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Nuances: Our Asian Stories

Nuances: Our Asian Stories

LAZOU

71 episodesENExplicit

Show overview

Nuances: Our Asian Stories has been publishing since 2022, and across the 4 years since has built a catalogue of 71 episodes, alongside 4 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 60 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence, with the show now in its 6th season.

Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 41 min and 1h 1m — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. The publisher flags most episodes as explicit, so expect adult themes or strong language throughout. It is catalogued as a EN-language Society & Culture show.

The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 months ago, with 3 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2023, with 26 episodes published. Published by LAZOU.

Episodes
71
Running
2022–2026 · 4y
Median length
50 min
Cadence
Monthly

From the publisher

Nuances is an award-nominated audio space where guests from a wide range of Asian ethnic groups, careers, countries, and communities explore our often complicated relationships with our culture(s) and how they shape us. It can be a source of validation, a space for healing, a call to self-reflection, or a good laugh, often all at the same time. The current 5th season is a limited series exploring wholesome queer stories from premodern Asia, what they can teach us about our cultures, and why they were forgotten in modern times. It features scholars and guest co-hosts from the queer Asian community. We talk about the careers we’ve pursued: winemaker, writer, actor, musician, politician, activist, brain scientist, care worker, doctor, & so many more. Our intersectional conversations explore how our experiences affect our views on anti-racism, disability justice, feminism, LGBTQIA+ rights, religion, etc., and how we can create change in our own circles to build solidarity across moveme...

Latest Episodes

View all 71 episodes

S6 Ep 1Lunar New Year in Mongolia, Korea, Vietnam, Mauritius & China

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See full show notes for transcript: https://nuancespod.com/2026/02/15/lunar-new-year-episode/ @nuancespod on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook.

Feb 15, 202627 min

S6 Ep 2The evolution of Iran-U.S. relations, from the shah to the 1979 revolution to the Women Life Freedom (Jin Jiyan Azadi) movement

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To participate in our Lunar New Year episode, see instructions on nuancespod.com (final deadline Feb 8) Today's episode is a re-run of my nuanced conversation with Dr. Manijeh Moradian, an Iranian American feminist and professor at Barnard College. The episode originally aired in 2023. You can view the original full show notes here. https://nuancespod.com/2023/07/02/s3-e03-dr-manijeh-moradian-on-why-iran-isnt-always-considered-part-of-asia-and-how-the-west-may-be-misinterpreting-what-iranians-truly-want-out-of-the-current-feminist-revolution/

Feb 1, 20261h 1m

S6 Ep 1Season 6: Submit your Lunar New Year stories by Jan 25 2026!

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Lunar New Year Hey everyone, it’s your host LAZOU here. You may have followed this feed for our Queering Premodern Asia series, or maybe you’ve heard one of our interviews in the previous seasons. However you came to be subscribed to this feed, thank you so much for sticking around. In addition to the ongoing genocide and 2024 elections, I had a lot of personal things to deal with in 2025, which left me with very little bandwidth or energy to make new episodes. But things are finally looking up, and I think I might be in a place where I can start releasing episodes again and I want you, the listeners, to be a part of it. I really enjoyed the mix of narrative storytelling and interview snippets in season 5 and I’d like to move the podcast into a more community-based format where each month or so, I’ll let you know the theme of the next episode, and if you have a story to share, you can submit something. You could record it as a video or voice memo on your phone, or if you’re super shy, you could even submit it as text for me to read on your behalf. I will then put them together. And we’ll start right now. Feb 17, 2026 will be Lunar New Year based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which is celebrated in China, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong. However, many other cultures also have a Lunar New Year that happens on a different date according to different Lunar Calendars. My goal with this episode is to get a sense of how Lunar New Year is celebrated in different cultures, so the more the merrier! For this episode, I am looking for: Tell me how your family celebrates your culture’s version of Lunar New Year. This could include rituals, or specific foods or superstitions or family activities. Be sure to mention your favorite or least favorite part if you have one. Tell me about any myths or origin stories or historical facts you were told about Lunar New Year? Tell me about the most memorable Lunar New Year of your life. You only have to submit to one of these three prompts. Your submission should be no longer than 5 minutes. If you’re interested in participating, send your script via email to [email protected]. This will help ensure that your submission fits what I’m looking for. I might suggest minor edits for length and clarity before you go ahead and record it. Deadlines: Jan 25: Last day to send me your script/pitch by email. Feb 01: Last day to send me your final recordings. Feb 15: Episode goes live! When you are ready to record, make sure you are in a quiet space where there is no background noise like TV, fan, or leaf blowers. If your audio has too much noise, I will not be able to accept your submission. In your car, in your garage is a good backup plan if your house isn’t quiet enough. Cars generally have good sound isolation when all the doors and windows are closed.

