Asian Pacific Voices Radio

An Activist & Audio Storyteller │1x27

Nidhi Shastri is an activist and audio storyteller from Chicago, IL. After graduating from the University of Illinois in 2019, she’s worked as a campaign organizer, fighting for healthcare justice and equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her podcast, Model Minority: Uniquely American, has won two awards and been featured in places like Inside National Geographic, the University of Illinois and at the University of California - Berkeley. She is working to uplift Asian, African and Middle Eastern stories through her work, while also using podcasting as a medium for educating and inspiring social change.

Support the Model Minority: Uniquely American podcast by following Nidhi Shastri on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Find the show on your favorite podcast platform through Anchor, or visit them directly on Spotify and Stitcher.

COVID-19: Vaccines & Variants │1x26

In this episode, Dr. Paul Y Song shares his insight on the latest COVID-19 news and facts. Debunk myths and discover more truth on vaccines and variants on this week's interview.

Paul Y. Song, MD is Co-Founder and CEO of Fuse Biotherapeutics. He is the former Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer of NKGen. He is a senior medical advisor at Hawkeye Bio and Supportive Therapeutics.  Dr. Song was most recently on the faculty of the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

Dr. Song served as the very first visiting fellow on healthcare policy in the California Department of Insurance in 2013. He is President of Physicians for a National Health Program California and is currently a board member of Physicians for a National Health Program, The Center for Health and Democracy, and Progressive Democrats of America.

The ”Triple Threat” Activist & Filmmaker │1x25

Shaina is a graduate of the University of Southern California's Master of Fine Arts program in Film and Television production. She jokes that she is a triple threat (disabled, Punjabi, and a woman), and is a fierce activist for people with disabilities. Shaina has developed her style as a director - bold, unrelenting, and quirky - focused on making comedies that promote diversity and inclusion. ​

Founding ”Crazy Woke Asians” │1x24

Kiki was born in Hong Kong. Her family landed in Seattle, Washington when she was twelve years old. Kiki competed in solo voice competitions and received third place in the whole Hong Kong school district. She was also on the swim team and trained for ten years to become a classical pianist.

In this episode, she shares more about her personal background, and what inspires her work as a comedian and community leader.

Kiki is the producer of the hit comedy show, Crazy Woke Asians. She performs regularly at the Comedy Store, Ice House Comedy Club and Flappers Comedy Club. Recently, Kiki opened for Kevin Nealon and Darrell Hammond at the Comedy Store. Her passion for stand up comedy gives her opportunities to connect quickly with any audience.

Discovering Self Through Differences │1x23

Dr. Marissa Pei shares her personal journey that has motivated her to help others through discovering themselves through differences and adversity.

Author of ’8 ways to happiness, Wherever you are’, Marissa Pei is best known as ‘The Asian Oprah’. In addition to being a RadioTalk Show host, Pei is also a TV commentator featured on a variety of human dynamics topics, including “Why People Do Weird Things at Work,” “Totally Out of Control People,” and her latest, “Conspiracy Theory.”

Pei’s private Life Balance Coaching practice in Seal Beach and Sedona, AZ, is supported by sets of daily inspirational cards, “52 Card Pick (Me) Ups: Stacking the Deck for Life Balance with Dr. Marissa” just launched last year. In her not-so-spare time, she teaches Balance Tai Qi Qong (DVD in production), a moving meditation that promotes inner peace one breath at a time, runs a “21 Day Fast from Complaining” event on Facebook with more than 800 followers and has three original songs now available at Amazon.com and iTunes.

Stories of a Hollywood Trailblazer │1x22

Irene Tsu broke barriers for Asian representation in film as she's taken on roles with some of Hollywood's biggest stars since the 1960's. In a time when barriers of diversity made Asian Americans undiscoverable in film and tv, Irene Tsu worked alongside big-name folks like Elvis Presley. In 1945, Irene was born in Shanghai then lived in Hong Kong until the age of 12. Her family immigrated to New York where she got her first speaking role in 1963, which launched her career,  in "Take Her, She's Mine".

In this episode, Irene shares her experiences as an Asian American who got to work closely with some of the biggest stars in entertainment. Her work as an actress and creator during this time opened the doors for future generations of Asian talent in Hollywood.

Vietnamese Activists and Educators │1x21

Dr. Thuy Vo Dang & Dr. Tu-Uyen Nguyen share their experiences as immigrants that had faced racial discrimination at a young age and later become community builders and preservers of history and culture.

Thuy Vo Dang holds a Ph.D. in Ethnic Studies from UC San Diego and has conducted research and taught courses on race and ethnicity, oral history, cultural studies, immigration, and refugee studies. She is currently a curator for the UCI Libraries Southeast Asian Archive and research librarian for Asian American Studies.

Dr. Tu-Uyen Nguyen was born in Vietnam but escaped with her family as a “boat person” in 1979, and she grew up mainly in Southern California. She received her undergraduate degrees in Biology and Comparative Literature from UCI, and her Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Public Health (Community Health Sciences) from UCLA in 2004. She feels the happiest to be at CSUF as an educator and being to learn from inspiring students, colleagues, and members of diverse communities locally and nationwide. 

Storytelling, Identity & Film │1x20

Lane Nishikawa is a sansei (third-generation) Japanese-American who has been recognized nationwide for his work in storytelling. In this episode, he shares his experiences, as his identity and passion have intersected throughout his career.

Lane Nishikawa has been in the film, television and theatrical industries for over thirty-five years. His dramatic feature film, Only The Brave, appeared in over 18 film festivals, internationally, screened in over 25 cities across the U.S., broadcast on National PBS, SHOWTIME Television, Armed Forces Network, and distributed to over 15 countries worldwide.

Therapy Through K-Dramas │1x19

Can watching Korean Dramas be good for understanding your mental health? In this episode, Jeanie Chang and our hosts Hula Ramos and Sheena Yap Chan, explore the power of Noonchi (or Nunchi). This is the Korean concept of the ability to read and gauge others' moods and feelings. In Jeanie's practice, she uses Noonchi with her patients who are struggling to understand and explore their complex mental health journeys.

Jeanie is a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP) and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) with experience in grief and trauma. In addition, Jeanie holds specialized training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She followed a calling in mental health after a diverse career path. She first started as a broadcast journalist in Washington, DC, then went on to attend business school. Her work in the corporate sector includes business operations, marketing, public relations, and client success management.

Interested in more mental health topics? Listen to Episode 12 with Dr. Amy Kim on mental health through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uncovering COVID-19 │1x18

While COVID-19 news has remained a hot topic throughout 2020, it's still difficult for many to discover the truth. Where did COVID-19 come from? What is still effective against infection? On this episode, Dr. Paul Y. Song shares his expertise on the pandemic that ravaged the global population.

Paul Y. Song, M.D. is a physician, progressive activist, and biotechnology chief medical officer. In addition to being a contributor to the Huff Post, Dr. Song serves on the executive board of Physicians for a National Health Program California, People for the American Way, Progressive Democrats of America, Healthcare NOW, The Eisner Pediatric and Women's Center, and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. In his practice, he specializes in Radiation Oncology.