Shows
Golden Goddess AffirmationsEmbracing Change & Cultivating Personal Growth w/ Cathlyn ChoiOn this episode of the Golden Goddess Affirmation Podcast, we invite Korean filmmaker Cathlyn Choi to focus on our mental health. Cathlyn, “media activist” and founder of the Asian Cultural Media Alliance, considers herself a “perpetual student of life.”
Cathlyn chose, “The world keeps changing, creating new possibilities. Therefore I can keep changing and become more than I even thought possible.”
Timestamps
[00:02:11] Episode Affirmation
[00:04:22] Cathlyn’s personal transformation at 9 y.o.
[00:12:00] On wanting to be better without being hard on yourself
[00:18:13] Evolving the relationship with her parents
...
2024-04-101h 02
Asian Pacific Voices RadioFirst Step Into the Film Industry | 3x15Hayslip is a highly-regarded film producer known for his involvement in some of the biggest blockbuster films in recent history. His significant contributions to the film industry through his technical roles for major motion pictures include serving as Unit Production Manager for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation, and Guardians of the Galaxy, among others. Hayslip has also produced popular TV series like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mandalorian, and Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. Throughout his career, Hayslip has collaborated with many acclaimed filmmakers and A-list talent, including John David Washington, Christopher Nolan, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, and Michael Caine, to...
2023-05-1643 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioCultivating Culture Through Storytelling | 3x14Jason Chu speaks hope and healing in a hurting world, blending high energy performances with thoughtfully crafted lyricism. As an Asian American kid in suburban Delaware, he found a vocabulary for racial identity and liberation in rap music and hip-hop culture. Starting out freestyling with friends at school, he began recording and performing music in college.
2023-05-0924 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioPreservation and Amplification of Legacies | 3x13Stephanie KyeongSeon Drenka is a Korean adoptee writer and co-founder of the Dallas Asian American Historical Society, whose mission is to research, preserve, and amplify the legacy of Asian Americans in the Dallas area.
In this episode, Stephanie talks about her life as a transracial adoptee and her relationship with Korea and the Korean culture of her biological family. She shares her experiences of racism and her involvement in Asian and Korean activism and history spaces. She also describes the goals of her non-profit organization the Dallas Asian American Historical Society, and what her work looks like...
2023-05-0241 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioInspiring Aspiring Filmakers | 3x12Jing’s love of storytelling began on the floor of the library. The only child of immigrants, reading stories was his way of feeling less lonely and learning the ways of America. This love eventually transferred to filmmaking which he saw as a means to not only entertain others but also to free those hard to express thoughts and feelings within himself.
2023-04-2533 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioMother and Son’s Journey of a Thousand Miles | 3x11Journey of a Thousand Miles is a 90 minute feature documentary film written, shot, directed and produced by Zhu Shen, a multiple award-winning filmmaker who was formally trained in biomedical research and business. She is best known for producing two Oscar-qualified, critically acclaimed animated documentary shorts: Changyou’s Journey about her late husband’s life, written and directed by her son Perry Chen in 2018, and Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest about a young Holocaust survivor, character design and storyboarded by two-time Oscar nominee Bill Plympton, animated by her 11-year-old son Perry Chen in 2011. Both films qualified for best animated short film...
2023-04-1825 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioThe Beauty of Dance | 3x10Jessica Chen, a Choreographer and Dancer, who uses movement as a vehicle to heal wounds, share stories and better understand our human existence. Jessica believes that the visceral experience of witnessing a moving body can elicit a profound sense of empathy and that empathy is vital in navigating today's cultural landscape. Jessica is the Artistic Director of a contemporary dance company based in New York City called J Chen Project, whose mission is to create dance works that deconstruct identity, cultural diversity, and belonging, and to promote radical, equitable access to the arts.
2023-04-1134 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioMaking Changes for the Better | 3x9Nghiep “Ke” Lam is the Program and Facility Manager for Asian Prisoner Support Committee and a former juvenile lifer. He was incarcerated at the age of seventeen and served 23 years. He assists formerly incarcerated, i.e. API and "Stranded Deportees" with accessing resources (ID, Work Permit, Mentorship, etc.) in their transition back into society. He is also the Facility Manager to oversee the maintenance of the office. He is one of the Co-founder of the ROOTS program inside San Quentin State Prison. One of his passions is fixing bicycles and donating them to our system's impacted communities.
2023-04-0434 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioNever Too Late To Change | 3x8An actress, director, writer and comedian, Veronica was born in Pennsylvania to a large family who escaped Saigon alongside the last U.S. troops in Vietnam. Veronica is a rising star featured in various television shows, ranging from hipster who finds a dead body on Law & Order: SVU, to representing sweatshop workers on Saturday Night Live. Veronica has also starred in independent films and Off-Broadway shows and been featured in a wide variety of commercials and print campaigns. She is the founder of NYC's premier All-Asian American Sketch Comedy Team Model Majority which has sold out all their New Y...
2023-03-2822 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioBalancing Life as Attorney and Music Teacher | 3x7A woman of many talents, Robin is the President and CEO of San Diego Music Studio since 1994. She’s also the founder of the Phillipines Ukulele Project that connects donors to children at risk in impoverished areas internationally, brining music education and inspiration to a global level. Additionally, she is a licensed attorney with a private practice and serves on the board of Storix, an AIX and Linux backup and recovery solution company. Get ready to learn more about how she has broken through societal stereotypes!
2023-03-2108 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioDeveloping Asian Theater | 3x6Gingerlily Lowe is one of the founding producers of the Asian Story Theater/Chinese Story Theater in which she also serves as the educational director, using live theater as a medium for education as well as truly exciting entertainment and bringing multi-cultural theater experiences to thousands of young audience members every year. Gingerlily has served on various community boards such as the San Diego Chinese Center, and Teatro Mascara Magica, and the Magic Machine. Ms. Lowe was a founding member and served as president of Pacific Asian Actors' Ensemble (PAAE), a company specializing in theater opportunities for Asian and...
2023-03-1429 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioPushing Through Challenges | 3x5Grace teaches the Tisch Scholars foundation course "Civic Identity, Reflection, and Action," and in the 1+4 Bridge Year Program and Civic Action Gap Semester for the Tufts First-Year Global Programs. She taught writing for many years at Tufts University and Grub Street, and is currently the Fannie Hurst Writer-in-Residence at Brandeis University. Grace is the author of THE BODY PAPERS, which won the Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant writing and the Massachusetts Book Award for Nonfiction. In 2022, she was awarded fellowships from United States Artists, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Brother Thomas Fund, and in the...
2023-03-0727 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioBuilding Your Own Brand | 3x4Eric Nguyen has been a staple of the comic book industry for over 20 years, working for Marvel, DC, and every other major publication, drawing classics such as X-men, Batman, Hulk, Old Man Logan, Quicksilver, Sandman, Fables, and many more. A graduate from the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena with a degree in entertainment/transportation design, Eric got his start in comics partnering with Rick Remender, where they co-created "Strange Girl" with Image Comics and "Gigantic", published by Dark Horse Comics. As a concept artist, Eric has design credits for Xbox live video games and worked on...
2023-02-2829 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioBuilding UpThe Film CommunityYsa began her art activism with VAALA in 2000, serving as VAALA’s Board as President from 2004-2008, and then as Executive Director from 2008 until now. She is one of the original co-founders of Viet Film Fest. We get to learn more about her background as a radio host for the Viet Nam California Radio (VNCR), from 1995 to 2010. Where she would interview a lot of different local artists and talk about events in the community. Thanks to this she was able to meet a lot of artists and attend a lot of artistic events which allowed her to step into th...
2023-02-2128 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioThe Power of Voice in ComedyJason Cheny, born and raised in Taiwan, re-raised in America with a cross-cultural perspective, and a goofy personality. Along with Sasha Foo discuss how Asian families expect their children to follow the traditional paths of doctor, lawyer and engineer. How Jason’s parents reacted to his choice to become a comedian as well as how everyone should choose a path which allows for expression. How he overcame his first time doing stand up and the feeling of freedom and relief to have people be open to hear what you are saying.
We get to hear a little bi...
2023-02-1434 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioDiversifying Directors | 3x1Erica is a fifth-generation Chinese American director based out of Los Angeles. Her film “Americanized” based on her experiences playing high school basketball has taken home 25 awards including Palm Springs International ShortFest, Bentonville Film Festival, and the Oscar-qualifying award at Cinequest.
Erica’s love for film started at a young age with her love for TV and cartoons blossoming into a curiosity which was nurtured through her school eventually leading her to work at local a local tv station; where she learned cinematography opening her eyes up to the world of film and eventually set her on her pa...
2023-02-0726 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioAshlyn So: A Prodigy’s Passions for Fashion and Activism │ 2x40
Teen fashion designer, Ashlyn So, and her architect momager, Angela Wu, talk about the journey of discovering and cultivating talent, the importance of inspiration and representation, and more!
It all started the day Ashlyn came back from her sewing camp at 6 years old. She was obsessed! She loves designing then draping, pinning and sewing. She has always wanted to dress like her mom and be with her mom every minute of the day. So she started sewing her way to every girl's fantasy while her mom sets out to learn a whole new industry.
Ashlyn...
2022-11-0134 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioPushing Away from the Periphery in Film with Dan Chen │ 2x39Film is a scary venture, but Dan Chen embraces the challenge of centering AAPI stories rather than keeping them in the periphery. Filmmakers like him and companies like Jubilee Media are changing the direction of film as AAPI representation has increased on screen and behind the scenes.
Dan Chen developed his love of film as a Chinese American teenager growing up in small town Kansas. He picked up the camera to connect with others, partnering with friends to make elaborate coming of age movies, and documenting the moments they'd later be nostalgic for. He studied fine art film...
2022-10-2132 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioChris Chan Lee: A Pioneer of Asian American Cinema │ 2x38Much has changed from the 1990s to now in the film industry for the AANHPI community. Chris Chan Lee is a key proponent that has inspired many Asian Americans to pursue filmmaking since his groundbreaking feature, "Yellow." On this episode, Chris and Rasha talk about his journey, how the film landscape has changed, and how it can still be improved.
Chris is a Korean-American filmmaker based in Los Angeles, C He graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and has spent his career of over 25 years developing and producing Asian-American content. His debut feature fi...
2022-10-1831 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioBreaking Barriers for AAPI in the Air │ 2x37
San-Diego born and raised, Navy veteran Harley Pasiderio is a Southwest Airlines First Officer and Gold Seal Flight Instructor. He is also President and Founding Member of a nonprofit called Professional Asian Pilots Association. Also known as PAPA, it isdedicated to inspiring individuals to look past the barriers and encourage the pursuit of a career they wouldn’t otherwise consider. As a kid with dreams to work as an airline pilot, Harley didn’t realize how company culture or work environment would matter so much and PAPA is helping to improve that culture.
Harley...
2022-10-1229 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioEmpowerment through Humor with Jiaoying Summers │ 2x36From a dumpster baby in China to TikTok comedy queen in Hollywood, Jiaoying Summers is one of the hottest rising comedians today. She is also one of the most popular comedians on TikTok with more than 1.2 million followers, 23.2 million likes and over 400 million views. She is a regular headliner at The Laugh Factory and also performs at The Comedy Store and The Hollywood Improv, where she has her own monthly show. She recently headlined at Carolines NYC and starred in Netflix is a Joke Festival's Women in Comedy Show. Her 30-minute comedy special is streaming on Peacock TV and...
2022-10-0432 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioSharing Perspectives through Film with Sami Khan │ 2x35Sami Khan is an Oscar-nominated independent filmmaker whose work has been supported by the Sundance and Tribeca Film Institutes, the Impact Partners’ Producer’s Fellowship, Rooftop Films, IFP, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and the NBC/Universal’s Directors Fellowship. His films have screened at leading festivals including Tribeca, Toronto, Hot Docs, and Mumbai.
In this episode, Sami and Rasha talk about being a creative of color working in film, the concepts of home and identity, and what keeps him making films.
Sami’s first feature documentary THE LAST OUT won a Jury Prize at the 2020...
2022-09-2732 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioComing Full Circle to Serve our Country │ 2x34
Brittanie is a bilingual PMP and Six Sigma Green Belt-certified I.T. project manager with the United States Air Force and a Cybersecurity Specialist with the California State Guard Army Component Command.
Born in Vietnam, she escaped before the fall of Saigon. Her history and upbringing inspired her to pursue the American Dream, which eventually led to a career with the Department of Defense. It also fostered her passion for honoring Vietnam veterans and the legacy of warfighters that made her life and freedoms possible.
In this episode, Brittanie an...
2022-09-2131 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioA #VeryAsian Conversation with Michelle Li │ 2x33Michelle Li is a news anchor and reporter at KSDK, the NBC affiliate. In January 2022, she went viral after posting a racist voicemail that launched a series of really exciting things, like going on The Ellen Show and launching The Very Asian Foundation with fellow journalist Gia Vang.
On this episode, Michelle and Sheena talk about Asian and Asian-American existence. They also delve into Michelle's experiences as a Korean adoptee and her experiences working in journalism and media.
2022-09-1329 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioAsian vs. Asian-American Stories in Cinema with Arnold Chun │ 2x32In this episode, actor/filmmaker Arnold Chun shares his life journey and how he entered the creative industry. He and Rasha discuss career changes, representation, and the ever-changing media landscape.
Arnold was born in Boston, MA and raised in Los Angeles since he was 3. While earning his BA in European/East Asian History at UC Irvine, he worked as a supervisor of Intramural Athletics and formed the UC Irvine men's Volleyball Club in 1997. He then taught English for the Nagano Board of Education in Japan from 1998-1999, working part-time for the local English journal. With the completion o...
2022-09-0634 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioKYCC: A Pillar of Support in Koreatown │ 2x31In this episode, Sheena and Steve discuss the various issues faced by at-risk youth and the various minority groups that live in LA's Koreatown. The Koreatown Youth and Community Center works to help the community and provide accessibility with anything from education and health to housing and finances.
