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Self Evident: Asian America's Stories

Season 3 Coming Soon!

During the current refugee crisis in Afghanistan, we’ve seen Asian Americans working to resettle Afghan refugees and help them build new lives. Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Hmong Americans in particular have been reminded of their own refugee stories — not just the stories of leaving their homes, but stories of the challenges they’ve faced in rebuilding their lives. So we’re presenting a story from Re:Work, a women-led radio show and podcast from the UCLA Labor Center that spotlights the voices of workers, immigrants and people of color. In this episode, Re:Work looks at how the American criminal justice system continues to marginalize youth from communities of color through the story of Phal Sok, a Cambodian refugee. His story shows how too often, low-income refugee youths are seen not as needing protection, but as the ones Americans need protection against. Check out Re:Work wherever you listen to podcasts! 

Self Evident Presents: “[No] Child Left Behind” (by Re:Work)

We’re presenting an episode from Shoes Off, a podcast about Asian Australian culture hosted by Jay Ooi. In conversation with performers and scholars, producer Thinesh Thillai explains how power and status, and in particular, caste, enable art forms from marginalized communities to be co-opted. Shoes Off takes a close look at the history of Bharantanatyam, a style of Indian classical dance commonly studied and performed in modern-day arangetrams. Who holds the power in propagating Bharantanatyam and who is being erased in this process? Check out Shoes Off wherever you listen to podcasts! 

Self Evident Presents: “Bharatanatyam: Project Caste”(by Shoes Off)

This week, we’re playing an episode from Making Contact. Making Contact produces media that analyses critical issues and showcases grassroots solutions in order to inform and inspire audiences to action. The episode, based on a documentary by filmmaker Grace Lee, is called “American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs,” and it’s about the life and legacy of the famed civil rights activist.  Making Contact takes a close look at Boggs’s lifetime of vital thinking and action; from labor to civil rights, to Black Power, feminism, the Asian American and environmental justice movements and beyond. Revolution, Boggs says, is about something deeper within the human experience — the ability to transform oneself to transform the world. Check out Making Contact at radioproject.org. or wherever you listen to podcasts! 

Self Evident Presents: “American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs ”(by Making Contact)

We’re playing an episode from an exciting new podcast by our friends at APIENC, an organization that builds transgender, non-binary, and queer power for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Bay Area (you might’ve heard their director, Sammie, on one of our previous episodes). The new podcast is called Dragon Fruit, and it’s all about the history of trans and queer Asian and Pacific Islander organizing, some juicy conversations about love and relationships, and reclaiming space for healing. In this episode, community members explored love, intimacy, and relationships. What does love mean for each of us and what does love beyond romance look like? How has our understanding of love changed over time? And how do we navigate being in relationship with each other? Content warning: This episode mentions issues of sex, touch, and conflict. There is a gentle reminder before each section so you can skip certain parts if you like. Check out Dragon Fruit Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! 

Self Evident Presents: “Juicy Fruit: The Ripe Time to Talk About Relationships ”(by the Dragon Fruit Podcast)

We're sharing the story “When Your Country Doesn’t Trust You” from the podcast WorldAffairs.In the past year, reports of anti-Asian hate crimes have spiked across the country. A lot of this is attributed to anti-Asian rhetoric about the pandemic. But the hard truth is that whenever tensions escalate between the United States and Asian nations overseas, Asian-Americans bear the brunt of that anger at home. In this episode, we hear from US Congressman Andy Kim about how the power competition between China and the US creates fear and anxiety on the homefront, which often escalates to anti-Asian rhetoric. Then, we hear the stories of two scientists, Wen Ho Lee and Xiaoxing Xi. Both were racially profiled by the FBI—and falsely accused of spying for the Chinese government. Check out WorldAffairs, a podcast that features far away stories that hit close to home, wherever you get podcasts. Search for WorldAffairs, one word, no space. 