Jan 11, 20264 min

Ep 17Introducing: That Scares Me Too

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Welcome back to the Nuances podcast! I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday week if you celebrate. If not, I hope you get some rest at the very least as we wind down 2024. Last week I told you that my next release will be for you if you’re not into the festive vibe, but would rather hear something spooky! Well, I am here to deliver on that promise with our latest feed drop. Today I’d love to introduce you to the podcast “That Scares Me Too”. In it, Dr. Sophie Yang and K.A Statz discuss myths and tales of horror from Taiwan and Asia. Together they compare and contrast stories from their cultures and talk about the shared humanity that is fear. In this episode, we’re introduced to unknown entities in the mountains of Taiwan. Enjoy! If you would like to share input about the upcoming seasons, I’d love to hear from you! Find @nuancespod on socials! Instagram | TikTok | Threads | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter Subscribe to LAZOU’s Substack Write us a review. BOOKS - If you’d like to support Asian diaspora authors this holiday season, I gotchuuuuuu!!! Subscribe to That Scares Me Too: https://pod.link/1768039621/episode/5b3588d978a736e7b932c4cd05b9bf26

Dec 29, 202436 min

Ep 16Re-release: Holiday Special!

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Subscribe to LAZOU's Substack Review Nuances: Our Asian Stories BOOKS!! Support Asian diaspora authors this holiday season! MUSIC “Have You Noticed the Season?” by 23rd Hour “Let a Day Together Be Christmas” by 23rd Hour Spotify | Apple | Website CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Blog | LinkedIn | Twitter GUESTS Rahul Borkar - S1 E2 Tonie Nguyen - S1 E3 | S5 E3 Lisa Danaë - S1 E4 Cece Chow - S1 E7 | S4 E7 | S5 E6(2) Edmond Chan - S1 E8 | S5 E1 Ashley Chung-Fat-Yim - S1 E11 Charlene Vela - S2 E2 Tiffany Chou - S2 E3 Rod Kim - S2 E12 Offering Rain - S2 E9

Dec 22, 202443 min

S5 Ep 109. In search of the "socially acceptable" (Queering Premodern Asia - series finale!)

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Season finale!!!! See full show notes for references & additional info. Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Ep. 9: In search of the “socially acceptable” Introduction Military makeup and good looks Women in trade & female agency Gender fluidity as a plus Love, marriage and their casual (and recent) relationship Why it all changed Icons and rebels Why premodern Asia? Why me? Discussion with co-host Ryan Ah Seek Credits Spotify playlist Did you enjoy this episode? 🧧 If you would like to help me spread the word about the show, or support it financially, learn more at nuancespod.com/support ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’d like to tell other people how much they will enjoy this show, please consider writing a review. ☎️ You can even leave me a voicemail! 💌 Subscribe to LAZOU’s substack, where I’ll be sharing some behind-the-scenes + additional essays! Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | LinkedIn | Threads | Facebook Guest co-host bio Ridwan (Ryan) Ah Seek, known as Ryan, is LGBTQIA+ activist in Mauritius. He is the former President and current vice president of Collectif Arc-En-Ciel, the biggest LGBTQIA+ NGO in Mauritius. He challenged Section 250 of the Mauritian Penal Code in 2019 and won the case on 4th Oct 2023, against the State of Mauritius. Instagram | TikTok | Facebook

