MIXUNDERSTOOD

Ep 33: A Season Finale Reflection – Growth, Grief, and Finding My Anchor

When my father passed away, it felt like losing a lifeline to my Japanese heritage. Navigating the grief and identity crisis that followed, I dreamt up Mixunderstood as a way to reconnect and heal. This season finale is a heartfelt reflection on how this podcast became a sanctuary in my journey of personal growth, even as I faced burnout, and the profound conversations that have shaped it, including an unforgettable exchange with Punita Khanna about our shared experiences with cancer in our families. Creating Mixunderstood has been more than just a creative project; it's been a transformative experience that has encouraged me to embrace my mixed identity with newfound confidence. Inspired by our amazing guests and the vibrant community, I've started looking into learning Japanese and have even launched Fusion Friday, an educational social media series collaboration with Mixed Asian Media that celebrates mixed culture and identity. Through these efforts, I am building a language around the mixed-race experience and finding comfort in spaces that once felt foreign. As I wrap up this season, I hope to explore even more themes like mental health and racial imposter syndrome in the future. Massive thank you to all of our guests and contributors to Season 2!!  Thank you to YOU wonderful listeners!  Your support has been integral to this journey, and I’m deeply grateful for every message and contribution. This episode is dedicated to my father. Thank you for being part of Mixunderstood. Let's continue this exploration together.   Chapters (00:00) - Reflecting on Season Two (04:53) - Discovering Identity Through Podcasting (13:58) - Embracing Mixed Identity Through Conversation (24:50) - Staying Connected Through Podcasting Highlights (04:53) Podcast Origins (102 Seconds) (10:31) Identity Crisis Sparking Podcast Creation (97 Seconds) (13:45) Podcast Impact on Mixed Identity (86 Seconds) (20:42) Dedication to Father and New Season (123 Seconds)   Patreon! https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod [https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod]    Follow Mixunderstood! Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod Twitter/X: @Mix_understood Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod   Contact: Email: mixunderstoodpod@gmail.com   Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com [http://www.mathias]     Keywords Mixed Identity, Japanese Heritage, Grief, Identity Crisis, Personal Growth, Burnout, Conversations, Cancer, Mental Health, Racial Imposter Syndrome, Fusion Friday, Language, Community, Creative Project, Healing, Reflection, Season Finale, Podcasting, Identity, Cultural Spaces, Learning, Joy, Connections, Hope, Balance, Support, Contributions, Music, Transformative Experience, Curiosity, Questions, Future Episodes,

EP 32: Timing, Tenacity, and Logistical Triumphs: Emi and Phil’s Intercultural Love Story

In this episode, we explore the remarkable story of Emi and Philip, a multicultural couple whose relationship has spanned continents and navigated countless challenges. Meeting in the U.S. in the early 2000s—before the convenience of Zoom calls and smartphones—Emi, who is Japanese, and Philip, who is English/Australian, embarked on a long-distance relationship that tested their resolve, patience, and commitment. Their journey takes us through the logistical and bureaucratic hurdles of maintaining a relationship across oceans, navigating time differences, visa issues, learning each other's languages and accents, and staying flexible around constant career changes. Their focus on "making it work" and staying attuned to each other's needs is inspiring and encouraging for anyone who might be currently in a long-distance relationship. But this episode isn’t just about the logistical challenges. At its heart, it’s about two individuals searching for that elusive place where they can both fully be themselves. Through sacrifices, cultural and familial expectations, and the ever-present struggle of belonging, they continued to seek a home where their identities and experiences could be fully embraced. Join us as we uncover the emotional and cultural complexities of their journey, filled with moments of humor, frustration, and ultimately, a breakthrough in finding a place where they both could thrive. In This Episode, We Talk About: * The challenges of navigating long-distance relationships with limited technology. * Overcoming cultural and familial expectations to be together. * The impact of living in different countries on their identities and relationship. * The struggles of finding work and fitting into new societies as immigrants. * The journey of finding a place where they both can be fully themselves. This is our last interview for Season 2. Next week, I’ll be sharing a final short episode with my personal reflections on this season, so make sure to listen in!   Guests: Emi Nishimura & Philip Canavan @emi_canavan & @lostinthemosh @japanscreenadvocacy   Patreon! https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod [https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod]    Follow Mixunderstood! Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod Twitter/X: @Mix_understood Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod   Contact: Email: mixunderstoodpod@gmail.com   Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com [http://www.mathias]

EP 31: Giving Up Your World to Join Your Mixed Family in Manzanar, with Tracy Slater

