Shows
The Takeback Podcast14: That's All She Wrote That’s all she wrote, folks! In this special season finale and final episode of The Takeback Podcast, Angelica and Jess discuss the labor of love that this show has been and why they made the difficult decision to end the podcast. But before that, they have a heartfelt and candid conversation with The Takeback’s sound engineer and audio wizard, Sam Cook-Stuntz, about the vital importance of white allyship in racial equity work. Sam humbly reflects on his continuous learning about racial equity as a white man, and gives tips to other racially or economically privileged members of the...2022-12-2654 minThe Takeback Podcast13. Izzie Chea: Bouncing Back from Burnout Izzie Chea, who is a Dominican-Mexican-American content creator, music educator, storyteller, and mental health advocate, is the Takeback Podcast’s guest this week! In this solo episode, Angelica chats with Izzie about her musical upbringing, her decision to follow in her mother’s footsteps and pursue musical education professionally, and how she pivoted her piano teaching business to accommodate remote and virtual learning during the pandemic. She also shares the experience of receiving her ADHD diagnosis as an adult and how she's utilized her own learning about neurodivergence to equip others who are facing similar issues and diagnoses. Izzie is p...2022-12-1251 minThe Takeback Podcast13. Izzie Chea: Bouncing Back From BurnoutIzzie Chea, who is a Dominican-Mexican-American content creator, music educator, storyteller, and mental health advocate, is the Takeback Podcast’s guest this week! In this solo episode, Angelica chats with Izzie about her musical upbringing, her decision to follow in her mother’s footsteps and pursue musical education professionally, and how she pivoted her piano teaching business to accommodate remote and virtual learning during the pandemic. She also shares the experience of receiving her ADHD diagnosis as an adult and how she's utilized her own learning about neurodivergence to equip others who are facing similar issues and diagnoses. Izzie is p...2022-12-1151 minThe Takeback Podcast12. Querida Duncalfe: Peace by PieceIn this week’s episode, Querida Duncalfe—who is an author, podcaster, community activist, and blogger—reflects on the parallels between her social justice work and her creative life. She shares about the ups and downs of resilience, her nonlinear road to education, and the significance of creating bonds with people who share her values. Don’t forget to check out the links below for resources shared by Querida in this week’s episode!Resources & References:Where to Find Querida:Querida's InstagramSomething True BlogSomething True ApparelPeace by...2022-11-2834 minThe Takeback Podcast11. Katie Piura: Beauty, Boundaries, and Belonging In Episode 11, Honduran-American beauty blogger, YouTuber, and social worker, Kate Piura shares how she shows up in underrepresented spaces, especially for the Latinx community. Katie, Jess, and Angelica discuss Katie’s many creative passions and how she uses social media, make-up, and blogging to build community with others. She shares her thoughts on the importance of mentors and representation in media, and gives practical advice to our listeners about setting good boundaries in one’s creative work.Don’t forget to check out the links below to see which BIWOC businesses and brands Katie recommends in this episod...2022-11-1430 minThe Takeback Podcast10. Are We All Imposters? This week, The Takeback Podcast celebrates 10 episodes! Co-hosts Jess Pillay and Angelica De Anda dive deep into the topic of imposter syndrome. They share their personal stories, and provide tools and resources for people—especially women of color creatives—to fight back when imposter syndrome strikes. Check out the links below for more resources from this episode.If this episode struck a chord with you, please share with others and consider leaving us a positive rating and review on your podcast platform of choice. This gets our podcast into the ears of more listeners. We appreciate your supp...2022-10-2451 minThe Takeback Podcast9. Manuela Guillén: My Art; My Rules In Episode 9, we talk with Manuela Guillén, a Latina freelance visual artist, art educator, and small business owner based in Philly. Manuela, Angelica, and Jess discuss art and its role in advocacy, social change, and how storytelling can bridge communities. Manuela reflects on her time living in the Dominican Republic and Miami and how her cultural background has inspired her art. She also shares how, no matter what, she is determined to stay true to her personal values while she expresses herself through her creative work. Check out the resources and references below for more information on where y...2022-10-1745 min
The Takeback Podcast8. Rani Weatherby: Rest, Recover, ReflectThis week, Seattle-based singer/songwriter Rani Weatherby takes us through her creative journey: from the influence that Elton John, the Flight of the Concords, and the Wellington Ukulele Orchestra had on her musicianship, to stand-up comedy nights with her ukulele, and gigs with her band, Champagne Honeybee. Rani, Jess, and Angelica go on to discuss the complexities of burnout as women of color creatives and the critical importance of self-care. Rani also shares how the name Champagne Honeybee came about and how she pivoted and learned to re-engage with her creative craft during the pandemic.Listen to...2022-09-2648 min