Nov 10, 20241h 18m

S5 Ep 88. For the Record... (Queering Premodern Asia - a limited series)

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See full show notes for references & additional info. Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Ep. 8: For the Record Introduction & content warnings We were here Other sources than official records Power in numbers Who’s missing? Official vs unofficial stance on queerness Court documents Decolonizing history Porn, erotic art Conclusion Discussion with co-host Dr. Izat El Amoor Outro Did you enjoy this episode? 🧧 If you would like to help me spread the word about the show, or support it financially, learn more at nuancespod.com/support ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’d like to tell other people how much they will enjoy this show, please consider writing a review. ☎️ You can even leave me a voicemail! 💌 Subscribe to LAZOU’s substack, where I’ll be sharing some behind-the-scenes + additional essays! Guest bio Izat El Amoor is an assistant professor of sociology, public scholar, and a queer Palestinian (citizen of Israel). He studies queer issues in Palestine with a focus on education, family life, and the Palestinian Queer Movement. He also studies queer life in the SWANA Region with a focus on political and cultural factors of mobilizing for towards queer change since the Arab uprisings erupted in 2011.

Oct 27, 20241h 23m

S5 Ep 87. Performing Gender (and Gender Benders)

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Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Content warnings Introduction Performing gender in Indonesia, Philippines, Japan Cross-dressing in theater in Korea, China, India, Japan Gender bender icons from China, Vietnam, Korea Gender boundaries in premodern China, Japan and Iran Conclusion Discussion with co-host Stella Gold Did you enjoy this episode? 🧧If you would like to help me spread the word about the show, or support it financially, learn more at nuancespod.com/support ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you'd like to tell other people how much they will enjoy this show, please consider writing a review. 💌 Subscribe to LAZOU's substack, where I'll be sharing some behind-the-scenes + additional essays! CONTACT @nuancespod on socials! Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou GUEST BIO Stella Gold is a queer and nonbinary Rebirth + Wealth Coach for changemakers and comes from a lineage of activists. They are the founder of My Gold Standard, a believer in wealth activism, pro liberation from all oppressive systems, and collective care. They believe in using business as an ecosystem for financial solidarity for yourself AND the collective. Their ancestors are filipinx, romanian jewish, scottish, irish, chinese, italian, iranian, french, german, british, and likely so much more. They hold values and beliefs in abolitionism, anarchism, decolonization, collective and ancestral liberation, and leftism. Instagram | LinkedIn | Web

Oct 13, 20241h 15m

S5 Ep 76. The West: Savior or Demonizer? - Part 2

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Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series of Nuances: Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Introduction & content warnings China & the missionaries China, Britain, and the Opium Wars Japan, gun boat diplomacy, and rapid modernization Thailand, Iran, Turkey Regulating prostitution Conclusion Discussion with co-host Cece Acknowledgments Guest co-host: Cece is a Canadian born Chinese transgender trans model, advocate, poet, and public speaker who is using her voice to lift up the marginalized, fill in the gaps, and instigate journeys of discovery Did you enjoy this episode? 🧧If you would like to help me spread the word about the show, or support it financially, learn more at nuancespod.com/support ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you'd like to tell other people how much they will enjoy this show, please consider writing a review. 💌 Subscribe to LAZOU's substack, where I'll be sharing some behind-the-scenes + additional essays! CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter

Sep 22, 20241h 4m

S5 Ep 66. The West: Savior or Demonizer? - Part 1

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Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Introduction & content warnings Why is this series focusing on premodern Asia? The West isn't the only imperial power From the Silk Road to the Age of Exploration British colonization of India, Section 377 & vagrancy Laws Premodern Chinese law about sexual crimes (w. Prof. CunCun Wu) Portuguese vs British India (w. Prof. Anjali Arondekar) Spanish colonization of the Philippines French colonization of Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos Discussion with co-host Stella Acknowledgments Guest co-host: Stella is a writer, editor, and co-host for the Brazn Azn podcast along with the lovely Virginia Duan. Did you enjoy this episode? 🧧If you would like to help me spread the word about the show, or support it financially, learn more at nuancespod.com/support ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you'd like to tell other people how much they will enjoy this show, please consider writing a review. 💌 Subscribe to LAZOU's substack, where I'll be sharing some behind-the-scenes + additional essays! CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter

Sep 8, 20241h 18m

S5 Ep 55. Gods, Sex, and the Patriarchy

If you enjoy this show and would like to help me spread the word about it, or support it financially, you can find out more at ⁠nuancespod.com/support⁠. View the full show notes⁠⁠. Subscribe to ⁠LAZOU's substack⁠. GUEST BIO Shreya Sharma, pronouns she and her, is a podcast marketer by day who finds herself immersed in questions about intersectional identity by night. Thankfully for her, she is a writer too. She occasionally publishes her love affairs with sounds and audio on the Shreya's Audio Affairs newsletter on Substack.. Instagram CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou Support this podcast: nuancespod.com/support Subscribe to Lazou's Substack

Jul 28, 20241h 18m

S5 Ep 44. Love, Marriage & Their Casual Relationship (Queering Premodern Asia - a limited series)

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Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and 5th season of the podcast Nuances: Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. 4. LOVE, MARRIAGE & THEIR CASUAL RELATIONSHIP Introduction & content warnings Marrying for love China China - Male-Male marriages in Fujian China - Marrying ghosts Iran - the many forms of love How the definition of love and marriage evolved in Korea and Japan Vietnamese village customs Female agency in South East Asia (Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines The only people without marriage When did love and marriage tie the knot? Discussion with Dr. Badie What monogamous people can learn from polyamorous folks Outro If you enjoy this show and would like to help me spread the word about it, or support it financially, you can find out more at nuancespod.com/support If you'd like to leave a review, these are the places you can do so write a review GUEST BIO Dr. Manijeh Badiee (she/her/hers) is an Iranian, queer, bisexual, polyamorous, neurospicy, cisgender femme professor, psychologist, and CEO of Poly Therapist Psychology Corporation.. Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Web CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Jul 14, 20241h 16m

S5 Ep 33. Fifty Shades of Gender (Queering Premodern Asia - a limited series)

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See the FULL SHOW NOTES for references, links & more. Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Introduction & content warnings Third Gender as spiritual leaders/ people with special powersAsog Babaylans (Philippines) Manangbali (Malaysian Borneo) Hijras (South Asia) Bissu (South Sulawesi, Indonesia) Bayasa (Central Sulawesi, Indonesia) RatoNale/Seaworm Priest (West Sumba, Indonesia) Balian and Basir (Kalimantan, Indonesia) Sexuality as fluidChigo (Japan) Beyond the Western modelGay & Lesbian non-equivalence Baklâ (Philippines) Heterosexuals and Lesbians in Thailand vs. the West Kathoey (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia) Gender ambiguity in premodern Muslim societies 5 genders of the Bugis culture (Indonesia) Intersex Outro Discussion with TONIE Featured Song: More Than My Body by TONIE Guest scholars: Sachi Schmidt-Hori, professor of Japanese literature & culture at Dartmouth College. Wu CunCun, ⁠⁠professor of Chinese literature at the University of Hong Kong⁠⁠. Guest co-host TONIE is doing their very best to make you cry, in all the best ways. The LA-native writes and produces each synth-pop track from the comfort of their skylit home studio in Brooklyn, NY — a perfect backdrop for the emotional vulnerability that colors their lyrics. Proudly Vietnamese American, nonbinary, and themselves! TONIE can be reached on Instagram & TikTok and their website Itstonie.com Connect with Nuances: Our Asian Stories on Instagram, TikTok, Threads or YouTube --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Jun 30, 20241h 22m

