Overseas, We Rise.

Fiona Chu
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Personal Journals

This podcast is for anyone building a life far away from home, and for anyone stepping into a new chapter of life. It's a warm, safe space for us to learn and evolve together. Each episode, host Fiona Chu sits down with immigrants and expats for real, intimate conversations about the good and the tears — identity shift, self-doubt, loneliness, moments that don't always make it onto highlight reels. But also the fun, breakthroughs, and unexpected life lessons along the journey. I hope these stories make you feel a little less alone, and find the strength to keep going. Stay connected: Overseas We Rise on Instagram Fiona's Instagram 🎙️ Want to share your story on《Overseas, We Rise》? Please fill out this form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0cuMzlYVuJInMsFhdePsPqOOH-lwIS80XHMXhqBtqTO4-Pw/viewform 我是Fiona。在異鄉生活的這些年，我發現這段旅程比想像中更孤獨、也比想像中更精彩。你會重新認識自己，經歷讓你意想不到的成長，會在某一天，突然發現自己變得不一樣了。《Overseas, We Rise》是一個給在海外生活、工作、冒險的你的Podcast。每一集，我會和來自不同背景的移民和海外工作者深度對談 聊那些真實的故事：剛到異鄉的手足無措、文化衝擊裡的哭笑不得、自我懷疑、接納蛻變，還有那些意外收穫的啟發和成長。 希望可以給在海外生活工作、又或許你正在前往人生的新篇章，願你能重這些故事中，獲得一點前進的力量。 🎙️ 歡迎填寫表單，和我分享你的故事。《Overseas, We Rise》以中文與英文進行訪談，你可以選擇自己最自在的訪談語言。 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0cuMzlYVuJInMsFhdePsPqOOH-lwIS80XHMXhqBtqTO4-Pw/viewform

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    EP4 | Finding Your Voice Across Cultures with Cookie Lee (Part 1) 🇹🇼🇫🇷🇮🇪

    Growing up in Asia, many of us were taught to be polite, avoid confrontation, and not make too much noise. But what happens when you move somewhere that values speaking your mind? Cookie Lee, a Taiwanese-born engineer in tech based in Dublin, Ireland. Cookie moved to France with her family at age nine and has since built a life across different cultures. Beyond her career in tech, she's also passionate about heels dancing and modeling. From navigating racism and language barriers as a child to learning to speak up and stand her ground, Cookie shares how her experiences have shaped the confident, outspoken woman she is today. In this conversation, we explore how culture influences the way we communicate, see ourselves, and navigate the world. Cookie also shares the not-so-glamorous realities of living and working in France, what led her to start a new chapter in Ireland, and what she's learned about being true to herself along the way. A conversation about cultural identity, finding your voice, and learning that it's okay to take up space. 🎧 In This Episode • Growing up in Taiwan and adjusting to life in France at age nine • Experiencing racism, language barriers, and cultural differences • Learning to speak up and stand up for yourself • How speaking different languages influences our personalities and self-expression • The realities of French work culture and career opportunities • Why Cookie left France and built a new life in Ireland • Finding a place where you feel comfortable being yourself ✨ Coming Up in Part 2 We get a little more personal! Cookie and I explore how cultural expectations influence body image and beauty standards, how dance has helped us discover new sides of ourselves, finding an identity beyond our careers, and what home really means when you've lived across different countries. Find Cookie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookielearnstofly/ Overseas We Rise on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/overseaswerise.pod/ Want to share your story on the show? Please fill out the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0cuMzlYVuJInMsFhdePsPqOOH-lwIS80XHMXhqBtqTO4-Pw/viewform

