As I Am

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Episodes

Take a deep dive into unpacking the Asian identity in the West with Jeff and Isabella, two Asian-Australians who are still figuring it out too. Amidst trying to find other words synonymous to unpack, they delve into topics ranging from internalised racism and representation, all the way to the weight of expectations and why food can be so political. As I Am is a journey to understand the experience of being othered, whilst rejoicing in the uniqueness of a multi-faceted identity. The best way to support As I Am is to hit the follow/subscribe button, and to spread the good word with your friends and loved ones. Music by Sugiwa.

Episodes

Saturday Mar 05, 2022

Shapes and Sounds

Saturday Mar 05, 2022

In this episode we sit down with Vi-An Nguyen from Shapes and Sounds (@justshapesandsounds) an Asian Australian mental health and wellbeing service to Australians with multicultural backgrounds. We discuss all things therapy, the importance of factoring in cultural nuances to the therapy experience, and the need to normalise conversations around mental health both within the Asian community and across society more broadly.

Have thoughts or concerns? Send us an email: contact@asiam.me

Visit our website: https://www.asiam.me/

Find us on:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/as-i-am-podcast/id1506747439

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4Hw3zKWqz1eN2udaUvXDCX?si=0z2-K8j-TDmxBv_nfj2SnQ

Google Podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2FzaWFtcG9kY2FzdC9mZWVkLnhtbA

As I Am

Sunday Feb 20, 2022

Food and Authenticity

Sunday Feb 20, 2022

This episode features a chat about the obsession with authenticity that many Asian people hold as it pertains to food, particularly Asian food. We discuss the relevance of authenticity, the reasons why we've tried to gatekeep "traditional" food in the past, as well as the importance of not allowing authenticity to be a barrier to innovation and creativity. This is an episode where we tried very hard to take the logical path, however the discussion highlights that we still have much to learn in terms of navigating this complex issue.

Have thoughts or concerns? Send us an email: contact@asiam.me

Visit our website: https://www.asiam.me/

Find us on:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/as-i-am-podcast/id1506747439

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4Hw3zKWqz1eN2udaUvXDCX?si=0z2-K8j-TDmxBv_nfj2SnQ

Google Podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2FzaWFtcG9kY2FzdC9mZWVkLnhtbA

As I Am

Sunday Feb 06, 2022

Soy + Spice

Sunday Feb 06, 2022

Mary Liu is the Asian-Australian founder behind Soy + Spice, a brand built on the core belief that their lingerie symbolises the empowerment of women and enables women to feel confident, to self love and to be courageous. We chat with Mary about what it takes to launch a successful apparel business, her entrepreneurial spirit and explore the idea of sexual conservatism in Asian culture. Episode out now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

TIMESTAMPS

(0:30) Introducing Mary Liu & Soy + Spice
(1:10) Entrepreneurship journey & idea behind Soy + Spice
(5:41) Inspiration behind Asian design & sustainability
(8:10) Conversations around sexuality of Asian women
(11:35) Family’s reception to Mary’s new business
(14:08) Challenges of being the sole founder of a business
(16:13) Mary’s evolving openness with sexuality
(18:38) Inclusivity, diversity and the future of lingerie
(21:40) Representation & sexual empowerment amongst the Asian community

Have thoughts or concerns? Send us an email: contact@asiam.me

Visit our website: https://www.asiam.me/

Find us on:
Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/as-i-am-podcast/id1506747439
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4Hw3zKWqz1eN2udaUvXDCX?si=0z2-K8j-TDmxBv_nfj2SnQ
Google Podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2FzaWFtcG9kY2FzdC9mZWVkLnhtbA

As I Am

Saturday Jan 22, 2022

Lunar New Year

Saturday Jan 22, 2022

Our first episode of 2022 is all about the new year, and more specifically, new years according to the west vs. new years according to the east. We give our thoughts on the obsession with new years resolutions, the new year traditions within our families, in addition to the broader sinofication of Lunar New Year. On another exciting note, look forward to fortnightly episodes from us moving forward!

