Best Pacificislander Podcasts (2024)

1
EVERYONE LOVES LULU, Ep. 23: UNCLE TUI LETULI 1:03:20

2+ y ago1:03:20

1:03:20

#MyzLulu welcomes #TuiLetuli to #EveryoneLovesLulu, Episode #23 to talk about growing up in Samoa, Creating the Pacific Talent Academy of the Arts, Undergoing a Freak Accident, Faith in God, Role of Music, and Life Lessons. https://www.instagram.com/letulitui https://www.facebook.com/tuiletuli -------------------------------------------------------…

1
EVERYONE LOVES LULU, Ep. 22 - HIRAM TRAVIS 58:55

2+ y ago58:55

58:55

#MyzLulu welcomes #HiramTravis to #EveryoneLovesLulu, Episode #22 to talks about his entrepreneurial Pre Covid ventures of Food Market Express in Long Beach, the first Pacific Islander food festival called South Bay Food Market, and then during the Pandemic starting his own agency called EPIC Life Insurance teaching financial literacy. https://www.…

1
EVERYONE LOVES LULU, Ep. 6 - DIANA VOGEL 57:25

3y ago57:25

57:25

#MyzLulu welcomes therapist extraordinaire, #DianaVogel #TheSassyTherapist to #EveryoneLovesLulu, episode six. Diana Vogel is a Mother, Wife, Licensed Therapist, Motivational Speaker, Educator, Advocate, Doctorate Student. As a psychotherapist, Diana believes in the power of change, and that everyone is capable of achieving it. She is walking proof…

1
EVERYONE LOVES LULU, Ep. 5 - LOA GREYSON 1:01:12

3y ago1:01:12

1:01:12

#MyzLulu welcomes musical artist, #LoaGreyson to #EveryoneLovesLulu. Loa Greyson is a singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Of Samoan descent, Loa set out to develop a distinctive sound, inspired by, traditional Polynesian, jazz, soul, and so many other styles. His blend of influences is so deeply rooted in his background that it …

1
EVERYONE LOVES LULU, Ep. 4 - BRANDON MANUMALEUNA 1:04:30

3y ago1:04:30

1:04:30

@MyzLulu welcomes former NFL All-Star Tight End, #BrandonManumaleuna, and now high school head coach to this week's episode of #EveryoneLovesLulu. Brandon Manumaleuna born January 4, 1980, is a former NFL All-Star tight end. He played college football at the University of Arizona and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the 2001…

1
EVERYONE LOVES LULU, Ep. 3 - SALE TAYLOR 49:06

3y ago49:06

49:06

#MyzLuLu welcomes actor, producer, stunt man, and musician, #SaleTaylor on this week's episode of #EveryoneLovesLulu #SeeHearSpeakLOVE. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/islandblockpodcasters/message

1
Matthew Salesses Interviewed by May Ngo 50:18

3y ago50:18

50:18

We have a special interview with author Matthew Salesses, conducted by writer and anthropologist May Ngo back in February. Together, they dissect Matthew’s book Craft in the Real World, and have deep conversations about making writing workshops more equally accessible and how to think about one’s audience. They question the concept of agency, and h…

1
Crying in H Mart ft. Michelle Zauner & Hrishikesh Hirway 1:00:37

3y ago1:00:37

1:00:37

AAWW and indie bookstore Books Are Magic partned together to celebrate musician Michelle Zauner’s debut memoir, Crying In H Mart. Best known for her work as the musician Japanese Breakfast, Zauner’s memoir is an astonishing debut: a rich, intimate, and lyrical story about finding yourself, and the enduring power of food and family. Zauner is joined…

1
How Much of These Hills is Gold ft. C Pam Zhang, Karen Chee 1:02:46

3y ago1:02:46

1:02:46

AAWW celebrates the paperback launch of C Pam Zhang’s debut novel How Much of These Hills is Gold, which was longlisted for The Booker Prize, among other accolades. Since its publication last spring, this haunting, spare, and achingly beautiful novel has been widely praised for turning its unflinching gaze on the people and legends of the American …

1
Anti-Asian Violence and Black-Asian Solidarity Today 1:58:58

3y ago1:58:58

1:58:58

We're featuring audio from our recent event Anti-Asian Violence and Black-Asian Solidarity Today presented by Tamara K. Nopper. This lecture examines the merging of fighting “anti-Asian violence” with the promotion of “Black-Asian solidarity” in the context of COVID-19, and considers the work these narratives are doing and if they challenge or prom…

1
#WeToo: Journal of Asian American Studies 47:06

3y ago47:06

47:06

In time for the Association of Asian American Studies Conference that kicks off this week, we’re reposting an episode from the newly launched Journal of Asian American Studies podcast! We discuss a unique special issue of The Journal of Asian American Studies: #WeToo, a reader of Art, Poetry, Fiction, and Memoir, that seeks to answer the question, …

1
The City of Good Death ft. Priyanka Champaneri and Marjan Kamali 59:32

3y ago59:32

59:32

We're celebrating Priyanka Champaneri’s debut novel, The City of Good Death. Priyanka will be in conversation with special guest Marjan Kamali, author of The Stationery Shop. Winner of the Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing, The City of Good Death is an immersive family saga exploring death, rebirth, and redemption set in India’s holy c…

1
Northern Light ft. Kazim Ali and Billy-Ray Belcourt 1:02:11

3y ago1:02:11

1:02:11

Acclaimed poet, novelist, and essayist Kazim Ali joins the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and Milkweed Editions to launch his new memoir, Northern Light: Power, Land, and the Memory of Water. Northern Light, a sensitive and elegantly structured exploration of land and power, is told through Ali’s recollections of his childhood in Manitoba, and th…

1
My Year Abroad ft. Chang-rae Lee and Bryan Washington 1:05:55

3y ago1:05:55

1:05:55

Join the Asian American Writers’ Workshop as we celebrate award-winning writer Chang-rae Lee’s electrifying new novel, My Year Abroad. A surprising, tender, and humorous work, My Year Abroad is a story unique to Chang-rae Lee’s immense talents as a writer, and explores the division between East and West, capitalism, mental health, mentorship, and m…

1
Brown Baby ft. Nikesh Shukla & Mira Jacob 59:18

3y ago59:18

59:18

AAWW is delighted to celebrate the launch of writer Nikesh Shukla’s new memoir, Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family, and Home. An intimate look at love, grief, and fatherhood, Shukla’s memoir “bears witness to our turbulent times” (Bernardine Evaristo) with humor, honesty, and hope. Shukla is joined in conversation by Mira Jacob, author of Good Ta…

1
EVERYONE LOVES LULU, Ep. 2 - MATA GREY 1:03:39

3y ago1:03:39

1:03:39

#MyzLulu welcomes #MataGrey, one of the coldest to ever pick up an ax, and one of four of the world-renowned @CommonKings. Here is a glimpse into the talented Grey family that Mata grew up in and his early journey into music. The lovely power couple (Myz Lulu & Mata Grey who are married w/ two kids) discuss their lives prior to marriage and kids as…

1
EVERYONE LOVES LULU, Ep. 1 - MYZ LULU 1:11:32

3y ago1:11:32

1:11:32

Myz Lulu hails from the islands of American Samoa and moved to Los Angeles, CA in the mid-2000s. Being the only girl amongst several strong-willed brothers Myz Lulu learned real quick about tough love. Meeting new people became a passion and giving huge bear hugs as a welcome became her signature. Her smile is infectious with a personality to match…

1
Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today's Feminism 1:47:22

3y ago1:47:22

1:47:22

In the anthology Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today's Feminism!, Daisy Hernandez and Bushra Rehman have collected a bold group of emerging writers whose prescient and intimate writing paints an expansive portrait of the experience of being women and femmes of color. The first edition of the anthology became an instant classic in 2002, and…

1
Radical Thinkers ft. Simon Han and Tahseen Shams 1:46:01

3+ y ago1:46:01

1:46:01

Our series Radical Thinkers places radical academics directly in conversation with trailblazing writers, poets, and artists, creating and nurturing two-way dialogues that will interrogate some of the most pressing issues facing Asian and Asian diasporic communities today. Featuring an interdisciplinary lineup of scholars and creatives, these unexpe…

1
Minari ft. Lee Isaac Chung and Min Jin lee 36:08

3+ y ago36:08

36:08

We're celebrating the release of Lee Isaac Chung's critically acclaimed film Minari, a tender portrait of a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. Today’s podcast features audio from our pre-release screening talkback with director Lee Isaac Chung and novelist Min Jin Lee.…

1
Land of Big Numbers ft. Te-Ping Chen and Charles Yu 1:01:53

3+ y ago1:01:53

1:01:53

Join the Asian American Writers’ Workshop for the official launch of Te-Ping Chen’s extraordinary debut short story collection, Land of Big Numbers. Assured and immersive, the stories in Land of Big Numbers move confidently between the United States and China, shifting from realism to magical realism, and forming intimate portraits that draw from C…

1
Black and Asian Feminist Solidarities 1:17:48

3+ y ago1:17:48

1:17:48

What are the radical possibilities of catalyzing cross-racial feminist solidarities, imaginations, and substantive realities? What revolutions must we create within ourselves to dismantle our prejudices, discrimination, and silences to create the world we want to see? Today’s podcast features audio from our recent event Siblings in Liberation, Blac…

1
Imagining Identity Across the Pond ft. Romalyn Ante, Will Harris, and April Yee 1:12:23

3+ y ago1:12:23

1:12:23

AAWW and London-based writer April Yee present a reading with two of the UK’s leading poets: Will Harris (RENDANG) and Romalyn Ante (Antiemetic for Homesickness). Following their reading, Will and Romalyn examine how Asian identity is constructed outside of the United States and discuss the ways British colonialism and capitalism continue to shape …

1
The Past is Not for Living In ft. Gish Jen and Meng Jin 1:02:31

3+ y ago1:02:31

1:02:31

Join the Asian American Writers’ Workshop for our first event of the new year: a joint paperback launch of Gish Jen’s The Resisters and Meng Jin’s Little Gods. These two novels, released in early 2020, sketch out a dystopian near future that takes aim at several current catastrophes, and examine history, absence, and the passage of time as filtered…

1
AGGIE ft. Mahogany L. Browne, Adnan Khan, Tanya Selvaratnam and Rachel Kuo 1:06:41

3+ y ago1:06:41

1:06:41

In November 2020 we co-hosted a screening with Film Forum of the documentary AGGIE, on the life of philanthropist Agnes Gund, founder of the Art For Justice Fund. Following the screening, we co-hosted a talkback with activists and Art For Justice grantees Adnan Khan and Mahogany Browne, and producer Tanya Selvaratnam, moderated by Rachel Kuo. Today…

1
The Life and Music of Lakshmi Shankar ft. Kavita Das, Jafreen Uddin 56:17

3+ y ago56:17

56:17

Author Kavita Das joins Jafreen Uddin, Executive Director of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop in conversation about her book, Poignant Song: The Life and Music of Lakshmi Shankar. Shankar, who was Grammy-nominated, was the most prominent Indian female musician in the movement that brought Indian music to the West in the late 1960’s. This event,…

1
Fireside Chat: R.O. Kwon with AAWW E.D. Jafreen Uddin 29:11

3+ y ago29:11

29:11

We're launching a new virtual event series at AAWW. Presented quarterly, these virtual “fireside chats” will feature a renowned Asian diasporic author in conversation with our Executive Director Jafreen Uddin, sharing updates from AAWW, and discussing AAWW from a writer’s perspective. This series will kick off with a conversation led by R. O. Kwon,…

1
Racing the Essay with Cathy Park Hong, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Sejal Shah, and Piyali Bhattacharya 1:15:46

3+ y ago1:15:46

1:15:46

This fall, the Asian American Writers’ Workshop is celebrating the art of the essay. Featuring longtime poets and fiction writers with debut essay collections out this year, this conversation will take an intersectional look at Asian American identity, genre, gender, race, publishing, and the way the essay form allows writers to dance, dodge, spar,…

1
Asian American Young Adult Fiction with Ed Lin, Marie Myung-Ok Lee, and Ruth Minah Buchwald 1:17:49

3+ y ago1:17:49

1:17:49

AAWW, Kundiman, & Kaya Press combine to bring acclaimed novelist Ed Lin together with pioneering YA author of FINDING MY VOICE and co-founder of AAWW Marie Myung-Ok Lee, in conversation to celebrate the release of Ed Lin’s YA debut, DAVID TUNG CAN’T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND UNTIL HE GETS INTO AN IVY LEAGUE COLLEGE (Kaya Press, October 2020). Moderated by …

1
The Voice of Sheila Chandra with Kazim Ali, Sheila Chandra, and Rajiv Mohabir 1:09:24

3+ y ago1:09:24

1:09:24

We're celebrating the launch of Kazim Ali’s newest poetry collection, The Voice of Sheila Chandra. Following a reading from Ali’s innovative and musical new collection, he will be joined in conversation by Sheila Chandra and Rajiv Mohabir to discuss sound, silence, and embodied art-making practice, as they reflect on Ali’s poetry, Chandra’s music, …

