miseducAsian Podcast

In this episode, we connect with food historian and blogger , David R. Chan. He shares the origins of his incredible food journey, where he has documented over 8000 Chinese restaurants he's eaten at, and what he's learned along the way.  Why he doesn't consider himself a foodie (1:40) His life in LA and why he didn't like Chinese food growing up (6:45)  Origin story of "Th...

In this episode, we chat with Chun-Yen Chen, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Community Fund . We discuss: playing instruments as a core part of Asian culture and how she might have been the inspiration for Drumline (1:55) the mission and work of APCF, how little mainstream philanthropies are supporting AAPI communities, and how she hopes to support AAPI serving organizations and leaders (1...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Michelle Rhee, we discuss: Being in a highly visible role and the impact it has on family  (0:40) Michelle reflects on her time in DC (11:58)  Identity development, still experiencing Asian "firsts", and leading while Asian     (27:45)

In this episode, we chat with Michelle Rhee, Co-Founder of BuildWithin, and Former Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools. We discuss: Growing up and explaining your job to your parents  (8:53) Three generations of Rhee's and how our parents evolve (14:22) Michelle and Tommy remember Layla Avila (22:50) Brian gets awkward talking KJ (38:38) 

In this episode, we speak with accomplished composer and musician Christopher Wong . We discuss:  the role of music in Asian communities and why it seems like all Asian kids can play an instrument (1:30) reconciling our parents' insistence that we play instruments and their lack of support in pursuing a career in music (12:20)   how our relationships with our parents have evolved and haven&ap...

In this episode, we chat with Diana Hwang, Founder and Executive Director of the Asian American Women's Political Initiative ( AAWPI ). We discuss: trying to meet parent expectations (2:57) why she founded AAWPI (22:33) the complexity of organizing in AAPI communities (38:55) where AAWPI is working now (50:25) Check out AAWPI's Instagram and website if you want to learn more about and su...

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Jade Agua, Chief Learning Officer at the USC Race and Equity Center. Topics include: her background and identity development, specifically having family roots in Hawai'i race and equity work in higher education recent events related to Affirmative Action the relationship between capitalism and racism  At the top of the show, we shared information for Bring th...

We share our thoughts on Year 1 of the miseducAsian podcast and what we're looking forward to in Year 2. 

In this episode, we connect with Katie Yue-Sum Li and Go Sasaki. As educators, historians, and organizers, Katie and Go share their journeys, as individuals and as partners, for how they have and continue to make meaning about what it means to be Asian American and Asian more broadly, in various contexts. We discuss how and why our stories have been erased and made invisible, what "ethnic stu...

In this episode, we visit the Chinese American Museum, Los Angeles , with Dr. Gay Yuen, the museum's Board Chair. A lifelong educator, Dr. Yuen shares how her early days as a non-English speaking student in Los Angeles, influenced her to become a trailblazer in multi-lingual learning in southern California, and the real difference between language learner and language immersion programs.    D...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Archana Patel, we learn more about Jeremiah Program , what calls her to this work centering the experience of mothers, how this shows up in her personal and professional lives, and why she believes it to be a game-changing approach to systems change. We also talk leadership, how we view ourselves as leaders (or not), and the immense pressure many of us grapple wi...

This is a special 2-episode conversation with Archana Patel, VP of Parent Programming at Jeremiah Program . In Part 1, Archana shares her story, why she feels called to center the stories of women and mothers now more than ever, and how the current climate is increasing the appetite and desire for activism and civic engagement in South Asian communities.  We unpack the challenges of wanting to cel...

In this episode, we chat with Esther Lee, founder of Asian Founded , a social media agency that works exclusively with Asian-owned businesses and brands. Esther shares her story, of immigrating to the United States at an early age, transitioning from homeschool to UCLA, and her career as a journalist and producer. She also shares how she got started and what ultimately inspired her to start Asian...

In this episode, we connect with Cynthia Lim, author of Wherever You Are: A Memoir of Love, Marriage, and Brain Injury , a memoir about her journey as a caregiver for her disabled husband. We talk about her journey as a writer and the catharsis and pain involved in telling a deeply personal story. We then discuss the disconnectedness she felt from her Chinese heritage and how that influenced her t...

In this episode, we chat with Grace Pai, Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago , about how her unique childhood influenced her sense of identity and career. We also talk about Advancing Justice | Chicago's role in passing the historic Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act in 2021, ensuring that every public elementary and high school studen...

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Cristina de Jesus, President and CEO of Green Dot Public Schools California. We discuss her family's influence on her, navigating multiracial and intersectional identities, how those identities show up in her leadership and the difference between centering the experience of others vs erasing yourself. We also talk about her love for Karaoke, our go-to jams, a...

In this episode, we sit down with Tanya Ho Raukko and Michael Vitug from Intertrend , a multicultural advertising and communications agency founded and led by Asian-Americans. We discuss tiger parenting, the evolution of AAPI representation, and what it's like to work and lead at an AAPI agency. We also discuss their Make Noise Today campaign, a platform that creates empathy and equity throug...

In this episode, we chat with Priya Tahiliani, the Superintendent of Everett Public Schools (MA), about growing up as an English language learner, how she found her voice, and what motivates her to be an unrelenting advocate for young people in her community. We also talk about college rivalries and early memories of "American" food. 

In this episode, we chat with Connie Chung Joe, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles , the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI). We learn about Connie's upbringing, her badass mom, and how she navigated different cultural dynamics as a student, professional, and parent. We then discuss the...

In this episode, we chat with our friend and curator of culinary experiences, Hanifa Farooq. We talk about where her love of food comes from, how she's built her encyclopedic knowledge of food and restaurants from around the world, and why she started curating culinary experiences for others. We also discuss Trader Joe's,  authenticity in food, and culinary appropriation.   

In this episode, we chat with Rhea Wong and Stephanie Lai, the founders of Asian Boss Ladies .  We learn about why and how ABL was created, what this amazing collective of women are hoping to accomplish together, and why spaces and communities like this are needed now more than ever. We also discuss the recent attacks against Asian women in NYC and the erasure of Asian women's experience in g...

In this episode, we chat with Chong-Hao Fu, CEO of Leading Educators , about the many themes and topics touched on in the movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings. These topics include representation, the emasculation and desexualization of Asian men, the messages we've internalized, the power and beauty of Asian names, and how we struggle to stay connected to our roots.

In Part 2 of our conversation, Chi shares how she came to be so unapologetically herself (00:27), how we should interpret and reconcile lessons from our parents (12:47), and we conclude with a discussion on mental health and the stigma it carries in the Asian American community (30:26).      Please check out and support #FreeYourMe and the National Alliance on Mental Illness . #FreeYourMe aims to:...

In Part 1 of our conversation with Chi Kim, CEO of Pure Edge, we talk about the popularity of Korean culture, the new Korean-American character on Sesame Street, and Chi's mom shooting hoops. We also talk about adopting "American" names, suppressing our linguistic identities, and more.    Pure Edge, Inc. believes that all educators and learners deserve to be taught strategies that h...

The miseducAsian crew is joined by Seng-Dao Yang Keo. She shares her journey, the Hmong American community's story of "we", and her evolving relationship with her parents (2:20). We then talk about Suni Lee's historic gold medal during the Summer Olympics and the impact it had on the Hmong and Asian American communities (29:00). We conclude with a discussion on ways we might ce...