♪ ♪
♪ ♪
>> Renee: WHERE ARE Y'ALL REALLY
FROM?
THAT'S A UNIVERSAL QUESTION
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ISLANDER
PACIFICKERS ARE REPEATEDLY ASKED
AND THAT'S THE QUESTION TACKLED
IN A NEW PODCAST THAT SHARES THE
EXPERIENCES OF AAPI MEMBERS OF
OUR COMMUNITIES, AS THE
INCIDENTS OF HATE RISE, SOME
KENTUCKIANS ARE WORKING TO BURST
THE MYTHS AND CEMENT THEIR
BELONGING IN A PODCAST THAT AIMS
TO BREAKTHROUGH BARRIERS TO
UNDERSTANDING.
LEARN MORE FROM CHARLENE BUCKLES
AND DAN WU, CHINESE AMERICAN
BUSINESS OWNER AND ACTIVIST IN
LEXINGTON.
THAT'S NOW ON CONNECTIONS.
PAI.
>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US AS WE KICK OFF THE 1th
SEASON OF CONNECTIONS.
I'M RENEE SHAW.
WITH THE RISE OF HATE AND
VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR SISTERS AND
BROTHERS IN THE ASIAN AMERICAN
PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES, A
NEW PODCAST IS COMING ON LINE TO
HELP BRIDGE THE DIVIDES IN
UNDERSTANDING.
IT'S CALLED "WHERE Y'ALL REALLY
FROM" AND ANSWERS TO THAT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION WILL
COME FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF
GUESTS OF THE PODCAST HOST
JOINING ME TODAY, DAN WU, A
LEXINGTON-BASED BUSINESSMAN AND
ACTIVIST CHARLENE BUCKLES, AWE
LIEVILLE-BASED ACTIVIST.
WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
DAN HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE, NOT
THAT LONG AGO.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> Renee: I CAN'T THINK OF A
BETTER WAY TO KICK OFF THE NEW
SEASON THAN TO HAVE, I DON'T
NOAH YOU CALL THE ENTREPRENEUR
IN MEDIA, MEDIA-PREURS THAT ARE
REALLY PAVING THE WAY YOU ARE
FOR A NEW, FRESH CONVERSATION
ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T
OFTEN GET A LOT OF SHINE AND
RECOGNITION AND NEED TO HAVE
SOME MORE UNDERSTANDING SO
CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS PODCAST
AND IT'S CALLED...
>> WHERE Y'ALL REALLY FROM.
>> Renee: WHERE Y'ALL REALLY
FROM.
I HAVE BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION
A COUPLE TIMES AND THIS IS A
SHARED EXPERIENCE.
TELL US THE SIGNIFICANCE,
CHARLENE, OF THE TITLE.
>> WE WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH
ON THE TITLE AND WE WANTED TO
HAVE A TITLE THAT RESONATES WITH
MOST OF OUR EXPERIENCES IF NOT
ALL OF OUR EXPERIENCES, OF
COURSE WE GET THAT AS
ASIAN-AMERICANS AND PACIFIC
ISLANDERS, WE GET THAT QUESTION
ONE TO A MILLION TIMES IN OUR
LIVES.
>> Renee: MORE ON THE MILLION
TIMES SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S A
QUESTION THAT RESONATES WITH ALL
OF US BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
EMOTIONS THAT COME FROM WE GET
THAT QUESTION.
HOW DO WE ANSWER THAT?
MOST OF THE TEAM PEOPLE ARE
SINCERE.
>> Renee: THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO
BE DEMEANING THEY'RE JUST
INQUISITIVE OR CURIOUS FOR THE
MOST PART.
>> BUT THERE ARE UNDERTONES AND
IT REALLY PUTS AN OTHERRING TO
THE PERSON THAT IS GETTING ASKED
THE QUESTION.
WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
SHOW, I HAD A LOT OF FEELINGS
AGAINST IT ACTUALLY BECAUSE I
WAS LIKE I DON'T KNOW I'M STILL
TRYING TO PROCESS HOW I FEEL
WHEN I GET THAT QUESTION ASKED
AND HOW I RESPOND TO IT.
>> Renee: YOU ARE CLOSE TO YOUR
MILLIONth TIME BEING ASKED
THAT, HOW HAVE YOU HONED A
RESPONSE.
>> TYPICALLY IT DEPENDS ON MY
MOOD.
SOMETIMES I'LL JUST SAY I GREW
UP IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY I LOVE
MOVE THERE HAD WHEN I WAS SEVEN.
