Being Biracial Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson

This weeks episode is just us gals.  

We chat about: 


Maria started going to a queer Maori singing group
Maria does her pepeha (introduces herself in te reo maori)
The line between private and public when creating art and content
Feeling pigeonholed to only talking about race in projects
Visible diversity vs white decision makers
POC artists carving opportunities in order to have a seat at the table
We are tired lol
Diversity is not a threat to white people

Links: 

https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-ve-never-seen-so-many-white-people-being-really-anxious-about-being-racist-20231102-p5eh16.html

Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson

Music by: the Green Twins

Edited by: Kate Robinson

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations.

You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com

Jason Om is Cambodian/Eurasian Malaysian, an ABC journalist and the author of All Mixed Up.



We chat about: 

Language around being ‘multiracial’

Being Eurasian in Malaysia v Australia

Rebellious women in his family

His parent’s newspaper personals ad meet cute

Cultural exemptions 

Being the traditional Cambodian son

Going to Cambodia with his dad

Rediscovering his mum while writing this memoir

Connecting with his half-sister Sarah

Emailing his dad about the marriage equality plebiscite 

His dad’s coming to, his coming out

“No fats, no femmes, no Asians” 

Diversifying your dating pool

How journalism has changed in the last 20 years

Visible diversity



Links: 

All Mixed Up



Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson

Guest: Jason Om

Music by: the Green Twins

Edited by: Kate Robinson

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations.

You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com

Jen Cloher is Māori (Ngāpuhi & Ngāti Kahu) and Pākehā. They are a song-writer and performer living on unceded Wurundjeri land in Naarm (Melbourne). Jen joins us ahead of her solo Australian tour in June and July.

We chat about: 


Being multiracial as opposed to biracial


Growing up away from Aotearoa


Those awkward and joyful moments when reconnecting to culture


The “colonised critical parent”


What is a marae?


Whanau is so much bigger than immediate family


How their reconnection journey permeated their latest album, Ko Au Te Awa, Ko Te Awa Ko Au - I Am The River, The River Is Me


Legal personhood of the Whanganui River


Te Ataarangi and the Kōhunga Reo (language nest) movement


Being takatāpui



Links:

https://www.jencloher.com 

https://everybodystryingpodcast.com/ 

Mana Takatāpui (Official Video)⁠

Hirini Melbourne & Marlon Williams



Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson

Guest: Jen Cloher

Song: Mana Takatāpui by Jen Cloher 

Edited by: Maria Birch-Morunga

Special thanks to Jen and Milk Records for letting us use Mana Takatāpui in this episode

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nation.

You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com

Today we are chatting to each other, about:


Do biracial apples taste better?


Our fav mixed-race comedians at Melbourne International Comedy Festival - Aurelia St Clair, Lizzy Hoo, Rose Matafeo and Nina Oyama


Raewyn, Maria’s mum, visited Naarm


Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter


Jen Cloher and Te Hononga o nga iwi at Creative West



Links: 

Deadlock

Cowboy Carter

I Am The River, The River Is Me

Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson

Music by: the Green Twins

Edited by: Maria Birch-Morunga

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin Nations.

You can find us on Instagram @beingbiracialpodcast or send us an email at beingbiracialpodcast@gmail.com

Darcy Vescio is a Chinese/Italian AFLW player. 

We chat about: 


Growing up in country Victoria


Language barriers with grandparents 


Moving in with their Goong at eighteen


Relationships born of bitter melon and lasagne


The Carlton doco Bloodlines which took Darcy to Italy and Hong Kong to explore their family history


Being a multicultural ambassador for the AFL


Using sport as currency at school


Racial vilification in the AFLW last season


Bringing your whole self to sport



Then Aurelia St Clair, a German-Cameroonian comedian, does a stand-up set and joins us all to chat about: 


Moving to Melbourne 


Kilmore the new queer capital 


Kate’s new Persian rug


Tiger balm in Darcy’s locker


Seasoning your food


Looking for Alibrandi


Finding Zadie Smith’s White Teeth in German


JW life


Finding meaning in small rituals



This event was recorded on Thursday 21 March 2024 at The Round on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nations.



Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson

Guests: Aurelia St Clair and Darcy Vescio

Special thanks to: The Round and The Wheeler Centre

Music by: the Green Twins

Lizzy Hoo is a Chinese/Malay and Australian stand up-comedian.

We chat about: 


Lizzy’s parents’ movie meet cute
The accidental ethnic friend group
Looking back on the safeguards you put in place as a child
The White Mums Club 
Subtle Asian Traits FB group 
Being a chameleon 
Feeling more Asian than her brothers
Ethnic aunty energy 
Lizzy’s parents want her to pay superannuation
How Lizzy got into comedy
Lizzy’s dad Chan is an absolute icon
Visible diversity
Moving beyond cracking identity jokes
Reclaiming her name



Links: 

https://www.lizzyhoo.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/lizzyhoo/ 

Hoo Cares on Amazon Prime



Hosted by: Maria Birch-Morunga and Kate Robinson

Guest: Lizzy Hoo

Special thanks to: Footscray Community Arts

Music by: the Green Twins

Edited by: Maria Birch-Morunga