Modern Minorities

Vanessa Huynh’s (self) acceptance Nov 11, 2024

“Growing up, emotional support was non-existent. Rightfully so, because they went through hell and back - their entire journey of having to escape and redoing life in a foreign country. There was no time to look back.”

Vanessa Huynh is a rising professional in Chicago - who Raman met in NY on an “intergenerational” panel, where Vanessa was one of the “younger folk” at our event. And while there are some slight differences in how we processed growing up between two worlds, Vanessa’s a fellow old soul in her acceptance - and take on how her parents had to process and present the world to her growing up - so much more than bridging the cultural divide. Hoping this very personal, non-political conversation can provide a respite from all the other noise around us...

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Kamala's message Nov 07, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris' speech from Howard University on Wednesday, November 6, 2024

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Reflecting (a slide): Berlin Nov 06, 2024

It's the morning after, I’ll leave some fresh comments at the top of the episode. It was crushingly hard to tell my daughter before she went off to school. We're probably all asking ourselves, how did we get here?

So easier to just re-air this Quarantined Comics episode from August 2022 about the vibrant and harrowing graphic novel Berlin, by Jason Lutes, which I've actually referenced in many conversations over the past few months. It’s a small distraction in an eerily prescient conversation about a comic book written about Germany in the 1930s. And if that's too heavy right now, head over to YouTube and watch “day drinking” clips with Seth Meyers — the ones with Rihanna and Dua Lipa are works of art.

To paraphrase Mehdi Hasan: While a majority of our fellow Americans may have voted for an unhinged demagogue — the rest of us need to stick together. Solidarity is about to become the most important word in our political vocabulary. We need each other. And so, for the next four years, solidarity is the name of the game.

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Chris Schmicker’s (Hapa) Hawaiian Story Oct 28, 2024

“ Growing up in Hawaii is a really, really special experience — natural beauty, family and community. But you're really trying to fit into a local culture that has such a complex relationship with Caucasian people.”

Chris Schmicker is a a Honolulu-born and New York City-based writer and brand marketer who’s currently working on a debut short fiction collection set in contemporary Hawaii. Chris is Hapa — half Japanese & Chinese, half Swiss & Irish — we first met on our previously aired ANA AMAM panel. Growing up on an island - literally, and migrating to the mainland, Chris has many different, but similar experiences, which he brings to life in a very thoughtful way. Navigating our personal, sometimes terrible, sometimes convenient superpowers of code-switching was something we discussed navigating on the personal and professional fronts, growing comfortable into the adults we’d one day become.

LEARN MORE

https://www.chrisschmicker.com/

MENTIONS

PERSON: Martha Stewart: wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Stewart
BOOK: Sharks in the Time of Saviors (Kawai Strong Washburn): goodreads.com/book/show/45892255-sharks-in-the-time-of-saviors

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Lisa Angulo Reid’s (trusting) Dear Flor Oct 21, 2024

“We wanted something that was familiar, but also Filipino — the whole culture of the older sister that knows and gives advice without judgment.”

Lisa Angulo Reid the co-founder and CEO of Dear Flor, the first Filipina-owned cannabis company that makes gummies that are 100% vegan with 100% Filipino flavors like ube, calamansi, and buko pandan. Founded by Lisa and her husband Brian, Dear Flor’s mission is to bring Filipino culture to the world, one flavor at a time. Sharon + Lisa are OG Chiefs, but Lisa + Raman only met a few months ago at an industry event (AMAM FTW) where they bonded over nerdiness and marketing.

Lisa’s journey into entrepreneurship began after a successful 20+ year career in advertising and marketing, where she led transformative campaigns for some of the world’s most loved and trusted brands. She’s also an advocate for Asian women leaders and spearheaded NYC’s inaugural Philippine American History Month celebration which featured Filipina trailblazers Loida Nicolas Lewis and Nicole Ponseca. You’ll enjoy this conversation among new friends about growing up in the south, building a personal business, and relating what we do to both our parents - and our kids.

LEARN MORE

dearflor.com
instagram.com/lovedearflor

MENTIONS

CHARACTER: Sookie Stackhouse - wikipedia.org/wiki/Sookie_Stackhouse
PERSON: Susie-quesada (Ramar foods) - bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/profiles-strategies/2018/09/the-teacher-who-took-over-a-frozen-food-empire.html

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Kathy MacLeod’s (still a) Continental Drifter Oct 14, 2024

“I didn't ask my dad many questions, and now I'll never know. And I could call my mom up right now, but I'm not going to do that because - ‘the culture’ - we don't really ask each other personal questions.”

Kathy MacLeod is an illustrator and cartoonist - the author of CONTINENTAL DRIFTER, her debut graphic novel - a memoir about a youth split between growing up in Bangkok, and her first summer camp experience in Maine. CONTINENTAL DRIFTER is a coming of age story about a girl caught between two worlds - her home of Thailand, where her mom is from, and her discovery - and reconciliation with reality of - the exotic, idyllic America of her father. Kathy’s work was an accidental discovery (and a happy surprise) - a classic childhood story of seeking belonging, but not being sure where we can find it. While it’s a fun graphic novel geared for kids, at times it can be a heavy drama of understanding for all of us. It’s really tender, and it has a lot of heart. Kathy’s work has appeared in The Believer, Catapult, The Hairpin, and Lucky Peach. After spending most of her life in Bangkok, Thailand (with a four-year interlude at Wesleyan University), Kathy is currently living in Berlin, Germany. While our chat didn’t cover much about her work, we covered a lot about the stories we each carry with us about the relationships we have with our families.

LEARN MORE

instagram.com/kathy_macleod
BOOK: Continental Drifter - goodreads.com/book/show/111672623-continental-drifter

MENTIONS

BOOK: Blankets (Craig Thompson): goodreads.com/book/show/25179.Blankets
BOOK: Ducks (Kate Beaton): goodreads.com/en/book/show/59069071-ducks
SHOW: Felicity: imdb.com/title/tt0134247/
BOOKS: Ramona Quimby (Beverly Cleary): goodreads.com/series/40341-ramona-quimby
PERSON: Chanel Miller - wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanel_Miller

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Nir Eyal (is) Indistractable Oct 07, 2024

“Distraction is not a technology problem or a moral failing. The vast majority of distraction is simply that you have not learned the skill of dealing with discomfort. Master internal triggers, or they will become your master.”

Nir Eyal is a best-selling author and instructor working at the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. In a research-driven conversation about his latest book “INDISTRACTABLE - How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life,” we learn about what really drives distraction — which is less about flashy external stimuli, and more about our own internal discomfort. The good news is, it’s not out of reach, by better understanding our internal triggers - it just might be possible to get back to a focus that feels so far gone. The good news is, It's not out of reach, and Nir shares some great tips to get started.

Indistractable received critical acclaim, winning the Outstanding Works of Literature Award as well as being named one of the Best Business and Leadership Books by The Globe and Mail and Amazon, and among the Best Personal Development Books of the Year by Audible. Nir is also the author of “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” — his books have resonated with readers worldwide, selling over 1 million copies in over 30 languages.

Nir’s writing and work has been featured in The New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Harvard Business Review, The M.I.T. Technology Review, Time Magazine, Psychology Today. Nir co-founded and sold two tech companies since 2003, and invests in habit-forming products that improve users’ lives including Eventbrite (NYSE:EB), Anchor.fm (acquired by Spotify), Kahoot!, Canva, Homelight, Product Hunt, Marco Polo, Byte Foods, FocusMate, Dynamicare, Wise App, and Sunnyside. Nir previously taught in the Business and Design schools at Stanford University, and Nir attended The Stanford Graduate School of Business and Emory University.

This is an episode from friend-of-the-pod Sharad Lal's podcast “HOW TO LIVE” - for lots more great conversations with Sharad and thought leaders, subscribe to How To Live wherever you get your favorite podcasts, or visit howtolive.life

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Wendy Nguyen’s (driving) registration Sep 28, 2024

“You need to get people registered, you need to get them informed, you need them voting. This is not the work of just one cycle, but this is the work of a generation.”

Wendy Nguyen is Founder and President of AsianAmericansRise.com — a political advocacy nonprofit focused on civic engagement from the Asian American community. Right now, Wendy and her team are most focused on registering voters - and turning out the Asian vote in swing states like Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina — and in key congressional races across the country. We’re all concerned about how close this election is going to be, so we’d strongly encourage you to make a donation - large or small - at AsianAmericansRise.com. Their org is 100% volunteer run, so your dollars will go directly getting out the Asian American vote. And with voter registration deadlines fast-approaching, and so much on the line - gun safety, climate change, healthcare access, voting rights and more - coming down to a handful of votes in just a handful of counties this November, every little bit helps ASAP...

LEARN MORE: AsianAmericansRise.com
DONATE: gofundme.com/f/registerasianvoters2024

Long before Wendy’s work turning out the vote — she was a long-time advocate for AAPI political representation, having co-founded Stand with Asian Americans back in March 2021 in the early days of the Stop Asian Hate movement. She's super passionate about the cause and has a big picture, long-term vision for how our community can come together to drive change. And it’s really cool seeing such a focused, performance-marketing approach that can have a big impact. On top of all that Wendy has two other really important day-jobs, that of a bay area CMO, and that of a mom. Like us, you’ll be blown away by her heart, candor, practicality, and proactiveness.

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Ida Abdalkhani’s (new) experience Sep 21, 2024

” I was in survival mode for so long — then I finally dealt with it - shedding all the old stories I told myself that society put on — those stories stick with us and form our identity without us even realizing it.”

Ida Abdalkhani is a longtime FrieMMd of the pod, and a co-host on Raman’s other podcast, “Learnings from Leaders.” Ida is many things...an entrepreneur, marketer, board member, speaker, professor, patent-holder, yoga instructor, published author, and many more things to come. We actually met early in our careers, and our paths have crossed again and again. Ida was one of first “Model” Minorities guests way back when in 2020 — when the world was VERY different. And since then, lots has changed not just everywhere, but in Ida’s life. in a short time Ida dealt with more change and crisis than most of us deal with in decades. And that’s given Ida some new perspective, so we wanted to catch up and understand what was different. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation between old friends reflecting on the change that is around all of us.

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Building (Bridges) Across Generations Sep 16, 2024

”I’ve come to my parents with challenges and they say, keep working hard, keep pushing through it — they're so used to working 12 hour days, making ends meet — it’s interesting to see them understanding my career.”

Raman recently moderated a community conversation on "Building Bridges across Generations" for the inaugural Asians in Marketing and More summit - where we explored the personal and professional expectations of work and family across different generations. We explored how we, as a professional community can support the next generation of leaders. Moderating the panel was a real treat - especially in sharing stories on stage - and getting to know fellow purpose-driven Asian business leaders.

FEATURING: Amrita Dutta-Gupta (GNC), Chris Schmicker (Shopify), Vanessa Huynh (LabCorp), Paresh Jha (LinkedIn), David Yin (Capital Y Consulting), Lisa Reid (Dear Flor), Jill Kelly (WPP), Jennifer Chen (Connatix), Ranjana Choudhry (Inmar), Aniko DeLaney (Fordham University), Julie Lee (TDW+Co), Elliot Lum (Association of National Advertisers)

MENTIONS

FILMS: The Joy Luck Club, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Crazy Rich Asians
BOOKS: Dava Shastri's Last Day, Sharks in the Time of Saviors, The Night Diary, The Whole Story of Half a Girl
SHOWS: Never Have I Ever, Pachinko, Physical: 100

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Sudha's (emotionally) intelligent learnings Sep 09, 2024

“I was not gonna follow rules if they didn't make any sense to me. There's a healthy sense of curiosity and a willingness to challenge the status quo.”

Sudha Ranganathan is an emotionally intelligent leader. Drew Tarvin is a humor engineer. Both are P&G Alumni, and old friends of Raman’s from different parts of his life. This is a bonus conversation from Raman (+Drew’s) other podcast, Learnings from Leaders. Having worked at companies like Linkedin, Paypal, Affinnova,and Procter & Gamble - in the US and Asia, Sudha’s career has spanned engineering, marketing, and product strategy - but what she really excels at is managing and coaching others. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation diving deep into the significance of emotional intelligence and psychological safety in the workplace — with learnings from her early experiences and struggles as a new leader to her proactive approach to personal development. And comic books may or may not have come up.

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Burma Chronicles and (Drew's) Panama Tales Sep 02, 2024

“He bears witness - in a very disarming way - what's really going on in this country.” “It’s often expressed without a single word, vivid enough that It hits a bit differently — It's not sugar coated — this is what they're up against.”

BURMA CHRONICLES is the 2007 graphic travelogue by French-Canadian cartoonist Guy Delisle — which presents a personal and distinctively humorous glimpse into a political hotspot on the other side of the world, where the Delisle balances his ex-pat home-husbandry, the spinning politics a quasi-authoritarian state, and finding a way as a foreign cartoonist amidst a South Asian junta

This is another very special Quarantined CoMMics crossover episode - covering a graphic novel with a very unique Modern Minorities take. Joining is longtime FrieMMd of the Pod (+Ramans other, other podcast co-host) DREW TARVIN, Humor Engineer, who much like the author of this week's comic, happens to be a dude who's a funny-jobbed, home-husbanding ex-pat dad in a foreign land.

LEARN MORE

BOOK: goodreads.com/book/show/5596923-burma-chronicles
BURMA: wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar
DREW: AndrewTarvin.com

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ROAMING (Tamaki) ...feeling old and young again Aug 12, 2024

ROAMING is the graphic novel winner of three 2024 EISNER awards for best graphic novel, best writer, and best penciller/inker - by cousins Mariko + Jillian Tamaki. It's a book about three young women touring New York City in the late aughts, and it's both a love letter to New York City and a nostalgic look at the relationship between three friends who are about to follow very different paths in life. You can’t read this book and not see yourself in it at a younger, more awkward phase of your life - whether or not you’ve even spent any time in NYC.

This is another episode from Raman’s other podcast, Quarantined Comics. And as you already know from our LAST episode - we're big Tamaki fans. We've actually covered some of Mariko’s other award-winning work like Skim, This One Summer, and more on other episodes of Quarantined Comics. So be sure to check out ALL of Mariko Tamaki's work wherever you get your favorite books

LEARN MORE

BOOK: Roaming: goodreads.com/book/show/62207006-roaming
NEWS: comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/
MARIKO: instagram.com/marikotamaki
AUTHOR: goodreads.com/author/show/483588.Mariko_Tamaki
BOOK: This One Summer: goodreads.com/book/show/18465566-this-one-summer

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Mariko Tamaki's many (Surely) Books Jul 29, 2024

"The idea that a person can't relate to something because it's not directly about them is a misunderstanding of who's been reading books this whole time."

Mariko Tamaki is an award-winning Canadian comics creator and writer — known for works like Skim and This One Summer (with her cousin Jillian Tamaki). Her latest novel is Cold, a haunting YA novel about four students who knew too much and said too little. AND Mariko’s also the Co-founder & Editor of Surely Books - a comics imprint of LGBTQIA+ creators. Mariko’s ALSO known for comics like Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Emiko Superstar, and several prose works of fiction and nonfiction. AND since 2016, Mariko’s been writing for Marvel & DC comics - on powerful books like I Am Not Stafire, and Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass. Mariko’s also only the second woman to write Detective Comics - the 1000+ issue flagship DC series about the Dark Knight. If you can’t tell by now, one of us has been a BIG Mariko Tamaki fan for awhile, and after hearing her approach to writing and sharing personal stories, you soon will be too.

This is a replay of an earlier chat from 2022 - we’re airing it in honor of Marikos’ winning of the Eisner Award (among comics most prestigious honors) - for the 2023 graphic novel ROAMING - which she co-created with her cousin Jillian. We’ll be airing the Quarantined Comics episode on Roaming next!

BOOK: Roaming: goodreads.com/book/show/62207006-roaming
NEWS: comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/

LEARN ABOUT MARIKO TAMAKI & HER WORK:

twitter.com/marikotamaki
instagram.com/marikotamaki
goodreads.com/author/show/483588.Mariko_Tamaki
Surely Books: abramsbooks.com/imprints/surely
This One Summer: goodreads.com/book/show/18465566-this-one-summer
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me: goodreads.com/book/show/40864841-laura-dean-keeps-breaking-up-with-me
Skim: goodreads.com/book/show/2418888.Skim

MENTIONS

Heather Gold: heathergold.com/about-heather-gold
Jillian Tamaki: jilliantamaki.com
Lauren Tamaki: laurentamaki.com
Gene Luen Yang: geneyang.com
BOOK: Stone Fruit (Lee Lai): goodreads.com/en/book/show/55678434
BOOK: Shadow Life (Hiromi Goto, Ann Xu): goodreads.com/en/book/show/51591596
Alice Munro: wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Munro
Timothy Findley: wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Findley

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Perspolis’ (perplexing) Persian protagonist Jul 15, 2024

“The normalization of things being taken away. You see all the things going on in Tehran in 1979 — you see them here as well, which makes it a sad, scary, and timeless tale.”

PERSEPOLIS, by Marjane Satrapi is an award winning, now banned graphic autobiography from the early 2000s about a young girl growing up in Iran, and becoming a woman overseas, returning home, and dealing with everything in between.Originally published in French, Persepolis has sold millions of copies worldwide, and Satrapi also produced an award-winning film of the same name. In Persepolis, we meet young Marjane “Marji” Satrapi growing up in Tehran just before and during the Iranian Revolution of 1979, as well as thru the start of the Iran + Iraq War in the 1980s. Her parents are secular, upper-middle class activists, who worry for their precocious daughter's safety in the increasingly conservative and dangerous Iran, so send her off to Austria to become a teenager. Her teen years are fraught with all the drama you can expect from such an experience, but Marji - now becoming a young woman - always maintains the experience of an outsider looking in - with her feet in both worlds. Marji eventually returns to Iran to find that not only has her mother country changed, but she as well. This book was a surprise and illuminating for us in many ways, making us question - what would WE do in such a situation?

This conversation is originally from from Quarantined Comics, where Raman + friends read comics that are so much more than just superheroes. PERSEPOLIS is a very Modern Minorities appropriate work, especially for the times we’re living in, which you’ll get to here us reflect on. Longtime friend of THAT pod Joshua joins from his most excellent podcast RABBIT FIGHTERS, where they pretty much do the same thing, but about movies and music.

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Veera Hiranandani’s (writing) identity Jul 01, 2024

“What happens after we've survived? What's our responsibility to somebody suffering more than I am? For kids it’s like, ‘Let's just go over and help them — like, why wouldn't we?’ “

Veera Hiranandani is an award-winning author of several books for young people - one of the most recent of which is THE NIGHT DIARY - a must read. While the novel is a historical fiction geared for adolescents and young adults, it’s a a heart-warming read that will pull you into a singular story through the eyes of a young girl experiencing one of history’s greatest traumas.. Veera went on to win the prestigious Newbery Award for the book, as well as the 2019 Walter Dean Myers Honor Award, the 2018 Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children's Literature, and several other honors and state reading list awards. Veera’s work speaks to the power of stories to spark conversations. Veera’s written a number of other award-winning books - including “How to Find What You're Not Looking For,” and “The Whole Story of Half a Girl. ”Her latest novel - AMIL & THE AFTER, is a follow-up to The Night Diary and it does what not many other books do - it examines the immediate AFTERMATH of a generational - and historical trauma. Again, through the eyes of a child. Veera’s journey - and story is a one that crosses cultures and generations - and it’s interesting to see how she pulls at the threads of her life to inform her work, and ask lots of hard whys - and why nots.

LEARN MORE

veerahiranandani.com
instagram.com/veerawrites
BOOK: The Night Diary (2018): goodreads.com/book/show/35464020-the-night-diary
BOOK: How to Find What You're Not Looking For (2021) goodreads.com/book/show/56912931-how-to-find-what-you-re-not-looking-for
BOOK The Whole Story of Half a Girl (2012) goodreads.com/book/show/11164727-the-whole-story-of-half-a-girl
BOOK: Amil & the After (2024): goodreads.com/book/show/139400607-amil-and-the-after

MENTIONS:

BOOKS: All-of-a-Kind Family Series (Sydney Taylor): goodreads.com/series/49417-all-of-a-kind-family
BOOK: the Namesake (Jhumpa Lahiri) - goodreads.com/book/show/33917.The_Namesake
ACTOR: Irfan Khan - imdb.com/name/nm0451234/
BOOK: Moon Palace (Paul Auster): goodreads.com/book/show/447.Moon_Palace

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USA Travel (Learnings) from Nebraska to Wyoming Jun 17, 2024

“Make the time to scratch beneath the surface in each state. Spending time with the people - in the cities, in the towns, at the restaurants - you're always going to uncover something.”

Summer marches on, and we’re making plans to get out and about. Hear part TWO of Raman’s USA Travel series (from his other pod LEARNINGS FROM LEADERS) - covering the second half of stories and learnings from Raman + co-host Drew’s travels across America - from Nebraska to Wyoming. The only way to truly understand all that is this big, wonderful, and diverse country of ours is to get out into it - and go beyond your comfort zone. Be sure to check out part one for more on the United States of Laughter - and Learnings...

LEARN MORE

BOOK: United States of Laughter (Drew Tarvin): goodreads.com/book/show/36269422-the-united-states-of-laughter
SONG: Home (Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeroes):youtube.com/watch?v=DHEOF_rcND8
CO-HOST: drewtarvin.com
OTHER POD: pgalums.com/podcast

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USA Travel (Learnings) from Alabama to Montana Jun 15, 2024

“It's so easy to go onto the next thing - but take that moment to stop and celebrate small and big wins.”

Summer is here, which probably means many of us are thinking about our next trip. As we continue our pod sabbatical / vacation, Raman’s other podcast LEARNINGS FROM LEADERS continues a series on one of his favorite pastimes: TRAVEL — turning our focus to the strange and foreign land known as the United States of America. Joining him is co-host Drew Tarvin - author of “The United States of Laughter” - as they share stories and learnings from their travels to all 50 American states, in the first of a TWO-part series, covering from Alabama to Montana, with some occasional plugs for a big conference from last year =)

LEARN MORE

BOOK: United States of Laughter (Drew Tarvin): goodreads.com/book/show/36269422-the-united-states-of-laughter
SONG: Home (Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeroes):youtube.com/watch?v=DHEOF_rcND8
CO-HOST: drewtarvin.com
OTHER POD: pgalums.com/podcast

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Our kids (rewired) with Claire & Seif Jun 08, 2024

”I'm grateful she doesn't have that crazy addiction - they are getting a new relationship with technology. Smartphones and social media have basically caused a great rewiring of childhood.”

As parents today, Blippi & Taylor Swift aren’t all we have to worry about. When it comes to our (young kids), it’s near impossible to avoid TV, tablets, and video games - we’re increasingly anxious about the role of smartphones, social media, and ultimately their mental health. For many of us these devices and apps start creeping into elementary school, and with middle and high school right around the corner, a thoughtful vigilance is required at home and school. Longtime friends of the pods Claire Yoon Elvers & Seif Hamid join Raman for an important chat we ALL need to be having in our communities with our fellow parents.

Author Jonathan Haidt's recent book — THE ANXIOUS GENERATION The Anxious Generation — has ignited some much needed conversations - online, and in communities. provides hard evidence to show the linkage between smartphones/social media to the decline in adolescent mental health. It's the data we needed to support what many of us already knew. And like many other parents we're chewing on this with mixed emotions - excited that the conversation is front and center with the potential to spark change over time. Yet also feeling a bit stuck given we're in the throes of parenting tweens/teens NOW.

We don’t pretend to have the answers to ANY of this, but it’s a conversation we ALL need to be having with each other, because the companies behind these technologies aren’t incentivized to help. While there is some cautious optimism that our governments will help (shoutout to NY governor Kathy Hochul), we have to be have to be raising these issues in our homes, schools, and communities. We hope this open and honest conversation inspires you to start your own, and is the first of many...

LEARN MORE

BOOK: the Anxious Generation: goodreads.com/book/show/171681821-the-anxious-generation
ARTICLE: End The Phone-Based Childhood Now: theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/teen-childhood-smartphone-use-mental-health-effects/677722/
INTERVIEW (Daily Show): youtube.com/watch?v=tcr0yg7Mvg8
NY NEWS: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/30/new-york-smartphone-school-ban-bill

CLAIRE & SEIF - PAST POD APPEARANCES

Claire Yoon Elvers (Jan’22): podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/claire-elvers-wayfairs-head-of-global-brand/id1509346585?i=1000547310780
Seif Hamid (Oct’20): podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seif-hamid-and-sound-as-a-ny-arab/id1507595726?i=1000495612657
Ramadan (Apr’21): podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ramadan-mubarak-for-us-all/id1507595726?i=1000556141573
Seif + Arab of the Future (Jan’21)
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-arab-of-the-future-vols-1-4-culture-clashes-everywhere/id1516509265?i=1000505705732

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Manreet Sodhi Someshwar’s (written) Partition May 27, 2024

”Being a writer is just bloody hard work and passion. It is a kind of madness, which compels you every day to go to say, ‘OK, let's do it again today’ “

Manreet Sodhi Someshwar’s the author of nine novels - including the Long Walk Home, Radiance of a Thousand Suns, and most recently the Partition Trilogy - a historical fiction novel series which Raman is a BIG fan of. Manreet’s articles and essays have appeared in the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, and the South China Morning Post, among others. She has taught for the New York Public Library and the City College of New York - and she’s a former corporate citizen having done stints in Asia, and a parent grappling with the world our kids will inherit. Manreet’s recently complete Partition Trilogy - a series of 3 books titled Lahore, Hyderabad, and Kashmir - are a historical fiction set during, before, and immediately after the Partition - and independence of - India and Pakistan of 1947. Partition is among the the great humanitarian disasters of the 20th century - and the largest mass migration in history

The history of Partition is a topic near and dear to Raman - and impacts and informs much of what is happening today, in both Asia, and the United States - from the tensions between India and Pakistan, and the rise of nationalism / extremism in our politics around the world. Manreet’s unique voice focuses not just on the personal musings of these larger than life historical figures - like India’s founding fathers Gandhi & Nehru, but she also breathes life into characters who represent the stats and figures that we sometimes gloss over when we hear of a tragedy (including the role - and subversion of women by history). We talked a lot about the weaponization of history, and how storytelling - and fact-checking - have to work hand in hand. You’ll enjoy this candid and thoughtful conversation with Manreet, who's using her creative drive to make a statement for the world today - including the next generation.

LEARN ABOUT MANREET

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Bernice Ang’s (Coaching) Ikigai May 13, 2024

"It truly is a matter of exploring, discovery, knowing your boundaries - to gradually get there. The key is to keep your eye on the North Star - what is it that makes you come alive?”

In this personal conversation from Raman’s other podcast “Learnings from Leaders” - Raman chats with Bernice Ang, an Executive Coach who helps senior leaders design a purpose-centered personal brand, enabling them to integrate their work and personal lives so they can thrive, not just survive. Bernice started her career in Brand Management in P&G Asia Pacific. From there, she took on several Global Marketing leadership roles in the US with Coca-Cola, Pepsico, and Mars-Wrigley. Five years ago, Bernice left her corporate career to pursue her dream of becoming an Executive Coach. Today, Bernice is among the top 4% of professional coaches who holds a Master Certified Coach designation, the highest credential awarded by the International Coach Federation. Bernice also helped co-found the P&G Alumni Network Coaching program, ringing together Professionally certified Executive Coaches with proven track records. You’ll enjoy this candid and very personal conversation about IKIGAI - the Japanese concept which encourages people to discover what truly matters to them - to live a life filled with purpose and joy.

LEARN MORE

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Bonnie Wan’s (Life) Brief Mar 24, 2024

"How do you express what you want in a way that activates you, is unignorable, and automatically aligns your beliefs, your values, and how you show up in the world?”

Bonnie Wan knows what it feels like to struggle with burnout and uncertainty about where to go next. As a celebrated advertising strategist she spent years helping brands like Pepsi and BMW get clarity on their values and purpose, but she one day found herself mired and directionless in her own life–a “recovering perfectionist” with a crumbling marriage, a big job, and three young children. So she put her “work brain” to work - and sketched out a creative brief (one of the key tools of the ad trade) for herself, granting clarity on what was missing and what she really wanted in her life. Not only did “the Life Brief” save Bonnie’s marriage, recenter her parenting, and catapult her career (she was named Ad Age’s Chief Strategy Officer last year)—it has since gone on to help thousands of others through her speaking at Apple, Bain & Co, Change.org, Google, Goop, Jane Goodall’s “Activating Hope” Summit, SXSW and more. Her new book — “THE LIFE BRIEF: A Playbook for No-Regrets Living “ — creates a clear guide for anyone to break through life’s clutter and create deeper meaning through three simple stages: Get Messy. Get Clear. Get Active. This is a perfect conversation to help so many of us who seem to “have it all” yet feel restless or rudderless.

LEARN ABOUT BONNIE

Thelifebrief.com
BOOK: goodreads.com/en/book/show/176443602

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Linda Clement-Holme’s (lightening) backpack Feb 26, 2024

"Some have to carry more weight than others - everybody's got to do their part to try to lighten their load."

Linda Clement-Holmes served as P&G’s Chief Diversity Officer AND P&G’s Chief Information Officer - significantly elevating early efforts in corporate Diversity & Inclusion. Starting as a systems analyst in 1983, Linda has led a global career as an “executive of firsts” - the first Black female Senior VP, and later President. Linda’s been named one of Computerworld’s Premier 100 IT Leaders, Black Enterprise magazine’s Top Executives, and Working Mother’s “Working Mothers of the Year,” among many other honors. Linda is an active active Board leader among many business and community organizations, is a graduate of Purdue University, and a proud mother of two accomplished sons. In this candid conversation about authenticity and courage, Linda speaks about her personal - and professional - experiences in race, and comments on the unique moment we face today. Linda shares how she works everyday to lighten the load of others, and gets everyone to do their part.

For Black History Month, we’re sharing conversations from Raman’s other podcast “Learnings from Leaders” where we have candid mentorship style conversations - with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, many of whom are alums of Procter & Gamble - where many industry leaders got their start with a foundation of purpose, values, and principles.

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John Pepper & Ursula Burns’ (Learnings from) Leaders Feb 19, 2024

“Making improvements is challenging. But we can't give up and we've got to learn how to do it better.” “Speak, engage, help, be helped. Be part of society. Be an optimist towards the fact that people can change, that people can learn.”

John Pepper and Ursula Burns sit down for a candid conversation on race, understanding and the state of our society’s devolving discourse. Ursula Burns was one of Americas first Black female CEOs, and John Pepper was the former Chairman of both P&G and the Walt Disney Company. This is a conversation among two of corporate America’s most celebrated CEOS - longtime friends - have been having for years - and wanted to bring us along for the journey.

For Black History Month, we’re sharing conversations from Raman’s other podcast “Learnings from Leaders” where we have candid mentorship style conversations - with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, many of whom are alums of Procter & Gamble - where many industry leaders got their start with a foundation of purpose, values, and principles.

LEARN MORE

John Pepper: https://pepperspectives.blogspot.com/
Ursula Burns: https://hbr.org/2021/07/im-here-because-im-as-good-as-you

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Najoh Tita-Reid’s (balance) across worlds Feb 12, 2024

“Don’t take the straight ladder, go up and across to build your toolkit.”

Najoh Tita-Reid is a Black leader of marketing reinvention who’s maintained feet on both sides of the world - literally. Najoh spent many years as a Black American living in Europe with her husband and two kids. Najoh’s worked across in multinational roles across leading brands like Mars, Logitech, Hero, Bayer, and Merck, after having spent 19 years at P&G - rising through the ranks of marketing and sales. Najoh earned an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a BA in English from Spelman College. She also completed the Executive Leadership Program at IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Woman’s Executive Leadership Program at Simmons University and the Design Thinking program at the Stanford School of Design. As a member of The Executive Leadership Council, she serves on the International Steering Committee and the Community Service Committee. Najoh’s a longtime mentee of John Pepper (P&G + Disney’s former Chairman) who first made the introduction - and you’ll enjoy this candid conversation from the perspective of an American on the outside looking in.

For Black History Month, we’re sharing conversations from Raman’s other podcast “Learnings from Leaders” where we have candid mentorship style conversations - with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, many of whom are alums of Procter & Gamble - where many industry leaders got their start with a foundation of purpose, values, and principles.

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Ed Rigaud’s (underground) freedoms Feb 03, 2024

"People are willing to risk a lot to show their support for our freedoms."

Ed Rigaud was the first President & CEO of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which pays tribute to all efforts to abolish human enslavement and secure freedom for all people. This conversation’s actually from June of 2020, when we were in the midst of a long overdue conversation about race in America. It was a great chat about coming up as a Black professional in the 60s and 70s, and a reflection on where we are today.

Ed was P&G’s second-ever Black Vice President - spanning a 36-year career at the company in 1965 - during which he was the R&D Technical Brand Manager who helped create Pringles. Ed was later the first Black co-owner + lead investor of the Cincinnati Reds, as well as CEO of EnovaPremier, and CEO of Legacy Acquisition. Ed has served on numerous company boards, has received appointments from the Governor of Ohio, and a sitting US President. He’s a husband, father, grandfather, accomplished artist and guitar player. In this candid conversation on race, work, and life - Ed shares his thoughts as a Black man growing up in Louisiana, rising through the ranks of corporate America in the 60s and 70s, and reflections on the current climate. Ed believes that his number one mission is to help those who have been consistently under-represented to achieve higher levels of freedom…especially in the areas of education, economic empowerment, and inclusion.

For Black History Month, we’re sharing conversations from Raman’s other podcast “Learnings from Leaders” where we have candid mentorship style conversations - with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, many of whom are alums of Procter & Gamble - where many industry leaders got their start with a foundation of purpose, values, and principles.

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Kris Stith’s (forward) designs Jan 22, 2024

“I used to have this dream where I would be laying down, looking up, about to die - I used to make all my decisions - how I dress, how I presented myself to be opposite of that because I didn't want that to happen for me.”

Kris Stith is a DC native who has won awards in photography, painting, and podcasting. He is now freelancing as an Art Director / Creative Director in Los Angeles. Previously, he was an Art Director at AFSCME, and creative consultant for NAACP. He has always been a twin (double the trouble, double the flavor). In addition, Kris is the co-hosts of Beyond Hood and Evil, a comedic podcast about the Black experience exploring the themes of community, responsibility, professionalism and ethics as it relates to making it out the hood.Creatively, Kris aspires to deliver quality solutions for even the most nebulous asks. Using tangibility, transparency, and traction as his foundational principles Kris has been able to engage and activate audiences for some of America's most trusted institutions and emerging brands. Kris’ Clients and collaborators include: NAACP, NFLPA, AFL-CIO, the Biden Campaign, the Clinton Campaign, Intuit, JP Morgan Chase, AFSCME, the Democracy Alliance, Color of Change, International Association for the Study of Pain, UNAC, NUHHCE, the Mussar Institute, American University, Mimconnect, Fighting for Our Vote, ONE / OFF, the Dap Project, the Pinkline Project among others.

LEARN ABOUT KRIS

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Edel Rodriguez’s (Cuban) American Odyssey Jan 15, 2024

“The book was originally a memoir about coming to America - my history and how it connects to what's happening right now. Trump sounds just like the things Castro said — this is pretty dangerous.”

Edel Rodriguez is a Cuban American artist, activist and author who’s created more than 200 magazine covers for the likes of Time, The New Yorker, Newsweek and Der Spiegel - which are singular and striking given our current political climate. Edel’s latest work is the graphic memoir "Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey" - telling the story of his childhood in Cuba and his family's decision in 1980 to join a hazardous flotilla of refugees, the Mariel boatlift. This may be one of the best (comic) books Raman read in 2023, so naturally we reached out for a chat. In WORM - which is a term Castro used for Cubans who chose to leave the country - Edel uses his own life to capture what it's like to grow up under an authoritarian government and to sound a caution - from the runup to the 2016 US election to January 6, 2020 — to the future we are facing THIS election year. In our conversation we go deep into - and beyond Edel’s personal story - to get at the why for his activism and storytelling approach...

LEARN ABOUT EDEL

edelr.com
BOOK: Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey - goodreads.com/en/book/show/57771211
COVERS: https://illoz.com/edel/portfolios/Magazine-Covers/
instagram.com/edelrodriguezstudio

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Isaac Saul’s (TanGent) Tangle Jan 07, 2024

“We don't understand people we disagree with, and being challenged by the news is something people find refreshing. I figured I couldn't be the only person out there who wanted that — and it turns out I'm not.”

So it’s a new year, and it’s going to be an interesting one, so what better way to start 2024 by an introduction to a different perspective? Longtime FrieMMd of the Pod Rajiv Satyal - beyond being a world-class entertainer and comedian - also hosts the TanGent show, featuring conversations from fields of entertainment, politics, business, religion, and tech. Rajiv recently sat down with journalist Isaac Saul, whose newsletter and podcast TANGLE NEWS is an increasingly relevant source of independent, non-partisan source summarizing the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day. Rajiv and Isaac covered a lot of topics including the political makeup of Tangle’s audience, and how our news sources really dictate our outlook and discourse. It’s a down the middle approach that might give you some pause. So wherever you’re coming from, we hope you’ll enjoy this candid conversation about how and where we get our news for a very important year to come...

LEARN MORE

Tangle News: ReadTangle.com
Isaac Saul: isaacsaul.com
Rajiv Satyal: rajivsatyal.com

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2023 Year in Review Dec 31, 2023

As 2023 comes to a close, we revisited some of our favorite moments from all this past year’s Modern Minorities conversations this past year. Minority voices for ALL of our majority ears. Heard someone you liked? Be sure to go back and check out any of our past episodes, leave us a 5-star review on Apple/Spotify, and send us a note about your favorite MMoment — it keeps up going: himom@modmypod.com

...so grab a (final) drink for the year, share with a friend (or three), and remember, we’re ALL Modern Minorities.

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India revisited, Rajiv Satyal & Sharad Lal Dec 25, 2023

“People are interconnected in India, there's an interdependence that doesn't exist here — a connectedness, togetherness.”

To continue our chat on India ahead of Raman’s return trip, we connected with his other “Learning from Leaders” podcast co-hosts Sharad Lal and Rajiv Satyal. Sharad is speaker and coach based in Singapore who Raman worked with in Asia a lifetime ago, and Rajiv is a longtime FrieMMd of the pod - and a stand-up comic and entertainer in Los Angeles. In recent years both have done a ton of work on the subcontinent, so had a unique professional and perspective we couldn’t miss. India’s gone through more change in recent decades than the west has in a century. India isn’t just a modern superpower - it’s becoming a geopolitical swing vote - and of course there’s all the cultural wonder and awe folks have romanticized over the years, but now also with all the social and political growing pains one would expect from such a...colorful country. By chatting with some old friends, we hope to get a better feel for what to expect...

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India revisited, with Barun Singh & Sonali Kulkarni Dec 18, 2023

“India just, it's so drastic, the gap between those who have and those who don't. But they also have a lot of joy. There's billions who live in fundamentally different ways from how we live and you can't get a sense of that until you're around it.”

Ahead of Raman’s return to India - his first time back in nearly two decades - he wanted to reconnect with some childhood friends - Barun Singh and Sonali Kulkarni. Barun is a tech and sustainability entrepreneur, and Sonali is a physician and public health advocate. India’s gone through more change in recent decades than the west has in a century. India isn’t just a modern superpower - it’s becoming a geopolitical swing vote - and of course there’s all the cultural wonder and awe folks have romanticized over the years, but now also with all the social and political growing pains one would expect from such a...colorful country. By chatting with some old friends, we hope to get a better feel for what to expect...

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Meeting the Moment (with AG & David) Dec 11, 2023

“Seek things that challenge you to think differently, in a new and better way. Seek to understand and empower the people closest to the real knowledge source, the people that do the work every day. Instead of being right, do right.”

David Taylor & A.G. Lafley are two of P&G's Emeritus CEOs, who joined Raman on-stage at the recent recent P&G Alumni Global Conference in Washington DC for a candid conversation going beyond their personal stories - or even the stories of the day - to discuss their approaches to some of the broad challenges we have to face together, to meet the moment.

This is NOT a Modern Minorities conversation. Raman’s third podcast (not about comics) is “Learnings from Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast” (pgalums.com/podcast) - where Raman and his P&G Alumni pals sit down with top leaders in business about not just their professional experiences, but their purpose, values, and principles in their personal lives

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A whole new world with (the cast of) Aladdin Dec 04, 2023

“Playing Jasmine, and meeting mixed kids and parents saying, ‘my kid has never had someone to look up to,’ — we're creating space for people to see themselves."

Join us as we take on the wonders — over, sideways and under on a magic carpet ride — with the cast of Aladdin on Broadway! In a candid conversation Sonya Balsara and Don Darryl Rivera star in Disney’s hit musical Aladdin on Broadway, which since 2014 has welcomed more than 10 million people and grossed over a billion dollars. Sonya Balsara made her debut as Jasmine earlier this year, bringing the beloved character to life on a magic carpet. An alum of NYU Tisch, Sonya’s theater credits also include work and performances in "The Karate Kid," "Sense and Sensibility," "West Side Story" and has TV appearances on "FBI" (CBS) and "Mozart in the Jungle" (Amazon). Don Darrly Rivera, aka DDR, has been playing the role of Iago for over 10 years. An Asian American pioneer within the entertainment industry, he’s one of few AAPI cast members representing the Filipino community, and has been featured in news outlets from Broadway.com, ABS-CBN to Asian Journal. Sharon, Sonya, and DDR talk about their theatrical journey - the experiences, challenges and successes that got them to a whole new world...

LEARN MORE

AladdinTheMusical.com

instagram.com/sonyabalsara

instagram.com/dondarrylrivera

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Deb JJ Lee’s (creating) closure Nov 27, 2023

“It sucks that a lot of times when POC want to break into the industry, we have to publish a memoir first. But I personally had to — I've been needing to do this for a very long time.”

Deb JJ Lee, is an award-winning graphic novelist and artist. Their young adult IN LIMBO tells Deb’s Korean American coming of age story - covered by Quarantined Comics. When we shared that episode, they got in touch. Deb shares their experiences growing up between two cultures. For a while, Deb’s English wasn’t perfect. Teachers could not pronounce their Korean name. Her face and her eyes―especially her eyes―feel wrong. As we learned in this ranging conversation with Deb - this was a work they had to do, to not just work through a story, but to find closure in the aftermath. IN LIMBO is moving work of mental health, gender identity, and growing up. For many of us who have often felt like outsiders, this story is painfully familiar, and brings forth a lot of empathy for those around us invisibly struggling.

LEARN ABOUT DEB

debleeart.com // instagram.com/jdebbiel
IN LIMBO: goodreads.com/en/book/show/60316964
PAST QC EP: modmypod.com/episodes/in-limbos-quarantined-teen-trauma
forbes.com/sites/goldiechan/2023/09/15/understanding-the-mental-health-journey-in-the-korean-american-community-with-author-deb-jj-lee/
hyperallergic.com/837651/the-candid-visual-storytelling-of-deb-jj-lee/

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Food, Thanks(giving) & Friends Nov 20, 2023

Thanksgiving’s always been special because it combines two universally loved things, being around friends and family, and food — some of the very topics we talk about the most on this show. So we decided to revisit of our favorite questions with some of our favorite FrieMMds of the Pod over the years:

Raman Sehgal (UK edition), Jieun Kirtley, Justin Richmond, Tyanne Benallie, Andres Barragan, Paris Hatcher, Steven Wakabayashi, Mira Jacob, Jonathan Hill, Gina Brillon, Ian Haddock, Dani Goulet, Gene Luen Yang, Sara Alfageeh, Bhavik Kumar, Aaliyah Habeeb, Tolentino, Seif Hamid, Nidhi Chanani, Victor Luckerson, Chirstina Lee, Sung Kang, and Mandi Sehgal

So enjoy some delicious - and not so delicious recos as you make your final run to pick up some last minute cranberry sauce. We hope you’re making the time to be with folks you care about, and find a moment to enjoy some great food with them. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours...