KENTUCKY IS MOO I HOME.
I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 20
YEARS.
OF COURSE WE HAVE PLAYED THIS
GAME WITH A LOT OF OUR GUESTS
WHO WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, WE GET
ASKED AGAIN AND AGAIN WHAT WE'RE
ARE YOU REALLY FROM HOW MANY
TIMES IT WILL TAKE FOR SOMEONE
TO GET TO WHAT THEY WANT TO
KNOW.
>> Renee: WHO IS ASKING THE
QUESTION, WHAT IS THE
DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE PERSON ASKING
THE QUESTION.
>> SOMEONE FROM THE GROCERY
STORE TO NEW FRIENDS OR
ACQUAINTANCES THAT WE KNOW.
ANYONE AND EVERYONE.
IT USUALLY TAKES PROBABLY I MEAN
DEPENDING ON THE PERSON BUT IT
WILL TAKE THEM ABOUT FIVE
MINUTES OF THEM MEETING ME WHERE
THEY'LL LOOK AT ME AND THEY HAVE
THAT LOOK AT LET ME TRY TO PLACE
YOU AND LET ME ASK THIS
QUESTION.
>> Renee: IT'S IN THEIR MIND,
WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARTICULATE
IT RIGHT OUT OF, IT'S NICE TO
MEET YOU, WHAT DO YOU DO AND
THEN WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
>> AND THE KEY WORD IN THAT
WHOLE TITLE IS THE REALLY.
BECAUSE IT'S THE PART WHERE WHEN
YOU GIVE THEM THE FIRST ANSWER
AND THE FIRST ANSWER IS THE
GENUINE ANSWER BUT IT'S
SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA AND THEY
CAN'T WRAP THEIR HEADS AROUND IT
A LOT OF FOLKS.
THEY WANT TO INTERROGATE, WE
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE ASKING
AND WE SOMETIMES PLAY THE GAME
AND PLAY COY AND JUST BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, WE ARE KIND OF TIRED
OF IT WHAT I FIND INTERESTING
WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WHO
IS ASKING THE QUESTION, THE ONE
TYPE OF PERSON THAT ASKS THAT
QUESTION THAT I DON'T MIND IS
USUALLY AN OLD ASIAN LADY.
NOW SHE WON'T SAY REALLY BECAUSE
I'LL GIVE HER EXACTLY THE ANSWER
SHE WANTS WHEN SHE SAYS WHERE
ARE YOU FROM.
WHAT SHE WANTS TO KNOW IS CAN WE
SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE.
AND SO THAT WHERE ARE YOU FROM
IS ABOUT CAN WE CONNECT
TOGETHER.
>> Renee: ARE YOU PART OF MY
FAMILY.
ARE YOU KUN FOLK.
>> BUT WHEN WE GET IT IN THE
GROCERY STORE LINE APROPOS
NOTHING, IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE
EFFECT, WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO
PUT YOU IN A BOX AND WHEN YOU
TELL THEM THAT'S NOT THE BOX YOU
BELONG IN.
LET'S INTERROGATE THIS UNTIL WE
GET TO THE QUESTION.
SO FOR US, AND I SAID TO
CHARLENE, THE FACT THAT IT
ELICITED SO MANY FEELINGS IN
HER, IT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD
TITLE.
>> Renee: AND ONE PEOPLE OF
COLOR CAN CONNECT TO AS WELL AND
DAN, WHEN WE HAD YOU ON BEFORE
AND MAE SARAH WHO IS THE
CO-CREATOR ALONG WITH STATE
REPRESENTATIVE NIMA WHO WAS THE
FIRST AMERICAN INDIAN TO SERVE
IN THE KENTUCKY ASSEMBLY WHO
HAILS FROM LOUISVILLE.
THE PODCAST CAME FROM WHAT?
JUST RESPONSE TO THE RISE OF
VIOLENCE AGAINST THE ASIAN
AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER
COMMUNITY OR ARE THERE OTHER
REASONS YOU THINK NOW IS THE
TIME TO DO THIS.
>> I HATE TO SAY IT IT PARTLY
WAS TRIGGERED BY THAT I THINK.
