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 compassionately
• Defining our own metrics - what impact are things having on us?
• Latest project highlighting community, diversity, and love
• Our upcoming projects for 2024 and beyond

You can find our guest at:

• Mike Curato: mikecurato.com
• Instagram: @mike_curato

You can follow me at:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com
• Visit our website yellowglitterpodcast.com

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 queerness is intertwined with liberation

You can find our guest at:

• Harry Trinh: https://experienceharry.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harry_trinh/
• Welcome to Chinatown: https://welcometochinatown.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welcome.to.chinatown

You can follow me at:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com
• Visit our website yellowglitterpodcast.com

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 sink”
• The future of work, diversifying the spaces we are a part of, and creating different forms of distributing wealth
• Challenging existing systems of work, capitalism, and labor
• The concept of "Space, pace, and grace" - how are we acknowledging rest as part of our work?
• Honoring the north star of the communities around us
• Creating more intention behind our beliefs, words, and actions
• The importance of rest and filling our cup

You can find Susan at:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/susanliao
• Startups for All: startupsforall.org
• Leaders Like Us: leaderslikeus.us

You can follow me at:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com
• Visit our website yellowglitterpodcast.com

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 communities
• Challenges and benefits of social media
• Haruka’s book tour and upcoming projects

You can find Haruka at:

• Website: https://harukaaoki.com
• Instagram: @thecosmicharuka

You can follow me at:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

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 teachers
• The role of creativity and design in social impact
• Dismantling perfectionism, and leaning into imperfection as an invitation for social change
• The power of community-centered design

You can find more information about our guest:

• @leesean on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
• Website: https://foossa.com/leesean-huang

Learn more about Yellow Glitter:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com
• Website: yellowglitterpodcast.com

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: onch.us
• Instagram: @onch

You can follow me at:

• Website: yellowglitterpodcast.com
• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

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 and historically marginalized communities
• Challenges and benefits of social media

You can find Johnathan Gibbs at:

• Instagram: @jonahsahn
• Twitter: @jonahsahn
• Youtube: @blasianFMA

You can follow me at:

• Website: yellowglitterpodcast.com
• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

In this episode, we’re joined by an extra special guest, Dr. Jonathan Tolentino, Program Director of the Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency program at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at University of Miami. We chat about intersectional healthcare and the importance of understanding our history, legislation, and evolving healthcare to show up for our historically marginalized communities & youth.

We chat about:

• The importance of recognizing the intersectionality of gender, race, and sexuality in healthcare.
• The future of our ever-evolving medical field.
• Our stories of acceptance and fitting in and the growing visibility of queer identities around the world.
• Discriminatory laws and their impact on our historically marginalized communities, especially our youth.
• The importance of showing up and holding our legislators accountable

You can more of JT at:

• Instagram: @jonjon980206

You can follow me at:

• Website: yellowglitterpodcast.com
• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

In this episode, we’re joined by a returning friend, Kim Thai, a queer Vietnamese writer, Emmy-award winning producer, social justice advocate, and mindfulness teacher based in New York. We chat about community building, cultivating joy, and her latest work with Ganeshspace, a mindfulness organization that creates healing spaces for historically excluded communities and social justice education for all.

In this episode we talk about:

• Community healing and the importance of centering joy and liberation in our equity-centered work
• Reclaiming queerness and honoring indigenous practices
• Surrounding ourselves with people who uplift and nourish us
• Prioritizing happiness leading to ultimate self-care and joy

You can more of Kim at:

• Instagram: @kthai6
• Instagram: @Ganeshspace

You can follow me at:

• Website: yellowglitterpodcast.com
• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

This episode we're joined by an extra special guest, Haruka Aoki. Haruka (she/they) is a queer Japanese artist, author and illustrator of children’s books based in Queens, New York City. Their narrative artwork, which has appeared in New York Times and the Washington Post, aims to inspire individuals with both wit and sincerity as their hand drawn characters engaged with the world around them growing up.

In this episode we talk about:

• Haruka’s pivot from corporate life to exploring art
• Mental health in today’s workplace
• Their background and family experience growing up
• Haruka dives into their world of illustration and the inspiration behind their characters
• Exploring their latest book, Fitting In (fittinginbook.com)

You can find Haruka at:

• Website: https://harukaaoki.com/
• Instagram: @thecosmicharuka

You can follow me at:

• Website: https://yellowglitterpodcast.com
• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

In this episode, we are joined by a special returning guest, Johnathan Gibbs, to talk about the latest gay movie Fire Island, and also reflect on the harmful impact of the gay white gaze on our queer Asian communities.

