Mixed Kid Chronicles: Recent Episodes
Katie Andresen
Mixed Kid Chronicles is a podcast about those who check the “other” box. Join your host, Katie, as she explores identity, race, and popular culture. New episodes air every other week alternating between solo musings and conversations with friends.
It’s the last episode of the season! We had the pleasure of sitting down with Tiffany Jones, biracial woman and lawyer. Tiffany’s own story starts with her reading list for biracial people and moves from politics into law. Additionally, we chat about being the butt of the joke, acting “white”, friendships to dating, and sage advice for her 12-year-old self.
Friendships can be overlooked in the relationship hierarchy, but they are crucial to our development. So how do multiracial people navigate friendships? Tune in for both Katie’s personal take on friendships and some research about how race plays into forming these types of relationships.
Links We Love
Multiracial in America - Pew’s research on social connections for multiracial people.
It’s our last interview focused on romantic relationships! We talk with Sarah and Les, a newlywed, interracial couple, about their recent marriage, how they got to where they are today, and that creeping imposter syndrome. Tune in for all that, plus a cameo from their puppy, Koda.
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Ashleigh Reddy. A proud Black and Indian woman, Ashleigh gets real about her experiences dating as a biracial woman and her friendships in both the Black and South Asian communities. We learn that no matter who you choose to spend time with, you are always 100% whole and should be treated as such. Plus, we talk about Kamala Harris and her historic achievement as the first Black and Indian woman on a major party presidential ticket.
Links We Like:
Ashleigh is a fabulous photographer. Check out her work!
Register to vote. Like now.
Hasan Minhaj takes on anti-Blackness in the Asian community.
Zoe Saldana on portraying Nina Simone.
We spoke with Sonia Kang, founder and owner of Mixed Up Clothing, a fashion company highlighting multiracial families and experiences. An African American and Mexican woman, Sonia shares her candid advice about navigating her 15 year marriage to her Korean husband, including the good and the complex. We also dive into her company, Mixed Up Clothing, and how she’s been able to leverage fashion to empower the multiracial community and conversations with family and friends during this racial reckoning. Tune in for some words of wisdom and affirmations that all multiracial people need to hear.
Check out Mixed Up Clothing (they’re making masks too!)
Words of wisdom from Sonia
We spoke with Sonia Smith-Kang, founder and owner of Mixed Up Clothing, a fashion company highlighting multiracial families and experiences. An African American and Mexican woman, Sonia shares her candid advice about navigating her 15 year marriage to her Korean husband, including the good and the complex. We also dive into her company, Mixed Up Clothing, and how she’s been able to leverage fashion to empower the multiracial community and conversations with family and friends during this racial reckoning. Tune in for some words of wisdom and affirmations that all multiracial people need to hear.
Check out Mixed Up Clothing (they’re making masks too!)
Words of wisdom from Sonia
We get into the true emotional heart of romantic relationships. What’s it like to date someone outside of your race? We cover both interracial dating and dating as a biracial person in this episode. Listen in to discover our couple inspirations, the pressure interracial couples can feel, and the complexities of dating as biracial.
Links We Love:
We agree that “For Interracial Couples, Advocacy is a Love Language.”
Key & Peele explain why dating as biracial is complicated.Black women share their opinion on interracial dating.
The relationship we’ve all been waiting for - dating! Well, sort of. We’re setting the stage for one of the most tangled relationships, dating, by covering a history of interracial relationships and marriage. Join Katie as she goes back to the 1600s to trace the path of interracial unions from Pocahontas up to present day with Insecure’s Asian Bae.
Sources: Interracial Marriage in “Post-Racial” America by Jessica Vinas-Nelson
Court Cases: Perez v. Sharp (1947); Loving v. Virginia (1967)
Last episode we talked about how multiracial people can show up as allies to the Black community. This episode we ask a Black man directly. Join us for an examination of allyship with Curtis about how he wants others to show up for his community.
Everyone has a role to play right now in advancing racial justice and ending police brutality. Listen to this episode to learn how to show up as allies for the Black community.
