Asian in Aotearoa

Jenna Wee

Asian in Aotearoa (New Zealand) is a podcast exploring the lives and work of Asian creatives, one conversation at a time. Learn more about our local creative scene as guests ponder questions geared towards courage, creativity and community. Musicians, artists, writers, designers, theatremakers, poets and more...

  1. 4d ago

    64. Weimin Li & J.Y. Lee 이종윤

    Weimin and J.Y discuss friendship, community and why the most meaningful creative work often begins with making space for others. About Weimin: Weimin Li is a Tāmaki Makaurau-based tattoo artist and founder of NiceGoblins, an artist platform he launched in 2018 to create community and opportunities for emerging creatives in Auckland. Born in China and raised in Aotearoa from the age of eight, Weimin studied Video Game Design before finding his way into tattooing. ➡️ Explore NiceGoblins: https://www.nicegoblins.com ➡️ Follow NiceGoblins: https://www.instagram.com/nicegoblins_collective ➡️ Follow Weimin: https://www.instagram.com/nicegoblins_wei About J.Y: J.Y. is a legendary saxophonist/flautist who has spent more than a decade performing across Aotearoa's music scene. He has shared stages with artists including Tom Scott, CHAII, Sir Dave Dobbyn and Romi Wrights, and performed with groups including Yoko-Zuna, The Circling Sun, DAYBUS Jazz Orchestra and Avantdale Bowling Club. ➡️ Follow JY on IG: https://www.instagram.com/jaywhyl33/ About the podcast: Asian in Aotearoa is a podcast of conversations with Asian creatives, founded in 2020 by Jenna Wee in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. Follow Asian in Aotearoa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianinaotearoa/ Visit asianinaotearoa.com This episode was made possible thanks to Foundation North and Creative New Zealand.

  2. Jul 8

    63. Shamin Yazdani & Jefferson Chen

    In this episode, Shamin Yazdani and Jefferson Chen chat creativity, community, artistic integrity, and personal growth. They reflect on belonging, the spaces between disciplines, what inspires their work, how they're navigating wellbeing, purpose, spirituality and more!About Shamin:Shamin Yazdani is an Iranian-born creative producer, filmmaker and multidisciplinary creator whose work centres on diaspora, displacement, identity, and belonging. As a first-generation Iranian-New Zealander, she brings a cross-cultural perspective shaped by living and working across SWANA and London. Her work across film, television, and creative production has appeared on local and international platforms.➡️ See Sham’s work: https://www.linktr.ee/suchashambles➡️ Follow Shamin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suchashamblesAbout Jefferson:Jefferson Chen is the Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist behind the solo music project Goodspace. His work moves fluidly between music, installation, film, theatre and television, exploring the spaces between genres with a style that's both distinctive and difficult to define.➡️ Check out Jeff’s work: https://goodspacemusic.carrd.co/ ➡️ Follow Goodspace on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodspacemusic/About the podcast: Asian in Aotearoa is a podcast of conversations with Asian creatives, founded in 2020 by Jenna Wee in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.Follow Asian in Aotearoa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianinaotearoa/Visit asianinaotearoa.comThis episode was made possible thanks to Foundation North and Creative New Zealand.

  3. Jul 1

    62. Nahyeon Lee & Nathan Joe

    Nathan Joe returns to the podcast in conversation with Nahyeon Lee. They’ve been described as “filmmakers, theatre-makers and sometimes collaborators” and here they catch up on where they’re at creatively, their hot-takes on community, what they’re dreaming of next, spirituality and more. About Nahyeon:Nahyeon is a writer, director and theatre producer of Korean descent based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa. She has a Master of Arts in Drama Directing in Screen Production from the University of Auckland (First Class Hons) and has since embedded herself in stage and screen projects that strive to dismantle the hegemony - in narratives about identity through genre and in form. ➡️ Nahyeon’s work: https://www.punctum.co.nz/ and https://www.nahyeonlee.co.nz/➡️ Follow Nahyeon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nahyeonleee About Nathan:Nathan Joe 周润豪 is an award-winning playwright, dramaturg and performance poet - born and raised in Ōtautahi. He is an incoming MFA playwriting candidate at the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin, and a 2025 Fulbright grantee. ➡️ Nathan’s work: https://nathanjoe.com/➡️ Follow Nathan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yellowperilproductions/ About the podcast:Asian in Aotearoa is a podcast of conversations of Asian creatives, founded in 2020 by Jenna Wee in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. Follow Asian in Aotearoa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianinaotearoa/ Visit asianinaotearoa.com This episode was made possible thanks to Foundation North and Creative New Zealand.