S5 Ep 22. But where are the lesbians? (Queering Premodern Asia - a limited series)

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Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Introduction & content warnings China – Literacy as a barrier (Prof. Wu) China – Li Yu's "The Fragrant Companion" (read by Karen) China – Lesbian consort in the Ming dynasty (Prof. Wu) China – Wu Zao China – Golden Orchid Societies Korea – Deposed Crown Princess Sun Bin Japan – Lesbian sex toys Iran – The cross-dressed woman (Niloofar Rasooli) Discussion with Karen References - in the shownotes on nuancespod.com Episode transcript: COMING SOON Guest scholar: Niloofar Rasooli, doctoral fellow at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Wu CunCun, ⁠professor of Chinese literature at the University of Hong Kong⁠. Guest co-host bio: Karen Zheng is a first-generation, queer, Chinese-American poet. Her poetry has been featured in Sine Theta Magazine, Honey Literary, Benningham Review, Harbor Review and elsewhere. She has received fellowships from the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference, Roots. Wounds. Words, Chicago Storystudio, and The Poetry Lab. She has been a finalist for Harbor Review’s Washburn Chapbook Prize. In her free time, she hosts the Mx. Asian American podcast and Tucked in Bed podcast. Find out more about her on her website and listen to Mx. Asian American here and here. You can also follow us on all social media: @nuancespod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Jun 16, 20241h 7m

S5 Ep 11. In search of Prince Charming & his King (Queering Premodern Asia - a limited series)

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Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community. Ep. 1: In search of Prince Charming and his King Introduction & content warnings Official records (Prof. Wu) China - The Half-eaten peach (read by Edmond) China - Lord Longyang (read by Edmond) China - Passion of the cut sleeve China - Duke Jing (read by Prof. Wu) Korea - King Mokjong & King Gongmin Vietnam - King Khai Dinh Pakistan - Shah Hussain & Madhu Laal Discussion with Edmond - thoughts on the stories Discussion with Edmond - cultural significance Discussion with Edmond - queerness & our Asian parents Beyond the gentry class (prof. Wu) Episode transcript: COMING SOON Guest scholar: Wu CunCun, professor of Chinese literature at the University of Hong Kong. She specializes in gender & sexuality in late Imperial Chinese literature and culture. She is widely published in both English and Chinese. Guest co-host bio: Corpus Christi, Texas native Edmond Chan (Historical violin family instruments) has performed with many early music ensembles and orchestras in the United States, Europe, and Hong Kong, some of which include Tempesta di Mare: Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra, Brandywine Baroque, the Dryden Ensemble, the Washington National Cathedral Baroque Orchestra, Holland Baroque, l’arte del mondo Köln, and the Early Music Society of Hong Kong. He is first prize winner in the 2022 International Clara Schumann Competition, and second prize winner in the 2022 France Music Competition. Edmond holds a master's degree in Baroque violin from the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht: Utrechts Conservatorium in the Netherlands where he studied with Antoinette Lohmann. His master’s thesis entitled “The Fashionable Violinist: Fashion and How to Hold the Violin in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries” explores the relationship between 17th and 18th century clothing and period violin performance, and how this relationship can better inform historical violinists (and historical musicians in general) on performance practice techniques. Edmond also holds an Artist’s Certificate in Baroque violin from the Koninklijk Conservatorium den Haag where he studied with Kati Debretzeni and Walter Reiter. Edmond has taught and lectured at conservatories and universities in Europe and the United States along with workshops in Ecuador and Hong Kong. When Edmond is not teaching, performing, or continuing his research into historical clothing, he enjoys cooking, swimming, running, going on bike rides, and playing board/card/computer games with friends and family. @brqvlnfoodie on Instagram | TikTok --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Jun 2, 20241h 1m