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Justin Rueff’s (Less Desolate) work Nov 13, 2023

“That's the thing about fiction — you can hear the same story at different points in your life and you bring something different to it every time you hear the story.”

Justin Rueff is an artist, designer, educator and creator. Justin paints murals and signs, he draws comics and illustrates books. Justin’s the co-creator and artist for LESS DESOLATE, a new comics haiku project he brought to life with Seattle poet laureate Shin Yu Pai, a past FrieMMd of the Pod. Justin’s created hundreds of hand-painted signs and murals for businesses across Oregon and California — on a variety of surfaces including glass, stone and vinyl. He’s the author and illustrator of a few 'zines and comics including Brother Crow, A Guide to Understanding the Never-ending Story and Heroes & Lovers. Justin’s thoughtful work mixes traditional Mexican Art, comics, and album covers - running from people nature to food - and LESS DESOLATE is a powerful work worthy of any bookshelf. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about collaboration, inspiration, comics and poetry

LEARN ABOUT JUSTIN

Justinrueff.com // instagram.com/justinrueff
LESS DESOLATE - bluecactuspress.com/product/less-desolate/
WORK - youtube.com/watch?v=Ib989ZuUd1Q
WORK: eastlacape.com/index.php/virtual-elacape-2020/justin-rueff/

MENTIONS

ARTIST: Frida Kahlo - wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo
WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis - wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Michael_Bendis
COMIC: Ultimate Spider Man - wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Spider-Man
WRITER: Chris Claremont - wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Claremont
COMICS: DC Vertigo - wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertigo_Comics
COMICS: Stray Bullets - wikipedia.org/wiki/Stray_Bullets_(comics)
PERSON: Arissa Cox wikipedia.org/wiki/Arisa_Cox

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Diwali (FrieMMds’) Stories Nov 05, 2023

“Even to this day, the cool thing about Diwali is that I can't wait to add to the traditions I learned from my parents.”

Diwali - the Festival of Lights - is celebrated by more than a BILLION people worldwide. And like so many of our traditions with roots in religion, Diwali is ALSO similar because it’s a cultural celebration where stories of family, friends, fun and yes, food, play a big part. So we asked for a little help from our FriMMds (of the Pod) - old and new. Huge thanks to everyone for sharing their Diwali stories...

LEARN MORE

DIWALI: kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali
PAST MM EPISODE: modmypod.com/episodes/ep-113-diwali-memories-then-amp-now

LEARN ABOUT OUR FRIENDS

Rajiv Satyal: rajivsatyal.com // instagram.com/funnyindian
Sheetal Sheth: sheetalsheth.com // instagram.com/beneaththesheetz // modmypod.com/episodes/ep-134-sheetal-sheth
Sharad Lal: howtolive.life (POD) // instagram.com/sharadlal/
Urvashi Bhatnagar: greenovationproject.com // instagram.com/urvi_bhatnagar //
modmypod.com/episodes/ep-187-dr-urvashi-bhatnagars-unexpected-solutions
Paresh Jha: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mmom-memories-paresh-jha/id1507595726?i=1000560692510
Sudha Ranganathan: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sudha-ranganathan-linkedins-director-of-product/id1509346585?i=1000590511165

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Jocelyn Chia’s (objectively) funny Oct 30, 2023

“Jokes are subjective anyway, but laughs are as objective as you can get — as long as the joke is funny and the audience is laughing. That's where the line is, if people laugh or not.”

Jocelyn Chia is a New York-based lawyer-turned-comedian, who's a regular at the Comedy Cellar and Gotham Comedy Club, and has been featured in Vulture, Vice, CNN, BBC, The New York Times, Sirius XM, MTV, Fox News, TMZ, Vice TV, and Comedy Central. Now if the name Jocelyn Chia sounds familiar - or even if it doesn't, you've heard of her. That's because she really is infamous...at least in Malaysia. You see, back In June 2023, Jocelyn made the front page of The New York Times. The Singaporean comedian got into hot water when she told a series in NYC that went viral with Malaysians, but not in a good way. And we're not talking about just a few Malaysians. We're talking about pretty much the entire country. So FrieMMd of the Pod and THE Funny Indian Rajiv Satyal reached out to have her on HIS TanGent podcast - because he admired her willingness to stand her ground and not apologize for a joke. You'll hear Jocelyn's deep-dive into what happened, how she dealt with it, how the levels of trust about the media among Asian and American comedians differ, and how Jocelyn's mental health preparation enabled her to not only weather the storm but also to capitalize on the moment. This is a great conversation between two comics not just talking about their craft, but on the very merits of free speech in our increasing global - and social - society.

LEARN MORE

THE STORY: nytimes.com/2023/06/09/arts/television/jocelyn-chia-malaysia-joke.html
THE COMIC: jocelynchia.com // instagram.com/chiacomedy
RAJIV: rajivsatyal.com // instagram.com/funnyindian

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Qaisar Shareef’s (travel) learnings Oct 23, 2023

“There's nothing that opens up your mind, even your heart, to new and unknown things than travel. Get outside your comfort zone.”

S. Qaisar Shareef is P&G’s former head of Pakistan and Ukraine, author of “When Tribesmen Came Calling,” and a longtime friend of Raman’s other-other podcast (not the one about comics). But more importantly, Qaisar is also a fellow lover of travel. Specifically in how travel allows each of us to experience new and different cultures. Qaisar is based in Washington DC, and a frequent columnist in News International Pakistan, and his recent article about his travels in Egypt speaks to the importance of experiencing new and different cultures. Whether hitchhiking from Germany to Belgium, traveling the silk road thru Uzbekistan, wandering Afghanistan, or roaming ruins in Syria and Spain, Qaisar shares lessons and learnings from a world well traveled.

This is NOT a Modern Minorities conversation. Raman’s third podcast (not about comics) is “Learnings from Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast” (pgalums.com/podcast) - where Raman and his P&G Alumni pals sit down with top leaders in business about not just their professional experiences, but their purpose, values, and principles in their personal lives

LEARN ABOUT QAISAR

Qaisar Shareef: https://sqshareef.com/
BOOK: When Tribesmen Came Calling (2017): goodreads.com/book/show/40107906-when-tribesmen-came-calling
ARTICLES: thenews.com.pk/writer/s-qaisar-shareef

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Palestine's required (comics) reading Oct 16, 2023

“Reading a comic book isn't going to solve peace in the Middle East. But I do think part of the solution is understanding both sides.”

We're all shocked and saddened by the attack on Israel - and as of this episode, war with Hamas. Officials and aid groups warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis, where escalating violence has already killed thousands of people and wounded and displaced many others. And that's a longer conversation that we're not going to have on this podcast. We pray for peace, and encourage you to reach out to the people in your respective communities to check in. But we know many of you want to know how you can help.

The internet - particularly social media - is awash with misinformation, so it's especially important to verify that your contributions are going to organizations that are legitimate as well as effective. The Federal Trade Commission recommends searching charities' names alongside "complaint," "review," "rating" and "scam" to see if any red flags come up. You can also run a search on websites like like CharityWatch.org and CharityNavigator.org

Beyond that, we're just a podcast. So we decided to re-air an earlier Quarantined Comics conversation about the graphic novel PALESTINE — Joe Sacco's seminal work of cartoon journalism from 1993. PALESTINE covers Sacco's travels thru occupied Palestine territory - and Israel - to embed himself with the Palestinian people - hearing their stories first-hand to understand how they lived their every day lives. Sacco wanted to get around the sanitized story the Western Media was potraying — to emphasizes the history and plight of the Palestinian people, as a group and as individuals. In PALESTINE Sacco positions himself as the westerner confronting a reality unfamiliar to most Americans at the time - concentrating on his personal experience and perspective, as well as the stories of the people he encounters, with some light history thrown in for good measure. Conversations are documented over tea, roadblocks, police action, taxis and checkpoints - which become all too familiar set pieces in Sacco's narrative journey. The book was published as 9 issues by Fantagraphics from 1993 to 1995, with a graphic novel published later to a much wider audience. Palestine is the recipient of the American Book Award, and was named as one of the Top 100 English-Language Comics of the last Century. Sacco has since gone on to publish numerous other works of cartoon journalism - covering the Middle East, Bosnia/Serbia, and the Native American plight. for which he's received recognition from TIME Magazine, the Eisners, the Harveys, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize

This is exactly the kind of conversation we want to have on Modern Minorities, which felt appropriate at this moment. This comic is relevant but distant to the ongoing crisis unfolding in the Middle East. While war and peace are not easy things to resolve, listening, learning, and reading with an open heart and mind is. We definitely encourage you to check out “PALESTINE” by Joe Sacco wherever you get your favorite books. But most of all, we hope for peace - as our thoughts are with the people of Israel and Gaza.

LEARN MORE

NPR: How to help humanitarian efforts in Israel and Gaza - npr.org/2023/10/13/1205235922/help-israel-gaza-humanitarian-organizations
PALESTINE (2001): goodreads.com/book/show/769712.Palestine
Joe Sacco (Comics Journalist): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Sacco
Quarantined Comics: qtdcomics.com

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How To Understand Israel (in 60 Days or Less) Oct 15, 2023

“Israel’s very similar to the US - it's super complicated.”

We're all shocked and saddened by the attack on Israel - and as of this episode, war with Hamas. Officials and aid groups warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis, where escalating violence has already killed thousands of people and wounded and displaced many others. And that's a longer conversation that we're not going to have on this podcast. We pray for peace, and encourage you to reach out to the people in your respective communities to check in. But we know many of you want to know how you can help.

The internet - particularly social media - is awash with misinformation, so it's especially important to verify that your contributions are going to organizations that are legitimate as well as effective. The Federal Trade Commission recommends searching charities' names alongside "complaint," "review," "rating" and "scam" to see if any red flags come up. You can also run a search on websites like like CharityWatch.org and CharityNavigator.org

Beyond that, we're just a podcast. So we decided to re-air an earlier Quarantined Comics conversation about the graphic memoir “How To Understand Israel in 60 Days.” - the 2007 comic by Jewish American cartoonist Sarah Glidden which chronicles Sarah's birthright trip back to Israel. As you can imagine, it’s a loaded story that had us out of our depth, one of our close Jewish friends Jon Kriner joined to give his take, reflecting on his own experiences in Israel. Exactly the kind of conversation we want to have on Modern Minorities, which felt appropriate in this moment. This comic is relevant but distant to the ongoing crisis unfolding in the Middle East. While war and peace are not easy things to resolve, listening, learning, and reading with an open heart and mind is. We definitely encourage you to check out “How To Understand Israel in 60 Days.” by Sarah Glidden wherever you get your favorite books. But most of all, we hope for peace - as our thoughts are with the people of Israel and Gaza.

LEARN MORE

NPR: How to help humanitarian efforts in Israel and Gaza - npr.org/2023/10/13/1205235922/help-israel-gaza-humanitarian-organizations
How To Understand Israel (in 60 Days or Less): goodreads.com/book/show/7941986-how-to-understand-israel-in-60-days-or-less
Sarah Glideen (author): https://authorsunbound.com/sarah-glidden
Quarantined Comics: qtdcomics.com

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Christina Lee’s (ATL) music journalism Oct 09, 2023

“Music journalism doesn't have to be chasing celebrities or whether this music is good or not. You can ask what does it mean — and sometimes that itself can be provocative. Being in Atlanta opened my eyes to the work that we do.”

Christina Lee is a music journalist who’s covered Atlanta’s hip hop scene for over a decade. Her award-winning culture reporting and criticism appears in Billboard, The Guardian, NPR Music, Vulture,The Washington Post and more. Christina goes so far beyond just covering the fun celebrity aspect of music - she has a real community and social angle to her work - covering the local - and national impact of elements like criminal justice, RICO statutes, gentrification, and even jury duty - and what they mean to our society at large. Basically punk rock for journalism - work that is definitely worth a read. Christina’s a contributing editor to community journalism nonprofit Canopy Atlanta. She also co-host and co-write the limited podcast series “King Slime: The Prosecution of Young Thug and YSL” - covering the ongoing trial of Jeffery Lamar Williams, known across the globe as Young Thug. This is a show not just following an ongoing case, but really digging into the whys of the prosecution - in Atlanta of all places - which has become a modern day mecca to hip hop and Black culture. Beyond her work - and as rad as Christina sounds - and is - it was really interesting to hear her growing up between two cultures in the suburbs of Maryland, and how MTV gave her a glimpse into what writing and journalism could be.

LEARN ABOUT CHRISTINA

MENTIONS

BAND: Fugees - allmusic.com/artist/fugees-mn0000182415/
ZINE: Canopy Atlanta - canopyatlanta.org
Paste Magazine - pastemagazine.com
ZINE: Creative Loafing - creativeloafing.com
POD: Rodney Carmichael // Louder Than a Riot - npr.org/podcasts/510357/louder-than-a-riot
BOOK: Fleishman Is in Trouble (Taffy Brodesser-Akner) -.goodreads.com/en/book/show/41880602
BOOK: Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital (Elise Hu) - goodreads.com/book/show/62121560-flawless
BOOK: Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation (Anne Helen Petersen) - goodreads.com/book/show/48930297-can-t-even
PERSON: Young Thug - wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Thug

PERSON: Gunna - wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunna_(rapper)

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Jenny Nguyen's (Sound On) at the Sports Bra - REBOUND REVOLUTION Oct 02, 2023

“The only way we're ever going to watch a women's sports game in its full glory is if we had our own place.”

Have you ever walked into a bar dedicated exclusively to womens’ sports? Jenny Nguyen hadn’t either. So she opened The Sports Bra bar in Portland, Oregan. Longtime FrieMMd of the pod - Melissa Haughton, famed Canadian podcast producer joins us to give us a preview of one of her shows - REBOUND REVOLUTION which is up for a Signal Award. VOTE HERE BY 10/5: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2023/shows/general/lgbtq

REBOUND REVOLUTION is not-so-basketball basketball podcast (by editaudio), bringing you the revolutionary on and off the court happenings in the WNBA, hosted by Dr. Money McEachern. Dr. Money and Jenny dive into why creating a welcoming space to women and gender diverse sports is long overdue, and why Portland could should be the next home for a WNBA team. editaudio is on a mission to make the audio industry more representative of what the world actually looks like.

VOTE FOR REBOUND REVOLUTION (by 10/5): vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2023/shows/general/lgbtq

LEARN MORE

POD: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rebound-revolution/id1687527741
POD: open.spotify.com/show/7FE4LyidBVMRqBpuDhJaBl
GUEST: Jenny Nguyen: thesportsbrapdx.com // @thesportsbrapdx
HOST: @bettathanmoney
PAL: melissahaughton.com

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Mita Mallick’s (Re)imagining Inclusion (RE-AIR) Sep 25, 2023

“Inclusion starts at our kitchen tables. If you aren't building cross-cultural relationships - actively learning about a lived experience that is not your own - how do you expect to show up at work differently as an inclusive leader?”

Mita Mallick is a returning FrieMMd of the pod, who came back to talk about her upcoming book — Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths To Transform Your Workplace (Pre-order now =). This is a re-airring of a past episode to support our pal Mita’s new book.

Mita’s a corporate change-maker with a track record of transforming businesses. She’s an outspoken sharer of innovative - and thought provoking ideas in the area of inclusion and equity. Mita’s currently Carta’s head of inclusion, equity and impact, AND co-host of Brown Table Talk, a top LinkedIn podcast where she helps break down the challenges women of color face in the workplace. Mita’s extensive career - as a fierce advocate of including and representing Black and Brown communities - has crossed orgs like Carta, Unilever, Pfizer, AVON, Johnson & Johnson and more - as she’s a sought after speaker and coach to start-up founders, executives, and public CEOs. Mita’s a LinkedIn Top Voice, a contributor for Harvard Business Review, Adweek, Entrepreneur and Fast Company, and has been featured in the The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, Forbes, Axios, Essence, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Business Insider. Jump in for a conversation as we break down many of the myths from her book - and confront our own biases and myths.

LEARN ABOUT MITA

BOOK: Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths To Transform Your Workplace - amazon.com/Reimagine-Inclusion-Debunking-Transform-Workplace/dp/1394177097
POD: browntabletalkpodcast.com

MENTIONS

SONG: Taylor Swift, Anti-hero - youtu.be/b1kbLwvqugk
PERSON: Gretchen Carlson - wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretchen_Carlson
PERSON: Shonda Rhymes - wikipedia.org/wiki/Shonda_Rhimes
SHOW: Queen Charlotte - imdb.com/title/tt14661396/
COURSE: Shonda Rhymes - masterclass.com/classes/shonda-rhimes-teaches-writing-for-television

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Sung Kang’s (slow) drive Sep 17, 2023

“He made me laugh, he made me sad, he almost made me cry — this was a superpower. I went on this wonderful, connective human experience with another person, just by watching him.”

Sung Kang is an American filmmaker - best known for his role as Han Lue in the Fast & Furious franchise, a character he first portrayed in one of the seminal Asian American films Better Luck Tomorrow. But Sung is also someone we’ve known - and had our eye on - for awhile. A thoughtful soul, originally a troublemaking kid from Georgia found his way thru package stores, garages, and street performers, becoming an early, indelible face of what Asian Americans could be - so much further beyond the model minority myth. Sung actually stopped by to talk about two pretty significant, personal projects dropping at the same time THIS week - a new podcast CAR STORIES, and a new independent film - SHAKY SHIVERS. Please note that Shaky Shivers, being an independent film was granted a promotional exception from the ongoing writers and actors strikes, which this pod fully supports. Sung’s new podcast podcast - CAR STORIES - was actually a project Raman was early involved in, and covers an an area Sung’s always been passionate about - how cars can be a vehicle (no pun intended) into the human condition and culture. And the film, SHAKY SHIVERS, is Sung’s d directorial debut, an almost throwback and love letter to the campy horror films we all grew up on. Hearing Sung’s humble origins, journey, and motivations will help you understand why so many are drawn to his approach and work. But be sure to check out his latest work - film and podcast - both dropping on Thursday, September 21st.

LEARN ABOUT SUNG

SUNG: imdb.com/name/nm0437646/
NEW FILM (director): Shaky Shivers - https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Shaky-Shivers
NEW POD: Car Stories: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/car-stories-with-sung-kang-and-emelia-hartford/id1707335580
SOCIAL: instagram.com/sungkangsta

MENTIONS

Gainesville, GA - wikipedia.org/wiki/Gainesville,_Georgia
Barstow, CA - wikipedia.org/wiki/Barstow,_California
Marcel Marceau - wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Marceau
FILM: Better Luck Tomorrow
WHY Roger Ebert rocks - youtube.com/watch?v=LSzP9YV3jbc
DOCUMENTARY: BLT Genesis - youtube.com/watch?v=YT2LsWsw0bU
Justin Lin - imdb.com/name/nm0510912/
Evan Jackson Leong - imdb.com/name/nm1456609/
Jeff Dowd - wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Dowd
Gabe Bartolis - imdb.com/name/nm0058396/
BOOK: Old Man and the Sea (Hemingway) - goodreads.com/book/show/2165.The_Old_Man_and_the_Sea

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Fahad Khawaja’s (Hue) is amplifying voices Sep 11, 2023

“I’d been around the block on so many different businesses, and people of color were often left behind. And so building HUE was really about bridging that divide.”

Fahad Khawaja is a leading community builder who is the Co-Founder & CEO of HUE - a culture & community platform that aims to amplify voices of color, to increase our visibility, and to pave a path for us all to rise. Fahad has a deep belief that we build a better future by bringing the margins to the mainstream and doing well by doing good. His work transforms companies with purpose, product, and people at the core, bridging community and culture to design for diverse communities. Fahad’s company HUE - has propelled organizations to deliver sustainable growth, including Fortune 50 brands, unicorn tech Startups, and top media companies and agencies. If you’ve got any professional sway at your job, you should be talking to HUE on what small steps your company can be making - wearehue.org

Fahad’s won all the awards - like the AdAge 40 Under 40, The Drum Global Change Maker of the Year, and has been recognized in The New York Times, USA Today, Fast Company, Business Insider, Adweek, Ad Age, and more. But over the years of our friendship, we’ve always been struck with his thoughtful, authentic, and humble-but-impatient manner to make things happen. While we actually discuss a bit about his experiences around 9/11, it’s not about where Fahad is from, but where he’s coming from, and where we’re all going.

LEARN ABOUT FAHAD

MENTIONS

BOOK: Islamophobia, Race, and Global Politics (Nazia Khazi) - goodreads.com/book/show/40277809-islamophobia-race-and-global-politics
FILM: The 13th (Ava DuVernay) - imdb.com/title/tt5895028
BOOK: Roses in the Mouth of the Lion (Bushra Rehman) - goodreads.com/book/show/59808688-roses-in-the-mouth-of-a-lion
RESTAURANT: Love Mama (NYC) - lovemamanyc.com
PERSON Noam Chomsky - wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_Chomsky
PERSON: Edward Said - wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Said

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In Limbo’s (quarantined) teen trauma Sep 04, 2023

“Knowing it's rooted in a truth makes the story hit harder. You linger in the frames and you’re left with it” — “the graphic form really gives it a unique power,

Have you ever wondered what its like to be an Asian teenage artist coming of age in the suburbs of the big city, with an unpredictable and often unbearable mother, while also saddled with a sense of regret and ennui? IN LIMBO is the debut graphic memoir by Deb JJ Lee. In this graphic novel Deb is a young Korean American teenager, trapped in a inescapable feeling of otherness

For a while, Deb’s English wasn’t perfect. Her teachers can’t pronounce her Korean name. Her face and her eyes―especially her eyes―feel wrong. Things only get harder once high school starts - shifting sands of arts and academics, escalating tensions at home, friendships made and frayed, and mental health struggles that are all too real to anyone who's ever felt like an outsider. With stunning art and a tale that feels like you're slipping in and out of an all too familiar dream, this is a story that you can't leave easily. IN LIMBO is moving work of mental health, gender identity, and growing up. For many of us who have often felt like outsiders, this story is painfully familiar, and brings forth a lot of empathy for those around us invisibly struggling.

Raman and longtime frieMMd of the pod Ryan Joe discuss this breakthrough work on Quarantined Comics. Since we occasionally read stories that reveal a minority truth for our majority ears, it feels appropriate to share on Modern Minorities. Also, so Sharon + Raman can take a much needed summer break as we rest, recuperate, and plot the future of the pod. Be sure to pickup a copy of IN LIMBO, wherever you get your favorite books.

LEARN MORE

COMIC: In Limbo (Deb JJ Lee) - goodreads.com/en/book/show/60316964
Creator: instagram.com/jdebbiel
POD: Quarantined Comics - qtdcomics.com

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Victor Luckerson’s (Built) from the Fire Aug 28, 2023

“Even in Tulsa, the place where this happened, this was not widely known. I felt writing something that could ground the story and the people there would be honestly a valuable contribution to our nation's understanding of itself.”

Victor Luckerson is a journalist and author working to bring neglected black history to light. His new book is Built from the Fire: The Epic Story of Tulsa's Greenwood District, America's Black Wall Street. Victor’s book chronicles the history of Tulsa's Greenwood District and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. On May 30, 1921 a mob terrorized the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa a flourishing black business, district affectionately called Black Wall Street. In less than 24 hours - as many as 300 people were killed, 800 people were treated for injuries, and more a thousand homes and businesses - 35 city blocks - were burned to the ground

But what’s interesting about Victor and his book is that he doesn’t just cover the tragedy and the aftermath, but rather choose to paint a grounded human story - providing the perspective of families who have called the community home for generations. The New York Times named “Built from the Fire'' an editor’s choice pick, calling it "absorbing" and "outstanding." Victor’s a former staff writer at The Ringer and business reporter for Time - his writing and research have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Wired, the Ringer, the Guardian, and Smithsonian. Victor also manages an email newsletter about black history called “Run It Back." Victor also shares quite a bit of hometown and academic history with Raman - both hailing from Montgomery, Alabama, and attending the University of Alabama - where Victor was editor of the Crimson White, the University’s student paper (Raman was not). Enjoy this candid conversation and really unique take on Tulsa, the people of Greenwood, and how we need think about this and where we need to go as a society. And be sure to pick up a copy of “Built From the Fire” wherever you get your favorite books.

LEARN ABOUT VICTOR LUCKERSON

Vicluckerson.com
BOOK: Built from the Fire: The Epic Story of Tulsa's Greenwood District, America's Black Wall Street - goodreads.com/book/show/62296497-built-from-the-fire
instagram.com/vluck89
runitback.substack.com/p/from-there-to-here
theringer.com/2018/6/28/17511818/black-wall-street-oklahoma-greenwood-destruction-tulsa

MENTIONS

SHOW: The Wire - imdb.com/title/tt0306414
PERSON: Andre 3000 - wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_3000

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Shin Yu Pai’s (got) Ten Thousand Things Aug 21, 2023

“There's no one right way to be Asian American you know? The diasporic experiences trying to grapple with culture, what to keep and carry, what to relate to - so very human and universal.”

Shin Yu is many things - poet and writer, but also podcast host and producer of Ten Thousand Things – a show for Seattle’s NPR affiliate KUOW Public Radio. Shin Yu’s also currently the Civic Poet of Seattle (2023-2024) and author of 11 books, including most recently Virga. She is the recipient of awards from the City of Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture, and The Awesome Foundation, as well as a 2022 Artist Trust Fellow and she was shortlisted in 2014 for a Stranger Genius Award in Literature. Shin Yu served as Poet Laureate for The City of Redmond from 2015-2017. Shin Yu’s work has appeared in publications throughout the U.S., Japan, China, Taiwan, the UK, and Canada - in publications like Atlas Obscura, Tricycle Magazine, YES! Magazine, NYTimes, Zocalo Public Square, Seattle Met, ParentMap, Seattle’s Child, International Examiner, and South Seattle Emerald, and many more. Sharon and Shin Yu related to each other in a ranging conversation about Chinese childhood and raising bi-racial children - both of which have formed her ideas about art, literature and storytelling. You’ll appreciate her deep passion for connecting communities, connecting cultures, and drawing out beauty in the most unique ways

LEARN ABOUT SHIN YU

shinyupai.com
instagram.com/shinyupai
PODCAST: kuow.org/podcasts/bluesuit
BOOKS: goodreads.com/author/show/308679.Shin_Yu_Pai
WORDS: joysauce.com/contributor/shin-yu-pai/
SUPPORT UPCOMING WORKS:
“No Neutral” (poetry collection) -spdbooks.org/Products/9798988370109/no-neutral.aspx
“Less Desolate” (haiku comics collection) - kickstarter.com/projects/1701310602/less-desolate
“Small Doses of Awareness” (Microdosing Guide) - amazon.com/-/he/Shin-Yu-Pai/dp/1797227823
MENTIONS
BOOK: Letters to a Young Poet (Rainer Maria Rilke): goodreads.com/work/quotes/1208289-briefe-an-einen-jungen-dichter

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The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist Aug 14, 2023

After last week's episode about Adrian Tomine’s latest film SHORTCOMINGS - based on his 2007 graphic novel of the same name - we wanted to share a 2020 conversation frieMMd of the pod Ryan Joe + Raman had on Quarantined Comics, about Tomine’s autobiographical work The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist. But this is no regular comics geek out - because this marks one of the first real “MM like” conversations Raman + Ryan had way back when in 2020 - where we talked about how this particular comic made us reflect on our own lives. We can't recommend The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist enough, so be sure to pick up a copy wherever you get your favorite books. And don't worry, Sharon and Raman will be back shortly with more than a few NON-COMICS minority voices for all our majority ears...

LEARN MORE

COMIC: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist (2020): goodreads.com/en/book/show/51796259
CREATOR: Adrian-tomine.com
POD: Quarantined Comics - qtdcomics.com

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Adrian Tomine’s (drawn) Shortcomings Aug 07, 2023

“I wasn't thinking about an audience. It was a pure outpouring of just whatever came to me. I was rebelliously and ambitiously not giving them the book they were looking for.”

Adrian Tomine is an American cartoonist who we’ve admired** for years. Adrian is the creator and writer of the 2007 graphic novel SHORTCOMINGS, which was a New York Times Notable Book of the year. SHORTCOMINGS was also recently turned into the film of the same name*, which happens to be the directorial debut of Randall Park. Shortcomings premiered at the 2023 Sundance film festival. This is a book and film you need to see. Adrian’s been creating comics since he was SIXTEEN - and since then he’s become known for not just his comics, but also his infamous New Yorker covers (since 1999!). His artwork and stories have a wry, thoughtful candor about them. From comics like Optic Nerve, Sleepwalk, Killing and Dying, all published from Drawn & Quarterly. Adrian also created graphic memoirs like Scenes From an Impending Marriage, and The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist. Adrian’s comics have been anthologized in publications such as McSweeney’s, Best American Comics, and Best American Nonrequired Reading. In 2022, Adrian’s short stories were adapted into the film Paris, 13th District directed by Jacques Audiard, with a screenplay by Céline Sciamma and Léa Mysius. As you’ll find in this candid conversation, Adrian Tomine is many things - a cartoonist, filmmaker, husband, father, and reluctant Taylor Swift fan. More importantly, his work will make you think, wonder, and sometimes smile, smirk, wonder, and most importantly feel.

*NOTE: This conversation was booked independently through Adrian’s book publisher - Drawn & Quarterly, not the film studio, out of respect for the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strike. Huge thanks to the team at Drawn & Quarterly for arranging this interview with a creator whose work we’ve loved for so long.

**Extra special thanks to Quarantined Comics co-host Ryan Joe for jumping to join Raman Sharon while she was out saving cinematic orphans from the evils of avarice and artificial intelligence.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ADRIAN

adrian-tomine.com
instagram.com/adriantomine
FILM / TRAILER: Shortcomings (2023): imdb.com/title/tt14483774
BOOK: Shortcomings (2007): drawnandquarterly.com/books/shortcomings

MENTIONS

BOOK: Love & Rockets - wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_and_Rockets_(comics)
PERSON: Richard Sala - wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Sala
PERSON: Daniel Clowe - wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Clowes
PERSON: Charles Schultz - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_M._Schulz
SHOW: Curb Your Enthusiasm Pilot Episode - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218388/
Band Cut Worms - allmusic.com/artist/cut-worms-mn0003661980
PERSON: Larry David - wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_David
FILMMAKER: Céline Sciamma - imdb.com/name/nm1780037
FILM: Paris, 13th District - imdb.com/title/tt12708658
FILMMAKER: Ari Aster - imdb.com/name/nm4170048
FILM: Beau Is Afraid - imdb.com/title/tt13521006
FILMMAKERS: Coen Brothers - wikipedia.org/wiki/Coen_brothers
FILMMAKER: Alexander Payne - imdb.com/name/nm0668247
FILM: Killer of Sheep (Charles Burnett) - imdb.com/title/tt0076263

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Nidhi Chanani’s (turned) many pages Jul 31, 2023

“So many kids wanna be artists - they wanna make comics. How powerful is it for me to say that whatever you imagine and whatever you want to pursue, you can do that?”

Nidhi Chanani an Indian-American freelance illustrator, cartoonist and writer. Nidhi’s debut graphic novel Pashmina won ALL the awards, but her diverse body of work - from Jukebox, Binny’s Diwali, the Shark Princess series (a personal favorite of Raman’s daughter), and October’s forthcoming of Super Boba Café - will not just just blow you away, but also move you. Basically if you’ve got a kid or are a kid at heart, you should be reading Nidhi’s work. Nidhi’s story is almost as amazing as her take on work and life, we’ve become fans of not just her work - but her approach to community. She’s such a nerd about storytelling and art - and her place in it - and you’ll definitely get the vibe from this chat that you're hearing old friends talk for the first time.

LEARN ABOUT

Nidhi: everydayloveart.com
instagram.com/nidhiart
Pashmina (2017): https://www.goodreads.com/fa/book/show/33163360
Jukebox (2021: goodreads.com/book/show/54017835-jukebox
Super Boba Cafe (2023): abramsbooks.com/product/super-boba-caf-book-1_9781419759567/

MENTIONS

WORD: “Hapa” - wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapa
BOOK: Interpreter of Maladies (Jhumpa Lahiri) - goodreads.com/book/show/486323
AUTHOR: Jhumpa Lahiri
BOOK: Bastard Out Of Carolina (Dorothy Allison) - goodreads.com/en/book/show/25354
BOOK: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (George Saunders) - goodreads.com/book/show/53487237-a-swim-in-a-pond-in-the-rain
INDIAN COMICS: Amar Chitra Katha - wikipedia.org/wiki/Amar_Chitra_Katha
COMIC: American Born Chinese (Gene Luen Yang) - goodreads.com/en/book/show/118944
BOOK: Neverwhere (Neil Gaiman) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54236146-neverwhere
SONG: Lizzo, “Special” - youtu.be/geZQoa4CPlk
PERSON: Janelle Monáe - wikipedia.org/wiki/Janelle_Mon%C3%A1e

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KARI’s melancholy & the infinite (Indian) sadness Jul 24, 2023

“India is this place that's known, but distant to me. The Indians I knew were always my parents' generation, so I can only observe its youth culture through books like this.”

Ever wondered what it's like to be a female South Asian advertising writer working on women's hair care products living in a big and bustling smog city, cramped into an apartment with several single women, while also Queer and saddled with a sense of regret and ennui? Well either way, you should read KARI, the 2008 debut graphic novel by Indian artist Amruta Patil, who's since gone on to become a leading voice in the Indians comic scene, illustrating a number of projects - including a reimagining of the Hindu epic the Mahabharata. In Kari, we meet the eponymous protagonist upon her surviving a heartbroken suicide attempt, and we follow her to at work and at and home in the hustle and bustle of smog city. A marketing and advertising exec who turns her creative eye on the world, she lives a semi-closeted Queer life, living with many single women, befriending or romantically rebounding with a business colleague with weeks left to live, and just surviving in a monsoon drenched city. In deeply drawn black and white chapters we journey through Kari's crowded loneliness, sleeper success, and death - all in the shadow of her departed partner. The book is a sensuous yet wry commentary on life and love and unlike anything we'd ever seen. This is a bonus episode from Raman’s OTHER podcast, Quarantined Comics, but this graphic novel is one that fits the Modern Minorities mission for all of our majority ears - and one of the rare episodes where Ryan and Raman agree on (almost) everything.

LEARN MORE

COMIC: Kari (Amruta Patil) - goodreads.com/en/book/show/3174768
ARTICLE (GQ India): gqindia.com/get-smart/content/india-first-female-graphic-novelist-amruta-patil-graphing-the-future
Creator: instagram.com/amruta_gauri
POD: Quarantined Comics - qtdcomics.com

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Bruce Lee’s (martial) art Jul 17, 2023

“As an actor, as a martial artist, as a human being, all type of knowledge, ultimately means self-knowledge. Under the sky, under the heaven, there is but one family. It just so happened, that people are different.”

Bruce Lee (李振藩) was among the first Chinese-Americans to truly bridge the gap between East and West. Born in San Francisco (1940), raised in Hong Kong, and known around the world, he’s considered the most influential martial artist of all time and a pop culture icon of the 20th century. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different disciplines. Bruce Lee changed the way Chinese people were presented in American film. He taught his philosophies to many of his era’s greatest actors, and his films influenced the way martial arts were seen around the world. Bruce Lee died on July 20, 1973, aged 32 - but he continues to capture the imagination of us all.

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Justin Richmond (Started) from the Bottom Jul 10, 2023

“When you really discover what it is to be Black — that’s that moment where it's like, ‘oh, this is what we're up against’ — but you gotta be proud of who you are.”

Justin Richmond is a podcast producer and co-host for more than a few Pushkin podcasts - including “Started from the Bottom” and “Broken Record” with writer Malcolm Gladwell and Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin. Justin was a producer for NPR’s flagship program Morning Edition and its accompanying podcast, Up First, before becoming an arts reporter for NPR. He began his career as an intern for The Tavis Smiley Show and Smiley & West. Sharon and FrieMMd of the Pod (and occasional guest co-host Melissa Haughton had a candid chat with Justin about his unorthodox life story - raised by a single mother and never graduating from highschool - which led him to an amazing academic and professional journey. With his work, Justin provides a a platform and a voice for underrepresented voices - giving way gives way for the underdog story

LEARN ABOUT JUSTIN

MENTIONS

BOOK / CHARACTER: Native Son (Richard Wright) / Bigger Thomas: goodreads.com/book/show/15622.Native_Son
PERSON: Tom Hanks (and family): imdb.com/name/nm0000158

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Rajiv & Brian Tome's (curious) Crossroads Jul 03, 2023

“There need to be silences - you need to give people room to run. Let people talk more. I already know what I know now. I wanna know what you know.”

Recently longtime FrieMMd of the Pod Rajiv Satyal sat down with Crossroads pastor and podcast host Bryan Tomes on his show “The Aggressive Life.” What started as an exploration of Rajiv’s comedy career and approach turned into an open and honest conversation among two very different perspectives on politics, faith, and culture. With the Fourth of July right around the corner for Americans, we celebrate our independence and freedom, but also take an honest reflection on who we are - and want to be - as a nation, and as a people. With today’s level of division and discord , the importance of talking - and listening to others who might not look and think like us. There is a better way from simply passively standing by and retreating to our echo chambers. It's about seeking to understand, having minority conversations for all of our majority ears. We hope you’ll enjoy this candid conversation about comedy - and curiosity.

LEARN MORE

Rajiv Satyal: rajivsatyal.com
Brian Tome: briantome.com
Podcast: crossroads.net/media/podcasts/the-aggressive-life-with-brian-tome

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Johnathan Gibbs’ (QPOC) perspective Jun 26, 2023

“We are united as Black and Asian people to recognize the BS of people trying to leverage the successes from our communities as some way to cover up the real stuff — being locked out of certain things.”

Johnathan is a content creator, podcaster, activist, serial panelist, and bubble tea enthusiast. His activism began in 2008 with his “blasainFMA” YouTube channel - where he worked to bring awareness to multiracial issues surrounding the intersection of Black and Asian identity. Johnathan first podcast “Edugaytion” covered Queer Person of Color (QPOC) issues, and has recently launched “This QPOC Life” to be more inclusive to all marginalized communities. To close out Pride Month, we're featuring a conversation from our guest co-host + longtime FrieMMd of the Pod Steven Wakabayashi from the Yellow Glitter podcast - who covers mindfulness through the eyes and soul of Queer Asian perspectives.

LEARN ABOUT STEVEN / YELLOW GLITTER

stevenwakabayashi.com
POD: Yellow Glitter: https://apple.co/3ba9yUx
instagram.com/stevenwakabayashi
mindfulmoments.substack.com

LEARN ABOUT JOHNATHAN

instagram.com/jonahsahn twitter.com/jonahsahn Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/user/BLASIANFMA

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Lilly Singh (& Rajiv) bring it to the table Jun 19, 2023

“Everyone has a chip on their shoulder and it's beautiful and it is specific to them. There was no one else that looked like me - and well, there should be - and so I'm gonna make it.”

Lilly Singh is arguably among the most accomplished comedians and online presences around. Lilly’s a Canadian YouTuber television host, comedian, writer, and actress - who also happens to be bisexual. Lilly began making her YouTube videos way back when in 2010, originally as IISuperwomanII, which was her YouTube username till 2019. Lilly's regarded as one of the 40 most powerful people in comedy and is one of the highest paid YouTubers, and she's received all of the awards. In 2016, Lily released her first film, a documentary chronicling her world tour, hilariously titled “A Trip to Unicorn Island.” In March, 2017, she released her first book, the NY Times Bestseller “How to Be A Boss, A Guide to Conquering Life.” And from 2019 to 2021, Lilly acted as executive producer and host of the NBC late night talk show “A Little Late with Lilly Singh” - becoming the first person of Indian descent to host an American major broadcast network late night talk show. So basically, Lilly Singh is a big deal, and she WASN’T on our show. Lilly joined longtime FrieMMd of the Pod Rajiv Satyal on HIS talk show “What Do You Bring To the Table” - where Rajiv brings top voices from the South Asian community to his LA home studio for a chat...and a game of ping pong.

LEARN MORE

Lilly Singh - wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilly_Singh
Rajiv’s Talk Show: watchRajiv.com

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Steven Wakabayashi’s (community) co-hosting Jun 12, 2023

“If we, as a part of a community, want to move forward — this requires a large conversation.”

As Sharon & Raman embark further into our sixth season, we continue exploring bringing more friends to the microphone as guest hosts. One of those partners on our shortlist has always been longtime FrieMMd of the Pod, podcaster and mindfulness advocate Steven Wakabayashi. Steven joins us for a candid conversation about doing the work - on and off the mic - and trying to stay in the moment without always commenting on the moment. In the weeks to come we’ll start featuring some of Steven’s conversation from his own podcast, Yellow Glitter, and from time to time Steven - among other FrieMMds - may join Sharon & Raman for conversations with many new friends. We know you’ll love hearing Steven’s voice added to the mix (tapestry? forged metal?) as much as we do.

LEARN ABOUT STEVEN

stevenwakabayashi.com
instagram.com/stevenwakabayashi
WRITING: mindfulmoments.substack.com
POD: Yellow Glitter: https://apple.co/3ba9yUx

MENTIONS

PERSON: Dawn Mauricio - dawnmauricio.com
PERSON: Kat Vellos - katvellos.com
STORE sloomooinstitute.com
SHOW: Beef - imdb.com/title/tt14403178
FOOD: Turnip Cake - wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnip_cake

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Mita Mallick’s (Re)imagining Inclusion Jun 05, 2023

“Inclusion starts at our kitchen tables. If you aren't building cross-cultural relationships - actively learning about a lived experience that is not your own - how do you expect to show up at work differently as an inclusive leader?”

Mita Mallick is a returning FrieMMd of the pod, who came back to talk about her upcoming book — Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths To Transform Your Workplace (Pre-order now =)

Mita’s a corporate change-maker with a track record of transforming businesses. She’s an outspoken sharer of innovative - and thought provoking ideas in the area of inclusion and equity. Mita’s currently Carta’s head of inclusion, equity and impact, AND co-host of Brown Table Talk, a top LinkedIn podcast where she helps break down the challenges women of color face in the workplace. Mita’s extensive career - as a fierce advocate of including and representing Black and Brown communities - has crossed orgs like Carta, Unilever, Pfizer, AVON, Johnson & Johnson and more - as she’s a sought after speaker and coach to start-up founders, executives, and public CEOs. Mita’s a LinkedIn Top Voice, a contributor for Harvard Business Review, Adweek, Entrepreneur and Fast Company, and has been featured in the The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, Forbes, Axios, Essence, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Business Insider. Jump in for a conversation as we break down many of the myths from her book - and confront our own biases and myths.

LEARN ABOUT MITA

BOOK: Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths To Transform Your Workplace - amazon.com/Reimagine-Inclusion-Debunking-Transform-Workplace/dp/1394177097
POD: browntabletalkpodcast.com

MENTIONS

SONG: Taylor Swift, Anti-hero - youtu.be/b1kbLwvqugk
PERSON: Gretchen Carlson - wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretchen_Carlson
PERSON: Shonda Rhymes - wikipedia.org/wiki/Shonda_Rhimes
SHOW: Queen Charlotte - imdb.com/title/tt14661396/
COURSE: Shonda Rhymes - masterclass.com/classes/shonda-rhimes-teaches-writing-for-television

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First of All: Anna Akana May 29, 2023

This month to celebrate AAPI heritage we’re sharing an episode from First of All, a sister podcast from the Potluck Podcast Collective (who MM’s been a part of for years) featuring unique Asian American voices and stories.

First of All is a show where actor and filmmaker Minji Chang brings real, unfiltered conversations on career, family, love, & modern culture - along with friends from across the entertainment industry to kick back in her virtual living room to talk about important topics. This episode feature’s Minji’s chat with Anna Akana on self-care after trauma. Please note that this episode does contain discussion of mental health and suicide. If you've been having thoughts about suicide, Please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

LEARN MORE

PODCAST: firstofallpod.com // podcastpotluck.com/firstofall
Minji Chang: minjichang.com // instagram.com/minjeezy
Anna Akana: imdb.com/name/nm4331196 // youtube.com/user/annaakana

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They Call Us (Bruce) K-Pop Dreaming May 25, 2023

This month to celebrate AAPI heritage we’re sharing an episode from They Call Us Bruce, a sister podcast from the Potluck Podcast Collective (who MM’s been a part of for years) featuring unique Asian American voices and stories.

