Show Notes
To mark two years of Asian in Aotearoa, Jenna is joined by Elina Ashimbayeva (episode 22 guest, Storyo founder & friend) and answers questions sent in from various past guests about the podcast, life, relationships, vulnerability and more! Thank you for your great questions: Cindy Leong Marwin Silerio Geoff Ong Alyssa Medel Amanda Grace Leo Grace Ko Steven Junil Park Nathan Joe Hazel Zishun Sam Low Marc Conaco Jenna is Aotearoa-born and raised, Malaysian-Chinese, Japanese, Pākehā and Melanau. She is the founder and host of Asian in Aotearoa and a seasoned marketer, a certified coach, a Tarot reader, an INTJ, Cancer Sun with a Capricorn stellium.
FOLLOW @asianinaotearoa on Instagram VISIT asianinaotearoa.com SUPPORT Asian in Aotearoa: https://ko-fi.com/asianinaotearoa ___ ABOUT THE PODCAST Hosted by Jenna Wee, Asian in Aotearoa (New Zealand) explores the lives of Asian creatives, one uncensored convo at a time. Questioning our concept of home, identity, family, relationships, sex, racism, body/beauty, healing, decolonisation, navigating whiteness - and how this shapes the way we move through the world and influences our creative work.
More from Asian in Aotearoa
Rounding out this run of episodes, writer Xue Li Zhang and filmmaker/community builder Kiran Patel talk through the messy, generous work of showing up for each other and the everyday act of building spaces where people can feel seen.
Visual artist Sahana Rahman and artist-producer Sananda Chatterjee catch up for a conversation rooted in South Asian craft, community and storytelling. They discuss embroidery traditions passed down generations through to the doing-word that real community actually is.
Two multidisciplinary artists who do amazing things on stage, come together - actor, producer and writer Márianne Infante, and dance artist and choreographer Xin Ji. Their conversation moves between new motherhood, migration, making a lifetime of art without burning out, creativity and spirituality. About Márianne: Márianne Infante is a multidisciplinary creative of Kapampángan heritage — a trained actor, producer, writer, director and mover — born and raised in Pampanga, the Philippines, before moving to Aotearoa at 11. She's Executive Director of PAT, co-founder and director of Te & Kuya Collaborative and a board member of Equity NZ. Her mahi centres storytelling that uplifts Indigenous and immigrant voices. ➡️ Follow Márianne on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marianne_infante ➡️ Márianne on Satellites: https://satellites.co.nz/archive/people/marianne-infante About Xin: Xin Ji is a dance artist, choreographer, performer, filmmaker and educator based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Trained in Chinese Classical Ballet in Beijing before a professional career in Japan and Aotearoa, he has worked with companies including The New Zealand Dance Company, Footnote and Okareka. His debut solo work Body Story premiered at the Auckland Pride Festival in 2025. ➡️ Follow Xin on Instagram: https://instagram.com/xin_with_ji ➡️ Xin on Satellites: https://satellites.co.nz/archive/people/xin-ji Follow Asian in Aotearoa on Instagram: https://instagram.com/asianinaotearoa Visit https://asianinaotearoa.com This episode was made possible thanks to Foundation North and Creative New Zealand.
This episode brings choreographer Cindy Yunha Jang and visual artist Tarika Sabherwal together. They chat about Cindy's work building belonging through movement and Tarika's exploration of inherited South Asian mythology and more.
Weimin and J.Y discuss friendship, community and why the most meaningful creative work often begins with making space for others. About Weimin: Weimin Li is a Tāmaki Makaurau-based tattoo artist and founder of NiceGoblins, an artist platform he launched in 2018 to create community and opportunities for emerging creatives in Auckland. Born in China and raised in Aotearoa from the age of eight, Weimin studied Video Game Design before finding his way into tattooing. ➡️ Explore NiceGoblins: https://www.nicegoblins.com ➡️ Follow NiceGoblins: https://www.instagram.com/nicegoblins_collective ➡️ Follow Weimin: https://www.instagram.com/nicegoblins_wei