Self Evident Presents: "When Your Country Doesn't Trust You" (by WorldAffairs)

Julianne Sato-Parker first heard the phrase, “Shikata ga nai” while watching a video series of interviews with Japanese Americans and Japanese nationals who were incarcerated by the U.S government after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Japanese phrase translates to, “It cannot be helped.” It reminded Julianne of her grandmother, who has always said a similar phrase when navigating life’s unpredictable twists and turns: “That’s just the way the ball bounces.” But the phrases may not be as passive as they seem. As Julianne became fixated on how one became the other, she turned to her grandmother for answers — and to better understand how we find resistance and resilience, even in things as seemingly simple as a phrase. Resources A longer version of this story — called “That’s the Way the Ball Bounces” — first aired on Asian Americana, where you can even hear host Quincy Surasmith’s interview with Julianne about the making of this piece. Check it out here. “Nisei Soldiers Break Their Silence” by Linda Tamura Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project (including an interview with Dorothy Sato, a.k.a. Bobbe) Japanese American Museum of Oregon PDX Japanese American Citizens League Credits Produced and written by Julianne Sato-Parker Edited by Julia Shu and James Boo Scored and mixed by James Boo Our Executive Producer is Ken Ikeda Music by Blue Dot Sessions Additional music (“Umbrella Pants” and “I Knew a Guy”) by Kevin Macleod (licensed under CC-BY-4.0) Hail archival tape via freesound.org Self Evident is a Studio To Be production. Our show is made with support from PRX and the Google Podcasts creator program — and our listener community.  

Self Evident Presents: “Shikata Ga Nai” (by Julianne Sato-Parker)

We’re sharing this story from one of our favorite podcasts, See Something Say Something, by Ahmed Ali Akbar. Pakistani-American communities in the U.S. rely on dealers on WhatsApp to gain access to their most coveted treasure: Pakistani mangoes. And they pay a premium for it. In part one of this two-part investigation, reporter Ahmed Ali Akbar searches for answers. Why are Pakistani mangoes so hard to find? And why is the Pakistani community resorting to deals on WhatsApp to procure them? For part two, listen and subscribe to See Something Say Something: https://www.seesomethingpodcast.com/  Support Ahmed’s work on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ahmedaliakbar  Ahmed originally produced this for the podcast Proof, from America’s Test Kitchen. Listen to more of Proof: https://www.americastestkitchen.com/proof And to see our team and Ahmed eating some of the tastiest mangoes of the season, check out our Instagram, @selfevidentshow

Self Evident Presents: "Underground Aams Trade, Pt 1" (by See Something Say Something)

The phrase “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” is buzz-word-ier than ever, but what does it really take to empower workers and reduce racialized harm in the places where we spend so many of our waking hours? And when is it OK to simply stop trying? In this second episode of a three-part series, guest host Alex Sujong Laughlin (Senior Producer at Transmitter Media) invites Gautam Srikishan (Producer at the On Being Project) and Snigdha Sur (Founder and CEO of The Juggernaut) to discuss their own experiences with creating more inclusive and equitable workplaces — whether that involves organizing your fellow workers into a union or breaking away from big media companies entirely to start your own workplace. Along the way, Snigdha, Gautam, and Alex also open up about how difficult it is to take on this responsibility... especially when it’s hard to see the results of your efforts.  Credits: Produced by James Boo and Julia Shu Edited by Julia Shu and James Boo Sound mix by Julia Shu and Timothy Lou Ly Self Evident theme music by Dorian Love Our Executive Producer is Ken Ikeda More From Today’s Guests Gautam Srikishan — @gsrikishan (Twitter), @floatingfast (Instagram) Snigdha Sur — @snigdhasur (Twitter), @_thejuggernaut (Instagram) Subscribe to The Juggernaut Check out this collection of “Labor Stories” recorded using the StoryCorps app Alex Sujong Laughlin — @alexlaughs (Twitter) Recommended Reading “How bosses are (literally) like dictators” by Elizabeth Anderson for Vox “Buzzfeed Layoffs and the False Promise of ‘Unions Aren’t For Us,’” Fast Company “StoryCorps, of all Places, Is Running an Anti-Union Campaign” by Hamilton Nolan for SPLINTER “The Aggressive Anti-Union Campaign at StoryCorps” By Stephanie Russel-Kraft for The Nation “Glass Walls” by James T. Green “The business case for diversity in the workplace is now overwhelming” by Vijay Eswaran for the World Economic Forum 

How Do We Build the Places We Want to Work For? Feat. Gautam Srikishan and Snigdha Sur (AAPIHM 3/3)

The impact of storytelling is often portrayed as a story changing the life of the person consuming it — and changing the world by reaching as many people as possible. But what about the person who offers their story to be consumed? How else can we define the value of our life’s stories, and the importance of how they’re shared? In this second episode of a three-part series, Managing Producer James Boo invites Randy Kim (Host of the Banh Mi Chronicles) and Tracey Nguyen Mang (Host of The Vietnamese Boat People) to dig deep and get personal about how they’ve seen participation in storytelling change the life of one person at a time. Our team decided to host these conversations because in the U.S. it’s once again Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time that can often feel routine and repetitive. And during a year when absolutely nothing has been routine, we hope these episodes will join many other podcasts, panels, and events in diving beneath the surface of representation, diversity, and inclusion.

