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Today we continue our discussion with local candidates for office. We start in hour one in the MatSu with Michael Bowles who's running for Borough Assembly. Then in hour two we visit with Jeanne Olson in Fairbanks who's running for the Assembly there as well.
Today we continue our tour of candidates for local offices. In hour one we'll visit with Kendal Kruse, who's running for the school board in the MatSu. We'll get her take on how we can improve the education system with what we've got. Then in hour two we'll chat with JT McComas-Roe who's running for borough assembly in the Fairbanks area.
Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 135-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 24,235 on turnover of $8.1-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed moderately higher Wednesday as large-cap tech stocks stayed resilient, helping the broader market recoup earlier losses and shrug off overnight declines on Wall Street following a spike in U.S. Treasury yields. But analysts say the local index still stayed in consolidation, with turnover reduced as investors await more economic data for clues about how the U.S. Federal Reserve will implement a rate cut cycle. Visitors to Taiwan up 10% in 1st half of year The Tourism Administration says, total visitors to Taiwan in the first half of the year saw a 10% increase from the same period last year. Most visitors to Taiwan are Japanese people, with over 680,000 Japanese tourists coming to Taiwan in this period, accounting for (佔有、構成) over 16% of all visitors. Visitors from Hong Kong and Macau make up nearly 15%, while about 13% are from South Korea. Next up, about 9% are from the US, 7% from the Philippines, and 7% from China. In June, Taiwan received over 606,000 visitors, marking a 6% rise from in 2024. In particular Japanese visitors in june increased by 22%, while Chinese visitors increased by nearly 50%… many of whom came through the Mini Three Links connecting Kinmen and Matsu. The Administration says, it's holding overseas campaigns to boost visitors numbers in the fourth quarter of the year, which is usually the peak season for travelers to visit Taiwan. (AH) Portugal Street Car Derail Leaves Dead and Injured Portuguese emergency services say an electric streetcar that is one of Lisbon's big tourist attractions has derailed, killing 15 people and injuring 18 others. Emergency response officials said five of the injured are in serious condition and a child is among the injured. It said an unknown number of the injured are foreigners. The yellow-and-white streetcar, which goes up and down a steep downtown hill in tandem with (與……同時) one going the opposite way, was lying on its side on the narrow road after Wednesday's accident. Eyewitnesses said the streetcar careened down the hill, apparently out of control. The City Council suspended operations of other streetcars in Lisbon and ordered immediate inspections. US Over 1000 CDC Workers Demand RFK Jr Resignation More than 1,000 current and former employees of the US Department of Health and Human Services are demanding the resignation (辭職) of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In a letter they claim RFK Jr's leadership has "put the health of all Americans at risk,". Kate fisher reports from Washington Argentina LongLost Painting Recovered An Argentine federal court has announced the recovery of the long-lost “Portrait of a Lady,” an 18th-century painting by Giuseppe Ghislandi. The Nazis looted the artwork during World War II. The painting, not seen publicly for 80 years, surfaced in an online real estate listing last month. Dutch journalists discovered it while investigating Friedrich Kadgien, the Nazi officer accused of stealing it. Authorities have detained Kadgien's daughter and her husband on charges of concealment (隱瞞) and obstruction of justice. The painting is now stored in a special chamber to prevent damage. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn
01. Bingo Players, Grevvy - Back It Up! 02. Moksi - Ring Ding Ding 03. Alok, Agents Of Time - Fever 04. DJ Susan, Miggy Dela Rosa - Dirty Cat 05. Tony Romera - LFO 06. Maur, Westend, Cami Bear - Over 07. Fedde Le Grand - Liquid Music 08. Cat Dealers, Felguk, Kyra Mastro - Otherside 09. Curbi, Cashew - Danny Phantom 10. Tiesto, Afrojack, Mc Ambush - Light It Up 11. Duck Sauce - You're Nasty 12. Flero - Manhattan Funk 13. Dubdogz, Doriann - Why Not 14. Roxe - Nonstop 15. Jude & Frank, Fdvm - Touch Me 16. Skytech - Sinner 17. Byor - Crashout 18. Richard Grey, Laurent C - Pump up the Jam 19. Nlw - Desires 20. Greg - Pump It Up 21. Nuzb - Say Less 22. Mr. Belt, Wezol - Don't Stop Lovin' 23. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 24. Dont Blink - You Know What I Like 25. Alaia & Gallo - Lipstick 26. Frank Walker, Nathan Nicholson - What Love Feels Like 27. Tujamo, Djs From Mars, Alex Lndn - Everyone Listens To Techno 28. Cyril, James Blunt - Tears Dry Tonight 29. Timmy Trumpet, Dvbbs - Synergy 30. Cassimm - I Like It 31. Ownboss - Somebody To Love 32. Ansun, Closed - Faultless 33. Mph, Ac Slater, Eloise Keeble - Lights On 34. Kream, Camden Cox - Weightless 35. Fatboy Slim, Daniel Steinberg, David Guetta, Morten - Bus Stop Please 36. Shapov, Aspyer - Essami 37. Win Win - Music, Dance, Freedom 38. Luke Miller - Make It Hot
01. Bingo Players, Grevvy - Back It Up! 02. Moksi - Ring Ding Ding 03. Alok, Agents Of Time - Fever 04. DJ Susan, Miggy Dela Rosa - Dirty Cat 05. Tony Romera - LFO 06. Maur, Westend, Cami Bear - Over 07. Fedde Le Grand - Liquid Music 08. Cat Dealers, Felguk, Kyra Mastro - Otherside 09. Curbi, Cashew - Danny Phantom 10. Tiesto, Afrojack, Mc Ambush - Light It Up 11. Duck Sauce - You're Nasty 12. Flero - Manhattan Funk 13. Dubdogz, Doriann - Why Not 14. Roxe - Nonstop 15. Jude & Frank, Fdvm - Touch Me 16. Skytech - Sinner 17. Byor - Crashout 18. Richard Grey, Laurent C - Pump up the Jam 19. Nlw - Desires 20. Greg - Pump It Up 21. Nuzb - Say Less 22. Mr. Belt, Wezol - Don't Stop Lovin' 23. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 24. Dont Blink - You Know What I Like 25. Alaia & Gallo - Lipstick 26. Frank Walker, Nathan Nicholson - What Love Feels Like 27. Tujamo, Djs From Mars, Alex Lndn - Everyone Listens To Techno 28. Cyril, James Blunt - Tears Dry Tonight 29. Timmy Trumpet, Dvbbs - Synergy 30. Cassimm - I Like It 31. Ownboss - Somebody To Love 32. Ansun, Closed - Faultless 33. Mph, Ac Slater, Eloise Keeble - Lights On 34. Kream, Camden Cox - Weightless 35. Fatboy Slim, Daniel Steinberg, David Guetta, Morten - Bus Stop Please 36. Shapov, Aspyer - Essami 37. Win Win - Music, Dance, Freedom 38. Luke Miller - Make It Hot
In dieser Folge spreche ich mit Richie, einem jungen Winzer aus der Rioja, der alles hinter sich ließ, um im wenig bekannten Toro eine ganz eigene Idee von Wein umzusetzen. Was ihn dorthin gezogen hat? Alte, wurzelechte Reben auf sandigem Boden, extreme klimatische Bedingungen und die Freiheit, Wein neu zu denken. Herausgekommen ist ein Projekt namens Matsu, das nicht nur mit seinem japanischen Namen überrascht, sondern auch mit einer Stilistik, die in Toro bis dahin kaum denkbar war: weniger Holz, weniger Alkohol, mehr Frische, Balance und Ausdruck. Richie erzählt, warum für ihn Geduld und Zurückhaltung wichtiger sind als Lautstärke im Glas, wie er traditionelle Methoden mit modernem Anspruch verbindet und was Toro heute leisten kann, wenn man die Region ernst nimmt. Es geht um Tinta de Toro, um Biowein, um spontane Gärung, um alte Betonbehälter und um die Frage, was einen ehrlichen Wein heute eigentlich ausmacht. Eine Episode über Mut, Herkunft, Wandel – und darüber, wie man mit Respekt vor dem Alten etwas ganz Neues schafft.
Today on the Morning Edition, a protest outside the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visits Alaska. Later on, a proposed fuel excise tax in the Mat-Su is gassing up some residents due to an increase in prices.
Dr. Randy Trani shares his thoughts and hopes for the school year ahead for the students and staff Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.
På den taiwanske øgruppe Matsu lever befolkningen dagligt med frygten for en kinesisk invasion. Nogle har pakket taskerne – klar til at flygte – mens andre forbereder sig på kamp. Øgruppen ligger centralt i hybridkrigen mellem Kina og Taiwan. Siden 2023 har der været i alt otte brud på de undersøiske kabler, der forbinder Taiwan med omverdenen. Men næste gang internettet bliver saboteret er de forberedt – det har Europa meget at lære af. Artiklen er skrevet af Berlingskes korrespondent i Asien, Alexander Sjöberg. Oplæser: Frederik Riis-Jacobsen Producer: Frederik Riis-Jacobsen Redaktør: Ida Hasgaard Røntorp Find alle højtlæste artikler fra Berlingske herSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Emily Forester is joined by three students from the MSBSD Teacher Academy, Scholarship, and Loan program: Don, Ruebin, and Tory. Mat-Su’s recent graduates can stay in Mat-Su and become an accredited teacher. They enroll in Chadron State College’s online teacher preparation program and do their practicum work and student teaching here in the Mat-Su. If the […]
Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 38-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,301 on turnover of 5.2-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing fell into consolidation mode on the back of lingering concerns over U-S tariff policies. US House approves 'Honest Maps' amendment targeting China's depiction of Taiwan The U-S House has passed an amendment banning the Defense Department from creating, buying, or displaying any map that shows Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China. The "Honest Maps" amendment was proposed by Republican Representative Tom Tiffany and approved as part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for the 2026 fiscal year. The amendment prohibits using any funds from the Act to create, buy, or display maps that show Taiwan, Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu, Wuciou, Green Island, or Orchid Island as part of the P-R-C. The Act includes 831.5-billion U-S dollars in discretionary (自行決定的) spending. Officials deny 32% US tariff rumors Economics minister Kuo Jyh-huei is dismissing claims that the U-S has already set a 32-per cent tariff rate for Taiwan. Speaking at a legislative hearing, Kuo said he has no idea where the rumors came from and he remains confident that Taiwan can negotiate a lower tariff rate than the 25-per cent given to Japan and South Korea. Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee is also denying the rumors (謠言) about the tariff rate - saying the government has yet to receive any notification from Washington. The statements come after former Broadcasting Corporation of China Chairman Jaw Shaw-kang made the claim about the 32-per cent tariff rate for Taiwan. Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun is leading a delegation to the U-S this week for a fourth round of tariff negotiations. HARVARD ARGUES WHITE HOUSE VIOLATED CONSTITUTION OVER FUNDING FREEZE Harvard University lawyers argued in a Boston court on Monday that the Trump administration blatantly violated the U.S. Constitution by freezing federal funding. It follows the White House freezing (停止) around two billion dollars' worth of grants to the elite (精英) private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mitch McCann reports: Milan Mayor Denies Wrongdoing in Real Estate Probe Milan's mayor says he will not step down in the face of a sweeping probe into the city's massive urban development over the last two decades. The city's top urban development official resigned while denying wrongdoing. Milan prosecutors last week announced the investigation into Milan's real estate boom that has seen skyscrapers transform the city's skyline and entire neighborhoods rebuilt. It includes the construction of a new Olympic village for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games. The investigation targets more than 70 people for a system of corruption that prosecutors allege made Italy's financial and fashion capital “a commodity to be plundered (被掠奪).' That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 挺你所想！與你一起生活的銀行 中國信託行動銀行APP 全新推出「交易中安全提示」防詐騙功能 開啟後，轉帳的同時也在通話，會自動跳出貼心提醒，力挺你的金融安全 防護再進化，交易好安心！ 馬上下載「中國信託行動銀行APP」 https://sofm.pse.is/7xxgu3 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn
Today we've got a full show, where in hour one we'll have a chat with Michelle Overstreet the executive director of My House in the MatSu. We'll talk about their mission and what's happening with the youth in that community and how we can help. Then in hour two we're going to chat with gubernatorial candidate Bernadette Wilson, but only till the half past mark,, then we'll have some recap and my commentary.