Steve S. Kang is the Director of External Affairs, overseeing communications, grants, special events, government, and community affairs. In addition, Steve is a Commissioner on the Central Area Planning Commission at the City of Los Angeles. Prior to joining KYCC, Kang served as District Director in the California State A...
2022-08-3127 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioCAPE: Pioneering Systemic Change in Hollywood with Michelle Sugihara │ 2x30Michelle Sugihara is the Executive Director of CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment). In this episode, she joins Rasha to talk about the its role in cultivating opportunity and education for AAPI creatives. They also discuss creating positive portrayals of AAPI onscreen, leadership, and the business side of the industry.
A prolific public speaker, Sugihara speaks across the country on Asian Representation in Media; Women in Entertainment; Diversity and Inclusion; Leadership; and other topics. She is also an associate member of Cold Tofu, the nation’s premier Asian American comedy improv and sketch group. She teaches “Impro...
2022-08-2330 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioConnection through World Music and Dance │ 2x29Monica Emery is the Executive Director of the San Diego-based non-profit organization Center for World Music. In this episode, she chats with Sheena about cultivating cultural connection through traditions of music and performing arts.
Born in New Jersey, where she was raised by her Chinese father and Filipino mother, Monica experienced a wide variety of cultural practices growing up. Traditional Chinese and Filipino dance provided her a way to connect with the cultural roots of her family as well as the opportunity to explore her identity as a mixed heritage American.
Monica’s early cultural ex...
2022-08-1631 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioDiversity, Equity, Inclusion and AAPI Identity │ 2x28Richard Leong is a DEI consultant and a leadership and identity coach. He brings his own experiences as an Asian American to his work. He works to fight bullying and to enact policies in support for AAPI youth.
Keeping an optimistic view for the future, Richard Leong presents the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He discusses the work needed to create systems, particularly in the workplace, to better the experiences and livelihoods of marginalized communities and positive change it will have for the future.
To learn more about his work with his clients, visit h...
2022-08-0932 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioThe Rising Generation of Activists │ 2x27
AAPI Youth Rising is a collective of intelligent, compassionate, and creative young activists from the Bay Area. They work to uplift and educate their community. They also advocate against AAPI racist prejudice, hate, and violence.
14-year-old Mina Fedor is the founder and executive director. In this episode, she discusses how she founded the org as a middle schooler and her work will continue as she enters high school.
Currently, there are chapters in California, Michigan, and Maine. To learn more about them and join the movement, visit their website a...
2022-08-0228 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioFinishing Feature Films with Stephen Nakamura │ 2x26Senior Colorist of Company 3 and Co-Head of Feature Color, Stephen Nakamura continues to be among the most accomplished feature film colorists in Hollywood. In this episode, he talks about his career as a colorist, the importance of color on screen, and his experiences as an Asian American in the film business.
Nakamura has worked alongside directors such as David Fincher, Ridley Scott, Kathryn Bigelow, Spike Lee, David O. Russell, and Steven Spielberg. He has also worked with cinematographers Dariusz Wolski, ASC, Claudio Miranda, ASC, Robert Richardson, ASC, and Janusz Kaminski.
His feature film credits include D...
2022-07-2629 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioAANHPI Women in Military Leadership │ 2x25In this episode, Air Force Officer Joanne Whitlock talks about AANHPI in the military. She touches on the low degree of representation for them in leadership positions, especially if they are women, and how this impacts their experiences in the military the military demographics overall.
Joanne recently led their service wide efforts for AAPI Heritage Month while also serving as member of their Barrier Analysis Working Group. In this capacity, Joanne is involved in analyzing data, trends and barriers to identify and address issues impacting AANHPI personnel in the Air Force. Born and raised in the Philippines, Joan...
2022-07-1929 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioHelping Heal At-Risk Youth with Connie Chung │ 2x24On this episode, Dr. Connie Chung discusses her own experiences with homelessness and metal health and how it's translated to her activism. She has done extensive research on sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in homeless youth and investigated survival and coping strategies of young people living on the streets. She has also worked in domestic violence shelters, studying the psychosocial effects of exposure to domestic violence on children. She has done extensive work with, and advocated for, child and adolescent survivors of sex trafficking in the SF Bay Area.
Dr. Connie Chung graduated from Harvard University with a...
2022-07-1233 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioRepresentation Behind the Scenes │ 2x23Christine Ng is a cinematographer and a graduate from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. In this episode, Sheena and Christine discuss the communal nature of working in cinematography and working behind the scenes. They also emphasize the importance of mentorship (especially female mentorship in a male-dominated field). Additionally, they discuss the importance of pursuing one's creative side as a person-of-color, and having to navigate the professional realm as a minority.
Ng was born in Hong Kong and raised in New York City. Her work has screened at festivals worldwide including SXSW, Palm Springs, Outfest, L...
2022-07-0633 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioLGBTQ+ Activism in the Military │ 2x22Born in Guam to Filipino parents, Hosanna grew up and went to school in New York. After one year of college, she decided to enlist herself in the Army at age 18, serving a total of 5 years, where she served as an Intelligence Analyst. However, she got discharged under the old "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy due to her sexual orientation.
She then became a dedicated LGBTQ+ activist in Washington, D.C. while continuing her role as an Intelligence Analyst for the Department of Defense. Years later, when the Obama administration repealed the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, s...
2022-06-2827 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioHealth and Wellness with Dr. Cindy Tsai & Dr. Khoa Truong │ 2x21On this episode, Dr. Cindy Tsai and Dr. Khoa D. Truong chat with host Linda Schwartz on the importance of integrative medicine and holistic health and wellbeing.
Dr. Tsai was born in Vancouver, Canada and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. She is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician and medical director. She has achieved balance between the cultures and medicinal philosophies of both East and West. Her philosophy is centered on the mind-body connection—something that is unique to each individual. Her training in coaching, mindfulness, and various energy healing modalities are used to curate a holistic and personalized app...
2022-06-2135 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioCultivating Community for Women of Color with Asha Dahya │ 2x20Asha Dahya is a producer, author, and speaker. She is considered a voice of authority in the feminist media space. She addresses topics of reproductive rights, gender equality, and the representation of women in media.
Dahya founded GirlTalkHQ.com in 2013 as a platform for empowerment and education for girls and women. She also gave a talk on TEDx Normal on reproductive rights in 2019 (available on YouTube).
Sheena Yap-Chan is also an author, speaker, and advocate for women empowerment. Together, they discuss topics of identity, representation, women's rights, and human resilience.
2022-06-1432 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioSpearheading AAPI in Space with Dr. Leroy Chiao │ 2x19On this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Sasha Foo sat down with Dr. Leroy Chiao, PhD, a former NASA astronaut and International Space Station commander. Dr. Chiao delves into his experiences with NASA, the process of the training program, and his missions working with Russian, Japanese and European Astronauts and their affiliated space agencies.
Across his 15-year career with NASA, he has served on four space missions, and most recently served as Commander and NASA Science Officer of Expedition 10 aboard the International Space Station. A native English speaker, he is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Russian...
