Creating Mixunderstood has been more than just a creative project; it's been a transformative experience that has encouraged me to embrace my mixed identity with newfound confidence. Inspired by our amazing guests and the vibrant community, I've started looking into learning Japanese and have even launched Fusion Friday, an educational social media series collaboration with Mixed Asian Media that celebrates mixed culture and identity. Through these efforts, I am building a language around the mixed-race experience and finding comfort in spaces that once felt foreign. As I wrap up this season, I hope to explore even more themes like mental health and racial imposter syndrome in the future.

Massive thank you to all of our guests and contributors to Season 2!!

Thank you to YOU wonderful listeners!

Your support has been integral to this journey, and I’m deeply grateful for every message and contribution. This episode is dedicated to my father.

Thank you for being part of Mixunderstood.

Let's continue this exploration together.

(00:00) - Reflecting on Season Two

(04:53) - Discovering Identity Through Podcasting

(13:58) - Embracing Mixed Identity Through Conversation

(24:50) - Staying Connected Through Podcasting

(04:53) Podcast Origins (102 Seconds)

(10:31) Identity Crisis Sparking Podcast Creation (97 Seconds)

(13:45) Podcast Impact on Mixed Identity (86 Seconds)

(20:42) Dedication to Father and New Season (123 Seconds)

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Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com

Mixed Identity, Japanese Heritage, Grief, Identity Crisis, Personal Growth, Burnout, Conversations, Cancer, Mental Health, Racial Imposter Syndrome, Fusion Friday, Language, Community, Creative Project, Healing, Reflection, Season Finale, Podcasting, Identity, Cultural Spaces, Learning, Joy, Connections, Hope, Balance, Support, Contributions, Music, Transformative Experience, Curiosity, Questions, Future Episodes,

In this episode, we explore the remarkable story of Emi and Philip, a multicultural couple whose relationship has spanned continents and navigated countless challenges. Meeting in the U.S. in the early 2000s—before the convenience of Zoom calls and smartphones—Emi, who is Japanese, and Philip, who is English/Australian, embarked on a long-distance relationship that tested their resolve, patience, and commitment.

Their journey takes us through the logistical and bureaucratic hurdles of maintaining a relationship across oceans, navigating time differences, visa issues, learning each other's languages and accents, and staying flexible around constant career changes.

Their focus on "making it work" and staying attuned to each other's needs is inspiring and encouraging for anyone who might be currently in a long-distance relationship.

But this episode isn’t just about the logistical challenges. At its heart, it’s about two individuals searching for that elusive place where they can both fully be themselves. Through sacrifices, cultural and familial expectations, and the ever-present struggle of belonging, they continued to seek a home where their identities and experiences could be fully embraced.

Join us as we uncover the emotional and cultural complexities of their journey, filled with moments of humor, frustration, and ultimately, a breakthrough in finding a place where they both could thrive.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• The challenges of navigating long-distance relationships with limited technology.
• Overcoming cultural and familial expectations to be together.
• The impact of living in different countries on their identities and relationship.
• The struggles of finding work and fitting into new societies as immigrants.
• The journey of finding a place where they both can be fully themselves.

This is our last interview for Season 2. Next week, I’ll be sharing a final short episode with my personal reflections on this season, so make sure to listen in!

Guests:

Emi Nishimura & Philip Canavan

@emi_canavan & @lostinthemosh

@japanscreenadvocacy

Patreon!

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Follow Mixunderstood!

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

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Contact:

Email: mixunderstoodpod@gmail.com

Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com

What would you do to keep your family together during the most challenging times? In this episode, we’re discussing a story of sacrifice, resilience, and the lengths one woman went to in order to stay with her family. During World War II, more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated in camps across the United States. In the midst of this, one woman made an unthinkable choice. Elaine Buchman Yoneda, a Jewish American, voluntarily entered one of these camps, Manzanar, to stay with her Japanese American husband Karl and their three-year-old son Tommy.

In this episode, I’m joined over Zoom by author Tracy Slater, currently in Canada, to discuss Elaine Yoneda's remarkable journey, explored in Tracy’s upcoming book, preliminarily titled Nine Months in Manzanar, set for release in 2025 by Chicago Review Press.

Discover how Tracy uncovered this untold story and learn about the totem that guided her through the writing process. We delve into the split-second decisions Elaine faced, not only concerning her son Tommy but also other critical choices.

We touch on the broader implications for interracial families under the shifting “mixed blood” policy and examine the political views and personal responses to the trauma experienced by those in Manzanar, including how these tensions affected Elaine, Tommy, and others.

The conversation also covers Carl’s unique identity and feelings toward Japan, the complexities and contradictions in the lives of the Yoneda family, and the importance of acknowledging human contradictions in both personal identities and society.

This episode offers a thought-provoking discussion, shedding light on overlooked aspects of American history and the importance of understanding our collective past.

Guest: Tracy Slater – Author of the upcoming book, preliminarily titled Nine Months in Manzanar (2025), and previously, The Good Shufu: Finding Love, Self, and Home on the Far Side of the World.

www.tracyslater.com

@good_shufu

Patreon!

https://patron.podbean.com/mixunderstoodpod

Follow Mixunderstood!

Instagram: @mixunderstoodpod

Facebook: @mixunderstoodpod

Twitter/X: @Mix_understood

Tik Tok: @mixunderstood.pod

Contact:

Email: mixunderstoodpod@gmail.com

Music by Mathias Kunzli www.mathiaskunzli.com