THE HISTORY OF ASIAN-AMERICANS
IN THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN KEEP
YOUR HEAD DOWN, STAY OUT OF THE
HEADLINES AND OUT OF THE LINE OF
FIRE UNTIL WE WERE CAUGHT IN THE
LITERAL LINE OF FIRE AND FOR A
LOT OF US EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF
US WERE DOING WORK IN THE
COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT WAYS, FOR
A LOT OF US, IT WAS A WAKEUP
CALL FOR LIKE WE ARE NOT AS
SAFE, WE ARE NOT AS PROTECTED,
WE ARE NOT AS HIDDEN AND OUT OF
SIGHT AS WE MIGHT THINK WE ARE
IT WAS VAL BEGANNIZING FOR A LOT
OF US TO SAY LET'S DO SOMETHING
AND THAT CONVERSATION LITERALLY
STARTED AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME
CREDIT BECAUSE NIMA AND MAE MET
BECAUSE OF THIS SHOW.
THEY TALKED TO EACH OTHER AND
THE REST OF US HAD THIS WHOLE
SENSE OF LIKE LET'S DO
SOMETHING.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT
SOMETHING WAS.
WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAS
IT AN EDITORIAL IN THE PAPER,
ORGANIZING A RALLY, PUSHING FOR
LEGISLATION AND SO THEY HAD THE
CONVERSATION THROWING AROUND
IDEAS AND THEY SAID PODCAST AND
MAE SAID PODCAST, LET'S TALK TO
DAN, I'VE DONE A COUPLE OF
PODCASTS AND RADIO SHOWS
THROUGHOUT MY TIME.
AND AS WE WERE PUTTING IT
TOGETHER I WAS LIKE I WOULD LOVE
SOME HELP ON THIS.
THERE IS A LADY I TOOK A SHINE
TO BECAUSE I ATTENDED A PANEL,
YOU KNOW, THIS SPRING ABOUT
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES, I DON'T
KNOW HER EXCEPT FROM THIS PANEL
I LIKED HEARING HER TALK.
I SAID LET'S REACH OUT TO
CHARLENE AND THAT'S HOW IT
HAPPENED.
>> Renee: BECAUSE YOU SAID AT
THE BEGINNING YOU WERE RELUCK AT
THAT PARTICULAR TIME ABOUT DO I
REALLY WANT TO DO THIS PODCAST
THING.
HOW WERE YOU CONVINCED?
>> IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I DON'T--
I USED TO LISTEN TO A LOT OF
PODCASTS BUT WHEN I HAD CHILDREN
AND LIFE HAPPENED, I DON'T
LISTEN TO ANY PODCASTS AT ALL
AND SO WHEN DAN ASKED ME, I WAS
LIKE ARE YOU REALLY SURE YOU
WANT ME TO DO THIS BECAUSE I
COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH
PEOPLE, ONE ON ONE, BUT TO
INTERVIEW, I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON I
MUMBLE OFTEN.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF YOU WANT
ME.
AND HE WAS LIKE NO, IT'S GREAT.
JUST COME ON.
COME AND DO THIS I THOUGHT ABOUT
IT A LOT AND AT THE TIME I WAS
IN MATERNITY LEAVE.
I HAVE A SIX MONTH OLD AND I
TOLD DAN YOU HAVE ME FOR A MONTH
AND THEN AFTER THAT, CAN I-- I
CANNOT COMMIT TO ANYTHING.
AND THE REASON I WANTED TO DO IT
LIKE DAN SAID, SOMETHING PARKED
IN ME AT LEAST AFTER THE ATLANTA
MASSACRE, I ALSO WAS THINKING
I'VE LIVED IN KENTUCKY MOST OF
MY LIFE AND I STILL HAVE THE
MOMENT WHERE I THINK OH THERE IS
ANOTHER ASIAN IN THE COMMUNITY
AND WE ARE LIVING IN SILOS IN
OUR EXPERIENCE AND THERE IS
ONLY, I THINK 1.9% OF THE
POPULATION THAT ARE CONSIDERED
AAPI AMERICANS AND WE ARE IN
HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND
TOKENNIZED IN MAGAZINES AND I
THE FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO DO
SOMETHING TO ORGANIZE OR DO THIS
PODCAST WHERE WE COULD REALLY
CONNECT THE AAPI KENTUCKIANS
SAYING YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
YOU BELONG HERE.
WE ARE HAVING THE SAME
EXPERIENCES AND THIS IS OUR
KENTUCKY, TOO.
SO I REALLY FELT LIKE WHEN HE
PITCHED ME THE IDEA, AT FIRST I
WAS LIKE HOW AM I GOING TO DO
THIS BUT THEN WE NEED TO DO THIS
THIS IS FOR LOUISVILLE PUBLIC
MEDIA, PART OF THE PUBLIC
BROADCASTING FAMILY AND WE
COULDN'T BE HAPPIER ABOUT THAT
BUT IF IT WAS A VITD YO' THING,
WE HAVE TO HAVE A COLON FOR A
SERIES.
