Modern Minorities

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

“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

Show notes

“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

Mollykawahata.com
instagram.com/mollykawahata // twitter.com/MollyKawahata
WhenWeAllVote.org

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

Show notes

“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

Show notes

"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

Show notes

“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

yoiamsamyo.com
instagram.com/yoiamsamyo // twitter.com/yoiamsamyo
onepeloton.com/instructors/bike/stest

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

Show notes

“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

Show notes

“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

anjalienjeti.com
twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti // instagram.com/AnjaliEnjeti
goodreads.com/author/show/20549586.Anjali_Enjeti

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

Show notes

“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

Show notes

“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

andrewaydin.com
twitter.com/andrewaydin, instagram.com/andrewaydin
MARCH: goodreads.com/book/show/29844341-march

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

Show notes

“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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