Not Asian Enough, Not White Enough: Living In Between | Kar Wong @sketchykarr | #121

Not Asian Enough, Not White Enough: Living In Between | Kar Wong @sketchykarr | #121

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791323/fan_mail/new] ft. Sketchy Kar on identity, Cantonese culture & finding home “I’m not Hong Kong enough. I’m not white either.” Sound familiar? In this episode, Kyle sits down with Sketchy Kar to unpack what it really means to grow up between cultures. From Brampton to Hong Kong to London, Kar shares her journey navigating identity, internalized racism, and the pressure of never feeling like you fully belong. We talk about: *  Being labeled “whitewashed”  *  Trying to reject your own culture  *  Finding your way back to Cantonese identity  *  Using creativity to heal and reconnect  If you’ve ever felt caught between worlds, this episode is for you. Kar's Bio: sketchykarr is the illustrative alter ego of Kar, a London-based HongKonger creative (and doer of too many things). Her visual storytelling blends cross-cultural and lived experiences with lighthearted humour to create cute and cheeky art. Her art is inspired by childhood memories, third-culture kid stories, mental health advocacy, and growing up Asian. Beyond art, she’s also a brand marketer, drinks business founder, dog mom, and just a typical perpetually tired, peak millennial woman trying to navigate the ever-changing world. Follow Kar! Instagram: @sketchykarr  [https://www.instagram.com/sketchykarr/] Website: sketchykarr.com  [https://www.sketchykarr.com/] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian] Thank you for listening! Help this podcast: 1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod [https://www.instagram.com/whatkindofasianpod/?hl=en] 2. Share our episodes with friends and family 3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform 4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast 5. Buy Us a Coffee! [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian] (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can) All the links! https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod [https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod]

100% Queer, 100% Cambodian, 100% Vietnamese, 100% American | Randy Kim | 120

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791323/fan_mail/new] Today's episode, Kyle sits down with Randy Kim, a queer Vietnamese Cambodian American storyteller, podcaster, and community organizer. Conversation about identity, refugee history, belonging, and what it means to be 100% of everything. From growing up disconnected from language and culture to returning to Cambodia and Vietnam, Randy shares how storytelling, community, and joy became tools for healing in the Asian diaspora. Bio: Randy Kim is a queer Viet-Khmer American from the Chicagoland area with a Masters in Nonprofit Management at DePaul University. Randy is the creator and host of his award-winning podcast "The Banh Mi Chronicles.” He was the recipient of the annual Communicator Awards in 2024.  His podcast has been mentioned by Apple Podcast, National Geographic Society, and the Asian American Journalist Association. He is the founder of his current Substack newsletter, “Banh Mi Bites” which explores conversations with BIPOC creatives and more.  Randy has given workshop presentations at University of Illinois, DePaul University, Northern Illinois University, among others. Randy formerly served as a board member with The National Cambodian Heritage Museum in Chicago and is now serving as a board member with the Vietnamese Association of Illinois. Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/banhmi_chronicles/?hl=en] Podcast [https://www.podpage.com/the-banh-mi-chronicles/] Substack [https://substack.com/@banhmibites?utm_source=profile-page] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@RandyKimKimballRandall] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian] Thank you for listening! Help this podcast: 1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod [https://www.instagram.com/whatkindofasianpod/?hl=en] 2. Share our episodes with friends and family 3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform 4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast 5. Buy Us a Coffee! [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian] (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can) All the links! https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod [https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod]

Vietnam Didn’t Fix Me, But It Gave Me Permission to Be Myself | Peter "Broke the Habit" | 119

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791323/fan_mail/new] What happens when moving to Asia doesn’t fix your life, but forces you to face yourself? In this episode of What Kind of Asian Are You, I sit down with Peter (Broke The Habit), a Vietnamese Canadian content creator who spent over a decade quietly creating before his decision to quit his job and move to Vietnam changed everything. We talk about growing up ashamed of being Vietnamese, chasing stability over creativity, and the harsh realization that you can’t outrun your problems by changing locations. Peter opens up about identity, mental health, internet visibility, and why Vietnam didn’t “save” him, but gave him permission to finally be himself. This is a raw conversation about Asian diaspora identity, creative risk, and learning how to stop running. We talk about: * Being Vietnamese Canadian and growing up disconnected from culture * Why moving to Asia doesn’t automatically heal you * Scarcity mindset, immigrant expectations, and self-judgment * Building an online following and and the fear that comes with being seen * Why self-acceptance is the hardest habit to break 🔗 Guest Links — Peter (Broke The Habit) 🎥 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@brokethehabit Peter’s long-form videos documenting identity, mental health, and his journey between Canada and Vietnam. 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brokethehabit Short-form reflections, behind-the-scenes, and real-time updates. 🌐 All Links (Linktree) https://linktr.ee/brokethehabit [https://linktr.ee/brokethehabit?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Access Peter’s full ecosystem, including content, community projects, and updates. Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian] Thank you for listening! Help this podcast: 1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod [https://www.instagram.com/whatkindofasianpod/?hl=en] 2. Share our episodes with friends and family 3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform 4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast 5. Buy Us a Coffee! [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian] (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can) All the links! https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod [https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod]

