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Angela Lin And Jesse Lin

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But Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle174. Living Life on the EdgeHave you ever stopped to think about if you live your life out on the edge? It sounds cliche, but how close to "average" is your life? If you've wondered these things, this week's episode aims to dive into this exact topic.From a young age, your podcast hosts have been pushed to excel in all areas of life. From academic studies to extra-curricular pursuits - all the way to careers in adulthood. And looking back, neither of us could say that this was the average experience in the US. Where does that legacy...2025-04-2516 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle171. Is Creativity What Makes Us Human?If you're an OG listener, you know we started the pod as a hobby during the pandemic. But we weren't the only people following creative pursuits - so many people experimented with baking, cooking, drawing, and many other interesting activities. This week, we're taking a moment to explore why creative passions matter. For Angela, being a creator is what she has pursued since leaving corporate America. The podcast and Real You Mandarin have been professional expressions of creativity, but she also bakes on the side. Jesse has recently gotten into pottery, and his creative...2025-04-0417 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle169. Bethenny's Dior Bags (UAP)Did you hear about the SUV-sized drones, plasmoids, orbs, and other strange objects in the sky over New Jersey/the East Coast the past few months, or is this the first time you're hearing about it?We discuss this strange phenomena that started around the holidays in 2024 and continued for several months, where folks were claiming these large drones and other unidentified aerial objects were following them or seemingly "mapping" their neighborhoods. Despite the sheer volume of sightings and videos uploaded, there was little to no mainstream media coverage...2025-03-2124 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle168. But What Have You Really Been Doing?We're back with a life update where we chat about the most fun recent things we've been up to during our off-season break, Angela being re-energized and doubling down on Real You Mandarin efforts, Jesse enjoying the semi-single (read: open relationship) life, and coming to terms with getting older and potentially wanting plastic surgery?!Let us know what you've been up to during our break in the comments below or on social media!-------Use promo code "whereareyoufrom10" for 10% off the Real You Mandarin: Beginnings online course...2025-03-1417 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle167. The Happiness Curve"The Happiness Curve" is a concept that postulates that on average, a person's happiness acts as a U-shaped curve where you are happiest in your youth, happiness starts to decline in your 30s/40s, and picks back up as you get into your 50s and beyond. In this episode, we discuss what we think about this phenomenon. Full disclosure, we did get the decades slightly wrong lol, but we generally discuss why we think it could be that people get happier as they get older due to things like changing perspectives on *what* brings...2024-12-2023 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle166. Should Video Games Represent Us?Have you ever spent hours in anticipation of your next escape, only to find that you can't quite see yourself in that narrative? If you're a gamer, you might find that to be common, depending on the category of game you're primarily interested in. This week, we're discussion the issue of representation in big box video games. Video games have to walk a fine line between representing an escape, while allowing the player to immerse themselves into the world. The details of immersion can often make or break how...2024-12-1319 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle165. Hindsight is 20/30Have you ever taken a moment to look back on your actions from a different period of your life? Have you ever wondered why you made certain decisions and whether or not they were wholly yours? This week, we take a walk down memory lane and evaluate the impact some of our decisions in our 20s have on our lives right now. For Angela, the importance of building her own family has been pressing - both physically and emotionally. On the other hand, Jesse has struggled with finding meaning in the choices that he's...2024-12-0619 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle164. Bilingual Parenting ft. Sunny HorstmannWe've often grappled with reconciling our identities as Asian-Americans, straddling two or more cultures between our family's motherland and the western environment in which we actually grew up. For many of us who did not grow up in Asia, when the time comes to think about trying to pass on that culture - and especially the language - to our children or future children, that task can seem incredibly daunting. In this episode, we chat with guest Sunny Horstmann about how she set up the structure and environment to raise her two kids in...2024-11-2237 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle163. Food As A Way Into Taiwanese Culture ft. Lisa Cheng Smith (Yun Hai)We've often talked about how food is one of the most easily accessible ways into a culture, and this episode's guest is a perfect living example of that. Lisa Cheng Smith, founder of Yun Hai Shop in NYC, started Yun Hai as a way to explore her Taiwanese identity. Growing up as a half-Taiwanese/half-American individual, the question of "but where am I really from?" has always been something she was trying to figure out, and Yun Hai allowed her to explore that answer for herself. Today, Yun Hai...2024-11-1545 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle162. Financial (In)Dependence"More money, more problems" as they say. But is financial inequality in a relationship a unique problem or does it just exacerbate existing ones? This week, we examine how financial inequality impacts the quality of our relationships. Having both had the New York experience, your hosts understand what it feels like to struggle on a budget. But these days, we're looking at the question of differing finances from different perspectives. What fears and insecurities does a financially dependent partner experience? What are the frustrations and uncertainties that the financially...2024-11-0819 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle161. Election SchmelectionThe 2024 General Election is coming up in a matter of days... thank god because we are over it, lol. No matter which side of the political spectrum you fall on, I think many of us can agree that we are tired of the reality TV show style media coverage around the two candidates, the BS of the general political "machine" behind the two parties, and a frequently missing focus on the needs of the actual people of this nation. Despite feeling a simultaneous fervor and fatigue around the election...2024-11-0134 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle160. The Call is Coming from Inside the HouseIt's that spooktacular time of year - Halloween! In keeping with the pod tradition, we've gone diving in the deepest, darkest recesses of the internet (Reddit) for more scary stories. And also as usual, we're bringing you horror with an Asian flavor - only stories based in Asia accepted. Jesse brings to the table a terrific story involving public transit. And let's face it, what's scarier than riding the bus? Angela follows it up with a cautionary tale around stranger danger. Does the story's protagonist make the right choice or do they fall prey to usual horror decision making? ...2024-10-2542 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle159. When Love Is More Than Words ft. Jocelyn ChungJocelyn Chung is a Taiwanese-American graphic designer and writer whose new children's book "When Love Is More Than Words" was just released this week! In this episode we of course discuss the book, including its inspiration being a beautiful real life realization she had with her grandfather, all the fun Taiwanese easter eggs, and more, and also discuss her recent journey of claiming her Taiwanese citizenship and starting a life and community in Taiwan, and how all of this helped her feel at home within herself in reflecting on her own identity. 