WE WOULD SAY WHAT YOU SAY, I
BELONG HERE, TOO, RIGHT, I THINK
THAT'S A VERY STRONG SUBTEXT OF
I BELONG AND THESE ARE THE
REASONS WHY AND HERE ARE THE
SHARED EXPERIENCES, YOUR FIRST
GUEST IS SOMEONE WHO I DO NOT
HIDE MY ENTHUSIASM AND FAN GIRL
OF WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE WHO HAS
BEEN ON THIS SHOW AND OTHER
PROGRAMS WHERE SHE HAS BEEN VERY
BLUNT AND I'VE SHARED STAGES
WITH HER AND OTHER VENUES WHERE
SHE HAS TALKED ABOUT HER
EXPERIENCE AND WHAT IS IT THAT
YOU GLEANED FROM HER?
WOE DON'T WANT TO SPOIL THE
PODCAST BUT WHAT DID SHE BRING
AS THE FIRST GUEST THAT YOU
THINK SETS THE TONE FROM HERE ON
OUT?
>> WELL, WITH HER I WAS VERY,
VERY INTERESTED IN TALKING TO AN
ASIAN AMERICAN PARTICULARLY AN
ASIAN AMERICAN WOMAN IN A REAL
VISIBLE PUBLIC POSITION OF
POWER, THERE WAS A NEW YORK
TIMES ARTICLE WHERE IT SAYS
ASIAN-AMERICANS ARE OVER
REPRESENTED IN MIDDLE MANAGEMENT
AND SEVERELY UNDERREPRESENTED IN
LEADERSHIP SO WE GET GOOD AT A
PARTICULAR SKILL WHETHER IT'S
TECH OR WHATEVER, MEDICINE AND
WE CAN MAKE IT UP TO IN THE
MIDDLE TECHNICALLY BUT WE NEVER
GET TO THAT TOP RUNG WHERE WE
ARE MAKING DECISIONS AND BEING
THE GATEKEEPER AND SETTING THE
TONE ABOUT WHAT THE INSTITUTION
IS ALL ABOUT SO I WAS VERY
INTERESTED IN TALKING TO HER
PARTICULARLY, SHE CAME IN AFTER
A FIRE STORM OF CORONAVIRUSES
FROM-- CONTROVERSY FROM HER
PREDECESSOR.
I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THAT
IDEA, TOO.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THE FACT
THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN,
OTHER MINORITY AND MARGINALIZED
GROUPS, THE WAY WE ENTER A
POSITION OF POWER IS NOT THE
SAME AS OTHER PEOPLE.
>> Renee: AND SHE TALKS ABOUT
THAT AND HAS A TERM FOR IT.
>> THE GLASS CLIFF IS WHAT SHE
CALLED IT THE IDEA THAT YOU
KNOW, IF THERE IS A SEX SCANDAL,
YOU BRING IN A WOMAN TO REPLACE
THAT PERSON IF IT IS RACIALLY
SKINNED, YOU BRING IN A WOMAN OF
COLOR.
THERE WERE SO MANY SCANDALS THEY
BROUGHT IN A WOMAN OF COLOR BUT
YOU ARE WALKING INTO A SITUATION
WHERE YOU ARE PUTTING OUT FIRES,
YOU ARE TRYING TO BRING A NEW
FACE AND IMAGE TO THE
INSTITUTION TRYING TO REHAB
EVERYTHING SO YOU ARE NOT COMING
IN WHEN THE SHIP IS SMOOTH
SAILING.
YOU ARE COMING IN TO RIGHT THE
SHIP AND SO YOUR OPPORTUNITY,
YOUR CHANCE TO SUCCEED IS MUCH
HARDER.
IT'S A STEEPER ROAD AND THEN
WHEN YOU FAIL, IT'S VERY EASY
FOR THE PEOPLE IN THAT
INSTITUTION, THOSE DECISION
MAKERS WHO HIRED YOU TO SAY
WELL, WE TRIED A WOMAN ISN'T
TURN OUT THAT GREAT, LET'S GO
BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL IN A
LOT OF WAYS WHEN WE ENTER THESE
POSITIONS OF POWER AND CHOSEN BY
OTHER PEOPLE WE ARE SET UP TO
FAIL AND IT'S A REALLY TOUGH
SITUATION AND I THINK SHE
RECOGNIZED THAT SHE PUT A NAME
TO IT WHICH I THOUGHT WAS
AMAZING.
