"The Evolution of AloHā Podcast is about sharing stories. Sharing a mix of stories could be the catalyst for social change. Storytelling serves as a tool for making sense of sophisticated situations and exploring better ways to connect." ~Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell
Storytelling is the most natural way for us to enter into a relationship with the wisdom and knowledge of others. As in all relationships, agreements must be made and obligations and responsibility for the energies of knowledge. Thus, when a person comes into a relationship with specific knowledge, they are transformed by it and must be responsible for how it is shared.
In the wise words of Ursula Le Guin, she states, "Words are events, they do things, change things. They transform both speaker and hearer; they feed energy back and forth and amplify it. They feed understanding or emotion back and forth and amplify it."
As we engage in face-to-face dialogue (in the Hawaiian language; Alo means forward-facing), deeply listening and sharing our stories and our experiences, we exchange knowledge to one another by “talking story” and creating a new understanding of how we engage with others and the world around us. We “breathe” these words to each other (in the Hawaiian language, Hā means breath or breath in life).
Together, this is AloHā: The exchange of ideas, the resolution of conflict, the changing of perspectives, and the evolution of our collective being.
Subscribing to the Podcast
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Access all episodes by subscribing to the Mixed Plate podcast available on all popular podcast platforms.
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A new episode will air every Saturday from now until Saturday, December 25th, 2021, Christmas Day and we will launch into the new year with new content and more amazing guests!!
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Exclusive Content:
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If you are interested in viewing the in-unedited video format with member-exclusive content (there is some good sh*t in these un-edited videos), become a Patreon supporter of the Mixed Plate Podcast by heading over to https://www.patreon.com/plowlineproductions
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Your contributions will go directly toward production and building engaging content.
Podcast Guests
Episode 1:
Guest: Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell and Jeremy Tunnell
Subject: Join Gerry and Jeremy as they tackle the controversial topic of being a mixed-ethnic couple dealing with internalized oppression and dismantling internalized superiority.
Episode 2:
Guest: Dr. Janis Velasquez Farmer
Dr. Janis Velasquez Farmer, a social justice learner, and advocate, values, and lives by a philosophy of servant and collective leadership. Maintaining a complete vision of the social field to maximize capacities and opportunities for others, Janis develops and executes innovative ideas by accessing and cultivating creative energy. She connects naturally across socially constructed boundaries by modeling vulnerability and compassion. Her work serves to give voice and recognition to populations marginalized within a dominant hegemonic system.
Episode 3:
Guest: Naomi Pierce
Naomi Pierce graduated from Western Washington University in 2021 with a double bachelors in communications and sociology. Currently residing in the Seattle region working in the automotive and power tool industry.
Episode: 4
Special edition with host, Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell
In this special edition, Gerry will be sharing a lecture on the Evolution of AloHā given at the Sierra Pacific Synod Professional Leaders Conference in Olympic Valley, Tahoe, CA.
Episode 5:
Guest: Dr. Baozhen Luo
Bio: Dr. Baozhen Luo (pronounced: Bow-jen Lu-o) was born and raised in China before coming to the American South (Atlanta, GA) to pursue her MA and Ph.D. degrees in Sociology, followed by working as a tenure track faculty member at LaGrange College in Georgia and a move to the PNW as a tenure-track and tenured faculty member at Western Washington University, where she currently holds a full professor position. Since 2003, Baozhen has accumulated rich experiences working in the American higher education system across four institutions, as a graduate student, a staff member, and a full-time professor. Starting in January 2022, Dr. Baozhen Luo will transition to a new position as a full professor in Global Health at Duke Kunshan University located near Shanghai, China, a joint venture university of Duke University in the US and Wuhan University in China.
Episode 6:
Guest: Sarah Chan, Calypso Kitchen
Bio:
Sarah Chan is a social entrepreneur with a deep sense of obligation to her community. She was born and raised in the Caribbean in the beautiful twin-island nation of Trinidad & Tobago. She is of mixed Asian ancestry, growing up in a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural nation that has influenced every aspect of her life, and continues to. She has much gratitude for the place she grew up in and its direct influence on whom she is as a person and a business owner. She shares gratitude and love through the food that she creates and shares with her community. " A shared meal eases the meeting."
Episode 7:
Guest: Gabrielle Kazuko Nomura Gainor
Gabrielle Kazuko Nomura Gainor (she/her) tells stories about Asian America through dance. She has received grants from Seattle's Office of Arts & Culture, the Washington State Arts Commission, the Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program (HAAP), and was recently selected to participate in ArtsWA’s inaugural Change Leader Institute. Working in partnership with Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, Gabrielle is helping to build spaces of liberation in historically white, European art forms. Gabrielle’s piece “Farewell Shikata ga nai,” which tells the story of the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans, toured Seattle-area schools in 2019. Community engagement efforts that she led surrounding “Madame Butterfly” at Seattle Opera were praised in The New York Times' 2019 opinion piece "Classical Opera Has a Racism Problem" by Katherine Hu. In addition to her own creative works, Gabrielle strongly believes in supporting the next generation of storytellers. She is Director of Engagement at the University of Washington School of Drama, a previous Teaching Artist with TeenTix, and an active member of the Japanese American Citizens League.
Episode 8:
Indigenous Success is Rooted in our Ancestors
In this pre-recorded Podcast, Gerry gathers with Superintendent Will Nelson (Blackfeet) of the La Conner School District and Chelsea Craig (Tulalip), Cultural Specialist, and Asst. Principal of Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary to discuss how Indigenous teaching is based on the nature and quality of communicating at all levels of being. Educating the Whole Child.
Episode 9
Guest Dr. Nina Kim Hanson
Dr. Nina Kim Hanson is the daughter of Korean immigrants (70s) turned us citizens and a grand grandchild of (now known as South) Korean freedom/independence fighters. She is a mom of two multiethnic children and a first-generation college graduate. As a mixed-race person, bridge building and anti-racism have been a central part of her life. Education is her passion and has taught in higher ed for over 10 years and student affairs for a few of those years - specializing in curriculum development and critical pedagogy in the fields of Women/Gender studies, Asian American studies, and English. She is currently running for Lake Stevens school board district 4.
Episode 10
Guest Kelsay Myers
Kelsay Elizabeth Myers is a professional writer, artist, and registered somatic movement educator (RSME) living in Marin County, CA on Coast Miwok land. She is passionate about trauma healing and restoring connection to ancestral roots and wisdom for a fuller sense of self and creative expression. She helps those who want freedom from inner blocks holding them back embody resources to transform their lives with soul-based expressive arts programs and courses; the latest being S(e)oul Expressions: a transformative experience for Korean adoptees, Korean adopted and displaced persons+.
Episode 11
Guest Fleur Larsen
Fleur Larsen is a Seattle-based Racial Justice facilitator and seasoned consultant in the nonprofit sector with a background in education and counseling. She has 20-years of experience which has given her a perspective on what is needed to move our sector from a cycle of putting out fires, to a movement based in lasting equity and empowerment. Her commitment as a social justice facilitator, bring strong skills and experience in community building, power and privilege, and liberation work.