Asian Pacific Voices Radio

Advocating for Asian American Communities through Poetry │ 2x2

Howard Xiao, also known by his artist name hxthepoet, is an award winning speaker, writer, poet, and spoken word artist.

 

He was the 2010 California State Champion in Speech (Oratorical Interpretation), a finalist in numerous national speech tournaments between 2010 and 2012 - including the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions (NIETOC), Catholic Nationals, the MLK Tournament (Top 5), and the Glenbooks Tournament (top 5). From 2015 onward, Howard performed at slam poetry venues across the nation - becoming a finalist during slam poetry competitions at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and Bowery Poetry Club (New York), and at the Berkeley Slam (Berkeley, California).

 

Since 2018 onward, Howard engages thousands of followers under his artist/pen name, hxthepoet - with the goal of sharing relatable and socially impactful poetry on topics like mental health, self-improvement, discrimination, bullying, and relationships. His poetry can be found @hxthepoet on Instagram and other social channels.

Fostering a Movement of Cultural Appreciation through Musical Theater │ 2x1

Julia Riew is a Korean-American musical theater composer-lyricist, librettist, and songwriter. A senior at Harvard University, she has composed over 15 original songs for her Korean Disney musical, which she campaigns for through the popular platform, Tiktok, which has garnered much attention in the short span of one month.

In this episode, Riew discusses the making of musicals and the significance of adaptation of old stories that allows her to bring her own personal experience to it. She also discusses her experiences as a 2.5 generation Asian-America, how they've shaped her stories and songs. She also discusses the importance of having Asian protagonists, not just secondary characters, as well as the conflicting sense of unbelonging that many POC communities face. 

Julia’s recent works include Alice’s Wonderland, an original musical a collaboration with J Quinton Johnson (Hamilton on Broadway, In the Heights at the Kennedy Center) that was workshopped in a 29-hour developmental reading in New York City at AMAS Musical Theater and will be premiering in Kansas City at the Coterie Theater this summer. Her other works include the TYA show Jack and the Beanstalk: A Musical Adventure was commissioned for the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.)’s 2020 Family Musical, Thumbelina: A Little Musical (The A.R.T. 2019 Family Musical), and The East Side: A New Musical, which is currently being developed under a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) at Nora Theater Company in Central Square.

At Harvard, Riew co-founded the Harvard College Asian Student Arts Project (ASAP), a club created to provide the resources and community for Asian student artists, and was the recipient of the 2020 Radcliffe Doris Cohen Levi Musical Theater Prize, as well as a John Harvard Scholar. She is currently a nominee for the 2022 Louis Sudler (Music Composition) Prize for the Arts. 

Laur Allen: Advocating Positive Social Justice & Humanitarian Impact through Law & Media │1x42

In this episode, actress Laur Allen shares her personal story of her family culture growing up, and what inspired her to integrate law and media in creating a positive impact in the AAPI community.  

Laur is an LA native of Chinese, British, and Hungarian-Jewish heritage. As an actress, Laur made her network TV debut as the recurring character "Juliet Helton" on CBS's "The Young and the Restless." You can find her starring most recently in the LGBTQ+ holiday romcom "Christmas at the Ranch," alongside Amanda Righetti, Lindsay Wagner, and Archie Kao.

Laur was the first mixed-ethnicity Miss Los Angeles Chinatown Queen and proudly went on to represent the Los Angeles Chinese community at the Miss Chinese International Pageant in Hong Kong. Her involvement with these cultural pageants inspired her to continue working with the Southern California Chinese community to this day and also to pivot her career from behind-the-camera to acting. Prior to acting, Laur worked as a production assistant, then in production and development, and finally in the television marketing department at Sony Pictures Entertainment.

While working on "The Young and The Restless," Laur began law school at USC Gould School of Law, and in February 2021, she was admitted as a member of the State Bar of CA. With a strong passion for advocacy, Laur aspires to create an empowering platform, incorporating both acting and law, through which she can make a positive humanitarian impact and represent her community.

 

Archie Kao - A Chinese American Actor‘s Journey Along the Pacific Rim │1x41

Born in Washington D.C. to Chinese immigrant parents, Archie Kao is a Chinese-American actor/director/producer, perhaps best known to American audiences for television series regular roles on Chicago P.D., Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. 

From his start in starring in the world’s #1 kids show as the Lost Galaxy’s Blue Power Ranger to later spending 10 seasons with the world’s #1 drama franchise CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Kao has had a colorful and storied career. 