    EP4 | Finding Your Voice Across Cultures with Cookie Lee (Part 1) 🇹🇼🇫🇷🇮🇪

  2. Oct 2

    EP3 l Love Yourself From Within and the Rest Will Follow with Annie Chyr 🇸🇬🇺🇸

    About Annie Fashion designer and White Orchid Academy founder Annie Chyr joins the conversation for an honest look at identity, belonging, and rebuilding a life through hardship. Born in Singapore and raised in the U.S., Annie reflects on navigating racism, feeling caught between cultures, and finding confidence through fashion. She shares how sewing became both a creative outlet and a way to reclaim her identity — and how hardship, grief, and teaching ultimately led her to create a community-centered academy inspired by her grandmother’s legacy. Key Topics Growing with Singaporean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and American culturesBullying, racism as immigrant kid, learning how to protect herself and eventually decoding the defense programmingThe hard realities of creative workLosing her grandmother and rediscovering purpose through teachingFashion as a form of self-expressionPreserving heritage, language, and traditional craftLife lessons from living aross borders and life hardshipResilience and self-acceptanceChapters 00:00 Introduction and Annie’s Background 03:12 Childhood in Singapore and Moving to the US 07:24 Experiences with Bullying and Cultural Challenges 15:21 Overcoming Self-Consciousness and Embracing Identity 18:41 Discovering Fashion as an Outlet and Passion 22:53 Building Skills in Fashion Design 27:07 Returning to School and Reclaiming Identity 30:29 Fashion Design Training 35:28 Founding White Orchid Academy 36:11 Celebrating Self and Heritage 39:15 Conforming vs. Authentic Self in Cultural Identity 40:11 Dress as Physical Alchemy of Inner Self 40:53 Living in Between Cultures and Finding Balance 42:06 Experiences with Racism and Cultural Misunderstandings 44:02 The Melting Pot of American Culture and Fusion Food 45:23 Avoiding Whitewashing and Embracing Cultural Flavor 46:13 How Heritage Shapes Personal Identity 48:24 Language Loss and Cultural Reconnection 50:42 Returning to Singapore and Cultural Adaptation 54:37 Low Points and Turning Points in Life 59:41 Dealing with Loss of Loved One 01:04:31 The Healing Power of Teaching and Creativity 01:12:22 Lessons from Taoism 01:13:36 Finding Purpose After Loss 01:15:56 Reflections White Orchid Academy https://www.whiteorchidacademy.com/ Annie On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/azy.chyr/reels/?hl=en

    EP3 l Love Yourself From Within and the Rest Will Follow with Annie Chyr 🇸🇬🇺🇸

  3. Aug 30

    EP2 l 來到美國後，我從害怕犯錯，到學會相信自己 l UX設計師 Michelle Chen 🇹🇼🇺🇸

    也許離開熟悉的地方，不是為了成為另一個人，而是為了更清楚地看見自己。 來到一個新的國家後，最難適應的，有時並不是語言，而是那個「不知道自己該怎麼做」的自己。我們習慣了在熟悉的文化裡生活，知道什麼時候該開口、什麼時候該安靜。很多原本理所當然的事情，都會突然變得不確定。 今天這一集，我和 Michelle 聊聊她從台灣到美國留學、求職、生活的旅程。 我們聊到講英文時的不安全感、害怕犯錯的「內心小劇場」、美國文化和台灣教育的反思，也聊到身為國際學生，在求職、簽證與身份不確定之中，如何一次次重新調整心態再出發。這一集，我們不只聊「如何在美國找到工作」，而是聊一個人在陌生的文化裡，如何找到自己的聲音。 如果你也正在異鄉的挑戰中懷疑自己，希望這一集能讓你想起——你已經比自己以為的，走得更遠了！ /// 認識本集來賓｜Michelle Chen Michelle 來自台灣，目前生活在美國亞利桑那州，是一位 User Experience 設計師。在成為設計師之前，她念的其實是文化相關科系。一直對「人為什麼這樣想、這樣做」以及不同文化之間的差異很感興趣的她，把這份對人的好奇帶進了設計，從做網頁設計一路走到 UX，也來到美國攻讀研究所。在美國生活的這幾年，她學會很多以前不曾想過的事，一個人生活、學著煮飯，甚至做出自己拿手的玉子燒，帶給鄰居一起分享。目前 Michelle 正在尋找新的 UX / Product Design 機會。如果你正在招募設計人才，或知道適合她的機會，歡迎透過以下方式與她聯繫： 作品集： https://themichellechen.com/ Linkedin：https://www.linkedin.com/in/mchen0727/ /// 關於我和Overseas, We Rise 在異鄉生活的這些年，我發現這段旅程比想像中更孤獨、也比想像中更精彩。你會重新認識自己，經歷讓你意想不到的成長，會在某一天，突然發現自己變得不一樣了。 《Overseas, We Rise》是一個給在海外生活、工作、冒險的你的Podcast。每一集，我會和來自不同背景的移民和海外工作者深度對談 聊那些真實的故事：剛到異鄉的手足無措、文化衝擊裡的哭笑不得、自我懷疑、接納蛻變，還有那些意外收穫的啟發和成長。 希望可以給在海外生活工作、又或許你正在前往人生的新篇章，願你能重這些故事中，獲得一點前進的力量。 Overseas We Rise on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/overseaswerise.pod/?hl=en Fiona on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hi.fionachu/?hl=en /// 🎙️ 如果你也正在海外生活、工作、重新開始，或正在走一段人生的轉彎路，歡迎填寫表單，和我分享你的故事。《Overseas, We Rise》以中文與英文進行訪談，你可以選擇自己最自在的訪談語言 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0cuMzlYVuJInMsFhdePsPqOOH-lwIS80XHMXhqBtqTO4-Pw/viewform

