Project Voice

SEASON 3 is FINALLY HERE!

I’m starting off the season with a topic very close to my heart: growing up as a child of refugee immigrant parents. My friend, Saroeun, and I will be sharing our personal struggles growing up as first-born children of immigrant parents who moved because they didn’t have a choice - from overcoming barriers with the English language to helping our parents translate in day-to-day situations to guiding our younger siblings to a better life as Southeast Asian Americans. I hope that this 2-episode special will help people understand better where we’re coming from and why today’s immigration issue should hit close to everyone’s heart. Here is part 1. Look forward to next week for part 2!

Saroeun Moungyiv is a 1st generation Cambodian American. She has a cosmetology license and is a nail technician at her mother's shop. Her ambition is simply to help her parents' dream of becoming business owners come true and hope to have people understand the value of true happiness in themselves and in life.

Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-19-im-proud-to-be-a-child-of-refugee-immigrant-parents-part-1

9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!

Connect with us @projectvoicepod:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvoicepod
Instagram: http://instagram.com/projectvoicepod
Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectvoicepod

We are going to end season 2 with a 2-in-1 bang! Fighting work discrimination and aspiring whiteness are some pretty heavy topics that my anonymous friend and I were able to discuss within less than an hour, amazingly enough - perfect for all of you individuals out there who just want the straight truths while you're on the get go. We've heard of how being seen as the model minority has hurt us a million times already, so why not put it into context while bringing up the flaws of our modern day American workplace system? For example, how do we combat microaggressions that we see day to day at work? Later on in the episode, we will touch upon some of us whose subconscious desire is to become white or like white and discuss how what it means to aspire whiteness is different from what it means to be labeled as "whitewashed."

My speaker for this week's episode is a South Asian woman who is currently working at an business consulting firm in the U.S. Her areas of interest include labor economics, environmental economics, immigration and economics of inequality, anti-trust and competition. Outside of work she enjoys exercise, coffee, talking long walks and engaging in conversations about social justice and politics.

Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-18-combatting-work-discrimination-and-aspiring-whiteness

9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!

Connect with us @projectvoicepod:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvoicepod
Instagram: http://instagram.com/projectvoicepod
Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectvoicepod

Sibling rivalry doesn’t really pertain to only our community but like the topic of parenting, there are still cultural implications that exist and they affect our family dynamics. It didn’t occur to me that I could explore this topic until I began reflecting on my relationship with my own sister just a couple weeks ago. I am very proud and excited to showcase my best friend and younger sister, Joanne Nguyen, in this episode. Look forward to an hour’s worth of her words of advice and encouragement as she brings us back to what it’s like for us growing up together and what our relationship is like now in this week’s episode.

Joanne Nguyen is an aspiring graphic designer and musician who finds solace in listening to Korean music (mainly R&B, her current obsession being DΞΔN) and watching dramas (currently watching Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, highly recommend if you’re looking for OTP cuteness). She’s currently a sophomore at Stanford University who thinks she wants to major in Communications and minor in East Asian Studies with a Korean subplan, but she’s still lost and trying to find her calling in life. She loves heart-to-hearts and dreams of one day opening a coffee shop in Korea where people can come to relax and have thought-provoking and deep conversations. She loves to create and perform whether that is through graphic designing, singing, dancing, or crocheting. Check out her portfolio at https://joannemainguyen.wordpress.com.

Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-17-sibling-rivalry

9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!

Connect with us @projectvoicepod:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvoicepod
Instagram: http://instagram.com/projectvoicepod
Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectvoicepod

The Asian American adoptee experience is an experience shared by thousands of voices of those I wished I had the opportunity of interviewing. Similar to narratives of mixed Asian Americans, narratives of Asian American adoptees need to be heard more. Luckily for this Podcast, I was able to speak with two of my amazing friends, Laurelin Haas and Andrea MacGown. The reason why I invited them specifically on this episode is to showcase the stark contrast between their responses to my questions regarding their life journey and changing self-perception, proving that once again, there is no such thing as a "standard Asian American adoptee experience." As the host of Project Voice, one of the biggest challenges I've faced is ensuring that I am not creating a spectacle out of my interviewees and it's especially tricky when one of main jobs is asking them questions. Tune in to listen to what they have to say about my concerns and much more!

