One in a Billion

She carries the good genes of music and science from the family.

Her grandmothers are physics professors in China, one of them plays the piano as a child.

Her father is a computer scientist, her mother is a medical scholar.

Yet, she struggled to learn the piano as a child. Her head was bored from slavishly following the sheet music. And her heart was burdened with a bitter childhood memory.

But all that changed when she discovered her fascination with computer programming as the pathway to animate her approach to understanding music.

How did Xiao Xiao eventually reach a breakthrough?

How did she combine her head and her heart to break the barrier between the technical and the emotional, the physical and the digital?

How did she confront gender bias and societal pressure as a woman in STEM?

Listen to Episode 6: "She Has Overcome: Cracking the Code of Learning Music" - my interview with Xiao Xiao - an artist, an autodidact, and a technologist with a Phd in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT Media Lab.

Music Used: Johann Sebastian Bach's Partita No. 1 in B flat major BWV 825 Donal Fox's Partita for Three Characters Beethoven's Opus 126 Bagatelles Erik Satie's The Gnossiennes Maurice Ravel's Sonatine 2nd Movement Frédéric Chopin's Études David O'Brien's Busy Bees

Kira Omans was just four months when she was abandoned in a public walkway near a bridge in Zhongshan, China.

Not only was she discovered and adopted to begin a new life in America, she would go on to become Miss Pacific Asian American (2015), a model, dancer, and an actress with her first lead in a new feature film "Shoes."

How did she get back up when kids kick her down? Who discovered her talent as a actor and a dancer? Why did she enter a beauty pageant she once thought was filled with "airheads?"

Listen to my interview with Kira Omans in Episode #5 "She Has Overcome: Re-imagining an Unforgettable Past."

We want to include you in this conversation.

To send us your comments or stories, just go to our Facebook page or our website at OneinABillionVoices.org under "Pitch a Story."

Share your thoughts? Pitch me a story?

"One in a Billion" is listening to #China, one person at a time

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Music used:

David O'Brien's Busy Bees Jay Man's Playful Fun Days (ourmusicbox.com/) Josh Woodward's Little Tomcat Jason Shaw's Solo Acoustic Guitar

What would you do when someone tries to break you down, yelling at you saying "You're the worst!?"

What would you do when no one believes in your startup idea, saying "it's too idealistic. It's never going to work!?"

What would you do when you face humiliating questions and intense scrutiny in front of millions of TV viewers?

Listen to Part 2 of my interview with Kimberly Jung in Episode #4 "Keep Climbing."

An entrepreneur after overcoming class, cultural and gender barriers to forge a path that puts her at the heart of a bigger mission.

Music Used:

David O'Brien's Busy Bees Jesse Spillane's Untitled Komiku's Boss 1: The first challenge Kai Engel's Chance

What would you do when you hit a storm in the middle of climbing to the mountain top? Would you stop? Would you keep going?

She would keep climbing.

What would you do when your parents want you to marry a doctor or a lawyer, go to Harvard or Stanford?

She would rebel. She would choose a different path, become an army officer and an entrepreneur. How? Who is she?

She is Kimberly Jung - CEO/Founder of Rumi Spice.

Kimberly shares the story of her becoming brave, transcending barriers and making tough choices at different crossroads in her life.

Listen to Part 1 of my interview with Kimberly Jung in Episode #3 "Breaking Barriers."

Music Used: David O'Brien's Busy Bees Andy G. Cohen's A Perceptible Shift Lee Rosevere's Love Wins Jahzzar's No-End Ave

In America, the freedom of speech a First Amendment right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

The right to speak our mind is not only valued in the American culture but expected in our liberal democratic society where voices are votes. The American electoral process expects it, and American citizens demands it.

But what happens when the culture and society in which you grew up devalues or demeans free speech?

In this Episode #2 "Free to Speak?" we interview Chinese and Americans who have reflected on their cultural identity and their right to speak, after watching a controversial speech by Chinese student Shuping Yang at University of Maryland.

As Chinese in America, how freely can you speak? Who try to silence you?

Leanne Fan and Karen Su joined me for a studio conversation. Listen to "Free to Speak?"

Music Used: Busy Bees by David O'Brien Travel Light by Jason Shaw Heroin by Mitch Hanley

It sounds like a simple question, "Are you Chinese?"

But why would someone ask it? And what makes it difficult for someone to answer it?

Eric Liao, our blogger/podcast intern at One in a Billion, started writing a blog about this question a month ago. When I first read it, it overwhelmed me with provocative ideas and perplexing analogies, and many of the underlying sentiments turn out to resonate with many young Asians in America. So we decided to turn that unfinished blog into a full-fledged podcast.

"Are you Chinese?" is not a simple question, as we've discovered after interviewing Eric and listening to dozens of Chinese and non-Chinese in America. It challenges their sense of belonging and individuality. Now, they're speaking up.

Their experiences tell a story of our common struggle when we're in our 20s - our struggle to establish our identity and individuality, and our search for belonging.

Listen to Eric's story in "Are You Chinese?"

Music Used:

Busy Bees by David O'Brien Xi by Andy G. Cohen The War Drums of Peace by The Marian Circle Drum Brigade Marty Ladies and Gentlemen by Doctor Turtle The Encouragement Stick by Doctor Turtle Grey Snow by John Woodward

How often do you hear these questions - "How high have you scored? How many hours do you work? How much have you done?"

Quantity is, of course important. It is a metric of output or outcome. We live in a results-driven economy that relies on quantifiable data to measure growth and success. But that alone can't be enough to define the meaning and purpose of your work, can it?

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog about "Productivity & Purpose" after hearing a warmly personal and illuminating interview with Maria Popova, founder of "Brain Pickings" on "On Being with Krista Tippett."

In this season for reflection, our listeners have asked me to share my blog again through narration. I hope you'll find it helpful to your thinking about this year before embracing the new one!

Listen to our latest podcast episode "Reflecting on 2016."

We want to include you in this conversation

To send us your comments or stories, just go to our Facebook page, or our website at ChinaPersonified.com under "Pitch a Story."

Share your thoughts? Pitch me a story?

"One in a Billion" is listening to #China, one person at a time.

Music Used:

David O'Brien's Busy Bees, 1648/5 (Album) Audio Network

Subscribe to "One in a Billion" below:

PRx | iTunes | SoundCloud

This year, I've promised my husband to be in Boston for Christmas and New Year. For the first time, it hit me how important it is to him that we celebrate Christmas, not in New York, or in Hong Kong (my hometown), but Cambridge our new home. I realize that his heart is forming roots to this place we've settled down for more than two years now. And in this season of longing, this is where he feels belonged. For me? It seems that I always feel belonged where I am most needed. Last month, I was able to spend more than two weeks with my father in Hong Kong, sitting with him mostly in silence while watching him watch TV, eat lunch or nap in the daybed as he coped with numerous issues including Alzheimer and Parkinson. A conversation was nearly impossible due to his cognitive decline and hearing difficulties. My gift for him was nothing more than my presence, punctured with periodic storytelling. Our quiet time together - my sitting by, being close, rendering care and reminiscing the way my father once was, the way we once were. I tried not to think about the future, but fully immersed in the moment we were sharing. How do you savor your time with your family? Listen to our latest podcast episode "Are You Home for Christmas?"

Our website bloggers Fang Guo and Xiao Fu had both written about their changing relationship with their parents earlier this year in "The Day My Father Fell" and "Dreaming of a New Beginning."

Now, our listeners request to hear their voice narrating their blogs for this Holiday Season. I hope you'll find them a cozy companion to your thoughts about our evolving identity and ties to your home.

We want to include you in this conversation

To send us your comments or stories, just go to our Facebook page, or our website at ChinaPersonified.com under "Pitch a Story."

Share your thoughts? Pitch me a story?

"One in a Billion" is listening to #China, one person at a time.

Music Used:

David O'Brien's Busy Bees, 1648/5 (Album) Audio Network Julie Maxwell's 25, Piano Soul Chris Zabriskie's Your Mothers Daughter, Music From Neptune Flux Chris Zabriskie's Undercover Vampire Policeman, Undercover Vampire Policeman Chris Zabriskie's The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan,Undercover Vampire Policeman Josh Woodward's Under the Stairs, Breadcrumbs Jason Shaw's 12 Mornings, Audionautix: Acoustic

Subscribe to "One in a Billion" below:

PRx | iTunes | SoundCloud

What Makes You Different?

How often do you feel different from your peers in America? Under what circumstances do you find your values at odds with your immediate cultural environment? How do you assert your sense of uniqueness?

Listen to our latest podcast episode "What Makes You Different?"

Twin sisters Chellie and Sara Zou narrate their blog about how they see race as multi-racial kids in Indiana.

http://chinapersonified.com/how-i-see-race-as-a-multiracial-kid/

Zara Zhang will read her story about "Warm Water."

http://chinapersonified.com/warm-water/

We want to include you in this conversation To send us your comments or stories, just go to our Facebook page, or our website at ChinaPersonified.com under "Pitch a Story." Share your thoughts? Pitch me a story? "One in a Billion" is listening to #China, one person at a time. Subscribe to "One in a Billion" below:

PRx | iTunes | SoundCloud

Music Used:

David O'Brien's Busy Bees, 1648/5 (Album) Audio Network

Josh Woodward's Once Tomorrow, Creative Commons Music

Jahzzar's The Shine, Jamendo Music

Sláinte's Banish, Beejayzus Records

Hyson's Whispers, Honest Music

The first time I wanted to deny that I was Chinese, I was 17 years old facing another 17 year-old. She was tall, blonde and huge from Chicago. "Where are you from?" She taunted me as I was sitting quietly in the corner, watching with wide-eyed wonder every teenage girl dancing up a storm on a chair or on a table. It was our Friday night "break out and dance" party inside a private high school outside of Detroit. "Hong Kong." I muttered softly because she looked intimidating. She was three times my size, a full head taller, and scowled while staring me down. I had just arrived in America several weeks ago. I was the only Asian girl in the room, and this was my first encounter with a mean white girl. "What? HANG? KANG? Where's that? What are you? Japanese?" Her rapid-fire, mid-western accented English coming out of her big mouth was bitingly cruel. I first stuttered a little, then gave it a go. "I am Chinese... from Hong Kong." "Chinese!? No, you're not. You are Japanese!!!" She started cracking up so loudly that I suddenly felt an urge to quickly agree with her, just to shut her up! Can you believe that? No, I didn't say a word. She kept it up for another minute, calling me Japanese and pulling my hair. I felt shame, small and shrinking in fear. What made me think of this insulting bullying scenario from my teenage years, were the numerous intimate stories I heard while moderating the "Why Not Me" open-mic storytelling forum at Harvard on Oct 14th. The event was designed for Asians to share experiences of bias and barriers that put them on the outside looking in. Many students who previously kept secret their immigrant experiences of being ostracized, ridiculed or shut out have decided to come forth and share their painful experiences. Some have described a breakdown, others recounted their breakthrough. Throughout the evening, I saw many in the audience wiping their weepy eyes, including me. What dawned on me is how the "ugly American" image is still alive and kicking today, decades later. Not only in high school or college, but in the larger culture. We see it play out in politics, on TV, and even in our own homes and neighborhood. But I also believe that we can enable the better angels of our nature to emerge and embrace our diversity – in our schools, our workplace, our churches and our communities. I invite you to listen to One in a Billion "Why Not Me? Part 2." We want to include you in this conversation. To send us your stories, just go to our Facebook page or our website at ChinaPersonified.com under "Pitch a Story." Share your thoughts? Pitch me a story? "One in a Billion" is listening to #China, one person at a time. Music Used: David O'Brien's Busy Bees, 1648/5 (Album) Audio Network Jason Shaw's Acoustic Meditation, Music by Audionautix Andy G. Cohen's Warmer, Creative Commons License Axeltree's The Thorn Revisit, Free Music Society Julie Maxwell's Dark Wonder, Bandcamp Josh Woodward's Hollow Grove, Jamendo Music Kevin Macleod's Cattails, Incompetech ———————— Subscribe to my podcasts below: PRx | iTunes | SoundCloud