Mixed race Asians: Surviving and Thriving

Exit Spring Mountain

In this episode, we’re talking about the complexities of being mixed, sometimes known as Hapa, Blasian, Wasian, or multiracial. Who decides who’s Asian enough… or not? How does categorizing people by race impact mixed race Asian identity and community?

Elle Jules, the professional model from Hawai'i, talks about her experience as a mixed-race Asian and how she navigates representation in the modeling world. Sandra Douglass Morgan, the President of the Las Vegas Raiders, reflects on how far she has come to get to the leadership role she holds today as the first Black NFL President. Dr. Myra Washington talks about her book “Blasian Invasion: Racial Mixing in the Celebrity Industrial Complex." Dr. Jess Bensen talks to us about the current research out there on multiracial people and the need for more intersectionality in psychology research out there on mixed-race Asians.

Exit Spring Mountain is a podcast from Nevada Public Radio. Our team includes senior producer Nessa Concepcion, academic research consultant Mark Padoongpatt and assistant producer, researcher and social media manager, Isabelle Chen Rice. Joe Schoenemann oversees podcasts as news director at Nevada Public Radio, and our sound editing, mixing, and mastering is by Christopher Alverez.