Citizen Sister

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Start the Lunar New Year with a reset that actually means something. I’m pulling back the curtain on why I paused Citizen Sister, how the word citizen changed under our feet, and what it takes to build a show that holds both connection and discomfort with honesty. This is a candid look at belonging in 2026—where passports once felt like keys, where perception can override documents, and where safety is felt in the body long before it’s written in law.

I share a personal shift that reframed the entire season: an everyday interaction that stung, the story I told myself about it, and the new information that turned judgment into compassion. That three-second pause—choosing not to take it personally, imagining a life I couldn’t see—has become my most practical tool for global citizenship. It doesn’t excuse harm; it widens context. And it’s the spirit I’ll bring to future interviews, music, and community stories: asking each guest what belonging means to them, where fear shows up, and how art and culture can create room for all of us.

You’ll also hear what’s ahead: the Asian Arts and Heritage Festival on Bainbridge Island this May, from karaoke in a theater to heritage nights, film and panel storytelling, language classes, and a bigger finale at Waterfront Park. We’re inviting artists, vendors, food vendors, and performers to help shape a month of creative, inclusive celebration. If the question on your mind is who gets to feel safe and seen, you’re in the right place. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs a gentler lens, and leave a review with your definition of a global citizen—what does it mean to you?

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Welcome to SEASON 3 of Citizen Sister!!! Such an exciting season ahead! For our first episode of season 3 we celebrate the last week of Filipino American History month with an extraordinary guest! Recorded at San Francisco’s Pistahan Parade & Festival, Stephanie does her first ever episode with a live audience as she spotlights Beverly Desuasido—three-time Emmy Award–winning producer behind standout lifestyle and travel storytelling. Hear about how she went from managing DJ Q Bert to becoming a celebrated producer. Special guest appearance by friend to the show and past CS guest and Pistahan Festival President Al Perez!

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Citizen Brother flips the mic on host Stephanie Reese while Pistahan founder Al Perez joins in. Together they chart how Bainbridge’s Asian Arts & Heritage Festival and San Francisco’s 30-year Pistahan are linking arms as true sister celebrations of Asian culture.

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