What would you do to keep your family together during the most challenging times? In this episode, we’re discussing a story of sacrifice, resilience, and the lengths one woman went to in order to stay with her family. During World War II, more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated in camps across the United States. In the midst of this, one woman made an unthinkable choice. Elaine Buchman Yoneda, a Jewish American, voluntarily entered one of these camps, Manzanar, to stay with her Japanese American husband Karl and their three-year-old son Tommy. In this episode, I’m joined over Zoom by author Tracy Slater, currently in Canada, to discuss Elaine Yoneda's remarkable journey, explored in Tracy’s upcoming book, preliminarily titled Nine Months in Manzanar, set for release in 2025 by Chicago Review Press.  Discover how Tracy uncovered this untold story and learn about the totem that guided her through the writing process. We delve into the split-second decisions Elaine faced, not only concerning her son Tommy but also other critical choices.  We touch on the broader implications for interracial families under the shifting “mixed blood” policy and examine the political views and personal responses to the trauma experienced by those in Manzanar, including how these tensions affected Elaine, Tommy, and others.  The conversation also covers Carl’s unique identity and feelings toward Japan, the complexities and contradictions in the lives of the Yoneda family, and the importance of acknowledging human contradictions in both personal identities and society. This episode offers a thought-provoking discussion, shedding light on overlooked aspects of American history and the importance of understanding our collective past. Guest: Tracy Slater – Author of the upcoming book, preliminarily titled Nine Months in Manzanar (2025), and previously, The Good Shufu: Finding Love, Self, and Home on the Far Side of the World. www.tracyslater.com [http://www.tracyslater.com] @good_shufu   Patreon! https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod [https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod]    Follow Mixunderstood! Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod Twitter/X: @Mix_understood Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod   Contact: Email: mixunderstoodpod@gmail.com   Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com [http://www.mathias]

EP 30: Taking or Leaving Cultural Clichés: Nacho and Tina's Intercultural Love Story

In today's episode, we dive into the fascinating journey of Tina and Nacho, a couple whose whirlwind romance began on Tinder in Miami and has taken them across continents to settle in Buenos Aires. Their story is one of adaptability, resilience, and navigating cultural clichés as they merge their lives together. Join us as we explore what it’s like to be in a long-distance international relationship and the realities of moving to a new country for your partner. Tina, from Germany, and Nacho, from Argentina, have faced numerous logistical challenges, from living in shared spaces in Miami to transitioning to Tina's childhood home in Germany, before embarking on an adventure in a cozy camper van and finally settling in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires. We kick off with three fun facts: Tina's quirky relationship with wobbly foods, Nacho's confession about soccer, and what they adopted into their relationship during their year and a half of traveling across Europe in a camper van. Then, we delve into their decision to get married after seeing each other only four times, exploring how their family and friends reacted and their differing accounts of whether Nacho proposed. As we transition to their practical life in Buenos Aires, Tina and Nacho share the humorous and eye-opening experience of navigating healthcare with Tina's improving Spanish and Nacho's assistance. This leads us to a discussion about cultural differences and navigating clichés, examining how they've managed to maintain a sense of normalcy amid the challenges of adapting to a new culture. We explore the initial struggles and misunderstandings due to differing cultural expectations, particularly around timeliness and expressions of affection, and how these experiences have influenced their relationship and perspectives on their home countries and identities.  Tune in as we discuss closing the gap of long distance, making a relationship work across countries, and the realities of moving to a foreign land for - Amor!    Follow Tina and Nacho: Social Media: @internationallovestory WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Fy5IOsGnOoN1D0foex9EBY [https://chat.whatsapp.com/Fy5IOsGnOoN1D0foex9EBY] Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/international-love-story/id1514145436 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/international-love-story/id1514145436]   Patreon! https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod [https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod]    Follow Mixunderstood! Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod Twitter/X: @Mix_understood Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod   Contact: Email: mixunderstoodpod@gmail.com   Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com [http://www.mathias]   Patreon! https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod [https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod]

EP 29: From Boston Academic to Japanese Housewife: How Intercultural Love Transformed Tracy Slater’s Life

Ever wondered how a fiercely independent academic from Boston could end up embracing the traditional role of a Japanese housewife? Tracy Slater, acclaimed author of The Good Shufu: Finding Love, Self, and Home on the Far Side of the World, joins us to unravel her incredible journey. From teaching in men's prisons to becoming a shufu in Japan, Tracy's story is one of transformation, self-discovery, and unexpected love. In this episode, we explore how Tracy navigated the logistics of moving to Japan, adapting to a new culture, and balancing her career shift with the demands of a new lifestyle. Tracy shares her experiences of culture shock, her willingness to let life shape her path, and the adjustments she made to embrace new roles and responsibilities. Discover how Tracy and her husband, Toru, balanced their different cultural backgrounds and overcame the challenges of living between two countries. We dive into the emotional and practical aspects of her journey, including caring for her terminally ill father-in-law, her efforts to conceive a child, and the impact of these experiences on her sense of self. Tracy’s memoir captures the irony and profundity of her mid-40s transformation, offering insights into intercultural marriages and the subtleties of non-homogeneous social relationships. She shares heartwarming and humorous anecdotes about adapting to her new life, including a memorable story from her first week in Japan. Join us for a deeper understanding of how culture shapes relationships and provides valuable lessons for anyone navigating mixed identities or intercultural marriages. Stay tuned for future discussions on Tracy's upcoming book about mixed families in America's World War II concentration camps.   More about Tracy: www.tracyslater.com [http://www.tracyslater.com]   Tracy’s Mixed-Marriage Memoir: The Good Shufu: Finding Love, Self, and Home on the Far Side of the World   Patreon! https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod [https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod]    Follow Mixunderstood! Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod Twitter/X: @Mix_understood Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod   Contact: Email: mixunderstoodpod@gmail.com   Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com [http://www.mathias]   Patreon! https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod [https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod]