Conversations With Your Chinese Auntie

Lunar New Year falls on Saturday, February 10, 2024. This is the year of the Wood Dragon. In Chinese culture, the dragon is considered lucky, magical, powerful, and noble. On February 4th, we also transition to the Period 9.

My guest today is Dr. Sanae Suzuki. Sanae is a trauma-informed integrative primary care practitioner focusing on mental health. She has over a decade of experience in holistic medicine. 

She received Functional Medicine training at The Institute for Functional Medicine and Apex Energetics, Functional and Integrative Psychiatry training through Psychiatry Redefined fellowship, Trauma Therapy training at Somatic Experiencing International, Biofeedback training at HeartMath Institute, and is a certified Dietary Supplement Specialist.

In this episode, we talk about Sanae's path, Oriental Medicine, her work at the Trauma Center, Acupuncturist without Border, and how Western medicine views the body vs Eastern medicine. She also shares a few advice for ageing gracefully.

We also discuss the crisis in Gaza, as Sanae has two friends who are directly impacted. 

Sanae's Website 

GoFundMe to support Dr. Suzuki's friends.

In this episode, we talk about Wanjîkū's tribe, the tribe's arrival story, the meaning of her name and her clan's name. We talk about lands that feel like "home" to us. For Wanjîkū, it's Santa Fe, New Mexico, and for me, it's Spain. We also share our little adventure at Atlanta's airport. I ask Wanjîkū how she looks after herself. Spoiler alert: she naps! 

Listen to the end of this episode as she shares a beautiful prayer. 

In this episode, you will often hear us say SE or SEP. That stands for Somatic Experiencing and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. When Wanjîkū mentions Dada Efu, she refers to our SE teacher, Efu Nyaki, who taught the first BIPOC-only Somatic Experiencing (SE) Practitioner training cohort. 

As always, advice from your Chinese auntie is at the end of each episode.

She has over 15 years of experience working with children, youth and adults in their quest for Integrated Emotional, Spiritual, Physical, Social and Mental Well-being.

Wanjîkū Patreon account for liturgy, meditations and poems: https://www.patreon.com/HisCreation

Wanjîkū Website: https://integratedliving.co.ke/

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

My guest today is Diane Hua-Stewart. Diane is a colleague and friend from grad school. We talk about Diane's path, Brainspotting, food policies, how food affects our health, food in Asian cultures, and the Vietnam War, where Agent Orange was used. We also discuss the scarcity mindset that can be common in immigrants. In case you have not heard of Agent Orange, it was a powerful herbicide used by U.S. military forces during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971 and proven to cause serious health issues. You can learn more about it online. 

As always, advice from your Chinese auntie is at the end of each episode. 

Diane Hua-Stewart is a second-generation Chinese Canadian. Her parents fled their home country, Vietnam, shortly after the fall of Saigon of the Vietnam War. She is a Registered Psychotherapist and Certified Brainspotting Therapist. She worked in health care research for over 12 years, working on programs that have taken her to some First Nations communities in Canada and rural villages in Tanzania. On her days off, she enjoys skiing or camping with her family, being in nature, sipping on chai and reading up on neuroscience. Her favourite self-care practices include hot yoga, sound meditation and watching cooking shows. 

Diane's website:  www.dianehuastewart.com

Instagram: @dianehs.psychotherapy

In this intimate, funny and honest conversation with Dr. Alice Crawford, she shares her path from electrical engineering to computer science to being a therapist. We talk about her 41 years of marriage, racism, and raising a Black son. She shares advice for BIPOC therapists starting in the mental health field, and we discuss hope. 

Dr. Alice Crawford has a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the US State of Illinois and Minnesota. 

Books recommended by Dr. A:

1. Cool Pose: The Dilemma of Black Manhood in America by Richard Majors & Janet Mancini Billson

I am delighted today to welcome my dear friend and sister, Paola Baca. 

This episode is intimate and emotional. Paola shares her story of immigrating from Peru to Canada. We talk about our experiences with belonging and fitting in, being intentional when making new friends, and how to be in community with one another.

Paola has more than 20 years of leadership experience in higher education. She is a leader and leads big teams. She is an ever-evolving human who loves books, letter-writing and baked goods. 

This episode is dedicated to Julie Jackson—a dear friend & sister who left us too soon. 

I am delighted today to welcome my dear friend and sister, Dr.Tanya Gee.

Tanya is a veteran Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with 30 years of private practice. She has a thriving multi-disciplinary clinic in Vancouver, Canada and is dedicated to the principles of Service, Devotion, Compassion and Love. Best described as a storytelling intuitive doctor of TCM who laughs out loud every day and inspires everyone to be the most optimal version of themselves.

We've been friends for a long time. Although we don't see each other often, when we do, the conversations flow, and the love is there. 

Tanya's TEDX talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWVhnkmdfpc

Come hang out with your Chinese Auntie, Patricia Petersen.

In this episode, I talk about myself. Who am I? Why this podcast? At the end of every episode, I share a Chinese Auntie wisdom.