HomeGrown

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Melanie Bell, a real expat OG who moved to Hong Kong 25 years ago for the most unique reason we've had on the podcast so far (no spoilers)....and I don't think we can top this one. 

Melanie tells us about how she came to the city just before handover, what HK and the black community was like at that time, and how she finds the city now as an older member of society. We had so many listeners request for guests from the older expat community and we now see why. Melanie takes us on an adventure  through time and across the globe, so this episode is dotted with a few gems for your start of the week.  

We intend on featuring more guests like this so if you are, or know someone that has years and years of experience in the city, do the right thing,  hit us up!

Enjoy! 

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We love putting the show together for you, and we hope you love it too! If you do, a great way to help us grow is to subscribe to the show and rate/review us on your podcast app so more people find us.

 If you have any questions, comments or potential guests for us, you can reach us on social media or drop us an  email:  Twitter | Instagram | Email 

Notes and links from this episode:

• Guest Facebook: Thesewingloungehk.fb
• Guest Instagram: Thesewingloungehk
• Guest Recommendations: The Silver Pearl Society  

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Ebele Onyeabo a Lawyer and Legal research who moved to Hong Kong to pursue a PhD at Chinese University Hong Kong (CUHK). 

We talk about the highs and lows of doing a PhD in Hong Kong, and what that was like during the protests. We also touch on what it's like living far from central and how that plays in to socialising and dating. 

A hilarious episode to start off your week, Ebele had us laughing non stop. Enjoy ! 

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We love putting the show together for you, and we hope you love it too! If you do, a great way to help us grow is to subscribe to the show and rate/review us on your podcast app so more people find us.

 If you have any questions, comments or potential guests for us, you can reach us on social media or drop us an  email:  Twitter | Instagram | Email 

Notes and links from this episode:

• Guest Instagram: @ebele_onyeabo
• Guest Recommendations: Uncanny Valley 

In the first interview of the new season, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Fo's favourite guest ever! 

There were some bold claims about this guest in the last episode and so far we're keeping that same energy. We kick off the new season with a fresh perspective on Hong Kong and a guest that has come to the city for love of all things.

Can't think of what else to say without giving too much away, but there's a pretty good rant in this one.

Enjoy!

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We love putting the show together for you, and we hope you love it too! If you do, a great way to help us grow is to subscribe to the show and rate/review us on your podcast app so more people find us.

 If you have any questions, comments or potential guests for us, you can reach us on social media or drop us an  email:  Website | Instagram | Email  

Notes and links from this episode:

In this first episode of of the new season, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo  catch up on the Christmas break, and how weird it has become in the COVID era. We also go through some New Years resolutions for the two co-hosts as well as some resolutions for the podcast.

We have our first guests starting next week and in the meantime if you haven't already, please checkout or super quick questionnaire if you want to share some feedback on the podcast or just show some lurrvee. 

Enjoy!  

--

We love putting the show together for you, and we hope you love it too! If you do, a great way to help us grow is to subscribe to the show and rate/review us on your podcast app so more people find us.

 If you have any questions, comments or potential guests for us, you can reach us on social media or drop us an  email:  Twitter | Instagram | Email 

In this final episode of Season 3, Louisa and The Fantastic Fo have a heart to heart on what has been going on over the last few months. We talk about Lou's return to the city to be a TEDx Speaker, how it feels being back in Hong Kong, and Fo shares his experience with burnout and mindless productivity. We also share when to expect us back!

In the meantime, we'd really appreciate it if you took 2 minutes to fill out our end of season questionnaire. This will help us plan out the next season and keep doing more of what you've loved so far. We hope you have a great holiday season and can't wait to be back with season 4! 

--

We love putting the show together for you, and we hope you love it too! If you do, a great way to help us grow is to subscribe to the show and rate/review us on your podcast app so more people find us.

 If you have any questions, comments or potential guests for us, you can reach us on social media or drop us an  email:  Twitter | Instagram | Email 

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Dr Keisha A Brown, Assistant Professor of History at Tennessee State. Keisha gives us a unique insight into the life of one of the first Black expats to China and a general idea of what being black in China meant on 1955.

A strong penultimate episode to the season, in this episode Keisha fields our sprawling (and sometimes basic) questions about what early events formed the perceptions of blackness in China, and also how African Americans looked East for civil rights support. 

Really hope you enjoy this one because we sure as hell did ! 

--

We love putting the show together for you, and we hope you love it too! If you do, a great way to help us grow is to subscribe to the show and rate/review us on your podcast app so more people find us.

 If you have any questions, comments or potential guests for us, you can reach us on social media or drop us an  email:  Twitter | Instagram | Email 

Notes and links from this episode:

• Guest Email : [email protected]
• Guest profile : Keisha Brown 
• Guest Twitter : Keisha A Brown 

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Oliver Christopher Kaigwa Haas, a 32 year old designer, engineer and entrepreneur. Ollie moved to Hong Kong 7 years ago from Vienna to take on a dream job with Cathay Pacific after sending a personal letter to their then CTO.