AND SO SHE IS COMING INTO IT
CLEAR EYED AND KNOWING WHAT SHE
IS UP AGAINST.
>> Renee: BUT AT THE SAME TIME
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE HAD
YOU ON A FEW MONTHS AGO, TALKING
ABOUT THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE
MODEL MINORITY, RIGHT, SO THESE
ARE ALMOST LIKE DICOTOMOUS
CONCEPTS YOU HAVE, THIS GLASS
CLIFF BUT YOU HAD THE PERCEPTION
THAT ASIANS AND PACIFIC
ISLANDERS ARE THE MODEL-- IF
THERE IS GOING TO BE A MINORITY
GROUP, THIS IS WHAT THEY SHOULD
BE AND LOOK LIKE AND PERFORM
LIKE BECAUSE THEY'RE HIGH
ACHIEVERS AND WE ASSUME THAT
THERE IS A LEVEL OF ACADEMIC
ACUMEN THAT IS SUPERIOR AND ALL
OF THESE THINGS.
SO HOW DOES THAT RECONCILE WITH
THE WHOLE GLASS CLIFF LEXICON?
>> IT STILL FITS INTO, I THINK,
THE LIMITATIONS THAT ARE PLACED
ON US IN TERMS OF THAT MODEL
MINORITY.
WE HAVE CERTAIN LANES THAT WE
ARE ALLOWED IN WHETHER IT'S
MEDICINE OR ENGINEERING OR
ACADEMICS AND WE ARE NOT, YOU
KNOW, POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP
USUALLY ARE LESS TECHNICAL AND
MORE ABOUT MANAGING PEOPLE,
MANAGING MEDIA, MANAGING
IMPRESSIONS, ALL THAT KIND OF
STUFF.
WE ARE NOT SEEN AS HAVING THOSE
KIND OF SORT OF SOFT SKILLS OR
SOCIAL SKILLS SO TO ME, HER
BEING IN THAT POSITION IS STILL
REALLY, REALLY RARE AND IT
DOESN'T FALL IN LINE TO WHAT I
THINK ABOUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT
THE LANES, THE MODEL MINORITY
TRAVEL IN.
>> Renee: AND WE KNOW AS DAN
DESCRIBED, SHE CAME IN WHERE
THERE WERE TURBULENT CHOPPY
WATERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
LOUISVILLE AND EVEN ADDRESSED
THEM HEAD ON WITH THE RACIAL AND
SOCIAL INJUSTICE.
SHOE SHE HAS BEEN FORTHRIGHT
ABOUT SAYING WE ARE GOING TO BE
AN ANTI-RACIST INSTITUTION
THAT'S STRONG, YOU KNOW,
PROACTIVE LANGUAGE AND IT'S LIKE
TAKING OWNERSHIP OF A CHECKERED
PAST AND SAYING WELL, WE KNOW WE
HAVEN'T DONE WAS WE NEEDED TO DO
BUT UNDER MY WATCH WE ARE
SETTING A NEW COURSE SO FOR A
WOMAN OF COLOR TO HEADACHE THAT
PRONOUNCE MANY, HOW RISKY IS
THAT FOR OTHERS WHO MIGHT FOLLOW
HER?
>> IT IS VERY WHISKEY BECAUSE
YOU DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE
ANOTHER PERSON IN YOUR SEAT.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING
TO KICK YOU OUT OF THE TABLE AND
CLOSE THE DOOR AND LOCK IT
BEHIND YOU.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE INTERVIEW
IS THAT SHE HAD SAID, SHE TALKED
ABOUT THE GLASS CLIFF AND
CONCEPT THAT'S PRETTY WELL KNOWN
IN ACADEMICS AND IN BUSINESS,
BUT SHE SAID MY GOAL I KNOW I'M
GOING TO FAIL.
I'M SET UP TO FAIL, BUT I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THE PERSON BEHIND
ME IS ALSO A PERSON OF COLOR ON
OR A WOMAN OF COLOR.
I DON'T WANT TO BE THE LAST
WOMAN OF COLOR AT THIS TABLE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE BUST THAT
DOOR OPEN AND MAKE SURE WE BRING
AS MANY PEOPLE BEHIND US AS
POSSIBLE; WHICH I THINK IS A
REALLY REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPT.
LIKE YOU KNOW I FEEL LIKE I'M
ALWAYS GOING AT 150% AND I NEED
TO THINK ABOUT, I NEED TO GET TO
THIS POINT AND STAY AT THIS
POINT OR STAY AT THE TABLE BUT
IF I THIS I ABOUT, OKAY, LET'S
BRING AS MANY PEOPLE WITH ME AS
POSSIBLE THEN THEY CAN'T SAY
THIS.
