MIXUNDERSTOOD

After much thoughtful consideration, Amy, my most wonderful co-host and friend, has decided to step down from the podcast. While I will miss her terribly - I'm truly beyond grateful for the episodes we've created together. We've poured our everything into season 1 and it's one of the most fulfilling endeavors we've ever had.

Change is a natural part of life, and even though it's very hard for me to bid farewell to Amy, I'm excited about the new opportunities and creative directions that lie ahead for the podcast. Our time with Amy has been filled with laughter, thought-provoking discussions, and so many memorable moments, and I want to express my deepest gratitude to her for being an integral part of this journey.

I'm committed to ensuring that Mixunderstood continues to be a source of inspiration, entertainment, and valuable insights for all of you. Due to this change I will need more time as I prepare season 2, currently looking at a March release.

Thank you for your continued support, and please join me in wishing Amy all the best in her future endeavors as she gets ready to welcome baby #2!! 

Stay tuned for more exciting content, and let's embrace the next chapter of MIXUNDERSTOOD together!

Your host,

Hanna-Lee

Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com

Find Amy Maghera on Instagram: @amy.maghera

Follow!

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Contact:

Email: [email protected]

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In this week’s SEASON FINALE we go out with a bang by  sharing a multicultural mashup of holiday stories from you, our amazing listeners! We truly felt rejuvenated and enriched after this episode and we hope you will too!

From how they do things in a British/Columbian/American household with post midnight Christmas eve parties, to the intricacies of how an intercultural Hungarian and Indian couple celebrate, to a Polish Ashcanazi Jewish Father and a Jamaican Mother learning about each others traditions and continuing them for their children, even when the other isn’t around, to how they do it in Finland with a deep respect for those who have past and saunas on Christmas day! It’s a multicultural feast and full of so many different perspectives with stories from people from all sorts of backgrounds and ages. We can’t wait for you to listen to it! 

Thank you to our special guests!

Blake Pearlman 

Michelle Boucher 

Arun Entwistle

Cherisse Merren 

Gabriella and Rakesh (instagram @ourinterculturallife )

Chloe Campbell

Mari Sakakibara

Naomi Sakakibara

Petra Sprecher 

Mike Cantrell

Ariel Taub 

Noam, Peja and Mayumi Sedan

Wendy Cardona

If you’d like to join our new Patreon Programme as we get ready for Season 2, please see the link at the bottom of this page! 

Additional info on the Podcast:

Hosts: Amy Maghera -Taub, Hanna-Lee Sakakibara

Music: Mathias Kunzli - www.mathiaskunzli.com

If you liked this episode please share it and subscribe to Mixunderstood where ever you listen to your Podcasts. Please rate and review too! We highly appreciate it!

Follow us:

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Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Patreon!

https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod

What’s it like to be mixed when it comes to celebrating the holidays? 

In this episode we share our own stories about the joys, challenges, and quirks of our diverse holiday experiences. We talk about how it feels to live away from our families and explore the unique experiences that come from navigating the festive season within our own interracial and intercultural marriages, and how these blend into our holiday traditions.  

We also discuss the often unspoken aspect of holidays - the pressure to conform to societal norms and the reality that sometimes, Christmas just isn't the joyous barrel of laughs that it’s made out to be. Whether our holidays are tinged with sadness, stress, or unconventional fun, we embrace it all.  

Annnnnnd you can join our conversation! Next week, we'll be featuring some of the stories and experiences of our listeners. What do the holiday celebrations look like in your household? Do you have a unique holiday tale or tradition that you’d like to share? If you haven’t already then send us a voice message in an email to [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at (424) 272-1089. We're so excited to hear how you celebrate your holidays in your own special way!

If you’d like to join our new Patreon Programme as we get ready for Season 2, please see the link at the bottom of this page! 

Additional info on the Podcast:

Hosts: Amy Maghera -Taub, Hanna-Lee Sakakibara

Music: Mathias Kunzli - www.mathiaskunzli.com

If you liked this episode please share it and subscribe to Mixunderstood where ever you listen to your Podcasts. Please rate and review too! We highly appreciate it!

Follow us:

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Patreon!

https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod

To finish our mixed actors in the entertainment industry series, we share our own  stories! We get into our first jobs, cringe worthy moments, career highs and lows, acting in different accents and languages, dodgy auditions, having an identity crisis at the most inappropriate times, bizarre situations and more. 

