Brwngrl Feels

Happy Anniversary Brown Girl Fam! 
It is amazing to us that we released our first episode in October 2019 - a full year ago. So much has happened in our world since then, and we are grateful that you have stayed with us as we continued to explore the importance mental health and wellness in our lives.

In this episode we celebrate Filipino American History Month with a powerful poem from our friend and Filipina creative, Laarne.

Laarne is passionate about radical self love that transforms and empowers everyone we meet and connect with. She believes that we as Filipinx-Americans are afraid of our own brown beauty and excellence. As a photographer, Laarne hopes to encourage the love for our culture, our ancestors and our magic!

Connect with Laarne online here:

IG: @laarne.co & @oflaarne

Website: www.laarne.co

Nothing like a new decide to inspire self-reflection.

How does turning thirty feel?

What was the biggest lesson you learned in your twenties?

What will thriving in your thirties look and feel like?

In this episode, your BGF cohosts along with childhood friend, actor, and podcaster, Kaitlyn Fae talk about turning thirty. They share their biggest lessons from their twenties and what they think thriving in their thirties will look and feel like. (You can also expect a ton of laughter and hilarious tangents.)

We hope that no matter your age, you can find connection and resonance with the experiences and reflections we share in our conversation. (NOTE: there is some explicit language in this episode. So heads up if you’re listening with young ears near by.)

Kaitlyn Fae is a theater and film director, writer, actor, musician, and podcaster. She is the co-host and creative director of PanGeekery, a nerd video podcast, as well as the Director of Writing at Filam Creative, a nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of Filipino-Americans in media and entertainment. Kaitlyn is also the head writer at Kwento Comics, an all-female, all-Asian collective of artists creating a dark urban fantasy graphic novel series inspired by Philippine mythology. 

IG: instagram.com/pressfae

Personal website: kaitlynfae.com

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user39630254

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4058924/

PanGeekery is an all AAPI-hosted nerd video podcast that streams live on Twitch every Monday at 8PM. Episodes are available on Spotify, Apple, Stitcher, and all other podcast platforms. We discuss all things geek from an all-diverse perspective.

IG, Facebook, and Twitter: PanGeekery

Twitch: www.twitch.tv/pangeekery

#amplifymelanatedvoices

Join the hosts of BGF as they sit down with Florence of @theblendedbeauty for a conversation on representation, sustainability, self-care, and food.

Florence is an Atlanta-based beauty creator and social media coach who loves shopping her own closet and day-by-day takes leaps into leading a more sustainable lifestyle.

In this episode, Flo shares her experiences as a Black-Filipina woman, her work as a full-time content creator and coach, her fave tips for sustainable-ish living, what she loves about her cultures, and so much more. The perfect episode for #plasticfreejuly and #bipocmentalhealthmonth.

Follow Florence on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendedbeauty/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v74gf7_9XgQ

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theblendedbeauty

NOTE: This is a previously recorded episode completed in the month of May to honor Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. It was recorded several days before the outrage and protests broke out in response to the muders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, along with countless others. We held off on releasing this episode in order to support the Black lives matter movement and to avoid taking attention away from the critical issues at hand. The movement for justice and equaity is both a relay and a marathon. As we find our place in the revolution, we acknowlege that Asian Americans, and Filipinos in particular, have been complicit in systems of injustice towards Black communities. We stand against racism in all forms.

Black Lives Matter.

Over the past week of listening, learning, and advocating, we are realizing that the intersection of mental health and race are more relevant than ever in the current climate. We hope this episode inspires and encourages you to take care of you personal wellness and to not shy away from hard conversations with your family and community.

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How does our identity as Asian (Filipina) Americans shape our relationship with mental health?

In this episode we tackle the impact that being the children of Asian immigrants has on our relationship with mental health and therapy.

We share our stories of our childhood and how culture shaped our identity. We talk about the dominant message we told ourselves about emotion and the internalized fear of being “maarte” (slang for drama queen.)

We hash out our experiences with our first therapy appointments and and barriers to therapy.

We also talk about we look for when “dating around” for a therapist and what we look for in “the one.”

Note: CBT is the acronym for cognitive behavioral therapy.

Finally we share what we love about being Filipina.

Again, we hope this episode inspires and encourages you to take care of your personal wellness and to not shy away from hard conversations with your family and community.

At Brwngrl Feels, we hold space for and honor each emotion that Mother’s Day brings. You are worthy and cherished.