S5: Queering Premodern Asia - Ep.0 - An Introduction

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Full transcript here | Support the show here. In search of our queer Asian roots The idea for this series came about a year ago, inspired by my interviews with the queer Asian community. Many of the guests shared a desire to connect more with their culture, but also a feeling of being rejected by it because of their queerness, like Cece S1 E07⁠ Queer representation in the media has primarily centered white narratives which is often not relatable to queer Asian folks, like Josh explains in S1 E06 A lot of families see queerness as a Western concept that is incompatible with their Asian heritage or cultural tradition, especially the part of our culture that expects us to get married and have kids. Like Travis says on S3 E06 My queer guests also often feel like queer spaces aren’t safe for them, as those are typically very white spaces and often have very overt anti-Asian sentiment. Edmond talks about this in S1 E08 Another issue our queer Asian community faces is fetishization, as well as misogyny in their Asian family circles. Like Sally, S1 E09 For some of my guests, it was religion, more specifically Christianity, that made it hard for their parents to accept their queerness. Like Dani S3 E05 A common theme I also picked up in those conversations is how lonely it was for them as young people trying to navigate their queerness. Like Tonie S1 E03 I was really struck by how little I knew of these experiences. As a straight woman, I lived decades completely oblivious of these experiences. But the more I heard, the more I wanted to encourage my fellow straight folks to be curious, to care, and to engage with these stories. One day, I was scrolling on TikTok when I saw a video about how in 1651, there was a Chinese play that featured lesbian characters. It immediately piqued my interest. If that story was out there in a hit play in 1651, what else is out there? Could history bridge the gap between our current diasporic existence and conversations that seem too futuristic for our parents? More importantly, what if we could validate the idea that queerness and cultural pride are not alien concepts, but in fact intertwined in our past? And thus began my journey. For my Queer Asian listeners, my hope is that this series will help you feel more connected to your Asian roots, and bring hope & healing as you laugh and cry with us on this journey. For my fellow straight folks, I hope it makes you curious to learn more. Because I don’t think creating a society that is more inclusive of queer folks should fall squarely on our queer community’s shoulders. In a society where cis-hetero folks like us are the norm, we’d get much further if more of us pitched in. And we can start by listening. And for the activists and educators listening, I hope this series helps you reflect on the language you use in your activism, whether it perpetuates orientalist tropes, and how we might do better together. Episodes: 1. In search of Prince Charming (and his King) 2. But Where are the lesbians? 3. 50 Shades of Gender 4. Love, marriage & their casual relationship 5. Gods, sex, and the patriarchy 6. The West: savior or demonizer? The LGBTQIA+ terms, often doesn’t map quite neatly onto other cultures or eras. In the West, queerness is seen as part of your core identity. But this was not the case in premodern Asia at all. Who you slept with did not put you in a different “gay” category. We think of Lesbians as the female version of Gays. That equivalence also didn’t exist. In some cultures, the English language doesn’t have the appropriate terms to describe their gender constructs. I learned so much from researching this series and I can’t wait for you to go on that journey too. Queering Premodern Asia drops on June 2nd, 2024. Hosted by @itslazou, featuring queer Asian guest co-hosts and scholars. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or go to nuancespod.com to learn more. You can also follow us on all social media: @nuancespod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

May 26, 202411 min

Queering Premodern Asia - Nuances Season 5 Trailer

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My gender identity and who I’m attracted to is nature, right? Well, actually it’s complicated. Everything I thought I knew about love, gender and sexuality has been turned upside down. Hi, my name is LAZOU and I'm the host of Nuances: Our Asian Stories. Typically it’s an interview show but I’m switching things up for season 5 with a limited series called Queering Premodern Asia. Why? Because before the modern era, there was a LOT of sexual diversity in Asia. But I bet your Asian parents didn’t know that. How do I know? ¼ of my interviews were with queer Asians and one theme that often came up is feeling a disconnect with their Asian culture because queerness is taboo in their family. But being queer wasn’t always taboo in Asia and there’s a lot of research to back this up. It’s all out there but unless you’re in that field, you probably don’t know about it. This is where this series comes in. Prof. Wu CunCun: “We have 24 official Chinese history and 23 have special catalog about the emperor’s male favorite” There’s the prince charmings and the Kings who adored them in China, Vietnam, and Korea, dating back to 500 BC. There’s the premodern Japanese version of BTS that had monks wrapped around their *cough* finger. The sufi poet and his lover who became one and are still celebrated every year with a festival in pakistan. A lesbian play written in China in 1651. Cross-dressing women in premodern Iran. Korean princesses who slept with their maids. Gender fluid deities in the Philippines and India. There’s even a god of same sex love in China. There’s so many stories and I can’t wait for you to hear them. Join me and my queer guest host to uncover the hidden roots of our queer Asian history. Whether you’re straight like me or queer, I promise you it will be fascinating. Queering Premodern Asia drops on June 2nd, 2024. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or go to nuancespod.com to learn more. You can also follow us on all social media: @nuancespod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