Additional info on the Podcast:

Hosts: Amy Maghera -Taub, Hanna-Lee Sakakibara

Music: Mathias Kunzli - www.mathiaskunzli.com

If you liked this episode please share it and subscribe to Mixunderstood where ever you listen to your Podcasts. Please rate and review too! We highly appreciate it!

Follow us:

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Summary:

Imagine working in Hollywood as a mixed actor at a time when showing the ‘mixing of races’ on screen was prohibited, with interracial marriage being banned in more than 30 states in America. Or, having your scenes in your movies be stand alone shots so that you could be easily removed to cater to audiences who would reject your participation in non-menial roles due to your skin color. These are just two examples of the struggles that these incredible, resilient powerhouses faced. We start with Lena Horne and explore her remarkable life, from her beginnings in the famed Cotton Club to becoming a pioneering figure in black history. How, as a mixed race actress, she broke barriers, redefined Hollywood norms, and left an indelible mark on both the entertainment world and society! We then get straight into Fredi Washington, an extraordinary figure who navigated and challenged the rigid racial boundaries of her time, as a multiracial actress, writer and activist. Her legacy is not only in her cinematic achievements such as ‘Imitation of Life’ (1934) but also in her tireless fight for racial equality and representation in the media.

Grounded, inspired and empowered is how we felt after recording this episode! 

Episode Breakdown:

Lena horne

Introduction to Lena Horne. An overview of her 70-year career as a singer, actress, dancer, and civil rights activist, including her awards and notable works.

Her mixed heritage, its impact on her career, and her role as a pioneer in breaking racial barriers in Hollywood.

Early life and career beginnings including the history behind her name 'Calhoun', her multiple moves, different schools, her parents divorce and her first job at the Cotton Club.

Lena’s initial Broadway appearance in 1934, leading to her joining Noble Sissle's Society Orchestra, where she began to hone her unique singing style.

Personal life and early struggles: Her time in Pittsburgh, early marriage and children, resulting in a divorce and the split of her two children. 

Becoming the first African American woman to tour with an all-white band, and facing discrimination during these tours.

Her journey to being scouted by MGM studios, leading to becoming the first black actress to sign a long term contract with MGM.

The unique clauses she had in her contract against playing demeaning roles and the subsequent backlash she faced from black actors for doing this.  

Hollywood’s decision to market her as a Latina. Despite her disagreement, playing a Latina woman in her MGM debut film, ‘Panama Hattie’, where she was darkened up with custom made makeup called ‘Light Egyptian’. 

Discussion about modern make-up companies continuing to perpetuate colorism by putting people from certain parts of the world in the same color box by calling their foundation shades things like, ‘Punjab’ and ‘Barcelona’. 

A quote from Horne reflecting her identity struggles amidst her career challenges.

How her scenes and songs were often isolated for easy removal in Southern screenings where audiences would have objected to a black woman performing in the film in a ‘non menial’ role. 

Playing roles in All-Black Musical Films, such as 'Stormy Weather' where she sang the title song. These were the only movies she played a character ‘that was involved in the plot.’ 

Becoming the highest-paid black actor in the mid-1940s. 

Missed opportunities in film roles due to racial prejudices in Hollywood including 

MGM’s 1951 remake of ‘Till the Clouds Go By’. Many say that Lena Horne did not get the role of mixed race character Julie LaVerne, due to to the production’s code ban on showing interracial relationships (as the character marries a white man).

Horne's activism against segregation, her support for the equal treatment of black soldiers leading to her claim of being somewhat blacklisted from the industry for 7 years. 

Her successful music career, highlighted by her record-breaking live album at the Waldorf Astoria.

Her marriage to a white man, the societal backlash and threats, and the need to hide it for three years. 

Her continuous activism for black rights and the personal tragedies she faced.

Her comeback with her one-woman show 'Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music' in 1981, leading to a Tony Award.

Our reflection on Lena Horne's Legacy and thoughts on her resilience, the challenges she faced, and her status as a trailblazer for the black community and women.

Fredi Washington

Introduction to Fredi Washington as an American stage and film actress, civil rights activist, performer and writer. 

Overview of her early life including her heritage, being born to parents of both European and African American ancestry.