2024-10-1855 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle158. Hello, Listeners!Your besties are back with some new topics for fall! Before we get into a slew of new conversations these next few months, we'd like to update you on where we are. Life keeps moving, especially when we are on break from the pod. For Angela, that means a few months closer to starting her family and moving to Japan. For Jesse, that means a few months of continued exploration around life hobbies and going out. And for the both of us, a few new shared changes you'll have to hear about in the episode! Tune in and let...2024-10-1116 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle157. Unlocking the Real You in MandarinYou've heard Angela share her struggles with trying to improve her Mandarin, being at a loss knowing simultaneously too much and nothing at all, it seems. She's also explicitly said that there is a clear market for creating a resource for Mandarin speakers born outside of the motherland, but that she wouldn't be the one making it! ...well, she's officially eating her words because recently Angela felt compelled to bring something like this to life to help people like us finally be able to have meaningful conversations in Mandarin and express ourselves the way that we've always wanted to, especially...2024-05-2038 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle156. The Path Towards Inner PeaceHow do you go about seeking inner peace for yourself? We've spent many past episodes diving into mental health and self-growth. But as we strive to improve ourselves, how can we also embrace all that we currently are - the good and the bad? We individually found frameworks that helped us cope with the stresses of everyday life. Jesse found his calming mantra through a session on Calm, while Angela discovered "The Work" by Byron Katie*. Both frameworks help to process turbulent thoughts, by slowing down our thought processes...2024-05-0317 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle149. Fake It Til You Make It: Taiwan EditionWe've talked about the culture shocks & challenges we've faced being American-born kids visiting the motherland (in our case, Taiwan), but all of those experiences have only been in the context of short-term vacations. What's it like trying to do "real" things like applying for health insurance, opening a bank account, and other "grown up" things in the motherland? In this episode, Angela shares exactly what that was like when she navigated these activities recently. Let's just say it was a humbling experience! While she and many of you may...2024-03-1520 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle148. House Hunting: New York vs. KyotoWhat's it like to search for and buy a house in the US vs. in Japan? Jesse purchased a co-op apartment in New York City two years ago, and Angela bought a house in Kyoto last year. In this episode, we compare and contrast everything from the search process, to contracting/making an offer, to renovations, and everything in between. Would you rather buy a house in the US or in Japan now that you've heard what those two processes entail? Let us know in our Spotify poll or...2024-03-0827 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle147. Election Scaries: Taiwan EditionDid you know that there was a presidential election in Taiwan this year? While election madness is just starting in the US, it's already finished in Taiwan. The results have significant impacts on how the current major parties in Taiwan will govern in the future. While the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) candidate, Lai Ching-te, came out ahead in the presidential race, the party as a whole has lost significant influence in the legislature. Amidst that, the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), a newcomer in the Taiwanese general election, gained a...2024-03-0116 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle144. Moving Abroad & Moving In TogetherIt's the Year of the Dragon y'all and we're looking to tap into that energy of success, power, luck, and excellence as we wade through the new changes that 2024 has to bring. In this episode, we share our respective big new life updates - namely that Angela has decided that she'll be moving to Japan in 2 years, and Jesse is imminently moving in with his boyfriend! What's new for you listeners in 2024 that you want to tap into that dragon energy for? Let us know in the Spotify Q...2024-02-0918 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle138. Modern Problems for Modern Baby MakingModern science has truly come a long way with regards to fertility and alternative ways to start families. However, even with these science-aided options like surrogacy and egg freezing/IVF, women are still forced to think about their options with regard to whether or not they want to have children when they are in their mid 20s to mid 30s. Since Angela is in this age range currently and has many friends who have either already had kids or have gone through science-aided options, this topic is very top of mind for her...2023-11-1021 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle136. Boo, Bitch!It's time to get scary again! Since y'all loved our scary stories from Asia episode last year, we're coming back at you with new stories from the Eastern world! Grip the edge of your seat as Jesse recounts the haunting adventures of a Taiwan-based shaman. Will he successfully help out a distressed young man, or will he be caught up by the paranormal activity himself? Feel your breath catch in your lungs as Angela takes us on a horrifying taxi cab journey based in Korea. Is the mysterious passenger...2023-10-2724 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle132. How Do I Chinese Again?Many children of immigrants grew up learning their parents' language as their first tongue. Our first language was Mandarin, but like many other immigrant children, this was quickly supplanted by English. Despite attending Chinese School every week from the ages of 5 to 18, our current level of vocabulary and reading/writing skills are sadly on par with 5th graders in Taiwan, at best. As we've gotten older, we've both developed a desire to revisit our mother language as part of better understanding our cultural heritage as a whole. Not only do we need it to...2023-09-2917 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle129. Ya Boy Was In TaiwanJesse recently went back to Taiwan for the first time since before the pandemic. Although for less than ideal reasons (the death of his grandfather), he was grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with his extended family back in the motherland. We also hear about Jesse's shenanigans going out solo to experience LGBT nightlife in Taipei by himself, and what it was like finally being out to the majority of his family members. Across all of these experiences, we talk about the legendary friendliness of Taiwanese people, how much...2023-09-0817 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle128. Why I'm Probably Retiring in AsiaAfter living abroad in Japan and Korea the last year, Angela's recent reverse culture shock coming back to the US has your co-hosts wondering why there's such a drastic difference in the quality of life between the US and many (East) Asian countries. In this episode, we talk about just how different