Laurelin Haas is a recent graduate of Iowa State University. She is an adoptee from China, and she has three younger sisters (all also adopted from China). Laurelin was raised in the Midwest and has connected to her Chinese roots by studying the language and studying abroad in Shanghai.

Andrea MacGown is a junior majoring in philosophy and minoring in logic at Smith College. Her passions are social justice for black lives matter, Asian rights, sexuality, and women's rights. In her free time, she watches movies and anime. She is interested in learning different languages such as Mandarin and French. Andrea loves streetwear, Korean skincare, boba tea, and fighting the system.

Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-16-in-between-as-asian-american-adoptees

9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!

Connect with us @projectvoicepod:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvoicepod
Instagram: http://instagram.com/projectvoicepod
Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectvoicepod

Relationships and dating are topics that we just naturally gravitate towards because let’s be real, they can be pretty fun to talk about regardless of where you are in life. But on Project Voice, we can be both fun and serious at the same time - let’s talk about interracial dating, shall we! Once considered a taboo topic, the 101 of interracial dating has not been covered as often as it should be even now - online or offline. In this episode, I had the special opportunity to interview my friend Cleo Bergman and ask her about her thoughts on what it’s like to be with someone who grew up in a different world from her. We’re not going to lie, the dynamics of interracial dating can be tricky to navigate through but one key lesson that we've gained from exploring this topic is that communication will always be important, dating or no dating.

Cleo is a biracial (Asian and white), straight woman living in NYC with a Japanese mother and an American father. She hopes to pursue a career in writing or work in a chocolate factory.

 Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-15-interracial-dating-101

9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!

Connect with us @projectvoicepod:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvoicepod
Instagram: http://instagram.com/projectvoicepod
Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectvoicepod

Here’s the first Podcast episode in which I’m going to take a step aside and give space to those who are part of the mixed Asian American community to share their stories. It’s important to keep in mind of the rich diversity of voices within the community of Asian American women representing us. It was a huge privilege to be able to interview Chloe Lin and Hanako O'Leary for this episode, so I'm excited to share their narratives with you. For listeners who can relate to the experiences of my interviewees, I hope that our conversations - especially for this episode - can be a comforting experience for you to be a part of - you are not alone.

Chloe Lin is, among other things, a first-generation, mixed-race, bisexual Asian-American woman. She was raised in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County by her Taiwanese-Chinese mother, and now resides in Boston, where she works as a guide and museum assistant for various historic sites. She graduated from Smith College in 2016 as a history major and museum studies minor, and is adjusting to Adult Life by reading books of all kinds, cooking with friends, and avoiding learning how to drive. She thanks you for listening to this podcast, and hopes you have a lovely day.

Hanako O’Leary, (aka HannyaGrrrl) is a first generation Japanese-American.  Upon receiving her BFA in ceramics, Hanako O'Leary left the mid-west to pursue a career in clay. Settling in Seattle, she became frustrated with the insular, white-washed nature of the the fine art world, struggling to find her voice as a biracial womyn artist. After becoming involved in local cultural nonprofits and community art projects, Hanako decided to pursue her MFA in Arts Leadership.  As an arts administrator she believed she could create access into the fine art-world for those who create work outside the canon of Eurocentric aesthetics.

In her two year journey through Seattle University's Arts Leadership program, Hanako realized leadership in the arts was not exclusive to those in administrative positions.  In those years she found her voice as an artist, participating in socially engaged public art projects and exhibits throughout Seattle. Currently she is exploring social media as public art space and it’s influence in building community. Recent inspirations/ aspirations include Edo period Japan, comic illustration, intersectional feminism, and of course, smashing the patriarchy.

Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-14-i-am-mixed-but-still-asian

9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!

Connect with us @projectvoicepod:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvoicepod
Instagram: http://instagram.com/projectvoicepod
Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectvoicepod

Oh, expectations. We can just never get tired of talking about them. That’s why we’ve decided to dedicate a whole episode on expectations! Got to love them. And as Ceci Kim, an awesome fellow classmate from my Asian American studies course has intended, our conversation will focus on expectations put upon us in contexts that are broader than just your average work or school environment. How have expectations from our family and society shaped us growing up? How have we reacted to them in the past? How have they informed us to make decisions in our life (from big to small)? Tune in for the answers!

