In this episode of Perfectly Untrue, we unpack the intricate interplay between cultural identity, internalized racism, and societal beauty standards as experienced through the lens of growing up Asian in a Western world. Asia Au-Yeung shares personal reflections on her upbringing in Canada, navigating the dichotomy of her Hong Kong heritage and Western influences, and the challenges of fitting into two contrasting cultural spheres.

Asia and her guests reflect on feelings of inadequacy in both Western and Asian contexts, revealing how polarizing beauty standards and cultural expectations affect identity formation. They also discuss how global media trends, like the rise of K-POP and anime, impact Asian representation, while highlighting the nuanced experiences of those from lesser-recognized Asian backgrounds.

Ultimately, Prayer Stick shines a light on the personal struggles of reconciling cultural identity with the pressures of society, and the ongoing journey toward self-acceptance and representation.

Episode two of Perfectly Untrue titled “The Friendship Recession” dives into the challenges of friendships particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of workism culture. Host Asia Au-Yeung reflects on how social isolation during the pandemic and the increasing pressures of modern life have made it harder to maintain genuine, non-transactional friendships. The episode explore themes such as the impact of social media on real-life connections, the growing trends of low maintenance friendships, and how they negatively impact the conception of a “genuine relationship,” highlighting the over romanticization of romantic relationships over platonic ones, as well as the rise of superficial, aesthetic-driven friendships. Overall, the episode urges listeners to invest in meaningful, authentic friendships that are not driven by convenience or external pressures.

In this special episode of Perfectly Untrue, we dive deeper into the theme of perfectionism, materialistic values, and academic validation introduced in Episode 1 of the series. We open the conversation by interviewing a diverse group of young individuals, exploring their personal experiences with the pressure to live up to an image that doesn’t truly reflect who they are.