Modern Minorities

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

"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

Show notes

“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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

“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.

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

Show notes

“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.

LEARN ABOUT LARRY HAMA

wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Hama
facebook.com/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

Show notes

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

Show notes

“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.

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

“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.

LEARN ABOUT MAZ