Model Minorities: Recent Episodes
Sharon Thony & Raman Sehgal
Sharon Lee Thony and Raman Sehgal are two MODEL MINORITIES - Asian-American industry pros making it in NY - even though they never became the doctors their parents wanted them to be. Each week, they are joined by fellow Model Minorities of all stripes - entrepreneurs, corporates, athletes, reporters, politicians, entertainers, and more - to uncover how our different cultural backgrounds shape how we uniquely experience the world.
MODEL MINORITIES is a collection of conversations about work and life through the lens of race and gender. It is a show where we talk about “the thing” that everyone is thinking about, but nobody is actually talking about it. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
“My philosophy is very simple: When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just? Say something, do something. Get into trouble - good trouble, necessary trouble." On August 28, 1963, John Lewis was chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) - one of the "Big Six" leaders of groups who organized the 1963 March on Washington. This is an excerpt from his speech that day - when he was twenty-three. FULL SPEECH: https://youtu.be/tFs1eTsokJg TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/2WCKDSp John later served thirty-two years as US Congressman (D-GA, 1986-2018), and was awarded the Presidential Medial of Freedom. He was born in Troy, Alabama, on January 3, 1940 and passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 17, 2020. John Lewis remains an American civil rights icon - his work is never complete. Rest in power. LEARN ABOUT JOHN: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lewis_(civil_rights_leader) twitter.com/repjohnlewis "March" (graphic novel trilogy): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29844341-march "Good Trouble" (documentary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_oEkOdIXdo DONATE: Southern Poverty Law Center: https://www.splcenter.org/
Castel’s the Founder of Sound Off™, a global wireless audio solutions brand. His parents are from the West Indies - and when Castel was a kid, they sent him off to boarding school - where he was also the only Black kid. Like so many of us growing up, Castel finally grew into himself when he stopped caring what other people and decided to be himself. His stories of youth - from wanting a Volvo, getting pulled over, and having to stay downstairs from his girlfriend’s racist uncle might be different from ours, but he’s just like the rest of us.
Reshma’s may have been TV’s first female South Asian series' lead - but she doesn’t want to be just seen as “ethnic fun.” From a little girl’s British Bollywood obsessions - to studying and singing opera in the midwest - to breaking onto the small and big screen - Reshma’s always pushed the boundaries of ethnic casting. You’ve seen her on USA’s flagship series Royal Pains, NBCs' Blindspot, CSI Miami, 30 Rock and the feature film Allegiance. And you’ve definitely HEARD her on Netflix’s SHE-RA (cast white!). But Reshma’s the first to tell you if you don't have roles, you can't get the jobs. And while the times they are a-changing, that doesn’t mean things can’t drive her wackadoodle dandy.
LEARN ABOUT RESHMA: imdb.com/name/nm2439805
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MENTIONS...
- MOVIE: Dil Hain Ke Manta Nahin (“The Heart Refuses to Listen”) imdb.com/title/tt0101733; - youtu.be/QWTcrvrkmNo
- BOLLYWOOD CRUSH: Aamir Kahn - imdb.com/name/nm0451148/
- MOVIE: Pacific Rim (her husband doens’t get it).
- MOVIE: All the Avengers (Thor’s pretty hot)
- BOOK: The Namesake: goodreads.com/book/show/33917.The_Namesake
- TV: Royal Pains - usanetwork.com/royal-pains
- CAUSES: lend-a-hand-india.org , thenewabolitionists.com, apneaap.org
Ryan’s a third-generation Chinese American who grew up on a...walnut orchard? He also happens to be an “industry reporter” and Co-hosts (with Raman) on "Quarantined Comics" - their secret, nerdy podcast. The 3 of us had a ranging discussion on racist experiences - and fears of racism in the time of Coronavirus. We then moved onto the light topics of family, language, assimilation, and Ryan’s encounter with the Korean boy-band BTS. Keeping things light, our roller-coaster of a conversation ended discussing the loaded term (and show-name) “Model Minority.” Easy peasy!
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LEARN ABOUT RYAN’S WORK:
AdExchanger (Reporter): https://www.adexchanger.com/author/ryanjoe/
Quarantined Comics (Podcast): https://apple.co/3feekQr
MENTIONS
MOVIE: Ravenous (1999) - youtu.be/JO98NMMgp0Y
MOVIE: Barry Lyndon (1975) by Stanley Kubrick - imdb.com/title/tt0072684/
FOOD: Message us if you find Ryan’s DISCONTINUED Companion Snow Cabbage & Green SOY BEANS (良友牌雪菜毛豆): https://shop.waiyeehong.com/food-ingredients/tinned-foods/tinned-vegetables/snow-cabbage-green-soy-beans
Erin wants the truth - even if you can’t handle it. From teacher to a lawyer - she’s fighting the good fight because discrimination isn’t always obvious. Defending the underdog in and out of the courtroom - she’s bringing equity and dignity to her clients and her community. And no matter what any outdated opinions she hears - Erin’s going to rock the pantsuit.
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LEARN ABOUT ERIN’S WORK:
https://fmr.law/attorneys/erin-m-heidrich/
MENTIONS...
TV: Better Call Saul (AMC)
BOOK: Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea (Barbara Demick)
PEOPLE: Barbara Demick (Journalist)
Stefan was born in Jamaica, raised in South Florida, and even has Chinese roots. But when his family came to the ‘burbs - “FOR SALE" signs came up. The son of an entrepreneur, his fearlessness, and love of business soon had him booking gigs in ...a teen boy band? Growing up and rising through the corporate ranks - Stefan experienced unconscious bias - on BOTH sides of the table. As a parent, Stefan now prepares his children for their lives as black Americans. And if our country’s “melting pot” misses the point, perhaps chili is better?
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MENTIONS...