our respective experiences were abroad with regard to the cost of living (food, clothes, going out, real estate), general feelings of safety in society, societal norms & expectations, and more. In considering the totality of all these factors, at least for Angela she...2023-09-0121 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle120. Where’s the Soul of the Modern City?New York, Tokyo, London, Seoul - what do current modern metropolises have in common, and how does the speed of modernization change the flavor that each city brings to the table? We look at how modernization of cities can change the cultural landscapes that give big cities their personalities. Angela recounts her recent experiences living in Tokyo and Seoul, exploring what these futuristic cities trade off in culture for modern architecture and towering skyscrapers. Jesse contrasts this with New York and some of its purposefully "un-modern," historically-preserved institutions that draw visitors to the Big...2023-05-1216 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle118. Searching for Parental LoveGrowing up in an Asian family can feel like you're starved for attention all the time. You can never get the same exact "love" that you see your non-Asian friends at school receive. But looking back, maybe there was love - we just didn't know how to see it at the time. While we were looking for words of praise or a close friend relationship with our parents, they showed their love in other ways. They obsessed about our academic ventures, worried over how much and when we ate, and - as we got older - constantly followed up...2023-04-2816 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle117. Perpetual Foreigner Wherever I GoAngela has been a digital nomad for the past 2 years, and half of that time has been spent abroad in countries where she is quite literally a "foreigner." However, this episode is dedicated to reflecting on her recent experience going back to Taiwan (her family's motherland) as an adult with her husband and non-Taiwanese in-laws, and all the ways she felt like a foreigner despite *almost* fitting in. We discuss the difference between visiting the motherland as a child with your family as your personal tour guides vs. wading the waters on your own...2023-04-2117 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle108. Which Generation is it Anyways?Is there a reliable way to predict what's coming in the future? Sometimes, we just need to look to the past to inform what changes we might see soon!  In The Fourth Turning, authors Neil Howe and William Strauss postulate that four unique generational archetypes govern the changes we see in American history. Each generation's development is informed by the events and social conditions of the previous generation. The archetypes feed into each other cyclically, creating repeating patterns of growth and decay.  Angela and Jesse reflect on how the ar...2022-12-0238 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle107. Is Polyamory For You?We're all searching for the "one," but what if there was more than one "one" for you out there? What would it take to work it out with multiple loves in your life?  We've talked about dating and open relationships before, and we're taking it one step further with a discussion on polyamory. Many of you brought up this type of relationship structure on TikTok when we discussed open relationships, so in this episode we talk more about how this structure works and is different from other structures. Polyamorous folks may have more than o...2022-11-2517 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle106. Being A Global CitizenAs many of you know, Angela has been living that digital nomad life for the past year and a half.  In this episode, we talk about how the pandemic has opened up remote work possibilities, including how governmental bodies (from countries down to cities) are trying to attract this newly mobile class of workers through generous digital nomad visas to literally paying people to start families to counteract declining fertility rates.  We then discuss the pros and cons of this new way of life for both remote workers themselves as...2022-11-1837 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle105. Affordable Healthcare Outside the U.S.Inspired by a viral TikTok video Angela made about her uninsured dental experience in Korea a few months ago, we're discussing some of the ways healthcare is different outside of vs. inside the U.S. As a self-employed freelancer, navigating the world of uninsured life after years of Corporate America-backed insurance plans has been... quite an adjustment! We talk about the cost differences with how much Angela paid abroad vs. what the same procedures would cost in the U.S., how the actual experience was different (and in some ways similar), and the overall system and incentive structure for citizens...2022-11-1117 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle104. Everyone’s A Little Bit RacistHave you ever thought about what racism looks like in other countries, especially Asian countries? We're exploring that this week through the lens of Angela's travel experience in Korea and Japan, as well as stories told by those living in these countries. Racism is a difficult subject to broach in largely homogeneous countries. While there are certain small pockets of non-local workers and expats, it can be difficult for certain actions or associations to be considered racist. In many cases, socioeconomic disparities play into these discriminatory perspectives, creating a separation between the majority and...2022-11-0446 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle103. See You in Your NightmaresIt's spooky season! Are you a fan of All Hallows' Eve? Do you love to watch horror movies and spook yourself with scary stories? If so, this week's titillating episode of Asia-based Reddit horror stories is just for you. Jesse shares his scary story find about a young group of travelers camping in the wrong forest in Japan. Angela follows up with her own frightening tale of a sleepless apartment haunting in Taiwan. Will our story subjects escape their ghostly hauntings and live to tell the tale another day?  Do you have a s...2022-10-2826 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle102. Hey Sister, Soul SisterDo you ever wonder where the soul goes after you die? Do you believe that there is a life between lives that you could experience as your soul-self? This week's episode is focused on learning more about that specific experience - a life between lives regression. Angela walks us through her experience with this type of regression therapy as a step up from our previous discussion with her about her past life regression experience. We discuss the different insights she gained while undergoing this hypnosis therapy as well as the different sensations and visuals of the...2022-10-2147 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle101. The Gas Is Too Damn High ft. Ramon RecueroAre we in a recession?! Whatever you wanna call it, things sure are expensive right now! In this mini episode, we invite Angela's husband Ramon back on the show to weigh in as someone who follows macroeconomic trends closely. We start by clarifying some confusing economic terms that are flooding the headlines right now: inflation, interest rates, recession, currency devaluation, GDP, and more. We then talk about the disconnect between the messaging we're hearing from the press (i.e., "the economy is strong!") vs. the pain people are actually experiencing in their day-to-day lives...2022-10-1419 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle93. Where the Eff is Angela: Korea EditionWhere in the WORLD is Angela? Angela and her husband Ramon have been on the road for more than a year now as digital nomads! We catch up with her in her current home base in Korea, as they wait for their