewallas is on YouTube! Welcome back to Moviewallas, your weekly dose of film reviews, movie news, and general banter – in theatres, on streaming, or in the back of an airplane. This week, Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi tackle two very different kinds of cinematic reanimation: Maggie Gyllenhaal's ambitious The Bride and Quentin Tarantino's long-awaited Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair. Snack check: Lunar New Year rice treats, German gummies, chocolate rolls, ginger jelly sweets, and a fresh round of tea power this episode. Sugar levels are high. Opinions are too. ⸻ Streaming Picks – “I Can't Find Anything to Watch…” Eleanor the Great – Netflix Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut is a warm, funny, bittersweet character piece led by the wonderful June Squibb. A small film with a big heart. The Killer – Tubi Yazdi's John Woo deep dive leads to this Hong Kong classic – stylish, influential, and a reminder that Tubi has some serious gems if you're willing to dig. In Time – Tubi Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, and one of the great high-concept sci-fi premises of the 2010s. Yazdi also makes the case for Tubi as an underrated free streaming treasure chest. Nuremberg – Netflix Joe revisits this awards-season historical drama and highlights the performances of Rami Malek and Russell Crowe, along with the film's fascinating take on the postwar trials. ⸻ The Bride Maggie Gyllenhaal reimagines the Frankenstein myth through a steampunk, gangster-inflected, fiercely stylized lens. With Jesse Buckley, Christian Bale, Annette Bening, and Penélope Cruz in the mix, this one gave the hosts a lot to wrestle with – from its bold visual ambition to the sheer amount it tries to do at once. A movie to admire, argue with, and maybe be a little baffled by. Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair Tarantino's long-rumored unified cut of Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2 is finally here. The team discusses how the combined version plays, what's changed, and whether seeing it as one four-hour experience makes it even better – or simply different. Either way, it's a chance to revisit one of modern cinema's great revenge sagas in all its blood-soaked glory. ⸻ Like, comment, and subscribe if you enjoy smart, spoiler-light film discussions with strong opinions, movie love, and occasional ginger-induced chaos. Hosted by: Joe, Rashmi & Yazdi Watch on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @moviewallas www.moviewallas.com ⸻ Timestamps 00:00 – Start 04:48 – Streaming Picks 05:26 – Eleanor The Great 07:54 – The Killer 09:24 – In Time 11:33 – Nuremberg 13:50 – The Bride 28:02 – Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair ⸻ #Moviewallas #MoviePodcast #TheBride #KillBill #KillBillTheWholeBloodyAffair #MaggieGyllenhaal #JesseBuckley #ChristianBale #QuentinTarantino #StreamingPicks #TooManyMoviesTooLittleTime

Welcome back to Artbeat Radio! Today we celebrate Lunar New Year and talk about the Blood Moon that occurred on March 3rd. Later, we go outside on a nature walk, exploring our surroundings. Thanks for listening and tune in next time! Follow us on instagram @artbeatradio For more information about our organization, please visit our website www.ableartswork.org

Unlock the full potential of the Vedic New Year at https://www.quietmindastrology.com/newmoonThe structures you choose to sync up with deeply shape your psychology and sense of alignment with the world. While the Gregorian calendar is the global civil standard, it was primarily designed by Pope Gregory to organize society around Easter rather than astronomical precision. In this episode, I explore seven different New Year dates—from the Lunar New Year in East Asia to the Vedic Solar and Lunar resets—and how each offers a unique energetic shift. We discuss why many people feel a "haze" rather than a renewal on January 1st and how syncing your life with the cycles of the moon, the sun, and the seasons can point you back to your true nature.QUOTES“The structures you sync up with shape your psychology.”“If you're syncing up with a structure that's just sort of made up, that's going to shape your psychology to follow things that are not so much in sync with you, in sync with nature, or what's really aligned with your spirit and soul.”“The Gregorian calendar is really a civil calendar—a way to organize society.”“From the Vedic sidereal perspective, I think the Vedic lunar new year makes the most sense. It's a reset in the lunar year that is a bit more precise.”TIMESTAMPS00:00 How Time Structures Shape Your Psychology01:15 The Gregorian Calendar: A Civil Tool for Society02:04 The Lunar New Year: Moon Cycles and Tides03:54 2025 Water Snake vs. 2026 Fire Horse Energy05:31 Why January Often Feels Like an Internal "Haze"06:21 The Vedic Solar New Year: Sun Entering Sidereal Aries07:45 The Vedic Lunar New Year: Precision and the Chitra Month09:09 The Significance of the Vernal (Spring) Equinox10:13 2026 Eclipse Portals and New Year Shifts10:34 Persian, Islamic, and Jewish New Year Traditions12:11 Your Birthday as a Personal Sense of Renewal12:58 Chitra Nakshatra: Resetting with the "Big Picture"13:52 Returning to Your True Nature through Seasonal Alignment14:29 Ayurveda: Adapting Your Habits to Your Dosha and DigestionKEYWORDSVedic astrology, Jyotish, Gregorian calendar, Lunar New Year, Vedic Solar New Year, Chitra Nakshatra, Vernal Equinox, Ayurveda, Fire Horse 2026, Water Snake 2025, psychology of time.FREE RESOURCES⭐️ Free Birth Chart: http://www.quietmindastrology.com/freebirthchart⭐️ Free Horoscopes: https://www.quietmindastrology.com/freehoroscopes⭐️ Podcast (Spotify, Apple, etc): https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/astrology⭐️ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/quietmindastrology⭐️ YouTube: http://www.quietmindastrology.com/youtubeWORK WITH ME⭐️ Book a Reading: http://www.quietmindastrology.com/reading⭐️ Decode Your Chart: https://www.quietmindastrology.com/101⭐️ Mentorship: http://www.quietmindastrology.com/mentorship⭐️ Yoga Teacher Training Podcast: https://www.anchor.fm/yogateachertrainingNEXT STEP⭐️ Unlock the full potential of the Vedic New Year at ⁠https://www.quietmindastrology.com/newmoon⁠

