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Carol Li was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii with ancestral ties to China and Korea.
After graduation from university, she went onto teaching English abroad in China, and South Korea to learn more about where her family came from. This quest was not easy, at times unsettling, but mostly healing.
Searching for a place of belonging
“My Asian heritage used to give me anxiety. Now it gives me pride,” Carol Li shares in this episode.
You will remember Carol from the #impact episode she hosted earlier this Season, our top downloaded episode of all times where she featured the work of TNKR Teach North Korean Refugees. Today, you hear HER story – in all its complexity and beauty.
Carol was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii with ancestral ties to China and Korea. After graduation from university, she went on to teach English abroad in China and South Korea to learn more about where her family came from. This quest was not easy, at times unsettling, but mostly healing. Now she is back in her hometown as an East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellow pursuing a Master’s in Asian International Affairs and Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution.
This episode was recorded at Asian Podcast Festival during Asian Heritage Month, organised by the Asian American Podcasters Association founded by Lee Uehara and Andrew Wang.
Full transcription
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In this episode you learn about:
- 8:35 – Carol’s decision to move to China
- 14:55 – How she shifted feelings of anxiety around her Asian heritage to pride
- 16:42 – The challenges growing up as Asian American and finding a place of belonging
- 26:31 – Her learnings and epiphanies along the way as they relate to others
- 31:09 – Reflecting on growing up in a third culture
Featured guests:
- Carol Li, Co-host of #impact Season 5
- Lee Uehara, Founder of Asian American Podcasters Association (AAP)
Mentioned in this episode:
- Asian American Podcaster Association – Connect with them here.
- Carols episode (the most downloaded of #impact!) featuring Teach North Korean Refugees – Listen here.
- Across Seas Podcast with Allie.
- Find all Podcasts that joined the first Asian Podcast Festival here.
- #impact Season 5 celebrates the Sustainable Development Goals. What are the Sustainable Development Goals, why do they matter and how do they relate to you? Listen here.
Special thanks
- A big thanks to Lee Uehara and Andy Wang for creating a community of belonging for people identifying as Asian American Pacific Islanders and allowing us to join their live recording at the first Asian Podcast Festival that took place on May 30th, 2021. Start following and supporting them HERE.
If you like what you hear at #impact, support our production and join #impact CLUB.
