Asian in Aotearoa

50. Julie Zhu on creative anxiety and self-compassion

Asian in Aotearoa

Show Notes

Julie Zhu is an award-winning director, producer, and storyteller born in Xian, China, and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau. Committed to championing marginalised voices and stories, Julie co-directed the podcast and docu-series Conversations With My Immigrant Parents for RNZ. She also directed observational documentary series Takeout Kids for The Spinoff, winning Best Director at NZ WebFest 2022.

Here, Julie reflects on the last few years and discusses the challenges of promoting one’s work, the balance between humility and self-promotion, and the importance of self-compassion.

Watch Takeout Kids on The Spinoff

Julie’s Instagram

Julie’s Website

Asian in Aotearoa Instagram

Asian in Aotearoa Substack

Hosted by Jenna Wee & Produced by Marc Conaco

Recorded at Big Fan in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland

This episode was made possible thanks to Foundation North and Creative New Zealand.

asianinaotearoa.com

More from Asian in Aotearoa

Aug 12, 2026

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.

Aug 5, 2026

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.

Jul 29, 2026

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.

Jul 22, 2026

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.

Jul 15, 2026

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

See all episodes →