THEY CAN'T CLOSE THE DOOR ON US.
>> Renee: BUT THERE IS THE FEAR
THAT THEY REALLY ONT WANT ONE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Renee: AND MORE THAN ONE IS A
SERIOUS THREAT AND SO CHANGING
THAT MIND SET REALLY A PARADIGM
SHIFT IN THINKING THAT ONE
DOESN'T MEAN THERE IS GOING TO
BE A FUTURE MUTINY HERE, RIGHT?
I MEAN YOU KNOW, THAT GETS A
LITTLE TEDIOUS, RIGHT?
AND FOR SOME WOMEN, THINKING
THAT I WANT TO STAKE MY CLAIM,
CEMENT MY OWN LEGACY, YOU KNOW,
WHOEVER COMES AFTER ME, THEY
HAVE TO DO THEIR OWN THING,
RIGHT?
BUT YOU THINK WOMEN ARE MORE
OPENED UP TO MAKING SURE IT'S
NOT JUST A DOOR BUT A WIDE GATE
THAT IS OPEN.
>> I THINK SO.
I MEAN THERE IS A REALLY GREAT
CONCEPT DECOLONIZING YOUR MIND
THINKING THAT IT IS WITHIN-- I'M
JUST GOING TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
IT IS WITHIN MY MIND THAT IT IS
A COMPETITION BECAUSE THERE IS
ONLY ONE SPOT THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO BE THE BEST YOU CAN POSSIBLY
BE BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY ROOM
FOR ONE PERSON AND I THINK DAN
IN A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS
BROUGHT THIS UP TO ME BUT YOU
KNOW, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR
MORE.
THERE IS NOT-- YEAH, LIKE YOU
SAID, IT'S NOT JUST A DOOR.
IT COULD BE A GATE OR WHAT HAVE
YOU BUT THERE IS ROOM FOR MORE
COLLABORATION NOT JUST ONE VOICE
WE ARE TRYING TO LIFT UP I'M
GOING THROUGH A PROCESS MYSELF
THINKING I NEED TO DECOLONIZE
THAT MIND SET AND TO REALLY
THINK OF IT LESS OF A
COLLABORATION AS OPPOSED TO A
COMPETITION.
>> Renee: THE TARGET AUDIENCE
FOR YOUR PODCAST, IS IT FOR THE
AAPI COMMUNITY OR OTHERS WHO ARE
NOT PART OF THAT COMMUNITY TO
UNDERSTAND THE AAPI COMMUNITY.
>> BOTH.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION YOU
KNOW, I JUST WATCHED THE NEW
MARVEL MOVIE LED BY THE FIRST
ASIAN SUPERHERO ONE OF THE
THINGS I LOVED THAT MOVIE, THE
MOVIE HAS A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF
DIALOGUE IN MANDARIN WITH
SUBTITLES WHICH, IN THE
MAINSTREAM BIG BILL CLINTON
BUSTER MOVIE THIS DON'T
GENERALLY DO.
WHAT THAT STOWED ME, ESPECIALLY
AS A CHINESE MANDARIN SPEAKER IS
THAT THIS MOVIE IS FOR ME AND IF
EVERYBODY ELSE ENJOYS IT, GREAT
AND THAT'S THE WAY WE LOOK AT
THIS PODCAST AS WELL.
IT'S FOR THE FOLKS WHO HAVEN'T
HEARD THEIR OWN VOICES MUCH LESS
OTHER PEOPLE'S VOICES THAT SOUND
LIKE THEIRS THAT HAVE SIMILAR
EXPERIENCE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE
NOT IN THIS ABEAN, THAT I MIGHT
FEEL ALONE IN THE SMALL TOWN OF
WILLIAMSBURG, KENTUCKY BUT THERE
ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT GREW
NEWSPAPER SMALL TOWNS THAT HAVE
HAD PARALLEL EXPERIENCE WITH ME
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST IT'S FOR
US.
BUT THE SPECIFIC FROM THE
SPECIFIC IS BORN THE UNIVERSAL A
LOT OF PEOPLE IN MEDIA OFTEN
WILL SAY IF YOU MAKE A FILM WITH
ALL BLACK FOLKS LIKE HOW ARE
WHITE FOLKS GOING TO RELATE TO
IT?
WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING DECADES
AND DECADES AND CENTURIES OF
MEDIA THAT'S JUST WHITE FOLKS.