  4. Jun 24

    61. Tanya Barlow & Jenna Wee

    Tanya Barlow and Jenna Wee first had a chat on Asian in Aotearoa way back in 2020. Now, they’re reunited to kick off the new (and filmed) Season 4 of the podcast. They reflect on where they’re at in terms of creativity, community and a bunch more. About Tanya:Tanya is a nail artist, voiceover artist, former make up artist, podcaster, content creator, and all round creative and multi-disciplinary artist! She is half Singaporean-Chinese, half Pākehā and grew up in Hong Kong.➡️ Watch Tanya’s podcast: ⁨@hellotanyapod⁩ ➡️ Follow Tanya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellotanya/ About Jenna:Jenna founded Asian in Aotearoa in 2020 and has since interviewed well over 50 Asian creatives about their lives and artistic work. Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, she’s Malaysian-Chinese, Japanese, Pākehā and Melanau. Follow Asian in Aotearoa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianinaotearoa/ This episode was made possible thanks to Foundation North and Creative New Zealand.

    61. Tanya Barlow & Jenna Wee

  5. 12/30/2025 ·  Bonus

    After Hours: POLITICS with Storyo

    Elina Ashimbayeva (Storyo) joins Jenna from Joshua Tree for a catch-up about politics. Asian in Aotearoa: After Hours with Storyo is a limited mini-series where two creator friends talk about love, desire, money, class, politics and power — the things we message friends about, joke about, avoid and obsess over. Anti-polished/pro-discomfort etc. Expect oversharing (not advice).  Thank you to our friends who generously sent through questions. Recorded in Tāmaki & Joshua Tree, CA! Comment/DM us with feedback, advice, thoughts, love etc. ;) LINKS asianinaotearoa.com | @asianinaotearoa on IG storyo.co.nz | @storyo.co on IG

    After Hours: POLITICS with Storyo

  6. 12/14/2025 ·  Bonus

    After Hours: MONEY with Storyo

    ⚠️ Money triggers ahead! Jenna is joined by Elina Ashimbayeva (Storyo) to answer questions, discuss topics and share hot-takes all about MONEY. Asian in Aotearoa: After Hours with Storyo is a limited mini-series where two creator friends talk about love, desire, money, class, politics and power — the things we message friends about, joke about, avoid and obsess over. Anti-polished/pro-discomfort etc. Expect oversharing (not advice).  Thank you to our friends who generously sent through questions. Recorded in Tāmaki & NYC! Comment/DM us with feedback, advice, thoughts, love etc. ;) LINKS asianinaotearoa.com | @asianinaotearoa on IG storyo.co.nz | @storyo.co on IG

    After Hours: MONEY with Storyo

  7. 11/25/2025 ·  Bonus

    After Hours: LOVE & DESIRE with Storyo

    ⚠️ This episode gets spicy, with discussions about love, desire, sex, body stuff and other sensitive topics. Listen with care and/or headphones.  Jenna is joined by Elina Ashimbayeva (Storyo) to answer questions, discuss topics and share hot-takes surrounding love, desire, dating and more. ❤️‍🔥 Asian in Aotearoa: After Hours with Storyo is a limited mini-series where two creator friends talk about love, desire, money, class, politics and power — the things we message friends about, joke about, avoid and obsess over. Anti-polished/pro-discomfort etc. Expect oversharing (not advice).  Thank you to our friends who generously sent through questions. Recorded in Tāmaki & NYC! Comment/DM us with feedback, advice, thoughts, love etc. ;) LINKS asianinaotearoa.com | @asianinaotearoa on IG storyo.co.nz | @storyo.co on IG

    After Hours: LOVE & DESIRE with Storyo

  8. 11/02/2025

    60. FIFTH Birthday Special with Amanda Grace Leo

    Amanda (梁宿娴) from Episode 1 is back! Here, Jenna and Amanda are reflecting, manifesting, laughing and celebrating five years of Asian in Aotearoa and their friendship. Follow Amanda: https://www.instagram.com/amandagraceleo  https://www.instagram.com/graceandtarot We mention Tanya Barlow from Episode 2 and her podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@hellotanyapod  Asian in Aotearoa is hosted by Jenna Wee. This episode was recorded in Jenna’s living room.  ​⁠⁠Asian in Aotearoa Instagram⁠⁠​⁠⁠Asian in Aotearoa Substack⁠⁠​⁠⁠asianinaotearoa.com⁠ Thanks for listening! If you like what you're hearing, rate this thing five stars and leave a comment x

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About

Asian in Aotearoa (New Zealand) is a podcast exploring the lives and work of Asian creatives, one conversation at a time. Learn more about our local creative scene as guests ponder questions geared towards courage, creativity and community. Musicians, artists, writers, designers, theatremakers, poets and more...

Information

  • Creator
    Jenna Wee
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jenna Wee
  • Show Website
    Asian in Aotearoa

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