Asian Pacific Voices Radio

Championing Asian American Stories, Preserving Cultural Heritage - 4 X 26

Stephen Gong has been the Executive Director of the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) since 2006. He joined CAAM in 1980 and has held positions at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the American Film Institute. Stephen has also lectured in Asian American Studies at UC Berkeley, where he developed a course on the history of Asian American media.

In this episode, Stephen shared insights about his journey as Executive Director of the Center for Asian American Media (CAM). He highlighted CAM's mission to present diverse and authentic Asian American stories, the importance of representation in media, and the challenges of evolving media landscapes. Gong also discussed the significance of CAMFest, their flagship film festival, and its impact on fostering community and showcasing Asian American talent. Additionally, he touched on educational initiatives, youth programs, and the importance of projects like the 1920s Chinatown Insider in preserving cultural history and resilience.

Storyteller Jaswant Shrestha: Bringing Cultures to Life - 4 X 25

Jaswant Shrestha, an Emmy-winning documentarian, producer, and actor, is known for his cultural film "Festival of Saraswati Puja." His roles in major films like "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" and "Ms. Marvel" Have captivated audiences worldwide. Jaswant invites you to explore his incredible journey.

In this episode, Jaswant not only discusses his Emmy-winning docuseries "Festivals" but also showcases his impressive multilingual skills. His ability to voice characters in major films and appear in commercials for Facebook and Dell Technologies is a testament to his versatility. He also shares insights into his Discovery Channel series "Festivals" and his latest 8-part series "On a Quest: with Jaswant," filmed in Portugal.

Jaswant reveals the joys and challenges of versatility in the industry. He has donned multiple hats, from acting to producing, and has excelled in each role. His insights and advice for aspiring actors and filmmakers are invaluable, drawn from his rich and varied experiences.

Thao Huynh French: Transforming Walls with Heritage, Art, and Heart - 4 X 24

Thao Huynh French is an artist, muralist, and photographer. Born in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, she lives and works in San Diego, CA. She is best known for co-founding Mindful Murals™ with her husband, where together they’ve painted over 300 community murals for schools and public spaces all over California. In addition to painting murals, she develops projects that intersect social justice, paints commissions, and displays artwork in galleries.

In this episode, Thao shares her journey of co-founding Mindful Murals with her husband. She reveals why she left the corporate world to pursue art full-time, which was stifling her creativity. Through self-teaching, researching, and the support of her husband, she learned how to paint murals.

Her work explores different varieties of flowers, her family history, and her Asian American heritage. Her art is a mixture of abstract and figurative concepts that are often broad and contrasting in style and medium ways with no limitation of color. Her work continues to evolve, using her training in traditional painting and figurative drawing to experiment with more modern ways to create art styles that are uniquely hers.

Chanchanit Martorell: Shaping Cities, Inspiring Minds, Crafting Stories - 4 X 23

Chanchanit (Chancee) Martorell is an activist, educator, urban planner, and community development practitioner. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Thai Community Development Center, which advocates for victims of human trafficking and affordable housing, among other causes.

In this episode, Chancee discusses their efforts to improve the social and economic well-being of low and moderate-income Thais and other ethnic communities in greater Los Angeles. Through human rights advocacy, affordable housing, healthcare access, and small business promotion, Chanchanit aims to create a more equitable and supportive environment for underserved communities.

Sweetening Life's Moments with Mochi Gummies - 4 X 22

Mika Shino, a first-generation Japanese entrepreneur, founded Issei Mochi Gummies in 2022. She created the world's first all-natural mochi gummy brand, which is vegan, kosher, and free of gluten, dairy, soy, and nuts. Her company, which is woman- and minority-founded, owned, and led, has disrupted the candy sector by offering a clean-label, better-for-you snack. Celebrating her Asian heritage, Shino's venture promotes diversity in the food industry and fosters cultural connections through food. In recognition of her achievements, Mika Shino was named to Inc.'s 2024 Female Founders List.

In this episode, Mika shares how working with UNESCO allowed her to taste flavors from all around the world, igniting her passion for unique culinary experiences. Driven by her intuition and the need to find healthy, organic options for her son, who has severe liver disease, Mika started her Mochi Gummies business. Her journey is a blend of global flavors and a personal mission to create delicious, health-conscious treats.

Crafting Audio Magic: Joanna Fang, Foley Artistry Extraordinaire - 4 X 21

Joanna Fang is a well-known Foley artist, actor, and sound editor, known for her work on films such as "God of War: Ragnarok", "The Invisible Man" and "Promising Young Woman". She has won the Primetime Emmy Award and other awards for her outstanding sound effects work. Joanna is also an advocate for the rights and interests of Foley artists, and has made significant contributions to the diversity and inclusion of the industry.

