What do Asian Americans, the mountains of Kimberley, British Columbia, and Sasha Galitzki have in common? Their stories often go untold, but are now being unfolded.

All of this and more in Episode 4 of the great wave podcast with Trixie Pacis (she/her), a Filipina American writer-photographer-filmmaker. Trixie started her journey in Canada, going to college for literature with a passion for storytelling. She ended up in Los Angeles and, exposed to the world of screenwriting, became roped into LA’s blossoming world of filmmaking. Trixie has also traveled the globe, going from the waters of the Ganges to the architecture of Lisbon, from the peaks of Mount Drummond to the waters of Iceberg Lake, and so many more places. Now, she works at ChimeTV, a TV network focused on AAPI stories. We discuss her career journey as well as discussing the significance of representation and telling the stories that many people don’t know.

This episode was recorded March 17, 2024

During World War II, thousands of Japanese people, including those who were American-born, were taken to concentration, or imprisonment, camps. We must remember their history.

All of this and more in Episode 3 of the great wave podcast with Chizu Omori (she/her), a Japanese American activist. Chizu, as a young 12-year-old girl, was taken from her home to the Poston “relocation” camp during the Japanese imprisonment of World War II. Since that period, through her time at Berkeley and postcollege, Chizu became deeply involved with civil rights, including the fight for Japanese reparations. Currently, she is still part of activism, working with Tsuru for Solidarity and fighting for many causes, a large one being for the rights of Black Americans. We discuss her journey and how her time in the concentration camps affected her career as an activist. Listen wherever you get podcasts.

This episode was recorded July 18, 2023

The Kingdom of Hawai‘i and its people are fighting. For their land, their culture, their ancestors, their light. From their mountains to their rivers. We must keep Aloha ’Āina. Together we rise.

All of this and more in Episode 2 of the great wave podcast with Hāwane Rios (she/her), a Kānaka Maoli singer. Hāwane has always been an activist, fighting with her family for Hawai‘i and her fellow people. After reconnecting with the Hawaiian language during college, she started her career as a singer-songwriter, creating music for her land in the language of her ancestors. We discuss how she became an activist and how music can unite cultures, as well as speak about her hopes for Hawai‘i and what we can do for it. Listen wherever you get podcasts.

This episode was recorded July 14, 2023

A feud with Fortnite? Tax lessons with Deb? NFTs and AI art? Mental health and being Korean American?

All of this and more in Episode 1 of the great wave podcast with Deb JJ Lee (they/them), a Korean American freelance digital artist. Deb rose to popularity after tweeting about their exchange with Fortnite and how they reached out to them, asking for illustration but offering much less than standard. We also discuss their first book, released in March 2023, "In Limbo," about their growing up with mental health struggles as well as with immigrant parents. Listen wherever you get podcasts.

This episode was recorded July 9, 2023