Today, we honor our Filipina immigrant mamas for their dedication, understanding, barrier-breaking, flexibility, creativity, and above all, their endless supply of love.

In this episode, the co-hosts share stories of their relationships with their moms. From grown-up adventures to precious kindergarten memories, we hope each story bring a bit of warmth to your heart. The stories are in this order:

1. Jeni

2. Nikki

3. CK

Cheers to the cool moms, the stylish moms, the DIY moms, all the moms in between - in any shape or form. To all the mothering humans in our lives. We are forever grateful.

Happy Mother’s Day!

In this mini episode, Ck guides you through a series of deep breathing exercises to help relieve anxiety. Deep breathing helps the body calm the fight or flight response by bringing more oxygen into the brain. These exercises can be done anytime you need to feel calm and grounded.

Resources:

Breathwrk App - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/breathwrk-breathing-exercises/id1481804500

About Deep Breathing - https://www.thecut.com/amp/2018/12/what-deep-breathing-does-to-your-body.html

Breathing Exercises - https://greatist.com/happiness/breathing-exercises-relax

The Calm Classroom - https://instagram.com/thecalmclassroom_?igshid=5xdzfy4p0b7t

In this mini episode, Jeni guides you through a daily gratitude practice. Studies have shown endless benefits of gratitude, including better sleep, a greater sense of well being, and even stronger immune systems. Start and end your day with a moment of gratitude for the people, places, things, and experiences around you. 

Resources:

The Ultimate Gratitude Journal Guide https://www.intelligentchange.com/blogs/news/the-ultimate-guide-to-keeping-a-gratitude-journal

Gratitude Prompts from Intelligent Change https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1186/0402/files/Gratitude-Prompts-Intelligent-Change.pdf?17568164540077531187

In this mini episode, Nikki guides you through a Loving kindness meditation meant to recenter you to love & connect you to the world around you. According to the current research in Psychology there are proven health benefits linked with Loving kindness meditation. These benefits include increased empathy, increased positive emotions, reduced pain symptoms, increased social connection, and even an increase in overall happiness. Loving kindness meditations have ancient roots and are essentially prayers of living goodwill and pure intention.

If you need to take a break for a couple minutes from whatever is sitting in front of you during this quarantine,this is the perfect pick me up. A quick meditation can hit the reset button on your perspective. Self care is interwoven with inner work and meditation is a great way to begin. So dive in, take a breath and let your love lead the way.

Resources:

https://positivepsychology.com/loving-kindness-meditation/

How do we strengthen our mental health in the midst of a pandemic??

In this episode, we unpack the emotions of denial, fear, and isolation that have been prevalent for so many amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. (tw: coronavirus, racism, classism, abuse, anxiety.) ***The conversation shared in this episode is not medical advice or updated news. Please stay tuned in to the CDC and WHO for the latest information on COVID-19.***

We share our observations and experiences from our jobs as a Teacher, Registered Nurse, and Occupational Therapist. We share what we have in our social-distancing toolbox, and talk about boundaries, self-care in crisis, and the importance of advocating for yourself and your community.

We close with our favorite hand washing song and affirmations to bring a higher vibration to your mindset during this chaotic time.

We hope that this episode leave you feeling affirmed, hopeful, and confident to overcome with the people around you. We are in this together.

You are not alone.

Resources

** Staying Safe during COVID-19: https://www.thehotline.org/2020/03/13/staying-safe-during-covid-19/

** CDC Resources for Households: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/index.html

** The Importance of Social Distancing: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

** Indigenous Women Hike: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9vRxSQFiUf/?igshid=vg1vbxcbzwb3

** Staying Connected during Social Distancing: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9r4ffygDKv/?igshid=14g1drlcyd8qc

How do you start a new decade??

Together we reflect on our takeaways from the previous year, and share our intentions, goals and boundaries for 2020.

We talk about the connection between self-care and community-care, the importance of creating space, staying in alignment with joy, and the having courage to fail forward.

Happy New Year from Brown Girl Feels!!

This episode is sponsored by Bon Temps, a radically-clean organic tea collection. Real ingredients for #GoodTimesDaily. Learn more at www.shopbontemps.com.

Resources

** Atomic Habits, by James Clear

** The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg

** The Golden Compass, by Phillip Pullman

** Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg

** Happier Podcast with Gretchen Ruben

** Community Care & Self Care: https://mashable.com/article/community-care-versus-self-care.amp