HomeGrown

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Carl Junior AKA the black expat. Carl is a full time podcaster (amongst many other things) who moved to Taiwan 11 years ago from Chicago. Carl talks us through moving to Beijing and then Taiwan at a time before google maps and Facebook, and how adjusting (and growing up to some extent) in Taiwan turned it into a place he now calls home.

We hear about how he started the first 100% black owned bar and art gallery in Taiwan, wrote a book, and started a podcast, all while managing a school department. We delve into some great topics, and Carl shares some insights into dating, living and the importance of sharing our experiences. 

Definitely a great one to start off your week, and if you're listening and you've visited any of the places mentioned, share the story on instagram and tag us!

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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 : @theblack_expat
• Guest Linktree : The Black Expat Podcast

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Chef Mutaro, a Senegal born Parisian who moved to Hong Kong 8 years ago to take on what would later become the restaurant capital of the world.

Mutaro is Executive Chef & General Manager at Le Comptoir Group, which has 5 venues across the city, and he shares with us his journey from Senegal to Hong Kong, with many amazing pitstops along the way.

A sprawling tale that takes us from the Talibe in Senegal, to the restaurant scene in Paris with Alain Ducasse, to London with Joël Robuchon, before a casual stint in Lebanon and then finally Hong Kong.

Such an inspirational story of struggle, hard work, and triumph, and a special insight into the little known Talibe in Senegal. We hope you enjoy listening to this one as much as we did making it.

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 : @baldemutaro
• Guest message: Look into the Talibe 
• Michelin recommended Bali - inspired restaurant : Poem 
• Michelin star Japanese-French restaurant : Écriture
• Online patisserie : Pastel 
• Rooftop dining terrace : Piqniq 
• Sushi bar : Umi 

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Bernise Springer, a 31 year old Foreign Service Officer who first moved to Taipei from St Lucia 8 years ago.

Bernise talks to us about life in Taiwan as a professional and as a Mandarin Chinese student. We also get an in-depth discussion about Reverse Culture Shock (going home and it not feeling right) and how home can be a place where you aren't necessarily surrounded by people who look like you.

A great episode for anyone thinking about studying in Taiwan, moving back home or just wondering where home might-could be.

Oh and don't miss a bit of beat-boxing at the end! 
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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 : @totheebeetrue

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Joy Kawuma, a 22 year old Make-up Artist who was born and raised in Hong Kong but now lives in Bali!

Joy speaks to us about what it was like growing up in Hong Kong, choosing or not choosing an identity as a person of mixed heritage, and swapping concrete jungle for ...jungle jungle.

A fresh and bubbly voice to start off your week with, enjoy and make sure to check out Joy's meditation recommendation !

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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 : @angelaurapure 
• Guest  Recommendations: Omvana by Mindvalley

In this week's episode, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Whitney Cele. A 30 year old writer, travel consultant & curator (formerly foreign English teacher) who moved to Huwei, Taiwan from Durban, South Africa.

In our first Taiwan focussed episode of the season, Whitney breaks down her experience in the small town of Huwei, from fear and first impressions, to finding friends and  becoming more adventurous and seeing more of the island.

Whitney opens up about how her mental health affected her decision to take the leap and move, and how being outside that comfort zone helped get her to a better place.  A great story teller and winner of the 'longest Homegrown monologue', Whitney shares a few choice stories which bring her experiences to life!

We hope you enjoy this one as much as we enjoyed making it!

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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 :  @whit_cele, @the.empathyproject.za
• Guest website:  thevacationist.net
• Guest Book Recommendations: Black in Asia

In the first interview of the new season, Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Mubarak Murafa. A 30 year old Nigerian senior product designer who has lived in Hong Kong for 28 years.

As Mubarak's family moved to Hong Kong when he was 2 years old, we discuss the school, to university, to workforce experience in Hong Kong and highlight Mubarak's more peculiar path through that as an "extreme minority". We discuss the the additional dynamic of Nigerian culture and its emphasis on education, and ask that age old question "what is home really?".

Definitely one for anyone looking to study in Hong Kong or is interested in the tech space, and a bright and bubbly conversation for your Monday morning.

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 : @Mubarakmarafa
• Guest Twitter: @Mubarak_marafa
• Guest website: www.mubarak.design
• Guest Recommendations:
  • MKBHD
  • The Design of Everyday Things

Your faves are back again and this season is all about 'Mas'...HomeGrown is coming to you bigger and better than ever!

It's been quite possibly the longest break in the history of breaks, but join Louisa and The Fantastic Fo as they catch up on all the happenings of the last few months. From relocations to new locations, tune in to find out  Lou's mismatched glassware woes, Fo's super secret surprise (is this the best-kept or worst-kept secret?) and what to expect in coming months...

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All our stuff:
If you have any questions, comments or potential guests for us, you can follow and message us on social media or by  email:  Twitter | Instagram | Email

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. 
 

In this final episode of Season 2, Louisa and The Fantastic Fo ask the question of what is next, for our hosts, the black community, and the quest to destroy the single narrative.

After a quick recap of the most memorable moments of the season, Lou gets Fo in the guest's seat to share what he has learned over the season and the past year. Having started the podcast during the height of the BLM movement, Lou and Fo discuss where we are now, and how we must continue to counter the negative myths of race with informative, inspirational and entertaining stories.

If you have enjoyed listening to HomeGrown so far, please help us out by subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you listen to your podcasts. This REALLY helps us to grow our following and continue to bring you great stories from great guests doing great things.

HomeGrown will be back after a short break, so stay tuned for season 3 and follow us on  Instagram  & Twitter for updates. You can also email us at [email protected] for info, questions or just to say Hi! 

Book Recommendations: 

•  The Myth of Race: The troubling persistence of an unscientific idea by Robert Wald Sussman 

In a very special episode this week Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Juanita Ingram, an attorney, author and star of the TV show, The Expats International Ingrams.
In a change from our usual list of Hong Kong-based guests, Juanita has been living in Taipei, Taiwan for two years, and gives us an insight into life in the city.

We talk first impressions in and of Taiwan, the power of a trailing spouse and  the realities of race relations and prejudice in Taiwan compared to the UK and US.

Join us for this thought-provoking but often-hilarious  chat...we bet you've never heard a more memorable pronunciation of "Ascot"!

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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.

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

Notes and links from this episode:

• Guest Instagram : @iamjuanitaingram
• TV show: The Expats International Ingrams
• Song Recommendations:
  • Donnie McKlurkin
  • Yolanda Adams
  • Slippin' by DMX
  • Black Parade by Beyonce
• Book Recommendations: 
  •  Too Heavy a Yoke by Chanequa Walker-Barnes
  • Fabulous Fatihful & Free by Juanita Ingram 
  • Just as I Am by Cicely Tyson
  • Small Doses by Amanda Seales

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ICYMI: We've recently been featured in US News, check out the article here! You can find some of our other press and links here.

This week Louisa and the Fantastic Fo speak to Anisha Thai, a civil engineer and content creator who moved to HK 3.5 yrs ago from Paris. Join us as we talk to her about the motivation behind her engineering career and how that compares to her passion for dance. Plus she speaks very frankly about life in Hong Kong, internalised racism and navigating being both Black and Asian in a city that did not accept her in the way that she expected.

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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.

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

Notes and links from this episode:

• Guest Instagram : @anishathai (and Youtube)
• Music Recommendation: Lady by Rema