This week's multicultural movie review is on Hasan Minhaj's Homecoming King.

In his first stand-up special, Hasan Minhaj weaves humorous & heartbreaking anecdotes to tell his life story as an Indian - American Muslim.  Rated 8.3/10 on IMDB, the film is absolutely hilarious and does a good job of giving viewers insights into the immigrant and multicultural experience.

• Watch the Movie Trailer HERE
• Find out where you can watch it HERE

This week's multicultural movie review is on The Big Sick.

The Big Sick is the multicultural story of Pakistani-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani (as himself) & Emily Gordon, (played by Zoe Kazan) as Kumail’s white American girlfriend. They fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash.

• Watch the movie trailer HERE
• Find out where you can watch the movie HERE

Episode 12 is the story of Alex Barnett, a New York based comedian, writer & white, Jewish multiracial dad, married to an African - American woman (who converted to Judaism) & why it was important for him to raise his 6yr old biracial son in the Jewish faith. We talk about:

• His love story with his black wife
• why his wife converted to Judaism
• What it means for him to be Jewish
• Ashkenazic vs Sephardic subcultures of Judaism
• why it was important for him to raise his son in the Jewish faith
• why he loves being a multiracial dad

Get to know Alex Barnett:

• His podcast
• His website
• Co-founder of MultiRacial Media

See photos & show notes here

Episode 11 is the blasian love story of Chie Davis, who leaves behind her family in Japan to move abroad (the 1st in her family) and in the process falls in love with a famous African-American musician Dennis Davis, 25years older than her.

See photos of Chie + Dennis David & detailed Show Notes HERE

Episode 10 is the story of my brother-in-law Ken & his outsider perspective as an American traveling to Kampala, Uganda to get officially engaged to his fiancé (my sister) as part of the traditional Ugandan engagement ceremony, the kwanjula . Along the way, he questions the why behind each Ugandan tradition vs his upbringing & makes a compelling observation that brings him closer to his future wife.  

Resources mentioned:

• BOOK: The Good Earth by Pearl Buck
• DANCE TROUPE: Ndere Dance Troupe
• MUSIC: Prince, The Beautiful Ones

In Episode 9, I interview Ria & Jon, a Chinese – Filipino couple who met in the Philippines about how they’ve learned to communicate, love and resolve conflict despite their different cultures and the clever disagreement conflict management gimmick they’ve developed to say sorry and apologize. 

Resources mentioned:

• Hashtag: #JRSeestheWorld
• The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
• Filipino Tocino – pork dish
• Despacito – Luis Fonsi  & Daddy Yankee
• The Green Mile movie
• Pan's Labyrinth

In episode 8 of the IAM podcast, I chat with the cheerful, award winning media producer & diversity champion Anna Lauren Tufecki about her love story with her Turkish Muslim husband Eren & how together they’re pioneering & redefining what love & faith looks like in a healthy, fulfilling Christian – Muslim marriage.

We chat about:

• Anna Lauren’s Christian upbringing
• How she met her husband Eren & how they celebrated an emotional interfaith wedding
• Eren’s religion: Sufisim & what is Islam faith & what it means to be a Sufi Muslim
• What they believe in now & how they pray
• How they plan to raise their children
• Anna shares the best marriage advice she’s ever received & her top interfaith resources 

RESOURCES Mentioned:

• Anna Lauren Instagram
• ALLove Diversity Project
• Anna + Eren’s Wedding Video
• Wedding Song: Beetles All You Need is Love
• The Social Animal by David Brooks
• Generation M - Shelina Janmohamed
• The Faith Club - Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, Priscilla Warner

What’s a head explosion & how do some people react when they see blasian couple Timolin & Eric?

In episode 7 of the IAM podcast, I chat with the bubbly and fun Eric & Timolin about

What We Discuss

• Head explosions: How people react when they see them
• How it’s sometimes hard for people to comprehend that they are together as a married couple
• How they met
• How Eric proposed onstage as part of an improv act
• How cultural background can influence a person’s communication style
• How they use humor to keep the fire alive

Resources mentioned:

• Tessane Chin – Jamaican – Chinese Blasian singer from Season 5 of The Voice - Lifeline
• Bob Marley – Three Little Birds
• Radiohead
• Languages Spoken: Tagalog & Hokkien

In episode 6, I talk to Khadijah & Thomas who have a Youtube channel called “The Delightful Carleys” about how they met online and from the very beginning were very intentional about their relationship.  We discuss what values have helped them get through a rollercoaster 1st year of marriage.

See photos of Khadijah + Thomas HERE

In episode 5 of the IAM podcast, I talk to Yanshu + Mike, a Chinese - Filipino couple, about their first big international trip together as a couple & how they use food, travel, honesty, culture & humor to learn & support each other & how they're making their marriage work as they build a bubble tea business that keeps them apart 5 days a week.

• See PHOTOs of Yanshu + Mike & detailed show notes HERE