Our Hong Kong/China Transportation & Infrastructure Analyst Qianlei Fan discusses how China's travel industry is shifting from a post-pandemic rebound to a multi-year expansion.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Qianlei Fan, Morgan Stanley's Hong Kong / China Transportation Analyst. Today, I'll share my thoughts on why travel is quickly emerging as one of [the] key drivers of China's economic rebalancing.It's Tuesday, March the 3rd, at 2pm in Hong Kong. I've just gotten back from my Lunar New Year trip to mainland China. With the longest Chinese New Year break in history, people were out roaming, exploring, laughing, and the whole country felt like it was buzzing with people on a mission to enjoy every minute. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, total domestic tourism spending recorded a robust 19 percent year-on-year growth during the holiday. In fact, China's tourism industry isn't just rebounding after the pandemic. It's entering a structurally stronger phase, supported by policy tailwinds, demographic shifts, and a clear pivot toward experience-driven consumption. By 2030, tourism revenue could reach RMB 12 trillion – equal to roughly USD $1.7 trillion – implying 11 percent annual growth from the mid-2020s. Over the next five years, cumulative domestic and inbound revenue may approach RMB 50 trillion, or USD $7.2 trillion. That scale makes travel more than a cyclical recovery – it's becoming a core pillar of China's consumption-led growth. We expect tourism's share of GDP to rise to about 6.7 percent by 2030, up from 4.8 percent in 2024.Domestic travel remains the backbone. People aren't just traveling again; they're traveling more than before. Policy is reinforcing demand. Extended public holidays, new school breaks, and event-driven tourism are boosting activity. In 2025 alone, around 3,000 large-scale performances attracted more than 43 million attendees. And spending reflects that shift. Domestic tourism spending reached RMB 6.3 trillion in 2025, about 11 percent above pre-COVID levels. Even with slightly lower spend per trip, more frequent travel is lifting overall revenue.International travel is emerging as a second growth engine. By 2030, inbound travel could represent 16 percent of total tourism revenue. In late 2025, inbound visitor growth in major cities was up about 30–50 percent year-over-year, supported by expanded visa-free access, which now accounts for the majority of foreign arrivals. These visitors often stay longer and spend more. Outbound travel is strengthening too. International air traffic grew 22 percent in 2025, far outpacing domestic growth, and now contributes a meaningful share of airline revenue. Demographics and technology are reinforcing the trend. Younger consumers prioritize travel, while older households – with substantial savings – are beginning to spend more as services improve. At the same time, smart hotels, virtual reality attractions, and data-driven operations are enhancing engagement and willingness to pay. This isn't just pent-up demand. It's policy, demographics, technology, and supply aligning at once. – with travel at the center of China's consumption story.Thanks for listening. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review wherever you listen and share Thoughts on the Market with a friend or colleague today.

Feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, or like everything is changing all at once?In this timely, grounding, and deeply supportive episode of the High Vibin' It Podcast, Kelsey Aida and Lynnsey Robinson dive into the energetic intensity of 2026 and share practical ways to stay centered, regulated, and empowered through major collective shifts.Tapping into the current Lunar New Year energy and powerful eclipse momentum, this conversation explores why so many people are feeling heightened emotions, physical sensations, and mental overload, and how to navigate it all without burning out.Together, they unpack the fast-moving momentum of the Fire Horse year, why nervous system care is essential right now, and how grounding practices can help you stay clear, sovereign, and aligned even when the world feels chaotic.If you've been feeling “a lot” lately, this episode will remind you that you're not alone — and more importantly, it will give you tools to move through it with strength and self-trust.✨ What You'll Discover:Why 2026 carries fast-moving, high-intensity energyHow eclipse and lunar cycles can amplify emotions and awarenessWhy nervous system regulation is the most important practice this yearHow grounding yourself protects your discernment and clarityPhysical ways to release anxious or overwhelming energyWhy movement, stretching, and breathwork help stabilize your systemHow meditation strengthens your connection to guidance and intuitionThe best times of day to meditate for emotional regulationWhy learning something new is especially powerful in 2026How hobbies, creativity, and curiosity support resilienceWhy spending time in nature can recalibrate your energyHow to stay sovereign and centered in chaotic times✨ Want more? In the extended Patreon episode, we pull oracle cards for guidance for 2026, share intuitive insight, and explore what you personally need to focus on this year. Come hang out with us.Join us on Patreon for early access, longer episodes, oracle card readings, and behind-the-scenes content—all for just a few bucks a month. The first 50 members get a FREE Manifestation Toolkit when we hit our goal!

In today's bonus episode, Gastor and Shalewa talk about a Trader Joe's recall, undercover police at the Lunar New Year's parade, and how many loose pigs are there in Alabama.PATREON LAUNCH! For all those that have asked how they can help support the pod - it's finally here! Thanks again to all the Troops and Correspondents who rock with us. Check it out - we'll have some exclusive content and fun perks, plus it really does help! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/WarReportPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Many Thanks to our Patreon Troops & Correspondents for helping us bring this show to life.Shouts to the Correspondents!Tanya WeimanFontayne WoodsMark OrellanaCrystall SchmidtB. EmmerichCharlene BankAskewCharlatan the FraudCynthia PongKen MogulSayDatAgain SayDatAgainLaKai DillStephanie GayleUncleJoeStylenoshCato from StonoJennifer PedersenMarcusSarah PiardAna MathambaLooking to further support? Help our data storage/archiving needs here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/23X55OW4CFU8Y?ref_=wl_share⁠⁠⁠Follow The Team:Instagram@SilkyJumbo@GastorAlmonteTwitter:@SilkyJumbo@GastorAlmonteTheme music "Guns Go Cold" provided by Kno of Knomercyproductions Twitter: @Kno Instagram: @KnoMercyProductions

If you've ever felt like you had to hide certain parts of yourself to be taken seriously in the art world, this one is for you. I'm sitting down with my dear friend Marina Granger, founder of The Artist Advisory and host of the brand new MFA Podcast, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to step into your next level as an artist - from the inside out. Marina spent years working at the intersection of practical gallery strategy and deeper identity work, but kept the mystical side of her practice quietly in the background. In this episode she's fully out, and we get into all of it - astrology, feng shui, human design, manifestation, and the very real money blocks that keep creative entrepreneurs stuck even when the revenue is growing. This is part one of two because we simply had too much to talk about! We cover: Lunar New Year rituals and Marina's feng shui practice - including the 27-item trick for stirring prosperity in your home Why Marina hid the cosmic side of her coaching for years and what finally changed Being a manifesting generator and why doing many things is your superpower, not your flaw The three levels of abundance work - conscious, subconscious, and nervous system - and why most of us only work on one How your core identity shapes everything from the galleries you walk into to the clients you attract The immigrant experience and cash overflow - why earning more doesn't automatically mean keeping more Connect with Marina: The MFA Podcast - available wherever you listen 1:1 programs and free resources at theartistadvisory.com Also mentioned: Reality Transurfing by Vadim Zeland Current open call for Create! Magazine in partnership with Square One Gallery - submit at createmagazine.co/call-for-art

We're continuing an annual tradition on the Healing Medicine Podcast: a Lunar New Year conversation that uses the Chinese zodiac (and the five elements) as a framework for reflection and intention-setting.  Even if this isn't part of your culture or your belief system, exploring how a different cultural lens can help you see your patterns around transitions and help you endwell, pause to integrate, and begin well.  We're moving from the Year of the Wood Snake (2025)—slower, observant, inward, "shedding what no longer serves"—into the Year of the Fire Horse (2026)—movement, visibility, courage, momentum, and a louder, more activating energy.  This episode covers: Why Lunar New Year is also called Spring Festival (Chunjie) The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac (and why there's no cat) The five elements and how they "flavor" a year (wood → fire) Wood Snake themes: introspection, boundaries, shedding, somatic signals Fire Horse themes: courage, action, visibility, warmth—and the need for wisdom Transition practices: ending well → pausing → beginning well A journal prompt: What are you leaving behind from the Wood Snake year? Invitation: Connect in Nature Retreat (Green Gulch + Muir Woods) Mentioned Invitations: Connect in Nature Mindfulness Retreat (Green Gulch + Muir Woods): www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreat-connect-in-nature Nothing shared in this episode is medical advice or a substitute for your own medical care. This is educational content and personal reflection.  