We’re taking a much needed self-care break with Roxy of Coastal Curl. She’s Black and Persian (aka “blersian”) and we talk about her upbringing in SoCal, self care during the pandemic, and her haircare business, Coastal Curl, that she’s had to pivot recently. Tune in to get the download on self-care from a Blersian!
This week, we’re searching for Katie’s ancestors. Inspired by a recent project, Katie discusses how tenuous ties between people who have come before us can feel closer than ever. Tune in for a discussion on how the past informs the future, genealogy, and a crash course in Cabo Verdian history.
Ancestry for Black People Exists!
I had a blast searching newspaper archives from the New England area, in particular Falmouth.
These whaling records fascinated me.
Katie talks with her mom about parenting. Tune in for a discussion on Cape Verdean identity and what it was really like raising Katie. Perfect timing for when we all want some parental assurance during these uncertain times.
Katie brings in reinforcements for this week’s episode. She talks with friend and parent of multiracial children, Marc Perry. Tune in to hear a conversation about how identity affects children's upbringing, kids asking the darndest questions, and our hope for parents confronting what can be a joyous and intimidating experience.
We’re entering unchartered territories today - parenting! Katie is no parent, but she knows that this topic cannot be ignored when the season is dedicated to relationships. This episode is all about framing the experience of raising multiracial children in anticipation of our super parent guests over the next few weeks. Have questions about raising a multiracial child? We aim to demystify the topic.
We’re getting deep into the science behind multiracial people in today’s episode. Dr. Sarah Gaither, Assistant Professor of Social & Developmental Psychology at Duke, joins us to talk about how multiracial people differ in social interactions and some of her exciting research. Tune in to hear about the advantages of being multiracial that you can brag about to your friends, as well as a cool, new acronym you can throw around: BIRGing.
Have you ever passed before? This week’s episodes dives deep into passing, including its history, literary studies, and more public manifestations. Also on our mind - Megxit, Apple+ TV’s new show Central Park, and the MixedRaceFaces project.
In today’s episode, Katie talks with Dr. Michele Foss Snowden, a professed TV lover and Professor of Communications. Tune in for how her love of TV helped her understand her identity, recommendations for her favorite TV shows featuring the multiracial experience, and a discussion on how feeling seen is so critical to confidence.
It’s the launch of season 2! This season we’re talking everything relationships - and we mean everything. This first episode is all about the relationship multiracial people have with the media. We cover Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, Meghan Markle, and how the tragic mulatto trope continues to pervade TV.
It’s the season one finale! Katie pays homage to other creators/creatives covering multiracial stories (looking at you The Curl Talk Project and Halu Halo!). She ends the season talking about the injustices toward Amara La Negra and Ms. Janet Jackson and her hope for Wakanda.
Sources:
Mean Tweets About Stormi Jenner's Skin Color Are Seriously Not OK
The Curl Talk Project and on Instagram
Halu Halo
Amara La Negra breaks down colorism on The Breakfast Club
Still Processing covers Nipplegate
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS)
Katie's "traveling" all the way to London this week to talk to fellow beige buddy, Lelani. We talk what it’s like growing up as a multiracial Londoner, British values and the royal family, our new race bible Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge, and, of course, hair (Hi @thecurltalkproject).
Sources:
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race
Lelani’s Recommended Products: Devacurl & Moroccan Oil
The Curl Talk Project and on Instagram
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS)
Let’s talk about hair! This week, Katie explores curly hair and its significance to black and multiracial cultures. She also shares her own hair story and some tips and product suggestions.
Sources:
Hair It Is: Examining the Experiences of Black Women with Natural Hair
"I am Not my Hair! Or am I?": Black Women's Transformative Experience in their Self Perceptions of Abroad and at Home
Curl Crush on Facebook
The Curl Talk Project
Vernon Francois’s Curly Hair Routine
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Katie calls in the expert on being male and mixed, her brother David. They talk about identifying as black and multiracial, racial imposter syndrome, and some controversial family topics. And no conversation is complete without a heart to heart about Drake.
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Katie addresses a blind spot in her episodes thus far. Exploring a study that shows young men are less likely to identify as biracial, she ponders what it’s like for Drake and her brother. Also, have you heard of digital blackface? It’s about time!