TIMESTAMPS

(0:32) Introduction and reflection
(4:31) How do you spend the new year?
(6:33) New Year's resolutions
(10:02) Thoughts on "new year, new me"
(15:20) Do you prefer New Year or Lunar New Year?
(19:16) Significance of Lunar New Year
(25:41) Sinofication of Lunar New Year

Have thoughts or concerns? Send us an email: contact@asiam.me

Visit our website: https://www.asiam.me/

As I Am

Sunday Nov 21, 2021

Scoopy

Sunday Nov 21, 2021

Asian-Australians know a thing or two about entrepreneurship, especially when it comes to food. We sit down with Angelo and Tesia, the co-founders of Scoopy. Scoopy is a dessert bar that specialises in bingsu, a Korean shaved ice dessert with a modern twist. We discuss their Scoopy journey, the opportunities and challenges of Asian food trends, and how they have transitioned from humble beginnings to a household name in the Melbourne food scene.

TIMESTAMPS

(1:28) Favourite Scoopy flavours
(2:17) Origins of Scoopy
(4:27) The History of Bingsu and shaved ice desserts in Melbourne
(6:39) Background of Scoopy founders
(7:27) Traditional career paths vs. entrepreneurial ambitions
(11:47) The Success of Scoopy
(15:17) Coming up with new flavours
(17:30) Scoopy as "The Perfect Storm" and the early days testing of Bingsu
(23:33) Jeff's initial project idea before the podcast
(24:24) Melbourne's sandwich craze + some top picks
(25:07) Asian food trends and issues with trends
(27:50) Thoughts on the future of Asian food trends vs. staple restaurants
(32:50) Melbourne's Filipino cuisine recommendations and Jollibee's Australia
(34:28) More on food trends, favourite trends and hot takes
(37:50) Onigiri recommendation from Scoopy
(38:34) Isabella's hot take on Banh Mi and Bubble Tea
(40:55) Building stronger Asian-Australian communities and empowering entrepreneurship

Have thoughts or concerns? Send us an email: contact@asiam.me

Visit our website: https://www.asiam.me/

As I Am

Sunday Oct 24, 2021

Colourism

Sunday Oct 24, 2021

Devni Wimalasena is a law student that is heavily active in the feminist and body positivity space. She is currently based in Sri Lanka and recently worked with CNN on issues of colourism as part of their AsEquals series. In this episode, we discuss colourism in the context of beauty standards, the influence of skin lightening products and the biggest factors that drive attitudes towards skin colour within our society. Episode out now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

TIMESTAMPS

(2:58) What is colourism and how does it differ from racism?
(7:56) When did you first learn about this term and what are your personal experiences with colourism?
(13:23) Skin-lightening in the beauty industry and its marketing ploys
(18:12) What drives attitudes towards skin colour and how do they influence what we understand about beauty standards?
(27:15) Is the beauty industry beginning to address the core issues of anti-blackness? Are the changes meaningful?
(37:58) Working with CNN and how media organisations can have a tangible impact in the space of colourism

Have thoughts or concerns? Send us an email: contact@asiam.me

Visit our website: https://www.asiam.me/

As I Am

Sunday Sep 19, 2021

Avatar: A Love Letter

Sunday Sep 19, 2021

Avatar: The Last Airbender is probably one of the greatest television shows to date. We sit down and unpack a show that hosts complex characters in a truly epic narrative that imagines a ‘world free of whiteness’. This one’s a lighthearted episode, exploring how the show successfully portrayed Asian influences, culture, and ideologies - as well as the missteps - as we revisit the storylines we intimately know and love.

TIMESTAMPS

(1:10) Introduction and reflection on the Asian Futures Event
(4:23) What is Avatar: The last Airbender?
(8:20) What element would you bend?
(12:16) Aang vs. Korra
(17:48) Favourite episodes
(23:58) Why is Avatar the best show ever?
(29:18) Thoughts on Avatar being created by Westerners
(34:57) Hopes for the future of the Avatar universe?
(40:45) Favourite characters

Have thoughts or concerns? Send us an email: contact@asiam.me

Visit our website: https://www.asiam.me/

As I Am

Sunday Aug 15, 2021

Mr Yum

Sunday Aug 15, 2021

Our first post-hiatus episode features a sit down with Co-Founder and CEO of Mr Yum, Kim Teo. Mr Yum is a start up focussed on showing beautiful mobile menus married with the ability to order and pay through a QR code. QR codes have become integral with everyday life during the era of COVID-19, and there aren’t many more recognisable than Mr Yum. We chat with Kim about her experiences navigating the tech startup scene, and her key motivations in paving a new narrative on gender norms for the Asian identity.

