Asian Pacific Voices Radio

Being Asian in Law Enforcement with FBI Special Agent Stacey Moy │ 2x15

This episode of Asian Voices Radio features FBI Special Agent Stacey Moy. A graduate of Torrey Pines High School and a Navy veteran, Moy was recently named the special agent in charge of the San Diego Field Office. Moy most recently served in the same role, overseeing the Intelligence and Incident Response Division in the Washington Field Office. 

First joining the FBI in 2004 working counterintelligence and espionage, he has climbed the ladder and his work has brought him across Washington, D.C., the Bay Area, and San Diego. 

Creating your Own Representation with Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja │ 2x14

In today's episode of Asian Voices Radio, we have Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, an Indonesian American actress whose began her career at age 4. Growing up and seeing a lack of people that look like her on TV shows and movies, she took charge and became her own representation. 

Malea speaks English, Mandarin, Indonesian and Spanish. She plays piano, violin, guitar and ukulele. Malea also loves contortion, gymnastics, dancing and soccer. Malea is also a singer, going viral with her National Anthem video in LA Galaxy game in 2018. 

Her latest work is A24's feature film After Yang (2021) opposite Colin Farrell. She is also known for her recurring guest roles on iCarly (2021) and on Disney Channel shows Coop and Cami Ask the World (2018) and Raven's Home (2017).

The American Secret War in Laos │ 2x13

Sera Koulabdara (Sa-rah Goo-lap-dah lah) serves as Executive Director of Legacies of War, the only international U.S.-based  advocacy and educational organization working to address the impacts of the American Secret War in Laos and conflict in its neighboring countries of Cambodia and Vietnam during the Vietnam War-era. This includes the removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and victims/survivor assistance. In this episode, Sera discusses this part of our joint history as Americans that isn't taught or talked about.

Under Sera’s leadership, US funding for UXO clearance in Laos reached $45M - the highest level in history and the Legacies of War Recognition and UXO Removal Act was introduced by Senator Baldwin (D-WI). If approved, this historic bill authorizes landmark funding of $500M over  5 years divided among the 3 countries of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Legacies of War also received the inaugural Humanitarian Award of 2022 given by the Lao PDR for its successful advocacy efforts in securing funds for bomb removal and victims assistance.

Sera is a proud Buckeye and received her undergraduate degree from THE Ohio State University.

Cultivating Personal Growth and Legacy │ 2x12

Dr. Emily Letran is a dentist, author, speaker, and life coach. Informed by her experiences fleeing Vietnam, Dr. Letran has optimized her opportunities for herself and for others, always striving for improvement. As a mother of three, she has learned to creatively balance work, family life, after-school life and her personal life as a growing entrepreneur.

Dr. Letran is actively involved in community services, sponsoring multiple local school and charity events. She created the Emily Letran Foundation dedicated to providing basic dental care to veterans and families of disadvantaged background, including the monthly Free Dentistry Day, where she and her dental team work to provide free dentistry for the less fortunate in area communities.

To learn more about her Foundation, her books, and her coaching, visit her website at https://www.dremilyletran.com/

Immigrant Excellence in the Design Industry │ 2x11

Rich Tu, a first-generation Filipino-American designer and artist.

A decorated figure in media, he is also works to uplift BIPOC creatives. He co-founded the COLORFUL grant with the One Club, and he hosts the podcast "First Generation Burden," which focuses on intersectionality and diversity within the creative industry.

He has won various awards and has worked with a number of big name clients and collaborators, and actively supports other emerging AAPI creatives.

In today's episode, he delves into his experiences entering the design industry and navigating the Trump campaign as a first-generation Asian American.

Curating an Experience in Opera │ 2x10

On today's episode of Asian Voices, Sasha Foo sits down with Matthew Ozawa, a renowned stage director, artistic director, and educator dedicated to the world of opera and theatre. They discuss the classical arts as a realm traditionally reserved for the white elite, his experiences navigating it as a Japanese-American, and the importance of expanding opera for POC performers and audience members. 

Ozawa has firmly cemented himself as one of the preeminent creative forces in the opera world today. He has directed for a number of opera houses and theatres across the nation and has won many awards, honors, and fellowships. He is also a decorated educator, bringing the arts of acting and movement to young minds. A lifetime of hard work and learning the business of the industry from the ground up has led to his founding of MOZAWA, a Chicago-based incubator advancing collaborative art and artists.

Playing Yourself for a Living with Kristina Wong │ 2x9

Kristina Wong is a third-generation Chinese-American known primarily for her work as a solo theater performer, performance artist, and actor. As a feminist, her work often tackles themes regarding race, sex, and privilege, often in conjunction with the Asian-American experience, through a satirical lens.

In this episode, Wong also discusses her work and its overlap with social activism. She is an elected representative of Koreatown, Los Angeles and an avid activist. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she founded the Auntie Sewing Squad, a national mutual aid collective that specializes in making and distributing face masks. 

To learn more about Kristina Wong and Auntie Sewing Squad, visit https://www.kristinawong.com and http://auntiesewingsquad.com. 

The Business of Representation with Alexa Khan │ 2x8

On this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Alexa Khan tells us about her Mongolian background along with her experiences of how she became a film producer from being an actress and a financial advisor.

A Mongolian-born American actress and producer, Khan grew up on stage in Mongolia and has loved the performing arts since she was a child. When Alexa moved to Los Angeles, she immersed herself in the acting methods of Sanford Meisner and Stella Addler at the Ruskin School of Acting.

She has since performed on stage as well as in numerous shorts and feature films. Her ability to portray elegance with power and strength with grace has landed her parts in several films.

Exploring Identity, Community, and Refugitude through Theatre │ 2x7

On today's episode of Asian Voices, artistic director of TeAda Productions Ova Saopeng delves into his origins in theatre and the significance of representation for South and South East Asian faces, histories, and stories.

 

Ova Saopeng is associate artistic director and producer with Los Angeles based TeAda Productions. A refugee from Savannakhet, Laos, he was raised in Hawaii and received a B.A. in Theater from the University of Southern California. Now an accomplished actor, teaching artist, and playwright, his passions for elevating the refugee and immigrant experience on the American stage have shined through his work. Ova is also co-creator of Refugee Nation, the only nationally touring play about the Lao-American experience.

 

Learn more about his creations at teada.org.

Sowing Compassion, Community, and Education from Tragedy │ 2x6

Giving back to the community that lent support in a time of tragedy, the Lingzi Foundation works to help others pursue their own dreams through Lu Lingi's spirit. 

An inspiration sprouted in the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing attack, the Lingzi Foundation is a 501 (c) (3), not-for-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was formed by the family of Lu Lingzi, who perished during the Boston Marathon bombing attack, to preserve and perpetuate Lingzi’s life example. Through their programs, youth are able to cultivate connections and support one another––which they have adapted to and maintained across this pandemic.

You can learn more about the foundation at https://lingzifoundation.org/