Sources:
Here’s the full biracial young men study for all you nerds craving scientific research
Dropping the knowledge with Drake’s Know Yourself
Internetting with Amanda Hess on Digital Blackface
Teen Vogue’s Lauren Michelle Jackson explains Digital Blackface
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS)
Katie interviews Julie Lythcott-Haims, the author of Real American: A Memoir and former Dean of the Freshman at Stanford University where she was known as “Dean Julie.” They talk about stereotypes like “oreos” and angry black women, the committee that anoints black people, language and black literary mothers, and whether there is hope for America.
Photo credit: Kristina-Vetter
Sources:
Buy Real American: A Memoir from my favorite bookstore
Read more on Julie’s black literary mother Lucille Clifton
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS)
In this week’s episode, Katie tackles the stereotypes multiracial people face. She also shares some of the developing research around multiracial people, discusses Ta-Nehisi Coates’ SF appearance (!!!), and finds all sorts of treasures on social media (looking at you Hannah Bronfman and Elaine Weltreroth).
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS)
Sources:
National Geographic’s Changing Face of America
Ta-Nehisi Coates drops some knowledge on the n-word
Colin Kaepernick is GQ's Citizen of the Year
Watch Cut’s People Guess Who is White
Hannah Bronfman, Elaine Weltreroth, Vernon Francois make curl and mixed girl magic
Katie talks with her cousin Anamaria in Atlanta. They discuss being mixed blacks (black people aren’t monolithic!), the time Anamaria spent in black hair salons, and differences between California and Atlanta. Anamaria also shares her love of Cardi B and the show Atlanta.
Cardi B gets engaged
If you want to dive into Atlanta
Katie talks about what it is to be black in America. She explores the stereotypes and competing definitions of blackness, while sharing her own journey to identify as a black woman and some of the community’s “secrets”. Also, we celebrate Cardi B, black TV shows, and discuss Julie Lythcott-Haim’s Real American.
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS)
Sources:
Katie critiques Disintegration by Eugene Robinson
Cardi B’s race is confusing people
black-ish’s Bow grapples with being biracial
Alfred Enoch shares wisdom with his younger self
Julie Lythcott-Haims reflects on Real American-ness
Katie and Sarah unpack whiteness as a mixed race person. They discuss Sarah’s story as a mixed race adoptee in a white family, what it feels like to have your race “outed”, black icons, the loneliness of being mixed race, and educating white people on issues important to people of color.
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS) - fh-sk-Fmaj-1
Sources:
Sing along to MJ with Sarah
Madame CJ Walker is a badass bitch
Katie gets real about whiteness. She talks about her mistaken assumption of being white, the language of white fragility, getting #woke, Ta-Nehisi Coates “The First White President”, and how Queen Rihanna has blessed us.
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS) - You’re Not Alone
Sources:
Diving deep into the language of white fragility
This woman breaks down white privilege
Unpack your invisible knapsack
Code Switch’s episode on Racial Imposter Syndrome
Erykah Badu ensuring we all #staywoke
MUST READ Ta-Nehisi Coates, aka the Master, writes on The First White President
RiRi fans slay Kylie Jenner and see all 40 Fenty shades in their glory
Katie interviews Taylor Bernal, social media guru and fellow mixed girl. They talk growing up mixed in predominately white neighborhoods (not far from one another), answering the question “what are you?”, and their transformation of identity. Plus, Taylor keeps up with the Kardashians (Wests).
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Marc Perry - fh-sk-BY
Sources:
Janet Mock talks mixed race children with Kim Kardashian West in Interview Magazine
North also has an interview, which is pretty adorable
Watch Taylor Swift’s video
But Beyonce slays
Episode 1 has arrived! On this week’s episode, Katie explores that question every mixed person answers ad nauseam. Also, why August 28th matters, white supremacists, and how to practice self care in these uncertain times.
Sources:
Tanvi Misra hates the word exotic
Yoshio Chandler talks being mixed race and “What are you?”
Ava Duvernay on August 28th
Music:
Blank and Kytt - RSPN
Broke for Free - Night Owl
Mixed Kid Chronicles will be released on Aug 28, 2017. Join me for conversation about the mixed up and mixed race.
Music by bensound.com