Conversations With Your Chinese Auntie

Growing Up With Chinese Mothers, Allergy Season & Menopause with Dr. Debbie Lee

My guest today is Dr. Debbie Lee. Debbie is a Registered Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is a mama to two adorable little humans and is one of my close friends with whom I can talk about my feelings and emotions. 
In this episode, we talk about our Chinese mothers who used to make us drink herbal decoctions, and we might or might not have poured the decoctions down the sink when our mothers were not paying attention. My mother never found out, but Debbie got caught. :)
We also discuss herbal medicine, how COVID affected the businesses in Chinatown, especially herbal stores, how to strengthen your body with the upcoming allergy season, and what one can do as one enters menopause.
Dr. Debbie Lee is a Registered Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her studies include completing a two-month practicum at Taiwan’s China Medical University Hospital, the leading teaching hospital in the country. Debbie has a special interest in treating auto-immune disorders. Incorporating her Kinesiology background, she effectively treats any pain issues, including sciatica, shoulders, neck and back pain, headaches and migraines, to name a few.
Debbie's website
Referenced in this episode
Book: The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Dr. Jen Gunter
Instagram account AlterEgo Health
 

Luna Aixin on Community, the Kampung Spirit & Red Egg

What do we give up as immigrants and refugees? What do we yearn for and can be so hard to find?
In this episode, Luna and I talk about the Kampung spirit, the concept of Gaginang, and the importance of red eggs in Chinese culture. 
A kampong (kampung in Malay and Indonesian) is the term for a village.
Gaginang means (my/our) own people.
Luna's Bio:Luna 月愛心 (They/them/their) is a multiracial, non-binary, neurodivergent, disabled settler, community planner, facilitator and artist with ties to Southeast Asia, specifically Nusantara cultures and Pacific Islanders. As someone who was born into a colonized society, Luna has been researching through imagination, learning and understanding ways of being that are decolonial and “kampong-like" - accepting, caring, inclusive, celebratory and supportive of each other. As a neurodivergent person, Luna loves multimodal ways of creative expression and experiencing the joy of witnessing others “play with imagination” on “very serious matters”. They work with local governments, non-profits, community organizations and personal projects through GaGiNang Productions (自己人创作) on ways to create equitable, just and safe systems and practises that can better serve our communities. They currently reside on the stolen and unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Luna's website
Article: Keeping the kampung spirit alive in modern Singapore

Lunar New Year (Part 2): Traditions, Food & Growing Up in Singapore with Luna Aixin

Happy Lunar New Year! 新年好!
This episode is part two of my Lunar New Year series. If you missed part one, please listen to episode 8. 
In this episode, I imagine that Luna and I are sitting at a hawker center, eating foods we desperately miss, and talking about everything from our experiences growing up in Singapore, Lunar New Year traditions, including going to the Kuan Yin temple, red packets, Buddhism, and much more. 
Luna 月愛心 (They/them/their) is a multiracial, non-binary, neurodivergent, disabled settler, community planner, facilitator and artist with ties to Southeast Asia, specifically Nusantara cultures and Pacific Islanders. As someone who was born into a colonized society, Luna has been researching through imagination, learning and understanding ways of being that are decolonial and “kampong-like" - accepting, caring, inclusive, celebratory and supportive of each other. As a neurodivergent person, Luna loves multimodal ways of creative expression and experiencing the joy of witnessing others “play with imagination” on “very serious matters”. They work with local governments, non-profits, community organizations and personal projects through GaGiNang Productions (自己人创作) on ways to create equitable, just and safe systems and practises that can better serve our communities. They currently reside on the stolen and unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Luna's website

Year of the Wood Dragon 2024. Lunar New Year, Feng Shui & Period 9 (Part 1)

Lunar New Year falls on Saturday, February 10, 2024. This is the year of the Wood Dragon. In Chinese culture, the dragon is considered lucky, magical, powerful, and noble. On February 4th, we also transition to the Period 9.
In this episode, I talk about some rituals that are essential to prepare for the new year. I also discuss the significance of food and what we usually eat for Reunion Dinner. 
If you are an Asian immigrant who has no family around, I hope this episode and the next one bring you some comfort.
In part two of the Lunar New Year series, my friend Luna & I talk about our family's Lunar New Year traditions and much more.

Oriental Medicine with Dr. Sanae Suzuki

My guest today is Dr. Sanae Suzuki. Sanae is a trauma-informed integrative primary care practitioner focusing on mental health. She has over a decade of experience in holistic medicine. 
She received Functional Medicine training at The Institute for Functional Medicine and Apex Energetics, Functional and Integrative Psychiatry training through Psychiatry Redefined fellowship, Trauma Therapy training at Somatic Experiencing International, Biofeedback training at HeartMath Institute, and is a certified Dietary Supplement Specialist.
In this episode, we talk about Sanae's path, Oriental Medicine, her work at the Trauma Center, Acupuncturist without Border, and how Western medicine views the body vs Eastern medicine. She also shares a few advice for ageing gracefully.
We also discuss the crisis in Gaza, as Sanae has two friends who are directly impacted. 
Sanae's Website Donate to help those who have been displaced. 
GoFundMe to support Dr. Suzuki's friends.

Names We're Given at Birth, Faith & Prayer with Wanjîkū Kîarîe

In this episode, we talk about Wanjîkū's tribe, the tribe's arrival story, the meaning of her name and her clan's name. We talk about lands that feel like "home" to us. For Wanjîkū, it's Santa Fe, New Mexico, and for me, it's Spain. We also share our little adventure at Atlanta's airport. I ask Wanjîkū how she looks after herself. Spoiler alert: she naps! 
Listen to the end of this episode as she shares a beautiful prayer. 
In this episode, you will often hear us say SE or SEP. That stands for Somatic Experiencing and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. When Wanjîkū mentions Dada Efu, she refers to our SE teacher, Efu Nyaki, who taught the first BIPOC-only Somatic Experiencing (SE) Practitioner training cohort. 
As always, advice from your Chinese auntie is at the end of each episode.
Wanjîkū is a Trauma-Informed Teacher, Spiritual Director and Integrated Healer. She is the Founder and Lead at Integrated Living.Wanjîkū has offered integrated well-being services to individuals, groups and organizations since 2008. Wanjîkū works with children, youth and adults in their quest for emotional, mental, spiritual, social and physical wholeness. She combines Trauma-Informed Somatic Experiencing, Spiritual Companionship, Ancestral Healing, Art and Nature Healing modalities in her work.
She has over 15 years of experience working with children, youth and adults in their quest for Integrated Emotional, Spiritual, Physical, Social and Mental Well-being.
Wanjîkū Patreon account for liturgy, meditations and poems: https://www.patreon.com/HisCreation
Wanjîkū Website: https://integratedliving.co.ke/(Healer's retreat on Aug 11 - 17th in Kenya)
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/integrated_lvng/

Scarcity Mindset, The Vietnam War & Brainspotting with Diane Hua-Stewart

My guest today is Diane Hua-Stewart. Diane is a colleague and friend from grad school. We talk about Diane's path, Brainspotting, food policies, how food affects our health, food in Asian cultures, and the Vietnam War, where Agent Orange was used. We also discuss the scarcity mindset that can be common in immigrants. In case you have not heard of Agent Orange, it was a powerful herbicide used by U.S. military forces during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971 and proven to cause serious health issues. You can learn more about it online. 
As always, advice from your Chinese auntie is at the end of each episode. 
Diane Hua-Stewart is a second-generation Chinese Canadian. Her parents fled their home country, Vietnam, shortly after the fall of Saigon of the Vietnam War. She is a Registered Psychotherapist and Certified Brainspotting Therapist. She worked in health care research for over 12 years, working on programs that have taken her to some First Nations communities in Canada and rural villages in Tanzania. On her days off, she enjoys skiing or camping with her family, being in nature, sipping on chai and reading up on neuroscience. Her favourite self-care practices include hot yoga, sound meditation and watching cooking shows. 
Diane's website:  www.dianehuastewart.com
Instagram: @dianehs.psychotherapy

Decolonizing Therapy, Patriarchy, Racism, Burnout & HOPE with Dr. Alice Crawford.

In this intimate, funny and honest conversation with Dr. Alice Crawford, she shares her path from electrical engineering to computer science to being a therapist. We talk about her 41 years of marriage, racism, and raising a Black son. She shares advice for BIPOC therapists starting in the mental health field, and we discuss hope. 
Dr. Alice Crawford has a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the US State of Illinois and Minnesota. 
Books recommended by Dr. A:
Cool Pose: The Dilemma of Black Manhood in America by Richard Majors & Janet Mancini Billson
The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison 
First, Break All The Rules by Gallup

Sense of Belonging, Community Care, and Intentional Friendships with Paola Baca.

I am delighted today to welcome my dear friend and sister, Paola Baca. At the start of the episode, I share why I address people I love as sister, brother, auntie, or uncle. 
This episode is intimate and emotional. Paola shares her story of immigrating from Peru to Canada. We talk about our experiences with belonging and fitting in, being intentional when making new friends, and how to be in community with one another.
Paola has more than 20 years of leadership experience in higher education. She is a leader and leads big teams. She is an ever-evolving human who loves books, letter-writing and baked goods. 
This episode is dedicated to Julie Jackson—a dear friend & sister who left us too soon. 

Concubines, Traditional Chinese Medicine & Ancestral Healing Work With Dr. Tanya Gee

I am delighted today to welcome my dear friend and sister, Dr.Tanya Gee.This episode discussed Tanya's path, Traditional Chinese Medicine, concubines, and ancestral healing work. It's a juicy episode! You also get to hear Tanya's belly laugh; it's one of the best things in life! She also shares two pearls of wisdom at the end of the podcast. 
Tanya is a veteran Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with 30 years of private practice. She has a thriving multi-disciplinary clinic in Vancouver, Canada and is dedicated to the principles of Service, Devotion, Compassion and Love. Best described as a storytelling intuitive doctor of TCM who laughs out loud every day and inspires everyone to be the most optimal version of themselves.
We've been friends for a long time. Although we don't see each other often, when we do, the conversations flow, and the love is there. You can learn more about Tanya on her website. https://drtanyagee.com/
Tanya's TEDX talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWVhnkmdfpc