Modern Minorities

Latest Episodes:

Lindsay Kaplan expands the (Chief) table Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

“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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

“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

Show notes

“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

Show notes

“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

Show notes

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

goodsuniteus.com
Queer Liberation March - reclaimpridenyc.org

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Radhika Vekaria's (devotion to) music Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

“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

Show notes

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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