In this episode we talk about:

• Reflect on Fire Island movie’s representation of queer Asian perspectives and stories
• The gay white gaze and discussing the harmful impact of these narratives
• How to catch ourselves when we are co-opting into systems of power and oppression
• Forgiving ourselves in the process and healing our inner selves
• Finding refuge and community with more diversity around us

References:

• BaBEC Fire Island
• GaGaOOLaLa

You can find Johnathan Gibbs at:

• Instagram: @jonahsahn
• Twitter: @jonahsahn
• Youtube: @blasianFMA

You can follow me at:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• Twitter: @wakuu
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

Linda Jiang (she/they) is a toy designer living in Los Angeles, California; unceded Tongva land. Linda’s work centers around designing inclusive toys to create social change through play. They designed the recent Barbie Inspiring Women doll, specifically the doll for Ida B Wells, and led the design for Creatable World, a gender-inclusive fashion doll line. When they're not designing, Linda enjoys building community with her friends, reading mystery novels, and learning fashion history through vintage clothing.

In this episode we talk about:

• Linda’s background and story of entering the world of design
• A day in the life of designing in the doll industry
• Queer BIPOC people in creative industries
• Gender-inclusive doll designs

You can find Linda at:

• Website: little-linda.com
• Instagram: @little.linda

You can follow me at:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

We’re joined by Dr. JT (Jonathan Tolentino) once again to talk about our society’s obsession with the perfect physique. We chat about body and muscle dysmorphia, PEDs, the impact of social media, and how this ultimately impacts both our queer and Asian communities.

Dr. JT is the Program Director of the Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency program at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at University of Miami.

In this episode we talk about:

• The state of COVID and the recent surge
• Social media effects on our bodies and body image
• Body and muscle dysmorphia within the queer & Asian communities
• The slippery slope of dating apps - the effects that filters can have on our experience
• The dark side of performance-enhancing drugs
• 2022 Resolutions and how are you recharging yourself this new year?

You can find JT at:

• Instagram: @jonjon9980206

You can follow me at:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

We have another beautiful episode chatting about COVID, our mental health, and our future. We're joined by an extra special guest Dr. JT, Jonathan Tolentino, who is the Program Director of the Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency program at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at University of Miami.

In this episode we talk about:

• The state of COVID and vaccinations
• Navigating misinformation through COVID
• How communities have learned through history of AIDS and SARS
• GaysOverCOVID and quarrels within our queer community during COVID
• Sexual and ethnic minority stress theory on how we see and react to the world
• Breaking out of the cycle of comparison, judgement, self-criticism
• How to become allies with one another - especially within our LGBTQ+ community
• Becoming more aware of our privilege
• Jonathan's coming out story
• Navigating queer identities in the Asian community

You can find JT at:

• Instagram: @jonjon980206

You can follow me at:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Weekly Newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

This week, we're joined by our favorite Derek Tran once again to chat about the state of COVID, rainbow-washing, performative allyship, and showing up authentically.

In this episode we talk about:

• Derek's Tinder profile. Yes. Really.
• COVID mask mandates going down in many parts of America
• Rainbow-washing and performative allyship from companies
• Goods Unite Us revealing of where corporate sponsorship is going toward
• The capital reason why it's valuable to rainbow-wash and market pride
• Why we all still need to support pride as a protest
• The shift away from hiring police at pride
• Why everyone needs to stop eating at the evil chicken shop
• Showing up authentically yourself this pride season
• Speaking with our action vs. performance

References

• Goods Unite Us
• Queer Liberation March

You can find Derek at:

• Instagram: @findyourfearless

You can follow me at:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Weekly Newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

Another wonderful episode with our lovely guest Derek Tran, to talk about issues surrounding activism, current-day events, and the Asian culture.

In this episode we talk about:

• Flashback to Xanga? Livejournal?
• Our COVID check-in and thoughts on the CDC directive to remove masks in the US
• Trump's rhetoric that catalyzed so much of the Asian hate we face
• Shallow activism in celebrities and gay community
• Becoming more conscious of the news we take in
• Why we need to call in vs. calling each other out
• The shift in younger generation and activism

You can find Derek at:

• Instagram: @findyourfearless

You can follow me at:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Weekly Newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

Derek Tran and I chat about the rising anti-Asian hate crimes and what we can do to keep ourselves safe and sane during this time.

