Extraordinary New Year, Extraordinary New Meaning For 'Citizen' Sister

Send a text

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?

Support the show

• Follow me Facebook
• Follow me on Youtube
• Follow me on Instagram