We've got a special episode recapping the opportunity to host an official AAPI meetup at South by Southwest (SXSW) this year along with teasing our new season this year.

Topics Covered:

• Our experience at SXSW this year and what we hope to see next year
• A brief unofficial primer on SXSW along with a few pro tips on how to navigate the festival
• Our plans for Season 3 and the podcast

Materials Referenced:

• AAPI Meetup at SXSW
• Vietnamese-Hungarian Singer, Hien

Jenni Lee is an investigative reporter and Midday anchor at KVUE in Austin, Texas. Jenni joined the KVUE news Team in June 2015 as the Weekend Daybreak anchor and weekday reporter but the veteran journalist has worked in the Austin TV market since 2001.

Before arriving in Austin, Jenni worked at KBTX-TV in Bryan and College Station after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin. For more than 20 years now, Jenni has been breaking and covering stories important to our community and to our world. Her work has been recognized by several organizations: the Texas Associated Press of Broadcasters; the Lone Star Emmy Chapter; the American Cancer Society; the Diversity Council and the Austin Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities.

Jenni was born and raised in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas. She is married, has a son, adopted two crazy rescue dogs and is raising all of them. She no longer does gymnastics.

NOTE: This episode was recorded in Summer of 2023.

Topics Covered:

• The origins of her interest in journalism
• Her experience with gymnastics
• Taking a break from anchoring
• One of the most challenging stories she's had to cover.
• Reporting during the height of the Stop Asian Hate movement
• AAPI representation in news reporting and in media and her experience in that
• Separating work from home life and the importance of work/life balance and self care exercises
• The story Jenni still wants to share
• The importance of mental health
• What brought Jenni to Austin and what's kept her here
• What does Jenni want to be known for?
• Her relationship to her ethnic identity today.

Materials Referenced:

• 3 Part KVUE Series: The fasting-growing minority segment in Austin - AAPI
• Kome, Coco's Cafe, Qi Austin
• 99 Ranch, 85 Bakery, Soup Leaf Hot Pot
• Pew - Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S.
• KVUE: Jenni Lee

Yola Lu is a comedian and actress based out of Austin, TX. She is the co-founder of Y'all We Asian, Austin's first and only all-Asian American improv troupe. She also is the 2022 Austin Chronicle Best Actress winner, and is currently in post production of her short film, Patsy. You can see her perform with her all female-identifying improv troupe, Garage, every Thursday at the Fallout Theater, and with Y'all We Asian every first Friday of the month also at Fallout Theater. She also hosts a monthly stand up show called Oops! All Headliners which is every last Saturday of the month at ColdTowne Theater.

NOTE: This episode covers topics related to miscarriages and depression. This episode was recorded in June 2023.

Topics Covered:

• Feeling the pressure of being at times the only woman or Asian comic on a standup lineup across Texas.
• What motivated Yola to pursue more creative endeavors for a career instead of a more corporate path.
• Describing what it felt like to perform standup for the first time and how she knew she did well.
• Directing, producing and promoting neighborhood productions as a kid.
• Her parents perspective on the neighborhood productions and encouragement in her life.
• What inspires her standup material?
• Taboo topics around divorce and miscarriages and her short film, "Patsy".
• The importance of mental health and therapy and the differences between generations of Asian Americans.
• What brought Yola to Austin and how she found community and stability here.
• Starting Y'all We Asian and aspirations for the future.

Materials Referenced

• Yola Lu Comedy | Instagram
• "Patsy" - A Short Film by Yola Lu
• Y'all We Asian Comedy Troupe
• The Alchemist Book
• Xian Fresh Restaurant
• China Family Restaurant