Today we start off in hour one with a candidate for the MatSu borough assembly Michael Bowles. We'll chat with him about his history, what his vision for the Matsu looks like and more in hour one. Then in hour two we'll dive into a few of the headlines, including how ASD's superintendent has had a massive break with reality.
This month's episode of Voices of the Mat-Su is called “The Storytellers.” It is the story of two friends, a dream, and a grandma. Listen to the story about two cartoon artists who create new stories from the ancient teachings of the Chickaloon Tribe. Stories that grew into the comic book series called Chickaloonies and […]
The Scartip Special: A DJ mix for the curious, eclectic mind. Bass-driven at its core, this set traverses a spectrum of genres, weaving electronic intensity with unexpected global influences and rare sonic landscapes. ⚡️Like the Show? Click the [Repost] ↻ button so more people can hear it!
01. Tinlicker, The Boxer Rebellion - Diamonds (Further Than I Ever Was) 02. Sam Feldt - The Confession 03. Dillon Francis, Alesso, Clementine Douglas - Free 04. Goodboys, Kream - Paradise 05. Oomloud, Thando, Jusske - Famous 06. Charmes, Awiin - Way Back 07. Prospa, Josh Baker, Rahh - You Don't Own Me 08. Gabry Ponte, Nicky Romero - Rave Music 09. Marten Horger, Crupo, Swen Weber, Stush - Get Low 10. Mauro Fire, Tony Molinari, Ariel El Leon - Pa' Hoy 11. Mosimann, Blythe - Where Did You Go 12. Dubvision, Sick Individuals - Endless Dreamers 13. Kapuzen - Balance 14. Hardcopy, Mike Ferullo - Here One Again 15. Thomas Anthony, Control Room, Chase Paves - Move Like Dat 16. Ownboss, Outflux, No_Me - Preacher 17. Matt Sassari, Sidepiece - Elektro 18. Lost Frequencies, The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition 19. Argy, Omiki - WIND 20. Joel Corry, Jennifer Lopez - Get Right 21. Fedde Le Grand, Dj Tora - Here Comes The Bass 22. Marc Benjamin - Same Old Love 23. Imanbek, Taichu - ELLA QUIERE TECHNO 24. Moska - Amare 25. Jack Orley - Space 26. Chester Young, Hackatone, Don Diablo - Genesis 27. Timmo Hendriks - Keep Me Blind 28. Timmy Trumpet, Karol Sevilla, Faulhaber, Zorba - Weekend 29. Charlie Powell - Act A Fool 30. Nlw - Desires 31. Dante Klein - Gotta Feel 32. Steff Da Campo, Julian Snijder - Watch It 33. Mike Posner, Steve Aoki - I Took a Pill in Ibiza 34. Cosmic Gate, James French - I'm On Fire 35. Broz Rodriguez, Mike Epsse, Victor Mood - Lokita 36. Cassimm, Pietro, Mc Panda - Vem Pra Rave 37. Cat Dealers, Tineway, Dani Doucette - Cry for You 38. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before
01. Tinlicker, The Boxer Rebellion - Diamonds (Further Than I Ever Was) 02. Sam Feldt - The Confession 03. Dillon Francis, Alesso, Clementine Douglas - Free 04. Goodboys, Kream - Paradise 05. Oomloud, Thando, Jusske - Famous 06. Charmes, Awiin - Way Back 07. Prospa, Josh Baker, Rahh - You Don't Own Me 08. Gabry Ponte, Nicky Romero - Rave Music 09. Marten Horger, Crupo, Swen Weber, Stush - Get Low 10. Mauro Fire, Tony Molinari, Ariel El Leon - Pa' Hoy 11. Mosimann, Blythe - Where Did You Go 12. Dubvision, Sick Individuals - Endless Dreamers 13. Kapuzen - Balance 14. Hardcopy, Mike Ferullo - Here One Again 15. Thomas Anthony, Control Room, Chase Paves - Move Like Dat 16. Ownboss, Outflux, No_Me - Preacher 17. Matt Sassari, Sidepiece - Elektro 18. Lost Frequencies, The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition 19. Argy, Omiki - WIND 20. Joel Corry, Jennifer Lopez - Get Right 21. Fedde Le Grand, Dj Tora - Here Comes The Bass 22. Marc Benjamin - Same Old Love 23. Imanbek, Taichu - ELLA QUIERE TECHNO 24. Moska - Amare 25. Jack Orley - Space 26. Chester Young, Hackatone, Don Diablo - Genesis 27. Timmo Hendriks - Keep Me Blind 28. Timmy Trumpet, Karol Sevilla, Faulhaber, Zorba - Weekend 29. Charlie Powell - Act A Fool 30. Nlw - Desires 31. Dante Klein - Gotta Feel 32. Steff Da Campo, Julian Snijder - Watch It 33. Mike Posner, Steve Aoki - I Took a Pill in Ibiza 34. Cosmic Gate, James French - I'm On Fire 35. Broz Rodriguez, Mike Epsse, Victor Mood - Lokita 36. Cassimm, Pietro, Mc Panda - Vem Pra Rave 37. Cat Dealers, Tineway, Dani Doucette - Cry for You 38. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before
01. Masilla, Lumere - Mi Loco Corazon 02. Tiesto, Lucas & Steve - Free Your Mind 03. Rudelies - Dirty Vibe 04. Prospa - Don't Stop 05. Isoxo, Yellow Claw - i promise 06. Tom & Jame - Guestlist 07. Chester Young, Hackatone, Don Diablo - Genesis 08. Nervo, Hook N Sling - My Reason 09. Ac Slater, Jay Robinson, Gabr'El - The Don 10. Mnrva - In My Eyes 11. Soulmanic - Acid Girl 12. Cedric Gervais, Felix - Don't You Want Me 13. Anyma, Sevdaliza - Fortuna 14. Jack Orley, Siena Liggins - Swing Yo Hip 15. Cashew - Put Em' High 16. Rezone, Macrolev - El Ritmo 17. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 18. Bombays - MIRAGE 19. Almero - Everything I Need 20. Pajane, Emad - Give It To Ya 21. Bob Moses - Waiting on the World 22. Bonddisco, Hokkan - Number One 23. Chris Lake, Ragie Ban - Toxic 24. Bijou, Alltalk - Oxygen 25. Salento Guys, Paki, Nicola Fasano - Gimme More Higher 26. Cat Dealers - Ass To The Back 27. Gabry Ponte, Nicky Romero - Rave Music 28. Byor - Thunder 29. Laidback Luke, Roland Clark - Praise To The Bass 30. Alexander Cruel, Loris Buono, Derek Reiver - Shake It Slide 31. Moby, Blond Ish, Kiko Franco - Natural Blues 32. Dillon Nathaniel - Break The System 33. Dubvision, Sick Individuals - Endless Dreamers 34. Shapov - Dreams Control 35. Vion Konger, Melo.Kids - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It 36. Plastik Funk, Jay Hardway - Coming Home 37. Neon Steve - Howl At The Moon 38. Kokiri - Helter Skelter
01. Masilla, Lumere - Mi Loco Corazon 02. Tiesto, Lucas & Steve - Free Your Mind 03. Rudelies - Dirty Vibe 04. Prospa - Don't Stop 05. Isoxo, Yellow Claw - i promise 06. Tom & Jame - Guestlist 07. Chester Young, Hackatone, Don Diablo - Genesis 08. Nervo, Hook N Sling - My Reason 09. Ac Slater, Jay Robinson, Gabr'El - The Don 10. Mnrva - In My Eyes 11. Soulmanic - Acid Girl 12. Cedric Gervais, Felix - Don't You Want Me 13. Anyma, Sevdaliza - Fortuna 14. Jack Orley, Siena Liggins - Swing Yo Hip 15. Cashew - Put Em' High 16. Rezone, Macrolev - El Ritmo 17. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 18. Bombays - MIRAGE 19. Almero - Everything I Need 20. Pajane, Emad - Give It To Ya 21. Bob Moses - Waiting on the World 22. Bonddisco, Hokkan - Number One 23. Chris Lake, Ragie Ban - Toxic 24. Bijou, Alltalk - Oxygen 25. Salento Guys, Paki, Nicola Fasano - Gimme More Higher 26. Cat Dealers - Ass To The Back 27. Gabry Ponte, Nicky Romero - Rave Music 28. Byor - Thunder 29. Laidback Luke, Roland Clark - Praise To The Bass 30. Alexander Cruel, Loris Buono, Derek Reiver - Shake It Slide 31. Moby, Blond Ish, Kiko Franco - Natural Blues 32. Dillon Nathaniel - Break The System 33. Dubvision, Sick Individuals - Endless Dreamers 34. Shapov - Dreams Control 35. Vion Konger, Melo.Kids - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It 36. Plastik Funk, Jay Hardway - Coming Home 37. Neon Steve - Howl At The Moon 38. Kokiri - Helter Skelter
01. Joel Corry, Jennifer Lopez - Get Right 02. Chocolate Puma - Beyond The Sky 03. Dj Susan, Proppa, Lachi - Top Spot 04. Tiesto, Oscar L - Flex 05. Edx - Desire 06. Don Diablo, Ar_Co - Solar Eclipse 07. Masilla, Lumere - Mi Loco Corazon 08. Piero Pirupa - I Like It 09. 4B, Mikey Barreneche - LOUDER 10. Bingo Players, Mohtiv - Want It All 11. Volac - Come Back 12. Chris Lake, Ragie Ban - Toxic 13. Flero - Manhattan Funk 14. Innellea, Script - Trust 15. Roxe - Nonstop 16. Boris Brejcha - Kick It 17. Ownboss, Dino Warriors - Can You Dig It 18. Brohug - Out of Love 19. Mr. Belt & Wezol - You Do 20. Dubvision, Sick Individuals - Endless Dreamers 21. Jev - CU 22. Disorder - Sold My Soul 23. The Outfield, Diplo - Your Love 24. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 25. Melsen - Count On Me 26. Anyma, Argy, Son Of Son - Voices In My Head 27. Fedde Le Grand, Dj Tora - Here Comes The Bass 28. Lost Frequencies, The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition 29. Cassimm, Pietro, Mc Panda - Vem Pra Rave 30. Biscits - Mantra 31. Wh0 - Rock The Party 32. Kream - Manta 33. Keyton - Signs 34. Sungyoo - Move To The Rhythm 35. Steve Angello, Pusha T, Body Ocean - Freedom 36. Toomanylefthands, Ida Corr, Wisekids - What To Do 37. Cid - Party Jumpin' 38. Eleganto - Hot Rush
01. Joel Corry, Jennifer Lopez - Get Right 02. Chocolate Puma - Beyond The Sky 03. Dj Susan, Proppa, Lachi - Top Spot 04. Tiesto, Oscar L - Flex 05. Edx - Desire 06. Don Diablo, Ar_Co - Solar Eclipse 07. Masilla, Lumere - Mi Loco Corazon 08. Piero Pirupa - I Like It 09. 4B, Mikey Barreneche - LOUDER 10. Bingo Players, Mohtiv - Want It All 11. Volac - Come Back 12. Chris Lake, Ragie Ban - Toxic 13. Flero - Manhattan Funk 14. Innellea, Script - Trust 15. Roxe - Nonstop 16. Boris Brejcha - Kick It 17. Ownboss, Dino Warriors - Can You Dig It 18. Brohug - Out of Love 19. Mr. Belt & Wezol - You Do 20. Dubvision, Sick Individuals - Endless Dreamers 21. Jev - CU 22. Disorder - Sold My Soul 23. The Outfield, Diplo - Your Love 24. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 25. Melsen - Count On Me 26. Anyma, Argy, Son Of Son - Voices In My Head 27. Fedde Le Grand, Dj Tora - Here Comes The Bass 28. Lost Frequencies, The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition 29. Cassimm, Pietro, Mc Panda - Vem Pra Rave 30. Biscits - Mantra 31. Wh0 - Rock The Party 32. Kream - Manta 33. Keyton - Signs 34. Sungyoo - Move To The Rhythm 35. Steve Angello, Pusha T, Body Ocean - Freedom 36. Toomanylefthands, Ida Corr, Wisekids - What To Do 37. Cid - Party Jumpin' 38. Eleganto - Hot Rush
01. Chocolate Puma, Colonel Red, Zac Samuel - For Your Love 2011 02. Djs From Mars, The Stickmen Project, Lukkee - Shout 03. Bessey - Celebrate 04. Milk & Sugar, Lazarusman - Touch 05. Sqwad, The Melody Men - You Ate That 06. Chapter & Verse - 4 Minutes 07. Cumbiafrica, Lost Minds, Reebs - Shingaling Shingaling 08. Joel Corry, Mk, Rita Ora - Drinkin' 09. Tony Romera - LFO 10. Matroda, Teko - When The Bass Kicks In 11. Fedde Le Grand, Dj Tora - Here Comes The Bass 12. Claptone, Sea Girls, Henry Camamile - Put Your Love On Me 13. Thomas Newson - Watch Your Back 14. Firebeatz - Lose My Sh!t 15. Dillon Nathaniel - Break The System 16. Lennard Ellis - Eclipse 17. Gabry Ponte, Nicky Romero - Rave Music 18. Mokaby, Mark Bale - Music In Me 19. Al Sharif, Sunday Noise - U Got Me 20. Dj Kuba, Neitan, Krist Van D - You Are The One 21. Mister Gray - Rubberbands 22. Neeks N Brandt - Don't Tell Me Your Name 23. Lost Frequencies, The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition 24. Bvrnout, Kris Kiss - Rave (Never Givin' Up) 25. Don Diablo, R3Hab, Neeka - Disco Marathon 26. Fisher - Stay 27. Lady Bee - Body Right 28. Kream, Marlo Rex - Rendezvous 29. €Uro Tra$H, Yellow Claw - Stick Ya Lips 30. Freejak - Blow Ya Mind 31. Moby, Blond Ish, Kiko Franco - Natural Blues 32. Valentino Khan, Nome - Magnetic 33. Goom Gum - Staccato 34. Jack Trades, Joel Freck - Sweet Dream 35. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 36. Lord - Make Me Feel 37. Moguai - Ready Steady Go 38. Dannic - Knock N Load
01. Chocolate Puma, Colonel Red, Zac Samuel - For Your Love 2011 02. Djs From Mars, The Stickmen Project, Lukkee - Shout 03. Bessey - Celebrate 04. Milk & Sugar, Lazarusman - Touch 05. Sqwad, The Melody Men - You Ate That 06. Chapter & Verse - 4 Minutes 07. Cumbiafrica, Lost Minds, Reebs - Shingaling Shingaling 08. Joel Corry, Mk, Rita Ora - Drinkin' 09. Tony Romera - LFO 10. Matroda, Teko - When The Bass Kicks In 11. Fedde Le Grand, Dj Tora - Here Comes The Bass 12. Claptone, Sea Girls, Henry Camamile - Put Your Love On Me 13. Thomas Newson - Watch Your Back 14. Firebeatz - Lose My Sh!t 15. Dillon Nathaniel - Break The System 16. Lennard Ellis - Eclipse 17. Gabry Ponte, Nicky Romero - Rave Music 18. Mokaby, Mark Bale - Music In Me 19. Al Sharif, Sunday Noise - U Got Me 20. Dj Kuba, Neitan, Krist Van D - You Are The One 21. Mister Gray - Rubberbands 22. Neeks N Brandt - Don't Tell Me Your Name 23. Lost Frequencies, The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition 24. Bvrnout, Kris Kiss - Rave (Never Givin' Up) 25. Don Diablo, R3Hab, Neeka - Disco Marathon 26. Fisher - Stay 27. Lady Bee - Body Right 28. Kream, Marlo Rex - Rendezvous 29. €Uro Tra$H, Yellow Claw - Stick Ya Lips 30. Freejak - Blow Ya Mind 31. Moby, Blond Ish, Kiko Franco - Natural Blues 32. Valentino Khan, Nome - Magnetic 33. Goom Gum - Staccato 34. Jack Trades, Joel Freck - Sweet Dream 35. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 36. Lord - Make Me Feel 37. Moguai - Ready Steady Go 38. Dannic - Knock N Load
01. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 02. Dombresky, Jaded - Sound Of The Drums 03. Fisher - Stay 04. Jonvs, Bagy - Fever 05. Kevin Mckay, Start The Party, Jen Payne, Camps - Freed From Desire 06. Lost Frequencies, The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition 07. Makj, Faustix - Trouble 08. Don Diablo - Freek Like Me 09. Fedde Le Grand - Elektro 10. Alex Pizzuti - Make The Sound Boom 11. Cyril, James Blunt - Tears Dry Tonight 12. Efim Kerbut - Dr. Bass 13. Nicky Romero - Bass Down Low 14. Ar Co, Punctual, Newera - Generation Love 15. Brohug, Mor3L - Apes 16. Anyma, Sevdaliza - Fortuna 17. Cubicore - Focus 18. Tim Cullen - Here We Go 19. Chris Lake, Ragie Ban - Toxic 20. Midnight Panther - Outta Control 21. Twin Diplomacy - I Got Feelings 22. Black V Neck - Daddy's Back 23. Galoski, Almero - Get It Now 24. Mau P - Merther 25. Steve Angello - Me 26. Cid - Party Jumpin' 27. Twoxi - Shades of You 28. Alex Martin - Slap The Bass 29. Sick Individuals, Vikkstar - Hole In The Head 30. Hawk, Azooland - The Sound Of House 31. Julian Jordan - Something To Believe In 32. Cide, Michael Kurt, Almo, Mason Young - Feel It Coming 33. Relanium, Deen West, L-Dis & Carlprit - Come Back (Reloaded) 34. Vintage Culture, Tube & Berger, Kyle Pearce - Come Come 35. Dannic - Knock N Load 36. Niles Cooper - Lead Me Home 37. Cassimm, Pietro, Mc Panda - Vem Pra Rave 38. Lady Bee, Chuwe - Booty Dance
01. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 02. Dombresky, Jaded - Sound Of The Drums 03. Fisher - Stay 04. Jonvs, Bagy - Fever 05. Kevin Mckay, Start The Party, Jen Payne, Camps - Freed From Desire 06. Lost Frequencies, The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition 07. Makj, Faustix - Trouble 08. Don Diablo - Freek Like Me 09. Fedde Le Grand - Elektro 10. Alex Pizzuti - Make The Sound Boom 11. Cyril, James Blunt - Tears Dry Tonight 12. Efim Kerbut - Dr. Bass 13. Nicky Romero - Bass Down Low 14. Ar Co, Punctual, Newera - Generation Love 15. Brohug, Mor3L - Apes 16. Anyma, Sevdaliza - Fortuna 17. Cubicore - Focus 18. Tim Cullen - Here We Go 19. Chris Lake, Ragie Ban - Toxic 20. Midnight Panther - Outta Control 21. Twin Diplomacy - I Got Feelings 22. Black V Neck - Daddy's Back 23. Galoski, Almero - Get It Now 24. Mau P - Merther 25. Steve Angello - Me 26. Cid - Party Jumpin' 27. Twoxi - Shades of You 28. Alex Martin - Slap The Bass 29. Sick Individuals, Vikkstar - Hole In The Head 30. Hawk, Azooland - The Sound Of House 31. Julian Jordan - Something To Believe In 32. Cide, Michael Kurt, Almo, Mason Young - Feel It Coming 33. Relanium, Deen West, L-Dis & Carlprit - Come Back (Reloaded) 34. Vintage Culture, Tube & Berger, Kyle Pearce - Come Come 35. Dannic - Knock N Load 36. Niles Cooper - Lead Me Home 37. Cassimm, Pietro, Mc Panda - Vem Pra Rave 38. Lady Bee, Chuwe - Booty Dance
A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Tuesday, charging a Wasilla man with distributing carfentanil to two people, including a teen girl who died from an overdose and was left on a powerline trail in the Mat-Su. Plus, the remains of the fourth family member whose boat capsized in Kachemak Bay last summer have been recovered.
