Asian Pacific Voices Radio

Pier Nirandara is an award-winning author, travel writer, film producer, and underwater photographer. She began her career as Thailand’s youngest English-writing author of three #1 national bestselling novels, multiple graphic novels, and short stories with over 200,000 copies sold in multiple languages published by Nanmee Books. In this episode, Nirandara talks about her travel experiences growin...

Born in 1973 in Vinh Long, Vietnam, Dr. Le and his family embarked on a harrowing journey, escaping the country by boat to Indonesia in 1982. After spending a year in various refugee camps, they resettled in the United States in 1983. In this episode, Dr. Le reflects on his family's initial struggles with financial hardship upon arriving in the US, a challenge that fueled his determination to purs...

Maki Mae is a multi-talented, 13-language vocalist, concert pianist, and classically-trained violinist who has captivated audiences globally. Her illustrious career has seen her headlining crossover performances in major televised events, sports arenas, and festivals, including America's Got Talent, Special Olympics World Games, and Burning Man. In this episode, Maki shares the incredible story ab...

Born in Hong Kong, Andy Cheng began his martial arts journey early, mastering Taekwondo and earning numerous championships, including five consecutive gold medals. His prowess led him to represent Hong Kong internationally, clinching victories across various competitions.  After retiring from competitive sports, Cheng ventured into the entertainment industry, showcasing his talents as an Action Ar...

A renowned chef, writer, and TV host, Christine Ha made history as the first blind contestant to win MasterChef's third season in 2012. Despite her visual impairment, she has triumphed as a talented Vietnamese American chef, becoming an inspiration for many due to her culinary achievements, and her impactful work in the world of cooking and television. In this Episode, Christine shares her inspira...

Eliseo Art Silva is a contemporary multimedia artist whose vibrant creations breathe life into historical narratives and foster compassionate connections within communities. Born in Manila in 1972, he migrated to the United States at 17, bringing a rich tapestry of Filipino heritage that now intricately weaves through his remarkable body of work. Renowned for designing iconic landmarks like the Ea...

A multifaceted creative force, Nic Cha Kim is an award-winning television reporter, documentary filmmaker, playwright, and cultural activist. With a remarkable career spanning across various artistic disciplines, Nic has made significant contributions to the world of arts and culture in downtown Los Angeles. In this episode with host, Rasha Goel, Nic Cha Kim shares his experiences in the '92 LA Up...

  In the highly anticipated premiere of Asian Pacific Voices Season 4, our dynamic hosts Rasha Goel, Sasha Foo, and Joanne Whitlock delve into a diverse array of thought-provoking subjects, offering viewers an engaging and insightful kick-off to the new season. From exploring cultural intersections to addressing pressing issues, the hosts bring their unique perspectives to ensure a captivating and...

For this Season 3 finale episode, we are joined by a remarkable power couple who have left a significant mark in the entertainment industry. Joining us is a versatile actor, Amit Sarin, whose inspiring journey from Indian television to global recognition has captivated millions, and his incredibly talented wife, Vineesha Arora-Sarin, who is a producer and creative powerhouse behind the scenes. Tog...

Known as MC MARU, Maru Kim is a Korean-American professional emcee, motivational speaker, and CEO of @maruonthestage Entertainment. With his unique, uncanny trilingual (Korean, English, Spanish) ability, cross-cultural sensitivity, and 600+ appearances on the stage as MC and speaker, he has been entertaining, motivating, and growing with Korean, Hispanic, and many other multi-ethnic immigrant comm...

Joining us in this episode is a remarkable storyteller and creative activist, Alaudin Ullah, whose work resonates deeply across cultures and communities. One of the first South Asians to appear as a stand-up comedian on national television, including Comedy Central, BET, MTV, and PBS, his groundbreaking one-person, multi-character play, Dishwasher Dreams, has captured the hearts of audiences world...

Geeranan Chuersanga (Jeer-rah-nahn Choo-er-sahng-ah) , also known as Cartoon, is a Thai American, diversity, (health) equity and inclusion advocate as well as a self-taught artist based in Los Angeles, CA. Fun fact: Her nickname "Cartoon" was given by her parents since birth and derived from the popular cartoon character "Tweety" for her big eyes. Her full-time career and art endeavors were heavil...