A look at her most notable work - Imitation of Life released in 1934, (nominated for 3 Academy Awards including Best Picture) for which she received critical acclaim.

On why it has been recognized under Time Magazine’s 25 most important films on race. 

Our synopsis of the film and reflections of Fredi Washington’s character of Peola.

How, contrary to her character of Peola in ‘Imitation of Life’ (a light skinned black woman who chooses to pass as white), Fredi Washington in real life identified as black. 

The difficulty that the film faced with gaining approval from the censor board due to the Hays Code forbidding Hollywood from showing the mixing of races on screen. 

A deep dive into the censor board’s issue with the film, namely Fredi Washington’s character of Peola and how Peola’s choice to identify across the racial boundaries was enough to stop the film from being released. 

What the studio did to get around the ‘problem’.

Fredi Washington’s life after Imitation of Life. How playing a biracial character went against her as it caused her to be caught in the space between preventing her from  fitting into casting boxes.

Her activism and journalism work including being a founder of the Negro Actors Guild of America, a group that advocated for less stereotypical roles and better treatment for black actors. 

Washington’s influential writings for The People’s Voice which included important criticisms of racism and sexism in the media. 

Personal anecdotes including her link with Duke Ellington and how she used being able to ‘white pass’ to go to all white ice cream parlors for his band.

A discussion about her courage and integrity in a time when she could have chosen to pass as white, but didn't.

Closing thoughts after learning about both women 

Links:

Lena Horne

https://www.biography.com/musicians/lena-horne

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/lena-horne-about-the-performer/487/

https://scalar.usc.edu/works/castles-made-of-sand-racial-ambiguity-and-mid-twentieth-century-american-musicians-1/racial-ambiguity-in-the-age-of-integrationism-lena-horne

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/arts/music/10horne.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lena_Horne

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/20/books/review/the-black-calhouns-by-gail-lumet-buckley.html

https://en.geneastar.org/genealogy/hornel/lena-horne

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0395043/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Fredi Washington

'Imitation of Life' Film: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.6aa9f72e-9712-bed3-8dc5-1af32270541e?autoplay=0&ref_=atv_cf_strg_wb

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredi_Washington

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imitation_of_Life_(1934_film)

https://mixedracestudies.org/?tag=fredi-washington

https://www.history.com/news/fredi-washington-black-actress-hollywood-jim-crow-era

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/hays-code-loving-hollywood-s-89632/

https://cup.columbia.edu/book/hollywoods-censor/9780231143585#:~:text=From%201934%20to%201954%20Joseph,with%20censoring%20the%20American%20screen.

https://broadcast41.uoregon.edu/biography/washington-fredi

Additional info on the Podcast:

Hosts: Amy Maghera -Taub, Hanna-Lee Sakakibara

Music: Mathias Kunzli - www.mathiaskunzli.com

If you liked this episode please share it and subscribe to Mixunderstood where ever you listen to your Podcasts. Please rate and review too! We highly appreciate it!

Follow us:

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Summary:

Join us as we eagerly explore the lives of these two iconic mixed actresses, during the glitz and glamor days of old Hollywood. We discover Oberon's journey, from her upbringing under false family pretenses to crafting a fabricated backstory to hide her biracial identity. We get into the societal pressures and Hollywood's Hays Code that influenced her concealment, and discuss the impact of her unacknowledged South Asian heritage on her legacy. Transitioning to Rita Hayworth, we share her transformation from a dancer in a family of performers to a Hollywood sensation, while of course digging deep into the extensive changes she underwent to erase her ethnic roots. We talk about how Hollywood selectively retained aspects of her ethnicity and the control she faced from a young age, as well as the challenges both actresses faced and the moulding both underwent to ‘fit in’ to be successful.

Episode Breakdown:

Merle Oberon:

Introduction to Merle Oberon's notable works.

Exploration of her early life and the societal attitudes towards mixed-race individuals.

Her entry into acting and the necessity to fabricate her background story.

Her concealed biracial identity and reasons behind it.

Skin lightening creams and how the notion of lighter skin being better is still the message in some cultures - Amy’s experience in the Bollywood industry.

Hollywood's Hays Code regarding race representation.

Posthumous revelation of Oberon's true identity and its significance.

Rita Hayworth:

Introduction to Hayworth's major works and background.

Her early life as a dancer in a family of performers.