The Takeback Podcast7. Sherry-Lynn Lee: Do Safe Jobs Exist? Technically speaking, safe jobs are a myth. We’ll let you ponder that one as we introduce Sherry-Lynn Lee, an LA-based musician at heart who spent years expressing her creativity through her data science job in Silicon Valley before switching gears and becoming a full-time songwriter and music producer. Sherry-Lynn tells us what it was like growing up on the tropical island of Mauritius in an Asian household and how that impacted her musical journey. She also shares some wise and practical advice on how to successfully leave your “safety” job and things she has done to take creative contro...2022-09-1252 min
The Takeback Podcast6. Chelsea Green: 9 to 5 to CreativeWhat does it mean to identify as a creative? Chelsea Green, a Washington born-and-raised writer and CPA, joins us in our sixth episode to share her experience wrestling with that question. Chelsea talks about how she balances her creative flow as a writer while still working a traditional 9 to 5 job, shares her favorite tips for handling imposter syndrome, and talks about the importance of standing up for justice – even when it’s not the popular thing to do. Don’t forget to check out her latest published piece in Bold: Stories About Living Life Out Loud (an anthology by The Pa...2022-08-2245 min
The Takeback Podcast5. Angelica De Anda (Part 2): Why Singing Is Like TherapyIn our fifth episode and the second part of Angelica De Anda’s story, Angelica explains why she got into the mental health profession and discusses the legacy she dreams of leaving for her bicultural daughter. She then takes us through some favorite self-care practices and reflects on how her creative journey has influenced her work as a therapist. She and Jess also give listeners tangible tips on finding a therapist! Explore the resources below for the directories mentioned in this episode.TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNING: Note that mental health challenges, grief, loss, and suicide are mentioned around th...2022-08-0840 min
The Takeback Podcast4. Angelica De Anda (Part 1): Name It and Claim ItIn our fourth episode, our co-founder and co-host Angelica De Anda reflects on how she reclaimed her name and cultural roots. She shares how music has always been a consistent thread in her life: from childhood experiences in church, to not practicing her instruments, to meeting Jess in choir during their first year of college. Angelica also takes us back to a core high school memory where she landed the lead role in a musical production (in true Sharpay and Gabriella fashion—for all you High School Musical fans out there!).Resources & References:Follow Angelica on...2022-07-2540 min
The Takeback Podcast3. Jess Pillay (Part 2): Can Anybody Hear Me? In the third episode of The Takeback Podcast, Jess digs deeper into her music and mental health journey. She describes the influence Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) had on her artistry, discusses significant family events and relationships, her education, and the pressures of keeping up with societal expectations. Jess and Angelica address the heart of this podcast: what is it like as a woman of color to navigate and make a career in the independent music industry? TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNING: This episode strikes a few chords regarding mental health. Note that depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies are mentioned...2022-07-1153 min
The Takeback Podcast2. Jess Pillay (Part 1): When Form Does Not Equal ContentIn the second episode of The Takeback Podcast, Jess & Angelica dive head first into Jess's story: what it was like to grow up as an Indo-Fijian-American in the Pacific Northwest, how and why Jess fell in love with music, and that time a teacher crushed her acting dreams.Visit our official website & sign up for our email newsletter: thetakebackpodcast.comResources & ReferencesThe Forgotten GirmityasShine On Official Music Videojesspillaymusic.com2022-06-2728 min
The Takeback Podcast1. What Exactly Are We Taking Back?In this first episode of The Takeback Podcast, best friends and co-hosts Jess Pillay and Angelica De Anda discuss why they decided to start this podcast. They also talk about how everything leads back to therapy and fangirl over their favorite Asian American singer/songwriter, Rachael Yamagata, who inspired the name of this show.2022-06-1324 min
The Takeback PodcastTrailer: Welcome to The Takeback Podcast!Official trailer for The Takeback Podcast, where women of color creatives come together to inspire, empower, and encourage each other. Hosted by Jess Pillay, an Indo-Fijian-American independent singer/songwriter, and Angelica De Anda, a Mexican-American licensed mental health counselor and singer, each episode explores and elevates the stories of women of color who are artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, writers, and much more as they navigate and take back creative environments that weren't necessarily designed with them in mind. Visit thetakebackpodcast.com to learn more and join the creative revolution.2022-06-0501 min