Alton Takiyama-Chung tells us two lively tales which help explain some of the traditions celebrated in China and other parts of East Asia at Lunar New Year. One story is about how the twelve animals who represent the Lunar New Year Calendar were chosen - by having an exciting river race. And a second story is about the Nian, a terrifying monster who arrives after dark every New Year's Eve - to eat the people and their animals. Until one year, a brave old man, comes up with a plan to stop him. This legend explains some of the traditions and celebrations which still take place today at this popular festival which marks the beginning of Spring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meg, Hal and Symphony discuss episode 200 of Welcome to Night Vale: Susan Willman Comes Clean. They chat about Lunar New Year, vampires, the moon and scones. In the FanZone Calzone™ we hear from fans about A Story About Huntokar, milk and gazing balls.  Find out more about calzones on our Patreon. www.patreon.com/goodmorningnightvale Follow us on Facebook. Good Morning Night Vale is a production of Night Vale Presents Hosted by Symphony Sanders, Hal Lublin, and Meg Bashwiner Produced by Meg Bashwiner Edited by Felicia Dominguez Mixed by Vincent Cacchione Theme Music by Disparition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A rabbit, a tiger, and a rat walk into a bar... Cody, Andrew & Ren celebrate Lunar New Year with all the hard hitting topics: Is Paul Anthony Kelly hotter than JFK Jr? Are WE culpable for the chaos of ANTM? Punch the Monkey vs Moo Deng! Why hair stylists should NOT be serving the Alysa Liu! WHO IS GOING TO WIN TRAITORS?? Cody's graceful retelling of Wuthering Heights! AND the dangers of looksmaxxing!We have deals for YOU!!Marley Spoon: Fast-track your way to eating well! Head to MarleySpoon.com/offer/petty for UP TO 25 FREE meals!LMNT: Stay replenished! Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/tactfulSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, strategy session with the Disneyland President shed some light on upcoming changes, for better, and some worse, new collectables are coming soon to celebrate the 70th, changes to the Disneyland App to help locate merchandise, we continue our talk with Philander, and more! Please support the show if you can by going to https://www.dlweekly.net/support/. Check out all of our current partners and exclusive discounts at https://www.dlweekly.net/promos. News: The President of the Disneyland Resort Thomas Mazloum held some strategy sessions with outlets like MiceChat about upcoming changes and what is going on around the resort. This was an opportunity to talk directly to the fan base about decisions, and give a glimpse of what is coming. One of the items was the reservation system at Disneyland. It is not going anywhere for the moment as it helps the resort better manage attendance patterns and staffing. However, the 11am park hopping restriction will be going away soon. Also, Monsters, Inc.: Mike and Sully to the Rescue is delaying closing until sometime next year. – https://www.micechat.com/432196-disneyland-update-entertainment-gaps-construction-reveals-big-changes-ahead/ Moving away from the news to the philosophy that Thomas brings to the resort. A visit to the resort has become expensive, and, at times, overly complex. His team is working on ways to simplify the experience, and make visiting less expensive, especially for young families. Ride reliability is also being addressed. Maintenance windows are expanding, work is being made on supply chains, and downtime is being examined and addressed. They calculated that 1.5 million more ride experiences happened because of these changes. – https://www.micechat.com/432196-disneyland-update-entertainment-gaps-construction-reveals-big-changes-ahead/ Cast members were also discussed at the sessions. About 60% of the current cast was hired after the 2020 closures. Training was shortened, Traditions, the training session for new cast, was also simplified and made partially virtual. Focus was on safety protocols and hiring quickly, and not as much on guest relations. Thomas is working to correct this and expanding training again. Leadership is going through retraining, identifying issues and clarifying expectations. This is resulting in the culture being rebuilt, but it will take time. – https://www.micechat.com/432196-disneyland-update-entertainment-gaps-construction-reveals-big-changes-ahead/ Entertainment was also discussed. Thomas supports Fantasmic!, but did not commit to restoring Murphy. No further plans on the future of the Hyperion, Golden Horseshoe, Fantasyland Theatre, or any other entertainment was discussed. What could throw a wrench into all of this is Josh D'Amaro moving up to CEO, leaving the parks chair position vacant. Thomas might be a good candidate to fill that, which means Disneyland could be getting another leader soon. – https://www.micechat.com/432196-disneyland-update-entertainment-gaps-construction-reveals-big-changes-ahead/ A new way to celebrate Disneyland and have some new collectable keepsakes is coming on February 26th. The Topps Disneyland 70th Anniversary Collection will feature attractions, characters, food, and more into collectable cards. A limited group of cards will only be available at Disneyland and online at DisneyStore.com. There are rare relic cards that have pieces of vintage Disneyland tickets, Disney Dollars, pieces of cast member costumes, and more. There are also Talent Autograph cards featuring autographs from voice talent, and other well-known faces and voices of attractions. There is a rare 1 of 1 card that can be redeemed for a Disneyland prize package. – https://disneyparksblog.com/products/new-topps-disneyland-70th-anniversary-trading-cards/ Using the Disneyland App to locate and purchase merchandise, and mobile order food is getting more features. Guests can now use the “find merchandise” feature to look for Lunar New Year items. The feature will show what locations have certain items in stock, without having to visit each location and look. There is also a test happening at the Golden Horseshoe where Stage Door Cafe is mobile order only, and the Golden Horseshoe bar inside is standby only. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2026/02/18/this-new-disneyland-app-feature-could-change-everything/#more-1107042 https://www.micechat.com/432196-disneyland-update-entertainment-gaps-construction-reveals-big-changes-ahead/ The old FastPass distribution area across from Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! has a new permit filed, giving some indication of what is happening there. The permit is asking for a “change of use” from a shade structure to an outdoor eating area with new joists and electrical. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2026/02/21/disneyland-officially-demolishes-fastpass-structure-and-were-still-crying/#more-1107900 SnackChat: Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Foodie Guide – https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/disney-eats-disney-california-adventure-food-and-wine-festival-foodie-guide-2026/ Discussion Topic: Epic Universe with theme park fan and Disney Cast Member Philander Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's agenda, we've got a surprise Great White shark sighting from WWL Radio in Louisiana and exploration about what's going on in our brain when we hesitate from KCBS Radio in San Francisco. Then, we'll listen in on a discussion of the dawn of the Fire Horse year with the Lunar New Year this week from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and take a trip to the Old Farmer's Almanac headquarters with Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.