01. Tiesto, Sexyy Red - OMG! 02. Bingo Players, Vion Konger - Rattle 03. Nem, Davani - Doordasher 04. Tony Romera - Time To Move 05. Fedde Le Grand, Dj Tora - Here Comes The Bass 06. Anyma, Script - In My Mind 07. Freejak - My House 08. Justus - Flashback 09. Stefano Pain, Bomber, Andrea Serratore - Carnival 10. Innellea, Then, Carlo Whale - Inside Your Mind 11. Avicii, Meduza, Elle King - Let's Ride Away 12. Dubdogz, Chemical Surf, Lothief - Girl On Fire 13. Capozzi - MARE 14. Camelphat, Vomee - Needed You 15. Alle Farben, Maurice Lessing - Apollo 2 16. Cyril, James Blunt - Tears Dry Tonight 17. Plastik Funk, Chester Young, Hackatone - Digital Safari 18. Chris Lake - Savana 19. Jmj (Fr) - Turn It Up 20. Anyma, Sevdaliza - Fortuna 21. Don Diablo, Nelly Furtado - Doing Nothin' 22. Kasia, Skuro (It), Arkaden - Luminate 23. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 24. Kvsh, Future Skies - DNA 25. Moby, Blond Ish, Kiko Franco - Natural Blues 26. Hi-Lo - United in Trance 27. Hannah Laing, Hvrr, D.O.D - Party All The Time 28. Melsen - Be Your Lover 29. Nari & Milani - Mimetic 30. Jaxx, Niteshade, Smvl Tvlk - Creepin' 31. Lost Frequencies, The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition 32. Gabry Ponte, Nicky Romero - Rave Music 33. Essel - Legacy 34. Don Diablo - The Way I Are 35. Jayalexvard - Rumba 36. Netsky - Remember
01. Don Diablo, Nelly Furtado - Doing Nothin' 02. Plastik Funk, Chester Young, Hackatone - Digital Safari 03. Anyma, Sevdaliza - Fortuna 04. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 05. Cyril, James Blunt - Tears Dry Tonight 06. Lost Frequencies, The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition 07. Dubdogz, Chemical Surf, Lothief - Girl On Fire 08. Moby, Blond Ish, Kiko Franco - Natural Blues 09. Justus - Flashback
01. Don Diablo, Nelly Furtado - Doing Nothin' 02. Plastik Funk, Chester Young, Hackatone - Digital Safari 03. Anyma, Sevdaliza - Fortuna 04. Clkout, Matsu, Mike Deuce - Never Felt Before 05. Cyril, James Blunt - Tears Dry Tonight 06. Lost Frequencies, The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition 07. Dubdogz, Chemical Surf, Lothief - Girl On Fire 08. Moby, Blond Ish, Kiko Franco - Natural Blues 09. Justus - Flashback
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. Happy Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Even though the Trump Administration has eliminated recognizing cultural heritage months, we are still celebrating diversity and inclusion here at APEX Express and KPFA. We believe in lifting up people's voices and tonight on APEX Express the Powerleegirls are focusing on “Asian American Children's book authors”. Powerleegirl hosts Miko Lee and daughter Jalena Keane-Lee speak with: Michele Wong McSween, Gloria Huang, and Andrea Wang AAPINH Month Children's Books part 1 transcript Opening: [00:00:00] 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. Ayame Keane-Lee: [00:00:49] Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Even though the Trump administration has eliminated recognizing cultural heritage months, we are still celebrating diversity and inclusion. Here at Apex Express and KPFA, we believe in lifting up people's voices. And tonight on Apex Express, the PowerLeeGirls are focusing on Asian American Children's book authors. PowerLeeGirl hosts Miko Lee and daughter Jalena Keane-Lee. Speak with Michele Wong McSween, Gloria Huang and Andrea Wang. Thanks for joining us tonight on Apex Express. Enjoy the show. Miko Lee: [00:01:21] Welcome, Michele Wong McSween to Apex Express. Michele Wong McSween: [00:01:26] Thank you, Miko. It's nice to be here. Miko Lee: [00:01:28] I'm really happy to talk with you about your whole children's series, Gordon & Li Li, which is absolutely adorable. I wanna start very first with a personal question that I ask all of my guests, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you? Michele Wong McSween: [00:01:45] I would say my people are really my family starting with, my great, great grandparents who came here down to my grandparents, my parents, and onto my children because, to me family is. The reason why I created Gordon & Li Li in the first place, it was really to bridge that connection for my children. I didn't grow up feeling that connected with my culture because as a fourth generation Chinese American, I was really in the belief that I'm American. Why do I need to know anything about my culture? Why do I need to speak Chinese? I never learned. As a sidebar to that, I never learned to speak Chinese and it didn't really hit me until I had my own kids that I was really doing a disservice to not only my kids, but to myself. my people are my family. I do this for my kids. I do this to almost apologize to my parents for being so, Disrespectful to my amazing culture and I do it for the families who really want to connect and bridge that gap for their own children and for themselves. Miko Lee: [00:02:53] And what legacy do you carry with you? Michele Wong McSween: [00:02:55] Again, my family. My, great grandparents. Really. Started our family's legacy with the hard work and the prejudices and all the things that they endured so that we could have a better life. And I've always felt that it is my responsibility to teach my own kids about the sacrifices that were made and not to make them feel guilty, but to just make them appreciate that we are here. Because of the the blood, sweat, and tears that their ancestors did for them. And so we are, eternally grateful for that. I think it's important for us to continue that legacy of always doing our best, being kind and doing what we can do to further the experience of not just our family, but the people in our community that we connect with and to the greater world. Miko Lee: [00:03:43] when you were growing up, were your parents speaking with you in Chinese and did you hear about your great grandparents and their legacy? Was that part of your upbringing? Michele Wong McSween: [00:03:52] I heard about my great grandparents in the stories that my mom told us, but to be quite honest, I wasn't receptive to really digging deep in my cultural understanding of. my great-grandfather and what he went through. I know mom, I know he came over in 19 whatever. I know he brought over all these young sons from his village, but I really didn't fully take it in and. No, I didn't hear Chinese spoken in the house much. The only time my parents spoke it was to each other so that we didn't know what they were talking about. They had like this secret code, language. My experience with my language was not, That positive. we did attempt to go to Chinese school only to be teased by all the other kids because we didn't speak it. It didn't end up well. my mom ended up pulling us out and so no, we were really not connected all that much to the language. Miko Lee: [00:04:48] I can really relate to what you're saying. As a fifth generation Chinese American, and my parents their ancestors came from different provinces, so their dialects were so different that they even spoke to each other in English. 'cause they couldn't understand each other in Chinese. So it happens so often. Yeah. Yeah. And so I really relate to that. I'm wondering if there was an epiphany in your life or a time where you thought, oh, I. I wish I knew more of those stories about my ancestors or was there some catalyst for you that changed? Michele Wong McSween: [00:05:17] All of this really kind of happened when I moved to New York. I, you know, raised in Sacramento, went to college in the Bay Area, lived in San Francisco for a while with a job, and then I eventually moved to New York. And it wasn't until I came to New York and I met Asians or Chinese Americans like me that actually spoke Chinese and they knew about cool stuff to do in Chinatown. It really opened my eyes to this new cool world of the Chinese culture because I really experienced Chinatown for the first time when I moved to New York. And it was just so incredible to see all these people, living together in this community. And they all looked the same. But here's the thing, they all spoke Chinese, or the majority of them spoke Chinese. So when I went to Chinatown and they would look at me and speak to me in Chinese and I would give them this blank stare. They would just look at me like, oh my gosh, she doesn't even speak her own language. And it kind of made me feel bad. And this was really the first time that it dawned on me that, oh wow, I, I kind of feel like something's missing. And then it really hit me when I had my kids, because they're half Chinese and I thought, oh my gosh, wait a minute, if I'm their last connection to the Chinese culture and I don't speak the language. They have no chance of learning anything about their language they couldn't go that deep into their culture if I didn't learn about it. So that really sparked this whole, Gordon & Li Li journey of learning and discovering language and culture for my kids. Miko Lee: [00:06:51] Share more about that. How, what happened actually, what was the inspiration for creating the Children's book series? Michele Wong McSween: [00:06:58] It was really my children, I really felt that it was my responsibility to teach them about their culture and language and, if I didn't know the language, then I better learn it. So I enrolled all of us in different Mandarin courses. They had this, I found this really cute kids' Mandarin class. I went to adult Mandarin classes and I chose Mandarin because that was the approved official language in China. I am from Taishan, My parents spoke Taishanese, but I thought, well, if Mandarin's the official language, I should choose that one probably so that my kids will have at least a better chance at maybe some better jobs in the future or connecting with, the billion people that speak it. I thought Mandarin would be the way to go. When I started going to these classes and I just realized, wow, this is really hard, not just to learn the language, but to learn Mandarin Chinese, because we're not just talking about learning how to say the four different tones. We're talking about reading these characters that if you look at a Chinese character, you have absolutely no idea what it sounds like if you're, if you're learning Spanish or French or German, you can see the letters and kind of sound it out a little bit. But with Chinese characters. No chance. So I found it extremely difficult and I realized, wow, I really need to support my kids more because if I am going to be the one that's going to be bridging this connection for them, I need to learn more and I need to find some more resources to help us. when we would have bedtime story time, that whole routine. That was always the favorite time of my kids to be really, quiet and they would really absorb what I was saying, or we would talk about our days or just talk about funny things and I realized, wow, these books that they love and we have to read over and over and over again. this is the way that they're going to get the information. And I started searching high and low for these books. back in 2006, they didn't exist. and so I realized if they didn't exist and I really wanted them for my kids, then I needed to create them. That's the impetus, is there was nothing out there and I really wanted it so badly that I had to create it myself. Miko Lee: [00:09:09] Oh, I love that. And I understand you started out self-publishing. Can you talk a little bit about that journey? Michele Wong McSween: [00:09:15] I'm glad I didn't know what I know today because it was really hard. luckily I had, A friend who used to work for a toy company, it was all through connections. there was nothing really on Google about it. there was no Amazon print on demand. There were none of these companies that provide these services like today. So I just kept asking questions. Hey, do you know a toy manufacturer in China that maybe prints books? Do you know a company that could help me? get my books to the states. Do you know an illustrator that can help me illustrate my books? Because I had gone to fashion design school, but I had not learned to illustrate characters or things in a book. So asking questions and not being afraid to ask the questions was really how I was able to do it because, Without the help of friends and family, I wouldn't have been able to do this. I had all my friends look at my books, show them to their kids. I had my kids look at them, and I kind of just figured it out as I went along. Ultimately when I did publish my first book, I had so much support from my kids' schools. To read the books there, I had support from a local play space for kids that we would go to. I really leaned on my community to help me, get the books out there, or actually it was just one at the time. Two years later I self-published two more books. So I had three in total. no one tells you that when you self-publish a book, the easy part is actually creating it. The hard part is what comes after that, which is the pr, the marketing, the pounding, the pavement, knocking on the doors to ask people to buy your books, and that was really hard for me. I would just take my books in a bag and I would explain my story to people and I would show them my books. sometimes they would say, okay, I'll take one of each, or Okay, we'll try it out. and slowly but surely they would reorder from me. I just slowly, slowly built up, a whole Roster of bookstores and I kept doing events in New York. I started doing events in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and through that I gained some following, some fans and people would tell their friends about me. they would give them to their nieces they would give them to their cousin's kids, or, things like that. I knew that I had to do it because my ultimate goal was to have Scholastic be my publisher. That was my ultimate goal. Because they are the publisher that I grew up with, that I love that I connected with, that I was so excited to get their book club, little flyer. I would check off every book that I wanted. And my mom never said no. She always let me get every single book I wanted. I realize now that that's what really Created the love of books for me is just having access to them and, going to the libraries and seeing all these books on the bookshelves and being able to take them out and read them on the spot. And then if I loved them enough, I would check them out and take them home and read them over and over. So it was really, my experience, having that love for books that I thought, oh gosh, it would be a dream. To have Scholastic become my publisher. So after 10 long years of events and community outreach and selling to these bookstores, I finally thought, okay, I've sold, about 17,000, 18,000 books. Maybe, maybe now I can take my series to them. I also had created an app. Maybe I can take this to them and show them what I've done. Maybe they'll be interested in acquiring me. And I got an appointment with the editor and I pitched my books on my app and within a couple of days they offered to acquire my books, which was my dream come true. So anyway, that was a very long story for how self-publishing really is and how ultimately it really helped my dream come true. Miko Lee: [00:13:08] Now your books are on this Scholastic book, fair Circuit, right? Michele Wong McSween: [00:13:13] Yes, they are. Well, it's actually just one book. They took the three books, which were everyday Words. Count in Mandarin and learn animals in Mandarin. They took all three books and they put them in one big compilation book, which is called My First Mandarin Words with Gordon & Li Li. So it's a bigger book. It's a bigger board book. Still very, very sturdy and it's a great, starter book for any family because it has those three first themes that were the first themes that I taught my own boys, and I think. It just, it's very natural for kids to want to learn how to count. animals were, and my kids were animal lovers, so I knew that that's what would keep them interested in learning Mandarin because they actually loved the topic. So, yes, my first mandarin words with Gordon & Li Li does live on Scholastics big roster. Miko Lee: [00:14:01] Fun. Your dream come true. I love it. Yeah. Thanks. And you were speaking earlier about your background in fashion design. Has there been any impact of your fashion design background on your voice as a children's book author? Michele Wong McSween: [00:14:14] I don't know if my background as a fashion designer has had any impact on my voice. I think it's had an impact on how I imagined my books and how I color my books and how I designed them because of working with, you know, color palettes and, and putting together collections I can visually see and, can anticipate. Because I have that background, I can kind of anticipate what a customer might want. And also, you know, speaking with people at my events and seeing what kids gravitate to, that also helps. But I think there's so much more to being an author than just writing the books. You know, when I go to my events, I have a table display, I have setups, I have props, I have, I actually now have a, a small. Capsule of merchandise because I missed designing clothes. So I have a teeny collection of, you know, sweaters, hoodies, onesies, a tote bag, and plushies Miko Lee: [00:15:04] they're super cute by the way. Michele Wong McSween: [00:15:06] Oh, thank you. So, you know, fashion has come in in different ways and I think having that background has really helped. kind of become who they are Miko Lee: [00:15:17] Can you tell us about the latest book in the series, which is Gordon and Li Li All About Me. Can you tell a little bit about your latest? Michele Wong McSween: [00:15:25] Gordon & Li Li All About Me is really, it's, to me, it's. I think my most fun interactive book because it really gets kids and parents up and out of their chairs, out of their seats and moving around. And you know, as a parent, I always would think about the kind of books that my kids would gravitate towards. What would they want to read and what as a parent would I want to read with my kids? Because really reading is all about connection with your kids. That's what I loved about books is it gave me a way to connect with my kids. And so a book about body parts to me is just a really fun way to be animated and get up and move around and you can tickle and, and squeeze and shake it around and dance around. And, you know, having three boys, my house was just like a big energy ball. So I knew that this book would be a really fun one for families and I have two nieces and a nephew, and I now, they're my new target market testers, and they just loved it. They had so much fun pointing to their body parts and the book ends with head, shoulders, knees, and toes in English and in Mandarin. And so of course. Every kid knows head, shoulders, knees, and toes in English. So we sing that. We get up, we point to our pottered parts, we shake it around, we dance around. And then the fun part is teaching them head, shoulders, knees, and toes in Mandarin because they're already familiar with the song. It's not scary to learn something in Mandarin. It just kind of naturally happens. And so I think the All About Me book is just a really fun way to connect with kids. I've actually launched it at a couple of events already and the response to the book has been overwhelming. I was at the Brooklyn Children's Museum and even the president of the museum came and did the head shoulders. Knees and toes, songs with us. It was so much fun. Everybody was dancing around and having a great time. So I'm just really, really excited for people to pick up this book and really learn about the body. It's, you know, body positivity, it's body awareness, and it's just a great way to connect with your kids. Miko Lee: [00:17:31] So fun. I, I saw that you're recently at the Asian American Book Con. Can you talk a little bit about that experience? Michele Wong McSween: [00:17:38] Oh, that was great. That was the first of its kind and. I led the entire author segment of it. I would say individual authors. There were, there were, publishing companies that brought in their own authors, but I was responsible for bringing in the independent authors. And so I think we had about eight of us. There were Indian, Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, and we all came together for this one really special day of celebrating our voices and lifting each other up. And there was so much energy and so much positivity in that event, and I. Actually was just thinking about reaching out to the organizers last year and seeing if we could maybe do, part two? So, I'm glad you brought that up. It was a really positive experience. Miko Lee: [00:18:27] So we're celebrating the end of Asian American Pacific Islander Native Hawaiian month. Can you tell us why this month is important to you? Michele Wong McSween: [00:18:36] When you have something designated and set aside as, this is the month that we're going to be celebrating Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander heritage all month long, I think it kind of perks up. People's ears and they think, oh wow, this is a great opportunity for me to see what's happening in my community. I think it just brings the awareness to. The broader community and ultimately the world. And I think when we learn about each other and each other's cultures, it brings us closer together and makes us realize that we're really not that different from each other. And I think when there are so many events happening now it peaks the interest of people in the neighborhood that might otherwise not know about it and it can, really bring us closer together as a community. Miko Lee: [00:19:27] Michelle Wong McSween, thank you so much for joining me on Apex Express. It's great to hear more about you and about your latest book Gordon & Li Li and the entire series. Thank you so much. Michele Wong McSween: [00:19:39] Thank you, Miko Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:19:40] Thank you all so much for joining us. I'm here with Gloria l Huang, author of Kaya of the Ocean. Thank you so much for joining us, Gloria. Gloria Huang: [00:19:48] Oh, thanks so much for having me here. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:19:50] So first off, one question that we're asking all of our guests on our show tonight is, who are your people? However you identify, you know, your community, your ancestors, and what legacy do you carry with you? Gloria Huang: [00:20:01] Oh, that's such a good question. So I am my heritage is Chinese. My parents were born in China and then grew up in Taiwan. And I myself was actually born in Canada. But then moved the states pretty young and and American Canadian dual citizen and now, but I, my heritage plays a lot into my. Kind of my worldview. It really shaped, how I grew up and how I saw things. And so it features very prominently in my writing and in my stories as you could probably tell from Kaya the ocean. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:20:34] Yes. And I love the book so much. It was such a Gloria Huang: [00:20:37] thank you, Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:20:38] amazing read. And I'm also half Chinese and love the ocean. Just love the beach so much and have always felt such a connection with the water. I don't wanna give away too much things about the book, but I was wondering if you could talk about your inspiration for writing it and a little bit about, setting and everything. Gloria Huang: [00:20:56] Of course. So the inspiration for the book actually started I came up with the idea when the world was first emerging from the pandemic and I was seeing a lot of people obviously experiencing a lot of anxiety, but a lot of children very close to me in my life. And they were experiencing it for the first time, which was can be so difficult. I remember when it happened to me and there's just this tendency to. Worry that there's something wrong with you or that you've done something and you feel so alone. And so I remember standing by the ocean one night actually and thinking that I'd really love to write a book about a girl who is struggling with. The anxiety just to be able to send a message to all these kids that there's nothing wrong with them. They're not alone and really all parts of who they are. Even the parts they might not love so much are important parts of these amazing, beautiful, complicated people. They are. So that was the inspiration for that part of the story, the setting. I was very inspired. As you mentioned, the ocean is a huge inspiration to me. It actually comes into my mind, a lot of my stories and someone pointed that out once and I was like, you're right, it does. And I think part of it is that I love the ocean. I love the beach. I love being there, but I'm also so in awe of this powerful thing that, you know, where we know so little about it. It is. There's so much mystery to it. It can look so beautiful on the surface and be so dangerous underneath. I love it as a metaphor. I love it as a part of nature. So I think that was a huge part of why I wanted to incorporate that, especially because I think it also plays well into the metaphor for how some people experience anxiety and you can be calm on the surface, but so much is happening underneath. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:22:29] Absolutely. Yeah. Those interplay with each other and are metaphors for each other in such a beautiful way, mirror the experience. Yeah. I wanted to talk a little bit more about anxiety and particular, as a young Asian American girl the cultural specificity of having anxiety as a young Asian American woman. Gloria Huang: [00:22:46] Yes I definitely think it's no coincidence. I think that anxiety often goes hand in hand with perfectionism and pressure and I, many people feel that kind of pressure, but certainly a young Asian girl especially with immigrant parents, will feel specific kind of pressure. And so I was really trying to portray that, Somebody once said to me, they were like, oh, I really like how Kaya on the surface seems so put together. She's, got really good grades. She works really hard at school. She's close to her parents, but there's all this going on underneath. And I actually think that's not unusual in terms of that experience for Asian American children of immigrants, and especially if you're female I was really trying to. Tease that out. And then in addition I think there's a tendency, and this might exist in other cultures as well, but in Asian culture, at least in my family history there's a tendency not to really want to talk about mental health. There was a, there's a joke in my family that my parents thought anything could be solved with good sleep and good nutrition, like anytime you had any problem. And I think that there is a, there's a. resistance to feeling like your child can be struggling in a way you can't help them. So I, really wanted to touch on that, part of the cultural pressures at play in kaya's life. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:23:59] And you did so beautifully and it was very relatable, as a anxious Asian girly. And also just, the discussion of big feelings and somehow, having inklings that you may be more powerful than you even realize, but the kind of like emotions that come with that too. Gloria Huang: [00:24:15] Yes. I think that's a huge part of it is that like when you experience these huge feelings they feel powerful, know, in a negative way. But what I was really trying to get at was, there is also power in accepting these parts of yourself and realizing that They can make up this powerful being that you are, even if you might not love them in that moment. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:24:34] Yeah. I felt very seen by the book and I, couldn't help but wonder wow, what would it have been like if I had read this when I was, 13 or 12 or kind of Closer to the age of the characters in the book. Gloria Huang: [00:24:45] Thank you so much for saying that it actually means a lot because a lot of my motivation when I do write these books is to write for people who are either of that age or, wish they had a book like that at that age, which is also how I feel a lot about books nowadays and oh, I, I'm so glad that exists. I wish that had been around when I was that age. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:25:03] Yes. Were there any books that really set an example for you that either you read, maybe when you were, in the young adult. Age range or that you've read now as an adult where you're like, okay, this is definitely the audience that I wanna be writing for. Gloria Huang: [00:25:17] Definitely. I actually love this question 'cause I'm a big reader and so I love talking about books . When I was a kid, middle grade books were my gateway into my love of reading. So I still remember a lot of my favorite books, but I would say a recent book, it's actually maybe not that recent now, it's maybe a couple years old, but a book that really. Had an effect on the middle grade book was when you trap a tiger by Tae Keller and it explores. The kind of Korean experience, but also through the prism of kind of understanding generational grief. And it was just so beautifully done and really made an impact on me. So that was one recently that I thought was really powerful. And, I was like, this is an important book. This is definitely a book I would've loved as a child. When I was younger and I was reading books, there were three books that meant a lot to me. One was called the true confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and it was like a swashbuckling adventure story starring a girl, which was, at that time not very common. And it was, it meant, it was so earth shattering to me to be able to see a female character in that role. So that was great. There's a book called. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt. And it's an adventure story and it also stars. The main character is a very strong female character and Tuck everlasting, which I just think is a beautiful book. It's also female characters. Now I'm saying it out loud. They are all female main characters. And all about, existentialism and adventure and things that, it was important for me to see. Female characters exploring. But I did also wanna say that when I was reading middle grade books, some of my favorite books included a series called, babysitters Club, which I think that they've redone now as a graphic novel. And that was actually really important, not necessarily for the stories, but because there's a character named Claudia Kishi who. Was a Japanese American character and she absolutely shattered the minds of, I think all kids that age were Asian descent and female in reading these books because there just wasn't a character like her before that, she was so cool and artistic but she had immigrant parents and she had a sister who was very good at math and they didn't get along and she loved junk food and she was. So incredibly nuanced and it was just not something that we saw back then. So that really inspired me, I think, to want to add to the diversity of voices. And thankfully there are many more diverse voices now than when I was reading. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:27:30] I love that. And I also feel like books that you read at that age, they stay with you forever. Gloria Huang: [00:27:35] They really do. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:27:35] And they shape so much of like your worldview and your friendships. And I'm curious, 'cause I know the book was released this year in January. Mm-hmm. So what has it been like for you on your book tour and what's been some other responses that you've heard? I. Gloria Huang: [00:27:48] It's been really great. It was so exciting to do the book launch and then just the amount of support from the writing community from, my, my kind of network, my agents and my publisher and editor. And also just readers. It's been really great. But one thing I think I wasn't expecting to love quite so much, not because I was expecting to not love it. I just said, it occurred to me that I would feel this way is getting feedback from, child readers is amazing because, I think as writers we love feedback no matter what. And if it's positive feedback, that's even better. But having a child reach out and as some of my friends will send a video of their. Children reacting to the book or they'll, their, let their child type out a text messages and just to hear how the book hits with them and to hear their excitement or to hear that they were moved or to have them want to know what happens next. It meant so much to me because it was, they're the target audience and to have them feel seen in that way was just, it's just the ultimate kind of powerful feeling. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:28:51] That is so sweet. Oh my gosh. I can only imagine. And so you're talking about the young readers. Yes. But I'm also curious if you have any advice or thoughts for young writers who might be wanting to share and get similar stories out to the world? Gloria Huang: [00:29:05] Yeah I definitely do. And one of the. Experiences I've had that's been great is I've been doing, some school visits and I go and I talk about the book, but I actually talk about the writing process. And when I do that, I really talk to the kids. As if they're writers. The one of the first questions I ask is, hold up your hand. If you love writing or you think you want me, you might wanna be a writer someday. And a lot of hands go up and I tell them like, what the publishing process is, what are, the different genre options, what you might wanna consider, how you come up with an idea, how you sit down and write it, how you reach out to an agent. And I am surprised at how. Intensely, they're hanging onto every word and they're insightful questions after it. It shows me that a lot of them are really thinking about this. I think for one of the school visits, I remember someone held up her hand and she said what is the youngest age I. Someone has been able to be published. And I thought that was great. Because they're so inspired and you can tell that, that they're thinking for the first time this is a possibility. I have all kinds of advice during the school visits, the main piece of advice is really. Just that it can be a tough industry. writing is a very isolated process usually. There's a lot of kind of obstacles and there's a lot of gatekeeping. And so I tell 'em that the most important thing they can do is just keep pushing through and not to let any, setbacks stop them, because the ultimate goal is to reach even just one person. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:30:24] Absolutely. And what kind of advice do you give around learning how to hone your own voice and also having discipline when it comes to an artistic practice? Gloria Huang: [00:30:33] Yeah, I think that's such a great question. And I was gonna say this piece of advice is probably more for I. Older writers, but adult writers, I guess I should say. The one thing that I've really been thinking about having published a middle grade book is the very specific and unique experience of writing for middle grade audiences. I think a lot of my friends who write for older audience groups, young adults, adults, They have their own challenges, but one of the things that is different is when they're writing, they are writing for the same target audience. That's also the decision makers. So generally, adults and young adults are picking their own books, and they're speaking to someone who will. Ultimately be the ones to pick up the books where when you're writing for middle grade audiences they're not usually the decision makers. at bookstores, they may or may not be in charge of which book they buy, in. Schools, usually it's a librarian or a teacher. So in some ways you're writing for one audience, but you're also writing a subject matter that you're hoping the decision makers will decide is worthy to put in front of your ultimate readers. So that's one challenge. And then the other challenge is I think middle grade audiences are so. fascinating because they're going through this amazingly unusual time in their lives, whether it's eventful and there's new experiences and that can be exciting, but also scary. So there's a lot to mind in terms of topics, but they are also a mixture of being very sophisticated readers who are on the cusp of being teens. And so there's a healthy dose of, skepticism, but they're still young enough that they. Believe in magic, at least in the literary world. So you, there's a lot of room to play with that. But they also. They sound different. They speak differently than adults. So it's important to get the dialogue, for me I, turn to children in my life, including my own, just to do a check to make sure that the dialogue sounds authentic and something that, people, that kids would say. So a lot of thoughts there, but I think, I've been thinking a lot about middle grade and writing for middle grade, and what a unique experience it is. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:32:26] Yeah, that's such a good point about the decision maker and having the multiple audiences, and I'm sure sometimes the decision makers are reading the books too, right? Or reading it with their kids or what have you. For your personal writing practice, are there any upcoming projects that you can share with us? And how do you stay inspired for what I imagine is like the long haul of writing something. Gloria Huang: [00:32:45] I'm happiest when I have like several projects in the pipeline. So as soon as I am done a book or it's, outta my hands, it's with my agents or my editors. I'm looking to write another book. And I think sometimes I probably overwhelm my amazing book before agents. 'cause I'm like, I'm ready to start another story. And they're like, we're still looking at the book you just sent us. But I, that's very much how. I am happiest. I would definitely say that everybody finds their own rhythm. I'm in some writers groups and some people are incredibly fast drafters and just need multiple projects at a time. And some people are like, no, I need to work on one project and I need to have it to perfection and I'm gonna work on it for a year or two. And I think whatever works for the individual artist, I think is the best kind of process for them. But yes, for me it's very much about having multiple projects. I think I'm most inspired when I have different projects going at the same time. finding your own rhythm, I think is my advice. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:33:40] kaya of the ocean has, strong themes and storylines about, myths, mythology, Chinese mythology, and goddesses. I'm curious if you wanna talk any more about that and then also if that shows up in any of the other projects you're working on Gloria Huang: [00:33:54] Yes, the Chinese mythological water goddess that features. Pretty prominently in Kaya of the Ocean is Matsu. And I find her to be such a fascinating character. She is a real goddess who's worshiped still in Asia. I think. Fishermen often will, pray to her for safe passage when they go out on the water. And my father told me about her when I was younger he told me like the side stories and I thought that was really interesting. But it was only when I started thinking about this book that I thought, I'd love to, I'd love to incorporate her. I hadn't heard about her too much in, in the fictional world, even though I knew she was still like a revered goddess. But I thought it was so cool that she was this strong. I. Strong female figure in a space that didn't always have that, hundreds of years ago. And so I dove into her story a little bit and found out, the story is that she was once a human child who loved to read and then she was afraid of swimming in water until she was older and then she drowned, saving, trying to save some relatives and it was interesting 'cause I'd already started plotting out Kaya and writing Kaya. And so much of her story wove easily into what I had already come up with. Like there, I think she has two sidekicks that were one time enemies that she, made into her friends and I'd already had Kaya written with two friends, Naomi and Ana. So I, there was just so much that I felt was kismet. And it was really fun to be able to weave that story together and fictionalize it. But I think it was also meaningful for me to be able to do that because. When I was younger, I loved reading Greek mythology. the stories are beautiful and they've been redone in beautiful ways, but it definitely was an area where I didn't necessarily see myself reflected. As part of my goal to add to the diversity of voices, I really wanted to feature Chinese mythology and bring those stories in so that. Kids can either see themselves reflected in those stories and or understand a new kind of set of mythology and learn about a new culture. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:35:46] Yes. I'm so glad you put it that way because it is, it's such a privilege to have access to, our own I. Cultural stories and knowledge through these, like fun and modern interpretations. Definitely. So I'm so glad that this can provide that. Gloria Huang: [00:36:00] Oh, thank you. I did realize I didn't answer your other question, which is does it feature my other works? Which so I have sold another middle grade novel and I'm, it's not announced yet. I'm hoping to announce it soon. And I have some other. Books. I'm working on a young adult novel so far. They have not featured Chinese mythology, but I do definitely have a type that my most of my books tend to be contemporary settings, but with elements of speculative. Fantasy, just like the light touch of that and sometimes a little bit of historical elements as well. So they, they definitely all have that similar motif, but so far chi of the ocean is the only one to feature a Chinese mythological goddess. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:36:43] Thank you so much for sharing that. I love that. And I really love the relationship that Kaya had with her two friends and just and then also like the cousin that comes and just capturing like the banter amongst, amongst the girls. Gloria Huang: [00:36:56] Thank you so much. that was really important to me, I think because at the stage that Kaia is in her life the loves of her life really are her two friends, Naomi and Ana, and they feature very prominently in how she learns to cope with her anxiety and her symptoms of anxiety. And so I really, I think that I really wanted to center her their friendship as much as possible. So I'm I'm glad that you saw it that way too. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:37:19] Yeah. And I feel like, I mean, it truly is the most important relationship. And so it's nice when works of fiction and yeah, works of fiction, can reflect that in such a beautiful way. I know you mentioned that you have daughters or have children? Gloria Huang: [00:37:32] I do, yes. I have a son and a daughter. And my daughter actually was quite involved because when I first started writing Kaya, I think she was exactly of the age that she would be the target reader group. And so she actually helped Beta read it. She provided a lot of feedback. She became like a cheerleader. She was definitely involved in the process and I think that was really exciting for her. my son became of the reading age once it came out, so he reads it and he's a big fan too, Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:38:00] that's so sweet. I love that your daughter was part of the editing process too. That's amazing. Gloria Huang: [00:38:04] Yeah. Yeah. She loves writing and always says she wants to be a writer herself, so it was really special that she got to be part of this and see it up close. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:38:13] Oh wow. Do you think you would do any collaborative projects with her in the future? Gloria Huang: [00:38:16] It's so funny that you say that. She always suggests that. And then sometimes they'll actually start a Google doc and they'll say, let's write a story together. And we all have, of course, very different writing styles. And then at some point they both actually usually just start reading what I'm writing. And at that point I'm like, this is not collaborative. You have to write as well. So we've had a couple of false starts, but that's always a joke that we're gonna do that together. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:38:39] that's so sweet. What else is upcoming for you? I know this is, Asian American and native Hawaiian Pacific Islander month right now, and the episode will come out towards the end of May. So if there's anything else coming up from you for this month or for June or the summer. Yeah. We'd love to hear what you have going on. Gloria Huang: [00:38:57] Oh, yeah. Today actually Kaya's audio book was released people can listen to it. It was narrated by this amazing, narrator, Cindy K. And so anywhere you find audio books is available. And that was really cool. I've listened to a little bit of it and you, when you write, you hear the words in your head one way, and then it's amazing to hear like another artist do their take on it. So that's really cool. I will be at the Bay Area book Festival at the end of the month of May. There. Doing like different panels and I'll be on a panel. it's about Fantastical Worlds. I'm really excited about that. hopefully we'll be able to announce this other book soon. As you, you may know publishing is a very long lead time it will be a while before it's released, but I think the hope is to release it during, a API month as well just not this year. And working on a young adult novel that hopefully we can go on submission with at some point. But it's an exciting time for sure. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:39:51] Wow, that does sound so exciting. I can't wait to hear about your new projects and to continue to read the work that you put out into the world. Is there anything else that you'd like to discuss or talk about? Gloria Huang: [00:40:01] I think just to say a thank you to you for, having me on here and reading Kaya of the Ocean and really anyone who's been interested in joining Kaya and her friends on their journey. It's just, it's so amazing, I think, to create these characters that become real to you, and then have them become real to other people. I don't have the words to describe how meaningful it is to me, but thank you. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:40:24] Thank you for letting us join into the world of Kaya for a little bit 'cause it was very fun and healing and all of the amazing things. And thanks so much for joining us today on Apex Express. Gloria Huang: [00:40:36] For sure. Thanks so much. Miko Lee: [00:40:38] Welcome, Andrea Wang, award-winning children's book author to Apex Express. Andrea Wang: [00:40:43] Thank you, Miko. I'm so happy to be here. Miko Lee: [00:40:46] Happy to have you. I'd love to start first with a personal question, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you? Andrea Wang: [00:40:57] My people are from China. My mother's family belonged to an ethnic minority, called the Haka or the Kaja people, and she and her siblings were. A military family, and we're each born in a different province. And when the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949, they went to Taiwan where she grew up and immigrated to the United States in 1965 or 1966. My father's family are from Guangdong Province, and so I'm Cantonese on that side, although I don't speak any Cantonese. And he went to Hong Kong after the Chinese Civil War. So I am the daughter of Chinese immigrants, second generation Chinese American. Miko Lee: [00:42:01] And what legacy do you carry with you? Andrea Wang:[00:42:03] I carry the legacy of their stories, both the ones that I know and the ones that I don't know yet. Miko Lee: [00:42:12] Ooh. It sounds like there's lots of juicy things for you still to discover. That is fun. Andrea Wang: [00:42:16] Yes. Miko Lee: [00:42:17] Today we're talking about your new book, watercress, can you share what the audience, what the book is about, and then what is your inspiration for this book? Andrea Wang: [00:42:25] So the book is about a Chinese American girl who is growing up in rural Ohio and her parents spot watercress growing in a ditch by the side of the road, and they immediately pull over and make her enter older brother, get out of the car and get down into the ditch with them and collect this. Vegetable, but to her it's a weed. And so when they serve it to her and her family at dinner, she really is unhappy about this and. For her, picking food out of a ditch has a really different meaning than it does to her parents who survived a lot of hardship in China. And it's not until her mom tells her a story about her childhood growing up in China and spoiler alert, loses a sibling to the famine that the girl begins to understand and better appreciate her parents, her culture, and her heritage. Miko Lee: [00:43:29] And the inspiration for this book. Andrea Wang: [00:43:32] So the inspiration is largely my own life. this is a semi autobiographical story. The memory of picking watercress by the side of the road was just something that I couldn't forget, I don't know why this memory continued to haunt me into adulthood. And then after my mom passed away, I started writing down, memories and stories of being with my family in order to maintain a connection to her. When I wrote this, at first it was a personal essay and it just wasn't working. I would put it away and I would occasionally take it out and I would put it away and take it out and work on it again. And it wasn't until I decided to pursue writing for young people that I completely changed the manuscript from a personal essay into a picture book. But at that point it still wasn't working. It was in third person and it wasn't very personal It took me several more years to figure out the heart of the story for me. So it was largely based on my own memories and my mother's childhood stories that she shared with me. Miko Lee: [00:44:39] Can you share more about the power of memory and the artistic process? 'cause you've written many books and in different genres as well, but can you talk a little bit more about memory and its impact on your work? Andrea Wang: [00:44:52] Yeah, that's a great question. I tend to write primarily for myself. And to figure out how I felt about certain experiences, how they've changed me, to try and process things I feel like I remember a lot about my childhood. parts of it are very vivid and I like to go back to those. Moments that have stuck with me all these years and explore what it means to me. Like I'm just very curious about why I remember certain things watercress was largely my way of processing my childhood feelings of shame about my family and my culture. I have leaned into that and am still writing stories about identity and the struggle to find our identity. Memory has a lot to do with it. I put myself in every single book. Miko Lee: [00:45:45] Ooh, that's so interesting. And you're talking a little bit about shame and overcoming that. I'm wondering if you could speak more on, if you feel like memories hold the power to heal. Andrea Wang: [00:45:56] I firmly believe that memories hold the power to heal. I think that writing watercress and talking about these feelings has really helped me, , heal from, that sort of trauma of not feeling like I belonged as a kid and also that I may have been. Not the nicest kid to my parents, not the most filial, right? And so writing this story was, as I say in the author's note, sort of an apology and a love letter to my parents. So it's been very healing and healing to hear about from all the. People who have read the book and had it resonate with them, the things that they regretted in their lives and hoped to, heal as well. Miko Lee: [00:46:42] Oh, have you heard that story a lot from adult readers? Andrea Wang: [00:46:46] I have. They will often tell me about the things that their parents did that embarrassed them. A lot of foraging stories, but also stories about, relatives and ancestors who were sharecroppers or indigenous peoples. And it's just been fascinating how many people connect to the story on different levels. There is that theme of poverty. I think recognizing. That's not often talked about in children's books, I think makes people feel very seen. Miko Lee: [00:47:14] Yeah. That feeling of shame is really showcased by the illustrator Jason Chin. I mean your young you character kind of has a grumpy look on their face. And it was just so fun. Even in the book notes, Jason Chin, the illustrator, writes about how he combined both the western and eastern style of art, but also his similar cross-cultural background. I'm wondering when you very first saw the artwork and this was kind of young you did anything surprise you by it? Andrea Wang: [00:47:42] I mean, it's amazing, gorgeous artwork and I was really struck by how he dealt with the flashbacks because when I sold this manuscript, I. Had no idea how an illustrator would deal with how interior it is and, , and how they would tackle those flashbacks. And there's one spread where on the left hand side of the page, it shows the main character's current time and then it morphs across the gutter of the book into. The moms past and her childhood memories in China, and it was just exquisite is really the only way to describe it. It was, it's just brilliant, and amazing. We don't, as picture book authors typically get to work with our illustrators. We often do not have contact with them through the making of a picture book. But in this case. Our editors said since it was such a personal story for me, that he, , felt that Jason and I should collaborate. And so I provided photos, family photos, photos of Ohio, lots of different, , source materials to Jason and would talk to him about the feelings that young me in the book went through. And so the fact that, he was able to take all of that and put it on the page, it was just. Spectacular. Miko Lee: [00:49:01] Oh, that's so fun. I also understand that you love mythical creatures as you I, and one of your children's books is the Nian Monster, which I love. I'm wondering what is your favorite mythical creature and why? Andrea Wang: [00:49:15] I. Have been sort of fascinated with the qilin, the, or they call it the Chinese unicorn. Right. Although it looks very different from what we think of a, a European unicorn looks like. Yes. And I think it's because they're supposed to be this really benevolent, creature and Have all sorts of powers and I would love to do more research about the qilin and, you know, incorporate that into a book someday. Miko Lee: [00:49:42] Ooh, fun. Next book. I love it. you have so many books and I'm really curious about your upcoming book Worthy about Joseph Pierce. I love these as Helen Zia talks about these. MIH moments that are missing in history. And Joseph Pierce was the highest ranking Chinese American man who fought in the Civil War. Some people might recognize this picture of this Chinese American guy in a kind of civil war, uniform. Can you tell us one, when is the book being released and a little bit more about it? Andrea Wang: [00:50:11] Sure. The book is being released on September 9th, 2025, and it is. A picture book, which we typically think of as for younger readers, but it is 64 pages. So you know, it's an all ages picture book. I think my editor and I would like to say, and it is the story of a Chinese boy born in the, First half of the 18 hundreds in China in Guangdong province, and was sold by his father to an American ship captain named Amos Peck. the reasons for that are, lost to time, right? He left no primary sources behind, there was so much going on in China at the time. Famine war, you know, all of these, Difficult things that his father probably sold him in order to keep the rest of the family alive and as well as give him the opportunity to have a better life. And he did end up in Connecticut. He was raised with the captain's, siblings and sent to school and treated almost like a member of the family except for the fact that he was. Clearly Chinese and there were very few Chinese people in, Connecticut at that time. he joined the Union Army when he came of age and was able to leverage his service into gaining citizenship, which really people of color, weren't really able to do successfully back then. And so. He gained a citizenship. He married, he had a family. He was able to own property and accomplish all these amazing things. Sort of right before the Chinese exclusion Act was, enacted. So he was a very brave guy. Miko Lee: [00:51:45] It's a wild story and you sent me on a little bit of a rabbit hole, which is fun. Just, looking at Ruth Ann, McCune's. historical piece that there were 10 different Chinese American men in the Civil War, but he was exceptional because he rose to such high ranks. And I just think it's so interesting that, in the 1880 census, he registered as Chinese. But then after the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, he listed his race as Japanese in the 1890 census. but he was racialized as white so that he could buy property and everything. Yeah. Can you just talk a little bit about that, like talk about code switching? He like literally changed his race, Andrea Wang: [00:52:26] right. And people at that time could not tell the difference. Similar to now, people often can't tell different Asian, ethnicities apart. Right. I found actual newspaper articles where Joseph Pierce was interviewed about the battles, that the United States was having with Japan or the battles that Japan was having. He was asked his opinion on what the Japanese government was doing because he told these reporters he was Japanese and that was really the only clue that I had that he, Was code switching that after the Chinese exclusion Act was passed, he felt like he needed to protect himself and his family and he must have cut off his cue because otherwise, you know, that would've identified him immediately as Chinese. So that went into the book. I think it's a powerful moment, right, where he's doing what he has to do to survive and ensure his protection and his family's safety, Miko Lee: [00:53:25] You have a, a really interesting background. Just having No really, I mean, having done all these different things and I, you know, I think you have a science background too, right? Can you talk about the times that we're living in right now, the political times that we're living in, where our government is banning books that don't align with certain conservative ideologies, where right now certain words are forbodden suddenly. And can you talk a little bit about how that impacts you as a children's book author? Andrea Wang: [00:53:59] it is very disheartening and discouraging that the current climate is against, people who look like me or other people of color. And as a children's book author, we are experiencing a huge decrease in the number of teachers and librarians who are asking us to come and visit schools, to talk to students, which is horrible because. These young people are the ones who need to learn from books, right? Knowledge is power. And if we are not keeping them informed, then we are doing them a disservice. I think the attacks on our freedom to read are really unjust. and. personally as an author of color, I understand that books like Worthy may end up on some of these banned book lists because it does talk about racism. but these are the stories that we need now, and I'm going to continue writing these stories about the Hidden History, And to talk about these difficult subjects that I think kids understand on some level. but if they're not reading about it in books, then it's hard to spark a conversation with, educators or adults about it. So I think these books that I'm writing, that many of my friends and other children's book authors are writing are providing that. Sort of gateway to talk about, the topics that are so important right now. Miko Lee: [00:55:29] Thank you so much for sharing, and thank you so much for being on Apex Express today. We appreciate your voice and the work that you're putting out there in the world. Is there anything else you'd like to say? Andrea Wang: [00:55:39] you know, there's so much to say, I think just to. Stand up for what we all believe in and to, I encourage people to stand up for their intellectual freedom and that of their children. Miko Lee: [00:55:56] Thank you, Andrea Wang. I appreciate hearing from you and hearing your voice and seeing your work out there in the world. Andrea Wang: [00:56:03] Thank you so much, Miko. It was a pleasure. Miko Lee: [00:56:05] Please check out our website, kpfa.org. To find out more about our show 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 created by Miko Lee, Jalena Keane-Lee, Preti Mangala-Shekar, Swati Rayasam, Aisa Villarosa, Estella Owoimaha-Church, Gabriel Tanglao, Cheryl Truong and Ayame Keane-Lee. The post APEX Express – 5.29.25 AAPI Children's Books appeared first on KPFA.
On this month's episode of Voices of the Mat-Su titled“Braver Than We Believe,” we hear from two people who pulled themselves up out of crisis and chaos. Stories of finding strength and hope through belonging and friendship..
Family Matters with Jim Minnery - The Faith & Politics Show !
