We’re over a year and a half into the pandemic, halfway through 2021, and anti-Asian hate incidents are still happening across America. We know that they aren’t new, and we know that anti-Asian hate has occurred long since before the pandemic started. Let’s be honest, they started when we first arrived to this country. However, this time everything is exacerbated by the pandemic and media. So how did we process it all? How are we processing it? Tune in our season finale on our latest life updates (apologies for the delay!) and some of our reactions and thoughts to the ant-Asian hate incidents.

Not Your Average Mai Podcast

Episode 26: Processing Anti-Asian Hate

We are really excited to do a first podcast episode swap with Reel Asian Podcast, a show focused on Asian and Asian-American films that examines the themes & cultural impact of the movie. This episode features the movie "Donut King." So grab your donuts, grab your coffee because Ray and Renee sprinkle in their takes throughout this delectable documentary. Let that sweet aroma of freshly baked donuts lure you into this episode as we talk about Ted Ngoy, known as The Donut King, and his rags-to-riches story, his downfall and rise again, and where the donut industry stands today. Follow them on social media: www.facebook.com/ReelAsianPodcast | www.instagram.com/ReelAsianPodcast Follow us! www.facebook.com/NotYourAverageMai | www.instagram.com/NotYourAverageMai

Episode Swap: Reel Asian Podcast ft. 'The Donut King' w/Ray Luu & Renee Ya

We are over 1 year into the COVID19 pandemic. There’s been a lot of speculation and concerns about how safe and effective the COVID19 Vaccines are, rightfully so given many of the negative experiences that communities of color have faced with Western medicine. However, given the current urgency of the pandemic, we want to discuss the urgency and importance of getting the vaccine when it becomes available to people, and to debunk some of the myths we’ve read/heard about throughout our communities. Tune in as we explore these myths and ways to flip the narrative with Dr. PaFoua Yang, an OBGYN by trade, from St. Paul, MN.

Episode 25: Not Your Average COVID19 Vaccine Myths

March is Women’s History Month and we definitely cannot miss this opportunity to celebrate all the women in our lives, especially our sisters and girlfriends. In this episode, we dive into the beauty and love of sisterhood and female/women friendships. Yet like any type of relationship, friendships have their highs and lows and sometimes even seasons. We definitely do not shy away from sharing the insecurities, toxicity, and sadly, breakups that we have experienced from our friendships. Sometimes friendship breakups hurt the most, especially when you actually counted on the friendships to last or when you least expected the breakups to happen. Have you experienced a friendship breakup before? Is there ever a right time to declutter friendships, or how do you lovingly let go of friendships? Join us on this episode as we share all the love and loss of the friendships in our lives.

Episode 24: Not Your Average Friendships

One in five adults experiences a mental health condition every year. We know that the severity of mental illnesses is often stigmatized within the Hmong community, and that usage of mental health services remains low for Asian Americans. In this episode, we sit down with mental health clinician, Kaeo Vang, to explore the definition of mental health conditions, impact of historical trauma vs. intergenerational trauma, and tragedies that happen all too often like suicide. We discuss how we as a community can move beyond de-stigmatizing mental health, and help community members access the mental health support and treatment that they need. Mental health is connected to every system and infrastructure in our society, from housing, food, and education equity to workforce support like maternity and paternity leave. Tune in to hear more on a ‘Not Your Average’ Mental Health 101 session!

Episode 23: Not Your Average Mental Health 101

In this episode, we examine what relationships look like on-screen and in real life; it's not just all Black and white, people! We discuss the complexities of racial preferences, especially in a society that most often values and upholds whiteness. Do we limit ourselves when we have certain preferences for romantic relationships? In addition, we share the intricate balances of celebrating interracial relationships while promoting relationships/love within our own race/ethnicity. We acknowledge there are very real lived-experiences that discourage women from dating within their own racial/ethnic group (e.g., violence, trauma, patriarchy, misogyny, etc.). How do we navigate these complexities when trying to find authentic love and relationships? Tune in and share your thoughts with us!

Episode 22: Relationships On-Screen and In Real Life

We cannot believe it is a new year already! Where did the time go?! 2020 was filled with so many unexpected and unpleasant events. To some, 2020 really felt like the worst year yet. We wanted to end 2020 still being hopeful and optimistic for a better new year. In this first episode of the new year, we discuss our reflections and biggest lessons learned from 2020, and how we are going to make 2021 the best year yet. Tune in for the second half of the episode where we share hot takes on the latest AAPI controversy related to Simu Liu! What are your thoughts on Simu Liu? Do you agree or disagree?