Memories from our lives in relation to the topic of dance

The reality of coming from an entire family of dancers for Rita Hayworth and having no choice but to become a dancer from such a young age

Growing up in the spotlight and her journey to Hollywood 

The role her Father played in manufacturing of her image 

Continued by film studios including raising her hair line to make her look more ‘white’.

The public's reception of her transformation and Hollywood's selective embrace of her ethnicity.

The story of when Rita Hayworth’s face was put on an atomic bomb and others reactions to her anger

Personal reflections on learning about the lives and struggles of these two Hollywood icons as multiracial, multicultural actresses in the present day.

Merle Oberon

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/06/merle-oberon-oscars-best-actress

https://mixedasianmedia.com/issue-007/8-hapa-women-who-made-history-merle-oberon

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hollywood-flashback-merle-oberon-oscars-secret-1235343125/

https://variety.com/2002/film/reviews/the-trouble-with-merle-1200547709/

https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp63299/merle-oberon-estelle-merle-obrien-thompson

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-61079732

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/07/last-tycoon-jennifer-beals-merle-oberon?redirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanityfair.com%2Fhollywood%2F2017%2F07%2Flast-tycoon-jennifer-beals-merle-oberon

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/michelle-yeoh-first-asian-actress-oscar-nominee-2023-1235308034/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hays-code-interracial-relationships-hollywood_n_58fa812ee4b06b9cb916fffd

Rita Hayworth: 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-margarita-cansino-became-rita-hayworth-180965275/

https://daily.jstor.org/the-making-of-rita-hayworth/

https://www.adriennelmclean.net/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Hayworth

https://www.yours.co.uk/leisure/nostalgia/the-life-and-loves-of-rita-hayworth/

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/09/rita-hayworth-biography-trauma

Additional info on the Podcast:

Hosts: Amy Maghera -Taub, Hanna-Lee Sakakibara

Music: Mathias Kunzli - www.mathiasjunzli.com

If you liked this episode please share it and subscribe to Mixunderstood where ever you listen to your Podcasts. Please rate and review too! We highly appreciate it!

Follow us:

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/sir-ben-kingsleys-identity-is-as-colourful-as-his-characters/

Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage - Maria P.P. Root

https://www.apa.org/pubs/videos/4310742-rights.pdf

Additional info on the Podcast:

Hosts: Amy Maghera -Taub, Hanna-Lee Sakakibara

Music: Mathias Kunzli - www.mathiasjunzli.com

If you liked this episode please share it and subscribe to Mixunderstood where ever you listen to your Podcasts. Please rate and review too! We highly appreciate it!

Follow us:

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Join us as we get right into the nuanced experiences of four mixed-race actors: Collin McCalla, Kyla Nova, Amy Ward and Lorenzo Silva as they navigate the complex landscape of Hollywood casting.

We explore the challenges they face when their identities intersect with industry stereotypes and casting conventions. We examine the delicate balance between diversity in casting and authentic representation, raising questions on ethnicity, identity, and the evolving standards of storytelling in film and television.

How should Hollywood balance the quest for authenticity in casting with the fluidity of mixed-race identities?

Where do mixed-race actors fit in an industry striving for diversity, but still grappling with rigid perceptions of ethnicity? Should there be a threshold for how much an actor's ethnicity should align with the character's, and who decides this threshold?

What happens when you’re unable to get cast as the ethnicity/ies you actually are because you don’t look it and in fact look more like another ethnic group? 

Episode breakdown:

• Introductions to Collin McCalla and Kyla Nova and their mixed heritage.

• Where do mixed actors fit in when there is a gap between their ethnic background and how they are perceived?

•  How far should filmmakers  go to assure diverse actors are properly portrayed and represented? Should they base castings off of biology or appearance? 

• Amy Ward's experiences with being of Korean and Irish descent and her thoughts on casting limitations for mixed actors.

• Reflecting on the scarcity of mixed-race representation when we were children and the impact on personal and cultural identity.

Special Guests: 

Collin McCalla, Kyla Nova, Amy WArd, Lorenzo Silva

Instagram: @jcmccalla, @kylanova11, @grimgaiety, @lorenzosilvadolla

 Links:

‘Casting an Asian-American in a Native American Role Does Not Help Diversity in Hollywood’

https://globalcomment.com/casting-asian-american-native-american-role-not-help-diversity-hollywood/

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/05/hollywood-ryan-murphy-anna-may-wong

 Additional info on the Podcast: 

Hosts: Amy Maghera -Taub, Hanna-Lee Sakakibara

Music: Mathias Kunzli - www.mathiasjunzli.com 

If you liked this episode please share it and subscribe to Mixunderstood where ever you listen to your Podcasts. Please rate and review too! We highly appreciate it!

