I Am Speaking

How does do two brothers marry two sisters and there is no Netflix rom-com made about it? Who was Shailushi's first date to a high school dance, and why did he have to leave so early? How does Liz use her "secret superpower" on a Chicago bus? If you are dying to find out, you are in luck! Because all of the answers, and more, are in this episode!

Liz Drapa is the daughter of Polish immigrants. Liz and Shailushi became good friends in HS, lost touch and then life (and social media) brought them back together in their 40s. In this episode we learn that we have far more that connects us than separates us, and sometimes we don't even know what might pull us together. 

That is what is so lovely about this episode. It highlights exactly what we want in I Am Speaking: the more we talk and give everyone a voice, the more we realize what unites us.

Enjoy listening to this episode. We had a blast making it.

The cat is on the mat!

Kwasi Amankwah's father is from Ghana, his mother is from Guyana. He spent most of his life between Canada and America. He is the youngest of three brothers. He is an accomplished artist. A dad of two boys. A husband of an amazing person. And he is an incredible person himself.

Kwasi's story is so very unique, yet this conversation will feel very familiar. His experiences are somehow universal, and his laugh is completely infectious. 

Follow Kwasi on Instagram (@kwasi81). His artwork is stunning, and award-winning. 

Karen Rothstein Pineda. She is a keeper.

Karen Rothstein Pineda is Latina, Jewish, Queer first generation American born to immigrant parents from Colombia. She is the founder and CEO of Multicultural Counseling Associates, P.C., a psychotherapy practice focusing on the needs of BIPOC and LGBTQQ communities. She has been practicing therapy since graduating from Northeastern Illinois University with a Masters Degree in Community Counseling in 2003.

Karen takes a holistic approach to therapy, looking at people's environment and life circumstances to support people in their healing journey. One important part of her work with clients is understanding Social Justice and ways that being a member of a non-dominant group affects their experience of the world.

While Karen Rothstein Pineda is not currently taking new clients, if you need to talk to someone, please find a therapist in your area.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for information, education and entertainment purposes only. In no way is I Am Speaking intended to provide medical advice or substitute for mental health advice,diagnosis or treatment. If you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself or concerned that someone you know may be in danger of hurting themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or call 911.

What a freaking gem!

Haydet Giulianetti is someone who should be everyone's friend. Everyone's life would be better to have her in it.

Haydet was born in Mexico, and came to the US with her mom when she was very young. She speaks to Shailushi and Kosha about finding her way in the Bay Area as a teenager, raising two boys in a TRI-cultural home and how she gives back to her community when she has tools that others needs to navigate anti-immigrant sentiments in her community.

You will love her as much as we do.

Annemarie Pedraza is a good friend of Kosha's. They go back 25 years. And yet, there is always so much to learn from people, even if you have known them forever.

Annemarie was born in the Netherlands and came to the US very young for what was supposed to be a short work stint for her father. 35 years later, she is still here, balancing two cultures that both very much a part of her.

Annemarie is a natural storyteller. She speaks candidly about her own experiences and her thoughts on how we can learn from the Dutch school system. You will also learn what a "Dutchican" is!

Enjoy!

Continuing with Season 1 of I Am Speaking, a season that is focusing on 1st generation Americans, Shailushi and Kosha sat down with Jenny Shin Yang. Born in South Korea, she was not even 5 years old when her parents brought her to the US (technically an immigrant, but mentally a 1st gen!) Jenny reflects on her relationship with her parents, the Korean language and how she hopes to parent her kids to have a relationship with the Korean culture. 

Jenny forged her own way in marketing and advertising and works for the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce as the Marketing Manager, where she met Kosha. 

She was a delight to talk to and a delight to listen to. Enjoy this insightful and lovely conversation: Jenny Shin Yang Is Speaking. 

We were truly blown away and inspired by Kristin Salvador. Part Chinese, but raised culturally Filipino, Kristin has been through her share of high highs and low lows as a first-generation American. Her parents immigrated from the Phillippines in 1971, she and her sister grew up in the Chicagoland area where Kristin was able to foster her love of horror movies, sushi and dollhouse renovation. But when she wanted to follow her love of graphic design into a career, her parents simply "didn't get it." Kristin lives in Oak Park, IL with her husband Scott and their two children. She an amazing graphic designer (just check out our logo or Shailushi's Ted Talk presentation).  Do yourselves a favor and listen to Kristin Salvador Is Speaking. You will fall in love with her too. We encourage people to get involved to stop Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate how you can and feel comfortable. 1. Asian Americans Advancing Justice provides bystander intervention trainings at www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/anti-asian-hate. 2. Stop AAPI Hate is receiving reports of anti-asian attacks and keeping records. At www.stopAAPIhate.org

Welcome to I Am Speaking, the podcast that gives voice to people who have been "othered."

In this very first episode, Shailushi and Kosha sit down with...each other! We talk about where we came from, where we went, and why we decided to do this podcast. 

Please enjoy Episode One: Shailushi and Kosha are Speaking.