On this week's agenda, we've got a surprise Great White shark sighting from WWL Radio in Louisiana and exploration about what's going on in our brain when we hesitate from KCBS Radio in San Francisco. Then, we'll listen in on a discussion of the dawn of the Fire Horse year with the Lunar New Year this week from the Dana and Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and take a trip to the Old Farmer's Almanac headquarters with Own the Road with Kelli and Bob out of KRLD 1080 in Dallas.

Kourtney is joined by special guest, Jacqui Saldana, content creator, mom, and close friend of hers.  They chat about how they're celebrating Lunar New Year and discuss their thoughts on New Years resolutions. Kourtney pulls out a vision board from 2022 and reflects on how many of the goals she accomplished.  Jacqui talks about her journey into content creation and how the landscape of social media has changed in over a decade.  She explains how she used her online community after the loss of her son to provide a space for others to grieve and process her own feelings with the support of others online.  Jacqui explains how she handles criticism online and why she ultimately would never give up social media despite any negativity.  Jacqui gives Kourtney the rundown on camping outside in order to get a front row barricade spot at her favorite concerts and why she thinks it is all worth it. The two wrap up the episode with a fun round of Rapid Fire questions. Follow Jacqui: @jacquisaldana Follow Holding Kourt: @holdingkourt Follow Kourt: @court_with_a_K

Nick catches up with Monica Eng from Axios to talk through the stories she's been covering lately. They get into Governor J. B. Pritzker's push for new nuclear power facilities in Illinois, ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and the annual joy of Paczki Day. Monica also shares thoughts on the new production of “Hamnet” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, her first experience trying a Dirty Soda, and highlights from a recent trip to Puerto Rico. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick for a loose, funny catch-up that turns into a debate about traditions that might be past their expiration date. The handshake gets questioned, and class reunions get a full breakdown, complete with stories and strong opinions. It's news, food, travel, and a little social commentary, all rolled into one easy conversation. [Ep 431]

This week, Deena talks about her mid-life crisis in Aruba, AKA realizing she's not a kid anymore because the young twenty-somethings at the hotel were annoying at the pool and in the way in at the bar. Snooki isn't washing her hair in order to manifest during the Lunar New Year. Snooki also talks about a Spirit Medium friend's work on the missing Nancy Guthrie case.This episode is sponsored by:Little Spoon - Give them meals + snacks that are actually right for where kids are developmentally—balanced, intentional and made to support real growth. Go to littlespoon.com/MEATBALL30 and enter code MEATBALL30 for 30% off your first order.NOCD - If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started: https://learn.nocd.com/meatballText or leave a voicemail for the Meatballs at (732) 508-7952 to get some Meatball Advice!