The Goody-Two-Shoes Asian: Chasing Recognition and Validation | Cheryl Lau EDIT HISTORY PODCAST| 118

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791323/fan_mail/new] What happens when you do everything “right”… and still feel lost? In this episode of What Kind of Asian Are You?, I sit down in person with Cheryl Lau, host of the Edit History Podcast, for a deeply honest conversation about identity, validation, and starting over again and again. Cheryl describes herself as a “confused Asian”: Born in North America, raised across Hong Kong and Canada, now living in Singapore, she grew up as the classic goody-two-shoes Asian. Straight A’s. Scholarships. Law school. Then a PhD track. All the boxes checked. But behind the prestige was a quieter question:  Who am I without external recognition and validation? We talk about: * Growing up as a high-achieving Asian and learning to equate worth with recognition * Why quitting law school and later leaving a PhD program felt like an identity rupture * The shame of “not finishing” and the invisible pressure to repay our parents * Being Asian in different countries and why Singapore felt more like home than Hong Kong * How podcasting became a way to find meaning, connection, and agency * The difference between chasing validation vs choosing work that actually feels meaningful * What makes a good podcast and why playing it safe is killing great conversations This episode is for anyone who: * Grew up as the “good Asian kid” and is now questioning the script * Has pivoted careers (or wants to) but struggles with guilt and ego * Feels caught between cultures, languages, and expectations * Is building something creative and trying to trust their own voice A conversation about being Asian, being ambitious, being lost and learning to choose meaning anyway. Bio:  Cheryl helps business leaders and organizations create a podcast they’re proud of - One that’s substantial, distinct, and built to last. Think of Cheryl as your strategic podcast partner - someone who’s as invested in your vision as you are. She cares about making sure your content actually stands out, resonates, and opens the right doors. Cheryl is also the host of the EDIT HISTORY podcast, which won 2x at the 2025 Asia Podcast Awards (by Radioinfo Asia) in the "Best Education Podcast" and “Best Money and Business Podcast” categories. Find Cheryl and follow her work: https://cheryllau.com [https://cheryllau.com/] https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory [https://www.youtube.com/@cheryltheory] https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllau] https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory [https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian] Thank you for listening! Help this podcast: 1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod [https://www.instagram.com/whatkindofasianpod/?hl=en] 2. Share our episodes with friends and family 3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform 4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast 5. Buy Us a Coffee! [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian] (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can) All the links! https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod [https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod]

Why I Kept Podcasting? - Kyle gets interviewed / BONUS

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791323/fan_mail/new] To kick off 2026, What Kind of Asian Are You? turns the mic inward. In this short episode, Kyle steps out from behind the scenes and into the guest seat, interviewed by Cheryl from the Edit History Podcast. They talk about why this podcast started back in 2020, the moments of burnout that almost led to quitting, and what keeps Kyle coming back despite the challenges of visibility, social media, and the difficulty of monetizing podcasting. The conversation also digs into something deeper: the tension between preferring to work behind the scenes and being afraid to take the spotlight. Kyle reflects on his resistance to “shining,” perfectionism, and what it might look like in 2026 to let himself be more visible. It’s a candid, thoughtful reset that offers listeners a rare look at the person behind the podcast, and an honest way to start a new year of conversations about being Asian. Follow Cheryl! Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cheryltheory?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian] Thank you for listening! Help this podcast: 1. Follow us on Instagram @whatkindofasianpod [https://www.instagram.com/whatkindofasianpod/?hl=en] 2. Share our episodes with friends and family 3. Subscribe to us on your streaming platform 4. Leave us a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcast 5. Buy Us a Coffee! [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/whatkindofasian] (Supporting us financially really helps but it's definitely not required, do it if you can) All the links! https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod [https://linktr.ee/whatkindofasianareyoupod]