2022-06-0731 minAsian Pacific Voices Radio2Chang: Taking our own Stories Back │ 2x18In this episode, brothers Jonny and Solomon Chang share their experiences growing up Asian American, their exploration of multidisciplinary art, and how it became an outlet for their stories in a world that neglects AANHPI voices.
Jonny Chang is a recording artist and musical producer with roots in spoken-word poetry. Solomon Chang is a passionate storyteller studying Television Writing and Production at UCLA. Together, they make up the creative duo of 2Chang: 2 Chinese-Filipino-Hawaiian American brothers, who believe it's time for the next generation of AAPI storytellers to be heard. 2Chang strives to honor forgotten perspectives, tell their stories in beauty and...
2022-05-3133 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioFarm to Table Dreams with Chef Lan Thai │ 2x17On this episode, Sasha Foo interviews Chef Lan Thai—aka Chef Lando—the culinary creator of Enclave Cafe.
Chef Lando breaks down the FAM (Food as Medicine) philosophy and delves into her the nutritional value of a diverse diet. She also discusses her unique upbringing and cultural roots, growing up in a refugee camp in Thailand following her family's fleeing of Vietnam.
Chef Lando's Enclave Cafe has 3 locations across San Diego as well as a 90-acre regenerative farm. She also has a chow on YouTube called the FAM Show, where she shares knowledge on nutrition, ingre...
2022-05-2432 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioThe Storytelling Power of Photography │ 2x16Emanuel Hahn (he/him) is a Los Angeles-based commercial and documentary photographer/director. As a Korean Third Culture Kid growing up in Singapore and Cambodia, he developed an interest in storytelling, especially on topics of identity, culture, diasporic experiences and the question of what it means "to belong".
His deep observational and listening abilities have led him to tell the stories of the coffee farmers in Colombia, Chinese grocery store owners in the Mississippi Delta, the Korean Uzbeks in Brooklyn, and most recently the Koreatown community in Los Angeles through his photo book Koreatown Dreaming.
2022-05-1726 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioBeing Asian in Law Enforcement with FBI Special Agent Stacey Moy │ 2x15This episode of Asian Voices Radio features FBI Special Agent Stacey Moy. A graduate of Torrey Pines High School and a Navy veteran, Moy was recently named the special agent in charge of the San Diego Field Office. Moy most recently served in the same role, overseeing the Intelligence and Incident Response Division in the Washington Field Office.
First joining the FBI in 2004 working counterintelligence and espionage, he has climbed the ladder and his work has brought him across Washington, D.C., the Bay Area, and San Diego.
2022-05-1037 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioCreating your Own Representation with Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja │ 2x14In today's episode of Asian Voices Radio, we have Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, an Indonesian American actress whose began her career at age 4. Growing up and seeing a lack of people that look like her on TV shows and movies, she took charge and became her own representation.
Malea speaks English, Mandarin, Indonesian and Spanish. She plays piano, violin, guitar and ukulele. Malea also loves contortion, gymnastics, dancing and soccer. Malea is also a singer, going viral with her National Anthem video in LA Galaxy game in 2018.
Her latest work is A24's feature film After Ya...
2022-05-0331 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioThe American Secret War in Laos │ 2x13Sera Koulabdara (Sa-rah Goo-lap-dah lah) serves as Executive Director of Legacies of War, the only international U.S.-based advocacy and educational organization working to address the impacts of the American Secret War in Laos and conflict in its neighboring countries of Cambodia and Vietnam during the Vietnam War-era. This includes the removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and victims/survivor assistance. In this episode, Sera discusses this part of our joint history as Americans that isn't taught or talked about.
Under Sera’s leadership, US funding for UXO clearance in Laos reached $45M - the highest level in...
2022-04-2630 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioCultivating Personal Growth and Legacy │ 2x12Dr. Emily Letran is a dentist, author, speaker, and life coach. Informed by her experiences fleeing Vietnam, Dr. Letran has optimized her opportunities for herself and for others, always striving for improvement. As a mother of three, she has learned to creatively balance work, family life, after-school life and her personal life as a growing entrepreneur.
Dr. Letran is actively involved in community services, sponsoring multiple local school and charity events. She created the Emily Letran Foundation dedicated to providing basic dental care to veterans and families of disadvantaged background, including the monthly Free Dentistry Day, where s...
2022-04-1931 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioImmigrant Excellence in the Design Industry │ 2x11Rich Tu, a first-generation Filipino-American designer and artist.
A decorated figure in media, he is also works to uplift BIPOC creatives. He co-founded the COLORFUL grant with the One Club, and he hosts the podcast "First Generation Burden," which focuses on intersectionality and diversity within the creative industry.
He has won various awards and has worked with a number of big name clients and collaborators, and actively supports other emerging AAPI creatives.
In today's episode, he delves into his experiences entering the design industry and navigating the Trump campaign as a first-generation Asian Amer...
2022-04-1228 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioCurating an Experience in Opera │ 2x10On today's episode of Asian Voices, Sasha Foo sits down with Matthew Ozawa, a renowned stage director, artistic director, and educator dedicated to the world of opera and theatre. They discuss the classical arts as a realm traditionally reserved for the white elite, his experiences navigating it as a Japanese-American, and the importance of expanding opera for POC performers and audience members.
Ozawa has firmly cemented himself as one of the preeminent creative forces in the opera world today. He has directed for a number of opera houses and theatres across the nation and has won many awards, h...
2022-04-0531 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioPlaying Yourself for a Living with Kristina Wong │ 2x9Kristina Wong is a third-generation Chinese-American known primarily for her work as a solo theater performer, performance artist, and actor. As a feminist, her work often tackles themes regarding race, sex, and privilege, often in conjunction with the Asian-American experience, through a satirical lens.
In this episode, Wong also discusses her work and its overlap with social activism. She is an elected representative of Koreatown, Los Angeles and an avid activist. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she founded the Auntie Sewing Squad, a national mutual aid collective that specializes in making and distributing face masks.
2022-03-2932 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioThe Business of Representation with Alexa Khan │ 2x8On this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Alexa Khan tells us about her Mongolian background along with her experiences of how she became a film producer from being an actress and a financial advisor.
A Mongolian-born American actress and producer, Khan grew up on stage in Mongolia and has loved the performing arts since she was a child. When Alexa moved to Los Angeles, she immersed herself in the acting methods of Sanford Meisner and Stella Addler at the Ruskin School of Acting.
She has since performed on stage as well as in numerous shorts...
2022-03-2230 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioExploring Identity, Community, and Refugitude through Theatre │ 2x7On today's episode of Asian Voices, artistic director of TeAda Productions Ova Saopeng delves into his origins in theatre and the significance of representation for South and South East Asian faces, histories, and stories.
Ova Saopeng is associate artistic director and producer with Los Angeles based TeAda Productions. A refugee from Savannakhet, Laos, he was raised in Hawaii and received a B.A. in Theater from the University of Southern California. Now an accomplished actor, teaching artist, and playwright, his passions for elevating the refugee and immigrant experience on the American stage have shined through h...