In this episode we talk about:

• COVID and where we are at with vaccinations
• Issues with performative social media activists
• How allies can show up - with more actionable steps
• The intersection of mindfulness and activism
• Struggling to find our voice as Asian-Americans
• Standing up within our romantic relationships to microaggressions 
• Why addressing cultural issues in Asia, by denigrating Asian-Americans don’t work
• Our social media feeds full of trauma porn
• Why we both still hate Chick-fil-A
• How can keep ourselves safe from hate crimes and attacks

You can find Derek at:

• Instagram: @findyourfearless

You can follow me at:

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi

Weekly Newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

This episode, I’m joined by Kim Thai, founder of ganeshspace, an organization dedicated to making mindfulness a more equitable space. We chat about the current politics of America, how we can show up with compassion in activism, understanding ourselves before helping others, and her journey of finding her queer identity after marriage. Enjoy!

Kim Thai is a writer, Emmy-award winning producer, and the founder of ganeshspace, a community organization dedicated to pursuing equity through mindfulness. She is a proud daughter of Vietnamese refugees and is currently living in NYC with her partner and two cats. 

In this episode we talk about:

• Advice on managing this pandemic for extroverts
• What politics of today say reflect what is happening deep down inside of America
• How to hold compassion for those we don’t agree with
• Why we need to first assess our own bandwidth before we give
• The truth behind humor when it appears during traumatic conversations
• Her journey coming out of a marriage to discover her queer identity
• How to show up for oneself to bring change to others around us
• Ganeshpace and creating equity and collaboration in the mindfulness space 

Show notes:

• Roque Rodriguez

You can find Kim Thai at:

• ganeshspace: ganeshspace.com
• ganeshspace Instagram: @ganeshspace
• Instagram: @kthai6

You can follow me at: 

• Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
• YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
• Weekly Newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

On this episode of Yellow Glitter, I’m joined by Randy Kim, a queer, second-generation Viet-Khmer American from Chicagoland and podcast host of The Banh Mi Chronicles, highlighting uplifting important Asian voices. We chat about the Asian diaspora, how to heal the trauma of our parents, coming out, the importance of storytelling history of Asian culture, creating inclusive spaces, and why the slogan “representation matters”  needs updating.

Randy Kim is a queer 2nd generation Viet-Khmer American from the Chicagoland area. Randy currently serves as a board member with the National Cambodian Heritage Museum. He is the co-producer with founder Ada Cheng for TALK Stories: An Asian American/Asian Diaspora Storytelling Show in Chicago. He is the producer and host of “The Banh Mi Chronicles” podcast which can be on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast.  Randy is currently working on his Master's in Non Profit Management at DePaul University.

In this episode we talk about:

• How he started his podcast, The Banh Mi Chronicles
• His relationship with Ada Cheng and creating space for Asian diaspora
• The creative process of focusing on need over entertainment
• Importance of inclusive and diverse spaces in storytelling
• The issue with “representation matters”
• Randy’s story of his heritage, coming out, and finding a community
• How to help our parents heal and process their trauma
• Why Asian history is paramount to our growth and activism

Show notes:

• Sigh, Gone: A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In by Phuc Tran
• Ada Cheng
• National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial
• Banh Mi Chronicles - MILCK
• Banh Mi Chronicles - D&I with Michelle Kim
• Banh Mi Chronicles - Kathy Park Hong

You can find Randy Kim at:

Facebook: @banhmichronicles

Instagram: @banhmi_chronicles

You can follow me at:

Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi

YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi

Weekly Newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com

In this episode, we are joined by Mike Curato, a queer Asian author and illustrator, to talk about his latest graphic novel, Flamer, inspired by his own personal life story. We cover a lot of topics including, mental health, bullying, suicide, and the wave of intolerance plaguing our country, and also looking ahead at how we can all do better.

Mike Curato is a gay first generation half Filipino-Irish American author and illustrator of books for youth. He has created many picture books for young children, and just released his debut queer young adult graphic novel, Flamer.

In this episode we talk about:

• How Mike is managing quarantine life and Zoom dates
• Experience of growing up biracial in an intolerant world
• The importance of finding community
• Why honesty is important in writing a book and how our shared humanity connects us together
• Finding family in the queer community - but also facing racism within our queer circles
• Navigating intolerance within dating apps and within our own gaysian community
• Mike's experience with bullying and thoughts of suicide and how it inspired the plot of Flamer
• What got him through the suicidal ideations and difficult high school experiences
• The journey towards self-discovery and turning towards healing
• Why sharing our story is so critical to help us understand each other
• The importance of looking inward at our own internalized racism and intolerance

Show notes:

• Kuku Hughs - Displacement
• Trung Le Nguyen - The Magic Fish
• Alison  Bechdel - Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
• Alison Bechdel - The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For
• Ocean Vuong - On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

You can find Mike Curato at:
Twitter: @MikeCurato
Instagram: @mike_curato
Website: mikecurato.com

You can follow me at:

Instagram: @stevenwakabayashi
YouTube: @stevenwakabayashi
Weekly Newsletter: mindfulmoments.substack.com