How Do Stories Change Lives? Feat. Randy Kim and Tracey Nguyen Mang (AAPIHM 2/3)

We often take for granted that “seeing people who look like us” — especially in mass media — means progress towards racial justice. But what forms of representation do we see making an impact? And who is that impact for? In this first episode of a three-part series, Senior Producer Julia Shu invites Eliza Romero (co-host of Unverified Accounts and blogger at Aesthetic Distance), Marvin Yueh (co-host of Books & Boba and co-creator of the Potluck Podcast Collective), and Thomas Mangloña II (journalist and co-founder of the Pacific Islander Task Force at AAJA) — to question conventional wisdom and share what kind of representation we want to have more of. Our team decided to host these conversations because in the U.S. it’s once again Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time that can often feel routine and repetitive. And during a year when absolutely nothing has been routine, we hope these episodes will join many other podcasts, panels, and events in shaking up the usual talking points of representation, diversity, and inclusion for AAPIHM.

How Do We Go Beyond Representation? Feat. Eliza Romero, Marvin Yueh, and Thomas Mangloña II (AAPIHM 1/3)

Why do Asian Americans have such deep relationships with fruit? Cathy goes on a quest to find the answers — starting with her friendly neighborhood fruit vendor, Cece, then spending time with friends and listeners in our extended podcast fam. Along the way, she hears stories about family heirloom trees, mango sharing techniques, persimmon obsessions, and an unbridled love for durian. Then, she calls up food writer Priya Krishna and heritage farmer Kristyn Leach to unpack all the personal stories she’s heard. As Cathy learns the ways that Asian Americans across the country have instilled a reverence for fruit and upheld countless rituals with it in their lives, she realizes that our tastes are even more deeply rooted than we might think. Credits Written by Cathy Erway Produced by James Boo, Harsha Nahata, and Julia Shu Edited by James Boo and Julia Shu Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound Self Evident theme music by Dorian Love Shoutouts Big thanks to everyone who shared their fruit stories and fruit feels with us for this episode: Ahmed Ali Akbar Ann Duong Dorothy Faye Pirtle Jack Shu Jenn De La Vega Jenn Wong Kristyn Leach Merk Nguyen Nidhi Prakash Niha Reddy Priya Krishna Raman Sehgal Stanford Chiou We couldn’t fit everyone into the final cut, but you can see and hear bonus stories on our Instagram, using the hashtag #MyImmigrantFruitStory. Reading, Listening, and Resources "If I'm Cutting Fresh Fruit For Dessert, I Probably Love You" by Priya Krishna for Bon Appetite "A Bowl of Cut Fruit is How Asian Moms Say I Love You" by Yi Jun Loh for TASTE "How the simple art of cutting fruit can be an act of love" by Daniela Galarza for The Washington Post “The Loquat, San Francisco’s Secret Fruit, Is Hidden in Plain Sight” by Jenn Wong for Mission Local “Bok Choy Isn’t ‘Exotic’,” by Cathy Erway in Eater Check out Priya’s recipes in her cookbook, Indianish “Underground Aams Trade,” by Ahmed Ali Akbar for Proof (America’s Test Kitchen) Grow your own East Asian heritage crops and cook from recipes at Kristyn Leach’s Second Generation Seeds 

Saving the Seeds

When producer Erica Mu moved back to her hometown in 2014, she said goodbye to a past life without any idea what exactly her new life should look like. Looking for the most grounded place she could find, she went to the local mall early one morning, turned on her tape recorder, and started talking to everyone she could meet. As Erica made her way through this sprawling landscape of mostly Chinese businesses in one of the most East Asian cities in the country, she peeked in the dreams, annoyances, and love lives of dim sum diners, shop owners, security guards, young children, young parents, weightlifters, all-night partiers, and one very skilled harmonica player. But as she grasped for some universal truth that would tie all the threads of the mall, Erica realized that the unpredictable, unresolved mess of everyday life is exactly what makes it something to treasure. Credits Produced and written by Erica Mu Edited by Liz Mak Co-produced by Rebecca Kanthor and Paulina Hartono Major recording help from Leslie Chang and Alyssa Kapnik Samuel Immense story input from George Lavender Final edits by James Boo and Julia Shu Music by Podington Bear Self Evident theme music by Dorian Love Shoutouts Big thanks to everyone who spoke with Erica during her time at the mall for this story! Support from the California Council for the Humanities, and advisors: Al Letson Catherine Ceniza Choy Wei Li Oliver Wang Leila Day Support from the Association of Independents in Radio, Mentor Martina Castro Support from Third Coast International Audio Festival and Radio Residency Fiscal sponsorship from Visual Communications, developing and supporting the voices of Asian American & Pacific Islander filmmakers and media artists Countless friends and colleagues who have given their time to talk about all our stories

A Day at the Mall

What happens when you come to America to marry the person you thought would take care of you, only to find yourself in an abusive family, losing all sense of self? Guest producer Rosalind Tordesillas brings us this story about Joy, a woman whose dream marriage turned into a nightmare — and the advocates for survivors of domestic violence who helped her through the long journey to becoming whole. Immigrant women like Joy often have an especially hard time getting help with domestic abuse because of immigration status, language, and cultural issues. Unfortunately, every one of these challenges has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading Joy and her advocates at the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK) to speak out. In this episode, they share how Joy dealt with her situation and reveal the critical role that social workers, advocates, and lawyers play in supporting survivors who have no other path forward. WARNING: Skip minutes 10:00-17:30 if you do not wish to hear descriptions of domestic abuse, including some graphic descriptions of violence. If this is an especially tough subject for you to hear about, then you may want consider skipping this episode. Resources and Reading If you are experiencing abuse or want to help someone who is, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233). The Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (includes a 24-hour multilingual hotline for Boston area residents) “A Pandemic Within a Pandemic — Intimate Partner Violence during COVID-19” “Study Finds Rise in Domestic Violence during COVID” by Alan Mozes for WebMD “Why Can’t the Senate Pass the Violence Against Women Act?” by Jay Willis for GQ U.S. Department of Justice Memo on the implications of Congress’ failure to re-authorize the Violence Against Women Act  since 2019 Credits Produced by Rosalind Tordesillas Edited by James Boo and Mia Warren Sound mix by Timothy Lou Ly Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound This episode was made in partnership with Feet in 2 Worlds, a project that brings the work of immigrant journalists to digital news sites and public radio. Since their founding in 2004, Feet in 2 Worlds has brought the work of immigrant journalists from communities across the U.S. to public radio and online news sites. Shoutouts Thanks to Cristina Ayala (co-executive director) and the staff of ATASK for helping us produce this episode. And big thanks to Blair Matsuura, one of our biggest supporters on Patreon! If you want to join Blair in supporting our mission and making our work sustainable, please become a member at patreon.com/selfevidentshow.

Finding Joy

During this year’s protests for Black lives, the national conversation was filled with calls to have uncomfortable conversations about anti-Blackness. This push, to talk about racism with our loved ones, has been both championed and criticized — but how do these conversations actually go down, and where do they lead? To find out, we spoke with three cousins who created a conversation toolkit for Filipinx families, and made the nerve-wracking decision to test drive on a video call with their entire extended family. Then we caught up with two friends who grew up in a redlined suburb of Detroit, to learn how their experiences with present-day school segregation have shaped their expectations about what’s needed to move towards justice. To unpack our own thoughts on all of this, we hopped on the phone with our show’s co-founder, Talisa Chang, to hear about her experiences leading an abolition reading and discussion group for the past six months. Along the way, we grappled with how these conversations can feel like way too much to handle, yet perhaps not enough to make a difference — and ultimately, how keeping these conversations going can help give Asian Americans the resolve and capacity to act in defense of Black lives in America.

Conversations About Conversations

Self Evident challenges the narratives of where we come from, where we belong, and where we're going — by telling Asian America's stories. With host Cathy Erway, we present reported narratives, personal stories, and community conversations that tackle today's tough questions about identity, cultural change, and nationhood. Season 1 of Self Evident is presented with the Center for Asian American Media, with additional support from the Ford Foundation. Self Evident is a Studiotobe production, incubated at the Made in NY Media Center by IFP.

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Self Evident: Asian America's Stories

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