1
Shithole Country Clubs by Nina Sharma 42:59

3+ y ago42:59

42:59

We’re very excited to bring you an audio long read of “Shithole Country Clubs” an essay by Nina Sharma, recently published in The Margins. Named an Editor’s Pick at Longreads, “Shithole Country Clubs” is a hilarious and critical essay about Trump's New Jersey country club — the very golf club where he recently infected everyone with Covid-19 — and …

1
The Sweat of Love & the Fire of Truth with Akwaeke Emezi, Elizabeth Acevedo, & Sophia Hussain 1:06:00

3+ y ago1:06:00

1:06:00

The Asian American Writers’ Workshop is thrilled to celebrate the launch of Akwaeke Emezi’s new book THE DEATH OF VIVEK OJI and the recent release of Elizabeth Acevedo’s CLAP WHEN YOU LAND and WRITE YOURSELF A LANTERN: A JOURNAL INSPIRED BY THE POET X. The two authors read from their new works and have a moderated conversation with writer and Berke…

1
Good Talks with Tina Chang & Mira Jacob 1:07:59

3+ y ago1:07:59

1:07:59

Tina Chang and Mira Jacob join the Asian American Writers’ Workshop to celebrate the paperback releases of their books Hybrida and Good Talk. Following a reading from their work, they will speak to the intersections of their experiences and creative practices, discussing race, motherhood, and hybrid storytelling structures.…

1
Translating Letters for Black Lives - Asian Americana 1:08:03

3+ y ago1:08:03

1:08:03

On this episode we are excited to repost a recent episode of Asian Americana, a podcast about Asian American culture and history hosted and produced by Quincy Surasmith. Letters for Black Lives is an ongoing crowdsourced effort to create and translate multilingual and culturally-aware resources that open a space for families and communities to have…

1
Burial is Beginning: K-Ming Chang & Franny Choi 1:12:32

3+ y ago1:12:32

1:12:32

AAWW hosted the launch for K-Ming Chang’s debut novel, Bestiary, with a reading and conversation with K-Ming and Franny Choi. Exploring the ways writing about girlhood can reinvent our definitions of community and lineage, and the ways we can grapple with and imagine beyond threats of violence that often shape daughterhood, this conversation delves…

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#13: Tre Ofahengaue- Building a Business By Developing Young Athletes 38:37

3+ y ago38:37

38:37

In this episode, we hear the story of "Level Up Elites", a program created to help young athletes win university athletic scholarships by developing their skills and impressing college recruiters. Learn how Tre Ofahengaue built a successful business by helping young athletes discover and create tremendous opportunities.…

1
#12: Tipa Galeai Returns as a Green Bay Packer! 12:28

3+ y ago12:28

12:28

Tipa Galeai is back on Kava Sessions and with great news to share! Tipa was featured in episode 3 of Kava Sessions. In that episode he shared his life story and his lifelong Dream of playing in the NFL. At that time he was an NFL prospect and was predicted to get drafted. In this episode he talks about achieving that goal and receiving an opportuni…

1
#11: Kona Reeves- WWE Superstar on Life Beyond the Ring 47:14

3+ y ago47:14

47:14

In this episode of Kava Sessions, we team up with Fire Knife Life Podcast host Rex Tiumalu to interview professional sports entertainer Kona Reeves. He talks about his story behind the ring, and his journey about what it takes to become a NXT/WWE superstar. We also talk about the importance of personal drive and building confidence when growing you…

1
#10: Return of The Fyah- Many more Episodes to come!!! 23:04

3+ y ago23:04

23:04

We're back and with a lot more uplifting and inspirational content coming soon! In this episode Canton and Kelly give you updates as to whats going on with Kava Sessions as well as an exciting announcement on our next venture! Tune in for a quick episode as Canton and Kelly talk through exciting news as well as talk about keeping your Fyah lit thro…

1
Global Chinatowns: Histories of Resistance & Community 1:08:38

4y ago1:08:38

1:08:38

Welcome to our Love Letter to Chinatown Episode! We’re happy to feature Mei Lum, Diane Wong, and Huiying B. Chan, the curators of Homeward Bound: Global Intimacies in Converging Chinatowns, hosted at the Pao Arts Center in Boston. The exhibit tells the stories of displacement, migration, resilience and grassroots organizing in Chinatowns around the…

1
#9: Rex Tiumalu- World Champion Fire Knife Dancer on Creating Your Legacy 47:55

