#24 Discovering our voice & living our unapologetic truth with Amazin Lêthi
Release Date: 07/30/2020
#49 Mindfullness & Ripple Effects Towards Justice & Equity with Kim
Yellow Glitter
This episode, we're joined by an extra special guest, Kim Thai . She is a community organizer and founder of They are also a mindfulness teacher, writer and an Emmy Award-winning storyteller! Tune in to dive deep into topics of identity, healing, and liberation within oppressive systems. In this episode, we chat about: The ripple effects that either reinforce or work against systems of oppression Kim Thai's mission to help others reclaim their power and freedom in the world. Ancestral practice and the healing power it can bring. The intersection of Buddhist teachings and modern everyday...
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#48 Nuanced Activism & Standing for Something with Johnathan
Yellow Glitter
In this episode, we're joined by Johnathan , a pioneering content creator who began his journey in 2008. His unique perspective as a Black American and Filipino has made him a powerful voice at the intersection of Black and Asian identity. In 2020, he founded the Black and Asian Alliance Network, promoting solidarity between these communities during a time of heightened tension. Check out his podcast series, The Boys Are Black In Town on YouTube. In this episode, we chat about: Video games and diversity Traveling to Japan and what a "sense of belonging" looks like Intersectionality of...
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#47 Building Queer Asian Spaces & Community with Tai
Yellow Glitter
In this episode, we're joined by Tai, who is a freelance creative director. His hunger for building community ultimately led to the creation of Naarak in August of 2022, and he is now an event organizer in the gay API NYC nightlife scene. In this episode, we chat about: Community resilience and fostering an environment where gay API have an accepting night-life space Coming into queer identity and finding a way to navigate that Intersectionality of queer-ness and Asian-ness as an adoptee The origins of Naarak initially starting with small gatherings and eventually expanding to...
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#46 Social Media and the Future of Queer Visibility with Mike Curato
Yellow Glitter
This episode, we're joined by Mike Curato, a gay first generation half Filipino-Irish American author and illustrator of books. He has created many picture books for young children, including his debut queer young adult graphic novel, Flamer, and upcoming books centering diverse creators and audiences. In this episode, we chat about: The launch of Flamer and how it was one of the most banned, talked about books of 2023 The difficulties with social media burnout, online bullying, and doomscrolling Strategies to protect our own mental health, energy, and peace Consuming content mindfully and...
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#45 Uplifting Our Chinatowns and API Creatives with Harry Trinh
Yellow Glitter
In this episode, we're joined by Harry Trinh, a queer Asian American art director and experiential designer based in NYC, and the Head of Creative of Welcome to Chinatown. In this episode, we chat about: His latest work with Welcome to Chinatown Pivoting from corporate life into his mission-driven work Understanding the value of community-centered work and raising the bottom-line The history of Chinatowns and unlocking our community’s potential through partnership Introducing creative career pathways for API folx Harry’s introduction to creativity and design through his family How...
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#44 Building the Equitable Future of Work and Entrepreneurship with Susan Liao
Yellow Glitter
In this episode, we're joined by Susan Liao, a product leader and champion of liberatory leadership working at the intersection of digital innovation, social entrepreneurship and non-profit impact strategy. In this episode, we chat about: Her journey into tech and product Navigating her life through agencies and startups Pivoting from the corporate world to impact-driven work Conforming into inequitable systems and role, and shifting away to find her voice Why we adapt as marginalized communities and how to break away from upholding inequitable systems What’s in Susan’s “kitchen...
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#43 The Value of Identity and Self-Expression with Haruka Aoki
Yellow Glitter
In this episode, we're joined by Haruka Aoki, a queer Japanese artist and poet-illustrator, who takes us on a journey of self-discovery and artistic expression. In this episode, we chat about: The challenges of integrating into a new community The impact migration can have on identity and intersectionality The power of manifestation and the importance of collaboration in the creative process The importance of solidarity among marginalized communities Issues of performative activism and establishing genuine allyship Raising the bottom line for our underrepresented and historically marginalized...