A huge aviation and sustainability advocate, Ollie shares his passion for aviation and technology, how he balances his time in the city with many of the sports that Hong Kong is great for, and the fact that he is probably the only guest we've had that cooks more than eats out in this the restaurant capital of the world.

Of course we also discuss what it has been like being black in Hong Kong,  Ollie's mixed Austrian and Ugandan heritage, and how that has made him much more "buoyant" when travelling around the world.

Another great episode for your Monday morning and definitely check out Ollie's TedTalk here. As always, If you enjoyed this episode be sure to scroll down and leave us a review. Enjoy! 

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We love putting the show together for you, and we hope you love it too! If you do, a great way to help us grow is to subscribe to the show and rate/review us on your podcast app so more people find us.

 If you have any questions, comments or potential guests for us, you can reach us on social media or drop us an  email:  Twitter | Instagram | Email 

Notes and links from this episode:

• Guest Instagram: @oliverckhaas
• Guest Recommendations:
  •  Hip Hop Evolution on Netflix 
  • J Dilla's Donuts 
  • Erykah Badu - Soul Train Awards 2018
  • James Brown - It's a Man's World (feat Michael Jackson)"
  • Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • Becoming by Michelle Obama  "As much as I love Barack, it's Michelle's story that really brought out the human story of the family's journey"
  • The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall
  • Sapiens by Yuval Nohal Harari
  • Will Smith's biography "It drops on Tuesday, but I already know it's going to be good!"

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Mareika Chirikure, the African Literatures and editorial manager at the Africa Center in Hong Kong.  Mareika is here in Hong Kong for a year before going back to Germany for a Masters, and she talks to us about her experiences here in Hong Kong as well as her mixed heritage upbringing. 

Unfortunately Louisa was recovering from a cold so she had lost her voice in this recording..but fortunately the Fantastic Fo was there to make fun of her appropriately!  An exceptionally fun episode hence the longer length, we talk about race, and culture, and books, and of course Hong Kong. 

A perfect way to start off you're week this week and Mareika comes with a stack of great book recommendations just ahead of the holiday season. Enjoy, and if you do, send us a message, like, subscribe ...you know the drill

--

We love putting the show together for you, and we hope you love it too! If you do, a great way to help us grow is to subscribe to the show and rate/review us on your podcast app so more people find us.

 If you have any questions, comments or potential guests for us, you can reach us on social media or drop us an  email:  Twitter | Instagram | Email 

Notes and links from this episode:

• Guest Literature page : Mkay and some books
• Specific book recommendations: 
  • The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin 
  • Things I have forgotten before by Tanatsei Gambura (collection of poems)   
  • The Shadow King by Maaza Mengiste 
  • Augustown by Kei Miller

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Keril  Victor a 28 year old singer , songwriter, producer and finalist of one of Taiwan’s most popular TV singing competitions, Jungle Voice. Keril takes us on a journey from sunny St Lucia, to a stage in Taiwan performing for an audience of over 20 million people across Asia.

We of course talk about music, fame and what is next for the young star, but also get down to the grit of living, studying and working in Taiwan. As Keril spent his first years studying Mandarin and then Economics, we hear about what studying in a foreign language was like and how the black experience in Taiwan can be so...paradoxical.

A fantastic episode to start of your week and perhaps some new music to listen to throughout the week. Enjoy and let us know what you think,  send us an email or comment on our instagram, we love hearing from you! 

--

We love putting the show together for you, and we hope you love it too! If you do, a great way to help us grow is to subscribe to the show and rate/review us on your podcast app so more people find us.

 If you have any questions, comments or potential guests for us, you can reach us on social media or drop us an  email:  Twitter | Instagram | Email 

Notes and links from this episode:

• Guest Instagram: @kerilmusic
• Guest Facebook:Kerilmusic
• Guest Youtube: Keril韋喆

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to the wonderful Chrissy Zemura, a 31 year old Hair stylist who is working in Hong Kong on an international TV show. Chrissy moved to Hong Kong from Sydney where she  juggles being a mother with running her salon, and working on tv and film sets. 

An epic story about chasing your dreams and putting in the work, Chrissy tells us the story of how she went from studying accounting and finance in the UK, to becoming a hair stylist to the stars, a business owner , a mother, and an advocate for diversity and inclusion within the national curriculum for hair and beauty. 

A fun and inspirational episode for your Monday morning and don't miss all the gossip about Nicole Kidman in Hong Kong. Enjoy!

--

We love putting the show together for you, and we hope you love it too! If you do, a great way to help us grow is to subscribe to the show and rate/review us on your podcast app so more people find us.

 If you have any questions, comments or potential guests for us, you can reach us on social media or drop us an  email:  Twitter | Instagram | Email 

Notes and links from this episode:

• Guest Instagram : @chrissyzemurahair
• Guest Twitter : @ChrissyZemura
• Guest's Salon : @zemurasalon