We are going to end season 2 with a 2-in-1 bang! Fighting work discrimination and aspiring whiteness are some pretty heavy topics that my anonymous friend and I were able to discuss within less than an hour, amazingly enough - perfect for all of you individuals out there who just want the straight truths while you're on the get go. We've heard of how being seen as the model minority has hurt us a million times already, so why not put it into context while bringing up the flaws of our modern day American workplace system? For example, how do we combat microaggressions that we see day to day at work? Later on in the episode, we will touch upon some of us whose subconscious desire is to become white or like white and discuss how what it means to aspire whiteness is different from what it means to be labeled as "whitewashed."
My speaker for this week's episode is a South Asian woman who is currently working at an business consulting firm in the U.S. Her areas of interest include labor economics, environmental economics, immigration and economics of inequality, anti-trust and competition. Outside of work she enjoys exercise, coffee, talking long walks and engaging in conversations about social justice and politics.
Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-18-combatting-work-discrimination-and-aspiring-whiteness
9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!
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Sibling rivalry doesn’t really pertain to only our community but like the topic of parenting, there are still cultural implications that exist and they affect our family dynamics. It didn’t occur to me that I could explore this topic until I began reflecting on my relationship with my own sister just a couple weeks ago. I am very proud and excited to showcase my best friend and younger sister, Joanne Nguyen, in this episode. Look forward to an hour’s worth of her words of advice and encouragement as she brings us back to what it’s like for us growing up together and what our relationship is like now in this week’s episode.
Joanne Nguyen is an aspiring graphic designer and musician who finds solace in listening to Korean music (mainly R&B, her current obsession being DΞΔN) and watching dramas (currently watching Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, highly recommend if you’re looking for OTP cuteness). She’s currently a sophomore at Stanford University who thinks she wants to major in Communications and minor in East Asian Studies with a Korean subplan, but she’s still lost and trying to find her calling in life. She loves heart-to-hearts and dreams of one day opening a coffee shop in Korea where people can come to relax and have thought-provoking and deep conversations. She loves to create and perform whether that is through graphic designing, singing, dancing, or crocheting. Check out her portfolio at https://joannemainguyen.wordpress.com.
Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-17-sibling-rivalry
9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!
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The Asian American adoptee experience is an experience shared by thousands of voices of those I wished I had the opportunity of interviewing. Similar to narratives of mixed Asian Americans, narratives of Asian American adoptees need to be heard more. Luckily for this Podcast, I was able to speak with two of my amazing friends, Laurelin Haas and Andrea MacGown. The reason why I invited them specifically on this episode is to showcase the stark contrast between their responses to my questions regarding their life journey and changing self-perception, proving that once again, there is no such thing as a "standard Asian American adoptee experience." As the host of Project Voice, one of the biggest challenges I've faced is ensuring that I am not creating a spectacle out of my interviewees and it's especially tricky when one of main jobs is asking them questions. Tune in to listen to what they have to say about my concerns and much more!
Laurelin Haas is a recent graduate of Iowa State University. She is an adoptee from China, and she has three younger sisters (all also adopted from China). Laurelin was raised in the Midwest and has connected to her Chinese roots by studying the language and studying abroad in Shanghai.
Andrea MacGown is a junior majoring in philosophy and minoring in logic at Smith College. Her passions are social justice for black lives matter, Asian rights, sexuality, and women's rights. In her free time, she watches movies and anime. She is interested in learning different languages such as Mandarin and French. Andrea loves streetwear, Korean skincare, boba tea, and fighting the system.
Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-16-in-between-as-asian-american-adoptees
9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!
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Relationships and dating are topics that we just naturally gravitate towards because let’s be real, they can be pretty fun to talk about regardless of where you are in life. But on Project Voice, we can be both fun and serious at the same time - let’s talk about interracial dating, shall we! Once considered a taboo topic, the 101 of interracial dating has not been covered as often as it should be even now - online or offline. In this episode, I had the special opportunity to interview my friend Cleo Bergman and ask her about her thoughts on what it’s like to be with someone who grew up in a different world from her. We’re not going to lie, the dynamics of interracial dating can be tricky to navigate through but one key lesson that we've gained from exploring this topic is that communication will always be important, dating or no dating.
Cleo is a biracial (Asian and white), straight woman living in NYC with a Japanese mother and an American father. She hopes to pursue a career in writing or work in a chocolate factory.
Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-15-interracial-dating-101
9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!
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Here’s the first Podcast episode in which I’m going to take a step aside and give space to those who are part of the mixed Asian American community to share their stories. It’s important to keep in mind of the rich diversity of voices within the community of Asian American women representing us. It was a huge privilege to be able to interview Chloe Lin and Hanako O'Leary for this episode, so I'm excited to share their narratives with you. For listeners who can relate to the experiences of my interviewees, I hope that our conversations - especially for this episode - can be a comforting experience for you to be a part of - you are not alone.
Chloe Lin is, among other things, a first-generation, mixed-race, bisexual Asian-American woman. She was raised in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County by her Taiwanese-Chinese mother, and now resides in Boston, where she works as a guide and museum assistant for various historic sites. She graduated from Smith College in 2016 as a history major and museum studies minor, and is adjusting to Adult Life by reading books of all kinds, cooking with friends, and avoiding learning how to drive. She thanks you for listening to this podcast, and hopes you have a lovely day.
Hanako O’Leary, (aka HannyaGrrrl) is a first generation Japanese-American. Upon receiving her BFA in ceramics, Hanako O'Leary left the mid-west to pursue a career in clay. Settling in Seattle, she became frustrated with the insular, white-washed nature of the the fine art world, struggling to find her voice as a biracial womyn artist. After becoming involved in local cultural nonprofits and community art projects, Hanako decided to pursue her MFA in Arts Leadership. As an arts administrator she believed she could create access into the fine art-world for those who create work outside the canon of Eurocentric aesthetics.
In her two year journey through Seattle University's Arts Leadership program, Hanako realized leadership in the arts was not exclusive to those in administrative positions. In those years she found her voice as an artist, participating in socially engaged public art projects and exhibits throughout Seattle. Currently she is exploring social media as public art space and it’s influence in building community. Recent inspirations/ aspirations include Edo period Japan, comic illustration, intersectional feminism, and of course, smashing the patriarchy.
Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-14-i-am-mixed-but-still-asian
9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!
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