Ceci is a second generation Korean American currently in grad school in New York. She spends most of her time hanging out with her dog, watching Korean dramas, and searching for the perfect bowl of noodles.

Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-13-dealing-with-expectations

9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!

Connect with us @projectvoicepod:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvoicepod
Instagram: http://instagram.com/projectvoicepod
Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectvoicepod

As Asian women, we have the misfortune to feel pressures to conform to society’s westernized beauty standards based on our gender and race. From the shade of our skin to the size of our eyes, we are scrutinized for having what we have instead of being told that we are beautiful and that we are enough. In this episode, I will be holding my largest group interview with my fellow Southeast Asian gals, Gift Inthaly, Danielle DeGuzman, and last but not least, Rosenna Moungyiv on their personal insights on what really matters (hint: #bodylove).

Gift Inthaly is a second generation Thai-Laotian American who is currently pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing. After graduating college and becoming a nurse, she hopes to be able to someday travel all over the the world.

Second generation and Filipino American, Danielle DeGuzman is currently in college pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing. She hopes to experience all the world that it has to offer, so she can better understand herself and others.

Rosenna Moungyiv is a second generation Cambodian American who is currently studying nursing and enjoying her newfound passion in her work taking care of patients at a local nursing home. 

 Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-12-asian-beauty-standards

9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!

Connect with us @projectvoicepod:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvoicepod
Instagram: http://instagram.com/projectvoicepod
Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectvoicepod

Thank you for tuning in to listen to SEASON 2 of Project Voice! Let's kick off the new season with a topic that many of us constantly have to grapple with regardless of how old we are: interacting with our parents.

I wouldn't say that all Asian parents are strict and conservative by nature, but I would like to open the floor to discuss the reasons why some of them are that way to their children. I think that it's more important to focus on how different our beliefs and values are to our parents as it is quite a unique experience growing up as an Asian in the U.S. in which you experience cultural clashes within your home everyday. In this episode, my friend Swati and I will share stories on how we cope with our differences and disagreements with our parents.

Swati Sharma is a neuroscience research assistant at a pharmaceutical company who loves comedy and singing, and is passionate about learning new things and making the world a better place. I'm so excited to have her as my first guest of the season on Project Voice!

Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-11-rebelling-against-the-parents

9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!

Connect with us @projectvoicepod:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvoicepod
Instagram: http://instagram.com/projectvoicepod
Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectvoicepod

Before we dive into a new season of Project Voice, I wanted to share with you a bonus mini episode that was prepared for an interview I had stumbled upon from last summer. For the interview, I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Lisa Chin, a holistic mama to a happy two year old girl. We connected quickly over our love for creating content for communities that we care about and since then, have updated with each other on our current passion projects.

I think I was lucky to have met Lisa because I don't think you can put her in a box when it comes to what she does. From blogging at Lisa for Real to hosting an online summit dedicated to supporting in mothers in their postpartum period called The Fourth Trimester Summit (www.fourthtrimestersummit.com), she is on a roll!

In this episode,  Lisa shares her thoughts on how motherhood has changed her perception on self-identity and the significance of reconnecting with one's roots. Why is exploring your cultural identity so important?

Bonus: If you're looking to be inspired to create as part of your 2017 journey, listen in for some of her own words of encouragement!

If you do get a chance, check out her blog at lisaforreal.com!:

"Lisa for Real is a catalouge (yup, I just got British on you) of my realest thoughts. It is me for real. My personal musings on feminine power in the areas of careers, relationships, motherhood, self identity, and whatever else I am drawn to.

I am also for real, as in authenticity, in wholeness, in being true to ourselves. This includes being for real health, food, relationships, hugs, connection, careers, business, identity and it goes on…" - Lisa Chin

Read our transcript here!: https://www.projectvoicepod.com/blog/2018/8/15/episode-10-reconnecting-with-your-roots

9.15.18: Project Voice has rebranded!

Connect with us @projectvoicepod:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectvoicepod
Instagram: http://instagram.com/projectvoicepod
Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectvoicepod