In Part Two of our journey with Jin, we move from the harrowing escape routes of the 1970s to the vibrant, complex grid of 1980s San Francisco Chinatown. This episode explores the different timelines of the Chinese diaspora—where four-generation American families collided with a new wave of Southeast Asian refugees. We trace a crazy meet-cute that involves a blind date gone wrong, the high costs of long-distance longing, and a relentless pursuit involving 150-pound bags of rice.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• Chinatown’s Linguistic Map: Why 1980s San Francisco was a complex grid of mutually unintelligible dialects, from the Toisanese "Old Guard" to the prestige of Hong Kong Cantonese.
• The "Linguistic Chameleon": The double-silence faced by Teochew, Hokkien, and Hakka refugees who had to mask their origins to find work in garment factories and kitchens.
• The Logic of Lineage: A deep dive into the Confucian family structure and the strategic practice of child transfer (ti) to preserve family altars.
• The Gaokao Ceiling: How China’s high-stakes national exam served as a 5% gateway to social mobility—and how missing the cutoff changed the trajectory of Jin's mother’s life.

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Explore the Cultureful Heritage Collections:

✊🏾Black Voices Collection – Celebrating leadership, advocacy, and lived experience. The Collection on Spotify and YouTube

🏮Chinese and Taiwanese Voices Collection – Diversity of the diaspora and relating to family and identity. The Collection on Spotify and YouTube

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Support Our Mission: Become a Season 3 Supporter If you believe in our vision of a connected global neighborhood where no one is an outsider, please consider becoming a Season 3 Supporter. Your contribution keeps these co-created memoirs independent, accessible, and powered by neighbors. Become a Supporter today: https://ko-fi.com/cultureful

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Watch on YouTube: Link coming later today

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Historical References & Context

To maintain the integrity of our storytelling, we utilize peer-reviewed historical data and archival records. Key context for this episode includes:

• The Siyi Network: Documentation on the Toisanese (Taishanese) pioneers and their century-long influence on San Francisco property and commerce.
• Post-1965 Immigration: Records on the shift of Cantonese as the "prestige language" of business and media following the Hong Kong wave.
• The Gaokao System: Historical data on the 1977 reinstatement of the National College Entrance Exam and its role in defining the professional class.
• Confucian Hierarchy: Research on Filial Piety and the roles of the Da Xi Fu (Eldest Daughter-in-Law) within Teochew merchant family structures.

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Episode Credits

Host, Producer, Research & Sound Design: Jess Lin

Advising and Production Support: Ruben Gnanaruban

Founding Supporter Shout-outs: Special thanks this week to the Zhou Family, HS, and James and Je

Support the show

Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

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“In a world that often feels divided, Cultureful is about the intersections—where we put ourselves in each other’s shoes.”

In the Season 3 premiere, we sit down with Jin - a 37 year old, Teochew Chinese American tech product manager from Peoria, IL- to trace a family lineage that spans the specialized merchant guilds of Southeastern China to the high-stakes escape from the outskirts of Saigon. This episode isn't just a survival story; it’s a deep dive into the historical backdrops of the 1970s—from the "Planned Economy" (jìhuà jīngjì) of the Cultural Revolution to the existential risk faced by the Vietnamese refugees after the Vietnam War.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• The Teochew Diaspora: How a 30-million-strong ethnic group came to dominate the rice and medicine trades across Southeast Asia.
• Survival by Rations: Life under China's Cultural Revolution coupon system and the preciousness of a single morsel of pork.
• Saigon Conditions: The different challenges in urban Saigon versus rural outskirts during the Vietnam War.
• The Gulf of Thailand: The harrowing reality of systematic pirate encounters and the informal economy of the Pulau Bidong refugee camp.

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Support Our Season 3 Fundraiser- STILL OPEN!

We are in the final days of our fundraiser to build a platform for cross-cultural storytelling that builds empathy across generations. Our goal is to find a few more Founding Supporters.

If you believe in our vision of a connected global neighborhood where no one is an outsider, please consider a donation today: https://ko-fi.com/cultureful

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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ni3HPWHS-Rg

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Historical References & Sources

To maintain the integrity of our storytelling, we utilize peer-reviewed historical data and archival records. Key sources for this episode include:

• The Vietnam Refugee Crisis: Statistics on the 1978–1980 exodus via the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) archives.
• China’s Planned Economy: Documentation on the Jìhuà Jīngjì and the 1960s and 70s rationing systems via the Journal of Chinese Political Science.
• Pulau Bidong: Records on the 1979 population density peak via the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.
• Teochew Merchant History: Research on the Cholon district commerce via The Overseas Chinese and South East Asia historical surveys.

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Episode Credits

• Host, Producer, Research & Sound Design: Jess Lin
• Advising and Production Support: Ruben Gnanaruban

Support the show

Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

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UPDATE: We are impacted by the winter storm! Season 3 will now launch Thursday Jan 29th. Stay warm, ya’ll!