May 21, 20241 min

S4 Ep 11S4 E11: Dr. Sophia Yen on birth control, #PeriodsOptional, menopause, emergency contraception, and what your BMI has to do with it.

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GUEST BIO Dr. Sophia Yen is a Co-Founder of Pandia Health, expert online women’s hormonal healthcare: from birth control to menopause and more. She graduated MIT, UCSF Medical School, and UC Berkeley with an MPH. With 20+ years in medicine, she’s also a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford Medical School in Adolescent Medicine. Her passion is making women’s lives better She’s also the Mother of 2 future sheheroes and wife of a feminist. Taiwanese-American married to a Korean-American (feel free to cut the last 2 lines or edit as you will). Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Web MENTIONED Plan C Pills - Abortion Access Inequality in Maternal Outcomes Maternity leave in Mexico Maternity leave in Canada Maternity leave in the U.S. Dr. Rebecca Gomperts from the Netherlands Calculate your BMI TAKEAWAYS Sex Ed is more than just "how to not get pregnant". And. Ladies, you deserve satisfaction too. Emergency contraception: Plan B only works well if your BMI is <=25. Ella works for BMI <= 35. Copper IUD works for all BMIs Hormonal birth control doesn't hurt your fertility. In fact it's often used before fertility treatments to stabilize hormone levels. Best to worst: the implant, vasectomy, hormonal IUD, tubal ligation, copper IUD, the shot, the ring, the patch, then the pills. If you're getting an IUD, you should be given pain management. DEMAND IT. (*paracervical block) There are treatments to help you transition in perimenopause and menopause. You don't have to suffer through hot flashes. Estrogen replacement also helps you avoid a lot of health complications from menopause. Women used to have 100 periods in their lifetime (8 kids), now they have 350-400 and each time we risk developing ovarian, endometrial or colon cancer. But periods are optional!!! The pill that works best for white women often doesn't for Black/Asian women. Find the right one for you. Disaggregating "Asian American" in medical research can help better identify genetic differences in our bodies' response to treatments. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn Host: Lazou --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

May 12, 20241h 15m

S4 Ep 10It’s AANHPI Heritage Month! Or Asian Heritage Month if you’re in Canada.

