Category: Culture
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“I don’t have to go into places that make me uncomfortable. I don’t have to say ‘yes’ to people who make me uncomfortable.” – Phyllis
In this episode, I speak with Phyllis, a personal branding strategist, writer, and coach about her young adulthood, first marriage, as well as her parenting journey of raising and homeschooling a teenage daughter. She shares about some of the challenging experiences she lived through as a young woman struggling with her worth, as well as…
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Identity, cultural acceptance, and the creativity needed for growth and expansion
In this season 2 finale, two of my good friends (who I co-host another podcast with, called Your Asian Besties) interview me about my education journey. Maryn and I attended elementary school together, and Lia was Maryn’s college roommate. They ask me about my earliest memories of being a student, how I navigated between my…
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Critical thinking, opinion-sharing, and the freedom to disagree
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In this episode, I speak with Rosie—a trauma recovery coach, HR leader, and professional accountant—about her early memories of growing up in an immigrant family, and the Asian values that were instilled in her. We talk about how her education systems encouraged her development of skills and abilities that could lead to job and financial…
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Friendships, our Own Normal, and the tolerance for unresolvable conflicts exist
In this episode, I speak with Mel—an educator, artist, interculturalist, and reader—about her earliest memories of growing up as the gifted, oldest daughter of 6 children. We talk about her experiences of making friends—and making bullies—across the US, England, Korea, and Germany, and what perspectives she gained by living within multiple cultures. We also discuss…
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Determination, gender equity, and the social latitude to pursue our own interests
In this episode, I speak with Harshi—a designer, artist, and illustrator—about her earliest memories of attending a convent school in India, pursuing her curiosities, and learning what she wanted on her terms. We talk about the gender discrimination she experienced while working as an architect, the social and systemic expectations of women and their value…
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Emotional intelligence, divergent thinking, and the self-acceptance needed to transform our anger
In this episode, I speak with Benoit—a US army veteran, former policymaker, and current psychotherapist—about his education journey across multiple countries, and having to adapt to each of its languages and cultures from scratch, every few years. We talk about the influence his mother had on his mental landscape, how he overcame being bullied in…
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Advocacy, leadership, and an ability to find the strengths of every student and their families
In this episode, I speak with Antoinette—the current principal of the elementary school I attended in the late 80s and early 90s. We talk a little about how her early memories of standing up for other people and correcting injustices in school and society might have led her to a career in education, in both…
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Communication, opportunities, and the freedom to connect with like-minded peers
In this episode, I speak with Yonny—a paralegal and immigration justice advocate—about his earliest memories of growing up in Mexico, and being raised by his grandparents for most of his childhood. He compares the education systems between Mexico and the United States, and how the differences informed the types of activities he chose to pursue.…
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How might we shift education from measuring student performance to fostering an internal locus of control?
In this episode, I speak with Michiko—a mom, wife, and cultural chameleon—about her education journey spanning multiple countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, and the United States. We talk about her earliest memories growing up in a home filled with caring family members, and how her varied schooling experiences influenced her self view. We…