Follow us:

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

In a world that is rapidly embracing AI, what happens when it begins to replace actors? As the SAG actors union strike crosses its 100th day, we dive deep into the pivotal role AI plays in the ongoing negotiations. Joanna Ke's compelling article - “ Why AI Replacing Actors is a Threat to Diversity and Cultural Progress '', poses a question we hadn't fully grasped: How does AI's involvement in the entertainment industry potentially undermine diversity and cultural progress? Why are actors so concerned, and is their battle truly just about pay? Are we looking at a mere industry debate, or a broader conversation about human rights in the AI age? SAG’s fight for actors took on a whole new meaning for us after this conversation, as we realised that this is about protecting our rights as human beings, which goes far beyond the entertainment industry. 

Episode breakdown:

• Introduction: Meet Joanna Ke, a multifaceted voice in the industry 

Special Guest: 

Joanna Ke

Filmmaker / Writer / Actor

Joanna is an award-winning filmmaker that thrives in the industry as an actor, writer, script consultant, and producer. She champions diverse stories led by women both behind and in front of the camera.

Under her production company, Saint Joan productions, Joanna wrote, produced, and starred in the fantasy action film Protectress, which won 11 awards, in the film festival circuit,  including Best Fantasy, Best Action, and Best Performance.

Joanna runs the twitter account @femcharacters, highlighting the unfortunate way women are often portrayed on screen. She has been a regular contributing writer for two industry blogs, We ScreenPlay & Ms in the Biz. 

Instagram: @joanna_ke

Website: joannake.com

Links:

Joanna Ke’s Article: https://mixedasianmedia.com/why-ai-replacing-actors-is-a-threat-to-diversity-and-cultural-progress

Sinead Bovell - I study the future. We should pay attention to avatars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtId9uJzHfg

Background Actors and what’s at stake in the actors strike

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sag-actors-strike-ai-background-actors_n_64b1b07de4b0ad7b75f2f616

Keanu Reeves on AI Technology

https://deadline.com/2023/02/keanu-reeves-calls-out-scary-deepfakes-ai-technology-1235260761/

Justine Bateman - SAG’s AI consultant and a resource for AI updates in the industry

instagram 

@_justinebateman_

Additional info on the Podcast: 

Hosts: Amy Maghera -Taub, Hanna-Lee Sakakibara

Music: Mathias Kunzli - www.mathiasjunzli.com 

If you liked this episode please share it and subscribe to Mixunderstood where ever you listen to your Podcasts. Please rate and review too! We highly appreciate it!

Follow us:

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

In the latest instalment of our "Mixed Actors in the Entertainment Industry" series, we sit down with power house Manager and Producer, Matilda Comers.

We dive into Matilda's unique vantage point on representing mixed actors, how she feels the industry has changed when it comes to diversity, and her personal multicultural story. 

We also tackle a pressing and complex question for actors: Should we set our own limits in playing diverse roles or let the industry decide for us? (How much of the onus should be on us, if any, especially when we have limited information when going up for roles).

Episode breakdown:

• Introduction to Matilda Comers and how we met

Special Guest: 

Matilda Comers

Manager/Producer

Matilda started out as a Promotions and Digital Editor at Universal Music Group, Australia. 

She then became the Director of Australians in Film, where she ran prestigious programs such as  The Heath Ledger Scholarship.

Following this she transitioned into producing and among other things notably co-produced together with Australians in Film; the LA version of the AFI-ACTA Awards Show, recognised as the Australian equivalent to the Oscars.

In 2016, she co-founded Fictious, a talent management and production company, in collaboration with partner Will Howarth.

Instagram: @fictiousmgmt

Additional info on the Podcast: 

Hosts: Amy Maghera -Taub, Hanna-Lee Sakakibara

Music: Mathias Kunzli - www.mathiasjunzli.com 

If you liked this episode please share it and subscribe to Mixunderstood where ever you listen to your Podcasts. 

Follow us:

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: [email protected]