4y ago47:55

47:55

Aloha everyone! For this episode we bring on a World Champion Fire Knife Dancer, Rex Tiumalu. We cover many topics such as the art and culture behind Samoan Fire Knife Dancing. We talk of hard work and perseverance through adversity. We also talk about the issue of Depression and how Rex was able to overcome his own Inner battles. You can follow Re…

1
#8: Samm and Sher- Instagram Models Brand New to Kava! 30:13

4y ago30:13

30:13

In this episode, Canton and Kelly join performers Samm and Sher to witness Samm's first kava experience while they talk about the grit, passion and adversity required to succeed in the show business. Canton also shares his extensive knowledge of kava, kava history and kava culture. Check out Samm and Sher on social media! Sher's Instagram: @sheradi…

1
AAWW Fave: You Don't Say No To Yuri Kochiyama (ft. Fred Ho, Diane C. Fujino, Baba Herman Ferguson, Esperanza Martell, Laura Whitehorn) 1:19:54

4y ago1:19:54

1:19:54

Today is the legendary activist Yuri Kochiyama’s birthday! We’re celebrating by revisiting one of our favorite episodes of AAWW Radio, You Don’t Say No to Yuri Kochiyama. In 2005, scholar and activist Diane C. Fujino released the biography Heartbeat of Struggle: the Revolutionary Life of Yuri Kochiyama. An in-depth examination of Kochiyama's life, …

1
AAWW Fave: Disability Justice (ft. Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha & Cyrée Jarelle Johnson) 1:29:39

4y ago1:29:39

1:29:39

One of our favorite episodes of AAWW Radio was from 2018 featuring Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice author Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha in conversation with poet Cyrée Jarelle Johnson, author of SLINGSHOT. Leah reads from her work and together they discuss meaningful inclusion of disability justice, Intersectional disability, and the nuan…

1
#7: Hella Cut- Rapid Fyah Questions/Fun Facts with Canton & Kelly 23:42

4y ago23:42

23:42

This is the first episode of the Kava Sessions "Hella Cut" series; episodes where we get HELLA cut after having drank multiple gallons of kava, and then have tons of fun talking smack and playing ridiculous games. Come chill, grab a shell and mix with us while we are absolutely cut-as-can-be during these sessions which are meant as a comedic relief…

1
AAWW Fave: Breaking Caste (ft. Sujatha Gidla, Neel Mukherjee & Gaiutra Bahadur) 1:17:13

4y ago1:17:13

1:17:13

We’re bringing back one of our favorite events from 2018 called Breaking Caste, featuring Sujatha Gidla, Neel Mukherjee, and Gaiutra Bahadur. The episode features a wonderful conversation at the end about Dalit exclusion in the publishing industry, the connection between caste and women’s oppression, Dalit solidarity with Black Americans, and much …

1
#6: Matt Masifilo- Rising to Excellence 45:07

4y ago45:07

45:07

Matt Masifilo is the inventor of the famous AluBall, the world's very first consumer kava maker. He is also a Stanford University graduate and a former NFL football player. In this episode, he takes us through his journey of success and his story about how he has risen to such a great level of excellence. Listen to Matt's story and there is no doub…

1
AAWW Fave: I Can't Go On...I'll Go On ft. Patty Yumi Cottrell, Anelise Chen, Eugene Lim, & Lisa Chen 1:23:36

4y ago1:23:36

1:23:36

One of our favorite episodes is this reading and conversation from 2018 with brilliant experimental Asian American writers Anelise Chen, Patty Yumi Cottrell, and Eugene Lim. They read passages from their novels So Many Olympic Exertions, Sorry to Disrupt the Peace, and Dear Cyborgs, all of which have unique perceptions on living and surviving in th…

1
#5: Maika Maile- Music, Identity and Revelations 1:15:10

4y ago1:15:10

1:15:10

Legendary singer, songwriter and producer Maika Maile Joins Canton Kaumatule in discussing his extremely inspirational and heartfelt story of loss and redemption throughout life. He takes us through how the loss of family members in his childhood fueled his ambitions to succeed as an artist, and ultimately how he ended up finding himself amidst the…

1
AAWW Fave: Migrant Father Fragment (ft. lê thị diễm thúy, M Zhang, & Hua Hsu) 1:42:44

4y ago1:42:44

1:42:44

Now that we’ve published over 50 episodes of AAWW Radio, we’re selecting a few of our favorites to republish for our new listeners. One of our earliest episodes is Migrant Father Fragment from 2017 featuring authors lê thị diễm thúy, Q.M. Zhang, and moderated by Hua Hsu. It features wonderful readings of their books The Gangster We Are All Looking …

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