In 2010, Kao was inducted into MOCA’s (Museum of Chinese Americans) inaugural class of YPX88- honoring Asian Americans in creative culture, along with actresses Lucy Liu, Michelle Krusiec, and trailblazing playwright David Henry Hwang. In 2012, Kao was honored with CAPE’s (Coalition of Asian Pacific’s in Entertainment) Leaders and Legends award from Who’s Who in Asian American Communities, amongst such distinguished recipients as former US Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta, US Congressman Mike Honda and Indonesian Ambassador Dino Patti Djalal. 

In 2013, Kao joined the series regular cast of NBC/Universal’s hit series Chicago PD, broadening the success of legendary producer Dick Wolf’s One Chicago franchise. Being named one of People Magazine’s “Hottest Bachelors”, as well as dozens of appearances in US film and television productions led Kao to his first Chinese production: SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN with Li Bing Bing, Gianna Jun, and Hugh Jackman. In 2014, Kao became the first male to appear on the cover of Vogue China. 

In 2016, Kao spent time in mountainous rural regions of Sichuan China when he volunteered to build educational centers for the impoverished youth of the region with donations from Harper’s Bazaar, and is on the advisory board for Homes4theHomeless, a non-profit organization aiming at tackling the homelessness epidemic, as well as supporting underserved youth with vocational training programs. 

His production entity Summer Grape Productions aims to create content for a transpacific audience, and Kao has produced various productions under this banner- including FAST MONEY, the recipient of numerous festival awards- as well as writing and directing INITIATION- starring Ashley Bell of THE LAST EXORCISM. 

In 2020, Kao began work on two new projects: Warner Brothers/HBO series FLIGHT ATTENDANT, and iQiyi’s BREATH OF DESTINY. 

Quyền Nguyen Le: A Queer Filmmaker and Writer Creating Pathways to Understanding through Film │1x40

In this episode, filmmaker and writer Quyen Nguyen-Le talk about their films, generational divides, queer stories, and struggles with self-identity.

Quyên Nguyen-Le (they/them) is a queer vietnamese american filmmaker and writer. Born to refugee parents in the place where Chumash and Tongva lands meet (San Fernando Valley, Los Ángeles), Quyên's work focuses on the ways histories emerge in the quotidian everyday. Their short films Nước (Water/Homeland) (2016) and Hoài (Ongoing, Memory) (2018) have screened in film festivals, museums, art galleries, universities, libraries, and community spaces worldwide. Recently, Quyên's documentary The Morning Passing on El Cajón Boulevard, a segment of a 4-part feature anthology, premiered as the Opening for the 20th San Diego Asian Film Festival.

In the past, Quyên was a recipient of the Emma L. Bowen Foundation's Fellowship at Focus Features/NBCUniversal (2011-2013), Visual Communications’ Armed with a Camera Fellowship (2016), the National Multicultural Alliance's documentary fellowship with the Center for Asian American Media (2018), and Points North Institute's North Star Fellowship (2019). Quyên holds B.A. in Comparative Literature and Philosophy, Politics & Law from the University of Southern California.

Raising Awareness for Social Justice Reform, Youth Education, and Women’s Rights through Music│1x39

Saleka is a classically trained, Indian American musician, who began playing piano at the age of four. As the daughter of M. Night and Dr. Bhavna Shyamalan, Saleka was raised on an eclectic combination of music. Rather than attending a traditional conservatory, she made a transformative decision and enrolled at Brown University to begin her journey as an R&B singer-songwriter and study both Literary Arts and Music.

Saleka has performed at iconic venues across the United States, opening for both R&B legends and up-and-coming artists such as Boyz II Men, Summer Walker, Baby Rose and K. Michelle.

Upon debuting her first single, "Clarity", in September 2020, Refinery29 called Saleka "a new artist to watch". Saleka frequently collaborates with her sister, Ishana, who has so far directed three of four of her music videos.

In addition to music, Saleka uses her powerful voice to raise awareness for social justice reform, youth education and women’s rights. Saleka currently resides with her family in Philadelphia.

To learn more about Saleka and her upcoming tour schedule, visit here website at https://www.salekamusic.com

 

Tasty Asian Inspired Halloween Recipes and Horror Films with Korean Chef Cathlyn Choi │1x38

In this special Halloween episode, Korean Chef Cathlyn Choi shares some of her popular Asian inspired recipes such as 'Witch's Stew' made with ground turkey and vegetables and 'Tasty Finger' snacks made with sausages. She also talks about some of her favorite horror movies including a first hand experience of her scarey encounter with a 'shadow person' when she was in Paris.