next stop (Japan) to open up for tourism. We discuss what it's been like as an Asian-American who is NOT the local ethnicity to live in that country - from language barrier, to potential assumptions about identity, to expectations, and more. We also touch on highlights of...2022-06-2453 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle92. Explain Crypto to Me Like I'm 5 ft. Ramon Recuero (Angela's Husband!)Have you been following the recent cascade of dumpster fires in the crypto space where the entire ecosystem has been taking one beating after another, first with the crash of Terra, followed shortly by the Celsius fiasco? (Don't worry if you have no idea what I'm talking about. Read on...) Though the crypto hype has been real for quite some time now, many people still don’t know much about what crypto really is or why people care about it. In this episode, we finally invited Angela’s husband Ramon to join the show to e...2022-06-1745 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle91. Asians in Asia Doing Cool Sh*t ft. Sunbin YimAs a twist on our usual "Asians Doing Cool Sh*t" subtrack, while Angela is living abroad in Asia, we're finding Asians *in Asia* doing cool sh*t to hear from! Sunbin is a Korean-born Korean who has split many of her formative/developmental stages going back and forth living in the U.S. and Korea. In this episode, we discuss what her experience has been like as a third culture kid, technically holding a Korean passport, but feeling culturally more American.  While most Asian-Americans we've talked to who h...2022-06-1042 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle89. Open for BusinessHave you ever wondered what it's like to be in an open relationship and what it's all about? This week we put Jesse in the hot seat as we discuss the topic of open relationships. We put it all out there as we discuss our own opinions and experiences with the open relationship concept. From why you'd want to be in one to relationship agreements to managing jealousy, Angela asks all the questions you've been dying to know about open relationships. Is an open relationship right for you? Tune in and find out more!2022-05-2047 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle87. We Love You Mommy ft. Sienna Lin & Gina Lin (Our Moms!) - Mandarin Audio**This is the Mandarin-based audio interview with our moms, available for those who are able to speak our mother language! For those who aren't able to, please head over to our YouTube version of this episode where we provide the English subtitled version of the video. Alternatively, you can listen to our shorter English recap of the episode where we reflect on our discussion with our moms (without our moms present)** YouTube video ep: https://youtu.be/bEUFbDP4I_g ---------- Happy Mother's Day weekend and start of Asian American...2022-05-0651 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle86. I’ll Meet Me in My Next LifeIf you could go back and revisit another life, would you?  This week we sit down with Angela and recap her experience with past-life regression. She recounts her journey to experiencing her past lives and the lessons that she's learned from this therapeutic adventure.  We dive fully into the ins-and-outs of this hypnosis-based therapy, from the prep work required beforehand to the actual feeling of experiencing a past life.  If you've ever wanted to learn more about past life regression, listen in!2022-04-2945 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle79. Go Home We're Drunk: Sailor Moon CrystalWho else obsessively watched Sailor Moon growing up? We did! We're rebooting our previous format of "Go Home We're Drunk" where we drink on the show and discuss stuff! In this rebooted format, we're watching Asian content across the board and reviewing what stood out to us, problematic/weird things we noticed, our favorite characters, etc. In this episode, we watched Season 1 Episode 1 of Sailor Moon Crystal, aka the reboot of the original Sailor Moon series that's on Netflix. We discuss our thoughts on 14 year olds being drawn like full grown women, booby demon enemies...2022-02-1833 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle73. My First Zoom Bae ft. MichaelRaise your hand if you had to learn how to date virtually via Zoom/FaceTime because of the pandemic! In this episode, we interrogate... err, interview... Angela's good friend Michael about what his experience was like dating over Zoom during the height of the pandemic, and how that compared with "real" (IRL) dating. We can all imagine the drawbacks that virtual dating can create, but tune in to hear some surprisingly positive outcomes Michael got out of being forced to date in this strange new manner! If you wait til the end, you'll also get...2022-01-0743 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle72. Extreme Makeover: Meditation EditionWhat do we find when we quiet the mind and look inside ourselves?    With so much hustle and bustle on the daily, it's hard to take time and really listen to our inner selves. But once you do get in touch with your inner thoughts and feelings, what do you do? Co-host Angela returns from a ten-day silent meditation retreat to help answer this question.    What does a silent meditation retreat even entail?    In this episode, we interview Angela on her silent meditation journey (specifically, through the "Vipassana" meditation practice). From what the retrea...2021-12-3149 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle69. Risky BusinessHow risk-seeking vs. risk-averse are you?  As we've gotten older, we've generally trended towards being more risk-averse, being scared or unwilling to put in the effort to try new things. However, after respectively going through our mid-life crises within the past few years, we've been rejuvenated and inspired to take on new risks to change course in our lives. For example, did you know that Angela quit her job and is making this podcast her full-time gig?!  In this episode, we speculate about why it's so hard for people (including us) to want to...2021-12-1048 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle66. Break the IceWe're baaaaack! Did you miss us?  For the first time in our podcast's history, Jesse and Angela are actually recording in the same physical location, so we're trying out new stuff and re-introducing ourselves to all you dear listeners! We're playing everyone's favorite classic.... ice breakers! But frankly, they may be some of the most random ice breakers we've ever answered. Gotta love the internet, amirite? We like to call this the "But How Well Do You Guys Know Us Anyways?" game. Hope you find the ep entertaining and learn a little bit more a...2021-11-1927 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle53. Noodle On This ft. Frank Striegl from 5AM RamenFrank Striegl is Founder of 5AM Ramen and Tokyo Ramen Tours. We discuss what it was like growing up as a bi-racial Filipino-American in Japan, how he found his place within Japanese society, why he is obsessed with ramen and built a business centered around it, and how the pandemic has given him a unique opportunity to think creatively about his business and other ways he can share the joy of ramen with people around the world.2021-06-1835 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle52. 13 Going on 30We are now entering the third decade of our lives - that's right, yours truly(s) are both in their thirties now. But what's the big deal about the big three-oh anyways? In our opener to season 4 (!), we take a look at what it means to be in our thirties. We discuss some of the most anxiety-inducing topics associated with this decade, from job choices to personal life decisions. Listen to the expectations we set for ourselves as we compare where we are today to where we thought we would be. And finally, join us as we...2021-06-1135 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle51. But Where Are You Really From Presents Reel Asian Podcast - "Princess Mononoke" with Raymond Luu, Alan Duong, Renee Ya, Baldwin DiepWhile we recharge and plan out new content for upcoming episodes, we wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to other awesome voices from the AAPI community. This week, we're featuring Reel Asian Podcast, a podcast dedicated to exploring the stories and themes of Asian and Asian-American film.  