They Call Us Bruce is hosted by two Asian American community mainstays Phil Yu, aka the Angry Asian man, and Jeff Yang, a prolific writer and celebrity dad who, along with a guest or two, come together weekly to discuss the good, the bad, and the WTF on the latest topics in Asian American culture and media. We've actually had the privilege of having Phil on this podcast, and Jeff's been a friend and supporter of Modern Minorities. Jeff & Phil also recently published “RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now” - available wherever your favorite books are sold. On THIS episode of They Call Us Bruce, Phil and Jeff are joined by Vivian Yoon, host and writer of the LA-ist podcast, K-POP DREAMING - to chat all about the rights of K-pop and pop culture, and to be nostalgic about the classics.

LEARN MORE

They Call Us Bruce (Podcast): podcastpotluck.com/they-call-us-bruce
K-Pop Dreaming (Podcast): kpopdreaming.com
Phil Yu - angryasianman.com
Phil’s last MM episode - modmypod.com/episodes/ep-110-phil-yu-isnt-always-the-angry-asian-man
Jeff Yang - muckrack.com/originalspin // instagram.com/originalspin
BOOK: RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now - goodreads.com/en/book/show/55959483

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Jonathan Hill’s (tales of) belonging May 22, 2023

“I remember someone asked ‘why do you only draw white people?’ It really put a mirror to me and I was like, ‘why is that?’ I think it's the culture I grew up around — I didn't have that opportunity to see myself.”

Jonathan Hill is an award-winning cartoonist, illustrator, and educator living in Portland, OR. Jonathan is the creator of numerous graphic novels - including Americus, Odessa, and his latest - Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy. And your guess of which of this is about sci-fi dystopia is probably wrong - but all of his works hit on some pretty relevant themes of family and belonging. Jonathan’s work does that thing that great fiction does - wrapping an important theme in a seemingly fantastic narrative. While there is a Vietnamese American family as part of the story, let’s just say the main characters are also not from around here. In our chat we really got to understand the why behind so many of Jonathan’s story telling choices. We’d definitely recommend Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy for any of us who have ever just wanted to belong - or for folks who need a better understanding of what it’s like to not belong.

Beyond being a graphic novelist, Jonathan’s an accomplished cartoonist with clients like Microsoft, the Portland Trailblazers, the Vietnam Literature Project, the Inlander, Fantagraphics Books, Dark Horse Comics, Tor.com, The Believer Magazine, Literary Arts, and Powell's City of Books. AND he’s been the staff illustrator to The Asian Reporter since 2007. Jonathan also teaches comics and visual narrative — having taught at Pacific Northwest College of Art, Oregon College of Art was Writer in Residence through Literary Arts' Writers in the Schools program — and he currently serves on the Board of Directors of Literary Arts and chairs the Youth Programs Advisory Council. It goes without saying, Jonathan’s one of those empathetic creators whose work you’ll want to keep an eye on.

LEARN ABOUT JONATHAN HILL

oneofthejohns.com
BOOK: Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy - goodreads.com/en/book/show/48622007
BOOK: Odessa - goodreads.com/en/book/show/50891498
instagram.com/oneofthejohns

MENTIONS

ARTICLE (Time) - I Love America. That’s Why I Have to Tell the Truth About It - time.com/5455490/american-like-me
BOOK: The Sympathizer (Viet Thanh Nguyen): goodreads.com/en/book/show/23168277
BOOK: Fuzz & Pluck - goodreads.com/en/book/show/648527

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Reading (into) American Born Chinese May 18, 2023

“This is an intensely personal book. As much as there is a sort of universality, it's Yang’s own personal journey growing up.”

American Born Chinese is Gene Luen Yang's seminal comics work first released in 2006 — and comes out as a live-action Disney+ streaming series on May 24, 2023 - by the filmmakers from “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Shang Chi” - Michelle Yeoh and many others. The original graphic novel won all the awards, and launched Yang onto a full blown comics career. For AAPI Heritage month, we’re sharing this Quarantined Comics companion episode on amazing graphic novels - following the earlier Modern Minorities author conversation.

The story of American Born Chinese consists of three seemingly disparate tales: (1) the legend of the Monkey King from the classic 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West, (2) an all-too-familiar Asian American coming of age story of a American Born Chinese teenager Jin Wang, and (3) a TV sitcom starring an all-American cast of cringe-worthy stereotypes. Eventually these three tales become come together into a poignant lesson of culture and self acceptance. Raman and Ryan talks not just about the work - and their anxiety about the new TV show (which they have not yet seen) - but also their OWN American-Born Asian experiences - and a reflection on the impact of Gene Luen Yang's many works that we've covered on Quarantined Comics

LEARN ABOUT AMERICAN BORN CHINESE / GENE LUEN YANG

American Born Chinese: goodreads.com/book/show/118944.American_Born_Chinese
geneyang.com
twitter.com/geneluenyang

MENTIONS

Superman Smashes the Klan TRAILER: youtu.be/LQ5ID_k_iBA
Dragon Hoops: goodreads.com/book/show/44280830-dragon-hoops
Boxers & Saints: goodreads.com/series/108966-boxers-saints

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Gene Luen Yang’s (comic book) American dream May 15, 2023

“Being an immigrant kid - your experience and your parents’ and your grandparents’ experiences are in three completely different worlds.”

Gene Luen Yang is one of the most celebrated Asian American comics creators - an award-winning cartoonist, storyteller, and teacher - who's been creating comics since the fifth grade. And his 2006 graphic novel AMERICAN BORN CHINESE comes out as a live-action Disney+ streaming series on May 24, 2023 - by the filmmakers from “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Shang Chi” - Michelle Yeoh and many others. For AAPI Heritage month, we’re sharing past conversations with amazing Asian comics creators AND a few days later - a Quarantined Comics companion episode on their graphic novels.

Many of Gene’s graphic novels - AMERICAN BORN CHINESE, DRAGON HOOPS, and SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN - have won the Eisner Awards - comics greatest honor. Gene’s a former CS + Math teacher - who’s since gone on to work on some of the biggest name in pop culture and comics - including Avatar the Last AirBender, rebooting Shang Chi over @ Marvel Comics (before the hit movie), and having more than a few unique takes on DC’s Superman. Gene was named the Library of Congress’ fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and has also received a MacArthur Genius Grant. Gene advocates for the importance of reading diversely - and makes his kids finish all of their projects. Raman tried really hard not to fanboy over one of his personal heroes...

LEARN ABOUT GENE LUEN YANG

geneyang.com
twitter.com/geneluenyang
American Born Chinese: goodreads.com/book/show/118944.American_Born_Chinese
Superman Smashes the Klan TRAILER: youtu.be/LQ5ID_k_iBA
Dragon Hoops: goodreads.com/book/show/44280830-dragon-hoops

MENTIONS

COMIC BOOK: Cyclopedia Exotica goodreads.com/book/show/53317432-cyclopedia-exotica
PERSON: Jason Shiga goodreads.com/author/show/469075.Jason_Shiga
PERSON: Lark Pien goodreads.com/author/show/2679817.Lark_Pien
PERSON: Derek Kirk Kim goodreads.com/author/show/150817.Derek_Kirk_Kim

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Good Talk hits (too) close to home May 11, 2023

Have you ever wondered what a conversation would be with your bi-racial kid, reflecting on everything that's going on in the world - the good, the bad, and the ugly? Have you ever had a conversation about race with your spouse of another race? For AAPI Heritage month, we’re sharing this Quarantined Comics companion episode on amazing graphic novels - following the earlier Modern Minorities author conversation.

Mira’s Jacob’s debut graphic novel “GOOD TALK” is different from any (comic) book you've ever read, and we can't recommend it enough. As an Indian American, Mira Jacob recalls - in a uniquely simple graphic form (even for comics) - conversations about work and life with her young son, her Jewish husband, her parent-pleasing brother, her Indian parents, her extended family in India, her two best friends, and her very Trumpy in-laws. This book - all told through a lens of race and gender - hit some of us a little too close to home, which is probably why we loved it so much. Hear the episode, read the book. You’ll thank us later.

LEARN ABOUT GOOD TALK / MIRA JACOB

GOOD TALK: goodreads.com/book/show/36700347-good-talk
mirajacob.com
instagram.com/goodtalkthanks

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Mira Jacob (shares a) Good Talk May 08, 2023

“If I write this book, it's really gonna hurt — because if I write the truth, it's not a comfortable truth.”

Mira Jacob is many things - acclaimed author / illustrator, cultural critic, awesome mother, and a pretty funny brown woman in Brooklyn who happens to be from New Mexico. For AAPI Heritage month, we’re sharing past conversations with amazing Asian comics creators AND a few days later - a Quarantined Comics companion episode on their graphic novels.

Mira’s debut graphic memoir ‘Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations’ is one of Raman’s all-time favorite books - and Mira’s novel “The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing” is also most excellent. In ‘Good Talk’, Mira shares hard conversations not just her young (mixed race) son, but also with her family and friends about experiences of race in America - from her childhood to the modern era. Mira shares not just her process - but stories that will make you laugh, stop, realize, maybe even cry, and then laugh again.

LEARN ABOUT MIRA

mirajacob.com
IG @goodtalkthanks // TW @mirajacob
GOOD TALK: goodreads.com/book/show/36700347-good-talk

MENTIONS

MOVIE: Heathers (1989) - imdb.com/title/tt0097493/
PERSON: Zadie Smith (Author) - goodreads.com/author/show/2522.Zadie_Smith
PERSON: Arundhati Roy (Author) - goodreads.com/author/show/6134.Arundhati_Roy

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Thi Bui’s (memoir) The Best We Could Do May 01, 2023

“This is the same story we all have some piece of in our heritage. It’s such an American story.”

Thi Bui’s “The Best We Could Do” is an illustrated graphic memoir about her family's history and exodus from Vietnam to America. Bui’s comics debut covers love, war, and the refugee's journey — with an intimate focus on one family: her own. This is a book that will break your heart and put it back together. Awhile back Sharon joins Raman and Ryan on their other podcast - Quarantined Comics - for a deep reflection on not just the book, but all of OUR family's immigrant histories. This AAPI Heritage month, we’re sharing a mix of conversations that bring the Asian American experience to life in powerful ways - covering some of the best Asian American comics / creators out there. Please be sure to show your support by picking up these beautiful works wherever you get your favorite books. Got a suggestion for something we should check out? Reach out - himom@modmypod.com

LEARN MORE

BOOK: “The Best We Could Do” (Thi Bui) - goodreads.com/book/show/29936927-the-best-we-could-do
NEWS: vulture.com/2017/03/thi-bui-best-we-could-do-refugee-comic.html
POD: Quarantined Comics - qtdcomics.com

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Talking (on) Southern Fried Asian Apr 24, 2023

“For little kids like us growing up in the South to see someone that looked like you on the screen is super important, but I now need the white person to see the Asian story. I need the Asian person to see the Black story — representation matters on a lot of fronts.”

Keith Chow is the founder of the Nerds of Color, where Raman was recently a guest on one of Keith’s podcasts — “Southern Fried Asian.” Typically, stories about Asian Americans are centered on the experiences of those who grew up on the coasts -- New York, Southern California, the Bay Area -- where large and diverse Asian Americans communities have lived and thrived for decades. On Southern Fried Asian, Keith takes a look at a part of the country that isn't typically associated with these stories and unpack what it means to be Asian American in the American South. Keith grew up in rural Virginia, and as you know, Raman grew up in (the suburbs of) the great state of Alabama, so was really interested to have a chat with Keith to compare notes on solving racism with podcasts, what politics ought to look like in the South, the secret identities of superheroes, and of course, mom’s channa bhatura. Beyond being a podcast impresario, Keith is also one of the original creators of Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology, alongside Jeff Yang, Parry Shen, and Jerry Ma. Keith’s writing has appeared in The New York Times and NBC News. Vanity Fair has called him an “incisive interviewer and chummy conversationalist” - so it’s no wonder that Raman and Keith got along famously...

LEARN ABOUT KEITH

https://southernfriedasian.libsyn.com/
twitter.com/southernasians // instagram.com/southernfriedasians
Hardnocmedia.com
BOOK: Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology - goodreads.com/book/show/5416739-secret-identities

MENTIONS

BOOK: The Loneliest Americans (Jay Caspian Kang) - goodreads.com/en/book/show/58145392
NAME: Kal-El (Clark Kent) - babynames.com/name/kal-el
FILM: Always Be My Maybe (2019) - imdb.com/title/tt7374948/

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Drew Tarvin’s (Humor) at Work Apr 17, 2023

“I didn't realize how much I missed live events — and then I did that first in-person again. And the laughter is amazing - this is what that energy feels like. So for me having the vaccines helps me be able to do that.”

Andrew Tarvin is a Humor Engineer. He’s also a longtime FrieMMd of the Pod, and Raman’s other, other podcast host. Drew joins us for another conversation about the importance of getting your latest COVID latest vaccine - sponsored by the US department of Health & Human Services. Drew’s an internationally known speaker and trainer - who once a digital nomad, now travels the world with his wife and young daughter. We chat about how vaccines have changed his work and life for the better - making so much more possible. Also, why vanilla milkshakes aren’t necessarily a bad thing for being an honorary Modern Minority (host)

LEARN ABOUT DREW

DrewTarvin.com
“the Skill of Humor” - youtu.be/MdZAMSyn_As
Our OTHER Pod: “Learnings from Leaders” - pgalums.com/podcast

MENTIONS:

PLACE: Panama: youtu.be/fuKDBPw8wQA
PLACE: Suriname: wikipedia.org/wiki/Suriname
BOOK: Humor Seriously: goodreads.com/en/book/show/52578860
PLACE: Graeter’s Ice Cream (Cincinnati)
COMEDY: Nate Bargatze “Hello World” - amazon.com/Nate-Bargatze-Hello-World/dp/B0B856WWSB

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got your updated COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this. Find updated vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Sarah Salem challenges (your) perceptions Apr 10, 2023

“People have their assumptions about my faith...and I love getting to change every perception”

Sarah Z Salem is an Egyptian American Muslim in Atlanta by way of Philly. Sarah’s not our first Muslim American guest, but for the month of Ramadan we wanted to feature diverse voices from the culture. As a community advocate, Sarah strives to bring forward voices and stories of those most impacted by climate change and injustice. And as a practicing Muslim - she’s spent most of her life navigating her faith while also deepening her sense of self and identity. Be it her choice to cover (or not cover) her hair, being a cancer survivor, and even finding love - Sarah shares how she has always challenged the assumptions and perceptions that others may have - to shift the narrative. And she’s not stopping anytime soon.

This episode originally aired in April 2021 and is part of our celebration of Muslim American voices and stories this Ramadan.

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got your updated COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this. Find updated vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

LEARN ABOUT SARAH

MENTIONS:

FILM: “Someone Great” (2019) - imdb.com/title/tt8075260/
PERSON: Malcolm X - wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X

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Azhar Usman believes in (the) Truth Apr 03, 2023

“Who controls the rhythm of the algorithm?”

Azhar Usman is a Muslim American writer, actor, comedian, producer - and many other things - of Indian descent (by way of Chicago). Dave Chappelle once declared, “Azhar’s like a comedian from the future.” One of the most outspoken voices of his generation, Azhar’s a writer & Co-Executive Producer for Hulu’s award-winning RAMY (stop what you’re doing and watch this show NOW). Marvel Studios recently also announced that Azhar would be joining the MCU in the highly anticipated Disney+ show MS.MARVEL (Raman fan-girls over the comic it’s based on). Azhar’s worked on comedic projects for Netflix, Hannibal Buress, Mo Amer, and Hasan Minhaj (he served as a writer for Minhaj’s epic 2017 White House Correspondents Dinner speech). Azhar co-created ‘ALLAH MADE ME FUNNY–The Official Muslim Comedy Tour’ (which toured 20+ countries across 5 continents), toured India for the US State Department as part of “Make Chai Not War”, was named one of ‘The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World’ (Georgetown University), and called ‘America’s Funniest Muslim’ by CNN. Oh and he’s a father of four, former attorney, and dotcom entrepreneur - so at least we know his parents are proud of something. As we continue our conversations with Muslim Americans for the Holy month of Ramadan - this is a deep one you’re going to enjoy, so buckle your seat belts...

This episode originally aired in April 2021 and is part of our celebration of Muslim American voices and stories this Ramadan.

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got your updated COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this. Find updated vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

LEARN ABOUT AZHAR

MENTIONS

TV: Ramy (Hulu): imdb.com/title/tt7649694
TV: 90 Day Fiancé - imdb.com/title/tt3469050
BOOK: The White Tiger (Aravind Adiga): goodreads.com/book/show/1768603.The_White_Tiger
PERSON: Mansur Al-Hallaj ابو المغيث الحسين بن منصور الحلاج‎ (Sufi Mystic): wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Hallaj

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Misha Euceph (is) Podcast Mar 27, 2023

“Privilege is occupying more space than is reasonably allotted for one person.”

Misha Euceph is podcast. A Pakistani-American writer, podcast host, and producer - Misha also happens to be Founder & CEO of Dustlight Productions, the critically acclaimed podcast studio that has worked on podcast projects with Spotify, Bruce Springsteen, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Rolling Stone, and many more. She’s also the creator and host of the podcast "Tell Them, I Am" - a series about the small defining moments in our lives— where the voices are all Muslim, but the stories are universal. the NY Times, LA Times, TIME, The Atlantic, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, and Huffington Post, have named it among their best podcasts. Misha is also frequently featured on IGTV, McSweeney’s, and The Wall Street Journal. Basically, Misha and Dustlight want to make mission-driven podcasts for and with awesome people. Misha only got her podcasting start in 2017, and has quickly become an important voice for today's times, speaking on storytelling, identity, and ethical entrepreneurship.

This great, funny conversation on identity and belonging comes from longtime FrieMMd of the Pod Rajiv Satyal, on HIS talk show "What Do You Bring To The Table" — where Rajiv spotlights prominent South Asian voices. Rajiv has spoken with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Comedian Hasan Minhaj, author Deepak Chopra, influencer Lilly Singh, journalist Manu Raju, TV personality Tan France, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and many more. You can SEE lots more of Rajiv's video conversations at WatchRajiv.com.

LEARN ABOUT MISHA

mishaeuceph.com
dustlight.co
instagram.com/meuceph // twitter.com/meuceph
HowToMakeaPodcast.org
RAJIV’S TALKSHOW: WatchRajiv.com

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Jhanay Williams’ Passion for (Protecting) Art & Culture Mar 19, 2023

“A lot of people have stopped wearing masks, but In terms of service industries and entertainment, if you take a look around, we're all still wearing them. The bodies we are putting out onto a stage are human bodies and if we can find a way to make sure they're protected, of course, we'll do that. We love our actors, we love our performers, and it's an easy thing for us to do.”

Jhanay Williams is a Caribbean-American creative marketer, theater producer and entrepreneur. She has several years of experience in international marketing, business development, brand strategy, and digital advertising. She holds a Master's Degree in Global Communications, with a focus in Visual & Material Culture. Jhanay is passionate about building unique, personalized, and creative stories for brands globally – backed by her academic background in art, languages, and international communications, as well as 24+ countries visited before the age of 24.

You’ll love this fresh take on seeing the world through a different lens. Jhanay chats with us about how she’s been told that she “speaks White,” and how her global travels taught her to be an expert outsider, but also helped her to discover her own identity and place in the world. Jhanay gives us an inside look into the entertainment industry today, and how crowds coming together in-person to watch their favorite singers, dancers and entertainers are protected by crews who are committed to keeping everyone healthy with updated vaccines and regimented COVID protocols behind-the-scenes.

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got your updated COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this. Find updated vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

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200 episodes (later): milestone or bookend? Mar 13, 2023

“Our original WHY for all of this was so folks could get a better sense of what someone else's experience is like.” “...but we're NOT an Asian podcast - this is an American podcast.”

After TWO HUNDRED episodes, Sharon & Raman reflect on where we’ve been (with you), and where we’re going. We grapple with the heavier questions of why do we even DO this podcast, and why should we keep it going (and if so, how)? It’s a friendly reflection and discussion that’s equal parts realistic and hopeful, and we want you to weigh in. What do you think? Email us himom@modmypod.com. Not only will we send you some stickers (LOL), but YOUR take on our podcast will help us figure out what we want do next

MENTIONS

Hassan MInhaj + Ronny Chiang have it out: youtu.be/szWiVSCwdSk
BOOK: Storyworthy: goodreads.com/en/book/show/37786022
RESTAURANT: Nyonya - yelp.com/biz/nyonya-new-york

GUESTS (Past, Present Co-Hosts, Future Wishlist):

PAST GUESTS (we want to bring back): Eric Rivera, Gene Luen Yang, Mariko Tamaki, Mira Jacob, Mita Mallick, Suzy Shinn, Tyanne Binal
FUTURE GUESTS (we want on the show): Bob Gilbreath, Dan Santat, Fareed Zakaria, Jessica Alba, Kara Swisher, Marques Brownlee, Mehdi Hasan, Michelle Yeoh, Misha Euceph, Patrick H Willems, Rajiv & Drew’s Moms, Rivers Cuomo, Sharon’s Dad
POTENTIAL GUEST CO-HOSTS (?): Drew Tarvin, Rajiv Satyal, Matt Story, Seif Hamid, Steven Wakabayashi, Suzanne Sinatra

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Dr. Bhavik Kumar’s (advocacy) for access Mar 06, 2023

“You have to meet patients where they are — having a fact-sharing conversation, respecting their choices and opinions, and taking care of people. That gets me further than judgment.”

Dr. Bhavik Kumar is a family physician and serves as the medical director for primary and trans care at Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast based in Houston — where he has been an abortion provider in his home state of Texas since 2015. He completed med school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and did his residency and fellowship in Bronx, New York, and also has his Masters in Public Health at Columbia University. Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, there’s been increased chaos and confusion across the country. Communities of color have always had difficulty accessing abortion, whether due to abortion stigma, medical disinformation, language barriers, immigration status, or racism in the health care system. Roe's overturn has hit minority communities the hardest. With so much disinformation, and frankly stigmas in our communities that embolden anti-abortion views, we wanted to unpack how Dr. Bhavik navigates it all - running from his experience becoming an abortion provider, and how he’s been working with patients, especially with immigrants and communities of color.

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got your updated COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this. Find updated vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

LEARN ABOUT DR. BHAVIK

MENTIONS

BOOK: Middlesex (Jeffrey Eugenides) - goodreads.com/book/show/2187.Middlesex
BOOK: She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb) - goodreads.com/book/show/5203.She_s_Come_Undone
PERSON: Loretta Ross (Sister Song) - wikipedia.org/wiki/Loretta_Ross

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Paris Hatcher’s (Black) Feminist Future Feb 27, 2023

“Everyone has something that’s extraordinary, but it's not based on just limiting yourself to being the only person.”

Paris Hatcher is an amazing force — a black queer visionary feminist who is the executive director at Black Feminist Future. She also runs another organization called Black Freedom Outfitters, which aims to get folks outside and into nature. Paris is very passionate about women's rights, very passionate about queer rights, very passionate about empowering more black feminists in the world, and her unique self experience of being at the intersection of many of these things gives her a very unique perspective. From growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina, to creaitng new roots and connections in Atlanta, Paris has had an amazing journey - inspiring many and expanding her efforts to include more and make a real difference for folks in underserved and marginalized communities.

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got your updated COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this. Find updated vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

LEARN ABOUT PARIS

MENTIONS

PLACE: Iceland: wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland
SHOW: 227 / Sandra: imdb.com/title/tt0088470/
PERSON: Nanny of the Maroons: wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanny_of_the_Maroons
PERSON: Harriet Tubman: wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Tubman
PERSON: Audrey Lord: wikipedia.org/wiki/Audre_Lorde

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Kenyatte Nelson is a (sharply-dressed) family man Feb 20, 2023

“There isn't a way to be or behave that's connected to a color in my view. But I think there are some cultural norms that exist.”

What does it even mean to “talk white” or “act black”? Kenyatte Nelson might live in Liverpool, but his life and career have spanned Charleston (SC), Tallahassee (FL), Cincinnati (OH), Geneva (CH), and Manchester (UK). Once declared Esquire’s best dressed man (2008), this tall, dark, and handsome (brand) man shares his thoughts on the importance of empathy, kindness, and names - despite being often misunderstood, misinterpreted, or feared (even in a suit). As a Black man, Kenyatte thinks about the bias in his own mind, and what burdens he’s passing onto (or shielding from) his son. Hear our discussion on what we don’t want ANY of our children to feel and how different the world would (could?) be if we were all more comfortable owning up to our mistakes.

This episode originally aired in October 2020 and is part of our celebration of Black voices and stories this February.

LEARN ABOUT KENYATTE

instagram.com/beautifulnoun
twitter.com/beautifulnoun

MENTIONS -

SONG: “the Mask” (Fugees) t- https://spoti.fi/3ojWi4P
TV: Fleabag - imdb.com/title/tt5687612
BOOK: “The Art of Possibility” (Rosamund Stone Zander) - goodreads.com/book/show/85697.The_Art_of_Possibility

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Maartje & Peggy (go beyond) The Plantation of our Ancestors Feb 13, 2023

“At least three generations were born in slavery it was very difficult to see that documented. So, there's a connection - it's a strange feeling”

Maartje Duin & Peggy Bouva found a unique connection, and turned it into something beautiful and important. The two created “The Plantation of Our Ancestors” (“De plantage van onze voorouders,” by VPRO - Dutch Public Radio) — an 8-part podcast series that uncovers and unpacks Holland’s history of slavery - from a very personal perspective. Maartje is a podcast producer of Dutch noble descent, whose family were part-owners of plantations in Suriname, where Peggy’s ancestors were slaves. But this is NOT a story of white guilt or black anger - it is one of understanding uncomfortable truths, and facing the future by remembering our past - together. The show has received international acclaim (soon to be translated to English), and more importantly, a powerful conversation representative you should hear - and be having.

This episode originally aired in March 2021 and is part of our celebration of Black voices and stories this February.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PEGGY & MAARTJE

PODCAST TRAILER (in English): https://youtu.be/YR9eLpIQu8Q
NPR STORY: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/06/906815515/a-journey-that-we-have-to-join-together-2-dutch-women-confront-slaverys-legacy
PODCAST SITE (in Dutch): https://www.vpro.nl/programmas/de-plantage-van-onze-voorouders/luister/afleveringen.html

MENTIONS

FILM (Peggy): Hidden Figures (2016): imdb.com/title/tt4846340/
BOOK (Martje): Girl Woman Other (2019, Bernardine Evaristo): goodreads.com/book/show/41081373-girl-woman-other
PERSON (Maartje): Ira Glass
PERSON (Peggy): Kamala Harris

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Svante Myrick wants (police) change Feb 06, 2023

“We got ourselves into this - on the left and the right. People want to be safe - so we're proposing something different and better.”

Svante Myrick is the mayor of Ithaca, NY - a role he’s held since 2012 - when he became the town’s youngest Mayor, and the first Mayor of color. Svante has become one of the nation’s earliest elected leaders to put forward one of the most ambitious, concrete plans to change the way we think about community policing - something that has propelled him to the national stage. His proposal to replace traditional policing with a Department of Public Safety and Community Solutions, aims to reduce armed personnel in emergency response. Svante’s thoughtful, informed take on how to take on big challenges at the local level are informed by his experiences as a mixed race kid who grew up facing homelessness, relying on school lunches, and other critical public services. And while his policies are progressive - Svante often says there are 3 political parties in America - Democrats, Republicans, and Mayors - because the real work is local in our communities. He’s also a huge comic book nerd, which means it's only a matter of time before Raman invites him on his OTHER podcast. Svante represents the next generation of politicians, and inspires us all that we change better together, not apart.

This episode originally aired in June 2021 and is part of our celebration of Black voices and stories this February.

LEARN ABOUT SVANTE

cityofithaca.org/131/Mayors-Office
instagram.com/svantemyrick
twitter.com/SvanteMyrick
gq.com/story/ithaca-mayor-svante-myrick-police-reform

MENTIONS:

BOOKS / FILM: Lord of the Rings (“everybody thinks they're Gandalf, but you’re actually Frodo”)
X-MEN: Colossus, Wolverine, Archangel

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James Veraldi's Loop (for) social health Jan 29, 2023

“It's consumption media, not social media. A lot of people are struggling with this, and a lot more are going to. And I would like to be part of the solution.”

James is also CEO & Co-founder of Loop.co — a company focused on Improving the world’s social and mental health. James Veraldi is ALSO a longtime FrieMMd of the Pod. Beyond being the a past guest (+host of the podcast Animalia) - he's tirelessly trying to make the world a better place, despite all the social / consumption media around us. So many of us - often including folks we love and work with - have had experience with mental health. James' missions is to help solve these challenges — the very definition of "touching lives, improving life." This is a very recent conversation from Raman's OTHER podcast "Learnings from Leaders" - but it was so powerful that we wanted to share it here.

James is a veteran of the early internet / content era - with roles partnering with and on the inside of YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok. There he got only invaluable insider experiences in product and content marketing — but also a deeper understanding of the potential negative effects our media consumption economy can drive — for young and old folks alike. So James made a bold choice to step out and solve the problem, by founding LOOP, a platform built to tackle mental health challenges - starting with social anxiety. Today in the US 36% of adults identify as severely lonely, 61% of adolescents and teens. That's a big number that identify as severely lonely. And what the clinical science shows is that this is a product of lacking high quality of relationships in your life — and work. Too many people struggle today with building social relationships and succeeding in different social situations - in work and life - which is especially a challenge for the younger millennial and Gen Z workforce today. If you’re a manager of people - an exec or HR stakeholder - you can learn more and sign up for a free 30-day trial for you and some of your colleagues — just visit Loop.co/work.

When he's not not working, James is a dog lover, beekeeper, and even rehabilitates the occasional squirrel or crow. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about a career journey that led to a greater good - building meaningful solutions for the world of social and mental health - and hopefully be inspired on how you can make a difference.

LEARN ABOUT JAMES / LOOP

Loop.co/work
past MM appearance - modmypod.com/episodes/james-veraldi-wants-you-to-start-saving-the-world
Animalia (James' other pod): joinanimalia.com

MENTIONS

BOOK: Mary Shelly's Frankenstein: goodreads.com/book/show/18490.Frankenstein
PERSON: Katie Porter: wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_Porter

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Rajiv Satyal’s vaccinated (and) entertaining Jan 22, 2023

“It's like headlights. A vaccine is saying ‘I'm doing it for you — I'm putting my headlights on so you can see me — so you don't get it from me.’ We have to think of others.”

Longtime FrieMMd of the Pod and internationally (in)famous comedian Rajiv Satyal joins us for another conversation about the importance of getting your latest COVID latest vaccine - sponsored by the US department of Health & Human Services. But rather than the typical chat with a doctor that would make our parents proud, Rajiv takes us to a very real (hilarious) place - on how the past few years have changed everything in the world and life of a professional entertainer - from booking gigs to having kids - and everything in between. As with most of his work, Rajiv take will leave you laughing and thinking.

MENTIONS

RajivSatyal.com
Vaccines.gov
BOOK: Born Standing Up (Steve Martin): goodreads.com/book/show/773858.Born_Standing_Up

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got your updated COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this,. Find updated vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Naaz Khan's (Room) for Everyone Jan 16, 2023

“So here we are foreign enough to be foreign at home, home enough to be home in the foreign. I have come to see when I am at home in my heart, I am always enough for everywhere.”

Naaz Khan is an educator, writer, and life long learner with a background in refugee education, curriculum development, and interfaith dialogue. Naaz’s debut children’s book moved us when we first discovered it, so were excited to have the opportunity to have a chat with her on the pod. Through beautiful illustrations and entertaining rhymes, you’ll find yourself falling in love with the journey of others in a far off land depicted in Room for Everyone Naaz currently lives in Washington DC. but has lived all over the world — including Jubail, Cairo, Nairobi, Bangalore, Berkeley, San Diego, and New York. Naaz works as an education coordinator at An Open Book Foundation, a literacy organization that connects young people in the DC area with authors, illustrators and books. Naaz is also part of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation's leading champion for children's literacy — which recently launched it’s second annual Rally to Read 100 — which runs thru the end of March — designed to motivate children to read, starting with a pledge to read 100 books. You can learn more @ RallytoRead.org

LEARN ABOUT NAAZ

Naazkhan.org
instagram.com/naazhkhan
BOOK: Room For Everyone - goodreads.com/en/book/show/56980329-room-for-everyone

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got your updated COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this,. Find updated vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

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How To Understand Israel (in 60 Days or Less) Jan 09, 2023

“Israel’s very similar to the US - there’s a lot of good, a lot of bad, and it's super complicated. It's certainly not black and white.”

On Raman’s other favorite podcast Quarantined Comics, he and ace reporter Ryan Joe don’t shy away from graphic novels that tackle tough topics. One of those is the issue of Israel and Palestine. We’ve already shared our chat about “Palestine” by Joe Sacco, so now we’re sharing our conversation on “How To Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less” — the graphic novel by progressive Jewish American cartoonist Sarah Glidden. This 2007 memoir chronicles her birthright trip back to Israel, which as you can imagine, is a loaded story. And since Raman & Ryan are two Asian-Americans dudes who are NOT Jewish, they brought back FrieMMd of the Quarantined Pod Jon Kriner, who has been back to Israel on similar tours. As you can imagine, the conversation goes a lot of deep places — that hopefully won’t get us cancelled, but will give you some things to think about.

LEARN MORE

How To Understand Israel (in 60 Days or Less): goodreads.com/book/show/7941986-how-to-understand-israel-in-60-days-or-less
Sarah Glideen (author): https://authorsunbound.com/sarah-glidden
Quarantined Comics: qtdcomics.com

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got your updated COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this,. Find updated vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

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2022 Year in Review Dec 30, 2022

As 2022 comes to a close, we reflect, not-so-quickly on moments from all our conversations this past year. So grab a final drink for the year, share with a friend (or three), and please — listen responsibly! We do this show about all of us, for all of us, so leave us a review or send us a note — himom@modmypod.com

XOXO, SHARON & RAMAN

PS - Heard someone you liked? Be sure to go back and check out any of our past episodes. Featuring the voices of our amazing guests...

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John Pepper & Ursula Burns’ (Learnings from) Leaders Dec 25, 2022

“Making improvements is challenging. But we can't give up and we've got to learn how to do it better.” “Speak, engage, help, be helped. Be part of society. Be an optimist towards the fact that people can change, that people can learn.”

John Pepper, P&G’s former CEO, and Ursula Burns, Xerox’s former CEO, sit down for a candid conversation on race, understanding and our discourse with each other. This is a conversation the two longtime friends have been having for years - alongside many of us. This is NOT a Modern Minorities conversation. Did you know Raman actually hosts a THIRD podcast (not about comics)? On “Learnings from Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast” - Raman and his P&G Alumni pals sit down with top leaders in business about not just their professional experiences, but their purpose, values, and principles.

One such conversation was with John Pepper & Ursula Burns on race and understanding. John Pepper is one of the most celebrated P&G Alums - the company’s former CEO & Chairman from the turn of the century (and later Chairman of the Walt Disney Company), and Ursula Burns, Xerox’s former CEO. John is known as one of the great people focused leaders, a great philanthropist in his own right, and someone Raman has come to call a friend (an unexpected perk of their many podcast chats). A close friend of John’s is Ursula Burns, the former CEO of Xerox - and one of the first Black Female CEOs. What results is a powerful conversation from early 2022 that covers a topic we float around the edges of on Modern Minorities from a more personal level. But having the discussion at such a macro level by two of business' great leaders was full of lots of great...learnings.

LEARN MORE

John Pepper: https://pepperspectives.blogspot.com/
Ursula Burns: https://hbr.org/2021/07/im-here-because-im-as-good-as-you
pgalums.com/podcast
https://apple.co/2L85TsT // https://spoti.fi/2zkhrXg

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the latest COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this, together. Find the latest vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Tanzina Vega’s (graceful) takeaway Dec 19, 2022

“We as women and women of color, are not allowed the same ability and/or grace to mess up, to get angry, to set standards, and that is really where we need to develop. None of us are infallible.”

For more than a decade Tanzina Vega’s award-winning journalism has centered on inequality in the United States through the lens of race and gender. From working at the New York Times, WNYC (NPR), and CNN — she’s someone whose work we have followed for years. In the next chapter of her career, Tanzina’s work continues at the intersection of journalism, education ,and outspoken activism. In a candid conversation that goes places we didn’t expect to — we cover not just the journey of Tanzina’s personal and professional life — from growing up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan to working in some of the most influential spaces in media (often with a minority perspective) — but we understand how she approaches and navigates a world that doesn’t always give the grace it should.

LEARN ABOUT TANZINA

MENTIONS

CNN: Where are you ‘really’ from? Try another question - cnn.com/2017/06/20/opinions/where-are-you-really-from-vega-opinion
BOSTON GLOBE: “Musk is taking away people’s power with Twitter”
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/11/14/opinion/musk-is-taking-away-peoples-power-with-twitter/
FORTUNE: Black women and the glass cliff: ‘I was supposed to bring some kind of Black Girl Magic’ - https://fortune.com/2022/11/06/black-women-glass-cliff/
BOOK: We Will Not Cancel Us (Adrienne Maree Brown)
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/55608932-we-will-not-cancel-us
PERSON: Oprah or Barack
FILM: Bridesmaids (2011): imdb.com/title/tt1478338/

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Getting Vacc’ed (for the) Season Dec 10, 2022

“It's this new normal — because of these vaccines, we can see our family, we can see our friends, and go to company holiday parties.” “It's peace of mind. you just gotta do it.”

It’s that time of year again, so we decided to sit down and talk about not just our holiday plans, but everything else going on in life. You know “the new normal” - which is only possible because we’ve gotten our latest COVID vaccines. So our friends at the US Department of Health & Human Services asked us to talk about the importance of getting vaccines this holiday season to make those family gatherings safer and extra special. I mean, how else are you going to have time to have (or share) all that home cooking you’ve been craving? Raman and Sharon also reveal a few other holiday confessions as they get ready to wind down the year...

MENTIONS

Vaccine.gov
Weezer & LA Philharmonic: youtube.com/watch?v=Y7hPgYfXBTk&list=PLkxdFdoCCrLlw_MeYgQvETU0pBsXxrnWO
Weezer (not) on Broadway: https://pitchfork.com/news/weezer-cancel-broadway-residency/
BOOK: Fables: kotaku.com/fables-the-kotaku-comic-review-1724740964
FILM: Spirited: imdb.com/title/tt10999120/

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the latest COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this, together. Find the latest vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Dr. Urvashi Bhatnagar’s (unexpected) solutions Dec 05, 2022

“I would encourage people to think about how we think about risk in our daily lives. We have more risk when we cross the street or drive a car than we do with the COVID vaccine.”

Dr. Urvashi Bhatnagar is a healthcare executive whose career spans clinical care, research, and advocacy. She’s also the co-author of the new book “The Sustainability Scorecard: How To Implement And Profit From Unexpected Solutions.” Dr. Urvashi focuses on bringing new and innovative solutions to market that advance access to care, clinical outcomes and affect total cost of care. With a Yale MBA and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Boston University, Dr. Urvashi is a Certified Clinical Instructor for DPT students and has served as faculty during the American Congress of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2021, and has served as an invited speaker at the United Nations in 2020. And since much to the dismay of our parents, we are still NOT doctors, and much to the dismay of...everyone, we are still in a global pandemic, the US Department of Health & Human Services asked us enroll a healthcare professional — about the importance of getting your latest COVID vaccine as we go into the holiday season. They’re here just in time to make those family gatherings safer and extra special. SO While we definitely had a good chat with Dr. URVASHI about COVID prevention and how it relates to her work and experience every day, we also get to go beyond her day job, for a bit to talk talk about her work in practical, scalable solutions to impact climate change - and what it means for chocolate and gardening - for the uncle and auntie in each of us..

LEARN ABOUT DR. URVASHI

SITE: greenovationproject.com
BOOK: The Sustainability Scorecard: How to Implement and Profit from Unexpected Solutions - goodreads.com/book/show/56917183-the-sustainability-scorecard
SOCIAL: instagram.com/urvi_bhatnagar // twitter.com/urvi_bhatnagar
https://medium.com/authority-magazine/urvashi-bhatnagar-5-things-we-must-do-to-inspire-the-next-generation-about-sustainability-and-the-53a1f7e2a580

MENTIONS

The American Congress of Rehab Medicine - https://acrm.org/
FILM: Zootopia (2016) imdb.com/title/tt2948356/
PERSON: Scott Galloway - profgalloway.com

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the latest COVID-19 Vaccines. We can do this, together. Find the latest vaccines near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Sharon & Raman (on) Rock the Boat Nov 28, 2022

Ever since we started this show, we've had the privilege of being invited to share our story on other folks’ podcasts. One of those shows is "Rock the Boat " by FrieMMd of the Pod Lucia Liu - who you may have heard once before on our Modern Minorities podcast. way back when in 2020, Lucia flipped the mic on us, allowing us the to share some of our story with her audience. It's funny, listening back on that conversation it's crazy how much parenthood has shaped both Sharon + my perspectives on the world. We hope you'll enjoy it, and be sure to check out some of the amazing conversations Lucia's had on "Rock the Boat" - gorocktheboat.com - wherever you get your favorite podcasts...

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Kevin Turpin’s (leading) National Journal Nov 21, 2022

“When I first started, I was the only black person in the company — so I spent the first part of my career conforming."

Kevin Turpin is the President of National Journal, a legacy media company for DC Insiders. Under Kevin's leadership, he has transformed the National Journal into an all-encompassing resource for government affairs executives and other policy influencers working in today's landscape. Additionally, Kevin is a member of the Diversity in Government Relations (DGR) Coalition, which actively champions diversity, equity, and inclusion in local, state and federal policymaking. You’ll enjoy this personal chat about growing up from Buffalo to Virginia Beach, and all of the experiences and adventures that have led Kevin to where he is today. For Kevin his open mindset - with a clear lens into diversity really impacts not just the people in his organization and business, but how the National Journal is approaching their partnerships across other companies and government organizations — making an impact on a much bigger level.

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Nidhi Hebbar’s information (literacy) journey Nov 14, 2022

“When you have a question and you go looking for the answer — it's critical to own that journey.”

Nidhi Hebbar is a Product Manager at Google, focused on tackling misinformation and promoting media literacy. In her role, Nidhi builds products that help improve information literacy by empowering people to evaluate information for themselves. Nidhi Hebbar is a Product Manager at Google, focused on tackling misinformation and promoting media literacy. In her role, Nidhi builds products that help improve information literacy by empowering people to evaluate information for themselves. A Florida native with Indian heritage, she was struck at a young age by how access to quality education changes the course of your life. Throughout her career, Nidhi has worked in a number of roles at the intersection of education and technology. Her work has served learners from Stockholm, Singapore, India and Kenya. While she was a student at Columbia University, Nidhi co-founded an education nonprofit that taught public speaking and debating skills to young people at underserved schools in New York City. As a Technology Policy Fellow at the Aspen Institute, she co-founded The EdTech Equity Project to address racial bias in education technologies using AI in schools by bringing schools, students, and industry together.

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Rotimi Adeoye’s running (with) it Nov 07, 2022

“This country has always had moments like this — and it's been a lot worse. And if John Lewis and Fannie Lou Hamer can stand up and say ‘I'm going to keep on fighting’ - then who am I to say ‘I'm tired, I can't take it’?”