2022-03-1532 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioSowing Compassion, Community, and Education from Tragedy │ 2x6Giving back to the community that lent support in a time of tragedy, the Lingzi Foundation works to help others pursue their own dreams through Lu Lingi's spirit.
An inspiration sprouted in the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing attack, the Lingzi Foundation is a 501 (c) (3), not-for-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was formed by the family of Lu Lingzi, who perished during the Boston Marathon bombing attack, to preserve and perpetuate Lingzi’s life example. Through their programs, youth are able to cultivate connections and support one another––which they have adapted to and maintained across...
2022-03-0832 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioDiversity from Behind the Scenes with Miranda Kwok │ 2x5In this episode, writer and executive producer Miranda Kwok dives into her latest project The Cleaning Lady, the U.S. television series adaptation based on the original Argentine series La Chica Que Limpia and the endeavors of creating representation and diversity in her characters and narratives. Her position as an Asian American woman informs her work and integrates an understanding of immigrant perspectives, marginalization, and how that influences their experiences.
Kwok is a decorated figure in the industry, serving as a Writer and Supervising Producer for "The 100" on the CW Network, working on the Warner Bros. series for...
2022-03-0130 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioCultivating Sense of Self through Science & Art │ 2x4Krysada Phounsiri is a Lao American professional dancer, award winning poet, engineer, and photographer from San Diego, CA. He is a Physics & Astrophysics double major, with a minor in Creative Writing from UC Berkeley. He published his debut poetry book, "Dance Among Elephants", and 2nd poetry book, "Every Passing Minute", under Sahtu Press.
Krysada is currently a Senior Optical Engineer working in the BioTech industry. His dance resume includes various competition wins around the globe, performing in Jabbawockeez MUS.I.C show in Las Vegas, dancing on movie sets, and other creative projects. Many of his creative...
2022-02-2231 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioCovid-19 Vaccines and Variants Part III with Dr. Paul Song │ 2x3Dr. Paul Song, board certified radiation oncologist and co-founder and CEO of Fuse Biotherapeutics, returns to discuss where we are and where we may go as we enter the third year of this COVID-19 pandemic.
With so much misinformation and hesitation towards vaccines and boosters, Dr. Song shares his insights as a father of young children and as a doctor who has witnessed first-hand the structural issues at the core of the healthcare system.
Dr. Song graduated with honors from the University of Chicago and received his MD degree from George Washington University. He completed his...
2022-02-1533 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioAdvocating for Asian American Communities through Poetry │ 2x2Howard Xiao, also known by his artist name hxthepoet, is an award winning speaker, writer, poet, and spoken word artist.
He was the 2010 California State Champion in Speech (Oratorical Interpretation), a finalist in numerous national speech tournaments between 2010 and 2012 - including the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions (NIETOC), Catholic Nationals, the MLK Tournament (Top 5), and the Glenbooks Tournament (top 5). From 2015 onward, Howard performed at slam poetry venues across the nation - becoming a finalist during slam poetry competitions at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and Bowery Poetry Club (New York), and at the Berkeley Slam (Berkeley, California).
Since 2018 onward, Howard en...
2022-02-0828 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioFostering a Movement of Cultural Appreciation through Musical Theater │ 2x1Julia Riew is a Korean-American musical theater composer-lyricist, librettist, and songwriter. A senior at Harvard University, she has composed over 15 original songs for her Korean Disney musical, which she campaigns for through the popular platform, Tiktok, which has garnered much attention in the short span of one month.
In this episode, Riew discusses the making of musicals and the significance of adaptation of old stories that allows her to bring her own personal experience to it. She also discusses her experiences as a 2.5 generation Asian-America, how they've shaped her stories and songs. She also discusses the importance...
2022-02-0130 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioLaur Allen: Advocating Positive Social Justice & Humanitarian Impact through Law & Media │1x42In this episode, actress Laur Allen shares her personal story of her family culture growing up, and what inspired her to integrate law and media in creating a positive impact in the AAPI community.
Laur is an LA native of Chinese, British, and Hungarian-Jewish heritage. As an actress, Laur made her network TV debut as the recurring character "Juliet Helton" on CBS's "The Young and the Restless." You can find her starring most recently in the LGBTQ+ holiday romcom "Christmas at the Ranch," alongside Amanda Righetti, Lindsay Wagner, and Archie Kao.
Laur was the first m...
2021-12-0831 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioArchie Kao - A Chinese American Actor‘s Journey Along the Pacific Rim │1x41Born in Washington D.C. to Chinese immigrant parents, Archie Kao is a Chinese-American actor/director/producer, perhaps best known to American audiences for television series regular roles on Chicago P.D., Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
From his start in starring in the world’s #1 kids show as the Lost Galaxy’s Blue Power Ranger to later spending 10 seasons with the world’s #1 drama franchise CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Kao has had a colorful and storied career.
In 2010, Kao was inducted into MOCA’s (Museum of Chinese Americans) inaugural class of YPX88- hon...
2021-12-0128 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioQuyền Nguyen Le: A Queer Filmmaker and Writer Creating Pathways to Understanding through Film │1x40In this episode, filmmaker and writer Quyen Nguyen-Le talk about their films, generational divides, queer stories, and struggles with self-identity.
Quyên Nguyen-Le (they/them) is a queer vietnamese american filmmaker and writer. Born to refugee parents in the place where Chumash and Tongva lands meet (San Fernando Valley, Los Ángeles), Quyên's work focuses on the ways histories emerge in the quotidian everyday. Their short films Nước (Water/Homeland) (2016) and Hoài (Ongoing, Memory) (2018) have screened in film festivals, museums, art galleries, universities, libraries, and community spaces worldwide. Recently, Quyên's documentary The Morning Passing on El Cajón Bou...
2021-11-2330 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioRaising Awareness for Social Justice Reform, Youth Education, and Women’s Rights through Music│1x39Saleka is a classically trained, Indian American musician, who began playing piano at the age of four. As the daughter of M. Night and Dr. Bhavna Shyamalan, Saleka was raised on an eclectic combination of music. Rather than attending a traditional conservatory, she made a transformative decision and enrolled at Brown University to begin her journey as an R&B singer-songwriter and study both Literary Arts and Music.
Saleka has performed at iconic venues across the United States, opening for both R&B legends and up-and-coming artists such as Boyz II Men, Summer Walker, Baby Rose and...
2021-11-0932 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioTasty Asian Inspired Halloween Recipes and Horror Films with Korean Chef Cathlyn Choi │1x38In this special Halloween episode, Korean Chef Cathlyn Choi shares some of her popular Asian inspired recipes such as 'Witch's Stew' made with ground turkey and vegetables and 'Tasty Finger' snacks made with sausages. She also talks about some of her favorite horror movies including a first hand experience of her scarey encounter with a 'shadow person' when she was in Paris.
A TV/Film Producer, celebrity chef, community leader and media activist, Cathlyn is best recognized by her fans and the Media as the Korean Food (Hansik) & Cultural Ambassador since 2009, having self-hosted and produced 4 Seasons of...