WE CAN STILL RELATE TO THAT.
CAN I WATCH THE WONDER YEARS AND
STILL GET SOMETHING OUT OF THAT
EVEN THOUGH ALL THOSE KIDS ARE
WHITE, RIGHT?
SO IT'S THE FLIP SIDE IS ALSO
TRUE THAT PEOPLE CAN LISTEN TO
THESE EXPERIENCES EVEN IF THEY
DIDN'T EMIGRATE FROM ANOTHER
COUNTRY, THEY CAN UNDERSTAND A
MOM THAT'S ALWAYS TRYING TO
OVERFEED YOU OR SOME SORT OF
CULTURAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU
AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY OR
EXPECTATIONS FROM YOUR PARENTS
OR GRAND PARENTS ALL THOSE
THINGS ARE UNIVERSAL THINGS.
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE
SAME LANGUAGE AND HAVE THE SAME
FACE OR NAMES AS YOU BUT ALL
THOSE ELEMENTS ARE THERE.
>> Renee: SHARED EXPERIENCES
RIGHT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Renee: HAVE I TO ASK LIKE WHO
IS AFTER Dr. VINDAPUTI AND
OTHER THAN HER, WHO WOULD BE
YOUR DREAM GET IN THE BUSINESS?
WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO INTERVIEW
YOUR FIRST SEASON.
>> I HAVE SOMEBODY AND LET'S SEE
IF SHE IS WATCHING THIS SHOW
SCWHRR THAT'S PRESSURE.
>> WE HAVE IN LEXINGTON NOT JUST
ONE OLYMPIAN, BUT TWO.
WE HAVE AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST
IN FENCING LEE KIEFFER AND HER
HUSBAND GARRICK WHO WON A BRONZE
IN FENCING.
WE REACHED OUT TO THEM.
THEY UNDERSTANDABLY WERE PLAYING
CATCH UP FROM A YEAR OF TRAINING
FOR THE OLYMPICS.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM AND NOW
THE PRESSURE IS ON.
I'VE CALLED THEM OUT ON PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
>> Renee: YOU HAVE TO SEND THEM
A LEANING TO THE SHOW.
>> TO ME NOT ONLY IS THAT A
TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT, THESE
TWO FOLKS ARE ALSO IN MED SCHOOL
HERE THEY HAVE, I'M SURE
INTERESTING STORIES AS ANYBODY
ELSE I JUST KIND OF WANT TO KNOW
WHAT WERE THE OLYMPICS LIKE.
>> AND PARTICULARLY IN THE COVID
ERA WE ARE IN AND NOT HAVING
FAMILY PRESENT.
THE SHARED COMOB CURIOSITIES
THAT WE ALL HAVE, YOU WANT TO
KNOW AND, YEAH AND AT A TIME
WHEN WE ARE SO DIVIDED, SHAR
MEAN, I MEAN ALONG POLITICAL AND
RACIAL AND ETHNIC LINES, WE ARE
PRETTY FAR APART RIGHT NOW.
HOW CAN THIS BE A BRIDGE
BUILDER?
>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING
BECAUSE I ALSO-- WHEN WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THIS SHOW WE
REGARDED ALL 12 EPISODES WITHIN
12 WEEKS.
-- IN TWO WEEKS.
>> Renee: THAT'S AMBITIOUS.
I'M NOT WORTHY.
>> I SAID HAVE I TWO WEEKS
BEFORE I GO BACK TO WORK.
SO YOU HAVE ME FOR TWO WEEKS.
I DO THINK THE STORIES, LIKE DAN
SAID, HE SAID IT INCREDIBLY THAT
THEY'RE UNIVERSAL STORIES I
THINK ONCE YOU HUMANIZE A
CONCEPT, PEOPLE WILL COME
TOGETHER AND CHEER YOU ON THAT'S
THE OPTIMIST IN ME BUT I ALSO
THINK IT'S A PLATFORM FOR YOU'RE
EVERY PERSON.
WE WOULD LOVE-- WE WOULD LOVE TO
GET LEE TO COME TO THE SHOW BUT
WE HAVE A LOT-- WE HAVE AN
EDUCATION AMERICAN MOM WHO IS
TRYING TO RAISE THEIR CHILD IN
LOUISVILLE OR WE HAVE, THERE IS
A LOT OF EVERYDAY STORIES AND A
LOT OF I GIVES A PLATFORM FOR
PEOPLE TO RELATE TO AND
HUMANIZE.