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#42 Collective Change and Community-Centered Design with Lee-Sean Huang
Yellow Glitter
This episode, we’re joined by an extra special guest, Lee-Sean Huang (he/they), a queer first-generation Taiwanese, Cantonese American designer and educator based in New York City and Providence. Lee-Sean Huang is the director of Design Content and learning at AIGA and a co-founder, creative director of Foossa, and teaches design and innovation at Parsons and SVA. This episode, we talk about: Lee-Sean's "midlife crisis" and how he is navigating a new chapter in his life Navigating corporate world and academia with queer & Asian identities His work with the New School and advocating for...
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#41 Embracing Imagination and Manifesting Reality with ONCH
Yellow Glitter
In this episode, we’re joined by an extra special guest, ONCH, a multi-talented artist and jewelry designer based in Los Angeles. We chat about: The power of dreaming and creating a vision of our future Using a dream diary to record, capture, and realize everyday dreams ONCH's journey from Taiwan and finding oneself Setting intentions and manifesting reality Upcoming collaborations coming to life from dreams Becoming fearless and dreaming for a brighter future Learn more about ONCH: Website: Instagram: You can follow me at: Website: Instagram: YouTube: Subscribe to my weekly...
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#40 Allyship, Accountability, & Performative Activism with Johnathan Gibbs
Yellow Glitter
This episode, we're joined by our lovely returning guest, Jonathan Gibbs, creator of the Black and Asian Alliance Network, a proud, gay, Black and Filipino American filmmaker, storyteller, podcaster, and gamer based in Brooklyn, NY. In this episode, we chat about: The importance of solidarity among marginalized communities Issues of performative activism and establishing genuine allyship Holding individuals and corporations accountable and enacting change The need for representation and visibility in media and entertainment for our communities Raising the bottom line for our underrepresented...
info_outlineIn this episode, we are joined by Amazin LeThi, LGBTQ+ sports ambassador, former competitive bodybuilder, entertainment executive, and fitness author to chat about current events and her life journey. We talk about trans-racial issues, equity and representation in media, and body positivity, homelessness in our queer community, and so much more.
Amazin LeThi (she/her) is an Athlete Ally and Stonewall sports ambassador, former competitive bodybuilder, entertainment executive and the first Vietnamese internationally published fitness author. Through her personal journey of homelessness she founded the Amazin LeThi Foundation. Amazin has shared her story for ‘Its Gets Better’ campaign and the first White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Asian anti-bullying campaign 'Act to Change'. She has been recognized by GLAAD and NQAPIA for her LGBTQ advocacy. She was the first Asian LGBTQ Athlete in 2020 to be honoured at the Brooklyn Nets 4th Annual Pride Night, she has also been listed in the Australian Pride Power List, Out 100 List, Go Magazine 100 Women We Love List, 2020 Global Changemakers and acknowledged in the Human Rights Campaign - Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Honours list.
On this episode we talk about:
- Managing through this current pandemic and ways Amazin is finding balance of news with classical music and fitness
- Her story growing up in Saigon and being adopted into a trans-racial family in Australia
- The complexities of racism and prejudice between trans-racial adoptees and their family
- Getting involved with weight training as the only queer and Asian individaul as an eight year old.
- Going back to Vietnam and reconnecting with her Asian identity
- The duality of identity between East and Western culture, hypersexualized and de-sexualized Asian men and women in media
- Becoming open to vulnerability and accepting ourselves unconditionally
- Body positivity within the queer community and gender roles we are often asked to play into
- Queer Asian representation in our media, education and history books
- Homelessness and its impact to our LGBTQ+ youth, mental health, and livelihoods
- The power of solidarity and sharing our stories together
You can find Amazin at:
amazinlethi.com
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook (@AmazinLeThi)
You can follow me at:
Instagram (instagram.com/stevenwakabayashi)
YouTube (youtube.com/stevenwakabayashi)
Weekly Newsletter (mindfulmoments.substack.com)