Not Your Token Minority

In this episode, my friend Terhys and I talk a bit about our names and how they are tied to our identities. My name has always been a bit of a sensitive issue for me because up until a few years ago, I deliberately mispronounced my name to make myself seem less "foreign". It never sat right with me though, because I always knew that I was denying an integral part of myself. 

Have a listen and let me know what you think. And if you also have your own "name angst" experiences, then feel free to share!! 

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We're back with Alex this week to explore another integral part of his identity - his sexuality. He was 28 when he came out and he describes it as the best day of his life - the day where he could finally live his most authentic self.

We talk all about his experience growing up, his experience being at the intersection of race and sexuality and why we need better representation of what being gay means in popular media.

Thank you Alex for being so candid in sharing your experiences!!

As always, please share and rate, as well as follow along on Facebook and Instagram! And send me an email [email protected] if you want to share your story - I would love to hear from you!

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Alex was born and raised in the US and is of Taiwanese and Vietnamese descent. In this two-part conversation, we explore Alex's experiences being both Asian and gay and the challenges those intersecting parts of his identity bring.

In this particular episode, we focus on his lived experiences being Asian American, how his mum ended up in the US, the awkwardness of asking our parents about their pasts, appropriation of Asian food and culture and why the US isn't really the melting pot that it claims to be.

Have feedback? Let me know via Facebook and Instagram, or send me an email [email protected]. And if you want to share your story, then please get in touch too - I would love to hear from you.

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In the second part of my conversation with Kaya, we go more into detail about her work around cannabis, why she is so passionate about it and what she would like to see happen in terms of legislation regarding cannabis use in New Zealand. We also wrap up on her experience and learnings from living in Canada and the work she is doing in becoming the activist she - and many of us - need.

As always, I would love to hear your stories if you are also a part of the global majority, so email me at [email protected] or fill in the form here.

If you're enjoying the show,  make sure to leave a review, subscribe and follow NYTM on Facebook and Instagram.

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In this two-part interview, I speak with my friend Kaya, who is ethnically Japanese but was born and raised in New Zealand. We have a conversation about what is was like for her growing up in a predominantly white community, going on to work in a largely white workforce, all the ways she was reminded that she was "different" and how she began the process of unraveling years of conforming to racial oppression.

Stay tuned for Part II next week, when we dive more into her work around cannabis education and wrap up on where she is at in her culture identity journey.

Did Kaya's story resonate with you? Let me know via Facebook and Instagram, or send me an email [email protected]. And don't be shy about putting your hand up to be a guest on the podcast! 

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Born in Canada, Aki lived the full Asian-Canadian life up until he was in his early teens. Then, his entire life changed as he moved to his ancestral homeland of Japan, a country that was completely opposite to the western society he was so used to.

In this interview, Aki talks about the experience of moving from a western society to Japanese society, why he dropped out of high school and his ensuing journey that led him back to education.

As always,  share, follow and subscribe, as well as follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

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We have Sheila back on the podcast for this week's episode to talk about her cafe, which she opened around this time three years ago. She ran the cafe on Ponsonby Road in one of Auckland's most expensive areas and from the get-go, things didn't sit right. Despite being urged by family and friends to sell the cafe, Sheila battled on to try and keep Mi-La's Place afloat.

We talk about the reasons behind that decision to open the cafe and to try to keep it running, what that cost her, what finally shut its doors and the things Sheila has learnt from this experience.

As always, share, subscribe and follow on  Facebook and Instagram - your support means the world! And of course, don't hesitate to reach out if you would like to share your story. 

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Terhys and I first met when she travelled to New Zealand and ended up living here for a year after visiting several countries in Asia. Sometime later she visited South Africa, where she filmed her travel series,  Where Art Thou. With this in mind, it makes sense that our conversation took on a travel theme.

We talk about her personal experiences travelling abroad, how the meaning of blackness shifted with different countries and the struggles she had with belonging and identity when it comes to her Caribbean and Indian roots.

Have a story you want to share? Email me at [email protected]or fill in the form here.

If you like the show so far, I would really love your support: leave a review, make sure to subscribe and follow NYTM on Facebook and Instagram.

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TW: this episode contains discussion about mental health and suicide.

Jenny and I have known each other for almost three decades - she was, in fact, one of my very first friends. I’m grateful to have shared many significant life events with her, with one of the most recent being the birth of her first child, Orla. You’ll hear her gurgling away in the background of this episode! 👶🏻

In 2020, I was one of her bridesmaids at her wedding in Thailand and before that, we shared many birthday celebrations, nights out on the town and lots and lots of heartwarming meals.

But it's not always been good times and there was a point when things got incredibly dark. Jenny’s dad tragically and suddenly died right before her 21st birthday, changing her life irrevocably.

In an open and candid conversation, we talk about her journey following her dad’s death and the toll it took on her mental well-being and relationship with her family. We also discuss her experiences so far as a first-time mum and her anxieties around raising her biracial daughter in a western society.

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Mel Gouw is the young and creative designer of this podcast's artwork - she spent many hours dealing with my requests and going back and forth! Today, we hear a bit about her story, starting from her current life in Perth, Australia as a freelance graphic designer and then going back to her roots in Indonesia.

We talk about what it was like embarking on her freelance journey right when things were getting serious with COVID-19, her life in Indonesia, then moving to and growing up in New Zealand. We also reflect on some of the things our parents did for us, which we didn't understand at the time came out of love and their personal struggles in their new, foreign home.

As always, share, subscribe and follow on  Facebook and Instagram - your support means the world! And if you would like to follow Mel, you can do so via her Instagram or her website.

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