2021-11-0124 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioParents are Human │1x37
Entrepreneur Joseph Lam is the CEO and Creator of 'Parents Are Human', a bilingual connection card game he created in 2019, designed to spark deep conversations for families. Since then, Joseph has been helping people connect deeply with their parents, normalize working through dysfunctional family dynamics, and bridge the generational gap.
Previously, Joseph built an award-winning nutrition tech company called Brainbuild, an iOS and Android app that automatically planned a person's meals, snacks, hydration, and sleep events based on their daily schedule. Joseph is also an athlete having competed for the United States in 7 world cups and earned 8...
2021-10-2631 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioEmpowering Next Generation of Asian Youth Voices in Film Media Arts and Pop Culture │1x36Introducing a new show segment called Asian Voices Youth Radio Podcast that empowers our next generation of API Creatives & Leaders.
Hosted by twin brothers, Ausdon and Josdon Thong. Asian Youth Voices features younger generation of API entrepreneurs, filmmakers and artists with topics ranging from TV and film content, music, media arts and pop culture.
In this episode, Ausdon and Josdon talks about their childhood and life experiences growing up in the US, and how some of the television and film content had made a big impact in their lives involving their educational and future career...
2021-10-1930 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioDismantling the Stigma and Negative Connotations of Menstruation │1x35A social entrepreneur, speaker, author and activist, Nadya Okamoto is a fierce advocate for destigmatizing periods and mental health. At the age of 16, Nadya founded PERIOD (period.org), a non profit organization fighting to end period poverty and stigma.
At age 19, Nadya was the youngest candidate in the race for a seat for Cambridge City Council, focusing her campaign on issues of affordable housing, education equity, and climate change.
In 2017, Nadya was named as one of Teen Vogue's 21 Under 21. She was awarded the L'Oréal Women of Worth award at the annual Glamour Women of t...
2021-10-0619 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioUncovering the History of Racial Hate Against Filipinos in Short Film ”No Dogs” │1x34The film "No Dogs" brings light to the history of racism and discrimination against Filipino immigrants in the early 1930s. At that time, many clubs and restaurants refused service to Filipino folks--but there were a few designated places where they could find refuge in. In this episode, writers Georgina Tolentino and Alex Fabros share their journey in uncovering this deep-rooted history, the importance of sharing these types of films, and details about creating the film itself.
Georgina was born and raised in San Francisco, where she attended New Conservatory Theatre and later UC Santa Barbara. She worked f...
2021-09-2830 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioLeading Advocacy and Change for Los Angeles with Councilwoman Nithya Raman │1x33
Councilwoman Nithya Raman has advocated for a variety of changes within Los Angeles. In the past, she has initiated the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition as well as served as the first executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment. Her work is deeply inspired by the need for justice and equity within her community. In this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Councilwoman Raman shares her personal thoughts on her work and what continues to motivate her as an urban planner and activist.
Today, Councilwoman Nithya serves as the Los Angeles City Councilmember for the 4th...
2021-09-2132 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioUplifting Asian Youth in Los Angeles │1x32Sabrina Chu is the Development/Grants Manager at Asian Youth Center Los Angeles (AYCLA) in San Gabriel, CA. She is a recent graduate from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and has since gained extensive experience in working with non-profit organizations, especially in youth intervention and education.
Over the past few years, AYC has been able to provide various resources for Asian community topics. From food products, personal protective equipment (PPE), infant necessities, and educational support, AYC continuously listens to the community needs and responds by providing what they can.
As...
2021-09-0832 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioTaboo Topics and Pop Culture through Comics and Art │1x31Period problems, Keanu Reeves as Disney Princesses, and blunt humor, Crystal Ro commands comedy through her comic art. As a Snr. Buzzfeed Editor, her art has met the screens of thousands across the world, but what's her story?
In this episode, she shares more about her childhood and journey to becoming a longstanding artist and creator-by herself and with Buzzfeed. Her upbringing made it possible for her to embrace her artistic talents, leading to taking art classes and further cultivate her creativity.
2021-08-3128 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioFrom Nightmare to American Dream │1x30Jimmy Thai escaped Vietnam and went on to become a leading speaker and builder of schools in underprivileged areas. In this episode, Jimmy shares more about his escape and his journey to becoming an outstanding individual.
Jimmy Thai (MSEE, MBA, PMP, DTM) fled Vietnam 15 times, was imprisoned twice, and witnessed police kill his brother. Through determination, he eventually arrived in America as a “Boat People” refugee. With no English, money, or education, he started as a janitor at Miramar community college. 5 years later, he graduated from UCSD with a BSEE degree. He went on to earn MSEE and...
2021-08-2531 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioA Lifelong Community Builder │1x29In this episode, we hear from a dedicated community builder-his work, his inspiration, and motivation. Jack Toan is committed to the community and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Union of Pan Asian Communities, Team Kids, Inc., Illumination Foundation, UC Irvine Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors and the community partners advisory board for the OC Human Relations Council.
He is a dedicated leader who is committed to responsible philanthropic and reputation management practices. Having worked in the field for over 10 years, he has a demonstrated history in community development and corporate philanthropy.
He is...
2021-08-1731 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioReconnecting Adoptees and Families From the War in Vietnam │1x28Based on their past, Kirk Kellerhals and Cahn Oxelson are working to build bridges and reconnect families through their organization, Sea2C, or SEA (South East Asian) Coast2Coast Foundation.
Kirk Kellerhals is the Co-founder and President of Sea2C, or the SEA (South East Asian) Coast2Coast Foundation. Kirk spent the first 48 years of his life believing that his birth parents were killed in the Vietnam War. In 2017, on a whim, Kirk submitted to a DNA test simply to learn more about his true ethnicity which led him to the discovery of his birth mother and f...
2021-08-1134 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioAn Activist & Audio Storyteller │1x27Nidhi Shastri is an activist and audio storyteller from Chicago, IL. After graduating from the University of Illinois in 2019, she’s worked as a campaign organizer, fighting for healthcare justice and equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her podcast, Model Minority: Uniquely American, has won two awards and been featured in places like Inside National Geographic, the University of Illinois and at the University of California - Berkeley. She is working to uplift Asian, African and Middle Eastern stories through her work, while also using podcasting as a medium for educating and inspiring social change.
Support the Model Mi...
2021-08-0328 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioCOVID-19: Vaccines & Variants │1x26In this episode, Dr. Paul Y Song shares his insight on the latest COVID-19 news and facts. Debunk myths and discover more truth on vaccines and variants on this week's interview.
Paul Y. Song, MD is Co-Founder and CEO of Fuse Biotherapeutics. He is the former Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer of NKGen. He is a senior medical advisor at Hawkeye Bio and Supportive Therapeutics. Dr. Song was most recently on the faculty of the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Dr. Song served as the very first visiting fellow o...
2021-07-2830 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioThe ”Triple Threat” Activist & Filmmaker │1x25Shaina is a graduate of the University of Southern California's Master of Fine Arts program in Film and Television production. She jokes that she is a triple threat (disabled, Punjabi, and a woman), and is a fierce activist for people with disabilities. Shaina has developed her style as a director - bold, unrelenting, and quirky - focused on making comedies that promote diversity and inclusion.