A debate over bike lanes on Archer Avenue is launching municipal election season in Brighton Park, where a bike lane opponent has launched a campaign to replace the 12th Ward alderperson. Host Jacoby Cochran, executive producer Simone Alicea, and producer Michelle Navarro break it down. Plus, they're talking about the confluence of Lunar New Year, Ramadan, and Lent. We also hear from listeners about the Bears stadium drama. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Learn more about the sponsors of this Feb. 19 episode: Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Access Contemporary Music – Use promo code PIANO for 20% off South By Southwest – Unlock a 10% discount on your Innovation Badge when you use code citycast10 Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Norway has the most winter olympic medals ever… Their strategy? Joy is the new “invisible hand” of economics.Alcohol's disappearing, but Budweiser stock hit a 6-year high?... Turns out Dry January is a fad.Apple is finally adding video to podcasts… And it reminds us of LeBron James.Plus, Draco Malfoy is the unofficial mascot of the Lunar New Year (yeah, from Harry Potter)...$BUD $AAPL $SPOTBuy tickets to The IPO Tour (our In-Person Offering) TODAYAustin, TX (2/25): SOLD OUTArlington, VA (3/11): https://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com/shows/341317 New York, NY (4/8): https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0000637AE43ED0C2Los Angeles, CA (6/3): SOLD OUTGet your TBOY Yeti Doll gift here: https://tboypod.com/shop/product/economic-support-yeti-doll NEWSLETTER:https://tboypod.com/newsletter OUR 2ND SHOW:Want more business storytelling from us? Check our weekly deepdive show, The Best Idea Yet: The untold origin story of the products you're obsessed with. Listen for free to The Best Idea Yet: https://wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/NEW LISTENERSFill out our 2 minute survey: https://qualtricsxm88y5r986q.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dp1FDYiJgt6lHy6GET ON THE POD: Submit a shoutout or fact: https://tboypod.com/shoutouts SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tboypod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tboypodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tboypod Linkedin (Nick): https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-martell/Linkedin (Jack): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-crivici-kramer/Anything else: https://tboypod.com/ About Us: The daily pop-biz news show making today's top stories your business. Formerly known as Robinhood Snacks, The Best One Yet is hosted by Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan and Monse filling in for C&R as they talk about the Lunar New Year, Lent and Mardi Gras and what they are willing to give up. Dan and Monse have an argument over a volleyball invite. Dan and Monse talk about Walker Buehler signing with the Padres.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of The Best Of Covino & Rich: Dan Beyer and Monse Bolanos filling in as they break big news out of Los Angeles. Dan and Monse talk about the Lunar New Year, Lent and Mardi Gras and what they are willing to give up.Dan and Monse have an argument over a volleyball invite. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several major holidays including Lunar New Year, Ramadan and Mardi Gras converged today, Americans are less hopeful than ever, several business leaders and European politicians have been ousted over their ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and Stephen reads some titillating poetry written by California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell. Next up, Stephen Colbert goes on the record about his interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico, the FCC's “equal time” rule, and today's statement from CBS. And Kaitlan Collins talks about the conversations she's had with women who survived sexual abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and others in his circle, and what motivates those women to continue to press for their abusers to be brought to justice. Watch “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” weeknights on CNN. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The American civil rights leader, Jesse Jackson, who twice ran for the Democratic nomination for president, has died aged 84. Tributes have been flowing in, with President Trump describing him as a good man and a force of nature. In a statement, Reverend Jackson's family called him a "servant leader to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world". Also: Iran says the latest indirect talks on its nuclear programme with the US in Geneva have been more constructive than previous discussions, but warns that more work is needed; one of the world's biggest AI summits is beginning in India this week, with up to 50,000 people gathering in Delhi; and China and other Asian countries are celebrating the Lunar New Year - the start of the Year of the Fire Horse.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto credit: PA