AND BECAUSE IT'S NOT A VISUAL
MEDIUM, YOU CAN TUNE IN AND NOT
KNOW NECESSARILY THAT IT'S AAPI.
>> WE HAVE AN EP SOD COMING, I'M
NOT SURE WHEN IN THE SEASON.
THERE IS A LADY NAMED ANGELIQUE
WEAVER AND I DON'T WANT TO TELL
YOU ANYMORE ABOUT IT BUT IT'S A
GREAT, GREAT LISTEN.
SHE GREW UP IN WILLIAMSBURG
KENTUCKY WHICH SHE TOLD ME IS 1%
NOT WHITE, EYE SMALL COMMUNITY
TO BEGIN WITH 5,000 PEOPLE.
I WAS DOING THE MATH AND I WAS
LIKE YOU ARE ONE OF 50 NON-WHITE
PEOPLE IN THAT PLACE LIKE YOU
LITERALLY COULD NO EVERY
NON-WHITE PERSON IN THE PLACE.
SHE IS PROBABLY THE ONLY ASIAN
AMERICAN THERE.
I WILL JUST SAY THAT AS AN AUDIO
MEDIUM, HER EPISODE IS PRETTY
GREAT.
>> Renee: WE WILL BE LISTENING
TO THAT.
THAT'S THE LUXURY OF HAVING YOUR
OWN PLATFORM YOU GET TO CHOOSE
WHO IS INTERESTING TO YOU AND
THAT CAN VARY AND WHETHER THEY
DON'T WANT TO BE ON TELEVISION
OR DON'T WANT THEIR VOICE TO BE
HEARD.
WE KNOW THERE HAS BEEN
RESISTANCE BY SOME WHO FEAR
TELLING THEIR STORIES THEY FEAR
FOR NOT JUST THEIR LIVELIHOOD
BUT PERSONHOOD AND SAFETY, TO
THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HATE
COULD BE AT SUCH A LEVEL WHERE
IT MUZZLED PEOPLE'S FREEDOM OF
SPEECH, RIGHT?
>> WE HAD A COUPLE OF GUESTS WHO
SAID THEY WERE NOT COMFORTABLE
BEING ON THE SHOW BECAUSE
PARTICULARLY ONE WHO HAS NOT
COME OUT TO THEIR PARENTS YET.
THEY IDENTIFY WITH THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY AND SO IT WAS GOING TO
BE TO BE ON A PUBLIC PLATFORM,
IT WAS SCARY TORE THEM.
WE REACHED OUT TO SOME PEOPLE
WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
FROM THE THE ASIAN AND THEY HAVE
SAID I'M NOT COMFORTABLE SHARING
THAT STORY RIGHT NOW AND BEING
HERE I THINK IT'S A FEAR.
I HAVE A VERY BIG FEAR OF BEING
VERY OPEN ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE.
I DON'T USUALLY TALK ABOUT IT IN
PUBLIC SETTINGS ESPECIALLY ON
LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA OR KET.
SO I'M NERVOUS OF FAMILY MEMBERS
WHO SAY WHY ARE YOU SAYING THAT?
I'M NOT-- IT IS-- IT'S VERY
NERVE RACKING FOR ME BECAUSE I'M
NOT IN THE PUBLIC EYE BUT IT'S
AN IMPORTANT TIME AND IMPORTANT
MOMENT RIGHT NOW AND THAT
MOVEMENT HAS TO HAPPEN.
>> Renee: WHAT WE DO KNOW IS
THAT TRANSPARENCY MAKES AN
IMPACT AND IT MIGHT BE NEGATIVE
AT FIRST, BUT AT LEAST IT PLANTS
A SEED TO START A CONVERSATION,
EVEN WITH OUR OWN FAMILIES.
NOW IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME
SOME OF US NEED TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR FAMILIES,
IT'S RIGHT NOW BUT THAT'S A
DIFFERENT TOP TOPIC.
ITE HAS BEEN A PLEASURE MEETING
YOU CHARLENE AND DAN, YOU ARE
OLD HAT.
WE WANT TO HAVE YOU COME BACK
AND TEM US HOW IT IS GOING IN A
FEW MONTHS AND OUR BEST TO
EVERYBODY WHO HELPED MAKE THIS
HAPPEN AS WELL THANK YOU FOR
WATCHING THIS EDITION OF
CONNECTIONS, I'M RENEE SHAW.
YOU CAN LISTEN TO US IN PODCAST,
TOO GO ON ket.org.
CONNECT WITH ME ON FACEBOOK AND
TWITTER AND WEBSITE.