Paloma B. Concordia (She/her) was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and gives credit to New York City for developing her business-savvy state of mind. Her education and career began in the fashion and retail industry and transitioned into the music business at the height of the digital media boom. Inspired by progressive artists in the Bay Area, Paloma began to explore youth empowermen...

In this episode we are joined by coffee expert, entrepreneur, and internet personality Nick Cho. Known for his online persona "Your Korean Dad," he uses social media to share heartwarming and relatable content that fosters a sense of connection and positivity among his followers. Nick was born in Seoul, Korea in 1973. He immigrated to the US in 1975 with his father and mother, eventually settling...

As a writer, speaker, and yoga teacher, Kathy Khang is also the author of Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent & How to Speak Up (IV Press, 2018) and Alabaster Guided Meditations, Psalms Vol. 1 and 2 (IV Press, 2020), and a contributing author in More Than Serving Tea (IV Press, 2006) and Voices of Lament (Revell, 2022). Her next book co-authored with Matt Mikalatos, Loving Disagreement, relea...

Dante Dauz was born and raised in San Diego and developed and implemented numerous community engagement and empowerment programs with the Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC) throughout San Diego for 13 years. Programs included: community violence response, victim support, gang prevention, homeless advocacy, youth mentorship, employment, and business development for individuals with serious menta...

In this episode we are joined by puppeteer, voice actor, and producer Kathleen Kim, who has brought asian representation to Sesame Street, through the newest member of the beloved cast, Ji-Young. Her incredible role as Ji-Young not only empowers AAPI children as they see themselves in such a manner, but also reconnects the bond of diverse communities within this PBS longtime favorite.  As Kathleen...

In this episode we are joined by Raleigh Star Chef, Cheetie Kumar, who has been profiled by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. She has been recognized as someone to watch in the culinary world, with numerous James Beard award nominations. Her new restaurant Ajja has opened up recently in Raleigh, and serves delicious  She is also known to master her crafts in the music industry as a g...

In this episode, we are joined by the charismatic cartoonist MariNaomi (she/they), known for their evocative autobiographical comics and dedication to promoting underrepresented voices, their raw and intimate storytelling has captivated readers worldwide, while their creation of three online databases has empowered countless fellow cartoonists. MariNaomi opens up about how their Japanese culture p...

In this episode, we are joined with the renowned celebrity photographer Peter Yang, who has shot more than various high-profile actors and actresses, and has captured energy and bright kinetic emotion through his dazzling work. Through the lens of Peter Yang we are met with a great source of timeless material, furthermore advancing the meaning of mood, perspective, and artistry in the field of pho...

In this episode we are joined by UCLA Athletic Hall of Famer Kelly Inouye-Perez, head softball coach for the UCLA Bruins in southern California. Entering 2024, she leads all active PAC-12 coaches with 775 overall victories and 275 conference victories, securing four regular season PAC-12 titles in her tenure as head coach. Starting 2024, she will move onto her 18th season as lead coach. In 2022, I...

In this episode we are joined by Drag Queen, Makeup Artist, LGBTQIA Activist, and Founder of the House of Persuasions, Mx. SHI. Growing up in the South as a Japanese American, Mx. SHI provides insights on their personal journey including, generational/cultural differences, political identity, and prejudices they had experienced then to now. Mx. SHI’s freedom shines through as they open up about fi...

In this episode we are joined by documentary filmmaker Tran Van Kirk, who’s story highlights reconnecting and reclaiming identity and the journey to self discovery. Kirk takes the initiative to help adoptees and AmerAsians from the Vietnam War with their families, and has paved a way for many individuals in the same situation.  Kirk was born as Trần Văn Hung in DaNang, Vietnam in the summer of 196...

Standup comedian, actress, and musician: Margaret Cho shares with us her fantastic journey from her upbringing as an Asian American in San Francisco, to her riveting breakthrough into the industry. In this episode, she brings to light her experiences and challenges she had faced in the 90s and explains more about her first one-woman show: "I'm the One that I Want" that unearthed her struggles with...

In this episode we will be learn more about the dynamic non-profit organization AHAANA, led by visionary founder and Executive Director Nanda Mehta. AHAANA is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through their multifaceted approach encompassing advocacy, education, and direct intervention. AHAANA dresses social, educational, and health challenges faces by marginalized populations. N...