In this episode, the Reel Asian Podcast crew took a look at the timeless anime epic, Princess Mononoke (1997). Directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, this instant classic touches upon themes that are still very relevant today, such as environmentalism, capitalism, and our personal responsibility to the natural world.  Th...2021-05-1456 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle50. Let's Get IntimateWarning: NSFW topic ahead! We are putting it all out there this week and talking sex and intimacy. What did we learn (or not learn) about sex growing up in our Asian households? How it works, who is "allowed" to have it, and under what circumstances it's "ok" to have it. And how did the taboo around talking about or having sex affect us in terms of our personal understandings of what sex is actually like, what we enjoy, and what will work well in a relationship?  Spoiler alert: it absolutely stunted our development and w...2021-04-3031 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle49. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. Untitled QueenDrag queens and kings have become one of the more public representations of the LGBTQ community. But beyond the polished acts seen through mass media, drag can be something deeply personal and raw. This week, we're joined by Untitled Queen, a drag artist based in Brooklyn, New York. Untitled's work uses drag as performance art to both construct and deconstruct different facets of his identity.   Untitled shares with us all the behind-the-scenes of his journey with drag. We talk about his childhood growing up on Governor's Island, all the way to his beginnings in drag. Along the wa...2021-04-2335 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle48. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. Lil WaterboiOn our never ending quest to meet all the Asians doing cool sh*t, we met "more than just a rapper" Lil Waterboi. He's a Montreal-based Vietnamese Canadian artist who's seeking to normalize and shine a spotlight on Asian Canadian artists through his own work and through Bahay Collective, his company dedicated to helping to support and promote Asian artists.  We talk about what it was like growing up Asian in a French Canadian environment (he's trilingual in English, French, and Vietnamese!), the importance of a strong network and community, his hopes for his impact on Canadian c...2021-04-1631 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle47. Go Home We’re DrunkDo you want to play a game?   To take your (and our) minds off the news of the past few weeks, we're going to be drinking this episode. And not only will we be drinking, but we will also be attempting to trick each other with fake COVID-story headlines. So strap your headphones on for some fake news debunking, high-larious failures in pronunciation and enunciation, and some hot tips to avoid a drinking hangover.   Who's keeping score? Who cares, we're drunk! 2021-04-0933 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle46. We Are More Than Yellow ft. Sophia Bailey from More Than Yellow BlogSophia Bailey is the founder of the More Than Yellow Blog - a community dedicated to amplifying the voices and stories of the Asian-American community. We discuss how she was inspired to start More Than Yellow by the challenges she experienced herself growing up as one of the few Asians in her small midwest town, fueled further by the recent wave of anti-Asian racism growing out of the pandemic. We discuss what we as a community (both Asian-American and the broader minority communities) can do to band together and start working towards some tangible ways to dispel this hatred...2021-04-0235 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle45. Table For OneLoneliness is a universal experience that we've all had at one point or another. What's so interesting about loneliness is how we react to it and how the cultures we grew up with direct that reaction.  This week we're talking about loneliness culture - the places, services, practices, and traditions that govern how we deal with loneliness, as well as the cultural norms that often signal to us what contexts it's "acceptable" to be alone in or not. We take a look at how the Eastern world has approached being alone, from tables for one to rentable c...2021-03-2631 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle44. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. Major David Phetmixay (US Air Force)The armed forces is such an important and foundational group keeping our country (and our friends around the world) safe, but is often under-appreciated or not thought of, especially in the realm of jobs our immigrant parents dream for us to pursue.  This week we speak with Major David Phetmixay from the US Air Force about his experience serving as one of the few Asian-Americans in this branch of the military. We also discuss how serving in the forces has unexpectedly allowed him to reconnect with not only his Lao/Thai roots through language immersion programs, but a...2021-03-1925 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle43. The China ParadoxAs Taiwanese-Americans, we have a complex relationship with China. We are ethnically Chinese and deeply value connecting with the history, culture, and traditions that stemmed from our longstanding Chinese heritage, but at the same time, our families grew up in Taiwan - a place that has developed its own identity, and is certainly run by a very different type of government. In this episode, we discuss the meteoric rise of China from the original Mao-era Cultural Revolution days to becoming a competitive semi-capitalist world superpower today. We also discuss its controversial policies, its relations with the broader...2021-03-1237 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle42. Sibling Rivalry ft. Johnny LinWait, did you know that your hosts are not related!?! Yes, lifelong friends Jesse and Angela Lin belong to different Lin families! Jesse is an only child, and Angela has an actual brother - Johnny. He's our special guest this week where we talk about the sibling experience. Growing up in an Asian family can be complicated, but the dynamics of family size can make it downright dizzying. From the pressures of being the "eldest male heir" to the loneliness of being an only child, we leave the sibling (or lack thereof) experience all out...2021-03-0534 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle41. Supporting Chinatown ft. Jackie Wang & Harry Trinh from Welcome to Chinatown (Non-Profit Org)Do you remember your first time stepping into Chinatown? It's an otherworldly experience being surrounded by throngs of people and cornered in by restaurants and shops that beckon with mysterious foods and wares. Due to the global pandemic, these amazing neighborhoods are slowly dwindling.  This week, we're joined by Jackie Wang and Harry Trinh, two volunteers with the organization, "Welcome to Chinatown." We talk with them about what their organization is doing to help NYC Chinatown businesses during this troubled time - from organizing grants to help them pay rent to getting them get set up on o...2021-02-2635 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle40. Your Friendly Neighborhood Blasian ft. Ryan Alexander HolmesFor Asian-Americans, it's hard enough to reconcile if you're more Asian or more American... now imagine adding on the additional complexity of figuring out if you're more Asian or more Black. Thus far we haven't delved deeply into the impact that being bi-racial can have on one's sense of self.  