CW: SuicideThis episode is very close to my heart. It's about a heavy topic, and I encourage you to take your time listening to it, or step away from it if it's too much.In this episode, I talk to four people, all of whom have a relationship to suicide. I speak with Monica (they/them), the eldest child of Chinese immigrants and a freelance musician whose flexible jobs allows them to maintain their mental health; Henry Ling (he/him), who identifies as a third culture kid, found support for mental health and suicidal ideation on YouTube; and Avanti (they/she), a South Asian immigrant, who is training to be a therapist but wants to disrupt what therapy can look like in favor of abolition and community care; and Melody Li (佢/any) a therapist who embodies a decolonized perspective.We talk about the lack of financial and culturally-specific access to mental health care, how suicide is criminalized, and how we can try to look at suicide prevention from a space of care, sharing stories, and slowing down.Links:Melody Li's mental health directory and community Inclusive Therapists: www.inclusivetherapists.comNisha's interview with Dr. Jennifer Mullan from Decolonizing Therapy: https://www.thehealinghype.com/p/a-conversation-with-decolonizingSupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/migrasians)

Hello everyone! MigrAsians is back. Take a listen to hear a pretty big announcement about my life, learn about my coaching work, and get a sneak peek into what this season of MigrAsians will look like.Thanks for being here <3Links:The Healing Hype - my healing + justice communityMy BIPOC Healing Fund - put "BIPOC Healing Fund" in the memoMigrAsians PatreonMy websiteMy InstagramSupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/migrasians)

In this episode, I review the season a bit, reflecting on the fact that the majority of these episodes were released during the pandemic! And I'm guessing once I start up again in early 2021, we might still be in some form of the pandemic.I talk about what we dove into for Season 1 and how I'm shifting Season 2 to be more in alignment with my passions.Thank you to my parents, my brother, Dalya Guerin, Gina Manola, all my Patreon patrons, Tiffany Wong, Shin Kawasaki, and Quincy Surasmith for your support! So grateful <3Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/migrasians)

If you live in LA, you have probably seen an egg with a red yolk plastered on sidewalks and walls. This is the work of street artist Black Palms - @blk_plms on Instagram. Black Palms identifies as Hapa - he grew up in Hawaii and migrated to LA to work in TV production.In this conversation, we talk about his migration story, how he fell in love with television, transitioned from directing to producing, and how butoh dancing helped him make this transition. You'll also hear the story about how his birthplace was blown up in front of his eyes for an episode of Magnum, P.I.!And of course, we talk about his street art. What does the red yolk symbolize? How does Black Palms secretively create this art, and has he ever been caught? And why the name Black Palms?What I loved most about our conversation is how everything we talked about had an artistic lens - TV production, dancing, street art. There was a common thread, and it was clear that Black Palms valued the power of art in everything he does.Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/migrasians)

Indian Matchmaking aired on Netflix in mid-July, and every South Asian person I knew binge watched the show which follows Indian matchmaker "Sima from Mumbai" Taparia between India and the United States while she attempts to match clients with their future spouses. Everyone I spoke to had their opinions about this show - some found it entertaining, others found it offensive and cringe-worthy, some found it boring; most found it a combination of all of these. But, more notably, each South Asian person I spoke with noticed how it highlighted upper-caste Hindus with some Sikh representation. The colorism and casteism in the show was hard to miss, at least for someone who identifies as South Asian. For those who don't, it can be hard to see.There have been essays, opinions, and podcasts about this show already, but I figured I'd chime in as well by chatting with some of my closest friends about it with the help of an amazing guide created by Viraj Patel, who is donating proceeds to organizations that "[fight] anti-caste oppression, survivors of domestic violence, prison abolition, supporting queer communities, and more" - please check this guide out, especially if you identify as South Asian. It provides pointed reflection and asks questions that you may not know the answer to, demonstrating how vast the Indian diaspora is and how privilege contributes to this lack of knowledge.I spoke to my college friend Dr. Nazia Kazi, author of Islamophobia, Race, and Global Politics, a book that explores Islamophobia through the lens of U.S. Empire, and is lauded by Deepa Kumar, Moustafa Bayoumi, and Arun Kundnani. I also spoke to my high school friend and actor, Mouzam Makkar, who has starred in The Vampire Diaries, Mindy Kaling's Champions, and The Exorcist on Fox. And I also spoke to my college friend, working mom, and writer Iva Shah, who penned her own essay about Indian Matchmaking and her parent's love marriage. Listen up and hear what we have to say :)I mentioned the following within this episode:Indian Matchmaking Exposes the Easy Acceptance of Caste by Yashica Dutt“Caste and Colourism: Challenging the Standards for Love in Biased Societies" - Facebook conversationAbout NishaFollow me on Instagram and Twitter! Check out my writing and coaching services on my website, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter!MusicShin Kawasaki: Find Another WayCC Mixter: Resonance by AirtoneCover ArtSupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/migrasians)

