If you’re tuning in to this particular episode, It's likely because sometime since Friday, September 4, 2020  you saw a headline and/or read an article, post, or tweet that said something along the lines of “Pacific nation of Palau invites US to build a military base to counter China.” This is the episode about that letter.  [Note: This episode contains some strong language and mentions about sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.]

Yes, it’s more than half-way through the year and yes 2020 has been utter rubbish— so clearly, there are A LOT of things to discuss. This is a checking-in trailer to let you know about some of the upcoming topics currently in production:

So be sure to subscribe via any of the usual podcast platforms, YouTube, or keep an eye out at merirei.com for forthcoming hot takes and unpopular opinions from yours truly!

And as always:

Please don’t drink and drive, don’t drink and dial, don’t drink and text, don’t drink and tweet... Don’t drink and doing anything that you may regret come morning because come morning, you will regret it!

Back in 2016, I was fortunate enough to have a chat with then-presidential candidate Surangel Whipps Jr in Portland, Oregon about his run. Fast forward to 2020... Surangel Whipps Jr hasn't issued an official declaration, but he is running, and he did make time for a sit-down sesh to answer some crowdsourced questions before his meeting with the Palauan community on Oahu for this first Sha Nanigans podcast of the year. 

Just recently, Senator Uduch Sengebau Senior of the 10th Olbiil er a Kelulau passed through Honolulu on her way back to Palau and she made time on a Saturday morning to give us an update on where she’d been and discuss some pretty difficult issues that we’re both very passionate about— from the importance of voting and electing women into political positions to domestic violence and sexual abuse in Palau. 

As images of kūpuna being arrested for protecting Mauna Kea have been displayed all over the world, I’ve watched how those images have affected people differently and spent a good bit of time reflecting. I wanted to share some of my own thoughts and feelings because what I saw and how I feel about the Protectors of Mauna Kea are very much shaped by the history of the greater Micronesian region (particularly Palau) and how it played a major role in my formative years. That same history has impacted my work as an adult and connects #BeingMicronesian with Indigenous struggles going on throughout the world today.

I had an entirely different episode to publish as my introductory 2019 episode. Really, I did. But every time I think I’m done recording, I open the Facebook app and there’s a whole new instance of Blechidelry™ that completely throws me… So consider this a mini episode because I’m literally just addressing yoga. Well yoga and the collective Blechidelry™ that’s become ever-so-pervasive in Palauan society. 

[Disclaimer: For years, plenty of you have pointed out that I am a veritable "Ngalek er a Ngebard," that ak "meses chemadech," or that I'm not a "real Palauan." That said, you can't be mad at me for speaking up, because I don't count. Right?]