We are joined in this discussion by content creator/actor Ryan Alexander Holmes, who is half African-American, half Chinese. We discuss what his journey has been like being outwardly categorized by society as Black, while simultaneously facing rejection or skepticism from the Asian community for not "looking" l...2021-02-1937 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle39. Grab the New Year By Its HornsHappy Year of the Ox! This week we're celebrating the Lunar New Year - and we're taking you all along for the ride. Our families didn't always follow all of the traditions, but we're sharing with you everything we know about the lore and traditions of the holiday. From the story of surviving the new year, to the arrangement of dishes at the meal table, join us as we dive into everything Lunar New Year.2021-02-1230 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle38. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. AZRAWe had such a pleasure speaking with the ~positive vibes only~ singer/songwriter AZRA on another segment of Asians Doing Cool Sh*t.  We discuss what it's like to be one of the only Asian-Americans in the music industry, the challenge of fighting the cultural pressure to "not stick out" contrasted against what it takes to succeed in the U.S., how she's had to adapt in channeling her creativity and how she connects with her fans during the COVID-19 shutdown, and even how spirituality plays into her overall message of positivity that she shares with the w...2021-02-0534 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle37. City Life: Goodbye To All ThatIn the age of coronavirus, is it still worth it to live in a large city? As young adults, cities provided us foundational adult experiences that we cut our teeth on - opportunities for career development, indulgence, relationships, and more. But with the closure of museums, restaurants, bars, etc, these dense urban jungles seem less attractive to those who call them home. If you haven't yet guessed it, this week's episode is about the decline of the American city. We discuss all the pros and cons of city life, pre, and post-COVID, as well as what we think the future...2021-01-2934 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle36. 2020 Giving Us The MostSo long, 2020! To say goodbye to a year that was so off-the-charts extra, we wanted to talk about what it means to do the most. For many of us, this year was a mental and physical struggle. For others of us, this year granted much needed time to dive into new projects or pursuits. But for all of us, there was the question of what should we be doing? Our last episode of the season dives headfirst into this question - along the way, we also discuss balancing motivation in this challenging time, how to recognize when you are overstretched...2020-12-1832 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle35. These Are A Few Of My Favorite ThingsSeason's greetings! Let us bring some cheer to you by reminiscing on our favorite holiday traditions. Fall and winter really bring a different perspective to (our respective) cities, where the air feels a little crisper and everything has a little rose-colored tint to it. Of course, the holidays are also about friends, and we recount some of our favorite traditions, shenanigans, and stories. And finally, we talk about our memories of Chinese New Year and the spark of desire to be celebrating another year with our larger families.2020-12-1131 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle34. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. Amy TsangIn another segment of "Asians Doing Cool Sh*t," we talk to Amy Tsang, an actor and filmmaker based in LA. Knowing how stereotypical Asian parents feel about pursuing a career in the arts, Amy defied those norms and made her way into the film and TV industry. We discuss what it was like starting her acting career in Hong Kong and transitioning to the U.S. where suddenly her Asian-ness was something she had to consider in its effect on what opportunities were available to her. We also discuss the positive change that's happening now with a more...2020-12-0432 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle33. Thank u, nextEven with everything that has happened in 2020, there's still room to find things that we're thankful for - but only after b*tchin about the things that we're not. Join us this week in celebrating Thanksgiving by trashing the year of 2020. Of course, there are plenty of silver linings that this year has brought as well. The extra time has allowed us to start this podcast (!), invest in our physical and mental health, and also pursue other interests outside of our normal routines. We'll also discuss how grateful we are for the friendships and community that we've found during this...2020-11-2729 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle32. Reflections: Listener's ChoiceWe're bringing you another "Reflections" episode where we highlight listeners' stories about their experiences. We hear what it was like growing up in a divorced household and the emotional consequences of trying to "save face," the hardship that immigrant parents had to face to learn a whole new language and re-learn their skill sets to "make it" in America, and how conflicting it feels to see more ethnic food growing in popularity but oftentimes commercialized by non-POC individuals. Join us for a really wonderful range of stories, and write us in your own story to telluswhereyourefrom@gmail.com for...2020-11-2031 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle31. Asians Here, Asians Everywhere ft. Natalie Cheung from Yellow Bee PodWhile it's easy to assume that the Asian-American experience is similar to that of the broader Asian diaspora around the world, this definitely isn't necessarily the case! That's why this week we welcomed special guest Natalie Cheung from Yellow Bee Pod to compare and contrast the experience of being Asian in the U.S. vs in the UK, as someone who is British-born Chinese. We learned a lot from this conversation, including the fact that the word "Asian" doesn't even refer to the same ethnic groups between our two parts of the world! Tune into this episode to learn more...2020-11-1335 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle30. Asians Doing Cool Sh*t ft. AnnaWe're kicking off a segment called "Asians Doing Cool Sh*t" where we celebrate Asian-Americans (or other Asian-____!) pursuing unconventional career paths... at least according to what our immigrant parents would have expected from us (aka not a doctor, engineer, accountant, etc.). We're here to break down that rigid definition of "success" and show all different ways that our community finds success and fulfillment.  In honor of Election Day, we interviewed Anna who works in the local Democratic Party office in her home state. We discuss what motivated her to want to go into policy work, what roadblocks exist in t...2020-11-0334 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle29. Nothing's Scarier Than 2020It's the spookiest season of the year (and one of our favorites)! We gush over what we love about Halloween and share ghost stories and folklore that we convinced our parents to share with us from the motherland. In addition to some spooky tales, we also discuss the traditions practiced around "ghost month" (July in the lunar calendar), and the difference between the concepts of Heaven and Hell in eastern vs. western contexts. Join us for this ghoulish ride!2020-10-3035 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle28. Go Vote, BitchIt's Election season, and we want you to get out and vote!  