Asian Pacific Voices Radio

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.

Creating a Space for Asian Stories │1x17

Lee Ann Kim is a Founder of the Pacific Arts Movement (formerly known as the San Diego Film Festival), inspired by a conversation she heard at a local technology company. She is a first-generation Korean American who was an anchor and reporter for KGTV Channel 10, a California ABC television affiliate. On this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Lee Ann Kim shares her story of finding her own voice as a minority in Illinois, and taking action to uplift and amplify that of others.

She shares the importance of understanding the unique stories of others in a time like today, how diasporas of minority groups affect cultural histories, and even what Asia is in general. As Asian American and Pacific Islander representation continues to grow into mainstream media, Lee Ann Kim shares that it is imperative that the AAPI communities support the films that are made for and by them in order to continue this movement.

The Story of ”Never Goodbye” and My #GirlDad │1x16

Hannah Joya, born and raised in sunny San Diego, California, made a promise to tell the world about her Father’s life story. In 2018 her Dad’s life was cut short after his battle with GBS-CIDP (Guillain Barre Syndrome-Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy), a chronic and progressive condition where the body essentially attacks itself, causing permanent nerve damage over time. At the age of twenty-nine, her dreams finally became a reality. Being able to tell the story about her Father’s perseverance, his mentality, his can-do and will-do attitude and his fight until the very end, has always been close to her heart.

Hannah lived in a world where the only vision of her Father she had ever known was of him confined to a wheelchair. She never had the privilege of seeing him walk, run, swim or dance, but that didn’t stop her from living life to the fullest for her father and eventually for herself. Her passion for helping others transpired into various volunteer opportunities all over the San Diego area. 

Her true source of happiness is to inspire those around her and help them cope with pain, loss, and heartache. In helping people understand that behind sorrow lies purpose and finding hope in hopeless moments. Her mission is to keep her Dad’s legacy alive and with this book, she plans to do just that.

Representation in Media for Asian Women │1x15

On this episode of Asian Voice Radio, Sheena Yap Chan brings attention to the lack of representation for Asian women in media, and what steps need to be taken to bring their stories into the mainstream. In order to represent the experiences and lives of Asian women, all of the stories–whether they are joyful and optimistic, or sometimes tragic–need to be shared so that other community members and future generations can hear that they are not alone and that these experiences do happen for others.

Sheena Yap Chan is an established keynote speaker, podcast host, and life coach. While listening to other shows herself, she realized that there were no stories by Asian women–and there had to be someone who did something to change that. She then took the steps to create her own podcast, which at first featured women of all ethnic backgrounds, until she remembered what she started her podcast first. She then began to focus on hosting Asian women and share their stories, and The Tao of Self Confidence was born.

Asian Representation in Hollywood │1x14

In the past few years, we have seen a breakthrough for Asian representation in Hollywood and mainstream media. Rasha Goel is an Emmy-nominated television host, broadcast journalist, and international correspondent. As a South Asian woman working in Hollywood and mainstream media, she has experienced—first-hand—the difficulties for Asian folks in the entertainment industry, as well as the progress that has been made recently.

On this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Rasha Goel shares her insight on the rise of Asian representation in Hollywood and the reasons people in positions of power, or "the gatekeepers" should pay more attention to diversity amongst their cast and crews. As one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in America, Rasha emphasizes the need to cater toward this sort of untapped market. With the example of Crazy Rich Asians, whose budget was $30 million and domestic gross earnings of $170 million, it is extremely evident that Asian Americans and beyond look forward to these types of stories and content.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like Episode 11 with Dr. Thao Ha on racial relations in today's world.

Body Shaming & Body Positivity │1x13

Jake Solorzano is a Filipino-American from Los Angeles who currently studies in San Diego, CA. With immigrant parents and a traditional household, he found it difficult to balance what he believed he wanted to become and who those around him wanted him to be.

 

His journey through internal and external pressures for his physical appearance led him to the unexpected discovery of breast cancer at such a young age. In this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Jake shares his experience as a breast cancer and body shaming survivor, combined with his identity as a Filipino-American male.

Our Thoughts & Mental Health │1x12

Mental health has long been a taboo topic amongst Asian American families—whether it was because it was a sign of weakness, or simply because mental health care was something that wasn't familiar within that community. In fact, Asian Americans are three times less likely to seek mental health care.

How can we take care of our minds, despite the stigmatization of mental health? What steps can we take to improve our thoughts? Dr. Amy Kim and Hula Ramos explore what mental health care looks like within the Asian American community, what steps we can take to improve for ourselves, and the general state of mental health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

Racial Hate, History & Asian Culture │1x11

On this episode of Asian Voices Radio, Dr. Ha shares her expertise in racial relations and its history to provide insight into today's current events. She relates her studies, as well as personal experiences, as they intertwine with Asian hate crimes today.

 

From being involved in the gang community to becoming the influential Vietnamese-American woman she is today, Dr.Thao Ha is truly an inspiration for all. She was able to hard work and determination to turn her life around, and then help provide resources and knowledge to those around her. She is now involved with the MiraCosta College MANA program for Pacific Islander students, as well as the VietVote organization for Vietnamese civic empowerment. In addition to her studies in Vietnamese refugee communities and the KKK, Dr. Ha was also an associate producer of the documentary film, SeaDrift. 

 

Dr. Ha, Hula, and Linda also get to discuss the legacy of Asian hate in America against the cultural taboos of speaking out, strength, and mental wellbeing. If we are all taught to tolerate events around us, and "hold our tongues", how do we handle what is going on around us today? What steps do we need to take, personally and with those around us, to overcome events of racial hatred?

Creating Asian Hustle Network │1x10

Maggie Chui is the co-founder and COO of Asian Hustle Network (AHN), an online community of 100,000 members that started in November 2019 and is aimed at empowering and uplifting Asian entrepreneurs and allies globally. The mission of AHN is to bring the Asian entrepreneurial and professional community together and to provide an inclusive platform for people to collaborate, support, and learn from one another.

Maggie has since been featured in LA Times, VoyageLA, NextShark, and China Global TV Network. She envisions a future where Asians can be more open with sharing their stories, amplifying their voices, and working to ensure that we all succeed.

Journey Through Broadcast Journalism │1x9

Sasha Foo was the first Asian American news anchor at CNN in Atlanta and later spent 17 years with KUSI-TV in San Diego. Although we can look at these accomplishments by themselves, what makes her story notable is her journey there and her recent departure from this area.

After a long career in the news, Sasha Foo left KUSI-TV in 2020. She reflects on her entire career journey and the many interests she had "put on the back burner" which she has since chosen to pursue.

Listen to find out how she first started her career, established herself across the nation, then left in order to stay true to herself and her personal interests and passions.

Be sure to follow up with Sasha Foo's journey by looking out for her name on social media.