FILM: Love Jones (1997)
PEOPLE: Dave Chapelle (comedian) - his
INTERVIEW: Maya Angelou “Iconoclast” interview by Dave Chapelle https://youtu.be/okc6COsgzoE
VIDEO: Dave Chapelle’s Acceptance of the Mark Twain Award: https://youtu.be/aeYA72NLaDE
Karl may as well be the secret identity of a super-hero, but he’s anything but mild-mannered. As a member of P&G’s Diversity & Inclusion team, he’s got a unique perspective that you might not have expected on this podcast. Karl’s opinions and self-humility will challenge - and inspire - you to do more. And he doesn’t even know how to play the violin.
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LEARN ABOUT KARL’S WORK:
https://us.pg.com/diversity-and-inclusion/
MENTIONS...
FILM: Jojo Rabbit
BOOK: The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love (Bell Hooks)
PEOPLE: Alex Haley (Roots, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, the Playboy Interviews)
Sharon & Raman take a break from their regularly scheduled episodes to sit down and talk about what’s going on outside - police brutality, systemic racism, nationwide protests/riots - and talk through our own feelings.
MENTIONS...
1. Killer Mike Atlanta speech:
Full Speech (Video): rollingstone.com/music/music-news/killer-mike-speech-atlanta-protestors-press-conference-1007816/
Transcript: rev.com/blog/transcripts/rapper-killer-mike-speech-transcript-during-atlanta-protests
2. Martin Luther King’s "The Other America" (1967, Stanford University)
Excerpt: https://twitter.com/TheKingCenter/status/1266008254984982529
Full Speech: https://youtu.be/dOWDtDUKz-U
Transcript: https://www.crmvet.org/docs/otheram.htm
3. ACLU Mobile Justice App:
aclu.org/issues/criminal-law-reform/reforming-police/aclu-apps-record-police-conduct
As a black female founder - of Private Packs - Suzanne’s says she’s keeping her ex-husband’s last name to get great tables in NYC. She’s a a survivor, hustler, and most importantly a New Yorker. Suzanne’s lessons of loneliness, loudness, and leaving it all on the table will inspire you to get out and do the same.
LEARN ABOUT SUZANNE’S COMPANY:
privatepacks.com
MENTIONS...
TV: Billions (Showtime)
PEOPLE: Mellody Hobson (Ariel Investments), Robert Smith (Vista Equity, NOT The Cure :)
Jay’s not like the rest of us - he’s from a foreign land. Even when he was a kid rocking the suburbs - he found himself at parties as the token...Canadian. But in our awkwardly sincere conversation with this inner changemaker - we found out that he’s so much more. Jay continues his parent's journey - and a sense of adventure - as an entrepreneur. And you’ll hear how his “American dream” involves so much more than just microphones and maple syrup...
LEARN ABOUT JAY:
theinnerchangemaker.com
Ariane went from the Bronx to Long Island, with a LOT of accents in between. From data geek to photographer to coach to founder - every experience has led her to this moment. She helped us better understand how she has been able to let go of expectations - and the definitions of success - that we tend to adopt from our families for ourselves. Basically, she went for her dreams and is still dreaming.
Bevan is LITERALLY African American. Now an ER doctor, this mixed-race, “colored” South African shares how - as an immigrant - he had found what it meant to be “black enough.” All of us want to fit in. But how do you do so when you’re transplanted across the world, your accent sounds funny, and you’re far from family? Trust Bevan, after all, he's a doctor.
Mara’s half Filipino, half French, and totally boss. Like all of us, she found herself chasing after things everyone thought was cool - but later found it wasn’t what she imagined it to be. By throwing everything away, Mara was able to start something new that fit her unique personality.
Also, she’s descended from pirates.
Jesse’s a Mexican-American business pro on the rise - but doesn’t need to fit into others' expectations - because it's clear he exceeds them. From advice on the basketball court to mistakes of youth, Jesse's taken his life's lessons to heart - creating a better world not just for him, but the world that brought him up.
Learn More:
https://www.modmypod.com/
Zineb is anything BUT just a Moroccan girl in Geneva, with a story spanning from the American South to North Africa.
Once a nationally ranked tennis player, her life turned upside-down in an instant. Whether expanding political participation of Arab women and youth or working for one of the world’s largest tech companies - Z’s continuously redefined herself.
Through many ups and downs - she’s ready to hit the courts again.
Resources:
The Code of the Extraordinary Mind
Learn More:
https://www.modmypod.com/
Rajiv is an Indian-American from Hamilton, Ohio who’s often the funniest - and most serious - guy in the room.
He’s now a successful LA-based comic who’s performed around the world - with Dave Chappelle, Russell Peters, and even Google and the US State Department. You’ll relate to how Rajiv never an option to be a social commentator - but did it anyway.
Learn More:
https://www.modmypod.com/
Alexis a Puerto Rican girl from Jersey City keeping it real leading the 4As’ Diversity & Inclusion. In a post- “Mad Men” era, learn why D&I is more important than ever for the advertising industry. You’ll also learn the lessons Alexis DIDN’T learn as a little girl in a not-so-great neighborhood, and about her dreams - en español - about her Abuela.
Resources
Alexis’s LinkedIn
American Association of Advertising Agencies
Learn More:
https://www.modmypod.com/
This is where it all begins, and how we all start making it better.
Sharon & Raman (your hosts with the mosts) uncover the motivations behind their new podcast on race and gender, as well as a bit more about their OWN “Model Minority” experiences. You’ll hear a preview of their upcoming guests - black, white, brown, yellow, gay, straight, boy, girl - and everything in between.
Together with their guests, these longtime pals share and learn what it is to be Model Minorities.
This is a show about all of you, for all of us.
Learn More:
https://www.modmypod.com/