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For more detailed shownotes including transcripts, go to nuancespod.com If you enjoy this show and would like to show some love, go to nuancespod.com/support ABOUT THIS EPISODE Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month! Wow, that was a mouthful. Who’s idea was it to group us all together in such a long acronym? It’s a long story but let me know if you’d like me to do a deep dive on that next time. If you’re in Canada, Happy Asian Heritage Month. At least the Canadians knew scope creep was a thing. TOPICS: Unequal representation in AANHPI celebrations. Why May? Intersectionality: Asian Settler Colonialism. Upcoming series on "queerness" in premodern Asia. Episode recommendations that feature underrepresented Asian perspectives. EPISODES FEATURED Kiran Kaur Gill (Sikh American) S3 E08: Kiran Kaur Gill on fighting Turban Myths with occupationally relevant training programs at the TSA, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies. Dani Saldo (Queer Filipino Canadian) S3 E05: Dani Saldo is a hot, talented, disabled bisexual pop-star on the rise, who had to break up with her old (able-bodied) self. Rita Phetmixay (Lao American) S3 E09: Rita Phetmixay: No such thing as boundaries in Asian culture – the Lao diaspora, owning the narrative, and healing intergenerational trauma with compassion. Soo Jin Lee (Korean American) S4 E1: Soo Jin Lee was never told she was undocumented, but she somehow knew. Also: therapy isn’t the only way to heal. Manijeh Moradian (Iranian American) S3 E03: Dr. Manijeh Moradian on why Iran isn’t always considered part of Asia, and how the West may be misinterpreting what Iranians truly want out of the current feminist revolution Travis Nguyen (Vietnamese American) S3 E06: Travis Nguyen, interpreter & translator, on working with the deaf & deaf/blind communities, how intergenerational trauma manifests in day-to-day life, and more. Qasim Rashid (Pakistani American) S2 E4: Qasim Rashid on how Islam inspires him to advocate for women, for the poor, and even for his haters, and how he remains focused in a world full of injustice. AUSLIN (Hmong American) S1 E05: AUSLIN, the artist supermom who’s breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma she experienced as a Hmong American growing up in Wisconsin. Offering Rain (Queer Ecuadorian and Indian American) S2 E09: Offering Rain on reclaiming their Ecuadorian and Indian roots as a mixed-raced multimedia artist, and the importance of early access to the arts to increase diversity in the creative fields. Rahul Borkar (Indian American) S1 E02: Rahul Borkar on being a music artist and producer from Louisville, KY Scott Okamoto (Japanese American) S3 E07: Scott Okamoto on losing faith and becoming an English professor at an evangelical school. Cece Chow (Trans Chinese Canadian) S4 E07: Trans Day of Visibility special with Cece Chow & her son Gideon – the wholesome Asian trans representation you needed to hear. NEXT WEEK I’ll be back with episode recs for mothers day but also a new guest, Dr. Sophia Yen! We’ll be talking about women’s health, making periods optional, best to worst methods of contraception, menopause, and what is missing from sex education. MENTIONED Essay by Chinese Hawaiian Asians & Asian Settler Colonialism in Hawaii USA: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month Canada: Asian Heritage Month CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

May 5, 202416 min

S4 Ep 9S4 E09: Chef Jenny Dorsey on food politics, and the uneasy conversations that the food industry isn’t ready to have.

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If you enjoy this show and would like to help me spread the word about it, or support it financially, you can find out more at nuancespod.com/support GUEST BIO Jenny is a professional chef and food writer, researcher, and educator who studies food as the foundation for human meaning-making and identity formation. She holds a Master of Education from Harvard University and is currently a Fulbright-National Geographic Fellow in Singapore, researching food security in the context of hawker centres. Jenny is an IACP-winning photographer, James Beard Awards-nominated writer, and has been named an industry Game Changer by Food & Wine and a Trailblazing Activist by the World’s 50 Best. In pre-pandemic 2020, she also gave a TEDx titled, How Food Can Be A Source of Identity, Intimacy, and Vulnerability.. Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Web MENTIONED Reem's Billie Eilish's book flops Jenny's TEDx Talk TAKEAWAYS The people we advocate for should be the ones dictating what advocacy looks like for their cause. Food is inherently political. Most books don't sell well - something to keep in mind if you're going to invest time and energy writing one. The U.S. has many of the pieces that could be leveraged for a more equitable future but we've been brainwashed to fear socialism. Aligning our business practices with our values can have significant positive impact within our own spheres of influence. Immigrant parents often struggle with their kids choosing a career that isn't seen as "moving up in the world" and while their fears around financial stability are understandable, there is an element of classism there that we need to acknowledge and work on. Recipes using grams are much easier to replicate accurately than those using cups and arbitrary units like "one onion". The US gallon isn't the same as the Imperial gallon. CONTACT Instagram | TikTok | Web | LinkedIn | Twitter Host: Lazou --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nuancespod/support

Apr 21, 202458 min
LAZOU