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Cultureful is a project for bridging cultures and building empathy. We’re back for Season 3 on Tuesday, January 27th! New intimate, up-close, and human stories coming your way. I have deep-dive conversations with regular, amazing people about the everyday experiences, traditions, and family histories that connect us all.

3 Ways to Join the Global Neighborhood:

1. Subscribe: Hit the "Follow" button so you don't miss our premiere on Jan 27.
2. Watch on YouTube: Experience these stories in video at https://youtube.com/@cultureful?si=oV0E-T7UfcNHKAr3
3. Support the Mission: Become a Founding Supporter of Cultureful by Jan 31: https://ko-fi.com/cultureful

Support the show

Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

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In this 2025 reflection, Cultureful host, Jess Lin, shares a personal update on hosting while healing, navigating a career pivot, and building a global neighborhood. From leaving a decade in Global Health to the realities of independent podcasting, this episode is a sincere thank you to the Founding Friends and neighbors who made this year possible.

Support the Neighborhood: We are currently raising funds to help record and preserve more of these vital stories in 2026. If these memoirs have moved you, please consider contributing to our mission: 👉 https://ko-fi.com/cultureful

Stay Connected: Join our mailing list to be the first to know about new episodes, neighborhood news, and host reflections: https://forms.gle/EPxvvkskFt2md1Qf6

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KaeI97kGAQY

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Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

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👉 Join the circle of Founding Supporters:
https://ko-fi.com/cultureful

Kwanzaa is more than a holiday — it’s a living tradition shaped by family, history, and intention.

In this Season 2 finale of Cultureful, Jess Lin sits down with Martina to explore Kwanzaa as a living tradition shaped by family, history, and community. Martina reflects on growing up in San Francisco, her family’s roots in the U.S. South, and how her grandmother’s stories influenced her early student activism and relationship with Black identity.

Together, they talk about the origins and meaning of Kwanzaa, how Martina celebrates it today as an adult and parent, and why cultural traditions matter in a world that’s constantly changing. This conversation is about heritage, memory, and the ways we create and pass down meaning—across generations and across communities.

🎥 Watch the full video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/O74Z-I7CpMk

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Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

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After our full interview, Joanne and I sat down for a more relaxed conversation — a space to debrief, unwind, and share a few favorite things. In this bonus “Wind Down” episode, Joanne talks about the surprising through-line she discovered while telling her story, from childhood to her work in belonging and organizational coaching today.

We also get into lighter moments: perfectionism, Brene Brown, nostalgic foods, the band Elbow, and the places that hold meaning for her — including an unforgettable trip to the Galapagos Islands that brought her to tears.

If you enjoy hearing the human side of each guest, their reflections, and a peek behind the interview, you’ll love these Wind Down episodes.

Topics in this episode:
• Finding unexpected clarity after the main interview
• How belonging became central to Joanne’s life and work
• Recovering from perfectionism
• Favorite books, nostalgic foods, and personal recommendations
• Her emotional reaction to seeing the Galapagos Islands
• A casual, warm debrief between host and guest

Listen to Joanne’s full 2 Part interview if you missed it.

Connect with Joanne: https://strelogroup.com/about/joanne/

Listen to Joanne’s full 2-Part interview if you missed it.

Support the show

Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

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In Part 2 of our conversation, Joanne shares how her STEM journey unfolded in ways she never expected—through academic pressure, nonlinear pivots, surprising mentors, and the slow, intentional work of choosing where she belongs.

We talk about what it means to grow up under high expectations, nearly failing out of college, rediscovering purpose through neuroscience and teaching, and the moment she finally said: “I get to choose to belong.”

This episode is about identity, resilience, and rewriting your story when the old one no longer fits.

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Sdxi9CwAUJw

In this episode:
• Nonlinear STEM career paths
• Academic pressure + nearly failing out
• A professor who offered a second chance
• Chinese American identity and belonging
• Purpose, risk, and choosing your own path

Connect with Joanne: https://strelogroup.com/about/joanne/

Keywords: Asian American stories, Chinese American identity, STEM careers, belonging, immigrant family expectations, nonlinear careers, resilience, Cultureful Podcast

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Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

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Joanne shares what it was like growing up as one of the only Chinese American kids in a small upstate New York town—and the year her family moved to Taiwan, placing her in a public school during the height of martial law and anti-communist propaganda. In Part 1, she talks about her parents’ refugee journey from mainland China to Taiwan, learning Mandarin and Bopomofo, and navigating identity, belonging, and culture shock across two countries. This episode explores family history, diaspora, growing up between cultures, and the moments that shaped Joanne’s understanding of who she was.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1Fcw4aEHxsk

Connect with Joanne:

• Strelo Group: https://strelogroup.com/about/joanne/
• Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-chu-strelo/
• Email: joanne@strelogroup.com

Support the show

Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

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