Rotimi Adeoye is an opinion columnist for The Daily Beast, and communications advisor for the American Civil Liberties Union, helping oversee communications strategy for the ACLU’s voting work. Before joining the ACLU, Rotimi worked on Capitol Hill as a Press Secretary to Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus. Prior to that, Rotimi worked as an assistant to Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and a battleground state volunteer on the Obama Campaign in 2012. While in college Rotimi ran the student-led voter registration organization, HWS Votes, that during the 2016 Presidential election earned the distinction of the number one campus nationally, based on students who registered to vote (51.9%). Rotimi currently lives in Washington, D.C. and graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with a degree in Political Science. With an election right around the corner, you’ll enjoy this candid conversation about empathy, listening, not sitting still, and taking action.

LEARN ABOUT ROTIMI

MENTIONS

ACLU: The Fight for Voting Rights: How the Past Informs the Current Discriminatory Landscape
Daily Beast: Election Workers Are Under Attack. We Need to Fight for Them
FILM: Remember the Titans (2000): imdb.com/title/tt0210945/
PERSON: Giannis Antetokounmpo - wikipedia.org/wiki/Giannis_Antetokounmpo
FILM: Rise (2022): imdb.com/title/tt11242162/

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Palestine's required (comics) reading Oct 31, 2022

“Reading a comic book isn't going to solve peace in the Middle East. But I do think part of the solution is understanding both sides.”

Often times real life is scarier than anything else we can dream about. PALESTINE is Joe Sacco's seminal work of cartoon journalism - which Raman & Ryan read (on his other podcast Quarantined Comics) to commemorate Al Nakba*

First published in 1993, PALESTINE covers Sacco's travels thru occupied Palestine territory - and Israel - to embed himself with the Palestinian people - hearing their stories first-hand to understand how they lived their every day lives. Sacco wanted to get around the sanitized story the Western Media was portraying — to emphasizes the history and plight of the Palestinian people, as a group and as individuals. In PALESTINE Sacco positions himself as the westerner confronting a reality unfamiliar to most Americans at the time - concentrating on his personal experience and perspective, as well as the stories of the people he encounters, with some light history thrown in for good measure. Conversations are documented over tea, roadblocks, police action, taxis and checkpoints - which become all too familiar set pieces in Sacco's narrative journey. The book was published as 9 issues by Fantagraphics from 1993 to 1995, with a graphic novel published later to a much wider audience. Palestine is the recipient of the American Book AWard, and was named as one of the Top 100 English-Language Comics of the last Century. Sacco has since gone on to publish numerous other works of cartoon journalism - covering the Middle East, Bosnia/Serbia, and the Native American plight. for which he's received recognition from TIME Magazine, the Eisners, the Harveys, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize

*Al Nakba literally translates to "the Catastrophe" — referring to the destruction of the Palestinian homeland in May of 1948, leading to the mass exodus of at least 750,000 Arabs from Palestine. While for many historians the process began decades earlier, to many in the region it refers to the ongoing persecution, displacement, and occupation of the Palestinians, both in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip — as well as in Palestinian refugee camps throughout the region.

LEARN MORE

PALESTINE (2001): goodreads.com/book/show/769712.Palestine
Joe Sacco (Comics Journalist): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Sacco
Quarantined Comics: qtdcomics.com

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Dr. Mandi takes (her) shots - so should you. Oct 24, 2022

"It becomes critical for physicians to meet people where they are. COVID is not going anywhere, but because the population is getting vaccinated, we’re seeing milder courses of illness, which is wonderful.”

Dr. Mandi Sehgal - is a board certified Geriatrician and Family Medicine Physician. And she’s more than just a FrieMMd of the Pod, she may just be related to one of our co-hosts. Since much to the dismay of our parents, we are still NOT doctors, and much to the dismay of...everyone, we are still in a global pandemic, the US Department of Health & Human Services asked to us enroll a real professional, so we decided to keep it in the family. Not just to talk about being vaccinated, but also getting your latest booster as we go into the fall and winter months. After all, if you’re planning on getting together with your family, you should protect yourself and them by getting an updated COVID vaccine. But that’s not all Dr. Mandi had to say, she also shared about her side of the story growing up in Alabama with Indian parents (and an annoyingly charming little brother). But also her journey into a field of medicine that is becoming increasingly important, despite what the fancy surgeons on TV tell you. So Sharon asks the questions she’s been wondering about, Mandi sets the record straight, and Raman gets more and more uncomfortable. You won’t want to miss this very special sibling show.

MENTIONS

NY Times COVID Tracker: nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html
The 5 M’s: healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/tip-sheet-5ms-geriatrics
BOOK: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk - goodreads.com/book/show/769016.How_to_Talk_So_Kids_Will_Listen_Listen_So_Kids_Will_Talk
BOOK: Siblings: How to handle sibling rivalry to create strong and loving bonds - goodreads.com/book/show/35420250-siblings
PERSON: Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy - wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivek_Murthy
SHOW: Scrubs: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285403/

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Danny Hajjar (asks) the People Oct 17, 2022

“For the longest time I couldn't really talk about my Lebanese identity or Arabic music, and then we'd go to Lebanon, and I’d have to justify being American.”

Danny Hajjar is a writer and media relations pro in Washington D.C. who we first met thru FrieMMd of the Pod and musician Soof. Danny’s a fellow music-lover - passionate about about hip hop artists in the Middle East and North Africa, tracking the growth of their music beyond the region.

Danny actually curates music and stories in his weekly newsletter, “Sa’alouni El Nas” - which literally translates to “the people ask me” - which we’d definitely recommend you check out and subscribe to. You’ll enjoy hearing us scratch beneath the surface of this tastemaker - from the Moon Knight to the Backstreet Boys.

LEARN ABOUT DANNY

twitter.com/danielghajjar
NEWSLETTER: saalounielnas.substack.com/
ARTICLES: english.alaraby.co.uk/author/70905/danny-hajjar

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Saniya Soni’s (a) Loudmouth Ladkhi Oct 10, 2022

“I realized this is what good therapy is. This is what bad therapy is. There were a lot of things that came up with my culture that required a lot of explaining. I realized I wasn't alone in this.”

Saniya Soni’s a South Asian mental health advocate studying clinical psychology. Saniya ALSO co-hosts a podcast called “Loudmouth Ladkhi’s” (ladkhi’s means “girl” in Hindi) with her former debate rival Sapna — which focuses on the intersection of South Asian + Western identities with an emphasis on mental health. Saniya's early career has really been at the intersection of mental health and tech, and she's hoping to improve access to mental health service for all — especially those in her community. She's a student of psychology and criminal justice, she's conducted research on BIPOC mental health, she's implemented suicide prevention strategies. Saniya’s spoken publicly about the importance of not just representation, but cultural understanding in mental healthcare with The JED Foundation, the Epic Foundation, Morgan Stanley, MTV, and CNN. Saniya was introduced to us by FrieMMd of the Pod Jay Veraldi of the podcast Animalia. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation that goes many places - from dating, to parents, to indian dance teams. As an advocate for change in our culture - you’ll hear through her vulnerability and willingness to share her own story how we all have room to grow in our understanding and acceptance of this space.

LEARN ABOUT SANIYA

instagram.com/saniyasoniii/
Loudmouth Ladkhis (PODCAST): apple.co/3xRBLel // spoti.fi/3C3OE6n
instagram.com/loudmouthladkis

MENTIONS

DESI DANCE TEAMS: youtube.com/c/DesidancenetworkOrg
BOOK: Milk & Honey (Rupi Kaur) - goodreads.com/book/show/23513349-milk-and-honey
SHOW: Ms Marvel - imdb.com/title/tt10857164/

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Aftab Pureval's (Cincinnati) mayoral empathy Oct 03, 2022

“Politics is all about empathy — people believing that you understand their plight, their issue, their life — and that you have a plan to help them.”

Aftab Pureval is the Mayor of the city of Cincinnati. As Cincinnati’s 70th Mayor, Aftab has made equitable economic growth a top priority of his administration, as well as a comprehensive reform and improvement of public safety, affordable housing, and environmental action. Formerly serving as the first Democrat to be elected Hamilton County Clerk of Courts in over 100 years, Aftab opened an award-winning Help Center and became the first countywide officeholder in Ohio to offer paid family leave. Mayor Aftab was born and raised in Southwest Ohio - he attended The Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law where he represented victims of domestic violence who could not afford an attorney. Aftab served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and worked as an attorney at Procter & Gamble working on brands like Olay. Mayor Aftab lives in Clifton with his wife and sons.

This is a special episode from one of Raman’s other podcasts - and NOT the one about comic books. On Learnings from Leaders: the P&G Alumni Podcast (pgalums.com/podcast), Raman and a few friends connect with fellow Alums from P&G - a company known for its purpose, values, and principles — for mentorship chats for the next generation of leaders. One of Raman’s podcast co-hosts is Andrew Tarvin, who he’s known almost as long as Sharon. Drew led had the chance to sit down with the mayor of Cincinnati - a town near and dear to our hearts - Mayor Aftab Pureval. And you can guess from Aftab's name, sometimes folks ask where he's really from. You’ll enjoy this candid conversation about redefining what a name means - and showing up for what matters.

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

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Sharon & Raman (on) What’s Your Story Sep 26, 2022

This week the mic gets turned on Sharon & Raman! Ever since we started this show, we've had the privilege of being invited to share our story on other folks' podcasts. One of those shows is "What's at our Story" by longtime FrieMMd of the Pod Matt Story - who you've heard more than a few times on this podcast. Waaaay back when in 2020, Matt asked us to share some of our story on his pod. We hope you'll enjoy it, and be sure to check out Matt's show "What's Your Story" wherever you get your favorite podcasts...

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

LEARN ABOUT MATT

mattestory.com
twitter.com/mattestory //.instagram.com/mattestory
Podcast: https://apple.co/2De6Tve

OTHER PODCAST CHATS WITH MATT

9/6/2020: Matt’s on “Modern Minorities” (part 1): modmypod.com/episodes/25-matt-story-knows-you-have-super-powers
2/28/2021: Matt’s 2nd MM appearance - modmypod.com/episodes/ep-63-black-history-to-be-continued
7/4/2021: Seeking Answers Through Allyship - Sharon & Raman’s 2ND appearance on “What’s Your Story”: https://apple.co/3L2DwKS

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Alice Hsu's (embracing) identity Sep 19, 2022

“I knew I looked different, but didn't really notice it until kids started pointing it out. It was time for me to be proud of who I am. If you can't embrace who you are, how can you embrace others?”

Sharon’s good friend, Alice Hsu, has been on our podcast twice in the past, but this is the first time we’re focusing the discussion on her. Alice grew up in Canton, Michigan where she was one of the only Taiwanese kids in her area. Her first-generation story is similar to many of our previous guests, but unique in that we’ve only known Alice for who she is today: a bold, passionate Asian-American woman who is proud of her culture and heritage.

In our discussion, we dive deeper into stories that led to Alice becoming… well, Alice. We talk about how food was a way for Alice to connect with others and those around her as she learned to embrace her roots, while also being the source of bullying and a defining factor for social acceptance - “home lunch” of boiled tea eggs and steamed buns was alienating, whereas Lunchables were okay, who can relate?

From reminiscing about life in our early twenties sharing a 1-bedroom apartment in NYC among four roommates to talking about the types of men that Alice’s dad thinks would make for a great husband, this conversation was super fun and eye-opening for Sharon. We wish that we had time to truly get to know all of our friends in this way. We are so glad that we had a chance to spend quality time with an old friend and know that you’ll enjoy reconnecting with Alice too.

Note: You’ve heard Alice on our panel discussion about education and for the very first Lunar New Year episode from season 1. Links below to listen again.

LEARN ABOUT ALICE

Alice Hsu on MM to talk Chinese New Years: https://bit.ly/3rxYrKH
Alice Hsu on MM to talk about Teachers during COVID: https://bit.ly/3drjvRK
Apparel Producer : https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicehsu1/
Rodan + Fields Consultant: https://alicehsu.myrandf.com/en-us/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kistahsun/

MENTIONS

FILM: Amelie https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/
TV SHOW: Full House https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092359/
PERSON: Oprah Winfrey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey

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Kabir Sehgal’s (infinite) creations Sep 12, 2022

“I don't wanna work at a company for 30 years, and then my entire identity is gone. So I ended up writing four books. And my officemates would say, ‘How do you do all this stuff?’ You gotta find the intersection points.”

Kabir Sehgal is a many things: A bestselling author of sixteen books (across nonfiction and fiction). A multi-Grammy-winning jazz musician. A producer and writer of documentaries on immmigration an work. Kabir and his work have been featured in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, PBS, NPR, C-SPAN, National Geographic and many more places. He’s done work with the late Congressman John Lewis, Muhammad Yunus, Andrew Young and many more. Sehgal is a US Navy veteran and reserve officer who served on active duty with special operations in the Middle East, and he received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He served as a speechwriter on presidential campaigns. But despite NOT being related (that we know of), Raman discovered him years ago...when someone gifted his daughter the book “The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk” - a book that has become a family favorite, and that we’ve gifted to friends with new kids around the world. So how does someone go from Wall Street and the Military to jazz music and kids books? One cup of chai and samosa at a time.

LEARN ABOUT KABIR

Kabir.cc
instagram.com/kabir.cc // twitter.com/kabirsehgal
FILM PRODUCER https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8903549/
MUSIC PRODUCER: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kabir-sehgal-mn0002637161/credits
AUTHOR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1285051.Kabir_Sehgal
BOOK: The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk: goodreads.com/en/book/show/24885579
HBR: “Why You Should Have (at Least) Two Careers” https://hbr.org/2017/04/why-you-should-have-at-least-two-careers
ALBUM: American Dreamers Project (won 3 Grammys:): https://open.spotify.com/album/2mAJfyyvdfRuraIVqjUQJA

MENTIONS

TV: Succession - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7660850/
BOOK: Bullshit Jobs (David Graeber) - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/34466958
BOOK: Daily Rituals: How Artists Work (Mason Currey) - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15799151-daily-rituals
BOOK: The Omni-Americans (Albert Murray) - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/174142
PERSON: Trey Young (Atlanta Hawks) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trae_Young
PERSON: Lebron James - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeBron_James

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MMovies: (Relating to) The Namesake Sep 05, 2022

“It really tugs at your heart in the shared experience of growing up with dual cultures - and then recognizing all that our parents had gone through” // “...and at every moment that loneliness was pervasive.”

MMovies returns to talk about important films that explain the minority experience for the rest of our majority ears. THE NAMESAKE is known by many as the 2003 book to decode most of your Indian friends. Adapted in 2006 as a family by Mira Nair - this is a work that many of us have a LOT of feelings about (esp if you’re a South Asian American boy between the ages of 25-45 years old). The film stars stars Kal Penn in the title role as Gogol Ganglani - alongside Zuleikha Robinson, Jacinda Barret as love interests, Sahira Nair as his sister, and Tabu + the late, great Irfan Khan who steal the film and bring us to tears as Gogol’s immigrant parents. The story follows the life of a young Bengali boy as he grows into adulthood across two cultures. But unlike the book, the film is not as much an interior reflection of Gogol, but a broader take on the family origins and experience - where his parents take just as much the center stage. While the book really spoke to many of us in our early 20s, you can’t help but watch the film in adulthood and see it from the perspective of the parents. Joining us today to talk about the Namesake is FrieMMd of the Pod, and our favorite Iranian Canadian by way of Ohio, Ida Abdalkhani. No tears this episode, just lots of the feels with this one.

LEARN MORE & MENTIONS

FILM: The Namesake (2006, Mira Nair):imdb.com/title/tt0433416/
BOOK: The Namesake (2003, Jhumpa Lahiri): goodreads.com/book/show/33917.The_Namesake
ARTICLE (2018): ‘Revisiting the Nameake’ pajiba.com/film_reviews/revisiting-mira-nair-and-kal-penns-the-namesake-after-crazy-rich-asians.php
GUEST: Ida Abdalkhani - youtu.be/-HJG63EXCmw

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Korey Watari’s (Able To) Shine Aug 29, 2022

“Knowing what I know now and knowing our ethnicity, and where we come from, and what we know of our culture is what makes us unique, and what makes you powerful.”

Korey Watari is a sansei, or third-generation Japanese American, born and raised in Los Angeles. She played basketball for a Japanese American league, graduated from the University of California, Riverside, and studied at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.

Korey has worked in the animation and fashion industries for companies such as Disney and the Gap. I Am Able to Shine is her debut picture book and first collaboration with her husband, Pixar Artist and creator of Disney's Ellie series Mike Wu. In this gorgeously illustrated book, she shines a light on the AAPI experience, specifically the Japanese American experience, through the eyes of Keiko. The book was originally created for Korey & Mike’s two daughters and has made an impact for many little girls and boys worldwide. Korey joins us to talk about what inspired her to create this story and is excited to share Keiko's story with readers everywhere.

LEARN ABOUT KOREY

Website: Koreywatari.com
LinkedIn: Korey Watari-Wu
IG: @tinyteru, @wudog23
TW: @tinyteru

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Gender Queer: a must-read (banned) book Aug 22, 2022

Banned books, awkward adolescence, and pronouns.

We recently read Maia Kobaba's GENDER QUEER: A MEMOIR on Raman’s other not-so-secret podcast Quarantined Comics. Created in 2014 - by Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns - created a cathartic autobiography of Eir's experience with gender identity — from crushes to fan fic, from coming out to making out. What started as a series of Instagram posts to explain to the author's family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer becomes so much more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

And then it became the most banned book in the country. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/01/books/maia-kobabe-gender-queer-book-ban.html

What started as a simple, moving, explanation of gender identity - with the potential to create so much greater empathy and understanding for all of us got picked up by a parent on the wrong side of history, and a social media firestorm resulted, snowballing into headlines aroundthe country - with dozense of schools pulling it from library shelves around the country - from the Carolinas to Texas to Virginia - with many officials labeling it “pornographic.”

But we're not here to talk about the controversy surrounding the book (we do, inevitably) — we're here to talk about the work itself. in light of all the other not so positive change happening in our society, it felt really important to read Gender Queer, and can't recommend this book enough. Warning, this is one of the rare episodes where Raman & Ryan agree on almost everything =)

LEARN ABOUT

GENDER QUEER (comic): goodreads.com/book/show/42837514-gender-queer

Quarantined Comics (Raman + Ryan's podcast): qtdcomics.com

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Holly Hatam’s (drawing) beautiful empathy Aug 15, 2022

“I can put my emotions into my art. I want to create characters so kids can see themselves and know that they are beautiful.”

Holly Hatam is an acclaimed picture book maker, designer, and textile engineer. Holly is the New York Times’s bestselling illustrator of “Dear Girl” and “Dear Boy” - as well as books like “Hair Stories'', “Jack (Not Jackie)”, “Maxine the Maker”, and the recently released PRINCESS CHARMING. Holly’s books have been translated into over 10 languages and sold over 1 million copies worldwide. But most importantly, Raman’s little kids LOVE her work. Diversity in children’s books is super important to Holly. Holly is Iranian, her husband is Chinese, and with their son being biracial it’s even more important for Holly to shine the spotlight on anyone that feels invisible or unheard.

LEARN ABOUT HOLLY

hollyhatam.com
instagram.com/hollyhatamillustration
twitter.com/hollyhatam
BOOKS: goodreads.com/author/show/15051379.Holly_Hatam

MENTIONS

AUTHOR: Oliver Jeffers - goodreads.com/author/show/173545.Oliver_Jeffers
BOOK: “Just As Long As We’re Together” (Judy Blume): goodreads.com/en/book/show/37731.Just_as_Long_as_We_re_Together

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aMMd now a word from our sponsor... Aug 12, 2022

so...you may have heard things getting ...a little different with our podcast. we've either made it and/or sold out. but we wanted to let you a little bit more about the WHY you're hearing ads on this podcast. and it's probably not the reason you think. this changes nothing about about our podcast - but as always - we want YOU to let us know what you think - - himom@modmypod.com, and we'll talk to you on the next one

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Lou Diamond Phillips’ (in) Easter Sunday Aug 08, 2022

“My saving grace was the theater department. I was in a place where there was a massive amount of acceptance because we were all sort of fringe people. All of a sudden, you're not the only outsider.”

The legendary Louis Diamond Phillips is an actor and film director. Known to audiences globally as the breakout star in La Bamba and Young Guns, and his deceptively effortless work in the brilliant Stand and Deliver, Phillips is a face that we all recognize (ironically), moreso for his work playing non-Asian roles…until now.

Lou Diamond Phillips appears in a cameo role as himself in the new film EASTER SUNDAY about a man returning home for an Easter celebration with his riotous, bickering, eating, drinking, laughing, loving family in this love letter to his Filipino- American community. Stand-up comedy sensation JO KOY leads an all-star comedic cast: JIMMY O. YANG (Silicon Valley series), TIA CARRERE (True Lies, Wayne’s World films), BRANDON WARDELL (Curb Your Enthusiasm series), Tony nominee and Grammy Award winner EVA NOBLEZADA (Broadway’s Hadestown), LYDIA GASTON (Broadway’s The King and I), ASIF ALI (WandaVision), RODNEY TO (Parks and Recreation series), EUGENE CORDERO (The Good Place), JAY CHANDRASEKHAR (Super Troopers series) and of course Lou himself.

Lou chats with us about experiencing racism for the first time as an actor, juxtaposed with the excitement he has now for playing a Filipino on screen for the first time. We were so excited for the opportunity to speak with Lou and we know you’re going to love hearing about the moments that brought him to where he is today!

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

Lou Diamond Philips: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Diamond_Phillips
Easter Sunday (Trailer): https://youtu.be/YIixb42aJPg
Follow on social: @eastersunday @loudphillips

MENTIONS

FILM: EASTER SUNDAY https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Sunday_(film)
FILM: LA BAMBA https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093378/
MUSICAL: KING & I https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_and_I

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Nichelle Nichols (1932-2022) Aug 02, 2022

may she live long and prosper, and rest in power.

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Sharon Yang’s (Building) Back Better Aug 01, 2022

“Maybe it's the perspective of being the daughter of immigrants who chose to come to this country, but there still fundamentally remains something really special about America and what this country offers, that's worth remembering and worth fighting for.”

What’s better than just one Sharon? That’s right, TWO Sharons together on the pod. Our co-host Sharon had the honor of speaking with Sharon Yang, the Communications Director at Building Back Together, a nonprofit advocacy group supporting President Biden’s policy agenda.

Sharon Yang grew up just outside of Houston, Texas, and is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. She comes from Democratic political campaigns, including the Jon Ossoff Senate campaign and Kamala Harris presidential campaign.

She is passionate about winning elections & removing barriers to opportunity, finding joy in the everyday, and cooking and eating good food. She chats with us about hiding her homemade lunches because they were too “foreign” at school and speaks to us about how the ideals that our country was built upon are still very much worth fighting for.

Hearing Sharon’s passion for democracy and equality - especially in today’s climate when sometimes the left and the right seem worlds apart - will infuse you with optimism about the future and will make you believe that we can continue to achieve great things together.

LEARN ABOUT SHARON YANG & BUILDING BACK TOGETHER

sharonyang.com
twitter.com/sharonjqyang
Building Back Together: buildingbacktogether.org

MENTIONS

BOOK: WEIKE WANG: “Joan is okay”
PERSON: Juliet Lippman & Amanda Dobbins (Jam Session Podcast Co-hosts)

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MMovies: (Feeling) The Joy Luck Club Jul 25, 2022

“This film makes me question so many of my own beliefs — what it means to be a Chinese American woman. What might seem stereotypical, but may be very culturally true.”

MMovies returns to talk about important films that explain the minority experience for the rest of our majority ears. THE JOY LUCK CLUB - however you may feel about it - is THE original Asian American movie. This 1993 film adapts the 1989 novel of the same name by Amy Tan. An Asian American drama about the relationships between Chinese American women and their Chinese immigrant mothers - the film features 50 women of the 60 credited roles. Directed by Wayne Wang and produced by Oliver Stone - the film stars Tsai Chin, Kieu Chinh, Lisa Lu, France Nuyen, Rosalind Chao, Lauren Tom, Tamlyn Tomita, and Ming-Na Wen - and centers on four older women, all Chinese immigrants living in San Francisco, who meet regularly to play mahjong, eat, and tell stories. Hidden pasts are revealed, and the clash of Chinese and American cultures is on full display as each strives to understand their own heritage and identity. The Joy Luck Club is an important cultural touchstone that people have VERY strong perspectives about - positive and negative - so along with longtime FrieMMd of the Pod (and one of our favorite Canadians) Melissa Haughton - we interrogate our feelings on the film, as well as reflect on our own observations and upbringings, and you may be surprised where we net out about this classic...

LEARN MORE & MENTIONS

FILM: The Joy Luck Club - imdb.com/title/tt0107282/
BOOK: The Joy Luck Club (Amy Tan)
ARTICLE (Slate): “It’s Time to Forgive The Joy Luck Club” — https://slate.com/culture/2018/08/the-joy-luck-club-needs-to-be-forgiven-by-asian-americans.html
GUEST: Melissa Haughton - Melissahaughton.com

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Jonathan Tran’s (dismantling) theology Jul 20, 2022

“You can't tell the story of American racism without also telling the story of American religion.”

Dr. Jonathan Tran is a Christian Theologian and author in the heart of Texas (Waco) - currently serving as a professor of philosophical theology at Baylor University. Jonathan's originally from Southern California - by way of Vietnam - who never would have imagined a Christian vocation. Jonathan completed his graduate studies in theology and ethics at Duke University and has published really interesting works like “Asian Americans and the Spirit of Racial Capitalism” (2021), and “The Vietnam War and Theologies of Memory” (2010). Jonathan’s research focuses on human life in language, and what that life reveals about God and God’s world. Lately, that research has taken Jonathan in the direction of thinking through race and racism - attempting to present racism as a theological problem, a political-economic distortion of the divine economy, and a problem given to the usual redress, the church laying claim to God’s original revolution. Jonathan was actually recommended to us by a listener, and you’ll appreciate hearing this intense conversation - especially as we all go through our own human experiences wondering about the big picture - and how each of our religious and societal experiences informs it.

LEARN ABOUT JONATHAN

jonathantran.blog
twitter.com/catjonathantran
baylor.edu/religion/index.php?id=933204

MENTIONS

BOOK: Torture and Eucharist: Theology, Politics, and the Body of Christ: goodreads.com/en/book/show/250893
NYT ARTICLE: What About Structural Racism - nytimes.com/2021/11/09/opinion/structural-racism.html
SON’S VIDEO: https://youtu.be/4m5_tUhBIzA
FILM: Magnolia (1999) -.imdb.com/title/tt0175880
PERSON: Cornel West - wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornel_West
PERSON: Jesus - wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus

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Kamala Khan (is) MS.MARVEL Jul 20, 2022

“It’s not really the Brown girls from Jersey City who save the world” -Kamala Khan

Kamala Khan's superpower is...time management? Kamala ain’t just a household name because of the Vice President - she’s also the star of MS. MARVEL - her own Marvel TV series NOW on Disney+ (starring Iman Vellani - but also past guest Azhar Usman). We’ve long said that this Pakistani American superhero from Jersey City, NJ is arguably one of the most important new characters in pop culture of the new Millenium (alongside Miles Morales, of course)

So we figured we’d replay a 2021 episode from Raman’s other podcast Quarantined Comics (bc we were into Ms.Marvel WAY before it was cool). Featuring FrieMMd-of-the-pod Ryan Joe and OUR favorite Pakistani American superhero - Lena Shareef, who you may remember from our inaugural Ramadan series way back when in 2021 (Lena also co-hosts the most awesome podcast “Grounded Geeks” with her brother Aman) - we kinda geek out about how much we LOVE this character and this comic.

Kamala Khan - aka MS.MARVEL - was created in 2014 by award-winning novelist and Muslim American G. Willow Wilson. Kamala's just trying to get her homework done, nerd out with fan-fic / MMORPGs, figure out her relationship with her religious brother, come to terms with her best friends, and meet the expectations of her immigrant parents. Enjoy our super-nerdy, super grounded conversation about Kamala Khan, with spoilers for the comic - not the TV show. You can start streaming/binging the show after - and thanking us later.

LEARN ABOUT

COMIC (to read): Ms.Marvel: https://amzn.to/2W4BmFn
TRAILER: youtu.be/m9EX0f6V11Y
TV SHOW: imdb.com/title/tt10857164/
Grounded Geeks (Lena's podcast): anchor.fm/grounded-geeks
Quarantined Comics (Raman + Ryan's podcast): qtdcomics.com

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Mike Curato’s (compassionate) truth Jul 04, 2022

Mike Curato is an award-winning author and illustrator of a more than a few incredible kid's books, as well as the more recent graphic novel FLAMER, which is a MUST-read no matter your age, gender, or sexual orientation. Author Jarrett J. Krosoczka put it best: “This book will save lives.”

Mike’s children’s books include the "Little Elliot" series - about an adorable polka-dotted elephant, of whom Raman’s daughter is a BIG fan. Mike’s also created beautiful kid’s stories like "Where is Bina Bear?" He’s illustrated other moving and important stories like "Worm Loves Worm", "What If", and "The Power of One." And in October he’ll be releasing the book “What Are you” alongside Christian Trimmer. Beyond Mike’s work being always elegant and beautifully illustrated, there’s a much deeper sentiment just beneath the surface that will appeal to parents and kids alike.

FLAMER - Mike’s 2020 graphic novel debut - is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel set in 1995 at a Boy Scouts summer camp, and tells the story of a young teen Aiden who is bullied for being who he is. But the story goes much deeper, and hits a lot of notes and nerves that are both important and all-too-familiar (the liberal mentions of the X-Men, Lord of the Rings, and Nirvana don’t hurt either). Flamer isn’t just a must-read book for those of us who can relate, but it’s one that we should read for greater empathy for the people around us.

LEARN ABOUT MIKE

Mikecurato.com
FLAMER (comic): goodreads.com/book/show/52751434-flamer
LITTLE ELLIOT (kids books): macmillan.com/series/littleelliot
instagram.com/mike_curato // twitter.com/MikeCurato

MENTIONS

QUOTE: “The best revenge is a life well lived.” -Chloe Neill
COMIC: Jean Grey (X-Men) - wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Grey
SONG: Weezer - “Say it Ain’t So” - youtu.be/ENXvZ9YRjbo
TV: The Assassination of Gianni Versace - American Crime Story - imdb.com/title/tt8010592/
BOOK: Part Asian, 100% Hapa - goodreads.com/en/book/show/233959.Part_Asian_100_Hapa
PERSON: Fiona Apple - wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiona_Apple

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Ariane & Mercedes (are) Caribbean Queens Jun 27, 2022

“As a culture, there’s a lot of pride, a lot of authenticity — It brought awareness to my level of fluidity in love.”

Beyond celebrating LGBTQIA+ stories this month for PRIDE, did you know that June is ALSO Caribbean-American Heritage Month? What does it mean to identify as Caribbean-American or LGBTQIA+? What impact do these monthly celebrations have on cultural representation? Since we didn’t have the answers, we asked FrieMMds of the Pod Arianne Hunter and Mercedes Dean to talk about their Carribbean and Queer intersections. In a conversation about heritage, authenticity, and pride - hear how family impacts perspectives, falling in love reveals things you never knew existed, and the fluidity of personal identity.

LEARN ABOUT ARIANE: Ariane is a Queer, Black Caribbean American woman living in Brooklyn with her partner. She is a corporate worker turned entrepreneur as a career coach, strategist, and advisor for Black women taking the leap at work and beyond.

LEARN ABOUT MERCEDES: Mercedes’ passion is to uncover strategic insight, inspire creative angles, innovate across all social platforms, and create content to ignite social conversations. With over 11+ years of experience as a full-stack digital marketer, storyteller, and leader in brand and influencer marketing, she continuously challenges herself to push creative strategies to the next level.

instagram.com/mercedeslenay // instagram.com/mattecreative

MENTIONS

TV: Legendary - imdb.com/title/tt11048090/
TV: Pose -imdb.com/title/tt7562112
PERSON: Kerry Washington - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_Washington
PERSON: Rihanna - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna

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philaMMthropy: Ukrainian Artists Jun 23, 2022

From time to time we feature creators / causes that we admire and hope you’ll enjoy — opportunities to learn AND give back. FrieMMd of the Pod Olesya Govorun (from our recent Ukraine episode) recently reached out to share an important cause to the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people — artists’ fellowships to the the National Museum of Ukrainian Pottery in Opishnya, Ukraine. Ceramics are a core part of the cultural identity of Ukraine - and art doesn’t just reflect the time we are in - but it outlasts us all and make an impact for generations to come. Each year, Olesya, her friends and family fund scholarships for artist-in-residence programs in Opishnya, a town near and dear to Olesya’s heart.

it goes without saying that we continue to be saddened, frustrated, and mixed up over the ongoing war in Ukraine. And while it seems like the world is taking some action, It feels like there’s not much more we can do as individuals. Donating to local, on the ground causes that go beyond relief efforts - and funding cultural heritage is something we hope you’ll consider...

DONATE

https://gofund.me/e5fd8a14

LEARN MORE

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Ian Haddock's (creating the) Normal Anomaly Jun 20, 2022

"I didn't have a choice. I came out and came to the black queer community because I wanted to hide - but this community saved my life."

Ian Haddock, is founder and executive director of Normal Anomaly - a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to assisting Black, Queer+ people with overcoming barriers and ending stigmas and problematic narratives. Ian is many things — Ian Haddock is a community empath, critical thinker and sex analogist. So much of Ian’s work is born from his own experience - coming to terms with his own identity as a youth in small town Texas - but not always on his own terms. This is a conversation that will take you into an experience that will be unfamiliar territory for many of us, but real and important for greater empathy and understanding. And Ian’s the perfect person to help tell that story.

LEARN ABOUT IAN

normalanomaly.org
instagram.com/ianlhaddock // twitter.com/haddock_ian

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Holy (Bi)Robin! Tim Drake Comes Out Jun 13, 2022

“Why change Robin? It was a no brainer. It happens to a lot of bisexual people, it seemed like natural character development.”

Lately all the news has been about Superman’s son Jonathan Kent coming out recently as bi-sexual in the comics - and the not so-nice reception it’s has gotten in the real world (WTF...Louis Lane?!?). But just weeks before that, ROBIN - one of the most recognizable (Queer?) icons ALSO came out as Bi-sexual. This matters. It represents as big a pop culture moment as when Miles Morales & Kamala Khan were introduced to the world. And while Robin (aka Tim Drake) is not the FIRST comic book hero to come out as Queer, he represents the most important hero to do so. Because Robin has been all of us all along. From kids envisioning themselves as him, to Queer’s taking ownership (#representation), to the “Seduction of the Innocent” (+those other 1950s fear-mongering hearings) — Robin has always had us envisioning, and questioning things. There has been celebration and pushback, and we wanted to talk about what it all means. So we brought together past guests Karl Preissner (Equity / Inclusion Ally & Advocate) and Steven Wakabayashi (Yellow Glitter Podcast host ), along with Ainsley Waller (Bisexual designer AND fellow comics geek) to unpack this moment and challenge our assumptions about the evolution of some of our most beloved characters...

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

LEARN ABOUT

Tim Drake’s big news: https://n.pr/3DCFzAh
Ainsley Waller: behance.net/AinsleyRiversWaller
Steven Wakabayashi: stevenwakabayashi.com
Karl Preissner: modmypod.com/episodes/11-karl-preissner-on-pampgs-insider-diversity-1

MENTIONS

COMIC: Batman Urban Legends #6: dccomics.com/comics/batman-urban-legends-2021/batman-urban-legends-6
NEWS: Robin Writer Chuck Dixon’s problematic take: https://bit.ly/2YKbIr7
BOOK: Seduction of the Innocent (1954): wikipedia.org/wiki/Seduction_of_the_Innocent
PERSON: Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie): wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Ziggy_Stardust_and_the_Spiders_from_Mars
TV: Queer as Folk (1999): imdb.com/title/tt0262985/
FILM: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994): imdb.com/title/tt0109045/
TV: Xena Warrior Princess: imdb.com/title/tt0112230/
BOOK: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (Ocean Vuong): goodreads.com/book/show/41880609-on-earth-we-re-briefly-gorgeous
COMIC: Flamer (Mike Curato): goodreads.com/book/show/52751434-flamer
COMIC: Displacement (Kiku Hughes): goodreads.com/book/show/46223303-displacement
FILM: Moonlight (2016): imdb.com/title/tt4975722/
CHARACTER: Elizabeth Bennet (Pride & Prejudice): wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Bennet
CHARACTER: Master Splinter (TMNT): wikipedia.org/wiki/Splinter_(Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles)
CHARACTER: Dumbledore (Harry Potter): wikipedia.org/wiki/Albus_Dumbledore

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Let's talk about (getting) vaccines Jun 06, 2022

As you know here on Modern Minorities we are all about the COVID-19 Vaccine (we've gotten all 3 - so far). When it comes to the global pandemic we still find ourselves in - we have to think about not just ourselves, but also our communities and our families..

BUT much to the dismay of our parents, we are NOT doctors - so this episode’s sponsor - the US Department of Health & Human Services - asked us to enroll a professional. So FrieMMd of the Pod Dr. Jonathan Tolentino -

Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Miami (among our favorite doctors in Florida) - joined us for a chat on the importance of vaccines for all of us.

MENTIONS

New York Times COVID Vaccination Tracker - nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html

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talking (to Rajiv) about boiling water Jun 03, 2022

It has been a long couple of weeks...months, years?

There has a lot of...stuff going on 'out there', and we're not going to lie - it’s been hard to wrap our heads - and hearts - around everything. So to find a moment to catch a breath, stop being angry, stop crying when we think too much about the terrible things happening in this world (e.g. why our children have to practice active shooter drills)? it's often nearly impossible to find the space to process...and think about these things, which is probably why Sharon + Raman haven't gotten to it (yet)

...and then Raman got an email from longtime FrieMMd of the Pod (and comedian) Rajiv Satyal. This is the conversation that followed...

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Gabrielle Berbey's (revealing) The Experiment May 30, 2022

“Filipinos love spam — but wherever you look in American history, I found how little I knew.”

Gabrielle Berbey is a documentary audio producer and filmmaker who's done work with the Atlantic and WNYC / NPR. She's actually one of the hosts of the critically acclaimed podcast “The Experiment” by the Atlantic. Gabby recently released a three-part mini series talking about SPAM - beyond her personal Filipino family experience - going beyond the immigrant experience to American labor, the changing middle class, and the next generation of immigrant Americans. You’ll love this candid conversation about how Gabby’s mixed ethnic experience infom her curiosity as a journalist.

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

LEARN ABOUT GABBY

PODCAST: theatlantic.com/podcasts/experiment/spam/
GABBY: airmedia.org/community/spotlight/gabrielle-berbey
SOCIAL: instagram.com/gabriellejberbey // twitter.com/gabrielleberbey

MENTIONS

BOOK: The Latinos of Asia: How Filipino Americans Break the Rules of Race (Anthony Christian Ocampo) - goodreads.com/book/show/28162897-the-latinos-of-asia
TV: PENN15 (Hulu) - imdb.com/title/tt8324422/
PERSON: Hanna Errant - wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Arendt

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Larry Hama’s our (real) American Hero May 23, 2022

“It’s not just heroics - the highest compliment one soldier can pay to another soldier is he did his job.”

Larry Hama is an American comic book legend — an accomplished artist, writer, actor, and musician who’s been in the business since the 1960s. Larry is also a US Army Veteran - where he became a firearms and explosive ordnance expert. Larry’s actually best known to American comic readers as writer / editor for Marvel Comics, where he worked on G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Wolverine, Nth Man: The Ultimate Ninja, and Elektra. He co-created the character Bucky O'Hare - developed into comics, toys, and animation. And in the 1980s, Larry helped create “The ‘Nam” - arguably one of the most authentic retellings of the Vietnam war from the American perspective (for many surpassing the film Platoon). Larry’s storied experience as a Japanese American, Army Veteran, comics legend, and kid from SF + NY - inform everything he’s done, and why his work resonates with so many across industries. And you’ll love hearing about all of his encounters with contemporaries like Gloria Steinem, Neal Adams, and even Marlon Brando. Special shout-outs to guest host Dan Wu (from NPR’s “Where Y’All Really From”) and Keith Chow @ HardNOC Media who connected us with the one and only Larry Hama.

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

LEARN ABOUT LARRY HAMA

MENTIONS

INVERSE: “I Always Wanted Snake Eyes To Be Asian” - inverse.com/entertainment/snake-eyes-gi-joe-larry-hama-interview
COMIC: The ‘Nam - wikipedia.org/wiki/The_%27Nam
CBR - “Larry Hama Shares a Dismaying Marvel Story About Pearl Harbor and White Privilege” - cbr.com/gi-joe-larry-hama-marvel-pearl-harbor-white-privilege-story/
PERSON: Neal Adams - wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Adams
PERSON: Gloria Steinem - wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Steinem
Underground Comix: https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/55614
AUTHOR: wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Marryat

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MMom Memories: Sophie Park May 19, 2022

Since May is Asian American Heritage Month AND we know you already sent your mom a card for Mother's Day, we thought have a chat with some frieMMds of the Pod to go beyond everyone’s favorite question, “What’s your favorite Mom dish”.

Sophie Park is a new frieMMd of the pod, original from Korea and arguably one of the top fans of my other, nerdier podcast, Quarantined Comics (co-hosted by her husband Ryan Joe). Sophie shares her story about her Mom’s Korean beef broth stew — which she ate growing up as a little girl in Korea, as well as the generational differences between her and her mom’s life growing up in Korea. Sophie’s might have learned to make her Mom’s dishes - but she still makes the time for regular multi-hour long-distance phone calls with her Mom...

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Dan & Charlene (wanna) know Where Y'all Really From May 16, 2022

“There's so few of us here in Kentucky. It's a self-reflection - to be able to claim the identity as a Southerner”

Dan Wu and Charlene Buckles are the hosts of the public radio / podcast “Where Y’All Really From” (on Louisville Public Media) — but in their day job, they’re upstanding professional citizens - a restauranteur and a social activist who decided to create a show about a year ago - that shares the Asian Kentucky experience - for Asian Americans in Kentucky (it’s bonus content for anyone else in Kentucky). Dan’s professional cooking career was kickstarted on Fox’s MasterChef — and he’s since a mainstay of local street fairs, pop-ups, his own restaurant Atomic Ramen, and on the campus of the University of Kentucky. A fierce advocate for immigrants, refugees, and small business owners, Dan’s also an unapologetic comic book & movie geek and podcast junkie. Charlene’s a proud proud formerly undocumented Filipina-Kentuckian. A former teacher turned fundraiser (ACLU KY FTW), she wildly passionate and active in areas of immigrant justice, women empowerment, racial literacy in Early Education, delicious cookies, local floral arrangements, and her adorable children. Between the hot takes, and reality show / comic book nerding out, you’ll find yourself wondering how you were so luck to get an upgrade from Sharon + Raman - but also getting a feel for what the Asian Kentucky experience must really be like.

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

LEARN ABOUT DAN & CHARLENE

PODCAST (NPR / WYRF): whereyallreallyfrom.org
DAN: instagram.com/atomicramen
CHARLENE: instagram.com/charleeeneeeb

MENTIONS

BOOK: Decolonizing Wealth (Edgar Villanueva): goodreads.com/en/book/show/38245185-decolonizing-wealth
TV; Reservation Dogs (FX / Hulu): imdb.com/title/tt13623580
TV: Bling Empire (Netflix): imdb.com/title/tt13660962

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MMom Memories: Paresh Jha May 12, 2022

Since May is Asian American Heritage Month AND we know you already sent your mom a card for Mother's Day, we thought have a chat with some frieMMds of the Pod to go beyond everyone’s favorite question, “What’s your favorite Mom dish”. You'll remember Paresh Jha from last May's chat about India and the Delta variant, and maybe even a few Quarantined Comics episodes. Paresh shares his story about his Mom’s catfish curry — but also about her life and influence on him, before and after her passing — and how Paresh’s kitchen and home always keep her memory alive.

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Maz Jobrani’s (immigrant) curiosity May 09, 2022

“I love doing accents - Indian, Iranian, Arab. But now stand-up allows you to go do the movie of the week and then go on stage and make fun of it.”

Maz Jobrani is a comedian, actor and entertainer - who happens to be Persian, but most definitely identifies as an immigrant. His Netflix special “Immigrant” at the Kennedy Center had him doing some Arab dancing to Public Enemy, he’s given two TED talks, and has been on shows and movies you’ve seen like Superior Donuts (CBS), Grey’s Anatomy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Shameless, Stephen Colbert, James Corden, and even NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. Maz has got more than a few comedy specials on Showtime and Netflix. He’s performed at the White House and opened for Michelle Obama. His latest standup special is Pandemic Warrior on NBC’s Peacock TV streaming service, and his weekly podcast “Back to School” has him outsourcing his kids' questions to experts on God, politics, fashion, and more. You’ll enjoy hearing us nerd out with one of the nicest, most curious stand up comics around.

This episode is sponsored by the Department of Health & Human Services, who’s encouraging you and your community to make sure you’ve got the COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster. We can do this, together. Find vaccines and boosters near you @ VACCINES.gov

LEARN ABOUT MAZ

mazjobrani.com
twitter.com/MazJobrani // instagram.com/mazjobrani
PODCAST: “Back to School” - https://apple.co/3w9Sh7A
NETFLIX: netflix.com/title/80179433

MENTIONS

1979 Iranian Revolution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution
PERSON: Peter Sellers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sellers
TV: True Story “Yasmin” peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/true-story-with-ed-and-randall/4884081076824702112/seasons/1/episodes/yasmin-episode-2/436b3c09-6c41-3ec3-8a6c-5457d12c823a
TV: Superior Donuts - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5462364
FILM: The Interpreter - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373926
FILM: The Godfather - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646

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Talking about our Asian American (family) heritage May 05, 2022

“Just by osmosis you pick it up.” “Culture, heritage, and language were passed down - celebrated traditions as a community”

Since it’s AAPI heritage month, Sharon & Raman decided to have a chat about OUR own personal AAPI family heritage — stories about our parents, grandparents, and how the next generation - us and our kids - interact with that history. From Mahjong games with grandma to Grandpa V2s, hear how we’re thinking about the past, present, and future — even when we can’t always be around the heritage that makes us who we are.

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Dian Alyan’s (journey to) GiveLight.org May 01, 2022

“People tend to be afraid of the unknown. The most dangerous thing is the illusion of knowledge. We need to have an open mind and embrace the world.”

Dian Alyan is the Founder & CEO of the GiveLight Foundation (GiveLight.org) — a non-profit inspired by Islamic values to help orphans across the globe regardless of nationality, race or religion. This is actually a conversation from Raman’s other, OTHER podcast, “Learnings from Leaders” - the P&G Alumni Podcast (pgalums.com/podcast) — where each week you can hear candid, mentorship-style conversations with some of the most interesting leaders in business. Given that Dian's not just Muslim, but also Indonesian, featuring our really inspiring conversation felt like an interesting way to bridge both the end to the Holy Month of Ramadan in the Muslim World, but also the start of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Dian founded GiveLight.org after the 2004 South Asian tsunami, where she lost many loved ones in her home country of Indonesia . Dian was inspired to provide for children going through similar devastation around the world — natural disasters and extreme conditions, like poverty and war. GiveLight is a non-profit creating high quality homes and education for global orphans. What began as one home for 50 children has now expanded to support over 1,000 orphans in 11 countries globally — with a goal of housing 10,000 children in response to natural disasters, poverty, and war. GiveLight has responded to crises in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Morocco.

Prior to founding GiveLight - Dian spent a decade as the Outreach Director for the Muslim Community Association in the San Francisco bay area. And Dian got her start at P&G in brand management in beauty and healthcare brands across Asia. Dian’s work with GiveLight has garnered awards and engagements from Fortune 500s + prominent universities, and has been featured in Newsweek, the Huffington Post, and many other media outlets. She lives in the San Francisco bay area, a mother of two - but she considers all children GiveLight reaches as a part of her family. Learn more about how you can help at GiveLight.org

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MMusic: Haseeb “Play Love” Apr 28, 2022

“Music is a force that brings us all together, wherever you’re from.”

For this ENTIRE holy month of Ramadan, we wanted to hear some music by MUSLIM artists (beyond Dua Lipa, Cat Stevens, AR Rahman, and Zane Mallick) — so we’re bringing back MMusic with longtime FrieMMd of the Pod + our favorite Egyptian American from Cleveland, Seif Hamid, aka the musical artist Soof.

This week we’re listening to HASEEB (featuring REHMA). “Play Love” s a track that covers a theme universal to all music and art — love. The combined R&B / rap sensibilities, merged with cultural - and pop-cultural - references (Superman & Lois Lane, going to mosque) has a great vibe you’ll be bobbing your head to all day.

As always, you can check out these MMusic tracks and more @ modmypod.com/music

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Sara Alfageeh’s (storied) Squire Apr 25, 2022

"No one had seen an actual Muslim's take. But I'm an artist - if I want something done right, I can just do it myself."

Sara Alfageeh’s a Jordanian American comics creator and creative director — but mostly just a major history nerd who just really wants to draw girls with swords. Sara's the co-creator of SQUIRE - a recently released graphic novel that blends the familiar hero's journey with a uniquely Middle Eastern inspired take — a fun read we highly recommend you check out.

Sara's also the co-founder of One More Multiverse and her work has been featured by Harvard, Lucasfilm, the BBC, NYU, and even a Google Doodle. Her secret origin will inspire you, and her enthusiasm will give you faith in the next generation - and challenge you to not just sit back, but to pick up a pen and start creating...because no one is going to do it for you. Sara's wise beyond her years, and we can't wait to see what she creates over the next 25 years...

LEARN ABOUT SARA

sara-alfa.com
READ SQUIRE: https://linktr.ee/readsquire
https://instagram.com/saraalfageeh
https://twitter.com/SaraAlfageeh

MENTIONS

Ms. Marvel / Kamala Khan: wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamala_Khan
G Willow Wilson: wikipedia.org/wiki/G._Willow_Wilson
Bedouin Playing Cards: sara-alfa.com/bedouin
Dust X-Men redesign - sara-alfa.com/character
TV: Avatar the Last Airbender - imdb.com/title/tt0417299
TV: Legend of Korra - imdb.com/title/tt1695360
TV: Expanse - imdb.com/title/tt3230854

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MMusic: Abir - ‘Yallah’ Apr 21, 2022

“Music is a force that brings us all together, wherever you’re from.”

For this ENTIRE holy month of Ramadan, we wanted to hear some music by MUSLIM artists (beyond Dua Lipa, Cat Stevens, AR Rahman, and Zane Mallick) — so we’re bringing back MMusic with longtime FrieMMd of the Pod + our favorite Egyptian American from Cleveland, Seif Hamid, aka the musical artist Soof.

This week we’re listening to "Yallah" by ABIR - a big, pure voice that we don’t hear as often anymore. This track is a catchy pop that blends worlds that you can’t help but listen to and dance (challenge accepted). The headline of the song is about a love, devotion, and hospitality unique to the Arab world - for Arabs and beyond. It’s a proud song that announces that they are here in a big way, and we should be listening.

As always, you can check out these MMusic tracks and more @ modmypod.com/music

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Tehran Von Ghasri’s (mischievous) Truth Apr 18, 2022

“It's unfortunate because the truth is right there — and at this point we're just pretending to be asleep.”

Tehran Von Ghasri is a comedian, actor, tv/radio/podcast host, and activist. Tehran is many things - half iranian, half black, half amazingly nerdy and amazing. As a comic he’s a mix of Dave Chappelle and Stephen Colbert meet Maz Jobrani. He’s actually co-hosts “Back to School with Maz Jobrani” - which is how we met. Tehran’s got roots in DC + LA. He’s a A Laugh Factory favourite, and has been seen on Netflix, FOX, Bravo, Pivot, Comedy Central, the Kennedy Center, and a sold out show near you. There’s a saying - good comics make you laugh, great comics make you think. Tehran is NO exception to that. Fair warning, with Sharon out, Raman’s flying solo so you’ll hear some nerding out down many many tangents and rabbit holes,

LEARN ABOUT TEHRAN

iamtehran.com
twitter.com/iamtehran
instagram.com/iamtehran

MENTIONS

COMIC: Mike E. Winfield - imdb.com/name/nm3073705/
FILM: Fight Club (1999) - imdb.com/title/tt0137523
FILM: The Dark Knight (2008): imdb.com/title/tt0468569
FILM: Malcolm X (1992): imdb.com/title/tt0104797
FILM: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003): imdb.com/title/tt0251127

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MMusic: Omar Offendum - ‘Pacific Syriano’ Apr 14, 2022

“Music is a force that brings us all together, wherever you’re from.”

For this ENTIRE holy month of Ramadan, we wanted to hear some music by MUSLIM artists (beyond Dua Lipa, Cat Stevens, AR Rahman, and Zane Mallick) — so we’re bringing back MMusic with longtime FrieMMd of the Pod + our favorite Egyptian American from Cleveland, Seif Hamid, aka the musical artist Soof.

This week we’re listening to one of great MC’s in the game - OMAR OFFENDUM. It's not enough to just call him a musician or an emcee. He's a true poet — incredible with the pen, truly bridging cultures with his deep lyrics (be sure to listen for the “LA” in the rhyme scheme of the last verse)

As always, you can check out these MMusic tracks and more @ modmypod.com/music

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Aaliyah Habeeb’s Black (and) Muslim experience Apr 11, 2022

“We weren't the only Black Muslim family at the Masjid, but one of the few. I was just listening to what they were saying and picking up on it.”

Aaliyah “Ali” Habeeb is many things — a writer, actor, producer, teacher — with numerous film / theater credits and awards: the titular role in Henry IV parts 1 & 2, Back to the Real, Surely Goodness & Mercy, Love Ya Like a Sis, and even apprentice with both director & actors of Othello at Shakespeare’s Globe. Aaliyah’s recently produced & directed the short film “America Again,” (based on the 1920s Langston Hughes poem of the same name) - which takes a critical look at the impact racial disparities of education system - through the reflections of Aaliyah’s former students. Aaliyah’s also Black, and Muslim, and from Kent, Ohio. Born and raised in the Islamic faith, Ali wrote a 99 day inspirational wellness journal that takes the 99 Attributes of God in Islam, the Asma al-Husna, or Most Beautiful Names. A friend of Sharon’s for more than a decade - over which Aaliyah’s transformed into the artist she is today. You’ll enjoy this conversation not just about being Black or Muslim, but about being an American of faith - who gives us faith.

LEARN ABOUT

aaliyahhabeeb.com
instagram.com/aalibumaye // instagram.com/bismillah_and_bonappetit
twitter.com/aalibumaye
SHORT FILM: "America Again" - youtu.be/mfpiNXmmGRU
SHORT FILM: “Black and kinda Republican” - youtu.be/TN69TGCGKqI

MENTIONS

POEM: Let America Be America Again (Langston Hughes): poets.org/poem/let-america-be-america-again
PERSON: August Wilson (playwright): wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Wilson
BOOK: Just as I Am (Cicely Tyson): goodreads.com/book/show/50622390-just-as-i-am

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MMusic: Dania - ‘Slow’ Apr 07, 2022

“Music is a force that brings us all together, wherever you’re from.”

For this ENTIRE holy month of Ramadan, we wanted to hear some music by MUSLIM artists (beyond Dua Lipa, Cat Stevens, AR Rahman, and Zane Mallick) — so we’re bringing back MMusic with longtime FrieMMd of the Pod + our favorite Egyptian American from Cleveland, Seif Hamid, aka the musical artist Soof.

This week we’re listening to the one and only beautiful, soulful voice of DANIA — an unexpected, classy, old school vibe from a modern R&B artist.

As always, you can check out these MMusic tracks and more @ modmypod.com/music

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Ramadan Mubarak (for us all) Apr 04, 2022

"It's about sacrifice. It's about spirituality. It's about getting closer to God.” “Ramadan is a time to better yourself — a new beginning for many things.”

Ramadan Mubarak (رمضان مبارك)! Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by 1.8 BILLION Muslims worldwide. It is ~30 days of fasting, prayer, reflection and community — lasting from one crescent moon to the next. And as beautiful a culture and religion as Islam is, we know far too little about it, nor what Ramadan really means for its people. For this holy month of Ramadan we wanted to go deeper on one of the biggest holidays in the world. So we decided to fire up the Rabat-signal to get a little help from our FrieMMds — past guests Seif Hamid, our favorite Egyptian American musician by way of Cleveland (Soof!), and Lena Shareef, our favorite Pakistani American comics podcaster (Grounded Geeks). We asked them everything from how they celebrated as Ramadan as kids in the midwest and back in their respective motherlands of Egypt and Pakistan, what fasting means for them, Ramadan’s role in the culture, and even learned what all of us can do to celebrate Ramadan.

LEARN ABOUT LENA

PODCAST: anchor.fm/grounded-geeks
twitter.com/LenaShareef / instagram.com/lenashareef/

LEARN ABOUT SEIF / SOOF

MUSIC: Soof.studio
instagram.com/seifaldin

RESOURCES / MENTIONS:

Ramadan 101: wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
Designing for Ramadan - https://www.gouldstudio.com/insights/designing-for-ramadan
Accommodating Muslim colleagues during Ramadan: instagram.com/p/CbXkP9BrCBx
TV: We are Lady Parts - imdb.com/title/tt10846104
TV: Rami - imdb.com/title/tt7649694
BOOK: It's Ramadan, Curious George - goodreads.com/en/book/show/25897838

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Ramadan Preview (رمضان مبارك) Apr 01, 2022

As the crescent moon rises and the holy month of Ramadan is upon us (April 2 - May 1), we celebrate a month of voices and perspectives who bring light to the Muslim American experience, making the fabric of our culture so much richer. Also, dates and tea (but only after dusk). Special thanks to Seif Hamid, Lena Shareef, Aaliyah Habeeb, Tehran Von Ghasri, Sara Alfageeh, and Dian Alyan for sharing. We can't wait for you to hear their full stories.

Ramadan Mubarak (رمضان مبارك)

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Satjeet Kaur's (fight) for your rights Mar 28, 2022

"We need an institution that is there to protect our rights — that every kid in this country knows exists for them."

Satjeet Kaur is the former Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the United States — where she’s been involved for more than a decade leading as an organizer and activist providing direct support to Sikh communities across the country, responding to hate crimes, organizing advocacy, and mobilizing civil engagement. Satjeet was named as one of the 15 faith leaders to watch by the Center for American Progress. Most folks don’t know that Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world, and something we learned is that part of the Sikh faith is standing out and speaking up. For Satjeet and the Sikh Coalition that means advancing civil rights for all underrepresented communities - which is really powerful, interesting, and inspiring work. Lots more in the shownotes below. Also, Satjeet’s father’s a rad scientist, and her mother-in-law’s Saag is amazing.

LEARN ABOUT SATJEET

MENTIONS

Sikhism: wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism
Sat Hari Singh: youtu.be/DguqOVOesTU
Senate Bill S4037 “Prohibits discrimination against religious attire” nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S4037
15 Faith Leaders to Watch: americanprogress.org/article/faith-leaders-watch-2020
Old Punjabi Movies: chandigarhmetro.com/classic-old-punjabi-movies-must-watch

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Madeleine Albright (1937-2022) Mar 24, 2022

Madeleine Jana Korbel Albright was an American diplomat — the first female Secretary of State in US history. Madeleine was born in Czechoslovakia 1937. During her early childhood, her parents converted from Judaism to Catholicism in 1941 to avoid anti-Jewish persecution. Madeleine immigrated with her family to the United States in 1948, and became a full citizen in 1957 while a student at Wellesley College. She earned her PhD from Columbia University in 1975, writing her thesis on the Prague Spring. She served as a Senate aide, soon on the National Security Council, and as US Ambassador to the United Nations. In 1997 Madeleine became the 64th United States Secretary of State — the highest-ranking political post for a woman in American history. As an immigrant and the granddaughter of Holocaust victims, Madeleine brought a unique perspective to the job. Beyond her accomplishments, Madeleine was also a wife and a mother, and the author of five New York Times bestsellers. In 2012, Madeleine was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom —for her courage and toughness that helped bring peace to the Balkans and pave the way for progress in some of the most unstable corners of the world.

Once, at a US naturalization ceremony, an Ethiopian man came up to Madeleine and said, 'Only in America can a refugee meet the Secretary of State' — to which she replied, 'Only in America can a refugee become the Secretary of State.'

Madeleine Albright was a Modern Minority.

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Mariko Tamaki's many (Surely) Books Mar 21, 2022

"The idea that a person can't relate to something because it's not directly about them is a misunderstanding of who's been reading books this whole time."

Mariko Tamaki is an award-winning Canadian comics creator and writer — known for works like Skim and This One Summer (with her cousin Jillian Tamaki). Her latest novel is Cold, a haunting YA novel about four students who knew too much and said too little. AND Mariko’s also the Co-founder & Editor of Surely Books - a comics imprint of LGBTQIA+ creators. Mariko’s ALSO known for comics like Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Emiko Superstar, and several prose works of fiction and nonfiction. AND since 2016, Mariko’s been writing for Marvel & DC comics - on powerful books like I Am Not Stafire, and Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass. Mariko’s also only the second woman to write Detective Comics - the 1000+ issue flagship DC series about the Dark Knight. If you can’t tell by now, one of us has been a BIG Mariko Tamaki fan for awhile, and after hearing her approach to writing and sharing personal stories, you soon will be too.

LEARN ABOUT MARIKO TAMAKI & HER WORK:

twitter.com/marikotamaki
instagram.com/marikotamaki
goodreads.com/author/show/483588.Mariko_Tamaki
Surely Books: abramsbooks.com/imprints/surely
This One Summer: goodreads.com/book/show/18465566-this-one-summer
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me: goodreads.com/book/show/40864841-laura-dean-keeps-breaking-up-with-me
Skim: goodreads.com/book/show/2418888.Skim

MENTIONS

Heather Gold: heathergold.com/about-heather-gold
Jillian Tamaki: jilliantamaki.com
Lauren Tamaki: laurentamaki.com
Gene Luen Yang: geneyang.com
BOOK: Stone Fruit (Lee Lai): goodreads.com/en/book/show/55678434
BOOK: Shadow Life (Hiromi Goto, Ann Xu): goodreads.com/en/book/show/51591596
Alice Munro: wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Munro
Timothy Findley: wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Findley

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Shalini Govil-Pai’s (breaking) stereotypes Mar 14, 2022

"These stereotypes of 'nerd girls are awkward' really plays on kids' minds. The world needs to know smart women who are very strong in their thinking and perspectives."

Shalini Govil-Pai is a tech and media executive at Google, who previously worked at Pixar on films like Toy Story and A Bug's Life. Shalini’s worked on partnerships across YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max - at the center of disruptive technology, challenging herself to educate, entertain, and inspire globally. It was a great chat about her experiences coming up in a very male-dominated technical field, and the lessons learned along the way, as well as some of the reflections on today’s media culture. Whether growing up in Bombay / Mumbai India - surrounded by Bollywood (and Amitabh Bachchan) - or creating a new life in America and the Silicon Valley, Shalini’s not afraid of taking risks and challenging the status quo - all because of her deep connections with her family, friends, and community.

LEARN ABOUT SHALINI:

MENTIONS

Luxo Junior (1986 - first Pixar short): youtu.be/6G3O60o5U7w
ACTOR: Amitabh Bachchan - wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitabh_Bachchan
AD: Google “Dear Sophie” - youtu.be/zhPklt9nYas
VIDEO: Google Year in Search: about.google/stories/year-in-search
AUTHOR: Isaac Asmimov - goodreads.com/author/show/16667.Isaac_Asimov
TV: Foundation (Apple TV+) - imdb.com/title/tt0804484/
PERSON: Steve Jobs - wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs
PERSON: Sundar Pichai - wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundar_Pichai

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We are (all) Ukrainians Mar 04, 2022

“We feel grief. We feel anger. We feel sadness. We feel mobilized to help. We feel energized. But we feel that our life, it's not the same as it was before.” // “We're on a precipice and people will say why wasn't more done. This is about Ukraine right now, but may not stay about Ukraine. And so not doing anything, it's not an option.”

While a tragedy continues to unfold in Ukraine, it remains...abstract ...for many of us. Something terrible happening in a faraway place to a faraway people. We see photos and videos online - a horror is happening to a people we do not know over there, and sadly, we find ourselves going back to our busy lives over here.

Ukraine is a sovereign nation of 44 MILLION, with a rich, beautiful culture and people. There's more than another 10 Million folks of Ukrainian heritage living outside of the country, among one of the world's largest diaspora populations.

We can’t solve the Ukrainian crisis with our podcast. But what we can do is create more empathy and understanding. So we sat down with some Ukie friends - old and new - to learn about their Ukrainian heritage, their personal stories, and their very real feelings in this moment. Olesya Govorun was born in Kyiv, and lives in NY, and a longtime friend of Raman’s. Adrianna Melnyk is a 3rd generation Ukrainian American, a non-profit professional active in the Ukrainian American community. Both are daughters, mothers, wives, and all around amazing people living through a unthinkable moment for them, and especially their countrymen. Hear their stories, because whether we know it or not, we are ALL Ukrainians.

HOW TO HELP:

supportukrainenow.org

MENTIONS:

Zelenskyy Speech to EU Parliment: youtu.be/hVvkdwksxMw
PERSON: Volodymyr Zelenskyy - wikipedia.org/wiki/Volodymyr_Zelenskyy
BOOK: The Gates of Europe - goodreads.com/book/show/25255053-the-gates-of-europe
PERSON: Timothy Snyder - timothysnyder.org
FILM: Klondike (2022) - imdb.com/title/tt16315948
FILM: Winter on Fire (2015) - imdb.com/title/tt4908644
UKIE FOOD (NYC): secretnyc.co/ukrainian-businesses-nyc

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Sheetal Sheth’s (always) writing Anjali Feb 28, 2022

“I was told over and over to change my name to the point where I lost out on a lot of things. But I never felt that was something I was going to do. And I didn't want to compromise that.”

Sheetal Sheth is an acclaimed author, actress/producer, cancer graduate, and activist. She’s the author of “Always Anjali” and its sequel, “Bravo Anjali” - which are among Raman and his daughter’s FAVORITE books. Sheetal’s stories challenge us to bring our full selves to the table, and challenge a world that keeps that from being a reality.

Sheetal’s an outspoken advocate - with op-eds in CNN, The Daily Beast and Thrive Global. And more recently, as an author, Sheetal’s a part of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) - a leading literary nonprofit - who is celebrating and engaging kids in the important topic of Diversity. RIF’s hosting a celebratory event on MARCH 2 (“Read Across America Day”) rallytoread.org/readacrossamerica - alongside Chelsea Clinton, Sandra Boynton, Miguel Cardona (U.S. Secretary of Education) and many more.

In a conversation about growing up with a “funny sounding” name - you’ll hear of some of the stories that shaped Sheetal - and so many of our experiences, and how she’s chosen to share a new perspective for us all going forward. And tune in for a “very special” reading at the top of the episode, with some voices you’ve heard, and some voices you’ve heard about...

LEARN ABOUT SHEETAL:

MENTIONS

BOOK: Always Anjali: goodreads.com/en/book/show/35494942-always-anjali
BOOK: Bravo Anjali (2021): goodreads.com/book/show/58027916-bravo-anjali
FILM: Dead Poets Society (1989): imdb.com/title/tt0097165
PERSON : Nikole Hannah-Jones (Journalist): nikolehannahjones.com

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Black History’s (current) meaning considered Feb 21, 2022

“It's important for the community to be teaching our history — the reality with our history is we have to be the ones to tell the story.”

Black History is not just one month - it’s being made every day. But since we are NOT experts about the Black experience - especially when it comes to Black History, we sat down with FrieMMds of the Pod (past guests) — Stanley Lumax (Founder of African Chophouse AND Teranga), and Suzanne Sinatra (Founder & CEO of Private Packs — to unpack what Black History meant to two folks with very interesting backgrounds and experiences - as immigrants and children of immigrants. You’ll find this one to be a very...spirited conversation that makes you unpack and question what these months even mean, or should/n’t mean to us all....

LEARN ABOUT STANLEY:

AfricanChopHouse.org, @africanchophouse
itsTeranga.com, @itsteranga_
youtu.be/_KpbMPWNnCc
Stanley on MM (2021) modmypod.com/episodes/ep-48-stanley-lumax-builds-diaspora-community-thru-food

LEARN ABOUT SUZANNE

instagram.com/suzziesinatra
Privatepacks.com
businessinsider.com/founder-private-packs-while-undergoing-breast-cancer-treatment-2021-12
Suzanne on MM (2020): https://apple.co/3sFyL1c

MENTIONS

CANADIAN BLACK HISTORY: thestar.com/news/gta/2020/06/04/why-the-black-struggle-in-canada-has-all-but-been-erased-two-historians-explain-our-blind-spot.html
PERSON: Malcolm X - wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X
PERSON: Mary Beatrice - wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Kenner
PERSON: Mae Jemison - wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_Jemison
FILM (Suzanne): Hidden Figures (2016) - imdb.com/title/tt4846340
FILM (Suzanne): King Richard (2021) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9620288
SERIES (Stanley): Exterminate all the Brutes (2021 - HBO Max) - imdb.com/title/tt8396314
FILM (Stanley): Lumumba (2000, Raoul Peck) - imdb.com/title/tt0246765
FILM (Stanley): I Am Not Your Negro (2016, Raoul Peck) - imdb.com/title/tt5804038
FILM (Raman): Summer of Soul (2021) - imdb.com/title/tt11422728

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KJ Dhaliwal’s (Dil Mil) where hearts meet Feb 14, 2022

"Being brown and single at 30, that’s a big no-no in the culture. What’s auntie-optimized isn't necessarily what the individual wants. Growing up in India and having a different value system VS some hybrid of Indian American - AND trying to figure out what your identity is doesn't necessarily overlap really well.”

Love is in the air - and for lots of South Asians, KJ Dhaliwal is a big part of that. KJ’s the Founder & President/ CEO of Dil Mil, the largest and fastest-growing matchmaking app for South Asians across the world. But disrupting a long-held model of match-making hasn’t made him friends among the aunties of the world, though that is starting to change as Dil Mil’s changing the culture for South Asians abroad and increasingly at home in the subcontinent. Dil Mil - which means “hearts meeting” in Hindi and Punjabi - has been able to thread the needle between matrimonial match-making and keeping it casual (we’re looking at you Shaadi + Tinder) - and was acquired in 2019, making KJ Chief Strategy Officer of Dating Group - allowing KJ to expand his vision of bringing cultures together - across cultures. An engineer from the South Asian Ameircan suburbs, this former engineer with mad dancing skills is somehow still single, and we promise his parents didn’t put us up to this one.

LEARN ABOUT KJ

instagram.com/kjdhaliwal
twitter.com/kjdhaliwal
dilmil.co

MENTIONS

FILM: The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015) imdb.com/title/tt0787524
PERSON - Einstein - wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein

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Dr. Edjah Nduom’s residency of reform Feb 07, 2022

"You're taught to make them forget, to move into leadership. There's not a lot of neurosurgeons made every year - and so there's not a lot of young Black people talking about their experience.”

Dr. Edjah Nduom is a Black neurosurgeon-scientist, activist, patient advocate, father, husband, son and brother. He gets paid to take out brain tumors and study how to treat them with the immune system. He does not get paid to pursue social justice, both inside and outside of medicine, but he does it anyway. Edjah is also the Co-Founder of Physicians for Criminal Justice Reform - an organization that wants to change the conversation on how negative encounters with the criminal justice system lead to detrimental health consequences in targeted communities. Born to immigrant parents from Ghana, he actually moved back to Ghana at the age of eleven, and found out his Nintendo cartridges weren’t compatible. Not to long after, he found himself back in the US, having earned and worked his way up through an elite medical system that still (does) not look like him. Edjah’s ’s now using his position to speak up more, and create a better system for us all.

LEARN ABOUT EDJAH

winshipcancer.emory.edu/bios/faculty/nduom-edjah.html
instagram.com/eknduom
twitter.com/EKNduom
ORG: Physicians for Criminal Justice Reform - pfcjreform.org
OP-ED: “This Is a Moment to Demand Big, Sweeping Changes” - medscape.com/viewarticle/936774

MENTIONS

BOOK: Doctors (Erich Segal): goodreads.com/book/show/91201.Doctors
SKIT: It’s Not Brain Surgery: youtu.be/THNPmhBl-8I

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MMusic: Scroll Through (Soof) Feb 03, 2022

"follow your dream don’t follow the screen and watch for the people who usin' ya and scroll through”

Longtime FrieMMd of the Pod Seif Hamid (AKA Soof) is back at it again, dropping new tracks. Seif popped by MM from his LA studio for a quick chat about his latest “Scroll Through” — an edgier song about the frustrations he / we all feel with the unhealthy addiction to and invasiveness of the devices in our lives — and the toxicity and falsity of most of what we consume on social media. This is the first of many songs releasing ahead of his next full hip hop album later this year - a message and practical guide for his (and all our) kids. Listen to the track after our exclusive chat, and support Seif by grabbing the track on BandCamp, or listening/sharing wherever you get your music. And let us know what you think, or if you’ve got an artist we should feature!

LEARN ABOUT SEIF / SOOF

Soof.studio
soofworld.bandcamp.com
spoti.fi/3cDb6rs
instagram.com/seifaldin

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Chinese (Lunar) New Years’ meaning & memories Jan 31, 2022

“We tried to do what people would do back in the old country, but I felt like I was living a secret life.”

"It was interesting seeing Chinese New Year from different lenses.”

Gong Xi Fa Cai! ...a common Chinese wish of prosperity for the Lunar New Year - celebrated by more than a BILLION people around the world. So wanting to learn more - we once again brought back some past FrieMMds of the Pod to talk about the big day: Hollywood actor and producer Brian Yang (Linsanity, Snakehead, Hawaii 5-0), and fellow podcaster Lucia Liu (Rock the Boat, Bund to Brooklyn). As both Brian & Lucia grew up across Chinese and American cultures - we chatted about the many similarities - and differences - celebrating the Lunar New Year with family and friends. From proper greetings to red envelopes, from fun card games to learning how you should really eat the fish - you’ll enjoy this fun conversation among friends old and new. You’ll also find out who gives the best Lai See / Hóngbāo ((紅包) — the red envelopes everyone used to get (as kids), but now find ourselves all giving (as “grown ups”).

LEARN ABOUT LUCIA

@rocktheboatnyc // gorocktheboat.com
PODCASTS: “Rock the Boat”: apple.co/3j5E6ZF + “Bund to Brooklyn” apple.co/3qZOZT1

LEARN ABOUT BRIAN

imdb.com/name/nm0990657
@briflys - Twitter / Instagram

MENTIONS

COMEDY: Ronny Chieng on Chinese New Years - youtu.be/O_KpLrHCAx0?t=151
FILM: Joy Luck Club (1993): imdb.com/title/tt0107282
CCTV New Years Gala performance: youtu.be/XbfzwzKEaHU
FILM: Fat Choi Spirit (2002): imdb.com/title/tt0307034
PERSON: Andy Lau: wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Lau
PERSON: Louis Koo: wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Koo

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Abdul-Rehman Malik (understands) This Being Human Jan 24, 2022

“We are afraid of the pain of healing because there is something comforting about living in the now, in the conflict, in our own assumptions about others. We are in uncharted territory and that's frightening.”

Abdul-Rehman Malik is an award-winning journalist, educator, cultural organizer — and a great storyteller you’ll just want to sit back and listen to all day. His work at the intersection of faith and social change has spanned the globe — across the US, Canada, UK, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sudan, Mali, Malaysia and more. Abdul-Rehman, a BBC-radio veteran, hosts the popular podcast “This Being Human” - featuring Muslim voices, stories, and experiences, AND is currently a Lecturer at the Yale Divinity School as well as director of the Muslim Leadership Lab at Yale’s Dwight Hall Center of Social Justice. In this must-listen-to conversation about heritage, compassion, pain, and forgiveness - we go deep on the state of the world as it’s always been, and how we must face it for what it is today. It’s a conversation that will leave you wanting more, for which you’re in luck, because Abdul-Rehman also has an amazing podcast that creates greater empathy and understanding through conversation. Sound familiar? (PS - his is way better)

LEARN MORE

PODCAST: “This Being Human” agakhanmuseum.org/programs/thisbeinghuman/
SOCIAL: twitter.com/armalik
YALE: divinity.yale.edu/faculty-and-research/yds-faculty/abdul-rehman-malik

MENTIONS

India / Pakistan Partition (1947): wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_India
Salman Rushdie fatwa (controversy): wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Verses_controversy
PERSON: Fuad Nahdi (Muslim journalist): buzzfeednews.com/article/rosiegray/coronavirus-victim-fuad-nahdi-uk-muslim-activist
PERSON: Augusto Boal: wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusto_Boal
PERSON: James Baldwin (author): wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Baldwin
PERSON: Madonna (singer): wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna
FILM: Dead Poets Society (1989): imdb.com/title/tt0097165
PERSON: Mahershala Ali (actor): imdb.com/name/nm0991810
PERSON: Ahmad Jamal (jazz great): wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Jamal

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Beyond MLK’s legend: (reading) KING Jan 17, 2022

“We know him so much from his speeches — but this book shows how exhausting everything was.”

In honor of MLK day, we could've just put a famous speech to a hip beat, but instead Raman + Ryan decided to read KING - Ho Che Anderson's critically acclaimed unauthorized graphic biography of the life of Martin Luther King Jr — on Raman’s other underground podcast, Quarantined Comics. Ryan also snuck in another Anderson book GODHEAD - a near-future capitalist tale juxtaposing the white corporate and black urban experience against a sci-fi backdrop of...finding God?

Graphic novelist Ho Che Anderson is a London-born creator of Jamaican heritage in Toronto - who brings a pretty unique perspective to the handful of independent comics he's created over the years. Most likely informed by the sensibilities of who his parents named him after - Ho Chi Minh + Che Guevara. So it was no surprise to see such a contrarian and unflinchingly honest take on a civil rights icon like Martin Luther King Jr. While most folks usually only know just five words about the Civil Rights movement ("Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King") - the graphic novel KING focuses on not just the larger than life legend, but the man and all his flaws along his journey and the people’s varying takes on him back then...

LEARN MORE

KING: goodreads.com/book/show/114073.King
GODHEAD: goodreads.com/en/book/show/35407503
Ho Che Anderson: biography.jrank.org/pages/2837/Anderson-Ho-Che.html
Quarantined Comics: qtdcomics.com

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Gene Luen Yang’s (comic book) American dream Jan 10, 2022

“Being an immigrant kid - your experience and your parents’ and your grandparents’ experiences are in three completely different worlds.”

Gene Luen Yang is an award-winning cartoonist, storyteller, and teacher - whose been creating comics since the fifth grade. His 2006 graphic novel American Born Chinese will be a 2022 Disney+ TV series by Shang Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton. Two of Gene’s other two books - Dragon Hoops + Superman Smashes the Klan - won the 2020 Eisner (the Oscars for comics), and Raman’s reviewed them on his other podcast Quarantined Comics. Gene’s a former CS + Math teacher - who’s since gone on to work on some of the biggest name in pop culture and comics - including Avatar the Last AirBender, rebooting Shang Chi over @ Marvel Comics (before the hit movie), and having more than a few unique takes on DC’s Superman. Gene was named the Library of Congress’ fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and has also received a MacArthur Genius Grant. Gene advocates for the importance of reading diversely - and makes his kids finish all of their projects. Raman tried really hard not to fanboy over one of his personal heroes...

LEARN ABOUT GENE LUEN YANG

geneyang.com
twitter.com/geneluenyang
American Born Chinese: goodreads.com/book/show/118944.American_Born_Chinese
Superman Smashes the Klan TRAILER: youtu.be/LQ5ID_k_iBA
Dragon Hoops: goodreads.com/book/show/44280830-dragon-hoops

MENTIONS

COMIC BOOK: Cyclopedia Exotica goodreads.com/book/show/53317432-cyclopedia-exotica
PERSON: Jason Shiga goodreads.com/author/show/469075.Jason_Shiga
PERSON: Lark Pien goodreads.com/author/show/2679817.Lark_Pien
PERSON: Derek Kirk Kim goodreads.com/author/show/150817.Derek_Kirk_Kim

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Michelle Li got a (racist) voicemail Jan 04, 2022

Michelle Li is a longtime reporter and anchor for NBC St. Louis. During a January broadcast sharing commonly eaten foods for the New Year’s, she briefly shared some of her Korean American New Years traditions.

Then a viewer left her station a voicemail. Then Michelle shared the voicemail. And the internet blew up. #veryasian

...Sharon and Raman react - and unpack - this a little more.

LEARN MORE

washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/01/03/asian-journalist-racist-voicemail/
twitter.com/MichelleLiTV
SUPPORT #veryasian - veryasian.us (proceeds support the Asian American Journalists Association - aaja.org)

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Climate Activists (on Animalia) Jan 03, 2022

“The choice to be an activist is a privilege, because so many people don't have that choice.”

One of - if not THE defining issue of our time is climate. To kick off the new year, we wanted to share a powerful conversation two young climate activists - Raeesah Nor Mohamed (from South Africa) and Hussein Ali Ghandour (from Lebanon) - had with our our FrieMMd of the Pod Jay Veraldi on HIS Animalia podcast. These two are not simply minorities because of the color of their skin - but because of what they believe, AND where they believe it - in some unique and challenging places -- where caring about the climate is NOT necessarily a mainstream thing.

Over the past few years, you’ve seen an uptick in protests, marches, and demonstrations from incredible people like Raeesah and Hussein from all over the world. At COP26 in Glasgow, over 100,000 activists made their way outside the event to demonstrate and push for more decisive action from world leaders. Understand what motivates activists like Raeesah and Hussein to give everything they have to the issue of climate change. It's really worthwhile to hear where these two are coming from, how they view the world, and the actions they are taking on behalf of the climate movement. While we can't all be activists - we should all heat this chat to reflect on our own personal privilege, and more importantly - focus on where we can drive greater systemic change for us all.

Animalia’s mission is to create positive, inclusive dialogue on critical topics that protect this planet — AND to support the people and organizations working to lift up all life who occupy it. Make it your resolution to subscribe to their podcast + newsletter at JoinAnimalia.com

LEARN ABOUT...

joinanimalia.com
Raeesah: instagram.com/pure.rae.of.sunshinee // twitter.com/raeesahnm
Hussein: twitter.com/ghandour567

MENTIONS

South African Climate Justice Charter: safsc.org.za/climate-justice-charter

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2021 year in review Dec 31, 2021

As 2021 comes to a close, we put together a not-so-quick compilation of our favorite moments from all of the great conversations we had over the past year. So sit back with a beverage of choice, enjoy, and please DO share our podcast with a friend (and leave us a review) — it makes a big difference! We can’t wait for you to hear what’s next in the new year!

Got a guest idea or want to ask a question? Email us! himom@modmypod.com

xoxo,

SHARON & RAMAN

=

PS - Heard someone you liked? Be sure to go back and check out any of our past episodes. Featuring the voices of our amazing guests...

Cathy Erway’s uncovering (Self Evident) conversations
Maria Yuan wants (YOU) to be an Issue Voter
Andres Barragan’s (restless) reinvention
Tess Thomas gets (outside) her comfort zone
Bringing In the (Chinese) New Years
Chris Finn speaks the (kids’) language
Jennifer Ekeleme makes her (own) American dream
Black History, (to be) continued - Matt Story & Tess Thomas
Pave the Way (for more): International Women’s Day
Grace Foster finds (home in) herself
Let’s talk (about) Asian violence
Tyanne Benallie’s (Indigenous) lens
Maartje Duin & Peggy Bouva (go beyond) The Plantation of our Ancestors
Mira Jacob (shares a) Good Talk
Sarah Salem challenges (your) perceptions
Azhar Usman believes in (the) truth
Alice Lee's (extraordinary) journey
Lena Shareef wants (to tell) a good story
Modern MINARI - Jieun Kim & Jon Pollock
Jason’s discovery (+faith) of Islam
Margaret Cho’s (Mortal) Minority
Steven Wakabayashi’s (Yellow) Glitter
Hear our (AAPI) Red Envelope Stories
Minjae Ormes has grown (up) Visible
Svante Myrick wants (police) change
Beth Nguyen wants (you to learn) her name
Father’s (Day) Fathers...Serge Thony & Brad Weinstein
Radhika Vekaria’s (devotion to) music
Yellow Glitter: the Rainbow Washing & Performative Allyship of Pride - Steven Wakabayashi & Derek Tran
What’s Your Story? (Seeking) Answers Through Allyship - Matt Story
Jonathan Tolentio wants (us to get) better
Sidd Massand’s Rock & Roll (True) Stories
Monique Truong ain’t takin (flavor) bullies
Prince imagined (our own game)
Kamala Khan (is) MS.MARVEL
Lindsay Kaplan expands the (Chief) table
Gina Brillon’s (Mess) in Progress
Brian Yang doesn’t (want to) know martial arts
Sara Baiyu Porritt (can) Hear Us Roar
Navin Gupta (always) takes the first step
Suzy Shin (rocks by) letting go
3 MMen & 3 Babies (with Drew Tarvin & Rajiv Satyal)
Geraldine Moriba gets the story (right)
Remi Adekoya’s (unpacking) Biracial Britain
Holy (Bi)Robin! Tim Drake Comes Out - Ainsley Waller, Karl Preissner, Steven Wakabayashi
Phil Yu (isn’t always) the Angry Asian Man
Evan Jackson Leong’s (directing) Snakehead
Andrew Aydin’s (enduring) March
Diwali (memories) then & now - Raman Sehgal (UK) + Radhika Vekaria
Anjali Enjeti’s (Southbound) activism
Tonya Evans' crypto (wealth) advantage
Sam Yo’s (balanced) geek fitness
Danis Goulet’s (directing) Night Raiders
Molly Kawahata’s (unapologetic) climate optimism
Dr. Ali Mattu (psychs) social anxiety
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz’s (passing) Asian-American Curriculum

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Jen Wang’s (comics) Stargazing Dec 27, 2021

“Publishers thought it was maybe going to be a niche book, but I was surprised by how many really young readers were connecting with it. I want this to be something that you could trick your conservative dad into buying for you.”

Jen Wang is an award-winning graphic novel author and illustrator Jen Wang - best known for some amazing stories like “Stargazing,” “The Prince & the Dressmaker”, “In Real Life” and “Koko Be Good”. We’ve been fans of hers for a really long time. Her books are not-quite-autobiographical (always), but there are seeds of truth and real life in almost every story she tells. Being Asian American, having a major healthcare scare as a kid, and more. And since Sharon’s off doing who knows what, Raman’s Quarantined Comics co-host Ryan Joe subs in FTW. But most interesting about our chat with Jen was diving into her unconventional journey and decisions along the way. We challenge you to give Jen’s books a try - for you and your kids - and NOT find your eyes start leaking.

LEARN ABOUT JEN

Jenwang.net
instagram.com/wangstagram
twitter.com/alooghobi
BOOK: Stargazing - goodreads.com/book/show/40864836-stargazing
BOOK: The Prince & The Dressmaker - goodreads.com/book/show/34506912-the-prince-and-the-dressmaker

MENTIONS

BOOK: Detransition, Baby (Torrey Peters) - goodreads.com/book/show/48890225-detransition-baby
PERSON: Ang Lee (Director): wikipedia.org/wiki/Ang_Lee

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Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz’s (passing) Asian-American Curriculum Dec 20, 2021

“You can't expect to do better unless you know better. Understanding who we are collectively - Asian-Americans and non-Asians.”

Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, serves in Illinois' General Assembly - representing Illinois’ 17th District since 2019. Jennifer was the co-sponsor of a recently passed the nation’s FIRST Asian-American history curriculum bill - the TEAACH (Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act) - which is a big deal. Not just that it passed (long overdue), but that it will hopefully prove as a template in many other states around our country.