A TV/Film Producer, celebrity chef, community leader and media activist, Cathlyn is best recognized by her fans and the Media as the Korean Food (Hansik) & Cultural Ambassador since 2009, having self-hosted and produced 4 Seasons of Cathlyn’s Korean Kitchen, the first Korean cooking show in English broadcasted on national PBS in the US. Over the course of 9 years, Cathlyn frequently performed culinary demonstrations at over 300 cultural festivals and food events to create awareness and educate the public about easy to make, delicious and healthful Korean inspired recipes. 

Cathlyn is the founder and Executive Director of Asian Culture and Media Alliance, a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization established in 2013 to promote a voice of unity, awareness and empowerment for the Asian and Pacific Islander communities and culture through the power of Television, Film and New Media. As part of the mission, Cathlyn has been hosting and producing Asian Voices (currently in production of Season 4 series), featuring Asian culture, history, businesses, artists and events in Southern California.

Additionally, Cathlyn has over 25 years of international business development, sales and marketing background as the VP of Marketing and Business Development working for startups within the wireless, media, wellness, F&B, health and beauty industries in North America, South America and Asia. 

Parents are Human │1x37

Entrepreneur Joseph Lam is the CEO and Creator of 'Parents Are Human', a bilingual connection card game he created in 2019, designed to spark deep conversations for families. Since then, Joseph has been helping people connect deeply with their parents, normalize working through dysfunctional family dynamics, and bridge the generational gap.

Previously, Joseph built an award-winning nutrition tech company called Brainbuild, an iOS and Android app that automatically planned a person's meals, snacks, hydration, and sleep events based on their daily schedule. Joseph is also an athlete having competed for the United States in 7 world cups and earned 8 national medals in fencing.

Based on his own experience of rebuilding the broken relationship with his own parents later on as an adult, Joseph has been on a mission to support and inspire people around the world through his latest venture, helping connect more deeply with their families and cultivate intergenerational wellness.

Joseph also co-created The Parent Project, where pods of 3-4 peers come together to show up for their aging parents each week—working through past traumas, rewriting outdated beliefs, and learning to love and be loved by their parents.

 

 

Empowering Next Generation of Asian Youth Voices in Film Media Arts and Pop Culture │1x36

Introducing a new show segment called Asian Voices Youth Radio Podcast that empowers our next generation of API Creatives & Leaders.

Hosted by twin brothers, Ausdon and Josdon Thong. Asian Youth Voices features younger generation of API entrepreneurs, filmmakers and artists with topics ranging from TV and film content, music, media arts and pop culture.

In this episode, Ausdon and Josdon talks about their childhood and life experiences growing up in the US, and how some of the television and film content had made a big impact in their lives involving their educational and future career choices.

Ausdon is a graduate from California State University of Fullerton with a degree in Cinema & TV Arts with a focus in Screenwriting. Being passionate about movies and television since he was younger, and noticing that there wasn’t much representation of Asian Americans in mainstream media, he made a conscious decision to be a filmmaker. Ausdon currently hosts his own produced true crime podcast on Spotify and in development of a new horror anthology podcast. His goals are to improve his craft on acting and become a director and producer in the future.

Josdon Thong is an alumni of California State University of Northridge. He graduated in the spring of 2020 and his field of study was in the Cinema & Television Arts, specifically in Screenwriting.

As an aspiring screenwriter, Josdon has written a number of stories that he’d like to share with the world on the big screen one day. He’s currently producing, writing and voice acting in two fictional, audio drama podcasts. Josdon's dream is to someday produce his own animation film for the big screen and win an Oscar. 

Dismantling the Stigma and Negative Connotations of Menstruation │1x35

A social entrepreneur, speaker, author and activist, Nadya Okamoto is a fierce advocate for destigmatizing periods and mental health. At the age of 16, Nadya founded PERIOD (period.org), a non profit organization fighting to end period poverty and stigma.

At age 19, Nadya was the youngest candidate in the race for a seat for Cambridge City Council, focusing her campaign on issues of affordable housing, education equity, and climate change.

In 2017, Nadya was named as one of Teen Vogue's 21 Under 21. She was awarded the L'Oréal Women of Worth award at the annual Glamour Women of the Year ceremony in November 2019.

In 2020, Nadya co-founded August, a lifestyle period brand with Nick Jain, the founder of JUV Consulting. The brand also built Ask August, a "judgement-free platform" that "makes it easier for Generation Z to navigate the process of menstruation."

Author of, "Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement," Nadya was featured in multiple high-profile media interviews, landing on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list as well as others — that, amid the whirlwind, she did not realize she was "monopolizing" the movement.