Today's episode of The Rizzuto Show is what happens when a daily comedy show collides with real life and nobody wears pants (literally).We kick things off with a full-blown airline etiquette debate after a flight armrest standoff turns into a larger discussion about personal responsibility, panic disorders, and whether Southwest dropped the ball harder than your carry-on in turbulence. It's a surprisingly thoughtful debate… for about six minutes. Then we spiral. Because that's what a daily comedy show is supposed to do.From there? Buckle up.We've got a 58-year-old man going full naked rampage in a high-end West Pine apartment building, smashing million-dollar statues and trying to recruit unwilling participants. STL weird news strikes again. Then there's a repeat offender who just will not stop exposing himself — even when police literally try to pull his pants up for him. You can't make this stuff up, and we wouldn't if we tried.Neighborhood drama? Oh, we got that too. A Hillsboro dad decides the appropriate way to handle a bullying dispute is with a hammer. Yes. A hammer. Not a conversation. Not a strongly worded email. A hammer. Conflict resolution level: medieval.But it's not all chaos. We also pause to honor Linda Edwards of Blueberry Hill — a true Saint Louis creative force who helped shape the Delmar Loop's iconic vibe. It's heartfelt, nostalgic, and then somehow transitions into allergy shot support groups and BJC waiting room perspective checks.Because this is The Rizzuto Show. A daily comedy show that can go from heartfelt tribute to “are butterflies and bees friends?” in under 90 seconds.And then… portals open.It's the Year of the Fire Horse. Lunar New Year. Solar eclipse. Age of Aquarius. Three portals. 72 hours. Big reset energy. Whether you believe in cosmic destiny or just believe in dumb hypotheticals about whether it's better to look smart or be smart — we unpack it all.This episode has:STL crime chaosWeird neighbor fightsAirline lawsuitsMental health debatesAllergy shot war storiesA philosophical crisis about being a dumbassAnd at least one reference to Mississippi self-defense lawIt's messy. It's thoughtful. It's hilarious. It's peak Rizz and the gang.Welcome to your new favorite daily comedy show.Follow The Rizzuto Show → https://linktr.ee/rizzshow for more from your favorite daily comedy show.Connect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → https://1057thepoint.com/RizzShow.Hear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO.How to Watch the 'Ring of Fire' Annular Solar Eclipse This Week2026 Year of the Fire Horse: Lunar New Year horoscopes for every zodiac signNaked man torments guard, tenant at Central West End apartmentsMan arrested for lewd act downtown months after school incidentMan jailed after striking neighbor in the face with hammerBlueberry Hill co-founder Linda Kennedy Edwards diesWheelchair User with Severe Anxiety Disorder Sues Southwest for Allegedly Abandoning Her in Airport BathroomSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to another completely normal, absolutely unhinged daily comedy show where the tech almost fails, the allergies are aggressive, and somehow we open three cosmic portals before 9am.Today starts with a good old-fashioned Gen X troubleshooting session (did we unplug it? Did we punch it? Did we blow in it like an NES cartridge?) before diving into Rafe's first round of allergy shots. Nothing bonds strangers faster than sitting in a medical waiting room comparing chronic symptoms like it's poker night. Meanwhile, Riz recounts the time his kid's lips swelled up mid-shot and casually reminds us that yes — sometimes the sniffles are not just the sniffles.From there? Oh, we go spiritual.It's apparently the Lunar New Year, a solar eclipse, AND the Age of Aquarius — meaning we've got 72 hours of Fire Horse energy to fix our lives. Or at least start a band with our reborn co-host. We break down what the Year of the Fire Horse means, revisit 2014 like it was a hazy fever dream of sushi photos and mall carousels, and try to remember anything meaningful we did before TikTok ruined our attention spans.Then we spiral (intellectually, obviously).Would you rather be a dumbass who looks smart… or a genius who looks like a dumbass? The debate gets heated. Confidence vs. competence. Ignorance vs. misery. Comment section energy vs. tortured Iowa genius energy. It's basically philosophy… if philosophy drank gas station coffee.We also tackle the most “normal” things that secretly feel meaningless — signing group birthday cards for coworkers you wouldn't recognize at Schnucks, pretending to read terms & conditions, awkwardly standing through the Happy Birthday song, and the endless, soul-crushing treadmill of dishes. Is making your bed just pushing a rock up a hill? Are meetings just corporate theater? Why are we like this?And then… the hypothetical that broke the room:You get $20 million tax free.But one of your co-hosts turns into a baby.You must raise them. No babysitters. 18 years.Who's the easiest child? Who's getting stage-parented into a boy band? Who's definitely not surviving puberty in Rafe's house? Alliances are formed. Feelings are hurt. Scott somehow becomes the universal “safe pick.” Learn plots revenge. Moon declines more parenting. Riz considers conservatorship-level management.It's chaos. It's existential. It's petty. It's hilarious.Just another completely reasonable episode of your favorite daily comedy show where we solve nothing but talk about everything.Follow The Rizzuto Show → https://linktr.ee/rizzshow for more from your favorite daily comedy show.Connect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast online → https://1057thepoint.com/RizzShow.Hear The Rizz Show daily on the radio at 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