Jennifer's many things - a politician, a lawyer, and advocate, a mom. She’s the granddaughter of Chinese immigrants who fought deportation under the Chinese Exclusion Act. Her sense of justice was instilled from an early age through her parents - active in the civil rights and women’s rights movements - making Jennifer a determined fighter for the voiceless and the vulnerable her entire adult life - taking on transnational human traffickers and aggressively defending the rights of unaccompanied immigrant children. Providing access to justice to our community’s most vulnerable residents - developing legal capacity to represent Dreamers, domestic violence survivors, and low-income residents.

For Jennifer - the law is a piece of a greater system to be shaped to be more inclusive for all. But it’s ultimately about building greater empathy and understanding amongst ALL Americans.

LEARN ABOUT REP. JENNIFER GONG-GERSHOWITZ

Website: gonggershowitz.com
Illinois General Assembly: ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2744
TEAACH ACT: politico.com/news/2021/05/31/aapi-history-education-illinois-491324

FOLLOW JENNIFER ON SOCIAL

Twitter: @gonggershowitz
Instagram: @jengonggershowitz

MENTIONS

CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT
PBS SHOW: Asian-Americans
BOOK: The Joy Luck Club (Amy Tan)
BOOK: The Woman Warrior (Maxine Hong Kingston)
FILM: Minari (2020)
BOOK: Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans (Ronald Takaki)
BOOK: Asian Americans: An Interpretive History (Sucheng Chan)

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Dr. Ali Mattu (psychs) social anxiety Dec 13, 2021

“The thing I learned was that fear that I had — everyone else had. And that changed everything for me.”

Dr. Ali is a clinical psychologist specializing in social anxiety — probably best known for The Psych Show (YouTube), where he breaks down and explains the importance of mental health in a fun, accessible way. Dr. Ali is ALSO clinical advisor at LOOP - the only social-based mental health app designed for those who experience social anxiety and want to overcome it. Loop provides the space and support folks need to learn new skills and build up the reflexes to tackle our most anxiety-inducing moments.

Both of these ventures represent Dr. Ali’s mission to make mental health accessible to all — something he’s super passionate about, given his own personal history with social anxiety, from growing up a mute Pakistani American in California. Dr. Ali has been seen by millions - through his YouTube videos, and having been featured on HBO, PBS, Buzzfeed, Netflix, and many more places. He’s a BIG nerd about all things comics + sci-fi, and has the honor of being referenced (and not made fun of) by John Oliver on HBO’s Last Week Tonight. Through fun and not-so-fun stories of growing up - that we can all relate to - you’ll understand what drives Dr. Ali, and why mental health affects all of us, and needs to be talked about - and understood - more.

LEARN ABOUT DR. ALI

FOLLOW DR. ALI ON SOCIAL

Instagram: @alimattu
Twitter: @alimattu

LEARN ABOUT LOOP

Website:Loop.co
Instagram: @looptogether

MENTIONS

PARTITION: wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_India
FILM: Gattaca (1997) - imdb.com/title/tt0119177
FILM: In Time (2011) - imdb.com/title/tt1637688
CHARACTER: Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel): wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamala_Khan
PERSON / BOOK: Kay Redfield Jamison (an Unquiet Mind): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Redfield_Jamison

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Molly Kawahata’s (unapologetic) climate optimism Dec 06, 2021

“The beauty is there is so much opportunity in solving the climate crisis. Let’s give more people access to the climate movement and make the movement fight for everybody.”

Molly is a former policy advisor for energy and climate change at the Obama White House where she helped implement President Obama's energy agenda and Climate Action Plan. Since leaving government, Molly now helps leading companies, nonprofits, activists, influencers, and communities create more effective climate communication and advocacy. An unabashed idealist - Molly’s optimism is infectious. Because it's only by understanding the climate opportunity for ALL of us - especially marginalized communities - that we're going to create systemic change. Greening your life is great, but engaging people - and registering them to vote - will make a bigger difference. Molly’s ultimate goal is to give everybody access to the climate movement, making the movement a fight for everybody. We also talked about her family’s (interned) American heritage, acceptable Hawaiian slang, not thinking about elephants, voter outreach via online dating, and ice climbing frozen waterfalls

LEARN ABOUT MOLLY

MENTIONS

ORIGAMI CRANES AD - youtu.be/v6NeJltgXEw
JAPANESE INTERNMENT
PLACE: Topaz, UT - wikipedia.org/wiki/Topaz_War_Relocation_Center
BOOK: They Called Us Enemy (George Takei) - goodreads.com/book/show/42527866-they-called-us-enemy
BOOK: Displacement (Kiku Hughes) -.goodreads.com/en/book/show/46223303-displacement
ARTICLE (Mashable) “The carbon footprint sham” (Mark Kaufman) - mashable.com/feature/carbon-footprint-pr-campaign-sham
ARTICLE (Vogue): “Meet the Women Using Dating Apps to Reach Undecided Voters in Battleground States” - vogue.com/article/dating-apps-undecided-voters
ORG: FriendsVoteTogether.org
BOOK: Largesse of the Sea Maiden (Denis Johnson) - goodreads.com/book/show/35135343-the-largesse-of-the-sea-maiden
BOOK: Lost Connections (Johann Hari) - goodreads.com/book/show/34921573-lost-connections
PERSON: Silvy Khoucasian (Attachment Theory): instagram.com/silvykhoucasian

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Danis Goulet’s (directing) Night Raiders Nov 29, 2021

“Power has never given up without a fight. Indigenous people are in a unique position to offer a warning.”

Danis Goulet is the writer and director of NIGHT RAIDERS - a near future dystopian fiction that is in theaters and on-demand now. Night Raiders tells the tale of an indigenous (Cree) mother and daughter - played by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers + Brooklyn Letexier-Hart - making their way through the aftermath of a modern day civil war - where all children are being taken by the state. The film is allegory for 20th century residential school systems - North American government programs that pulled away 150,000 Indigenous children from their parents - dispersing them amongst Christian boarding schools and cutting all ties with their heritage. We’re talking about moder day colonization of culture - which has recently given rise to the “Idol No More” movement. Night Raiders was executive produced by Taika Watiti (another prominent indiginous filmmaker) - and as Danis’ first feature film is a powerful story.

Danis is Cree/Metis - and was born in La Ronge, Saskatchewan and now resides in Toronto. Her films have screened at festivals around the world including Sundance, the Toronto International Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, - as well as the imagineNATIVE festival - where she is actively involved. After this conversation about fitting in and speaking out - and the dangers of what modern day white supremacy means for our future - you’ll want to go see her film yesterday.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NIGHT RAIDERS

TRAILER: youtu.be/jijeDvc4aG4
IMDB: imdb.com/title/tt9568230
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightraidersfilm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nightraiders7

FOLLOW DANIS GOULET

Twitter: https://twitter.com/danisgoulet
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danisgoulet

MENTIONS

FILM: Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001): imdb.com/title/tt0285441
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival: imaginenative.org
FILM: Where the Spirit Lives (1989): imdb.com/title/tt0103244
PERSON: Alanis Obomsawin (‘the grandmother of Indigenous cinema): cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/50-years-of-indigenous-cinema-the-impact-of-alanis-obomsawin-1.5154592

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a (little) help from our FrieMMds... Nov 26, 2021

"Oh, we get by with a little help from our frieMMds"

Thanksgiving was always our fav holiday that would NEVER be commercialized...until Black Friday (sigh). so if you can't beat em, join em. We're getting in on the action, with a little help from our FrieMMds.

what are we talking about? Listen first, then head over to modmypod.com/merch (+email 10+ of YOUR frieMMds about it =)

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Sam Yo’s (balanced) geek fitness Nov 22, 2021

“If I am off service to whoever's on the other side, if I can make one person feel a little better - then it's such a lucky thing to do for people.”

Sam Yo is an acclaimed Peloton fitness Instructor, an actor / entertainer / trained movie ninja, a massive nerd, and once an ordained monk in Thailand. Sam draws his professionalism from his kaleidoscope of experiences and uses this to help others achieve their fitness and mindset potential.

A Londoner of Thai heritage, Sam combines technical expertise, sick beats, and a serene mindset to challenge people on screens around the world to go further with a perfect balance of showmanship and hustle. We had all sorts of fun with one of Sharon’s personal heroes - whose name may not actually be Sam.

LEARN ABOUT SAM

MENTIONS

SONG: Turbo / Eye of the Tiger cover - youtu.be/yOu1uGtuyx4
SONG: Stan Bush / the Touch (Transformers) - youtu.be/A52--FKUQgU
WIND DOWN: Ella Fitzegerald - https://spoti.fi/3qKCQS8
BOOK: George's Marvellous Medicine (Roald Dahl) - goodreads.com/book/show/74532.George_s_Marvellous_MedicineJUlie’s Mother’s Medicine (Rahl Dahl)
PERSON: Hugh Jackman - wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Jackman
PERSON: Ranveer Singh - wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranveer_Singh
PERSON: Emily Blunt - wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Blunt

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Tonya Evans' Crypto (Wealth) Advantage Nov 15, 2021

“Cryptocurrencies don't require a gatekeeper — which is very important for minority communities that have been systematically marginalized and intentionally red-lined. You need to be in this like yesterday.”

Tonya M. Evans, Esq, is a published author, investor, entrepreneur, and tenured professor of law at Penn State Dickinson Law School with expertise on how decentralized financial systems (blockchains, cryptocurrencies, NFT) can be impactful for minority communities. Prof. Evans was named to the prestigious Forbes 50 Over 50 List in the category of Investment to honor 50 women who are shaping the future of finance, fueling high-growth businesses, and forging a more innovative and inclusive financial future. From her time as an elite athlete (she was the #1 player on the BOYS tennis team) to Lady180 rapper (she spits a few bars for us), she has always spoken her truth. Through her work, she continues to educate those on the values of property ownership in an increasingly decentralized and tech-driven economy - which can help close the wealth gap among minority communities. And while Raman was on a “field trip” to Arrakis, FrieMMd of the Pod + Canadian Podcaster Melissa Haughton joined Sharon to talk with Professor Tonya in only a way that she and Sharon could.

LEARN ABOUT TONYA

MENTIONS

SONG: “Find Your Own Shine” https://spoti.fi/3wBJ4ES
FILM: Poetic Justice (1993) - imdb.com/title/tt0107840
PERSON: Michelle Obama - wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama

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Anjali Enjeti’s (Southbound) activism Nov 07, 2021

“Writing isn’t doing the work of activism. Maybe it opens people’s minds, but art alone isn’t going to cut it.”

Anjali Enjeti is a lot of things - literally. A southerner from Michigan who’s part Indian, part Austrian, part Puerto Rican. A former attorney, journalist, teacher, mother, activist and author. Her TWO recently published books — Southbound: Essays on Identity, Inheritance, and Social Change, AND The Parted Earth — will give you pause and wanting to learn more. Southbound unpacks her personal American history and perspective, while The Parted Earth reveals thru fiction the troubled history of India’s origins and legacy of Partition. Anjali’s writing has appeared in The Oxford American, Harper’s Bazaar, USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Washington Post, and elsewhere. She is the co-founder of the Georgia chapter of They See Blue, an organization for South Asian Democrats. A creative writing teacher at Reinhardt University, and recently nominated to Good Morning America’s 2021 Asian American and Pacific Islander Inspiration List - she once wrote Oprah to tell her she didn’t agree with her, and was invited on for a chat. Anjali’s got (informed) opinions and beliefs, and is not afraid to roll up her sleeves to make change happen....something she challenges more of us to do every day.

LEARN ABOUT ANJALI

MENTIONS

FILM: Mississippi Masala (1991) - imdb.com/title/tt0102456
PERSON: Pauli Murray (activist) - wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauli_Murray

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Diwali (memories) then & now Nov 04, 2021

“Diwali has different meanings as you go through life - community, food, light, celebration...who doesn’t love a good sparkler?"

Happy Diwali! Diwali is THE festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Indians around the world. But beyond being a big deal for a LOT of people (celebrating the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness...something we need a LOT of these days), what exactly is Diwali about? Raman didn’t have all the answers for Sharon, so we brought back past FrieMMds of the Pod - the OTHER Raman (UK) Sehgal (for real), and musician + multi-hyphenate Radhika Vekaria. While all 3 Indians are removed from their homeland and THE motherland, we decided to have a chat about how we celebrated Diwali growing up among our (extended) families, and how we can ALL bring these memories and traditions forward to our lives TODAY. Also, what’s with all the fire (and candy)? And what exactly do you do during the FIVE days of Diwali?

LEARN ABOUT

DIWALI: kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali
RADHIKA: Radhikavekaria.com, twitter.com/iamradhikav, instagram.com/iamradhikav
OTHER RAMAN (UK): ramarketingpr.com, twitter.com/ramanelli

MENTIONS

BOOK: Ramayana: Divine Loophole - goodreads.com/book/show/7456105-ramayana
BOOK: Celebrate Diwali - goodreads.com/book/show/5967859-celebrate-diwali
COMICS: amarchitrakatha.com

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Andrew Aydin’s (enduring) March Nov 01, 2021

“There's not a lot of moments where all the wrongs and pain seem worth it. But standing on a stage with John Lewis gives you a little bit of hope.”

Andrew Aydin is the award-winning creator MARCH - the graphic memoir series he co-authored with the late John Lewis, the civil rights icon and Congressman. MARCH - alongside it’s recently released sequel RUN - chronicles the civil rights movement in a way more accessible for the next generation, and was the first comics work to ever win the National Book Award. A political staff veteran turned comics professional - Andrew’s the Co-founder of “Good Trouble Productions (GTP), alongside comics icons Kelly Sue Deconnick, Matt Fraction, Valentine DeLandro, and Vaughn Shinall. GTP produces civic-minded non-fiction graphic novel / multimedia projects. Andrew has also created work for the LA Times, Time, Marvel, and DC Comics, the Southern Poverty Law Center...and Ben & Jerry’s, and has appeared on MSNBC, CBS, NPR, CNN, BBC, CBC and many others. And he actually wrote his Master’s thesis on the impact of Martin Luther King comics in the 1960s. Through conversations about his friendship and collaboration with the late Congressman, stories of life with his single white mother, and unpacking thoughts on his half-Turkish heritage, this Atlanta native has always chosen the non-obvious path, but will always find a way to tell the right story, for the right time.

LEARN ABOUT ANDREW

MENTIONS

National Book Award Speech: https://youtu.be/qTygDKKsI5M
MLK Comics (1958): creativeloafing.com/content-185638-cover-story-the-comic-book-that-changed-the
PERSON: Alfred Hassler (Comics Author): wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hassler

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Evan Jackson Leong’s (directing) Snakehead Oct 25, 2021

“If I get one shot to make a movie, this is the one I'll be happy with.”

Evan Jackson Leong is the writer and director of SNAKEHEAD - a modern crime thriller in theaters and on-demand on October 29th. Snakehead tells the story of two women in Chinatown’s world of human smuggling - starring Shuya Chang, Jade Wu, Yacine Djoumbaye, and Sung Kang. It’s a powerful film that cuts deeper than you might think - and you should actually stop what you’re doing and go watch it, like now. ...finished? Great film, right? You’re welcome. Now, where were we...

Evan Jackson Leong is a 6th generation Chinese American director and documentary filmmaker - most known for his documentary Linsanity, and numerous other powerful projects like “I am more: Obj”, “Christianity in the New Asia”, and more. As a freelance director and director of photography, Evan’s also worked with MTV, Nike, Toyota, Universal, Capitol Records, Kiehl's, Spike, Lancome, L'oreal, as well as his mentor and acclaimed director Justin Lin. But we wanted to know how this rising filmmaker got his start - bridging old school and new school techniques, how strong Asian matriarchs had to be at the forefront of his first feature film, and why it took him fourteen years to complete (it was worth it). We also talked about making dumplings and scary stories from late nights in Brooklyn.

SNAKEHEAD comes out on October 29th — so do it for the culture and make plans to watch this one.

LEARN ABOUT EVAN'S WORK

SNAKEHEAD TRAILER: youtu.be/OVYNG7GYISw
EVAN'S WORK: imdb.com/name/nm1456609
OUR FAVORITE QUOTES
“When you were dreaming of coming to America did you think it was gonna be this way?” “I didn't think. I just came.”
“You see your faults in your children and you just wish you had done better”

MENTIONS

DIRECTOR: Wong Kar-wai - imdb.com/name/nm0939182
FILM: Chunking Express (1994) - imdb.com/title/tt0109424
FILM: In the Mood for Love (2000) - imdb.com/title/tt0118694
BOOK: Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning (Cathy Park Hong) - goodreads.com/book/show/52845775-minor-feelings

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Phil Yu (isn’t always) the Angry Asian Man Oct 18, 2021

“You have to choose to become Asian American. I went from just being a Korean kid in Silicon Valley to belonging to this community. I want that to mean something.”

Phil Yu is best known for AngryAsianMan.com - THE website about Asian American perspectives. But he’s really not as angry as people think? Phil’s a writer, speaker, and host. AngryAsianMan.com is one of the most widely read / longest-running sites covering news, culture, and perspectives from the Asian American community. Phil ALSO hosts the podcasts “They Call Us Bruce” and “All The Asians On Star Trek” (a new personal favorite). And in January 2022, Phil’s book “RISE: A Pop History of Asian American from the Nineties to Now” comes out. Phil’s been featured in The NY Times, NPR, the LA Time, CNN, WaPo, Gawker, and more. He’s won awards for his work AND worked in documentaries, film commentaries, and web series. Honestly, Phil’s been the guest we’ve wanted since we started our podcast, as he is one of the reasons why we do what we do. Phil was doing this before most of us, and continues to trailblaze for the rest of us. AND he’s a total nerd that wants to change the world, one angry word at a time...

LEARN ABOUT PHIL

AngryAsianMan.com
instagram.com/angryasianman
twitter.com/angryasianman
Podcast: theycallusbruce.libsyn.com
Podcast: alltheasiansonstartrek.com
Forbes: The Future Of Telling Asian American Stories: An Interview With Angry Asian Man

MENTIONS

FILM: Who Killed Vincent Chin? (1987): imdb.com/title/tt0096440
A&F Wong Bros racist t-shirt: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1938914.stm

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Holy (Bi)Robin! Tim Drake Comes Out Oct 14, 2021

“Why change Robin? It was a no brainer. It happens to a lot of bisexual people, it seemed like natural character development.”

Lately all the news has been about Superman’s son Jonathan Kent coming out recently as bi-sexual in the comics - and the not so-nice reception it’s has gotten in the real world (WTF...Louis Lane?!?). But just weeks before that, ROBIN - one of the most recognizable (Queer?) icons ALSO came out as Bi-sexual. This matters. It represents as big a pop culture moment as when Miles Morales & Kamala Khan were introduced to the world. And while Robin (aka Tim Drake) is not the FIRST comic book hero to come out as Queer, he represents the most important hero to do so. Because Robin has been all of us all along. From kids envisioning themselves as him, to Queer’s taking ownership (#representation), to the “Seduction of the Innocent” (+those other 1950s fear-mongering hearings) — Robin has always had us envisioning, and questioning things. There has been celebration and pushback, and we wanted to talk about what it all means. So we brought together past guests Karl Preissner (Equity / Inclusion Ally & Advocate) and Steven Wakabayashi (Yellow Glitter Podcast host ), along with Ainsley Waller (Bisexual designer AND fellow comics geek) to unpack this moment and challenge our assumptions about the evolution of some of our most beloved characters...

LEARN ABOUT

Tim Drake’s big news: https://n.pr/3DCFzAh
Ainsley Waller: @AinsleyRWaller, twitch.tv/dratsum_x__x
Steven Wakabayashi: stevenwakabayashi.com
Karl Preissner: modmypod.com/episodes/11-karl-preissner-on-pampgs-insider-diversity-1

MENTIONS

COMIC: Batman Urban Legends #6: dccomics.com/comics/batman-urban-legends-2021/batman-urban-legends-6
NEWS: Robin Writer Chuck Dixon’s problematic take: https://bit.ly/2YKbIr7
BOOK: Seduction of the Innocent (1954): wikipedia.org/wiki/Seduction_of_the_Innocent
PERSON: Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie): wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Ziggy_Stardust_and_the_Spiders_from_Mars
TV: Queer as Folk (1999): imdb.com/title/tt0262985/
FILM: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994): imdb.com/title/tt0109045/
TV: Xena Warrior Princess: imdb.com/title/tt0112230/
BOOK: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (Ocean Vuong): goodreads.com/book/show/41880609-on-earth-we-re-briefly-gorgeous
COMIC: Flamer (Mike Curato): goodreads.com/book/show/52751434-flamer
COMIC: Displacement (Kiku Hughes): goodreads.com/book/show/46223303-displacement
FILM: Moonlight (2016): imdb.com/title/tt4975722/
CHARACTER: Elizabeth Bennet (Pride & Prejudice): wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Bennet
CHARACTER: Master Splinter (TMNT): wikipedia.org/wiki/Splinter_(Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles)
CHARACTER: Dumbledore (Harry Potter): wikipedia.org/wiki/Albus_Dumbledore

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Remi Adekoya’s (unpacking) Biracial Britain Oct 11, 2021

“Mixed-race identity presents opportunities and challenges. There's some bad, but there's also some good. So I have to take both.”

Remi Adekoya is a Polish-Nigerian living in the UK, and the author of “Biracial Britain: A Different Way of Looking at Race” - and we had a great conversation on biracial identity — growing up, fitting in, standing out...and kids. Born the son of a Nigerian father and a Polish mother, Remi’s a lecturer of politics a the University of York, the former political editor of the Warsaw Business Journal, and he’s written for Foreign Affairs, Politico, and several well known Polish newspapers. Remi’s currently conducting PhD research on identity politics, having provided socio-political commentary and analysis for the BBC, Foreign Policy, Stratfor, and Radio France International, among others. But as a bi-racial man, researcher, author, journalist, and father - Remi engages in conversation with a unique lens to uncover common - and uncommon - truths. Basically, Remi’s the perfect podcast guest for us, and for anyone who wants to understand the inevitable makeup of the biracial world we are living in =)

LEARN ABOUT REMI

TW: @RemiAdekoya1
WORK: york.ac.uk/politics/people/academicstaff/adekoyaremi
BOOK: Biracial Britain: goodreads.com/book/show/50412190-biracial-britain

MENTIONS

TV: Game of Thrones (as a study on power dynamics): imdb.com/title/tt0944947/
PERSON: Barack Obama: wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

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Geraldine Moriba gets the story (right) Oct 04, 2021

“I was speaking up to respected people in the industry and telling them they were wrong. But we were getting the story right.”

Geraldine Moriba’s a 5-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and advocate — the host and executive producer of “Sounds Like Hate,” a podcast by the Southern Poverty Law Center - documenting how American extremists become radicalized and how some of them change. Geraldine’s also SVP of of news and entertainment at The Grio - a black-owned media platform owned by businessman and philanthropist Byron Allen. A media and journalism veteran, Geraldine’s held senior roles at CNN, NBC, PBS, ABC, and CBC - including being vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion for CNN Worldwide. A Canadian-Jamaican living in New York, Geraldine’s never accepted setbacks on her journey - they were just challenges to overcome. From confronting racist administrators in college, to accepting a fax-machine invitation, Geraldine built a career that would always challenge for the right story to be told.

LEARN ABOUT GERALDINE

MENTIONS

Southern Poverty Law Center: splcenter.org
TheGrio: thegrio.com
SHOW: I Will Destroy You (HBO): imdb.com/title/tt11204260/
PERSON: Marie-Joseph Angélique: wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie-Joseph_Ang%C3%A9lique

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3 MMen & 3 Babies (with Drew & Rajiv) Sep 27, 2021

“It's an evolutionary advantage that babies are cute because. if any other person would wake you up that often in the night you'd be upset, but you can do it when it's your kid. I did not know that you could love someone this fully.”

The secret is out, Raman’s a new dad (again). But he’s not alone in his new Fatherhood. So are TWO of his oldest friends and collaborators, Andrew Tarvin (Humor Engineer) and frieMMd of the Pod Rajiv Satyal (THE Funny Indian) - who both happen to co-host ANOTHER podcast with Raman (“Learnings from Leaders”). When we caught up - Raman’s new son was 3 months old, Drew’s new daughter was 2 months old, and Rajiv’s new son was 2 WEEKS old. So we had a chat and an honest reflection to capture this unique moment: What we’re experiencing, what’s different (from what we expected), how we’re sleeping, how our kids are sleeping, how our partners are doing, what’s the new routine, and how we’re thinking about this strange new world that our kids are being born into. Lots of our listeners have had kids - but we’ve all forgotten those first few weeks - so this is a minority conversation you won’t want to miss...

LEARN ABOUT...

DrewTarvin.com: “the Skill of Humor” - youtu.be/MdZAMSyn_As
RajivSatyal.com: "I am Indian” - youtu.be/sPxsf_Ib7gs
Our OTHER Pod: “Learnings from Leaders” - pgalums.com/podcast

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Suzy Shin (rocks by) letting go Sep 20, 2021

“I was ashamed I liked the music I liked. I didn't even tell people I played guitar when I moved to LA. And then I just let go...”

We want to be Suzy Shinn when we grow up. At 26, she’s a rock star (literally). This two-time Grammy-nominated recording engineer, songwriter and producer is best known for her work with Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy, Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, Tom Morello, and many more. When she was just 21 Suzy co-wrote and produced "Catch 22" by Australian rapper Illy which won the 2018 ARIA Urban work of the year. And while it might sound like it, Rivers Cuomo definitely did NOT write a song about 2021’s album Van Weezer (which she produced). But Suzy didn’t always fit in. Not because she grew up half-Korean in Wichita (far from this opera forevermore). If anything, her white mom wanted her to embrace the heritage of a Korean father who was no longer there. Even after moving to LA, Suzy’s longtime love of rock and roll had her feeling like she was faking it. Her power chords weren’t “smart people music.” But as we all have to discover, Suzy found that fitting in was never about listening to others, but about letting go and listening to herself...

LEARN ABOUT SUZY:

suzyshinn.com
instagram.com/suzyshinn // twitter.com/suzyshinn
SPIN: “Meet Suzy Shinn, the 26-Year-Old Producer Behind Van Weezer” - spin.com/2021/05/suzy-shinn-van-weezer-producer-weezer/

MENTIONS

Lorem Playlist (WTF): complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2019/12/lorem-spotify-playlist
Lorem Playlist (Spotify): spoti.fi/3zZW5sO
FILM: Gone With the Wind (1939): imdb.com/title/tt0031381
FILM: Legally Blonde (2001): imdb.com/title/tt0250494
SONG (Suzy swears it's not about her, but check the opening lyrics): “The End of the Game” - youtu.be/Rl-hSj3gnks
AD (feat. “Smoke on the Water”): youtu.be/cz1LQ68-ssc

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Navin Gupta (always) takes the first step Sep 13, 2021

“Entrepreneurship is messier than people believe. I'm comfortable that I don't know it all, but I can figure it out.”

Navin Gupta has an entrepreneurial spirit. Innately curious and motivated to solve problems, he’s founded 3 successful companies in health and wellness - all on the side while making a big (business) impact at big companies. You’ll hear our conversation about a youth spent lost in nature, studying science, and making cold calls. For Navin, entrepreneurship isn’t about knowing the answer, it’s about taking that first step, and every step after, to find AN answer, and not being afraid to change course for whatever the next journey may be...

LEARN ABOUT NAVIN:

MENTIONS

BOOK: The Difficulty of Being Good: (Gurcharan Das): goodreads.com/book/show/6971900-the-difficulty-of-being-good
TV SHOW: Snowpiercer - imdb.com/title/tt6156584
PERSON: Matthew Weiner - imdb.com/name/nm1980806

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Sara Baiyu Porritt (can) Hear Us Roar Sep 06, 2021

“Listen to my voice, don’t look at me. It’s what got me in the door, but also what never sealed the deal.”

Sara Baiyu Porritt is a multi-hyphenate. She’s the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Omnicom Media Group - but she’s also a recovering pop star - a former R&B songstress-turned-Yogi who may or may not be becoming a podcasting mogul. Born in the rural tropics of China (Xiamen), Sara came to America a little girl and fell in love with the soul of 90s R&B: Mariah, Whitney, Joel Scott, Floetry, and more - so much so that she started singing, answered a Craigslist ad, dropped outta high school (twice!), and formed an (Asian) girl group. Several hairdos (and don’ts) later, Sara was recording with some of the biggest names, releasing albums, starring on the CW, onstage with Wyclef, and VJ’ing on MTVu. But as the music and media landscape was changing - Sara also found herself on the inside helping make waves for brands and artists alike. Beyond her DEI day job, Sara now hosts the podcast “Hear Us Roar” - sharing stories of fearless Asian women traversing the road not taken, showing us all how ideas and passions can ignite transformative journeys. But she’s somehow still afraid of butterflies...

LEARN ABOUT SARA

Website

Social Media: Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn

Podcast: “Hear Us Roar” Podcast: Apple / Spotify / Instagram / Twitter

IMDB

Adweek Article

MENTIONS

PERSON: Anthony Bourdain

BOOK: The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)

BOOK: The Four Agreements (Miguel Ruiz)

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Brian Yang doesn’t (want to) know martial arts Aug 30, 2021

“Waiter, servant, martial artist. Why aren't more Asian-Americans in Hollywood fully-realized characters - just part of the fabric of America?”

Brian Yang is an actor and producer committed to telling stories that reflect the underrepresented. But Brian’s path to Hollywood wasn’t the usual one. A west coast kid, he found himself on the east coast working on startups with a young entrepreneur named Andrew Yang (no relation), whose presidential campaign he would later work on. In the mid 2000s, Brian helped launch an urban basketball league, and soon began to document the rise of a young basketball player named Jeremy Lin - producing the documentary LINSANITY, which premiered at Sundance. Brian’s also produced films like Late Life, Another Shot, I Can I Will I Did, and Snakehead (starring Sung Kang, premiering in October). Brian’s film-acting credits include Saving Face, The Jade Pendant, and the recent Disney+ short film The Little Prince(ss). His TV-acting credits include The Path, Westworld, Blacklist, Shanghai Rush, and Hawaii 5-0. And along the way Brian co-founded Giant Leap Media - a TV & Film development accelerator with a focus on Asian/Pacific American writers & stories. But most importantly? Brian may just be the world’s #1 (Asian) Hall & Oates fan, which Sharon knew about before Raman did...

LEARN ABOUT BRIAN

imdb.com/name/nm0990657
@briflys - Twitter / Instagram
giantleapaccelerator.com

MENTIONS

BAND: Hall & Oates - allmusic.com/artist/daryl-hall-john-oates-mn0000674887
BOOK: Interior Chinatown: goodreads.com/book/show/44436221-interior-chinatown
PERSON: Lizette A. (from highschool)

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100 (or so) episodes later... Aug 23, 2021

has it (really) been 100 episodes?

We sit down to reflect on what (TF) we have been doing this whole time. what did we like (or hate)? Did we learn anything? What's next...stickers? FrieMMd-of-the-Pod Brandon Dawson (host of the most-excellent Distiller Podcast) turns the mic on US to get in our heads. I mean, someone's gotta tell Raman to stop asking so many questions...

LEARN ABOUT SHARON & RAMAN

Seriously? Don't you already know enough about us? Why not instead...
TELL A FRIEND to listen to Modern Minorities
RECORD A QUESTION FOR US and we might play it on the air!
LEAVE US A REVIEW - apple.co/2Le6lpM
Email us a screenshot of ^^any of those (himom@modmypod.com) along with an address, and you may get a surprise in the mail =)

MENTIONS

BRANDON: brandondawson.net
HIS POD: http://thedistillerpodcast.com
TV (Raman): Never Have I Ever (Netflix) - imdb.com/title/tt10062292
TV (Sharon): The Bold Type (Hulu) - imdb.com/title/tt6116060

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Gina Brillon’s (Mess) in Progress Aug 16, 2021

“As people of color in entertainment, the game is just kinda different.

Whether you're an architect or a comedian, it doesn't matter.”

Gina Brillon is a Puerto Rican actress, comedian, writer, and mom from the Bronx - who’s been performing standup comedy since she was 17 years old. Her comedy special “The Floor is Lava” is available on Amazon Prime Video, and co-hosts a weekly podcast “Mess in Progress: The Homegirls Guide to Self-Help” (as it’s clear no one has any idea what they're doing in life). Gina’s been featured on HBO Max, Comedy Central, E!, the View, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival, ‘Kevin Can Wait’ (CBS), and ‘the Conners’ (ABC). And in 2012, she became the first (and only) Latina winner of NBC’s Stand up for Diversity Showcase. Gina’s ALSO a singer, published writer, and poet - whose work has appeared in the New York Post and Daily News, among others. But we also talked (and laughed) about being parents and what we can’t get away with because of the color of our skin...

LEARN ABOUT GINA

Website

Podcast: ‘Mess in Progress’

Social Media: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok

MENTIONS

AUTHOR: Nicholson Baker

AUTHOR: Mark Manson

PERSON: Keanu Reeves

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Lindsay Kaplan expands the (Chief) table Aug 09, 2021

“If it's lonely at the top, it gets lonely a LOT faster when you're a woman.”

Lindsay Kaplan is the Co-founder of Chief - THE female executive membership network. But Lindsay has never felt like she fit in anywhere, being a self-proclaimed loudmouth who “loves weirdos.” She found her joy and success in non-traditional avenues - creating spaces that provide a sense of belonging. Chief’s mission is to drive women to the top and keep them there - with a global community of 5,000+ (and a waitlist that would make a Birkin bag seem readily available). Lindsay shares what her son thinks she does for a living and what inspired the movement creating a ripple effect for women (and businesses) everywhere...

LEARN ABOUT LINDSAY

Chief Website

Social Media: Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn

Forbes Article

MENTIONS

FILM: Contact (1997)

PERSON: Stacy Abrams (American Politician)

AUTHOR: George Orwell

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Kamala Khan (is) MS.MARVEL Aug 02, 2021

Kamala Khan's superpower is...time management? This week we're mixing it up with ANOTHER bonus episode from Raman's OTHER podcast, Quarantined Comics, where FrieMMds-of-the-pod Ryan Joe + Raman are talking about arguably one of the most important mainstream comics of the past decade - MS.MARVEL - about a Pakistani American superhero. Joining us is our favorite Pakistani American superhero, and FrieMMd-of-the-pod Lena Shareef, who you might remember from our Ramadan series.

Kamala Khan - aka MS.MARVEL - was created in 2014 by award-winning novelist and Muslim American G. Willow Wilson. Kamala's just trying to get her homework done, nerd out with fan-fic / MMORPGs, figure out her relationship with her religious brother, come to terms with her best friends, and meet the expectations of her immigrant parents. And she's getting the Disney+ treatment with a new TV show coming out later this year. (starring FrieMMd-of-the-pod Azhar Usman). Enjoy our super-nerdy, super grounded conversation about Kamala Khan, and maybe pick up the comic. You and Sharon can read it after you finish watching Warrior, and let us know what you think =)

LEARN ABOUT

Kamala Khan (aka Ms.Marvel)

Grounded Geeks (Lena's podcast)

Quarantined Comics (Raman + Ryan's podcast)

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Prince imagined (our own game) Jul 30, 2021

Some people find it odd that when we win anything in this game, we give praise back unto God. Well in somebody else's game any triumph makes us feel blessed. When it's your game, you make the rules, everything comes easy. All your friends are in key positions, so when you decide you don't want to play anymore you never leave empty-handed. Can somebody say ‘golden parachute’? Well, it's not your game, you didn't make the rules, so everything comes hard. As long as you're signed to a contract, you're going to take a minority share of the winnings. A select few of us will do well. The majority will not."

"So as a people, we will be considered a minority. But let's stop and take a moment to look at yourself. There is nothing minor about you. You are a blessed people. You're the most talented on earth and you are still grateful. That is why upon winning in their game, you always thank God. Tonight, I would like to ask one favor of you. Imagine what it would be like in our own game.”

4 years since his passing, Prince still moves us. A singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor, and director - he changed the game for everyone after him. In honor of the release of his posthumous album “Welcome 2 America” - we wanted to share an excerpt from a rousing acceptance speech he gave upon being awarded 2000’s “Artist of the Decade” at the Soul Train Music Awards. Even today, Prince challenges ALL of us to do more, to be more....

O(+>

Prince Rogers Nelson (1958-2016)

Rest in Purple.

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Monique Truong ain’t takin (flavor) bullies Jul 26, 2021

Monique Truong is an award-winning author - but she’s really a Southern girl twice over, having been born in South Vietnam and lived in the American South. Her 3 acclaimed novels are all must-reads - The Book of Salt (2003), Bitter in the Mouth (2010), and The Sweetest Fruits (2019). You can also find her writing on food and writing all over the mainstream - and foodie - media. And just so none of our parents are worried, if none of that works out, she can always fall back on her background as an intellectual property attorney. From stories of awkward meals to loving parents, you won't want to hear this one on an empty stomach.

LEARN ABOUT MONIQUE

Website

Social Media: Instagram / Twitter

Southern Foodways Article - "SOUTHERN, REBORN: My Boiling Springs became a wellspring" (2016)

Saveur Article - "Lost in Translation" (2012)

Southern Foodways Article - "RECIPES FROM A HUNGRY MAN: The Search for Lafcadio Hearn"

Washington Post Article - "A love letter to a N.C. barbecue joint" (2012)

MENTIONS

FILM: Dazed & Confused (1993)

PERSON: Claudia Rankine (poet...wrote Citizen)

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Sidd Masand’s Rock & Roll (True) Stories Jul 19, 2021

“Growing up I didn't think of Rock & Roll as like a white space - it’s far reaching and can unite people.”

Siddharth (Sidd) Masand is an Indo-Canadian engineer-turned-YouTuber, fascinated with the music of the 70's, 80's, and 90's and its influence on culture. In just one year, he turned his YouTube channel, Rock N' Roll True Stories, to a 6-figure income with nearly 100,000 subscribers. Growing up in Canada, and Ethiopia (during its civil war) Sidd didn’t know a lot of East Indian kids listening to Rock - they all preferred hip-hop. Today, Sidd still has his engineering day job, but for him, Rock & Roll - and his YouTube channel - remains a creative outlet that allows him the freedom to have a rock n’ roll attitude toward life - because after all, don’t we all just wanna rock?

LEARN ABOUT SIDD

YouTube Channel

Social Media: Instagram / Twitter

MENTIONS

SONG: “Learning to Fly” (Tom Petty)

SHOW: The Office (US)

BOOK: How to Win Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie)

PERSON: Freddie Mercury (Queen)

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Jonathan Tolentino wants (us to get) better Jul 12, 2021

“How physicians look at race and sexuality, has to become a deliberate practice — because stereotypes are shortcuts, and shortcuts lead to bad care.”

Dr. Jonathan “JT” Tolentino is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Miami. Beyond being an accomplished physician and professor, JT is passionate about working with the underserved and vulnerable LGBTQ+ community and working to reduce health care disparities affecting LatinX and Asian communities. JT is Gay - having only come out in his 20s/30s. As the oldest male child in an Asian household, there were always family expectations to meet - and despite hitting every other checkbox, JT has had to manage the nuances to maintain the harmony of his parents’ traditional dreams - built over decades of acculturation. For JT, it all boils down to empathy - both personally and professionally. In his day job, he helps physicians understand how inequities can actually lead to problems for everyone. Because we can’t all get better until we understand how we can get there together...

LEARN ABOUT JT

University of Miami Website

MENTIONS

TV: Scrubs

Person: Dr. Fauci

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What’s Your Story? (Seeking) Answers Through Allyship Jul 04, 2021

“Our show is an American podcast...” “...and yet, because we look the way we look, we’re seen as an Asian podcast...and I think that ties into everything we're talking about right now.”

For this Fourth of July - we thought we’d share a decidedly AMERICAN conversation Sharon & Raman joined on ANOTHER podcast. Recently, friend-of-the-Pod Matt Story had us on “What’s Your Story” - his most excellent podcast featuring leaders of color - to continue our conversation on how different communities of color can come together to take the pain(s) that we are collectively feeling — and turn them into something that drives systemic change. ALSO - there may be a potentially billion-dollar idea we bring up that we want someone to build out ASAP.

LEARN ABOUT MATT

Website

Podcast - What’s Your Story?

Social Media: Instagram / Twitter

PAST POD APPEARANCES

9/6/2020: Matt’s on “Modern Minorities” (part 1)

9/6/2020: Sharon & Raman on “What’s Your Story” (part 2)

2/28/2021: Matt’s 2nd MM appearance

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Learning for Justice has put together a toolkit for how to respond to COVID-19 Anti-Asian racism

Donate to the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund

Donate to the Asian Pacific Environmental Network

If you need support: Call 1-800-273-TALK,

Asian languages: 1-877-990-8585, Text "CONNECT" to 741741

Or visit the Asian, Pacific Islander, and South Asian American (APISAA) Therapist Directory

Report hate and harassment

MENTIONS

NEWS OUTLET: Next Shark

PODCAST: “What A Day” Podcast

PODCAST: Self Evident Podcast

TV: Warrior (HBO Max)

TV: Ramy (Hulu)

TV: Never Have I Ever (Netflix)

BOOK: Good Talk

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Yellow Glitter (Pride): Rainbow Washing & Performative Allyship Jul 01, 2021

While another Pride month has come and gone, there is always a lot of work to be done. Steven Wakabayashi - host of the Yellow Glitter podcast (and frieMMd of the Pod) - is doing this work. On a recent episode of his show, him and longtime friend Derek Tran had a really insightful, thought provoking conversation about rainbow-washing, performative allyship, and showing up authentically. It really gave us pause, so we thought we’d share Steven’s conversation on OUR podcast, as this is something we ALL need to be thinking about.

LEARN ABOUT STEVEN

stevenwakabayashi.com
instagram.com/stevenwakabayashi
twitter.com/wakuu
Yellow Glitter (podcast): https://apple.co/3ba9yUx

LEARN ABOUT DEREK

Instagram: @findyourfearless

MENTIONS

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Radhika Vekaria's (devotion to) music Jun 28, 2021

“People would bring their harmoniums and just come and sing and play. Music was always around me — it's part of the backdrop of life.”

Growing up in London, Radhika grew up around music - at all hours of the day. Whether it be late night family parties singing bhajans (Indian devotionals) or Bollywood classics - with some of the Indian musical greats - to training and (obsessing) over classical music since the age of six - Radhika developed a deep connection to the heritage of sacred Eastern art, music, literature, and mythology - profoundly influencing her artistic expression. Radhika - her namesake from Radha, the Vedic goddess of unconditional love and devotion - soon realized that music was in her heart as she began performing jazz and devotional music, composing for radio and television, and traveling worldwide with a variety of artists, including Nitin Sawnhey, Eddie Palmieri, and Prince. In a ranging conversation on heritage, habit, and passion, Radhika shares the passions that stir her...

LEARN ABOUT RADHIKA

Website

Social Media: Instagram / Twitter

MENTIONS

TV: Grey’s Anatomy

PERSON: Dali Lama

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Father’s (Day) Fathers... Jun 20, 2021

This Father’s Day has some of us feeling old, because it’s always been about OUR dads...not just us. While we talked to our guest’s Moms for Mother’s Day, we decided to talk to a few Modern Minority Dads - about their fathers, and how they father. Beyond our favorite Indian American (Raman), we got a little help from our fellow father friends: Serge Thony, a modern Black father in LA (as well as an actor, model, and Sharon’s husband =), and Brad Weinstein, a modern Gay father in NY (a lawyer + COO). All 3 dad’s are (now) each fathers of 2, and recount their experiences, approaches to parenting, and even share some terrible Dad jokes. But whatever you dude, call your Dad and be sure to thank him...

LEARN ABOUT

Serge Thony: sergethony.com
Brad Weinstein: linkedin.com/in/brad-weinstein-a7190323

MENTIONS

MM Mother’s Day Episode: modmypod.com/episodes/ep-82-mothers-day-secrets
Dad’s we’d want to talk to: Dwayne Wade & Will Smith (Serge), George Clooney (Brad), Rivers Cuomo (Raman)

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Beth Nguyen wants (you to learn) her name Jun 14, 2021

“It made me think about how our sense of identity really gets mixed up in names that other people give to us.”