In this episode, Joanna shares her journey that inspired her to become a Foley artist, sharing the moments and influences that fueled her passion for sound. She offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the art of Foley, revealing how everyday objects and inventive techniques create the immersive audio experiences we often take for granted. Joanna also shares her unique experiences as the Senior Foley Artist II at Sony PlayStation, providing insights into her creative process and the exciting projects she's been part of. 

Bringing Laughter to Life, One Punchline at a Time - 4 X 20

Michelle MaliZaki (Ichiban Mom) is a Japanese immigrant mom who has been performing stand-up comedy in the Los Angeles area since 2018. Her unique perspective on motherhood, cultural differences, and life in America has made her a sought-after performer in the comedy scene.

In this episode, Michelle shares the inspiring story of her journey to the United States and the serendipitous discovery of her talent as a stand-up comedian. Michelle's candid and humorous recounting offers a heartfelt glimpse into the trials and triumphs that shaped her career in comedy.

Tune in to hear how she turned her experiences into laughter, connecting with audiences and embracing her passion.

Elevating Beauty, Illuminating Lives: Founder of House of M - 4 X 19

Anne Nguyen Oliver is the Founder/CEO of House of M Beauty. House of M Beauty is a skincare brand that offers a curated range of luxurious saffron skincare products. Their formulas are centered around premium and potent medicinal saffron, which is known for its brightening, calming, and protective properties.

In this episode, Anne shares her journey of creating House of M. After battling post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth, her doctor recommended medicinal saffron as a safer alternative to medications while breastfeeding. This improved her sleep, reduced anxiety, and brightened her skin. Anne then developed a saffron-infused miracle serum and other skincare products, initially selling them on Facebook to her local Vietnamese community.

Today, her line is sold at Nordstrom, with sales expected to reach $8 million in 2023. As an AAPI businesswoman in the U.S., Anne's story is a powerful motivation for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Empowering Women's Financial Journey - Where Diversity Meets Financial Empowerment - 4 X 18

Co-author of "How money works for women", Kim Scouller is recognized as a leading advocate for women and their finances. She has been an attorney for more than 30 years and served as in-house counsel for one of the largest financial services companies in the world. During her tenure at Transamerica, she served in several executive roles for the company’s insurance affiliates, broker-dealers, mutual funds, and investment advisors. In her last four years there, she served as the president of the Transamerica broker-dealer with the largest number of registered representatives.

In this episode of Asian Pacific Voices Radio, Kim Scouller discusses teaching people how to manage money wisely. She shares her knowledge with women, underserved communities, and communities that haven't really been focused on the financial services industry.

As one of the few women broker-dealer presidents in the U.S., she traveled around the country talking with people, especially women, about the steps to identify and achieve their financial goals. Wanting more control over her time, Kim left her corporate career to start her own financial business and law firm based in the Atlanta area. A Certified Financial Educator, Kim continues to speak with women about the importance and impact of financial education that leads to literacy.

Harmonizing Minds, Transforming Hearts: Bernard Ellorin, Educator & Music Maestro - 4 X 17

Dr. Ellorin is the leading expert on maritime Southeast Asian gong-chime music in Southern California. He is also a master of the Filipino banduria (a version of the Spanish bandurria, a plucked string instrument similar to the mandolin) and the associated rondalla music. He is versed in the percussion music of the Cordillera Mountains of Northern Luzon, as well as being one of the few Philippine kulintang instructors in the United States. Kulintang is an ancient instrumental form of music played on a row of small, horizontally laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums. Dr. Ellorin has served the San Diego and Los Angeles communities as a performing artist and educator since 1992, and is the musical director of the Samahan Filipino-American Performing Arts and Education Center. 

In this episode of Asian Pacific Voices Radio, Bernard Ellorin highlights the significance of Filipino diasporic performing arts and shares his journey as the Music Director at Samahan Filipino American Performing Arts & Education Center.

As the music director for the Samahan Filipino American Performing Arts & Education Center, Ellorin performs traditional Philippine rondalla (stringed ensemble) and kulintang (gong chime percussion) ensemble music throughout southern California. Ellorin received the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) apprenticeship as a Master Artist in 2019 and 2021. Under both grant periods his apprentices mastered the art of indigenous gong music from the southern Philippines. Ellorin recently published chapters for the manuscript “Our Culture Resounds; Our Future Reveals: A Legacy of Filipino American Performing Arts in California” –a free resource available through the UCLA ethnomusicology archive. Ellorin also serves as a board member with the Center World Music helping curate both virtual and in-person concerts contributing to