Voting is an important civic duty, and helps steer the direction of our country for the next 4 years! It's also really important to remember to vote in all your local elections, which can really help determine what happens in your immediate community. To stir up some civic pride and learn about the importance of voting in other countries, we've brought on a special guest - Savannah!  Hailing from Taiwan, Savannah is going to give us insight as to...2020-10-2328 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle27. Love LanguagesLove is in the...wait, no. Actually, we didn't learn much about love and relationships at all growing up. While our parents loved us in their own ways, they didn't impart the communication and analysis skills necessary to survive a modern relationship. And since we both entered the dating game late, we've had to develop these skills "on the job." Love languages are the name of this game, and this week we'll be opening up about the impacts of growing up Asian on romantic relationships. We'll also be introspecting about what we would've liked to have...2020-10-1630 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle26. The Other 1%In celebration of Indigenous People's Day (fka Columbus Day), we spotlight the experience of special guest Maggie, who is half Navajo, half German. We discuss where the holiday first came from and what it means to her, what impact growing up "mixed" and racially ambiguous had on her sense of self, and stereotypes about native people that should be left in the past compared to the realities of what represents the modern-day native person. 2020-10-1234 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle25. #CanceledIn today's tense political and social climate, it can be difficult to have nuanced conversations about sensitive topics because certain issues can feel extremely personal. As such, "cancel culture" has become a popular reaction to someone saying something that offends, or is in opposition to, a different group.  We discuss how difficult it can be to discuss politics (!!), some examples of improper "canceling" being doled out that we've seen recently, the challenge of discerning the truth when everyone has become their own news outlet with the prevalence of live phone capture of incidents, and h...2020-10-0234 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle24. Who The @%$! Is That Girl I See?I'll make a *blockbuster* out of you!  Disney's Mulan returns to the home theater as a live-action epic, and boy do we have the sizzlingest review of the movie for you. The live-action film surprised many Disney lovers by taking a significantly different approach from the animated originals. There are no musical numbers, fewer comedic-relief characters, and a less cheerful tone overall.  Your resident Disney fan (Angela) and resident Dis-meh observer (Jesse) give you an honest review of the movie. We'll be talking about the cinematography, script choices, character performances, and more! We'll also be ta...2020-09-2524 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle23. BTS: A Story of World DominationTo catapult us into Season 2 with something that seems larger than life, we discuss the global sensation that is BTS. We bring ARMY super fans Leslie Kim and Diana Jin on as guests to help us learn more about what the magic sauce is that makes BTS so special and has helped the group smash boundaries to break into mainstream music charts and pop culture at large. We also discuss how being a fan of BTS is different for someone from a Korean-American perspective vs. someone from a non-Korean background, and how they see their affinity to BTS as...2020-09-1837 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle22. Throw Some Tinder On the FireHave you ever been asked the dreaded "what are you?" or "where are you really from?" questions on a first date? Yeah, us too. This episode we talk about what it's like dating as an Asian-American. The expectations our parents put on us for our ideal match, our experiences dating in and out of the race, our worst dating experiences, and more! Cap off Season 1 with us with this final fun episode! We'll be back with Season 2 in Mid-September.2020-08-2133 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle21. Adulting 2.0 w/ Keith KooWe scratched the surface on some of life's most challenging topics in our past episodes - understanding personal finance, growing your career as an AAPI professional, and how to approach the logistics of elder care & estate planning for your parents. This week we're going deeper on all three of those topics with a special guest who not only coaches the youth on personal finance through non-profit work, has broken through that bamboo ceiling to become a corporate exec turned startup founder/coach, and has a passion for helping people navigate the murky waters of what it takes to be set...2020-08-1433 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle20. First Gen Parenting w/ Catherine & Mark KimAre you as clueless about birthing and raising babies as we are? If so, this episode is for you! We're joined by special guests Catherine & Mark Kim, first generation Korean-American millennial parents and co-hosts of Mom and Pop Podcast. We talk about the expectations Asian parents put on us to continue our family legacy by having children (esp. sons!), what parts of their Korean heritage they plan to pass on to their now 1 year old daughter, what was completely unexpected in the process of becoming parents, and what advice they have for future parents.  Y...2020-08-0730 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle19. #DedKicking the bucket. Taking a long dirt nap. Meeting your maker. Feelings and thoughts about death can be scary and complicated, so this week we're digging up all those skeletons. From past life regression to our favored (or unfavored) ways to pass, we're giving you our most honest insights on death and dying.  Beyond our own personal thoughts on the matter, we also face the realities of the near-ish future passing of our parents, and what that means from an east vs. west standpoint in terms of how they see end of life care, burial and logistics o...2020-07-3131 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle18. If Jesus & Buddha Walked Into A BarTalking openly about your religious and spiritual beliefs is fairly taboo in today's society, even though these beliefs can make up a big part of your identity. In this episode, we discuss our varying degrees of religious and spiritual beliefs with a special guest, Lindsay, where we compare/contrast how our beliefs and experiences have been shaped by our different upbringings and individual spiritual paths. We also discuss how searching for a tight-knit community, including the local Asian-American community, has affected the paths that we're on now. Jesse brings an agnostic point of view, Angela brings a mix of...2020-07-2434 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle17. Money, HoneyUnderstanding personal finance is so important to #adulting, but no one ever taught us how to manage our finances or prepare for our financial futures - not our immigrant parents, nor the U.S. education system. We are by no means financial experts, but we have picked up a thing or two that have helped us save and plan for the future that we want to share with you. There are a ton of basic concepts that everyone should understand to properly manage your money, and we cover a few of those key topics in this episode. 2020-07-1737 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle16. Mirror Mirror On the WallBeauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what happens when you're viewing it through two different sets of eyes? We discuss the standards of beauty in the western and eastern worlds - where they are drastically different and where they are very much the same, our feelings of not quite meeting either of those standards, and the effect that has had on our sense of identity, representation, and self-worth.  