Republicans yesterday were able to uphold Governor Dunleavy's appropriate veto of HB69, the massive education funding increase passed by Democrat-led majorities in both Legislative chambers that included absolutely no measurable outcomes to ensure that public school students would benefit.Today, I have the pleasure of chatting with Senator Mike Shower, a MatSu legislator who leads the Alaska Senate Republican Caucus. Shower, a long time friend of AFC and one who emanates common sense, is not falling for the mainstream media line that the veto and subsequent vote by the Legislature to uphold it, pits pro-education policy makers against those who don't want our public schools to succeed. And you shouldn't either.I hope you can tune in.Support the show
April is the Month of the Military Child. In“We Serve Too”, this month's episode of Voices of the Mat-Su, we learn a little more about the challenges and the pride in being a military child. L
A late-night dining spot in downtown Anchorage is still standing after a vehicle crashed in the early hours of Sunday morning. Father Madison Hayes is a priest for the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau based in the Mat-Su remembers Pope Francis and shares memories of when he lived in the Vatican for four years during his studies.
https://www.bigcabbageradio.org/2025/04/16/valley-edition-matsu-v
Dos crímenes brutales estremecen a Chile y enlutan a Venezuela. Estefany Morales y Sarais González eran dos jóvenes zulianas que emigraron buscando una vida mejor, pero encontraron su final de la forma más cruel. Una fue eliminada por su suegra en Osorno, la otra por su ex pareja en Temuco. Ambas dejaron atrás sueños, familias rotas y una sociedad que todavía no puede creer lo ocurrido. Distribuido por Genuina Media
Foreign countries are pushing back on President Donald Trump's tariffs with import taxes of their own. We take a look at how that has affected Alaskan goods and oil prices. Plus, in the Mat-Su, a weekend altercation at a movie theater left an employee of the theater shaken as she claims she was “body-slammed” during an altercation involving a group of teens.
https://www.bigcabbageradio.org/2025/03/27/rock-matsu-2025-3-24/feed/
Send us a textAlaska State House Representative Jubilee Underwood of Wasilla lost the August 2024 primary to the incumbent Representative David Eastman. Few folks thought that she had a chance of winning that race, but come November, Underwood defeated Eastman. She is now here in Juneau forging a new path for her community. Prior to running for the House she served three years on the MatSu School Board, the last as President. We talk about her journey into politics as well as her early life on today's show. Note: one of her best friends from high school, Elexie Moore was also elected to the State House at the same time as Underwood. Moore replaced Jesse Sumner as a representative of Wasilla. You will hear us refer to Elexie by her first name at various points during today's interview.
馬祖 Mǎzǔ - Matsu (an archipelago near Taiwan)兩岸 liǎng'àn - both sides of the Taiwan Strait對岸 duì'àn - the opposite shore (mainland China in this context)集結 jíjié - to assemble, to gather兵力 bīnglì - military forces配備 pèibèi - to equip, equipment重型大炮 zhòngxíng dàpào - heavy artillery射程 shèchéng - range (of a weapon)覆蓋 fùgài - to cover, to span over島嶼 dǎoyǔ - islands戰鬥機 zhàndòujī - fighter jet防禦工作 fángyù gōngzuò - defense operations國軍 guójūn - national military (Taiwanese army)隨時警戒 suíshí jǐngjiè - to stay on high alert at all times修築 xiūzhú - to construct, to build防禦工事 fángyù gōngshì - defensive structures, fortifications預測 yùcè - to predict, to forecast攻打 gōngdǎ - to attack, to assault傍晚 bāngwǎn - evening, dusk出奇 chūqí - unexpectedly, surprisingly聲東擊西 shēngdōng jíxī - "create a diversion in the east and attack in the west" (a military strategy)戰略 zhànlüè - strategy中共 Zhōnggòng - Chinese Communist Party (CCP)假裝 jiǎzhuāng - to pretend, to feign攻打 gōngdǎ - to attack (repeated)金門 Jīnmén - Kinmen (an island near China controlled by Taiwan)戰場 zhànchǎng - battlefield高度戒備 gāodù jièbèi - high alert, heightened security砲擊策略 pàojí cèlüè - artillery strike strategy單打雙不打 dāndǎ shuāng bù dǎ - "fire on odd days, ceasefire on even days" (a bombardment strategy)每隔一天 měigé yì tiān - every other day發射 fāshè - to launch, to fire (a missile or shell)炮彈 pàodàn - artillery shell炮彈聲 pàodàn shēng - sound of artillery shells死神 sǐshén - the Grim Reaper, metaphor for death低語 dīyǔ - to whisper警告 jǐnggào - warning性命 xìngmìng - life擊中 jízhòng - to hit, to strike一戶人家 yí hù rénjiā - a household, a family不幸遇難 bùxìng yùnàn - to die tragically, to perish in an accident居民 jūmín - residents, inhabitants地雷 dìléi - landmine防止 fángzhǐ - to prevent敵軍 díjūn - enemy troops登陸 dēnglù - to land (military invasion)埋設 máishè - to bury, to install (mines)陷入 xiànrù - to fall into, to be caught in踩到 cǎi dào - to step on後果 hòuguǒ - consequence, outcome不堪設想 bùkān shèxiǎng - unimaginable, disastrous consequences誤踩 wùcǎi - to accidentally step on喪生 sàngshēng - to lose one's life, to perish生存法則 shēngcún fǎzé - survival rule遺跡 yíjì - historical site, relicWant to improve your Chinese?
In this compelling episode of the Must Read Alaska Show, host Ben Carpenter welcomes Donna Anderson, a retired educator and the Kenai Chapter Chair for Moms for Liberty, to discuss the pressing issues facing Alaska's education system. With over 30 years of involvement in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District as a teacher, substitute, parent, and grandparent, Donna brings a wealth of firsthand experience to the conversation. She opens up about her decision to retire after 26 years of teaching, driven by frustration with inconsistent policies, questionable curriculum choices like Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA), and a growing disconnect between district leadership and classroom realities. Now, as a leader in Moms for Liberty—a national organization dedicated to empowering parents and holding government accountable—Donna is channeling her passion into grassroots advocacy. She sheds light on overcrowded classrooms, controversial age-inappropriate content, and the district's failure to address teacher burnout or conduct exit interviews to understand why educators and families are leaving. From her regular presence at school board meetings to her role in launching a statewide legislative committee, Donna explains how Moms for Liberty is mobilizing concerned parents, grandparents, and even dads across Alaska's four chapters (Fairbanks, Mat-Su, Anchorage, and Kenai Peninsula) to demand transparency and better outcomes for students. Listeners will gain insight into the challenges of curriculum rushed into implementation, the financial waste of unused materials, and the broader cultural and policy shifts needed to retain both students and teachers. Whether you're a parent, educator, or citizen seeking solutions, this episode offers a candid look at the state of public education and a roadmap for getting involved. Contact Donna at moms4libertykpen@gmail.com or 907-252-7207 to join the effort, or visit momsforliberty.org to connect with a chapter near you and “find your people.”
Send us a textAlaska State Senator Rob Yundt was born and raised in Wasilla and stumbled into wrestling as a 7th grader. Little did he know that wrestling would change his life ultimately leading to a career as a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter with a professional record of 9 wins and five losses – his UFC match against Ricardo Almeida in 2008 (which is available on YouTube) was a pay-per-view event streamed live from the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas and was watched by millions of people worldwide. After a couple decades of managing his own construction companies, he ran for the MatSu Borough Assembly and won serving from 2020 to 2024. Last year, he defeated incumbent Wasilla Senator David Wilson. We talk about all of that and his bill that would close the S-Corp loop hole that allows certain companies to pay less taxes than others.
Today we'll dive into the headlines and the latest on what's happening the AKLEG, then in hour two we'll be joined by State Senator Shelley Hughes to discuss her thoughts on the budget and maybe catch up with some of the Matsu delegation.
Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuWell 2024 is done and there has been so many highlights for me personally as well as with my bonsai. I chat about a few of my podcast favourites and how small incremental improvements with my bonsai make me happy. During the year I travelled for bonsai, I travelled a lot! From one corner of Australia to the other as well as a trip to New Zealand and I loved it all. So many shiny, happy, bonsai people and so much bonsai love. It's nice to know we're not alone. Bring on 2025...Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web
Today we'll talk with 2 legislators about the upcoming session and the creation of the minority caucus. We'll start in hour one with Rep Kevin McCabe from the MatSu about his priorities and what he sees coming up in this years session as the big issues. Then in hour two we'll have the full hour to talk to Rep Justin Ruffridge from the Peninsula about the upcoming session and especially gas and other issues.
Today we'll focus on Valley stuff, starting off in hour one with an interview with Candidate for MATSU School Board Tom Bergey. We'll talk about his vision for schools and more. Then in hour two we're going to talk with Senator Shelley Hughes about Valley races and some of the issues she's seeing.
In this episode of the Must Read Alaska Show, host John Quick sits down with Mayor Edna DeVries, the current Mayor of Mat-Su Borough, to discuss her decision to run for re-election. Edna shares her motivations for seeking another term, outlines her key priorities if re-elected, and explains what sets her apart from the other candidates in the race. Tune in to hear an in-depth conversation about the future of Mat-Su Borough and why Edna believes she's the right choice to continue leading the community. Check out her website here: http://www.ednadevries.com/
Omicasa, aka DJ Craze & Matsu, go Back To Back! Willy talks with them about their new "We Got U" EP, working with Dirtybird, making house with a hip hop attitude, what DJs don't understand about booking agents, creative constraints, quitting the day job, attic parties, being a kid forever & lots more! Omicasa: https://bio.site/omicasa Willy Joy: http://linktr.ee/willyjoy PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: https://abortionfunds.org/funds/ https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/ https://www.sistersong.net/
The legendary DJ Craze and New York's Matsu combine powers to become Omicasa. And On this episode of Dirtybird Radio they turn out a guest set that packs a huge punch and features their brand new Dirtybird single "Ultimate" which hits the streets in just a few days. VR warm-up set:geriFree - "Pure Joy (Stacey HotWaxx Hale & HazMat Live Remix)" [Give A Beat Records]Eskuche - "How To Groove" [Farris Wheel Limited]Julian Collazos - "Minigroove" [Mood Child]New Girl - "Time Is Frozen (K-Mack Remix)" [UnlearnRecords]Omicasa guest set:Deekapz – Poc PocGeotheory – The DifferenceSlumberjack & Posij - ScoutMatsu & Mike Deuce - Fading [Nervous Records]Hardrive – Deep Inside [Strictly Rhythm]Matsu & Mike Deuce - Empty [Slow Roast Records]Omicasa (Craze & Matsu) – Ultimate [Dirtybird Records]Rodney Dinkles – Alien Shuffle (Hype Bass Remix) [Music is 4 Lovers Records]Holt 88 - Flow [Perfect Driver Records]Corey James x Dice Of Nights - Sisco [Club Bad Records]Omicasa (Craze & Matsu) – Big Groove [Unreleased]L.R.S (feat. Siobhan Anderson) - Get Fucked Up [Dirtybird Records]Omicasa (Craze & Matsu) – Alkaline Dreams [Slow Roast Records]Max Kaluza - Only You [This Ain't Bristol Records]Elay Lazutkin – Special [There Is A Light Records]Breaking Beattz – Flex [Retail Records]Steve Angelo – Freedom (Body Ocean Remix) (Ft. Pusha T)Bleu Clair - Places [Rules Don't Apply Records]Matsu – Y'all Wanna Play?! [Unreleased]Jace Mek – No Stress [DND Records]Matsu – Right On Time [Slow Roast Records]Errio Indra – Kill It With Da [Dirtybird Records]Juush – My Sh*t [Retail Records]CASHEW - PumpinSeanathan - Call On Me [Nite Records]Borgez – Millions (Omicasa [Dirtybird Records]Martin Ikin – Hustlin' [Black Book Records]Zack Darza - Yep [Confession Records]Good Times Ahead – Make You [Unreleased]AC Slater, Chris Lorenzo, Fly With Us – SeismicOmicasa (Craze & Matsu) – Me N My Cru [Slow Roast Records]
Host John Quick dives into a compelling conversation with Andrew Shane, a dedicated community leader and candidate for school board in the Mat-Su. Andrew shares his journey from firefighter to small business owner, highlighting his passion for education and public safety. Discover Andrew's motivations for running, his top priorities if elected, and his commitment to integrity and fiscal responsibility. Learn about his initiatives to protect women's sports, enhance school safety, and expand workforce readiness programs. Check out his website here: https://shaneforschoolboard.com/
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