China is entering the Year of the Fire Horse — a zodiac pairing that comes around just once every 60 years. The last time was 1966, the year the Cultural Revolution began. So is this simply symbolism… or could it hint at something more? In this special Lunar New Year episode of China Decode, Alice Han is joined by writer and commentator Lijia Zhang to unpack the meaning — and the mythology — behind the Fire Horse. They explore how astrology, politics, and economics intersect at a pivotal moment for China. From falling birth rates and zodiac baby booms to record-breaking Spring Festival travel, what does this year reveal about where China may be headed next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

BTS, BONUS CONTENT AND MORE! Only on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TrashTuesdayPodcast We are in a very Chinese time in our lives. Peter Kim and Tia Jenna are here to ring in the Lunar New Year with us. We're Activating the bob, ADHD confessions, heated rivalry, and unpacking why we’ve been groomed to date uggos. Gong Hei Fat Choy! MORE PETER! https://www.instagram.com/peterkz/ https://www.youtube.com/@peterkz MORE JENNA!https://www.instagram.com/jennajewmenez/ Want to smell great in the new year? Go to https://www.bytiajenna.com/about Use code TRASH Thank you to out sponsors:Shop my favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/trashtuesday #skimspartner Thank you Homechef! www.HomeChef.com/TRASHTUESDAY for FIFTY PERCENT OFF your first box and free dessert for life! Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/9vos470a #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. *Listen to Esther's New Solo Pod!* https://www.esthersgrouptherapy.substack.com *Ebb Ocean Club is NOW IN SEPHORA* https://www.sephora.com/brand/ebb-ocean-club for Khalyla’s reef safe and biodegradable hair products! FOLLOW TRASH ON SOCIALS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itstrashtuesday Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itstrashtuesday MORE ESTHER:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@esthermonster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esthermonster/ MORE KHALYLA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khalamityk/ Tigerbelly Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCIyIoM_Nd8HtY19fuR_ov2A PRODUCTION:Studio Ten42: https://www.instagram.com/studioten42/ Guy Robinson: https://www.instagram.com/grobfps/ Arielle Jade (Editor): https://www.instagram.com/jade.rabbit.cce/ Elisa Hernandez Kohler: https://www.instagram.com/ellie.lianna/ Megan Clements: https://www.instagram.com/egggymeg/

It's The Lunar New Year! Expensive Food Delivery, Conspiracy Theories and What's Up With Guidance Counselor?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From the BBC World Service: It's the start of the Lunar New Year — a major retail event. In China, AI has increasingly been merging with the shopping experience, and companies have poured billions of dollars into competing for customers over the next couple of days. Then, France and India are poised to sign a major deal for India to buy over 100 French-made Rafale jet fighters worth $35 billion. And, Cuba's world-famous cigar festival has been cancelled due to fuel shortages.

Kellie Rasberry is going to have bad luck thanks the Lunar New Year, and Ana wants an Olympic reality show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kellie Rasberry is going to have bad luck thanks the Lunar New Year, and Ana wants an Olympic reality show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the BBC World Service: It's the start of the Lunar New Year — a major retail event. In China, AI has increasingly been merging with the shopping experience, and companies have poured billions of dollars into competing for customers over the next couple of days. Then, France and India are poised to sign a major deal for India to buy over 100 French-made Rafale jet fighters worth $35 billion. And, Cuba's world-famous cigar festival has been cancelled due to fuel shortages.

Nancy Guthrie's family has been cleared as suspects in her disappearance. Two people killed, three injured in shooting at an ice hockey rink in RI. Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84. Emotional testimony in trial of alleged school shooter's father.  Plus, humanoid robots perform synchronized Kung Fu to celebrate Lunar New Year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Next week kicks off the "Year of the Horse" in China. So, we will discuss the massive pre-holiday cash injection coming from China's central bank… and whether it’s a trap for foreign investors.Today's Stocks & Topics: Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM), Risk On-Risk Off, Market Wrap, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH), The "Lunar New Year" Liquidity Pump, Backdoor Roth I-R-A, PEG Ratios, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), Read Support and Enter Position?, Risk Off Enviroment.Our Sponsors:* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/INVESTAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Narrator: Thomas Jones