Episode 21: Not Your Average Resolutions

What does Hmong New Year mean to you? Hmong New Year is celebrated across the country and world from as early as October to as late as December. Historically, it is a celebration to give thanks to our ancestors and to commemorate the year’s harvest. At the same time, traditions and cultures have evolved over the past many years. Celebrating Hmong New Year is different this year due to the pandemic but regardless, we take a trip down memory lane to share how we have celebrated Hmong New Year growing up and what it means to us as Hmong American women. In honor of closing out the year, we also reflect on the challenges of 2020 and share what our hopes are for 2021 and beyond.

Ep 20: Not Your Average Hmong New Year

In this election, we saw record turnout across the country - a pattern which held true for all groups - including Asian American voters. In fact, a third of all Asian American voters live in 10 key competitive states for this year’s elections. As the fastest growing ethnic group, Asian Americans have become a growing political force. The record level of engagement from 2020’s political campaigns resulted in record turnout in the Asian American community. Now that the race has been called for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, what can the Hmong, and Asian American communities expect?

Episode 19: Elections Recap - We won. What next?

In this episode, we take on a lighter subject of taboos within the Hmong community and dive into why these taboos exist. From discussing the taboo of ‘dating someone with your same last name’ to the taboo of periods and infertility, we are excited to share our thoughts on these “taboo” subjects and how they essentially all tie back to patriarchy and gender expectations within our community. Tune in to help us unpack and reflect on these taboos! What other taboos have we missed that are equally important for our Hmong community to de-stigmatize? What are other ways we can address and make these taboos less stigmatizing? Share your thoughts with us!

Episode 18: Not Your Average Taboos

2020 has reminded us of how much is at stake in this year’s general election, from the global COVID-19 pandemic to the economic recession, ongoing systemic racism and police brutality to climate change. This year’s presidential election is one of the most important, if not THE most important, in the history of our country. In this episode, we discuss the Biden-Kamala presidential ticket, why our votes matter, and how to vote (early). Our communities are living through the consequences of systems and policies that continue to disempower and marginalize our existence. Tune in to hear why we have to stay informed, engaged in the political process, and vote like our lives depend on it!

Episode 17: Not Your Average Presidential Election

Not Your Average Mai turns one! We return from our summer break with our third season to celebrate our one year anniversary. We discuss what we learned from our recent #BlackLivesMatter series and how we will continue racial justice work in our lives, especially because we know it is a lifelong journey. We close out by sharing our podcasting tips and tricks, what we have learned as podcasters in our first year, and our hopes for the future of Not Your Average Mai. We hope you tune in and get excited about what we have in store this season! Most importantly, THANK YOU to everyone who has listened and supported us throughout our first year. We could not have done it without you!

Episode 16: Not Your Average 1 Year Anniversary

What does it mean to be an authentic ally for the Black Lives Matter movement? In this final episode of our three-part #BLM series, we speak with trailblazer Kabzuag Vaj, Co-Executive Director of Freedom Inc., about her work in eliminating anti-blackness and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and behaviors within our communities. In particular, we discuss how we can be better allies in the movement for collective liberation and justice, and how we can fight against the rampant patriarchy and sexism within the Hmong community while advocating for radical change. Kabzuag reiterates and reminds us that: people will always be MORE valuable than buildings; we have to ask ourselves how our actions will impact/support the affected group or the mission of the movement; and being an ally means holding our own people accountable because Black people do not need us to save them.

Episode 15: Addressing Anti-Blackness and a Way Forward ft. Kabzuag Vaj

To continue our “Black Lives Matter” series, we invite Dr. Yang Lor from the University of California-Merced to contextualize the history of systemic oppression in our country and unpack the anti-black sentiments within our Hmong community. In this episode, we discuss how we can move our community members to a place of solidarity with the Black community. This conversation highlights how our community often has a mainstream view of Black Lives Matter and the misconception that the movement is only about Black lives mattering. It is essential to think critically and understand that the Black Lives Matter movement is about securing the justice and accountability needed to end senseless, state-sanctioned violence against black and brown bodies. White supremacy must be eradicated across the globe because until Black lives matter, all lives cannot.

Episode 14: Deconstructing Systemic Oppression ft. Dr. Yang Lor

It has been a whirlwind of events and emotions this week from the murder of George Floyd, to the mass protests in outrage of this terrible tragedy, and to the violence incited by white supremacy groups across the country. We invited our very first guest, Nancy Xiong - Director of Development and Communications at Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP), to discuss these unfolding events and how coalition building and racial solidarity can address systemic oppression, as well as move our community towards racial and social justice. Our hearts are with our Black siblings who have endured systemic oppression for far too long. We are fully committed to joining the fight for Black freedom and liberation, and addressing the anti-blackness within our Hmong and larger Southeast Asian communities. Join us in making a personal commitment to creating a better world for our Black siblings.

Episode 13: Building Political Power ft. Nancy Xiong

Four Hmong American women moving our community forward, one conversation at a time.

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Not Your Average Mai Podcast

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