In Season 1, Episode 13, I interview musician Shin Kawasaki who sings the MigrAsians song "Find Another Way." Shin came from Japan to Los Angeles to pursue his music dreams as a young adult, and he's basically been here ever since! Until COVID-19 hit, Shin had a Tuesday night residency at The Escondite and talks about how he has been faring during the pandemic.Shin share's some interesting stories about his family's ancestry and struggles, including escaping what is today, North Korea, and starting out in poverty in Japan. He also discusses his views on Japanese politics and culture. We also get to a few of his new songs on his latest EP Six Songs from Insomnia (Spotify) at the end of the episode. If you purchase his album from Bandcamp, he will match it with a donation to ACLU, LA's Downtown’s Women's Center, and the Little Tokyo Service Center.Find Shin on Spotify and all the streaming platforms under shinkawasaki.About NishaFollow me on Instagram and Twitter! Check out my writing and coaching services on my website, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter!MusicShin Kawasaki: Find Another WayCC Mixter: Resonance by AirtoneCover ArtTiffany Wong ArtSupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/migrasians)

In this episode, I get into more detail about the connection between Black Lives and Asian Lives. I've talked about the connection between Asian American civil rights and Black civil rights. But I wanted to talk more about how this podcast is related.MigrAsians focuses on learning the migration stories of creative and political Asians. When I talk to my guests, we chat about how their story of migration affect the work they do. But what how are Asian migration stories related to Black stories? Listen up and let me know what you think!About NishaFollow me on Instagram and Twitter! Check out my writing and coaching services on my website, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter!MusicShin Kawasaki: Find Another WayCover ArtTiffany Wong ArtSupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/migrasians)

Suhad Khatib (she/her) is an artist with Palestinian roots who was born in Oman and grew up in Jordan. She is a futurologist, creative director, filmmaker, and public speaker. I connected with Suhad on Instagram @suhadizms. Her art drew me in immediately, and her voice kept me listening. I have listened to various parts of this interview over and over because I am mesmerized by the way Suhad talks about the world, our futures, and hope. She talks about the Massacre of Lyd, the question of Palestine, the geopolitics of home, the connection between Palestinian and Black liberation, and, of course, her art. We actually recorded this episode before the murder of George Floyd, but Suhad has been an organizer for Palestine long before. And she talks about how her first visit to Palestine was deeply connected to Mike Brown's murder in Ferguson, MO, close to where she was living at the time.Suhad is thoughtful, genuine, and steadfast in her hope and activism. Take a listen and let me know what you think!Find Suhad on on Instagram @suhadizms and on her website www.suhadkhatib.com.Here are some links to what was mentioned during the episode:1. The Pandemic is a Portal by Arundhati Roy2. Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. DavisAbout NishaFollow me on Instagram and Twitter! Check out my writing and coaching services on my website, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter!MusicShin Kawasaki: Find Another WayCC Mixter: Resonance by AirtoneCover ArtTiffany Wong ArtSupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/migrasians)

Immigration is not a simple process. If I didn't know this before, my conversation with immigration lawyer Dhenu Maru, an immigrant herself, proved this point. We talk about her difficulties acclimating as a young girl emigrating from Mumbai, India, and how this inspired her to become a lawyer, though the reason isn't what you might think. Dhenu talks about common misconceptions such as "immigrants are taking our jobs" or "they just need to get in line" in a way that anyone can understand. My parents may have immigrated to the United States from India, just like Dhenu, but she talks about how laws have changed, the many reasons people seek out an immigration lawyer, and the hoops you have to jump through to navigate the multidimensional U.S. immigration system. You can learn more about Dhenu's firm at www.swagatusa.com and by phone at (312) 854-7065. You can also join her Facebook group/community USA Immigration Experience.  About NishaFollow me on Instagram and Twitter! Check out my writing and coaching services on my website, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter!MusicShin Kawasaki: Find Another WayCC Mixter: Recreation and Resonance by AirtoneCover ArtTiffany Wong ArtSupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/migrasians)

We are pausing on MigrAsians interviews for this episode supporting Black lives. The majority Asian Americans would not be living in the United States if it wasn't for the Civil Rights movement and the emotional and physical trauma experienced by Black people. We have been positioned as a model minority to create divisions instead of solidarity. Let us recognize and support Black Americans for what they have done for us and the continued oppression and marginalization they face.How to Support #BlackLivesMatterPetitions, donations, and other resourcesAnti-racist book listBlack-owned independent bookstoresDon't have money? Money from the ad content on this YouTube video will be donated to BLM causes (don't skip the ads!): https://bit.ly/2Mtvrl2Black-owned Etsy shopsCover ArtTiffany Wong ArtSupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/migrasians)