She was named Bich Minh Nguyen, but now goes by the name Beth...because, in her own words published in The New Yorker, “America Ruined My Name For Me.” Having a name that is hard to pronounce and rooted in your heritage presents unique and difficult challenges, and it’s an all-too-common experience for many immigrants. Born in Saigon, a refugee, and a mother - Beth is an award-winning author of many novels whose work has appeared in The Paris Review, The New York Times, and Literary Hub. She’s taught at Purdue University and the University of San Francisco and is currently a professor of creative writing at the University of Wisconsin. Beth is at work on a series of linked essays about post-refugee life, titled “Owner of a Lonely Heart” - which we can’t wait to read. Listen to our chat with Beth about growing up between the cultures of two different worlds, and you’ll understand why her name change was necessary.

LEARN ABOUT BETH:

Website
Social Media: Instagram / Twitter
New Yorker article: “America Ruined My Name For Me” (April 2021)
BETH'S BOOKS: Stealing Buddha's Dinner (2007), Pioneer Girl (2014), Short Girls (2009)

MENTIONS:

BOOKS: Harriet the Spy (Louise Fitzhugh)
PERSON: Keanu Reeves - because of sequined pillow in her Zoom background

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Svante Myrick wants (police) change Jun 07, 2021

“We got ourselves into this - on the left and the right. People want to be safe - so we're proposing something different and better.”

Svante Myrick is the mayor of Ithaca, NY - a role he’s held since 2012 - when he became the town’s youngest Mayor, and the first Mayor of color. Svante has become one of the nation’s earliest elected leaders to put forward one of the most ambitious, concrete plans to change the way we think about community policing - something that has propelled him to the national stage. His proposal to replace traditional policing with a Department of Public Safety and Community Solutions, aims to reduce armed personnel in emergency response. Svante’s thoughtful, informed take on how to take on big challenges at the local level are informed by his experiences as a mixed race kid who grew up facing homelessness, relying on school lunches, and other critical public services. And while his policies are progressive - Svante often says there are 3 political parties in America - Democrats, Republicans, and Mayors - because the real work is local in our communities. He’s also a huge comic book nerd, which means it's only a matter of time before Raman invites him on his OTHER podcast. Svante represents the next generation of politicians, and inspires us all that we change better together, not apart.

LEARN ABOUT SVANTE

MENTIONS:

BOOKS / FILM: Lord of the Rings (“everybody thinks they're Gandalf, but you’re actually Frodo”)
X-MEN: Colossus, Wolverine, Archangel

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Minjae Ormes has grown (up) Visible May 31, 2021

“Suddenly the world opens up - you meet people living a completely different life. So we picked up everything, left everything behind and moved.”

Minjae Ormes is a digital, tech, and entertainment veteran - she's the CMO of Visible - one of Fast Company’s most innovative companies. Minjae's worked for YouTube and Ogilvy - working on campaigns for Disney, National Geographic, and the Tribeca Film Institute. But before all that, she moved to the other side of the world (from Korea) when she was just 13 - having to adapt to a new language, new community, and even new holidays (Halloween is the best). As we unpack our tensions of today - you’ll appreciate Minjae’s unique empathy, curiosity, and understanding - born out of sometimes having to see the world from two very different perspectives. And on top of it all, Minjae’s a rad mom, has a rad haircut, and is a big fan of the Colorado Stock Show. So of course we talked a lot about Korean food, Korean donuts, and H-Mart, obviously.

LEARN ABOUT MINJAE

MENTIONS

Colorado Stock Show: nationalwestern.com
H-Mart (Korean grocery chain): nytimes.com/2021/05/11/dining/h-mart.html
MOVIE: Black Swan (2010): imdb.com/title/tt0947798

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Hear our (AAPI) Red Envelope Stories May 24, 2021

To continue celebrating AAPI Heritage Month, we’ve partnered with Red Envelope Stories - a new platform getting a lot of coverage - where Asian Americans share their personal stories - many of which grapple with the modern Asian diasporic identity. Joining us to hear - and talk about - some of these Red Envelope Stories is co-founder Michelle Liu, a student at Brown University. If you enjoy hearing some of thee stories, head over to RedEnvelopeStories.net - where you can sign up for a weekly newsletter of quick, digestible stories to better understand the Asian American experience - ...and of course you can submit YOUR stories =)

LEARN MORE:

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Let’s Talk WARRIOR (+Grounded Geeks) May 20, 2021

Chinatown, San Francisco - the 1870s. Everybody was Kung-fu fighting (ok, not everyone, but a LOT of people).

Raman’s been trying to convince Sharon for MONTHS that she needs to watch WARRIOR - the hit show on HBO Max originally created by BRUCE LEE, executive-produced by his daughter, Shannon Lee (no relation to Sharon), and Fast & Furious director Justin Lin.

WARRIOR is a period piece that goes deep on race in America, and has some sweet kung fu, and very attractive (Asian) people. BUT Sharon’s still not watched it, so we invited friend-of-the-Pod Lena Shareef (from our recent Ramadan month episodes) and her brother Aman, who co-host the EPIC podcast “Grounded Geeks” - to make the case, and share THEIR take on why Warrior might just be the best show you (and Sharon) are not watching...

LEARN MORE

Warrior Episode #1 (free on YouTube): youtu.be/1bp8Lfq5rV0
Grounded Geeks Podcast: anchor.fm/grounded-geeks

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Steven Wakabayashi’s (Yellow) Glitter May 16, 2021

“Intersectional identities are complex - even Asian identities in the queer community. How do we find space for that?”

Steven Wakabayashi hosts “YELLOW GLITTER” - a podcast exploring the queer Asian experience. Steven’s thoughtful approach to life - and conversation - have created an amazing space for a community that is marginalized, not just in this country, about around the world. As we all know - neither the Asian or Queer communities are monolithes - with so many intersectional nuances that are often glossed over and not understood. You’ll enjoy this mindful exploration with Steven - about misunderstanding, fear, and most of all, love.

LEARN ABOUT STEVEN

stevenwakabayashi.com
instagram.com/stevenwakabayashi
twitter.com/wakuu
Yellow Glitter (podcast): https://apple.co/3ba9yUx

MENTIONS:

BOOK: “The 5 Love Languages” (Gary Chapman): goodreads.com/book/show/23878688-the-5-love-languages
BOOK: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (Ocean_Vuong): goodreads.com/author/show/4456871.Ocean_Vuong
PERSON: Margaret Cho: MargaretCho.com

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Margaret Cho’s (Mortal) Minority May 10, 2021

“Trying to fit in was just not an option. But in comedy, I could embrace my oddness.”

Margaret Cho, the “All American Girl,” is a Grammy and Emmy Award-nominated jill of all trades who was once told by TV executives to “tone it down.” Despite all of her success, feeling left out and alienated are subjects that are still near to Margaret’s heart, inspiring her to continue lighting the path for underrepresented groups. Listen to our interview with this iconic comedian, actor, musician, advocate, entrepreneur, and artist as we learn about what has made her THE Margaret Cho, a “Patron Saint of Outsiders,” discuss her own podcast Mortal Minority and their Season 2 focus on unpacking historical hate crimes against Asian Americans, her animated film "Over the Moon" on Netflix, and how a recent DNA test reveals that she is, in fact, 100% Chinese (not Korean). We know - so many surprises. There’s a lot more to Margaret Cho than you think.

LEARN ABOUT MARGARET:

Website

Social Media: Instagram / Twitter / Youtube / Facebook

Podcast: The Mortal Minority

MENTIONS:

TV: The Serpent (Netflix)

TV: My Mister (K-Drama)

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Mothers (day) secrets... May 07, 2021

We've always known that we would LOVE to have a conversation with our guests' MOMS. So for this Mother's Day, we decided to do just that with THREE key questions. Joining us for a very special episode are the MOMS of Friends-of-the-Pod Buck Rocker, Jay Veraldi, Jieun Kim Kirtley, Dr. Nzinga Harrison, Rajiv Satyal, and Sarah Salem. Happy Mother's Day to ALL the MOMS out there!

LEARN MORE (about our guests's MM Episodes):

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Lets talk (about) India May 04, 2021

India is facing an overwhelming COVID-19 surge. Cases continue to rise, with record cases reported daily. Among a decline in cases in February, the government loosened restrictions, so we were all caught off-guard. The country's healthcare system is collapsing, with supplies running low/out, and more and more deaths reported daily. Many of us have family and friends suffering. Along with friend-of-the-Pod (and fellow Desi), we process our thoughts not just on India, but how we need to remain vigilant, and thoughtful about the pandemic around us. We are not out of the woods, by any stretch or measure.

Even with the terrible situation in India, this pandemic is so much bigger. Smarter people are talking about what this means for all of us - so you should go read and listen to what they're saying. Here's a quick summary: https://mobile.twitter.com/DrTomFrieden/status/1388172436999376899

Beyond just getting your vaccine as soon as you can - we need to get still WEAR MASKS, avoid crowds, maintain social distance, and make smart decisions - not just for yourself, but those around us. With India, we are seeing the worst that can happen unfold on the other side of the world.

HELP INDIA: While countries around the globe are sending aid to India, here are a few places YOU can help (list via NY Mag):

Making the Difference is helping provide medical supplies for public hospitals and nursing homes in Mumbai as well as grocery and ration kits to daily wage earners. https://www.donatekart.com/MTD/Save-Patients/
Rapid Response, India’s premier disaster-response and preparedness service, is seeking donations to provide dry food goods such as rice, dal, salt, and sugar to families across India. https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/donate-dry-ration-to-families-struggling-with-hunger-in-covid-second-wave?utm_source=MutualAidIndia
Breathe India, a fundraiser led by Indian Institutes of Technology alumni in conjunction with the SaveLife Foundation, is seeking donations to procure effective distribution of oxygen concentrators to hospitals in Delhi. Lack of supplemental oxygen is currently a massive problem amid the COVID surge in India. https://milaap.org/fundraisers/support-arrange-oxygen-concentrators-in-delhi
Seva Kitchen, a nonprofit in Nagpur, is seeking donations to provide meal kits for marginalized communities. https://www.donatekart.com/seva_kitchen/Help-seva-kitchen/?utm_source=MutualAidIndia
Transgender Welfare Equity and Empowerment Trust (TWEET) has been creating and funding shelter homes for trans people in Delhi during the pandemic. https://milaap.org/fundraisers/support-shelter-for-transgender-persons-in-mumbai
Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF), a children’s rights organization based in India, is collecting donations to help children in poverty-stricken communities with access to meals and education. https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/kscf-for-covid-19-relief
HelpNow is an initiative led by young students in Mumbai to provide quick, 24/7 medical transportation. It is currently seeking donations to ensure adequate supplies and compensate its drivers. https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/getHelpNow
Give India, a crowdfunding nonprofit platform created to support India throughout the pandemic, is currently running fundraising campaigns for oxygen supply, food shortages, and women’s reproductive health amid the pandemic. https://covid.giveindia.org/

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Jason’s discovery (+faith) of Islam May 02, 2021

“I was really struck by how universal the message was - and i wanted to be a part of it.”

Jason is a husband. A father. He’s an attorney. He’s also Black..and a Muslim. In a conversation about family, religion, race, and love - Jason shares his journey, how he discovered (and built) a relationship with Islam, and how’s its influenced his life for the better...

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Modern MINARI Apr 29, 2021

“The nuances of the Korean family takes you back to being in a new environment, trying to fit in../..but it felt like an American family story as well.”

The Oscars have come and gone, but what remains is how we feel about MINARI - the critically acclaimed film that had SIX nominations and Yuh-Jung Youn’s win for Best Supporting Actress (#TeamGrandma). It was a big year for Modern Minorities...at the movies. History was made with Chloe Zhao becoming the first woman of color to win Best Director, Viola Davis is now the most nominated Black Actress, Riz Ahmed was the first Muslim nominated for Best actor, and of course...MINARI

So along with Friends-of-the-Pod Jieun Kim-Kirtley AND Jon Pollock - we thought we’d have some fun talking MINARI, and the other Modern Minority-led films, actors, and big screen artists that made their mark. ALSO, we answer the age old question of who’s hotter - Steven Yeun or Riz Ahmed (spoiler alert, it’s Oscar Isaac =)

FRIENDS OF THE POD

Jon Pollock: modmypod.com/episodes/ep-35-jon-pollock-says-ciao-andiamo-legwx-lgphb-9j8lc-sx4fn-yl3p8
Jieun Kim Kirtley: modmypod.com/episodes/ep-38-jieun-kirtleys-kids-learn-taekwondo-korean

MENTIONS:

Chloe Zhao acceptance speech (2021): youtu.be/hagrJurgOqU
Yuh-Jung Youn’s acceptance speech (2021): youtu.be/syrGt0fpffY
Life is Beautiful acceptance speech (1999): youtu.be/8cTR6fk8frs
BOOK (Jon): Far from the Tree (Andrew Solomon): goodreads.com/book/show/13547504-far-from-the-tree
KIDS’ BOOK (Raman): The Ugly Vegetables (Grace Lin): goodreads.com/book/show/240144.The_Ugly_Vegetables
SONG: “You’re Welcome” (Moana): youtu.be/79DijItQXMM

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Lena Shareef wants (to tell) a good story Apr 24, 2021

All of a sudden, it was such an “us VS them” rhetoric - and I realized I was part of the ‘them’.”

Lena Shareef grew up in a lot of places - Pakistan, Ukraine, and the Midwest. She’s currently making the internet do things @ National Geographic - having studied video production and journalism. Along the way she co-founded GIRLWITHABOOK, which advocates for girls' education, which she believes is one of the best solutions to climate change and poverty. When she's not battling Internet trolls at her day job or trying to convince the world of the importance of equality, feminism, and representation (none of which are really that hard), she's devouring books, movies, and TV shows, and then naturally writing/venting about them on Medium and even HER podcast “Grounded Geeks’ which she co-hosts with her brother (ALSO - her dad is pretty cool and wrote an awesome book...just ask Raman). At the end of the day, all Lena wants is just a really good story...

LEARN ABOUT LENA:

@LenaShareef
Girlwithabookrising.com
anchor.fm/grounded-geeks

MENTIONS

COMICS: Ms.Marvel (Kamala Khan): wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamala_Khan
TV: Warrior (HBO Max): imdb.com/title/tt5743796
PERSON: Jason Tobin (Young Jun on “Warrior”) - imdb.com/name/nm0864937
PERSON: Chris Evans - imdb.com/name/nm0262635

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Alice Lee’s (extraordinary) journey Apr 19, 2021

Alice Lee is an actress, singer, and songwriter starring in the NBC show “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” where she plays Emily Kang, an Asian-American...who’s now a new mom. In the most recent episode, the characters grapple - and come to terms with - Emily’s postpartum depression, which like many mental health issues in this country...is not something we talk about often enough - especially in the Asian community. In a ranging conversation that covers Alice’s childhood in the midwestern Korean suburbs, performing on + off-Broadway (“Wish Upon” + “Heathers: the Musical”) and smoking weed with her dad - we learn a little bit more about Alice...

LEARN ABOUT ALICE

@aliceheyalice (Instagram, Twitter, YouTube)
imdb.com/name/nm5333857
nbc.com/zoeys-extraordinary-playlist

MENTIONS

BOOK: Pachinko (Min Jin Lee): goodreads.com/book/show/34051011-pachinko
PERSON: Sandra Oh (Actress) - imdb.com/name/nm0644897

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Azhar Usman believes in (the) Truth Apr 16, 2021

“Who controls the rhythm of the algorithm?”

Azhar Usman is a Muslim American writer, actor, comedian, producer - and many other things - of Indian descent (by way of Chicago). Dave Chappelle once declared, “Azhar’s like a comedian from the future.” One of the most outspoken voices of his generation, Azhar’s a writer & Co-Executive Producer for Hulu’s award-winning RAMI (stop what you’re doing and watch this show NOW). Marvel Studios recently also announced that Azhar would be joining the MCU in the highly anticipated Disney+ show MS.MARVEL (Raman fan-girls over the comic it’s based on). Azhar’s worked on comedic projects for Netflix, Hannibal Buress, Mo Amer, and Hasan Minhaj (Azhar served as a writer for Minhaj’s epic 2017 White House Correspondents Dinner speech). Azhar co-created ‘ALLAH MADE ME FUNNY–The Official Muslim Comedy Tour’ (which toured 20+ countries across 5 continents), toured India for the US State Department as part of “Make Chai Not War”, was named one of ‘The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World’ (Georgetown University), and called ‘America’s Funniest Muslim’ by CNN.

Oh and he’s a father of four, former attorney, and dotcom entrepreneur - so at least we know his parents are proud of something. As we continue our conversations with Muslim Americans for the Holy month of Ramadan - this is a deep one you’re going to enjoy, so buckle your seat belts...

LEARN ABOUT AZHAR

MENTIONS

TV: Ramy (Hulu): imdb.com/title/tt7649694
TV: 90 Day Fiancé: imdb.com/title/tt3469050
BOOK: The White Tiger (Aravind Adiga): goodreads.com/book/show/1768603.The_White_Tiger
PERSON: Mansur Al-Hallaj (Sufi Mystic): wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Hallaj - ابو المغيث الحسين بن منصور الحلاج‎

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Sarah Salem challenges (your) perceptions Apr 12, 2021

“People have their assumptions about my faith...and I love getting to change every perception”

Sarah Z Salem is an Egyptian American Muslim in Atlanta by way of Philly. Sarah’s not our first Muslim American guest, but for the month of Ramadan we wanted to feature diverse voices from the culture. As a community advocate, Sarah strives to bring forward voices and stories of those most impacted by climate change and injustice. And as a practicing Muslim - she’s spent most of her life navigating her faith while also deepening her sense of self and identity. Be it her choice to cover (or not cover) her hair, being a cancer survivor, and even finding love - Sarah shares how she has always challenged the assumptions and perceptions that others may have - to shift the narrative. And she’s not stopping anytime soon.

LEARN ABOUT SARAH

MENTIONS:

FILM: “Someone Great” (2019) - imdb.com/title/tt8075260
PERSON: Malcolm X - wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X

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Muslim voices (preview) for Ramadan Apr 07, 2021

For the holy month of Ramadan (4/12 - 5/12), we’ll be featuring more Muslim American voices - with heritage from all over the world: Egypt, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, and Inglewood, California. You’ll be hearing from community organizers, stand up comics, social media pros, and even lawyers. And as always, we’ll do our best to keep it Halal in the family ;)

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Mira Jacob (shares a) Good Talk Apr 03, 2021

“If I write this book, it's really gonna hurt — because if I write the truth, it's not a comfortable truth.”

Mira Jacob is many things - acclaimed author / illustrator, cultural critic, awesome mother, and a pretty funny brown woman in Brooklyn who happens to be from New Mexico. Mira’s graphic memoir ‘GOOD TALK’ is one of Raman’s all-time favorite books (which we’ve aired a previous episode on), has achieved TONS of critical acclaim, AND is now in development as a television series. Mira’s novel “The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing” is also most excellent. ‘Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations’ shares hard conversations Mira has had with not just her young (mixed race) son, but her family and friends about experiences of race in America - from her childhood to the modern era. Mira shares not just her process - but stories that will make you laugh, stop, realize, maybe even cry, and then laugh again You really should stop reading this right now and go read Mira’s work...like yesterday.

LEARN ABOUT MIRA

GOOD TALK: goodreads.com/book/show/36700347-good-talk
mirajacob.com
IG @goodtalkthanks // TW @mirajacob

MENTIONS

MOVIE: Heathers (1989) - imdb.com/title/tt0097493/
PERSON: Zadie Smith (Author) - goodreads.com/author/show/2522.Zadie_Smith
PERSON: Arundhati Roy (Author) - goodreads.com/author/show/6134.Arundhati_Roy

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Soof - Bikya! Mar 31, 2021

And now for something completely different...on our show we’ve intro'ed some really interesting people - writers, comedians, musicians. Not surprisingly, every once in a while they put something really interesting out there in the world.

Friend of the pod Seif Hamid (AKA Soof) has a love for music, and has made more than his fair share of it that's pretty damn good. Seif's new track "BIKYA!" has some pretty good bounce, and turns out there's an interesting story to the name. Here our quick chat and enjoy =)

MUSIC (Soof): https://spoti.fi/3cDb6rs
SEIF (IG): instagram.com/seifaldin/

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Maartje & Peggy (go beyond) The Plantation of our Ancestors Mar 28, 2021

Maartje Duin & Peggy Bouva found a unique connection, and turned it into something beautiful and important. The two created “The Plantation of Our Ancestors” (“De plantage van onze voorouders,” by VPRO - Dutch Public Radio) — an 8-part podcast series that uncovers and unpacks Holland’s history of slavery - from a very personal perspective. Maartje is a podcast producer of Dutch noble descent, whose family were part-owners of plantations in Suriname, where Peggy’s ancestors were slaves. But this is NOT a story of white guilt or black anger - it is one of understanding uncomfortable truths, and facing the future by remembering our past - together. The show has received international acclaim (soon to be translated to English), and more importantly, a powerful conversation representative you should hear - and be having.

LEARN MORE

PODCAST TRAILER (in English): https://youtu.be/YR9eLpIQu8Q
NPR STORY: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/06/906815515/a-journey-that-we-have-to-join-together-2-dutch-women-confront-slaverys-legacy
PODCAST SITE (in Dutch): https://www.vpro.nl/programmas/de-plantage-van-onze-voorouders/luister/afleveringen.html

MENTIONS

FILM (Peggy): Hidden Figures (2016): imdb.com/title/tt4846340
BOOK (Martje): Girl Woman Other (2019, Bernardine Evaristo): goodreads.com/book/show/41081373-girl-woman-other
PERSON (Maartje): Ira Glass
PERSON (Peggy): Kamala Harris

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Tyanne Benallie’s (Indigenous) lens Mar 22, 2021

Tyanne Benallie is a member of the Navajo (Diné) Nation - who has dedicated her career to working with resilient populations. With expertise in Indigenous projects and policy, Ty has worked in Native American communities at the federal and tribal level - across the environmental, social, education, and health sectors. As our first (of hopefully many) indigenous guests, Ty shared experiences - being perceived as “urban” but also on her people’s reservation - will ring both familiar and new. A world traveler having volunteered in underdeveloped countries, Ty has a thoughtful approach - and was able to help us better understand the commonalities and nuanced difference across the tapestry of Native American culture and perspective.

NAVAJO INTRO (+English)

Yá'át'ééh, shí eí Tyanne Benallie, yinishyé. (My name is Tyanne Benallie)
Tó'áhani nishłį́ dóó (I am born for the near the water clan)
Nashashí báshishchíín dóó (I am born into the bear clan)
Kiis'áanii eí dasheícheii dóó (My maternal grandfather is Hopi/Pueblo People)
Kiyaa'áanii eí dashínálí (My paternal grandfather is the Towering House Clan)

LEARN ABOUT TYANNE:

@worldtrotter42 (Instagram, Twitter)
flowerhill.institute/who-we-are

MENTIONS

FILM: Beauty & the Beast (1991): imdb.com/title/tt0101414
PERSON: Michelle Obama

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Let’s talk (about) Asian violence Mar 19, 2021

With the events in Atlanta drawing greater attention to AAPI violence in America, we decided to sit down for a candid conversation Friday afternoon with friend of the pod Ryan Joe (Raman’s co-host on his other secret podcast). Look, we don’t have all the answers, but we need to start asking the questions.

MENTIONS

John Oliver (HBO) on the (coded) racist rhetoric: https://youtu.be/XMGxxRRtmHc

WHAT YOU CAN DO (sourced from Crooked Media)

Learning for Justice has put together a toolkit for how to respond to COVID-19 Anti-Asian racism: https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/how-to-respond-to-coronavirus-racism
Donate to the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund: https://www.aaldef.org/
Donate to the Asian Pacific Environmental Network http://apen4ej.org/
If you need support: Call 1-800-273-TALK, Asian languages: 1-877-990-8585, Text "CONNECT" to 741741
Or visit the Asian, Pacific Islander, and South Asian American (APISAA) Therapist Directory https://www.asianmhc.org/apisaa
Report hate and harassment: https://www.standagainsthatred.org/report

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Grace Foster finds (home in) herself Mar 15, 2021

Grace Huber Foster doesn’t know her real birthday - she grew up in an orphanage in Seoul, South Korea. With no possessions to call her own, Grace was adopted at the age of ~5, to a couple in Wisconsin, and later moved in with a foster family with 19 other kids - and one bathroom. Growing up as the “oldest of the youngest third” came with a fair amount of challenges, but ultimately taught her how to survive (and thrive). Today, Grace works in the non-profit sector where she wants to uplift and inspire marginalized and forgotten communities. Grace happens to also be her MBA at NYU, where she’s energized by a bigger world of diverse voices and experiences. In a conversation that explores how identity shapes who are - and want to be- Grace shares her unique story, and how she chooses to navigate the world.

LEARN ABOUT GRACE

MENTIONS

FILM: “Knock Down the House” (2019 documentary featuring AOC) - imdb.com/title/tt9358052

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Pave the Way (for more): International Women’s Day Mar 08, 2021

March is Women’s History Month - and for International Women’s Day, we wanted to hear from women paving the way for the next generation of business leaders: Kranthi Meka and Stacy DiStefano. Along with Sharon, both are members of CHIEF - a network connecting and supporting women leaders. Kranthi’s an SVP at Payactiv, modernizing pay between employers and employees, and Stacy’s the COO at Chimes, and a health and human services veteran. We sat down to talk about not just being a leader today (and influencing change for tomorrow), but their inspirations - and challenges - growing up. What expectations were placed on them. What do they wish they’d known sooner, or done differently? While we’ve come a long way towards EQUITY and equality, it’s clear we’ve still got a lot more work to do.

LEARN MORE

Stacy DiStefano: linkedin.com/in/stacy-olsen-distefano-347ba337
Kranthi Meka (TW: @kranthimv): linkedin.com/in/kranthimeka

MENTIONS

Chief.com
BOOK (Kranthi): Power of Intention (Wayne Dwyer): goodreads.com/book/show/19793.The_Power_of_Intention
BOOK (Stacey): Little Fires Everywhere (Celeste Ng): goodreads.com/book/show/51704136-little-fires-everywhere

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Black History, (to be) continued Feb 27, 2021

We might be nearing the end of Black History Month, but Black History is never over. We are living it, and many are still making it. So we wanted to hear what Black History (Month) means to some of our (Black) friends. So we brought back past guests TESS THOMAS - traveler, photographer, talent director, and MATT STORY - host of the “What’s Your Story” podcast. You’ll hear about about how Black History was taught growing up - in school and at home. Beyond the history of Rosa Parks and MLK - what else were we hearing? Stories that go beyond the famous figures, but the dreamers, family, and founders - and also the history itself. What has been - and continues to be - the legacy of Black history and its role in OUR American society - the good, the bad, the ugly. It’s ain’t all up and to the right, and we have a lot of work to do. Because after all, Black history is AMERICAN history.

LEARN ABOUT...

MATT STORY: @mattestory, mattestory.com, Podcast: https://apple.co/2De6Tve
TESS THOMAS: @tesstafarian, thelaughingtraveler.com, yearup.org

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Jennifer Ekeleme makes her (own) American dream Feb 22, 2021

Jennifer Ekeleme is “brand intuitive” and “high vibe” ...but mostly? She’s making her own path. After years charting a course in the NY ad industry - with experiences good, bad, and ugly - Jennifer took a step back. She even found herself out-of-country for (more than a few) months as the pandemic (and insanity) gripped our fair country. But now she’s back, and ready to go. “Classically trained and intentionally directed,” Jennifer provides an unconventional approach to creating sustainable solutions - working at the intersection of brand, equity, and mindfulness. But more than anything - she’s done navigating and assimilating. Jennifer’s charting her own path. Ain’t nothing going to break her stride. Oh no, she’s got to keep on moving...

LEARN ABOUT JENNIFER

jennzen.com
READ THIS (fire): https://adage.com/article/agency-news/uncomfortable-conversations-i-was-constantly-feeling-unsupported-and-unsafe/2261251
SOCIAL: instagram.com/_jennzen_ // twitter.com/jennzenstrategy

MENTIONS

FILM: Boomerang (1992): imdb.com/title/tt0103859
TV: Lovecraft Country (HBO): imdb.com/title/tt6905686
PERSON: Tope Awotona (Calendly Founder, Nigerian): twitter.com/TopeAwotona

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Chris Finn speaks the (kids’) language Feb 15, 2021

Chris Finn is an education expert with 24+ years’ experience — as a Teacher, Principal, Dean, and Headmaster across public and charter schools. Today, Chris helps fight and dismantle systemic racism in the American school system - training teachers and administrators on Implicit Bias, Anti-Racism, Equity in Education, Social Emotional Learning, Culturally Responsive Teaching / Learning — to improve the social and academic outcomes for ALL students. Chris also happens to be a Hip-Hop MC who’s performed on stages around the world. Chris speaks code-switches amongst languages - but he’s an expert at the one that matters most - the one the kids relate to.

LEARN ABOUT CHRIS:

MENTIONS

TV: The Wire (2002-08): imdb.com/title/tt0306414
CHRIS' MUSIC: eodub.com/bigzoo
CHRIS on our MM Educator’s Panel: https://bit.ly/3rxYrKH

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Bringing In the (Chinese) New Years Feb 08, 2021

Gong Xi Fa Cai (恭喜發財)! As the Chinese New Year (Year of the Ox, FTW) approaches, Raman has NO idea what to do for his half-Chinese daughter. So with a little help from their friends - Sharon & Raman invite friends-of-the-pod Alice Hsu (from our teachers’ episode) and Ryan Joe (co-host of Raman’s other secret comic book podcast) to share their childhood memories, family traditions, and plans for this year’s celebration. What’s with the Lion (or is it a Dragon?) dance? Who stuffs their dumplings with coins? Who’s getting the red envelopes (and who’s not)? Regardless of the food you eat and games you play, the Chinese New Year (February 12, 2021) is about blessings and good for you and your loved ones...

LEARN ABOUT

Alice Hsu on MM: https://bit.ly/3rxYrKH
Ryan Joe on MM: https://bit.ly/3aDwzhH
Quarantined Comics (Ryan & Raman's other podcast): qtdcomics.com

MENTIONS

LAI SEE: wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_envelope
TV: Journey to the West (1996) - imdb.com/title/tt1459024
PLAY: Monkey: Journey to the West (2008 Rock Opera) - wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey:_Journey_to_the_West

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Tess Thomas gets (outside) her comfort zone Feb 01, 2021

Tess Thomas wears many interesting hats - by day she’s the Director of Talent @ Paradigm Strategy, a leading diversity, equity, and inclusion firm. But Tess is also an avid world traveler and foodie photographer. For her all things are fed (literally) by her obsession to see the world and get outside of her comfort zone. After living in Argentina for 3 years and traveling around South America, she developed a wanderlust and perspective that understands what it’s like to be an outsider on the inside, but also an insider on the outside. Whether it’s passing, or managing a dating life that faces many things most of us don’t have to deal with, you’ll want to understand more about Tess’ experiences as a mixed race woman in America - and beyond

LEARN ABOUT TESS:

Instagram: @tesstafarian
thelaughingtraveler.com
yearup.org

MENTIONS

BOOK: How to Kill a City (Peter Moskowitz) - goodreads.com/book/show/30652247-how-to-kill-a-city
FILM: the Intouchables (2011) - imdb.com/title/tt1675434/
PERSON: Dermot Kennedy (Dublin singer/songwriter) - DermotKennedy.com

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Andres Barragan’s (restless) reinvention Jan 25, 2021

Andres Barragan was born in Bogota, Colombia, growing up as a drug war raged. He spent his life wandering across Paris, Taipei, the Mayan Riviera, the American Midwest, New England, the Delaware Valley...and Brooklyn. He’s had the on-again, off-again relationship with the big business jobs, but also spent his time in shipping containers on Mexican beaches convincing people to eat (South Asian inspired) poisonous lionfish tacos...to save the planet? For Andres, life is a patchwork of experiences and influences, with bursts of creativity and spells of tedium. Why can’t Andres kick his quest for reinvention? He blames a vanilla, middle-class upbringing. We just think he doesn't wanna stand still...

LEARN ABOUT ANDRES:

MENTIONS:

FILM: The 400 Blows (1959) - imdb.com/title/tt0053198
BOOK: The Island at the Center of the World (Russell Shorto) - goodreads.com/book/show/45000.The_Island_at_the_Center_of_the_World
PERSON: David Lynch (Director) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lynch

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Maria Yuan wants (YOU) to be an Issue Voter Jan 18, 2021

Maria Yuan is the founder of IssueVoter.org - helping give everyone a voice in our (US) representative democracy. This felt like a good conversation to have with Inauguration around the corner =)

Maria never set out to work in politics, but she found her calling on a work sabbatical (from a big Finance job) managing a State Senate campaign in Iowa. The more she dug in, the more she realized how inaccessible the entire process was and asked herself “How can we extend engagement beyond elections and keep elected officials accountable? How can we help everyone understand laws that will affect their daily lives? And how can people take action in the most effective way?” Several years (and a lot of hard work) later, IssueVoter was born.

IssueVoter makes civic engagement accessible by identifying the bills YOU care most about, summarizing them into plain English, and lets you send opinions directly to your Rep - keeping Congress accountable by providing a personalized scorecard of how your Rep. voted for the issues you care most about. If you care about our democracy, this is one conversation you have to hear (and app you’ve got to try).

LEARN ABOUT MARIA:

WEBSITE: IssueVoter

Instagram: IssueVoter

Twitter: IssueVoter

LinkedIn: Maria Yuan

MENTIONS:

FILM: Contact (1997)

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Cathy Erway’s uncovering (Self Evident) conversations Jan 10, 2021

Cathy Erway hosts the podcast SELF EVIDENT, a podcast challenging the narratives of the Asian American experience. Cathy is fascinated by the intersection of culture, food, and race. In our candid conversation about growing up (and eating - two of our favorite topics) - you’ll hear Cathy’s take on the role food has played in her life, and how recipes and cooking experiences have shaped her. Cathy’s also a James Beard Award-winning writer and hosted the award-winning podcast “Why We Eat What We Eat” (Gimlet). She is the author of the cookbook The Food of Taiwan, and the memoir The Art of Eating In. Born in NYC and raised in NJ, Cathy has learned that people shouldn’t be judged by how they look, or even what their name is...

LEARN ABOUT CATHY:

Social: @cathyerway
Podcast: Self Evident
Podcast: Why We Eat What We Eat
NY Mag: “Food Media Must Work Harder to Fix Its Racism Problem”
Cookbook: The Food of Taiwan
Memoir: The Art of Eating In

MENTIONS:

Book: Klutz Kid's Cooking
Book: How to Write an Autobiographical Novel (Alexander Chee)
Person: Cecilia Chang

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2021: Looking forward, by looking back Jan 03, 2021

As we get ready for 2021, we look back on the long year before with friend-of-the-pod Suzanne Sinatra. What made our 2020 (beyond the obvious)? From personal moments, to coping mechanisms, to TV/movies? What did we miss most and least about “the before times”? What do we predict for 2021 - for ourselves and the world? What are most looking forward to (and worried about). And most importantly, how are we gearing up for long awaited 1/20 (we’ve already picked out our t-shirt)?

WHAT MUCH OF 2020 FELT LIKE...

“Love Life” (Cover): newyorker.com/culture/cover-story/cover-story-2020-12-07
“Bubble” (Ad): youtu.be/PO3a9ofiUOA

WHAT GOT US THRU IT...

The Undoing: imdb.com/title/tt8134470
Little Fires Everywhere: imdb.com/title/tt8089592
Never Have I Ever: imdb.com/title/tt10062292
West Wing: imdb.com/title/tt0200276
The Crown: imdb.com/title/tt4786824

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2020: Learning from our (Guests’) Lived Experiences Dec 28, 2020

One year and nearly SIXTY episodes later, we decided to take a step back and reflect on what we heard from all the conversations we had about “work and life through the lens of race and gender.” The whole point of this show (and this episode)? For us to just get out of our own way and let the guests tell their story - whether they’re doctors, reporters, athletes, entrepreneurs, diversity experts, getaway car drivers, lawyers, comedians, and yes, even marketers. And what's so surprising - we can all find ourselves in the majority OR the minority relative to some of the things we hear. So listen, enjoy, and learn from our first year’s worth of guests, and we’ll see you in 2021!

GUESTS FEATURED

Jesse Meza (intro)
Rajiv Satyal
Erik Rivera
Francisco Ramos
Reshma Shetty
Zineb El Ouazzani
Lucia Liu
Lan Pham
Mita Malik
Karl Preissner
Abby Allen
Dr. Bevan Bonhomme
Alexis Agosto
Kenyatte Nelson
Castel Valere-Couturier
Mara Lecocq
Ashlyn Gentry
Suzanne Sinatra
Joe Medved
Matt Story
Jay Wong
Carol Tonge
Jieun Kirtley
Jon Pollock
Erin Heidrich, Esq.
Buck Rocker, Esq.
Dr. Nzinga Harrison
James Veraldi
Lulu Ge
Kim Thai
Raman Sehgal (UK)
Ida Abdalkhani
Goli Kalkhoran, Esq.
Seif Hamid
Stanley Lumax
Stefan James
Melissa Haughton
Ryan Joe

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Mira Jacob's (Good Talk) hits too close to home. Dec 21, 2020

Have you ever wondered what a conversation would be with your bi-racial kid, reflecting on everything that's going on in the world - the good, the bad, and the ugly? Have you ever had a conversation about race with your spouse of another race?

This week, Sharon crashes Raman’s secret underground comic book podcast QUARANTINED COMICS with his other co-host (and friend of the MM Pod), Ryan Joe. We discuss acclaimed author Mira Jacob’s debut graphic novel “GOOD TALK.” It's different from any (comic) book you've ever read, and we can't recommend it enough. As an Indian American, Mira Jacob recalls - in a uniquely simple graphic form (even for comics) - conversations about work and life with her young son, her Jewish husband, her parent-pleasing brother, her Indian parents, her extended family in India, her two best friends, and her very Trumpy in-laws. This book - all told through a lens of race and gender - hit some of us a little too close to home, which is probably why we loved it so much. Hear the episode, read the book. You’ll thank us later.

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Dr. Brandi wants to Impact (not impress) Dec 14, 2020

Dr. Brandi Baldwin is a psychology + business professor turned entrepreneur tackling diversity & inclusion challenges from the ground up. As the Founder of Millennial Ventures, Calling All Allies, AND the Colorcast Podcast Network, she is enabling the next generation of entrepreneurs to level-up their leadership across all levels of business. A respected lecturer at Wharton, Johns Hopkins, and Temple University, with degrees in Psychology, Org Development, and Educational Leadership/Policy - Dr. Brandi believes leaders have to “put in the work” - roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty, and actively lead beyond any titles. In our ranging conversation about family, work and hustle - we talk about how to level the playing field for those who can’t even bootstrap, and challenging expectations to make it work for the next generation.

LEARN ABOUT DR. BRANDI

DoctorBrandi.com
MillennialVentures.co, CallingAllAllies.com
Colorcastnetwork.com // Diversity & Confusion Podcast - apple.co/3a6Gi1s
Instagram / Twitter: @thedoctorbrandi, @colorcastnetwork
Book: “Put in the Work” -goodreads.com/book/show/30146452-put-in-work

MENTIONS

BOOK: The Bible “...it’s the ultimate story of redemption”
PERSON: Lauryn Hill: wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauryn_Hill
ALBUM: “the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” - allmusic.com/album/the-miseducation-of-lauryn-hill-mw0000034642

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Nicole Armstrong puts (gender) equity to work Dec 07, 2020

Nicole Armstrong is the Founder & CEO of Queen City Certified - the US’ first data-driven employer certification and cohort-based leadership program for gender equity in the workplace. In less than 3 years, QCC has won awards and accolades - but more importantly impacted more than 7,500 employees nationwide - by providing a roadmap for policies that foster more diverse and inclusive workplaces. Through her mission-driven work, Nicole is helping employers do MORE than talk - but taking ACTION so people of all genders can thrive, regardless of race, sexual orientation, income, or family status. Having worked in Geneva and Boston - Nicole’s at heart a Cincinnati native who’s returned home to make a big impact on a national stage. After all, as Nicole lets us know: training alone won’t solve bias, but changing systems can.

LEARN ABOUT NICOLE:

queencitycertified.com
FB: @queencitycertified // TW: @queencitycert

MENTIONS:

BOOK: Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) goodreads.com/book/show/15796908-little-women
BOOK: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men (Caroline Criado Perez) goodreads.com/book/show/41104077-invisible-women

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Goli Kalkhoran’s Lessons (from a Quitter) Nov 30, 2020

Goli Kalkhoran is the host of “Lessons from a Quitter” a great podcast (and platform) to de-stigmatize the notion of quitting - providing resources and inspiration to folks looking to pivot in their established careers. Goli herself followed the traditional path to “success” by becoming the lawyer she (and her parents) always wanted to be - and walked away from it all after several years of practice. And it wasn’t easy. Beyond family expectations, she had to wrestle with her own feelings of regret and obligation. An Iranian-American, Goli shared the story of her family's journey away from and back to, their motherland during the Iranian Revolution and then away again during the Iran/Iraq war. Goli only returned to Iran at the age of 18, afraid of what to expect, and was surprised by what she found. In a revealing, candid conversation, we talk about balancing expectations - and raising families - across two cultures. For Goli quitting is not just an ending, it’s a beginning to help us pivot, learn, and keep moving.

LEARN ABOUT GOLI

Lessonsfromaquitter.com
Instagram: @lessonsfromaquitter
Apple: apple.co/33srwhb
Spotify: spoti.fi/37kl7px

MENTIONS

BOOK: “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear” (Elizabeth Gilbert): goodreads.com/book/show/24453082-big-magic
PERSON: Ken Jeong: wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Jeong

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Sharon & Raman are Thankful (for Mom dishes) Nov 24, 2020

This year is a most unusual Thanksgiving for all of us - and we hope you’re celebrating responsibly. Since a regular old turkey just won’t do (Jieun was right), our crack team of culinary experts at Modern Minorities assembled a menu of the BEST OF THE BEST ...from our guests’ mom dishes.

So what’s on the menu? Vietnamese Soup (Kim), Chinese Dumplings (Jay), Mutton Curry (Bevan), Chicken Saag (Raman UK), Fesenjan (Ida), Fried Chicken (Suzanne), Chicken Enchilada Casserole (Erin), Venezuela Arepas (Francisco), Mac & Cheese AND Sweet Potato Pie (Kenyatte), Mashed Potatoes (Joe), Corned Beef & Cabbage (Nzinga), and of course, some Egyptian Basbousa (Seif). You may also hear a few secret traditions from the Thony + Sehgal households...old and new. You’ll want to loosen your belt a notch for this one. Stay safe (and not too hungry) out there...

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Stanley Lumax builds (diaspora) community thru food Nov 22, 2020

Stanley Lumax is the founder of African Chop House, which celebrates African culture through good food, music and people. As a professional marketer and a photographer - Stanley’s also worked with Nike Basketball, the NBA, Converse, Beats By Dre’. Growing up in a Ghanaian household, Stanley combines all of his experiences to ignite the African Diaspora together. His latest endeavor is the restaurant Teranga, a Harlem-based Pan-African restaurant led by celebrated Senegalese Chef Pierre Thiam. In a candid conversation about giving back to our heritage (and homeland), Stanley challenges us to think about how we live in a society that is not always welcoming. But ultimately, he believes that all people of color are stronger together - as fighting separately keeps us from reaching our goal of eradicating inequality faster, together.