TIMESTAMPS

(1:33) Kim's background and journey so far
(5:32) The Founding of Mr Yum
(7:13) Consulting and Start-ups
(12:02) What drew you to the Start-up space?
(15:39) Leadership
(20:50) Responsibility and accountability in Start-ups
(22:25) The Bamboo Ceiling, women in the workforce and COVID improving attitudes towards working from home
(33:33) The Start-up space in the present and future; the need for more females in STEM and start-ups
(43:08) Coding Retreat in Bali
(50:20) LinkedIn's odd trends
(53:39) Final piece of advice to her younger self

Have thoughts or concerns? Send us an email: contact@asiam.me

Visit our website: https://www.asiam.me/

As I Am

Sunday May 30, 2021

Michelle Law

Sunday May 30, 2021

An Asian-Australian writer, actor and screenwriter extraordinaire, we had the privilege to sit down with Michelle Law (writer of the smash-hit play Single Asian Female, and co-creator of the SBS series Homecoming Queens, just to name a few). Join us as we discuss the importance of Asian representation, storytelling, her relationship to her brother, Ben Law, the landscape of Asian oriented narratives in Australian media, and its future.

TIMESTAMPS

(1:18) Being in "Deadline City"
(2:03) Michelle's New Play: Miss Peony
(2:56) Chinese Australian Beauty Pageants
(4:27) Her first play: Single Asian Female and Asian representation in theatre
(6:11) Using Asian leads and Asian-orientated stories in her writing and Michelle's background in writing
(9:03) The universal narrative of immigrant children rejecting their background in their struggle with their identity through the younger years
(11:10) Changes in the landscape and appetite for Asian media over the last decade
(12:36) Tokenism in representation
(14:05) Diversity in hiring and casting
(16:23) Cultural appropriation and the potentially harmful effects of the trend of diversity
(20:49) The future of Asian-made media
(22:29) Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling and overlooked Asian talent
(23:20) Asian YouTubers in America and Australia - WongFu, Community Channel, MyChonny, etc.
(26:30) Michelle's favourite content and recommendations
(29:33) Michelle's other projects
(30:22) Michelle's opera on the Brisbane anti-Asian race riot in 1888
(33:17) Relationship with her brother Benjamin Law and family
(37:25) Politics in the industry and the gap between younger and older generations
(43:41) The complexity of BIPOC and why the term is problematic
(45:22) Michelle's guest pick

Have thoughts or concerns? Send us an email: contact@asiam.me

Visit our website: https://www.asiam.me/

As I Am

Sunday May 09, 2021

Naked Asian Grocer

Sunday May 09, 2021

Global warming, environmental degradation and sustainability are amongst the key challenges of the 21st century. Yet, the magnitude of these problems can make tackling them seem daunting and unapproachable. We sit down with Brian and Jian, the co-founders of Naked Asian Grocer - Australia’s first zero waste Asian grocer - to chat through their founder journey, as well as how people can implement sustainable practices in their lives through small progressive changes.

TIMESTAMPS

(2:35) Beginning of conversation
(2:58) Naked Asian Grocer backstory
(5:08) How did the name come to be?
(9:06) Subtlety of "Sustainability" and "Zero Waste" in Asian Culture
(13:39) NAG as a solution to food waste from specialty recipes
(15:52) Who is your target consumer?
(21:17) How can we communicate and highlight this issue for the Asian community? Are sustainability and low-zero waste important topics in Asian communities?
(23:47) Environmentalism as a form of activism
(30:28) What is your dream for Naked Asian Grocer?
(34:26) Is there potential for expansion away from Asian products?

Have thoughts or concerns? Send us an email: contact@asiam.me

Visit our website: https://www.asiam.me/

Find us on:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/as-i-am-podcast/id1506747439
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4Hw3zKWqz1eN2udaUvXDCX?si=0z2-K8j-TDmxBv_nfj2SnQ
Google Podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2FzaWFtcG9kY2FzdC9mZWVkLnhtbA

As I Am