TAPU: Recent Episodes
TAPU
In our new interview series I sit down with licensed therapist and University of Utah PhD student, Lani Taholo. We discuss mental illness, sexual violence, trauma, and the cultural aspects of it all. If any of you have question that you would like to ask directly to Lani, you can reach her secured email address, lani.taholo@utah.edu. And for those of you interested in Sifa Uesi's music, you can find him on Instagram @c4_uesiryder.
Veanna does a guest appearance on Unapologetic Woman of Color hosted by Margarita Satini, the Director of United Pacific Islander Civic Engagement Coalition. We discuss the white sheet cultural practice and Coach Urban Meyer's suspension during the summer. Listen to Unapologetic Woman of Color on the Anchor App!
Trigger warning: Sexual assault
We're back! We took a nice long pause during the month of August to be active in the community and to get some much needed self care. Thank you for being patient with us and for constantly supporting and loving us. When you take on a platform like this one, self care is a must. But we're happy to be back! This episode we recap the summer. In light of the new school year we discuss bullying and grooming. We close the episode off checking in with y'all and giving you a quick run down of how we're all doing.
We sit down with Sifa Uesi as he gives his perspective on growing up as a Tongan American male and the struggles of being raised in a dual identity culture. He touches on the Tongan “respect factor,” transparency in conversation, and male vulnerability. Our hope with this interview is to discuss that which may contribute to the culture of silence on many fronts with the hopes that talanoa, or discussion, can lead to solutions for our next generations.
Sifa Uesi is passionate about music. Formerly, he played drumset for the University of Utah Pep Band, trombone for jazz ensemble, and trombone/euphonium for symphonic band. Currently he teaches piano and drumset and plays for his congregation, The First Tongan Christian Church. He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and was an integral part of the planning committee for the TAPU Po Hiva.