2021-07-2128 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioFounding ”Crazy Woke Asians” │1x24Kiki was born in Hong Kong. Her family landed in Seattle, Washington when she was twelve years old. Kiki competed in solo voice competitions and received third place in the whole Hong Kong school district. She was also on the swim team and trained for ten years to become a classical pianist.
In this episode, she shares more about her personal background, and what inspires her work as a comedian and community leader.
Kiki is the producer of the hit comedy show, Crazy Woke Asians. She performs regularly at the Comedy Store, Ice House Comedy...
2021-07-0735 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioDiscovering Self Through Differences │1x23Dr. Marissa Pei shares her personal journey that has motivated her to help others through discovering themselves through differences and adversity.
Author of ’8 ways to happiness, Wherever you are’, Marissa Pei is best known as ‘The Asian Oprah’. In addition to being a RadioTalk Show host, Pei is also a TV commentator featured on a variety of human dynamics topics, including “Why People Do Weird Things at Work,” “Totally Out of Control People,” and her latest, “Conspiracy Theory.”
Pei’s private Life Balance Coaching practice in Seal Beach and Sedona, AZ, is supported by sets of daily inspirational...
2021-07-0632 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioStories of a Hollywood Trailblazer │1x22Irene Tsu broke barriers for Asian representation in film as she's taken on roles with some of Hollywood's biggest stars since the 1960's. In a time when barriers of diversity made Asian Americans undiscoverable in film and tv, Irene Tsu worked alongside big-name folks like Elvis Presley. In 1945, Irene was born in Shanghai then lived in Hong Kong until the age of 12. Her family immigrated to New York where she got her first speaking role in 1963, which launched her career, in "Take Her, She's Mine".
In this episode, Irene shares her experiences as an Asian American who g...
2021-06-2932 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioVietnamese Activists and Educators │1x21Dr. Thuy Vo Dang & Dr. Tu-Uyen Nguyen share their experiences as immigrants that had faced racial discrimination at a young age and later become community builders and preservers of history and culture.
Thuy Vo Dang holds a Ph.D. in Ethnic Studies from UC San Diego and has conducted research and taught courses on race and ethnicity, oral history, cultural studies, immigration, and refugee studies. She is currently a curator for the UCI Libraries Southeast Asian Archive and research librarian for Asian American Studies.
Dr. Tu-Uyen Nguyen was born in Vietnam but escaped with her...
2021-06-2336 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioStorytelling, Identity & Film │1x20Lane Nishikawa is a sansei (third-generation) Japanese-American who has been recognized nationwide for his work in storytelling. In this episode, he shares his experiences, as his identity and passion have intersected throughout his career.
Lane Nishikawa has been in the film, television and theatrical industries for over thirty-five years. His dramatic feature film, Only The Brave, appeared in over 18 film festivals, internationally, screened in over 25 cities across the U.S., broadcast on National PBS, SHOWTIME Television, Armed Forces Network, and distributed to over 15 countries worldwide.
2021-06-1532 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioTherapy Through K-Dramas │1x19
Can watching Korean Dramas be good for understanding your mental health? In this episode, Jeanie Chang and our hosts Hula Ramos and Sheena Yap Chan, explore the power of Noonchi (or Nunchi). This is the Korean concept of the ability to read and gauge others' moods and feelings. In Jeanie's practice, she uses Noonchi with her patients who are struggling to understand and explore their complex mental health journeys.
Jeanie is a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP) and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) with experience in grief and trauma. In...
2021-06-0832 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioUncovering COVID-19 │1x18While COVID-19 news has remained a hot topic throughout 2020, it's still difficult for many to discover the truth. Where did COVID-19 come from? What is still effective against infection? On this episode, Dr. Paul Y. Song shares his expertise on the pandemic that ravaged the global population.
Paul Y. Song, M.D. is a physician, progressive activist, and biotechnology chief medical officer. In addition to being a contributor to the Huff Post, Dr. Song serves on the executive board of Physicians for a National Health Program California, People for the American Way, Progressive Democrats of America, Healthcare...
2021-06-0135 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioCreating a Space for Asian Stories │1x17
Lee Ann Kim is a Founder of the Pacific Arts Movement (formerly known as the San Diego Film Festival), inspired by a conversation she heard at a local technology company. She is a first-generation Korean American who was an anchor and reporter for KGTV Channel 10, a California ABC television affiliate. On this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Lee Ann Kim shares her story of finding her own voice as a minority in Illinois, and taking action to uplift and amplify that of others.
She shares the importance of understanding the unique stories of...
2021-05-2534 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioThe Story of ”Never Goodbye” and My #GirlDad │1x16Hannah Joya, born and raised in sunny San Diego, California, made a promise to tell the world about her Father’s life story. In 2018 her Dad’s life was cut short after his battle with GBS-CIDP (Guillain Barre Syndrome-Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy), a chronic and progressive condition where the body essentially attacks itself, causing permanent nerve damage over time. At the age of twenty-nine, her dreams finally became a reality. Being able to tell the story about her Father’s perseverance, his mentality, his can-do and will-do attitude and his fight until the very end, has always been close to her...
2021-05-1831 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioRepresentation in Media for Asian Women │1x15
On this episode of Asian Voice Radio, Sheena Yap Chan brings attention to the lack of representation for Asian women in media, and what steps need to be taken to bring their stories into the mainstream. In order to represent the experiences and lives of Asian women, all of the stories–whether they are joyful and optimistic, or sometimes tragic–need to be shared so that other community members and future generations can hear that they are not alone and that these experiences do happen for others.
Sheena Yap Chan is an established keynote speaker, podc...
2021-05-1129 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioAsian Representation in Hollywood │1x14
In the past few years, we have seen a breakthrough for Asian representation in Hollywood and mainstream media. Rasha Goel is an Emmy-nominated television host, broadcast journalist, and international correspondent. As a South Asian woman working in Hollywood and mainstream media, she has experienced—first-hand—the difficulties for Asian folks in the entertainment industry, as well as the progress that has been made recently.
On this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Rasha Goel shares her insight on the rise of Asian representation in Hollywood and the reasons people in positions of power, or "the...
2021-05-0423 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioBody Shaming & Body Positivity │1x13Jake Solorzano is a Filipino-American from Los Angeles who currently studies in San Diego, CA. With immigrant parents and a traditional household, he found it difficult to balance what he believed he wanted to become and who those around him wanted him to be.
His journey through internal and external pressures for his physical appearance led him to the unexpected discovery of breast cancer at such a young age. In this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Jake shares his experience as a breast cancer and body shaming survivor, combined with his identity as a Filipino-American m...
2021-04-2730 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioOur Thoughts & Mental Health │1x12Mental health has long been a taboo topic amongst Asian American families—whether it was because it was a sign of weakness, or simply because mental health care was something that wasn't familiar within that community. In fact, Asian Americans are three times less likely to seek mental health care.
How can we take care of our minds, despite the stigmatization of mental health? What steps can we take to improve our thoughts? Dr. Amy Kim and Hula Ramos explore what mental health care looks like within the Asian American community, what steps we can take to im...
2021-04-2030 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioRacial Hate, History & Asian Culture │1x11
On this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Dr. Ha shares her expertise in racial relations and its history to provide insight into today's current events. She relates her studies, as well as personal experiences, as they intertwine with Asian hate crimes today.
From being involved in the gang community to becoming the influential Vietnamese-American woman she is today, Dr.Thao Ha is truly an inspiration for all. She was able to hard work and determination to turn her life around, and then help provide resources and knowledge to those around her. She is n...
2021-04-1331 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioCreating Asian Hustle Network │1x10Maggie Chui is the co-founder and COO of Asian Hustle Network (AHN), an online community of 100,000 members that started in November 2019 and is aimed at empowering and uplifting Asian entrepreneurs and allies globally. The mission of AHN is to bring the Asian entrepreneurial and professional community together and to provide an inclusive platform for people to collaborate, support, and learn from one another.
Maggie has since been featured in LA Times, VoyageLA, NextShark, and China Global TV Network. She envisions a future where Asians can be more open with sharing their stories, amplifying their voices, and working...
2021-04-0632 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioJourney Through Broadcast Journalism │1x9Sasha Foo was the first Asian American news anchor at CNN in Atlanta and later spent 17 years with KUSI-TV in San Diego. Although we can look at these accomplishments by themselves, what makes her story notable is her journey there and her recent departure from this area.
After a long career in the news, Sasha Foo left KUSI-TV in 2020. She reflects on her entire career journey and the many interests she had "put on the back burner" which she has since chosen to pursue.
Listen to find out how she first started her career, established...
2021-03-3028 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioSupporting Asian Businesses │1x8Today, we are joined by Business Advisor and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director at the Asian Business Association, San Diego (ABASD), Wesley Quach.
Together, we explore the effects of xenophobia and personal biases on the Asian American community. Outside of educating one another about our differences and bringing these issues to better awareness across the nation, communities are often left to wonder what resources are available to help them keep afloat or to continue their growth as small businesses.
ABASD and their Small Business Development help these individuals through creating partnerships, providing in-person guidance...
2021-03-2331 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioSocial Justice Issues Impacting the API community │1x7Today we join Connie Chung, the CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice — Los Angeles Chapter to discuss the social issues that have pervaded Asian American communities within the past year.
Across the nation, Advancing Justice, or AAAJ, one of the largest Asian American civil rights organizations was founded following the hate crime of Vincent Chin. Throughout the past year, this organization has partnered with numerous other Asian American-focused organizations to raise awareness of and provide resources to their community members in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With over 3,000 hate incidents reported within the last year al...
2021-03-1631 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioTransgender Rights and Activism │1x6Cecilia Chung is a national transgender rights, HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ+, and social justice activist from Hong Kong. Chung immigrated to California with her family, where she later made a home for herself in San Francisco. Her service and advocacy have been prominent since the early 1990s, when she had begun to establish her voice in various community interest groups.
She has continually made space as a representative for Asian American transgender folks and those who live with HIV as the first transgender woman for both the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and...
2021-03-0931 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioInterracial Families & Identity │1x5Wendy Kim is a #1 International Best-Selling author of Beyond Blending In: An Immigrant Daughter's Guide to Overcoming Cultural Bonds For A Life Of Authenticity and Abundance. As a Korean-German born in Savannah, Georgia, Ms. Kim grew up trying to assimilate into either side of her cultural heritage.
Growing up, many of us find ourselves finding ourselves within different groups, or cliques, based on our identity and who we think ourselves to be more closely associated with. In this episode, she shares her personal experience in learning how to balance her identity and accepting who she had grown...
2021-03-0228 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioLegal Discussions with Attorney Elliott Jung │1x4
Elliott Jung is a Korean-American raised in Los Angeles, California. His passion for helping others has shined through his work as an attorney who specializes in Personal Injury.
Helping others find their voice in times when it is difficult to find or amplify their own has allowed Mr. Jung to gain experience in curating the best advice for those seeking help in law.
In addition to his work at Hepburn, Hernandez, & Jung, Mr. Jung is a Take One Vocational Media Training & Internship Mentor at Asian Culture & Media Alliance. During...
2021-02-2329 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioConversation about Asian American Culture & Families │1x1Lao-American stand-up comedian, podcast host, writer, and mother, Linda Schwartz continuously paved her way toward building a life for herself and her family, while pursuing her passion.
In the past, she has written for publications such as Huffington Post, elephant journal, and Positively Positive. She has since started her own podcast series called “She Shed Comedy”, where she focuses on educating and empowering women who are pursuing a career in comedy or are simply interested in personal growth.
Hopefully this show will inspire you through the stories of women like yourself to really allow yourself the...
2021-02-2027 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioHumanitarian Activist Dennis-Michael Broussard │1x3Today, we join our Host, Hula Ramos, and Humanitarian Activist, Dennis-Michael Broussard to explore what kind of work he has done in the past, as well as how he began.
In the way that many others aspire to do today, Dennis-Michael Broussard has been able to combine what he is passionate about with what he does professionally. His love for travel and helping to build communities has led him to lead a life of exploring global culture and helping to provide others with better lives.
2021-02-1629 minAsian Pacific Voices RadioChild & Sex Trafficking Awareness │1x2Author, activist and world-renowned speaker, Chong Kim has been working to end sexual exploitation and human trafficking for nearly two decades. Focusing much of her time on activism and human rights, her dedication, and passionate expertise is fueled by her lived experience as a survivor of child rape and sexual exploitation.
Chong has spoken in over 100 engagements at Universities and Colleges, Law Enforcement agencies, and Symposiums globally. She is recognized as a renowned speaker and expert on the issues of Human Trafficking.
Chong Kim settled in Oklahoma City by way of Pyeongtaek, South Korea when sh...
2021-02-0930 min
The Tao of Self-Confidence557: Born For A Reason With Cathlyn ChoiCathlyn Choi is a TV Producer/Host, Celebrity chef and community activist. She has over 20 years of business development, sales and marketing executive background within the consumer electronics, wireless, media, wellness, health and beauty industries in North America, South America and Asia. Since 2009, Cathlyn is best known for hosting and producing Cathlyn’s Korean Kitchen, the first Korean TV cooking show produced in English worldwide. Dubbed “Hansik Korean Food Ambassador” by the media and her fans, Cathlyn self-published and launched her first cookbook in 2012 along with her Season 4 cooking show launch on national PBS. Currently, Cathlyn is the co-owner and producer...
2018-11-2015 min
The Brand Journalism Advantage Podcast With Phoebe ChongchuaTBJA 089 Cathlyn Choi: Building Your Personal Brand Using VideoCathlyn Choi shares how to build your personal brand. At a young age, she grew her Korean startup to a million in revenue and became the media's go-to expert. Plus, how to turn your passion into your career using online video.
See The Show Notes.
2015-04-0330 min