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Join Jess Lin in Part 2 of her conversation with Denetra, as they discuss her son DeAndre's life journey from high school graduation to battling cancer. Denetra opens up about DeAndre's work and love life, his fight with osteosarcoma, and the impacts of his illness. She also shares her own experience with grief, healing, and how she channels her energy into projects like Smiley Connections LLC to support other parents who have lost children. Listen to Denetra's story and learn about her efforts to pass a bill for more bereavement leave in Georgia, as well as her dream of organizing a healing retreat for grieving parents.

Watch this podcast on Youtube: 

      https://youtu.be/mueMkRh8YPk

Find out more about Denetra’s work: 

      https://smileyconnectionsllc.org/

Donate to the On the Road to Healing Retreat:

      https://gofund.me/0899b5e4

Denetra's TikTok: smileyconnectionsllc

Denetra's Instagram: @smileyconnections

In loving memory of DeAndre Thompson

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In honor of Women's History Month, host Jess Lin sits down with Denetra Smiley, a 54-year-old African American medical coder from the Gullah Geechee community, now living in Acworth, Georgia. Denetra shares her personal story, her son DeAndre's story, and her path through grief and healing after DeAndre’s passed from cancer.  Denetra speaks candidly about her childhood, the importance of her cultural roots, the example of her parents’ marriage, her experiences raising two sons, and the founding of her support group- Parents who have lost a child/children support group on Facebook, and her business: Smiley Connections LLC, which assists parents who have lost a child. This is part one of a two-part conversation, with the second part dropping next week. Watch the video recording on YouTube, along with shared photos for a more immersive experience.

Watch this podcast on Youtube: 

      https://youtu.be/e1w5YTYnrE0?si=22UgQ0YZaT4SmFPn

Find out more about Denetra’s work: 

      https://smileyconnectionsllc.org/

Donate to the On the Road to Healing Retreat:

      https://gofund.me/0899b5e4

Denetra's TikTok: smileyconnectionsllc

Denetra's Instagram: @smileyconnections

In loving memory of DeAndre Thompson

Thanks so much for listening! Follow, review, and share to help us grow. @thecultureful on Instagram

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In this episode of Cultureful, host Jess Lin continues her conversation with Tina, exploring her experience with intercultural marriage and raising multicultural children. Tina, a Taiwanese Chinese American woman, discusses the cultural differences between her upbringing and her Russian Ukrainian American husband's family. The episode covers how Tina navigated these differences, the challenges of blending their cultural backgrounds, and their parenting styles, which focus on positive discipline, financial literacy, and fostering a love of learning. Tina also shares insights into her family's daily routines, the influence of grandparents, and their efforts to maintain cultural heritage through language and traditions. The episode concludes with Tina's aspirations for urban homesteading and her hopes for creating a compassionate and empathetic world.

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In this special bonus episode of Cultureful, host Jess Lin speaks with Tina, a 37-year-old Taiwanese Chinese American tech project manager from Fremont, California. The episode delves into the first half of Tina's life, covering her parents' immigration story from Taiwan, her upbringing, and the background of her family. Tina shares insights about her family's moves from China to Vietnam to Taiwan and eventually to the U.S., and discusses how her parents' cultural backgrounds influenced their lives and hers. The episode also touches on Tina's childhood, her experiences in school, navigating cultural differences, and her relationship with her parents. The conversation sets the stage for the second half of the interview, which will focus on Tina's intercultural marriage and raising her three multicultural children.

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Esta entrevista fue grabada en octubre de 2023.

En este capítulo, entrevisto a mi amiga Angie G. de Colombia. Ella es abogada y lingüista, actualmente está en un programa de doctorado cerca de San Francisco que combina sus dos carreras para hacer el lenguaje legal más accesible á la gente del común.

Mientras se acerca su cumpleaños 40, reflexiona en su vida. Hablamos de su ciudad natal, niñez, viaje personal y profesional, también proyectos nuevos que empieza en su nuevo capítulo de vida.  Espero que lo disfruten.