    EP2 l 來到美國後，我從害怕犯錯，到學會相信自己 l UX設計師 Michelle Chen 🇹🇼🇺🇸

  4. Aug 20

    EP1 l From Hiding Your Voice to Embracing Your Roots with Max Mansouri 🇮🇷🇺🇸

    In this episode, we talk about what it's like to move to the U.S. from Iran at a young age, the challenge to adapt, the need to fit in, the guilt of losing the language, and the slow process of coming home to yourself, years later. Key topics Immigrant experience from Iran to the USCultural identity and embracing rootsLanguage learning and communication challengesCultural stereotypes and misconceptions about IraniansThe role of music and creativity in cultural expressionAdapting to new environments and finding communityHonesty and confrontation in American cultureReflections and self-acceptance overtime Max's Instagram Stay connected: Fiona's Instagram Overseas We Rise on Instagram Want to share your story on Overseas We Rise? please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/fXnBN4SQfDNQLJVC9

    EP1 l From Hiding Your Voice to Embracing Your Roots with Max Mansouri 🇮🇷🇺🇸
  • 4 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

This podcast is for anyone building a life far away from home, and for anyone stepping into a new chapter of life. It's a warm, safe space for us to learn and evolve together. Each episode, host Fiona Chu sits down with immigrants and expats for real, intimate conversations about the good and the tears — identity shift, self-doubt, loneliness, moments that don't always make it onto highlight reels. But also the fun, breakthroughs, and unexpected life lessons along the journey. I hope these stories make you feel a little less alone, and find the strength to keep going. Stay connected: Overseas We Rise on Instagram Fiona's Instagram 🎙️ Want to share your story on《Overseas, We Rise》? Please fill out this form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0cuMzlYVuJInMsFhdePsPqOOH-lwIS80XHMXhqBtqTO4-Pw/viewform 我是Fiona。在異鄉生活的這些年，我發現這段旅程比想像中更孤獨、也比想像中更精彩。你會重新認識自己，經歷讓你意想不到的成長，會在某一天，突然發現自己變得不一樣了。《Overseas, We Rise》是一個給在海外生活、工作、冒險的你的Podcast。每一集，我會和來自不同背景的移民和海外工作者深度對談 聊那些真實的故事：剛到異鄉的手足無措、文化衝擊裡的哭笑不得、自我懷疑、接納蛻變，還有那些意外收穫的啟發和成長。 希望可以給在海外生活工作、又或許你正在前往人生的新篇章，願你能重這些故事中，獲得一點前進的力量。 🎙️ 歡迎填寫表單，和我分享你的故事。《Overseas, We Rise》以中文與英文進行訪談，你可以選擇自己最自在的訪談語言。 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0cuMzlYVuJInMsFhdePsPqOOH-lwIS80XHMXhqBtqTO4-Pw/viewform

Information

  • Creator
    Fiona Chu
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fiona Chu
  • Show Website
    Overseas, We Rise.