ABOUT STANLEY:

African Chop House: AfricanChopHouse.org, @africanchophouse
RESTAURANT: itsTeranga.com, @itsteranga_
WATCH: https://youtu.be/_KpbMPWNnCc

MENTIONS:

MUSIC: Queen Latifah, A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-ONE, Public Enemy, Jungle Brothers
FILM: Storm Over Brooklyn (2020): imdb.com/title/tt8594010
FILM: City of God (2002): imdb.com/title/tt0317248
PERSON: Malcolm X: wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X

“She said the one thing that Africa is missing is the return of its children. That was a really powerful statement because here we are all around this diaspora becoming successful in doing amazing things - and I think it's important that we don't forget the need to look towards the continent. And for some of us that might be a lot easier than others and. For others, it may be more idealistic. But I think the reality is Africa does not move to the next level without taking a proactive approach to helping it evolve.”

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Mita Mallick knows (the cost of) Advocacy Nov 16, 2020

Mita Mallick is infamous - an outspoken champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion at companies like Carta + Unilever. She’s also a passionate storyteller. As a columnist for SWAAY - and published in the Harvard Business Review, New York Post, Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider, and more - Mita is challenging perceptions of what diversity is really about. Across her career, Mita’s fought to ensure people who look different are included - in the workplace, our communities, and even in our media. In a candid, revealing conversation about the not-always-rosy parts of her youth and career, we learned a lot more about the importance of advocacy, (perceived) power dynamics and why we HAVE to stick up for each other - even when it might cost us something. In today’s world, being a bystander won’t cut it anymore, even when they’re just mispronouncing your name.

LEARN ABOUT MITA

twitter.com/MitaMallick2
swaay.com/u/mitamallick
hbr.org/2020/09/do-you-know-why-your-company-needs-a-chief-diversity-officer
fastcompany.com/90533252/why-this-workplace-microaggression-does-more-harm-than-you-realize

MENTIONS

BOOK: “Becoming” (Michelle Obama): goodreads.com/book/show/38746485-becoming
FILM: Bombshell (2019): imdb.com/title/tt6394270

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ASHLYN GENTRY believes in (re)redefining labels Nov 10, 2020

Ashlyn Gentry is a renegade academic / political wonk turned business strategist...who has a PhD. As the Co-Founder / Managing Partner of Attention Capital, she’s cultivated a reputation for moving fast and getting results. Ashlyn’s held senior roles @ Palantir’s, Hill+Knowlton Strategies (WPP), AND is a mentor to rising female and minority entrepreneurs. Basically, Ashlyn’s a BOSS. Constantly navigating the still-not-nonexistent “boys club” of business - a feat made trickier as a queer woman - Ashlyn candidly shares how the over-sexualization that sometimes comes with how you look (and what people learn about you) is anything but cool. We also talk about the expectations on women that men simply don’t have - and how these small things add up...every day

ABOUT ASHLYN

Twitter @AshlynGentry,

LinkedIn.com/in/ashlyngentry

thepitchacademy.com

skysthelimit.org

MENTIONS

TV: “The Politician” (Netflix): imdb.com/title/tt7971476

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POST-POST ELECTION (+Rajiv): We won. Now what? Nov 09, 2020

It’s been a LONG week, but it seems to be finally over...almost. Joe Biden & Kamala Harris won. So now what?

Given the good news, our pal (+comedian) Rajiv Satyal re-joined us for a post-post election chat, this one a bit more cheery, but only cautiously optimistic. This is a fun, but serious one. Buckle your seat belts and empty your peach baskets, because we’ve got (a lot) more work to do.

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Post-Election (PATIENCE) Nov 04, 2020

Sharon & Raman have a quick touch base the DAY AFTER the election, when we know less than we hoped, but more than we were expecting. We all acknowledge that there have been “2 realities” Americans are facing, but we’re starting to question if the one we imagined was real.

MENTIONS:

The Martian (2018): “At some point, everything's gonna go south on you and you're going to say, this is it. This is how I end. Now you can either accept that, or you can get to work. That's all it is. You just begin. You do the math. You solve one problem and you solve the next one, and then the next. And If you solve enough problems, you get to come home.”

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ELECTION EVE (with Rajiv) Nov 01, 2020

Since this 2020 election might just be the most important of our lifetime (make your plan to VOTE - and convince a friend) - it didn’t feel right to just have our usual conversations, so we decided to get a little help from our friend. Friend of the pod, and (inter)nationally known comedian RAJIV SATYAL joins us for a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, always candid conversation about our political experiences - past, present, and future. We talk through our anxieties, concerns, and maybe even excitement about Tuesday, and the days to follow. Sharon & Raman will be back a few days after the election to see where we end up. We hope you’ll enjoy this one - and more importantly, that you get out and VOTE.

https://votesaveamerica.com/

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LAN PHAN Believes in Community (of Seven) Oct 29, 2020

Lan Phan may or may not have once driven a getaway car, founded her own music agency, and/or had a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio - all before she was 30. Today she’s left her BigCo business cards behind, and is now the founder of COMMUNITY OF SEVEN - which brings together big brands and non-profits - to solve big business and societal problems - through content, events and loyalty programs. Not bad for a girl who grew up rough-and-tumble in Englewood (the not-so-nice part of LA). Hear Lan share her thoughts on (Vietnamese) refugee parents, (Jamasian) parenting, how strength comes from adversity, and finding yourself in crowds where you don’t always fit in.

LEARN ABOUT LAN

twitter.com/lanphancan
communityofseven.com

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KENYATTE NELSON is a (sharp-dressed) family man Oct 26, 2020

What does it even mean to “talk white” or “act black”? Kenyatte Nelson might live in Liverpool, but his life and career have spanned Charleston (SC), Tallahassee (FL), Cincinnati (OH), Geneva (CH), and Manchester (UK). Once declared Esquire’s best dressed man (2008), this tall, dark, and handsome (brand) man shares his thoughts on the importance of empathy, kindness, and names - despite being often misunderstood, misinterpreted, or feared (even in a suit). As a Black man, Kenyatte thinks about the bias in his own mind, and what burdens he’s passing on (or protecting from) his son. Hear our discussion on what we don’t want ANY of our children to feel and how different the world would (could?) be if we were all more comfortable owning up to our mistakes.

ABOUT KENYATTE

instagram.com/beautifulnoun
twitter.com/beautifulnoun

MENTIONS

SONG: Fugees Song - https://spoti.fi/3ojWi4P
TV: Fleabag - imdb.com/title/tt5687612
BOOK: “The Art of Possibility” (Rosamund Stone Zander) - goodreads.com/book/show/85697.The_Art_of_Possibility

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SEIF (HAMID) and Sound as a NY Arab Oct 22, 2020

While Seif Hamid was born and raised near Cleveland, and feels deep roots in Egypt - he’s most at home in NYC. And his dad may or may not have a British accent. This recovering DJ may or may not have led one of the first arab-american hip hop groups (the Desert Crew), incorporated his own record label (Music Without Borders), and released two albums (2009’s “Hindustani Gangster” gained him coverage in GQ India). But as so many of us do, Seif (pronounced “safe” - which means “sword” in Egyptian) has since traded his turntables for a bowtie, fashion line (Soof), and even fatherhood. In a conversation reflecting on our senses of culture, belonging, and maturity - Seif shares how he continues to evolve his look, outlook and outwardness.

LEARN ABOUT SEIF

@seifaldin
Seif’s music: https://spoti.fi/2HmgBxw
Seif’s apparel: soofnyc.com | @soofnyc

MENTIONS

FILM: the Godfather Trilogy - imdb.com/list/ls068557785
ARTIST: Umm Kulthum - wikipedia.org/wiki/Umm_Kulthum
ARTIST: Bob Marley- wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley

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Dr. Nzinga Harrison is (helping those) In Recovery Oct 18, 2020

Dr. Nzinga Harrison hosts “In Recovery” - a podcast about understanding addictions (all of them) as a medical illness. Nzinga’s a physician board-certified in psychiatry and addiction medicine. As an educator and vocal advocate - she asks and answers the “why’s” about our perceptions (and laws) - and how they often shift dramatically around addiction. Nzinga’s ALSO the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Eleanor Health, who believes in a comprehensive, compassionate approach to treating addiction. In our ranging conversation, we talk (and learn) about how addiction relates to race, oppression, and...of course drug policy - which often paints those suffering most not as sick people, but criminals.

LEARN ABOUT NZINGA

PODCAST: “In Recovery” - lemonadamedia.com/show/in-recovery
WORK: eleanorhealth.com/team
@naharrisonmd

MENTIONS

PODCAST: “Last Day” - lemonadamedia.com/show/last-day
VIDEO: “Jay Z: 'The War on Drugs Is an Epic Fail’ “ - https://nyti.ms/317ibKK
BOOK: “Kite Runner” (Khaled Hosseini): goodreads.com/book/show/77203.The_Kite_Runner
PERSON: Sasha Obama: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_of_Barack_Obama#Malia_Obama_and_Sasha_Obama

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JIEUN KIRTLEY’s kids learn (Taekwondo) Korean Oct 15, 2020

Jieun Kim Kirtley was born in Korea, raised in Barcelona, grew up in New Jersey, and lives in Ohio. But when she arrived to this U.S. - it felt like a different planet. The daughter of a Taekwondo instructor, she of course has a her black belt, but was never going to take over the family business - she had degrees to get in - Mechanical Engineering (Cornell) and Technology Policy (MIT). In a warm, fun, and deep conversation amongst old friends - we come to grips with the feelings of being a bridge between two generations - the ones that brought us here, and the ones that keep us here. And while Jieun’s not quite teaching her (half white) boys to speak Korean, she has found that Taekwondo classes might just be the easiest way for them to learn a little.

MENTIONS

MOVIE: “All About My Mother” (Pedro Almodovar, 1999) - imdb.com/title/tt0185125
PERSON: Bill Murray - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Murray

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BUCK ROCKER believes in (Truth &) Justice Oct 11, 2020

Buck Rocker is just a kid from Ohatchee, Alabama (now living in Arizona), who happens to be half Black, half Vietnamese, and ALL federal attorney. Having worked as a juvenile public defender, and with the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Buck’s now Assistant Chief Counsel at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement...yep ICE.

By hearing some hard conversations between old friends (Buck & Raman attended the same “Hogwarts for nerds” boarding school), you’ll understand the importance of having someone who believes in doing right by our system, even while participating in a tenuous and controversial administration. In doing his job the only way he knows how, Buck wants the people in the courtroom to feel like they've had the opportunity to be heard, to tell their story, and to be treated with respect and dignity. He also gives killer manicures, just ask his wife and daughters :)

MENTIONS

FILM: “Da 5 Bloods” (Spike Lee, 2020, Netflix) - imdb.com/title/tt9777644
PERSON: Tony Stark - https://bit.ly/2GJWIAp

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CAROL TONGE MACK won’t keep (polite) silence Oct 08, 2020

Carol left the island of Antigua when she was 13 - for the bright lights of NYC. After growing up in Bronx, Carol studied at Middlebury college, and soon found her becoming a young mother. Now an Assistant Dean at the University of Cincinnati, Carol is an educator, Black feminist, student advocate, and proud mother - who’s in the business of changing lives, and making sure her kids make it home to her safely. She’s the author of “Being Bernadette: From Polite Silence to Finding the Black Girl Magic Within.” - and an advocate for challenging the norms of polite silence, which hurts us all. You’ll love hearing Carol’s stories, told with a unique mix of love, humor, wisdom - and most of all endurance. Hers is not just the story of a Black woman, but a uniquely American one.

LEARN ABOUT CAROL

BOOK: “Being Bernadette...” goodreads.com/book/show/36995927-being-bernadette
Instagram: @careebbeanqueen, @tongemackenterprises
Twitter: @deanmack91
erasingtheisms.org

MENTIONS

AUTHOR: Michael Eric Dyson michaelericdyson.com
TV: “The Jeffersons” (1975) - imdb.com/title/tt0072519
MUSIC: “Brenda’s Got A Baby” (2Pac) - youtu.be/NRWUs0KtB-I
MUSIC: “Keep your head up” (2Pac) - youtu.be/XW--IGAfeas
MUSIC: Michael Bolton
TV: “The Incredible Hulk” (1977) - imdb.com/title/tt0077031

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JON POLLOCK says (Ciao) Andiamo Oct 06, 2020

JON POLLOCK says (Ciao) Andiamo

Jon Pollock is the Founder & CEO of Ciao Andiamo - providing authentic, insider journeys of Italy. In a candid conversation among old friends, Jon shares his experiences growing up in Long Island - and coming to terms with being gay. We learned more about how our society should challenge our assumptions beyond Will & Grace, Rupaul, and/or even Mayor Pete. Like anyone, it’s just a part of who they are.

After years studying and working in Italy, becoming a Harvard grad and brand manager - Jon found himself daydreaming of past Italian adventures. He yearned to share more of the food, wine, and culture that had brought him so much joy - so quit his job, took the leap, and started a company. Now a husband and father (to a Welsh terrier), Jon leads teams in NY + Italy dedicated to sharing authentic Italian experiences. Even amidst the pandemic, Ciao Andiamo is bringing Italy to friends, family and teammates - now through virtual classes - bringing home the passion that Jon discovered long ago.

LEARN ABOUT JON

CiaoAndiamo.com
CiaoClass.com

MENTIONS

BOOK: “The Great Believers” (Rebecca Makkai) - goodreads.com/book/show/45304101-the-great-believers
PERSON: Amy Sedaris - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Sedaris
TV: “Strangers with Candy” (1999) - imdb.com/title/tt0194624

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THI BUI’S The Best We Could Do (Quarantined Comics) Oct 03, 2020

You may have heard Raman mention his super-secret, super-NERDY, third podcast “Quarantined Comics” with his reporter pal (and past MM guest) Ryan Joe. SHARON was recently a guest, where we talked about THI BUI’s “The Best We Could Do” - an illustrated memoir of the author’s family's history and exodus from Vietnam to America. Bui’s FIRST book (which you don’t need to - but should - read) covers love, war, and the refugee's journey — with an intimate focus on one family: her own

As you can imagine, our discussion got pretty deep, and pretty real about all of OUR family's immigrant histories, - so much so, that it started to feel like a Modern Minorities episode! So we decided we’d share this one as a bonus episode. And if you want to nerd out more one on some of the best (not just superhero) comics out there, check out Quarantined Comics to see what else Raman is working on :)

BOOK: “The Best We Could Do” (Thi Bui) -

goodreads.com/book/show/29936927-the-best-we-could-do

vulture.com/2017/03/thi-bui-best-we-could-do-refugee-comic.html

PODCAST: “Quarantined Comics”

www.qtdcomics.com

https://apple.co/3feekQr // https://spoti.fi/3eK1PMg

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ERIK RIVERA makes it (relatable) for everybody Oct 01, 2020

Comedian Erik Rivera isn’t on “the drugs” - despite what his mom thought. He just liked hitting the comedy clubs as a kid, and giving people - no matter where they’re from - something to relate to. We got into a pretty serious (but often funny) chat about being brown in a white world, and being American - while still in the mix of different cultures and countries (his mom’s from Guatemala, his dad from Puerto Rico, and married white).

Erik’s making his mark, making us laugh, and making us think. His HBO stand-up special “Super White!” covers the hilarious truths of parenting and being married in a mixed relationship. Erik’s comedic take on his unique experience has been featured on HBO’s “Entre Nos,” NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”, the Tonight Show, and the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival. AND he’s even teamed up with Eva Longoria and Kevin Hart to create meaningful (and hilarious) projects to drive representation forward. AND Erik’s created and written an upcoming animated show for Amazon - “Ricky & Cricket”. AND then there was that one time he was on CBS “Superior Donuts” - in the most talked about episode tackling immigration in the US.

LEARN ABOUT ERIK

ErikRivera.com
@ErikRiveraComedy (IG + FB)
“I’m No Expert” (1-hr comedy special): https://youtu.be/AVVY2uG7FXo

MENTIONS

FILM: Mambo Mouth (1991) imdb.com/title/tt0247497
FILM: Coco (2017) imdb.com/title/tt2380307

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LUCIA LIU Rocks (the Boat) Sep 28, 2020

Lucia Liu is the Founder of ROCK THE BOAT - a podcast and community focused all about Asians challenging the status quo. On her show, Lucia interviews entrepreneurs, entertainers and executives, from Adele to Andrew Yang - and many more. Beyond comparing notes on her immigrant-parent / free-range childhood, we explored the idea of creating your own destiny, the difficulties of differentiation, the trade-offs that come with choice, and ultimately...what it takes to do the right thing.

LEARN ABOUT LUCIA

Podcast: apple.co/3j5E6ZF

@rocktheboatnyc // gorocktheboat.com

MENTIONS

BOOK: “Dear Girls” (Ali Wong): goodreads.com/book/show/44600621-dear-girls

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JAMES VERALDI wants (You) to Start Saving the World Sep 24, 2020

James “Jay” Veraldi’s has worked across media, tech, VC, and ultimately conservation. He’s worked at/with all the big names - Target, Viacom, P&G, YouTube, Snap, TikTok - but now, most importantly, Jay’s the founder of ANIMALIA - a new platform (and podcast!) for conservation and climate news, information, and experiences. Jay has become deeply rooted in the conservation space - through Animalia, but also his work in Laos with The Lao Elephant Initiative, as well as a stealth bee/pollinator based biomonitoring project. And this is why he’s in the minority - he cares and is doing something about the physical state of our world. In a conversation that links conservation to race to environmentalism, Jay shares how he got there, why it’s the most sane path forward, and why Nala is his best friend. Ultimately, it’s a powerful conversation about conservation - encouraging us all to wake up and face the uncomfortable truths about how we live in this world, and what small steps we can start making to be better to it.

LEARN ABOUT JAY

Animalia (brand): iloveanimalia.com / @iloveanimalia

Animalia (podcast): apple.co/3kIn3gq // spoti.fi/30jqjr9

Lao Elephant Initiative: https://www.laoelephantinitiative.org/

MENTIONS

FILM: The Land Before Time (1988) imdb.com/title/tt0095489

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ABBY ALLEN will Not be (called) a Minority Sep 22, 2020

Abby Allen is Founder of Neon Butterfly - the only creative agency of its kind run by a woman of color. Her mission-driven approach has the world’s biggest brands making their voices more relevant to the changing faces of America - not just because it’s the right thing - but also the SMART thing to do. In 2013 she created “Perfectly Mixed” - driving cross-country to interview and photograph interracial familes and mixed race individuals. In our candid conversation, Abby shares the taxing nature of her daily experiences with racism, overcoming fears, and her taking issue with the term “Minority.” And she lives in Cincinnati!

LEARN ABOUT ABBY

Instagram: @abbymallen or @livingneon

Company: hneonbutterfly.com

Project: perfectly-mixed.com

Op-Ed: “Diversity and inclusion is not a topic. It's my life” adage.com/article/opinion/opinion-diversity-and-inclusion-not-topic-its-my-life/2263156

MENTIONS...

SHOW: “Rami” (Hulu): imdb.com/title/tt7649694

SHORT FILM: “Hair Love” https://youtu.be/kNw8V_Fkw28

PERSON: Lama Rod Ownes (Black Bhudist Teacher): lamarod.com

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RUTH BADER GINSBURG (Notoriously) Bent the Curve Towards Justice. 1933-2020. Sep 20, 2020

Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born on March 15, 1933, in Brooklyn, NY. She passed away on September 18, 2020, in Washington DC. She will be missed.

RBG was an American jurist who served on the United States the Supreme Court from 1993 until in 2020. She earned her bachelor's degree at Cornell University and married Martin D. Ginsburg, becoming a mother before starting law school at Harvard, where she was one of the few women in her class. Ginsburg transferred to Columbia Law School, where she graduated joint first in her class. After law school, Ginsburg was a professor at Rutgers Law School and Columbia Law School, teaching civil procedure as one of the few women in her field.

Ginsburg spent much of her legal career as an advocate for gender equality and women's rights, winning many arguments before the Supreme Court. She advocated as a volunteer attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union and was a member of its board of directors and one of its general counsel in the 1970s. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where she served until her appointment to the Supreme Court.

Ginsburg received attention in popular culture for her fiery liberal dissents - she was notorious, and leaves big shoes for all of us to fill.

(Speech excerpted from her talk at the University at Buffalo, August 2019)

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TERRY KAWAJA knows the Power of (mistaken) Identity Sep 18, 2020

Terence “Terry” Kawaja is not where you think he’s from. Beyond being a thought leader in media / marketing / tech, Terry’s the Founder & CEO of LUMA Partners (a leading investment ban), a seasoned pro with 25+ years’ experience advising $300+ billion - including outcomes with companies like Snapchat, Salesforce, AT&T, Foursquare, and many other pivotal deals in the space. In the boardroom or on the big stage, Terry brings a distinct blend of humor and data - with a straightforward style that is NEVER afraid to tell it like it is. In this candid conversation we ventured beyond industry-talk to his honest POVs on the current state of race in society and leadership - drawing a clear line between right and wrong. And if you haven’t yet heard the news - check out the new “Black LUMAscape” that came from an idea sparked during the recording of this episode.

LEARN ABOUT TERRY

Twitter & Instagram: @tkawaja

Company: LUMApartners.com

Black LUMAscape:

https://on.wsj.com/2FdzDpb

adweek.com/brand-marketing/black-lumascape-black-owned-ad-tech-firms/

MENTIONS...

FILM: Working Girl (1988) - imdb.com/title/tt0096463

PERSON: Christopher Hitchins (philosopher) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hitchens

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Hear our TEACHERS’ (panel) perspective Sep 16, 2020

One minority we ALL could do more to hear from in this moment is TEACHERS, especially amidst the concerns and controversy of schools re-opening during the pandemic. So we assembled a panel of educators from around the country to share their first-hand take on things. Special thanks to our new friends Alice in Queens, Stacia in Detroit, and Chris in New Jersey for lending their voice to the mix during some very taxing times. We hope you’ll listen and seek to understand the experience of some of our most essential workers right now.

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Is RAMAN SEHGAL a (UK) doppelgänger? Sep 14, 2020

Did you know there is more than one Raman Sehgal in the world? Only “Raman UK” is the cooler, better looking, version with a posh accent (well, Newcastle). Raman is the wildly successful Founder & Global President of Ramarketing, a leading design/digital shop. He’s also a husband and dad (at least we have that in common). In work and life - he’s always challenging himself to level up, and his many successes are testament to his unique approach. Born and raised in England, Raman moved to Boston last year - where we finally had the chance to meet - and the world isn’t ending (or is it?). Nearly a year later, we sat down for a ranging conversation on family, culture, and...football? This guy must really be Raman’s evil twin (he even has a beard)

LEARN ABOUT RAMAN UK

Twitter: @ramanelli

His company: ramarketingpr.com

His podcast: moleculetomarketpod.com

MENTIONS...

FILM: Wanted (2008) - imdb.com/title/tt0493464

FILM: Limitless (2011) - imdb.com/title/tt1219289

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IDA ABDALKHANI is Middle Eastern from (middle) America Sep 10, 2020

Ida Abdalkhani is the Founder & Chief Catalyzer of Ability to Engage an award-winning boutique consultancy. She also happens to be an Iranian American girl from Lima, Ohio, who may or may not have been homecoming queen after 9/11. Ida continues to make thousands of people laugh in her TEDx talk, and has taught ‘Creativity & Design Thinking’ at Ohio State AND Michigan - so we know she can bring people together. In a conversation about being removed from the culture you live in AND the culture you’re from - we learn about being Middle Eastern in middle America, and not speaking enough Farsi with friends. Through her stories, Ida shares that no matter how much we may want to break down in this crazy world, we always have a choice to come back together for each other.

LEARN ABOUT IDA

abilitytoengage.com / @AbilityToEngage

her TEDx Talk - https://youtu.be/-HJG63EXCmw

MENTIONS...

TV: “Shahs of Sunset” (Bravo) - imdb.com/title/tt1997999

BOOK: “The Alchemist” (Paulo Coelho) - goodreads.com/book/show/18144590-the-alchemist

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MATT STORY Knows you have (Super) Powers Sep 06, 2020

Matt Story hosts the podcast ‘What’s Your Story’ - where leaders of color talk about their experiences blazing new trails and share their secret origins. In one of the conversations that convinced us to change OUR podcast name, Matt drives an honest and revealing dialogue on the power of labels when it comes to ethnicity. Matt wants everyone to unlock their superpower, and his is clearly storytelling. While some of his origin’s greatest hits include working at Visa, Publicis, and P&G - his time as a husband, father, and even screenwriter equally inform his passions. LISTEN TO ‘PART 2’ of our chat on Matt’s podcast - and hear Sharon & Raman reveal THEIR secret origins...

LEARN ABOUT MATT

mattestory.com

@mattestory (Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)

HIS PODCAST: ‘What’s Your Story’ - https://apple.co/2De6Tve

MENTIONS...

FILM: “Boomerang” (1992) - imdb.com/title/tt0103859

TV: “Blackish” - abc.com/shows/blackish

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LULU GE Wants (You) to Talk to Your Parents Sep 02, 2020

Lulu Ge, is the Co-Founder & CEO of Elix, a wellness company focusing on Chinese medicine for women’s health - prior to which she’s worn some pretty big business hats across some of the world’s most beloved brands. Now based in NYC, Lulu holds a host of diverse degrees from the Wharton School, Columbia University, and UC San Diego - so it goes without saying that Lulu knows a thing or two about a thing or three.

In this continually escalating era of quarantine and social justice - Lulu was sheltering in-place with TWO sets of Asian parents. So naturally the conversation quickly turned to the conversations on race many of us find ourselves having across generations in our own families. Only by recognizing the place of privilege many of us sit in - because of the hardships our parents’ immigrant generation endured - can we even begin to have a discussion on the moment we are all coming to grips with...

LEARN ABOUT LULU..

elixhealing.com, @luluge, @elixhealing

https://www.forbes.com/sites/meggentaylor/2020/01/08/elix-the-new-start-up-using-technology-to-deliver-customized-chinese-herbal-remedies-to-ease-womens-hormonal-health-issues/#1216e3907407

MENTIONS

PEOPLE: Patsy Mink, first Asian-American female US Congress Woman

https://history.house.gov/People/detail/18329

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Signs & Privilege Aug 30, 2020

Raman & Sharon have a quick "temperature check" - in light of the events of last week (Kenosha, WI, the RNC, etc). Spoiler alert, Raman's been better, and is scared of signs.

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FRANCISCO RAMOS Doesn’t Need an (American) Accent Aug 24, 2020

Francisco Ramos is an LA-based, nationally known, Venezuelan-born comic. We had a lot of fun comparing notes on the power of accents, relationships out of our race, and life in the suburbs (he moved to Maryland when was was 12). You’ve seen Francisco on the "Gentefied" (Netflix) and Shameless (Showtime), as well as on Last Comic Standing (top 10 finalist), Comedy Central (@midnight), Jimmy Kimmel Live. You’ve even HEARD Francisco in the animated film “Rio” (he was Marmoset), and Cartoon Network’s "Victor and Valentino." His HBO standup special “Entre Nos” is a must-watch, as are his numerous sketches in Lorne Michael’s “Mas Mejor.” But it’s not all jokes with Francisco - even though he doesn’t take himself too seriously...

LEARN ABOUT FRANCISCO:

FranciscoEramos.com

Twitter @FranciscoRamos

Instagram: @Framoscomedy

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KIM THAI Thinks You Need Some (Ganesh) Space Aug 17, 2020

Kim Thai is the founder of ganeshspace - which creates safe spaces for challenging conversations around our individual and collective wellbeing. She’s also an Emmy-award winning producer (TED, MTV, VH1) and writer (Fortune, USA Today, the AP)...but we mostly talked about where to find the best Vietnamese food (it’s not in Murray Hill). Born and raised in Houston, Kim’s the proud daughter of Vietnamese War refugees. In a ranging conversation about the push and pull of culture, acceptance, and love - we all agreed that the best food usually comes from the home.

LEARN ABOUT KIM:

ganeshspace.com (join a class!)

MENTIONS

PEOPLE: Reverend angel Kyodo williams - https://angelkyodowilliams.com

BOOK: Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation - goodreads.com/book/show/29429650-radical-dharma

SHOW: Asian Americans (PBS): pbs.org/show/asian-americans

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MODERN Minorities - New Name, Same Conversations Aug 13, 2020

MODERN Minorities - New Name, Same Conversations

“Model Minorities” is a provocative term - often used to create a wedge between racial groups. After all, if one minority is a model, what does that say about the others? This podcast is meant to be about conversations on work and life, told thru the lens of race and gender. As two Asian American hosts, we thought “Model Minorities” - while of negative origins - was a name we could take back, and turn on it’s head.

We were wrong. After some heavy conversations - with guests, friends, and strangers - it’s time for a new name.

We uncover the stories, perspectives and often unspoken truths about how people uniquely experience the world. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, the color of your skin, or who you love - we are no one’s Model Minority - but we are all MODERN Minorities

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Elliot Lum Wants to Get More (People) in the Room Aug 10, 2020

Elliot Lum is helping shape the future of marketing talent with the ANA (Association of National Advertisers). He also literally wrote the book on ‘Entrepreneurial Confessions’ - where he interviewed 300+ millennial founders across the country. In a conversation ranging from language unlocking culture to bridging uncrossable chasms, Elliot reveals his own limits, reservations, and motivations. Ultimately to him, marketing is a privilege to reach millions - and Elliot’s trying to make sure people of different backgrounds make it to the rooms where it happens. And did we mention Beyoncé and Green Day may or may not have borrowed his office?

LEARN ABOUT ELLIOT

ana.net/instructors/show/id/elum

ANA Educational Foundation (AEF): aef.com

MENTIONS

RESEARCH: https://aef.com/building-talent/talent-research/pathways2020

HIS BOOK (‘Entrepreneurial Confessions’): goodreads.com/book/show/42083201-entrepreneurial-confessions

MOVIE: “Tiger Tail” (2020): imdb.com/title/tt8902948

BOOK: Asian American Dreams (Helen Zia): goodreads.com/book/show/126006.Asian_American_Dreams

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Melissa Haughton is a (Canadian) Storyteller Who Likes to Pod Aug 03, 2020

Melissa Haughton is a storyteller of Jamaican descent living in Toronto - where she also happens to work for the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company). Yep, even Canada has Black people, and it ain’t all roses and maple leaves up there. Whether Melissa’s on or off the clock, you can’t deny the sense of wonder and curiosity she brings to shows like “So What Are You” (cultural heritage and identity - self produced), or “Hard to Stomach” (food insecurity across Ontario - CBC). Through a conversation about lunch tables, hair color, and hot sauce - we learn a lot more about the nebulousness of Canadian identity.

LEARN ABOUT MELISSA:

melissahaughton.com, @melissahaute

PODCASTS

“So What Are You” - https://smarturl.it/sowhatareyou

“Hard to Stomach” (CBC) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/community/hard-to-stomach-podcast-1.5391488

MENTIONS

TV: Insecure (HBO): imdb.com/title/tt5024912

BOOK: They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us (Hanif Abdurraqib):

goodreads.com/book/show/33947154-they-can-t-kill-us-until-they-kill-us

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Joe Medved Gets the (Economic) Value of Diverse Founders Jul 27, 2020

Joe might just be the nicest VC in the world, who happens to be SB Capital Partner @ Lerer Hippeau Ventures (investors in 400+ companies like Axios, BuzzFeed, Caspar, Warby Parker, and more). In a friendly chat recorded BEFORE the world turned sideways, Joe not only shares tips for minority entrepreneurs, but also comments on the investment world relative to diverse founders - and what keeps funds from doing more. Growing up in a blue-collar neighborhood with nonprofit parents - Joe’s view of finance is not rooted in material success, but in a desire to find fulfillment through his work.

FOLLOW JOE: https://twitter.com/joevc

LERER-HIPPEAU VENTURES: https://www.lererhippeau.com/

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MENTIONS...

Chamath Palihapitiya (investor): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamath_Palihapitiya

Social Capital (VC firm): https://www.socialcapital.com/

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Cassandra Worthy is a (Change) Enthusiast Jul 22, 2020

Cassandra’s always been a rebel. She also has SO. Much. Energy. So much so that we had to lower her audio levels! Since growing up in Atlanta, C’s rocked the corporate world AND the speaking stage. We may also have convinced her that her mom put us up to bugging her about her love life on the pod (what can we say, it’s the Asian parent in us =). Get ready for a really fun conversation...

LEARN ABOUT CASSANDRA: cassandraworthy.com

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John Lewis (1940-2020) wants you to get into (good, necessary) trouble. Rest in Power. Jul 19, 2020

“My philosophy is very simple: When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just? Say something, do something. Get into trouble - good trouble, necessary trouble."

On August 28, 1963, John Lewis was chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) - one of the "Big Six" leaders of groups who organized the 1963 March on Washington. This is an excerpt from his speech that day - when he was twenty-three.

FULL SPEECH: https://youtu.be/tFs1eTsokJg
TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/2WCKDSp

John later served thirty-two years as US Congressman (D-GA, 1986-2018), and was awarded the Presidential Medial of Freedom. He was born in Troy, Alabama, on January 3, 1940 and passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 17, 2020. John Lewis remains an American civil rights icon - his work is never complete. Rest in power.

LEARN ABOUT JOHN:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lewis_(civil_rights_leader)
twitter.com/repjohnlewis
"March" (graphic novel trilogy): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29844341-march
"Good Trouble" (documentary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_oEkOdIXdo

DONATE: Southern Poverty Law Center: https://www.splcenter.org/

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Castel Valere-Couturier’s got hustle AND (used to) wear a cape. Jul 13, 2020

Castel’s the Founder of Sound Off™, a global wireless audio solutions brand. His parents are from the West Indies - and when Castel was a kid, they sent him off to boarding school - where he was also the only Black kid. Like so many of us growing up, Castel finally grew into himself when he stopped caring what other people and decided to be himself. His stories of youth - from wanting a Volvo, getting pulled over, and having to stay downstairs from his girlfriend’s racist uncle might be different from ours, but he’s just like the rest of us.

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Reshma Shetty doesn't (want to) act Indian Jul 06, 2020

Reshma’s may have been TV’s first female South Asian series' lead - but she doesn’t want to be just seen as “ethnic fun.” From a little girl’s British Bollywood obsessions - to studying and singing opera in the midwest - to breaking onto the small and big screen - Reshma’s always pushed the boundaries of ethnic casting. You’ve seen her on USA’s flagship series Royal Pains, NBCs' Blindspot, CSI Miami, 30 Rock and the feature film Allegiance. And you’ve definitely HEARD her on Netflix’s SHE-RA (cast white!). But Reshma’s the first to tell you if you don't have roles, you can't get the jobs. And while the times they are a-changing, that doesn’t mean things can’t drive her wackadoodle dandy.

LEARN ABOUT RESHMA: imdb.com/name/nm2439805

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MENTIONS...

MOVIE: Dil Hain Ke Manta Nahin (“The Heart Refuses to Listen”) imdb.com/title/tt0101733; - youtu.be/QWTcrvrkmNo
BOLLYWOOD CRUSH: Aamir Kahn - imdb.com/name/nm0451148/
MOVIE: Pacific Rim (her husband doens’t get it).
MOVIE: All the Avengers (Thor’s pretty hot)
BOOK: The Namesake: goodreads.com/book/show/33917.The_Namesake
TV: Royal Pains - usanetwork.com/royal-pains
CAUSES: lend-a-hand-india.org , thenewabolitionists.com, apneaap.org

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Ryan Joe still can’t find his pickled cabbage (and soy bean) Jun 29, 2020

Ryan’s a third-generation Chinese American who grew up on a...walnut orchard? He also happens to be an “industry reporter” and Co-hosts (with Raman) on "Quarantined Comics" - their secret, nerdy podcast. The 3 of us had a ranging discussion on racist experiences - and fears of racism in the time of Coronavirus. We then moved onto the light topics of family, language, assimilation, and Ryan’s encounter with the Korean boy-band BTS. Keeping things light, our roller-coaster of a conversation ended discussing the loaded term (and show-name) “Model Minority.” Easy peasy!

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LEARN ABOUT RYAN’S WORK:

AdExchanger (Reporter): https://www.adexchanger.com/author/ryanjoe/

Quarantined Comics (Podcast): https://apple.co/3feekQr

MENTIONS

MOVIE: Ravenous (1999) - youtu.be/JO98NMMgp0Y

MOVIE: Barry Lyndon (1975) by Stanley Kubrick - imdb.com/title/tt0072684/

FOOD: Message us if you find Ryan’s DISCONTINUED Companion Snow Cabbage & Green SOY BEANS (良友牌雪菜毛豆): https://shop.waiyeehong.com/food-ingredients/tinned-foods/tinned-vegetables/snow-cabbage-green-soy-beans

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Erin Heidrich & the good fight (of employment law) Jun 22, 2020

Erin wants the truth - even if you can’t handle it. From teacher to a lawyer - she’s fighting the good fight because discrimination isn’t always obvious. Defending the underdog in and out of the courtroom - she’s bringing equity and dignity to her clients and her community. And no matter what any outdated opinions she hears - Erin’s going to rock the pantsuit.

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LEARN ABOUT ERIN’S WORK:

https://fmr.law/attorneys/erin-m-heidrich/

MENTIONS...

TV: Better Call Saul (AMC)

BOOK: Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea (Barbara Demick)

PEOPLE: Barbara Demick (Journalist)

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Stefan James is 100% Jamaican (AND 100% American) Jun 15, 2020

Stefan was born in Jamaica, raised in South Florida, and even has Chinese roots. But when his family came to the ‘burbs - “FOR SALE" signs came up. The son of an entrepreneur, his fearlessness, and love of business soon had him booking gigs in ...a teen boy band? Growing up and rising through the corporate ranks - Stefan experienced unconscious bias - on BOTH sides of the table. As a parent, Stefan now prepares his children for their lives as black Americans. And if our country’s “melting pot” misses the point, perhaps chili is better?

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MENTIONS...

FILM: Love Jones (1997)

PEOPLE: Dave Chapelle (comedian) - his

INTERVIEW: Maya Angelou “Iconoclast” interview by Dave Chapelle https://youtu.be/okc6COsgzoE

VIDEO: Dave Chapelle’s Acceptance of the Mark Twain Award: https://youtu.be/aeYA72NLaDE

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Karl Preissner on P&G's (insider) diversity Jun 08, 2020

Karl may as well be the secret identity of a super-hero, but he’s anything but mild-mannered. As a member of P&G’s Diversity & Inclusion team, he’s got a unique perspective that you might not have expected on this podcast. Karl’s opinions and self-humility will challenge - and inspire - you to do more. And he doesn’t even know how to play the violin.

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LEARN ABOUT KARL’S WORK:

https://us.pg.com/diversity-and-inclusion/

MENTIONS...

FILM: Jojo Rabbit

BOOK: The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love (Bell Hooks)

PEOPLE: Alex Haley (Roots, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, the Playboy Interviews)

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the Sunday Burrito (& Bacon) May 31, 2020

Sharon & Raman take a break from their regularly scheduled episodes to sit down and talk about what’s going on outside - police brutality, systemic racism, nationwide protests/riots - and talk through our own feelings.

MENTIONS...

1. Killer Mike Atlanta speech:

Full Speech (Video): rollingstone.com/music/music-news/killer-mike-speech-atlanta-protestors-press-conference-1007816/

Transcript: rev.com/blog/transcripts/rapper-killer-mike-speech-transcript-during-atlanta-protests

2. Martin Luther King’s "The Other America" (1967, Stanford University)

Excerpt: https://twitter.com/TheKingCenter/status/1266008254984982529

Full Speech: https://youtu.be/dOWDtDUKz-U

Transcript: https://www.crmvet.org/docs/otheram.htm

3. ACLU Mobile Justice App:

aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/aclu-apps-record-police-conduct

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Suzanne Sinatra (not quite) private past and future... May 28, 2020

As a black female founder - of Private Packs - Suzanne’s says she’s keeping her ex-husband’s last name to get great tables in NYC. She’s a a survivor, hustler, and most importantly a New Yorker. Suzanne’s lessons of loneliness, loudness, and leaving it all on the table will inspire you to get out and do the same.

LEARN ABOUT SUZANNE’S COMPANY:

privatepacks.com

MENTIONS...

TV: Billions (Showtime)

PEOPLE: Mellody Hobson (Ariel Investments), Robert Smith (Vista Equity, NOT The Cure :)

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Jay Wong, the (original) Can-Asi-ian changemaker May 25, 2020

Jay’s not like the rest of us - he’s from a foreign land. Even when he was a kid rocking the suburbs - he found himself at parties as the token...Canadian. But in our awkwardly sincere conversation with this inner changemaker - we found out that he’s so much more. Jay continues his parent's journey - and a sense of adventure - as an entrepreneur. And you’ll hear how his “American dream” involves so much more than just microphones and maple syrup...

LEARN ABOUT JAY:

theinnerchangemaker.com

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Ariane Hunter’s secret? She (Project) Went for Her Dreams May 21, 2020

Ariane went from the Bronx to Long Island, with a LOT of accents in between. From data geek to photographer to coach to founder - every experience has led her to this moment. She helped us better understand how she has been able to let go of expectations - and the definitions of success - that we tend to adopt from our families for ourselves. Basically, she went for her dreams and is still dreaming.

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Bevan Bonhomme says "Trust Me, I'm a (South African) Doctor" May 18, 2020

Bevan is LITERALLY African American. Now an ER doctor, this mixed-race, “colored” South African shares how - as an immigrant - he had found what it meant to be “black enough.” All of us want to fit in. But how do you do so when you’re transplanted across the world, your accent sounds funny, and you’re far from family? Trust Bevan, after all, he's a doctor.

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Mara Lecocq knows where the (boss) ladies are at May 12, 2020

Mara’s half Filipino, half French, and totally boss. Like all of us, she found herself chasing after things everyone thought was cool - but later found it wasn’t what she imagined it to be. By throwing everything away, Mara was able to start something new that fit her unique personality.

Also, she’s descended from pirates.

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Jesse Meza on (proper) Mexican media pro attire May 05, 2020

Jesse’s a Mexican-American business pro on the rise - but doesn’t need to fit into others' expectations - because it's clear he exceeds them. From advice on the basketball court to mistakes of youth, Jesse's taken his life's lessons to heart - creating a better world not just for him, but the world that brought him up.

Learn More:

https://www.modmypod.com/

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Zineb El Ouazzani's (secret) life as a Moroccan tennis pro Apr 28, 2020

Zineb is anything BUT just a Moroccan girl in Geneva, with a story spanning from the American South to North Africa.

Once a nationally ranked tennis player, her life turned upside-down in an instant. Whether expanding political participation of Arab women and youth or working for one of the world’s largest tech companies - Z’s continuously redefined herself.

Through many ups and downs - she’s ready to hit the courts again.

Resources:

The Code of the Extraordinary Mind

Learn More:

https://www.modmypod.com/

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Rajiv Satyal isn't (always) joking about being Indian Apr 21, 2020

Rajiv is an Indian-American from Hamilton, Ohio who’s often the funniest - and most serious - guy in the room.

He’s now a successful LA-based comic who’s performed around the world - with Dave Chappelle, Russell Peters, and even Google and the US State Department. You’ll relate to how Rajiv never an option to be a social commentator - but did it anyway.

Learn More:

https://www.modmypod.com/

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Alexis Agosto has the 4As Keepin it Real with D&I Apr 21, 2020

Alexis a Puerto Rican girl from Jersey City keeping it real leading the 4As’ Diversity & Inclusion. In a post- “Mad Men” era, learn why D&I is more important than ever for the advertising industry. You’ll also learn the lessons Alexis DIDN’T learn as a little girl in a not-so-great neighborhood, and about her dreams - en español - about her Abuela.

Resources

Alexis’s LinkedIn

American Association of Advertising Agencies

Learn More:

https://www.modmypod.com/

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Who (really) are these Model Minorities? Apr 21, 2020

This is where it all begins, and how we all start making it better.

Sharon & Raman (your hosts with the mosts) uncover the motivations behind their new podcast on race and gender, as well as a bit more about their OWN “Model Minority” experiences. You’ll hear a preview of their upcoming guests - black, white, brown, yellow, gay, straight, boy, girl - and everything in between.

Together with their guests, these longtime pals share and learn what it is to be Model Minorities.

This is a show about all of you, for all of us.

Learn More:

https://www.modmypod.com/

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