¡Gracias por escucharnos! Conéctate con nosotros en Instagram @thecultureful.

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This episode was originally recorded in Spanish in October 2023.  Para la versión original de este episodio, que fue grabada en español, regresa al feed y haz clic en el título en español. 

To share this content with more people, this English version was created with AI tools like Eleven Labs.  Though there may be differences in tone and delivery, we hope the message still resonates.  

In this episode, I interview my friend Angie G. from Colombia. She is a lawyer and linguist, currently in a PhD program in Northern California that combines her two careers to make legal language more accessible to the general public.

As her 40th birthday approached, she reflected on her life. We talked about her hometown, childhood, personal and professional journeys, and also current projects in this new chapter of her life.  This interview was both insightful and vulnerable.

Thank you for listening!  Connect with us on Instagram @thecultureful.

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Keywords
military service, Iraq, personal growth, travel, advice for youth, military experiences, career transitions, life lessons, personal development, military culture

Summary
In this conversation, Tonisha shares her journey into the military, detailing her enlistment, experiences in Iraq, and the challenges she faced during her service. She reflects on her decision to leave the military, the lessons learned, and offers advice to young people considering military service. Additionally, she discusses her current projects and aspirations, emphasizing personal growth and the importance of making informed choices.

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Keywords

identity, heritage, family stories, military aspirations, Black woman in the military, genealogy, cultural identity, personal history, military experiences, representation

Summary

Tonisha, 42, explores her identity as a Black American and the rich cultural heritage of her family. She recounts fascinating stories about her grandfather, who influenced her aspirations to join the military. Tonisha reflects on her early career choices, the challenges she faced as a Black woman in a male-dominated military environment, and the importance of representation in various fields. Through her experiences, she highlights the complexities of identity, family history, and the impact of personal narratives on career paths.

Check out Tonisha’s current work on plant care on Instagram @the.plantnanny and connect with her.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

03:13 Ethnic Identity, Family Stories, and Genealogy

05:26 Grandpa's Roots

09:34 Memories with Grandpa

12:29 Military Influence on Childhood

16:32 Impact of Kid-Friendly Military Stories

20:28 Talking About Military with Younger Generation

21:22 Community Respect for Grandpa

22:11 Influence of Stories on Mother and Her Encouragement to Enlist

24:30 Describing Grandpa

27:08 Childhood Dreams

28:25 Lack of Representation and Its Impact

30:48 High School, the ASVAP, and Military Enlistment

35:30 Becoming a Cop in the Air Force

37:26 Challenges of Being a Black Female Cop

39:47 Camaraderie and Dynamics in the Military

44:30 Branch Rivalries and Military Culture

47:16 Outro and Conclusion

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This interview was recorded on June 1, 2022.

Steve is a 36 year-old photographer who lives in New York City.  He was born in China, raised in Italy, and now lives in the United States.  He takes us through his early dating history, reflects on challenges he faced as an Asian male, and shares observations and what he learned along the way.

Check out Steve’s photography at Stevegongphoto.com and follow him on instagram @stevegong.

If you are interested in a follow-up part two episode with Steve, please send us a message on instagram @thecultureful to let us know.  And, feel free to send any questions you would like included in the interview.

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This interview was recorded on May 27, 2022.

Sheng is a Taiwanese American from Monterey Park, California who takes on an uncommon career path for Asian Americans and becomes a hockey reporter covering the San Jose Sharks.  He shares about his childhood, how his love of sports started early, and his career path.  He also reflects on what it was like to be in spaces where he often is the only Asian American in the room. 

Sheng Peng is the Editor-in-Chief of San Jose Hockey Now at www.sanjosehockeynow.com and hosts the San Jose Hockey Now podcast.  He has also appeared in VICE Sports, NBC Asian America, The Hockey News, and is a PHWA member.  Follow him on Twitter @Sheng_Peng. 

Thanks so much for listening! Follow, review, and share to help us grow. @thecultureful on Instagram