2020-07-1032 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle15. Red, White, and YouAre you proud to be Amurrican, 🎵 where at least I know I'm free🎵! In all seriousness, the feeling of Americaness has been a contentious topic recently, even between your two hosts. Being American affords all of us many privileges, but are those enough to engender a feeling of national pride? This week we talk about what we think it means to be American and all the unique challenges and opportunities that come with that. 2020-07-0334 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle14. The Life of An Azn KweenIt's Pride month! While we love and embrace every part of what it means to be LGBT, being an LGBT individual can add to the confusion of the already confusing Asian-American identity. Our discussion this week will focus on the struggle of defining what LGBT means, even as we face erasure globally. Our guest Tong was invited to bring an Eastern and female queer perspective, joining us in discussions around how sex and sexuality differ from East to West. 2020-06-2632 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle13. Second Place In A Rigged RaceThe most productive and legitimate way we felt we could address the explosion of discussion around racial injustice spurred by the murder of George Floyd was by examining the place that Asians hold in society as "model minorities." We take a closer look at the bias against the Asian community as a result of placing us in this category, but also the privileges we've gained from the label and the bias we hold against other minority communities (namely the African-American and Latino communities) as a result of buying into this idea that we are just behind the white majority...2020-06-1931 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle12. Reflections: Azn BBs All Grown UpWe're launching a mini series within the broader podcast called "Reflections" dedicated to sharing listener stories. Join us for this first episode as we hear and discuss stories about growing up Asian in a predominantly white community, a modern take on filial piety, and how non-Asians have realized what it means to feel like they are "other." If you would like to contribute a story or experience to a future episode of Reflections, email us at telluswhereyourefrom@gmail.com2020-06-1228 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle11. The Freedom of Controlled SubstancesLet's air a dirty little secret for y'all - drugs can be both life-changingly fun and spiritually meaningful. We talk about how we cut past the fear instilled by our Asian upbringings and societal inhibitions to explore the world of controlled substances. We share our experiences & the benefits we've gained from taking these substances for recreational purposes and in therapeutic settings. Come take a journey with us and explore the freedom of controlled substances...at the very least you may gain a new perspective.2020-06-0534 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle10. Confusion-ism: Filial Piety 101We're discussing the concept of filial piety - a core tenet of Confucianism and a foundational pillar of Chinese culture. It represents the endless karmic debt that children owe to their parents for bringing them into this world, and all the obligations and duties expected of us as a result of being raised under that philosophy. Our guest Jenny was invited to bring a western perspective to this discussion as we explore how we view our relationships with our parents and the generations before us, and the expectations or hopes we'd want to continue on with our future families as...2020-05-2933 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle09. If There’s No Fortune Cookie, Is It Really Chinese?We have a special guest this week - Angela's dad! To close out Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we discuss the topic of what constitutes cultural heritage and the importance of passing on language, traditions, and values to the next generation.  Jeffrey was born and raised in Taiwan, and is Hakkanese. He moved his family to the U.S. in 1989 and is a retired former entrepreneur. He and Angela's mom split their time between the U.S. and Taiwan.2020-05-2231 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle08. Time to Get LoudThis week's episode is inspired by the May 2020 theme for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: "Unite Our Nation by Empowering Equality" We discuss equality in the workplace, stereotypes that persist about Asian employees as a result of both our cultural upbringings of not wanting to "rock the boat" as well as external misguided misperceptions, and what else has hindered us from rallying more strongly as a community to truly break the glass ceiling that many marginalized communities find themselves stuck under.  CORRECTION: In this episode we refer to our c...2020-05-1524 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle07. #HateIsAVirusThis week we discuss the explosion of racism against the Asian-American community amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. Each of us will highlight one attack and one uplifting story that have come out of this crisis.  To donate to the non-profits we mention in the episode that are fighting against hatred, visit the URLs below: Chinese-American Planning Council (NY): https://www.cpc-nyc.org/ Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council (CA): http://www.asianpacificpolicyandplanningcouncil.org/ Southern Poverty Law Center (National): https://www.splcenter.org/ 2020-05-0835 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle06. Hey Mom, I'm (Not) On TV!This week we discuss representation of Asians & Asian-Americans in mainstream media: why it's important, why we haven't seen enough of it thus far, and what progress has been made towards greater representation in the future.2020-05-0128 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle05. A Tiger’s Tale of Finding HomeWe discuss the recently released Netflix movie Tigertail and how major themes of this Taiwanese immigrant story relate to our own experiences and those of our parents. Tigertail was written and directed by Alan Yang (writer on Master of None, Parks and Rec) and is loosely based on his father’s story of sacrifice in order to pursue the American Dream.2020-04-2430 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle04. The Born Identity: Return to the MotherlandIn this episode we share a little about where our families are from...Taiwan! We discuss what our experiences have been like returning to the motherland, and how being both Taiwanese and American affects how we view our identities and how others see us when we’re back in the land of our ancestors.2020-04-1727 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle03. Mental Health: Let It In, Baobei (2 of 2)We're closing out part 2 of our two-part episode around mental health. We reflect on what motivated us to ignore the taboos we were brought up to associate with mental health and discuss our journey seeking self-care for ourselves.2020-04-1024 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle02. Mental Health: Let It Out, Baobei (1 of 2)This week we're exploring Part 1 of our two-part topic around mental health. We'll discuss the taboo around talking about or seeking self-care, and our hypotheses for what parts of Asian culture prevent Asians and Asian-Americans from seeing therapy as a normal, everyday part of their overall health checklist.2020-04-0323 minBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American StruggleBut Where Are You Really From?: An Asian-American Struggle01. Welcome to Our Identity CrisesJesse and Angela introduce why they were inspired to start this podcast, and kick off the series with a reflection on how their sense of self has been shaped by a variety of influences from having immigrant parents to succumbing to pre-pubescent social pressures.2020-03-2847 min